the red one-第8章

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〃'What's　the　row？'　I　said；　none　too　gentle。　　She　gave　a　start；

seemed　to　come　out　of　her　trance；　and　opened　her　eyes。　　Say！　　They

were　big　and　black　and　beautiful。　　Believe　me；　she　was　some　looker

…　〃



〃The　hussy！〃　　At　which　hiss　the　two　mud…hens　veered　away　a　few

feet。　　But　Jones　was　getting　himself　in　hand；　and　didn't　even

blink。



〃'What　are　you　stopping　this　locomotive　for？'　I　demanded　in

Spanish。　　Nary　an　answer。　　She　stared　at　me；　then　at　the　snorting

engine　and　then　burst　into　tears；　which　you'll　admit　is　uncommon

behaviour　for　an　Indian　woman。



〃'If　you　try　to　get　rides　that　way；'　I　slung　at　her　in　Spiggoty

Spanish　（which　they　tell　me　is　some　different　from　regular

Spanish）；　'you'll　be　taking　one　smeared　all　over　our　cowcatcher　and

headlight；　and　it'll　be　up　to　my　fireman　to　scrape　you　off。'



〃My　Spiggoty　Spanish　wasn't　much　to　brag　on；　but　I　could　see　she

understood；　though　she　only　shook　her　head　and　wouldn't　speak。　　But

great　Moses；　she　was　some　looker　…　〃



I　glanced　apprehensively　at　Mrs。　Jones；　who　must　have　caught　me　out

of　the　tail　of　her　eye；　for　she　muttered：　　〃If　she　hadn't　been　do

you　think　he'd　a…taken　her　into　his　house　to　live？〃



〃Now　hold　on；　Sarah；〃　he　protested。　　〃That　ain't　fair。　　Besides；

I'm　telling　this。　…　Next　thing；　Seth　yells　at　me；　'Goin'　to　stay

here　all　night？'



