wildfire-第60节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



But　no！　He　thought　he　must　be　insane　not　to　be　overcome　in　spirit。　Yet　he　was
not。　He　would　beat　the　flame　to　Lucy。　He　felt　the　loss　of　something；　some　kind
of　a　sensation　which　he　ought　to　have　had。　Still　he　rode　that　race　to　kill　his
sweetheart　better　than　any　race　he　had　ever　before　ridden。　He　kept　his　seat；
he　dodged　the　snags；　he　pulled　the　maddened　horse　the　shortest　way；　he　kept
the　King　running　straight。

No　horse　had　ever　run　so　magnificent　a　race！　Wildfire　was　outracing　wind　and
fire；　and　he　was　overhauling　the　most　noted　racer　of　the　uplands　against　a
tremendous　handicap。　But　now　he　was　no　longer　racing　to　kill　the　King；　he　was
running　in　terror。　For　miles　he　held　that　long；　swift；　wonderful　stride
without　a　break。　He　was　running　to　his　death；　whether　or　not　he　distanced　the
fire。　Nothing　could　stop　him　now　but　a　bursting　heart。

Slone　untied　his　lasso　and　coiled　the　noose。　Almost　within　reach　of　the　King！
One　throwone　sudden　swerveand　the　King　would　go　down。　Lucy　would　know　only
a　stunning　shock。　Slone's　heart　broke。　Could　he　kill　hercrush　that　dear
golden　head？　He　could　not；　yet　he　must！　He　saw　a　long；　curved；　red　welt　on
Lucy's　white　shoulders。　What　was　that？　Had　a　branch　lashed　her？　Slone　could
not　see　her　face。　She　could　not　have　been　dead　or　in　a　faint；　for　she　was
riding　the　King；　bound　as　she　was！

Closer　and　closer　drew　Wildfire。　He　seemed　to　go　faster　and　faster　as　that
wind　of　flame　gained　upon　them。　The　air　was　too　thick　to　breathe。　It　had　an
irresistible　weight。　It　pushed　horses　and　riders　onward　in　their
flightstraws　on　the　crest　of　a　cyclone。

Again　Slone　looked　back　and　again　the　spectacle　was　different。　There　was　a
white　and　golden　fury　of　flame　above；　beautiful　and　blinding；　and　below；
farther　back；　an　inferno　of　glowing　fire；　black…streaked；　with　trembling；
exploding　puffs　and　streams　of　yellow　smoke。　The　aisles　between　the　burning
pines　were　smoky；　murky　caverns；　moving　and　weird。　Slone　saw　fire　shoot　from
the　tree…tops　down　the　trunks；　and　he　saw　fire　shoot　up　the　trunks；　like
trains　of　powder。　They　exploded　like　huge　rockets。　And　along　the　forest　floor
leaped　the　little　flames。　His　eyes　burned　and　blurred　till　all　merged　into　a
wide；　pursuing　storm　too　awful　for　the　gaze　of　man。

Wildfire　was　running　down　the　King。　The　great　gray　had　not　lessened　his　speed；
but　he　was　breaking。　Slone　felt　a　ghastly　triumph　when　he　began　to　whirl　the
noose　of　the　lasso　round　his　head。　Already　he　was　within　range。　But　he　held
back　his　throw　which　meant　the　end　of　all。　And　as　he　hesitated　Wildfire
suddenly　whistled　one　shrieking　blast。

Slone　looked。　Ahead　there　was　light　through　the　forest！　Slone　saw　a　white；
open　space　of　grass。　A　park？　Nothe　end　of　the　forest！　Wildfire；　like　a
demon；　hurtled　onward；　with　his　smoothness　of　action　gone；　beginning　to　break；
within　a　length　of　the　King。

A　cry　escaped　Slonea　cry　as　silent　as　if　there　had　been　no　deafening
roaras　wild　as　the　race；　and　as　terrible　as　the　ruthless　fire。　It　was　the
cry　of　lifeinstead　of　death。　Both　Sage　King　and　Wildfire　would　beat　the
flame。

