to the last man-第38节

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Evarts　that　he　was　not　to　join　in　the　Isbel…Jorth　war。　　Evarts　had
worked　for　the　Isbels　a　long　time；　and　his　faithfulness；　along　with
something　stronger　and　darker；　showed　in　his　rugged　face　as　he　
stubbornly　opposed　Isbel。　　The　old　man　raised　his　voice：　〃No；　I　tell
you。　　An'　that　settles　it。〃

They　returned　to　the　horses；　and；　before　mounting；　Isbel；　as　if　he
remembered　something；　directed　his　somber　gaze　on　young　Evarts。

〃Son；　did　you　bury　Bernardino？〃

〃Dad　an'　me　went　over　yestiddy；〃　replied　the　lad。　　〃I　shore　was　glad
the　coyotes　hadn't　been　round。〃

〃How　aboot　the　sheep？〃

〃I　left　them　there。　　I　was　goin'　to　stay；　but　bein'　all　aloneI　got
skeered。　。　。　。　The　sheep　was　doin'　fine。　　Good　water　an'　some　grass。
An'　this　ain't　time　fer　varmints　to　hang　round。〃

〃Jake；　keep　your　eye　on　that　flock；〃　returned　Isbel。　　〃An'　if　I
shouldn't　happen　to　come　back　y'u　can　call　them　sheep　yours。　。　。　。
I'd　like　your　boy　to　ride　up　to　the　village。　　Not　with　us；　so　anybody
would　see　him。　　But　afterward。　　We'll　be　at　Abel　Meeker's。〃

Again　Jean　was　confronted　with　an　uneasy　premonition　as　to　some　idea
or　plan　his　father　had　not　shared　with　his　followers。　　When　the
cavalcade　started　on　again　Jean　rode　to　his　father's　side　and　asked
him　why　he　had　wanted　the　Evarts　boy　to　come　to　Grass　Valley。　　And　the
old　man　replied　that；　as　the　boy　could　run　to　and　fro　in　the　village
without　danger；　he　might　be　useful　in　reporting　what　was　going　on　at
Greaves's　store；　where　undoubtedly　the　Jorth　gang　would　hold　forth。
This　appeared　reasonable　enough；　therefore　Jean　smothered　the　objection
he　had　meant　to　make。

The　valley　road　was　deserted。　　When；　a　mile　farther　on；　the　riders
passed　a　group　of　cabins；　just　on　the　outskirts　of　the　village；
Jean's　quick　eye　caught　sight　of　curious　and　evidently　frightened
people　trying　to　see　while　they　avoided　being　seen。　　No　doubt　the
whole　settlement　was　in　a　state　of　suspense　and　terror。　　Not　unlikely
this　dark；　closely　grouped　band　of　horsemen　appeared　to　them　as　Jorth's
gang　had　looked　to　Jean。　　It　was　an　orderly；　trotting　march　that
manifested　neither　hurry　nor　excitement。　　But　any　Western　eye　could
have　caught　the　singular　aspect　of　such　a　group；　as　if　the　intent　of
the　riders　was　a　visible　thing。

Soon　they　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　village。　　Here　their　approach
bad　been　watched　for　or　had　been　already　reported。　　Jean　saw　men；　women；
children　peeping　from　behind　cabins　and　from　half…opened　doors。　　Farther
on　Jean　espied　the　dark　figures　of　men；　slipping　out　the　back　way
through　orchards　and　gardens　and　running　north；　toward　the　center　of
the　village。　　Could　these　be　friends　of　the　Jorth　crowd；　on　the　way
with　warnings　of　the　approach　of　the　Isbels？　　Jean　felt　convinced　of　it。
He　was　learning　that　his　father　had　not　been　absolutely　correct　in　his
estimation　of　the　way　Jorth　and　his　followers　were　regarded　by　their
neighbors。　　Not　improbably　there　were　really　many　villagers　who；　being
more　interested　in　sheep　raising　than　in　cattle；　had　an　honest　leaning
toward　the　Jorths。　　Some；　too；　no　doubt；　had　leanings　that　were
dishonest　in　deed　if　not　in　sincerity。

