riders of the purple sage-第15节

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nging　stamp。　It　was　not　easy　for　Jane　to　hold　him　to　a　canter　through　the　grove。　and　like　the　wind　he　broke　when　he　saw　the　sage。　Jane　let　him　have　a　couple　of　miles　of　free　running　on　the　open　trail；　and　then　she　coaxed　him　in　and　waited　for　her　companion。　Lassiter　was　not　long　in　catching　up；　and　presently　they　were　riding　side　by　side。　It　reminded　her　how　she　used　to　ride　with　Venters。　Where　was　he　now？　She　gazed　far　down　the　slope　to　the　curved　purple　lines　of　Deception　Pass　and　involuntarily　shut　her　eyes　with　a　trembling　stir　of　nameless　fear。

〃We'll　turn　off　here；〃　Lassiter　said；　〃en'　take　to　the　sage　a　mile　or　so。　The　white　herd　is　behind　them　big　ridges。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　show　me？〃　asked　Jane。　〃I'm　prepareddon't　be　afraid。〃

He　smiled　as　if　he　meant　that　bad　news　came　swiftly　enough　without　being　presaged　by　speech。

When　they　reached　the　lee　of　a　rolling　ridge　Lassiter　dismounted；　motioning　to　her　to　do　likewise。　They　left　the　horses　standing；　bridles　down。　Then　Lassiter；　carrying　the　field…glasses　began　to　lead　the　way　up　the　slow　rise　of　ground。　Upon　nearing　the　summit　he　halted　her　with　a　gesture。

〃I　reckon　we'd　see　more　if　we　didn't　show　ourselves　against　the　sky；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　here　less　than　an　hour　ago。　Then　the　herd　was　seven　or　eight　miles　south；　an'　if　they　ain't　bolted　yet〃

〃Lassiter！。。。Bolted？〃

〃That's　what　I　said。　Now　let's　see。〃

Jane　climbed　a　few　more　paces　behind　him　and　then　peeped　over　the　ridge。　Just　beyond　began　a　shallow　swale　that　deepened　and　widened　into　a　valley　and　then　swung　to　the　left。　Following　the　undulating　sweep　of　sage；　Jane　saw　the　straggling　lines　and　then　the　great　body　of　the　white　herd。　She　knew　enough　about　st　hers；　even　at　a　distance　of　four　or　five　miles；　to　realize　that　something　was　in　the　wind。　Bringing　her　field…glass　into　use；　she　moved　it　slowly　from　left　to　right；　which　action　swept　the　whole　herd　into　range。　The　stragglers　were　restless；　the　more　compactly　massed　steers　were　browsing。　Jane　brought　the　glass　back　to　the　big　sentinels　of　the　herd；　and　she　saw　them　trot　with　quick　steps；　stop　short　and　toss　wide　horns；　look　everywhere；　and　then　trot　in　another　direction。

〃Judkins　hasn't　been　able　to　get　his　boys　together　yet；〃　said　Jane。　〃But　he'll　be　there　soon。　I　hope　not　too　late。　Lassiter；　what's　frightening　those　big　leaders？〃

〃Nothin'　jest　on　the　minute；〃　replied　Lassiter。　〃Them　steers　are　quietin'　down。　They've　been　scared；　but　not　bad　yet。　I　reckon　the　whole　herd　has　moved　a　few　miles　this　way　since　I　was　here。〃

〃They　didn't　browse　that　distancenot　in　less　than　an　hour。　Cattle　aren't　sheep。〃

〃No；　they　jest　run　it；　en'　that　looks　bad。〃

〃Lassiter；　what　frightened　them？〃　repeated　Jane；　impatiently。

〃Put　down　your　glass。　You'll　see　at　first　better　with　a　naked　eye。　Now　look　along　them　ridges　on　the　other　side　of　the　herd；　the　ridges　where　the　sun　shines　bright　on　the　sage。。。。That's　right。　Now　look　en'　look　hard　en'　wait。〃

Long…drawn　moments　of　straining　sight　rewarded　Jane　with　nothing　save　the　low；　purple　rim　of　ridge　and　the　shimmering　sage。

