CHAPTER V
THE INSULT
Shortly after dawn Tom awakened and became conscious of a steadyvibration and the rhythmical splash of the paddle wheel. Hurriedlydressing he went out on deck and glanced shoreward. Thecream-and-chocolate colored water, of an opacity dense enough to hide apiece of shell only a quarter of an inch below its surface, rioted past;to port was a low-lying island covered with an amazing mass of piled-uptrees, logs and debris, deposited there by the racing current of therapidly-falling stream; and the distant shore was covered with denseforests of walnut and cottonwood, interspersed with rich bottoms maskedby tangles of brush. Farther up he knew the sight would change into analmost treeless expanse of green prairies, gashed by scored bluffs ofclay. The surface of the river was not smooth and the wind already hadreached disturbing strength, while an occasional gust of chilling rainpeppered the water and assaulted the boat. From the beat of the paddlesand the high frequency of the vibrations he knew the _Belle_ was goingahead under full steam, but his momentary frown was effaced by thethought that the pilot was competent and knew what he was doing. Still,he felt a little uneasy, and went forward to pay the pilot a visit.
Reaching the hurricane deck he saw both pilots at the wheel and also alookout on the roof of the little house, while in the very point of thebow, on the main deck, another lookout was scrutinizing the river ahead.
"We're makin' good time," said Tom pleasantly as he poked his head inthe pilot house.
"Yes," came an answering grunt; "too good, mebby."
His words and manner were not calculated to encourage conversation andthe visitor went down to see about breakfast. Fortified by a cup ofcoffee he felt able to wait until the meal was ready and went out ondeck again, standing in the shelter of an angle of the cabin, pretendingto be interested in the slowly shifting panorama, but really impatientlywaiting for the appearance of Patience Cooper. He had waited for aboutan hour, hardly stirring from his post near the door which she had usedthe morning before, when he caught sight of her crossing the cabin.Turning from the window and stepping forward he opened the door for herand after a short, cheerful talk about being under way again, led her tothe breakfast table, ignoring the scowling horse-dealer who sat at atable in a corner talking to Elias Stevens.
Their breakfast did not take as long as it had on the previous morning,one reason being that while they ate they sensed the boat turn towardthe shore and before they had finished it stopped along the bank andmoored again.
"I do believe the rain has ceased for the day," Patience observed,peering out of the window by her side. "It is growing brighter everyminute. I wonder why the boat has stopped?"
"Too much wind," answered her companion, nodding at the waves runningpast the boat.
"If that is all, I'm going ashore," she declared.
"You may find it disagreeable," warned Tom, delighted by the prospect ofa tramp with her. "It is bound to be wet under foot and the wind will becold and penetrating; but if you don't mind it, I'm sure _I_ don't." Hefinished his coffee and smiled. "It will be a great relief to get offthis boat."
"Come on, then; I'll meet you at the landing stage in ten minutes," sheexclaimed. "This will be a good opportunity to get accustomed to theheavy boots Uncle Joe had made for me. They smell like tallow candleswith leather wicks, if you can imagine the combination."
He saw her enter her stateroom and then went to his own, got his rifleand stood at the gangplank like a sentry. In less than the allotted timeshe joined him, waved gaily at her uncle and the captain, who weretalking together near the pilot house, and went down the sloping plank,eager to explore the river bank. As they reached the top of theterrace-like bank and turned to wave again, the sun broke through theclouds and turned the moisture-laden trees and brush into a jeweledfairyland. They did not go far south since they were restricted to themore open spaces where they could walk without rubbing against wetfoliage, but they found comparatively open lanes along the top of thebank, from where they could keep watch over the packet and get backwithout undue haste at the sound of her warning whistle.
They crossed the trails of several animals and she listened withinterest to her companion's description of their makers, wondering athis intimate knowledge of animal habits. Finally, coming to a greatcottonwood log, stripped of its bark and shining in the sunlight, hehelped her upon it and sat down by her side.
