[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
"I spoke to you a little while ago--in the saloon back there."
"Come over an' let's see you," said the cowboy curtly.
Gale advanced till he was close to the horse. The cowboy leaned over the
saddle and peered into Gale's face. Then, without a word, he sheathed the gun
and held out his hand. Gale met a grip of steel that warmed his blood. The
other cowboy got off his nervous, spirited horse and threw the bridle. He,
too, peered closely into
Gale's face.
"My name's Ladd," he said. "Reckon I'm some glad to meet you again."
Gale felt another grip as hard and strong as the other had been. He realized
he had found friends who belonged to a class of men whom he had despaired of
ever knowing.
"Gale--Dick Gale is my name," he began, swiftly. "I dropped into
Casita to-night hardly knowing where I was. A boy took me to that hotel.
There I met an old friend whom I had not seen for years.
He belongs to the cavalry stationed here. He had befriended a
Spanish girl--fallen in love with her. Rojas had killed this girl's
father--tried to abduct her....You know what took place at the hotel.
Gentlemen, if it's ever possible, I'll show you how I appreciate what you did
for me there. I got away, found my friend with the girl. We hurried out here
beyond the edge of town. Then Thorne had to make a break for camp. We heard
bugle calls, shots, and he was away without leave. That left the girl with
me. I don't know what to do. Thorne swears Casita is no place for Mercedes
at night."
"The girl ain't no peon, no common Greaser?" interrupted Ladd.
"No. Her name is Castaneda. She belongs to an old Spanish family, once rich
and influential."
"Reckoned as much," replied the cowboy. "There's more than Rojas's wantin' to
kidnap a pretty girl. Shore he does that every day or so.
Must be somethin' political or feelin' against class. Well, Casita ain't no
place for your friend's girl at night or day, or any time.
Shore, there's Americans who'd take her in an' fight for her, if necessary.
But it ain't wise to risk that. Lash, what do you say?"
"It's been gettin' hotter round this Greaser corral for some weeks,"
replied the other cowboy. "If that two-bit of a garrison surrenders, there's
no tellin' what'll happen. Orozco is headin' west from Agua Prieta with his
guerrillas. Campo is burnin' bridges an' tearin' up the railroad south of
Nogales. Then there's all these bandits callin' themselves revolutionists
just for an excuse to steal, burn, kill, an' ride off with women. It's plain
facts, Laddy, an' bein' across the U.S.
line a few inches or so don't make no hell of a difference. My advice is,
don't let Miss Castaneda ever set foot in Casita again."
"Looks like you've shore spoke sense," said Ladd. "I reckon, Gale, you an'
the girl ought to come with us. Casita shore would be a little warm for us
to-morrow. We didn't kill anybody, but I shot a Greaser's arm off, an' Lash
strained friendly relations by destroyin'
property. We know people who'll take care of the senorita till your friend
can come for her."
Page 34
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Dick warmly spoke his gratefulness, and, inexpressibly relieved and happy for
Mercedes, he went toward the clump of cactus where he had left her. She stood
erect, waiting, and, dark as it was, he could tell she had lost the terror
that had so shaken her.
"Senor Gale, you are my good angel," she said, tremulously.
"I've been lucky to fall in with these men, and I'm glad with all my heart,"
he replied. "Come."
He led her into the road up to the cowboys, who now stood bareheaded in the
starlight. The seemed shy, and Lash was silent while Ladd made embarrassed,
unintelligible reply to Mercedes's's thanks.
There were five horses--two saddled, two packed, and the remaining one carried
only a blanket. Ladd shortened the stirrups on his mount, and helped Mercedes
up into the saddle. From the way she settled herself and took the few restive
prances of the mettlesome horse Gale judged that she could ride. Lash urged
Gale to take his horse. But his Gale refused to do.
"I'll walk," he said. "I'm used to walking. I know cowboys are not."
They tried again to persuade him, without avail. Then Ladd started off,
riding bareback. Mercedes fell in behind, with Gale walking beside her.
The two pack animals came next, and Lash brought up the rear.
Once started with protection assured for the girl and a real objective point
in view, Gale relaxed from the tense strain he had been laboring under. How
glad he would have been to acquaint Thorne with their good fortune! Later, of
course, there would be some way to get word to the cavalryman. But till then
what torments his friend would suffer!
It seemed to Dick that a very long time had elapsed since he stepped off the
train; and one by one he went over every detail of incident which had occurred
between that arrival and the present moment. Strange as the facts were, he
had no doubts. He realized that before that night he had never known the
deeps of wrath undisturbed in him; he had never conceived even a passing idea
that it was possible for him to try to kill a man. His right hand was swollen
stiff, so sore that he could scarcely close it. His knuckles were bruised and
bleeding, and ached with a sharp pain. Considering the thickness of his heavy
glove, Gale was of the opinion that so to bruise his hand he must have struck
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]