wildfire-第23节

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stupefied。　Then　a　faint　tinge　of　red　colored　his　ghastly　cheeks。

〃A　girl！　。　。　。　Whywhy　'scuse　me；　miss。　II　took　youfor　a　boy。〃

He　seemed　so　astounded；　he　looked　so　ashamed；　so　scared；　and　withal；　so
haggard　and　weak；　that　Lucy　immediately　recovered　her　equanimity。

〃Sure　I'm　a　girl。　But　that's　no　matter。　。　。　。　You've　been　thrown。　Are　you
hurt？〃

He　smiled　a　weak　assent。

〃Badly？〃　she　queried。　She　did　not　like　the　way　he　layso　limp；　so　motionless。

〃I'm　afraid　so。　I　can't　move。〃

〃Oh！　。　。　。　What　shall　I　do？〃

〃Can　youget　me　water？〃　he　whispered；　with　dry　lips。

Lucy　flew　to　her　horse　to　get　the　small　canteen　she　always　carried。　But　that
had　been　left　on　her　saddle；　and　she　had　ridden　Van's。　Then　she　gazed　around。
The　wash　she　had　crossed　several　times　ran　near　where　the　rider　lay。　Green
grass　and　willows　bordered　it。　She　ran　down　and；　hurrying　along；　searched　for
water。　There　was　water　in　places；　yet　she　had　to　go　a　long　way　before　she
found　water　that　was　drinkable。　Filling　her　sombrero；　she　hurried　back　to　the
side　of　the　rider。　It　was　difficult　to　give　him　a　drink。

〃Thanks；　miss；〃　he　said；　gratefully。　His　voice　was　stronger　and　less　hoarse。

〃Have　you　any　broken　bones？〃　asked　Lucy。

〃I　don't　know。　I　can't　feel　much。〃

〃Are　you　in　pain？〃

〃Hardly。　I　feel　sort　of　thick。〃

Lucy；　being　an　intelligent　girl；　born　in　the　desert　and　used　to　its　needs；　had
not　often　encountered　a　situation　with　which　she　was　unable　to　cope。

〃Let　me　feel　if　you　have　any　broken　bones。　。　。　。　THAT　arm　isn't　broken；　I'm
positive。〃

The　rider　smiled　faintly　again。　How　he　stared　with　his　strained；　dark　eyes！
His　face　showed　ghastly　through　the　thin；　soft　beard　and　the　tan。　Lucy　found
his　right　arm　badly　bruised；　but　not　broken。　She　made　sure　his　collar…bones
and　shoulder…blades　were　intact。　Broken　ribs　were　harder　to　locate；　still；　as
he　did　not　feel　pain　from　pressure；　she　concluded　there　were　no　fractures
there。　With　her　assistance　he　moved　his　legs；　proving　no　broken　bones　there。

〃I'm　afraid　it's　myspine；〃　he　said。

〃But　you　raised　your　head　once；〃　she　replied。　〃If　your　back　was　was　broken
or　injured　you　couldn't　raise　your　head。〃

〃So　I　couldn't。　I　guess　I'm　just　knocked　out。　I　waspretty　weak　before
Wildfire　knocked　meoff　Nagger。〃

〃Wildfire？〃

〃That's　the　red　stallion's　name。〃

〃Oh；　he's　named　already？〃

〃I　named　himlong　ago。　He's　known　on　many　a　range。〃

〃Where？〃

〃I　think　far　north　of　here。　Itrailed　himdaysweeksmonths。　We　crossed
the　great　canyon〃

〃The　Grand　Canyon？〃

〃It　must　be　that。〃

〃The　Grand　Canyon　is　down　there；〃　said　Lucy；　pointing。　〃I　live　on　it。　。　。　。
You've　come　a　long　way。〃

〃Hundreds　of　miles！　。　。　。　Oh；　the　ground　I　covered　that　awful　canyon　country！
。　。　。　But　I　stayed　with　Wildfire。　An'　I　put　a　rope　on　him。　An'　he　got　away。　。
。　。　An'　it　was　a　boynoa　GIRL　whosaved　him　for　mean'　maybe　saved　my
life；　too！〃

