Essential Western Novels - Volume 4. Max Brand

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СКАЧАТЬ horses up were the sorrel colt and the old horse that was used to drive in the saddle horses; and Butts, being for some reason, in a great hurry, saddled the former. He rode straight toward the west, crossed two ridges and dropped down into a dry wash.

      After he reached the bottom of the wash, he commenced to whistle occasionally, a few bars from an old time air that had once been popular. Presently, from the distance, it came down to him again like an echo. He urged the sorrel into a faster walk, and a few minutes later a voice hailed him.

      "Hey, you!" it called. "I'm up here on the bank."

      Butts found the trail that led up from the bottom of the wash, and a moment later he dismounted beside Cory Blaine.

      "You long eared idiot!" exclaimed Blaine. "Did you figure I expected to be left here all the rest of my life? The next time I pick a man for a job like this, it won't be you."

      "I couldn't help it," said Butts. "The train was late, held up by a wreck. I run the broncs all the way from the railroad and then started right out after you. I aint had nuthin' to eat, either."

      "That's too bad about you," grumbled Blaine, as Butts fumbled with the knot of the rope that secured his ankles and wrists. "I've been lying here all day with nothing to eat and nothing to drink."

      "What happened to your horse? They say he came in just before dark?"

      "The damn fool got frightened at somethin' and pulled back 'till he busted the brush he was tied to; then he beat it."

      "Everything work all right?" asked Butts.

      "Sure, all except this. I sure didn't aim on lyin' here all day and half the night."

      "You should have brung a bed," said Butts.

      "Do you think that sorrel will carry double?" asked Blaine.

      "I reckon he's gonna have to," said Butts, "for I sure aint goin' to walk."

      "Maybe we'll both have to walk," said Blaine.

      "We'll try it down in the bottom of the wash," said Butts. "If he started pitchin' up on the bank here he'd be sure to fall in."

      "Let me have him," said Blaine. "You can ride behind."

      "I always get the worst of it," said the other.

      Cory mounted and rode down into the wash, reining the sorrel close to a low spot along the bank, from which Butts lowered himself gingerly onto the animal's rump.

      "I guess he aint goin' to do nuthin'," said Blaine.

      "I hope not," said Butts.

      "I suppose there is a lot of excitement at the ranch," said Blaine, as the sorrel walked off like an old family horse.

      "I guess they is," said Butts. "I wasn't there long. Her father came today."

      Blaine whistled. "Has he offered a reward?" he asked.

      "He'll give a reward all right, but he didn't say how much."

      "Well, it's goin' to be plenty," said Blaine, "unless—"

      "Unless what?" asked Butts.

      "When I pull this rescue stunt from Kelly's ranch, I won't want no reward or ransom money nor nuthin', if she'll marry me; for if I'm ever John White's son-in-law, I'll be sittin' pretty for the rest of my life."

      "But how about the rest of us?" asked Butts. "Where do we come in? We aint goin' to be no son-in-laws, and we want our cut of the ransom."

      "That's so," said Blaine, scratching his head. "Well, I reckon he'll have to pay the ransom; but he won't have to pay no reward."

      "You be a regular hero and refuse to take it," said Butts. "That'll make a hit with him."

      "But I still get my cut of the ransom," Blaine reminded him.

      "I don't care what you get as long as I get mine," and then they rode on in silence for some time.

      "I'd hate to trust my girl to that bunch," said Butts, "especially Hi Bryam."

      "They know I'd kill 'em," said Blaine.

      "Well, she's your girl," said Butts; "but I wouldn't trust Bryam, at least not way down in Mexico where he could make his getaway."

      "I aint worryin' none," said Blaine, and then as though the subject bored him, "Did that Marvel fellow get away today?" he asked.

      "Say, don't mention that son-of-a-gun's name to me. Every time I think of him I could chaw the head off a rattlesnake."

      "There was somethin' fishy about him," said Blaine. "He sure had me worried. Did I ever tell you how he rid this colt?"

      "I knew he took him when he went to look for them fool horse's teeth," said Butts.

      "I was watchin' him when he rid away, and I seen this little son-of-a-gun start to pitch down there just before the road makes the big bend around the hill. He sure gave that dude the works, but it never seemed to faze him; and when he come in that night, sayin' he's been lost, he swore the colt never did a thing and was gentle as a kitten."

      "I can't figure it out," said Butts. "Maybe it was just an accident, and then again maybe he kin ride, but he sure can't shoot; and he aint got real good sense, either—huntin' for horse's teeth."

      "Did he ever find a tooth?" asked Blaine.

      "He found a whole mouth full of 'em in that pinto o' yourn; but it stunk so that Bud said he lost interest, real sudden like, and wouldn't even look for no more."

      "He sure was a damn fool," said Blaine, "throwin' my boot away. I think he done it apurpose."

      "And shootin' a hole in his bedroll," scoffed Butts. "That dude sure was loco."

      "I wish I was sure he was a dude," said Blaine.

      "What do you think he was?" demanded Butts.

      "I dunno," said Blaine; "but he sure was the funniest dude I ever seen, if he was a dude."

      "Well, he's gone now. You won't never see him again."

      "I hope not."

      When Blaine and Butts rode into the yard at the home ranch they found a depressed and worried company gathered on the veranda of the big house.

      Dora Crowell was the first to recognize him as the two rode up. "There's Cory now!" she exclaimed, and immediately the entire party came down the steps and surrounded him as he and Butts dismounted from the sorrel colt.

      "What happened?" demanded John White. "Where is my daughter?"

      "You are Mr. White?" asked Blaine; and without waiting for a reply, "Something terrible has happened, Mr. White," he said. "Two fellows stuck us up this morning. I was unarmed, and we didn't have a chance. I thought they just wanted money; so I didn't even try to make a fight, though it wouldn't have done no good if I had and СКАЧАТЬ