Gaston　Isbel　led　his　clan　straight　down　the　middle　of　the　wide　road
of　Grass　Valley　until　he　reached　a　point　opposite　Abel　Meeker's　cabin。
Jean　espied　the　same　curiosity　from　behind　Meeker's　door　and　windows
as　had　been　shown　all　along　the　road。　　But　presently；　at　Isbel's　call；
the　door　opened　and　a　short；　swarthy　man　appeared。　　He　carried　a　rifle。

〃Howdy；　Gass！〃　he　said。　　〃What's　the　good　word？〃

〃Wal；　Abel；　it's　not　good；　but　bad。　　An'　it's　shore　started；〃　replied
Isbel。　　〃I'm　askin'　y'u　to　let　me　have　your　cabin。〃

〃You're　welcome。　　I'll　send　the　folks　'round　to　Jim's；〃　returned　Meeker。
〃An'　if　y'u　want　me；　I'm　with　y'u；　Isbel。〃

〃Thanks；　Abel；　but　I'm　not　leadin'　any　more　kin　an'　friends　into　this
heah　deal。〃

〃Wal；　jest　as　y'u　say。　　But　I'd　like　damn　bad　to　jine　with　y'u。　。　。　。
My　brother　Ted　was　shot　last　night。〃

〃Ted！　　Is　he　daid？〃　ejaculated　Isbel；　blankly。

〃We　can't　find　out；〃　replied　Meeker。　　〃Jim　says　thet　Jeff　Campbell　said
thet　Ted　went　into　Greaves's　place　last　night。　　Greaves　allus　was
friendly　to　Ted；　but　Greaves　wasn't　thar〃

〃No；　he　shore　wasn't；〃　interrupted　Isbel；　with　a　dark　smile；
〃an'　he　never　will　be　there　again。〃

Meeker　nodded　with　slow　comprehension　and　a　shade　crossed　his　face。

〃Wal；　Campbell　claimed　he'd　heerd　from　some　one　who　was　thar。　　Anyway；
the　Jorths　were　drinkin'　hard；　an'　they　raised　a　row　with　Tedsame　old
sheep　talkan'　somebody　shot　him。　　Campbell　said　Ted　was　thrown　out　back；
an'　he　was　shore　he　wasn't　killed。〃

〃Ahuh！　　Wal；　I'm　sorry；　Abel；　your　family　had　to　lose　in　this。　　Maybe
Ted's　not　bad　hurt。　　I　shore　hope　so。　。　。　。　An'　y'u　an'　Jim　keep　out
of　the　fight；　anyway。〃

〃All　right；　Isbel。　　But　I　reckon　I'll　give　y'u　a　hunch。　　If　this　heah
fight　lasts　long　the　whole　damn　Basin　will　be　in　it；　on　one　side　or
t'other。〃

〃Abe；　you're　talkin'　sense；〃　broke　in　Blaisdell。　　〃An'　that's　why
we're　up　heah　for　quick　action。〃

〃I　heerd　y'u　got　Daggs；〃　whispered　Meeker；　as　he　peered　all　around。

〃Wal；　y'u　heerd　correct；〃　drawled　Blaisdell。

Meeker　muttered　strong　words　into　his　beard。　　〃Say；　was　Daggs　in
thet　Jorth　outfit？　〃

〃He　WAS。　　But　he　walked　right　into　Jean's　forty…four。　。　。　。
An'　I　reckon　his　carcass　would　show　some　more。〃

〃An'　whar's　Guy　Isbel？〃　demanded　Meeker。

〃Daid　an'　buried；　Abel；〃　repled　Gaston　Isbel。　　〃An'　now　I'd　be　obliged
if　y'u　'll　hurry　your　folks　away；　an'　let　us　have　your　cabin　an'　corral。
Have　yu　got　any　hay　for　the　hosses？〃

〃Shore。　　The　barn's　half　full；〃　replied　Meeker；　as　he　turned　away。
〃Come　on　in。〃

〃No。　　We'll　wait　till　you've　gone。〃

When　Meeker　had　gone；　Isbel　and　his　men　sat　their　horses　and　looked
about　them　and　spoke　low。　　Their　advent　had　been　expected；　and　the
little　town　awoke　to　the　imminence　of　the　impending　battle。　　Inside
Meeker's　house　there　was　the　sound　of　indistinct　voices　of　women　and
the　bustle　incident　to　a　hurried　vacating。

