第5章

IhadjustgonesofarwhenIwasbroughtupshortbyatremendousoathbehindme。Atthesameinstantamatchflared。

Iturnedtofaceastrangerholdingthelittlelightabovehishead，andpeeringwithfieryintentnessoverthegroupsprawledaboutthefloor。

Hewasevidentlyjustinfromthestorm。Hisdrippinghatlayathisfeet。Ashockofstraight，close-clippedvigoroushairstoodupgreyabovehisseamedforehead。Bushyiron-greyeyebrowsdrawnclosetogetherthatchedapairofburning，unquenchableeyes。Asquare，deepjaw，lightlystubbledwithgrey，wasclampedsotightthatthecheekmusclesaboveitstoodoutinknotsandwelts。

Thenthematchburnedhisthick，squarefingers，andhedroppeditintothedarknessthatascendedtoswallowit。

"Whowassingingthatsong？"hecriedharshly。Nobodyanswered。

"Whowasthatsinging？"hedemandedagain。

BythistimeIhadrecoveredfrommyfirstastonishment。

"Iwassinging，"saidI。

Anothermatchwasinstantlylitandthrustintomyveryface。I

underwentthefiercescrutinyofaninstant，thenthetaperwasthrownawayhalfconsumed。

"Wheredidyoulearnit？"thestrangeraskedinanalteredvoice。

"Idon\'tremember，"Ireplied；"itisacommonenoughdeep-seachantey。"

Aheavypausefell。Finallythestrangersighed。

"Quitelike，"hesaid；"Ineverheardbutonemansingit。"

"Whoinhellareyou？"someonedemandedoutofthedarkness。

Beforereplying，thenewcomerlitathirdmatch，searchingforaplacetositdown。Ashebentforward，hisstrong，harshfaceoncemorecameclearlyintoview。

"He\'sColoradoRogers，"theCattlemanansweredforhim；"Iknowhim。"

"Well，"insistedthefirstvoice，"whatinhelldoesColoradoRogersmeanbybustin\'inonoursongfiestathatway？"

"Tellthem，Rogers，"advisedtheCattleman，"tellthem——justasyoutolditdownontheGilatenyearsagonextmonth。"

"What？"inquiredRogers。"Whoareyou？"

"Youdon\'tknowme，"repliedtheCattleman，"butIwaswithBuckJohnson\'soutfitthen。Giveustheyarn。"

"Well，"agreedRogers，"passoverthe\'makings\'andIwill。"

Herolledandlitacigarette，whileIrevelledinthememoryofhisrich，greatvoice。Itwasofthesortmadetodeclaimagainsttheseaortherushofriversor，ashere，thefallofwatersandthethunder——full，fromthechest，withthecaressingthroatvibrationthatgivescolourtothemostordinarystatements。Aftertenwordswesankbackobliviousofthestorm，forgetfuloftheleakyroofandthedirtyfloor，lostinthestorytoldusbytheOldTimer。

CHAPTERTEN

THETEXASRANGERS

IcamefromTexas，likethebulkofyoupunchers，butagoodwhilebeforethemostofyouwereborn。Thatwasforty-oddyearsago——andI\'vebeenontheColoradoRivereversince。That\'swhytheycallmeColoradoRogers。Aboutadozenofuscameouttogether。WehadallbeenTexasRangers，butwhenthewarbrokeoutwewereoutofajob。WenoneofuscaredmuchfortheJohnnyRebs，andstilllessfortheYanks，sowestruckoverlandfortheWest，withtheideaofhittingtheCaliforniadiggings。

Well，wegotswitchedoffonewayandanother。WhenwegotdowntoaboutwhereDouglasisnow，wefoundthattheMexicanGovernmentwasofferingabountyforApachescalps。Thatlookedprettygoodtous，forInjinchasingwasourjob，sowestartedintocollect。Didprettywell，too，foraboutthreemonths，andthentheInjinsbegantogettooscarce，ortooplentyinstreaks。Lookedlikeourjobwasoverwith，butsomeoftheboysdiscoveredthatMexicans，havingstraightblackhair，youcouldn\'ttelloneoftheirscalpsfromanApache\'s。Afterthatthebountybusinesspickedupforawhile。Itwastoomuchforme，though，andIquittheoutfitandpushedonaloneuntilI

strucktheColoradoaboutwhereYumaisnow。

AtthattimetheCaliforniaimmigrantsbythesouthernrouteusedtocrossjustthere，andtheseYumaInjinshadamonopolyontheferrybusiness。Theywereapeaceful，fine-lookinglot，withoutathingonbutagee-string。Thewomenhadbeltswithrawhidestringshangingtotheknees。Theyputthemononeovertheotheruntiltheydidn\'tfeeltoodecollotey。Itwasn\'tuntilthesoldierscamethattheofficers\'wivesgotthemtowearhandkerchiefsovertheirbreasts。Thesystemwasallright，though。Theywallowedaroundinthehot，cleansand，likechickens，andkepthealthy。Sincetheytooktowearingclothesthey\'vebeenpeteringout，anddyingofdirtandassorteddiseases。

Theyranthisferrymonopolybymeansofboatsmadeoftules，chargedascand\'louslowprice，andeverythingwashappyandlovely。Iranonalittlebarandpannedoutsomedust，soI

campedawhile，washinggold，gettingfriendlywiththeYumas，andtalkinghorseandotherthingswiththeimmigrants。

Aboutamonthofthis，andtheTexasboysdriftedin。Seemstheysortofoverdidthescalpmatter，andgotfoundout。Whentheysawme，theystoppedandwentintocamp。They\'dtravelledaheapofdesert，andweregettingsickofit。Forawhiletheytriedgoldwashing，butIhadtheonlypocket——andthatwasaboutskinned。OneeveningafellownamedWalleyeannouncedthathehadbeendoingsomefiguring，andwantedtomakeaspeech。Wetoldhimtofireahead。

