NEW VISTAS
Much that Annersley had taught Pete was undone in the lazy, listless
life of the sheep-camp. There was a certain slow progressiveness about
it, however, that saved it from absolute monotony. Each day the sheep
grazed out, the distance being automatically adjusted by the coming of
night, when they were bunched and slowly drifted back to the
bedding-ground. A day or two--depending on the grazing--and they were
bedded in a new place as the herder worked toward the low country
followed by a recurrent crispness in the air that presaged the coming
of winter in the hills. Pete soon realized that, despite their seeming
independence, sheep-men were slaves of the seasons. They "followed the
grass" and fled from cold weather and snow. At times, if the winter
was severe in the lower levels, they even had to winter-feed to save
the band. Lambs became tired or sick--unable to follow the ewes--and
Pete often found some lone lamb hiding beneath a clump of brush where
it would have perished had he not carried it on to the flock and
watched it until it grew stronger. He learned that sheep were
gregarious--that a sheep left alone on the mesa, no matter how strong,
through sheer loneliness would cease to eat and slowly starve to death.
Used to horses, Pete looked upon sheep with contempt. They had neither
individual nor collective intelligence. Let them once become
frightened and if not immediately headed off by the dogs, they would
stampede over the brink of an arroyo and trample each other to death.
This all but happened once when Montoya was buying provisions in town
and Pete was in charge of the band. The camp was below the rim of a
cañon. The sheep were scattered over a mile or so of mesa, grazing
contentedly. The dogs, out-posted on either side of the flock, were
resting, but alert. To the left, some distance from the sheep, was the
cañon-rim and a trail, gatewayed by two huge boulders, man-high, with
about enough space between them for a burro to pass. A horse could
hardly have squeezed through. Each night the sheep were headed for
this pass and worked through, one at a time, stringing down the trail
below which was steep and sandy. At the cañon bottom was water and
across the shallows were the bedding-grounds and the camp. Pete,
drowsing in the sun, occasionally glanced up at the flock. He saw no
need for standing up, as Montoya always did when out with the band.
The sheep were all right--and the day was hot. Presently Pete became
interested in a mighty battle between a colony of red ants which seemed
to be attacking a colony of big black ants that had in some way
infringed on some international agreement, or overstepped the
color-line. Pete picked up a twig and hastily scraped up a sand
barricade, to protect the red ants, who, despite their valor, seemed to
be getting the worst of it. Black ants scurried to the top of the
barricade to be grappled by the tiny red ants, who fought valiantly.
Pete saw a red ant meet one of the enemy who was twice his size,
wrestle with him and finally best him. Evidently this particular black
ant, though deceased, was of some importance, possibly an officer, for
the little red ant seized him and bore him bodily to the rear where he
in turn collapsed and was carried to the adjoining ant-hill by two of
his comrades evidently detailed on ambulance work. "Everybody
scraps--even the bugs," said Pete. "Them little red cusses sure ain't
scared o' nothin'." Stream after stream of red ants hastened to
reinforce their comrades on the barricade. The battle became general.
Pete grew excited. He was scraping up another barricade when he heard
one of the dogs bark. He glanced up. The sheep, frightened by a
buzzard that had swooped unusually close to them, bunched and shot
toward the cañon in a cloud of dust. Pete jumped to his feet and ran
swiftly toward the rock gateway to head them off. He knew that they
would make for the trail, and that those that did not get through the
pass would trample the weaker sheep to death. The dog on the cañon
side of the band raced across their course, snapping at the foremost in
a sturdy endeavor to turn them. But he could not. He ran, nipped a
sheep, and then jumped back to save himself from being cut to pieces by
the blundering feet. Young Pete saw that he could not reach the pass
ahead of them. Out of breath and half-sobbing as he realized the
futility of his effort, he suddenly recalled an incident like this when
Montoya, failing to head the band in a similar situation, had coolly
shot the leader and had broken the stampede.
