to the last man-第21节

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fall　to　the　floor。　　Then　he　vaulted　back　over　the　counter。　　Wipin'
the　blood　off　his　hands；　he　throwed　his　kerchief　down　in　Bruce's
face。　　Bruce　wasn't　dead　or　bad　hurt。　　He'd　jest　been　beaten　bad。
He　was　moanin'　an'　slobberin'。　　Isbel　kicked　him；　not　hard；　but　jest
sort　of　disgustful。　　Then　he　faced　thet　crowd。　　'Greaves；　thet's　what
I　think　of　your　Simm　Bruce。　　Tell　him　next　time　he　sees　me　to　run　or
pull　a　gun。'　　An'　then　Isbel　grabbed　his　rifle　an'　package　off　the
counter　an'　went　out。　　He　didn't　even　look　back。　　I　seen　him　nount
his　horse　an'　ride　away。　。　。　。　Now；　girl；　what　hev　you　to　say？〃

Ellen　could　only　say　good…by　and　the　word　was　so　low　as　to　be　almost
inaudible。　　She　ran　to　her　burro。　　She　could　not　see　very　clearly
through　tear…blurred　eyes；　and　her　shaking　fingers　were　all　thumbs。
It　seemed　she　had　to　rush　awaysomewhere；　anywherenot　to　get　away
from　old　John　Sprague；　but　from　herselfthis　palpitating；　bursting
self　whose　feet　stumbled　down　the　trail。　　Allall　seemed　ended　for
her。　　That　interminable　story！　　It　had　taken　so　long。　　And　every
minute　of　it　she　had　been　helplessly　torn　asunder　by　feelings　she
had　never　known　she　possessed。　　This　Ellen　Jorth　was　an　unknown
creature。　　She　sobbed　now　as　she　dragged　the　burro　down　the　canyon
trail。　　She　sat　down　only　to　rise。　　She　hurried　only　to　stop。　　Driven；
pursued；　barred；　she　had　no　way　to　escape　the　flaying　thoughts；　no　time
or　will　to　repudiate　them。　　The　death　of　her　girlhood；　the　rending　aside
of　a　veil　of　maiden　mystery　only　vaguely　instinctively　guessed；　the
barren；　sordid　truth　of　her　life　as　seen　by　her　enlightened　eyes；　the
bitter　realization　of　the　vileness　of　men　of　her　clan　in　contrast　to
the　manliness　and　chivalry　of　an　enemy；　the　hard　facts　of　unalterable
repute　as　created　by　slander　and　fostered　by　low　minds；　all　these　were
forces　in　a　cataclysm　that　had　suddenly　caught　her　heart　and　whirled
her　through　changes　immense　and　agonizing；　to　bring　her　face　to　face
with　reality；　to　force　upon　her　suspicion　and　doubt　of　all　she　had
trusted；　to　warn　her　of　the　dark；　impending　horror　of　a　tragic　bloody
feud；　and　lastly　to　teach　her　the　supreme　truth　at　once　so　glorious
and　so　terriblethat　she　could　not　escape　the　doom　of　womanhood。

About　noon　that　day　Ellen　Jorth　arrived　at　the　Knoll；　which　was　the
location　of　her　father's　ranch。　　Three　canyons　met　there　to　form　a
larger　one。　　The　knoll　was　a　symmetrical　hill　situated　at　the　mouth　of
the　three　canyons。　　It　was　covered　with　brush　and　cedars；　with　here　and
there　lichened　rocks　showing　above　the　bleached　grass。　　Below　the　Knoll
was　a　wide；　grassy　flat　or　meadow　through　which　a　willow…bordered　stream
cut　its　rugged　boulder…strewn　bed。　　Water　flowed　abundantly　at　this
season；　and　the　deep　washes　leading　down　from　the　slopes　attested　to
the　fact　of　cloudbursts　and　heavy　storms。　　This　meadow　valley　was　dotted
with　horses　and　cattle；　and　meandered　away　between　the　timbered　slopes
to　lose　itself　in　a　green　curve。　　A　singular　feature　of　this　canyon　was
that　a　heavy　growth　of　spruce　trees　covered　the　slope　facing　northwest；
and　the　opposite　slope；　exposed　to　the　sun　and　therefore　less　snowbound
in　winter；　held　a　sparse　growth　of　yellow　pines。　　The　ranch　house　of
Colonel　Jorth　stood　round　the　rough　comer　of　the　largest　of　the　three
canyons；　and　rather　well　hidden；　it　did　not　obtrude　its　rude　and
broken…down　log　cabins；　its　squalid　surroundings；　its　black　mud…holes
of　corrals　upon　the　beautiful　and　serene　meadow　valley。

