riders of the purple sage-第56节
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e； such as you'd never dream would come to mind。 I saw the sage； an' runnin' hossesan' thet's the beautfulest sight to mean' I saw dim things in the dark； an' there was a kind of hummin' in my ears。 An' I remember distinctlyfer it was what made all these things whirl out of my mind an' opened my eyesI remember distinctly it was the smell of gunpowder。
〃The court had about adjourned fer thet judge。 He was on his knees； en' he wasn't prayin'。 He was gaspin' an' tryin' to press his big； floppin'； crippled hands over his body。 Lassiter had sent all those last thunderin' shots through his body。 Thet was Lassiter's way。
〃An' Lassiter spoke； en' if I ever forgit his words I'll never forgit the sound of his voice。
〃'Proselyter； I reckon you'd better call quick on thet God who reveals Hisself to you on earth； because He won't be visitin' the place you're goin' to！〃
〃An' then I seen Dyer look at his big； hangin' hands thet wasn't big enough fer the last work he set them to。 An' he looked up at Lassiter。 An' then he stared horrible at somethin' thet wasn't Lassiter； nor anyone there； nor the room； nor the branches of purple sage peepin' into the winder。 Whatever he seen； it was with the look of a man who discovers somethin' too late。 Thet's a terrible look！。。。An' with a horrible understandin' cry he slid forrard on his face。〃
Judkins paused in his narrative； breathing heavily while he wiped his perspiring brow。
〃Thet's about all；〃 he concluded。 〃Lassiter left the meetin'…house an' I hurried to catch up with him。 He was bleedin' from three gunshots； none of them much to bother him。 An' we come right up here。 I found you layin' in the hall； an' I hed to work some over you。〃
Jane Withersteen offered up no prayer for Dyer's soul。
Lassiter's step sounded in the hallthe familiar soft； silver…clinking stepand she heard it with thrilling new emotions in which was a vague joy in her very fear of him。 The door opened； and she saw him； the old Lassiter； slow； easy； gentle； cool； yet not exactly the same Lassiter。 She rose； and for a moment her eyes blurred and swam in tears。
〃Are youallall right？〃 she asked； tremulously。
〃I reckon。〃
〃Lassiter； I'll ride away with you。 Hide me till danger is pasttill we are forgottenthen take me where you will。 Your people shall be my people； and your God my God！〃
He kissed her hand with the quaint grace and courtesy that came to him in rare moments。
〃Black Star an' Night are ready；〃 he said； simply。
His quiet mention of the black racers spurred Jane to action。 Hurrying to her room； she changed to her rider's suit； packed her jewelry； and the gold that was left； and all the woman's apparel for which there was space in the saddle…bags； and then returned to the hall。 Black Star stamped his iron…shod hoofs and tossed his beautiful head； and eyed her with knowing eyes。
〃Judkins； I give Bells to you；〃 said Jane。 〃I hope you will always keep him and be good to him。〃
Judkins mumbled thanks that he could not speak fluently； and his eyes flashed。
Lassiter strapped Jane's saddle…bags upon Black Star； and led the racers out into the court。
〃Judkins； you ride with Jane out into the sage。 If you see any riders comin' shout quick twice。 An'； Jane； don't look back！ I'll catch up soon。 We'll get to the break into the Pass before midnight； an' then wait until mornin' to go down。〃
Black Star bent his graceful neck and bowed his noble head； and his broad shoulders yielded as he knelt for Jane to mount。
She rode out of the court beside Judkins； through the grove； across the wide lane into the sage； and she realized that she was leaving Withersteen House forever； and she did not look back。 A strange； dreamy； calm peace pervaded her soul。 Her doom had fallen upon her； but； instead of finding life no longer worth living she found it doubly significant； full of sweetness as the western breeze； beautiful and unknown as the sage…slope stretching its purple sunset shadows before her。 She became aware of Judkins's hand touching hers； she heard him speak a husky good…by； then into the place of Bells shot the dead…black； keen； racy nose of Night； and she knew Lassiter rode beside her。
〃Don'tlookback！〃 he said； and his voice； too； was not clear。
Facing straight ahead； seeing only the waving； shadowy sage； Jane held out her gauntleted hand； to feel it enclosed in strong clasp。 So she rode on without a backward glance at the beautiful grove of Cottonwoods。 She did not seem to think of the past of what she left forever； but of the color and mystery and wildness of the sage…slope leading down to Deception Pass； and of the future。 She watched the shadows lengthen down the slope； she felt the cool west wind sweeping by from the rear； and she wondered at low； yellow clouds sailing swiftly over her and beyond。
