riders of the purple sage-第35节

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　The　gray　ashes　in　Venters's　hand　had　once　been　bone　of　a　human　being　like　himself。　The　pale　gloom　of　the　cave　had　shadowed　people　long　ago。　He　saw　that　Bess　had　received　the　same　shockcould　not　in　moments　such　as　this　escape　her　feeling　living；　thinking　destiny。

〃Bern；　people　have　lived　here；〃　she　said；　with　wide；　thoughtful　eyes。

〃Yes；〃　he　replied。

〃How　long　ago？〃

〃A　thousand　years　and　more。〃

〃What　were　they？〃

〃Cliff…dwellers。　Men　who　had　enemies　and　made　their　homes　high　out　of　reach。〃

〃They　had　to　fight？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃They　fought　forwhat？〃

〃Tor　life。　For　their　homes；　food；　children；　parentsfor　their　women！〃

〃Has　the　world　changed　any　in　a　thousand　years？〃

〃I　don't　knowperhaps　a　little。〃

〃Have　men？〃

〃I　hope　soI　think　so。〃

〃Things　crowd　into　my　mind；〃　she　went　on；　and　the　wistful　light　in　her　eyes　told　Venters　the　truth　of　her　thoughts。　〃I've　ridden　the　border　of　Utah。　I've　seen　peopleknow　how　they　livebut　they　must　be　few　of　all　who　are　living。　I　had　my　books　and　I　studied　them。　But　all　that　doesn't　help　me　any　more。　I　want　to　go　out　into　the　big　world　and　see　it。　Yet　I　want　to　stay　here　more。　What's　to　become　of　us？　Are　we　cliff…dwellers？　We're　alone　here。　I'm　happy　when　I　don't　think。　Thesethese　bones　that　fly　into　dustthey　make　me　sick　and　a　little　afraid。　Did　the　people　who　lived　here　once　have　the　same　feelings　as　we　have？　What　was　the　good　of　their　living　at　all？　They're　gone！　What's　the　meaning　of　it　allof　us？〃

〃Bess；　you　ask　more　than　I　can　tell。　It's　beyond　me。　Only　there　was　laughter　here　onceand　now　there's　silence。　There　was　lifeand　now　there's　death。　Men　cut　these　little　steps；　made　these　arrow…heads　and　mealing…stones；　plaited　the　ropes　we　found；　and　left　their　bones　to　crumble　in　our　fingers。　As　far　as　time　is　concerned　it　might　all　have　been　yesterday。　We're　here　to…day。　Maybe　we're　higher　in　the　scale　of　human　beingsin　intelligence。　But　who　knows？　We　can't　be　any　higher　in　the　things　for　which　life　is　lived　at　all。〃

〃What　are　they？〃

〃WhyI　suppose　relationship；　friendshiplove。〃

〃Love！〃

〃Yes。　Love　of　man　for　womanlove　of　woman　for　man。　That's　the　nature；　the　meaning；　the　best　of　life　itself。〃

She　said　no　more。　Wistfulness　of　glance　deepened　into　sadness。

〃Come；　let　us　go；〃　said　Venters。

Action　brightened　her。　Beside　him；　holding　his　hand　she　slipped　down　the　shelf；　ran　down　the　long；　steep　slant　of　sliding　stones；　out　of　the　cloud　of　dust；　and　likewise　out　of　the　pale　gloom。

〃We　beat　the　slide；〃　she　cried。

The　miniature　avalanche　cracked　and　roared；　and　rattled　itself　into　an　inert　mass　at　the　base　of　the　incline。　Yellow　dust　like　the　gloom　of　the　cave；　but　not　so　changeless；　drifted　away　on　the　wind；　the　roar　clapped　in　echo　from　the　cliff；　returned；　went　back；　and　came　again　to　die　in　the　hollowness。　Down　on　the　sunny　terrace　there　was　a　different　atmosphere。　Ring　and　Whitie　leaped　around　Bess。　Once　more　she　was　smiling；　gay；　and　thoughtless；　with　the　dream…mood　in　the　shadow　of　her　eyes。