"You surprised me, Miss Cooper, when you mentioned you were going toSanta Fe," he said, turning to one of the subjects uppermost in hismind. "It is a long, tedious, trying journey to men, and it might proveinfinitely more so to a woman."
"I suppose so," she replied reflectively. "But you know, Mr. Boyd, Ihaven't seen my father in five years, and his letter, sent back by theeastbound caravan from Santa Fe last year, told us how he missed me andhow dissatisfied he was with his housekeeping arrangements and how hedreaded to spend another winter away from us. It was too late then, ofcourse, to make the trip, but I determined to go to him with the firstcaravan leaving Independence this spring. Uncle Joe fumed and fussedabout it and collected all the stories of privation, loss of sanity andsudden death, and everything else of a deterring nature and brought themhome to me to serve as warnings. I can do anything I want with himexcept keep him from gambling, and when he really understood thatnothing could stop me, he gave in and I soon had him so busy explainingaway the woeful tales he had brought me, and hunting up new ones of abright and cheerful aspect that he half believed them himself. I learnedthat all the Indians were pets, that there were miles of flowers all theway, that people near death from all kinds of causes miraculouslyrecovered their health by the end of the first two days, and that thecaravan had to watch closely to keep its members from leaving it andsettling all along the trail."
They burst out laughing together. He could easily picture her unclefrantically reversing himself. He had taken a great liking to JosephCooper, who was a humorous, warm-hearted old fox among his friends,delighting in their pleasures and sunning himself complacently in theirapprobation. No trouble was too great for him to go through if it wouldbring happiness to those he cared for.
They laughed and chatted and enjoyed themselves greatly, and were verymuch surprised when his lean figure appeared beside the pilot house andthey saw him wave his hat and motion toward his mouth with animation andgreat exaggeration.
"Good heavens! Is it dinner time already?" exclaimed Tom, sliding fromthe log, and becoming aware for the first time that the log had been farfrom as dry as he thought.
Laughing and scampering, they hurried back toward the landing, racingdown the hill that led to the little opening in the grove not far fromthe water's edge. As they started down it Tom caught sight of severalfigures sprawled on the sand, which had dried quickly under the combinedattacks of sun and wind. Among them he saw the lank form of EphriamSchoolcraft slowly arising to one elbow as the horse-dealer turned andwatched them come down the incline.
Patience stumbled, her heavy boots bothering her, and her companionchecked himself and caught her as she pitched forward. Swinging herthrough the air, he put her down again on the other side of him andlaughingly offered his arm.
"Thar ain't nothin' like 'lasses fer to draw flies," came the drawling,unpleasant voice of the sneering figure on the ground. "Blow flies airincluded. Wrap it in skirts an' young fellers make plumb fools o'theirselves. Any flirt kin pull th' wool over thar eyes like it war aloose skin cap." His raucous laugh was doubly disagreeable because ofthe sneer envenoming it, and Tom stiffened.
"I seed an example o' that right yere on this hyar packet; an' mostlikely I'll see a hull lot more o' it if I has patience. He-he-he!"
Tom checked his stride, but the quick, reassuring pressure on his armmade him keep on, his burning face held rigidly toward the boat. Hedared not look at his companion. They walked silently up the landingstage and into the cabin, Tom waiting with ill concealed impatienceuntil his companion should join her uncle at the table. But he wassurprised, for she spoke in a pleasant, soft tone an
d ordered him toremain where he was for a few minutes. Before he could make up his mindwhat she meant he saw her lean over her uncle's table and say something.The ex-gambler pushed suddenly back, patted her on the head and walkedbriskly but nonchalantly toward the curious onlooker.
"You young folks never have any regard for an old man's comfort," hechuckled as he took hold of Tom's arm. "Now, sir, I'll take greatpleasure in stretching my legs in any direction you may select, and instretching the neck of any officious meddler. I am at your service, Tom;and, damn it, I'm not too old to become a principal!"
