wildfire-第26节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


is。〃

〃After　a　while　a　fellow　loses　the　feelin'　of　hunger；〃　he　replied。　〃I　reckon
it'll　come　back　quick。　。　。　。　This　all　looks　good。〃

So　they　began　to　eat。　Lucy's　excitement；　her　sense　of　the　unreality　of　this
adventure；　in　no　wise　impaired　her　appetite。　She　seemed　acutely　sensitive　to
the　perceptions　of　the　moment。　The　shade　of　the　cedars　was　cool。　And　out　on
the　desert　she　could　see　the　dark　smoky　veils　of　heat　lifting。　The　breeze
carried　a　dry　odor　of　sand　and　grass。　She　heard　bees　humming　by。　And　all
around　the　great　isolated　monuments　stood　up；　red　tops　against　the　blue　sky。
It　was　a　silent；　dreaming；　impressive　place；　where　she　felt　unlike　herself。

〃I　mustn't　stay　long；〃　she　said；　suddenly　remembering。

〃Will　you　come　backagain？〃　he　asked。

The　question　startled　Lucy。　〃WhyII　don't　know。　。　。　。　Won't　you　ride　in　to
the　Ford　just　as　soon　as　you're　able？〃

〃I　reckon　not。〃

〃But　it's　the　only　place　where　there's　people　in　hundreds　of　miles。　Surely　you
won't　try　to　go　back　the　way　you　came？〃

〃When　Wildfire　left　that　country　I　left　it。　We　can't　back。〃

〃Then　you've　no　peopleno　one　you　care　for？〃　she　asked；　in　sweet　seriousness。

〃There's　no　one。　I'm　an　orphan。　My　people　were　lost　in　an　Indian
massacrewith　a　wagon…train　crossin'　Wyomin'。　A　few　escaped；　an'　I　was　one　of
the　youngsters。　I　had　a　tough　time；　like　a　stray　dog；　till　I　grew　up。　An'　then
I　took　to　the　desert。〃

〃Oh；　I　see。　II'm　sorry；〃　replied　Lucy。　〃But　that's　not　very　different　from
my　dad's　story；　of　his　early　years。　。　。　。　What　will　you　do　now？〃

〃I'll　stay　here　till　my　back　straightens　out。　。　。　。　Will　you　ride　out　again？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Lucy；　without　looking　at　him；　and　she　wondered　if　it　were
really　she　who　was　speaking。

Then　he　asked　her　about　the　Ford；　and　Bostil；　and　the　ranches　and　villages
north；　and　the　riders　and　horses。　Lucy　told　him　everything　she　knew　and　could
think　of；　and；　lastly；　after　waxing　eloquent　on　the　horses　of　the　uplands；
particularly　Bostil's；　she　gave　him　a　graphic　account　of　Cordts　and　Dick
Sears。

〃Horse…thieves！〃　exclaimed　the　rider；　darkly。　There　was　a　grimness　as　well　as
fear　in　his　tone。　〃I've　heard　of　Sears；　but　not　Cordts。　Where　does　this　band
hang　out？〃

〃No　one　knows。　Holley　says　they　hide　up　in　the　canyon　country。　None　of　the
riders　have　ever　tried　to　track　them　far。　It　would　be　useless。　Holley　says
there　are　plateaus　of　rich　grass　and　great　forests。　The　Ute　Indians　say　that
much；　too。　But　we　know　little　about　the　wild　country。〃

〃Aren't　there　any　hunters　at　Bostil's　Ford？〃

〃Wild…horse　hunters；　you　mean？〃

〃No。　Bear　an'　deer　hunters。〃

〃There's　none。　And　I　suppose　that's　why　we're　not　familiar　with　the　wild
canyon　country。　I'd　like　to　ride　in　there　sometime　and　camp。　But　our　people
don't　go　in　for　that。　They　love　the　open　ranges。　No　one　I　know；　except　a
half…witted　boy；　ever　rode　down　among　these　monuments。　And　how　wonderful　a
place！　It　can't　be　more　than　twenty　miles　from　home。　。　。　。　I　must　be　going
soon。　I'm　forgetting　Sage　King。　Did　I　tell　you　I　was　training　him　for　the
races？〃

