登陆注册
4708200000056

第56章

Much to Gale's surprise neither Belding nor Ladd objected to the idea of bringing a padre into the household, and thereby making known to at least one Mexican the whereabouts of Mercedes Castaneda.

Belding's caution was wearing out in wrath at the persistent unsettled condition of the border, and Ladd grew only the cooler and more silent as possibilities of trouble multiplied.

Gale fetched the padre, a little, weazened, timid man who was old and without interest or penetration. Apparently he married Mercedes and Thorne as he told his beads or mumbled a prayer. It was Mrs.

Belding who kept the occasion from being a merry one, and she insisted on not exciting Thorne. Gale marked her unusual pallor and the singular depth and sweetness of her voice.

"Mother, what's the use of making a funeral out of a marriage?" protested Belding. "A chance for some fun doesn't often come to Forlorn River. You're a fine doctor. Can't you see the girl is what Thorne needed? He'll be well to-morrow, don't mistake me."

"George, when you're all right again we'll add something to present congratulations," said Gale.

"We shore will," put in Ladd.

So with parting jests and smiles they left the couple to themselves.

Belding enjoyed a laugh at his good wife's expense, for Thorne could not be kept in bed, and all in a day, it seemed, he grew so well and so hungry that his friends were delighted, and Mercedes was radiant. In a few days his weakness disappeared and he was going the round of the fields and looking over the ground marked out in Gale's plan of water development. Thorne was highly enthusiastic, and at once staked out his claim for one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining that of Belding and the rangers.

These five tracts took in all the ground necessary for their operations, but in case of the success of the irrigation project the idea was to increase their squatter holdings by purchase of more land down the valley. A hundred families had lately moved to Forlorn River; more were coming all the time; and Belding vowed he could see a vision of the whole Altar Valley green with farms.

Meanwhile everybody in Belding's household, except the quiet Ladd and the watchful Yaqui, in the absence of disturbance of any kind along the border, grew freer and more unrestrained, as if anxiety was slowly fading in the peace of the present. Jim Lash made a trip to the Sonoyta Oasis, and Ladd patrolled fifty miles of the line eastward without incident or sight of raiders. Evidently all the border hawks were in at the picking of Casita.

The February nights were cold, with a dry, icy, penetrating coldness that made a warm fire most comfortable. Belding's household usually congregated in the sitting-room, where burning mesquite logs crackled in the open fireplace. Belding's one passion besides horses was the game of checkers, and he was always wanting to play. On this night he sat playing with Ladd, who never won a game and never could give up trying. Mrs. Belding worked with her needle, stopping from time to time to gaze with thoughtful eyes into the fire. Jim Lash smoked his pipe by the hearth and played with the cat on his knee. Thorne and Mercedes were at the table with pencil and paper; and he was trying his best to keep his attention from his wife's beautiful, animated face long enough to read and write a little Spanish. Gale and Nell sat in a corner watching the bright fire.

There came a low knock on the door. It may have been an ordinary knock, for it did not disturb the women; but to Belding and his rangers it had a subtle meaning.

"Who's that?" asked Belding, as he slowly pushed back his chair and looked at Ladd.

"Yaqui," replied the ranger.

"Come in," called Belding.

The door opened, and the short, square, powerfully built Indian entered. He had a magnificent head, strangely staring, somber black eyes, and very darkly bronzed face. He carried a rifle and strode with impressive dignity.

"Yaqui, what do you want?" asked Belding, and repeated his question in Spanish.

"Senor Dick," replied the Indian.

Gale jumped up, stifling an exclamation, and he went outdoors with Yaqui. He felt his arm gripped, and allowed himself to be led away without asking a question. Yaqui's presence was always one of gloom, and now his stern action boded catastrophe. Once clear of trees he pointed to the level desert across the river, where a row of campfires shone bright out of the darkness.

"Raiders!" ejaculated Gale.

Then he cautioned Yaqui to keep sharp lookout, and, hurriedly returning to the house, he called the men out and told them there were rebels or raiders camping just across the line.

Ladd did not say a word. Belding, with an oath, slammed down his cigar.

"I knew it was too good to last....Dick, you and Jim stay here while Laddy and I look around."

Dick returned to the sitting-room. The women were nervous and not to be deceived. So Dick merely said Yaqui had sighted some lights off in the desert, and they probably were campfires. Belding did not soon return, and when he did he was alone, and, saying he wanted to consult with the men, he sent Mrs. Belding and the girls to their rooms. His gloomy anxiety had returned.

"Laddy's gone over to scout around and try to find out who the outfit belongs to and how many are in it," said Belding.

"I reckon if they're raiders with bad intentions we wouldn't see no fires," remarked Jim, calmly.

"It 'd be useless, I suppose, to send for the cavalry," said Gale.

"Whatever's coming off would be over before the soldiers could be notified, let alone reach here."

"Hell, fellows! I don't look for an attack on Forlorn River," burst out Belding. "I can't believe that possible. These rebel-raiders have a little sense. They wouldn't spoil their game by pulling U. S. soldiers across the line from Yuma to El Paso. But, as Jim says, if they wanted to steal a few horses or cattle they wouldn't build fires. I'm afraid it's--"

Belding hesitated and looked with grim concern at the cavalryman.

"What?" queried Thorne.

