to the last man-第4节

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ago。　　Shore　it　seems　longer。　　Three　miserable　years　in　this　damned
country！〃

Then　she　bit　her　lip；　evidently　to　keep　back　further　unwitting
utterance　to　a　total　stranger。　　And　it　was　that　biting　of　her　lip
that　drew　Jean's　attention　to　her　mouth。　　It　held　beauty　of　curve
and　fullness　and　color　that　could　not　hide　a　certain　sadness　and
bitterness。　　Then　the　whole　flashing　brown　face　changed　for　Jean。
He　saw　that　it　was　young；　full　of　passion　and　restraint；　possessing
a　power　which　grew　on　him。　　This；　with　her　shame　and　pathos　and　the
fact　that　she　craved　respect；　gave　a　leap　to　Jean's　interest。

〃Well；　I　reckon　you　flatter　me；〃　he　said；　hoping　to　put　her　at　her
ease　again。　　〃I'm　only　a　rough　hunter　an'　fisherman…woodchopper　an'
horse　tracker。　　Never　had　all　the　school　I　needednor　near　enough
company　of　nice　girls　like　you。〃

〃Am　I　nice？〃　she　asked；　quickly。

〃You　sure　are；〃　he　replied；　smiling。

〃In　these　rags；〃　she　demanded；　with　a　sudden　flash　of　passion　that
thrilled　him。　　〃Look　at　the　holes。〃　　She　showed　rips　and　worn…out
places　in　the　sleeves　of　her　buckskin　blouse；　through　which　gleamed
a　round；　brown　arm。　　〃I　sew　when　I　have　anythin'　to　sew　with。　。　。　。
Look　at　my　skirta　dirty　rag。　　An'　I　have　only　one　other　to　my　name。
。　。　。　Look！〃　　Again　a　color　tinged　her　cheeks；　most　becoming；　and
giving　the　lie　to　her　action。　　But　shame　could　not　check　her　violence
now。　　A　dammed…up　resentment　seemed　to　have　broken　out　in　flood。　　She
lifted　the　ragged　skirt　almost　to　her　knees。　　〃No　stockings！　　No　Shoes！
。　。　。　How　can　a　girl　be　nice　when　she　has　no　clean；　decent　woman's
clothes　to　wear？〃

〃Howhow　can　a　girl。　。　。〃　began　Jean。　　〃See　here；　miss；　I'm　beggin'
your　pardon　forsort　of　stirrin'　you　to　forget　yourself　a　little。
Reckon　I　understand。　　You　don't　meet　many　strangers　an'　I　sort　of
hit　you　wrongmakin'　you　feel　too　muchan'　talk　too　much。　　Who　an'
what　you　are　is　none　of　my　business。　　But　we　met。　。　。　。　An'　I　reckon
somethin'　has　happenedperhaps　more　to　me　than　to　you。　。　。　。　Now　let
me　put　you　straight　about　clothes　an'　women。　　Reckon　I　know　most　women
love　nice　things　to　wear　an'　think　because　clothes　make　them　look　pretty
that　they're　nicer　or　better。　　But　they're　wrong。　　You're　wrong。　Maybe
it　'd　be　too　much　for　a　girl　like　you　to　be　happy　without　clothes。　　But
you　can　beyou　axe　just　as　nice；　an'an'　finean'；　for　all　you　know；
a　good　deal　more　appealin'　to　some　men。〃

〃Stranger；　y'u　shore　must　excuse　my　temper　an'　the　show　I　made　of
myself；〃　replied　the　girl；　with　composure。　　〃That；　to　say　the　least；
was　not　nice。　　An'　I　don't　want　anyone　thinkin'　better　of　me　than　I
deserve。　　My　mother　died　in　Texas；　an'　I've　lived　out　heah　in　this
wild　countrya　girl　alone　among　rough　men。　　Meetin'　y'u　to…day　makes
me　see　what　a　hard　lot　they　arean'　what　it's　done　to　me。〃

Jean　smothered　his　curiosity　and　tried　to　put　out　of　his　mind　a　growing
sense　that　he　pitied　her；　liked　her。

