wildfire-第54节

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strange　eyes。　A　long…cherished　mad　vengeance　had　reached　its　fruition。　Then　he
led　the　horse　near　to　Lucy。

Warily　he　reached　down。　He　did　not　know　Lucy's　strength　was　spent。　He　feared
she　might　yet　escape。　With　hard；　quick　grasp　he　caught　her；　lifted　her；　threw
her　over　the　King's　back。　He　forced　her　down。

Lucy's　resistance　was　her　only　salvation；　because　it　kept　him　on　the　track　of
his　old　threat。　She　resisted　all　she　could。　He　pulled　her　arms　down　round　the
King's　neck　and　tied　them　close。　Then　he　pulled　hard　on　the　rope　on　her　ankle
and　tied　that　to　her　other　ankle。

Lucy　realized　that　she　was　bound　fast。　Creech　had　made　good　most　of　his
threat。　And　now　in　her　mind　the　hope　of　the　death　she　had　sought　changed　to
the　hope　of　life　that　was　possible。　Whatever　power　she　had　ever　had　over　the
King　was　in　her　voice。　If　only　Creech　would　slip　the　bridle　or　cut　the
reinsif　only　Sage　King　could　be　free　to　run！

Lucy　could　turn　her　face　far　enough　to　see　Creech。　Like　a　fiend　he　was
reveling　in　his　work。　Suddenly　he　picked　up　the　gun。

〃Look　a…hyar！〃　he　called；　hoarsely。

With　eyes　on　her；　grinning　horribly；　he　walked　a　few　paces　to　where　the　long
grass　had　not　been　trampled　or　pressed　down。　The　wind；　whipping　up　out　of　the
canyon；　was　still　blowing　hard。　Creech　put　the　gun　down　in　the　grass　and
fired。

Sage　King　plunged。　But　he　was　not　gun…shy。　He　steadied　down　with　a　pounding　of
heavy　hoofs。　Then　Lucy　could　see　again。　A　thin　streak　of　yellow　smoke　rosea
little　snaky　flamea　slight　crackling　hiss！　Then　as　the　wind　caught　the　blaze
there　came　a　rushing；　low　roar。　Fire；　like　magic；　raced　and　spread　before　the
wind　toward　the　forest。

Lucy　had　forgotten　that　Creech　had　meant　to　drive　her　into　fire。　The　sudden
horror　of　it　almost　caused　collapse。　Commotion　within　cold　and　quake　and
nausea　and　agonydeadened　her　hearing　and　darkened　her　sight。　But　Creech's
hard　hands　quickened　her。　She　could　see　him　then；　though　not　clearly。　His　face
seemed　inhuman；　misshapen；　gray。　His　hands　pulled　at　her　armsa　last
precaution　to　see　that　she　was　tightly　bound。　Then　with　the　deft　fingers　of　a
rider　he　slipped　Sage　King's　bridle。

Lucy　could　not　trust　her　sight。　What　made　the　King　stand　so　still？　His　ears
went　upstiffpointed！

Creech　stepped　back　and　laid　a　violent　hand　on　Lucy's　garments。　She
benttwisted　her　neck　to　watch　him。　But　her　sight　grew　no　clearer。　Still　she
saw　he　meant　to　strip　her　naked。　He　braced　himself　for　a　strong；　ripping　pull。
His　yellow　teeth　showed　deep　in　his　lip。　His　contrasting　eyes　were　alight　with
insane　joy。

But　he　never　pulled。　Something　attracted　his　attention。　He　looked。　He　saw
something。　The　beast　in　him　became　humanthe　madness　changed　to
rationalitythe　devil　to　a　craven！　His　ashen　lips　uttered　a　low；　terrible
cry。

Lucy　felt　the　King　trembling　in　every　muscle。　She　knew　that　was　flight。　She
expected　his　loud　snort；　and　was　prepared　for　it　when　it　rang　out。　In　a　second
he　would　bolt。　She　knew　that。　She　thrilled。　She　tried　to　call　to　him；　but　her
lips　were　weak。　Creech　seemed　paralyzed。　The　King　shifted　his　position；　and
Lucy's　last　glimpse　of　Creech　was　one　she　would　never　forget。　It　was　as　if
Creech　faced　burning　hell！

