第9章

类别:其他 作者:佚名字数:18861更新时间:18/12/14 16:38:15
Let\'srustleupsomeflatcactusesan\'corralhim。\' \"TharupontheseyereRoadRunnersturnsinmightydiligent;an\'notmakin\'nomorenoisethanshadows,theygoespokin\'outontheplainsontiltheyfindsaflatcactuswhichisdead;sotheycantearofftheleaveswiththeirbills。DocPeetsan\'mesetsinoursaddlessurveyin\'theirplay;an\'thewaythemRoadRunnersgoesaboutthelaborsoftheirsnakekillin\'impressesusitain\'tthefirstbootcheryofthekindtheyappearsin。Theyshorelydon\'tneednosoopervisin\'。 \"Oneaftertheother,Jiman\'Billteetersup,allsilent,withaflatcactusleafintheirbeaks,an\'startstofenceintherattlesnakewith\'em。Theybuildsacorralofcactusallabouthim,whichthesameismebbysix-footacross。Themengineerin\'featstakesJiman\'Billtwentyminutes。Buttheycompletes\'em;an\' thar\'stherattlesnake,plumbsurrounded。 \"Theseyerecactuses,asyoumostlikelysaveys,isthornynolimit; an\'thespikesisthatsharp,needlesisfutileto\'em。Jiman\'Billknowstherattlesnakecan\'tcrossthisthornycorral。 \"Hedon\'tlookitnone,butfromthewayheplayshishand,Itakesitarattlesnakeissensitivean\'easyhurtonderthechin。 \"An\'it\'splaintomean\'PeetsthemRoadRunnersisawareofsaidweaknessesofrattlesnakes,an\'isbankin\'theirplaytharon。We- allsfiggers,lookin\'on,thatJiman\'Billaimstoputtherattlesnakeinprison;leavehimcaptivethata-wayinacactuscalaboose。Butwedon\'tsizeupJiman\'Billaccurateatall。Themtwofowlsisshorelyprofound。 \"Nosooneristhecorralmade,thanJiman\'Bill,withoutawordofwarnin\',opensupawarjig\'roundtheoutside;flappin\'theirpinionsan\'screechin\'likesquaws。Nacherallytherattlesnakewakesup。ThesightofthemtwoRoadRunners,Jiman\'Bill,cussin\'an\' swearin\'athim,an\'carryin\'onthata-wayscareshim。 \"It\'stroothtosayBillan\'Jimcertainlyconductsthemse\'fsscand\'lous。Theepithetstheyheapsonthatporeignorantrattlesnake,thetauntstheyflingsathim,wouldhavedoneApachesproud。 Therattlesnakebuzzesan\'quilsup,an\'onsheathshisfangs,an\' makesbluffstostrikeBillan\'Jim,buttheyonlyhopsan\'dancesabout,thinkin\'upmoreornerythingstosay。Everytimetherattlesnakegoestocrawlaway——whichhedoesfrequent——hestrikesthecactusthornsan\'pullsback。Byan\'byheseeshe\'selected,an\'hegetsthatenragedheswellsuptillhe\'sbigastwosnakes; Billan\'Jimmaintainin\'theirsass。ThemRoadRunnersisabreastoftheplayeveryminute,youcanseethat。 \"Atlastcomesthefinish,an\'mattersgetsdealtdowntotheturn。 Therattlesnakesuddenlycrookshisneck,he\'ssoplumblocoedwithragean\'fear,an\'sockshisfangsintohimse\'f。That\'sthefact; biteshimse\'f,an\'neverletsuptillhe\'sdead。 \"Itdon\'tseemtoastoundJiman\'Billnonewhentherattlesnake\'sassinateshimse\'fthata-way,an\'Ireckonstheyhasthisyeresooicideinview。Theykeepspesterin\'an\'projectin\'aboutontiltherattlesnakeisplumbdefunct,an\'thentheyemitsawhirlwindofnewwhoops,an\'goesovertoonesidean\'pullsoffaskelpdance。 Jiman\'Billisshorelycel\'bratin\'avic\'try。 \"Aftertheskelpdanceisover,Billan\'Jimtiptoesovermightyquietan\'sedate,an\'Jimtakestheirpreybythetailan\'yanksit。 Aftertherattlesnake\'sdrugoutstraight,himan\'Billrunstheireyesalonghimlikethey\'ssizin\'himup。Withthisyerelast,however,it\'scl\'artheRoadRunnersregardsthedealasclosed。 Theysa\'ntersoffdownthetrail,arminarmlike,conversin\'inlowtonessoPeetsan\'meneverdoeshearwhattheysays。Whenthey\'sinwhattheytakestobethec\'rrectp\'sition,theystopsan\'looksbackatmean\'Peets。BillturnstoJimlikehe\'ssayin\': \"\'Thar\'sthemtwoshort-hornsag\'in。Iwondersiftheyeveraimstopulltheirfreight,ordotheyreckonthey\'llpitchcamprightyere?\"\' CHAPTERXXII。 OLDSAMENRIGHT\'S\"ROMANCE。\" \"Itmebbyis,thatromancescomestopassontherangewhenI\'mthar,\"remarkedtheOldCattleman,meditatively,\"butifsobe,I nevernotes\'em。Theyshorelygetsplumbbymeinthenight。\" Theoldgentlemanhadjustthrowndownadailypaper,andevenashespokeIreadontheupturnedpagetheglaringheadline:\"RomanceinRealLife。\"Hisrecentliteraturewastheevidentcauseofhisreflections。 \"Ofcourse,\"continuedtheOldCattleman,turningforcomforttohisinevitabletobaccopipe,\"ofcourse,atsechepocksassomedegradedsharptakestodealin\'doubleinapokergame,orthekyardsbeginstocometwoataclatteratfaro-bank,theproceedin\'sfrequenttakesonwhatyou-allmightcallahueofromance;an\'Iadmitstheywaslikelytogetsomehectic,myse\'f。ButasIstates,forwhatyou-allwouldbrandasclean。strainromance,Iain\'trecallin\' none。\" \"Howaboutthoseloveaffairsofyouryouth?\"Iventured。 \"WhichIdon\'tdeny,\"repliedtheoldgentleman,betweenpuffs,\"thatbackinTennessee,asIonfoldsbefore,Ihasmyflower- scenteddays。ButIdon\'twednothin\',asyou-allknows,an\'evenwhileI\'mridin\'an\'ropin\'atthemyoungfemalepersons,thar\'snevernoromancetoit,onlessit\'sinthefactthattheyallescapes。 \"Butspeakin\'oflove-tangles,OldManEnrightoncerecountsastory;whichthesameshowshowfemalefancyisrootlessan\' onstablethata-way。 \"\'Allerscopperafemale。\'saysCherokeeHall,oneday,whenTexasThompsonisrelatin\'howhiswifemaltreatshim,an\'roundsupadivorcefromhimdownatLaredo。\'Allersplay\'emtolose。Nell,yere,\'goesonCherokee,asherunshishandoverthecurlsofFaroNell,who\'slookoutforCherokee,\'Nelly,yere,istheonlyoneI evermeetswhocanbedependedontocomewinnereverytrip。