登陆注册
15462900000001

第1章 CHAPTER I. WHEN GREEN GRASS COMES(1)

Old Applehead Furrman, jogging home across the mesa from Albuquerque, sniffed the soft breeze that came from opal-tinted distances and felt poignantly that spring was indeed here. The grass, thick and green in the sheltered places, was fast painting all the higher ridges and foot-hill slopes, and with the green grass came the lank-bodied, big-kneed calves; which meant that. roundup time was at hand. Applehead did not own more than a thousand head of cattle, counting every hoof that walked under his brand. And with the incipient lethargy of old age creeping into his habits of life, roundup time was not with him the important season it once had been; for several years he had been content to hire a couple of men to represent him in the roundups of the larger outfits--men whom he could trust to watch fairly well his interests. By that method he avoided much trouble and hurry and hard work--and escaped also the cares which come with wealth.

But this spring was not as other springs had been. Something--whether an awakened ambition or an access of sentiment regarding range matters, he did not know--was stirring the blood in Applehead's veins. Never, since the days when he had been a cowpuncher, had the wide spaces called to him so alluringly; never had his mind dwelt so insistently upon the approach of spring roundup. Perhaps it was because he heard so much range talk at the ranch, where the boys of the Flying U were foregathered in uneasy idleness, their fingers itching for the feel of lariat ropes and branding irons while they gazed out over the wide spaces of the mesa.

So much good rangeland unharnessed by wire fencing the Flying U boys had not seen for many a day. During the winter they had been content to ride over it merely for the purpose of helping to make a motion picture of the range, but with the coming of green grass, and with the reaction that followed the completion of the picture that in the making had filled all their thoughts, they were not so content. To the inevitable reaction had been added a nerve racking period of idleness and uncertainty while Luck Lindsay, their director, strove with the Great Western Film Company in Los Angeles for terms and prices that would make for the prosperity of himself and his company.

In his heart Applehead knew, just as the Happy Family knew, that Luck had good and sufficient reasons for over-staying the time-limit he had given himself for the trip. But knowing that Luck was not to be blamed for his long absence did not lessen their impatience, nor did it stifle the call of the wide spaces nor the subtle influence of the winds that blew softly over the uplands.

By the time he reached the ranch Applehead had persuaded himself that the immediate gathering of his cattle was an imperative duty and that he himself must perform it. He could not, he told himself, afford to wait around any longer for luck. Maybe when he came Luck would have nothing but disappointment for them, Maybe--Luck was so consarned stubborn when he got an idea in his head--maybe be wouldn't come to any agreement with the Great Western. Maybe they wouldn't offer him enough money, or leave him enough freedom in his work;maybe he would "fly back on the rope" at the last minute, and come back with nothing accomplished. Applehead, with the experience gleaned from the stress of seeing luck produce one feature picture without any financial backing whatever and without half enough capital, was not looking forward with any enthusiasm to another such ordeal. He did not believe, when all was said and done, that the Flying U boys would be so terribly eager to repeat the performance. He did believe--or he made himself think he believed--that the only sensible thing to do right then was to take the boys and go out and start a roundup of his own. It wouldn't take long--his cattle weren't so badly scattered this year.

"Where's Andy at?" he asked Pink, who happened to be leaning boredly over the gate when he rode up to the corral. Andy Green, having been left in nominal charge of the outfit when Luck left, must be consulted, Applehead supposed.

"Andy? I dunno. He saddled up and rode off somewhere, a while ago," Pink answered glumly. "That's more than he'll let any of us fellows do; the way he's close-herding us makes me tired! Any news?""Ain't ary word from Luck--no word of NO kind. I've about made up my mind to take the chuck-wagon to town and stock it with grub, and hit out on roundup t'morrer or next day. I don't see as there's any sense in setting around here waitin' on Luck and lettin' my own work slide. Chavez boys, they started out yest'day, I heard in town. And if I don't git right out close onto their heels, I'll likely find myself with a purty light crop uh calves, now I'm tellin' yuh I" Applehead, so completely had he come under the spell of the soft spring air and the lure of the mesa, actually forgot that he had long been in the habit of attending to his calf crop by proxy.

Pink's face brightened briefly. Then he remembered why they were being kept so close to the ranch, and he grew bored again.

"What if Luck pulled in before we got back, and wanted us to start work on another picture?" he asked, discouraging the idea reluctantly. Pink had himself been listening to the call of the wide spaces, and the mere mention of roundup had a thrill for him.