Lucy　looked　away　from　the　dark；　staring　eyes。　A　light　in　them　confused　her。

〃Never　mind　me。　You　say　you　were　weak？　Have　you　been　ill？〃

〃No；　miss。　just　starved。　。　。　。　I　starved　on　Wildfire's　trail。〃

Lucy　ran　to　her　saddle　and　got　the　biscuits　out　of　the　pockets　of　her　coat；
and　she　ran　back　to　the　rider。

〃Here。　I　never　thought。　Oh；　you've　had　a　hard　time　of　it！　I　understand。　That
wonderful　flame　of　a　horse！　I'd　have　stayed；　too。　My　father　was　a　rider　once。
Bostil。　Did　you　ever　hear　of　him？〃

〃Bostil。　The　nameI've　heard。〃　Then　the　rider　lay　thinking；　as　he　munched　a
biscuit。　〃Yes；　I　remember；　but　it　was　long　ago。　I　spent　a　night　with　a
wagon…train；　a　camp　of　many　men　and　women；　religious　people；　working　into
Utah。　Bostil　had　a　boat　at　the　crossing　of　the　Fathers。〃

〃Yes；　they　called　the　Ferry　that。〃

〃I　remember　well　now。　They　said　Bostil　couldn't　count　his　horses　that　he　was
a　rich　man；　hard　on　ridersan'　he'd　used　a　gun　more　than　once。〃

Lucy　bowed　her　head。　〃Yes；　that's　my　dad。〃

The　rider　did　not　seem　to　see　how　he　had　hurt　her。

〃Here　we　are　talkingwasting　time；〃　she　said。　〃I　must　start　home。　You　can't
be　moved。　What　shall　I　do？〃

〃That's　for　you　to　say；　Bostil's　daughter。〃

〃My　name's　Lucy；〃　replied　the　girl；　blushing　painfully；　〃I　mean　I'll　be　glad
to　do　anything　you　think　best。〃

〃You're　very　good。〃

Then　he　turned　his　face　away。　Lucy　looked　closely　at　him。　He　was　indeed　a
beggared　rider。　His　clothes　and　his　boots　hung　in　tatters。　He　had　no　hat；　no
coat；　no　vest。　His　gaunt　face　bore　traces　of　what　might　have　been　a　fine；
strong　comeliness；　but　now　it　was　only　thin；　worn；　wan；　pitiful；　with　that
look　which　always　went　to　a　woman's　heart。　He　had　the　look　of　a　homeless
rider。　Lucy　had　seen　a　few　of　his　wandering　type；　and　his　story　was　so　plain。
But　he　seemed　to　have　a　touch　of　pride；　and　this　quickened　her　interest。

〃Then　I'll　do　what　I　think　best　for　you；〃　said　Lucy。

First　she　unsaddled　the　black　Nagger。　With　the　saddle　she　made　a　pillow　for
the　rider's　head；　and　she　covered　him　with　the　saddle　blanket。　Before　she　had
finished　this　task　he　turned　his　eyes　upon　her。　And　Lucy　felt　she　would　be
haunted。　Was　he　badly　hurt；　after　all？　It　seemed　probable。　How　strange　he　was！

〃I'll　water　the　horsesthen　tie　Wildfire　here　on　a　double　rope。　There's
grass。〃

〃But　you　can't　lead　him；〃　replied　the　rider。

〃He'll　follow　me。〃　

〃That　red　devil！〃　The　rider　shuddered　as　he　spoke。

Lucy　had　some　faint　inkling　of　what　a　terrible　fight　that　had　been　between　man
and　horse。　〃Yes；　when　I　found　him　he　was　broken。　Look　at　him　now。〃

But　the　rider　did　not　appear　to　want　to　see　the　stallion。　He　gazed　up　at　Lucy；
and　she　saw　something　in　his　eyes　that　made　her　think　of　a　child。　She　left
him；　had　no　trouble　in　watering　the　horses；　and　haltered　Wildfire　among　the
willows　on　a　patch　of　grass。　Then　she　returned。

