wildfire-第33节

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Holley's　face　appeared　above　the　rude　sill。　It　was　pale　and　grave；　with　the
hawk　eyes　like　glass。　〃It　ain't　so　awful　early；〃　he　said。　〃Listen；　boss。〃

Bostil　halted　in　the　act　of　pulling　on　a　boot。　He　looked　at　his　man　while　he
listened。　The　still　air　outside　seemed　filled　with　low　boom；　like　thunder　at　a
distance。　Bostil　tried　to　look　astounded。

〃Hell！　。　。　。　It's　the　Colorado！　She's　boomin'！〃

〃Reckon　it's　hell　all　rightfor　Creech；〃　replied　Holley。　〃Boss；　why　didn't
you　fetch　them　hosses　over？〃

Bostil's　face　darkened。　He　was　a　bad　man　to　opposeto　question　at　times。
〃Holley；　you're　sure　powerful　anxious　about　Creech。　Are　you　his　friend？〃

〃Naw！　I've　little　use　fer　Creech；〃　replied　Holley。　〃An'　you　know　thet。　But　I
hold　for　his　hosses　as　I　would　any　man's。〃

〃A…huh！　An'　what's　your　kick？〃

〃Nothin'except　you　could　have　fetched　them　over　before　the　flood　come　down。
That's　all。〃

The　old　horse…trader　end　his　right…hand　rider　looked　at　each　other　for　a
moment　in　silence。　They　understood　each　other。　Then　Bostil　returned　to　the
task　of　pulling　on　wet　boots　and　Holley　went　away。

Bostil　opened　his　door　and　stepped　outside。　The　eastern　ramparts　of　the　desert
were　bright　red　with　the　rising　sun。　With　the　night　behind　him　and　the　morning
cool　and　bright　and　beautiful；　Bostil　did　not　suffer　a　pang　nor　feel　a　regret。
He　walked　around　under　the　cottonwoods　where　the　mocking…birds　were　singing。
The　shrill；　screeching　bray　of　a　burro　split　the　morning　stillness；　and　with
that　the　sounds　of　the　awakening　village　drowned　that　sullen；　dreadful　boom　of
the　river。　Bostil　went　in　to　breakfast。

He　encountered　Lucy　in　the　kitchen；　and　he　did　not　avoid　her。　He　could　tell
from　her　smiling　greeting　that　he　seemed　to　her　his　old　self　again。　Lucy　wore
an　apron　and　she　had　her　sleeves　rolled　up；　showing　round；　strong；　brown　arms。
Somehow　to　Bostil　she　seemed　different。　She　had　been　pretty；　but　now　she　was
more　than　that。　She　was　radiant。　Her　blue　eyes　danced。　She　looked　excited。　She
had　been　telling　her　aunt　something；　and　that　worthy　woman　appeared　at　once
shocked　and　delighted。　But　Bostil's　entrance　had　caused　a　mysterious　break　in
everything　that　had　been　going　on；　except　the　preparation　of　the　morning　meal。

〃Now　I　rode　in　on　some　confab　or　other；　that's　sure；〃　said　Bostil；
good…naturedly。

〃You　sure　did；　Dad；〃　replied　Lucy；　with　a　bright　smile。

〃Wal；　let　me　sit　in　the　game；〃　he　rejoined。

〃Dad；　you　can't　even　ante；〃　said　Lucy。

〃Jane；　what's　this　kid　up　to？〃　asked　Bostil；　turning　to　his　sister。

〃The　good　Lord　only　knows！〃　replied　Aunt　Jane；　with　a　sigh。

〃Kid？　。　。　。　See　here；　Dad；　I'm　eighteen　long　ago。　I'm　grown　up。　I　can　do　as　I
please；　go　where　I　like；　and　anything。　。　。　。　Why；　Dad；　I　could　getmarried。〃

〃Haw！　haw！〃　laughed　Bostil。　〃Jane；　hear　the　girl。〃

〃I　hear　her；　Bostil；〃　sighed　Aunt　Jane。

〃Wal；　Lucy；　I'd　just　like　to　see　you　fetch　some　fool　love…sick　rider　around
when　I'm　feelin'　good；〃　said　Bostil。

Lucy　laughed；　but　there　was　a　roguish；　daring　flash　in　her　eyes。　〃Dad；　you　do
seem　to　have　all　the　young　fellows　scared。　Some　day　maybe　one　will　ride
alonga　rider　like　you　used　to　bethat　nobody　could　bluff。　。　。　。　And　he　can
have　me！〃

