to the last man-第11章

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〃What　I'm　goin'　to　tell　you　now　is　my　secret。　　My　other　sons　an'　Ann
have　never　heard　it。　　Jim　Blaisdell　suspects　there's　somethin'　strange；
but　he　doesn't　know。　　I'll　shore　never　tell　anyone　else　but　you。
An'　you　must　promise　to　keep　my　secret　now　an'　after　I　am　gone。〃

〃I　promise；〃　said　Jean。

〃Wal；　an'　now　to　get　it　out；〃　began　his　father；　breathing　hard。
His　face　twitched　and　his　hands　clenched。　　〃The　sheepman　heah　I
have　to　reckon　with　is　Lee　Jorth；　a　lifelong　enemy　of　mine。　　We
were　born　in　the　same　town；　played　together　as　children；　an'　fought
with　each　other　as　boys。　　We　never　got　along　together。　　An'　we　both
fell　in　love　with　the　same　girl。　　It　was　nip　an'　tuck　for　a　while。
Ellen　Sutton　belonged　to　one　of　the　old　families　of　the　South。
She　was　a　beauty；　an'　much　courted；　an'　I　reckon　it　was　hard　for
her　to　choose。　　But　I　won　her　an'　we　became　engaged。　　Then　the　war
broke　out。　　I　enlisted　with　my　brother　Jean。　　He　advised　me　to　marry
Ellen　before　I　left。　　But　I　would　not。　　That　was　the　blunder　of　my　life。
Soon　after　our　partin'　her　letters　ceased　to　come。　　But　I　didn't
distrust　her。　　That　was　a　terrible　time　an'　all　was　confusion。
Then　I　got　crippled　an'　put　in　a　hospital。　　An'　in　aboot　a　year
I　was　sent　back　home。〃

At　this　juncture　Jean　refrained　from　further　gaze　at　his　father's　face。

Lee　Jorth　had　gotten　out　of　goin'　to　war；〃　went　on　the　rancher；
in　lower；　thicker　voice。　　〃He'd　married　my　sweetheart；　Ellen。　。　。　。
I　knew　the　story　long　before　I　got　well。　　He　had　run　after　her　like
a　hound　after　a　hare。　。　。　。　An'　Ellen　married　him。　　Wal；　when　I　was
able　to　get　aboot　I　went　to　see　Jorth　an'　Ellen。　　I　confronted　them。
I　had　to　know　why　she　had　gone　back　on　me。　　Lee　Jorth　hadn't　changed
any　with　all　his　good　fortune。　　He'd　made　Ellen　believe　in　my　dishonor。
But；　I　reckon；　lies　or　no　lies；　Ellen　Sutton　was　faithless。　　In　my
absence　he　had　won　her　away　from　me。　　An'　I　saw　that　she　loved　him
as　she　never　had　me。　　I　reckon　that　killed　all　my　generosity。　　If　she'd
been　imposed　upon　an'　weaned　away　by　his　lies　an'　had　regretted　me　a
little　I'd　have　forgiven；　perhaps。　　But　she　worshiped　him。　　She　was　his
slave。　　An'　I；　wal；　I　learned　what　hate　was。