Then　the　King　whistled　and　reared。　Lucy　heard　swift；　dull；　throbbing　beats。
Beats　of　a　fast　horse's　hoofs　on　the　run！　She　felt　a　surging　thrill　of　joy。
She　could　not　think。　All　of　her　blood　and　bone　and　muscle　seemed　to　throb。
Suddenly　the　air　split　to　a　high…pitched；　wild；　whistling　blast。　It　pierced　to
Lucy's　mind。　She　knew　that　whistle。

〃Wildfire！〃　she　screamed；　with　bursting　heart。

The　King　gave　a　mighty　convulsive　bound　of　terror。　He；　too；　knew　that　whistle。
And　in　that　one　great　bound　he　launched　out　into　a　run。　Straight　across　the
line　of　burning　grass！　Lucy　felt　the　sting　of　flame。　Smoke　blinded　and　choked
her。　Then　clear；　dry；　keen　wind　sung　in　her　ears　and　whipped　her　hair。　The
light　about　her　darkened。　The　King　had　headed　into　the　pines。　The　heavy　roar
of　the　gale　overhead　struck　Lucy　with　new　and　torturing　dread。　Sage　King　once
in　his　life　was　running　away；　bridleless；　and　behind　him　there　was　fire　on　the
wings　of　the　wind。



CHAPTER　XVII

For　the　first　time　in　his　experience　Bostil　found　that　horse…trading　palled
upon　him。　This　trip　to　Durango　was　a　failure。　Something　was　wrong。　There　was　a
voice　constantly　calling　into　his　inner　eara　voice　to　which　he　refused　to
listen。　And　during　the　five　days　of　the　return　trip　the　strange　mood　grew　upon
him。

The　last　day　he　and　his　riders　covered　over　fifty　miles　and　reached　the　Ford
late　at　night。　No　one　expected　them；　and　only　the　men　on　duty　at　the　corrals
knew　of　the　return。　Bostil；　much　relieved　to　get　home；　went　to　bed　and　at　once
fell　asleep。

He　awakened　at　a　late　hour　for　him。　When　he　dressed　and　went　out　to　the
kitchen　he　found　that　his　sister　had　learned　of　his　return　and　had　breakfast
waiting。

〃Where's　the　girl？〃　asked　Bostil。

〃Not　up　yet；〃　replied　Aunt　Jane。

〃What！〃

〃Lucy　and　I　had　a　tiff　last　night　and　she　went　to　her　room　in　a　temper。〃

〃Nothin'　new　about　thet。〃

〃Holley　and　I　have　had　our　troubles　holding　her　in。　Don't　you　forget　that。〃

Bostil　laughed。　〃Wal；　call　her　an'　tell　her　I'm　home。〃

Aunt　Jane　did　as　she　was　bidden。　Bostil　finished　his　breakfast。　But　Lucy　did
not　come。

Bostil　began　to　feel　something　strange；　and；　going　to　Lucy's　door；　he　knocked。
There　was　no　reply。　Bostil　pushed　open　the　door。　Lucy　was　not　in　evidence；　and
her　room　was　not　as　tidy　as　usual。　He　saw　her　white　dress　thrown　upon　the　bed
she　had　not　slept　in。　Bostil　gazed　around　with　a　queer　contraction　of　the
heart。　That　sense　of　something　amiss　grew　stronger。　Then　he　saw　a　chair　before
the　open　window。　That　window　was　rather　high；　and　Lucy　had　placed　a　chair
before　it　so　that　she　could　look　out　or　get　out。　Bostil　stretched　his　neck；
looked　out；　and　in　the　red　earth　beneath　the　window　he　saw　fresh　tracks　of
Lucy's　boots。　Then　he　roared　for　Jane。

She　came　running；　and　between　Bostil's　furious　questions　and　her　own　excited
answers　there　was　nothing　arrived　at。　But　presently　she　spied　the　white　dress；
and　then　she　ran　to　Lucy's　closet。　From　there　she　turned　a　white　face　to
Bostil。

