to the last man-第25节

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sheep…shearing　outfit。　　She　had　never　seen　any　sheep　sheared。
Ellen　could　never　keep　track　of　the　many　and　different　horses
running　loose　and　hobbled　round　the　ranch。　　There　were　droves　of
horses　in　the　woods；　and　some　of　them　wild　as　deer。　　According　to　her
long…established　understanding；　her　father　and　her　uncles　were　keen
on　horse　trading　and　buying。

Then　the　many　trails　leading　away　from　the　Jorth　ranchthese　grew
to　have　a　fascination　for　Ellen；　and　the　time　came　when　she　rode　out
on　them　to　see　for　herself　where　they　led。　　The　sheep　ranch　of　Daggs；
supposed　to　be　only　a　few　miles　across　the　ridges；　down　in　Bear　Canyon；
never　materialized　at　all　for　Ellen。　　This　circumstance　so　interested
her　that　she　went　up　to　see　her　friend　Sprague　and　got　him　to　direct
her　to　Bear　Canyon；　so　that　she　would　be　sure　not　to　miss　it。　　And　she
rode　from　the　narrow；　maple…thicketed　head　of　it　near　the　Rim　down　all
its　length。　　She　found　no　ranch；　no　cabin；　not　even　a　corral　in　Bear
Canyon。　　Sprague　said　there　was　only　one　canyon　by　that　name。　　Daggs
had　assured　her　of　the　exact　location　on　his　place；　and　so　had　her
father。　　Had　they　lied？　　Were　they　mistaken　in　the　canyon？　　There　were
many　canyons；　all　heading　up　near　the　Rim；　all　running　and　widening　down
for　miles　through　the　wooded　mountain；　and　vastly　different　from　the　deep；
short；　yellow…walled　gorges　that　cut　into　the　Rim　from　the　Basin　side。
Ellen　investigated　the　canyons　within　six　or　eight　miles　of　her　home；
both　to　east　and　to　west。　　All　she　discovered　was　a　couple　of　old　log
cabins；　long　deserted。　　Still；　she　did　not　follow　out　all　the　trails
to　their　ends。　　Several　of　them　led　far　into　the　deepest；　roughest；
wildest　brakes　of　gorge　and　thicket　that　she　had　seen。　　No　cattle　or
sheep　had　ever　been　driven　over　these　trails。

This　riding　around　of　Ellen's　at　length　got　to　her　father's　ears。
Ellen　expected　that　a　bitter　quarrel　would　ensue；　for　she　certainly
would　refuse　to　be　confined　to　the　camp；　but　her　father　only　asked
her　to　limit　her　riding　to　the　meadow　valley；　and　straightway　forgot
all　about　it。　　In　fact；　his　abstraction　one　moment；　his　intense
nervousness　the　next；　his　harder　drinking　and　fiercer　harangues　with
the　men；　grew　to　be　distressing　for　Ellen。　　They　presaged　his　further
deterioration　and　the　ever…present　evil　of　the　growing　feud。

One　day　Jorth　rode　home　in　the　early　morning；　after　an　absence　of
two　nights。　　Ellen　heard　the　clip…clop　of；　horses　long　before　she
saw　them。

〃Hey；　Ellen！　　Come　out　heah；〃　called　her　father。

Ellen　left　her　work　and　went　outside。　　A　stranger　had　ridden　in　with
her　father；　a　young　giant　whose　sharp…featured　face　appeared　marked　by
ferret…like　eyes　and　a　fine；　light；　fuzzy　beard。　　He　was　long；　loose
jointed；　not　heavy　of　build；　and　he　had　the　largest　hands　and　feet
Ellen　bad　ever　seen。　　Next　Ellen　espied　a　black　horse　they　had　evidently
brought　with　them。　　Her　father　was　holding　a　rope　halter。　　At　once　the
black　horse　struck　Ellen　as　being　a　beauty　and　a　thoroughbred。

〃Ellen；　heah's　a　horse　for　you；〃　said　Jorth；　with　something　of　pride。
〃I　made　a　trade。　　Reckon　I　wanted　him　myself；　but　he's　too　gentle　for
me　an'　maybe　a　little　small　for　my　weight。〃