Pete immediately sat down, and rested the barrel of his six-shooter on
his knee. He centered on the pass. A few seconds--and a big ram,
several feet ahead of the others, dashed into the notch. Pete grasped
his gun with both hands and fired. The ram reared and dropped just
within the rocky gateway. Pete saw another sheep jump over the ram and
disappear. Pete centered on the notch again and as the gray mass
bunched and crowded together to get through, he fired. Another sheep
toppled and fell. Still the sheep rushed on, crowding against the
rocks and trampling each other in a frantic endeavor to get through.
Occasionally one of the leaders leaped over the two dead sheep and
disappeared down the trail. But the first force of their stampede was
checked. Dropping his gun, Pete jumped up and footed it for the notch,
waving his hat as he ran. Bleating and bawling, the band turned slowly
and swung parallel to the cañon-rim. The dogs, realizing that they
could now turn the sheep back, joined forces, and running a ticklish
race along the very edge of the cañon, headed the band toward the safe
ground to the west. Pete, as he said later, "cussed 'em a plenty."
When he took up his station between the band and the cañon, wondering
what Montoya would say when he returned.
When the old Mexican, hazing the burros across the mesa, saw Pete wave
his hat, he knew that something unusual had happened. Montoya shrugged
his shoulders as Pete told of the stampede.
"So it is with the sheep," said Montoya casually. "These we will take
away, for the sheep will smell the blood and not go down the trail."
And he pointed to the ram and the ewe that Pete had shot. "I will go
to the camp and unpack. You have killed two good sheep, but you have
saved many."
Pete said nothing about the battle of the ants. He knew that he had
been remiss, but he thought that in eventually turning the sheep he had
made up for it.
And because Pete was energetic, self-reliant, and steady, capable of
taking the burros into town and packing back provisions promptly--for
Pete, unlike most boys, did not care to loaf about town--the old herder
became exceedingly fond of him, although he seldom showed it in a
direct way. Rather, he taught Pete Mexican--colloquialisms and idioms
that are not found in books--until Pete, who already knew enough of the
language to get along handily, became thoroughly at home whenever he
chanced to meet a Mexican--herder, cowboy, or storekeeper. Naturally,
Pete did not appreciate the value of this until later--when his
familiarity with the language helped him out of many a tight place.
But what Pete did appreciate was the old herder's skill with the
six-gun--his uncanny ability to shoot from any position on the instant
and to use the gun with either hand with equal facility. In one of the
desert towns Pete had traded a mountain-lion skin for a belt and
holster and several boxes of cartridges to boot, for Pete was keen at
bargaining. Later the old Mexican cut down the belt to fit Pete and
taught him how to hang the gun to the best advantage. Then he taught
Pete to "draw," impressing upon him that while accuracy was exceedingly
desirable, a quick draw was absolutely essential. Pete practiced early
and late, more than disgusted because Montoya made him practice with an
empty gun. He "threw down" on moving sheep, the dogs, an occasional
distant horseman, and even on Montoya himself, but never until the old
herder had examined the weapon and assured himself that he would not be
suddenly bumped off into glory by his ambitious assistant. As some men
play cards, partly for amusement and partly to keep their hands in, so
Pete and Montoya played the six-gun game, and neither seemed to tire of
the amusement. Montoya frequently unloaded his own gun and making sure
that Pete had done likewise, the old herder would stand opposite him
and count--"Una, duo, tres," and the twain would "go for their guns" to
see who would get in the first theoretical shot. At first Pete was
slow. His gun was too heavy for him and his wrist was not quick. But
he stuck to it until finally he could draw and shoot almost as fast as
his teacher. Later they practiced while sitting down, while reclining
propped on one elbow, and finally from a prone position, where Pete
learned to roll sideways, draw and shoot even as a side-winder of the
desert strikes without coiling. Montoya taught him to throw a shot
over his shoulder, to "roll" his gun, to pretend to surrender it, and,
handing it out butt first, flip it over and shoot the theoretical
enemy. He also taught him one trick which, while not considered
legitimate by most professional gunmen, was exceedingly worth while on
account of its deadly unexpectedness--and that was to shoot through the
open holster without drawing the gun. Such practice allowed of only a
limited range, never higher than a man's belt, but as Montoya
explained, a shot belt-high and center was most effective.