Ellen　Jorth　approached　her　home　slowly；　with　dragging；　reluctant　steps；
and　never　before　in　the　three　unhappy　years　of　her　existence　there　had
the　ranch　seemed　so　bare；　so　uncared　for；　so　repugnant　to　her。　　As　she
had　seen　herself　with　clarified　eyes；　so　now　she　saw　her　home。　　The
cabin　that　Ellen　lived　in　with　her　father　was　a　single…room　structure
with　one　door　and　no　windows。　　It　was　about　twenty　feet　square。　　The
huge；　ragged；　stone　chimney　had　been　built　on　the　outside；　with　the
wide　open　fireplace　set　inside　the　logs。　　Smoke　was　rising　from　the
chimney。　　As　Ellen　halted　at　the　door　and　began　unpacking　her　burro
she　heard　the　loud；　lazy　laughter　of　men。　　An　adjoining　log　cabin　had
been　built　in　two　sections；　with　a　wide　roofed　hall　or　space　between
them。　　The　door　in　each　cabin　faced　the　other；　and　there　was　a　tall
man　standing　in　one。　　Ellen　recognized　Daggs；　a　neighbor　sheepman；　
who　evidently　spent　more　time　with　her　father　than　at　his　own　home；
wherever　that　was。　　Ellen　had　never　seen　it。　　She　heard　this　man　drawl；
〃Jorth；　heah's　your　kid　come　home。〃

Ellen　carried　her　bed　inside　the　cabin；　and　unrolled　it　upon　a　couch
built　of　boughs　in　the　far　corner。　　She　had　forgotten　Jean　Isbel's
package；　and　now　it　fell　out　under　her　sight。　　Quickly　she　covered　it。
A　Mexican　woman；　relative　of　Antonio；　and　the　only　servant　about　the
place；　was　squatting　Indian　fashion　before　the　fireplace；　stirring　a
pot　of　beans。　　She　and　Ellen　did　not　get　along　well　together；　and　few
words　ever　passed　between　them。　　Ellen　had　a　canvas　curtain　stretched
upon　a　wire　across　a　small　triangular　comer；　and　this　afforded　her　a
little　privacy。　　Her　possessions　were　limited　in　number。　　The　crude
square　table　she　had　constructed　herself。　　Upon　it　was　a　little
old…fashioned　walnut…framed　mirror；　a　brush　and　comb；　and　a　dilapidated
ebony　cabinet　which　contained　odds　and　ends　the　sight　of　which　always
brought　a　smile　of　derisive　self…pity　to　her　lips。　　Under　the　table
stood　an　old　leather　trunk。　　It　had　come　with　her　from　Texas；　and
contained　clothing　and　belongings　of　her　mother's。　　Above　the　couch
on　pegs　hung　her　scant　wardrobe。　　A　tiny　shelf　held　several　worn…out
books。

When　her　father　slept　indoors；　which　was　seldom　except　in　winter；
he　occupied　a　couch　in　the　opposite　corner。　　A　rude　cupboard　had
been　built　against　the　logs　next　to　the　fireplace。　　It　contained
supplies　and　utensils。　　Toward　the　center；　somewhat　closer　to　the　door；
stood　a　crude　table　and　two　benches。　　The　cabin　was　dark　and　smelled
of　smoke；　of　the　stale　odors　of　past　cooked　meals；　of　the　mustiness
of　dry；　rotting　timber。　　Streaks　of　light　showed　through　the　roof
where　the　rough…hewn　shingles　had　split　or　weathered。　　A　strip　of
bacon　hung　upon　one　side　of　the　cupboard；　and　upon　the　other　a　haunch
of　venison。　　Ellen　detested　the　Mexican　woman　because　she　was　dirty。
The　inside　of　the　cabin　presented　the　same　unkempt　appearance　usual
to　it　after　Ellen　had　been　away　for　a　few　days。　　Whatever　Ellen　had
lost　during　the　retrogression　of　the　Jorths；　she　had　kept　her　habits
of　cleanliness；　and　straightway　upon　her　return　she　set　to　work。

