the three partners-第5章

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on　the　trail　outside　his　cabin？　　Yes！　OUTSIDE　his　cabin；　he　would

swear　it！



〃What　were　you　doing　here　at　midnight？〃　demanded　Demorest。



What　was　he　doing？　　What　was　any　gentleman　doing？　　He　wasn't　any

molly…coddle　to　go　to　bed　at　ten　o'clock！　　What　was　he　doing？

Wellhe'd　been　with　men　who　didn't　shut　their　doors　and　turn　the

boys　out　just　in　the　shank　of　the　evening。　　He　wasn't　any　Barker　to

be　wet…nursed　by　Demorest。



〃Some　one　else　was　here！〃　said　Demorest　sternly；　with　his　eyes

fixed　on　Whiskey　Dick。　　The　dull　glaze　which　seemed　to　veil　the

outer　world　from　the　drunkard's　pupils　shifted　suddenly　with　such　a

look　of　direct　horror　that　Demorest　was　fain　to　turn　away　his　own。

But　the　veil　mercifully　returned；　and　with　it　Dick's　worked…up

sense　of　injury。　　Nobody　was　therenot　〃a　shole。〃　　Did　Demorest

think　if　there　had　been　any　of　his　friends　there　they　would　have

stood　by　like　〃dogsh〃　and　seen　him　insulted？



Demorest　turned　away　and　re…entered　the　cabin　as　Dick　lurched

heavily　forward；　still　muttering；　down　the　trail。　　The　excitement

over；　a　sickening　repugnance　to　the　whole　incident　took　the　place

of　Demorest's　resentment　and　indignation。　　There　had　been　a

cowardly　attempt　to　rob　them　of　their　miserable　treasure。　　He　had

met　it　and　frustrated　it　in　almost　as　brutal　a　fashion：　the　gold

was　already　tarnished　with　blood。　　To　his　surprise；　yet　relief；　he

found　his　partners　unconscious　of　the　outrage；　still　sleeping　with

the　physical　immobility　of　over…excited　and　tired　men。　　Should　he

awaken　them？　　No！　　He　should　have　to　awaken　also　their　suspicions

and　desire　for　revenge。　　There　was　no　danger　of　a　further　attack；

there　was　no　fear　that　the　culprit　would　disclose　himself；　and　to…

morrow　they　would　be　far　away。　　Let　oblivion　rest　upon　that　night's

stain　on　the　honor　of　Heavy　Tree　Hill。



He　rolled　a　small　barrel　before　the　opening；　smoothed　the　dislodged

earth；　replaced　the　pan　with　its　treasure；　and　trusted　that　in　the

bustle　of　the　early　morning　departure　his　partners　might　not　notice

any　change。　　Stopping　before　the　bunk　of　Stacy　he　glanced　at　the

sleeping　man。　　He　was　lying　on　his　back；　but　breathing　heavily；　and

his　hands　were　moving　towards　his　chest　as　if；　indeed；　his　strange

fancy　of　the　golden　incubus　were　being　realized。　　Demorest　would

have　wakened　him；　but　presently；　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　the　sleeper

