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ARIZONA NIGHTS
ARIZONA NIGHTS
by STEWART EDWARD WHITE
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
CHAPTER ONE THE OLE
VIRGINIA
The ring around the sun had thickened all day long； and the turquoise
blue of the Arizona sky had filmed。 Storms in the dry countries are
infrequent； but heavy； and this surely meant storm。
We had ridden since sun…up over broad mesas； down and out of deep
canons； along the base of the mountain in the wildest parts of the territory。
The cattle were winding leisurely toward the high country； the jack rabbits
had disappeared； the quail lacked； we did not see a single antelope in the
open。 〃It's a case of hole up；〃 the Cattleman ventured his opinion。 〃I
have a ranch over in the Double R。 Charley and Windy Bill hold it down。
We'll tackle it。 What do you think？〃 The four cowboys agreed。 We
dropped into a low； broad watercourse； ascended its bed to big
cottonwoods and flowing water； followed it into box canons between rim…
rock carved fantastically and painted like a Moorish facade； until at last in
a widening below a rounded hill； we came upon an adobe house； a fruit
tree； and a round corral。 This was the Double R。
Charley and Windy Bill welcomed us with soda biscuits。 We turned
our horses out； spread our beds on the floor； filled our pipes； and squatted
on our heels。 Various dogs of various breeds investigated us。 It was
very pleasant； and we did not mind the ring around the sun。
〃Somebody else coming；〃 announced the Cattleman finally。
〃Uncle Jim；〃 said Charley； after a glance。
A hawk…faced old man with a long white beard and long white hair
rode out from the cottonwoods。 He had on a battered broad hat
abnormally high of crown； carried across his saddle a heavy 〃eight square〃
rifle； and was followed by a half…dozen lolloping hounds。
The largest and fiercest of the latter； catching sight of our group；
launched himself with lightning rapidity at the biggest of the ranch dogs；
promptly nailed that canine by the back of the neck； shook him violently a
score of times； flung him aside； and pounced on the next。 During the
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ARIZONA NIGHTS
ensuing few moments that hound was the busiest thing in the West。 He
satisfactorily whipped four dogs； pursued two cats up a tree； upset the
Dutch oven and the rest of the soda biscuits； stampeded the horses； and
raised a cloud of dust adequate to represent the smoke of battle。 We
others were too paralysed to move。 Uncle Jim sat placidly on his white
horse； his thin knees bent to the ox…bow stirrups； smoking。 In ten
seconds the trouble was over； principally because there was no more
trouble to make。 The hound returned leisurely； licking from his chops the
hair of his victims。 Uncle Jim shook his head。 〃Trailer；〃 said he sadly；
〃is a little severe。〃 We greed heartily； and turned in to welcome Uncle
Jim with a fresh batch of soda biscuits。 The old man was ne of the
typical〃long hairs。〃 He had come to the Galiuro Mountains in '69； and
since '69 he had remained in the Galiuro Mountains； spite of man or the
devil。 At present he possessed some hundreds of cattle； which he was
reputed to water； in a dry season； from an ordinary dishpan。 In times past
he had prospected。 That evening； the severe Trailer having dropped to
slumber； he held forth on big…game hunting and dogs； quartz claims and
Apaches。 〃Did you ever have any very close calls？〃 I asked。
He ruminated a few moments； refilled his pipe with some awful
tobacco； and told the following experience：
In the time of Geronimo I was living just about where I do now； and
that was just about in line with the raiding。 You see； Geronimo； and Ju
＇1＇； and old Loco used to pile out of the reservation at Camp Apache； raid
south to the line； slip over into Mexico when the soldiers got too
promiscuous； and raid there until they got ready to come back。 Then
there was always a big medicine talk。 Says Geronimo： ＇1＇
Pronounced 〃Hoo。〃
〃I am tired of the warpath。 I will come back from Mexico with all
my warriors； if you will escort me with soldiers and protect my people。〃
〃All right；〃 says the General； being only too glad to get him back at all。
So； then； in ten minutes there wouldn't be a buck in camp； but next
morning they shows up again； each with about fifty head of hosses。
〃Where'd you get those hosses？〃 asks the General； suspicious。
〃Had 'em pastured in the hills；〃 answers Geronimo。
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〃I can't take all those hosses with me； I believe they're stolen！〃 says the
General。
〃My people cannot go without their hosses；〃 says Geronimo。
So； across the line they goes； and back to the reservation。 In about a
week there's fifty…two frantic Greasers wanting to know where's their
hosses。 The army is nothing but an importer of stolen stock； and knows
it； and can't help it。
Well； as I says； I'm between Camp Apache and the Mexican line； so
that every raiding party goes right on past me。 The point is that I'm a
thousand feet or so above the valley； and the renegades is in such a devil
of a hurry about that time that they never stop to climb up and collect me。
Often I've watched them trailing down the valley in a cloud of dust。
Then； in a day or two； a squad of soldiers would come up； and camp at my
spring for a while。 They used to send soldiers to guard every water hole
in the country so the renegades couldn't get water。 After a while； from
not being bothered none； I got thinking I wasn't worth while with them。
Me and Johnny Hooper were pecking away at the old Virginia mine
then。 We'd got down about sixty feet； all timbered； and was thinking of
cross…cutting。 One day Johnny went to town； and that same day I got in a
hurry and