第2章

Now，tojudgefromthecrumblingpowderofthefooting，thatcavehadbeendrysinceNoah。Infact，itsroofwasnearlyathousandfeetthick。Butsincewehadspreadourblankets，thepersistentwatershadsoakeddownandthrough。Thethousand-footroofhadasprungaleak。Threeseparateanddistinctstreamsofwaterranasfromspigots。Iloweredmytorch。Thecanvastarpaulinshonewithwet，andinitsexactcentreglimmeredapoolofwaterthreeinchesdeepandatleasttwofeetindiameter。

"Well，I\'llbe，"Ibegan。ThenIrememberedthosethreewendingtheirwayalongawetanddisagreeabletrail，happyandpeacefulinanticipationofwarmblanketsandalevelfloor。Ichuckledandsatonmyheelsoutofthedrip。

FirstcameJedParker，hisheadbenttoprotectthefireinhispipe。Hegainedtheverycentreofthecavebeforehelookedup。

Thenhecastoneglanceateachbed，andoneatme。Hisgrave，hawk-likefeaturesrelaxed。Afaintgrinappearedunderhislongmoustache。Withoutawordhesquatteddownbesideme。

NexttheCattleman。Helookedabouthimwithacomicalexpressionofdismay，andburstintoaheartylaugh。

"IbelieveIsaidIwassorryforthoseotherfellows，"heremarked。

WindyBillwasthelast。Hestoopedhisheadtoenter，straightenedhislankfigure，andtookinthesituationwithoutexpression。

"Well，thisishandy，"saidhe；"Iwasgettin\'tur\'bledry，andwasthinkin\'Iwouldhavetoclimbwaydowntothecreekinallthisrain。"

Hestoopedtothepoolinthecentreofthetarpaulinanddrank。

Butnowourtorchesbegantorunlow。Asmalldrybushgrewneartheentrance。Weignitedit，andwhileitblazedwehastilysortedablanketapieceandtumbledtherestoutofthedrip。

Ourreturnwithouttorchesalongthebaseofthatbuttewassomethingtoremember。Thenightwassothickyoucouldfeelthedarknesspressingonyou；themountaindroppedabruptlytotheleft，andwasstrewnwithbouldersandblocksofstone。

Collisionsandstumbleswerefrequent。OnceIsteppedoffalittleledgefiveorsixfeet——nothingworsethanabarkedshin。

Andallthewhiletherain，peltingusunmercifully，searchedoutwhatpoorlittleremnantsofdrynesswehadbeenabletoretain。

Atlastweopenedoutthegleamoffireinourcave，andaminutelaterwereengagedinstrugglingdesperatelyuptheslantthatbroughtustoourledgeandtheslopeonwhichourfireburned。

"MyLord！"pantedWindyBill，"amanhadoughttohavehooksonhiseyebrowstoclimbuphere！"

Werenewedthefire——andblessedtheback-loadofmesquitewehadpackedupearlierintheevening。Ourblanketswewrappedaroundourshoulders，ourfeetwehungovertheledgetowardtheblaze，ourbacksweleanedagainstthehollowslantofthecave\'swall。Wewerenotuncomfortable。Thebeatoftherainsprangupinthedarkness，growinglouderandlouder，likehorsemenpassingonahardroad。Graduallywedozedoff。

Foratimeeverythingwaspleasant。Dreamscamefusedwithrealities；thefirelightfadedfromconsciousnessorreturnedfantastictoourhalf-awakening；adeliciousnumbnessoverspreadourtiredbodies。Theshadowsleaped，becamesolid，monstrous。

Wefellasleep。

Afteratimethefactobtrudeditselfdimlythroughourstuporthattheconstantpressureofthehardrockhadimpededourcirculation。Westirreduneasily，shiftingtoabetterposition。

Thatwasthebeginningofawakening。Thenewpositiondidnotsuit。Aslightshiveringseizedus，whichthedrawingcloseroftheblanketfailedtoend。FinallyIthrewasidemyhatandlookedout。JedParker，avividpatch-workcomforterwrappedabouthisshoulders，stooduprightandsilentbythefire。I

keptstill，fearingtoawakentheothers。InashorttimeI

becameawarethattheothersweredoingidenticallythesamething。Welaughed，threwoffourblankets，stretched，andfedthefire。

Athickacridsmokefilledtheair。TheCattleman，rising，leftatrailofincandescentfootprints。Weinvestigatedhastily，anddiscoveredthatthesupposedearthontheslantofthecavewasnothingmorethanbatguano，tonsofit。Thefire，eatingitswaybeneath，hadrendereduntenableitsimmediatevicinity。Wefeltasthoughwewerelivingoveravolcano。Howsoonourledge，ofthesamematerial，mightbeattacked，wehadnomeansofknowing。Overcomewithdrowsiness，weagaindisposedourblankets，resolvedtogetasmanynapsaspossiblebeforeeventheseconstrainedquartersweretakenfromus。

Thishappenedsoonerandinamannerotherwisethanwehadexpected。WindyBillbroughtustoconsciousnessbyawildyell。

Consciousnessreportedtousastrange，hurriedsoundlikethelongrollonadrum。Investigationshowedusthatthiscave，too，hadsprungaleak；notwithanypremonitorydrip，butallatonce，asthoughsomeonehadturnedonafaucet。Intensecondsaverycompetentstreamletsixincheswidehaderodedacoursedownthroughtheguano，pastthefireandtotheouterslope。Andbytheironyoffatethatone——andonlyone——leakinalltheroofexpanseofabigcavewasdirectlyoveroneendofourtinyledge。TheCattlemanlaughed。

