the last of the plainsmen- 第11部分

The　trail　rolled　over　the　ridges　of　pinyon　and　scrubby　pine。　Occasionally　we　could　see　the　black；　ragged　crest　of　Buckskin　above　us。　From　one　of　these　ridges　I　took　my　last　long　look　back　at　the　desert；　and　engraved　on　my　mind　a　picture　of　the　red　wall；　and　the　many…hued　ocean　of　sand。　The　trail；　narrow　and　indistinct；　mounted　the　last　slow…rising　slope；　the　pinyons　failed；　and　the　scrubby　pines　became　abundant。　At　length　we　reached　the　top；　and　entered　the　great　arched　aisles　of　Buckskin　Forest。　The　ground　was　flat　as　a　table。　Magnificent　pine　trees；　far　apart；　with　branches　high　and　spreading；　gave　the　eye　glad　welcome。　Some　of　these　monarchs　were　eight　feet　thick　at　the　base　and　two　hundred　feet　high。　Here　and　there　one　lay；　gaunt　and　prostrate；　a　victim　of　the　wind。　The　smell　of　pitch　pine　was　sweetly　overpowering。

〃When　I　went　through　here　two　weeks　ago；　the　snow　was　a　foot　deep；　an'　I　bogged　in　places；〃　said　Frank。　〃The　sun　has　been　oozin'　round　here　some。　I'm　afraid　Jones　won't　find　any　snow　on　this　end　of　Buckskin。〃

Thirty　miles　of　winding　trail；　brown　and　springy　from　its　thick　mat　of　pine　needles；　shaded　always　by　the　massive；　seamy…barked　trees；　took　us　over　the　extremity　of　Buckskin。　Then　we　faced　down　into　the　head　of　a　ravine　that　ever　grew　deeper；　stonier　and　rougher。　I　shifted　from　side　to　side；　from　leg　to　leg　in　my　saddle；　dismounted　and　hobbled　before　Satan；　mounted　again；　and　rode　on。　Jones　called　the　dogs　and　complained　to　them　of　the　lack　of　snow。　Wallace　sat　his　horse　comfortably；　taking　long　pulls　at　his　pipe　and　long　gazes　at　the　shaggy　sides　of　the　ravine。　Frank；　energetic　and　tireless；　kept　the　pack…horses　in　the　trail。　Jim　jogged　on　silently。　And　so　we　rode　down　to　Oak　Spring。

The　spring　was　pleasantly　situated　in　a　grove　of　oaks　and　Pinyons；　under　the　shadow　of　three　cliffs。　Three　ravines　opened　here　into　an　oval　valley。　A　rude　cabin　of　rough…hewn　logs　stood　near　the　spring。

〃Get　down；　get　down；〃　sang　out　Frank。　〃We'll　hang　up　here。　Beyond　Oak　is　No…Man's…Land。　We　take　our　chances　on　water　after　we　leave　here。〃

When　we　had　unsaddled；　unpacked；　and　got　a　fire　roaring　on　the　wide　stone　hearth　of　the　cabin；　it　was　once　again　night。

〃Boys；〃　said　Jones　after　supper；　〃we're　now　on　the　edge　of　the　lion　country。　Frank　saw　lion　sign　in　here　only　two　weeks　ago；　and　though　the　snow　is　gone；　we　stand　a　show　of　finding　tracks　in　the　sand　and　dust。　To…morrow　morning；　before　the　sun　gets　a　chance　at　the　bottom　of　these　ravines；　we'll　be　up　and　doing。　We'll　each　take　a　dog　and　search　in　different　directions。　Keep　the　dog　in　leash；　and　when　he　opens　up；　examine　the　ground　carefully　for　tracks。　If　a　dog　opens　on　any　track　that　you　are　sure　isn't　lion's；　punish　him。　And　when　a　lion…track　is　found；　hold　the　dog　in；　wait　and　signal。　We'll　use　a　signal　I　have　tried　and　found　far…reaching　and　easy　to　yell。　Waa…hoo！　That's　it。　Once　yelled　it　means　come。　Twice　means　comes　quickly。　Three　times　means　comedanger！〃

In　one　corner　of　the　cabin　was　a　platform　of　poles；　covered　with　straw。　I　threw　the　sleeping…bag　on　this；　and　was　soon　stretched　out。　Misgivings　as　to　my　strength　worried　me　before　I　closed　my　eyes。　Once　on　my　back；　I　felt　I　could　not　rise；　my　chest　was　sore；　my　cough　deep　and　rasping。　It　seemed　I　had　scarcely　closed　my　eyes　when　Jones's　impatient　voice　recalled　me　from　sweet　oblivion。