\' \"\'Whichfemales,\'saysOldManEnright,who\'ssettin\'tharatthetime,\'an\'partic\'lar,youngfemales,isaheapfrivolous,nacheral。Arainbowwillstampedemostof\'em。Formyse\'f,I\'dshorelyprefertotryan\'holdabunchoffivehundredponiesonabadnight,thanrideherdontheheartofonelady。Betweengentan\' gentthata-way,Imore\'nhalffiggerthe\'ffectionsofafemaleismigratory,sameasbuffaloeswasbeforetheywaskilled,an\'sortergoesnorthlikeinthespring,an\'southag\'ininthewinter。\' \"\'Asforme;saysTexasThompson,who\'smoodytouchin\'themdivorceplayshiswifeismakin\',\'you-allscangambleIpassesallfemalesup。NomatterhowstrongIholds,itlookslikeontheshowdownstheyoutlucksmeeverytime。WhereforeIquits\'emcold,an\'anygentwhowantsmychancewithfemalescanshorelyhavethesame。\' \"\'Oh,Idon\'tknow!\'remarksDocPeets,gettin\'inonwhat\'sageneralplay,\'I\'vebeenallthroughtheherd,an\'ImustsayI deemswomengoodpeopleeverytime;aheapfinerfolksthanmen,an\' faithfuller。\' \"\'WhichIdon\'tdenyfemalesisfinefolks,\'saysTexas,\'butwhatI\'mallowin\'is,they\'sfitful。Theydon\'tstaynone。You-allscanhobblean\'sideline\'embothatnight;an\'whenyourollsoutinthemornin\',they\'sgone。\' \"\'Whatdoyou-allthink,Nell?\'saysDocPeetstoFaroNell,who\'spercheduponherstoolbyCherokee\'sshoulder。\'Whatdoyou-allreckonnowofTexasyere,a-malignin\'ofyoursex?Whydon\'tyoup\'inthimtoDaveTuttan\'TucsonJennie?Whichtheygetsmarried,an\'thartheybe,gettin\'alongaspeacefulastwosix-shootersonthesamebelt。\' \"\'Idon\'tmindwhatTexassays,none,\'repliesFaroNell。\'Texasisallright,an\'onthesquare\"。Ishouldn\'twondernoneifthisyereMissisThompsondoessawitoffonhimsomeshabby,gettin\'thatsep\'ration,an\'Idon\'tmarvelathisremarks。ButaslongasCherokeeyerethinksI\'mright,Idon\'tletnobody\'sviewspestermealittlebit,sothar。\' \"\'It\'swhatIsaysawhileback,\'interruptsEnright。\'TexasThompson\'swife\'smotivesmightylikelyain\'tinvidiousnone。It\'saheapprobableifthetroothisknown,thatsheain\'taimin\'nothin\' speshulatTexas;sheonlychangeshermind。AbouttheearliesteventIremembers,\'goesonEnright,\'isconcernin\'awomanwhochangeshermind。It\'syearsagowhenI\'mayearlin\'。Ourcompanyismakin\'around-upatacampcalledWarwhoopCrossin\',inTennessee,organizin\'toembarkintheMexicanwarawholelot,an\'thinouttheGreasers。NooneeverdoesknowwhyI,personal,declar\'smyse\'finonthisyereimbroglio。Iain\'tbigger\'nachargeofpowder,an\' thatlimitedastolaigsIhastoclamberontoalogtomountmypony。 \"\'ButasI\'mtellin\',we-allscomestogetheratWarwhooptomakethestart。Ireckonsnowthar\'sfivehundredpeoplethar。`\'Whichtheoccasion,an\'theinterestthepublictakesinthebusiness,jestcombstheregionoffolksformilesabout。 \"\'Thar\'saheapofhand-shakin\'an\'well-wishin\'goin\'on;mothersan\'sisters,an\'sweetheartsiskissin\'usgood-bye;an\'whilethar\'ssomehilaritythar\'smoresobs。It\'snot,asIlooksback\'ard,whatyou-allswouldcallagayaffair。 \"\'Whileallthisyerelovean\'tearsisflowin\',thar\'sagent——he\'sourCaptain——who\'ssettin\'offaloneinhissaddle,an\'ain\'ttakin\' nohand。Thar\'snosweetheart,nomother,nosisterforhim。 \"\'NooneaboutWarwhoopknowsthisyerepartymuch;more\'nhisnameisBent。He\'scaptainwiththeGov\'nor\'scommission,an\'comesfrom\'way-offyondersome\'ers。An\'sohesetsthar,griman\'solidinhissaddle,lookin\'vague-likeoffatwherethetreesmeetsthesky,whiletherestofusisgoin\'aboutpermiscus,finishin\'upourkissin\'。 \"\'\"Ain\'thegotnosweethearttowishgoodbyetohim?\"asksagirlofme。\"Ain\'ttharnoonetokisshimforgoodluckasheridesaway?\" \"\'Thisyeremaiden\'snameisSanders,an\'it\'sashorefactshe\'stheprettiestyoungfemaletoevermakeamoccasintrackinWestTennessee。I\'da-killedmyponyan\'goneafoottobringsechalookintohereyes,asshinestharwhenshegazesattheCaptainwherehe\'ssilentan\'sol\'taryonhishoss。 \"\'No,\"Ireplies,\"he\'saorphan,Ireckons。He\'splumbabandonedthata-way,an\'sothar\'snobodyyeretokisshim,orshakehishand。\" \"\'ThisyereprettySandersgirl——an\'I\'mpausin\'ag\'intostateshe\'sahumansunflower,thata-way——thisSandersbeauty,I\'msayin\',looksatthispartybyhimse\'fforamoment,an\'thenthebigtearsbeginstowellinherblueeyes。Sheblusheslikeasunset,an\'walksovertothisyerelonegent。 \"\'MisterCaptain,\"shesays,raisin\'herfacetohimlikearose,\"I\'mshoresorryyouain\'tgotnosweethearttosay\'good-bye;\'an\' bein\'you\'relonesome,thata-way,I\'llkissyouan\'sayadiosmyse\'f。\" \"\'Willyou,mylittlelady?\"saysthelonesomeCaptain,asheswingsfromhissaddletothegroundbyherside;an\'thar\'ssunshineinhiseyes。 \"\'I\'llthinkofyoueverydayforthat,\"hesays,whenhekissesher,\"an\'ifIgetsbackwhenthewar\'sdone,I\'llshorelylookforyouyere。\" \"\'ThelittleSandersgirl——sheisshorelyashandsomeasaacefullonkings——blushesaheapvividatwhatshe\'sdone,an\'lookswarman\'tender。Which,whiletheplayissomeonusualan\'outofline,everybodyagreesit\'sallright;bein\'thatwe-allsisgoin\'toawar,thata-way。 \"\'Nowyere,\'goesonEnright,atthesametimecallin\'forred-eyeall\'round,\'iswhatyouallsagreesisamightyromanticdeal。 Yere\'saloveaffairgetslaunched。\' \"\'Doesthisyerelone-handgentwhogetskissedbytheSandersladyoutlivethewar?\'asksTexasThompson,whohasbracedupan\'getsmightyvivaciouslistenin\'tothestory。 \"\'Whichheshorelyoutlivesthatconflict,\'repliesEnright。\'An\' youcangamblehe\'sinthethickofthestampede,too,everytime。