to the last man-第9节

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for　each　of　my　new　sisters。〃　　This　distribution　left　the　women　as　happy
and　occupied；　almost；　as　the　children。　　It　left　also　another　package；
the　last　one　in　the　bundle。　　Jean　laid　hold　of　it　and；　lifting　it；
he　was　about　to　speak　when　he　sustained　a　little　shock　of　memory。
Quite　distinctly　he　saw　two　little　feet；　with　bare　toes　peeping　out
of　worn…out　moccasins；　and　then　round；　bare；　symmetrical　ankles　that
had　been　scratched　by　brush。　　Next　he　saw　Ellen　Jorth's　passionate
face　as　she　looked　when　she　had　made　the　violent　action　so　disconcerting
to　him。　　In　this　happy　moment　the　memory　seemed　farther　off　than　a
few　hours。　　It　had　crystallized。　　It　annoyed　while　it　drew　him。　　As　a
result　he　slowly　laid　this　package　aside　and　did　not　speak　as　he　had
intended　to。

〃Dad；　I　reckon　I　didn't　fetch　a　lot　for　you　an'　the　boys；〃　continued
Jean。　　〃Some　knives；　some　pipes　an'　tobacco。　　An'　sure　the　guns。〃

〃Shore；　you're　a　regular　Santa　Claus；　Jean；〃　replied　his　father。
〃Wal；　wal；　look　at　the　kids。　　An'　look　at　Mary。　　An'　for　the　land's
sake　look　at　Ann！　　Wal；　wal；　I'm　gettin'　old。　　I'd　forgotten　the
pretty　stuff　an'　gimcracks　that　mean　so　much　to　women。　　We're　out
of　the　world　heah。　　It's　just　as　well　you've　lived　apart　from　us；
Jean；　for　comin'　back　this　way；　with　all　that　stuff；　does　us　a　lot
of　good。　　I　cain't　say；　son；　how　obliged　I　am。　　My　mind　has　been　set
on　the　hard　side　of　life。　　An'　it's　shore　good　to　forgetto　see　the
smiles　of　the　women　an'　the　joy　of　the　kids。〃

At　this　juncture　a　tall　young　man　entered　the　open　door。　　He　looked
a　rider。　　All　about　him；　even　his　face；　except　his　eyes；　seemed　old；
but　his　eyes　were　young；　fine；　soft；　and　dark。

〃How　do；　y'u…all！〃　he　said；　evenly。

Ann　rose　from　her　knees。　　Then　Jean　did　not　need　to　be　told　who　this
newcomer　was。

〃Jean；　this　is　my　friend；　Andrew　Colmor。〃

Jean　knew　when　he　met　Colmor's　grip　and　the　keen　flash　of　his　eyes
that　he　was　glad　Ann　had　set　her　heart　upon　one　of　their　kind。　　And
his　second　impression　was　something　akin　to　the　one　given　him　in　the
road　by　the　admiring　lad。　　Colmor's　estimate　of　him　must　have　been　a
monument　built　of　Ann's　eulogies。　　Jean's　heart　suffered　misgivings。
Could　he　live　up　to　the　character　that　somehow　had　forestalled　his
advent　in　Grass　Valley？　　Surely　life　was　measured　differently　here
in　the　Tonto　Basin。

The　children；　bundling　their　treasures　to　their　bosoms；　were　dragged
off　to　bed　in　some　remote　part　of　the　house；　from　which　their　laughter
and　voices　came　back　with　happy　significance。　　Jean　forthwith　had　an
interested　audience。　　How　eagerly　these　lonely　pioneer　people　listened
to　news　of　the　outside　world！　　Jean　talked　until　he　was　hoarse。
In　their　turn　his　hearers　told　him　much　that　had　never　found　place
in　the　few　and　short　letters　he　had　received　since　he　had　been　left
in　Oregon。　　Not　a　word　about　sheepmen　or　any　hint　of　rustlers！
Jean　marked　the　omission　and　thought　all　the　more　seriously　of
probabilities　because　nothing　was　said。　　Altogether　the　evening　was
a　happy　reunion　of　a　family　of　which　all　living　members　were　there
present。　　Jean　grasped　that　this　fact　was　one　of　significant
satisfaction　to　his　father。