"Remindsmeoftheoldfarmerandhiskindfriend，"saidhe。

"Kindfriendhuntsuptheoldfarmerinthevillage。

"\'John，\'sayshe，\'I\'vebadnewsforyou。Yourbarnhasburnedup。\'

"\'MyLord！\'saysthefarmer。

"\'Butthatain\'ttheworst。Yourcowwasburned，too。\'

"\'MyLord！\'saysthefarmer。

"\'Butthatain\'ttheworst。Yourhorseswereburned。\'

"\'MyLord！\'saysthefarmer。

"\'But，thatain\'ttheworst。Thebarnsetfiretothehouse，anditwasburned——totalloss。\'

"\'MyLord！\'groansthefarmer。

"\'Butthatain\'ttheworst。Yourwifeandchildwerekilled，too。\'

"\'Atthatthefarmerbegantoroarwithlaughter。

"\'Goodheavens，man！\'crieshisfriend，astonished，\'whatintheworlddoyoufindtolaughatinthat？\'

"\'Don\'tyousee？\'answersthefarmer。\'Why，it\'ssodarnCOMPLETE！\'

"Well，"finishedtheCattleman，"that\'swhatstrikesmeaboutourcase；it\'ssodarncomplete！"

"Whattimeisit？"askedWindyBill。

"Midnight，"Iannounced。

"Lord！Sixhourstoday！"groanedWindyBill。"How\'dyouliketobedoin\'anicequietjobatgardenin\'intheEastwhereyoucouldbellyuptothebarreg\'lareveryevenin\'，anddrinkapussycafeandsmoketailor-madecigareets？"

"Youwouldn\'tlikeitabit，"putintheCattlemanwithdecision；

whereuponinproofhetoldusthefollowingstory：

WindyhasmentionedGentlemanTim，andthatremindedmeofthefirsttimeIeversawhim。HewasanIrishmanallright，buthehadbeeneducatedinEngland，andexceptforhisaccenthewasmoreanEnglishmanthananythingelse。AfreightoutfitbroughthimintoTucsonfromSantaFeanddumpedhimdownontheplaza，whereatonceeveryidlerintowngatheredtoquizhim。

CertainlyhewasoneofthegreenestspecimensIeversawinthiscountry。HehadonapairofballoonpantsandaNorfolkjacket，andwassurroundedbyahalf-dozenbabytrunks。Hisfacewasred-cheekedandaggressivelyclean，andhiseyelimpidasachild\'s。Mostofthosepresentthoughtthatindicatedchildishness；butIcouldseethatitwasonlyutterself-unconsciousness。

Itseemedthathewasoutforbiggame，andintendedtogoaftersilver-tipssomewhereintheseverymountains。Ofcoursehewasofferedplentyofadvice，andwouldprobablyhavemadeengagementsmuchtoberegrettedhadInottakenastrongfancytohim。

"Myfriend，"saidI，drawinghimaside，"Idon\'twanttobeinquisitive，butwhatmightyoudowhenyou\'rehome？"

"I\'mayoungerson，"saidhe。Iwasgreenmyselfinthosedays，andknewnothingofprimogeniture。

"Thatisaveryinterestingpieceoffamilyhistory，"saidI，"butitdoesnotanswermyquestion。"

Hesmiled。

"Wellnow，Ihadn\'tthoughtofthat，"saidhe，"butinamannerofspeaking，itdoes。Idonothing。"

"Well，"saidI，unabashed，"ifyousawmetryingtobeayoungersonandlikelytoforgetmyselfanddosomethingwithoutmeaningto，wouldn\'tyoubeapttowarnme？"

"Well，\'ponhonour，you\'reaqueerchap。Whatdoyoumean？"

"Imeanthatifyouhireanyofthosementoguideyouinthemountains，you\'llbeoutrageouslycheated，andwillbeluckyifyou\'renotgobbledbyApaches。"

"Doyoudoanyguidingyourself，now？"heasked，mostinnocentofmanner。

ButIflaredup。

"Youdamnungratefulpup，"Isaid，"gotothedevilinyourownway，"andturnedsquareonmyheel。

Buttheyoungmanwasatmyelbow，hishandonmyshoulder。

"Oh，Isaynow，I\'msorry。Ididn\'trightlyunderstand。DowaitonemomentuntilIdisposeoftheseboxesofmine，andthenIwantthehonourofyourfurtheracquaintance。"

HegotsomeGreaserstotakehistrunksovertothehotel，thenlinkedhisarminminemostengagingly。

"Now，mydearchap，"saidhe，"let\'sgosomewhereforaB&S，andfindoutabouteachother。"

Wewerebothyoungandexpansive。Weexchangedviews，names，andconfidences，andbeforenoonwehadarrangedtohunttogether，Itocollecttheoutfit。

TheupshotofthematterwasthattheHonourableTimothyClareandIhadamostexcellentmonth\'sexcursion，shotseveralgoodbear，andreturnedtoTucsonthebestoffriends。

AtTucsonwasSchieffleinandhisstoriesofabigstrikedownintheApachecountry。Nothingwoulddobutthatweshouldbothgotoseeforourselves。Wejoinedthesecondexpedition；creptinthegullies，tiedbushesaboutourselveswhenmonumentingcorners，andsohelpedestablishthetownofTombstone。Wemadenothing，norattemptedto。Neitherofusknewanythingofmining，butwewereboththirstyforadventure，andtookaschoolboydelightinplayingthegameoflifeordeathwiththeChiricahuas。

Infact，IneversawanybodytaketothewildlifeaseagerlyastheHonourableTimothyClare。Hewantedtoattempteverything。

