wildfire-第38节

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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　than　of　the　men。　Slone
was　able　to　lead　him；　however；　to　within　several　paces　of　Sears。　Then　Slone
dropped　the　reins。　He　still　held　a　lasso　which　was　loosely　coiled；　and　the
loop　dropped　in　front　of　him　as　he　backed　away。

Sears　sheathed　the　left…hand　gun。　Keeping　the　group　covered　with　the　other；　he
moved　backward；　reaching　for　the　hanging　reins。　Wildfire　snorted；　appeared
about　to　jump。　But　Sears　got　the　reins。　Bostil；　standing　like　a　stone；　his
companions　also　motionless；　could　not　help　but　admire　the　daring　of　this
upland　horse…thief。　How　was　he　to　mount　that　wild　stallion？　Sears　was　noted
for　two　qualitieshis　nerve　before　men　and　his　skill　with　horses。　Assuredly
he　would　not　risk　an　ordinary　mount。　Wildfire　began　to　suspect　Searsto　look
at　him　instead　of　the　other　horses。　Then　quick　as　a　cat　Sears　vaulted　into　the
saddle。　Wildfire　snorted　and　lifted　his　forefeet　in　a　lunge　that　meant　he
would　bolt。

Sears　in　vaulting　up　had　swung　the　gun　aloft。　He　swept　it　down；　but
waveringly；　for　Wildfire　had　begun　to　rear。

Bostil　saw　how　fatal　that　single　instant　would　have　been　for　Sears　if　he　or
Holley　had　a　gun。

Something　whistled。　Bostil　saw　the　leap　of　Slone's　lassothe　curling；　snaky
dart　of　the　noose　which　flew　up　to　snap　around　Sears。　The　rope　sung　taut。
Sears　was　swept　bodily　clean　from　the　saddle；　to　hit　the　ground　in　sodden
impact。

Almost　swifter　than　Bostil's　sight　was　the　action　of　Sloneflashing　byin
the　airhimself　on　the　plunging　horse。　Sears　shot　once；　twice。　Then　Wildfire
bolted　as　his　rider　whipped　the　lasso　round　the　horn。　Sears；　half　rising；　was
jerked　ten　feet。　An　awful　shriek　was　throttled　in　his　throat。

A　streak　of　dust　on　the　slopea　tearing；　parting　line　in　the　sage！

Bostil　stood　amazed。　The　red　stallion　made　short　plunges。　Slone　reached　low
for　the　tripping　reins。　When　he　straightened　up　in　the　saddle　Wildfire　broke
wildly　into　a　run。

It　was　characteristic　of　Holley　that　at　this　thrilling；　tragic　instant　he
walked　over　into　the　sage　to　pick　up　his　gun。

〃Throwed　a　gun　on　me；　got　the　drop；　an'　pitched　mine　away！〃　muttered　Holley；
in　disgust。　The　way　he　spoke　meant　that　he　was　disgraced。

〃My　Gawd！　I　was　scared　thet　Sears　would　get　the　hoss！〃　rolled　out　Bostil。

Holley　thought　of　his　gun；　Bostil　thought　of　the　splendid　horse。　The　thoughts
were　characteristic　of　these　riders。　The　other　men；　however；　recovering　from　a
horror…broken　silence；　burst　out　in　acclaim　of　Slone's　feat。

〃Dick　Sears's　finish！　Roped　by　a　boy　rider！〃　exclaimed　Cal　Blinn；　fervidly。

〃Bostil；　that　rider　is　worthy　of　his　horse；〃　said　Wetherby。　〃I　think　Sears
would　have　bored　you。　I　saw　his　finger　pressingpressing　on　the　trigger。　Men
like　Sears　can't　help　but　pull　at　that　stage。〃