〃Shore　we're　all　goin'　to　live　together　heah；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　started
this　range。　　I　call　most　of　this　valley　mine。　　We'll　run　up　a　cabin　for
Ann　soon　as　she　says　the　word。　　An'　you；　Jean；　where's　your　girl？
I　shore　told　you　to　fetch　her。〃

〃Dad；　I　didn't　have　one；〃　replied　Jean。

〃Wal；　I　wish　you　had；〃　returned　the　rancher。　　〃You'll　go　courtin'　one
of　these　Tonto　hussies　that　I　might　object　to。〃

〃Why；　father；　there's　not　a　girl　in　the　valley　Jean　would　look　twice　at；〃
interposed　Ann　Isbel；　with　spirit。

Jean　laughed　the　matter　aside；　but　he　had　an　uneasy　memory。　　Aunt　Mary
averred；　after　the　manner　of　relatives；　that　Jean　would　play　havoc
among　the　women　of　the　settlement。　　And　Jean　retorted　that　at　least
one　member　of　the　Isbels；　should　hold　out　against　folly　and　fight　and
love　and　marriage；　the　agents　which　had　reduced　the　family　to　these
few　present。　　〃I'll　be　the　last　Isbel　to　go　under；　〃　he　concluded。

〃Son；　you're　talkin'　wisdom；〃　said　his　father。　　〃An'　shore　that　reminds
me　of　the　uncle　you're　named　after。　　Jean　Isbel！　。　。　。　Wal；　he　was　my
youngest　brother　an'　shore　a　fire…eater。　　Our　mother　was　a　French　creole
from　Louisiana；　an'　Jean　must　have　inherited　some　of　his　fightin'　nature
from　her。　　When　the　war　of　the　rebellion　started　Jean　an'　I　enlisted。
I　was　crippled　before　we　ever　got　to　the　front。　　But　Jean　went　through
three　Years　before　he　was　killed。　　His　company　had　orders　to　fight　to
the　last　man。　　An'　Jean　fought　an'　lived　long　enough　just　to　be　that
last　man。〃

At　length　Jean　was　left　alone　with　his　father。

〃Reckon　you're　used　to　bunkin'　outdoors？〃　queried　the　rancher；
rather　abruptly。

〃Most　of　the　time；〃　replied　Jean。

〃Wal；　there's　room　in　the　house；　but　I　want　you　to　sleep　out。
Come　get　your　beddin'　an'　gun。　I'll　show　you。〃

They　went　outside　on　the　porch；　where　Jean　shouldered　his　roll　of
tarpaulin　and　blankets。　　His　rifle；　in　its　saddle　sheath；　leaned
against　the　door。　　His　father　took　it　up　and；　half　pulling　it　out；
looked　at　it　by　the　starlight。　　〃Forty…four；　eh？　　Wal；　wal；　there's
shore　no　better；　if　a　man　can　hold　straight。　　〃At　the　moment　a　big
gray　dog　trotted　up　to　sniff　at　Jean。　　〃An'　heah's　your　bunkmate；
Shepp。　　He's　part　lofer；　Jean。　　His　mother　was　a　favorite　shepherd
dog　of　mine。　　His　father　was　a　big　timber　wolf　that　took　us　two　years
to　kill。　　Some　bad　wolf　packs　runnin'　this　Basin。〃

The　night　was　cold　and　still；　darkly　bright　under　moon　and　stars；
the　smell　of　hay　seemed　to　mingle　with　that　of　cedar。　　Jean　followed
his　father　round　the　house　and　up　a　gentle　slope　of　grass　to　the　edge
of　the　cedar　line。　　Here　several　trees　with　low…sweeping　thick　branches
formed　a　dense；　impenetrable　shade。

