登陆注册
5161200000012

第12章 WHICH MAKE MEN REMEMBER(1)

Fortune La Pearle crushed his way through the snow, sobbing, straining, cursing his luck, Alaska, Nome, the cards, and the man who had felt his knife.The hot blood was freezing on his hands, and the scene yet bright in his eyes,--the man, clutching the table and sinking slowly to the floor; the rolling counters and the scattered deck; the swift shiver throughout the room, and the pause; the game-keepers no longer calling, and the clatter of the chips dying away; the startled faces; the infinite instant of silence; and then the great blood-roar and the tide of vengeance which lapped his heels and turned the town mad behind him.

"All hell's broke loose," he sneered, turning aside in the darkness and heading for the beach.Lights were flashing from open doors, and tent, cabin, and dance-hall let slip their denizens upon the chase.The clamor of men and howling of dogs smote his ears and quickened his feet.He ran on and on.The sounds grew dim, and the pursuit dissipated itself in vain rage and aimless groping.But a flitting shadow clung to him.Head thrust over shoulder, he caught glimpses of it, now taking vague shape on an open expanse of snow, how merging into the deeper shadows of some darkened cabin or beach-listed craft.

Fortune La Pearle swore like a woman, weakly, with the hint of tears that comes of exhaustion, and plunged deeper into the maze of heaped ice, tents, and prospect holes.He stumbled over taut hawsers and piles of dunnage, tripped on crazy guy-ropes and insanely planted pegs, and fell again and again upon frozen dumps and mounds of hoarded driftwood.At times, when he deemed he had drawn clear, his head dizzy with the painful pounding of his heart and the suffocating intake of his breath, he slackened down; and ever the shadow leaped out of the gloom and forced him on in heart-breaking flight.A swift intuition lashed upon him, leaving in its trail the cold chill of superstition.The persistence of the shadow he invested with his gambler's symbolism.Silent, inexorable, not to be shaken off, he took it as the fate which waited at the last turn when chips were cashed in and gains and losses counted up.Fortune La Pearle believed in those rare, illuminating moments, when the intelligence flung from it time and space, to rise naked through eternity and read the facts of life from the open book of chance.That this was such a moment he had no doubt; and when he turned inland and sped across the snow-covered tundra he was not startled because the shadow took upon it greater definiteness and drew in closer.Oppressed with his own impotence, he halted in the midst of the white waste and whirled about.His right hand slipped from its mitten, and a revolver, at level, glistened in the pale light of the stars.

"Don't shoot.I haven't a gun."

The shadow had assumed tangible shape, and at the sound of its human voice a trepidation affected Fortune La Pearle's knees, and his stomach was stricken with the qualms of sudden relief.

Perhaps things fell out differently because Uri Bram had no gun that night when he sat on the hard benches of the El Dorado and saw murder done.To that fact also might be attributed the trip on the Long Trail which he took subsequently with a most unlikely comrade.But be it as it may, he repeated a second time, "Don't shoot.Can't you see I haven't a gun?""Then what the flaming hell did you take after me for?" demanded the gambler, lowering his revolver.

Uri Bram shrugged his shoulders."It don't matter much, anyhow.

I want you to come with me."

"Where?"

"To my shack, over on the edge of the camp."

But Fortune La Pearle drove the heel of his moccasin into the snow and attested by his various deities to the madness of Uri Bram.

"Who are you," he perorated, "and what am I, that I should put my neck into the rope at your bidding?""I am Uri Bram," the other said simply, "and my shack is over there on the edge of camp.I don't know who you are, but you've thrust the soul from a living man's body,--there's the blood red on your sleeve,--and, like a second Cain, the hand of all mankind is against you, and there is no place you may lay your head.Now, I have a shack--""For the love of your mother, hold your say, man," interrupted Fortune La Pearle, "or I'll make you a second Abel for the joy of it.So help me, I will! With a thousand men to lay me by the heels, looking high and low, what do I want with your shack? Iwant to get out of here--away! away! away! Cursed swine! I've half a mind to go back and run amuck, and settle for a few of them, the pigs! One gorgeous, glorious fight, and end the whole damn business! It's a skin game, that's what life is, and I'm sick of it!"He stopped, appalled, crushed by his great desolation, and Uri Bram seized the moment.He was not given to speech, this man, and that which followed was the longest in his life, save one long afterward in another place.