I willsayforthisyereCaptain,thatwhileIain\'twithhimplumbthrough,he\'sasgameasportaseverfoughtuphill。He\'sthesortwhichfightsangoesfor\'ardtohismanatthesametime。Thar\'snowhitefeathersonthatkind;they\'sgameasbadgers。An\'bad。\' \"\'Whichifhedon\'tgetdownednone,\'saysTexasThompson,\'an\'hitsTennesseealive,IofferstentooneheleadsthisyereSandersfemaletothealtar。\' \"\'Whichyou\'dlose,awholelot,\'saysEnright,atthesametimeraisin\'hiswhiskeyglass。 \"\'That\'swhatIstateswhenItrailsoutonthisyereromance。 Femalesisfrivolousan\'plumblightoffancy。ThisCaptainpartycomesbacktoWarwhoop,say,it\'stwoyearsan\'ahalflater,an\' whatdoyou-allsreckon?ThatSandersgirl\'sbeenmarriedmightynightwoyzars,an\'hasaninfantchildasbigasab\'arcub,whichisbeginnin\'tomakeabluffatwalkin。\' \"\'Now,onthesquar\',an\'I\'mass\'prisedaboutitasyoube——I\'mmore\'ns\'prised,I\'mpained——Idon\'tallow,lookin\'overresultsan\' recallin\'thefactofthatb\'ar-cubinfantchild,thatforallherblushin\',an\'allhertears,an\'kissin\'thatCaptainpartygood-bythata-way,thattheSandersgirlcaresahoss-h\'arropeforhiminaweek。An\'itallproveswhatIremarks,thatwhilefemalesain\'tmalev\'lentmalicious,an\'don\'tdotheseyerethingstopierceagentwithgrief,their\'ffectionsisalwayshonin\'forthetrail,an\'isshorelypronetomovecamp。But,bless\'em!theycan\'the\'pitnoneiftheirheartsbequicksands,an\'Ilibatesto\'emag\'in。\' \"Whereatwe-allsdrinkswithEnright;feelin\'aheapsim\'lar。 \"\'WhateverbecomesofthisyercporeCaptainparty?\'asksFaroNell。 \"\'Well,thefactaboutthatCaptain,\'repliesEnright,settin\'downhisglass,\'whilethesameismereincident,an\'don\'thavenodirectbearin\'onwhatIrelates;thefactinhiscaseishe\'sweddedalready。Nacherallyaftersayin\'\"howdy!\"tothelittleSandersgirl,an\'applaudin\'ofherprogeny——whichitlookslikehefullyendorsesthata-way——thisyereCaptaingenthitsthetrailforNashville,wherehiswife\'sbeenkeepin\'campan\'waitin\'forhimallthetime。\"\' CHAPTERXXIII。 PINONBILL\'SBLUFF。 \"Thisnarrativeiswhatyou-allmightcallsomewidespread,\"saidtheOldCattleman,ashebeameduponme,evidentlyinthebestofhumors。\"IttellshowPinonBillgetsahossonJackMoore;leavesthecampboggeduptothesaddle-girthsindoubtaboutwhodownsBurke;an\'stakestheDeefWomansoshepullsherfreightfortheStates。 \"PinonBillisreckonedahardgame。He\'sonlyinWolfvillenowan\' then,an\'ain\'tcuttin\'nofiggerinpubliccalc\'lationsmore\'nit\'sregardedassagacioustopackyourgunwhilePinonBill\'sabout。 \"No;hedon\'tdownnowhitemennooneeverhearsof,butthar\'sstoriesabouthowhesmugglesfreightan\'plundervariousfromMexico,an\'drivesoffMexicancattle,an\'onceinawhilestretchesaMexicanhimse\'fwhoobjectstothementerprisesofPinonBill\'s; butthar\'snothin\'insechtalestointerestAmericans,more\'ntohear\'eman\'commenton\'emasplays。 \"ButwhilePinonBillneverturnshistalentstoAmerican,themlibertieshetakeswithGreasersgiveshimaheapofbadrepoote,asamightyorneryan\'oneasyperson;an\'mostofussorterkeepstabonhimwheneverhefavorsWolfvillewithhispresence。 \"\'ThistimehecollideswithJackMoore,an\'sotospeak,leavesthedrinksonJack,he\'sbeentrackin\'\'roundcampmebbyit\'ssixweeks。 \"\'Likewisethar\'sanoldlonghorntheycallsthe\'Major\';he\'sbeenhangin\'aboutforevenlongeryet。Don\'tgotofiggerin\'onnohostilitiesbetweenthisPinonBillan\'theMajor,fortheirtrailsneverdoescrossonce。Anotherthing\'PinonBillain\'tnacheraliyhostileneither;ain\'twhatyou-allcallstrailin\'trouble;whereastheMajor\'salsoaheaptoodrunktogivewaytowar,bein\'tankedthata-waycontinuous。 \"WhichIdon\'treckonthar\'stheslightestdoubtbuttheMajor\'sabiggersotthanOldMonte,thoughthesameisindispoote;CherokeeHallan\'Boggsa-holdin\'heis;an\'DocPeetsan\'Tuttplayin\'theotherend;Enrightan\'JackMoore,ondecided。 \"Peetsconfidesinmeofan\'concernin\'theMajorthatthar\'satime——an\'nofurtherupthetrailthanfiveyears——whentheMajorisshore-\'noughaMajor;bein\'quartermasterorsomesechbluffinthearmy。 \"ButonedayUncleSamcomesalongan\'wantstocashin;an\'tharthisyerecrazy-hossMajoriswithtentimesasmanychipsoutashe\'sgotbank-rolltomeet,an\'itallfatiguesthegov\'menttothatextenttheMajor\'scashiered,an\'toldtovamosthearmyforgood。 \"Iallersallowsit\'swhiskeyan\'kyardsgetstheMajor\'srollthattime。Peetssaysheseeshim\'waybackonceoversome\'ersneartheMohaveDesert——Wingate,mebby——an\'whiskeyan\'pokerhastheMajorroped;onebythehorns,theotherbythehoofs;an\'theyjestthrowshiman\'drughim,an\'drughiman\'throwshim,alternate。TheMajornevershakesloosefromtheloopsofthemvices;nonewhatever。 \"An\'that\'smightylikely,jestasIsays,howtheMajorfindshimse\'fcashieredan\'afoot;an\'nothin\'butdisgracetogetridofan\'whiskeytoget,tofillthefuturewith。 \"SoitcomeswhenItrailsupontheMajorhe\'sadrunkardcomplete,hangin\'\'roundwithatin-hornan\'ahandfulofdice,tryin\'togetMexicansorChinamentogoag\'in\'emforanysmallthingtheynames。 \"It\'sonaccountofthisyeredrunkardtheMajorthattheDeefWomancomesstagin\'itinwithOldMonteoneday。Gotapapoosewithher,theDeefWomanhas,aboycomin\'three,an\'it\'smyfirmbelief,whichthisviewiscommonan\'frequentwithallWolfville,ashowtheDeefWoman\'stheMajor\'swife。 \"Itain\'tnocinchplaythatthisfemale\'sdeef,neither;whichit\'sallersplainshehearsthemostfeeblesomeyelpofthatinfant,allthewayfromthedance-halltotheO。