Withhimitwasnosoonerseethantry，andhehadsuchanabundanceofenthusiasmthathegenerallysucceeded。Theballoonpantssoonwent。Inamonthhisoutfitwasirreproachable。Heusedtostudyusbythehour，takingineverydetailofourequipment，fromthesmallesttothemostimportant。Thenheaskedquestions。Forallhisdesiretobeoneofthecountry，hewasneverashamedtoacknowledgehisignorance。

"Now，don\'tyouchapsthinkitsillytowearsuchhighheelstoyourboots？"hewouldask。"Itseemstomeaveryuselesssortofvanity。"

"Novanityaboutit，Tim，"Iexplained。"Inthefirstplace，itkeepsyourfootfromslippingthroughthestirrup。Inthesecondplace，itisgoodtogriponthegroundwhenyou\'reropingafoot。"

"ByJove，that\'strue！"hecried。

Sohe\'dgethimapairofboots。Forawhileitwasenoughtowearandownallthesethings。Heseemedtodelightinhissix-shooterandhisropejustasornamentstohimselfandhorse。

Buthesoongotoverthat。Thenhehadtolearntousethem。

Forthetimebeing，pistolpractice，forinstance，wouldabsorballhisthoughts。He\'dbangawayatintervalsallday，andfigureoutnewtheoriesallnight。

"Thatballyschemewon\'twork，"hewouldcomplain。"IbelieveifIextendedmythumbalongthecylinderitwouldhelpthatsidejump。"

Hewasalwayseasingthetrigger-pull，orfilingthesights。Intimehegottobeafairlyaccurateandveryquickshot。

Thesamewaywithropingandhog-tyingandalltherest。

"What\'stheuse？"Iusedtoaskhim。"Ifyouweregoingtobeabuckeroo，youcouldn\'tgointohardertraining。"

"Ilikeit，"wasalwayshisanswer。

Hehadonlyonerealvice，thatIcouldsee。Hewouldgamble。

Studpokerwashisfavourite；andIneversawaBritisheryetwhocouldplaypoker。Iusedtoheadhimoff，whenIcould，andhewasalwaysgrateful，butthepassionwasstrong。

AfterwegotbackfromfoundingTombstoneIwasbustedandhadtogotowork。

"I\'vegotplenty，"saidTim，"andit\'sallyours。"

"Iknow，oldfellow，"Itoldhim，"butyourmoneywouldn\'tdoforme。"

BuckJohnsonwasjustseeinghischancethen，andwaspreparingtotakesomebreedingcattleoverintotheSodaSpringsValley。

Everybodylaughedathim——saiditwasrightinthelineoftheChiricahuaraids，whichwastrue。ButBuckhadbeenintherewithAgencysteers，andthoughtheknew。Sohecollectedatrailcrew，broughtsomeOregoncattleacross，andbuilthishomeranchofthree-footadobewallswithportholes。Ijoinedthetrailcrew；andsomehoworanothertheHonourableTimothygotpermissiontogoalongonhisownhook。

Thetrailwasalongone。WehadthirstandheatandstampedesandsomeIndianscares。Butinthequeeratmosphericconditionsthatprevailedthatsummer，Ineversawthedesertmorewonderful。ItwaslikewakingtothegloryofGodtositupatdawnandseethecolourschangeonthedryranges。

Atthehomeranch，again，Timmanagedtogetpermissiontostayon。Hekepthisownmountofhorses，tookcareofthem，hunted，andtookpartinallthecowwork。WelostsomecattlefromIndians，ofcourse，butitwastooneartheReservationforthemtodomorethanpickupafewstrayheadontheirwaythrough。

Thetroopswerealwaysafterthemfulljump，andsotheyneverhadtimetoroundupthebeef。Butofcoursewehadtolookoutorwe\'dloseourhair，andmanyacowboyhaswonouttothehomeranchinanalmightyexcitingrace。ThiswasnutsfortheHonourableTimothyClare，muchbetterthanhuntingsilver-tips，andheenjoyeditnolimit。

Thingswentalongthatwayforsometime，untiloneeveningasIwasturningoutthehorsesabuckboarddrewin，andfromitdescendedTonyBriggsandadapperlittlefellowdressedallinblackandwithaplughat。

"WhichIaccountsforsaidhatreachin\'theranch，becauseit\'sFridayandtheboysnotintown，"Tonywhisperedtome。

AsIhappenedtobetheonlymaninsight，thestrangeraddressedme。

"Iamlooking，"saidheinapeculiar，sing-songmannerIhavesincelearnedtobeEnglish，"fortheHonourableTimothyClare。

Ishehere？"

"Oh，you\'relookingforhimareyou？"saidI。"Andwhomightyoube？"

Yousee，IlikedTim，andIdidn\'tintendtodeliverhimoverintotrouble。

Themanpickedapairofeye-glassesoffhisstomachwheretheydangledattheendofachain，perchedthemonhisnose，andstaredmeover。Imusthavelookeduncompromising，forafterafewsecondsheabruptlywrinkledhisnosesothattheglassesfellpromptlytohisstomachagain，felthiswaistcoatpocket，andproducedacard。Itookit，andread：

JEFFRIESCASE，Barrister。

"Alawyer！"saidIsuspiciously。

"Mydearman，"herejoinedwithaslightimpatience，"Iamnotheretodoyouryoungfriendaharm。Infact，myfirmhavebeenhisfamilysolicitorsforgenerations。"

"Verywell，"Iagreed，andledthewaytotheone-roomadobethatTimandIoccupied。

IfIhadexpectedanenthusiasticgreetingfortheboyhoodfriendfromtheoldhome，Iwouldhavebeendisappointed。Timwassittingwithhisbacktothedoorreadinganoldmagazine。Whenweenteredheglancedoverhisshoulder。

"Ah，Case，"saidhe，andwentonreading。Afteramomenthesaidwithoutlookingup，"Sitdown。"

