按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
woman。
16
… Page 17…
LAHOMA
Without； the afternoon sun slowly sank behind the mountains casting
long shadows over the plains； the wind swirled the sand in tireless eddies；
sometimes lifting it high in great sheets； forming sudden dunes； coyotes
prowled among the foot…hills and out on the open levels； squatting with
eyes fixed on the wagon； uttering sharp quick barks of interrogation。 A
herd of deer lifted their horns against the horizon； then suddenly bounded
away； racing like shadows toward the lowlands of Red River。 On the
domelike summit of Mount Welsh； a mile away； a mountain…lion showed
his sinuous form against the sky seven hundred feet in air。 And from the
mountainside near at hand stared from among the thick greenery of a cedar；
the face of an Indian whose black hair was adorned by a single red feather。
Within the wagon； unconscious of all； in strange fellowship； lay the
living and the dead。
17
… Page 18…
LAHOMA
CHAPTER IV
AN UNWONTED PRAYER
When Willock started up from the mattress in the covered wagon； the
sun had set。 Every object； however； was clearly defined in the first glow of
the long August twilight； and it needed but a glance to recall the events
that had brought him to seek shelter and slumber beside the dead woman。
He sat up suddenly； staring from under his long black hair as it fell about
his eyes。 Accustomed as he was to deeds of violence； even to the sight of
men weltering in their life's blood； he was strangely moved by that rigid
form with the thin arms folded over the breast； by that white cloth
concealing face and hair。 A long keen examination of the prairie assured
him that no human being was between him and the horizon。 He turned
again toward the woman。 He felt an overpowering desire to look on her
face。
For years there had been no women in his world but the abandoned
creatures who sought shelter in the resorts of Beer City in No…Man's Land…
…these； and the squaws of the reservations； and occasionally a white
terrified face among the wagon…trains。 As a boy； before running away from
home in the Middle West； he had known a different order of beings； and
some instinct told him that this woman belonged to the class of his
childhood's association。 There was imperative need of his hurrying to the
mountain； lest； at any moment； a roving band of Indians discover the
abandoned wagon； besides this； he was very hungry since his rest； and the
wagon was stocked with provisions； nevertheless； to look on the face of
the dead was his absorbing desire。
But it was not easy for him to yield to his curiosity； despite his life of
crime。 Something about the majestic repose of that form seemed to add
awe to the mystery of sex； and he crouched staring at the cloth which no
breath stirred save the breath of evening。
He believed； now； the story that Henry Gledware had reiterated in
accents of abject terror。 Surely this was the 〃last wagon〃 in that train
which Red Kimball had attacked the morning before。 Impossible as it had
seemed to the highwaymen； Gledware must have been warned of the
18
… Page 19…
LAHOMA
attack in time to turn about and lash his horses out of danger of discovery。
At this spot； Gledware had cut loose the horses； mounted one with his
stepdaughter； leaving the other to go at will。 This； then； was the mother of
that child whose arm had lain in warm confidence about his neck。 On
hands and knees； Willock crept to the other mattress and lifted the margin
of the large white cloth。
His hand moved stealthily； slowly。 Catching sight of something that
faintly gleamed at the collar of the dress； he hesitated； his determination to
examine the countenance was as firm as ever； but his impulse to put it off
as long as possible was even stronger。 He bent down to look closer at the
ornament； it was a round breastpin of onyx and pearl set in a heavy rim of
gold。 The warm wind； tempered by approaching night to a grateful
balminess； stirred the cloth between his fingers。 He stared as if lost in
profound meditation。 That pin resembled one his mother used to wear； and；
somehow； the soothing touch of the wind reminded him of her hand on his
forehead。 He might have gone back home； if she had not died long ago。
Now； in spite of the many years that had passed over her grave； the
memory of her came as strong； as sweet； as instinct with the fullness of
life； as； if he were suddenly wafted back into boyhood。
He did not lift the cloth； after all； but having replaced it gently； he
searched the wagon for a spade。 It was found in the box fastened to the
end of the wagon； and with the spade； in the gathering darkness； he dug a
grave near the mountainside。 Between the strokes of the blade he sent
searching glances over the prairie and along the sloping ridges of the
overlooking range； but there were no witnesses of his work save the
coyotes that prowled like gray shadows across the sands。 When the grave
was ready he carried thither in his giant's arms the body of the woman on
the mattress； and laid it thus to rest。 When the sand was smoothed over the
place； he carried thither quantities of heavy stones； and broken blocks of
granite； to preserve the body from wild beasts。
It was dark when the heap of stones had been arranged in the form of a
low pyramid； but though he had not tasted food for twenty…four hours； he
lingered beside the grave； his head bent as if still struggling with those
unwonted memories of the long ago。 At last； as if forced by a mysterious
19
… Page 20…
LAHOMA
power against which he could no longer resist； he sank upon his knees。
〃O God；〃 he prayed aloud； 〃take care of the little girl。〃
He waited； but no more words would comeno other thought。 He rose；
feeling strangely elated； as if some great good fortune had suddenly come
into his possession。 It had been like this when the sleeping child lay in his
arms； he could almost feel her little cheek against his bosom； and hear the
soft music of her breathing。
He went back to the wagon and sat on the tongue； still oblivious to any
possible danger of surprise。 He spoke aloud； for company：
〃She wouldn't have wanted me to look at hershe couldn't have looked
natural。 Glad I didn't。 Great Scott！ but that was a first…rate prayer！
Wouldn't have thought after thirty years I could have done so well。 And it
was all there； everything was in them words！ If she knew what I was doing；
she couldn't have asked nothing more； for I reckon she wouldn't expect a
man like ME to ask no favors for that white…livered cowardly second…
husband of hers。 I put in all my plea for the little girl。 Dinged if I
understand how I come to be so intelligent and handy at what's all new
business to me！ I just says； 'O God； take care of the little girl；'just them
words。〃 He rose with an air of great content and went around to the front
in search of provisions。 Presently he spoke aloud：
〃And as I ain't asked nothing for myself since I run off from home I
guess God won't mind putting the little girl on my expense… account。〃
20
… Page 21…
LAHOMA
CHAPTER V
A NEW ROBINSON CRUSOE
It came over him with disconcerting suddenness that he had lost a
great deal of time； and that every moment spent in the covered wagon was
fraught with imminent danger。 It was not in his mind that the hand of
highwaymen might discover his hiding…place。 Knowing them as he did； he
was sure they would not come so far from their haunts or from the Sante
Fe train in pursuit of