desert gold-第44节

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erein　these　things　could　wholly　control。　　He　felt　life　strong　withing　his　breast；　yet　there；　a　step　away；　was　death；　yawning；　glaring；　smoky；　red。　　It　was　a　momentan　hour　for　a　savage；　born；　bred；　developed　in　this　scarred　and　blasted　place　of　jagged　depths　and　red　distances　and　silences　never　meant　to　be　broken。　　Since　Gale　was　not　a　savage　he　fought　that　call　of　the　red　gods　which　sent　him　back　down　the　long　ages　toward　his　primitive　day。　　His　mind　combated　his　sense　of　sight　and　the　hearing　that　seemed　useless；　and　his　mind　did　not　win　all　the　victory。　　Something　fatal　was　here；　hanging　in　the　balance；　as　the　red　haze　hung　along　the　vast　walls　of　that　crater　of　hell。

Suddenly　harsh；　prolonged　yells　brought　him　to　his　feet；　and　the　unrealities　vanished。　　Far　down　the　trails　where　the　crater　rims　closed　in　the　deep　fissure　he　saw　moving　forms。　　They　were　three　in　number。　　Two　of　them　ran　nimbly　across　the　lava　bridge。　　The　third　staggered　far　behind。　　It　was　Ladd。　　He　appeared　hard　hit。　　He　dragged　at　the　heavy　rifle　which　he　seemed　unable　to　raise。　　The　yells　came　from　him。　　He　was　calling　the　Yaqui。

Gale's　heart　stood　still　momentarily。　　Here；　then；　was　the　catastrophe！　　He　hardly　dared　sweep　that　fissure　with　his　glass。　The　two　fleeing　figures　haltedturned　to　fire　at　Ladd。　　Gale　recognized　the　foremost　onesmall；　compact；　gaudy。　　Rojas！　The　bandit's　arm　was　outstretched。　　Puffs　of　white　smoke　rose；　and　shots　rapped　out。　　When　Ladd　went　down　Rojas　threw　his　gun　aside　and　with　a　wild　yell　bounded　over　the　lava。　His　companion　followed。

A　tide　of　passion；　first　hot　as　fire；　then　cold　as　ice；　rushed　over　Gale　when　he　saw　Rojas　take　the　trail　toward　Mercedes's　hiding…place。　　The　little　bandit　appeared　to　have　the　sure…footedness　of　a　mountain　sheep。　　The　Mexican　following　was　not　so　sure　or　fast。　　He　turned　back。　　Gale　heard　the　trenchant　bark　of　the　。405。　　Ladd　was　kneeling。　　He　shot　againagain。　　The　retreating　bandit　seemed　to　run　full　into　an　invisible　obstacle；　then　fell　lax；　inert；　lifeless。　　Rojas　sped　on　unmindful　of　the　spurts　of　dust　about　him。　　Yaqui；　high　above　Ladd；　was　also　firing　at　the　bandit。　　Then　both　rifles　were　emptied。　　Rojas　turned　at　a　high　break　in　the　trail。　　He　shook　a　defiant　hand；　and　his　exulting　yell　pealed　faintly　to　Gale's　ears。　　About　him　there　was　something　desperate；　magnificent。　　Then　he　clambered　down　the　trail。

Ladd　dropped　the　。405；　and　rising；　gun　in　hand；　he　staggered　toward　the　bridge　of　lava。　　Before　he　had　crossed　it　Yaqui　came　bounding　down　the　slope；　and　in　one　splendid　leap　he　cleared　the　fissure。　He　ran　beyond　the　trail　and　disappeared　on　the　lava　above。　　Rojas　had　not　seen　this　sudden；　darting　move　of　the　Indian。

Gale　felt　himself　bitterly　powerless　to　aid　in　that　pursuit。　　He　could　only　watch。　　He　wondered；　fearfully；　what　had　become　of　Lash。　　Presently；　when　Rojas　came　out　of　the　cracks　and　ruts　of　lava　there　might　be　a　chance　of　disabling　him　by　a　long　shot。　His　progress　was　now　slow。　　But　he　was　making　straight　for　Mercedes's　hiding…place。　　What　was　it　leading　him　therean　eagle　eye；　or　hate；　or　instinct？　　Why　did　he　go　on　when　there　could　be　no　turning　back　for　him　on　that　trail？　　Ladd　was　slow；　heavy；　staggering　on　the　trail；　but　he　was　relentless。　　Only　death　could　stop　the　ranger　now。　　Surely　Rojas　must　have　known　that　when　he　chose　the　trail。　　From　time　to　time　Gale　caught　glimpses　of　Yaqui's　dark　figure　stealing　along　the　higher　rim　of　the　crater。　He　was　making　for　a　point　above　the　bandit。