K。House,an\'thatmeansacrossthecampcomplete。 \"Boggsputsitupshemerelygivesitoutshe\'sdeefthata-waytocutoffdebatewiththecamp,an\'declineallconfidencesgoin\'an\' comin\'。 \"Thar\'snoreasontosaytheDeefWoman\'stheMajor\'swife,more\'nshetumblesintocampasonlookedforasOldMontesober,an\'it\'seasytonoteshes\'prisesan\'dismaystheMajoralot,evendrunkan\'soakedwithnosepaintasheshorelyis。 \"TheDeefWomanhasabriefpow-wowwithhimaloneoverattheO。K。 House,followin\'ofwhichtheMajorappearsthewhitiestan\'theshakiestIeverbeholdshim——thelastbein\'somestrongasastatement——an\'afterbeggin\'adrinkattheRedLight,p\'intsoutafootforRedDog,an\'isseennomore。 \"WhattheDeefWomansaystotheMajor,orhimtoher;orwhatmakeshimhitthetrailforRedDogthata-waynoonelearns。TheDeefWomanain\'tseemin\'toregardtheMajor\'sjumpin\'theoutfitasnoloss,however。Whereinshe\'splentyaccurate,forthatMajorshorelyain\'tworthropin\'tobrand。 \"Afterhe\'sgone——an\'theMajor\'smoccasintrackain\'tneverseeninWolfvillenomore,he\'sgonethatgood——thenextwe-allshearsofthedeal,thisyereDeefWoman\'splayin\'thepianoatthedance- hall。 \"DocPeetsan\'Enright,likewisetherest,don\'tlikethisnonewhatever,forshedon\'tshowdance-hally\'earmarks,an\'ain\'tthedance-hallbrand;butitlookslikethey\'spowerlesstointerfere。 \"Peetstriestotalktoher,butsheblushesan\'can\'thearhim; whileEnrightan\'MissisRucker——whichthelastbein\'afemaleherse\'fisrunginontheplay——don\'twinoutnothin\'more。LookslikealltheDeefWomanwantsistobeletalone,whileshemakesaplaythebestshecanforahome-stake。 \"Ipausestomention,however,thatdurin\'theweektheDeefWomanturnshergameatthepiano——forshedon\'tstayonlyaweekastheplayrunsout——shecomesmightynearkillin\'thedance-hallbusiness。ThefactisthiswereDeefWomanplaysthatremarkablesweetnoonedancesatall;jestnacherallysets\'roundhungerin\'forthemmelodies,an\'cadencestothatextenttheyactooallyoverlooksdrinks。 \"That\'sright;an\'youcangambleyourdeepestchipwhenfolksbeginstooverlookdrinks,an\'aglassofwhiskeylastsenergeticpeoplehalfanhour,they\'sshorelysomerapt。 \"Eventhecoyotescashesinan\'quitstheirhowlswhenevertheDeefWomandrugherchairuptothatpianoan\'throwsloose。An\'themcoyotesafterward,whensheturnsupherboxan\'stopsdealin\',getsthatbashfulan\'taciturntheyain\'tsayin\'aword;butjestwithholdsallyellsentiretherestofthenight。 \"Butthar\'snousetalkin\'hoursabouttheDeefWoman\'smusic。Itonlylastsaweek;evenifWolfvilledoesbragofityet。 \"It\'sthisa-way:It\'swhilePinonBillisromancin\'roundthetimeImentions,thatwe-allsrollsoutenourblanketsonemornin\'an\' picksupapartywhosename\'sBurke。ThisyereBurkeisshotintheback;plumbdead,an\'iscampedwhenwefindshimallcoldan\'stiffoutbackoftheNewYorkstore。 \"Thedaybefore,Burke,who\'saminer,diggin\'an\'projectin\'\'roundoverintheFloridas,isincamplayin\'inpowderan\'fuseawholelot,withwhichhemeanstokeeponshootin\'upthehe\'plessbosomsofthehillslikethemlocoedminerpeopledoes。 \"Atnighthe\'sdrunk;an\'whilethar\'sgentsasseesBurkeaslate,mebbyit\'stwohoursafterthelastwalseatthedance-hall,thar\'snobodywhoupsan\'impartshowBurkegetsplugged。AllWolfvilleknowsisthatatfirst-drinktimeinthemornin\',tharthisBurkeisplumbpeteredthata-way。 \"An\'theworstfeatureshorelyisthatthebulletgoesinhisback,whichmakesitmurderplain。Tharain\'tamoccasintracktohe\'ptellwhodropsthisyereBurke。Nacrerally,everybody\'sdeeplytakentoknowwhodoesit;forifthar\'sapartyincampwho\'souttoshootwhenyourback\'sturned,findin\'ofhiman\'hangin\'himcan\'tbetoopop\'laran\'needfulasaplay。But,asIremarks,we\'rebaffled,an\'upag\'institabsoloote。NoonehastheleastnotionwhogetsthisyereBurke。It\'smoneyasistheobjectofthemurder,forBurke\'swar-bagsdon\'tdisclosenotasinglecentousewhenthecommitteegoesthrough\'empriortotheobsequies。 \"It\'stwodaysthecampistalkin\'overwhodoesthiscrime,whenTexasThompsonbeginstoshedabeamoflight。Thislastwasonlookedfor,an\'tharforeallthemoreinterestin\'。 \"TexasThompsonisajedgeofwhiskeysechasanygentmighttieto。 He\'samiddlin\'shotwithaColt\'s。44an\'canprotecthimse\'fatpoker。ButnobodyeverreckonsbeforethatTexascanthink。WhichI evenyetdeemsthispartic\'lartimeainspiration,inwhicheventTexasThompsondon\'thavetothink。 \"It\'soverintheRedLightthesecondafter。noonwhenTexasturnslooseawholelot。 \"\'Enright,\'hesays,\'IshorehasapreemonitionthisyereBurkegetspluggedbyPinonBill。\' \"\'Howdoesthekyardsrunsoastodeals\'picionsonPinonBill?\' saysEnright。 \"\'Thisa-way,\'saysTexas,someconfidentan\'cl\'ar;\'somebodydownsBurke;that\'sdeadcertain。Burkedon\'tputthatholeinthemiddleofhisbackhimse\'f;nomatterhowmuchhereckonsitimproveshim。 Then,whenit\'ssomeoneelsewhoisit?Now,\'goesonTexas,asglibaswolves,\'yere\'showIargues:You-alldon\'tdoit;Peetsdon\'tdoit;Boggsdon\'tdoit;thar\'snotoneofuswhodoesit。An\'tharyoubeplumbdowntoPinonBill。Intheverynacherofthedeal,whennooneelsedoesitan\'it\'sdone,PinonBill\'sgottodoit。I tellsyouasshoreasmyformerwifeatLaredo\'swritin\'insultin\' letterstomerightnow,thisyerePinonBill\'sthepartywhoshootsupthatminergentBurke。\' \"WhatTexasThompsonsaysmakesanimpression;whichit\'saboutthefirstthoughtfulremarkheevermakes,an\'tharforewe\'repronetogiveitmore\'nusualattention。 \"Weimbibesonitan\'talksitupan\'down,mebbyit\'shalfanhour; an\'themorewedrinksan\'theharderwethinks,thecl\'areritkeepsgettin\'thatmightylikelythisyereTexashasstruckthetrail。AtlastJackMoore,who\'s,asIoftensays,promptan\' vig\'lantthata-way,linesouttohuntthisyerePinonBill。 \"WhyeverdotheycallhimPinonBill?Nothin\'much;onlyoncehecomesintocampdrunkan\'locoed;an\'bein\'inthedarkan\'himhawg-hungry,heb\'ilesakettleofpinon-nuts,a-holdin\'of\'emerroneoustobebeans,an\'assechaimin\'togetsomefoodouten\'emawholelot。Hegoestosleepwhilehe\'spesterin\'with\'em,an\' whentheotherstumblestohisgameinthemornin\',he\'sbrandedas\'PinonBill\'evermore。 \"WhenJackhopsouttoround-upPinonBill,allhedoesisgointothestreet。ThefirstthinghenotesisthisyerePinonBill\'sponystandin\'saddledoverbytheO。K。House,likeheplanstopullhisfreight。 \"\'Whichthatbroncostandin\'thar,\'saysJacktoEnright,\'makesitlooklikeTexascallstheturnwiththemsurmises。\'An\'itshorelydoes。 \"ThisponymakesJack\'splayplentysimple;allhedoesnowistosa\'nter\'roundtheponycasooallikean\'layforPinonBill。 \"Jack\'stoowellbroughtuptogosurgin\'intoroomslookin\'forPinonBill,whereJack\'seyescomin\'inoutenthesunthata-way,can\'tseeforaminutenohow,an\'wherePinonBillhasadvantages。 It\'sbettertowaitforhimoutside。 \"You-allsaveyshowit\'sdoneintheWest。Whenagent\'sneededyouallersopensthegamewithagun-play。 \"\'Holdupyourhands!\'saysyou,sorterindicatin\'awholelotatyourpreywithagun。 \"Which,bytheway,ifhedon\'tenterintothesperitofthethingpromptan\'p\'inthispawsheavenwardan\'nodelay,you-allmustn\'tfallintonoabstractionsan\'forgettoshootsome。Whenyouobservestoafellow-bein\'thata-way\'Holdupyourhands!\'youmustbepartic\'laran\'seehedoesit。 Whichifyougrowslaxonthisp\'inthe\'smightylikelytoputyourlightoutrightthar。 \"An\'jestasJackMooretellsmeoncewhenwe\'reputtin\'insomeleesurehoursan\'whiskeymingled,youdon\'twanttogotooclosetostandupyourgent。OverintheGunnisoncountry,Jacksays,amarshalheknowsgetsinadvertentthata-way,an\'thoughtless,an\' goesupclose。 \"\'Throwupyourhands\'saysthisyeremarshal。 \"Histoneshowshe\'sennuied;hehassomanyoftheseyereblazerstorun;that\'swhyhe\'scareless,mebby。Whenthepartythrowsuphishands,heiscarefulanknocksthemarshal\'sgunonesidewithhislefthand,bein\'he\'stoocloseasIsays,atthesametimepullin\'hisownwherewithhethensendsthatmarshaltothehappyhuntin\'groundsinonemotion。BeforeeverthatGunnisonoffishulgetsitoutenhisheadthatthatsport\'sholdin\'uphishands,he\'sreceivin\'noticeonhightohustle\'roundan\'findhisharpan\' standinontheeternalchorusforallhe\'sworth。 \"\'Whichthepublic,\'saysJackMoore,thetimeherelatesaboutthisyereGunnisonmarshalbeinover-playedthattime,\'takesan\'hangsthekillerinaminute。An\'he\'sshorelyabadman。 \"\'Doesyou-allwanttopray?\"saysoneofthegentswho\'sstringin\' ofhim。 \"\'No,Ed,\"hesaysthata-way,\"prayin\'sablindtrailtomyeyesan\'Ican\'trunitainch。\" \"\'\"Whatforaracket,\"saysthisyereEd,\"woulditbetopickoutasporttoprayforyouawholelot;sorterplayyourhand?\" \"\'\"That\'sallright,\"saysthisculprit。\"Nominateyoursharpan\' tellhimtowadeinan\'rollhisgame。Ireckonsit\'sagoodhedge,an\'alittleprayin\'mebbydoesmegood。\" \"\'Tharuponthecommitteeputsfor\'ardagentwho\'sagoodtalker; butnottakin\'aninterestmuch,hemakesamightyweakorison,thata-way。Thar\'snohodylikesit,fromtheculprit,who\'sstandin\'tharwiththelariat\'roundhisneck,tothelastgentwho\'scomeup。 Thispartyblundersalong,mebbyit\'saminute,whentheculprit,who\'splumbdisgusted,breaksin。 \"\'\"That\'sahellofapra\'r,\"hesays,\"an\'Idon\'twantnomoreofitinmine。Gimmeadrinkofwhiskey,gents,an\'swingmeoff。\" \"\'Thecommittee,whosesympathiesisallwiththisyerepartywho\'stohang,callsdownthegentaheapwho\'sprayin\',givestheotherhisfortydrops,an\'cincheshimupsomefreeoftheground;whichthesamebein\'ampleforstrang\'lation。 \"\'But,\'concloodsJack,\'whiletheyhangshimallrightan\'proper,thatdon\'tputoffthefuneralofthemarshalnone,whogetscarelessan\'goestooclose。\'An\'youbetJack\'sright。 \"Butgoin\'back:AsIremarks,Jackstandsroundloosean\' indifferentwithhiseyeontheponyofPinonBill\'s,whichitlooksnowlikethisyereBillisawareofJack\'slittlegame。Hecomesoutshore-\'nough,buthe\'sorganized。He\'sgothisguninhishand;an\' alsohe\'spackin\'theDeefWoman\'syearlin\'infrontofhisbreastan\'face。 \"Jackgiveshimtheword,butPinonBillonlylaughs。ThenJackmakesabluffwithhisgunlikehe\'sgoin\'toshootPinonBill,theinfant,an\'allinvolvedtharin。ThisyerelastmoverattlesPinonBill,an\'heupsan\'slamslooseatJack。Butthebaby\'sinhiswayasmuchmebbyasitisinJack\'s,an\'heonlygrazesJack\'sframeawholelot,whichamountstosomebloodan\'nodeepharm。 \"\'Downhispony,Jack!\'shoutsDaveTutt,jumpin\'outentheRedLightlikeheaimstogetinonthedeal。 \"ButthisyerePinonBillshiftsthecuton\'em。 \"\'Ifoneofyou-allssomuchascracksacap,\'hesays,\'Iblowstheheadoffenthisyereblessedchild。\' \"An\'tharuponheshoveshisgunupaginthatbaby\'slefty\'earthata-way,soitshorecurdlesyourblood。Hedoesitasreadilyasifit\'sgrown-upfolks。Itshoresendsachillthroughme;an\'DanBoggsisthat\'fectedheturnsplumbsick。Boggsain\'teatin\'athing,leastwisenothin\'butwhiskey,fortwodaysafterheseesPinonBilldoit。 \"\'That\'sonthelevel,\'saysthisPinonBillag\'in——Thefirstvestichofagun-playIwitnesses,orifanygentstartstofollowmeontilI\'mamileaway,I\'llsendthisyearlin\'scoutin\'afterBurke。An\'you-allshearsmesayit。\' \"Tharitis;asquar\'caseofstand-off。Tharain\'tagentwho\'sgametomakeamove。Seein\'weain\'tgotakyardlefttoplay,thisyerePinonBillgrinswidean\'satisfactory,an\'swingsintothesaddle。 \"Allthistime——which,afterall,itain\'tsolong——thebabyain\'tsayin\'nothin\',andtakesthedealinplumbsilence。ButjestasPinonBilllandsinthesaddleitonfurlsayelllikeawrongedpanther。That\'swhatbringstheDeefWomanstampedin\'tothescene。 Shedon\'thearamorselofallthisriotJackan\'Tuttan\'PinonBillkicksup;neverevengetsahintofPinonBill\'ssix-shooter。 Butwiththeearliestsqueakofthatinfantthata-way,youbet!shecomesa-runnin\'。 \"Thesecondsheseeswhereherbaby\'sat,upinthesaddlealongwithPinonBill,shemakesaspringforthewholeoutfit。We-allsstandslookin\'on。Tharain\'toneofusdarescrookafinger,forthisPinonBilliscoolan\'ca\'mplumbthrough。He\'sstillgotthedroponthekid,whilehe\'sholdin\'babyan\'bridlebothwiththeotherarman\'hand。HissharpeyesisontheDeefWoman,too。 \"Shesprings,butshenevermakesit。PinonBilljumpshisponysidewaysoutofherreach,an\'atthattheDeefWomanc\'lapsesonherfacean\'shoulderinadeadswoon。 \"\'Adios!\'saysPinonBill,totherestofus,backin\'an\'sidlin\' hisponyupthestreetsohedon\'tlosesightoftheplay。\'Tenminutesfromnowyou-allsfindsthisyereinfantamilefromcampassafean\'solidasasodhouse。\' \"\'Bill,\'saysEnright,allatonce,\'Imakesyouaprop\'sition。 Restorethebabytome,an\'tharain\'tagentincampwhofollowsyouafoot。IgivesyouthewordofWolfville。\' \"\'Doesthatgo?\'demandsPinonBill,turnintoJack,who\'sshakin\' thebloodoffenhisfingerswhereitrunsdownhisarm。 \"\'Itgoes,\'saysJack;\'goeswhereverEnrightsetsit。Imakesgoodhisbluffsatalltimesonfootorinthestirrups。\' \"\'An\'Itakesyourpromise,\'saysPinonBillwithalaugh,\'an\' yere\'sthebaby。WhichnowI\'mgoin\',Idon\'tmindconfidin\'inyou- alls,\'goesonthisPinonBill,\'thatIneverintendstohurtthatinfantnohow。\' \"Enrightgetsthechild,an\'innotimelaterthatPinonBillisfledfromsight。Youcanbelieveit;ittakesaloadoffenthepublicmindaboutthatinfantwhenthekyardscomesthata-way。 \"Whichthestory\'ssoontoldnow。It\'sthreedayslater,an\',seein\' it\'srefreshedinourthoughts,Enrightan\'therestofusisresoomedop\'rationstouchin\'thisDeefWoman,aboutgettin\'heroutencamp,an\'she\'sbeginnin\'torecoverherobduracyaboutnotsayin\'orhearin\'nothin\',whenincomesapackagebyOldMontean\' thestage。It\'sforEnrightfromthathoss。thief,PinonBill。 Thar\'saletteran\' Sooforthebaby。 \"\'TellthatDecfWoman,\'saysthisyerePinonBill,\'thatIhasaneventhousanddollarsinmywar-bags,whenIstacksinheroffspringag\'instthecamptowin;an\'Ideemsitonlysquar\'todividethepotwiththebaby。Thekidan\'me\'spartnersintheplaythata-way,an\'theenclosedisthekid\'sshare。Sawthisyeredinerooffonhersomehow;an\'makeherpullherfreight。Wolfville\'snogoodplacetoraisethatbaby。\' \"\'WhichthisPinonBillain\'tsobadneither,\'saysDanBoggs,whenhehearsit。\'Gents,Iproposesthehealthofthisoutlaw。Barkeep,seewhattheytakesinbehalfofPinonBill。\' \"Theletteran\'themoney\'sdeadstraight,an\'theDeefWomancan\'tdodgeorgo\'round。AllofwhichMissisRuckertakesadayoffan\' beatsitintoherbymakin\'signs。It\'sliketwoInjunstalkin\'。ItallwindsupbytheDeefWomanp\'intin\'outonherwaysome\'ersEast,an\'tharain\'toneofuseverseestheMajor,theDeefWoman,thekid,noryetthisPinonBill,nomore。Whichthislast,however,isnotregardedasfoodfordeepregrets,\" CHAPTERXXIV。 CRAWFISHJIM。 \"Don\'tInevertellyouthestoryofthedeathofCrawfishJim?\" TheOldCattlemanbentuponmeaneyeofbenevolentinquiry。I assuredhimthatthedetailsofthetakingoffofCrawfishJimwereasasealedbooktome。ButIwouldblithelylisten。 \"WhatwasthefateofCrawfishJim?\"Iasked。Thenameseemedapromiseinitself。 \"Nothin\'muchforafate,Crawfish\'sain\'t,\"rejoinedtheOldCattleman。\"Nothin\'whatevercomparedtosomefatesIkeepstabsonto。Itwasthisa-way:CrawfishJimwasasheep-man,an\'hasacampoutinthefoothillsoftheTresHermanas,mebbyit\'sthirtymilesbackfromWolfville。ThisyereCrawfishJimwasapecooliarperson;plumblocoed,likeallsheep-men。Theyhastobecrazyortheywouldn\'tpester\'roundinnosechdisrepootablepursootsassheep。 You-allhasseentheseyeregentsasmakespetsofsnakes。Mebbyit\'sonceinathousandtimesyoucutsthetrailofsechaparty。 Snakesiskittenstohim,an\'he\'slikelytobepackin\'specimens\'roundinhisclothesanytime。 \"That\'sthewaywiththisCrawfishJim。Imindstalkin\'tohimathiscamponedaywhenI\'mhuntin\'abunchofcattle。ThefirstI notes,snakestickshisheadoutenCrawfish\'sshirt,an\'looksatmemalev\'lentanddistrustful。AnotherprotroodsitsnoseoutupbyCrawfish\'scollar。 \"\'Whichyoushoreseemsha\'ntedofsnakes?\'Isays,steppin\'backan\'p\'intin\'atthereptiles。 \"\'Them\'smydumbcompanions,\'saysCrawfishJim。\'Theysharesmysolitood。\' \"\'You-alldoseemsomepop\'larwith\'em,\'Iobserves,forIsaveysatoncehe\'splumboffhismentalreservation;an\'whenaparty\'slocoedthata-wayitmakeshimhostileifyouderideshislittlegameorbuckshisnotions。 \"ItakesgrubwithCrawfishthatsameday;goodchuck,too;mainlysheep-meat,salt-hoss,an\'bakin\'-powderbiscuit。