wildfire-第6节

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as　well　as　anybody；　though　he　would　not　admit　it。　Holley's　hint　made　Bostil
look　worried。　Most　of　Bostil's　gray　hairs　might　have　been　traced　to　his　years
of　worry　about　horses。

The　day　he　received　word　from　the　Indians　he　sent　for　Brackton；　Williams；
Muncie；　and　Creech　to　come　to　his　house　that　night。　These　men；　with　Bostil；
had　for　years　formed　in　a　way　a　club；　which　gave　the　Ford　distinction。　Creech
was　no　longer　a　friend　of　Bostil's；　but　Bostil　had　always　been　fair…minded；
and　now　he　did　not　allow　his　animosities　to　influence　him。　Holley；　the　veteran
rider；　made　the　sixth　member　of　the　club。

Bostil　had　a　cedar　log　blazing　cheerily　in　the　wide　fireplace；　for　these　early
spring　nights　in　the　desert　were　cold。

Brackton　was　the　last　guest　to　arrive。　He　shuffled　in　without　answering　the
laconic　greetings　accorded　him；　and　his　usually　mild　eyes　seemed　keen　and
hard。

〃John；　I　reckon　you　won't　love　me　fer　this　here　I've　got　to　tell　you；　to…night
specially；〃　he　said；　seriously。

〃You　old　robber；　I　couldn't　love　you　anyhow；〃　retorted　Bostil。　But　his　humor
did　not　harmonize　with　the　sudden　gravity　of　his　look。　〃What's　up？〃

〃Who　do　you　suppose　I　jest　sold　whisky　to？〃

〃I've　no　idea；〃　replied　Bostil。　Yet　he　looked　as　if　he　was　perfectly　sure。

〃Cordts！　。　。　。　Cordts；　an'　four　of　his　outfit。　Two　of　them　I　didn't　know。　Bad
men；　judgin'　from　appearances；　let　alone　company。　The　others　was　Hutchinson
an'Dick　Sears。〃

〃DICK　SEARS！〃　exclaimed　Bostil。

Muncie　and　Williams　echoed　Bostil。　Holley　appeared　suddenly　interested。　Creech
alone　showed　no　surprise。

〃But　Sears　is　dead；〃　added　Bostil。

〃He　was　deadwe　thought；〃　replied　Brackton；　with　a　grim　laugh。　〃But　he's
alive　again。　He　told　me　he'd　been　in　Idaho　fer　two　years；　in　the　gold…fields。
Said　the　work　was　too　hard；　so　he'd　come　back　here。　Laughed　when　he　said　it；
the　little　devil！　I'll　bet　he　was　thinkin'　of　thet　wagon…train　of　mine　he
stole。〃

Bostil　gazed　at　his　chief　rider。

〃Wal；　I　reckon　we　didn't　kill　Sears；　after　all；〃　replied　Holley。　〃I　wasn't
never　sure。〃

〃Lord！　Cordts　an'　Sears　in　camp；〃　ejaculated　Bostil；　and　he　began　to　pace　the
room。

〃No；　they're　gone　now；〃　said　Brackton。

〃Take　it　easy；　boss。　Sit　down；〃　drawled　Holley。　〃The　King　is　safe；　an'　all　the
racers。　I　swear　to　thet。　Why；　Cordts　couldn't　chop　into　thet　log…an'…wire
corral　if　he　an'　his　gang　chopped　all　night！　They　hate　work。　Besides；　Farlane
is　there；　an'　the　boys。〃

This　reassured　Bostil；　and　he　resumed　his　chair。　But　his　hand　shook　a　little。

〃Did　Cordts　have　anythin'　to　say？〃　he　asked。

〃Sure。　He　was　friendly　an'　talkative；〃　replied　Brackton。　〃He　came　in　just
after　dark。　Left　a　man　I　didn't　see　out　with　the　hosses。　He　bought　two　big
packs　of　supplies；　an'　some　leather　stuff；　an'；　of　course；　ammunition。　Then
some　whisky。　Had　plenty　of　gold　an'　wouldn't　take　no　change。　Then　while　his
men；　except　Sears；　was　carryin'　out　the　stuff；　he　talked。〃