The　Mexican　woman　sullenly　slouched　away　to　her　own　quarters　outside
and　Ellen　was　left　to　the　satisfaction　of　labor。　　Her　mind　was　as　busy
as　her　hands。　　As　she　cleaned　and　swept　and　dusted　she　heard　from　time
to　time　the　voices　of　men；　the　clip…clop　of　shod　horses；　the　bellow　of　
cattle。　　And　a　considerable　time　elapsed　before　she　was　disturbed；

A　tall　shadow　darkened　the　doorway。

〃Howdy；　little　one！〃　said　a　lazy；　drawling　voice。　　〃So　y'u…all　got　home？〃

Ellen　looked　up。　　A　superbly　built　man　leaned　against　the　doorpost。
Like　most　Texans；　he　was　light　haired　and　light　eyed。　　His　face　was
lined　and　hard。　　His　long；　sandy　mustache　hid　his　mouth　and　drooped
with　a　curl。　　Spurred；　booted；　belted；　packing　a　heavy　gun　low　down
on　his　hip；　he　gave　Ellen　an　entirely　new　impression。　　Indeed。　she　was
seeing　everything　strangely。

〃Hello；　Daggs！〃　replied　Ellen。　〃Where's　my　dad？〃

〃He's　playin'　cairds　with　Jackson　an'　Colter。　　Shore's　playin'　bad；
too；　an'　it's　gone　to　his　haid。〃

〃Gamblin'？〃　queried　Ellen。

〃Mah　child；　when'd　Kurnel　Jorth　ever　play　for　fun？〃　said　Daggs；　with
a　lazy　laugh。　　〃There's　a　stack　of　gold　on　the　table。　　Reckon　yo'　uncle
Jackson　will　win　it。　　Colter's　shore　out　of　luck。〃

Daggs　stepped　inside。　　He　was　graceful　and　slow。　　His　long'　spurs
clinked。　　He　laid　a　rather　compelling　hand　on　Ellen's　shoulder。

〃Heah；　mah　gal；　give　us　a　kiss；〃　he　said。

〃Daggs；　I'm　not　your　girl；〃　replied　Ellen　as　she　slipped　out　from
under　his　hand。

Then　Daggs　put　his　arm　round　her；　not　with　violence　or　rudeness；
but　with　an　indolent；　affectionate　assurance；　at　once　bold　and
self…contained。　　Ellen；　however；　had　to　exert　herself　to　get　free
of　him；　and　when　she　had　placed　the　table　between　them　she　looked
him　square　in　the　eyes。

〃Daggs；　y'u　keep　your　paws　off　me；〃　she　said。

〃Aw；　now；　Ellen；　I　ain't　no　bear；〃　he　remonstrated。　　〃What's　the
matter；　kid？〃

〃I'm　not　a　kid。　　And　there's　nothin'　the　matter。　　Y'u're　to　keep　your
hands　to　yourself；　that's　all。〃

He　tried　to　reach　her　across　the　table；　and　his　movements　were　lazy
and　slow；　like　his　smile。　　His　tone　was　coaxing。

〃Mah　dear；　shore　you　set　on　my　knee　just　the　other　day；　now；　didn't　you？〃

Ellen　felt　the　blood　sting　her　cheeks。

〃I　was　a　child；〃　she　returned。

〃Wal；　listen　to　this　heah　grown…up　young　woman。　　All　in　a　few　days！
。　。　。　Doon't　be　in　a　temper；　Ellen。　。　。　。　Come；　give　us　a　kiss。〃

She　deliberately　gazed　into　his　eyes。　　Like　the　eyes　of　an　eagle；
they　were　clear　and　hard；　just　now　warmed　by　the　dalliance　of　the
moment；　but　the