"That's why I told you about my shack.I can stow you there so they'll never find you, and I've got grub in plenty.Elsewise you can't get away.No dogs, no nothing, the sea closed, St.Michael the nearest post, runners to carry the news before you, the same over the portage to Anvik--not a chance in the world for you! Now wait with me till it blows over.They'll forget all about you in a month or less, what of stampeding to York and what not, and you can hit the trail under their noses and they won't bother.I've got my own ideas of justice.When I ran after you, out of the El Dorado and along the beach, it wasn't to catch you or give you up.

My ideas are my own, and that's not one of them."He ceased as the murderer drew a prayer-book from his pocket.

With the aurora borealis glimmering yellow in the northeast, heads bared to the frost and naked hands grasping the sacred book, Fortune La Pearle swore him to the words he had spoken--an oath which Uri Bram never intended breaking, and never broke.

同类推荐
  • 宋元四明六志校勘记

    宋元四明六志校勘记

    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。
  • 帝王世纪

    帝王世纪

    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。
  • The Story of the Treasure Seekers

    The Story of the Treasure Seekers

    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。
  • 佛说阿含正行经

    佛说阿含正行经

    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。
  • 释门章服仪应法记

    释门章服仪应法记

    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。
热门推荐
  • 穿越王朝:皇上,请走开!

    穿越王朝:皇上,请走开!

    宫末景每靠进一步心就痛一点,为什么她对其他的男子如此温柔……为什么她的温柔竟然不是对自己,为什么现在的她看上去那么快乐,那么天真,难道这才是真正的她吗?夏七七,你竟然这样对我?自古多情总被伤,痴心男子人间少有……
  • 温文尔雅的文明礼节

    温文尔雅的文明礼节

    温文尔雅的文明礼节内容包括:接电话的文明;与父母和谐相处;与爷爷奶奶和谐相处;尊重、关爱老年人;微笑面对他人;维护环境讲文明;文明是一种习惯;文明故事;文明礼貌创奇迹;记得别人生日;发言应讲礼貌;演讲过程的礼仪要求;教室里的文明;拜访的礼节;行为举止要文明等内容。
  • A Bundle of Letters

    A Bundle of Letters

    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。
  • 刀神

    刀神

    孟寒风遇到了一个女人,一个美得让花都失色的女人,世上有一柄刀,是任何锋利的兵器都无法比的,那柄刀就叫劈风刀;世上有一个人,是任何人都无法战胜的,那人就是“武林皇帝”孟寒风。世上有一个宝座,是任何人都想得到的,那便是龙座;世上有一个人,是任何人都要俯首膜拜的,那人就是当今的皇上唐玄宗。号称“武林皇帝”的孟寒风太狂、太傲,狂到眼高过顶的境界,傲到目中无人的程度。让他避讳,改字号,难!幸好唐玄宗是皇帝,皇帝往往可以办成常人难以办成的事。
  • 神武战尊

    神武战尊

    天域阵法宗师江啸尘重生下界,觉醒混沌玄黄体,强势震撼逆袭,誓要弥补前世遗憾,君临天下,天道又如何?一阵破之。
  • 必杀

    必杀

    流沙镇,大漠边陲的一处小小的市井,人烟不多,往来的都是出没大漠的商旅。“归来客栈”因此成了大漠边陲旅人共同的驿站。出沙漠,抛开满目风沙,过一片稀疏草地,眼前市井宛然,归来客栈就在眼前。月奴喜上眉梢,在骆驼背上雀跃着:“这鬼沙漠,终于到了尽头了!”走在前面的猎人回头道:“这些日子可把你晒坏了,到归来客栈刚好可以好好泡一泡‘百花香汤’。”月奴衣里袖里,浑身上下,尽是细小的沙尘,和着汗水黏糊糊的难受,闻言不由悠然神往。月奴和猎人两人都是“佣兵团伙”成员。
  • 别惹楚家大小姐

