wildfire-第41节

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veins。　That　was　gall　to　a　rider。

〃I　like　your　hoss；〃　said　Bostil；　with　gruff　frankness。　But　a　tinge　of　red
showed　under　his　beard。

〃Bostil；　I'm　sorry　I　can't　take　you　up　on　the　job；〃　rejoined　Slone；　swiftly。
〃It's　been　hard　for　me　to　decide。　You've　been　good　to　me。　I'm　grateful。　But
it's　time　I　was　tellin'　you。〃

〃Why　can't　you？〃　demanded　Bostil；　straightening　up　with　a　glint　in　his　big
eyes。　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　asked　Slone　that。

〃I　can't　ride　for　you；〃　replied　Slone；　briefly。

〃Anythin'　to　do　with　Lucy？〃　queried　Bostil。

〃How　so？〃　returned　Slone；　conscious　of　more　heat。

〃Wal；　you　was　sweet　on　her　an'　she　wouldn't　have　you；〃　replied　Bostil。

Slone　felt　the　blood　swell　and　boil　in　his　veins。　This　Bostil　could　say　as
harsh　and　hard　things　as　repute　gave　him　credit　for。

〃Yes；　I　AM　sweet　on　Lucy；　an'　she　won't　have　me；〃　said　Slone；　steadily。　〃I
asked　her　to　let　me　come　to　you　an'　tell　you　I　wanted　to　marry　her。　But　she
wouldn't。〃

〃Wal；　it's　just　as　good　you　didn't　come；　because　I　might。　。　。　。〃　Bostil　broke
off　his　speech　and　began　again。　〃You　don't　lack　nerve；　　Slone。　What'd　you　have
to　offer　Lucy？〃

〃Nothin'　exceptBut　that　doesn't　matter；〃　replied　Slone；　cut　to　the　quick　by
Bostil's　scorn。　〃I'm　glad　you　know；　an'　so　much　for　that。〃

Bostil　turned　to　look　at　Wildfire　once　more；　and　he　looked　long。　When　he　faced
around　again　he　was　another　man。　Slone　felt　the　powerful　driving　passion　of
this　old　horse…trader。

〃Slone；　I'll　give　you　pick　of　a　hundred　mustangs　an'　a　thousand　dollars　for
Wildfire！〃

So　he　unmasked　his　power　in　the　face　of　a　beggarly　rider！　Though　it　struck
Slone　like　a　thunderbolt；　he　felt　amused。　But　he　did　not　show　that。　Bostil　had
only　one　possession；　among　all　his　uncounted　wealth；　that　could　win　Wildfire
from　his　owner。

〃No；〃　said　Slone；　briefly。

〃I'll　double　it；〃　returned　Bostil；　just　as　briefly。

〃No！〃

〃I'll〃

〃Save　your　breath；　Bostil；〃　flashed　Slone。　〃You　don't　know　me。　But　let　me　tell
youyou　CAN'T　BUY　my　horse！〃

The　great　veins　swelled　and　churned　in　Bostil's　bull　neck；　a　thick　and　ugly
contortion　worked　in　his　face；　his　eyes　reflected　a　sick　rage。

Slone　saw　that　two　passions　shook　Bostilone；　a　bitter；　terrible
disappointment；　and　the　other；　the　passion　of　a　man　who　could　not　brook　being
crossed。　It　appeared　to　Slone　that　the　best　thing　he　could　do　was　to　get　away
quickly；　and　to　this　end　he　led　Wildfire　out　of　the　corral　to　the　stable
courtyard；　and　there　quickly　saddled　him。　Then　he　went　into　another　corral　for
his　other　horse；　Nagger；　and；　bringing　him　out；　returned　to　find　Bostil　had
followed　as　far　as　the　court。　The　old　man's　rage　apparently　had　passed　or　had
been　smothered。

〃See　here；〃　he　began；　in　thick　voice；　〃don't　be　a　d…　fool　an'　ruin　your
chance　in　life。　I'll〃

〃Bostil；　my　one　chance　was　ruinedan'　you　know　who　did　it；〃　replied　Slone；　as
he　gathered　Nagger's　rope　and　Wildfire's　bridle　together。　〃I've　no　hard
feelin's。　。　。　。　But　I　can't　sell　you　my　horse。　An'　I　can't　ride　for
youbecausewell；　because　it　would　breed　trouble。〃