〃The　war　ruined　the　Suttons；　same　as　so　many　Southerners。　　Lee　Jorth
went　in　for　raisin'　cattle。　　He'd　gotten　the　Sutton　range　an'　after　a
few　years　he　began　to　accumulate　stock。　　In　those　days　every　cattleman
was　a　little　bit　of　a　thief。　　Every　cattleman　drove　in　an'　branded
calves　he　couldn't　swear　was　his。　　Wal；　the　Isbels　were　the　strongest
cattle　raisers　in　that　country。　　An'　I　laid　a　trap　for　Lee　Jorth；
caught　him　in　the　act　of　brandin'　calves　of　mine　I'd　marked；　an'　I
proved　him　a　thief。　　I　made　him　a　rustler。　　I　ruined　him。　　We　met　once。
But　Jorth　was　one　Texan　not　strong　on　the　draw；　at　least　against　an
Isbel。　　He　left　the　country。　　He　had　friends　an'　relatives　an'　they
started　him　at　stock　raisin'　again。　　But　he　began　to　gamble　an'　he
got　in　with　a　shady　crowd。　　He　went　from　bad　to　worse　an'　then　he
came　back　home。　　When　I　saw　the　change　in　proud；　beautiful　Ellen　Sutton；
an'　how　she　still　worshiped　Jorth；　it　shore　drove　me　near　mad　between
pity　an'　hate。　。　。　。　Wal；　I　reckon　in　a　Texan　hate　outlives　any　other
feelin'。　　There　came　a　strange　turn　of　the　wheel　an'　my　fortunes　changed。
Like　most　young　bloods　of　the　day；　I　drank　an'　gambled。　　An'　one　night
I　run　across　Jorth　an'　a　card…sharp　friend。　　He　fleeced　me。　　We　quarreled。
Guns　were　thrown。　　I　killed　my　man。　。　。　。　Aboot　that　period　the　Texas
Rangers　had　come　into　existence。　。　。　。　An'；　son；　when　I　said　I　never
was　run　out　of　Texas　I　wasn't　holdin'　to　strict　truth。　　I　rode　out　on
a　hoss。

〃I　went　to　Oregon。　　There　I　married　soon；　an'　there　Bill　an'　Guy　were
born。　　Their　mother　did　not　live　long。　　An'　next　I　married　your　mother；
Jean。　　She　had　some　Indian　blood；　which；　for　all　I　could　see；　made　her
only　the　finer。　　She　was　a　wonderful　woman　an'　gave　me　the　only
happiness　I　ever　knew。　　You　remember　her；　of　course；　an'　those　home
days　in　Oregon。　　I　reckon　I　made　another　great　blunder　when　I　moved
to　Arizona。　　But　the　cattle　country　had　always　called　me。　　I　had　heard
of　this　wild　Tonto　Basin　an'　how　Texans　were　settlin'　there。　　An'　Jim
Blaisdell　sent　me　word　to　comethat　this　shore　was　a　garden　spot　of
the　West。　　Wal；　it　is。　　An'　your　mother　was　gone

〃Three　years　ago　Lee　Jorth　drifted　into　the　Tonto。　　An'；　strange　to　me；
along　aboot　a　year　or　so　after　his　comin'　the　Hash　Knife　Gang　rode　up
from　Texas。　　Jorth　went　in　for　raisin'　sheep。　　Along　with　some　other
sheepmen　he　lives　up　in　the　Rim　canyons。　　Somewhere　back　in　the　wild
brakes　is　the　hidin'　place　of　the　Hash　Knife　Gang。　　Nobody　but　me；
I　reckon；　associates　Colonel　Jorth；　as　he's　called；　with　Daggs　an'
his　gang。　　Maybe　Blaisdell　an'　a　few　others　have　a　hunch。　　But　that's
no　matter。　　As　a　sheepman　Jorth　has　a　legitimate　grievance　with　the
cattlemen。　　But　what　could　be　settled　by　a　square　consideration　for
the　good　of　all　an'　the　future　Jorth　will　never　settle。　　He'll　never
settle　because　he　is　now　no　longer　an　honest　man。　　He's　in　with　Daggs。
I　cain't　prove　this；　son；　but　I　know　it。　　I　saw　it　in　Jorth's　face
when　I　met　him　that　day　with　Greaves。　　I　saw　more。　　I　shore　saw　what
he　is　up　to。　　He'd　never　meet　me　at　an　even　break。　　He's　dead　set　on
usin'　this　sheep　an'　cattle　feud　to　ruin　my　family　an'　me；　even　as　I
ruined　him。　　But　he　means　more；　Jean。　　This　will　be　a　war　between
Texans；　an'　a　bloody　war。　　There　are　bad　men　in　this　Tontosome　of
the　worst　that　didn't　get　shot　in　Texas。　　Jorth　will　have　some　of
these　fellows。　。　。　。　Now；　are　we　goin'　to　wait　to　be　sheeped　off
our　range　an'　to　be　murdered　from　ambush？〃