Pete took an almost vicious delight in perfecting himself in this
trick. He knew of most of the other methods--but shooting with the gun
in the holster was difficult and for close-range work, and just in
proportion to its difficulty Pete persevered.
He was fond of Montoya in an offhand way, but with the lessons in
gunmanship his fondness became almost reverence for the old man's easy
skill and accuracy. Despite their increasing friendliness, Pete could
never get Montoya to admit that he had killed a man--and Pete thought
this strange, at that time.
Pete's lessons were not always without grief. Montoya, ordinarily
genial, was a hard master to please. Finally, when Pete was allowed to
use ammunition in his practice, and insisted on sighting at an object,
Montoya reproved him sharply for wasting time. "It is like this," he
would say; illustrating on the instant he would throw a shot into the
chance target without apparent aim. Once he made Pete put down his gun
and take up a handful of stones. "Now shoot," he said. Pete, much
chagrined, pelted the stones rapidly at the empty can target. To his
surprise he missed it only once. "Now shoot him like that," said
Montoya. Pete, chafing because of this "kid stuff," as he called the
stone-throwing, picked up his gun and "threw" five shots at the can.
He was angry and he shot fast, but he hit the can twice. From that
minute he "caught on." Speed tended toward accuracy, premising one was
used to the "feel" of a gun. And accuracy tended toward speed, giving
one assurance. Even as one must throw a stone with speed to be
accurate, so one must shoot with speed. It was all easy enough--like
everything else--when you had the hang of it.
How often a hero of fiction steps into a story--or rides into it--whose
deadly accuracy, lightning-like swiftness, appalling freedom from
accident, ostrich-like stomach and camel-like ability to go without
water, earn him the plaudits of a legion of admiring readers. Apropos
of such a hero, your old-timer will tell you, "that there ain't no such
animal." If your old-timer is a friend--perchance carrying the
never-mentioned scars of cattle-wars and frontier raids--he may tell
you that many of the greatest gunmen practiced early and late, spent
all their spare money on ammunition, never "showed-off" before an
audience, always took careful advantage of every fighting chance, saved
their horses and themselves from undue fatigue when possible, never
killed a man when they could avoid killing him, bore themselves
quietly, didn't know the meaning of Romance, but were strong for
utility, and withal worked as hard and suffered as much in becoming
proficient in their vocation as the veriest artisan of the cities.
Circumstances, hazard, untoward event, even inclination toward
excitement, made some of these men heroes, but never in their own eyes.
There were exceptions, of course, but most of the exceptions were
buried.
And Young Pete, least of all, dreamed of becoming a hero. He liked
guns and all that pertained to them. The feel of a six-shooter in his
hand gave him absolute pleasure. The sound of a six-shooter was music
to him, and the potency contained in the polished cylinder filled with
blunt-nosed slugs was something that he could appreciate. He was a
born gunman, as yet only in love with the tools of his trade,
interested more in the manipulation than in eventual results. He
wished to become expert, but in becoming expert he forgot for the time
being his original intent of eventually becoming the avenger of
Annersley. Pride in his ability to draw quick and shoot straight, with
an occasional word of praise from old Montoya, pretty well satisfied
him. When he was not practicing he was working, and thought only of
the task at hand.
Pete was generally liked in the towns where he occasionally bought
provisions. He was known as "Montoya's boy," and the townsfolk had a
high respect for the old Mexican. One circumstance, however, ruffled
the placid tenor of his way and tended to give him the reputation of
being a "bronco muchacho"--a rough boy; literally a bad boy, as white
folks would have called him.
Montoya sent him into town for some supplies. As usual, Pete rode one
of the burros. It was customary for Pete to leave his gun in camp when
going to town. Montoya had suggested that he do this, as much for
Pete's sake as for anything else. The old man knew that slightly older
boys were apt to make fun of Pete for packing such a disproportionately
large gun--or, in fact, for packing any gun at all. And Montoya also
feared that Pete might get into trouble. Pete was pugnacious,
independent, and while always possessing enough humor to hold his own
in a wordy argument, he had much pride, considering himself the equal
of any man and quite above the run of youths of the towns. And he
disliked Mexicans--Montoya being the one exception. This morning he
did not pack his gun, but hung it on the cross-tree of the pack-saddle.
