|
||||||||
Sucked. Like blotting-paper does. Soft and funny it was, and gray. They get em from elks stomachs, yu know. And when it had sucked the poison out of the wound, off it falls of my thumb by itself! And I thanked the woman for saving my life that capable and keeping her head that cool. I never knowed how excited she had been till afterward. She was awful shocked. I suppose she started to talk when the danger was over, said I, with deep silence around me. No; she didnt say nothing to me. But when her next child was born, it had eight rattles. Din now rose wild in the caboose. They rocked together. The enthusiast beat his knee tumultuously. And I joined them. Who could help it? It had been so well conducted from the imperceptible beginning. Fact and falsehood blended with such perfect art. And this last, an effect so new made with such world-old material! I cared nothing that I was the victim, and I joined them; but ceased, feeling suddenly somehow estranged or chilled. It was in their laughter. The loudness was too loud. And I caught the eyes of Trampas fixed upon the Virginian with exultant malevolence. Scipios disgusted glance was upon me from the door. Dazed by these signs, I went out on the platform to get away from the noise. There the Virginian said to me: Cheer up! Youll not be so easy for em that-a-way next season. He said no more; and with his legs dangled over the railing, appeared to resume his newspaper. Whats the matter? said I to Scipio. Oh, I dont mind if he dont, Scipio answered. Couldnt yu see? I tried to head em off from yu all I knew, but yu just ran in among em yourself. Couldnt yu see? Kep hinderin and spoilin me with askin those urgent questions of yourn--why, I had to let yu go your way! Why, that wasnt the ordinary play with the ordinary tenderfoot they treated you to! You aint a common tenderfoot this trip. Youre the foremans friend. Theyve hit him through you. Thats the way they count it. Its made them encouraged. Cant yu see? Scipio stated it plainly. And as we ran by the next station, Howard! they harshly yelled. Portland 1256! We had been passing gangs of workmen on the track. And at that last yell the Virginian rose. I reckon Ill join the meeting again, he said. This filling and repairing looks like the washout might have been true. Washout? said Scipio. Big Horn bridge, they say--four days ago. Then I wish it came this side Rawhide station. Do yu? drawled the Virginian. And smiling at Scipio, he lounged in through the open door. He beats me, said Scipio, shaking his head. His trail is turruble hard to anticipate. We listened. Work bein done on the road, I see, the Virginian was saying, very friendly and conversational. We see it too, said the voice of Trampas. Seem to be easin their grades some. Roads do. Cheaper to build em the way they want em at the start, a man would think, suggested the Virginian, most friendly. There go some more I-talians. Theyre Chinese, said Trampas. Thats so, acknowledged the Virginian, with a laugh. Whats he monkeyin at now? muttered Scipio. Without cheap foreigners they couldnt afford all this hyeh new gradin, the Southerner continued. Grading! Cant you tell when a floods been eating the banks? Why, yes, said the Virginian, sweet as honey. But aint yu heard of the improvements west of Big Timber, all the way to Missoula, this season? Im talkin about them. Oh! Talking about them. Yes, Ive heard. Good money-savin scheme, aint it? said the Virginian. Lettin a freight run down one hill an up the next as far as shell no without steam, an shavin the hill down to that point. Now this was an honest engineering fact. Bettern settin dudes squintin through telescopes and cypherin over one per cent reductions, the Southerner commented. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||