to the last man-第51节

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an'　belt。　　When　I　peeped　out　from　behind　a　spruce　bush　then　I　seen　Bill
Isbel。　　He　was　shootin'　fast；　an'　all　of　them　was　shootin'　fast。　　That
war；　when　they　had　the　open　shot　at　Slater。　。　。　。　Wal；　I　bored　Bill　Isbel
right　through　his　middle。　　He　dropped　his　rifle　an'；　all　bent　double；
he　fooled　around　in　a　circle　till　he　flopped　over　the　Rim。　　I　reckon
he's　layin'　right　up　there　somewhere　below　that　daid　spruce。　　I'd　shore
like　to　see　him。〃

〃I　Wal；　you'd　be　as　crazy　as　Oueen　if　you　tried　thet；　declared　Somers。
〃We're　not　out　of　the　woods　yet。〃

〃I　reckon　not；〃　replied　Colter。　　〃An'　I've　lost　my　horse。　　Where'd　y'u
leave　yours？〃

〃They're　down　the　canyon；　below　thet　willow　brake。　　An'　saddled　an'
none　of　them　tied。　　Reckon　we'll　have　to　look　them　up　before　dark。〃

〃Colter；　what　're　we　goin'　to　do？〃　demanded　Springer。

〃Wait　heah　a　whilethen　cross　the　canyon　an'　work　round　up　under
the　bluff；　back　to　the　cabin。〃

〃An'　then　what？〃　queried　Somers；　doubtfully　eying　Colter。

〃We've　got　to　eatwe've　got　to　have　blankets；〃　rejoined　Colter；
testily。　　〃An'　I　reckon　we　can　hide　there　an'　stand　a　better　show
in　a　fight　than　runnin'　for　it　in　the　woods。〃

〃Wal；　I'm　givin'　you　a　hunch　thet　it　looked　like　you　was　runnin'
fer　it；〃　retorted　Somers。

〃Yes；　an'　packin'　the　girl；〃　added　Springer。　〃Looks　funny　to　me。〃

Both　rustlers　eyed　Colter　with　dark　and　distrustful　glances。　　What　he
might　have　replied　never　transpired；　for　the　reason　that　his　gaze；
always　shifting　around；　had　suddenly　fixed　on　something。

〃Is　that　a　wolf？〃　he　asked；　pointing　to　the　Rim。

Both　his　comrades　moved　to　get　in　line　with　his　finger。　　Ellen　could
not　see　from　her　position。

〃Shore　thet's　a　big　lofer；〃　declared　Somers。　　〃Reckon　he　scented　us。〃

〃There　he　goes　along　the　Rim；〃　observed　Colter。　　〃He　doesn't　act　leary。
Looks　like　a　good　sign　to　me。　　Mebbe　the　Isbels　have　gone　the　other　way。〃

〃Looks　bad　to　me；〃　rejoined　Springer；　gloomily。

〃An'　why？〃　demanded　Colter。

〃I　seen　thet　animal。　　Fust　time　I　reckoned　it　was　a　lofer。　　Second　time
it　was　right　near　them　Isbels。　　An'　I'm　damned　now　if　I　don't　believe
it's　thet　half…lofer　sheep　dog　of　Gass　Isbel's。〃

〃Wal；　what　if　it　is？〃

〃Ha！　。　。　。　Shore　we　needn't　worry　about　hidin'　out；〃　replied　Springer；
sententiously。　　〃With　thet　dog　Jean　Isbel　could　trail　a　grasshopper。〃

〃The　hell　y'u　say！〃　muttered　Colter。　　Manifestly　such　a　possibility　put
a　different　light　upon　the　present　situation。　　The　men　grew　silent　and
watchful；　occupied　by　brooding　thoughts　and　vigilant　surveillance　of
all　points。　　Somers　slipped　off　into　the　brush；　soon　to　return；
with　intent　look　of　importance。

〃I　heerd　somethin'；〃　he　whispered；　jerking　his　thumb　backward。
〃Rollin'　gravelcrackin'　of　twigs。　　No　deer！　。　。　。　Reckon　it'd
be　a　good　idee　for　us　to　slip　round　acrost　this　bench。〃

