lla.thelonelymen-第14部分
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We came finally to the place above the first Indian encampment； and I passed the girl over to Battles。 〃I've got to get that boy Harry！〃 I told him。 〃Don't be a fool！ There's no chance！〃
〃Keep going；〃 I said。 〃I promised him。〃
They all looked at me； each of them holding a youngster … three tough； hard…bitten men with no families； no homes； nothing to call their own but a set of guns and saddles。 They sat there in the rain； and not one of them could e with me because now they had the children to think of。
〃Run for it；〃 I said。 〃This here's my scalp。〃
〃Good luck；〃 Spanish said； and they were gone。 Me； I watched them go； then swung my horse toward that boulder。 Far back up the mountains； I thought I heard a shout and a shot。 But I went down that trail to the place where I'd met the boy。
Hounding the boulder； rifle ready； I stared toward the rancheria； and suddenly out of the wet brush came the boy； Harry Brook。 He was soaked to the skin and he was scared； but he came toward me。 〃Mister；〃 he said； and he was crying。 〃Mister； I was scared you wouldn't make it。〃
Reaching down； I caught his hand and swung him up to the saddle。
〃They know you're gone？〃 I asked。 〃I think so 。。。 by now。 Somebody came in and said he'd heard shootin'； but the old bucks wouldn't believe him。 No chance in this rain； they said； not in these mountains。 I figured it was you； so first chance I had； I cut and run。〃
We started up the trail。 Up there on the ridge I could see the muddy tracks of the other horses； and I swung into the trail after them； but then pulled up sharp。 Their trail was almost wiped out by the track of other horses； unshod horses。
〃Apaches；〃 I said。 〃Is there another trail？〃
〃Down there。〃 The boy pointed toward the canyon。 〃The Old Ones' trail。 An Apache boy showed it to me。 It goes out across Sonora to the big water。〃 Harry looked up at me； his face glistening with rain。 〃Anyway； that's what he said。〃
The black was fidgeting。 He liked the situation no more than I did； so I pointed his nose where the boy said。 He shied at the trail； then took it gingerly。
It was no kind of a place to ride even in good weather； let alone in a rain like this。 Thunder crashed； and there was a vivid streak of lightning that lit up everything around。 The trail was only a glistening thread along the face of a cliff。
But the black was game。 He went as if stepping on eggs； but he went； and I held my breath for the three of us。 Far down below my right stirrup I could see the tops of pine trees； maybe five hundred feet down there。 We edged along； taking one careful step at a time； until we were almost at the bottom； when the trail widened out。
It took no time at all to see that this was no traveled trail。 Rocks had fallen into it ages back； trees had grown up right in the middle； and we had to skirt around them。 Me； I kept looking back。 Sure as shootin' we were going to get ourselves trapped。 Still； all a body could do was push on； so we pushed。
Night was a…ing； and with all those clouds and rain it was going to e soon； but there was no place to stop。
We had e down about a thousand feet； and were moving along a watercourse that wound through poplars and maples； gigantic agaves and clumps of maidenhair fern。 Everything was wet。
Suddenly； off to our left； I saw one of those ruins … an ancient wall； half broken by a huge maple that had grown through it。 There was a stream running that way； and it was only niches deep。 Turning the black； I walked him along the stream until we could turn behind the wall where the maple grew。
There was a sort of clearing there； sheltered on one side by the wall； and falling away on the other toward a bigger stream； trees were all around。 The maple had huge limbs that stretched out over the wall and made a shelter。 I swung down under it and lifted the boy to the ground。 〃Stay up close to the tree；〃 I said； 〃until I can rig something for us。〃
Now； a body doesn't spend his years wandering around the country without learning how to make do。 I'd made wet camp a good many times before this； and I had been keeping my eyes open for a likely spot； one that had what we'd need。
First off； I saw how the ground slanted away toward the big creek； and I figured that wall offered fair protection。 The maple was alive； but in some storm the wind had broken off a big limb； with a lot of branches on it； and it lay there on the ground。 Maple burns mighty well； and makes a hot fire。
That big tree would give some shelter； and the wall would make a reflector for my fire。 One branch of the tree extended across a corner of the wall； and I ducked under it and rolled away a couple of fallen stones that lay there。 The big fallen limb and its branches offered partial cover for the er； so I cut some pine branches and wove them in among the branches of the maple until I had a fair shelter。
Tying the black horse under the maple； but on a rope long enough so he could graze； I carried the saddle and gear to the shelter。 The boy was already seated in the corner。
From under a couple of fallen trees I peeled some dry bark； gathered twigs from the fallen maple limb； and in a few minutes I had a fire going。 It looked good； and felt better。
I had built the fire close against the wall so the heat would be reflected； and there we huddled in reasonable fort。 The wall； the sheltering trees； and our improvised shelter kept off most of the rain。 After a few minutes； the boy fell asleep。
I checked my guns； made sure my rifle was fully loaded； and trusting to the black to warn me； I huddled against the wall on the opposite side of the fire from the boy； and slept too。
Chapter 8
The night wind moaned in the passes； and the small fire sputtered。 The fuel burned down to coals； and the coals were a dull red except when touched briefly by the wind。 The rain had e to an end； but big drops fell now and again from the leaves of the maple。
From time to time I opened my eyes； looked around； land slept again。 It was always so with me 。。。 I can remember few nights when I slept the hours through without awakening； usually to lie awake listening for a while； sometimes to get up and prowl restlessly。
The black horse； now that the rain had stopped； moved away from the tree to crop the thick grass。 Up on the ridges the grass had been sparse and had little nourishment； but the grass that grew around the fallen stones was rich and green。
You know how it is when you hear something a long time before you are really aware of it？ It was like that now with riders ing down the trail。 Most likely I didn't hear much 。。。 maybe only a whisper of sound 。。。 maybe some hidden sense felt the difference in the night； for they came like ghosts in the darkness； or like wolves； soft…footed and sure of their prey。
They must have been puzzled； and worried too； for I'd e down the trail of the Old Ones； where no one ever rode。
It was a spirit trail； and they would not have liked it； especially in the night。 Their horses would be mountain…bred and sure…footed； and more than likely they had known this valley of the ruins when they ran wild； for there was grass here； good grass and water。
These riders must have been slow in getting away from their rancheria； ing after my tracks had crossed the trail of the Apaches that pursued my padres。 Seeing the tracks of my lone horse； they had followed； sure of a kill。
My small fire gave off so little smoke as to remain undetected； and its slight red glow would be hidden by the tree and the wall。 Yet they found me。 I suppose they heard my horse cropping grass。
All was still in my camp。 A drop fell hissing into the coals； and my horse stopped cropping grass and lifted his head； blowing softly through his nostrils。 I came clean awake。
An instant I lay there； listening； and then I rolled over and left the blanket in a long smooth dive into the darkness； and heard the whip of an arrow as I went。 When I looked back； I saw that the arrow had gone through my blanket into the ground。
They came in fast； and my butt stroke missed the head of the nearest attacker； and hit his shoulder； staggering him。 Then my rifle was knocked from my hands。
Now； back yonder in the mountains where I hail fro