〃She　put　on　her　riding…clothes！〃　gasped　Aunt　Jane。

〃Supposin'　she　did！　Where　is　she？〃　demanded　Bostil。

〃SHE'S　RUN　OFF　WITH　SLONE！〃

Bostil　could　not　have　been　shocked　or　hurt　any　more　acutely　by　a　knife…thrust。
He　glared　at　his　sister。

〃A…huh！　So　thet's　the　way　you　watch　her！〃

〃Watch　her？　It　wasn't　possible。　She'swell；　she's　as　smart　as　you　are。　。　。　。
Oh；　I　knew　she'd　do　it！　She　was　wild　in　love　with　him！〃

Bostil　strode　out　of　the　room　and　the　house。　He　went　through　the　grove　and
directly　up　the　path　to　Slone's　cabin。　It　was　empty；　just　as　Bostil　expected
to　find　it。

The　bars　of　the　corral　were　down。　Both　Slone's　horses　were　gone。　Presently
Bostil　saw　the　black　horse　Nagger　down　in　Brackton's　pasture。

There　were　riders　in　front　of　Brackton's。　All　spoke　at　once　to　Bostil；　and　he
only　yelled　for　Brackton。　The　old　man　came　hurriedly　out；　alarmed。

〃Where's　this　Slone？〃　demanded　Bostil。

〃Slone！〃　ejaculated　Brackton。　〃I'm　blessed　if　I　know。　Ain't　he　home？〃

〃No。　An'　he's　left　his　black　hoss　in　your　field。〃

〃Wal；　by　golly；　thet's　news　to　me。　。　。　。　Bostil；　there's　been　strange　doin's
lately。〃　Brackton　seemed　at　a　loss　for　words。　〃Mebbe　Slone　got　out　because　of
somethin'　thet　come　off　last　night。　。　。　。　Now；　Joel　Creech　an'an'〃

Bostil　waited　to　hear　no　more。　What　did　he　care　about　the　idiot　Creech？　He
strode　down　the　lane　to　the　corrals。　Farlane；　Van；　and　other　riders　were
there；　leisurely　as　usual。　Then　Holley　appeared；　coming　out　of　the　barn。　He；
too；　was　easy；　cool；　natural；　lazy。　None　of　these　riders　knew　what　was　amiss。
But　instantly　a　change　passed　over　them。　It　came　because　Bostil　pulled　a　gun。
〃Holley；　I've　a　mind　to　bore　you！〃

The　old　hawk…eyed　rider　did　not　flinch　or　turn　a　shade　off　color。　〃What　fer？〃
he　queried。　But　his　customary　drawl　was　wanting。

〃I　left　you　to　watch　Lucy。　。　。　。　An'　she's　gone！〃

Holley　showed　genuine　surprise　and　distress。　The　other　riders　echoed　Bostil's
last　word。　Bostil　lowered　the　gun。

〃I　reckon　what　saves　you　is　you're　the　only　tracker　thet'd　have　a　show　to　find
this　cussed　Slone。〃

Holley　now　showed　no　sign　of　surprise；　but　the　other　riders　were　astounded。

〃Lucy's　run　off　with　Slone；〃　added　Bostil。

〃Wal；　if　she's　gone；　an'　if　he's　gone；　it's　a　cinch；〃　replied　Holley；　throwing
up　his　hands。　〃Boss；　she　double…crossed　me　same　as　you！　。　。　。　She　promised
faithful　to　stay　in　the　house。〃

〃Promises　nothin'！〃　roared　Bostil。　〃She's　in　love　with　this　wild…hoss
wrangler！　She　met　him　last　night！〃

〃I　couldn't　help　thet；〃　retorted　Holley。　〃An'　I　trusted　the　girl。〃

Bostil　tossed　his　hands。　He　struggled　with　his　rage。　He　had　no　fear　that　Lucy
would　not　soon　be　found。　But　the　opposition　to　his　will　made　him　furious。

Van　left　the　group　of　riders　and　came　close　to　Bostil。　〃It　ain't　an　hour　back
thet　I　seen　Slone　ride　off　alone　on　his　red　hoss。〃

〃What　of　thet？〃　demanded　Bostil。　〃Sure　she　was　waitin'　somewheres。　They'd　have
too　much　sense　to　go　together。　。　。　。　Saddle　up；