wildfire-第51节

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On　the　next　day　Creech　traveled　west。　This　seemed　to　Lucy　to　be　far　to　the
left　of　the　direction　taken　before。　And　Lucy；　in　spite　of　her　utter　weariness；
and　the　necessity　of　caring　for　herself　and　her　horse；　could　not　but　wonder　at
the　wild　and　frowning　canyon。　It　was　only　a　tributary　of　the　great　canyon；　she
supposed；　but　it　was　different；　strange；　impressive；　yet　intimate；　because　all
about　it　was　overpowering；　near　at　hand；　even　the　beetling　crags。　And　at　every
turn　it　seemed　impossible　to　go　farther　over　that　narrow　and　rock…bestrewn
floor。　Yet　Creech　found　a　way　on。

Then　came　hours　of　climbing　such　slopes　and　benches　and　ledges　as　Lucy　had　not
yet　encountered。　The　grasping　spikes　of　dead　cedar　tore　her　dress　to　shreds；
and　many　a　scratch　burned　her　flesh。　About　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　Creech
led　up　over　the　last　declivity；　a　yellow　slope　of　cedar；　to　a　flat　upland
covered　with　pine　and　high　bleached　grass。　They　rested。

〃We've　fooled　Cordts；　you　can　be　sure　of　thet；〃　said　Creech。　〃You're　a　game
kid；　an'；　by　Gawd！　if　I　had　this　job　to　do　over　I'd　never　tackle　it　again！〃

〃Oh；　you're　sure　we've　lost　him？〃　implored　Lucy。

〃Sure　as　I　am　of　death。　An'　we'll　make　surer　in　crossin'　this　bench。　It's
miles　to　the　other　side　where　I'm　to　keep　watch　fer　Joel。　An'　we　won't　leave　a
track　all　the　way。〃

〃But　this　grass？〃　questioned　Lucy。　〃It'll　show　our　tracks。〃

〃Look　at　the　lanes　an'　trails　between。　All　pine　mats　thick　an'　soft　an'
springy。　Only　an　Indian　could　follow　us　hyar　on　Wild　Hoss　Bench。〃

Lucy　gazed　before　her　under　the　pines。　It　was　a　beautiful　forest；　with　trees
standing　far　apart；　yet　not　so　far　but　that　their　foliage　intermingled。　A　dry
fragrance；　thick　as　a　heavy　perfume；　blew　into　her　face。　She　could　not　help
but　think　of　firehow　it　would　race　through　here；　and　that　recalled　Joel
Creech's　horrible　threat。　Lucy　shuddered　and　put　away　the　memory。　〃I　can't
goany　farther　to…day；　〃　she　said。

Creech　looked　at　her　compassionately。　Then　Lucy　became　conscious　that　of　late
he　had　softened。

〃You'll　have　to　come；〃　he　said。　〃There's　no　water　on　this　side；　short　of　thet
canyon…bed。　An'　acrost　there's　water　close　under　the　wall。〃

So　they　set　out　into　the　forest。　And　Lucy　found　that　after　all　she　could　go
on。　The　horses　walked　and　on　the　soft；　springy　ground　did　not　jar　her。　Deer
and　wild　turkey　abounded　there　and　showed　little　alarm　at　sight　of　the
travelers。　And　before　long　Lucy　felt　that　she　would　become　intoxicated　by　the
dry　odor。　It　was　so　strong；　so　thick；　so　penetrating。　Yet；　though　she　felt　she
would　reel　under　its　influence；　it　revived　her。

The　afternoon　passed；　the　sun　set　off　through　the　pines；　a　black…streaked；
golden　flare；　twilight　shortly　changed　to　night。　The　trees　looked　spectral　in
the　gloom；　and　the　forest　appeared　to　grow　thicker。　Wolves　murmured；　and　there
were　wild　cries　of　cat　and　owl。　Lucy　fell　asleep　on　her　horse。　At　last；
sometime　late　in　the　night；　when　Creech　lifted　her　from　the　saddle　and　laid
her　down；　she　stretched　out　on　the　soft　mat　of　pine　needles　and　knew　no　more。