〃A…huh！　。　。　。　Lucy；　are　you　in　fun？〃

Lucy　tossed　her　bright　head；　but　did　not　answer。

〃Jane；　what's　got　into　her？〃　asked　Bostil；　appealing　to　his　sister。

〃Bostil；　she's　in　fun；　of　course；〃　declared　Aunt　Jane。　〃Still；　at　that；
there's　some　sense　in　what　she　says。　Come　to　your　breakfast；　now。〃

Bostil　took　his　seat　at　the　table；　glad　that　he　could　once　more　be　amiable
with　his　women…folk。　〃Lucy；　to…morrow'll　be　the　biggest　day　Bostil's　Ford　ever
seen；〃　he　said。

〃It　sure　will　be；　Dad。　The　biggest　SURPRISING　day　the　Ford　ever　had；〃　replied
Lucy。

〃Surprisin'？〃

〃Yes；　Dad。〃

〃Who's　goin'　to　get　surprised？〃

〃Everybody。〃

Bostil　said　to　himself　that　he　had　been　used　to　Lucy's　banter；　but　during　his
moody　spell　of　days　past　he　had　forgotten　how　to　take　her　or　else　she　was
different。

〃Brackton　tells　me　you've　entered　a　hoss　against　the　field。〃

〃It's　an　open　race；　isn't　it？〃

〃Open　as　the　desert；　Lucy；〃　he　replied。　〃What's　this　hoss　Wildfire　you've
entered？〃

〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　know？〃　taunted　Lucy。

〃If　he's　as　good　as　his　name　you　might　be　in　at　the　finish。　。　。　。　But；　Lucy；
my　dear；　talkin'　good　sense　nowyou　ain't　a…goin'　to　go　up　on　some　unbroken
mustang　in　this　big　race？〃

〃Dad；　I'm　going　to　ride　a　horse。〃

〃But；　Lucy；　ain't　it　a　risk　you'll　be　takin'all　for　fun？〃

〃Fun！　。。。　I'm　in　dead　earnest。〃

Bostil　liked　the　look　of　her　then。　She　had　paled　a　little；　her　eyes　blazed；
she　was　intense。　His　question　had　brought　out　her　earnestness；　and　straightway
Bostil　became　thoughtful。　If　Lucy　had　been　a　boy　she　would　have　been　the
greatest　rider　on　the　uplands；　and　even　girl　as　she　was；　superbly　mounted；　she
would　have　been　dangerous　in　any　race。

〃Wal；　I　ain't　afraid　of　your　handlin'　of　a　hoss；　〃　he　said；　soberly。　〃An'　as
long　as　you're　in　earnest　I　won't　stop　you。　But；　Lucy；　no　bettin'。　I　won't　let
you　gamble。〃

〃Not　even　with　you？〃　she　coaxed。

Bostil　stared　at　the　girl。　What　had　gotten　into　her？　〃What'll　you　bet？〃　he；
queried；　with　blunt　curiosity。

〃Dad；　I'll　go　you　a　hundred　dollars　in　gold　that　I　finish　one　twothree。〃

Bostil　threw　back　his　head　to　laugh　heartily。　What　a　chip　of　the　old　block　she
was！　〃Child；　there's　some　fast　hosses　that'll　be　back　of　the　King。　You'd　be
throwin'　away　money。〃

Blue　fire　shone　in　his　daughter's　eyes。　She　meant　business；　all　right；　and
Bostil　thrilled　with　pride　in　her。

〃Dad；　I'll　bet　you　two　hundred；　even；　that　I　beat　the　King！〃　she　flashed。

〃Wal；　of　all　the　nerve！〃　ejaculated　Bostil。　〃No；　I　won't　take　you　up。　Reckon　I
never　before　turned　down　an　even　bet。　Understand；　Lucy；　ridin'　in　the　race　is
enough　for　you。〃

〃All　right；　Dad；〃　replied　Lucy；　obediently。

At　that　juncture　Bostil　suddenly　shoved　back　his　plate　and　turned　his　face　to
the　open　door。　〃Don't　I　hear　a　runnin'　hoss？〃

Aunt　Jane　stopped　the　noise　she　was　making；　and　Lucy　darted　to　the　door。　Then
Bostil　heard　the　sharp；　rhythmic　hoof…beats　he　recognized。　They　shortened　to
clatter　and　poundthen　ceased　somewhere　out　in　front　of　the　house。