〃No；　you　didn't。　What　races？　Tell　me；〃　he　replied；　with　keen　interest。

Then　Lucy　told　him　about　the　great　passion　of　her　fatherabout　the　long；
time…honored　custom　of　free…for…all　races；　and　the　great　races　that　had　been
run　in　the　past；　about　the　Creeches　and　their　swift　horses；　about　the　rivalry
and　speculation　and　betting；　and　lastly　about　the　races　to　be　run　in　a　few
weeksraces　so　wonderful　in　prospect　that　even　the　horse…thief；　Cordts；　had
begged　to　be　allowed　to　attend。

〃I'm　going　to　see　the　King　beat　Creech's　roan；〃　shouted　the　rider；　with　red　in
his　cheeks　and　a　flash　in　his　eye。

His　enthusiasm　warmed　Lucy's　interest；　yet　it　made　her　thoughtful。　Ideas
flashed　into　her　mind。　If　the　rider　attended　the　races　he　would　have　that
fleet　stallion　with　him。　He　could　not　be　separated　from　the　horse　that　had
cost　him　so　dearly。　What　would　Bostil　and　Holley　and　Farlane　say　at　sight　of
Wildfire？　Suppose　Wildfire　was　to　enter　the　races！　It　was　probable　that　he
could　run　away　from　the　whole　fieldeven　beat　the　King。　Lucy　thrilled　and
thrilled。　What　a　surprise　it　would　be！　She　had　the　rider's　true　love　of　seeing
the　unheralded　horse　win　over　the　favorite。　She　had　for　years　wanted　to　see　a
horseand　ride　a　horseout　in　front　of　Sage　King。　Then　suddenly　all　these
flashing　ideas　coruscated　seemingly　into　a　gleam　a　leaping；　radiant；
wonderful　thought。　Irresistibly　it　burst　from　her。

〃Let　ME　ride　your　Wildfire　in　the　great　race？〃　she　cried；　breathlessly。

His　response　was　instantaneousa　smile　that　was　keen　and　sweet　and　strong；
and　a　proffered　hand。　Impulsively　Lucy　clasped　that　hand　with　both　hers。

〃You　don't　mean　it；〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　it's　what　Auntie　would　call　one　of　my　wild
dreams！　。　。　。　And　I'm　growing　upthey　say。　。　。　。　But　Oh；　if　I　could　ride
Wildfire　against　the　field　in　that　race。　。　。　。　If　I　ONLY　COULD！〃

She　was　on　fire　with　the　hope；　flushing；　tingling。　She　was　unconscious　of　her
effect　upon　the　rider；　who　gazed　at　her　with　a　new…born　light　in　his　eyes。

〃You　can　ride　him。　I　reckon　I'd　like　to　see　that　race　just　as　much　as　Bostil
or　Cordts　or　any　man。　。　。　。　An'　see　here；　girl；　Wildfire　can　beat　this　gray
racer　of　your　father's。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Lucy。

〃Wildfire　can　beat　the　King；〃　repeated　the　rider；　intensely。　〃The　tame　horse
doesn't　step　on　this　earth　that　can　run　with　Wildfire。　He's　a　stallion。　He　has
been　a　killer　of　horses。　It's　in　him　to　KILL。　If　he　ran　a　race　it　would　be
that　instinct　in　him。〃

〃How　can　we　plan　it？〃　went　on　Lucy；　impulsively。　She　had　forgotten　to　withdraw
her　hands　from　his。　〃It　must　be　a　surprisea　complete　surprise。　If　you　came
to　the　Ford　we　couldn't　keep　it　secret。　And　Dad　or　Farlane　would　prevent　me；
somehow。〃

〃It's　easy。　Ride　out　here　as　often　as　you　can。　Bring　a　light　saddle　an'　let　me
put　you　up　on　Wildfire。　You'll　run　him；　train　him；　get　him　in　shape。　Then　the
day　of　the　races　or　the　night　before　I'll　go　in　an'　hide　out　in　the　sage　till
you　come　or　send　for　Wildfire。〃