Then；　with　the　open　just　ahead；　Slone　felt　a　wave　of　hot　wind　rolling　over
him。　He　saw　the　lashing　tongues　of　flame　above　him　in　the　pines。　The　storm　had
caught　him。　It　forged　ahead。　He　was　riding　under　a　canopy　of　fire。　Burning
pine　cones；　like　torches；　dropped　all　around　him。　He　had　a　terrible　blank
sense　of　weight；　of　suffocation；　of　the　air　turning　to　fire。

Then　Wildfire；　with　his　nose　at　Sage　King's　flank；　flashed　out　of　the　pines
into　the　open。　Slone　saw　a　grassy　wide　reach　inclining　gently　toward　a　dark
break　in　the　ground　with　crags　rising　sheer　above　it；　and　to　the　right　a　great
open　space。

Slone　felt　that　clear　air　as　the　breath　of　deliverance。　His　reeling　sense
righted。　Therethe　King　ran；　blindly　going　to　his　death。　Wildfire　was
breaking　fast。　His　momentum　carried　him。　He　was　almost　done。

Slone　roped　the　King；　and　holding　hard；　waited　for　the　end。　They　ran　on；
breaking；　breaking。　Slone　thought　he　would　have　to　throw　the　King；　for　they
were　perilously　near　the　deep　cleft　in　the　rim。　But　Sage　King　went　to　his
knees。

Slone　leaped　off　just　as　Wildfire　fell。　How　the　blade　flashed　that　released
Lucy！　She　was　wet　from　the　horse's　sweat　and　foam。　She　slid　off　into　Slone's
arms；　and　he　called　her　name。　Could　she　hear　above　that　roar　back　there　in　the
forest？　The　pieces　of　rope　hung　to　her　wrists　and　Slone　saw　dark　bruises；　raw
and　bloody。　She　fell　against　him。　Was　she　dead？　His　heart　contracted。　How
white　the　face！　No；　he　saw　her　breast　heave　against　his！　And　he　cried　aloud；
incoherently　in　his　joy。　She　was　alive。　She　was　not　badly　hurt。　She　stirred。
She　plucked　at　him　with　nerveless　hands。　She　pressed　close　to　him。　He　heard　a
smothered　voice；　yet　so　full；　so　wonderful！

〃Putyourcoaton　me！〃　came　somehow　to　his　ears。

Slone　started　violently。　Abashed；　shamed　to　realize　he　had　forgotten　she　was
half　nude；　he　blindly　tore　off　his　coat；　blindly　folded　it　around　her。

〃Lin！　Lin！〃　she　cried。

〃LucyOh！　are　y…you〃　he　replied；　huskily。

〃I'm　not　hurt。　I'm　all　right。〃

〃But　that　wretch；　Joel。　He〃

〃He'd　killed　his　fatherjust　aminutebefore　you　came。　I　fought　him！　Oh！　。
。　。　But　I'm　all　right。　。　。　。　Did　you〃

〃Wildfire　ran　him　downsmashed　him。　。　。　。　Lucy！　this　can't　be　true。　。　。　。　Yet
I　feel　you！　Thank　God！〃

With　her　free　hand　Lucy　returned　his　clasp。　She　seemed　to　be　strong。　It　was　a
precious　moment　for　Slone；　in　which　he　was　uplifted　beyond　all　dreams。

〃Let　me　loosea　second；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　toget　in　your　coat。〃

She　laughed　as　he　released　her。　She　laughed！　And　Slone　thrilled　with
unutterable　sweetness　at　that　laugh。

As　he　turned　away　he　felt　a　swift　wind；　then　a　strange　impact　from　an
invisible　force　that　staggered　him；　then　the　rend　of　flesh。　After　that　came
the　heavy　report　of　a　gun。

Slone　fell。　He　knew　he　had　been　shot。　Following　the　rending　of　his　flesh　came
a　hot　agony。　It　was　in　his　shoulder；　high　up；　and　the　dark；　swift　fear　for　his
life　was　checked。

Lucy　stood　staring　down　at　him；　unable　to　comprehend；　slowly　paling。　Her　hands
clasped　the　coat　round　her。　Slone　saw　her；　saw　the　edge　of　streaming　clouds　of
smoke　above　her；　saw　on　the　cliff　beyond　the　gorge　two　men；　one　with　a　smoking
gun　half　leveled。

