wildfire-第9节

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Lucy；　but　he　tore　her　blouse　into　shreds。　It　seemed　to　Lucy　that　he　did　that
savagely。　She　broke　free　from　him；　and　he　lunged　at　her　again。　With　all　her
strength　she　lashed　his　face　with　the　heavy　leather　quirt。　That　staggered　him。
He　almost　fell。

Lucy　bounded　to　Sarchedon。　In　a　rush　she　was　up　in　the　saddle。　Joel　was
running　toward　her。　Blood　on　his　face！　Blood　on　his　hands！　He　was　not　the　Joel
Creech　she　knew。

〃Stop！〃　cried　Lucy；　fiercely。　〃I'll　run　you　down！〃

The　big　black　plunged　at　a　touch　of　spur　and　came　down　quivering；　ready　to
bolt。

Creech　swerved　to　one　side。　His　face　was　lividly　white　except　where　the　bloody
welts　crossed　it。　His　jaw　seemed　to　hang　loosely；　making　speech　difficult。

〃Jest　ferthet〃　he　panted；　hoarsely；　〃I'll　lay　fer　youan'　I'll　strip
you…an'　I'll　tie　you　on　a　hossan'　I'll　drive　you　naked　through　Bostil's
Ford！〃

Lucy　saw　the　utter　futility　of　all　her　good　intentions。　Something　had　snapped
in　Joel　Creech's　mind。　And　in　hers　kindness　had　given　precedence　to　a　fury　she
did　not　know　was　in　her。　For　the　second　time　she　touched　a　spur　to　Sarchedon。
He　leaped　out；　flashed　past　Creech；　and　thundered　up　the　road。　It　was　all　Lucy
could　do　to　break　his　gait　at　the　first　steep　rise。



CHAPTER　IV

Three　wild…horse　hunters　made　camp　one　night　beside　a　little　stream　in　the
Sevier　Valley；　five　hundred　miles；　as　a　crow　flies；　from　Bostil's　Ford。

These　hunters　had　a　poor　outfit；　excepting；　of　course；　their　horses。　They　were
young　men；　rangy　in　build；　lean　and　hard　from　life　in　the　saddle；　bronzed　like
Indians；　still…faced；　and　keen…eyed。　Two　of　them　appeared　to　be　tired　out；　and
lagged　at　the　camp…fire　duties。　When　the　meager　meal　was　prepared　they　sat；
cross…legged；　before　a　ragged　tarpaulin；　eating　and　drinking　in　silence。

The　sky　in　the　west　was　rosy；　slowly　darkening。　The　valley　floor　billowed
away；　ridged　and　cut；　growing　gray　and　purple　and　dark。　Walls　of　stone；　pink
with　the　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun；　inclosed　the　valley；　stretching　away
toward　a　long；　low；　black　mountain　range。

The　place　was　wild；　beautiful；　open；　with　something　nameless　that　made　the
desert　different　from　any　other　country。　It　was；　perhaps；　a　loneliness　of　vast
stretches　of　valley　and　stone；　clear　to　the　eye；　even　after　sunset。　That　black
mountain　range；　which　looked　close　enough　to　ride　to　before　dark；　was　a
hundred　miles　distant。

The　shades　of　night　fell　swiftly；　and　it　was　dark　by　the　time　the　hunters
finished　the　meal。　Then　the　campfire　had　burned　low。　One　of　the　three　dragged
branches　of　dead　cedars　and　replenished　the　fire。　Quickly　it　flared　up；　with
the　white　flame　and　crackle　characteristic　of　dry　cedar。　The　night　wind　had
risen；　moaning　through　the　gnarled；　stunted　cedars　near　by；　and　it　blew　the
fragrant　wood…smoke　into　the　faces　of　the　two　hunters；　who　seemed　too　tired　to
move。

〃I　reckon　a　pipe　would　help　me　make　up　my　mind；〃　said　one。

〃Wal；　Bill；〃　replied　the　other；　dryly；　〃your　mind's　made　up；　else　you'd　not
say　smoke。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　there　ain't　three　pipefuls　of　thet　precious　tobacco　left。〃