〃Oh；　it'll　be　glorious；〃　she　cried；　with　eyes　like　stars。　〃I　know　just　where
to　have　you　hide。　A　pile　of　rocks　near　the　racecourse。　There's　a　spring　and
good　grass。　I　could　ride　out　to　you　just　before　the　big　race；　and　we'd　come
back；　with　me　on　Wildfire。　The　crowd　always　stays　down　at　the　end　of　the
racecourse。　Only　the　starters　stay　out　there。　。　。　。　Oh；　I　can　see　Bostil　when
that　red　stallion　runs　into　sight！〃

〃Well；　is　it　settled？〃　queried　the　rider；　strangely。

Lucy　was　startled　into　self…consciousness　by　his　tone。

How　strangely　he　must　have　felt。　And　his　eyes　were　piercing。

〃You　meanthat　I　ride　Wildfire？〃　she　replied；　shyly。　〃Yes；　if　you'll　let　me。〃

〃I'll　be　proud。〃

〃You're　very　good。　。　。　。　And　do　you　think　Wildfire　can　beat　the　King？〃

〃I　know　it。〃

〃How　do　you？〃

〃I've　seen　both　horses。〃

〃But　it　will　be　a　grand　race。〃

〃I　reckon　so。　It's　likely　to　be　the　grandest　ever　seen。　But　Wildfire　will　win
because　he's　run　wild　all　his　lifean'　run　to　kill　other　horses。　。　。　。　The
only　question　isCAN　you　ride　him？〃

〃Yes。　I　never　saw　the　horse　I　couldn't　ride。　Bostil　says　there　are　some　I
can't　ride。　Farlane　says　not。　Only　two　horses　have　thrown　me；　the　King　and
Sarchedon。　But　that　was　before　they　knew　me。　And　I　was　sort　of　wild。　I　can
make　your　Wildfire　love　me。〃

〃THAT'S　the　last　part　of　it　I'd　ever　doubt；〃　replied　the　rider。　〃It's　settled；
then。　I'll　camp　here。　I'll　be　well　in　a　few　days。　Then　I'll　take　Wildfire　in
hand。　You　will　ride　out　whenever　you　have　a　chance；　without　bein'　seen。　An'
the　two　of　us　will　train　the　stallion　to　upset　that　race。〃

〃Yesthenit's　settled。〃

Lucy's　gaze　was　impelled　and　held　by　the　rider's。　Why　was　he　so　pale？　But　then
he　had　been　injuredweakened。　This　compact　between　them　had　somehow　changed
their　relation。　She　seemed　to　have　known　him　long。

〃What's　your　name？〃　she　asked。

〃Lin　Slone；〃　replied　the　rider。

Then　she　released　her　hands。　〃I　must　ride　in　now。　If　this　isn't　a　dream　I'll
come　back　soon。〃　She　led　Sage　King　to　a　rock　and　mounted　him。

〃It's　good　to　see　you　up　there；〃　said　Slone。　〃An'　that　splendid　horse！　。　。　。
He　knows　what　he　is。　It'll　break　Bostil's　heart　to　see　that　horse　beat。〃

〃Dad'll　feel　bad；　but　it'll　do　him　good；〃　replied　Lucy。

That　was　the　old　rider's　ruthless　spirit　speaking　out　of　his　daughter's　lips。

Slone　went　close　to　the　King　and；　putting　a　hand　on　the　pommel；　he　looked　up
at　Lucy。　〃Maybeit　isa　dreaman'　you　won't　come　back；〃　he　said；　with
unsteady　voice。

〃Then　I'll　come　in　dreams；〃　she　flashed。　〃Be　careful　of　yourself。　。　。　。
Good…by。〃

And　at　a　touch　the　impatient　King　was　off。　From　far　up　the　slope　near　a
monument　Lucy　looked　back。　Slone　was　watching　her。　She　waved　a　gauntleted
handand　then　looked　back　no　more。



CHAPTER　X

Two　weeks　slipped　by　on　the　wings　of　time　and　opportunity　and　achievement；　all
colored　so　wonderfully　for　Lucy；　all　spelling　that　adventure　for　which　she　had
yearned。

Lucy　was　riding　down　into　the　sage　toward　the　monuments　with　a　whole　day
before　her。　Bostil　kept　more　and　more　to　himself；　a　circumstance　that　worried
her；　though　she　thought　little　about　it。　Van　had　taken　up　the