“You see.” said Longley，easily explaining the thing away，“Tom heard of 2000 head of twoyearolds down near Rocky Ford on the Rio Grande that could be had for 8 a head. I reckon twas one of old Leandro Garcias outfits that he had smuggled over，and he wanted to make a quick turn on em. Those cattle are worth 15 on the hoof in Kansas City. Tom knew it and I knew it. He had 6，000，and I let him have the 10，000 to make the deal with. His brother Ed took em on to market three weeks ago. He ought to be back most any day now with the money. When he comes Tomll pay that note.”
“你明白，”朗利轻松地解释说，想了结这件事，“汤姆听说裕朗德河岩石津那里有两千头两岁的小牛出售，每头八块钱就可以成交。我猜想那大概是老莱恩德罗·加尔西亚私运送来的牛队，急于脱手。那群牛到堪萨斯城可以卖十五元一头。汤姆清楚，我也清楚。他有六千元现款，我就把这笔交易的不足之数一万元借给了他。他弟弟埃德三星期前把牛赶去卖了。这几天里，他随时可能带着货款回来。他一来，汤姆就会归还借款的。”
The bank examiner was shocked. It was perhaps，his duty to step out to the telegraph office and wire the situation to the comptroller. But he did not. He talked pointedly and effectively to Longley for three minutes. He succeeded in making the banker understand that he stood upon the border of a catastrophe catastrophe n.大灾难，大祸。 And then he offered a tiny loophole of escape.
稽核吓坏了。他也许有责任立即去电报局，把这个情形报告审计处。但他没有这么做。他直截了当地同朗利谈了三分钟。他终于使这位银行家了解到自己已站在灾难的边缘。之后，他提供了一线希望。
“I am going to Hilldales tonight.” he told Longley，“to examine a bank there. I will pass through Chaparosa on my way back. At twelve oclock tomorrow I shall call at this bank. If this loan has been cleared out of the way by that time it will not be mentioned in my report. If notI will have to do my duty.”
“今晚我要去希尔合尔，”他对朗利说，“查对那里的一家银行的账目。回来时，我路经查帕罗萨。明天十二点，我回到银行。到时候，如果这笔贷款已经清理，我在报告里就不提这件事。否则——我不得不尽我的职责。”
With that the examiner bowed and departed.
说罢，稽核鞠了一躬就走了。
The President of the First National lounged in his chair half an hour longer，and then he lit a mild cigar，and went over to Tom Merwins house. Merwin，a ranchman in brown duck，with a contemplative contemplative adj.沉思的，冥想的，[宗］祈祷的 eye，sat with his feet upon a table，plaiting a rawhide rawhide n.生牛皮，<美>生牛皮鞭 vt.用生牛皮鞭抽打adj.生牛皮的 quirt.
第一国民银行的总经理在椅子上继续坐了半小时，然后点燃一支醇香的雪茄，到汤姆·默温家去了。默温，一个穿着棕色粗布裤子，神情显得深思熟虑的牧场主，正把脚搁在桌子上，坐在那儿编一条生皮马鞭。
“Tom，” said Longley，leaning against the table，“you heard anything from Ed yet？”
“汤姆，”朗利靠在桌子上说，“有没有埃德的消息？”
“Not yet.” said Merwin，continuing his plaiting. “I guess Edll be along back now in a few days.”
“还没有。”默温继续编着鞭子，回答说。“我想在这几天里埃德总该回来了。”
“There was a bank examiner，” said Longley，“nosing around our place today，and he bucked a sight about that note of yours. You know I know its all right，but the thing is against the banking laws. I was pretty sure youd have paid it off before the bank was examined again，but the sonofagun slipped in on us，Tom. Now，Im short of cash myself just now，or Id let you have the money to take it up with. Ive got till twelve oclock tomorrow，and then Ive got to show the cash in place of that note or—”
“有一个银行稽核，”朗利说，“今天去我们那里探头探脑，发现了你那张借据。你知道我认为没有问题，可是这样做是违犯银行法的。我本来断定在银行查账之前你能归还那笔借款的，但是那家伙出乎意外地来了，汤姆。眼前我自己手头现款短缺，不然我可以垫一垫，替你兑付这张借据。他限我明天十二点以前解决，那时候我得拿出现款来抵账，不然……”
“Or what，Bill？” asked Merwin，as Longley hesitated.
“不然怎么啦，比尔？”默温看到朗利吞吞吐吐，便问道。
“Well，I suppose it means be jumped on with both of Uncle Sams feet.”
“嗯，我猜想大概是被山姆大叔朝屁股踢出去吧。”
“Ill try to raise the money for you on time.” said Merwin，interested in his plaiting.
“我试试，把你那笔款子及时筹出来。”默温说，仍旧专心致志地在编马鞭。
“All right，Tom，” concluded Longley，as he turned toward the door，“I knew you would if you could.”
“好吧，汤姆，”朗利转身向门口走去时说，“我知道你只要有办法就一定会做到的。”
Merwin threw down his whip and went to the only other bank in town，a private one，run by Cooper & Craig.
默温扔开鞭子，到城里仅有的第二家银行去，那是库柏和克雷格合伙开的私营银行。
“Cooper，” he said，to the partner by that name，“Ive got to have 10，000 today or tomorrow. Ive got a house and lot there thats worth about 6，000 and thats all the actual collateral collateral adj.间接的。 But Ive got a cattle deal on thats sure to bring me in more than that much profit within a few days.”
“库柏，”他对那个姓库柏的合伙股东说，“今天或者明天，我非筹到一万元不可。我这儿有一幢房子和地皮，大概值六千元，实际的担保品就这么些。不过我正在做一笔牛交易，几天之内，它给我带来的赚头就不止这个数目。”
Cooper began to cough.
库柏开始咳嗽起来。
“Now，for Gods sake dont say no.” said Merwin. “I owe that much money on a call loan. Its been called，and the man that called it is a man Ive laid on the same blanket with in cowcamps and rangercamps for ten years. He can call anything Ive got. He can call the blood out of my veins and itll come. Hes got to have the money. Hes in a devil of a—Well，he needs the money，and Ive got to get it for him. You know my words good，Cooper.”
“喂，看在老天分上，别拒绝。”默温说，“我欠人家一笔活期贷款，数目是一万元。现在要求归还了，要求归还的人同我在牧牛营地和守林营地一起待过十年。他可以要我所有的东西。他要我脉管里的血，我也一定会给他。他非搞到那笔钱不可，非常迫切——噢，他需要那笔钱，我有责任替他筹措。你知道我是有信用的，库柏。”