"I'm afraid it's Rojas."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 火星一号

    火星一号

    中学老师左辉,只要准时出门,每天都能在同一个路口遇到红灯,在同一个时刻看见同一辆运钞车,重复的生活让他意志消沉,直到一场“火星移民”的骗局,重新燃起他生活的激情,让他一再出格,公然在例会中途退场,给初恋的早已嫁作他人妇的女孩写信,甚至写了一篇关于火星的抒情文字……青年作家朱个致力于在渺小的个人之间寻找他们彼此之间、他们和世界之间、他们和宇宙之间暗影重重的关系,短篇小说集《火星一号》堪称一部精彩的当代小城故事集。
  • 地理百科(中国儿童课外必读)

    地理百科(中国儿童课外必读)

    地理学是研究人与地理环境的关系的学科,与人类的生存密切相关。本书系统阐述了地球地表形态的特点及其变化、陆地和海洋、水及水循环、天气和气候的形成、地球资源和世界人口概况。在这个生动的地理王国里,读者将近距离认识地球,不仅从自然科学,而且从社会科学角度深入理解地理的完整含义,从而有效地协调自然与人类的关系。
  • 荒岛历险故事(感动青少年的惊险历险故事)

    荒岛历险故事(感动青少年的惊险历险故事)

    我们编辑的这套《感动青少年的惊险历险故事》,共有10本,包括《荒岛历险故事》、《海上历险故事》、《沙漠历险故事》、《森林历险故事》、《古堡历险故事》、《登山历险故事》、《空中历险故事》、《野外历险故事》、《探险历险故事》和《恐怖历险故事》。这些作品汇集了古今中外著名的惊险、历险故事近百篇,其故事情节惊险曲折,引人入胜,阅读这些故事,不仅可以启迪智慧、增强思维,还可以了解社会、增长知识。
  • 老满的二十四小时

    老满的二十四小时

    老满遇到“坎儿”了。按他自己的形容是到了“欲渡黄河冰塞川”的境地,至于长风破浪会不会有还真不好说,就目前的形势来讲,就凭局长在办公室大吼你还想不想好这话,就把老满期盼的前程似锦,一条笔直溜光的大道,设了危险的荆棘。这不能不让老满听完局长这句话,开始一阵阵地惊悸,一阵阵地打冷颤,一阵阵地出汗。说实在的,他没有不想好的胆量也没有不想好的勇气,他想好,做梦都想好,所以对于能给予他好的局长可以说言听计从。有人私底下议论他,贬他,损他。
  • 蜗牛的心开始想你了

    蜗牛的心开始想你了

    林夕落五岁那年,妈妈收养了一名弃婴鹿鹿。鹿鹿有自闭症,为了给鹿鹿治病,林家蝴蝶效应般发生了一系列的灾难和不幸。十八岁的林夕落忍无可忍,一怒之下,抛弃了鹿鹿,而母亲因为这件事间接被气死。从此林夕落就像蜗牛一样,背负着丢弃弟弟的沉重忏悔,没办法再接受爱情的重量。她如坐牢狱,坦然接受荆棘的命运:下跪,赎罪,入狱......
  • 大讼师

    大讼师

    杜九言穿越占了大便宜,不但白得了个儿子,还多了个夫君。夫君太渣,和她抢儿子。她大讼师的名头不是白得的。“王爷!”杜九言一脸冷漠,“想要儿子,咱们公堂见!”大周第一奇案:名满天下的大讼师要和位高权重的王爷对簿公堂,争夺儿子抚养权。三司会审,从无败绩的大讼师不出意料,赢的漂亮。不但得了重夺儿子的抚养权,还附赠王爷的使用权。“出去!”看着某个赖在家中不走的人,杜九言怒,“我不养吃闲饭的。”于是,精兵护岗金山填屋民宅变王府!儿子小剧场:“这位王爷,按照大周律法,麻烦你先在这份文书上签字。”某位王爷黑脸,咬牙道:“遗嘱?”“我娘说了,你女人太多,谁知道还有几个儿子。空口无凭不作数,白字黑字才可靠。”小剧场:“抬头三尺有神明,杜九言你颠倒黑白污蔑我,一定会受天打雷劈。”被告严智怒不可遏。“天打雷劈前,我也要弄死你。”杜九言摔下惊堂木,喝道:“按大周律例,两罪并罚,即判斩立决!”被告严智气绝而亡。坐堂刘县令:“……”
  • 苦婚甜爱

    苦婚甜爱

    为了这个家,她受尽冷落与虐待,仍是咬牙坚持,可命运偏偏捉弄于她,让她在错误的时间,遇到了对的人,从此平地起波澜,爱、恨、情、愁,挥不去,抹不掉……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 这里大概是异界

    这里大概是异界

    这里是异界,这里又不是异界主角宁凡是一个随遇而安的平凡人,但是经过一次意外后穿越到了一个快要冻死婴儿的身上,于是,一场搞笑又神奇的冒险就这样开始了。可以开后宫,但是没必要。(真香)可以开金手指,但是没必要。(还香)可以天天更新,没错!就是天天更新!作者君:文风幽默,情节搞笑,剧情好玩反正就是一个字:看的爽就完了!你要的故事我都有,我和故事已经在这里了,你在哪里呢?
  • 血魔灵珠

    血魔灵珠

    爱恨纠葛,吵不离,却只愈加情深,万事皆输于一个情字。天赤渊:“北海小公主,英姿飒爽,还这般丰神绰约,当真称得上天生尤物。”灵綮[qìng]:“放肆,本公主岂是你这魔头能随意亵渎的?闯我北海者,死!”前世今生牵扯不断,她们彼此有过千年等待,误解百出,终究还是情不可断,生世不离。
  • 仙传外科集验方

    仙传外科集验方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。