同类推荐
  • FINISHED

    FINISHED

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 梵网经

    梵网经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 圆觉经道场略本修证仪

    圆觉经道场略本修证仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 智覃正禅师语录

    智覃正禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 僧宝正续传

    僧宝正续传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 腹黑总裁霸道宠呆萌小娇妻

    腹黑总裁霸道宠呆萌小娇妻

    他们从刚出生到成年一直是相伴长大,他们之间的感情是很,额,怎么说呢,相爱相杀吧!那一夜,两人发生了那种事情(亲上了),他却说:你都快成我媳妇了怕什么?她大吼一声:滚!结婚后,他说:老婆,我想。。。她说:离我远点!暮云深:。。。不就是要个亲亲嘛!看霸道总裁的慢慢追妻路。。。
  • 他妈来了:聪明媳妇巧斗婆婆36计

    他妈来了:聪明媳妇巧斗婆婆36计

    把婆婆当妈也没用,她在儿子面前是娘,在媳妇面前就是狼!再有诚意的心也给被她一口吃掉!不管如何强调男人应该摆正自己的位置,作为女人,你我都知道:在婆媳的战争中,真正应该学习如此经营婚姻这门课程,婆媳这道课题的其实是我们女人自己。
  • 师兄我不是你师妹

    师兄我不是你师妹

    看了一眼抗战神剧就梦穿了!穿过去就被陨石震飞了!据说自己不是这个大陆的人,据说生产自己的岛屿很难去?可是为什么那个岛上有个青年频频出现?还好本人机智,我装,大家都是都是本地人,一回生二回熟嘛!妞,我们都熟透了,你还是我师妹,乖,跟我回家~不要,师兄啊,我不是你师妹!
  • 超级感染

    超级感染

    他一个不小心,打翻了一个不知名的小瓶子,意外的成了不死小强;他被人陷害,却不知对头是谁,只知道对头无比强大;但是他是不死小强,他从此开始了扮猪吃虎,勇斗大boss的传奇生涯。这时一篇爽文,作者保证一爽到底,绝不让主角吃瘪!
  • 前任,你到底想怎样

    前任,你到底想怎样

    他是她是未婚夫,日子虽然有点平淡却很踏实;而他是她的前任,曾经爱得轰轰烈烈;正当她和未婚夫正准备筹备婚礼之时,却遭遇到前任的百般纠缠…而此时她却被告知怀孕了……
  • 月老情传

    月老情传

    大家认为的月老想必就是个老头,但谁能想到,她这个月老,竟是只有20多岁的女人!哎,天身爱玩的她,因此玩忽职守,乱牵红线,结果,被奉命下凡。好吧,大不了做个快乐的神仙!不过,亲爱的王爷,你的手放在哪!
  • 醉仙觞

    醉仙觞

    我若成佛,天下无魔;我若成魔,佛奈我何;我若成仙,浩瀚尽握,我若成鬼,执掌天下,此生我便以死为生,不觉得痛苦,有泪可落,却不是悲凉片段一:我靠,离殇你还是不是人,你...你...某人一个气喘不过来光荣晕倒。小月牙高兴的晃着自己小小的短腿,对于爹爹气晕某人很是乐意片段二:大长老”王...小月牙拿了王殿的玉印...”二长老“王...小月牙放了魔殿中冰仪恶魔...”三长老“王啊!...小月牙摘了万年仙草苇箔”某小月牙正一手抱着玉印,一手拿着仙草苇箔,身后还跟着万分委屈的冰仪恶魔......“哦..."...三大长老一听离殇冰冷的语气,顿时就感觉有望了,没想到...”凑合着给小月牙玩吧!“...三大长老一阵捶胸顿足,还凑合着玩...宝物啊,宝物啊片段三:”北月,我愿背负千生万世的错,换你这一生一世再爱上我,我愿沦陷幻境哪怕为爱成魔,只要你记得,命中注定昙花一瞬间,也许这就是有缘.....“”不,霄...“
  • 本宫来自现代

    本宫来自现代

    新文《婚权独占:席少的名媛新娘》玛雅预言,2012我们大家都会一起死,可是,我竟然等不到2012就死了,死了就死了,竟然还穿越了,穿越应该也会在2012年截止吧?那么反正都要死的,眼前的这个暴君,你就不要用死来吓我了,我不怕的。
  • 某路过的人类

    某路过的人类

    他是家族中的废物,他失去了自己的姓氏,在遇到她之后,从此世上再无废物李路过,只有魔帝路过。新人新书,希望读者能喜欢
  • 末世之全职觉醒

    末世之全职觉醒

    末世降临,凶兽横行,刀锋螳螂、深渊巨蜥、死亡虫蛹袭卷而来,蚕食人类、侵占家园,这将是一个悲怆世界,源魄掉落,觉醒骤生,战士、术士、召唤师、傀儡操纵者纷纷涌现,茁壮成长、保家卫国,这会是充满希望的世界。末世三年,强者陆风遭遇邪恶盟狙击,无奈离世,却意外重生,这一世他将带着三年的末世经验,王者归来。主角强大、不圣母,将给各位带来不一样的末世文,写书的事情交给作者君,书外的事情需要书友多多帮忙,如果觉得不错,还希望各位多多支持,新人不易,求包养,喜欢的书友可以加Q群:566018568,欢迎加入~