〃Thet　was　the　quickest　trick　I　ever　seen；〃　declared　Macomber。

They　watched　Wildfire　run　down　the　slope；　out　into　the　valley；　with　a　streak
of　rising　dust　out　behind。　They　all　saw　when　there　ceased　to　be　that　peculiar
rising　of　dust。　Wildfire　appeared　to　shoot　ahead　at　greater　speed。　Then　he
slowed　up。　The　rider　turned　him　and　faced　back　toward　the　group；　coming　at　a
stiff　gallop。　Soon　Wildfire　breasted　the　slope；　and　halted；　snorting；　shaking
before　the　men。　The　lasso　was　still　trailing　out　behind；　limp　and　sagging。
There　was　no　weight　upon　it　now。

Bostil　strode　slowly　ahead。　He　sympathized　with　the　tension　that　held　Slone；
he　knew　why　the　rider's　face　was　gray；　why　his　lips　only　moved　mutely；　why
there　was　horror　in　the　dark；　strained　eyes；　why　the　lean；　strong　hands；
slowly　taking　up　the　lasso；　now　shook　like　leaves　in　the　wind。

There　was　only　dust　on　the　lasso。　But　Bostil　knewthey　all　knew　that　none　the
less　it　had　dealt　a　terrible　death　to　the　horse…thief。

Somehow　Bostil　could　not　find　words　for　what　he　wanted　to　say。　He　put　a　hand
on　the　red　stallionpatted　his　shoulder。　Then　he　gripped　Slone　close　and
hard。　He　was　thinking　how　he　would　have　gloried　in　a　son　like　this　young；　wild
rider。　Then　he　again　faced　his　comrades。

〃Fellers；　do　you　think　Cordts　was　in　on　thet　trick？〃　he　queried。

〃Nope。　Cordts　was　on　the　square；〃　replied　Holley。　〃But　he　must　have　seen　it
comin'　an'　left　Sears　to　his　fate。　It　sure　was　a　fittin'　last　ride　for　a
hoss…thief。〃

Bostil　sent　Holley　and　Farlane　on　ahead　to　find　Cordts　and　Hutchinson；　with
their　comrades；　to　tell　them　the　fate　of　Sears；　and　to　warn　them　to　leave
before　the　news　got　to　the　riders。

The　sun　was　setting　golden　and　red　over　the　broken　battlements　of　the　canyons
to　the　west。　The　heat　of　the　day　blew　away　on　a　breeze　that　bent　the　tips　of
the　sage…brush。　A　wild　song　drifted　back　from　the　riders　to　the　fore。　And　the
procession　of　Indians　moved　along；　their　gay　trappings　and　bright　colors
beautiful　in　the　fading　sunset　light。

When　Bostil　and；　his　guests　arrived　at　the　corrals；　Holley；　with　Farlane　and
other　riders；　were　waiting。

〃Boss；〃　said　Holley；　〃Cordts　an'　his　outfit　never　rid　in。　They　was　last　seen
by　some　Navajos　headin'　for　the　canyon。〃

〃Thet's　good！〃　ejaculated　Bostil；　in　relief。　〃Wal　boys；　look　after　the　hosses。
。　。　。　Slone；　just　turn　Wildfire　over　to　the　boys　with　instructions；　an'　feel
safe。〃

Farlane　scratched　his　head　and　looked　dubious。　〃I'm　wonderin'　how　safe　it'll
be　fer　us。〃

〃I'll　look　after　him；〃　said　Slone。

Bostil　nodded　as　if　he　had　expected　Slone　to　refuse　to　let　any　rider　put　the
stallion　away　for　the　night。　Wildfire　would　not　go　into　the　barn；　and　Slone
led　him　into　one　of　the　high…barred　corrals。　Bostil　waited；　talking　with　his
friends；　until　Slone　returned；　and　then　they　went　toward　the　house。

〃I　reckon　we　couldn't　get　inside　Brack's　place　now；〃　remarked　Bostil。　〃But　in
a　case　like　this　I　can　scare　up　a　drink。〃　Lights　from　the　windows　shone　bright
through　the　darkness　under　the　cottonwoods。　Bostil　halted　at　the　door；　as　if
suddenly　remembering；　and　he　whispered；　huskily：　〃Let's　keep　the　women　from
learnin'　about　Searsto…night；　anyway。〃