There were many brush rabbits on the mesa, and they made interesting
targets.
About noon he arrived at the town--Laguna. He bought the few
provisions necessary and piled them on the ground near his burros. He
had brought some cold meat and bread with him which he ate, squatted
out in front of the store. Several young loafers gathered round and
held high argument among themselves as to whether Pete was a Mexican or
not. This in itself was not altogether pleasing to Pete. He knew that
he was tanned to a swarthy hue, was naturally of a dark complexion, and
possessed black hair and eyes. But his blood rebelled at even the
suggestion that he was a Mexican. He munched his bread and meat,
tossed the crumbs to a stray dog and rolled a cigarette. One of the
Mexican boys asked him for tobacco and papers. Pete gladly proffered
"the makings." The Mexican youth rolled a cigarette and passed the
sack of tobacco to his companions. Pete eyed this breach of etiquette
sternly, and received the sack back, all but empty. But still he said
nothing, but rose and entering the store--a rambling, flat-roofed
adobe--bought another sack of tobacco. When he came out the boys were
laughing. He caught a word or two which drove the jest home. In the
vernacular, he was "an easy mark."
"Mebby I am," he said in Mexican. "But I got the price to buy my
smokes. I ain't no doggone loafer."
The Mexican youth who had asked for the tobacco retorted with some more
or less vile language, intimating that Pete was neither Mexican nor
white--an insult compared to which mere anathema was as nothing. Pete
knew that if he started a row he would get properly licked--that the
boys would all pile on him and chase him out of town. So he turned his
back on the group and proceeded to pack the burros. The Mexican boys
forgot the recent unpleasantness in watching him pack. They realized
that he knew his business. But Pete was not through with them yet.
When he had the burros in shape to travel he picked up the stick with
which he hazed them and faced the group. What he said to them was
enough with some to spare for future cogitation. He surpassed mere
invective with flaming innuendos as to the ancestry, habits, and
appearance of these special gentlemen and of Mexicans in general. He
knew Mexicans and knew where he could hit hardest. He wound up with
gentle intimation that the town would have made a respectable pigsty,
but that a decent pig would have a hard time keeping his self-respect
among so many descendants of the canine tribe. It was a beautiful, an
eloquent piece of work, and even as he delivered it he felt rather
proud of his command of the Mexican idiom. Then he made a mistake. He
promptly turned his back and started the burros toward the distant
camp. Had he kept half an eye on the boys he might have avoided
trouble. But he had turned his back. They thought that he was both
angry and afraid. They also made a slight mistake. The youth who had
borrowed the tobacco and who had taken most of Pete's eloquence to
heart--for he had inspired it--called the dog that lay back of them in
the shade and set him on Pete and the burros. If a burro hates
anything it is to be attacked by a dog. Pete whirled and swung his
stick. The dog, a huge, lean, coyote-faced animal, dodged and snapped
at the nearest burro's heels. That placid animal promptly bucked and
ran. His brother burro took the cue and did likewise. Presently the
immediate half-mile square was decorated with loose provisions--sugar,
beans, flour, a few cans of tomatoes, and chiles broken from the sack
and strung out in every direction. The burros became a seething cloud
of dust in the distance. Pete chased the dog which naturally circled
and ran back of the group of the store. Older Mexicans gathered and
laughed. The boys, feeling secure in the presence of their seniors,
added their shrill yelps of pleasure. Pete, boiling internally,
white-faced and altogether too quiet, slowly gathered up what
provisions were usable. Presently he came upon his gun, which had been
bucked from the pack-saddle. The Mexicans were still laughing when he
strode back to the store. The dog, scenting trouble, bristled and
snarled, baring his long fangs and standing with one forefoot raised.
