“No doubt of it，” assented Cooper，urbanely，“but Ive a partner，you know. Im not free in making loans. And even if you had the best security in your hands，Merwin，we couldnt accommodate accommodate vt.供应，供给，使适应，调节，和解，向……提供，容纳，调和vi.适应 you in less than a week. Were just making a shipment of 15，000 to Myer Brothers in Rockdell，to buy cotton with. It goes down on the narrowgauge tonight. That leaves our cash quite short at present. Sorry we cant arrange it for you.”
“那还用说吗，”库柏老于世故地同意说，“但是你知道，我有一个合伙人。我不能独断独行，私自放款。即使你手头有最可靠的担保品，我们也不可能在一星期之内贷给你。我们正要运一万五千元现款到罗克合尔，委托迈尔兄弟公司收购棉花。今晚就由窄轨火车运走。这一来，我们手头的现款也不多了。我们不能替你解决，非常抱歉。”
Merwin went back to his little bare office and plaited at his quirt again. About four oclock in the afternoon he went to the First National Bank and leaned over the railing of Longleys desk.“Ill try to get that money for you tonight—I mean tomorrow，Bill.”
默温回到家里，重新编织马鞭。下午四点钟光景，他到了第一国民银行，隔着朗利办公桌的栅栏，凑过去说：“我想办法在今晚——我是说明天——替你搞到那笔钱，比尔。”
“All right，Tom.” said Longley quietly.
“好吧，汤姆。”朗利平静地说。
At nine oclock that night Tom Merwin stepped cautiously out of the small frame house in which he lived. It was near the edge of the little town，and few citizens were in the neighbourhood at that hour. Merwin wore two sixshooters in a belt，and a slouch hat. He moved swiftly down a lonely street，and then followed the sandy road that ran parallel to the narrowgauge track until he reached the watertank，two miles below the town. There Tom Merwin stopped，tied a black silk handkerchief about the lower part of his face，and pulled his hat down low.
那晚九点钟，汤姆·默温谨慎地走出他住的木头小房子。房子坐落在城郊，这时候附近行人很少。默温的腰带里插着两支六响手枪，头上戴一顶垂边帽子。他迅速地沿着一条荒凉的小街走去，到了同窄轨铁路平行的沙路上，最后来到离城两英里的水塔旁。汤姆·默温在这儿停住，用一条黑绸手帕蒙住面孔下部，拉下帽檐。
In ten minutes the night train for Rockdell pulled up at the tank，having come from Chaparosa.
十分钟后，从查帕罗萨开往罗克台尔的夜班火车在水塔旁边停住了。
With a gun in each hand Merwin raised himself from behind a clump of chaparral chaparral n.丛林，茂密的树丛 and started for the engine. But before he had taken three steps，two long，strong arms clasped him from behind，and he was lifted from his feet and thrown，face downward upon the grass. There was a heavy knee pressing against his back，and an iron hand grasping each of his wrists. He was held thus，like a child，until the engine had taken water，and until the train had moved，with accelerating speed，out of sight. Then he was released，and rose to his feet to face Bill Longley.
默温双手各握一支手枪，从一丛树后面站起身，向机车走去。他还没走上五步，两条有力的长胳臂突然从背后把他拦腰抱起，脸扑摔在草地上。一个沉重的膝头抵住他的脊背，钢钳一般的手捉住了他的手腕。他就这样像小孩似的被制服了，直到机车加了水，重新起步，逐渐增加速度，开得看不见了为止。这时候，他才被放开，站了起来，发现抓他的人竟是比尔·朗利。
“The case never needed to be fixed up this way，Tom.” said Longley. “I saw Cooper this evening，and he told me what you and him talked about. Then I went down to your house tonight and saw you come out with your guns on，and I followed you. Lets go back，Tom.”
“这事绝不能这么解决，汤姆。”朗利说，“今天下午我见到了库柏，他把你同他谈的事告诉了我。晚上我去你家，见你带了枪出来，于是我一直尾随你到这儿。我们回去吧，汤姆。”
They walked away together，side by side.
两人并肩走了。
“Twas the only chance I saw.” said Merwin presently. “You called your loan，and I tried to answer you. Now，whatll you do，Bill，if they sock it to you？”
“这是我惟一的机会。”过一会儿，默温开口说，“你要求归还贷款，我总得想办法清偿。比尔，假如他们为难你的话，你怎么办呢？”
“What would you have done if theyd socked it to you？” was the answer Longley made.
“假如他们为难你的话，你又怎么办呢？”朗利反问道。
“I never thought Id lay in a bush to stick up a train，” remarked Merwin，“but a call loans different. A calls a call with me. Weve got twelve hours yet，Bill，before this spy jumps onto you. Weve got to raise them spondulicks somehow. Maybe we can—Great Sam Houston！ do you hear that？”
“我从没想到自己竟会埋伏起来拦劫火车，”默温说，“不过一笔活期贷款又是另外一回事了。我向来说一是一，说二是二。我们还剩下十二个小时，比尔，过后那个探子又要来找你麻烦了。我们总得想办法把这笔款子筹措到手。我们也许可以——了不起的山姆·豪斯顿啊！你听到了没有？”
Merwin broke into a run，and Longley kept with him，hearing only a rather pleasing whistle somewhere in the night rendering the lugubriouslugubrious adj.（尤指故意装出来的）可怜的，悲惨的，悲哀的 air of “The Cowboys Lament”。
默温突然奔跑起来，朗利跟了上去，只听得黑夜中有一个悦耳的口哨声，吹着“牧童悲歌”的凄凉的调子。
“Its the only tune he knows.” shouted Merwin，as he ran. “Ill bet—”
“他只会这一支歌。”默温一面跑，一面嚷道。“准保是——”
They were at the door of Merwins house. He kicked it open and fell over an old valise lying in the middle of the floor. A sunburned，firmjawed youth，stained by travel，lay upon the bed puffing at a brown cigarette.
他们跑到了默温家。默温一脚把门踹开，冲进去，给屋子中间一只旧手提箱绊了一跤。一个风尘仆仆，皮肤黝黑，宽下巴的小伙子躺在床上抽着褐色的香烟。
“Whats the word，Ed？” gasped Merwin.
“怎么样，埃德？”默温上气不接下气地说。
“So，so.” drawleddrawl v.懒洋洋地说，做作而慢慢地说 n.懒洋洋的说话态度 that capable youngster. “Just got in on the 9：30. Sold the bunch for fifteen，straight. Now，buddy，you want to quit kickin a valise around thats got 29，000 in greenbacks in its inards.”
“马马虎虎。”那个干练的小伙子懒洋洋地说。“刚乘了九点三十分那班火车回来。那批牛卖了，十五元一头，一个钱也不少。喂，老哥，别把那只手提箱踢来踢去啦，里面装着二万九千元现款呢。”