〃Go　on。　Tell　me；〃　said　Bostil。

〃Wal；　he'd　been　out　north　of　Durango　an'　fetched　news。　There's　wild　talk　back
there　of　a　railroad　goin'　to　be　built　some　day；　joinin'　east　an'　west。　It's
interestin'；　but　no　sense　to　it。　How　could　they　build　a　railroad　through　thet
country？〃

〃North　it　ain't　so　cut　up　an'　lumpy　as　here；〃　put　in　Holley。

〃Grandest　idea　ever　thought　of　for　the　West；〃　avowed　Bostil。　〃If　thet　railroad
ever　starts　we'll　all　get　rich。　。　。　。　　Go　on；　Brack。〃

〃Then　Cordts　said　water　an'　grass　was　peterin'　out　back　on　the　trail；　same　as
Red　Wilson　said　last　week。　Finally　he　asked；　'How's　my　friend　Bostil？'　I　told
him　you　was　well。　He　looked　kind　of　thoughtful　then；　an'　I　knew　what　was
comin'。　。　。　。'How's　the　King？'　'Grand'　I　told　him'grand。'　'When　is　them
races　comin'　off？'　I　said　we　hadn't　planned　the　time　yet；　but　it　would　be
sooninside　of　a　month　or　two。　'Brackton；'　he　said；　sharp…like；　'is　Bostil
goin'　to　pull　a　gun　on　me　at　sight？'　'Reckon　he　is；'　I　told　him。　'Wal；　I'm　not
powerful　glad　to　know　thet。　。　。　。　I　hear　Creech's　blue　hoss　will　race　the　King
this　time。　How　about　it？'　'Sure　an'　certain　this　year。　I've　Creech's　an'
Bostil's　word　for　thet。'　Cordts　put　his　hand　on　my　shoulder。　You　ought　to　've
seen　his　eyes！。　。　。'I　want　to　see　thet　race。　。　。　。　I'm　goin'　to。'　'Wal；'　I
said；　'you'll　have　to　stop　bein'You'll　need　to　change　your　bizness。'　Then；
Bostil；　what　do　you　think？　Cordts　was　sort　of　eager　an'　wild。　He　said　thet　was
a　race　he　jest　couldn't　miss。　He　swore　he　wouldn't　turn　a　trick　or　let　a　man
of　his　gang　stir　a　hand　till　after　thet　race；　if　you'd　let　him　come。〃

A　light　flitted　across　Bostil's　face。

〃I　know　how　Cordts　feels；〃　he　said。

〃Wal；　it's　a　queer　deal；〃　went　on　Brackton。　〃Fer　a　long　time　you've　meant　to
draw　on　Cordts　when　you　meet。　We　all　know　thet。〃

〃Yes；　I'll　kill　him！〃　The　light　left　Bostil's　face。　His　voice　sounded
differently。　His　mouth　opened；　drooped　strangely　at　the　corners；　then　shut　in
a　grim；　tense　line。　Bostil　had　killed　more　than　one　man。　The　memory；　no　doubt；
was　haunting　and　ghastly。

〃Cordts　seemed　to　think　his　word　was　guarantee　of　his　good　faith。　He　said　he'd
send　an　Indian　in　here　to　find　out　if　he　can　come　to　the　races。　I　reckon；
Bostil；　thet　it　wouldn't　hurt　none　to　let　him　come。　An'　hold　your　gun　hand　fer
the　time　he　swears　he'll　be　honest。　Queer　deal；　ain't　it；　men？　A　hoss…thief
turnin'　honest　jest　to　see　a　race！　Beats　me！　Bostil；　it's　a　cheap　way　to　get
at　least　a　little　honesty　from　Cordts。　An'　refusin'　might　rile　him　bad。　When
all's　said　Cordts　ain't　as　bad　as　he　could　be。〃

〃I'll　let　him　come；〃　replied　Bostil；　breathing　deep。　〃But　it'll　be　hard　to　see
him；　rememberin'　how　he's　robbed　me；　an'　what　he's　threatened。　An'　I　ain't
lettin'　him　come　to　bribe　a　few　weeks'　decency　from　him。　I'm　doin'　it　for　only
one　reason。　。　。　。　Because　I　know　how　he　loves　the　Kinghow　he　wants　to　see
the　King　run　away　from　the　field　thet　day！　Thet's　why！〃

There　was　a　moment　of　silence；　during　which　all　turned　to　Creech。　He　was　a
stalwart　man；　no　longer　young；　with　a　lined　face；　deep…set；　troubled　eyes；　and
white；　thin　beard。