Before the assembly realized what had happened, Pete had whipped out
his gun. With the crash of the shot the dog doubled up and dropped in
his tracks. The boys scattered and ran. Pete cut loose in their
general direction. They ran faster. The older folk, chattering and
scolding, backed into the store. "Montoya's boy was loco. He would
kill somebody!" Some of the women crossed themselves. The
storekeeper, who knew Pete slightly, ventured out. He argued with
Pete, who blinked and nodded, but would not put up his gun. The
Mexicans feared him for the very fact that he was a boy and might do
anything. Had he been a man he might have been shot. But this did not
occur to Pete. He was fighting mad. His burros were gone and his
provisions scattered, save a few canned tomatoes that had not suffered
damage. The storekeeper started toward him. Pete centered on that
worthy's belt-buckle and told him to stay where he was.
"I'll blow a hole in you that you can drive a team through if you come
near me!" asserted Pete. "I come in here peaceful, and you doggone
Cholas wrecked my outfit and stampeded my burros; but they ain't no
Mexican can run a whizzer on me twict. I'm white--see!"
"It is not I that did this thing," said the storekeeper.
"No, but the doggone town did! I reckon when José Montoya comes in and
wants his grub, you'll settle all right. And he's comin'!"
"Then you will go and not shoot any one?"
"When I git ready. But you kin tell your outfit that the first Chola
that follows me is goin' to run up ag'inst a slug that'll bust him wide
open. I'm goin'--but I'm comin' back."
Pete, satisfied that he had conducted himself in a manner befitting the
occasion, backed away a few steps and finally turned and marched across
the mesa. They had wrecked his outfit. He'd show 'em! Old Montoya
knew that something was wrong when the burros drifted in with their
pack-saddles askew. He thought that possibly some coyote had stampeded
them. He righted the pack-saddles and drove the burros back toward
Laguna. Halfway across the mesa he met Pete, who told him what had
happened. Montoya said nothing. Pete had hoped that his master would
rave and threaten all sorts of vengeance. But the old man simply
nodded, and plodding along back of the burros, finally entered Laguna
and strode up to the store. All sorts of stories were afloat, stories
which Montoya discounted liberally, because he knew Pete. The owner of
the dog claimed damages. Montoya, smiling inwardly, referred that
gentleman to Pete, who stood close to his employer, hoping that he
would start a real row, but pretty certain that he would not. That was
Montoya's way. The scattered provisions as far as possible were
salvaged and fresh supplies loaded on the burros. When Montoya was
ready to leave he turned to the few Mexicans in front of the store:
"When I send my boy in here for flour and the beans and the sugar, it
will be well to keep the dogs away--and to remember that it is Jose de
la Crux that has sent him. For the new provisions I do not pay.
Adios, señors."
Pete thought that this was rather tame--but still Montoya's manner was
decidedly business-like. No one controverted him--not even the
storekeeper, who was the loser.
A small crowd had assembled. Excitement such as this was rare in
Laguna. While still in plain sight of the group about the store, and
as Montoya plodded slowly along behind the burros, Pete turned and
launched his parthian shot--that eloquently expressive gesture of
contempt and scorn wherein is employed the thumb, the nose, and the
outspread fingers of one hand. He was still very much a boy.
About a year later--after drifting across a big territory of grazing
land, winter-feeding the sheep near Largo, and while preparing to drive
south again and into the high country--Pete met young Andy White, a
clean-cut, sprightly cowboy riding for the Concho outfit. Andy had
ridden down to Largo on some errand or other and had tied his pony in
front of the store when Montoya's sheep billowed down the street and
frightened the pony. Young Pete, hazing the burros, saw the pony pull
back and break the reins, whirl and dash out into the open and circle
the mesa with head and tail up. It was a young horse, not actually
wild, but decidedly frisky. Pete had not been on a horse for many
months. The beautiful pony, stamping and snorting in the morning sun,
thrilled Pete clear to his toes. To ride--anywhere--what a contrast to
plodding along with the burros! To feel a horse between his knees
again! To swing up and ride--ride across the mesa to that dim line of
hills where the sun touched the blue of the timber and the gold of the
quaking-asp and burned softly on the far woodland trail that led south
and south across the silent ranges! Pete snatched a rope from the pack
and walked out toward the pony. That good animal, a bit afraid of the
queer figure in the flapping overalls and flop-brimmed sombrero,
snorted and swung around facing him. Dragging his rope, Pete walked
slowly forward. The pony stopped and flung up its head. Pete flipped
the loop and set back on his heels. The rope ran taut. Pete was
prepared for the usual battle, but the pony, instead, "came to the
rope" and sniffed curiously at Pete, who patted his nose and talked to
him. Assured that his strange captor knew horses, the pony allowed him
to slip the rope round his nose and mount without even sidling. Pete
was happy. This was something like! As for Montoya and the
sheep--they were drifting on in a cloud of dust, the burros following
placidly.
