下载辰思小说免费APP
“Yes，woman。Didn’tItellyu’thebotanisthadhiswifealong？
Well，hedid。Andsheactedbetterthantheman，forhewasrosin’hishead，andshoutin’hehadnowhiskey，andhedidn’tguesshisknifewassharpenoughtoamputatemythumb，andnoneofuschewed，andthedoctorwastwentymilesaway，andifhehadonlyrememberedtobringhisammonia——well，hewasscreechingout’mosteverythingheknewintheworld，andwithoutarrangingitany，neither。Butshejustclawedhispocketandburrowedandkep’yelling，’Givehimthestone，Augustus！’AndshewhippedoutoneofthemInjunmedicine-stones，——firstoneIeverseen，——andsheclappeditontomythumb，anditstartedinrightaway。“
“Whatdiditdo？“saidI。
“Sucked。Likeblotting-paperdoes。Softandfunnyitwas，andgray。Theyget’emfromelks’stomachs，yu’know。Andwhenithadsuckedthepoisonoutofthewound，offitfallsofmythumbbyitself！AndIthankedthewomanforsavingmylifethatcapableandkeepingherheadthatcool。Ineverknowedhowexcitedshehadbeentillafterward。Shewasawfulshocked。“
“Isupposeshestartedtotalkwhenthedangerwasover，“saidI，withdeepsilencearoundme。
“No；shedidn’tsaynothingtome。Butwhenhernextchildwasborn，ithadeightrattles。“
Dinnowrosewildinthecaboose。Theyrockedtogether。Theenthusiastbeathiskneetumultuously。AndIjoinedthem。Whocouldhelpit？Ithadbeensowellconductedfromtheimperceptiblebeginning。Factandfalsehoodblendedwithsuchperfectart。Andthislast，aneffectsonewmadewithsuchworld-oldmaterial！IcarednothingthatIwasthevictim，andI
joinedthem；butceased，feelingsuddenlysomehowestrangedorchilled。Itwasintheirlaughter。Theloudnesswastooloud。AndIcaughttheeyesofTrampasfixedupontheVirginianwithexultantmalevolence。Scipio’sdisgustedglancewasuponmefromthedoor。
Dazedbythesesigns，Iwentoutontheplatformtogetawayfromthenoise。TheretheVirginiansaidtome:“Cheerup！You’llnotbesoeasyfor’emthat-a-waynextseason。“
Hesaidnomore；andwithhislegsdangledovertherailing，appearedtoresumehisnewspaper。
“What’sthematter？“saidItoScipio。
“Oh，Idon’tmindifhedon’t，“Scipioanswered。“Couldn’tyu’
see？Itriedtohead’emofffromyu’allIknew，butyu’justraninamong’emyourself。Couldn’tyu’see？Kep’hinderin’andspoilin’mewithaskin’thoseurgentquestionsofyourn——why，I
hadtoletyu’goyourway！Why，thatwasn’ttheordinaryplaywiththeordinarytenderfoottheytreatedyouto！Youain’tacommontenderfootthistrip。You’retheforeman’sfriend。They’vehithimthroughyou。That’sthewaytheycountit。It’smadethemencouraged。Can’tyu’see？“
Scipiostateditplainly。Andasweranbythenextstation，“Howard！“theyharshlyyelled。“Portland1256！“
Wehadbeenpassinggangsofworkmenonthetrack。AndatthatlastyelltheVirginianrose。“IreckonI’lljointhemeetingagain，“hesaid。“Thisfillingandrepairinglookslikethewashoutmighthavebeentrue。“
“Washout？“saidScipio。
“BigHornbridge，theysay——fourdaysago。“
“ThenIwishitcamethissideRawhidestation。“
“Doyu’？“drawledtheVirginian。AndsmilingatScipio，heloungedinthroughtheopendoor。
“Hebeatsme，“saidScipio，shakinghishead。“Histrailisturrublehardtoanticipate。“
Welistened。
“Workbein’doneontheroad，Isee，“theVirginianwassaying，veryfriendlyandconversational。
“Weseeittoo，“saidthevoiceofTrampas。
“Seemtobeeasin’theirgradessome。“
“Roadsdo。“
“Cheapertobuild’emthewaytheywant’ematthestart，amanwouldthink，“suggestedtheVirginian，mostfriendly。“TheregosomemoreI-talians。“
“They’reChinese，“saidTrampas。
“That’sso，“acknowled