〃It's　begun　again！〃　whispered　Lassiter；　and　he　gripped　her　arm。　〃watch。。。。There；　did　you　see　that？〃

〃No；　no。　Tell　me　what　to　look　for？〃

〃A　white　flasha　kind　of　pin…point　of　quick　lighta　gleam　as　from　sun　shinin'　on　somethin'　white。〃

Suddenly　Jane's　concentrated　gaze　caught　a　fleeting　glint。　Quickly　she　brought　her　glass　to　bear　on　the　spot。　Again　the　purple　sage；　magnified　in　color　and　size　and　wave；　for　long　moments　irritated　her　with　its　monotony。　Then　from　out　of　the　sage　on　the　ridge　flew　up　a　broad；　white　object；　flashed　in　the　sunlight　and　vanished。　Like　magic　it　was；　and　bewildered　Jane。

〃What　on　earth　is　that？〃

〃I　reckon　there's　some　one　behind　that　ridge　throwin'　up　a　sheet　or　a　white　blanket　to　reflect　the　sunshine。〃

〃Why？〃　queried　Jane；　more　bewildered　than　ever。

〃To　stampede　the　herd；〃　replied　Lassiter；　and　his　teeth　clicked。

〃Ah！'　She　made　a　fierce；　passionate　movement；　clutched　the　glass　tightly；　shook　as　with　the　passing　of　a　spasm；　and　then　dropped　her　head。　Presently　she　raised　it　to　greet　Lassiter　with　something　like　a　smile。　〃My　righteous　brethren　are　at　work　again；〃　she　said；　in　scorn。　She　had　stifled　the　leap　of　her　wrath；　but　for　perhaps　the　first　time　in　her　life　a　bitter　derision　curled　her　lips。　Lassiter's　cool　gray　eyes　seemed　to　pierce　her。　〃I　said　I　was　prepared　for　anything；　but　that　was　hardly　true。　But　why　would　theyanybody　stampede　my　cattle？〃

〃That's　a　Mormon's　godly　way　of　bringin'　a　woman　to　her　knees。〃

〃Lassiter；　I'll　die　before　I　ever　bend　my　knees。　I　might　be　led　I　won't　be　driven。　Do　you　expect　the　herd　to　bolt？〃

〃I　don't　like　the　looks　of　them　big　steers。　But　you　can　never　tell。　Cattle　sometimes　stampede　as　easily　as　buffalo。　Any　little　flash　or　move　will　start　them。　A　rider　gettin'　down　an'　walkin'　toward　them　sometimes　will　make　them　jump　an'　fly。　Then　again　nothin'　seems　to　scare　them。　But　I　reckon　that　white　flare　will　do　the　biz。　It's　a　new　one　on　me；　an'　I've　seen　some　ridin'　an'　rustlin'。　It　jest　takes　one　of　them　God…fearin'　Mormons　to　think　of　devilish　tricks。〃

〃Lassiter；　might　not　this　trick　be　done　by　Oldring's　men？〃　asked　Jane；　ever　grasping　at　straws。

〃It　might　be；　but　it　ain't；〃　replied　Lassiter。　〃Oldring's　an　honest　thief。　He　don't　skulk　behind　ridges　to　scatter　your　cattle　to　the　four　winds。　He　rides　down　on　you；　an'　if　you　don't　like　it　you　can　throw　a　gun。〃

Jane　bit　her　tongue　to　refrain　from　championing　men　who　at　the　very　moment　were　proving　to　her　that　they　were　little　and　mean　compared　even　with　rustlers。

〃Look！。。。Jane；　them　leadin'　steers　have　bolted。　They're　drawin'　the　stragglers；　an'　that'll　pull　the　whole　herd。〃

Jane　was　not　quick　enough　to　catch　the　details　called　out　by　Lassiter；　but　she　saw　the　line　of　cattle　lengthening。　Then；　like　a　stream　of　white　bees　pouring　from　a　huge　swarm；　the　steers　stretched　out　from　the　main　body。　In　a　few　moments；　with　astonishing　rapidity；　the　whole　herd　got　into　motion。　A　faint　roar　of　trampling　hoofs　came　to　Jane's　ears；　and　gradually　swelled；　low；　rolling　clouds　of　dust　began　to　rise　above　the　sage。