〃'Come　on；'　I　said　to　the　girl；　'and　climb　on　board。　　But　next　time

you　want　a　ride　don't　flag　a　locomotive　between　stations。'　　She

followed　along；　but　when　I　got　to　the　step　and　turned　to　give　her　a

lift…up；　she　wasn't　there。　　I　went　forward　again。　　Not　a　sign　of

her。　　Above　and　below　was　sheer　cliff；　and　the　track　stretched

ahead　a　hundred　yards　clear　and　empty。　　And　then　I　spotted　her；

crouched　down　right　against　the　cowcatcher；　that　close　I'd　almost

stepped　on　her。　　If　we'd　started　up；　we'd　have　run　over　her　in　a

second。　　It　was　all　so　nonsensical；　I　never　could　make　out　her

actions。　　Maybe　she　was　trying　to　suicide。　　I　grabbed　her　by　the

wrist　and　jerked　her　none　too　gentle　to　her　feet。　　And　she　came

along　all　right。　　Women　do　know　when　a　man　means　business。〃



I　glanced　from　this　Goliath　to　his　little；　bird…eyed　spouse；　and

wondered　if　he　had　ever　tried　to　mean　business　with　her。



〃Seth　kicked　at　first；　but　I　boosted　her　into　the　cab　and　made　her

sit　up　beside　me　…　〃



〃And　I　suppose　Seth　was　busy　running　the　engine；〃　Mrs。　Jones

observed。



〃I　was　breaking　him　in；　wasn't　I？〃　　Mr。　Jones　protested。　　〃So　we

made　the　run　into　Amato。　　She'd　never　opened　her　mouth　once；　and　no

sooner'd　the　engine　stopped　than　she'd　jumped　to　the　ground　and　was

gone。　　Just　like　that。　　Not　a　thank　you　kindly。　　Nothing。



〃But　next　morning　when　we　came　to　pull　out　for　Quito　with　a　dozen

flat　cars　loaded　with　rails；　there　she　was　in　the　cab　waiting　for

us；　and　in　the　daylight　I　could　see　how　much　better　a　looker　she

was　than　the　night　before。



〃'Huh！　she's　adopted　you；'　Seth　grins。　　And　it　looked　like　it。　　She

just　stood　there　and　looked　at　me　…　at　us　…　like　a　loving　hound　dog

that　you　love；　that　you've　caught　with　a　string　of　sausages　inside

of　him；　and　that　just　knows　you　ain't　going　to　lift　a　hand　to　him。

'Go　chase　yourself！'　I　told　her　PRONTO。〃　　（Mrs。　Jones　her　proximity

noticeable　with　a　wince　at　the　Spanish　word。）　　〃You　see；　Sarah；　I'd

no　use　for　her；　even　at　the　start。〃



Mrs。　Jones　stiffened。　　Her　lips　moved　soundlessly；　but　I　knew　to

what　syllables。



〃And　what　made　it　hardest　was　Seth　jeering　at　me。　　'You　can't　shake

her　that　way；'　he　said。　　'You　saved　her　life　…　'　　'I　didn't；'　I

said　sharply；　'it　was　you。'　　'But　she　thinks　you　did；　which　is　the

same　thing；'　he　came　back　at　me。　　'And　now　she　belongs　to　you。

Custom　of　the　country；　as　you　ought　to　know。'〃



〃Heathenish；〃　said　Mrs。　Jones；　and　though　her　steady　gaze　was　set

upon　the　Tower　of　Jewels　I　knew　she　was　making　no　reference　to　its

architecture。



〃'She's　come　to　do　light　housekeeping　for　you；'　Seth　grinned。　　I

let　him　rave；　though　afterwards　I　kept　him　throwing　in　the　coal　too

fast　to　work　his　mouth　very　much。　　Why；　say；　when　I　got　to　the　spot

where　I　picked　her　up；　and　stopped　the　train　for　her　to　get　off；

she　just　flopped　down　on　her　knees；　got　a　hammerlock　with　her　arms

around　my　knees；　and　cried　all　over　my　shoes。　　What　was　I　to　do？〃



With　no　perceptible　movement　that　I　was　aware　of；　Mrs。　Jones

advertised　her　certitude　of　knowledge　of　what　SHE　would　have　done。



〃And　the　moment　we　pulled　into　Quito；　she　did　what　she'd　done

before　…　vanished。　　Sarah　never　believes　me　when　I　say　how　relieved

I　felt　to　be　quit　of　her。　　But　it　was　not　to　be。　　I　got　to　my　'dobe

house　and　managed　a　cracking　fine　dinner　my　cook　had　ready　for　me。

She　was　mostly　Spiggoty　and　half　Indian；　and　her　name　was　Paloma。　…

Now；　Sarah；　haven't　I　told　you　she　was　older'n　a　grandmother；　and

looked　more　like　a　buzzard　than　a　dove？　　Why；　I　couldn't　bear　to

eat　with　her　around　where　I　could　look　at　her。　　But　she　did　make

things　comfortable；　and　she　was　some　economical　when　it　came　to

marketing。



〃That　afternoon；　after　a　big　long　siesta；　what'd　I　find　in　the

kitchen；　just　as　much　at　home　as　if　she　belonged　there；　but　that

blamed　Indian　girl。　　And　old　Paloma　was　squatting　at　the　girl's

feet　and　rubbing　the　girl's　knees　and　legs　like　for　rheumatism；

which　I　knew　the　girl　didn't　have　from　the　way　I'd　sized　up　the

walk　of　her；　and　keeping　time　to　the　rubbing　with　a　funny　sort　of

gibberish　chant。　　And　I　let　loose　right　there　and　then。　　As　Sarah

knows；　I　never　could　a…bear　women　around　the　house　…　young；

unmarried　women；　I　mean。　　But　it　was　no　go！　　Old　Paloma　sided　with

the　girl；　and　said　if　the　girl　went　she　went；　too。　　Also；　she

called　me　more　kinds　of　a　fool　than　the　English　language　has

accommodation　for。　　You'd　like　the　Spanish　lingo；　Sarah；　for

expressing　yourself　in　such　ways；　and　you'd　have　liked　old　Paloma；

too。　　She　was　a　good　woman；　though　she　didn't　have　any　teeth　and

her　face　could　kill　a　strong　man's　appetite　in　the　cradle。



〃I　gave　in。　　I　had　to。　　Except　for　the　excuse　that　she　needed

