arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第3节
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〃'Maria…nothing！' says Lieutenant Price。 'This is Jim Fox。 I know
him。'〃
〃So they turned me loose。 It seems the troops had driven off the
renegades an hour before。〃
〃And the Indians who caught you； Uncle Jim？ You said they were
Indians。〃
〃Were Tonto Basin Apaches；〃 explained the old man〃government
scouts under Tom Horn。〃
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
CHAPTER TWO THE
EMIGRANTS
After the rain that had held us holed up at the Double R over one day；
we discussed what we should do next。
〃The flats will be too boggy for riding； and anyway the cattle will be
in the high country；〃 the Cattleman summed up the situation。 〃We'd bog
down the chuck…wagon if we tried to get back to the J。 H。 But now after
the rain the weather ought to be beautiful。 What shall we do？〃
〃Was you ever in the Jackson country？〃 asked Uncle Jim。 〃It's the
wildest part of Arizona。 It's a big country and rough； and no one lives
there； and there's lots of deer and mountain lions and bear。 Here's my
dogs。 We might have a hunt。〃
〃Good！〃 said we。
We skirmished around and found a condemned army pack saddle with
aparejos； and a sawbuck saddle with kyacks。 On these； we managed to
condense our grub and utensils。 There were plenty of horses； so our
bedding we bound flat about their naked barrels by means of the squaw…
hitch。 Then we started。
That day furnished us with a demonstration of what Arizona horses
can do。 Our way led first through a canon…bed filled with rounded
boulders and rocks； slippery and unstable。 Big cottonwoods and oaks
grew so thick as partially to conceal the cliffs on either side of us。 The
rim…rock was mysterious with caves； beautiful with hanging gardens of
tree ferns and grasses growing thick in long transverse crevices； wonderful
in colour and shape。 We passed the little canons fenced off by the
rustlers as corrals into which to shunt from the herds their choice of
beeves。
The Cattleman shook his head at them。 〃Many a man has come
from Texas and established a herd with no other asset than a couple of
horses and a branding…iron；〃 said he。
Then we worked up gradually to a divide； whence we could see a
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
range of wild and rugged mountains on our right。 They rose by slopes
and ledges； steep and rough； and at last ended in the thousand…foot cliffs of
the buttes； running sheer and unbroken for many miles。 During all the
rest of our trip they were to be our companions； the only constant factors
in the tumult of lesser peaks； precipitous canons； and twisted systems in
which we were constantly involved。
The sky was sun…and…shadow after the rain。 Each and every
Arizonan predicted clearing。
〃Why； it almost never rains in Arizona；〃 said Jed Parker。 〃And when
it does it quits before it begins。〃
Nevertheless； about noon a thick cloud gathered about the tops of the
Galiuros above us。 Almost immediately it was dissipated by the wind；
but when the peaks again showed； we stared with astonishment to see that
they were white with snow。 It was as though a magician had passed a
sheet before them the brief instant necessary to work his great
transformation。 Shortly the sky thickened again； and it began to rain。
Travel had been precarious before； but now its difficulties were
infinitely increased。 The clay sub…soil to the rubble turned slippery and
adhesive。 On the sides of the mountains it was almost impossible to keep
a footing。 We speedily became wet； our hands puffed and purple； our
boots sodden with the water that had trickled from our clothing into them。
〃Over the next ridge；〃 Uncle Jim promised us； 〃is an old shack that I
fixed up seven years ago。 We can all make out to get in it。〃
Over the next ridge； therefore； we slipped and slid； thanking the god of
luck for each ten feet gained。 It was growing cold。 The cliffs and
palisades near at hand showed dimly behind the falling rain； beyond them
waved and eddied the storm mists through which the mountains revealed
and concealed proportions exaggerated into unearthly grandeur。 Deep in
the clefts of the box canons the streams were filling。 The roar of their
rapids echoed from innumerable precipices。 A soft swish of water
usurped the world of sound。
Nothing more uncomfortable or more magnificent could be imagined。
We rode shivering。 Each said to himself； 〃I can stand thisright nowat
the present moment。 Very well； I will do so； and I will refuse to look
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forward even five minutes to what I may have to stand；〃 which is the true
philosophy of tough times and the only effective way to endure
discomfort。
By luck we reached the bottom of that canon without a fall。 It was
wide； well grown with oak trees； and belly deep in rich horse feedan
ideal place to camp were it not for the fact that a thin sheet of water a
quarter of an inch deep was flowing over the entire surface of the ground。
We spurred on desperately； thinking of a warm fire and a chance to steam。
The roof of the shack had fallen in； and the floor was six inches deep
in adobe mud。
We did not dismountthat would have wet our saddlesbut sat on our
horses taking in the details。 Finally Uncle Jim came to the front with a
suggestion。
〃I know of a cave；〃 said he； 〃close under a butte。 It's a big cave； but
it has such a steep floor that I'm not sure as we could stay in it； and it's
back the other side of that ridge。〃
〃I don't know how the ridge is to get back overit was slippery enough
coming this wayand the cave may shoot us out into space； but I'd like to
LOOK at a dry place anyway；〃 replied the Cattleman。
We all felt the same about it； so back over the ridge we went。 About
half way down the other side Uncle Jim turned sharp to the right； and as
the 〃hog back〃 dropped behind us； we found ourselves out on the steep
side of a mountain； the perpendicular cliff over us to the right； the river
roaring savagely far down below our left； and sheets of water glazing the
footing we could find among the boulders and debris。 Hardly could the
ponies keep from slipping sideways on the slope； as we proceeded farther
and farther from the solidity of the ridge behind us； we experienced the
illusion of venturing out on a tight rope over abysses of space。 Even the
feeling of danger was only an illusion； however； composite of the falling
rain； the deepening twilight； and the night that had already enveloped the
plunge of the canon below。 Finally Uncle Jim stopped just within the
drip from the cliffs。
〃Here she is；〃 said he。
We descended eagerly。 A deer bounded away from the base of the
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buttes。 The cave ran steep； in the manner of an inclined tunnel； far up
into the dimness。 We had to dig our toes in and scramble to make way up
it at all； but we found it dry； and after a little search discovered a foot…
ledge of earth sufficiently broad for a seat。
〃That's all right；〃 quoth Jed Parker。 〃Now； for sleeping places。〃
We scattered。 Uncle Jim and Charley promptly annexed the slight
overhang of the cliff whence the deer had jumped。 It was dry at the
moment； but we uttered pessimistic predictions if the wind should change。
Tom Rich and Jim Lester had a little tent； and insisted on de