Delight　visited　Ellen　for　the　first　time　in　many　days。　　Seldom　had　she
owned　a　good　horse；　and　never　one　like　this。

〃Oh；　dad！　〃　she　exclaimed；　in　her　gratitude。

〃Shore　he's　yours　on　one　condition；〃　said　her　father。

〃What's　that？〃　asked　Ellen；　as　she　laid　caressing　hands　on　the
restless　horse。

〃You're　not　to　ride　him　out　of　the　canyon。〃

〃Agreed。　。　。　。　All　daid　black；　isn't　he；　except　that　white　face？
What's　his　name；　dad？

〃I　forgot　to　ask；〃　replied　Jorth。　as　he　began　unsaddling　his　own　horse。
〃Slater；　what's　this　heah　black's　name？〃

The　lanky　giant　grinned。　　〃I　reckon　it　was　Spades。〃

〃Spades？〃　ejaculated　Ellen；　blankly。　　〃What　a　name！　。　。　。　Well；　I　guess
it's　as　good　as　any。　　He's　shore　black。〃

〃Ellen；　keep　him　hobbled　when　you're　not　ridin'　him；〃　was　her　father's
parting　advice　as　he　walked　off　with　the　stranger。

Spades　was　wet　and　dusty　and　his　satiny　skin　quivered。　　He　had　fine；
dark；　intelligent　eyes　that　watched　Ellen's　every　move。　　She　knew　how
her　father　and　his　friends　dragged　and　jammed　horses　through　the　woods
and　over　the　rough　trails。　　It　did　not　take　her　long　to　discover　that
this　horse　had　been　a　pet。　　Ellen　cleaned　his　coat　and　brushed　him　and
fed　him。　　Then　she　fitted　her　bridle　to　suit　his　head　and　saddled　him。
His　evident　response　to　her　kindness　assured　her　that　he　was　gentle；
so　she　mounted　and　rode　him；　to　discover　he　had　the　easiest　gait　she
had　ever　experienced。　　He　walked　and　trotted　to　suit　her　will；　but
when　left　to　choose　his　own　gait　he　fell　into　a　graceful　little　pace
that　was　very　easy　for　her。　　He　appeared　quite　ready　to　break　into　a
run　at　her　slightest　bidding；　but　Ellen　satisfied　herself　on　this　first
ride　with　his　slower　gaits。

〃Spades；　y'u've　shore　cut　out　my　burro　Jinny；〃　said　Ellen；　regretfully。
〃Well；　I　reckon　women　are　fickle。〃

Next　day　she　rode　up　the　canyon　to　show　Spades　to　her　friend　John
Sprague。　　The　old　burro　breeder　was　not　at　home。　　As　his　door　was　open；
however；　and　a　fire　smoldering；　Ellen　concluded　he　would　soon　return。
So　she　waited。　　Dismounting；　she　left　Spades　free　to　graze　on　the　new
green　grass　that　carpeted　the　ground。　　The　cabin　and　little　level
clearing　accentuated　the　loneliness　and　wildness　of　the　forest。
Ellen　always　liked　it　here　and　had　once　been　in　the　habit　of　visiting
the　old　man　often。　　But　of　late　she　had　stayed　away；　for　the　reason　that
Sprague's　talk　and　his　news　and　his　poorly　hidden　pity　depressed　her。

Presently　she　heard　hoof　beats　on　the　hard；　packed　trail　leading　down
the　canyon　in　the　direction　from　which　she　had　come。　　Scarcely　likely
was　it　that　Sprague　should　return　from　this　direction。　　Ellen　thought
her　father　had　sent　one　of　the　herders　for　her。　　But　when　she　caught
a　glimpse　of　the　approaching　horseman；　down　in　the　aspens；　she　failed
to　recognize　him。　　After　he　had　passed　one　of　the　openings　she　heard
his　horse　stop。　　Probably　the　man　had　seen　her；　at　least　she　could　not
otherwise　account　for　his　stopping。　　The　glimpse　she　had　of　him　had
given　her　the　impression　that　he　was　bending　over；　peering　ahead　in
the　trail；　looking　for　tracks。　　Then　she　heard　the　rider　come　on　again；
more　slowly　this　time。　　At　length　the　horse　trotted　out　into　the　opening；
to　be　hauled　up　short。　　Ellen　recognized　the　buckskin…clad　figure；
the　broad　shoulders；　the　dark　face　of　Jean　Isbel。