Thelittlemantookitcalmly，depositedhimselfinachairandhisbagbetweenhisfeet，andlookedabouthimdaintilyatourroughquarters。Imadeamovetogo，whereuponTimlaiddownhismagazine，yawned，stretchedhisarmsoverhishead，andsighed。

"Don\'tgo，Harry，"hebegged。"Well，Case，"headdressedthebarrister，"whatisitthistime？Mustbesomethingdevilishimportanttobringyou——howmanythousandmilesisit——intosuchacountryasthis。"

"Itisimportant，Mr。Clare，"statedthelawyerinhisdrysing-songtones；"butmyjourneymighthavebeenavoidedhadyoupaidsomeattentiontomyletters。"

"Letters！"repeatedTim，openinghiseyes。"Mydearchap，I\'vehadnoletters。"

"AddressedasusualtoyourNewYorkbankers。"

Timlaughedsoftly。"Wheretheyare，withmylasttwoquarters\'

allowance。Iespeciallyinstructedthemtosendmenomail。Onespendsnomoneyinthiscountry。"Hepaused，pullinghismoustache。"I\'mtrulysorryyouhadtocomesofar，"hecontinued，"andifyourbusinessis，asIsuspect，theoldoneofinducingmetoreturntomydearuncle\'sarms，Iassureyouthemissionwillprovequitefruitless。UncleHillaryandIcouldneverliveinthesamecounty，letalonethesamehouse。"

"Andyetyouruncle，theViscountMar，wasveryfondofyou，"

venturedCase。"Yourallowances——"

"Oh，IgrantyouhisgenerosityinMONEYaffairs——"

"Hehascontinuedthatgenerosityinthetermsofhiswill，andthosetermsIamheretocommunicatetoyou。"

"UncleHillaryisdead！"criedTim。

"HepassedawaythesixteenthoflastJune。"

Aslightpauseensued。

"Iamreadytohearyou，"saidTimsoberly，atlast。

Thebarristerstoopedandbegantofumblewithhisbag。

"No，notthat！"criedTim，withsomeimpatience。"Tellmeinyourownwords。"

Thelawyersatbackandpressedhisfingerpointstogetheroverhisstomach。

"ThelateViscount，"saidhe，"hasbeengraciouslypleasedtoleaveyouinfeesimplehisentireestateofStaghurst，togetherwithitsbuildings，rentals，andprivileges。This，besidestheresidentialrights，amountstosometenthousandspoundssterlingperannum。"

"Alittlelessthanfiftythousanddollarsayear，Harry，"Timshotoverhisshoulderatme。

"Thereisonecondition，"putinthelawyer。

"Oh，thereis！"exclaimedTim，hiscrestfalling。"Well，knowingmyUncleHillary——"

"Theconditionisnotextravagant，"thelawyerhastilyinterposed。"ItmerelyentailscontinuedresidenceinEngland，andaminimumofninemonthsontheestate。Thisprovisionisabsolute，andtheestaterevertsinitsdiscontinuance，butmayI

bepermittedtoobservethatthemajorityofmen，myselfamongthenumber，arecontenttospendthemostoftheirlives，notmerelyintheconfinesofakingdom，butbetweenthefourwallsofaroom，formuchlessthantenthousandpoundsayear。AlsothatEnglandisnotwithoutitsattractionsforanEnglishman，andthatStaghurstisacountryplaceofmanypossibilities。"

TheHonourableTimothyhadrecoveredfromhisfirstsurprise。

"Andiftheconditionsarenotcompliedwith？"heinquired。

"Thentheestaterevertstotheheirsatlaw，andyoureceiveanannuityofonehundredpounds，payablequarterly。"

"MayIaskfurtherthereasonforthisextraordinarycondition？"

"Mydistinguishedclientneverinformedme，"repliedthelawyer，"but"——andatwinkleappearedinhiseye——"asanoccasionaldisburseroffunds——MonteCarlo——"

Timburstoutlaughing。

"Oh，butIrecogniseUncleHillarythere！"hecried。"Well，Mr。

Case，IamsureMr。Johnson，theownerofthisranch，canputyouup，andto-morrowwe\'llstartback。"

Hereturnedafterafewminutestofindmesitting\'smokingamoodypipe。IlikedTim，andIwassorrytohavehimgo。Then，too，Iwasruffled，inthesenselessmannerofyouth，bythesuddenaltitudetowhichhischangedfortuneshadliftedhim。

Hestoodinthemiddleoftheroom，surveyingme，thencameacrossandlaidhisarmonmyshoulder。

"Well，"Igrowled，withoutlookingup，"you\'reaveryrichmannow，Mr。Clare。"

Atthathejerkedmebodilyoutofmyseatandstoodmeupinthecentreoftheroom，theIrishblazingoutofhiseyes。

"Here，noneofthat！"hesnapped。"Youdamnlittlefool！Don\'tyou\'Mr。Clare\'me！"

Soinfiveminutesweweretalkingitover。Timwasverymuchexcitedattheprospect。HeknewStaghurstwell，andtoldmeallaboutthebigstonehouse，andtheavenuethroughthetrees；andthehedge-rowroads，andthelawnwithitspeacocks，andtheroundgreenhills，andthelabourers\'cottages。

"It\'shome，"saidhe，"andIdidn\'trealisebeforehowmuchI

wantedtoseeit。AndI\'llbeamanofweightthere，Harry，andit\'llbemightygood。"

WemadeallsortsofplansastohowIwasgoingtovisithimjustassoonasIcouldgettogetherthemoneyforthepassage。