turned　over　on　his　side。　　It　was　pleasanter　to　look　at　Barker；

whose　damp　curls　were　matted　over　his　smooth；　boyish　forehead；　and

whose　lips　were　parted　in　a　smile　under　the　silken　wings　of　his

brown　mustache。　　He；　too；　seemed　to　be　trying　to　speak；　and

remembering　some　previous　revelations　which　had　amused　them；

Demorest　leaned　over　him　fraternally　with　an　answering　smile；

waiting　for　the　beloved　one's　name　to　pass　the　young　man's　lips。

But　he　only　murmured；　〃Threehundredthousand　dollars！〃　　The

elder　man　turned　away　with　a　grave　face。　　The　influence　of　the

treasure　was　paramount。



When　he　had　placed　one　of　the　chairs　against　the　unprotected　door

at　an　angle　which　would　prevent　any　easy　or　noiseless　intrusion；

Demorest　threw　himself　on　his　bunk　without　undressing；　and　turned

his　face　towards　the　single　window　of　the　cabin　that　looked　towards

the　east。　　He　did　not　apprehend　another　covert　attempt　against　the

gold。　　He　did　not　fear　a　robbery　with　force　and　arms；　although　he

was　satisfied　that　there　was　more　than　one　concerned　in　it；　but

this　he　attributed　only　to　the　encumbering　weight　of　their　expected

booty。　　He　simply　waited　for　the　dawn。　　It　was　some　time　before　his

eyes　were　greeted　with　the　vague　opaline　brightness　of　the

firmament　which　meant　the　vanishing　of　the　pallid　snow…line　before

the　coming　day。　　A　bird　twittered　on　the　roof。　　The　air　was　chill；

he　drew　his　blanket　around　him。　　Then　he　closed　his　eyes；　he

fancied　only　for　a　moment；　but　when　he　opened　them　the　door　was

standing　open　in　the　strong　daylight。　　He　sprang　to　his　feet；　but

the　next　moment　he　saw　it　was　only　Stacy　who　had　passed　out；　and

was　returning　fully　dressed；　bringing　water　from　the　spring　to　fill

the　kettle。　　But　Stacy's　face　was　so　grave　that；　recalling　his

disturbed　sleep；　Demorest　laughingly　inquired　if　he　had　been

haunted　by　the　treasure。　　But　to　his　surprise　Stacy　put　down　the

kettle；　and；　with　a　hurried　glance　at　the　still　sleeping　Barker；

said　in　a　low　voice：



〃I　want　you　to　do　something　for　me　without　asking　why。　　Later　I

will　tell　you。〃



Demorest　looked　at　him　fixedly。　　〃What　is　it？〃　he　said。



〃The　pack…mules　will　be　here　in　a　few　moments。　　Don't　wait　to　close

up　or　put　away　anything　here；　but　clap　that　gold　in　the　saddle…

bags；　and　take　Barker　with　you　and　'lite'　out　for　Boomville　AT

ONCE。　　I　will　overtake　you　later。〃



〃Is　there　no　time　to　discuss　this？〃　asked　Demorest。



〃No；〃　said　Stacy　bluntly。　　〃Call　me　a　crank；　say　I'm　in　a　blue

funk〃his　compressed　lips　and　sharp　black　eyes　did　not　lend

themselves　much　to　that　hypothesis〃only　get　out　of　this　with　that

stuff；　and　take　Barker　with　you！　　I'm　not　responsible　for　myself

while　it's　here。〃



Demorest　knew　Stacy　to　be　combative；　but　practical。　　If　he　had　not

been　assured　of　his　partner's　last　night　slumbers　he　might　have

thought　he　knew　of　the　attempt。　　Or　if　he　had　discovered　the

turned…up　ground　in　the　rear　of　the　cabin　his　curiosity　would　have

demanded　an　explanation。　　Demorest　paused　only　for　a　moment；　and

said；　〃Very　well；　I　will　go。〃



〃Good！　　I'll　rouse　out　Barker；　but　not　a　word　to　himexcept　that

he　must　go。



The　rousing　out　of　Barker　consisted　of　Stacy's　lifting　that　young

gentleman　bodily　from　his　bunk　and　standing　him　upright　in　the　open

doorway。　　But　Barker　was　accustomed　to　this　Spartan　process；　and

after　a　moment's　balancing　with　closed　lids　like　an　unwrapped

mummy；　he　sat　down　in　the　doorway　and　began　to　dress。　　He　at　first

demurred　to　their　departure　except　all　togetherit　was　so

unfraternal；　but　eventually　he　allowed　himself　to　be　persuaded　out

of　it　and　into　his　clothes。　　For　Barker　had　also　had　HIS　visions　in

the　night；　one　of　which　was　that　they　should　build　a　beautiful

villa　on　the　site　of　the　old　cabin　and　solemnly　agree　to　come　every

year　and　pass　a　week　in　it　together。　　〃I　thought　at　first；〃　he

said；　sliding　along　the　floor　in　search　of　different　articles　of

his　dress；　or　stopping　gravely　to　catch　them　as　they　were　thrown　to

him　by　his　partners；　〃that　we'd　have　it　at　Boomville；　as　being

handier　to　get　there；　but　I've　concluded　we'd　better　have　it　here；

a　little　higher　up　the　hill；　where　it　could　be　seen　over　the　whole

Black　Spur　Range。　　When　we　weren't　here　we　could　use　it　as　a　Hut　of