"Nowlookhere，"saidhe，"what\'stheuseofgoingtoCalifornia？

Whynotstayhere？"

"Whatinhellwouldwedohere？"someoneasked。"CollectGilamonstersfortheirgoodlooks？"

"Don\'tgetgay，"saidWalleye。"What\'sthematterwithgoingintobusiness？Here\'saheapofpeoplegoingthrough，andmorecomingeveryday。Thisferrybusinesscouldbemadetopaybig。

ThemInjinschargestwobitsahead。That\'sacrimefortheonlywayacross。Andhowmuchdoyousupposewhisky\'dbeworthtodrinkafterthatdesert？Andaman\'ssosickofhimselfbythetimehegetsthisfarthathe\'dplaychuck-a-luck，letalonefaroormonte。"

Thatkindoftalkhitthemwheretheylived，andYumawasfoundedrightthenandthere。Theyhadn\'tanywhiskyyet，butcardswereplenty，andtheferrymonopolywastooeasy。WalleyeservednoticeontheInjinsthatadollaraheadwent；andweallsettobuildingatuleraftliketheothers。Thenthewildbunchgotuneasy，sotheywalkedupstreamonemorningandstoletheInjins\'

boats。TheInjinscameaftertheminnocentasbabies，thinkingtherafthadgoneadrift。Whentheygotintocampourmenopenedupandkilledfourofthemasakindofhint。Afterthattheferrycompanydidn\'thaveanytrouble。TheYumasmovedupriveraways，wherethey\'velivedeversince。Theygotthecorpsesandburiedthem。Thatis，theydugatrenchforeachoneandlaidpolesacrossit，withafuneralpyreonthepoles。Thentheyputthebodyontop，andthewomenofthefamilycuttheirhairoffandthrewiton。Afterthattheysetfiretotheoutfit，and，whenthepolesbadburnedthrough，thewholebusinessfellintothetrenchofitsownaccord。Itwastheneatest，automatic，self-cocking，double-actionsortofafuneralIeversaw。Therewasn\'tanyceremony——onlycrying。

Theferrybusinessflourishedatpriceswhichweresometimeshardtocollect。Butitwasacaseofpayorgoback，anditwasatur\'blelongwaysback。Wegotustimbersandmadeascow；builtabaileandsaloonandhousesoutofadobe；andcalledherYuma，aftertheInjinsthathadreallystartedher。WegotoursuppliesthroughtheGulfofCalifornia，wheresailingboatsworkeduptheriver。Peoplebegantocomeinforonereasonoranother，andfirstthingweknewwehadastoreandallsortsoftrimmings。Infactwewasareallivetown。

CHAPTERELEVEN

THESAILORWITHONEHAND

Atthismomenttheheavybeatofthestormontheroofceasedwithmiraculoussuddenness，leavingtheoutsideworldemptyofsoundsavefortheDRIP，DRIP，DRIPofeaves。Nobodyventuredtofillinthepausethatfollowedthestranger\'slastwords，soinamomenthecontinuedhisnarrative。

Wehadeverysortofpeoplewithusoffandon，and，asIwaslookoutatapopulargame，Isawthemall。OneeveningIwasonmywayhomeabouttwoo\'clockofamoonlitnight，whenontheedgeoftheshadowIstumbledoverabodylyingpartacrossthefootway。AtthesameinstantIheardtheripofsteelthroughclothandfeltasharpstabinmyleftleg。ForaminuteI

thoughtsomedrunkhadusedhisknifeonme，andImightynearderringeredhimashelay。ButsomehowIdidn\'t，andlookingcloser，Isawthemanwasunconscious。ThenIscoutedtoseewhathadcutme，andfoundthatthefellowhadlostahand。Inplaceofitheworeasharpsteelhook。ThisIhadtangledupwithandgottenwellpricked。

Idraggedhimoutintothelight。Hewasaslim-builtyoungfellow，withstraightblackhair，longandlankandoily，aleanface，andbighookednose。Hehadononlyathinshirt，apairofroughwoolpants，andtherawhidehome-madezapatostheMexicansworetheninsteadofboots。Acrosshisforeheadranalonggash，cuttinghislefteyebrowsquareintwo。

Therewasnodoubtofhisbeingalive，forhewasbreathinghard，likeamandoeswhenhegetshitoverthehead。Itdidn\'tsoundgood。Whenamanbreathesthatwayhe\'smostlyallgone。

Well，itwasreallynoneofmybusiness，asyoumightsay。Mengotbattedovertheheadoftenenoughinthosedays。ButforsomereasonIpickedhimupandcarriedhimtomy\'dobeshack，andlaidhimout，andwashedhiscutwithsourwine。Thatbroughthimto。Sourwineisfinetoputawoundinshapetoheal，butit\'snosoothingsyrup。Hesatupasthoughhe\'dbeentouchedwithahotpoker，staredaroundwild-eyed，andcutloosewiththatsongyouweresinging。Onlyitwasn\'tthatverse。

Itwasanotheronefurtheralong，thatwentlikethis：

Theircoffinwastheirship，andtheirgraveitwasthesea，Blowhigh，blowlow，whatcarewe；

Andthequarterthatwegavethemwastosinktheminthesea，DownonthecoastoftheHighBarbaree。

Itfairmademyhairrisetohearhim，withthebig，still，solemndesertoutside，andthequietmoonlight，andtheshadows，andhimsittingupstraightandgaunt，hiseyesblazingeachsidehisbigeaglenose，andhissnakyhairhangingovertherawcutacrosshishead。However，Imadeouttogethimbandagedupandinshape；andprettysoonhesortofwenttosleep。