"You sure caught him slick."
Pete nodded to the bright-faced young cowboy who had stepped up to him.
Andy White was older than Pete, heavier and taller, with keen blue eyes
and an expression as frank and fearless as the morning itself. In
contrast, Young Pete was lithe and dark, his face was more mature, more
serious, and his black eyes seemed to see everything at a glance--a
quick, indifferent glance that told no one what was behind the
expression. Andy was light-skinned and ruddy. Pete was swarthy and
black-haired. For a second or so they stood, then White genially
thrust out his hand. "Thanks!" he said heartily. "You sabe 'em."
It was a little thing to say and yet it touched Pete's pride. Deep in
his heart he was a bit ashamed of consorting with a sheep-herder--a
Mexican; and to be recognized as being familiar with horses pleased him
more than his countenance showed. "Yes. I handled 'em
some--tradin'--when I was a kid."
Andy glanced at the boyish figure and smiled. "You're wastin' good
time with that outfit,"--and he gestured with his thumb toward the
sheep.
"Oh, I dunno. José Montoya ain't so slow--with a gun."
Andy White laughed. "Old Crux ain't a bad old scout--but you ain't a
Mexican. Anybody can see that!"
"Well, just for fun--suppose I was."
"It would be different," said Andy. "You're white, all right!"
"Meanin' my catchin' your cayuse. Well, anybody'd do that."
"They ain't nothin' to drink but belly-wash in this town," said Andy
boyishly. "But you come along down to the store an' I'll buy."
"I'll go you! I see you're ridin' for the Concho."
"Uh-huh, a year."
Pete walked beside this new companion and Pete was thinking hard.
"What's your name?" he queried suddenly.
"White--Andy White. What's yours?"
"Pete Annersley," he replied proudly.
They sat outside the store and drank bottled pop and swapped youthful
yarns of the range and camp until Pete decided that he had better go.
But his heart was no longer with the sheep.
He rose and shook hands with Andy. "If you git a chanct, ride over to
our camp sometime. I'm goin' up the Largo. You can find us.
Mebby"--and he hesitated, eying the pony--"mebby I might git a chanct
to tie up to your outfit. I'm sick of the woolies."
"Don't blame you, amigo. If I hear of anything I'll come a-fannin' and
tell you. So-long. She's one lovely mornin'."
Pete turned and plodded down the dusty road. Far ahead the sheep
shuffled along, the dogs on either side of the band and old Montoya
trudging behind and driving the burros. Pete said nothing as he caught
up with Montoya, merely taking his place and hazing the burros toward
their first camp in the cañon.
It was an aimless life, with little chance of excitement; but riding
range--that was worth while! Already Pete had outgrown any sense of
dependency on the old Mexican. He felt that he was his own man. He
had been literally raised with the horses and until this morning he had
not missed them so much. But the pony and the sprightly young cowboy,
with his keen, smiling face and swinging chaps, had stirred longings in
Young Pete's heart that no amount of ease or outdoor freedom with the
sheep could satisfy. He wanted action. His life with Montoya had made
him careless but not indolent. He felt a touch of shame, realizing
that such a thought was disloyal to Montoya, who had done so much for
him. But what sentiment Pete had, ceased immediately, however, when
the main chance loomed, and he thought he saw his fortune shaping
toward the range and the cow-ponies. He had liked Andy White from the
beginning. Perhaps they could arrange to ride together if he (Pete)
could get work with the Concho outfit. The gist of it all was that
Pete was lonely and did not realize it. Montoya was much older, grave,
and often silent for days. He seemed satisfied with the life. Pete,
in his way, had aspirations--vague as yet, but slowly shaping toward a
higher plane than the herding of sheep. He had had experiences enough
for a man twice his age, and he knew that he had ability. As Andy
White had said, it was wasting good time, this sheep-herding. Well,
perhaps something would turn up. In the meantime there was camp to
make, water to pack, and plenty of easy detail to take up his immediate
time. Perhaps he would talk with Montoya after supper about making a
change. Perhaps not. It might be better to wait until he saw Andy
White again.
