to the last man-第30节

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。　。　。　The　little　ones？〃

No　one　was　in　sight　around　the　ranch。　　Never　had　it　appeared　more
peaceful　and　pastoral　to　Jean。　　The　grazing　cattle　and　horses　in　the
foreground；　the　haystack　half　eaten　away；　the　cows　in　the　fenced
pasture；　the　column　of　blue　smoke　lazily　ascending；　the　cackle　of
hens；　the　solid；　well…built　cabinsall　these　seemed　to　repudiate
Jean's　haste　and　his　darkness　of　mind。　　This　place　was；　his　father's
farm。　　There　was　not　a　cloud　in　the　blue；　summer　sky。

As　Jean　galloped　up　the　lane　some　one　saw　him　from　the　door；　and
then　Bill　and　Guy　and　their　gray…headed　father　came　out　upon　the　porch。
Jean　saw　how　he'　waved　the　womenfolk　back；　and　then　strode　out　into
the　lane。　　Bill　and　Guy　reached　his　side　as　Jean　pulled　his　heaving
horse　to　a　halt。　　They　all　looked　at　Jean；　swiftly　and　intently；　with
a　little；　hard；　fiery　gleam　strangely　identical　in　the　eyes　of　each。
Probably　before　a　word　was　spoken　they　knew　what　to　expect。

〃Wal；　you　shore　was　in　a　hurry；〃　remarked　the　father。

〃What　the　hell's　up？〃　queried　Bill；　grimly。

Guy　Isbel　remained　silent　and　it　was　he　who　turned　slightly　pale。
Jean　leaped　off　his　horse。

〃Bernardino　has　just　been　killedmurdered　with　his　own　gun。

Gaston　Isbel　seemed　to　exhale　a　long…dammed；　bursting　breath　that
let　his　chest　sag。　　A　terrible　deadly　glint；　pale　and　cold　as
sunlight　on　ice；　grew　slowly　to　dominate　his　clear　eyes。

〃A…huh！〃　ejaculated　Bill　Isbel；　hoarsely。

Not　one　of　the　three　men　asked　who　had　done　the　killing。　　They　were
silent　a　moment；　motionless；　locked　in　the　secret　seclusion　of　their
own　minds。　　Then　they　listened　with　absorption　to　Jean's　brief　story。

〃Wal；　that　lets　us　in；〃　said　his　father。　　〃I　wish　we　had　more　time。
Reckon　I'd　done　better　to　listen　to　you　boys　an'　have　my　men　close
at　hand。　　Jacobs　happened　to　ride　over。　　That　makes　five　of　us　besides
the　women。〃

〃Aw；　dad；　you　don't　reckon　they'll　round　us　up　heah？〃　asked　Guy　Isbel。

〃Boys；　I　always　feared　they　might；〃　replied　the　old　man。　　〃But　I　never
really　believed　they'd　have　the　nerve。　　Shore　I　ought　to　have　figgered
Daggs　better。　　This　heah　secret　bizness　an'　shootin'　at　us　from　ambush
looked　aboot　Jorth's　size　to　me。　　But　I　reckon　now　we'll　have　to　fight
without　our　friends。〃

〃Let　them　come；〃　said　Jean。　　〃I　sent　for　Blaisdell；　Blue；　Gordon；　and
Fredericks。　　Maybe　they'll　get　here　in　time。　　But　if　they　don't　it
needn't　worry　us　much。　　We　can　hold　out　here　longer　than　Jorth's　gang
can　hang　around。　　We'll　want　plenty　of　water；　wood；　and　meat　in　the　house。〃

〃Wal；　I'll　see　to　that；〃　rejoined　his　father。　　〃Jean；　you　go　out　close
by；　where　you　can　see　all　around；　an'　keep　watch。〃

〃Who's　goin'　to　tell　the　women？〃　asked　Guy　Isbel。

The　silence　that　momentarily　ensued　was　an　eloquent　testimony　to　the
hardest　and　saddest　aspect　of　this　strife　between　men。　　The
inevitableness　of　it　in　no　wise　detracted　from　its　sheer　uselessness。
Men　from　time　immemorial　had　hated；　and　killed　one　another；　always　to
the　misery　and　degradation　of　their　women。　　Old　Gaston　Isbel　showed
this　tragic　realization　in　his　lined　face。