〃It's　the　King　with　Van　up；〃　said　Lucy；　from　the　door。　〃Dad；　Van's　jumped
offhe's　coming　in　。　。　。　he's　running。　Something　has　happened。　。　。　。　There
are　other　horses　comingridersIndians。〃

Bostil　knew　what　was　coming　and　prepared　himself。　Rapid　footsteps　sounded
without。

〃Hello；　Miss　Lucy！　Where's　Bostil？〃

A　lean；　supple　rider　appeared　before　the　door。　It　was　Van；　greatly　excited。

〃Come　in；　boy；〃　said　Bostil。　〃What're　you　flustered　about？〃

Van　strode　in；　spurs　jangling；　cap　in　hand。　〃Boss；　there'sa　sixty…foot
raisein　the　river！〃　Van　panted。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Lucy；　wheeling　toward　her　father。

〃Wal；　Van；　I　reckon　I　knowed　thet；〃　replied　Bostil。　　〃Mebbe　I'm　gettin'　old；
but　I　can　still　hear。　。　。　。　Listen。〃

Lucy　tiptoed　to　the　door　and　turned　her　head　sidewise　and　slowly　bowed　it　till
she　stiffened。　Outside　were；　sounds　of　birds　and　horses　and　men；　but　when　a
lull　came　it　quickly　filled　with　a　sullen；　low　boom。

〃Highest　flood　weever　seen；〃　said　Van。

〃You've　been　down？〃　queried　Bostil；　sharply。

〃Not　to　the　river；〃　replied　Van。　〃I　went　as　far　aswhere　the　gulch　openson
the　bluff。　There　was　a　string　of　Navajos　goin'　down。　An'　some　comin'　up。　I
stayed　there　watchin'　the　flood；　an'　pretty　soon　Somers　come　up　the　trail　with
Blakesley　an'　Brack　an'　some　riders。　。　。　。　An'　Somers　hollered　out；　'The
boat's　gone！'〃

〃Gone！〃　exclaimed　Bostil；　his　loud　cry　showing　consternation。

〃Oh；　Dad！　Oh；　Van！〃　cried　Lucy；　with　eyes　wide　and　lips　parted。

〃Sure　she's　gone。　An'　the　whole　place　down　therewhere　the　willows　was　an'
the　sand…barit　was　deep　under　water。〃

〃What　will　become　of　Creech's　horses？〃　asked　Lucy；　breathlessly。

〃My　God！　ain't　it　a　shame！〃　went　on　Bostil；　and　he　could　have　laughed　aloud　at
his　hypocrisy。　He　felt　Lucy's　blue　eyes　riveted　upon　his　face。

〃Thet's　what　we　all　was　sayin'；〃　went　on　Van。　〃While　we　was　watchin'　the　awful
flood　an'　listenin'　to　the　deep　bumbumbum　of　rollin'　rocks　some　one　seen
Creech　an'　two　Piutes　leadin'　the　hosses　up　thet　trail　where　the　slide　was。　We
counted　the　hossesnine。　An'　we　saw　the　roan　shine　blue　in　the　sunlight。〃

〃Piutes　with　Creech！〃　exclaimed　Bostil；　the　deep　gloom　in　his　eyes　lighting。
〃By　all　thet's　lucky！　Mebbe　them　Indians　can　climb　the　hosses　out　of　thet　hole
an'　find　water　an'　grass　enough。〃

〃Mebbe；〃　replied　Van；　doubtfully。　〃Sure　them　Piutes　could　if　there's　a　chance。
But　there　ain't　any　grass。〃

〃It　won't　take　much　grass　travelin'　by　night。〃

〃So　lots　of　the　boys　say。　But　the　Navajos　they　shook　their　heads。　An'　Farlane
an'　Holley；　why；　they　jest　held　up　their　hands。〃

〃With　them　Indians　Creech　has　a　chance　to　get　his　hosses　out；〃　declared
Bostil。　He　was　sure　of　his　sincerity；　but　he　was　not　certain　that　his
sincerity　was　not　the　birth　of　a　strange；　sudden　hope。　And　then　he　was　able　to
meet　the　eyes　of　his　daughter。　That　was　his　supreme　test。

〃Oh；　Dad；　why；　why　didn't　you　hurry　Creech's　horses　over？〃　said　Lucy；　with　her
tears　f