〃Are　you　a　sheep　herder？〃　he　asked。

〃　Shore　I　am　now　an'　then。　　My　father　lives　back　heah　in　a　canyon。
He's　a　sheepman。　　Lately　there's　been　herders　shot　at。　　Just　now　we're
short　an'　I　have　to　fill　in。　　But　I　like　shepherdin'　an'　I　love　the
woods；　and　the　Rim　Rock　an'　all　the　Tonto。　　If　they　were　all；　I'd
shore　be　happy。〃

〃Herders　shot　at！〃　exclaimed　Jean；　thoughtfully。　　〃By　whom？
An'　what　for？〃

〃Trouble　brewin'　between　the　cattlemen　down　in　the　Basin　an'　the
sheepmen　up　on　the　Rim。　　Dad　says　there'll　shore　be　hell　to　pay。
I　tell　him　I　hope　the　cattlemen　chase　him　back　to　Texas。〃

〃Then　　Are　you　on　the　ranchers'　side？　〃　queried　Jean；　trying　to
pretend　casual　interest。

〃No。　　I'll　always　be　on　my　father's　side；〃　she　replied；　with　spirit。
〃But　I'm　bound　to　admit　I　think　the　cattlemen　have　the　fair　side　of
the　argument。〃

〃How　so？〃

〃Because　there's　grass　everywhere。　　I　see　no　sense　in　a　sheepman　goin'
out　of　his　way　to　surround　a　cattleman　an'　sheep　off　his　range。　　That
started　the　row。　　Lord　knows　how　it'll　end。　　For　most　all　of　them　heah
are　from　Texas。〃

〃So　I　was　told；〃　replied　Jean。　　〃An'　I　heard'　most　all　these　Texans
got　run　out　of　Texas。　　Any　truth　in　that？〃

〃Shore　I　reckon　there　is；〃　she　replied；　seriously。　　〃But；　stranger；
it　might　not　be　healthy　for　y'u　to；　say　that　anywhere。　　My　dad；　for
one；　was　not　run　out　of　Texas。　　Shore　I　never　can　see　why　he　came　heah。
He's　accumulated　stock；　but　he's　not　rich　nor　so　well　off　as　he　was
back　home。〃

〃Are　you　goin'　to　stay　here　always？〃　queried　Jean；　suddenly。

〃If　I　do　so　it　'll　be　in　my　grave；　〃　she　answered；　darkly。　　〃But　what's
the　use　of　thinkin'？　　People　stay　places　until　they　drift　away。　　Y'u　can
never　tell。　。　。　。　Well；　stranger；　this　talk　is　keepin'　y'u。〃

She　seemed　moody　now；　and　a　note　of　detachment　crept　into　her　voice。
Jean　rose　at　once　and　went　for　his　horse。　　If　this　girl　did　not　desire
to　talk　further　he　certainly　had　no　wish　to　annoy　her。　　His　mule　had
strayed　off　among　the　bleating　sheep。　　Jean　drove　it　back　and　then　led
his　horse　up　to　where　the　girl　stood。　　She　appeared　taller　and；　though
not　of　robust　build；　she　was　vigorous　and　lithe；　with　something　about
her　that　fitted　the　place。　　Jean　was　loath　to　bid　her　good…by。

〃Which　way　is　the　Rim？　〃　he　asked；　turning　to　his　saddle　girths。

〃South；〃　she　replied；　pointing。　　〃It's　only　a　mile　or　so。　　I'll　walk
down　with　y'u。　。　。　。　Suppose　y'u're　on　the　way　to　Grass　Valley？〃

〃Yes；　I've　relatives　there；〃　he　returned。　　He　dreaded　her　next
question；　which　he　suspected　would　concern　his　name。　　But　she　did
not　ask。　　Taking　up　her　rifle　she　turned　away。　　Jean　strode　ahead
to　her　side。　　〃Reckon　if　you　walk　I　won't　ride。〃

So　he　found　himself　beside　a　girl　with　the　free　step　of　a　Mountaineer。
Her　bare；　brown　head　came　up　nearly　to　his　shoulder。　　It　was　a　small；
pretty　head；　graceful；　well　held；　and　the　thick　hair　on　it　was　a　shiny；
soft　brown。　　She　wore　it　in　a　braid；　rather　untidily　and　tangled；　he
thought；　and　it　was　tied　with　a　string　of　buckskin。　　Altogether　her
apparel　proclaimed　poverty。