Refuge　for　broken…down　or　washed…out　miners　or　weary　travelers；

like　those　hospices　in　the　Alps；　you　know；　and　have　somebody　to

keep　it　for　us。　　You　see　I've　thought　even　of　THAT；　and　Van　Loo　is

the　very　man　to　take　charge　of　it　for　us。　　You　see　he's　got　such

good　manners　and　speaks　two　languages。　　Lord！　if　a　German　or

Frenchman　came　along；　poor　and　distressed；　Van　Loo　would　just　chip

in　his　own　language。　　See？　　You've　got　to　think　of　all　these

details；　you　see；　boys。　　And　we　might　call　it　'The　Rest　of　the

Three　Partners；'　or　'Three　Partners'　Rest。'〃



〃And　you　might　begin　by　giving　us　one；〃　said　Stacy。　　〃Dry　up　and

drink　your　coffee。〃



〃I'll　draw　out　the　plans。　　I've　got　it　all　in　my　head；〃　continued

the　enthusiastic　Barker；　unheeding　the　interruption。　　〃I'll　just

run　out　and　take　a　look　at　the　site；　it's　only　right　back　of　the

cabin。〃　　But　here　Stacy　caught　him　by　his　dangling　belt　as　he　was

flying　out　of　the　door　with　one　boot　on；　and　thrust　him　down　in　a

chair　with　a　tin　cup　of　coffee　in　his　hand。



〃Keep　the　plans　in　your　head；　Barker　boy；〃　said　Demorest；　〃for　here

are　the　pack　mules　and　packer。〃　　This　was　quite　enough　to　divert

the　impressionable　young　man；　who　speedily　finished　his　dressing；

as　a　mule　bearing　a　large　pack…saddle　and　two　enormous　saddle…bags

or　pouches　drove　up　before　the　door；　led　by　a　muleteer　on　a　small

horse。　　The　transfer　of　the　treasure　to　the　saddle…bags　was　quickly

made　by　their　united　efforts；　as　the　first　rays　of　the　sun　were

beginning　to　paint　the　hillside。　　Shading　his　keen　eyes　with　his

hand；　Stacy　stood　in　the　doorway　and　handed　Demorest　the　two

rifles。　　Demorest　hesitated。　　〃Hadn't　YOU　better　keep　one？〃　he

said；　looking　in　his　partner's　eyes　with　his　first　challenge　of

curiosity。　　The　sun　seemed　to　put　a　humorous　twinkle　into　Stacy's

glance　as　he　returned；　〃Not　much！　　And　you'd　better　take　my

revolver　with　you；　too。　　I'm　feeling　a　little　better　now；〃　he　said；

looking　at　the　saddlebags；　〃but　I'm　not　fit　to　be　trusted　yet　with

carnal　weapons。　　When　the　other　mule　comes　and　is　packed　I'll

overtake　you　on　the　horse。〃



A　little　more　satisfied；　although　still　wondering　and　perplexed；

Demorest　shouldered　one　rifle；　and　with　Barker；　who　was　carrying

the　other；　followed　the　muleteer　and　his　equipage　down　the　trail。

For　a　while　he　was　a　little　ashamed　of　his　part　in　this　unusual

spectacle　of　two　armed　men　convoying　a　laden　mule　in　broad

daylight；　but；　luckily；　it　was　too　early　for　the　Bar　miners　to　be

going　to　work；　and　as　the　tunnelmen　were　now　at　breakfast　the　trail

was　free　of　wayfarers。　　At　the　point　where　it　crossed　the　main　road

Demorest；　however；　saw　Steptoe　and　Whiskey　Dick　emerge　from　the

thicket；　apparently　in　earnest　conversation。　　Demorest　felt　his

repugnance　and　half…restrained　suspicions　suddenly　return。　　Yet　he

did　not　wish　to　betray　them　before　Barker；　nor　was　he　willing；　in

case　of　an　emergency；　to　allow　the　young　man　to　be　entirely

unprepared。　　Calling　him　to　follow；　he　ran　quickly　ahead　of　the

laden　mule；　and　was　relieved　to　find　that；　looking　back；　his

companion　had　brought　his　rifle　to　a　〃ready；〃　through　some

instinctive　feeling　of　defense。　　As　Steptoe　and　Whiskey　Dick；　a

moment　later　discovering　them；　were　evidently　surprised；　there

seemed；　however；　to　be　no　reason　for　fearing　an　outbreak。

Suddenly；　at　a　whisper　from　Steptoe；　he　and　Whiskey　Dick　both

threw　up　their　hands；　and　stood　still　on　the　trail　a　few　yards

from　them　in　a　burlesque　of　the　usual　recognized　attitude　of

helplessness；　while　a　hoarse　laugh　broke　from　Steptoe。



〃Dd　if　we　didn't　think　you　were　road…agents！　　But　we　see　you're

only　guarding　your　treasure。　　Rather　fancy　style　for　Heavy　Tree

Hill；　ain't　it？　　Things　must　be　gettin'　rough　up　thar　to　hev　to

take　out　your　guns　like　that！〃



Demorest　had　looked　keenly　at　the　four　hands　thus　exhibited；　and

was　more　concerned　that　they　bore　no　trace　of　wounds　or　mutilation

than　at　the　insult　of　the　speech；　particularly　as　he　had　a　distinct

impression　that　the　action　was　intended　to　show　him　the　futility　of

his　suspicions。



〃I　am　glad　to　see　that　if　you　haven't　any　arms　in　your　hands　you're

not　incapable　of　handling　them；〃　said　Demorest　coolly；　as　he　passed

by　them　and　again