Hehadthedelicacynottooffertoletmehaveit；andthatclinchedmytrustandloveofhim。

ThenextdayhedroveawaywithTonyandthedapperlittlelawyer。IamnotashamedtosaythatIwatchedthebuckboarduntilitdisappearedinthemirage。

IwaswithBuckJohnsonallthatsummer，andthefollowingwinter，aswell。Wehadourfirstround-up，foundthenaturalincreasemuchinexcessofthelossbyIndians，andextendedourholdingsupovertheRockCreekcountry。WewitnessedthestartofmanyIndiancampaigns，participatedinafewlittlebrusheswiththeChiricahuas，sawthebeginningofthecattle-rustling。

Amanhadnotmuchopportunitytothinkofanythingbutwhathehadrightonhand，butIfoundtimeforafewspeculationsonTim。Iwonderedhowhelookednow，andwhathewasdoing，andhowinblazeshemanagedtogetawaywithfiftythousandayear。

AndthenoneSundayinJune，whileIwaslyingonmybunk，Timpushedopenthedoorandwalkedin。Iwasyoung，butI\'dseenalot，andIknewtheexpressionofhisface。SoIlaidlowandsaidnothing。

Inaminutethedooropenedagain，andBuckJohnsonhimselfcamein。

"Howdo，"saidhe；"Isawyourideup。"

"Howdoyoudo，"repliedTim。

"Iknowallaboutyou，"saidBuck，withoutanypreliminaries；

"yourman，Case，haswroteme。Idon\'tknowyourreasons，andI

don\'twanttoknow——it\'snoneofmybusiness——andIain\'tgoin\'

totellyoujustwhatkindofadamnfoolIthinkyouare——that\'snoneofmybusiness，either。ButIwantyoutounderstandwithoutquestionhowyoustandontheranch。"

"Quitegood，sir，"saidTimveryquietly。

"WhenyouwereoutherebeforeIwasgladtohaveyouhereasasortofguest。ThenyouwerewhatI\'veheerdcalledagentlemanofleisure。Nowyou\'renothin\'butaremittanceman。Yourmoney\'snothin\'tome，buttheprincipleofthethingis。Thecountryisplumbpesteredwithremittancemen，doin\'nothin\'，andIdon\'taimtorunnohomeforincompetents。Ihadasonofadukedrivin\'wagonforme；andhecouldn\'tdrivenailsinasnowbanks。Sodon\'tyouherdupwiththeideathatyoucancomeonthisranchandloaf。"

"Idon\'twanttoloaf，"putinTim，"Iwantajob。"

"I\'mwillingtogiveyouajob，"repliedBuck，"butit\'sjestanordinarycow-puncher\'sjobatfortyamonth。Andifyoudon\'tfillyoursaddle，itgoestosomeoneelse。"

"That\'ssatisfactory，"agreedTim。

"Allright，"finishedBuck，"sothat\'sunderstood。YourfriendCasewantedmetogiveyoualotofadvice。Amangenerallyhasaboutasmuchuseforadviceasacowhasforfourhindlegs。"

Hewentout。

"ForGod\'ssake，what\'sup？"Icried，leapingfrommybunk。

"Hullo，Harry，"saidhe，asthoughhehadseenmethedaybefore，"I\'vecomeback。"

"Howcomeback？"Iasked。"Ithoughtyoucouldn\'tleavetheestate。Havetheybrokenthewill？"

"No，"saidhe。

"Isthemoneylost？"

"No。"

"Thenwhat？"

"Thelongandshortofitis，thatIcouldn\'taffordthatestateandthatmoney。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"

"I\'vegivenitup。"

"Givenitup！Whatfor？"

"Tocomebackhere。"

Itookthisallinslowly。

"TimClare，"saidIatlast，"doyoumeantosaythatyouhavegivenupanEnglishestateandfiftythousanddollarsayeartobearemittancemanatfivehundred，andacow-puncheronasmuchmore？"

"Exactly，"saidhe。

"Tim，"Iadjuredhimsolemnly，"youareadamnfool！"

"Maybe，"heagreed。

"Whydidyoudoit？"Ibegged。

Hewalkedtothedoorandlookedoutacrossthedeserttowherethemountainshoveredlikesoap-bubblesonthehorizon。Foralongtimehelooked；thenwhirledonme。

"Harry，"saidheinalowvoice，"doyourememberthecampwemadeontheshoulderofthemountainthatnightwewerecaughtout？Anddoyourememberhowthedawncameuponthebigsnowpeaksacrosstheway——andallthecanonbelowusfilledwithwhirlingmists——andthesteelstarsleavingusonebyone？WherecouldIfindroomforthatinEnglishpaddocks？AnddoyourecallthedaywetrailedacrosstheYumadeserts，andthesunbeatintoourskulls，andthedry，brittlehillslookedlikepapier-mache，andthegreysage-bushranoffintotheriseofthehills；andthencamesunsetandthehard，drymountainsgrewfilmy，likegauzeveilsofmanycolours，andmeltedandglowedandfadedtoslateblue，andthestarscameout？TheEnglishhillsareroundedandgreenandcurried，andtheskyisnear，andthestarsonlyafewmilesup。AnddoyourecollectthatdarknightwhenoldLocoandhiswarriorswerecampedatthebaseofCochise\'sStronghold，andwecreptdownthroughthevelvetdarkwonderingwhenwewouldbediscovered，ourmouthsstickywithexcitement，andthelittlewindsblowing？"

Hewalkedupanddownahalf-dozentimes，hisbreastheaving。

"It\'sallverywellforthemanwhoisbroughtuptoit，andwhohasseennothingelse。Casecanexistinfourwalls；hehasbeenbroughtuptoitandknowsnothingdifferent。Butamanlikeme——