Well，hewascleanoutofhisheadfornightwoweeks。Mostofthetimehelayflatonhisbackstaringatthepoleroof，hiseyesburningandlookingliketheysaweachonesomethingadifferentdistanceoff，thewaycrazyeyesdo。Thatwaswhenhewasbest。Thenagainhe\'dsingthatBarbareesonguntilI\'dgooutandlookattheoldColoradoflowingbyjusttobesureI

hadn\'tdiedandgonebelow。Orelsehe\'djusttalk。Thatwastheworstperformanceofall。Itwaslikelisteningtooneendofatelephone，thoughwedidn\'tknowwhattelephoneswereinthosedays。Hebeganwhenbewasakid，andhegavehissideofconversations，pausingforreplies。Icouldmightynearfurnishtherepliessometimes。Itwasqueerlingo——aboutshipsandships\'officersandgalesandcalmsandfightsandpearlsandwhalesandislandsandbirdsandskies。Butitwasalllittlestuff。Iusedtolistenbythehour，butInevermadeoutanythingreallyimportantastowhothemanwas，orwherehe\'dcomefrom，orwhathe\'ddone。

AttheendofthesecondweekIcameinatnoonasperusualtofixhimupwithgrub。Ididn\'tpayanyattentiontohim，forhewasquiet。AsIwasbendingoverthefirehespoke。UsuallyI

didn\'tbotherwithhistalk，foritdidn\'tmeananything，butsomethinginhisvoicemademeturn。Hewaslyingonhisside，thoseblackeyesofhisblazingatme，butnowbothofthemsawthesamedistance。

"Wherearemyclothes？"heasked，veryintense。

"Youain\'tinanyshapetowantclothes，"saidI。"Liestill。"

Ihadn\'tanymorethangotthewordsoutofmymouthbeforehewasatopme。Hismethodwasawinner。Hehadmebythethroatwithhishand，andIfeltthepointofthehookprickingthebackofmyneck。Onelittlesqueeze——Talkaboutyourdeadlyweapons！

Buthe\'dbeentoosickandtoolongabed。Heturneddizzyandkeeledover，andIdumpedhimbackonthebunk。ThenIputmysix-shooteron。

Inaminuteorsohecameto。

"Nowyou\'reanice，sweetproposition，"saidI，assoonasIwassurehecouldunderstandme。"HereIpickyouuponthestreetandsaveyourworthlesscarcass，andthefirstchanceyougetyoutrytocrawlmyhump。

Explain。"

"Where\'smyclothes？"hedemandedagain，veryfierce。

"Forheaven\'ssake，"Iyelledathim，"what\'sthematterwithyouandyouroldclothes？Thereain\'tenoughofthemtodustafiddlewithanyway。WhatdoyouthinkI\'dwantwiththem？

They\'resafeenough。"\'

"Letmehavethem，"hebegged。

"Now，lookhere，"saidI，"youcan\'tgetupto-day。Youain\'tfit。"

"Iknow，"hepleaded，"butletmeseethem。"

JusttosatisfyhimIpassedoverhisoldduds。

"I\'vebeenrobbed，"hecried。

"Well，"saidI，"whatdidyouexpectwouldhappentoyoulyingaroundYumaaftermidnightwithaholeinyourhead？"

"Where\'smycoat？"heasked。

"YouhadnocoatwhenIpickedyouup，"Ireplied。

Helookedatmemightysuspicious，butdidn\'tsayanythingmore——

hewouldn\'tevenanswerwhenIspoketohim。Afterhe\'deatenafairmealhefellasleep。WhenIcamebackthateveningthebunkwasemptyandhewasgone。

Ididn\'tseehimagainfortwodays。ThenIcaughtsightofhimquiteawaysoff。Henoddedatmeverysour，anddodgedaroundthecornerofthestore。

"GuesshesuspicionsIstolethatoldcoatofhis，"thinksI；andafterwardsIfoundthatmysurmisehadbeencorrect。

However，hedidn\'tstaylonginthatframeofmind。Itwasalongtowardsevening，andIwaswalkingonthebankslookingdownoverthemuddyoldColorado，asIalwayslikedtodo。Thesunhadjustset，andthemountainshadturnedhardandstiff，astheydoaftertheglow，andtheskyabovethemwasathousandmillionmilesdeepofpalegreen-goldlight。ApairofGreaserswereaheadofme，butIcouldseeonlytheiroutlines，andtheydidn\'tseemtointerfereanywiththescenery。Suddenlyablackfigureseemedtoriseupoutoftheground；theMexicanmanwentdownasthoughhe\'dbeenjerkedwithastring，andthewomanscreeched。

Iranup，pullingmygun。TheMexwasflatonhisface，hisarmsstretchedout。Onthemiddleofhisbackkneltmyone-armedfriend。AndthatsharphookwascaughtneatlyunderthepointoftheMexican\'sjaw。Youbethelaystill。

IreallythinkIwasjustintimetosavetheman\'slife。

AccordingtomybeliefanotherminutewouldhaveburiedthehookintheMexican\'sneck。Anyway，IthrustthemuzzleofmyColt\'sintothesailor\'sface。

"What\'sthis？"Iasked。

Thesailorlookedupatmewithoutchanginghisposition。Hewasnottheleastbitafraid。

"Thismanhasmycoat，"heexplained。

"Where\'dyougetthecoat？"IaskedtheMex。

"IweenheematmonteoffAntonioCurvez，"saidhe。

"Maybe，"growledthesailor。

Hestillheldthehookundertheman\'sjaw，butwiththeotherhandheranrapidlyunderandovertheMexican\'sleftshoulder。

InthehalflightIcouldseehisfacechange。Thegleamdiedfromhiseye；thesnarllefthislips。Withoutfurtherdelayhearosetohisfeet。