〃Don't lookback！〃 said Lassiter。
Thick…driving belts of smoke traveled by on the wind； and with it came a strong； pungent odor of burning wood。
Lassiter had fired Withersteen House！ But Jane did not look back。
A misty veil obscured the clear； searching gaze she had kept steadfastly upon the purple slope and the dim lines of canyons。 It passed； as passed the rolling clouds of smoke； and she saw the valley deepening into the shades of twilight。 Night came on； swift as the fleet racers； and stars peeped out to brighten and grow； and the huge； windy； eastern heave of sage…level paled under a rising moon and turned to silver。 Blanched in moonlight； the sage yet seemed to hold its hue of purple and was infinitely more wild and lonely。 So the night hours wore on； and Jane Withersteen never once looked back。
CHAPTER XXI。 BLACK STAR AND NIGHT
The time had come for Venters and Bess to leave their retreat。 They were at great pains to choose the few things they would be able to carry with them on the journey out of Utah。
〃Bern； whatever kind of a pack's this； anyhow？〃 questioned Bess； rising from her work with reddened face。
Venters； absorbed in his own task； did not look up at all； and in reply said he had brought so much from Cottonwoods that he did not recollect the half of it。
〃A woman packed this！〃 Bess exclaimed。
He scarcely caught her meaning； but the peculiar tone of her voice caused him instantly to rise； and he saw Bess on her knees before an open pack which he recognized as the one given him by Jane。
〃By George！〃 he ejaculated； guiltily； and then at sight of Bess's face he laughed outright。
〃A woman packed this；〃 she repeated； fixing woeful； tragic eyes on him。
〃Well； is that a crime？'
〃Therethere is a woman； after all！〃
〃Now Bess〃
〃You've lied to me！〃
Then and there Venters found it imperative to postpone work for the present。 All her life Bess had been isolated； but she had inherited certain elements of the eternal feminine。
〃But there was a woman and you did lie to me；〃 she kept repeating； after he had explained。
〃What of that？ Bess； I'll get angry at you in a moment。 Remember you've been pent up all your life。 I venture to say that if you'd been out in the world you d have had a dozen sweethearts and have told many a lie before this。〃
〃I wouldn't anything of the kind；〃 declared Bess； indignantly。
〃Wellperhaps not lie。 But you'd have had the sweetheartsYou couldn't have helped thatbeing so pretty。〃
This remark appeared to be a very clever and fortunate one； and the work of selecting and then of stowing all the packs in the cave went on without further interruption。
Venters closed up the opening of the cave with a thatch of willows and aspens； so that not even a bird or a rat could get in to the sacks of grain。 And this work was in order with the precaution habitually observed by him。 He might not be able to get out of Utah； and have to return to the valley。 But he owed it to Bess to make the attempt； and in case they were compelled to turn back he wanted to find that fine store of food and grain intact。 The outfit of implements and utensils he packed away in another cave。
〃Bess； we have enough to live here all our lives；〃 he said once； dreamily。
〃Shall I go roll Balancing Rock？〃 she asked； in light speech； but with deep…blue fire in her eyes。
〃Nono。〃
〃Ah； you don't forget the gold and the world；〃 she sighed。
〃Child； you forget the beautiful dresses and the traveland everything。〃
〃Oh； I want to go。 But I want to stay！〃
〃I feel the same way。〃
They let the eight calves out of the corral； and kept only two of the burros Venters had brought from Cottonwoods。 These they intended to ride。 Bess freed all her petsthe quail and rabbits and foxes。
The last sunset and twilight and night were both the sweetest and saddest they had ever spent in Surprise Valley。 Morning brought keen exhilaration and excitement。 When Venters had saddled the two burros； strapped on the light packs and the two canteens； the sunlight was dispersing the lazy shadows from the valley。 Taking a last look at the caves and the silver spruces； Venters and Bess made a reluctant start； leading the burros。 Ring and Whitie looked keen and knowing。 Something seemed to drag at Venters's feet and he noticed Bess lagged behind。 Never had the climb from terrace to bridge appeared so long。
Not till they reached the opening of the gorge did the