"Theywantedmetocanterbetweenhedge-row，——IwhohaveriddenthedesertwheretheskyovermeandtheplainundermewerebiggerthantheIslander\'suniverse！Theywantedmetooverseelittlefarms——Iwhohavewatchedthesunrisingoverhalfaworld！Talkofyourtenthou\'ayearandwhatit\'llbuy！Youknow，Harry，howitfeelswhenasteertakestheslackofyourrope，andyourponysitsback！WhereinEnglandcanIbuythat？

Youknowtherisingandthefallingofdays，andtheboundlessspaceswhereyourheartgrowsbig，andthethirstofthedesertandthehungerofthetrail，andasunthatshinesandfillsthesky，andawindthatblowsfreshfromthewideplaces！

Whereinparcelled，snug，green，tightlittleEnglandcouldI

buythatwithtenthou\'——aye，oranhundredtimestenthou\'？

No，no，Harry，thatfortunewouldcostmetoodear。Ihaveseenanddoneandbeentoomuch。I\'vecomebacktotheBigCountry，wherethepayispoorandtheworkishardandthecomfortsmall，butwhereamanandhissoulmeettheirMakerfacetoface。"

TheCattlemanhadfinishedhisyarn。Foratimenoonespoke。

Outside，thevolumeofrainwassubsiding。WindyBillreportedafewstarsshiningthroughriftsintheshowers。Thechillthatprecedesthedawnbroughtusasclosetothefireasthesmoulderingguanowouldpermit。

"Idon\'tknowwhetherhewasrightorwrong，"musedtheCattleman，afterawhile。"Amancandoaheapwiththatmuchmoney。Andyetanold\'alkali\'isneverhappyanywhereelse。

However，"heconcludedemphatically，"onethingIdoknow：rain，cold，hunger，discomfort，curses，kicks，andviolentdeathsincluded，thereisn\'toneofyougrumblerswhowouldholdthatgardeningjobyouspokeofthreedays！"

CHAPTERFOUR

THECATTLERUSTLERS

Dawnbroke，sowedescendedthroughwetgrassestothecanon。

There，aftersomedifficulty，wemanagedtostartafire，andsoatebreakfast，therainstillpouringdownonus。Aboutnineo\'clock，withmiraculoussuddenness，thetorrentstopped。

Itbegantoturncold。TheCattlemanandIdecidedtoclimbtothetopofthebutteaftermeat，whichweentirelylacked。

Itwasratherastiffascent，butonceabovethesheercliffswefoundourselvesonarollingmeadowtablelandahalf-milebroadby，perhaps，amileandahalfinlength。Grassgrewhigh；

hereandthereweresmallliveoaksplantedpark-like；slightandroundedravinesaccommodatedbrooklets。Aswewalkedback，theedgesblendedintheedgesofthemesaacrossthecanon。Thedeepgorges，whichhadheretoforeseemedthemostprominentelementsofthescenery，werelost。Westood，apparently，inthemiddleofawideandundulatingplain，diversifiedbylittleridges，andrunningwithafreesweeptotheveryfootofthesnowyGaliuros。Itseemedasthoughweshouldbeabletoridehorsebackinalmostanygivendirection。Yetweknewthattenminutes\'walkwouldtakeustothebrinkofmoststupendouschasms——sodeepthatthewaterflowinginthemhardlyseemedtomove；soruggedthatonlywiththegreatestdifficultycouldahorsemanmakehiswaythroughthecountryatall；andyetsoancientthatthebottomssupportedforests，richgrasses，androunded，gentleknolls。Itwasamostastonishingsetofdoubleimpressions。

Wesucceededinkillinganice，fatwhite-tailbuck，andsoreturnedtocamphappy。Therain，heldoff。Wedugditches，organisedshelters，cookedawarmmeal。Forthenextdayweplannedabearhuntafoot，farupamanzanitacanonwhereUncleJimknewofsome"holingup"caves。

Butwhenweawokeinthemorningwethrewasideourcoveringswithsomedifficultytolookonagroundcoveredwithsnow；treesladenalmosttothebreakingpointwithsnow，andtheairfilledwithit。

"Nobeartoday"saidtheCattleman。

"No，"agreedUncleJimdrily。"Nob\'ar。Andwhat\'smore，unlessyo\'reaimin\'tostopheresomewhatofaspell，we\'llhavetomakeoutto-day。"

Wecookedwithfreezingfingers，atewhiledodgingavalanchesfromthetrees，andpackedreluctantly。Theropeswerefrozen，thehobblesstiff，everythingeithercracklingorwet。Finallythetaskwasfinished。Wetookalastwarmingofthefingersandclimbedon。

Thecountrywaswonderfullybeautifulwiththewhitenotyetshakenfromthetreesandrockledges。Alsoitwaswonderfullyslippery。Thesnowwassoftenoughtoballunderthehorses\'

hoofs，sothatmostofthetimethepooranimalsskatedandstumbledalongonstilts。Thuswemadeourwaybackovergroundwhich，nakedofthesedifficulties，wehadconsideredbadenough。

Imagineridingalongaslantofrockshelvingofftoabadtumble，sosteepthatyourponyhastodomoreorlessexpertankleworktokeepfromslippingoffsideways。Duringthepassageofthatrockyouareapttositverylight。Nowcoveritwithseveralinchesofsnow，stickasnowballoneachhoofofyourmount，andtryagain。Whenyouhaveriddenit——oritsduplicate——afewscoreoftimes，selectasteepmountainside，coveritwithroundrocksthesizeofyourhead，andoverthatspreadaconcealingblanketofthesamestickysnow。Youareprivilegedtovarythesetothelimitsofyourimagination。