She　did　not　awaken　until　the　afternoon　of　the　next　day。　The　site　where　Creech
had　made　his　final　camp　overlooked　the　wildest　of　all　that　wild　upland
country。　The　pines　had　scattered　and　trooped　around　a　beautiful　park　of　grass
that　ended　abruptly　upon　bare　rock。　Yellow　crags　towered　above　the　rim；　and
under　them　a　yawning　narrow　gorge；　overshadowed　from　above；　blue　in　its
depths；　split　the　end　of　the　great　plateau　and　opened　out　sheer　into　the　head
of　the　canyon；　which；　according　to　Creech；　stretched　away　through　that
wilderness　of　red　stone　and　green　clefts。　When　Lucy's　fascinated　gaze　looked
afar　she　was　stunned　at　the　vast；　billowy；　bare　surfaces。　Every　green　cleft
was　a　short　canyon　running　parallel　with　this　central　and　longer　one。　The　dips
and　breaks　showed　how　all　these　canyons　were　connected。　They　led　the　gaze
away；　descending　gradually　to　the　dim　purple　of　distance　the　bare；　rolling
desert　upland。

Lucy　did　nothing　but　gaze。　She　was　unable　to　walk　or　eat　that　day。　Creech　hung
around　her　with　a　remorse　he　apparently　felt；　yet　could　not　put　into　words。

〃Do　you　expect　Joel　to　come　up　this　big　canyon？〃

〃I　reckon　I　dosome　day；〃　replied　Creech。　〃An'　I　wish　he'd　hurry。〃

〃Does　he　know　the　way？〃

〃Nope。　But　he's　good　at　findin'　places。　An'　I　told　him　to　stick　to　the　main
canyon。　Would　you　believe　you　could　ride　offer　this　rim；　straight　down　thar
fer　fifty　miles；　an'　never　git　off　your　hoss？〃

〃No；　I　wouldn't　believe　it　possible。〃

〃Wal；　it's　so。　I've　done　it。　An'　I　didn't　want　to　come　up　thet　way　because　I'd
had　to　leave　tracks。〃

〃Do　you　think　we're　safefrom　Cordts　now？〃　she　asked。

〃I　reckon　so。　He's　no　tracker。〃

〃But　suppose　he　does　trail　us？〃

〃Wal；　I　reckon　I've　a　shade　the　best　of　Cordts　at　gun…play；　any　day。〃

Lucy　regarded　the　man　in　surprise。　〃Oh；　it's　sostrange！〃　she　said。　〃You'd
fight　for　me。　Yet　you　dragged　me　for　days　over　these　awful　rocks！　。　。　。　Look
at　me；　Creech。　Do　I　look　much　like　Lucy　Bostil？〃

Creech　hung　his　head。　〃Wal；　I　reckoned　I　wasn't　a　blackguard；　but　I　AM。〃

〃You　used　to　care　for　me　when　I　was　little。　I　remember　how　I　used　to　take
rides　on　your　knee。〃

〃Lucy；　I　never　thought　of　thet　when　I　ketched　you。　You　was　only　a　means　to　an
end。　Bostil　hated　me。　He　ruined　me。　I　give　up　to　revenge。　An'　I　could　only　git
thet　through　you。〃

〃Creech；　I'm　not　defending　Dad。　He'she's　no　good　where　horses　are　concerned。
I　know　he　wronged　you。　Then　why　didn't　you　wait　and　meet　him　like　a　man
instead　of　dragging　me　to　this　misery？〃

〃Wal；　I　never　thought　of　thet；　either。　I　wished　I　had。〃　He　grew　gloomier　then
and　relapsed　into　silent　watching。

Lucy　felt　better　next　day；　and　offered　to　help　Creech　at　the　few　camp　duties。
He　would　not　let　her。　There　was　nothing　to　do　but　rest　and　wait；　and　the
idleness　appeared　to　be　harder　on　Creech　than　on　Lucy。　He　had　always　been
exceedingly　active。　Lucy　divined　that　every　hour　his　remorse　grew　keener；　and
she　did　all　she　could　think　of　to　make　it　so。　Creech　made　her　a　rude　brush　by
gathering　small　roots　and　binding　them　tightly　and　cutting　the　ends　square。
And　Lucy；　after　the　manner　of　an　Indian；　got　the　tangles　out　of　her　hair。　That
day　Creech　seemed　to　want　to　hear　Lucy's　voice；　and　so　they　often　fell　into
conversation。　Once　he　said；　thoughtfully：