〃Thet's　one　apiece；　then。　。　。　。　Lin；　come　an'　smoke　the　last　pipe　with　us。〃

The　tallest　of　the　three；　he　who　had　brought　the　firewood；　stood　in　the　bright
light　of　the　blaze。　He　looked　the　born　rider；　light；　lithe；　powerful。

〃Sure；　I'll　smoke；〃　he　replied。

Then；　presently；　he　accepted　the　pipe　tendered　him；　and；　sitting　down　beside
the　fire；　he　composed　himself　to　the　enjoyment　which　his　companions　evidently
considered　worthy　of　a　decision　they　had　reached。

〃So　this　smokin'　means　you　both　want　to　turn　back？〃　queried　Lin；　his　sharp
gaze　glancing　darkly　bright　in　the　glow　of　the　fire。

〃Yep；　we'll　turn　back。　An'；　Lordy！　the　relief　I　feel！〃　replied　one。

〃We've　been　long　comin'　to　it；　Lin；　an'　thet　was　for　your　sake；〃　replied　the
other。

Lin　slowly　pulled　at　his　pipe　and　blew　out　the　smoke　as　if　reluctant　to　part
with　it。　〃Let's　go　on；〃　he　said；　quietly。

〃No。　I've　had　all　I　want　of　chasin'　thet　damn　wild　stallion；〃　returned　Bill；
shortly。

The　other　spread　wide　his　hands　and　bent　an　expostulating　look　upon　the　one
called　Lin。　〃We're　two　hundred　miles　out；〃　he　said。　〃There's　only　a　little
flour　left　in　the　bag。　No　coffee！　Only　a　little　salt！　All　the　hosses　except
your　big　Nagger　are　played　out。　We're　already　in　strange　country。　An'　you　know
what　we've　heerd　of　this　an'　all　to　the　south。　It's　all　canyons；　an'
somewheres　down　there　is　thet　awful　canyon　none　of　our　people　ever　seen。　But
we've　heerd　of　it。　An　awful　cut…up　country。〃

He　finished　with　a　conviction　that　no　one　could　say　a　word　against　the　common
sense　of　his　argument。　Lin　was　silent；　as　if　impressed。

Bill　raised　a　strong；　lean；　brown　hand　in　a　forcible　gesture。　〃We　can't　ketch
Wildfire！〃

That　seemed　to　him；　evidently；　a　more　convincing　argument　than　his　comrade's。

〃Bill　is　sure　right；　if　I'm　wrong；　which　I　ain't；〃　went　on　the　other。　〃Lin；
we've　trailed　thet　wild　stallion　for　six　weeks。　Thet's　the　longest　chase　he
ever　had。　He's　left　his　old　range。　He's　cut　out　his　band；　an'　left　them；　one
by　one。　We've　tried　every　trick　we　know　on　him。　An'　he's　too　smart　for　us。
There's　a　hoss！　Why；　Lin；　we're　all　but　gone　to　the　dogs　chasin'　Wildfire。　An'
now　I'm　done；　an'　I'm　glad　of　it。〃

There　was　another　short　silence；　which　presently　Bill　opened　his　lips　to
break。

〃Lin；　it　makes　me　sick　to　quit。　I　ain't　denyin'　thet　for　a　long　time　I've　had
hopes　of　ketchin'　Wildfire。　He's　the　grandest　hoss　I　ever　laid　eyes　on。　I
reckon　no　man；　onless　he　was　an　Arab；　ever　seen　as　good　a　one。　But　now；　thet's
neither　here　nor　there。　。　。　。　We've　got　to　hit　the　back　trail。〃

〃Boys；　I　reckon　I'll　stick　to　Wildfire's　tracks；〃　said　Lin；　in　the　same　quiet
tone。

Bill　swore　at　him；　and　the　other　hunter　grew　excited　and　concerned。

〃Lin　Slone；　are　you　gone　plumb　crazy　over　thet　red　hoss？〃

〃Ireckon；〃　replied　Slone。　The　working　of　his　throat　as　he　swallowed　could　be
plainly　seen　by　his　companions。

