Stepsons of Light Part 4

"I don't know," said Johnny dejectedly. "I had to-morrow all figured out like a timetable, and here it's all gummed up. Listen. What's that in the yard--crunchin'? Varmints, likely. When I was here last we used to throw out beef bones, and of nights we'd shoot through the doorway at the noise. We got eight skunks and three coyotes and a fox and a tub. Guess I'll try a shot now." He picked up his revolver and c.o.c.ked it.

"h.e.l.lo, the house!" said a hurried voice outside.

"Why, it's a man!" said Johnny. He turned his gun upon Mr. Smith.

"One word and you're done," he whispered. His eye was convincing.

Smith petrified. Johnny raised his voice. "h.e.l.lo, outside! You come near getting shot for a skunk! If you want supper and shelter say please and walk out loud like a man. I don't like your p.u.s.s.y-foot ways."

"Come out of there--one at a time--hands up!" said the voice. "We've got you surrounded. You can't get away!"

"On the contrary, we are behind thick walls, and you can get away if you're right quick and immediate," said Johnny. "Inside of a minute I'm going to empty a rifle out there on general principles. This is a Bar Cross house. I am a Bar Cross man, where I belong, following orders. Half a minute more!"

"You fool! This is the sheriff's posse!"

"I hear you say it."

"I am the sheriff of Socorro County," said another voice, "and I summon you to surrender."

"I am a Bar Cross man in a Bar Cross house," repeated Johnny. "If you're the sheriff, walk in that door on your hind legs, with your hands up, and let us have a look at you."

"That's Johnny Dines talking!" said a third voice. "h.e.l.lo, Dines! This is me, Bill Fewell! Say, this is the sheriff and his posse all right!

Don't you get in wrong."

"One man may unbuckle his belt and back in at that door, hands up. If you can show any papers for me, I surrender. While I give 'em the quick look, the man that comes in is a hostage with my gun between his shoulder blades. If he takes his hands down or anybody tries any funny business, I'll make a sieve of him. Step lively!"

"Dines, you fool," bawled the sheriff, "I got nothing against you. But I've got a warrant for that man in there with you, and I'm going to have him."

"Oh!" A moment's silence. Then said Johnny, in an injured voice: "You might ha' said so before. I've got him covered and I've taken his gun.

So now I've got one gun for him and one for the hostage. Send in one man walking backward, hands up, warrant in his belt--and let him stop right in the door! No mistakes. If the warrant is right you get your man. Any reward?"

"He's a stiff-necked piece," said Fewell. "But he'll do just what he says. Here, give me your warrant. He won't hurt me--if you fellows hold steady. If you don't, you've murdered me, that's all. Hey, Dines!

You stubborn long-eared Missouri mule, I'm coming, as per instructions--me, Bill Fewell. You be careful!"

He backed up and stood framed in the open door against the lamplight.

Johnny's hand flickered out and s.n.a.t.c.hed the warrant.

"Why, sheriff, this seems to be all right. Only he gave me a different name. But then, he naturally would. Why, this warrant is all shipshape. Hope I get some of that reward. Here's your man, and here are my guns." He appeared at the door and tossed his guns down. The sheriff crowded by, and broke into a bellow of rage.

"You fool! You blundering idiot! This is one of my posse!"

"What?" Johnny's jaw dropped in pained surprise. "He's a liar, then.

He told me he was an outlaw. Don't blame me!"

"You h.e.l.l-sent half-wit! Where's that other man--Jones?"

"Oh, him? He's down the canon, sir. He went with Bob after horses. He hasn't got back yet, sir."

"Dines, you scoundrel! Are you trying to make a fool out of me?"

"Oh, no, sir! Impossible. Not at all, sir. If you and your posse will take cover, sir, I'll capture him for you when he comes back, just as I did this one, sir. We are always glad to use the Bar Cross house as a trap and the Bar Cross grub for bait. As you see, sir."

"d.a.m.n you, Dines, that man isn't coming back!"

Johnny considered this for a little. Then he looked up with innocent eyes.

"Perhaps you are right, sir," he said thoughtfully.

