"Well, what do you-all think of him?"
Bull's question emerged from the thick tobacco reek which invariably
mitigated the severity of their evening deliberations.
It pertained, of course, to the new recruit, concerning whose merits or
demerits Jake and Sliver had reserved judgment during this, his first
week. When they had come from supper straight to the bunk-house, Gordon
had taken his pipe and gone for a stroll around the compound, which was
never more interesting than when clothed in the mystery of a hot brown
dusk. The lights and fires, like golden or scarlet blossoms; the soft
brown faces glimpsed in cavernous interiors by the rich glow of a
_brasero_; the women's subdued chatter; laughter wild and musical as the
cooing of wood-pigeons--all had for him perpetual fascination; and while
he sauntered here and there, looking, listening, the Three held session
on his case.
"What do we think of him?" Jake slowly repeated the question. "It's a
bit soon to jedge, but if he's half as good as he looks, he orter do."
Sliver, however, was more critical. "Too darned nice-looking fer me. I
hain't got much use for these pretty boys."
"_Pretty_ yourself!" Bull swelled like a huge toad with indignation. "He
ain't no pretty boy! You-all orter ha' seen him clan up that hotel lobby
in El Paso."
"A _ho_-tel clerk, an' some bell-hops!" Sliver sneered. "Why, a good
cowman 'u'd jest about as soon think of hitting a lady. 'Fore I allow
him even a look-in with Lady-girl, he's gotter show me. If you-all ain't
afraid he'll spoil, jest send him an' me out together to-morrow."
"All right, señor, he's your meat." Bull's grin, provoked by a sudden
memory of the thwack with which the hotel clerk had hit the lobby floor,
was veiled by tobacco reek that reigned beyond the lamp's golden
glimmer. "Only, don't chew him. Kain't afford to have his scenery
damaged."
"Nary a chew," Sliver agreed. "Twon't be necessary. I'll take him in two
swallows."
In this wise was Gordon apprenticed to Sliver for the period of one day,
to learn, in course thereof, such lessons in cow and other kinds of
punching as it might bring forth. When they two rode out, armed
cap-a-pie as it were, with rifles, saddle _machetes_, and a brace of
Colt automatics, in addition to the usual cowman's fixings, it is
doubtful whether North America held a happier young man than he. Out of
the thousand and one lovers who had awakened to the knowledge that this
was their wedding-day, some might have been equally happy. But none more
so, for Gordon was also espoused--to Adventure, the sweetest bride of
real men. It may be safely stated that no bride ever surveyed her
trousseau with more satisfaction than Gordon displayed in his "chaps,"
spurs, guns, and _riata_.
This enthusiasm, however, he cloaked with a becoming nonchalance. He
wasn't in any hurry to tell all he knew. His few questions were to the
point, and between them he maintained a decent reserve. Also he adapted
himself quickly to new requirements. Sliver observed with satisfaction
that, after one telling, his pupil abandoned the Eastern, high-trotting,
park fashion in riding and settled down to a cowman's lope. In fact, so
quiet and biddable was he, Sliver began to feel secret qualms at the
course he had marked out for himself; had to steel his resolution with
thoughts of Lee.
"'Twon't do to have no pretty boys pussy-footing around her," he told
himself. "He's gotter show me, an' if he don't--out he goes."
Opportunity soon presented itself in the shape of a momentary relapse,
on Gordon's part, into the old habit of riding. Sliver seized it with
brutal roughness.
"Hey! that milk-shake business may go with missies in pants that ride
the parks back East, but if you-all expect to work this range you'll
have to try an' look like a man."
Gordon stared. It wasn't so much the words as the accent that
established the insult. Just as Bull had seen in El Paso, his hazel eyes
were suddenly transmuted into hard blue steel flecked with hot brown
specks. Sliver felt sure he was going to strike; experienced sudden
disappointment when he rode on.
"_Santa Maria Marrissima Me!_" He swore to himself in sudden alarm. "Is
he a-going to swallow it?" But the next moment brought relief. Gordon
was rising in his stirrups with the regularity of a machine.
With the quick instinct of sturdy manhood, Sliver sensed the motive, the
wise hesitancy of a new-comer in starting trouble. "Calculated it would
get him in wrong with Lady-girl. He's putting it up to me!"
Even more loath, now, to push than he had been to begin the quarrel,
there was nothing left but to go on. So, riding alongside Gordon, he
began to deliver himself of a forcible opinion concerning his mode of
riding. "Why, you blankety, blank, blank of a blank--"
The rest of it was cut off by a crack between the eyes that toppled him
out of the saddle. He was up again, hard eyes flashing, as Gordon leaped
down, and as he rushed, broad round body swaying above his short hairy
chaps, Sliver looked for all the world like a charging bear.
A clever writer once described a terrific combat between two sailors in
two words, "Poor McNab!" Sliver was almost as terse in describing his
defeat to Bull and Jake that evening.
"Gentlemen, hush! He leaned over as I took my holt, grabbed me round the
waist from behind, straightened, an' away I flew over his shoulder an'
kem down spread-eagled all over the grass, plumb knocked out."
Returning to the combat: When Sliver gathered his shocked wits together
and sat up, Gordon stood looking down upon him, hands on his hips,
quiet, determined, yet with an inquisitive twinkle in his eye.
Sliver answered the twinkle. "Say, that was sure a lallapaloo. I've
wrestled with bears an' once choked a cougar till he was gol-darned
anxious to quit. But I draw the line at earthquakes. If you-all 'll
please to tell how you done it, I'll shake han's an' call it squar'."
"Done!" Gordon broke out in a merry laugh. "And I'll promise, on my
part, never to ride like that again."
"For which I'll be greatly obliged; that hippity-haw, side-racking gait
does sure get on my nerves."
Striking hands upon it, they mounted and rode on.
They were heading for a mountain valley, enormous green bowl hemmed in
on all sides, that could only be reached by a single rough trail.
Watered by a running stream and knee-deep in lush grass, the difficulty
of approach and sequestration rendered it almost raider-proof. But as it
afforded pasture for barely a third of Lee's stock, it was their habit
to send the animals out in relays to remain under charge of an _anciano_
for a week at a time.
As they rode along, Sliver's secret satisfaction revealed itself in many
a stealthy glance. At first they expressed that feeling alone, but
presently there entered into them a leaven of doubt. Their way now led
along the foot of the hog's back from the crest of which Sliver had
obtained his first view of the _fonda_ on the other side, the discovery
of which caused his first lapse from grace. The slight doubt was
explained by the thought that accompanied his glance upward at the
ridge.
"He's a fine upstan'ing lad an' kin take his own part. But that ain't
all. Supposing he drinks? We-all jest kedn't stan' for any young soak
around Lady-girl."
In view of his own shortcomings, his grave shake of the head was rather
comical. Nevertheless, it was quite sincere; likewise his emendation:
"'Course we wouldn't have him no canting prig. He orter be able to take
his two fingers like a gentleman, then leave it alone."