"Getupandgiveithere！"hedemanded。

TheMexicanwasonlytoogladtogetoffsoeasy。Idon\'tknowwhetherhe\'dreallywonthecoatatmonteornot。Inanycase，heflewpocopronto，leavingmeandmyfriendtogether。

Themanwiththehookfelttheleftshoulderofthecoatagain，lookedup，metmyeye，mutteredsomethingintendedtobepleasant，andwalkedaway。

ThiswasinDecember。

Duringthenexttwomonthshewasagooddealabouttown，mostlydoingoddjobs。Isawhimoffandon。Healwaysspoketomeaspleasantlyasheknewhow，andoncemadesomesortofabluffaboutpayingmebackformytroubleinbringinghimaround。

However，Ididn\'tpaymuchattentiontothat，beingatthetimealmightybusyholdingdownmycardgames。

ThelastdayofFebruaryIwassittinginmyshacksmokingapipeaftersupper，whenmyone-armedfriendopenedthedoorafoot，slippedin，andshutitimmediately。BythetimehelookedtowardsmeIknewwheremysix-shooterwas。

"That\'sallright，"saidI，"butyoubetterstayrightthere。"

Iintendedtotakenomorechanceswiththathook。

Hestoodtherelookingstraightatmewithoutwinkingorofferingtomove。

"Whatdoyouwant？"Iasked。

"Iwanttomakeuptoyouforyourtrouble，"saidhe。"I\'vegotagoodthing，andIwanttoletyouinonit。"

"Whatkindofagoodthing？"Iasked。

"Treasure，"saidhe。

"H\'m，"saidI。

Iexaminedhimclosely。Helookedallrightenough，neitherdrunknorloco。

"Sitdown，"saidI——"overthere；theothersidethetable。"Hedidso。"Now，fireaway，"saidI。

HetoldmehisnamewasSolomonAnderson，butthathewasgenerallyknownasHandySolomon，onaccountofhishook；thathehadalwaysfollowedthesea；thatlatelyhehadcoastedthewestshoresofMexico；thatatGuaymashehadfalleninwithSpanishfriends，incompanywithwhomhehadvisitedtheminesintheSierraMadre；thatonthisexpeditionthepartyhadbeenattackedbyYaquisandwipedout，healonesurviving；thathisblanket-matebeforeexpiringhadtoldhimofgoldburiedinacoveofLowerCaliforniabytheman\'sgrandfather；thatthemanhadgivenhimachartshowingthelocationofthetreasure；thathehadsewnthischartintheshoulderofhiscoat，whencehissuspicionofmeandhisbeingsolocoaboutgettingitback。

"Andit\'sabigthing，"saidHandySolomontome，"forthey\'snotonlygold，butaltarjewelsanddiamonds。Itwillmakeusrich，andadozenlikeus，andyoucankisstheBookonthat。"

"Thatmayallbetrue，"saidI，"butwhydoyoutellme？Whydon\'tyougetyourtreasurewithouttheneedofdividingit？"

"Why，mate，"heanswered，"it\'sjustplaingratitude。Didn\'tyousavemylife，andnussme，andtakecareofmewhenIwasnighkilled？"

"Lookhere，Anderson，orHandySolomon，orwhateveryoupleasetocallyourself，"Irejoinedtothis，"ifyou\'regoingtodobusinesswithme——andIdonotunderstandyetjustwhatitisyouwantofme——you\'llhavetotalkstraight。It\'sallverywelltosaygratitude，butthatdon\'tgowithme。You\'vebeenaroundherethreemonths，andbarringahalf-dozencivilwordsandtwiceasmanyoftheotherkind，I\'vefailedtoseeanyindicationsofyourgratitudebefore。It\'saqualitywithahellofahang-firetoit。"

Helookedatmesideways，spat，andlookedatmesidewaysagain。

Thenheburstintoalaugh。

"Thedevil\'sapreacher，ifyouain\'tlostyourpinfeathers，"\'

saidhe。"Well，it\'sthisthen：Igottohaveaboattogetthere；andshemustbestocked。AndIgottohavehelpwiththetreasure，ifit\'slikethisfellowsaiditwas。AndtheYaquisandcannibalsfromTiburonisthroughthecountry。It\'smoneyI

gottohave，andit\'smoneyIhaven\'tgot，andcan\'tgetunlessI

letsomebodyinaspardner。"

"Whyme？"Iasked。

"Whynot？"heretorted。"Iain\'tseeanybodyIlikebetter。"

Wetalkedthematteroveratlength。Ihadtoforcehimtoeachpoint，forsuspicionwasstronginhim。Istoodoutforalargerparty。Hestronglyopposedthisasdepreciatingtheshares，butIhadnointentionofgoingaloneintowhatwasthenconsideredawildanddangerouscountry。Finallywecompromised。Athirdofthetreasurewastogotohim，athirdtome，andtherestwastobedividedamongthemenwhomIshouldselect。Thisschemedidnotappealtohim。

"HowdoIknowyouplaysfair？"hecomplained。"They\'llbefourofyoutooneofme；andIdon\'tlikeit，andyoucankisstheBookonthat。"

"Ifyoudon\'tlikeit，leaveit，"saidI，"andgetout，andbedamnedtoyou。"

Finallyheagreed；butherefusedmealookatthechart，sayingthathehadleftitinasafeplace。Ibelieveinrealityhewantedtobesurerofme，andforthatIcanhardlyblamehim。

CHAPTERTWELVE

THEMURDERONTHEBEACH

Atthismomentthecookstuckhisheadinattheopendoor。

"Say，youfellows，"hecomplained，"Igottobeupatthreeo\'clock。Ain\'tyounevergoingtoturnin？"

"Shutup，Doctor！""Somebodykillhim！""Here，sitdownandlistentothisyarn！"yelledasavagechorus。