〃Wal；　boys；　I'll　tell　the　women；〃　he　said。　　〃Shore　you　needn't　worry
none　aboot　them。　　They'll　be　game。〃

Jean　rode　away　to　an　open　knoll　a　short　distance　from　the　house；
and　here　he　stationed　himself　to　watch　all　points。　　The　cedared
ridge　back　of　the　ranch　was　the　one　approach　by　which　Jorth's　gang
might　come　close　without　being　detected；　but　even　so；　Jean　could　see
them　and　ride　to　the　house　in　time　to　prevent　a　surprise。　　The　moments
dragged　by；　and　at　the　end　of　an　hour　Jean　was　in　hopes　that　Blaisdell
would　soon　come。　　These　hopes　were　well　founded。　　Presently　he　heard　a
clatter　of　hoofs　on　hard　ground　to　the　south；　and　upon　wheeling　to　look
he　saw　the　friendly　neighbor　coming　fast　along　the　road；　riding　a　big
white　horse。　　Blaisdell　carried　a　rifle　in　his　hand；　and　the　sight　of
him　gave　Jean　a　glow　of　warmth。　　He　was　one　of　the　Texans　who　would
stand　by　the　Isbels　to　the　last　man。　　Jean　watched　him　ride　to　the
housewatched　the　meeting　between　him　and　his　lifelong　friend。
There　floated　out　to　Jean　old　Blaisdell's　roar　of　rage。

Then　out　on　the　green　of　Grass　Valley；　where　a　long；　swelling　plain
swept　away　toward　the　village；　there　appeared　a　moving　dark　patch。
A　bunch　of　horses！　　Jean's　body　gave　a　slight　startthe　shock　of
sudden　propulsion　of　blood　through　all　his　veins。　　Those　horses　bore
riders。　　They　were　coming　straight　down　the　open　valley；　on　the　wagon
road　to　Isbel's　ranch。　　No　subterfuge　nor　secrecy　nor　sneaking　in　that
advance！　　A　hot　thrill　ran　over　Jean。

〃By　Heaven！　　They　mean　business！〃　he　muttered。　　Up　to　the　last　moment
he　had　unconsciously　hoped　Jorth's　gang　would　not　come　boldly　like　that。
The　verifications　of　all　a　Texan's　inherited　instincts　left　no　doubts；
no　hopes；　no　illusionsonly　a　grim　certainty　that　this　was　not
conjecture　nor　probability；　but　fact。　　For　a　moment　longer　Jean
watched　the　slowly　moving　dark　patch　of　horsemen　against　the　green
background；　then　he　hurried　back　to　the　ranch。　　His　father　saw　him
comingstrode　out　as　before。

〃DadJorth　is　comin'；〃　said　Jean；　huskily。　　How　he　hated　to　be　forced
to　tell　his　father　that！　　The　boyish　love　of　old　had　flashed　up。

〃Whar？〃　demanded　the　old　man；　his　eagle　gaze　sweeping　the　horizon。

〃Down　the　road　from　Grass　Valley。　　You　can't　see　from　here。〃

〃Wal；　come　in　an'　let's　get　ready。〃

Isbel's　house　had　not　been　constructed　with　the　idea　of　repelling　an
attack　from　a　band　of　Apaches。　　The　long　living　room　of　the　main　cabin
was　the　one　selected　for　defense　and　protection。　　This　room　had　two
windows　and　a　door　facing　the　lane；　and　a　door　at　each　end；　one　of
which　opened　into　the　kitchen　and　the　other　into　an　adjoining　and
later…built　cabin。　　The　logs　of　this　main　cabin　were　of　large　size；
and　the　doors　and　window　coverings　were　heavy；　affording　safer
protection　from　bullets　than　the　other　cabins。

When　Jean　went　in　he　seemed　to　see　a　host　of　white　faces　lifted　to　him。
His　sister　Ann；　his　two　sisters…in…law；　the　children；　all　mutely　watched
him　with　eyes　that　would　haunt　him。