〃I'm　tryin'　to　remember　somethin'　I　heerd　at　the　Ford。　I　meant　to　ask　you〃
Suddenly　he　turned　to　her　with　animation。　He　who　had　been　so　gloomy　and
lusterless　and　dead　showed　a　bright　eagerness。　〃I　heerd　you　beat　the　King　on　a
red　hossa　wild　hoss！　。　。　。　Thet　must　have　been　a　jokelike　one　of　Joel's。〃

〃No。　It's　true。　An'　Dad　nearly　had　a　fit！〃

〃Wal！〃　Creech　simply　blazed　with　excitement。　〃I　ain't　wonderin'　if　he　did。　His
own　girl！　Lucy；　come　to　remember；　you　always　said　you'd　beat　thet　gray　racer。
。　。　。　Fer　the　Lord's　sake　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

Lucy　warmed　to　him　because；　broken　as　he　was；　he　could　be　genuinely　glad　some
horse　but　his　own　had　won　a　race。　Bostil　could　never　have　been　like　that。　So
Lucy　told　him　about　the　raceand　then　she　had　to　tell　about　Wildfire；　and
then　about　Slone。　But　at　first　all　of　Creech's　interest　centered　round
Wildfire　and　the　race　that　had　not　really　been　run。　He　asked　a　hundred
questions。　He　was　as　pleased　as　a　boy　listening　to　a　good　story。　He　praised
Lucy　again　and　again。　He　crowed　over　Bostil's　discomfiture。　And　when　Lucy　told
him　that　Slone　had　dared　her　father　to　race；　had　offered　to　bet　Wildfire　and
his　own　life　against　her　hand；　then　Creech　was　beside　himself。

〃This　hyar　Slonehe　CALLED　Bostil's　hand！〃

〃He's　a　wild…horse　hunter。　And　HE　can　trail　us！〃

〃Trail　us！　Slone？　Say；　Lucy；　are　you　in　love　with　him？〃

Lucy　uttered　a　strange　little　broken　sound；　half　laugh；　half　sob。　〃Love　him！
Ah！〃

〃An'　your　Dad's　ag'in　him！　Sure　Bostil'll　hate　any　rider　with　a　fast　hoss。　Why
didn't　the　darn　fool　sell　his　stallion　to　your　father？〃

〃He　gave　Wildfire　to　me。〃

〃I'd　have　done　the　same。　Wal；　now；　when　you　git　back　home　what's　comin'　of　it
all？〃

Lucy　shook　her　head　sorrowfully。　〃God　only　knows。　Dad　will　never　own　Wildfire；
and　he'll　never　let　me　marry　Slone。　And　when　you　take　the　King　away　from　him
to　ransom　methen　my　life　will　be　hell；　for　if　Dad　sacrifices　Sage　King；
afterward　he'll　hate　me　as　the　cause　of　his　loss。〃

〃I　can　sure　see　the　sense　of　all　that；〃　replied　Creech；　soberly。　And　he
pondered。

Lucy　saw　through　this　man　as　if　he　had　been　an　inch　of　crystal　water。　He　was
no　villain；　and　just　now　in　his　simplicity；　in　his　plodding　thought　of
sympathy　for　her　he　was　lovable。

〃It's　one　hell　of　a　muss；　if　you'll　excuse　my　talk；〃　said　Creech。　〃An'　I　don't
like　the　looks　of　what　I　'pear　to　be　throwin'　in　your　way。　。　。　。　But　see　hyar；
Lucy；　if　Bostil　didn't　give　upor；　say；　he　gits　the　King　back；　thet　wouldn't
make　your　chance　with　Slone　any　brighter。〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Thet　race　will　have　to　be　ran！〃

〃What　good　will　that　do？〃　cried　Lucy；　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃I　don't　want　to
lose　Dad。　IIlove　himmean　as　he　is。　And　it'll　kill　me　to　lose　Lin。
Because　Wildfire　can　beat　Sage　King；　and　that　means　Dad　will　be　forever
against　him。〃

〃Co