Thereensuedaslightscuffle，afewobjections。Thensilence，andthestrangertookuphisstory。

IhadachumnamedBillySimpson，andIrunghiminforfriendship。Thentherewasasolemn，tallTexasyoungfellow，strongasabull，straightandtough，broughtupfightingInjins。

Heneversaidmuch，butIknewhe\'dberighttherewhenthegongstruck。ForfourthmanIpickedoutaGermannamedSchwartz。HeandSimpsonhadjustcomebackfromtheminestogether。ItookhimbecausehewasafriendofBilly\'s，andbesideswasyoungandstrong，andwastheonlymanintownexceptingthesailor，Anderson，whoknewanythingaboutrunningaboat。IforgottosaythattheTexasfellowwasnamedDenton。

HandySolomonhadhisboatallpickedout。ItbelongedtosomeBasqueswhohadsailedheraroundfromCalifornia。ImustsaywhenIsawherIfeltinclinedtorenig，forshewasn\'tmore\'nabouttwenty-fivefeetlong，wasopenexceptforalittlesortofcubbyholeupinthefrontofher，hadonemast，andwaspointedatbothends。However，Schwartzsaidshewasallright。Heclaimedheknewthekind；thatshewasthesortusedbyFrenchfishermen，andcouldstandallsortsoftrouble。Shedidn\'tlookit。

WeworkedheruptoYuma，partlywithoarsandpartlybysails。

Thenweloadedherwithgrubforamonth。Eachofushadhisownweapons，ofcourse。Inadditionweputinpicksandshovels，andasmallcaskofwater。HandySolomonsaidthatwouldbeenough，astherewaswatermarkeddownonhischart。Wetoldthegangthatweweregoingtrading。

Attheendoftheweekwestarted，andwereoutfourdays。Therewasn\'tmuchroom，whatwiththesuppliesandthebaggage，forthefiveofus。Wehadtocurlup\'mostanywherestosleep。Anditcertainlyseemedtomethatwewereinlotsofdanger。Thewavesweremuchbiggerthanshewas，andsplashedonusconsiderable，butSchwartzandAndersondidn\'tseemtomind。Theylaughedatus。Andersonsangthatsongofhis，andSchwartztoldusoftheplacershehadworked。HeandSimpsonhadmadeaprettygoodclean-up，justenoughtomakethemwanttogetrich。ThefirstdayoutSimpsonshowedusabeltwithaboutanhundredouncesofdust。Thishegottiredofwearing，sohekeptitinacompass-box，whichwasempty。

Attheendofthefourdaysweturnedinatadeepbayandcametoanchor。Thecountrywastheusualproposition——verylight-brown，brittle-lookingmountains，abouttwothousandfeethigh；lotsofsageandcactus，apebblybeach，andnotasignofanythingfreshandgreen。

ButDentonandIweremightygladtoseeanysortofland。

Besides，ourkegofwaterwasprettylow，anditwasgettingabouttimetodiscoverthespringthechartspokeof。Sowepiledourcampstuffinthesmallboatandrowedashore。

Andersonledthewayconfidentlyenoughupadryarroyo，whosesideswereclayandconglomerate。But，thoughwefollowedittotheend，wecouldfindnoindicationsthatitwasanythingmorethanawashforrainfloods。

"That\'smainqueer，"mutteredAnderson，andreturnedtothebeach。

Therehespreadoutthechart——thefirstlookatitwe\'dhad——andsettostudyingit。

ItwasacarefulpieceofworkdoneinIndiaink，prettyold，tojudgebythelookofit，andwithallsortsofpicturesofmountainsanddolphinsandshipsandanchorsaroundtheedge。

Therewasourbay，allright。Twocrossesweremarkedonthelandpart——onelabelled"oro"andtheother"agua。"

"Nowthere\'sthehighcliff，"saysAnderson，followingitout，"andthere\'stheroundhillwiththeboulder——andifthembearingsdon\'tpointdueforthatravine，thedevil\'sapreacher。"

Wetrieditagain，withthesameresult。Asecondinspectionofthemapbroughtusnolightonthequestion。Wetalkeditover，andlookedatitfromallpoints，butwecouldn\'tdodgethetruth：thechartwaswrong。

Thenweexploredseveralofthenearestgullies，butwithoutfindinganythingbutloosestonesbakedhotinthesun。

Bynowitwasgettingtowardssundown，sowebuiltusafireofmesquiteonthebeach，madeussupper，andboiledapotofbeans。

Wetalkeditover。Thewaterwasaboutgone。

"That\'swhatwe\'vegottofindfirst，"saidSimpson，"noquestionofit。It\'sGodknowshowfartothenextwater，andwedon\'tknowhowlongitwilltakeustogetthereinthatlittleboat。

Ifwerunourwaterentirelyoutbeforewestart，we\'regoingtobeintrouble。We\'llhaveagoodlookto-morrow，andifwedon\'tfindher，we\'llrundowntoMollyhay[4]andgetafewextracasks。"

[4]Mulege-IretaintheOldTimer\'spronunciation。

"Perhapsthatmapiswrongaboutthetreasure，too，"suggestedDenton。

"Ithoughtofthat，"saidHandySolomon，"butthen，thinksItomyself，thisoldripprobablydon\'tmakenolongstayhere——justdodgesinandoutlike，betweentides，toburyhisloot。Hewouldneednowateratthetime；buthemightwhenhecameback，sohemarkedthewateronhismap。Buthewasn\'tnowaysparticularANDexact，beinginahurry。ButyoucankisstheBooktoitthathedidn\'tmakenosuchmistakesabouttheswag。"