In camp that night Montoya asked Pete if he were sick. Pete shook his
head; "Jest thinkin'," he replied.
Old Montoya, wise in his way, knew that something had occurred, yet he
asked no further questions, but rolled a cigarette and smoked,
wondering whether Young Pete were dissatisfied with the pay he gave
him--for Pete now got two dollars a week and his meals. Montoya
thought of offering him more. The boy was worth more. But he would
wait. If Pete showed any disposition to leave, then would be time
enough to speak. So they sat by the fire in the keen evening air, each
busy with his own thoughts, while the restless sheep bedded down,
bleating and shuffling, and the dogs lay with noses toward the fire,
apparently dozing, but ever alert for a stampede; alert for any
possibility--even as were Montoya and Pete, although outwardly placid
and silent.
Next morning, after the sheep were out, Pete picked up a pack-rope and
amused himself by flipping the loop on the burros, the clumps of brush,
stubs, and limbs, keeping at it until the old herder noticed and
nodded. "He is thinking of the cattle," soliloquized Montoya. "I will
have to get a new boy some day. But he will speak, and then I shall
know."
While Pete practiced with the rope he was figuring how long it would
take him to save exactly eighteen dollars and a half, for that was the
price of a Colt's gun such as he had taken from the store at Concho.
Why he should think of saving the money for a gun is not quite clear.
He already had one. Possibly because they were drifting back toward
the town of Concho, Pete wished to be prepared in case Roth asked him
about the gun. Pete had eleven dollars pinned in the watch-pocket of
his overalls. In three weeks, at most, they would drive past Concho.
He would then have seventeen dollars. Among his personal effects he
had two bobcat skins and a coyote-hide. Perhaps he could sell them for
a dollar or two. How often did Andy White ride the Largo Cañon? The
Concho cattle grazed to the east. Perhaps White had forgotten his
promise to ride over some evening. Pete swung his loop and roped a
clump of brush. "I'll sure forefoot you, you doggone longhorn!" he
said. "I'll git my iron on you, you maverick! I'm the Ridin' Kid from
Powder River, and I ride 'em straight up an' comin'." So he romanced,
his feet on the ground, but his heart with the bawling herd and the
charging ponies. "Like to rope a lion," he told himself as he swung
his rope again. "Same as High-Chin Bob." Just then one of the dogs,
attracted by Pete's unusual behavior, trotted up.
Pete's rope shot out and dropped. The dog had never been roped. His
dignity was assaulted. He yelped and started straightway for Montoya,
who stood near the band, gazing, as ever, into space. Just as the rope
came taut, Pete's foot slipped and he lost the rope. The dog,
frightened out of his wits, charged down on the sheep. The trailing
rope startled them. They sagged in, crowding away from the
terror-stricken dog. Fear, among sheep, spreads like fire in dry
grass. In five seconds the band was running, with Montoya calling to
the dogs and Pete trying to capture the flying cause of the trouble.
When the sheep were turned and had resumed their grazing, Montoya, who
had caught the roped dog, strode to Pete. "It was a bad thing to do,"
he said easily. "Why did you rope him?"
Pete scowled and stammered. "Thought he was a lion. He came a-tearin'
up, and I was thinkin' o' lions. So, I jest nacherally loops him. I
was praticin'."
"First it was the gun. Now it is the rope," said Montoya, smiling.
"You make a vaquero, some day, I think."
"Oh, mebby. But I sure won't quit you till you get 'em over the range,
even if I do git a chanct to ride for some outfit. But I ain't got a
job, yet."
"I would not like to have you go," said Montoya. "You are a good boy."
Pete had nothing to say. He wished Montoya had not called him "a good
boy." That hurt. If Montoya had only scolded him for stampeding the
sheep. . . . But Montoya had spoken in a kindly way.