〃Wal；　y'u　fellars　go；　an'　I'll　watch　heah；〃　returned　Colter。

〃Not　much；〃　said　Somers；　while　Springer　leered　knowingly。

Colter　became　incensed；　but　he　did　not　give　way　to　it。　　Pondering　a
moment；　he　finally　turned　to　Ellen。　　〃Y'u　wait　heah　till　I　come　back。
An'　if　I　don't　come　in　reasonable　time　y'u　slip　across　the　canyon　an'
through　the　willows　to　the　cabins。　　Wait　till　aboot　dark。〃　　With　that
he　possessed　himself　of　one　of　the　extra　rifles　and　belts　and　silently
joined　his　comrades。　　Together　they　noiselessly　stole　into　the　brush。

Ellen　had　no　other　thought　than　to　comply　with　Colter's　wishes。
There　was　her　wounded　uncle　who　had　been　left　unattended；　and　she
was　anxious　to　get　back　to　him。　　Besides；　if　she　had　wanted　to　run
off　from　Colter；　where　could　she　go？　　Alone　in　the　woods；　she　would
get　lost　and　die　of　starvation。　　Her　lot　must　be　cast　with　the　Jorth
faction　until　the　end。　　That　did　not　seem　far　away。

Her　strained　attention　and　suspense　made　the　moments　fly。　　By　and　by
several　shots　pealed　out　far　across　the　side　canyon　on　her　right；
and　they　were　answered　by　reports　sounding　closer　to　her。　　The　fight
was　on　again。　　But　these　shots　were　not　repeated。　　The　flies　buzzed；
the　hot　sun　beat　down　and　sloped　to　the　west；　the　soft；　warm　breeze
stirred　the　aspens；　the　ravens　croaked；　the　red　squirrels　and　blue
jays　chattered。

Suddenly　a　quick；　short；　yelp　electrified　Ellen；　brought　her　upright
with　sharp；　listening　rigidity。　　Surely　it　was　not　a　wolf　and　hardly
could　it　be　a　coyote。　　Again　she　heard　it。　　The　yelp　of　a　sheep　dog！
She　had　heard　that'　often　enough　to　know。　　And　she　rose　to　change　her
position　so　she　could　command　a　view　of　the　rocky　bluff　above。　　Presently
she　espied　what　really　appeared　to　be　a　big　timber　wolf。　　But　another
yelp　satisfied　her　that　it　really　was　a　dog。　　She　watched　him。　　Soon
it　became　evident　that　he　wanted　to　get　down　over　the　bluff。　　He　ran
to　and　fro；　and　then　out　of　sight。　　In　a　few　moments　his　yelp　sounded
from　lower　down；　at　the　base　of　the　bluff；　and　it　was　now　the　cry　of
an　intelligent　dog　that　was　trying　to　call　some　one　to　his　aid。　　Ellen
grew　convinced　that　the　dog　was　near　where　Colter　had　said　Bill　Isbel
had　plunged　over　the　declivity。　　Would　the　dog　yelp　that　way　if　the
man　was　dead？　　Ellen　thought　not。

No　one　came；　and　the　continuous　yelping　of　the　dog　got　on　Ellen's　nerves。
It　was　a　call　for　help。　　And　finally　she　surrendered　to　it。　　Since　her
natural　terror　when　Colter's　horse　was　shot　from　under　her　and　she　had
been　dragged　away；　she　had　not　recovered　from　fear　of　the　Isbels。　　But
calm　consideration　now　convinced　her　that　she　could　hardly　be　in　a　worse
plight　in　their　hands　than　if　she　remained　in　Colter's。　　So　she　started
out　to　find　the　dog。

The　wooded　bench　was　level　for　a　few　hundred　yards；　and　then　it　began
to　heave　in　rugged；　rocky　bulges　up　toward　the　Rim。　　It　did　not　appear
far　to　where　the　dog　was　barking；　but　the　latter　part　of　the　distance
proved　to　be　a　hard　climb　over　jumbled　rocks　and　through　thick　brush。
Panting　and　hot；　she　at　length　reached　the　base　of　the　bluff；　to　find
that　it　was　not　very　high。

The　dog　espied　her　before　she　saw　him；　for　he　was　coming　toward　her
when　she　discovered　him。　　Big；　shaggy；　grayish　white　and　black；
with　wild；　keen　face　and　eyes　he　assuredly　looked　the　reputation
Springer　had　accorded　him。　　But　sagacious；　guarded　as　was　his　approach；
he　appeared　friendly。