Ellen　felt　prey　to　the　strangest　quaking　sensation　she　had　ever　suffered。
It　took　violence　of　her　new…born　spirit　to　subdue　that　feeling。

Isbel　rode　slowly　across　the　clearing　toward　her。　　For　Ellen　his
approach　seemed　singularly　swiftso　swift　that　her　surprise；　dismay；
conjecture；　and　anger　obstructed　her　will。　　The　outwardly　calm　and　cold
Ellen　Jorth　was　a　travesty　that　mocked　herthat　she　felt　he　would　discern。

The　moment　Isbel　drew　close　enough　for　Ellen　to　see　his　face　she
experienced　a　strong；　shuddering　repetition　of　her　first　shock　of
recognition。　　He　was　not　the　same。　　The　light；　the　youth　was　gone。
This；　however；　did　not　cause　her　emotion。　　Was　it　not　a　sudden
transition　of　her　nature　to　the　dominance　of　hate？　　Ellen　seemed　
to　feel　the　shadow　of　her　unknown　self　standing　with　her。

Isbel　halted　his　horse。　　Ellen　had　been　standing　near　the　trunk　of　a
fallen　pine　and　she　instinctively　backed　against　it。　　How　her　legs
trembled！　　Isbel　took　off　his　cap　and　crushed　it　nervously　in　his
bare；　brown　hand。

〃Good　mornin'；　Miss　Ellen！　〃　he　said。

Ellen　did　not　return　his　greeting；　but　queried；　almost　breathlessly；
〃Did　y'u　come　by　our　ranch？〃

〃No。　I　circled；〃　he　replied。

〃Jean　Isbel！　　What　do　y'u　want　heah？〃　she　demanded。

〃Don't　you　know？〃　he　returned。　　His　eyes　were　intensely　black　and
piercing。　　They　seemed　to　search　Ellen's　very　soul。　　To　meet　their
gaze　was　an　ordeal　that　only　her　rousing　fury　sustained。

Ellen　felt　on　her　lips　a　scornful　allusion　to　his　half…breed　Indian
traits　and　the　reputation　that　had　preceded　him。　　But　she　could　not
utter　it。

〃No〃　she　replied。

〃It's　hard　to　call　a　woman　a　liar；〃　he　returned；　bitterly。　　But　you
must　beseein'　you're　a　Jorth。

〃Liar！　　Not　to　y'u；　Jean　Isbel；〃　she　retorted。　　〃I'd　not　lie　to　y'u
to　save　my　life。〃

He　studied　her　with　keen；　sober；　moody　intent。　　The　dark　fire　of　his
eyes　thrilled　her。

〃If　that's　true；　I'm　glad；〃　he　said。

〃Shore　it's　true。　　I've　no　idea　why　y'u　came　heah。〃

Ellen　did　have　a　dawning　idea　that　she　could　not　force　into　oblivion。
But　if　she　ever　admitted　it　to　her　consciousness；　she　must　fail　in　the
contempt　and　scorn　and　fearlessness　she　chose　to　throw　in　this　man's　face。

〃Does　old　Sprague　live　here？〃　asked　Isbel。

〃Yes。　　I　expect　him　back　soon。　。　。　。　Did　y'u　come　to　see　him？　〃

〃No。　。　。　。　Did　Sprague　tell　you　anythin'　about　the　row　he　saw　me　in？〃

〃Hedid　not；〃　replied　Ellen；　lying　with　stiff　lips。　　She　who　had　sworn
she　could　not　lie！　　She　felt　the　hot　blood　leaving　her　heart；　mounting
in　a　wave。　　All　her　conscious　will　seemed　impelled　to　deceive。　　What　had
she　to　hide　from　Jean　Isbel？