Across　the　wide　road　people　were　peering　out　on　all　sides；　some　hiding；
others　walking　to　and　fro；　from　fence　to　fence；　whispering　in　little
groups。　　Down　the　wide　road；　at　the　point　where　it　turned；　stood
Greaves's　fort…like　stone　house。　　Low；　flat；　isolated；　with　its　dark；
eye…like　windows；　it　presented　a　forbidding　and　sinister　aspect。
Jean　distinctly　saw　the　forms　of　men；　some　dark；　others　in　shirt
sleeves；　come　to　the　wide　door　and　look　down　the　road。

〃Wal；　I　reckon　only　aboot　five　hundred　good　hoss　steps　are　separatin'
us　from　that　outfit；〃　drawled　Blaisdell。

No　one　replied　to　his　jocularity。　　Gaston　Isbel's　eyes　narrowed　to　a
slit　in　his　furrowed　face　and　he　kept　them　fastened　upon　Greaves's　store。
Blue；　likewise；　had　a　somber　cast　of　countenance；　not；　perhaps；　any
darker　nor　grimmer　than　those　of　his　comrades；　but　more　representative
of　intense　preoccupation　of　mind。　　The　look　of　him　thrilled　Jean；　who
could　sense　its　deadliness；　yet　could　not　grasp　any　more。　　Altogether；
the　manner　of　the　villagers　and　the　watchful　pacing　to　and　fro　of　the
Jorth　followers　and　the　silent；　boding　front　of　Isbel　and　his　men　summed
up　for　Jean　the　menace　of　the　moment　that　must　very　soon　change　to　a
terrible　reality。

At　a　call　from　Meeker；　who　stood　at　the　back　of　the　cabin；　Gaston　Isbel
rode　into　the　yard；　followed　by　the　others　of　his　party。　　〃Somebody　look
after　the　hosses；〃　ordered　Isbel；　as　he　dismounted　and　took　his　rifle
and　pack。　　〃Better　leave　the　saddles　on；　leastways　till　we　see　what's
comin'　off。〃

Jean　and　Bill　Isbel　led　the　horses　back　to　the　corral。　　While　watering
and　feeding　them；　Jean　somehow　received　the　impression　that　Bill　was
trying　to　speak；　to　confide　in　him；　to　unburden　himself　of　some　load。
This　peculiarity　of　Bill's　had　become　marked　when　he　was　perfectly　sober。
Yet　he　had　never　spoken　or　even　begun　anything　unusual。　　Upon　the
present　occasion；　however；　Jean　believed　that　his　brother　might　have
gotten　rid　of　his　emotion；　or　whatever　it　was；　had　they　not　been
interrupted　by　Colmor。

〃Boys；　the　old　man's　orders　are　for　us　to　sneak　round　on　three　sides
of　Greaves's　store；　keepin'　out　of　gunshot　till　we　find　good　cover；
an'　then　crawl　closer　an'　to　pick　off　any　of　Jorth's　gang　who　shows
himself。〃

Bill　Isbel　strode　off　without　a　reply　to　Colmor。

〃Well；　I　don't　think　so　much　of　that；〃　said　Jean；　ponderingly。
〃Jorth　has　lots　of　friends　here。　　Somebody　might　pick　us　off。〃

〃I　kicked；　but　the　old　man　shut　me　up。　　He's　not　to　be　bucked　ag'in'
now。　　Struck　me　as　powerful　queer。　　But　no　wonder。〃

〃Maybe　he　knows　best。　　Did　he　say　anythin'　about　what　he　an'　the　rest
of　them　are　goin'　to　do？〃

〃Nope。　　Blue　taxed　him　with　that　an'　got　the　same　as　me。　　I　reckon
we'd　better　try　it　out；　for　a　while；　anyway。〃

〃Looks　like　he　wants　us　to　keep　out　of　the　fight；　replied　Jean；
thoughtfully。　　〃Maybe；　though　。　。　。　Dad's　no　fool。　　Colmor；　you　wait
here　till　I　get　out　of　sight。　　I'll　go　round　an'　come　up　as　close　as
advisable　behind　Greaves's　store。　　You　take　the　right　side。
An'　keep　hid。〃

With　that　Jean　strode　off；　going　around　the　barn；　straight　out　the
orchard　lane　to　the　open