〃No；　we　are　not；〃　replied　Jean；　quietly。

〃Wal；　come　down　to　the　house；〃　said　the　rancher；　and　led　the　way
without　speaking　until　he　halted　by　the　door。　　There　he　placed　his
finger　on　a　small　hole　in　the　wood　at　about　the　height　of　a　man's　head。
Jean　saw　it　was　a　bullet　hole　and　that　a　few　gray　hairs　stuck　to　its
edges。　　The　rancher　stepped　closer　to　the　door…post；　so　that　his　head
was　within　an　inch　of　the　wood。　　Then　he　looked　at　Jean　with　eyes　in
which　there　glinted　dancing　specks　of　fire；　like　wild　sparks。

〃Son；　this　sneakin'　shot　at　me　was　made　three　mawnin's　ago。　　I　recollect
movin'　my　haid　just　when　I　heard　the　crack　of　a　rifle。　　Shore　was
surprised。　　But　I　got　inside　quick。〃

Jean　scarcely　heard　the　latter　part　of　this　speech。　　He　seemed　doubled
up　inwardly；　in　hot　and　cold　convulsions　of　changing　emotion。　　A
terrible　hold　upon　his　consciousness　was　about　to　break　and　let　go。
The　first　shot　had　been　fired　and　he　was　an　Isbel。　　Indeed；　his　father
had　made　him　ten　times　an　Isbel。　　Blood　was　thick。　　His　father　did　not
speak　to　dull　ears。　　This　strife　of　rising　tumult　in　him　seemed　the
effect　of　years　of　calm；　of　peace　in　the　woods；　of　dreamy　waiting　for
he　knew　not　what。　　It　was　the　passionate　primitive　life　in　him　that　had
awakened　to　the　call　of　blood　ties。

〃That's　aboot　all；　son；〃　concluded　the　rancher。　　〃You　understand　now
why　I　feel　they're　goin'　to　kill　me。　　I　feel　it　heah。〃　　With　solemn
gesture　he　placed　his　broad　hand　over　his　heart。　　〃An'；　Jean；　strange
whispers　come　to　me　at　night。　　It　seems　like　your　mother　was　callin'
or　tryin'　to　warn　me。　　I　cain't　explain　these　queer　whispers。　　But　I
know　what　I　know。〃

〃Jorth　has　his　followers。　　You　must　have　yours；〃　replied　Jean；　tensely。

〃Shore；　son；　an'　I　can　take　my　choice　of　the　best　men　heah；〃　replied
the　rancher；　with　pride。　　〃But　I'll　not　do　that。　　I'll　lay　the　deal
before　them　an'　let　them　choose。　　I　reckon　it　'll　not　be　a　long…winded
fight。　　It　'll　be　short　an　bloody；　after　the　way　of　Texans。　　I'm　lookin'
to　you；　Jean；　to　see　that　an　Isbel　is　the　last　man！〃

〃My　Goddad！　is　there　no　other　way？　　Think　of　my　sister　Annof　my
brothers'　wivesofof　other　women！　　Dad；　these　damned　Texas　feuds
are　cruel；　horrible！〃　burst　out　Jean；　in　passionate　protest。

〃Jean；　would　it　be　any　easier　for　our　women　if　we　let　these　men　shoot
us　down　in　cold　blood？〃

〃Oh　nono；　I　see；　there's　no　hope　ofof。　。　。　。　But；　dad；　I　wasn't
thinkin'　about　myself。　　I　don't　care。　　Once　started　I'llI'll　be
what　you　bragged　I　was。　　Only　it's　so　hard　to…to　give　in。〃