Iwatcheshimsomenarrowaboutthemsnakeshe\'sinfestedwith;Iloathin\'of\'em,an\' notwantin\'\'emtotransfernolovetome,nortaketoenlivenin\'mysecloosionnone。 \"Well,son,thisyereCrwafishJimisasadenofserpents。I reckonsnowhehasaplumbdozenmowedawayinhisraiment。Thar\'snoharmin\'em;bein\'allbull-snakes,whichisinnocuousan\' withoutp\'ison,fangs,orconvictions。 \"WhenCrawfishgoestocook,hedumpsthesefolksoatenhisclothes,an\'lets\'emhustlean\'play\'roundwhilegrub\'sgettin\'。 \"\'Theseyerelittleanimals,\'hesays,\'likestheirreecreationssameashumans,soIallersgives\'emaplay-spellwhileI\'mbusyroundcamp。\' \'\"Don\'ttheyeverstampedeoffnone?\'Iasks。 \"\'Shorelynot,\'saysCrawfish。\'Bull-snakesisthemostdomesticalsnaketharis。IfI\'dleaveoneoftheseyeretendercreaturesereovernighthe\'ddieofhomesickness。\' \"WhenCrawfishgetsreadytobilethecoffee,hetumblesthebiggestbullsnakeI\'dseenyetoutenthecoffee-potontothegrass。Thenhefillsthekettlewithwater,dumpsinthecoffee,an\'setsheronthecoalstostew。 \"\'Thisyerepartic\'larsnake,\'saysCrawfish,\'whichIcallshimJuliusCaesar,istoobigtotote\'roundinmyshirt,an\'sohelivesinthecoffee-potwhileI\'maway,an\'keepscampforme。\' \"\'Don\'tyouyearnfornorattlesnakestofondle?\'Iinquires,jesttoseewhatkyardhe\'dplay。 \"\'No,\'hesays,\'rattlesnakesisallright——good,sociable,moralsnakesenough;butinasperitofhumortheymaybiteyouorsomeplaylikethat,an\'tharyou\'dbe。No;bull-snakesisas\'fectionateasrattles,an\'don\'truntop\'ison。Youdon\'thavenoinadvertencieswith\'em。\' \"\'Can\'tyoubustthefangsoutenrattlesnakes?\'Iasks。 \"\'Theygrowsrightinag\'in,\'saysCrawfish,sameasyourfinger- nails。Iain\'tgotnotimetogoscoutin\'arattlesnake\'smoutheveryday,lookin\'upteeth,soIdon\'tworrywith\'em,butplaysbull-snakesstraight。Thisbein\'dentistforrattlesnakeshasresks,whichthesamewouldbefoolishtoassoom。\' \"Whilegrub\'scookin\'an\'Crawfishan\'me\'spow-wowin\',alittleolddogCrawfishhas——oneofthemno-accountnce-dogs——comesupan\' makesasmalluprisin\'offtoonesidewithJuliusCaesar。Thedogyelpsan\'snaps,an\'JuliusCaesarblowsan\'strikesathim,sameasarattle。snake。However,theyain\'tdoin\'noharm,an\'Crawfishdon\'tpaynoheed。 \"\'They\'srunnin\'blazersoneachother,\'saysCrawfish,\'an\'don\'tmeannothin\'。BimebyCaribouPete——whichthesameisthedog——willgoliedownan\'sleep;an\'JuliusCaesarwillquileupag\'inhimtobewarm。Caribou,bein\'adogthata-way,isawarm-bloodanimal,whileporeJuliushasgotcoldbloodlikeafish。Sohegoesoveran\'campsonCaribou,an\'allthesameputshisfeetonhimfortobecomfortable。\' \"Ofcourse,I\'maheapinterestedinthisyeresnakeknowledge,an\' tellsCrawfishso。Butitsortercoppersmyappetite,an\'Crawfishsavesonsheep-meatan\'sow-bellybyhisdiscoursepowerful。 Thinkin\'an\'a-lookin\'atthemblessedsnakes,speshulatJuliusCmsar,Ishoreain\'thungrymuch。Butasyousays:howaboutCrawfishJimgettin\'killed? \"OnedayCrawfishallowsallalonebyhimse\'fhe\'llhopintoWolfvillean\'buysomestuffforhiscamp,——flour,whiskey,tobacker,air-tights,an\'sech。 \"What\'sair-tights?WhichyouEasternshorthornsisshoreignorant。 Air-tightsiscanpeaches,cantomatters,an\'sim\'larbluffs。 \"AsIwassayin\',alongcomesporeoldCrawfishovertoWolfville; ridesinonaburro。That\'sright,son;comesloafin\'alongonaburrolikeaMexican。Theseyeresheep-menisthatabandonedan\' vulgartheyain\'tgotpridetorideahoss。 \"AlongcomesCrawfishonaburro,an\'it\'shisfirstvisittoWolfville。YeretoforetheoldCimmarongoesovertoRedDogforhisplunder,thesamebein\'abustedlow-downcampontheLordsburgtrail,whichonceholdsit\'sarivaltoWolfville。Itain\'t,however;thesamenotbein\'ofthesameimportance,commercial,asaprairie-dogtown。 \"Thistime,however,CrawfishpintsupforWolfville。An\'tomakehimse\'floved,Ireckons,whateverdoeshedobutbringalongJuliusCaesar。 \"Idon\'treckonnowheeverplaysJuliusCaesarnoneonRedDog。 Mightylikelythisyerewasthebull-snake\'sfirstengagement。I clingstothisnotionthatRedDogneverseesJuliusCaesar;forifshehad,themdrunkardswhichinhabitssaidcampwouldn\'thavequityellin\'yet。WhichJuliusCaesar,withthatRedDogwhiskeytheywassoakedin,wouldhaveshoregiven\'emsomemightyheenousvisions。 Factis,CrawfishtoldJackMoorelaterhenevertakesJuliusCaesarnowherebefore。 \"ButallthesameCrawfishprancesintocamponthisyereoccasionwithJuliusbushwacked\'way\'roundbackinhisshirt,an\'sechvacantspacesabouthispersonasain\'totherwiseoccupieda- nourishin\'ofminorbull-snakesplentyprofuse。 \"Ofcoursethemsnakesisallholdin\'back,bein\',afterall,timidcattle;an\'sononeofuss\'spectsCrawfishispackin\'anysechs\'prises。NoneoftheboysabouttownknowsofCrawfishhavin\'thisbull-snakehabitbutme,nohow。Sotheoldmanstampedes\'roundan\' buyswhathe\'safter,an\'allgoeswell。Nobodyain\'tevendreamin\' ofreptiles。 \"AtlastCrawfish,havin\'turnedhislittlegameforflour,air- tights,an\'jig-juice,asIsays,getsintotheRedLight,an\' bracesupag\'inthebaran\'callsfornose-paintall\'round。Thisyereisproperan\'p\'lite,an\'everybodywithinhearin\'oftheyelllinesup。 \"It\'satthiscrisisCrawfishJimstartsintomakehimse\'fageneralfav\'ritc。Everybody\'ssloppedouthisperfoomcry,an\'DanBoggsisjestsayin\':\'Yere\'slookin\'atyou,Crawfish,\'whenthatcrazy-bossshepherdsorterswarms\'roundinsidehisshirtwithhishand,an\'lugsoutJuliusCesarbethescruffofhisneck,a- squirmin\'an\'a-blowin\',an\'madder\'nadrunkensquaw。