Jean　let　the　conversation　languish　for　a　little。　　He　wanted　to　think
what　to　say　presently；　and　then　he　felt　a　rather　vague　pleasure　in
stalking　beside　her。　　Her　profile　was　straight　cut　and　exquisite　in
line。　　From　this　side　view　the　soft　curve　of　lips　could　not　be　seen。

She　made　several　attempts　to　start　conversation；　all　of　which　Jean
ignored；　manifestly　to　her　growing　constraint。　　Presently　Jean；
having　decided　what　he　wanted　to　say；　suddenly　began：　〃I　like　this
adventure。　　Do　you？〃

〃Adventure！　Meetin'　me　in　the　woods？〃　　And　she　laughed　the　laugh
of　youth。　　〃Shore　you　must　be　hard　up　for　adventure；　stranger。〃

〃Do　you　like　it？〃　he　persisted；　and　his　eyes　searched　the
half…averted　face。

〃I　might　like　it；〃　she　answered；　frankly；　〃ifif　my　temper　had　not
made　a　fool　of　me。　　I　never　meet　anyone　I　care　to　talk　to。　　Why　should
it　not　be　pleasant　to　run　across　some　one　newsome　one　strange　in
this　heah　wild　country？　〃

〃We　are　as　we　are；〃　said　Jean；　simply。　　〃I　didn't　think　you　made　a
fool　of　yourself。　　If　I　thought　so；　would　I　want　to　see　you　again？〃

〃Do　y'u？〃　　The　brown　face　flashed　on　him　with　surprise；　with　a　light
he　took　for　gladness。　　And　because　he　wanted　to　appear　calm　and　friendly；
not　too　eager；　he　had　to　deny　himself　the　thrill　of　meeting　those
changing　eyes。

〃Sure　I　do。　　Reckon　I'm　overbold　on　such　short　acquaintance。　　But　I
might　not　have　another　chance　to　tell　you；　so　please　don't　hold　it
against　me。〃

This　declaration　over；　Jean　felt　relief　and　something　of　exultation。
He　had　been　afraid　he　might　not　have　the　courage　to　make　it。　　She
walked　on　as　before；　only　with　her　head　bowed　a　little　and　her　eyes
downcast。　　No　color　but　the　gold…brown　tan　and　the　blue　tracery　of
veins　showed　in　her　cheeks。　　He　noticed　then　a　slight　swelling　quiver
of　her　throat；　and　he　became　alive　to　its　graceful　contour；　and　to　how
full　and　pulsating　it　was；　how　nobly　it　set　into　the　curve　of　her
shoulder。　　Here　in　her　quivering　throat　was　the　weakness　of　her；
the　evidence　of　her　sex；　the　womanliness　that　belied　the　mountaineer
stride　and　the　grasp　of　strong　brown　hands　on　a　rifle。　　It　had　an
effect　on　Jean　totally　inexplicable　to　him；　both　in　the　strange　warmth
that　stole　over　him　and　in　the　utterance　he　could　not　hold　back。

〃Girl；　we're　strangers；　but　what　of　that？　　We've　met；　an'　I　tell　you
it　means　somethin'　to　me。　　I've　known　girls　for　months　an'　never　felt
this　way。　　I　don't　know　who　you　are　an'　I　don't　care。　　You　betrayed　a
good　deal　to　me。　　You're　not　happy。　　You're　lonely。　　An'　if　I　didn't
want　to　see　you　again　for　my　own　sake　I　would　for　yours。　　Some　things
you　said　I'll　not　forget　soon。　　I've　got　a　sister；　an'　I　know　you　have
no　brother。　　An'　I　reckon　。　。　。〃

At　this　juncture　Jean　in　his　earnestness　and　quite　without　thought
grasped　her　hand。　　The　contact　checked　the　flow　of　his　speech　and
suddenly　made　him　aghast　at　his　temerity。　　But　the　girl　did　not　make
any　effort　to　withdraw　it。　　So　Jean；　inhaling　a　deep　breath　and　trying
to　see　through　his　bewilderment；　held　on　bravely。　　He　imagined　he　felt
a　faint；　warm；　returning　pressure。　　She　was　young；　she　was　friendless；
she　was　human。　　By　this　hand　in　his　Jean