wildfire-第37节

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stinging　cut　from　the　lasso　made　him　come　to　a　stand。　Plainly　the　rider　held
the　mastery。

〃Dad！〃　called　Lucy；　faintly。

Bostil　went　forward；　close；　while　the　rider　held　Wildfire。　Lucy　was　as
wan…faced　as　a　flower　by　moonlight。　Her　eyes　were　dark　with　emotions；　fear
predominating。　Then　for　Bostil　the　half　of　his　heart　that　was　human　reasserted
itself。　Lucy　was　only　a　girl　now；　and　weakening。　Her　fear；　her　pitiful　little
smile；　as　if　she　dared　not　hope　for　her　father's　approval　yet　could　not　help
it；　touched　Bostil　to　the　quick；　and　he　opened　his　arms。　Lucy　slid　down　into
them。

〃Lucy；　girl；　you've　won　the　King's　race　an'　double…crossed　your　poor　old　dad！〃

〃Oh；　Dad；　I　never　knewI　never　dreamed　Wildfirewould　jump　the　King；〃　Lucy
faltered。　〃I　couldn't　hold　him。　He　was　terrible。　。　。　。　It　made　me　sick。　。　。　。
Daddy；　tell　me　Van　wasn't　hurtor　the　King！〃

〃The　hoss's　all　right　an'　so's　Van；〃　replied　Bostil。　〃Don't　cry；　Lucy。　It　was
a　fool　trick　you　pulled　off；　but　you　did　it　great。　By　Gad！　you　sure　was　ridin'
thet　red　devil。　。　。　。　An'　say；　it's　all　right　with　me！〃

Lucy　did　not　faint　then；　but　she　came　near　it。　Bostil　put　her　down　and　led　her
through　the　lines　of　admiring　Indians　and　applauding　riders；　and　left　her　with
the　women。

When　he　turned　again　he　was　in　time　to　see　the　strange　rider　mount　Wildfire。
It　was　a　swift　and　hazardous　mount；　the　stallion　being　in　the　air。　When　he
came　down　he　tore　the　turf　and　sent　it　flying；　and　when　he　shot　up　again　he
was　doubled　in　a　red　knot；　bristling　with　fiery　hair；　a　furious　wild　beast；
mad　to　throw　the　rider。　Bostil　never　heard　as　wild　a　scream　uttered　by　a
horse。　Likewise　he　had　never　seen　so　incomparable　a　horseman　as　this　stranger。
Indians　and　riders　alike　thrilled　at　a　sight　which　was　after　their　own　hearts。
The　rider　had　hooked　his　long　spurs　under　the　horse　and　now　appeared　a　part　of
him。　He　could　not　be　dislodged。　This　was　not　a　bucking　mustang；　but　a　fierce；
powerful；　fighting　stallion。　No　doubt；　thought　Bostil；　this　fight　took　place
every　time　the　rider　mounted　his　horse。　It　was　the　sort　of　thing　riders　loved。
Most　of　them　would　not　own　a　horse　that　would　not　pitch。　Bostil　presently
decided；　however；　that　in　the　case　of　this　red　stallion　no　rider　in　his　right
senses　would　care　for　such　a　fight；　simply　because　of　the　extraordinary
strengths；　activity；　and　ferocity　of　the　stallion。

The　riders　were　all　betting　the　horse　would　throw　the　stranger。　And　Bostil；
seeing　the　gathering　might　of　Wildfire's　momentum；　agreed　with　them。　No
horseman　could　stick　on　that　horse。　Suddenly　Wildfire　tripped　in　the　sage；　and
went　sprawling　in　the　dust；　throwing　his　rider　ahead。　Both　man　and　beast　were
quick　to　rise；　but　the　rider　had　a　foot　in　the　stirrup　before　Wildfire　was
under　way。　Then　the　horse　plunged；　ran　free；　came　circling　back；　and　slowly
gave　way　to　the　rider's　control。　Those　few　moments　of　frenzied　activity　had
brought　out　the　foam　and　the　sweatWildfire　was　wet。　The　man　pulled　him　in
before　Bostil　and　dismounted。