Bill　looked　at　his　ally　as　if　to　confirm　some　sudden　understanding　between
them。　They　took　Slone's　attitude　gravely　and　they　wagged　their　heads
doubtfully；　as　they　might　have　done　had　Slone　just　acquainted　them　with　a
hopeless　and　deathless　passion　for　a　woman。　It　was　significant　of　the　nature
of　riders　that　they　accepted　his　attitude　and　had　consideration　for　his
feelings。　For　them　the　situation　subtly　changed。　For　weeks　they　had　been　three
wild…horse　wranglers　on　a　hard　chase　after　a　valuable　stallion。　They　had
failed　to　get　even　close　to　him。　They　had　gone　to　the　limit　of　their　endurance
and　of　the　outfit；　and　it　was　time　to　turn　back。　But　Slone　had　conceived　that
strange　and　rare　longing　for　a　horsea　passion　understood；　if　not　shared；　by
all　riders。　And　they　knew　that　he　would　catch　Wildfire　or　die　in　the　attempt。
From　that　moment　their　attitude　toward　Slone　changed　as　subtly　as　had　come　the
knowledge　of　his　feeling。　The　gravity　and　gloom　left　their　faces。　It　seemed
they　might　have　regretted　what　they　had　said　about　the　futility　of　catching
Wildfire。　They　did　not　want　Slone　to　see　or　feel　the　hopelessness　of　his　task。

〃I　tell　you；　Lin；〃　said　Bill；　〃your　hoss　Nagger's　as　good　as　when　we　started。〃

〃Aw；　he's　better；〃　vouchsafed　the　other　rider。　〃Nagger　needed　to　lose　some
weight。　Lin；　have　you　got　an　extra　set　of　shoes　for　him？〃

〃No　full　set。　Only　three　left；〃　replied　Lin；　soberly。

〃Wal；　thet's　enough。　You　can　keep　Nagger　shod。　An'　MEBBE　thet　red　stallion
will　get　sore　feet　an'　go　lame。　Then　you'd　stand　a　chance。〃

〃But　Wildfire　keeps　travelin'　the　valleysthe　soft　ground；〃　said　Slone。

〃No　matter。　He's　leavin'　the　country；　an'　he's　bound　to　strike　sandstone
sooner　or　later。　Then；　by　gosh！　mebbe　he'll　wear　off　them　hoofs。〃

〃Say；　can't　he　ring　bells　offen　the　rocks？〃　exclaimed　Bill。　〃Oh；　Lordy！　what　a
hoss！〃

〃Boys；　do　you　think　he's　leavin'　the　country？〃　inquired　Slone；　anxiously。

〃Sure　he　is；〃　replied　Bill。　〃He　ain't　the　first　stallion　I've　chased　off　the
Sevier　range。　An'　I　know。　It's　a　stallion　thet　makes　for　new　country；　when　you
push　him　hard。〃

〃Yep；　Lin；　he's　sure　leavin'；〃　added　the　other　comrade。　〃Why；　he's　traveled　a
bee…line　for　days！　I'll　bet　he's　seen　us　many　a　time。　Wildfire's　about　as
smart　as　any　man。　He　was　born　wild；　an'　his　dam　was　born　wild；　an'　there　you
have　it。　The　wildest　of　all　wild　creaturesa　wild　stallion；　with　the
intelligence　of　a　man！　A　grand　hoss；　Lin；　but　one　thet'll　be　hell；　if　you　ever
ketch　him。　He　has　killed　stallions　all　over　the　Sevier　range。　A　wild　stallion
thet's　a　killer！　I　never　liked　him　for　thet。　Could　he　be　broke？〃

〃I'll　break　him；〃　said　Lin　Slone；　grimly。　〃It's　gettin'　him　thet's　the　job。
I've　got　patience　to　break　a　hoss。　But　patience　can't　catch　a　streak　of
lightnin'。〃

〃Nope；　you're　right；〃　replied　Bill。　〃If　you　have　some　luck　you'll　get
himmebbe。　If　he　wears　out　his　feet；　or　if　you　crowd　him　into　a　narrow
canyon；　or　ran　him　into　a　bad　place　where　he　can't　get　by　you。　Thet　might
happen。　An'　then；　with　Nagger；　you　stand　a　chance。　Did　you　ever　tire　thet
hoss？〃

〃Not　yet。〃

〃An'　how　fur　did　you　ever　run　him　without　a　break？　Why；　when　we　ketched　thet
sorrel　last　year　I　rod