〃Wal；　Blaisdell；　Jean　says　Jorth　an'　his　precious　gang　of　rustlers　are
on　the　way　heah；〃　announced　the　rancher。

〃Damn　me　if　it's　not　a　bad　day　fer　Lee　Jorth！　〃　declared　Blaisdell。

〃Clear　off　that　table；〃　ordered　Isbel；　〃an'　fetch　out　all　the　guns
an'　shells　we　got。〃

Once　laid　upon　the　table　these　presented　a　formidable　arsenal；　which
consisted　of　the　three　new　。44　Winchesters　that　Jean　had　brought　with
him　from　the　coast；　the　enormous　buffalo；　or　so…called　〃needle〃　gun；
that　Gaston　Isbel　had　used　for　years；　a　Henry　rifle　which　Blaisdell
had　brought；　and　half　a　dozen　six…shooters。　　Piles　and　packages　of
ammunition　littered　the　table。

〃Sort　out　these　heah　shells；〃　said　Isbel。　　〃Everybody　wants　to　get
hold　of　his　own。〃

Jacobs；　the　neighbor　who　was　present；　was　a　thick…set；　bearded　man；
rather　jovial　among　those　lean…jawed　Texans。　　He　carried　a　。44　rifle
of　an　old　pattern。　　〃Wal；　boys；　if　I'd　knowed　we　was　in　fer　some　fun
I'd　hev　fetched　more　shells。　　Only　got　one　magazine　full。　　Mebbe　them
new　。44's　will　fit　my　gun。〃

It　was　discovered　that　the　ammunition　Jean　had　brought　in　quantity
fitted　Jacob's　rifle；　a　fact　which　afforded　peculiar　satisfaction
to　all　the　men　present。

〃Wal；　shore　we're　lucky；〃　declared　Gaston　Isbel。

The　women　sat　apart；　in　the　comer　toward　the　kitchen；　and　there　seemed
to　be　a　strange　fascination　for　them　in　the　talk　and　action　of　the　men。
The　wife　of　Jacobs　was　a　little　woman；　with　homely　face　and　very　bright
eyes。　　Jean　thought　she　would　be　a　help　in　that　household　during　the
next　doubtful　hours。

Every　moment　Jean　would　go　to　the　window　and　peer　out　down　the　road。
His　companions　evidently　relied　upon　him；　for　no　one　else　looked　out。
Now　that　the　suspense　of　days　and　weeks　was　over；　these　Texans　faced
the　issue　with　talk　and　act　not　noticeably　different　from　those　of
ordinary　moments。

At　last　Jean　espied　the　dark　mass　of　horsemen　out　in　the　valley　road。
They　were　close　together；　walking　their　mounts；　and　evidently　in　earnest
conversation。　　After　several　ineffectual　attempts　Jean　counted　eleven
horses；　every　one　of　which　he　was　sure　bore　a　rider。

〃Dad；　look　out！〃　called　Jean。

Gaston　Isbel　strode　to　the　door　and　stood　looking；　without　a　word。

The　other　men　crowded　to　the　windows。　　Blaisdell　cursed　under　his
breath。　　Jacobs　said：　〃By　Golly！　　Come　to　pay　us　a　call！〃　　The　women
sat　motionless；　with　dark；　strained　eyes。　　The　children　ceased　their
play　and　looked　fearfully　to　their　mother。

When　just　out　of　rifle　shot　of　the　cabins　the　band　of　horsemen　halted
and　lined　up　in　a　half　circle；　all　facing　the　ranch。　　They　were　close
enough　for　Jean　to　see　their　gestures；　but　he　could　not　recognize　any
of　their　faces。　　It　struck　him　singularly　that　not　one　of　them　wore
a　mask。

〃Jean；　do　you　know　any　of　them？〃　asked　his　father

〃No；　not　yet。　　They're　too　far　off。〃

〃Dad；　I'll　get　your　old　telescope；〃　said　Guy　Isbel；　and　he　ran　out
toward　the　adjoining　cabin。

Blaisdell　shook　his　big；　hoary　head　and　rumbled　out　of　his　bull…like
neck；　〃Wal；　now　you're　heah；　you　sheep