〃Sometimes　I　ride　him。　then　sometimes　I　don't；〃　he　said；　with　a　smile。

Bostil　held　out　his　hand。　He　liked　this　rider。　He　would　have　liked　the　frank
face；　less　hard　than　that　of　most　riders；　and　the　fine；　dark　eyes；　straight
and　steady；　even　if　their　possessor　had　not　come　with　the　open　sesame　to
Bostil's　regarda　grand；　wild　horse；　and　the　nerve　to　ride　him。

〃Wal；　you　rode　him　longer　'n　any　of　us　figgered　〃　said　Bostil；　heartily
shaking　the　man's　hand。　〃I'm　Bostil。　Glad　to　meet　you。〃

〃My　name's　SloneLin　Slone；〃　replied　the　rider；　frankly。　〃I'm　a　wild…horse
hunter　an'　hail　from　Utah。〃

〃Utah？　How'd　you　ever　get　over？　Wal；　you've　got　a　grand　hossan'　you　put　a
grand　rider　up　on　him　in　the　race。　。　。　。　My　girl　Lucy〃

Bostil　hesitated。　His　mind　was　running　swiftly。　Back　of　his　thoughts　gathered
the　desire　and　the　determination　to　get　possession　of　this　horse　Wildfire。　He
had　forgotten　what　he　might　have　said　to　this　stranger　under　different
circumstances。　He　looked　keenly　into　Slone's　face　and　saw　no　fear；　no
subterfuge。　The　young　man　was　honest。

〃Bostil；　I　chased　this　wild　horse　days　an'　weeks　an'　months；　hundreds　of
milesacross　the　canyon　an'　the　river〃

〃No！〃　interrupted　Bostil；　blankly。

〃Yes。　I'll　tell　you　how　later。　。　。　。　Out　here　somewhere　I　caught　Wildfire；
broke　him　as　much　as　he'll　ever　be　broken。　He　played　me　out　an'　got　away。　Your
girl　rode　alongsaved　my　horsean'　saved　my　life；　too。　I　was　in　bad　shape
for　days。　But　I　got　well　an'an'　then　she　wanted　me　to　let　her　run　Wildfire
in　the　big　race。　I　couldn't　refuse。　。　。　。　An'　it　would　have　been　a　great　race
but　for　the　unlucky　accident　to　Sage　King。　I'm　sorry；　sir。〃

〃Slone；　it　jarred　me　some；　thet　disappointment。　But　it's　over；〃　replied
Bostil。　〃An'　so　thet's　how　Lucy　found　her　hoss。　She　sure　was　mysterious。　。　。　。
Wal；　wal。〃　Bostil　became　aware　of　others　behind　him。　〃Holley；　shake　hands　with
Slone；　hoss…wrangler　out　of　Utah。　。　。　。　You；　too；　Cal　Blinn。　。　。　。　An'
Macomberan'　Wetherby；　meet　my　friend　hereyoung　Slone。　。　。　。　An'；　Cordts；
shake　hands　with　a　feller　thet　owns　a　grand　hoss！〃

Bostil　laughed　as　he　introduced　the　horse…thief　to　Slone。　The　others　laughed；
too；　even　Cordts　joining　in。　There　was　much　of　the　old　rider　daredevil　spirit
left　in　Bostil；　and　it　interested　and　amused　him　to　see　Cordts　and　Slone　meet。
Assuredly　Slone　had　heard　of　the　noted　stealer　of　horses。　The　advantage　was
certainly　on　Cordts's　side；　for　he　was　good…natured　and　pleasant　while　Slone
stiffened；　paling　slightly　as　he　faced　about　to　acknowledge　the　introduction。

〃Howdy；　Slone；〃　drawled　Cordts；　with　hand　outstretched。　〃I　sure　am　glad　to
meet　yuh。　I'd　like　to　trade　the　Sage　King　for　this　red　stallion！〃

A　roar　of　laughter　greeted　this　sally；　all　but　Bostil　and　Slone　joining　in。
The　joke　was　on　Bostil；　and　he　showed　it。　Slone　did　not　even　smile。

〃Howdy；　Cordts；〃　he　replied。　〃I'm　glad　to　meet　youso　I'll　know　you　when　I
see　you　again。〃

〃Wal；　we're　all　good　fellers　to…day；〃　interposed　Bostil。　〃An'　now　let's　ride
home　an'　eat。　Slone；　you　come　with　me。〃

