to the last man-第31节

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Blaisdell　shook　his　big；　hoary　head　and　rumbled　out　of　his　bull…like
neck；　〃Wal；　now　you're　heah；　you　sheep　fellars；　what　are　you　goin'
to　do　aboot　it？　〃

Guy　Isbel　returned　with　a　yard…long　telescope；　which　he　passed　to　his
father。　　The　old　man　took　it　with　shaking　hands　and　leveled　it。
Suddenly　it　was　as　if　he　had　been　transfixed；　then　he　lowered　the
glass；　shaking　violently；　and　his　face　grew　gray　with　an　exceeding
bitter　wrath。

〃Jorth！〃　he　swore；　harshly。

Jean　had　only　to　look　at　his　father　to　know　that　recognition　had　been
like　a　mortal　shock。　　It　passed。　　Again　the　rancher　leveled　the　glass。

〃Wal；　Blaisdell；　there's　our　old　Texas　friend；　Daggs；〃　he　drawled；　dryly。
〃An'　Greaves；　our　honest　storekeeper　of　Grass　Valley。　　An'　there's
Stonewall　Jackson　Jorth。　　An'　Tad　Jorth；　with　the　same　old　red　nose！
。　。　。　An'；　say；　damn　if　one　of　that　gang　isn't　Queen；　as　bad　a　gun
fighter　as　Texas　ever　bred。　　Shore　I　thought　he'd　been　killed　in　the
Big　Bend　country。　　So　I　heard。　。　。　。　An'　there's　Craig；　another
respectable　sheepman　of　Grass　Valley。　　Haw…haw！　　An'；　wal；　I　don't
recognize　any　more　of　them。〃

Jean　forthwith　took　the　glass　and　moved　it　slowly　across　the　faces　of
that　group　of　horsemen。　　〃Simm　Bruce；〃　he　said；　instantly。　　〃I　see
Colter。　　And；　yes；　Greaves　is　there。　　I've　seen　the　man　next　to　him
face　like　a　ham。　。　。　。〃

〃Shore　that　is　Craig；〃　interrupted　his　father。

Jean　knew　the　dark　face　of　Lee　Jorth　by　the　resemblance　it　bore　to
Ellen's；　and　the　recognition　brought　a　twinge。　　He　thought；　too；
that　he　could　tell　the　other　Jorths。　　He　asked　his　father　to　describe
Daggs　and　then　Queen。　　It　was　not　likely　that　Jean　would　fail　to　know
these　several　men　in　the　future。　　Then　Blaisdell　asked　for　the　telescope
and；　when　he　got　through　looking　and　cursing；　he　passed　it　on　to　others；
who；　one　by　one；　took　a　long　look；　until　finally　it　came　back　to　the
old　rancher。

〃Wal；　Daggs　is　wavin'　his　hand　heah　an'　there；　like　a　general　aboot
to　send　out　scouts。　　Haw…haw！　。　。　。　An'　'pears　to　me　he's　not　overlookin'
our　hosses。　　Wal；　that's　natural　for　a　rustler。　　He'd　have　to　steal　a
hoss　or　a　steer　before　goin'　into　a　fight　or　to　dinner　or　to　a　funeral。〃

〃It　'll　be　his　funeral　if　he　goes　to　foolin'　'round　them　hosses；〃
declared　Guy　Isbel；　peering　anxiously　out　of　the　door。

〃Wal；　son；　shore　it　'll　be　somebody's　funeral；〃　replied　his　father。

Jean　paid　but　little　heed　to　the　conversation。　　With　sharp　eyes　fixed
upon　the　horsemen；　he　tried　to　grasp　at　their　intention。　　Daggs　pointed
to　the　horses　in　the　pasture　lot　that　lay　between　him　and　the　house。
These　animals　were　the　best　on　the　range　and　belonged　mostly　to　Guy
Isbel；　who　was　the　horse　fancier　and　trader　of　the　family。　　His　horses
were　his　passion。

〃Looks　like　they'd　do　some　horse　stealin'；〃　said　Jean。

〃Lend　me　that　glass；〃　demanded　Guy；　forcefully。　　He　surveyed　the　band
of　men　for　a　long　moment；　then　he　handed　the　glass　back　to　Jean。

〃I'm　goin'　out　there　after　my　bosses；〃　he　declared。

〃No！〃　exclaimed　his　father。

〃That　gang　come　to　steal　an'　not　to　fight。　　Can't　you　see　that？
If　they　meant　to　fight　they'd　do　it。　　They're　out　there　arguin'
about　my　hosses。〃

Guy　picked　up　his　rifle。　　He　looked　sullenly　determined　and　the　gleam
in　his　eye　was　one　of　fearlessness。

〃Son；　I　know　Daggs；〃　said　his　father。　　〃An'　I　know　Jorth。　　They've　come
to　kill　us。　　It　'll　be　shore　death　for　y'u　to　go　out　there。〃

〃I'm　goin'；　anyhow。　　They　can't　steal　my　hosses　out　from　under　my　eyes。
An'　they　ain't　in　range。〃

〃Wal；　Guy；　you　ain't　goin'　alone；〃　spoke　up　Jacobs；　cheerily；　as　he
came　forward。

The　red…haired　young　wife　of　Guy　Isbel　showed　no　change　of　her　grave
face。　　She　had　been　reared　in　a　stern　school。　　She　knew　men　in　times
like　these。　　But　Jacobs's　wife　appealed　to　him；　　〃Bill；　don't　risk
your　life　for　a　horse　or　two。〃

Jacobs　laughed　and　answered；　　〃Not　much　risk；〃　and　went　out　with　Guy。
To　Jean　their　action　seemed　foolhardy。　　He　kept　a　keen　eye　on　them
and　saw　instantly　when　the　band　became　aware　of　Guy's　and　Jacobs's
entrance　into　the　pasture。　　It　took　only　another　second　then　to　realize
that　Daggs　and　Jorth　had　deadly　intent。　　Jean　saw　Daggs　slip　out　of　his
saddle；　rifle　in　hand。　　Others　of　the　gang　did　likewise；　until　half　of
them　were　dismounted。

〃Dad；　they're　goin'　to　shoot；〃　called　out　Jean；　sharply。　　〃Yell　for
Guy　and　Jacobs。　　Make　them　come　back。〃

The　old　man　shouted；　Bill　Isbel　yelled；　Blaisdell　lifted　his
stentorian　voice。

Jean　screamed　piercingly：　〃Guy！　　Run！　　Run！〃

But　Guy　Isbel　and　his　companion　strode　on　into　the　pasture；　as　if　they
had　not　heard；　as　if　no　menacing　horse　thieves　were　within　miles。　　They
had　covered　about　a　quarter　of　the　distance　across　the　pasture；　and
were　nearing　the　horses；　when　Jean　saw　red　flashes　and　white　puffs　of
smoke　burst　out　from　the　front　of　that　dark　band　of　rustlers。　　Then
followed　the　sharp；　rattling　crack　of　rifles。

Guy　Isbel　stopped　short；　and；　dropping　his　gun；　he　threw　up　his　arms
and　fell　headlong。　　Jacobs　acted　as　if　he　had　suddenly　encountered　an
invisible　blow。　　He　had　been　hit。　　Turning；　he　began　to　run　and　ran　fast
for　a　few　paces。　　There　were　more　quick；　sharp　shots。　　He　let　go　of　his
rifle。　　His　running　broke。　　Walking；　reeling；　staggering；　he　kept　on。
A　hoarse　cry　came　from　him。　　Then　a　single　rifle　shot　pealed　out。　　Jean
heard　the　bullet　strike。　　Jacobs　fell　to　his　knees；　then　forward　on　his
face。

Jean　Isbel　felt　himself　turned　to　marble。　　The　suddenness　of　this
tragedy　paralyzed　him。　　His　gaze　remained　riveted　on　those　prostrate
forms。

A　hand　clutched　his　arma　shaking　woman's　hand；　slim　and　hard
and　tense。

〃Bill'skilled！〃　whispered　a　broken　voice。　　〃I　was　watchin'。
。　。　。　They're　both　dead！〃

The　wives　of　Jacobs　and　Guy　Isbel　had　slipped　up　behind　Jean　and
from　behind　him　they　had　seen　the　tragedy。

〃I　asked　Billnot　togo；〃　faltered　the　Jacobs　woman；　and；　covering
her　face　with　her　hands；　she　groped　back　to　the　comer　of　the　cabin；
where　the　other　women；　shaking　and　white；　received　her　in　their　arms。
Guy　Isbel's　wife　stood　at　the　window；　peering　over　Jean's　shoulder。
She　had　the　nerve　of　a　man。　　She　had　looked　out　upon　death　before。

〃Yes；　they're　dead；〃　she　said；　bitterly。　　〃An'　how　are　we　goin'　to
get　their　bodies？〃

At　this　Gaston　Isbel　seemed　to　rouse　from　the　cold　spell　that　had
transfixed　him。

〃God；　this　is　hell　for　our　women；〃　he　cried　out；　hoarsely。　　My　son
my　son！　。　。　。　Murdered　by　the　Jorths！〃　　Then　he　swore　a　terrible　oath。

Jean　saw　the　remainder　of　the　mounted　rustlers　get　off；　and　then；　all
of　them　leading　their　horses；　they　began　to　move　around　to　the　left。

〃Dad；　they're　movin'　round；〃　said　Jean。

〃Up　to　some　trick；〃　declared　Bill　Isbel。

〃Bill；　you　make　a　hole　through　the　back　wall；　say　aboot　the　fifth
log　up；〃　ordered　the　father。　　〃Shore　we've　got　to　look　out。〃

The　elder　son　grasped　a　tool　and；　scattering　the　children；　who　had
been　playing　near　the　back　corner；　he　began　to　work　at　the　point
designated。　　The　little　children　backed　away　with　fixed；　wondering；
grave　eyes。　　The　women　moved　their　chairs；　and　huddled　together　as
if　waiting　and　listening。

Jean　watched　the　rustlers　until　they　passed　out　of　his　sight。　　They
had　moved　toward　the　sloping；　brushy　ground　to　the　north　and　west　of
the　cabins。

〃Let　me　know　when　you　get　a　hole　in　the　back　wall；〃　said　Jean；　and　he
went　through　the　kitchen　and　cautiously　out　another　door　to　slip　into
a　low…roofed；　shed…like　end　of　the　rambling　cabin。　　This　small　space
was　used　to　store　winter　firewood。　　The　chinks　between　the　walls　had
not　been　filled　with　adobe　clay；　and　he　could　see　out　on　three　sides。
The　rustlers　were　going　into　the　juniper　brush。　　They　moved　out　of
sight；　and　presently　reappeared　without　their　horses。　　It　looked　to
Jean　as　if　they　intended　to　attack　the　cabins。　　Then　they　halted　at　
the　edge　of　the　brush　and　held　a　long　consultation。　　Jean　could　see
them　distinctly；　though　they　were　too　far　distant　for　him　to　recognize
any　particular　man。　　One　of　them；　however；　stood　and　moved　apart　from
the　closely　massed　group。　　Evidently；　from　his　strides　and　gestures；
he　was　exhorting　his　listeners。　　Jean　concluded　this　was　either　Daggs
or　Jorth。　　Whoever　it　was　had　a　loud；　coarse　voice；　and　this　and　his
actions　impressed　Jean　with　a　suspicion　that　the　man　was　under　the
influence　of　the　bottle。

Presently　Bill　Isbel　called　Jean　in　a　low　voice。　　〃Jean；　I　got　the
hole　made；　but　we　can't　see　anyone。〃

〃I　see　them；〃　Jean　replied。　　〃They're　havin'　a　powwow。　　　Looks　to　me
like　either　Jorth　or　Daggs　is　drunk。　　He's　arguin'　to　charge　us；　an'
the　rest　of　the　gang　are　holdin'　back。　。　。　。　Tell　dad；　an'　all　of　you
keep　watchin'。　　I'll　let　you　know　when　they　make　a　move。〃

Jorth's　gang　appeared　to　be　in　no　hurry　to　expose　their　plan　of　battle。
Gradually　the　group　disintegrated　a　little；　some　of　them　sat　down；
others　walked　to　and　fro。　　Presently　two　of　them　went　into　the　brush；
probably　back　to　the　horses。　　In　a　few　moments　they　reappeared；　carrying
a　pack。　　And　when　this　was　deposited　on　the　ground　all　the　rustlers　sat
down　around　it。　　They　had　brought　food　and　drink。　　Jean　had　to　utter　a
grim