"Ibelieveyou\'reright，"saidI。

Whenwecametoturnin，Andersonsuggestedthatheshouldsleepaboardtheboat。ButBillySimpson，inmindperhapsofthehundredouncesinthecompass-box，insistedthathe\'djustassoonasnot。AfteralittleobjectionHandySolomongavein，butIthoughtheseemedsouraboutit。Webuiltagoodfire，andinabouttensecondswereasleep。

Now，usuallyIsleeplikealog，anddidthistimeuntilaboutmidnight。ThenallatonceIcamebroadawakeandsittingupinmyblankets。Nothinghadhappened——Iwasn\'tevendreaming——butthereIwasasalertandclearasthoughitwerebroadnoon。

BythelightofthefireIsawHandySolomonsitting，andathissideourfiveriflesgathered。

Imusthavemadesomenoise，forheturnedquietlytowardme，sawIwasawake，andnodded。Themoonlightwassparklingonthehardstonylandscape，andathindampnesscameoutfromthesea。

AfteraminuteAndersonthrewonanotherstickofwood，yawned，andstoodup。

"It\'swet，"saidhe；"I\'vebeenfixingtheguns。"

Heshowedmehowhewasinsertingalittlepatchoffeltbetweenthehammerandthenipple，aschemeofhisownforkeepingdampfromthepowder。Thenherolledupinhisblanket。Atthetimeitallseemedquitenatural——Isupposemymindwasn\'tfullyawake，forallmyheadfeltsoclear。AfterwardsIrealisedwhataridiculousbluffhewasmaking：forofcoursethecapalreadyonthenipplewasplentytokeepoutthedamp。Ifullybelieveheintendedtokillusaswelay。Onlymysuddenawakeningspoiledhisplan。

Ihadabsolutelynoideaofthisatthetime，however。Nottheslightestsuspicionenteredmyhead。Inviewofthatfact，I

havesincebelievedinguardianangels。Formynextmove，whichatthetimeseemedtomeabsolutelyaimless，wastochangemyblanketsfromonesideofthefiretotheother。Andthatbroughtmealongsidethefiverifles。

Owingtothisfact，Iamnowconvinced，weawokesafeatdaylight，cookedbreakfast，andlaidtheplanfortheday。

Andersondirectedus。Iwastoclimbovertheridgebeforeusandsearchintheravineontheotherside。Schwartzwastoexploreupthebeachtotheleft，andDentontotheright。

AndersonsaidhewouldwaitforBillySimpson，whohadoversleptinthedarknessofthecubbyhole，andwhowasnowpaddlingashore。Thetwoofthemwouldpushinlandtothewestuntilahighhillwouldgivethemachancetolookaroundforgreenery。

Westartedatonce，beforethesunwouldbehot。ThehillIhadtoclimbwassteepandcoveredwithchollas，soIdidn\'tgetalongveryfast。WhenIwasabouthalfwaytothetopIheardashotfromthebeach。Ilookedback。Andersonwasinthesmallboat，rowingrapidlyouttothevessel。DentonwasrunningupthebeachfromonedirectionandSchwartzfromtheother。Islidandslippeddownthebluff，gettingprettywellstuckupwiththechollaspines。

AtthebeachwefoundBillySimpsonlyingonhisace，shotthroughtheback。Weturnedhimover，buthewasapparentlydead。Andersonhadhoistedthesail，hadcutloosefromtheanchor，andwassailingaway。

Dentonstoodupstraightandtall，looking。Thenhepulledhisbeltinahole，grabbedmyarm，andstartedtorunupthelongcurveofthebeach。BehinduscameSchwartz。Werannearamile，andthenfellamongsometulesinaninletatthefartherpoint。

"Whatisit？"Igasped。

"Ouronlychance——togethim——saidDenton。"He\'sgottogoaroundthispoint——bigwind——perhapshismastwillbust——thenhe\'llcomeashore——"Heopenedandshuthisbigbrownhands。

Sotherewetwofoolslay，likepanthersinthetules，takingouronlyone-in-a-millionchancetolayhandsonAnderson。Anysailorcouldhavetoldusthatthemastwouldn\'tbreak，butwehadwindedSchwartzaquarterofamileback。Andsowewaited，oureyesfixedontheboat\'ssail，grudginghereveryinch，justburningtofixthingstosuitusalittlebetter。AndnaturallyshemadethepointinwhatInowknowwasonlyafreshbreeze，squaredaway，anddroppeddownbeforethewindtowardGuaymas。

Wewalkedbackslowlytoourcamp，swallowingthecoppertasteoftoohardarun。Schwartzwepickedupfromaboulder，justrecovering。Wewereallofuscrazymad。Schwartzhalfwept，andblamedandcussed。Dentongloweredawayinsilence。I

groundmyfeetintothesandinahelplesssortofanger，notonlyatthemanhimself，butalsoatthewholewaythingshadturnedout。Idon\'tbelievetheleastnotionofourpredicamenthadcometoanyofus。Allweknewyetwasthatwehadbeendoneup，andwewerehostileaboutit。

Butatcampwefoundsomethingtooccupyusforthemoment。PoorBillywasnotdead，aswehadsupposed，butveryweakandsick，andaholesquarethroughhim。Whenwereturnedhewasconscious，butthatwasaboutall。Hiseyeswereshut，andhewasmoaning。Itoreopenhisshirttostanchtheblood。Hefeltmyhandandopenedhiseyes。Theywereglazed，andIdon\'tthinkhesawme。

"Water，water！"hecried。

Atthatweotherssawallatoncewherewestood。IrememberI

rosetomyfeetandfoundmyselfstaringstraightintoTomDenton\'seyes。WelookedateachotherthatwayforIguessitwasafullminute。ThenTomshookhishead。