Onceacrossthedivide，weranintoanewsortoftrouble。Youmayrememberthatonourjourneyoverwehadbeenforcedtotravelforsomedistanceinanarrowstream-bed。Duringourpassagewehadscrambledupsomerathersteepandroughslopes，andhoppedupsomefairlyhighledges。Nowwefoundtheheretoforedrybedflowingagoodeightinchesdeep。Thesteepslopeshadbecomecascades；theledges，waterfalls。Whenwecametothem，wehadto"shoottherapids"asbestwecould，onlytolandwithaPLUNKinanindeterminatelydeeppoolatthebottom。Someofthepackhorseswentdown，sousingagainourunfortunatebedding，butbythegraceoffortunenotasaddleponylosthisfeet。

Afteratimethegorgewidened。Wecameoutintotheboxcanonwithitstrees。Herethewaterspreadandshoaledtoadepthofonlytwoorthreeinches。Wesplashedalonggailyenough，for，withtheexceptionofanoccasionalquicksandorboggyspot，ourtroubleswereover。

JedParkerandIhappenedtoridesidebyside，bringinguptherearandseeingtoitthatthepackanimalsdidnotstrayorlinger。Aswepassedthefirstoftherustlers\'corrals，hecalledmyattentiontothem。

"Gotakealook，"saidhe。"Weonlygotthosefellowsoutofheretwoyearsago。"

Irodeover。Atthispointtherim-rockbroketoadmittheingressofaravineintothemaincanon。Ridingashortdistanceuptheravine，Icouldseethatitendedabruptlyinaperpendicularcliff。Asthesidesalsowereprecipitous，itbecamenecessaryonlytobuildafenceacrosstheentranceintothemaincanontobecomepossessedofacorralcompletelyclosedin。Rememberingtheabsoluteinvisibilityofthesesunkencanonsuntiltheriderisalmostdirectlyoverthem，andalsotheextremeroughnessandremotenessofthedistrict，I

couldseethatthespotwasadmirablyadaptedtoconcealment。

"There\'squiteayarnaboutthegangthatheldthishole，"saidJedParkertome，whenIhadriddenbacktohim"I\'lltellyouaboutitsometime。"

Weclimbedthehill，descendedontheDoubleR，builtafireinthestove，driedout，andwerehappy。Afterasquaremeal——andadryone——IremindedJedParkerofhispromise，andso，sittingcross-leggedonhis"so-gun"inthemiddleofthefloor，hetoldusthefollowingyarn：

There\'sagooddealofromancebeenwrittenaboutthe"badman，"

andthere\'saboutthesameamountofnonsense。Thebadmanisjustaplainmurderer，neithermorenorless。Heneverdoesgetintoareal，good，plain，stand-upgunfightifhecanpossiblyhelpit。Hiskillin\'saredonefrombehindadoor，orwhenhe\'sgothismandeadtorights。There\'sSamCook。You\'veallheardofhim。Hehadnerve，ofcourse，andwhenhewasbackedintoacornerhemadegood；hewassuresuddendeathwithagun。Butwhenhewentforamandeliberate，hedidn\'ttakenospecialchances。ForawhilehewasmarshalatWillets。Prettysoonitwasnotedthattherewasaheapofcasesofresistingarrest，whereSamasmarshalhadtoshoot，andthatthosecasesalmostalwayshappenedtobehispersonalenemies。Ofcourse，thatmightbeallright，butitlookedsuspicious。ThenonedayhekilledpooroldMaxSchmidtoutbehindhisownsaloon。Calledhimoutandshothiminthestomach。SaidMaxresistedarrestonawarrantforkeepin\'openoutofhours！ThatwasasweetwarranttotakeoutinWillets，anyway！Mrs。Schmidtalwaysclaimedthatshesaythatdealplayed，andthat，whiletheyweretalkin\'perfectlypeacable，Cookletdrivefromthehipatabouttwoyards\'range。Anyway，wedecidedweneededanothermarshal。

Nothin\'elsewaseverdone，fortheVigilanteshadn\'tbeenformed，andyourindividualanddecentcitizendoesn\'tcaretobemarkedbyagunofthatstripe。Leastwise，unlesshewantstogoinforbad-manmethodsanddoalittleambusheein\'onhisownaccount。

Thepointis，thattheseyerebadmenarealow-down，miserableproposition，andplain，cold-bloodmurderers，willin\'towaitforasurething，andwithoutnocompunctionswhatsoever。Thebadmantakesyouunawares，whenyou\'resleepin\'，ortalkin\'，ordrinkin\'，orlookin\'toseewhatforadayit\'sgoin\'tobe，anyway。Hedon\'tgiveyounoshow，andsoonerorlaterhe\'sgoin\'togetyouinthesafestandeasiestwayforhimself。

Thereain\'tnoromanceaboutthat。

And，untilyou\'veseenafewmencalledoutoftheirshacksforafriendlyconversation，andshotwhentheyhappentolookaway；oraskedforadrinkofwater，andkilledwhentheystooptothespring；orpottedfrombehindastheygointoaroom，it\'sprettyhardtobelievethatanymancanhesoplumblackin\'infairplayorpityorjustnaturalhumanity。

Asyouboysknow，IcomeinfromTexastoBuckJohnson\'sabouttenyearback。IhadaprettygoodmountofponiesthatIknew，andIhatedtoletthemgoatpricestheywereofferin\'then，soImadeupmymindtorideacrossandbringtheminwithme。Itwasn\'tsoawfulfar，andIfiguredthatI\'dliketotakeinwhatNewMexicolookedlikeanyway。