〃Son；　your　uncle　Jean　was　scout　for　Liggett；　one　of　the　greatest
rebels　the　South　had；〃　said　the　rancher。　　〃An'　you're　goin'　to　be
scout　for　the　Isbels　of　Tonto。　　Reckon　you'll　find　it　'most　as　hot
as　your　uncle　did。　。　。　。　Spread　your　bed　inside。　　You　can　see　out；
but　no　one　can　see　you。　　Reckon　there's　been　some　queer　happenin's
'round　heah　lately。　　If　Shepp　could　talk　he'd　shore　have　lots　to
tell　us。　　Bill　an'　Guy　have　been　sleepin'　out；　trailin'　strange　hoss
tracks；　an'　all　that。　　But　shore　whoever's　been　prowlin'　around　heah
was　too　sharp　for　them。　　Some　bad；　crafty；　light…steppin'　woodsmen
'round　heah；　Jean。　。　。　。　Three　mawnin's　ago；　just　after　daylight；
I　stepped　out　the　back　door　an'　some　one　of　these　sneaks　I'm　talkin'
aboot　took　a　shot　at　me。　　Missed　my　head　a　quarter　of　an　inch！
To…morrow　I'll　show　you　the　bullet　hole　in　the　doorpost。　　An'　some
of　my　gray　hairs　that　're　stickin'　in　it！〃

〃Dad！〃　ejaculated　Jean；　with　a　hand　outstretched。　　That's　awful！
You　frighten　me。〃

〃No　time　to　be　scared；〃　replied　his　father；　calmly。　　〃They're　shore
goin'　to　kill　me。　　That's　why　I　wanted　you　home。　。　。　。　In　there　with
you；　now！　　Go　to　sleep。　　You　shore　can　trust　Shepp　to　wake　you　if　he
gets　scent　or　sound。　。　。　。　An'　good　night；　my　son。　　I'm　sayin'　that
I'll　rest　easy　to…night。〃

Jean　mumbled　a　good　night　and　stood　watching　his　father's　shining
white　head　move　away　under　the　starlight。　　Then　the　tall；　dark　form
vanished；　a　door　closed；　and　all　was　still。　　The　dog　Shepp　licked
Jean's　hand。　　Jean　felt　grateful　for　that　warm　touch。　　For　a　moment
he　sat　on　his　roll　of　bedding；　his　thought　still　locked　on　the
shuddering　revelation　of　his　father's　words；　〃They're　shore　goin'
to　kill　me。〃　　The　shock　of　inaction　passed。　　Jean　pushed　his　pack
in　the　dark　opening　and；　crawling　inside；　he　unrolled　it　and　made
his　bed。

When　at　length　he　was　comfortably　settled　for　the　night　he　breathed
a　long　sigh　of　relief。　　What　bliss　to　relax！　　A　throbbing　and　burning
of　his　muscles　seemed　to　begin　with　his　rest。　　The　cool　starlit　night；
the　smell　of　cedar；　the　moan　of　wind；　the　silencean　were　real　to　his
senses。　　After　long　weeks　of　long；　arduous　travel　he　was　home。　　The
warmth　of　the　welcome　still　lingered；　but　it　seemed　to　have　been
pierced　by　an　icy　thrust。　　What　lay　before　him？　　The　shadow　in　the
eyes　of　his　aunt；　in　the　younger；　fresher　eyes　of　his　sisterJean
connected　that　with　the　meaning　of　his　father's　tragic　words。　　Far
past　was　the　morning　that　had　been　so　keen；　the　breaking　of　camp　in
the　sunlit　forest；　the　riding　down　the　brown　aisles　under　the　pines；
the　music　of　bleating　lambs　that　had　called　him　not　to　pass　by。
Thought　of　Ellen　Jorth　recurred。　　Had　he　met　her　only　that　morning？
She　was　up　there　in　the　forest；　asleep　under　the　starlit　pines。
Who　was　she？　　What　was　her　story？　　That　savage　fling　of　her　skirt；
her　bitter　speech　and　passionate　flaming　facethey　haunted　Jean。
They　were　crystallizing　into　simpler　memories；　growing　away　from
his　bewilderment；　and　therefore　at　once　sweeter　and　more　doubtful。
〃Maybe　she　meant　differently　from　what　I　thought；〃　Jean　soliloquized。
〃Anyway；　she　was　honest。〃　　Both　shame　and　thrill　possessed　him　at　the
recall　of　an　insidious　ideadare　he　go　back　and　find　her　and　give　her
the　last　package　of　gifts　he　had　brought　from　the