smoke bellew(史沫克·贝罗)-第25章
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〃Surely。〃
〃And you'll promise not to play roulette in Dawson ever again？〃
〃No； sir；〃 Smoke said positively。 〃I'll promise not to play this system
again。〃
〃My God！〃 Moran exploded。 〃You haven't got other systems； have
you？〃
〃Hold on！〃 Shorty cried。 〃I want to talk to my pardner。 Come over
here； Smoke； on the side。〃
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Smoke followed into a quiet corner of the room； while hundreds of
curious eyes centred on him and Shorty。
〃Look here； Smoke；〃 Shorty whispered hoarsely。 〃Mebbe it ain't a
dream。 In which case you're sellin' out almighty cheap。 You've sure got
the world by the slack of its pants。 They's millions in it。 Shake it！
Shake it hard！〃
〃But if it's a dream？〃 Smoke queried softly。
〃Then； for the sake of the dream an' the love of Mike； stick them
gamblers up good and plenty。 What's the good of dreamin' if you can't
dream to the real right； dead sure； eternal finish？〃
〃Fortunately； this isn't a dream； Shorty。〃
〃Then if you sell out for thirty thousan'； I'll never forgive you。〃
〃When I sell out for thirty thousand； you'll fall on my neck an' wake up
to find out that you haven't been dreaming at all。 This is no dream；
Shorty。 In about two minutes you'll see you have been wide awake all
the time。 Let me tell you that when I sell out it's because I've got to sell
out。〃
Back at the table； Smoke informed the game…owners that his offer still
held。 They proffered him their paper to the extent of three thousand
each。
〃Hold out for the dust；〃 Shorty cautioned。
〃I was about to intimate that I'd take the money weighed out；〃 Smoke
said。
The owner of the Elkhorn cashed their paper； and Shorty took
possession of the gold…dust。
〃Now； I don't want to wake up；〃 he chortled； as he hefted the various
sacks。 〃Toted up； it's a seventy thousan' dream。 It's be too blamed
expensive to open my eyes； roll out of the blankets； an' start breakfast。〃
〃What's your system？〃 Big Burke demanded。 〃We've paid for it； and
we want it。〃
Smoke led the way to the table。
〃Now； gentlemen； bear with me a moment。 This isn't an ordinary
system。 It can scarcely be called legitimate； but its one great virtue is
that it works。 I've got my suspicious； but I'm not saying anything。 You
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watch。 Mr Keeper； be ready with the ball。 Wait； I am going to pick '26。'
Consider I've bet on it。 Be ready； Mr KeeperNow！〃
The ball whirled around。
〃You observe；〃 Smoke went on； 〃that '9' was directly opposite。〃
The ball finished in '26。'
Big Burke swore deep in his chest； and all waited。
〃For 'double nought' to win； '11' must be opposite。 Try it yourself and
see。〃
〃But the system？〃 Moran demanded impatiently。 〃We know you can
pick winning numbers； and we know what those numbers are； but how do
you do it？〃
〃By observed sequences。 By accident I chanced twice to notice the
ball whirled when '9' was opposite。 Both times '26' won。 After that I
saw it happen again。 Then I looked for other sequences； and found them。
'Double nought' opposite fetches '32；' and '11' fetches 'double nought。' It
doesn't always happen； but it USUALLY happens。 You notice； I say
'usually。' As I said before； I have my suspicions； but I'm not saying
anything。〃
Big Burke； with a sudden dawn of comprehension reached over；
stopped the wheel； and examined it carefully。 The heads of the nine other
game…owners bent over and joined in the examination。 Big Burke
straightened up and cast a glance at the near…by stove。
〃Hell；〃 he said。 〃It wasn't any system at all。 The table stood close
to the fire； and the blamed wheel's warped。 And we've been worked to a
frazzle。 No wonder he liked this table。 He couldn't have bucked for
sour apples at any other table。〃
Harvey Moran gave a great sigh of relief and wiped his forehead。
〃Well； anyway；〃 he said； 〃it's cheap at the price just to find out that it
wasn't a system。〃 His face began to work； and then he broke into
laughter and slapped Smoke on the shoulder。 〃Smoke； you had us going
for a while； and we patting ourselves on the back because you were letting
our tables alone！ Say； I've got some real fizz I'll open if all you'll come
over to the Tivoli with me。〃
Later； back in the cabin； Shorty silently overhauled and hefted the
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various bulging gold…sacks。 He finally piled them on the table； sat down
on the edge of his bunk； and began taking off his moccasins。
〃Seventy thousan'；〃 he calculated。 〃It weighs three hundred and fifty
pounds。 And all out of a warped wheel an' a quick eye。 Smoke； you
eat'm raw； you eat'm alive； you work under water； you've given me the
jim…jams； but just the same I know it's a dream。 It's only in dreams that
the good things comes true。 I'm almighty unanxious to wake up。 I hope
I never wake up。〃
〃Cheer up；〃 Smoke answered。 〃You won't。 There are a lot of
philosophy sharps that think men are sleep…walkers。 You're in good
company。〃
Shorty got up； went to the table； selected the heaviest sack； and
cuddled it in his arms as if it were a baby。
〃I may be sleep…walkin'；〃 he said； 〃but as you say； I'm sure in mighty
good company。〃
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THE MAN ON THE OTHER
BANK。
I。
It was before Smoke Bellew staked the farcical town…site of Tra…Lee；
made the historic corner of eggs that nearly broke Swiftwater Bill's bank
account； or won the dog…team race down the Yukon for an even million
dollars； that he and Shorty parted company on the Upper Klondike。
Shorty's task was to return down the Klondike to Dawson to record some
claims they had staked。
Smoke； with the dog…team； turned south。 His quest was Surprise
Lake and the mythical Two Cabins。 His traverse was to cut the
headwaters of the Indian River and cross the unknown region over the
mountains to the Stewart River。 Here； somewhere； rumour persisted； was
Surprise Lake； surrounded by jagged mountains and glaciers； its bottom
paved with raw gold。 Old…timers； it was said； whose very names were
forgotten in the forests of earlier years； had dived in the ice…waters of
Surprise Lake and fetched lump…gold to the surface in
