And so far as Loring was concerned that ended the argument. Not so,
however, with Sundown. He said nothing. Had Loring known him better,
that fact would have caused him to suspect his prisoner. With evident
meekness the tall one entered the house and gazed with disconsolate
eyes at the piled kyacks of provisions, the tarpaulins and sheepskins.
His citadel of dreams had been rudely invaded, in truth. He was not so
much angered by the possible effects of the invasion as by the fact.
Gentle Annie was lowing plaintively. The chickens were scurrying about
the yard, cackling hysterically as they dodged this and that herder.
The two pigs, Sundown reflected consolingly, seemed happy enough.
Loring, standing in the doorway, pointed to the stove. "Get busy," he
said tersely. That was the last straw. Silently Sundown stalked to
the stove, rolled up his sleeves, and went to work. If there were not
a score of mighty sick herders that night, it would not be his fault.
He had determined on a bloodless but effective victory, wherein soda
and cream-of-tartar should be the victors.
Soda and cream-of-tartar in proper proportions is harmless. But double
the proportion of cream-of-tartar and the result is internal riot.
"And a leetle spice to kill the bitter of the taste ought to work all
right," he soliloquized. Then he remembered Chance. Loring had left
to oversee the establishment of an outlying camp. The Mexican who
assisted Sundown seemed stupid and sullen. Sundown found excuse to
enter his bedroom, where he hastily scrawled a note to Corliss. Later
he tied the note to the inside of the dog's collar. The next thing was
to get Chance started on the road to the Concho. He rolled down his
sleeves and strolled to the doorway. A Mexican sat smoking and
watching the road. Sundown stepped past him and began to tinker with
the gas-engine. Chance stood watching him. Presently the gas-engine
started with a cough and splutter. Sundown walked to the door and
seemed about to enter when the Mexican called to him and pointed toward
the distant tank. Water was pouring over its rim. "Gee Gosh!"
exclaimed Sundown. "I got to shut her off." He ran to the engine and
its sound ceased. Yet the water still poured from the rim of the tank.
"Got to fix that!" he asserted, and started toward the tank. The
Mexican followed him to the fence.
"You come back?" he queried significantly.
"Sure thing! I ain't got a hoss, have I?"
The Mexican nodded. Sundown crawled through the fence and strode
slowly to the tank. He pretended to examine it first in view of the
house and finally on the opposite side. As Chance sniffed along the
bottom of the tank, Sundown spoke to him. The dog's ears pricked
forward. Sundown's tone suggested action. "Here, Chance,--you fan it
for the Concho--Jack--the boss. Beat it for all you're worth. The
Concho! Sabe?" And he patted the dog's head and pointed toward the
south.
Chance hesitated, leaping up and whining.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account