    别惹楚家大小姐

    楚家大小姐在国安寺上香的当晚竟------遭到不明人士掳劫,失去了清白,当晚住在山上的男性物种有------一教主,二王爷,三剑客,四公子,五乞丐,还有男性下人无数,到底谁夺走了她的清白?一个月后,有三人分别上门来求亲,他们是否是凶手之一?也罢,嫁就嫁呗,可,为啥该嫁的人她没有嫁到,不该嫁的却嫁到了?嫁到了又怎样?洞房花烛夜,嘭地一声爆炸声-----因为新娘把新房炸掉了!可就在此时,楚小姐发现------她竟然怀孕了!呜呜,她怎么可以让一个强暴犯当宝宝的爹呢?宝宝,你放心,娘娘一定会为你找一个光明磊落,侠肝义胆,诚实善良,英雄无敌的爹来疼你。为什么别人家的宝宝那么贴心,那么可爱,自家的宝宝却是个大大的财迷,最大的梦想是将天下所有的财富收归自己囊中!最让她难以容忍的是,就连她与男人嘿咻,着孩子也要收钱!宝宝版简介:房中春色撩人一男一女正浓情蜜意突然男人的身子一僵原来床前从上方掉下一个小脑袋来“老爹,根据协议,您刚才亲了娘娘的嘴,------还摸了她的胸,需交银三万两千两,银票拿来!”“你这个小混蛋,给我滚出去!”男子吼道。“爹,你现在是不是不能动了?”那小身子被倒挂在屋梁上,小脑袋一晃一晃的,口中还在吐着瓜子皮!“小坏蛋,你又对你爹做了什么?”女子有些无奈地看着自己的宝贝儿子!“祖师奶奶说,要是爹不交享受费,就让他乖乖地定住,看得到,吃不到!”大眼瞪小眼,父子用眼神厮杀:父:你这小混蛋,总有一天为父要把你发配边疆,眼不见心不烦!子:时间就是金钱,娘亲是你儿子的首席发明师,你却将她压在床上,浪费了大好时光,简直是谋财害命!--------------------男人生来是被用来改造的,就算是西门庆你也要将他改造成柳下惠,就算是唐僧你也要让他为你神魂颠倒。就算是杀人无数的暴君,你也要让他乖乖地拜倒在你的石榴裙下!--------------楚悠然语录----------------------------------------推荐众位好友的文文:《索欢》《媚欲》都市的黑道欲望《征服》爱从契约开始《大夫人》桃花依旧笑春风《肥后三嫁》肥女丑女翻身记《恶魔囚宠》爱与尊严的较量《法医废后》如罂粟一样惑《盲妃待嫁》让死人开口说话《母妃太可口》《怪盗小懒后》《恶魔硬上弓》豪门虐身虐心
  • 六字大陀罗尼咒经

    六字大陀罗尼咒经

    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。
  • 宠妃来袭:腹黑王爷狂傲妻

    宠妃来袭:腹黑王爷狂傲妻

    她,是21世纪的一朵奇葩,魅惑天下。她,是学校里开朗活泼的美女校花,所有人,不论男女都愿意为她赴汤蹈火。她,是商界风云里的奸商,冷酷独断。她,是杀手界里的孤鸟,冷漠无情。就是这样多面的她,在玩转自己精彩绝妙的人生,同时也玩弄着那些她看不顺眼人的人生。就是这样傲气凛然,一枝独秀的她,却也逃不脱命运的捉弄,在梦中意外魂归异世大陆。她魂穿成了东篱王朝丞相府的憨傻草包大小姐,成了爹不疼娘不爱的孩子。哼,太子未婚夫,她不稀罕,坑死他不偿命,太子妃的地位,她不在乎,当个王妃似乎也不错。她高傲的离开这吃人不吐骨头的家,六年后,她带着宝贝儿女嚣张肆意的回归,讨回一切属于自己的东西。可是为嘛宝贝儿女给自己找了个王爷爹哋,从此一切都变了。她和他的身世离奇不已,他用一双紫眸将她紧紧锁在他的世界,她用狂傲的姿态将腹黑的他牢牢的绑在自己的身旁,偶尔宝贝儿女再来捣捣乱,蹦跶蹦跶几下,生活变得有滋有味。
  • 宫檐

    宫檐

    她是他捧在心尖上的女人,他亦是她心中唯一的天,可生在皇家身不由己,心高气傲如她,亦要沦入这深宫之中,与诸多女人斗智斗勇,争夺他的爱;权谋争斗,天子之心万般难测,只因着是他,她许诺,要为深爱的男人,看一眼大清江山未来的模样,可是,这条路怎么就这么难走呢……