"Water，water！"beggedpoorBilly。

Tomleanedoverhim。

"MyGod，Billy，thereain\'tanywater！"saidhe。

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

BURIEDTREASURE

TheOldTimer\'svoicebrokealittle。Wehadleisuretonoticethateventhedripfromtheeaveshadceased。Afaint，diffusedlightvouchsafedusdimoutlinesofsprawlingfiguresandtumbledbedding。Farinthedistanceoutsideawolfyelped。

Wecoulddonothingforhimexceptshelterhimfromthesun，andwethisforeheadwithsea-water；norcouldwethinkclearlyforourselvesaslongasthesparkoflifelingeredinhim。Hischestroseandfellregularly，butwithlongpausesbetween。

Whenthesunwasoverheadhesuddenlyopenedhiseyes。

"Fellows，"saidhe，"it\'sbeautifuloverthere；thegrassissogreen，andthewatersocool；Iamtiredofmarching，andI

reckonI\'llcrossoverandcamp。"

Thenhedied。Wescoopedoutashallowholeabovetide-mark，andlaidhiminit，andpiledoverhimstonesfromthewash。

Thenwewentbacktothebeach，verysolemn，totalkitover。

"Now，boys，"saidI，"thereseemstomejustonethingtodo，andthatistopikeoutforwaterasfastaswecan。"

"Where？"askedDenton。

"Well，"Iargued，"Idon\'tbelievethere\'sanywateraboutthisbay。Maybetherewaswhenthatchartwasmade。Itwasalongtimeago。Andanyway，theoldpiratewasasailor，andnoplainsman，andmaybehemistookrainwaterforaspring。We\'velookedaroundthisendofthebay。Thechancesarewe\'duseuptwoorthreedaysexploringaroundtheother，andthenwouldn\'tbeaswelloffaswearerightnow。"

"Whichway？"askedDentonagain，mightybrief。

"Well，"saidI，"there\'sonethingI\'vealwaysnoticedincaseoffolksheldupbythedesert：theygenerallygowanderingabouthereandtherelookingforwateruntiltheydienotfarfromwheretheygotlost。Andusuallythey\'vecoveredaheapofactualdistance。"

"That\'sso，"agreedDenton。

"Now，I\'vealwaysfiguredthatitwouldbeagooddealbettertostartrightoutforsomeparticularplace，evenifit\'stenthousandmilesaway。Amanisjustaslikelytostrikewatergoinginastraightlineasheisgoinginacircle；andthen，besides，he\'sgettingsomewhere。"

"Correct，"saidDenton，"So，"Ifinished，"Ireckonwe\'dbetterfollowthecoastsouthandtrytogettoMollyhay。"

"Howfaristhat？"askedSchwartz。

"Idon\'trightlyknow。Butsomewheresbetweenthreeandfivehundredmiles，ataguess。"

Atthathefelltogloweringandgroomingwithhimself，broodingoverwhatahardtimeitwasgoingtobe。ThatisthewaywithaGerman。Firstoffhe\'splumbscaredattheprospectofsufferinganything，andwouldratherdierightoffthantakelongchances。

Afterhegetsintotheswingofit，hebehavesaswellasanyman。

"Wetookstockofwhatwehadtodependon。Thetotalassetsprovedtobejustthreepairsoflegs。Apotofcoffeehadbeenonthefire，butthatvillainhadkickeditoverwhenheleft。

Thekettleofbeanswasthere，butsomehowwegotthenotiontheymighthavebeenpoisoned，soweleftthem。Idon\'tknownowwhyweweresofoolish——ifpoisonwashisgame，he\'dhavetrieditbefore——butatthattimeitseemedreasonableenough。Perhapsthehorrorofthemorning\'swork，andthesightofthebrittle-brownmountains，andtheghastlyyellowglareofthesun，andthebluewavesracingbyoutside，andthebigstrongwindthatblewthroughussohardthatitseemedtoblowemptyoursouls，hadturnedourjudgment。Anyway，weleftafullmealthereinthebeanpot。

SowithoutanyfurtherdelaywesetoffuptheridgeIhadstartedtocrossthatmorning。Schwartzlagged，sulkyasamuleycow，butwemanagedtokeephimwithus。Atthetopoftheridgewetookourbearingsforthenextdeepbay。Alreadywehadmadeupourmindstosticktothesea-coast，bothonaccountofthelowercountryoverwhichtotravelandtheoffchanceoffallinginwithafishingvessel。Schwartzmutteredsomethingaboutitsbeingtoofareventothenextbay，andwantedtositdownonarock。Dentondidn\'tsayanything，buthejerkedSchwartzupbythecollarsofiercelythattheGermangaveitoverandcamealong。

Wedroppeddownintothegully，stumbledovertheboulderwash，andbegantotoilintheankle-deepsandofalittlesage-brushflatthissideofthenextascent。Schwartzfollowedsteadilyenoughnow，buthadfallenfortyorfiftyfeetbehind。Thiswasanuisance，aswebadtokeepturningtoseeifhestillkeptup。

Suddenlyheseemedtodisappear。

DentonandIhurriedbacktofindhimonhishandsandkneesbehindasagebrush，clawingawayatthesandlikemad。

"Can\'tbewateronthisflat，"saidDenton；"hemusthavegonecrazy。"

"What\'sthematter，Schwartz？"Iasked。

Foranswerhemovedalittletooneside，showingbeneathhiskneeonecornerofawoodenboxstickingabovethesand。

Atthiswedroppedbesidehim，andinfiveminuteshaduncoveredthewholeofthechest。Itwasnotverylarge，andwaslocked。

Arockfromthewashfixedthat，however。Wethrewbackthelid。

Itwasfulltothebrimofgoldcoins，throwninloose，nightwobushelsofthem。

"Thetreasure！"Icried。

Thereitwas，sureenough，orsomeofit。Welookedtherestthrough，butfoundnothingbutthegoldcoins。Thealtarornamentsandjewelswerelacking。

