arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第32节
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after sun…up； for I remember my shadow。 About midday； I suppose； I
made out a dim trail leading up a break in the cliffs。 Plenty of such trails
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we had seen before。 They were generally made by peccaries in search of
cast…up fish I hope they had better luck than we。 But in the middle
of this； as though f
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or a sign； lay another piece of chewed sugar cane。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN THE
CALABASH STEW
I had agreed with Denton to stick to the beach； but Schwartz could not
last much longer； and I had not the slightest idea how far it might prove to
be to Mollyhay。 So I turned up the trail。 We climbed a mountain
ten thousand feet high。 I mean that； and I know； for I've climbed them
that high； and I know just how it feels； and how many times you have to
rest； and how long it takes； and how much it knocks out of you。 Those
are the things that count in measuring height； and so I tell you we climbed
that far。 Actually I suppose the hill was a couple of hundred feet； if not
less。 But on account of the grey mist I mentioned； I could not see the top；
and the illusion was complete。 We reached the summit late in the
afternoon； for the sun was square in our eyes。 But instead of blinding me；
it seemed to clear my sight； so that I saw below me a little mud hut with
smoke rising behind it； and a small patch of cultivated ground。 I'll
pass over how I felt about it： they haven't made the words Well；
we stumbled down the trail and into the hut。 At first I thought it was
empty； but after a minute I saw a very old man crouched in a corner。 As I
looked at him he raised his bleared eyes to me； his head swinging slowly
from side to side as though with a kind of palsy。 He could not see me；
that was evident； nor hear me； but some instinct not yet decayed turned
him toward a new presence in the room。 In my wild desire for water I
found room to think that here was a man even worse off than myself。
A vessel of water was in the corner。 I drank it。 It was more than I could
hold； but I drank even after I was filled； and the waste ran from the corners
of my mouth。 I had forgotten Schwartz。 The excess made me a little
sick； but I held down what I had swallowed； and I really believe it soaked
into my system as it does into the desert earth after a drought。 In a
moment or so I took the vessel and filled it and gave it to Schwartz。
Then it seemed to me that my responsibility had ended。 A sudden great
dreamy lassitude came over me。 I knew I needed food； but I had no wish
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for it； and no ambition to search it out。 The man in the corner mumbled
at me with his toothless gums。 I remember wondering if we were all to
starve there peacefully togetherSchwartz and his remaining gold coins；
the man far gone in years； and myself。 I did not greatly care。 After
a while the light was blotted out。 There followed a slight pause。 Then I
knew that someone had flown to my side； and was kneeling beside me and
saying liquid； pitying things in Mexican。 I swallowed something hot and
strong。 In a moment I came back from wherever I was drifting； to look
up at a Mexican girl about twenty years old。 She was no great matter
in looks； but she seemed like an angel to me then。 And she had sense。
No questions； no nothing。 Just business。 The only thing she asked of
me was if I understood Spanish。 Then she told me that her brother
would be back soon； that they were very poor； that she was sorry she had
no meat to offer me； that they were VERY poor； that all they had was
calabasha sort of squash。 All this time she was bustling things together。
Next thing I know I had a big bowl of calabash stew between my knees。
Now； strangely enough； I had no great interest in that calabash stew。 I
tasted it； sat and thought a while； and tasted it again。 By and by I had
emptied the bowl。 It was getting dark。 I was very sleepy。 A man
came in； but I was too drowsy to pay any attention to him。 I heard the
sound of voices。 Then I was picked up bodily and carried to an out…
building and laid on a pile of skins。 I felt the weight of a blanket thrown
over me I awoke in the night。 Mind you； I had practically had no
rest at all for a matter of more than two weeks； yet I woke in a few hours。
And； remember； even in eating the calabash stew I had felt no hunger in
spite of my long fast。 But now I found myself ravenous。 You boys do
not know what hunger is。 It HURTS。 And all the rest of that night I lay
awake chewing on the rawhide of a pack…saddle that hung near me。
Next morning the young Mexican and his sister came to us early； bringing
more calabash stew。 I fell on it like a wild animal； and just wallowed in
it； so eager was I to eat。 They stood and watched meand I suppose
Schwartz； too； though I had now lost interest in anyone but myself
glancing at each other in pity from time to time。 When I had finished
the man told me that they had decided to kill a beef so we could have
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meat。 They were very poor； but God had brought us to them I
appreciated this afterward。 At the time I merely caught at the word
〃meat。〃 It seemed to me I could have eaten the animal entire； hide； hoofs；
and tallow。 As a matter of fact； it was mighty lucky they didn't have any
meat。 If they had； we'd probably have killed ourselves with it。 I
suppose the calabash was about the best thing for us under the
circumstances。 The Mexican went out to hunt up his horse。 I called
the girl back。 〃How far is it to Mollyhay？〃 I asked her。 〃A
league；〃 said she。 So we bad been near our journey's end after all；
and Denton was probably all right。 The Mexican went away
horseback。 The girl fed us calabash。 We waited。 About one
o'clock a group of horsemen rode over the hill。 When they came near
enough I recognised Denton at their head。 That man was of tempered
steel
They had followed back along the beach； caught our trail where we
had turned off； and so discovered us。 Denton had fortunately found kind
and intelligent people。 We said good…bye to the Mexican girl。 I
made Schwartz give her one of his gold pieces。 But Denton could not
wait for us to say 〃hullo〃 even； he was so anxious to get back to town； so
we mounted the horses he had brought us； and rode off； very wobbly。
We lived three weeks in Mollyhay。 It took us that long to get fed up。
The lady I stayed with made a dish of kid meat and stuffed olives
Why； an hour after filling myself up to the muzzle I'd be hungry again； and
scouting round to houses looking for more to eat！ We talked things
over a good deal； after we had gained a little strength。 I wanted to take a
little flyer at Guaymas to see if I could run across this Handy Solomon
person； but Denton pointed out that Anderson would be expecting just that；
and would take mighty good care to be scarce。 His idea was that we'd do
better to get hold of a boat and some water casks； and lug off the treasure
we had stumbled over。 Denton told us that the idea of going back and
scoopi