Long since, the floods have washed out the Bar Cross horse camp, torn away pens and flat and house, leaving from hill to hill a desolate wash of gravel and boulders--so that no man may say where that poor room stood. Yet youth housed there and hope, honor and courage and loyalty; there are those who are glad it shall shelter no meaner thing.

III

"I do believe there shall be a winter yet in heaven--and in h.e.l.l."

--_Paradise and the Periscope._

"Realism, _n._ The art of depicting nature as it is seen by toads."

--_The Devil's Dictionary._

"They sit brooding on a garbage scow and tell us how bad the world smells."

--BERTON BRALEY.

"Just round the block" is a phrase familiar to you. To get the same effect in the open country you would say "thirty miles" or sixty; and in those miles it is likely there would be no water and no house--perhaps not any tree. Consider now: Within the borders of New Mexico might be poured New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware. Then drop in another small state and all of Chesapeake Bay, and still New Mexico would not be brimful--though it would have to be carried carefully to avoid slopping over. Scattered across this country is a population less than that of Buffalo--half of it cl.u.s.tered in six-mile ribbons along the Rio Grande and the Pecos.

Those figures are for to-day. Divide them by three, and then excuse the story if it steps round the block. It was long ago; Plancus was consul then.

Some two weeks after the day when Johnny Dines went to horse camp, Charlie See rode northward through the golden September; northward from Rincon, pocket of that billiard table you know of. His way was east of the Rio Grande, in the desperate twisting country where the river cuts through Caballo Mountains. His home was beyond the river, below Rincon, behind Cerro Roblado and Selden Hill; and he rode for a reason he had. Not for the first time; at every farm and clearing he was hailed with greeting and jest.

Across the river he saw the yellow walls of Colorado, of old Fort Thorne, deserted Santa Barbara. He came abreast of them, left them behind, came to Wit's End, where the river gnaws at the long bare ridges and the wagon road clings and clambers along the brown hillside. He rode sidewise and swaying, crooning a gay little saddle song; to which Stargazer, his horse, twitched back an inquiring ear.

_Oh, there was a crooked man and he rode a crooked mile_----

Charlie See was as straight as his own rifle; it was the road he traveled which prompted that joyful saddle song. As will be found upon examination, that roistering ditty sorts with a joyful jog trot. It follows that Charlie See was not riding at a run, as frontiersmen do in the movies. It is a great and neglected truth that frontiersmen on the frontier never ride like the frontiersmen in films. And it may be mentioned in pa.s.sing that frontiersmen on frontiers never do anything at all resembling as to motive, method or result those things which frontiersmen do in films. And that is the truth.

The actual facts are quite simple and jolly. In pursuit of wild stock, men run their horses at top speed for as short a time as may be contrived; not to make the wild stock run faster and farther, but to hold up the wild stock. Once checked, they proceed as soberly as may be to the day's destination; eventually to a market. Horse or steer comes to market in good shape or bad, as the handling has been reckless or tender; and the best cowman is he whose herds have been moved slowest. At exceptional times--riding with or from the sheriff, to get a doctor, or, for a young man in April, riding a fresh horse for a known and measured distance, speed is permitted. But the rule is to ride slowly and sedately, holding swiftness in reserve for need.

Walk, running walk, pace, jog trot--those are the road gaits, to which horses are carefully trained, giving most mileage with least effort.

Rack and single-foot are tolerated but frowningly.

The mad, glad gallop is reserved for childhood and for emergencies.

Penalties, progressively suitable, are provided for the mad, glad galloper. He becomes the object of sidelong glances and meaning smiles; persistent, he becomes the theme of gibe and jest to flay the skin. If he be such a one as would neither observe nor forecast, one who will neither learn nor be taught, soon or late he finds himself set afoot with a give-out horse; say, twenty-five miles from water. It is not on record that wise or foolish, after one such experience, is ever partial to the sprightly gallop as a road gait. Of thirst, as of "eloquent, just and mightie Death," it may be truly said: "Whom none could advise, thou hast perswaded."

The road wound down to the bottom land for a little s.p.a.ce. Then sang Charlie See:

_Oh, mind you not in yonder town When the red wine you were fillin', You drank a health to the ladies round And slighted Barbara Allan?_

Followed a merry ditty of old days: