to the last man-第36节

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what　I　did　aboot　Jorth。〃

No　one　had　any　chance　to　reply　to　Isbel；　for　the　Jorth　gang；　as　if
to　make　up　for　lost　time　and　surcharged　feelings　of　shame；　renewed
the　attack　with　such　a　persistent　and　furious　volleying　that　the
defenders　did　not　risk　a　return　shot。　　They　all　had　to　lie　flat　next
to　the　lowest　log　in　order　to　keep　from　being　hit。　　Bullets　rained　in
through　the　window。　　And　all　the　clay　between　the　logs　low　down　was
shot　away。　　This　fusillade　lasted　for　more　than　an　hour；　then　gradually
the　fire　diminished　on　one　side　and　then　on　the　other　until　it　became
desultory　and　finally　ceased。

〃Ahuh！　　Shore　they've　shot　their　bolt；〃　declared　Gaston　Isbel。

〃Wal；　I　doon't　know　aboot　that；〃　returned　Blaisdell；　〃but　they've　shot
a　hell　of　a　lot　of　shells。〃

〃Listen；〃　suddenly　called　Jean。　〃Somebody's　yellin'。〃

〃Hey；　Isbel！〃　came　in　loud；　hoarse　voice。　　〃Let　your　women　fight
for　you。〃

Gaston　Isbel　sat　up　with　a　start　and　his　face　turned　livid。　　Jean
needed　no　more　to　prove　that　the　derisive　voice　from　outside　had
belonged　to　Jorth。　　The　old　rancher　lunged　up　to　his　full　height
and　with　reckless　disregard　of　life　he　rushed　to　the　window。
〃Jorth；〃　he　roared；　〃I　dare　you　to　meet　meman　to　man！〃

This　elicited　no　answer。　　Jean　dragged　his　father　away　from　the　window。
After　that　a　waiting　silence　ensued；　gradually　less　fraught　with
suspense。　　Blaisdell　started　conversation　by　saying　he　believed　the
fight　was　over　for　that　particular　time。　　No　one　disputed　him。
Evidently　Gaston　Isbel　was　loath　to　believe　it。　　Jean；　however；
watching　at　the　back　of　the　kitchen；　eventually　discovered　that　the
Jorth　gang　had　lifted　the　siege。　　Jean　saw　them　congregate　at　the　edge
of　the　brush；　somewhat　lower　down　than　they　had　been　the　day　before。
A　team　of　mules；　drawing　a　wagon；　appeared　on　the　road；　and　turned
toward　the　slope。　　Saddled　horses　were　led　down　out　of　the　junipers。
Jean　saw　bodies；　evidently　of　dead　men；　lifted　into　the　wagon；　to　be
hauled　away　toward　the　village。　　Seven　mounted　men；　leading　four
riderless　horses；　rode　out　into　the　valley　and　followed　the　wagon。

〃Dad；　they've　gone；〃　declared　Jean。　　〃We　had　the　best　of　this　fight。
。　。　。　If　only　Guy　an'　Jacobs　had　listened！〃

The　old　man　nodded　moodily。　　He　had　aged　considerably　during　these　two
trying　days。　　His　hair　was　grayer。　　Now　that　the　blaze　and　glow　of　the
fight　had　passed　he　showed　a　subtle　change；　a　fixed　and　morbid　sadness；
a　resignation　to　a　fate　he　had　accepted。

The　ordinary　routine　of　ranch　life　did　not　return　for　the　Isbels。
Blaisdell　returned　home　to　settle　matters　there；　so　that　he　could
devote　all　his　time　to　this　feud。　　Gaston　Isbel　sat　down　to　wait　for
the　members　of　his　clan。

The　male　members　of　the　family　kept　guard　in　turn　over　the　ranch　that
night。　　And　another　day　dawned。　　It　brought　word　from　Blaisdell　that
Blue；　Fredericks；　Gordon；　and　Colmor　were　all　at　his　house；　on　the　way
to　join　the　Isbels。　　This　news　appeared　greatly　to　rejuvenate　Gaston
Isbel。　　But　his　enthusiasm　did　not　last　long。　　Impatient　and　moody　by
turns；　he　paced　or　moped　around　the　cabin；　always　looking　out；　sometimes
toward　Blaisdell's　ranch；　but　mostly　toward　Grass　Valley。

It　struck　Jean　as　singular　that　neither　Esther　Isbel　nor　Mrs。　Jacobs
suggested　a　reburial　of　their　husbands。　　The　two　bereaved　women　did　not
ask　for　assistance；　but　repaired　to　the　pasture；　and　there　spent　several
hours　working　over　the　graves。　　They　raised　mounds；　which　they　sodded；
and　then　placed　stones　at　the　heads　and　feet。　　Lastly；　they　fenced　in
the　graves。

〃I　reckon　I'll　hitch　up　an'　drive　back　home；〃　said　Mrs。　Jacobs；　when
she　returned　to　the　cabin。　　〃I've　much　to　do　an'　plan。　　Probably　I'll
go　to　my　mother's　home。　　She's　old　an'　will　be　glad　to　have　me。〃

〃If　I　had　any　place　to　go　to　I'd　sure　go；〃　declared　Esther　Isbel；
bitterly。

Gaston　Isbel　heard　this　remark。　　He　raised　his　face　from　his　hands；
evidently　both　nettled　and　hurt。

〃Esther；　shore　that's　not　kind；〃　he　said。

The　red…haired　womanfor　she　did　not　appear　to　be　a　girl　any　more
halted　before　his　chair　and　gazed　down　at　him；　with　a　terrible　flare
of　scorn　in　her　gray　eyes。

〃Gaston　Isbel；　all　I've　got　to　say　to　you　is　this；〃　she　retorted；　with
the　voice　of　a　man。　　〃Seein'　that　you　an'　Lee　Jorth　hate　each　other；
why　couldn't　you　act　like　men？　。　。　。　You　damned　Texans；　with　your　bloody
feuds；　draggin'　in　every　relation；　every　friend　to　murder　each　other！
That's　not　the　way　of　Arizona　men。　。　。　。　We've　all　got　to　sufferan'
we　women　be　ruined　for　lifebecause　YOU　had　differences　with　Jorth。
If　you　were　half　a　man　you'd　go　out　an'　kill　him　yourself；　an'　not　leave
a　lot　of　widows　an'　orphaned　children！〃

Jean　himself　writhed　under　the　lash　of　her　scorn。　　Gaston　Isbel　turned
a　dead　white。　　He　could　not。　answer　her。　　He　seemed　stricken　with
merciless　truth。　　Slowly　dropping　his　head；　he　remained　motionless；
a　pathetic　and　tragic　figure；　and　he　did　not　stir　until　the　rapid　beat
of　hoofs　denoted　the　approach　of　horsemen。　　Blaisdell　appeared　on　his
white　charger；　leading　a　pack　animal。　　And　behind　rode　a　group　of　men；
all　heavily　armed；　and　likewise　with　packs。

〃Get　down　an'　come　in；〃　was　Isbel's　greeting。　　〃Billyou　look　after
their　packs。　　Better　leave　the　hosses　saddled。〃

The　booted　and　spurred　riders　trooped　in；　and　their　demeanor　fitted
their　errand。　　Jean　was　acquainted　with　all　of　them。　　Fredericks　was
a　lanky　Texan；　the　color　of　dust；　and　he　had　yellow；　clear　eyes；　like
those　of　a　hawk。　　His　mother　had　been　an　Isbel。　　Gordon；　too；　was
related　to　Jean's　family；　though　distantly。　　He　resembled　an　industrious
miner　more　than　a　prosperous　cattleman。　　Blue　was　the　most　striking　of
the　visitors；　as　he　was　the　most　noted。　　A　little；　shrunken　gray…eyed
man；　with　years　of　cowboy　written　all　over　him；　he　looked　the　quiet；
easy；　cool；　and　deadly　Texan　he　was　reputed　to　be。　　Blue's　Texas　record
was　shady；　and　was　seldom　alluded　to；　as　unfavorable　comment　had　turned
out　to　be　hazardous。　　He　was　the　only　one　of　the　group　who　did　not　carry
a　rifle。　　But　he　packed　two　guns；　a　habit　not　often　noted　in　Texans；　and
almost　never　in　Arizonians。

Colmor；　Ann　Isbel's　fiance；　was　the　youngest　member　of　the　clan；　and
the　one　closest　to　Jean。　　His　meeting　with　Ann　affected　Jean　powerfully；
and　brought　to　a　climax　an　idea　that　had　been　developing　in　Jean's　mind。
His　sister　devotedly　loved　this　lean…faced；　keen…eyed　Arizonian；　and　it
took　no　great　insight　to　discover　that　Colmor　reciprocated　her　affection。
They　were　young。　　They　had　long　life　before　them。　　It　seemed　to　Jean　a
pity　that　Colmor　should　be　drawn　into　this　war。　　Jean　watched　them；　as
they　conversed　apart；　and　he　saw　Ann's　hands　creep　up　to　Colmor's　breast；
and　he　saw　her　dark　eyes；　eloquent；　hungry；　fearful；　lifted　with　queries
her　lips　did　not　speak。　　Jean　stepped　beside　them；　and　laid　an　arm　over
both　their　shoulders。

〃Colmor；　for　Ann's　sake　you'd　better　back　out　of　this　Jorth…Isbel　fight；〃
he　whispered。

Colmor　looked　insulted。　　〃But；　Jean；　it's　Ann's　father；〃　he　said。
〃I'm　almost　one　of　the　family。〃

〃You're　Ann's　sweetheart；　an'；　by　Heaven；　I　say　you　oughtn't　to　go
with　us！〃　whispered　Jean。

〃Gowithyou；〃　faltered　Ann。

〃Yes。　　Dad　is　goin'　straight　after　Jorth。　　Can't　you　tell　that？　　An'
there　'll　be　one　hell　of　a　fight。〃

Ann　looked　up　into　Colmor's　face　with　all　her　soul　in　her　eyes；　but　she
did　not　speak。　　Her　look　was　noble。　　She　yearned　to　guide　him　right；
yet　her　lips　were　sealed。　　And　Colmor　betrayed　the　trouble　of　his　soul。
The　code　of　men　held　him　bound；　and　he　could　not　break　from　it；　though
he　divined　in　that　moment　how　truly　it　was　wrong。

〃Jean；　your　dad　started　me　in　the　cattle　business；〃　said　Colmor；
earnestly。　　〃An'　I'm　doin'　well　now。　　An'　when　I　asked　him　for　Ann
he　said　he'd　be　glad　to　have　me　in　the　family。　。　。　。　Well；　when　this
talk　of　fight　come　up；　I　asked　your　dad　to　let　me　go　in　on　his　side。
He　wouldn't　hear　of　it。　　But　after　a　while；　as　the　time　passed　an'　he
made　more　enemies；　he　finally　consented。　　I　reckon　he　needs　me　now。
An'　I　can't　back　out；　not　even　for　Ann。〃

〃I　would　if　I　were　you；〃　replied　jean；　and　knew　that　he　lied。

〃Jean；　I'm　gamblin'　to　come　out　of　the　fight；〃　said　Colmor；　with　a　smile。
He　had　no　morbid　fears　nor　presentiments；　such　as　troubled　jean。

〃Why；　sureyou　stand　as　good　a　chance　as　anyone；〃　rejoined　Jean。
〃It　wasn't　that　I　was　worryin'　about　so　much。〃

〃What　was　it；　then？〃　asked　Ann；　steadily。

〃If　Andrew　DOES　come　through　alive　he'll　have　blood　on　his　hands；〃
returned　Jean；　with　passion。　　〃He　can't　come　through　without　it。　。　。　。
I've　begun　to　feel　what　it　means　to　have　killed　my　fellow　men。　。　。　。
An'　I'd　rather　your　husband　an'　the　father　of　your　children　never
felt　that。〃

Colmor　did　not　take　Jean　as　subtly　as　Ann　did。　　She　shrunk　a　little。
Her　dark　eyes　dilated。　　But　Colmor　showed　nothing　of　her　spiritual
reaction。　　He　was　young。　　He　had　wild　blood。　　He　was　loyal　to　the　Isbels。

〃Jean；　never　worry　about　my　conscience；〃　he　said；　with　a　keen　look。
〃Nothin'　would　tickle　me　any　more　than　to　get　a　shot　at　every　damn
one　of　the　Jorths。〃

That　established　Colmor's　status　in　regard　to　the　Jorth…Isbel　feu