〃It's　a　stampede；　an'　a　hummer；〃　said　Lassiter。

〃Oh；　Lassiter！　The　herd's　running　with　the　valley！　It　leads　into　the　canyon！　There's　a　straight　jump…off！〃

〃I　reckon　they'll　run　into　it；　too。　But　that's　a　good　many　miles　yet。　An'；　Jane；　this　valley　swings　round　almost　north　before　it　goes　east。　That　stampede　will　pass　within　a　mile　of　us。〃

The　long；　white；　bobbing　line　of　steers　streaked　swiftly　through　the　sage；　and　a　funnel…shaped　dust…cloud　arose　at　a　low　angle。　A　dull　rumbling　filled　Jane's　ears。

〃I'm　thinkin'　of　millin'　that　herd；〃　said　Lassiter。　His　gray　glance　swept　up　the　slope　to　the　west。　〃There's　some　specks　an'　dust　way　off　toward　the　village。　Mebbe　that's　Judkins　an'　his　boys。　It　ain't　likely　he'll　get　here　in　time　to　help。　You'd　better　hold　Black　Star　here　on　this　high　ridge。〃

He　ran　to　his　horse　and；　throwing　off　saddle…bags　and　tightening　the　cinches；　he　leaped　astride　and　galloped　straight　down　across　the　valley。

Jane　went　for　Black　Star　and；　leading　him　to　the　summit　of　the　ridge；　she　mounted　and　faced　the　valley　with　excitement　and　expectancy。　She　had　heard　of　milling　stampeded　cattle；　and　knew　it　was　a　feat　accomplished　by　only　the　most　daring　riders。

The　white　herd　was　now　strung　out　in　a　line　two　miles　long。　The　dull　rumble　of　thousands　of　hoofs　deepened　into　continuous　low　thunder；　and　as　the　steers　swept　swiftly　closer　the　thunder　became　a　heavy　roll。　Lassiter　crossed　in　a　few　moments　the　level　of　the　valley　to　the　eastern　rise　of　ground　and　there　waited　the　coming　of　the　herd。　Presently；　as　the　head　of　the　white　line　reached　a　point　opposite　to　where　Jane　stood；　Lassiter　spurred　his　black　into　a　run

Jane　saw　him　take　a　position　on　the　off　side　of　the　leaders　of　the　stampede；　and　there　he　rode。　It　was　like　a　race。　They　swept　on　down　the　valley；　and　when　the　end　of　the　white　line　neared　Lassiter's　first　stand　the　head　had　begun　to　swing　round　to　the　west。　It　swung　slowly　and　stubbornly；　yet　surely；　and　gradually　assumed　a　long；　beautiful　curve　of　moving　white。　To　Jane's　amaze　she　saw　the　leaders　swinging；　turning　till　they　headed　back　toward　her　and　up　the　valley。　Out　to　the　right　of　these　wild　plunging　steers　ran　Lassiter's　black；　and　Jane's　keen　eye　appreciated　the　fleet　stride　and　sure…footedness　of　the　blind　horse。　Then　it　seemed　that　the　herd　moved　in　a　great　curve；　a　huge　half…moon　with　the　points　of　head　and　tail　almost　opposite；　and　a　mile　apart　But　Lassiter　relentlessly　crowded　the　leaders；　sheering　them　to　the　left；　turning　them　little　by　little。　And　the　dust…blinded　wild　followers　plunged　on　madly　in　the　tracks　of　their　leaders。　This　ever…moving；　ever…changing　curve　of　steers　rolled　toward　Jane　and　when　below　her；　scarce　half　a　mile；　it　began　to　narrow　and　close　into　a　circle。　Lassiter　had　ridden　parallel　with　her　position；　turned　toward　her；　then　aside；　and　now　he　was　riding　directly　away　from　her；　all　the　time　pushing　the　head　of　that　bobbing　line　inward。

It　was　then　that　Jane；　suddenly　understanding　Lassiter's　feat　stared　and　gasped　at　the　riding　of　this　intrepid　man。　His　horse