〃I'll　go　now；〃　she　said　to　the　rider。

〃Where？〃

〃Home。　I'll　come　back　to…morrow；　early；　and　bring　some　one　to　help　you〃

〃Girl；　if　YOU　want　to　help　me　morebring　me　some　bread　an'　meat。　Don't　tell
any　one。　Look　what　a　ragamuffin　I　am。　。　。　。　An'　there's　Wildfire。　I　don't　want
him　seen　till　I'mon　my　feet　again。　I　know　riders。　。　。　。　That's　all。　If　you
want　to　be　so　goodcome。〃

〃I'll　come；〃　replied　Lucy；　simply。

〃Thank　you。　I　owe　youa　lot。　。　。　。　What　did　you　say　your　name　was？〃

〃LucyLucy　Bostil。〃

〃Oh；　I　forgot。　。　。　。　Are　you　sure　you　tied　Wildfire　good　an'　tight？〃

〃Yes；　I'm　sure。　I'll　go　now。　I　hope　you'll　be　better　to…morrow。〃

Lucy　hesitated；　with　her　hand　on　the　King's　bridle。　She　did　not　like　to　leave
this　young　man　lying　there　helpless　on　the　desert。　But　what　else　could　she　do？
What　a　strange　adventure　had　befallen　her！　At　the　following　thought　that　it
was　not　yet　concluded　she　felt　a　little　stir　of　excitement　at　her　pulses。　She
was　so　strangely　preoccupied　that　she　forgot　it　was　necessary　for　her　to　have
a　step　to　mount　Sage　King。　She　realized　it　quickly　enough　when　she　attempted
it。　Then　she　led　him　off　in　the　sage　till　she　found　a　rock。　Mounting；　she
turned　him　straight　across　country；　meaning　to　cut　out　miles　of　travel　that
would　have　been　necessary　along　her　back…trail。　Once　she　looked　back。　The
rider　was　not　visible；　the　black　horse；　Nagger；　was　out　of　sight；　but
Wildfire；　blazing　in　the　sun；　watched　her　depart。



CHAPTER　IX

Lucy　Bostil　could　not　control　the　glow　of　strange　excitement　under　which　she
labored；　but　she　could　put　her　mind　on　the　riding　of　Sage　King。　She　did　not
realize；　however；　that　she　was　riding　him　under　the　stress　and　spell　of　that
excitement。

She　had　headed　out　to　make　a　short　cut；　fairly　sure　of　her　direction；　yet　she
was　not　unaware　of　the　fact　that　she　would　be　lost　till　she　ran　across　her
trail。　That　might　be　easy　to　miss　and　time　was　flying。　She　put　the　King　to　a
brisk　trot；　winding　through　the　aisles　of　the　sage。

Soon　she　had　left　the　monument　region　and　was　down　on　the　valley　floor　again。
From　time　to　time　she　conquered　a　desire　to　look　back。　Presently　she　was
surprised　and　very　glad　to　ride　into　a　trail　where　she　saw　the　tracks　she　had
made　coming　out。　With　much　relief　she　turned　Sage　King　into　this　trail；　and
then　any　anxiety　she　had　felt　left　her　entirely。　But　that　did　not　mitigate　her
excitement。　She　eased　the　King　into　a　long；　swinging　lope。　And　as　he　warmed　to
the　work　she　was　aroused　also。　It　was　hard　to　hold　him　in；　once　he　got　out　of
a　trot；　and　after　miles　and　miles　of　this；　When　she　thought　best　to　slow　down
he　nearly　pulled　her　arms　off。　Still　she　finally　got　him　in　hand。　Then
followed　miles　of　soft　and　rough　going；　which　seemed　long　and　tedious。　Beyond
that　was　the　home　stretch　up　the　valley；　whose　gradual　slope　could　be　seen
only　at　a　distance。　Here　was　a　straight；　broad　trail；　not　too　soft　nor　too
hard；　and　for　all　the　years　she　could　remember　riders　had　tried　out　and
trained　their　favorites　on　that　course。

Lucy　reached　down　to　assure　herself　that　the　cinch　was　tight；　then　she　pulled
her　sombrero　down　hard；　slackened　the　bridle；　and　let　the　King　go。　He　simply
broke　his　gait；　he　was　so　surprised。　Lucy　saw　him　trying　to　look　back　at　her；
as　if　he　could　not　realize　that　this　young　woman　rider　had　given　him　a　free
rein。　Perhaps　one　reason　he　disliked　her　had　been　always　and　everlasting