Momentsendless　moments　dragged　by。　　The　lowering　sun　colored　only　the　upper　half　of　the　crater　walls。　　Far　down　the　depths　were　murky　blue。　　Again　Gale　felt　the　insupportable　silence。　　The　red　haze　became　a　transparent　veil　before　his　eyes。　　Sinister；　evil；　brooding；　waiting；　seemed　that　yawning　abyss。　　Ladd　staggered　along　the　trail；　at　times　he　crawled。　　The　Yaqui　gained；　he　might　have　had　wings；　he　leaped　from　jagged　crust　to　jagged　crust；　his　sure…footedness　was　a　wonderful　thing。

But　for　Gale　the　marvel　of　that　endless　period　of　watching　was　the　purpose　of　the　bandit　Rojas。　　He　had　now　no　weapon。　　Gale's　glass　made　this　fact　plain。　　There　was　death　behind　him；　death　below　him；　death　before　him；　and　though　he　could　not　have　known　it；　death　above　him。　　He　never　falterednever　made　a　misstep　upon　the　narrow；　flinty　trail。　　When　he　reached　the　lower　end　of　the　level　ledge　Gale's　poignant　doubt　became　a　certainty。　　Rojas　had　seen　Mercedes。　　It　was　incredible；　yet　Gale　believed　it。　　Then；　his　heart　clamped　as　in　an　icy　vise；　Gale　threw　forward　the　Remington；　and　sinking　on　one　knee；　began　to　shoot。　　He　emptied　the　magazine。　　Puffs　of　dust　near　Rojas　did　not　even　make　him　turn。

As　Gale　began　to　reload　he　was　horror…stricken　by　a　low　cry　from　Thorne。　　The　cavalryman　had　recovered　consciousness。　　He　was　half　raised；　pointing　with　shaking　hand　at　the　opposite　ledge。　　His　distended　eyes　were　riveted　upon　Rojas。　　He　was　trying　to　utter　speech　that　would　not　come。

Gale　wheeled；　rigid　now；　steeling　himself　to　one　last　forlorn　hope　that　Mercedes　could　defend　herself。　　She　had　a　gun。　　He　doubted　not　at　all　that　she　would　use　it。　　But；　remembering　her　terror　of　this　savage；　he　feared　for　her。

Rojas　reached　the　level　of　the　ledge。　　He　halted。　　He　crouched。　It　was　the　act　of　a　panther。　　Manifestly　he　saw　Mercedes　within　the　cave。　　Then　faint　shots　patted　the　air；　broke　in　quick　echo。　Rojas　went　down　as　if　struck　a　heavy　blow。　　He　was　hit。　But　even　as　Gale　yelled　in　sheer　madness　the　bandit　leaped　erect。　He　seemed　too　quick；　too　supple　to　be　badly　wounded。　　A　slight；　dark　figure　flashed　out　of　the　cave。　　Mercedes！　　She　backed　against　the　wall。　　Gale　saw　a　puff　of　whiteheard　a　report。　　But　the　bandit　lunged　at　her。　　Mercedes　ran；　not　to　try　to　pass　him；　but　straight　for　the　precipice。　　Her　intention　was　plain。　　But　Rojas　oustripped　her；　even　as　she　reached　the　verge。　　Then　a　piercing　scream　pealed　across　the　cratera　scream　of　despair。

Gale　closed　his　eyes。　　He　could　not　bear　to　see　more。

Thorne　echoed　Mercedes's　scream。　　Gale　looked　round　just　in　time　to　leap　and　catch　the　cavalryman　as　he　staggered；　apparently　for　the　steep　slope。　　And　then；　as　Gale　dragged　him　back；　both　fell。　Gale　saved　his　friend；　but　he　plunged　into　a　choya。　　He　drew　his　hands　away　full　of　the　great　glistening　cones　of　thorns。