Then　he　led　the　way　through　the　big　door　into　the　huge　living…room。　There　were
hanging…lights　on　the　walls　and　blazing　sticks　on　the　hearth。　Lucy　came
running　in　to　meet　them。　It　did　not　escape　Bostil's　keen　eyes　that　she　was
dressed　in　her　best　white　dress。　He　had　never　seen　her　look　so　sweet　and
pretty；　and；　for　that　matter；　so　strange。　The　flush；　the　darkness　of　her　eyes；
the　added　something　in　her　face；　tender；　thoughtful；　strongthese　were　new。
Bostil　pondered　while　she　welcomed　his　guests。　Slone；　who　had　hung　back；　was
last　in　turn。　Lucy　greeted　him　as　she　had　the　others。　Slone　met　her　with
awkward　constraint。　The　gray　had　not　left　his　face。　Lucy　looked　up　at　him
again；　and　differently。

〃Whatwhat　has　happened？〃　she　asked。

It　annoyed　Bostil　that　Slone　and　all　the　men　suddenly　looked　blank。

〃Why；　nothin'；〃　replied　Slone；　slowly；　〃'cept　I'm　fagged　out。〃

Lucy；　or　any　other　girl；　could　have　seen　that　he；　was　evading　the　truth。　She
flashed　a　look　from　Slone　to　her　father。

〃Until　to…day　we　never　had　a　big　race　that　something　dreadful　didn't　happen；〃
said　Lucy。　〃This　was　my　daymy　race。　And；　oh！　I　wanted　it　to　pass
withoutwithout〃

〃Wal；　Lucy　dear；〃　replied　Bostil；　as　she　faltered。　〃Nothin'　came　off　thet'd
make　you　feel　bad。　Young　Slone　had　a　scare　about　his　hoss。　Wildfire's　safe　out
there　in　the　corral；　an'　he'll　be　guarded　like　the　King　an'　Sarch。　Slone　needs
a　drink　an'　somethin'　to　eat；　same　as　all　of　us。〃

Lucy's　color　returned　and　her　smile；　but　Bostil　noted　that；　while　she　was
serving　them　and　brightly　responsive　to　compliments；　she　gave　more　than　one
steady　glance　at　Slone。　She　was　deep；　thought　Bostil；　and　it　angered　him　a
little　that　she　showed　interest　in　what　concerned　this　strange　rider。

Then　they　had　dinner；　with　twelve　at　table。　The　wives　of　Bostil's　three
friends　had　been　helping　Aunt　Jane　prepare　the　feast；　and　they　added　to　the
merriment。　Bostil　was　not　much　given　to　social　intercoursehe　would　have
preferred　to　be　with　his　horses　and　ridersbut　this　night　he　outdid　himself
as　host；　amazed　his　sister　Jane；　who　evidently　thought　he　drank　too　much；　and
delighted　Lucy。　Bostil's　outward　appearance　and　his　speech　and　action　never
reflected　all　the　workings　of　his　mind。　No　one　would　ever　know　the　depth　of
his　bitter　disappointment　at　the　outcome　of　the　race。　With　Creech's　Blue　Roan
out　of　the　way；　another　horse；　swifter　and　more　dangerous；　had　come　along　to
spoil　the　King's　chance。　Bostil　felt　a　subtly　increasing　covetousness　in
regard　to　Wildfire；　and　this　colored　all　his　talk　and　action。　The　upland
country；　vast　and　rangy；　was　for　Bostil　too　small　to　hold　Sage　King　and
Wildfire　unless　they　both　belonged　to　him。　And　when　old　Cal　Blinn　gave　a
ringing　toast　to　Lucy；　hoping　to　live　to　see　her　up　on　Wildfire　in　the　grand
race　that　must　be　run　with　the　King；　Bostil　felt　stir　in　him　the　birth　of　a
subtle；　bitter　fear。　At　first　he　mocked　it。　HeBostilafraid　to　race！　It　was
a　lie　of　the　excited　mind。　He　repudiated　it。　Insidiously　it　returned。　He
drowned　it　downsmothered　it　with　passion。　Then　the　ghost　of　it　remained；
hauntingly。

Af