Tom stared at him for a moment as the words sunk in. "By G-d!" hemurmured. "There ain't another like her in th' whole, wide world! Thankyou, Mr. Cooper: if you'll be kind enough to stand on one side and keepthe affair strictly between myself and that polecat, I'll try not tokeep you from your dinner very long. He might have been decent enoughto have picked his quarrel in some other way!"
Schoolcraft arose alertly as they entered the little clearing, andwatched Tom hand the double-barreled rifle to his companion, slip offhis belt and throw his coat over it. The horse-dealer grinned withsavage elation as he discarded his own weapons and coat, hardlybelieving in his good fortune. Not many men along the border cared tomeet him unarmed.
Tom stepped forward. "Every time I look at that terbaccer juicea-dribblin' down yer chin, Schoolcraft, it riles me," he said evenly."I'm a-goin' ter wipe it off," and his open hand struck his enemy's jawwith a resounding whack as he stepped swiftly to one side. "You've allushad a sneakin' grudge ag'in me," he asserted, giving ground before theinfuriated horse-dealer, "since I caught ye cheatin' at Independence.You've been tryin' ter work it off ever since we left th' levee. Ireckon this belongs to you!"
He stepped in quickly and drove his right fist into Schoolcraft's mouth,avoiding the flailing blows. "If ye'll stand up ter it an' make it afight," he jeered, "I'll be much obliged to ye, fer I've promised myfriend not ter keep him from his dinner." Again he stepped in and struckthe bleeding lips. He boxed correctly according to the times, exceptthat he used his feet to good advantage. His education at an easternuniversity had been well rounded and he never allowed himself to get outof condition.
Schoolcraft, stung to fury, leaped forward to grapple, hoping to make ita rough-and-tumble affair, at which style of fighting he had but fewequals. Instead of his adversary stepping to one side, he now stoodsolidly planted in one spot, his left foot a little advanced, and drovein a series of straight-arm blows that sent the horse-dealer staggeringback. The younger man pressed his advantage, moving forward withunswerving determination, his straight punches invariably beating theill-timed and terrific swings of his bleeding opponent, who showed avitality and an ability to take punishment not unusual among the men ofhis breed. The horse-dealer knew that if the fight remained an openaffair he would not last long, and he got command over his rage andbegan to use his head.
Suddenly he dropped to hands and knees under a right-hand blow that wasa little short of hurting him, and sprang up under his enemy's guard,and brought exultant ejaculations from his little group of friends. Butfor the warning conveyed to Tom by the knowledge that he barely hadtouched the horse-dealer's jaw with that blow, and could not haveknocked him down, the trick might have worked; and as it was itsucceeded in bringing the two men to close grips. Schoolcraft's rightarm slid around his enemy's waist and hugged him close, while the leftslipped up between them until the hand went under the younger man's chinand began to push it up and back. It was the horse-dealer's favorite andmost deadly trick and he exulted as he arched his back and threw hisfull strength into the task. Never had it failed to win, for the victimof that hold must either quit or have his neck broken; and the choicedid not rest with the victim.
The muscles of Tom's neck stood out as though they would burst, theveins of his forehead and throat swelling into tiny serpents, and hiscrimson face grew darker and darker, a purplish tint creeping into it.But Schoolcraft found that he was dealing with a man who had studiedwrestling as eagerly as its sister science. He also found that there wasa counter to his favorite hold, always providing that it had been robbedof its greatest factor: surprise. For it to be deadly effective hiswhole strength had to be thrown into it instantly and meet no ready,rigid opposition; and in this he had failed because of the subtlewarning conveyed to his adversary when he fell before a harmless blow.Almost before he knew it Tom's left arm, circling high in air, jammed inbetween their heads and forced its way down to Schoolcraft's cheek. Atthe same instant the right hand dashed down and got a hold inside hisleft thigh, close up against the crotch; and as the left arm thrust hishead sidewise with a power not to be withstood, the right hand liftedsuddenly to the right and he struck the ground on his head and shoulderwith a shock which rendered him senseless.