〃Bostil；　if　Cordts　loves　the　King　thet　well；　he's　in　fer　heartbreak；〃　said
Creech；　with　a　ring　in　his　voice。

Down　crashed　Bostil's　heavy　boots　and　fire　flamed　in　his　gaze。　The　other　men
laughed；　and　Brackton　interposed：

〃Hold　on；　you　boy　riders！〃　he　yelled。　〃We　ain't　a…goin'　to　have　any　arguments
like　thet。　。　。　。　Now；　Bostil；　it's　settled；　then？　You'll　let　Cordts　come？〃

〃Glad　to　have　him；〃　replied　Bostil。

〃Good。　An'　now　mebbe　we'd　better　get　down　to　the　bizness　of　this　here
meetin'。〃

They　seated　themselves　around　the　table；　upon　which　Bostil　laid　an　old　and
much…soiled　ledger　and　a　stub　of　a　lead…pencil。

〃First　well　set　the　time；〃　he　said；　with　animation；　〃an'　then　pitch　into
details。　。　。　。　What's　the　date？〃

No　one　answered；　and　presently　they　all　looked　blankly　from　one　to　the　other。

〃It's　April；　ain't　it？〃　queried　Holley。

That　assurance　was　as　close　as　they　could　get　to　the　time　of　year。

〃Lucy！〃　called　Bostil；　in　a　loud　voice。

She　came　running　in；　anxious；　almost　alarmed。

〃Goodness！　you　made　us　jump！　What　on　earth　is　the　matter？〃

〃Lucy；　we　want　to　know　the　date；〃　replied　Bostil。

〃Date！　Did　you　have　to　scare　Auntie　and　me　out　of　our　wits　just　for　that？〃

〃Who　scared　you？　This　is　important；　Lucy。　What's　the　date？〃

〃It's　a　week　to…day　since　last　Tuesday；〃　answered　Lucy；　sweetly。

〃Huh！　Then　it's　Tuesday　again；〃　said　Bostil；　laboriously　writing　it　down。
〃Now；　what's　the　date？〃

〃Don't　you　remember？〃

〃Remember？　I　never　knew。〃

〃Dad！　。　。　。　Last　Tuesday　was　my　birthdaythe　day　you　DID　NOT　give　me　a
horse！〃

〃Aw；　so　it　was；〃　rejoined　Bostil；　confused　at　her　reproach。　〃An'　thet　date
waslet's　seeApril　sixth。　。　。　。　Then　this　is　April　thirteenth。　Much
obliged；　Lucy。　Run　back　to　your　aunt　now。　This　hoss　talk　won't　interest　you。〃

Lucy　tossed　her　head。　〃I'll　bet　I'll　have　to　straighten　out　the　whole　thing。〃
Then　with　a　laugh　she　disappeared。

〃Three　days　beginninsay　June　first。　June　firstsecond；　an'　third。　How　about
thet　for　the　races？〃

Everybody　agreed；　and　Bostil　laboriously　wrote　that　down。　Then　they　planned
the　details。　Purses　and　prizes；　largely　donated　by　Bostil　and　Muncie；　the　rich
members　of　the　community；　were　recorded。　The　old　rules　were　adhered　to。　Any
rider　or　any　Indian　could　enter　any　horse　in　any　race；　or　as　many　horses　as　he
liked　in　as　many　races。　But　by　winning　one　race　he　excluded　himself　from　the
others。　Bostil　argued　for　a　certain　weight　in　riders；　but　the　others　ruled　out
this　suggestion。　Special　races　were　arranged　for　the　Indians；　with　saddles；
bridles；　blankets；　guns　as　prizes。

All　this　appeared　of　absorbing　interest　to　Bostil。　He　perspired　freely。　There
was　a　gleam　in　his　eye；　betraying　excitement。　When　it　came　to　arranging　the
details　of　the　big　race　between　the　high…class　racers；　then　he　grew　intense
and　harder　to　deal　with。　Many　points　had　to　go　by　vote。　Muncie　and　Williams
both　had　fleet　horses　to　enter　in　this　race；　Holley　had　one；　Creech　had　two；
there　were　sure　to　be　several　Indians　enter　fast　mustangs；　and　Bostil　had　the
King　and　four　others　to　choose　from。　Bostil　held　out　stubbornly　for　a　long
race。