〃An'　what　kind？〃　queried　Bostil。

Holley　and　Farlane　and　Van；　with　several　other　riders；　had　come　up　and　were
standing　open…mouthed。　Slone　gathered　from　their　manner　and　expression　that
anything　might　happen　with　Bostil　in　such　a　mood。

〃We'd　be　racin'　the　King　an'　Wildfire；　wouldn't　we？〃　replied　Slone。

〃An'　supposin'　we　would？〃　returned　Bostil；　ominously。　His　huge　frame　vibrated
with　a　slight　start。

〃Wildfire　would　run　off　with　your　favoritean'　you　wouldn't　like　that；〃
answered　Slone。　It　was　his　rider's　hot　blood　that　prompted　him　to　launch　this
taunt。　He　could　not　help　it。

〃You　wild…hoss　chaser；〃　roared　Bostil；　〃your　Wildfire　may　be　a　bloody　killer；
but　he　can't　beat　the　King　in　a　race！〃

〃Excuse　ME；　Bostil；　but　Wildfire　did　beat　the　King！〃

This　was　only　adding　fuel　to　the　fire。　Slone　saw　Holley　making　signs　that　must
have　meant　silence　would　be　best。　But　Slone's　blood　was　up。　Bostil　had　rubbed
him　the　wrong　way。

〃You're　a　lair！〃　declared　Bostil；　with　a　tremendous　stride　forward。　Slone　saw
then　how　dangerous　the　man　really　was。　〃It　was　no　race。　Your　wild　hoss　knocked
the　King　off　the　track。〃

〃Sage　King　had　the　lead；　didn't　he？　Why　didn't　he　keep　it？〃

Bostil　was　like　a　furious；　intractable　child　whose　favorite　precious　treasure
had　been　broken；　and　he　burst　out　into　a　torrent　of　incoherent　speech；
apparently　reasons　why　this　and　that　were　so。　Slone　did　not　make　out　what
Bostil　meant　and　he　did　not　care。　When　Bostil　got　out　of　breath　Slone　said：

〃We're　both　wastin'　talk。　An'　I'm　not　wantin'　you　to　call　me　a　liar　twice。　。　。
。　Put　your　rider　up　on　the　King　an'　come　on；　right　now。　I'll〃

〃Slone；　shut　up　an'　chase　yourself；〃　interrupted　Holley

〃You　go　to　hl！〃　returned　Slone；　coolly。

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　in　which　Slone　took　Holley's　measure。　The
hawk…eyed　old　rider　may　have　been　square；　but　he　was　then　thinking　only　of
Bostil。

〃What　am　I　up；　against　here？〃　demanded　Slone。　〃Am　I　goin'　to　be　shot　because
I'm　takin'　my　own　part？　Holley；　you　an'　the　rest　of　your　pards　are　all　afraid
of　this　old　devil。　But　I'm　notan'　you　stay　out　of　this。〃

〃Wal；　son；　you　needn't　git　riled；〃　replied　Holley；　placatingly。　〃I　was　only
tryin'　to　stave　off　talk　you　might　be　sorry　for。〃

〃Sorry　for　nothin'！　I'm　goin'　to　make　this　great　horse…trader；　this　rich　an'
mighty　rancher；　this　judge　of　grand　horses；　this　BOSTIL！　。　。　。　I'm　goin'　to
make　him　race　the　King　or　take　water！〃　Then　Slone　turned　to　Bostil。　That
worthy　evidently　had　been　stunned　by　the　rider　who　dared　call　him　to　his　face。
〃Come　on！　Fetch　the　King！　Let　your　own　riders　judge　the　race！〃

Bostil　struggled　both　to　control　himself　and　to　speak。　〃Naw！　I　ain't　goin'　to
see　thet　red　hoss…killer　jump　the　King　again！〃

〃Bah！　you're　afraid。　You　know　there'd　be　no　girl　on　his　back。　You　know　he　can
outrun　the　King　an'　that's　why　you　want　to　buy　him。〃