〃For　God's　sake；　Gale；　shoot！　　Shoot！　　Kill　her！　　Kill　her！。。。Can't　yousee…Rojas〃

Thorne　fainted。

Gale；　stunned　for　the　instant；　stood　with　uplifted　hands；　and　gazed　from　Thorne　across　the　crater。　　Rojas　had　not　killed　Mercedes。　　He　was　overpowering　her。　　His　actions　seemed　slow；　wearing；　purposeful。　Hers　were　violent。　　Like　a　trapped　she…wolf；　Mercedes　was　fighting。　She　tore；　struggled；　flung　herself。

Rojas's　intention　was　terribly　plain。

In　agony　now；　both　mental　and　physical；　cold　and　sick　and　weak；　Gale　gripped　his　rifle　and　aimed　at　the　struggling　forms　on　the　ledge。　　He　pulled　the　trigger。　　The　bullet　struck　up　a　cloud　of　red　dust　close　to　the　struggling　couple。　　Again　Gale　fired；　hoping　to　hit　Rojas；　praying　to　kill　Mercedes。　　The　bullet　struck　high。　A　thirdfourthfifth　time　the　Remington　spokein　vain！　The　rifle　fell　from　Gale's　racked　hands。

How　horribly　plain　that　fiend's　intention！　　Gale　tried　to　close　his　eyes；　but　could　not。　　He　prayed　wildly　for　a　sudden　blindness　to　faint　as　Thorne　had　fainted。　　But　he　was　transfixed　to　the　spot　with　eyes　that　pierced　the　red　light。

Mercedes　was　growing　weaker；　seemed　about　to　collapse。

〃Oh；　Jim　Lash；　are　you　dead？〃　cried　Gale。　　〃Oh；　Laddy！。。。Oh；　Yaqui！

Suddenly　a　dark　form　literally　fell　down　the　wall　behind　the　ledge　where　Rojas　fought　the　girl。　　It　sank　in　a　heap；　then　bounded　erect。

〃Yaqui！〃　screamed　Gale；　and　he　waved　his　bleeding　hands　till　the　blood　bespattered　his　face。　　Then　he　choked。　　Utterance　became　impossible。

The　Indian　bent　over　Rojas　and　flung　him　against　the　wall。　Mercedes；　sinking　back；　lay　still。　　When　Rojas　got　up　the　Indian　stood　between　him　and　escape　from　the　ledge。　　Rojas　backed　the　other　way　along　the　narrowing　shelf　of　lava。　　His　manner　was　abject；　stupefied。　　Slowly　he　stepped　backward。

It　was　then　that　Gale　caught　the　white　gleam　of　a　knife　in　Yaqui's　hand。　　Rojas　turned　and　ran。　　He　rounded　a　corner　of　wall　where　the　footing　was　precarious。　　Yaqui　followed　slowly。　　His　figure　was　dark　and　menacing。　　But　he　was　not　in　a　hurry。　　When　he　passed　off　the　ledge　Rojas　was　edging　farther　and　farther　along　the　wall。　　He　was　clinging　now　to　the　lava；　creeping　inch　by　inch。　　Perhaps　he　had　thought　to　work　around　the　buttress　or　climb　over　it。　　Evidently　he　went　as　far　as　possible；　and　there　he　clung；　an　unscalable　wall　above；　the　abyss　beneath。

The　approach　of　the　Yaqui　was　like　a　slow　dark　shadow　of　gloom。　If　it　seemed　so　to　the　stricken　Gale　what　must　it　have　been　to　Rojas？　　He　appeared　to　sink　against　the　wall。　　The　Yaqui　stole　closer　and　closer。　　He　was　the　savage　now；　and　for　him　the　moment　must　have　been　glorified。　　Gale　saw　him　gaze　up　at　the　great　circling　walls　of　the　crater；　then　down　into　the　depths。　Perhaps　the　red　haze　hanging　above　him；　or　the　purple　haze　below；　or　the　deep　caverns　in　the　lava；　held　for　Yaqui　spirits　of　the　desert；　his　gods　to　whom　he　called。　　Perhaps