Jean　leaned　an　arm　against　the　side　of　the　cabin　and；　bowing　his　face
over　it；　he　surrendered　to　the　irresistible　contention　within　his
breast。　　And　as　if　with　a　wrench　that　strange　inward　hold　broke。
He　let　down。　　He　went　back。　　Something　that　was　boyish　and　hopefuland
in　its　place　slowly　rose　the　dark　tide　of　his　inheritance；　the　savage
instinct　of　self…preservation　bequeathed　by　his　Indian　mother；　and　the
fierce；　feudal　blood　lust　of　his　Texan　father。

Then　as　he　raised　himself；　gripped　by　a　sickening　coldness　in　his
breast；　he　remembered　Ellen　Jorth's　face　as　she　had　gazed　dreamily
down　off　the　Rimso　soft；　so　different；　with　tremulous　lips；　sad；
musing；　with　far…seeing　stare　of　dark　eyes；　peering　into　the　unknown；
the　instinct　of　life　still　unlived。　　With　confused　vision　and　nameless
pain　Jean　thought　of　her。

〃Dad；　it's　hard　onthethe　young　folks；〃　he　said；　bitterly。　　〃The
sins　of　the　father；　you　know。　　An'　the　other　side。　　How　about　Jorth？
Has　he　any　children？〃

What　a　curious　gleam　of　surprise　and　conjecture　Jean　encountered
in　his　father's　gaze！

〃He　has　a　daughter。　　Ellen　Jorth。　　Named　after　her　mother。　　The　first
time　I　saw　Ellen　Jorth　I　thought　she　was　a　ghost　of　the　girl　I　had
loved　an'　lost。　　Sight　of　her　was　like　a　blade　in　my　side。　　But　the
looks　of　her　an'　what　she　isthey　don't　gibe。　　Old　as　I　am；　my
heartBah！　Ellen　Jorth　is　a　damned　hussy！〃

Jean　Isbel　went　off　alone　into　the　cedars。　　Surrender　and　resignation
to　his　father's　creed　should　have　ended　his　perplexity　and　worry。
His　instant　and　burning　resolve　to　be　as　his　father　had　represented
him　should　have　opened　his　mind　to　slow　cunning；　to　the　craft　of　the
Indian；　to　the　development　of　hate。　　But　there　seemed　to　be　an　obstacle。
A　cloud　in　the　way　of　vision。　　A　face　limned　on　his　memory。

Those　damning　words　of　his　father's　had　been　a　shockhow　little　or
great　he　could　not　tell。　　Was　it　only　a　day　since　he　had　met　Ellen
Jorth？　　What　had　made　all　the　difference？　　Suddenly　like　a　breath
the　fragrance　of　her　hair　came　back　to　him。　　Then　the　sweet　coolness
of　her　lips！　　Jean　trembled。　　He　looked　around　him　as　if　he　were
pursued　or　surrounded　by　eyes；　by　instincts；　by　fears；　by
incomprehensible　things。

〃Ahuh！　　That　must　be　what　ails　me；〃　he　muttered。　　〃The　look　of　heran'
that　kissthey've　gone　hard　me。　　I　should　never　have　stopped　to　talk。
An'　I'm　to　kill　her　father　an'　leave　her　to　God　knows　what。〃

Something　was　wrong　somewhere。　　Jean　absolutely　forgot　that　within
the　hour　he　had　pledged　his　manhood；　his　life　to　a　feud　which　could
be　blotted　out　only　in　blood。　　If　he　had　understood　himself　he　would
have　realized　that　the　pledge　was　no　more　thrilling　and　unintelligible
in　its　possibilities　than　this　instinct　which　drew　him　irresistibly。

〃Ellen　Jorth！　　Somy　dad　calls　her　a　damned　hussy！　　Sothat　explains
thethe　way　she　actedwhy　she　never　hit　me　when　I　kissed　her。　　An'
her　words；　so　easy　an'　cool…like。　　Hussy？　　That　means　she's　badbad！
Scornful