AboutdownbyAlbuquerqueItrackedupwithanotheroutfitheadedmyway。Therewasfiveofthem，threemen，andawoman，andayearlin\'baby。Theyhadadozenhosses，andthatwasaboutallI

couldsee。Therewasonlytwopacked，andnowagon。Isupposethewholeoutfit——pots，pans，andkettles——wasworthfivedollars。ItwasjustsupperwhenIrunacrossthem，anditdidn\'ttakemore\'nonelooktodiscoverthatflour，coffee，sugar，andsaltwasalltheycarried。Ayearlin\'carcass，half-skinned，laynear，andthefry-panwas，fullofmeat。

"Howdy，strangers，"saysI，ridin\'up。

Theynoddedalittle，butdidn\'tsaynothin\'。Myhossesfelltograzin\'，andIeasedmyselfaroundinmysaddle，andmadeacigareet。Themenwastall，lankfellows，withkindofsullenfaces，andsly，shiftyeyes；thewomanwasdirtyandgenerallymussedup。Iknowedthatsortallright。Texaswasgettin\'toomanyfencesforthem。

"Havin\'supper？"saysI，cheerful。

Oneof\'emgrunted"Yes"atme；and，afterawhile，thebiggestaskedmeverygrudgin\'ifIwouldn\'tlightandeat，Itoldthem"No，"thatIwastravellin\'inthecooloftheevenin\'。

"Youseemtohavemoremeatthanyouneed，though，"saysI。"I

couldusealittleofthat。"

"Helpyourself，"saysthey。"It\'samaverickwecomeacross。"

Itookasteak，andnotedthatthehidehadbeenmightywellcuttoribbonsaroundtheflanksandthattheheadwasgone。

"Well，"saysItothecarcass，"Noone\'sgoingtobeabletoswearwhetheryou\'reamaverickornot，butIbetyouknewthefeelofabrandin\'ironallright。"

Igavethemathank-you，andclimbedonagain。Myhossesactedsomesurprisedatbein\'gatheredupagain，butIcouldn\'thelpthat。

"Itlookslikeaplumbimposition，cavallos，"saysItothem，"afteranall-day，butyousuredon\'twanttojointhatoutfitanymorethanIdotheangels，andifwecampherewe\'relikelytodoboth。"

Ididn\'tseethemanymoreafterthatuntilI\'dhittheLazyY，andhadstartedinrunnin\'cattleintheSodaSpringsValley。

LarryEagenandIrodetogetherthosedays，andthat\'showIgottoknowhimprettywell。Oneday，overintheElmFlat，weransmackonthisTexasoutfitagain，headednorth。ThistimeIwasonmyownrange，andIknewwhereIstood，soIcouldshowalittlemorecuriosityinthecase。

"Well，yougotthisfar，"saysI。

"Yes，"saysthey。

"Whereyouheaded？"

"Overtowardsthehills。"

"Whattodo？"

"Makearanch，raisesometruck；perhapsbuyafewcows。"

Theywenton。

"Truck"saysItoLarry，"isfineprospectsinthiscountry。"

Hesatonhishorselookingafterthem。

"I\'msorryforthem"sayshe。"Itmusthealmightyhardscratchin\'。"

Well，werodetherangeforupwardsoftwoyear。InthattimewesawourTexasfriends——nameofHahn——twoorthreetimesinWillets，andheardofthemoffandon。TheyboughtanoldbrandofSteveMcWilliamsforseventy-fivedollars，carryin\'sixoreightheadofcows。Afterthat，fromtimetotime，weheardofthembuyingmore——twoorthreeheadfromoneman，andtwoorthreefromanother。TheybrandedthemallwiththatMcWilliamsiron——T0——so，prettysoon，webegantoseethecattleontherange。

Now，agoodcattlemanknowscattlejustaswellasyouknowpeople，andhecantellthemaboutasfaroff。Hornedcritterslookaliketoyou，buteveninacountrysupportin\'agoodmanythousandhead，amanusedtothebusinesscanrecognisemosteveryindividualasfarashecanseehim。Someisbetterthanothersatit。Isupposeyoureallyhavetobebroughtuptoit。

SoweboysattheLazyYnotedallthecattlewiththenewT0，andcouldestimateprettyclosethattheHahnoutfitmightown，maybe，thirty-fiveheadalltold。

Thatwasallverywell，andnobodyhadanykickcomin\'。Thenonedayinthespring，wecameacrossourfirst"sleeper。"

What\'sasleeper？Asleeperisacalfthathasbeenear-marked，butnotbranded。Everyownerhasacertainbrand，asyouknow，andthenhecropsandslitstheearsinacertainway，too。Inthatmannerhedon\'thavetolookatthebrand，excepttocorroboratetheears；and，asthecrittergenerallystickshisearsupinquirin\'-liketoanyoneridin\'up，it\'seasytoknowthebrandwithoutlookin\'atit，merelyfromtheear-marks。Onceinagreatwhile，whenamancomesacrossanunbrandedcalf，anditain\'thandytobuildafire，hejustear-marksitandlet\'sthebrandin\'gotilllater。Butitisn\'tdoneoften，andouroutfithadstrictordersnevertomakesleepers。

Well，onedayinthespring，asIsay，Larryandmewasridin\'，whenwecameacrossaLazyYcowandcalf。Thelittlefellowwasear-markedallright，sowerodeon，andneverwouldhavediscoverednothin\'ifabushrabbithadn\'tjumpedandscaredthecalfrightacrossinfrontofourhosses。Thenwecouldn\'thelpbutseethattherewasn\'tnobrand。

Ofcourseweropedhimandputtheirononhim。Itookthechancetolookathisears，，andsawthatthemarkinghadbeendonequiterecent，sowhenwegotinthatnightIreportedtoBuckJohnsonthatoneofthepuncherswasgettin\'lazyandsleeperin\'。Naturallyhewentafterthemanwhohaddoneit；