Vahna's　help　around　the　house　（which　she　didn't　at　all）；　old　Paloma

never　said　why　she　stuck　up　for　the　girl。　　Anyway；　Vahna　was　a

quiet　thing；　never　in　the　way。　　And　she　never　gadded。　　Just　sat　in…

doors　jabbering　with　Paloma　and　helping　with　the　chores。　　But　I

wasn't　long　in　getting　on　to　that　she　was　afraid　of　something。　　She

would　look　up；　that　anxious　it　hurt；　whenever　anybody　called；　like

some　of　the　boys　to　have　a　gas　or　a　game　of　pedro。　　I　tried　to　worm

it　out　of　Paloma　what　was　worrying　the　girl；　but　all　the　old　woman

did　was　to　look　solemn　and　shake　her　head　like　all　the　devils　in

hell　was　liable　to　precipitate　a　visit　on　us。



〃And　then　one　day　Vahna　had　a　visitor。　　I'd　just　come　in　from　a　run

and　was　passing　the　time　of　day　with　her　…　I　had　to　be　polite；　even

if　she　had　butted　in　on　me　and　come　to　live　in　my　house　for　keeps　…

when　I　saw　a　queer　expression　come　into　her　eyes。　　In　the　doorway

stood　an　Indian　boy。　　He　looked　like　her；　but　was　younger　and

slimmer。　　She　took　him　into　the　kitchen　and　they　must　have　had　a

great　palaver；　for　he　didn't　leave　until　after　dark。　　Inside　the

week　he　came　back；　but　I　missed　him。　　When　I　got　home；　Paloma　put　a

fat　nugget　of　gold　into　my　hand；　which　Vahna　had　sent　him　for。　　The

blamed　thing　weighed　all　of　two　pounds　and　was　worth　more　than　five

hundred　dollars。　　She　explained　that　Vahna　wanted　me　to　take　it　to

pay　for　her　keep。　　And　I　had　to　take　it　to　keep　peace　in　the　house。



〃Then；　after　a　long　time；　came　another　visitor。　　We　were　sitting

before　the　fire　…　〃



〃Him　and　the　hussy；〃　quoth　Mrs。　Jones。



〃And　Paloma；〃　he　added　quickly。



〃Him　and　his　cook　and　his　light　housekeeper　sitting　by　the　fire；〃

she　amended。



〃Oh；　I　admit　Vahna　did　like　me　a　whole　heap；〃　he　asserted

recklessly；　then　modified　with　a　pang　of　caution：　　〃A　heap　more

than　was　good　for　her；　seeing　that　I　had　no　inclination　her　way。



〃Well；　as　I　was　saying；　she　had　another　visitor。　　He　was　a　lean；

tall；　white…headed　old　Indian；　with　a　beak　on　him　like　an　eagle。

He　walked　right　in　without　knocking。　　Vahna　gave　a　little　cry　that

was　half　like　a　yelp　and　half　like　a　gasp；　and　flumped　down　on　her

knees　before　me；　pleading　to　me　with　deer's　eyes　and　to　him　with

the　eyes　of　a　deer　about　to　be　killed　that　don't　want　to　be　killed。

Then；　for　a　minute　that　seemed　as　long　as　a　life…time；　she　and　the

old　fellow　glared　at　each　other。　　Paloma　was　the　first　to　talk；　in

his　own　lingo；　for　he　talked　back　to　her。　　But　great　Moses；　if　he

wasn't　the　high　and　mighty　one！　　Paloma's　old　knees　were　shaking；

and　she　cringed　to　him　like　a　hound　dog。　　And　all　this　in　my　own

house！　　I'd　have　thrown　him　out　on　his　neck；　only　he　was　so　old。



〃If　the　things　he　said　to　Vahna　were　as　terrible　as　the　way　he

looked！　　Say！　　He　just　spit　words　at　her！　　But　Paloma　kept

whimpering　and　butting　in；　till　something　she　said　got　across；

because　his　face　relaxed。　　He　condescended　to　give　me　the　once　over

and　fired　some　question　at　Vahna。　　She　hung　her　head；　and　looked

foolish；　and　blushed；　and　then　replied　with　a　single　word　and　a

shake　of　the　head。　　And　with　that　he　just　naturally　turned　on　his

heel　and　beat　it。　　I　guess　she'd　said　'No。'



〃For　some　time　after　that　Vahna　used　to　fluster　up　whenever　she　saw

me。　　Then　she　took　to　the　kitchen　for　a　spell。　　But　after　a　long

time　she　began　hanging　around　the　big　room　again。　　She　was　still

mighty　shy；　but　she'd　keep　on　following　me　about　with　those　big

eyes　of　hers　…　〃



〃The　hussy！〃　I　heard　plainly。　　But　Julian　Jones　and　I　were　pretty

well　used　to　it　by　this　time。



〃I　don't　mind　saying　that　I　was　getting　some　interested　myself　…

oh；　not　in　the　way　Sarah　never　lets　up　letting　me　know　she　thinks。

That　two…pound　nugget　was　what　had　me　going。　　If　Vahna'd　put　me

wise　to　where　it　came　from；　I　could　say　good…bye　to　railroading　and

hit　the　high　places　for　Nebraska　and　Sarah。



〃And　then　the　beans　were　spilled　。　。　。　by　accident。　　Come　a　letter

from　Wisconsin。　　My　Aunt　Eliza　'd　died　and　up　and　left　me　her　big

farm。　　I　let　out　a　whoop　when　I　read　it；　but　I　could　have　canned　my

joy；　for　I　was　jobbed　out　of　it　by　the　courts　and　lawyers　afterward

…　not　a　cent　to　me；　and　I'm　still　paying　'm　in　instalments。



〃But　I　didn't　know；　then；　and　I　prepared　to　pull　back　to　God's

country。　　Paloma　got　sore；　and　Vahna　got　the　weeps。　　'Don't　go！

Don't　go！'　　That　was　her　song。　　But　I　gave　notice　on　my　job；　and

wrote　a　letter　to　Sarah　here　…　didn't　I；　Sarah？



〃That　night；　sitting　by　the　fire　like　at　a　funeral；　Vahna　really

loosened　up　for　the　first　time。



〃'Don't　go；'　she　says　to　me；　with　old　Paloma　nodding　agreement　with

her。　　'I'll　show　you　where　my　brother　got　the　nugget；　if　you　don't

go。'　　'Too　late；'　said　I。　　And　I　told　her　why。



〃And　told　her　abou