"Probablyburiedinanotherboxorso，"saidDenton。

Schwartzwantedtodigaroundalittle。

"Nogood，"saidI。"We\'vegotourworkcutoutforusasitis。"

Dentonbackedmeup。Wewerebotholdhandsatthebusiness，hadeachinourtimesufferedthe"cotton-mouth"thirst，andthememoryofitoutweighedanydesirefortreasure。

ButSchwartzwasmoney-mad。Lefttohimselfhewouldhavestaidonthatsandflattoperish，ascertainlyashadpoorBilly。Wehadfairlytoforcehimaway，andthensucceededonlybecausewelethimfillallhispocketstobulgingwiththecoins。Aswemovedupthenextrise，hekeptlookingbackandutteringlittlemoansagainstthecrimeofleavingit。

Luckilyforusitwaswinter。Weshouldn\'thavelastedsixhoursatthistimeofyear。Asitwas，thesunwashotagainsttheshaleandthelittlestonesofthosecussedhills。Weploddedalonguntillateafternoon，toilinguponehillanddownanother，onlytorepeatimmediately。Towardssundownwemadethesecondbay，whereweplungedintothesea，clothesandall，andweregreatlyrefreshed。Isupposeamanabsorbsagooddealthatway。

Anyhow，italwaysseemedtohelp。

Wewerenowprettyhungry，and，aswewalkedalongtheshore，webegantolookforturtlesorshellfish，oranythingelsethatmightcomehandy。Therewasnothing。Schwartzwantedtostopforanight\'srest，butDentonandIknewbetterthanthat。

"Lookhere，Schwartz，"saidDenton，"youdon\'trealiseyou\'reenteredagainsttimeinthisrace——andthatyou\'readamnfooltocarryallthatweightinyourclothes。"

Sowedraggedalongallnight。

Itwasweirdenough，Icantellyou。Themoonshonecoldandwhiteoverthatdead，drycountry。Hotwhiffsrosefromthebakedstonesandhillsides。Shadowslayunderthestoneslikeanimalscrouching。Whenwecametotheedgeofasilveryhillwedroppedoffintopitchyblackness。Therewestumbledoverbouldersforaminuteorso，andbegantoclimbthesteepshaleontheotherside。Thiswasfearfulwork。Thetopseemedalwaysmilesaway。Bymorningwedidn\'tseemtohavemademuchofanywhere。Thesameoldhollow-lookingmountainswiththesharpedgesstuckupinaboutthesameoldplaces。

Wehadgotoverbeingveryhungry，and，thoughwewereprettydry，wedidn\'treallysufferyetfromthirst。AboutthistimeDentonranacrosssomefishhookcactus，whichwecutupandchewed。Theyhaveastickywetsortofinside，whichdoesn\'tquenchyourthirstany，buthelpstokeepyoufromdryingupandblowingaway。

Allthatdaywepluggedalongasperusual。Itwasmainhardwork，andwegottothatstatewherethingsaredisagreeable，butmechanical。Strangetosay，Schwartzkeptinthelead。Itseemedtomeatthetimethathewasusingmoreenergythantheoccasioncalledfor——justasmanrunsfasterbeforehecomestothegiving-outpoint。However，thehourswentby，andhedidn\'tseemtogetanymoretiredthantherestofus。

Wekeptasharplookoutforanythingtoeat，buttherewasnothingbutlizardsandhornedtoads。Laterwe\'dhavebeengladofthem，butbythattimewe\'dgotoutoftheirdistrict。Nightcame。Justatsundownwetookanotherwallowinthesurf，andchewedsomemorefishhookcactus。Whenthemooncameupwewenton。

I\'mnotgoingtotellyouhowdeadbeatwegot。Wewereprettytoughandstrong，forallofushadbeenusedtohardliving，butafterthethirddaywithoutanythingtoeatandnowatertodrink，itcametobeprettyhardgoing。ItgottothepointwherewehadtohavesomeREASONforgettingoutbesidesjustkeepingalive。Amanwouldsometimesratherdiethankeepalive，anyway，ifitcameonlytothat。ButIknowImadeupmymindI

wasgoingtogetoutsoIcouldsmashupthatAnderson，andI

reckonDentonhadthesameidea。Schwartzdidn\'tsayanything，buthepumpedonaheadofus，hisbackbentover，andhisclothessaggingandbulgingwiththegoldhecarried。

Weusedtotravelallnight，becauseitwascool，andrestanhourortwoatnoon。Thatisalltherestwedidget。Idon\'tknowhowfastwewent；I\'dgotbeyondthat。Wemusthavecrawledalongmightyslow，though，afterourfirststrengthgaveout。

ThewayIusedtodowastocollectmyselfwithaneffort，lookaroundformybearings，pickoutalandmarkalittledistanceoff，andforgeteverythingbutit。ThenI\'dplodalong，knowingnothingbutthesandandshaleandslopeundermyfeet，untilI\'dreachedthatlandmark。ThenI\'dclearmymindandpickoutanother。

ButIcouldn\'tshutoutthefigureofSchwartzthatway。Heusedtowalkalongjustaheadofmyshoulder。Hisfacewasalltwistedup，butIrememberthinkingatthetimeitlookedmoreasifhewasworriedinhismindthanlikebodilysuffering。Theweightofthegoldinhisclothesbenthisshouldersover。

Aswewentonthecountrygraduallygottobemoremountainous，and，asweweresteadilygrowingweaker，itdidseemthingswerepilinguponus。Theeighthdayweranoutofthefishhookcactus，and，beingonahighpromontory，wereoutoftouchwiththesea。Forthefirsttimemytonguebegantoswellalittle。

Thecactushadkeptmefromthatbefore。Dentonmusthavebeeninthesamefix，forhelookedatmeandraisedoneeyebrowkindofhumorous。