〃Bess；　I　haven't　seen　that　since　last　summer。　Look！〃　said　Venters；　pointing　to　the　scalloped　edge　of　rolling　purple　clouds　that　peeped　over　the　western　wall。　〃We're　in　for　a　storm。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　not。　I'm　afraid　of　storms。〃

〃Are　you？　Why？〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　down　in　one　of　these　walled…up　pockets　in　a　bad　storm？〃

〃No；　now　I　think　of　it；　I　haven't。〃

〃Well；　it's　terrible。　Every　summer　I　get　scared　to　death　and　hide　somewhere　in　the　dark。　Storms　up　on　the　sage　are　bad；　but　nothing　to　what　they　are　down　here　in　the　canyons。　And　in　this　little　valleywhy；　echoes　can　rap　back　and　forth　so　quick　they'll　split　our　ears。〃

〃We're　perfectly　safe　here；　Bess。〃

〃I　know。　But　that　hasn't　anything　to　do　with　it。　The　truth　is　I'm　afraid　of　lightning　and　thunder；　and　thunder…claps　hurt　my　head。　If　we　have　a　bad　storm；　will　you　stay　close　to　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

When　they　got　back　to　camp　the　afternoon　was　closing；　and　it　was　exceedingly　sultry。　Not　a　breath　of　air　stirred　the　aspen　leaves；　and　when　these　did　not　quiver　the　air　was　indeed　still。　The　dark…purple　clouds　moved　almost　imperceptibly　out　of　the　west。

〃What　have　we　for　supper？〃　asked　Bess。

〃Bern；　can't　you　think　of　another　new　way　to　cook　rabbit？〃　went　on　Bess；　with　earnestness。

〃What　do　you　think　I　ama　magician？〃　retorted　Venters。

〃I　wouldn't　dare　tell　you。　But；　Bern；　do　you　want　me　to　turn　into　a　rabbit？〃

There　was　a　dark…blue；　merry　flashing　of　eyes　and　a　parting　of　lips；　then　she　laughed。　In　that　moment　she　was　naive　and　wholesome。

〃Rabbit　seems　to　agree　with　you；〃　replied　Venters。　〃You　are　well　and　strongand　growing　very　pretty。〃

Anything　in　the　nature　of　compliment　he　had　never　before　said　to　her；　and　just　now　he　responded　to　a　sudden　curiosity　to　see　its　effect。　Bess　stared　as　if　she　had　not　heard　aright；　slowly　blushed；　and　completely　lost　her　poise　in　happy　confusion。

〃I'd　better　go　right　away；〃　he　continued；　〃and　fetch　supplies　from　Cottonwoods。〃

A　startlingly　swift　change　in　the　nature　of　her　agitation　made　him　reproach　himself　for　his　abruptness。

〃No；　no；　don't　go！〃　she　said。　〃I　didn't　meanthat　about　the　rabbit。　II　was　only　trying　to　befunny。　Don't　leave　me　all　alone！〃

〃Bess；　I　must　go　sometime。〃

〃Wait　then。　Wait　till　after　the　storms。〃

The　purple　cloud…bank　darkened　the　lower　edge　of　the　setting　sun；　crept　up　and　up；　obscuring　its　fiery　red　heart；　and　finally　passed　over　the　last　ruddy　crescent　of　its　upper　rim。

The　intense　dead　silence　awakened　to　a　long；　low；　rumbling　roll　of　thunder。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Bess；　nervously。

〃We've　had　big　black　clouds　before　this　without　rain；〃　said　Venters。　〃But　there's　no　doubt　about　that　thunder。　The　storms　are　coming。　I'm　glad。　Every　rider　on　the　sage　will　hear　that　thunder　with　glad　ears。〃

Venters　and　Bess　finished　their　simple　meal　and　the　few　tasks　around　the　camp；　then　faced　the　open　terrace；　the　valley；　and　the　west；　to　watch　and　await　the　approaching　storm。