〃Frank；　Frank；　it's　daylight。　Jimboys！〃　he　called。

I　tumbled　out　in　a　gray；　wan　twilight。　It　was　cold　enough　to　make　the　fire　acceptable；　but　nothing　like　the　morning　before　on　Buckskin。

〃Come　to　the　festal　board；〃　drawled　Jim；　almost　before　I　had　my　boots　laced。

〃Jones；〃　said　Frank；　〃Jim　an'　I'll　ooze　round　here　to…day。　There's　lots　to　do；　an'　we　want　to　have　things　hitched　right　before　we　strike　for　the　Siwash。　We've　got　to　shoe　Old　Baldy；　an'　if　we　can't　get　him　locoed；　it'll　take　all　of　us　to　do　it。〃

The　light　was　still　gray　when　Jones　led　off　with　Don；　Wallace　with　Sounder　and　I　with　Moze。　Jones　directed　us　to　separate；　follow　the　dry　stream　beds　in　the　ravines；　and　remember　his　instructions　given　the　night　before。

The　ravine　to　the　right；　which　I　entered；　was　choked　with　huge　stones　fallen　from　the　cliff　above；　and　pinyons　growing　thick；　and　I　wondered　apprehensively　how　a　man　could　evade　a　wild　animal　in　such　a　place；　much　less　chase　it。　Old　Moze　pulled　on　his　chain　and　sniffed　at　coyote　and　deer　tracks。　And　every　time　he　evinced　interest　in　such；　I　cut　him　with　a　switch；　which；　to　tell　the　truth；　he　did　not　notice。　I　thought　I　heard　a　shout；　and　holding　Moze　tight；　I　waited　and　listened。

〃Waa…hoowaa…hoo！〃　floated　on　the　air；　rather　deadened　as　if　it　had　come　from　round　the　triangular　cliff　that　faced　into　the　valley。　Urging　and　dragging　Moze；　I　ran　down　the　ravine　as　fast　as　I　could；　and　soon　encountered　Wallace　coming　from　the　middle　ravine。　〃Jones；〃　he　said　excitedly；　　〃this　waythere's　the　signal　again。〃　We　dashed　in　haste　for　the　mouth　of　the　third　ravine；　and　came　suddenly　upon　Jones；　kneeling　under　a　pinyon　tree。　〃Boys；　look！〃　he　exclaimed；　as　he　pointed　to　the　ground。　There；　clearly　defined　in　the　dust；　was　a　cat　track　as　big　as　my　spread　hand；　and　the　mere　sight　of　it　sent　a　chill　up　my　spine。　〃There's　a　lion　track　for　you；　made　by　a　female；　a　two…year…old；　but　can't　say　if　she　passed　here　last　night。　Don　won't　take　the　trail。　Try　Moze。〃

I　led　Moze　to　the　big；　round　imprint；　and　put　his　nose　down　into　it。　The　old　hound　sniffed　and　sniffed；　then　lost　interest。

〃Cold！〃　ejaculated　Jones。　〃No　go。　Try　Sounder。　Come；　old　boy；　you've　the　nose　for　it。〃

He　urged　the　relucant　hound　forward。　Sounder　needed　not　to　be　shown　the　trail；　he　stuck　his　nose　in　it；　and　stood　very　quiet　for　a　long　moment；　then　he　quivered　slightly；　raised　his　nose　and　sought　the　next　track。　Step　by　step　he　went　slowly；　doubtfully。　All　at　once　his　tail　wagged　stiffly。

〃Look　at　that！〃　cried　Jones　in　delight。　〃He's　caught　a　scent　when　the　others　couldn't。　Hyah；　Moze；　get　back。　Keep　Moze　and　Don　back；　give　him　room。〃

Slowly　Sounder　paced　up　the　ravine；　as　carefully　as　if　he　were　traveling　on　thin　ice。　He　passed　the　dusty；　open　trail　to　a　scaly　ground　with　little　bits　of　grass；　and　he　kept　on。

We　were　electrified　to　hear　him　give　vent　to　a　deep　bugle…blast　note　of　eagerness。

〃By　George；　he's　got　it；　boys！〃　exclaimed　Jones；　as　he　lifted　the　stubborn；　struggling　hound　off　the　trail。　〃I　know　that　bay。　It　means　a　lion　passed　here　this　morning。　And　we'll　get　him　up　as　sure　as　you're　alive。　Come；　Sounder。　Now　for　the　horses。〃

As　we　ran　pell…mell　into　the　little　glade；　where　Jim　sat　mending　some　saddle　trapping；　Frank　rode　up　the　trail　with　the　horses。

〃Well；　I　heard　Sounder；〃　he　said　with　his　genial　smile。　〃Somethin's　comin'　off；　eh？　You'll　have　to　ooze　round　some　to　keep　up　with　that　hound。〃