Slone　caught　his　breath　then。　He　realized　suddenly；　at　Bostil's　paling　face；
that　perhaps　he　had　dared　too　much。　Yet；　maybe　the　truth　flung　into　this　hard
old　rider's　teeth　was　what　he　needed　more　than　anything　else。　Slone　divined；
rather　than　saw；　that　he　had　done　an　unprecedented　thing。

〃I'll　go　now；　Bostil。〃

Slone　nodded　a　good…by　to　the　riders；　and；　turning　away；　he　led　the　two　horses
down　the　lane　toward　the　house。　It　scarcely　needed　sight　of　Lucy　under　the
cottonwoods　to　still　his　anger　and　rouse　his　regret。　Lucy　saw　him　coming；　and；
as　usual；　started　to　avoid　meeting　him；　when　sight　of　the　horses；　or　something
else；　caused　her　to　come　toward　him　instead。

Slone　halted。　Both　Wildfire　and　Nagger　whinnied　at　sight　of　the　girl。　Lucy
took　one　flashing　glance　at　them；　at　Slone；　and　then　she　evidently　guessed
what　was　amiss。

〃Lucy；　I've　done　it　nowplayed　hob；　sure；〃　said　Slone。

〃What？〃　she　cried。

〃I　called　your　dadcalled　him　good　an'　hardan'　hehe〃

〃Lin！　Oh；　don't　say　Dad。〃　Lucy's　face　whitened　and　she　put　a　swift　hand　upon
his　arma　touch　that　thrilled　him。　〃Lin！　there's　blood　on　your　face。
Don'tdon't　tell　me　Dad　hit　you？〃

〃I　should　say　not；〃　declared　Slone；　quickly　lifting　his　hand　to　his　face。
〃Must　be　from　my　cut；　that　blood。　I　barked　my　hand　holdin'　Wildfire。〃

〃Oh！　II　was　sick　withwith〃　Lucy　faltered　and　broke　off；　and　then　drew
back　quickly；　as　if　suddenly　conscious　of　her　actions　and　words。

Then　Slone　began　to　relate　everything　that　had　been　said；　and　before　he
concluded　his　story　his　heart　gave　a　wild　throb　at　the　telltale　face　and　eyes
of　the　girl。

〃You　said　that　to　Dad！〃　she　cried；　in　amaze　and　fear　and　admiration。　〃Oh；　Dad
richly　deserved　it！　But　I　wish　you　hadn't。　Oh；　I　wish　you　hadn't！〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Slone。

But　she　did　not　answer　that。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　questioned。

〃Come　to　think　of　that；　I　don't　know；〃　replied　Slone；　blankly。　〃I　started　back
to　fetch　my　things　out　of　my　room。　That's　as　far　as　my　muddled　thoughts　got。〃

〃Your　things？　。　。　。　Oh！〃　Suddenly　she　grew　intensely　white。　The　little
freckles　that　had　been　so　indistinct　stood　out　markedly；　and　it　was　as　if　she
had　never　had　any　tan。　One　brown　hand　went　to　her　breast；　the　other　fluttered
to　his　arm　again。　〃You　mean　toto　go　awayfor　good。〃

〃Sure。　What　else　can　I　do？〃

〃Lin！　。　。　。　Oh；　there　comes　Dad！　He　mustn't　see　me。　I　must　run。　。　。　。　Lin；
don't　leave　Bostil's　Forddon't　goDON'T！〃

Then　she　flew　round　the　comer　of　the　house；　to　disappear。　Slone　stood　there
transfixed　and　thrilling。　Even　Bostil's　heavy　tread　did　not　break　the　trance；
and　a　meeting　would　have　been　unavoidable　had　not　Bostil　turned　down　the　path
that　led　to　the　back　of　the　house。　Slone；　with　a　start　collecting　his
thoughts；　hurried　into　the　little　room　that　had　been　his　and　gathered　up　his
few　belongings。　He　was　careful　to　leave　behind　the　gifts　of　guns；　blankets；
gloves；　and　other　rider's　belongings　which　Bostil　had　presented　to　him。　Thus
laden；　he　went　outside　and；　tingling　with　emotions　utterly　sweet　and
bewildering；　he　led　the　horses　down　into　the　village。

Slone　went　down　to　Brackton's；　and　put　the　horses　into　a　large；　high…fenced
pasture　adjoining　Brackton's　house。　Slone　felt　reasonably　sure　his　horses
would　be　safe　ther