The winner staggered back, braced himself and swayed a little on hisfeet as he sucked in great gulps of air. He wheeled savagely as he hearda shuffling step to one side and slightly behind him, but the precautionwas not necessary, for simultaneously with the shuffling came JoeCooper's snapped warning, cold and deadly.
"Better stop, Stevens! I'm only lookin' for an excuse to blow you open!"
Elias Stevens obeyed, standing irresolute and scowling. "You talk d----dbig behind a gun!" he sneered.
"Only half as big as I might, seeing it's a double gun," retorted theolder man. "If it don't suit you we can turn, step off ten paces an'fire when we're ready. Might as well make a good job of it while we'reabout it. I ain't no Mike Fink; but you ain't no Carpenter, so I reckonit's purty even."
"I'll take care of any objectors, in any fashion," said Tom, facingStevens and the others. "I'll be ready fer you, Stevens, by th' time youget your weapons an' coat off, if you choose that way. Pickin' on an oldman don't go while there's a younger one around; an', besides, it's myquarrel. There it is, in your teeth; take it, and eat it!"
"It war a fair fight," said an onlooker in grudging admiration. Heexpressed the ethics of the fighting current at that time in that partof the country. Any kind of fighting, be it with hands, feet, nails,teeth or other weapons was fair as long as no outsider took a hand init. It had been the rule of the keelboatmen and they had carried it upand down the waterways, from New Orleans to the upper Mississippi andfrom Pittsburg to the Rockies.
Tom nodded. "All right. You can tell him that he won't get in close,next time," he said, glancing at the stirring loser. "Come on, UncleJoe; your dinner's plumb cold an' ruined."
"I'm hot enough to warm it as I chaw!" snapped his friend. "I was scaredfor a moment, though; fighting out in this country don't get you nothin'but a tombstone, generally, an' you'll be cussed lucky if you get that.But you did what you started out to do; I couldn't see no tobacco juiceon his chin th' last time I looked." He followed his companion down thebank and as they crossed the gangplank he chuckled. "I won't eat noliver for a long time, I reckon: his face near made me sick!"
"I shouldn't 'a' cut him up so," admitted Tom; "but I was forking off agrudge. Next time, I'll kill him." Then he thought of Patience andglowed all over. "There ain't another like her, nowhere!" he muttered.
Uncle Joe glanced sideways at the slightly marked face of his companion,shrewdly noting the expression of reverent awe and adoration.
"Young man," he said, "you're a little mite hasty, but I like 'em thatway. I reckon if you took my waggins inter Santa Fe you'd get patience."
At this second play on her name within the last half hour Tom whirled inhis tracks and held out his hand. "Uncle Joe, if you think I'm able tohandle 'em, I'll take 'em through h--l if I have to, without ablister--" then he faltered and his face grew hard as he shook his headin regret. "I can't do it," he growled. "It wouldn't be fair to bringdown Armijo's wrath on your niece and brother. He'd hound them like thesavage brute he is. No; you'll have to keep to whatever arrangements youhad in mind."
Uncle Joe shook his head. "That's too bad, Tom. I was counting on youkeeping an eye on Patience and seeing her through. It's too cussed bad."
> Tom's laugh rang out across the water. "Oh I'm going to do that! I'mbound for Santa Fe, either as a free lance or with trade goods of myown; but I am not going with your wagons. I got it pretty well figuredout."
"I'm allus gettin' into places where I've got to back out," grumbledUncle Joe. "Now I reckon I'll have to tell Patience you're too young an'giddy to handle my outfit. An' _then_ mebby I'll have to back out ag'in!Tell you one thing, this here Santa Fe trip may be fine for invalids,but it ain't done _my_ health no good!" While Tom laughed at him heconsidered. "Huh! I don't reckon it'll be a good thing to let her knowthat you an' Armijo are as friendly as a Cheyenne an' a Comanche. Cussit! Oh, well; put away this gun an' come on in an' eat, if there'sanything left."