I　saddled　Satan　with　fingers　that　trembled　in　excitement；　and　pushed　my　little　Remington　automatic　into　the　rifle　holster。

〃Boys；　listen；〃　said　our　leader。　〃We're　off　now　in　the　beginning　of　a　hunt　new　to　you。　Remember　no　shooting；　no　blood…letting；　except　in　self…defense。　Keep　as　close　to　me　as　you　can。　Listen　for　the　dogs；　and　when　you　fall　behind　or　separate；　yell　out　the　signal　cry。　Don't　forget　this。　We're　bound　to　lose　each　other。　Look　out　for　the　spikes　and　branches　on　the　trees。　If　the　dogs　split；　whoever　follows　the　one　that　trees　the　lion　must　wait　there　till　the　rest　come　up。　Off　now！　Come；　Sounder；　Moze；　you　rascal；　hyah！　Come；　Don；　come；　Puppy；　and　take　your　medicine。〃

Except　Moze；　the　hounds　were　all　trembling　and　running　eagerly　to　and　fro。　When　Sounder　was　loosed；　he　led　them　in　a　bee…line　to　the　trail；　with　us　cantering　after。　Sounder　worked　exactly　as　before；　only　he　followed　the　lion　tracks　a　little　farther　up　the　ravine　before　he　bayed。　He　kept　going　faster　and　faster；　occasionally　letting　out　one　deep；　short　yelp。　The　other　hounds　did　not　give　tongue；　but　eager；　excited；　baffled；　kept　at　his　heels。　The　ravine　was　long；　and　the　wash　at　the　bottom；　up　which　the　lion　had　proceeded；　turned　and　twisted　round　boulders　large　as　houses；　and　led　through　dense　growths　of　some　short；　rough　shrub。　Now　and　then　the　lion　tracks　showed　plainly　in　the　sand。　For　five　miles　or　more　Sounder　led　us　up　the　ravine；　which　began　to　contract　and　grow　steep。　The　dry　stream　bed　got　to　be　full　of　thickets　of　branchless　saplings；　about　the　poplartall；　straight；　size　of　a　man's　arm；　and　growing　so　close　we　had　to　press　them　aside　to　let　our　horses　through。

Presently　Sounder　slowed　up　and　appeared　at　fault。　We　found　him　puzzling　over　an　open；　grassy　patch；　and　after　nosing　it　for　a　little　while；　he　began　skirting　the　edge。

〃Cute　dog！〃　declared　Jones。　〃That　Sounder　will　make　a　lion　chaser。　Our　game　has　gone　up　here　somewhere。〃

Sure　enough；　Sounder　directly　gave　tongue　from　the　side　of　the　ravine。　It　was　climb　for　us　now。　Broken　shale；　rocks　of　all　dimensions；　pinyons　down　and　pinyons　up　made　ascending　no　easy　problem。　We　had　to　dismount　and　lead　the　horses；　thus　losing　ground。　Jones　forged　ahead　and　reached　the　top　of　the　ravine　first。　When　Wallace　and　I　got　up；　breathing　heavily；　Jones　and　the　hounds　were　out　of　sight。　But　Sounder　kept　voicing　his　clear　call；　giving　us　our　direction。　Off　we　flew；　over　ground　that　was　still　rough；　but　enjoyable　going　compared　to　the　ravine　slopes。　The　ridge　was　sparsely　covered　with　cedar　and　pinyon；　through　which；　far　ahead；　we　pretty　soon　spied　Jones。　Wallace　signaled；　and　our　leader　answered　twice。　We　caught　up　with　him　on　the　brink　of　another　ravine　deeper　and　craggier　than　the　first；　full　of　dead；　gnarled　pinyon　and　splintered　rocks。

〃This　gulch　is　the　largest　of　the　three　that　head　in　at　Oak　Spring；〃　said　Jones。　〃Boys；　don't　forget　your　direction。　Always　keep　a　feeling　where　camp　is；　always　sense　it　every　time　you　turn。　The　dogs　have　gone　down。　That　lion　is　in　here　somewhere。　Maybe　he　lives　down　in　the　high　cliffs　near　the　spring　and　came　up　here　last　night　for　a　kill　he's　buried　somewhere。　Lions　never　travel　far。　Hark！　Hark！　There's　Sounder　and　the　rest　of　them！　They've　got　the　scent；　they've　all　got　it！　Down；　boys；　down；　and　ride！〃

With　that　he　crashed　into　the　cedar　in　a　way　that　showed　me　how　impervious　he　was　to　slashing　branches；　sharp　as　thorns；　and　steep　descent　an