〃Hellodoggie！〃　panted　Ellen。　〃What'swrongup　heah？　〃

He　yelped；　his　ears　lost　their　stiffness；　his　body　sank　a　little；
and　his　bushy　tail　wagged　to　and　fro。　　What　a　gray；　clear；　intelligent
look　he　gave　her！　　Then　he　trotted　back。

Ellen　followed　him　around　a　corner　of　bluff　to　see　the　body　of　a　man
lying　on　his　back。　　Fresh　earth　and　gravel　lay　about　him；　attesting　to
his　fall　from　above。　　He　had　on　neither　coat　nor　hat；　and　the　position
of　his　body　and　limbs　suggested　broken　bones。　　As　Ellen　hurried　to　his　
side　she　saw　that　the　front　of　his　shirt；　low　down；　was　a　bloody　blotch。
But　he　could　lift　his　head；　his　eyes　were　open；　he　was　perfectly
conscious。　　Ellen　did　not　recognize　the　dusty；　skinned　face；　yet
the　mold　of　features；　the　look　of　the　eyes；　seemed　strangely　familiar。

〃You'reJorth'sgirl；〃　he　said；　in　faint　voice　of　surprise。

〃Yes；　I'm　Ellen　Jorth；〃　she　replied。　　〃An'　are　y'u　Bill　Isbel？〃

〃All　thet's　left　of　me。　　But　I'm　thankin'　God　somebody　comeeven　a　Jorth。〃

Ellen　knelt　beside　him　and　examined　the　wound　in　his　abdomen。
A　heavy　bullet　had　indeed；　as　Colter　had　avowed；　torn　clear　through
his　middle。　　Even　if　he　had　not　sustained　other　serious　injury　from
the　fall　over　the　cliff；　that　terrible　bullet　wound　meant　death　very
shortly。　　Ellen　shuddered。　　How　inexplicable　were　men！　　How　cruel；
bloody；　mindless！

〃Isbel；　I'm　sorrythere's　no　hope；〃　she　said；　low　voiced。　　〃Y'u've　not
long　to　live。　　I　cain't　help　y'u。　　God　knows　I'd　do　so　if　I　could。〃

〃All　over！〃　he　sighed；　with　his　eyes　looking　beyond　her。　〃I　reckonI'm
glad。　。　。　。　But　y'u　cando　somethin'　for　or　me。　　Will　y'u？〃

〃Indeed；　Yes。　　Tell　me；〃　she　replied；　lifting　his　dusty　head　on　her　knee。
Her　hands　trembled　as　she　brushed　his　wet　hair　back　from　his　clammy　brow。

〃I've　somethin'on　my　conscience；〃　he　whispered。

The　woman；　the　sensitive　in　Ellen；　understood　and　pitied　him　then。

〃Yes；〃　she　encouraged　him。

〃I　stole　cattlemy　dad's　an　'　Blaisdell'san'　made　dealswith　Daggs。
。　。　。　All　the　crookednesswasn't　onJorth's　side。　。　。　。　I　wantmy
brother　Jeanto　know。〃

〃I'll　tryto　tell　him；〃　whispered　Ellen；　out　of　her　great　amaze。

〃We　were　alla　bad　lotexcept　Jean；〃　went　on　Isbel。　　〃Dad　wasn't　fair。
。　。　。　God！　how　he　hated　Jorth！　　Jorth；　yes；　who　wasyour　father。　。　。　。
Wal；　they're　even　now。〃

〃Howso？〃　faltered　Ellen。

〃Your　father　killed　dad。　。　。　。　At　the　lastdad　wanted　tosave　us。
He　sent　wordhe'd　meet　himface　to　facean'　let　thet　end　the　feud。
They　met　out　in　the　road。　。　。　。　But　some　one　shot　dad　downwith　a
riflean'　then　your　father　finished　him。〃

〃An'　then；　Isbel；〃　added　Ellen；　with　unconscious　mocking　bitterness；
〃Your　brother　murdered　my　dad！〃

〃What！〃　whispered　Bill　Isbel。　　〃Shore　y'u've　gotit　wrong。　　I　reckon
Jeancould　have　killedyour　father。　。　。　。　But　he　didn't。　　Queer；
we　all　thought。〃

〃Ah！　。　。　。　Who　did　kill　my　father？〃　burst　out　Ellen；　and　her　voice
rang　like　great　hammers