The　group　slowly　mounted　the　slope　where　the　horses　waited。　Macomber；
Wetherby；　Burthwait；　Blinnall　Bostil's　friends　proffered　their　felicitations
to　the　young　rider；　and　all　were　evidently　prepossessed　with　him。

The　sun　was　low　in　the　west；　purple　shades　were　blotting　out　the　gold　lights
down　the　valley；　the　day　of　the　great　races　was　almost　done。　Indians　were
still　scattered　here　and　there　in　groups；　others　were　turning　out　the
mustangs；　and　the　majority　were　riding　and　walking　with　the　crowd　toward　the
village。

Bostil　observed　that　Cordts　had　hurried　ahead　of　the　group　and　now　appeared　to
be　saying　something　emphatic　to　Dick　Sears　and　Hutchinson。　Bostil　heard　Cordts
curse。　Probably　he　was　arraigning　the　sullen　Sears。　Cordts　had　acted　first
ratehad　lived　up　to　his　word；　as　Bostil　thought　he　would　do。　Cordts　and
Hutchinson　mounted　their　horses　and　rode　off；　somewhat　to　the　left　of　the
scattered　crowd。　But　Sears　remained　behind。　Bostil　thought　this　strange　and
put　it　down　to　the　surliness　of　the　fellow；　who　had　lost　on　the　races。　Bostil；
wishing　Sears　would　get　out　of　his　sight；　resolved　never　to　make　another
blunder　like　inviting　horse…thieves　to　a　race。

All　the　horses　except　Wildfire　stood　in　a　bunch　back　on　the　bench。　Sears
appeared　to　be　fussing　with　the　straps　on　his　saddle。　And　Bostil　could　not
keep　his　glance　from　wandering　back　to　gloat　over　Wildfire's　savage　grace　and
striking　size。

Suddenly　there　came　a　halt　in　the　conversation　of　the　men；　a　curse　in　Holley's
deep　voice；　a　violent　split　in　the　group。　Bostil　wheeled　to　see　Sears　in　a
menacing　position　with　two　guns　leveled　low。

〃Don't　holler！〃　he　called。　〃An'　don't　move！〃

〃What　'n　the　hl　now；　Sears？〃　demanded　Bostil。

〃I'll　bore　you　if　you　movethet's　what！〃　replied　Sears。　His　eyes；　bold；
steely；　with　a　glint　that　Bostil　knew；　vibrated　as　he　held　in　sight　all　points
before　him。　A　vicious　little　sand…rattlesnake　about　to　strike！

〃Holley；　turn　yer　back！〃　ordered　Sears。

The　old　rider；　who　stood　foremost　of　the　group'　instantly　obeyed；　with　hands
up。　He　took　no　chances　here；　for　he　alone　packed　a　gun。　With　swift　steps　Sears
moved；　pulled　Holley's　gun；　flung　it　aside　into　the　sage。

〃Sears；　it　ain't　a　hold…up！〃　expostulated　Bostil。　The　act　seemed　too　bold；　too
wild　even　for　Dick　Sears。

〃Ain't　it？〃　scoffed　Sears；　malignantly。　〃Bostil；　I　was　after　the　King。　But　I
reckon　I'll　git　the　hoss　thet　beat　him！〃

Bostil's　face　turned　dark…blood　color　and　his　neck　swelled。　〃By　Gawd；　Sears！
You　ain't　a…goin'　to　steal　this　boy's　hoss！〃

〃Shut　up！〃　hissed　the　horse…thief。　He　pushed　a　gun　close　to　Bostil。　〃I've
always　laid　fer　you！　I'm　achin'　to　bore　you　now。　I　would　but　fer　scarin'　this
hoss。　If　you　yap　again　I'll　KILL　YOU；　anyhow；　an'　take　a　chance！〃

All　the　terrible　hate　and　evil　and　cruelty　and　deadliness　of　his　kind　burned
in　his　eyes　and　stung　in　his　voice。

〃Sears；　if　it's　my　horse　you　want　you　needn't　kill　Bostil；〃　spoke　up　Slone。
The　contrast　of　his　cool；　quiet　voice　eased　the　terrible　strain。

〃Lead　him　round　hyar！〃　snapped　Sears。

Wildfire　appeared　more　shy　of　the　horses　back　of　him