It　required　keen　vision　to　see　any　movement　whatever　in　the　purple　clouds。　By　infinitesimal　degrees　the　dark　cloud…line　merged　upward　into　the　golden…red　haze　of　the　afterglow　of　sunset。　A　shadow　lengthened　from　under　the　western　wall　across　the　valley。　As　straight　and　rigid　as　steel　rose　the　delicate　spear…pointed　silver　spruces；　the　aspen　leaves；　by　nature　pendant　and　quivering；　hung　limp　and　heavy；　no　slender　blade　of　grass　moved。　A　gentle　splashing　of　water　came　from　the　ravine。　Then　again　from　out　of　the　west　sounded　the　low；　dull；　and　rumbling　roll　of　thunder。

A　wave；　a　ripple　of　light；　a　trembling　and　turning　of　the　aspen　leaves；　like　the　approach　of　a　breeze　on　the　water；　crossed　the　valley　from　the　west；　and　the　lull　and　the　deadly　stillness　and　the　sultry　air　passed　away　on　a　cool　wind。

The　night　bird　of　the　canyon；　with　clear　and　melancholy　notes　announced　the　twilight。　And　from　all　along　the　cliffs　rose　the　faint　murmur　and　moan　and　mourn　of　the　wind　singing　in　the　caves。　The　bank　of　clouds　now　swept　hugely　out　of　the　western　sky。　Its　front　was　purple　and　black；　with　gray　between；　a　bulging；　mushrooming；　vast　thing　instinct　with　storm。　It　had　a　dark；　angry；　threatening　aspect。　As　if　all　the　power　of　the　winds　were　pushing　and　piling　behind；　it　rolled　ponderously　across　the　sky。　A　red　flare　burned　out　instantaneously；　flashed　from　the　west　to　east；　and　died。　Then　from　the　deepest　black　of　the　purple　cloud　burst　a　boom。　It　was　like　the　bowling　of　a　huge　boulder　along　the　crags　and　ramparts；　and　seemed　to　roll　on　and　fall　into　the　valley　to　bound　and　bang　and　boom　from　cliff　to　cliff。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Bess；　with　her　hands　over　her　ears。　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃

〃Why；　Bess；　be　reasonable！〃　said　Venters。

〃I'm　a　coward。〃

〃Not　quite　that；　I　hope。　It's　strange　you're　afraid。　I　love　a　storm。〃

〃I　tell　you　a　storm　down　in　these　canyons　is　an　awful　thing。　I　know　Oldring　hated　storms。　His　men　were　afraid　of　them。　There　was　one　who　went　deaf　in　a　bad　storm；　and　never　could　hear　again。〃

〃Maybe　I've　lots　to　learn；　Bess。　I'll　lose　my　guess　if　this　storm　isn't　bad　enough。　We're　going　to　have　heavy　wind　first；　then　lightning　and　thunder；　then　the　rain。　Let's　stay　out　as　long　as　we　can。〃

The　tips　of　the　cottonwoods　and　the　oaks　waved　to　the　east；　and　the　rings　of　aspens　along　the　terraces　twinkled　their　myriad　of　bright　faces　in　fleet　and　glancing　gleam。　A　low　roar　rose　from　the　leaves　of　the　forest；　and　the　spruces　swished　in　the　rising　wind。　It　came　in　gusts；　with　light　breezes　between。　As　it　increased　in　strength　the　lulls　shortened　in　length　till　there　was　a　strong　and　steady　blow　all　the　time；　and　violent　puffs　at　intervals；　and　sudden　whirling　currents。　The　clouds　spread　over　the　valley；　rolling　swiftly　and　low；　and　twilight　faded　into　a　sweeping　darkness。　Then　the　singing　of　the　wind　in　the　caves　drowned　the　swift　roar　of　rustling　leaves；　then　the　song　swelled　to　a　mourning；　moaning　wail；　then　with　the　gathering　power　of　the　wind　the　wail　changed　to　a　shriek。　Steadily　the　wind　strengthened　and　constantly　the　strange　sound　changed。

The　last　bit　of　blue　sky　yielded　to　the　on…sweep　of　clouds。　Like　angry　surf　the　pale　gleams　of　gray；　amid　the　purple　of　that　scudding　front；　swept　beyond　the　eastern　rampart　of　the　valley。　The　purple　deepe