If　Slone　had　been　inattentive　to　his　surroundings　before；　the　sight　of　Cordts
electrified　him。

〃Lucy！　drop　down！　quick！〃

〃Oh；　what's　happened？　Youyou〃

〃I've　been　shot。　Drop　down；　I　tell　you。　Get　behind　the　horse　an'　pull　my
rifle。〃

〃Shot！〃　exclaimed　Lucy；　blankly。

〃YesYes。　。　。　。　My　God！　Lucy；　he's　goin'　to　shoot　again！〃

It　was　then　Lucy　Bostil　saw　Cordts　across　the　gulch。　He　was　not　fifty　yards
distant；　plainly　recognizable；　tall；　gaunt；　sardonic。　He　held　the　half…leveled
gun　ready　as　if　waiting。　He　had　waited　there　in　ambush。　The　clouds　of　smoke
rolled　up　above　him；　hiding　the　crags。

〃CORDTS！〃　Bostil's　blood　spoke　in　the　girl's　thrilling　cry。

〃Hunch　down；　Lucy！〃　cried　Slone。　〃Pull　my　rifle。　。　。　。　I'm　only　wingednot
hurt。　Hurry！　He's　goin'〃

Another　heavy　report　interrupted　Slone。　The　bullet　missed；　but　Slone　made　a
pretense；　a　convulsive　flop；　as　if　struck。

〃Get　the　rifle！　Quick！〃　he　called。

But　Lucy　misunderstood　his　ruse　to　deceive　Cordts。　She　thought　he　had　been　hit
again。　She　ran　to　the　fallen　Wildfire　and　jerked　the　rifle　from　its　sheath。

Cordts　had　begun　to　climb　round　a　ledge；　evidently　a　short　cut　to　get　down　and
across。　Hutchinson　saw　the　rifle　and　yelled　to　Cordts。　The　horse…thief　halted；
his　dark　face　gleaming　toward　Lucy。

When　Lucy　rose　the　coat　fell　from　her　nude　shoulders。　And　Slone；　watching；
suddenly　lost　his　agony　of　terror　for　her　and　uttered　a　pealing　cry　of
defiance　and　of　rapture。

She　swept　up　the　rifle。　It　wavered。　Hutchinson　was　above；　and　Cordts；　reaching
up；　yelled　for　help。　Hutchinson　was　reluctant。　But　the　stronger　force
dominated。　He　leaned　downclasped　Cordts's　outstretched　hands；　and　pulled。
Hutchinson　bawled　out　hoarsely。　Cordts　turned　what　seemed　a　paler　face。　He　had
difficulty　on　the　slight　footing。　He　was　slow。

Slone　tried　to　call　to　Lucy　to　shoot　low；　but　his　lips　had　drawn　tight　after
his　one　yell。　Slone　saw　her　white；　rounded　shoulders　bent；　with　cold；　white
face　pressed　against　the　rifle；　with　slim　arms　quivering　and　growing　tense；
with　the　tangled　golden　hair　blowing　out。

Then　she　shot。

Slone's　glance　shifted。　He　did　not　see　the　bullet　strike　up　dust。　The　figures
of　the　men　remained　the　sameHutchinson　straining；　Cordts。　。　。　。　No；　Cordts
was　not　the　same！　A　strange　change　seemed　manifest　in　his　long　form。　It　did
not　seem　instinct　with　effort。　Yet　it　moved。

Hutchinson　also　was　acting　strangely；　yelling；　heaving；　wrestling。　But　he
could　not　help　Cordts。　He　lifted　violently；　raised　Cordts　a　little；　and　then
appeared　to　be　in　peril　of　losing　his　balance。

Cordts　leaned　against　the　cliff。　Then　it　dawned　upon　Slone　that　Lucy　had　hit
the　horse…thief。　Hard　hit！　He　would　nothe　could　not　let　go　of　Hutchinson。
His　was　a　death　clutch。　The　burly　Hutchinson　slipped　from　his　knee…hold；　and
as　he　moved　Cordts　swayed；　his　feet　left　the　ledge；　he　hung；　upheld　only　by
the　tottering　comrade。

W