OncehegetsJuliusout,hespreadshim\'roundprofuseontheRedLightbaran\' sorterherdshimwithhishandtokeephimfromchargin\'offamongthebottles。 \"\'Gents,\'saysthislocoedCrawfish,\'Iain\'tnoboaster,butI offersahundredtofifty,an\'standstomakeituptoathousanddollarsinwoolorsheep,JuliusCaesaristhefattestan\'finestserpentinArizona;alsothebestbehaved。\' \"Tharain\'tnoonetakin\'Crawfish\'sbet。ThemomentheslamsJuliusonthebar,more\'ntenofourleadin\'citizensfallstothefloorinfits,an\'emergesoutenonepar\'xysmonlytoslumpintoanother。 Whichweshorelyhasageneralround-upofallsortsofspells。 \"\'Whatever\'sthematterofyou-allpeople?\'saysCrawfish,lookin\' mightyaghast。\'Thar\'snomoreharminJuliusCaesarthanifhe\'safullblownrose。\' \"JackMoore,bein\'marshal,ofcoursestandshishand。It\'shisoffishuldootytoplayapathandonbull-snakesan\'dangerinallan\'anyforms。An\'Jackdoesit。 \"WhileCrawfishisbusyrecountin\'theattainmentsofJuliusCaesar,a-holdin\'ofhispetwithonehand,JackMooretakesasnapshotathimalongthebarwithhissix-shooter,an\'awaygoesJuliusCaesar\'sheadlikeapuffofsmoke。ThenMooreroundsupCrawfish,an\',perceivin\'oftheotherbull-snakes,hesearches\'emoutonebyonean\'massacres\'em。 \"\'CalloverDocPeets,\'saysJackMoorefinal,\'an\'bringBoggsan\' Tuttan\'therestoftheseyereinvalidsto。\' \"DocPeetsan\'EnrightbothtrailsinonthelopefromtheNewYorkStore。TheyhearsMoore\'sgun-playan\'iscur\'ous,nacheral\'nough,toknowwhocallsit。Well,theyturnsinan\'bringstheotherinhabitantsoutentheirfits;pendin\'whichMoorekillsoffthelastremainin\'bull-snakeinCrawfish\'sherd。 \"Son,I\'veseenpeoplemad,an\'I\'veseen\'emgay,an\'I\'veseen\'embitbygrief。ButI\'myeretoremarkIneverrunsuponagentwhogoesplumbmadwithsadnessontilIseesCrawfishthatdayJackMooreimmolateshisbull-snakepets。Hestandsthar,white,an\' ain\'tsayin\'aword。Looksforaminutelikehecan\'tmove。Crawfishdon\'tpacknogun,orIallersallowedwe\'dhadnoticeofhimsome,whilethembullsnakesiscashin\'in。 \"Butatlasthesortercomesto,an\'walksoutwithoutsayin\' nothin\'。Theyain\'tnoneofusregardin\'ofhimmuchatthetime; bein\'busydrinkin\'an\'recoverin\'fromtheshock。 \"Now,whatdoyous\'posethisoldNavajodoes?LopesstraightovertotheNewYorkStore——isca\'masaJunedayaboutit,too——an\'getsasix-shooter。 \"ThenextinformationwegetsofCrawfish,\'bang!\'goeshisnewgun,an\'thebulletcutsalongoverJackMoore\'sheadtoohighforresults。Newgunthata-way,an\'Crawfishnotuponhispractice;ofcourseheovershoots。 \"Well,theporeoldmurdererneverdoesgetasecondcrack。I reckonseightpeoplehehasinterestedshootsallatonce,an\' CrawfishJimquitsthisearthlydealunanimous。Hestopseverybullet;eightof\'em,likeIsays。 \"\'Tharain\'tamanofuswhodon\'tfeelregrets;butwhat\'stheuse? Tharwebe,upag\'instthedeal,withCrawfishcleanlocoed。It\'stheonlywagon-trackout。 \"\'Ishorehopeshe\'sonthehottrailofthembull-snakesofhis\'n,\' saysDanBoggs,aswelaysCrawfishoutonamonte-table。\'Seemslikehethoughtmonstrouswellof\'em,an\'itwouldmightylikelypleasehimtorunupon\'emwherehe\'sgone。\' \"Whateverdidwedo?Why,wedigsagraveoutbackofthedance-hallan\'plantsCrawfishan\'hispetstharin。 \"\'Ireckonswebetterburythemreptiles,too,\'saysDocPeets,aswegetsCrawfishstretchedoutallcomfortableinthebottom。\'Ifhe\'slookin\'downontheseyereceremoniesit\'llmakehimfeeleasier。\' \"DocPeetsismightysentimentalan\'romanticthata-way,an\'allersthinksofthetouchin\'thingstodo,whichImore\'noncenoticeslikewise,thatagentbein\'deadthata-wayallersbringsoutthesoftsideofPeets\'snacher。Youbet!he\'splumbsympathetic。 \"Wecountsinthesnakes。Thar\'s\'levenof\'embesidesJuliusCaesar;whichwelayshimonCrawfish\'sbreast。Youcanfindthegraveto-day。 \"Shore!westicksupaheadboard。Itsaysonit,thesamebein\' furnishedbyDocPeets——an\'IwantstosayDocPeetsisthebesteddicatedgentinArizona-asfollowsSACREDTOTHEMEMORYOF CRAWFISHJIM,JULIUSCAESAR AND ELEVENOTHERBULLSNAKES,THEYMEANTWELL,BUTTHEYMISUNDERSTOODEXISTENCE ANDDIED。 THISBOARDWASREAREDBYAN ADMIRINGCIRELEOFFRIENDS WHOWASWITHDECEASED TOTHELAST。 \"An\'don\'tyou-allknow,son,thisyereonfortunateweedin\'outofporeCrawfishthata-way,sortersettlesdownonthecampan\'preysonusformightylikelyit\'saweek。Itshorelyisasourceofgloom。Moreover,itdonegivesDanBoggsthefan-tods。AsIrelatesprior,Boggsisemotionalawholelot,an\'oncelethimgetwhatyou-allcallsashock——same,forinstance,asthembull-snakes——itsshoreduetosetBoggs\'sintellectstomillin\'。An\'that\'swhathappensnow。We-allsdon\'tgetBoggs;beddeddownnonefortendays,hisvisionsisthatacoote。 \"\'Whichofcourse,\'saysBoggs,whilewe-allssettin\'upadministerin\'thingstohim,\'whichofcourseI\'mplumbawaretheseyereismereilloosions;butallthesame,ascl\'araseverInotesanace,nomatterwhereIlooksat,IdiscernsthatJuliusCaesarserpenta-regardin\'mereproachfuloutentheatmospher。An\'gents,sechspectaclesletsmeoutaheapeverytime。You-allscangamble,Iain\'tslumberin\'nonewithnosnake-spookthata-waya-gyardin\'ofmydreams。\' \"That\'salltharistothedeathofCrawfishJim。Tharain\'tnoharminhim,noryet,Ireckons,inJuliusCaesaran\'therestofCrawfish\'sfam\'ly。ButthewaytheygetstangledupwithWolfville,an\'takestorunnin\'countertopublicsentimentan\'themeightsix- shooters,Crawfishan\'hislive-stockhastogo。\"