to the last man-第29章

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let's　wait。〃

Gradually　the　smoke　wafted　out　of　the　windows　and　doors；　until　the
room　was　once　more　clear。　　And　at　this　juncture　Esther　Isbel　came
over　to　take　another　gaze　out　upon　the　meadows。　　Jean　saw　her　suddenly
start　violently；　then　stiffen；　with　a　trembling　hand　outstretched。

〃Look！〃　she　cried。

〃Esther；　get　back；〃　ordered　the　old　rancher。　　〃Keep　away　from　that
window。〃

〃What　the　hell！〃　muttered　Blaisdell。　　〃She　sees　somethin'；　or　she's
gone　dotty。〃

Esther　seemed　turned　to　stone。　　〃Look！　　The　hogs　have　broken　into
the　pasture！　。　。　。　They'll　eat　Guy's　body！〃

Everyone　was　frozen　with　horror　at　Esther's　statement。　　Jean　took　a
swift　survey　of　the　pasture。　　A　bunch　of　big　black　hogs　had　indeed
appeared　on　the　scene　and　were　rooting　around　in　the　grass　not　far
from　where　lay　the　bodies　of　Guy　Isbel　and　Jacobs。　　This　herd　of　hogs
belonged　to　the　rancher　and　was　allowed　to　run　wild。

〃Jane；　those　hogs〃　stammered　Esther　Isbel；　to　the　wife　of　Jacobs。
〃Come！　　Look！　。　。　。　Do　y'u　know　anythin'　about　hogs？〃

The　woman　ran　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　　She　stiffened　as　had　Esther。

〃Dad；　will　those　hogseat　human　flesh？　〃　queried　Jean；　breathlessly。

The　old　man　stared　out　of　the　window。　　Surprise　seemed　to　hold　him。
A　completely　unexpected　situation　had　staggered　him。

〃Jeancan　youcan　you　shoot　that　far？〃　he　asked；　huskily。

〃To　those　hogs？　　No；　it's　out　of　range。〃

Then；　by　God；　we've　got　to　stay　trapped　in　heah　an'　watch　an　awful
sight；〃　ejaculated　the　old　man；　completely　unnerved。　　〃See　that　break
in　the　fence！　　。　。　Jorth's　done　that。　。　。　。　To　let　in　the　hogs！〃

〃Aw；　Isbel；　it's　not　so　bad　as　all　that；〃　remonstrated　Blaisdell；
wagging　his　bloody　head。　　〃Jorth　wouldn't　do　such　a　hell…bent　trick。〃

〃It's　shore　done。〃

〃Wal；　mebbe　the　hogs　won't　find　Guy　an'　Jacobs；〃　returned　Blaisdell；
weakly。　　Plain　it　was　that　he　only　hoped　for　such　a　contingency　and
certainly　doubted　it。

〃Look！〃　cried　Esther　Isbel；　piercingly。　　They're　workin'　straight　up
the　pasture！〃

Indeed；　to　Jean　it　appeared　to　be　the　fatal　truth。　　He　looked　blankly；
feeling　a　little　sick。　　Ann　Isbel　came　to　peer　out　of　the　window　and
she　uttered　a　cry。　　Jacobs's　wife　stood　mute；　as　if　dazed。

Blaisdell　swore　a　mighty　oath。 〃　　！　　Isbel；　we　cain't　stand
heah　an'　watch　them　hogs　eat　our　people！〃

〃Wal；　we'll　have　to。　　What　else　on　earth　can　we　do？〃

Esther　turned　to　the　men。　　She　was　white　and　cold；　except　her　eyes；
which　resembled　gray　flames。

〃Somebody　can　run　out　there　an'　bury　our　dead　men；〃　she　said。

〃Why；　child；　it'd　be　shore　death。　　Y'u　saw　what　happened　to　Guy　an'
Jacobs。　。　。　。　We've　jest　got　to　bear　it。　　Shore　nobody　needn't　look
outan'　see。〃

Jean　wondered　if　it　would　be　possible　to　keep　from　watching。　　The
thing　had　a　horrible　fascination。　　The　big　hogs　were　rooting　and
tearing　in　the　grass；　some　of　them　lazy；　others　nimble；　and　all　were
gradually　working　closer　and　closer　to　the　bodies。　　The　leader；　a　huge；
gaunt　boar；　that　had　fared　ill　all　his　life　in　this　barren　country；　was
scarcely　fifty　feet　away　from　where　Guy　Isbel　lay。

〃Ann；　get　me　some　of　your　clothes；　an'　a　sunbonnetquick；〃　said　Jean；
forced　out　of　his　lethargy。　　〃I'll　run　out　there　disguised。　　Maybe　I
can　go　through　with　it。〃

〃No！〃　ordered　his　father；　positively；　and　with　dark　face　flaming。
〃Guy　an'　Jacobs　are　dead。　　We　cain't　help　them　now。〃

〃But；　dad〃　pleaded　Jean。　　He　had　been　wrought　to　a　pitch　by　Esther's
blaze　of　passion；　by　the　agony　in　the　face　of　the　other　woman。

〃I　tell　y'u　no！〃　thundered　Gaston　Isbel；　flinging　his　arms　wide。

〃I　WILL　GO！〃　cried　Esther；　her　voice　ringing。

〃You　won't　go　alone！〃　instantly　answered　the　wife　of　Jacobs；　repeating
unconsciously　the　words　her　husband　had　spoken。

〃You　stay　right　heah；〃　shouted　Gaston　Isbel；　hoarsely。

〃I'm　goin'；〃　replied　Esther。　　〃You've　no　hold　over　me。　　My　husband　is
dead。　　No　one　can　stop　me。　　I'm　goin'　out　there　to　drive　those　hogs
away　an'　bury　him。〃

〃Esther；　for　Heaven's　sake；　listen；〃　replied　Isbel。　　〃If　y'u　show
yourself　outside；　Jorth　an'　his　gang　will　kin　y'u。〃　

〃They　may　be　mean；　but　no　white　men　could　be　so　low　as　that。〃

Then　they　pleaded　with　her　to　give　up　her　purpose。　　But　in　vain！
She　pushed　them　back　and　ran　out　through　the　kitchen　with　Jacobs's
wife　following　her。　　Jean　turned　to　the　window　in　time　to　see　both
women　run　out　into　the　lane。　　Jean　looked　fearfully；　and　listened
for　shots。　　But　only　a　loud；　〃Haw！　　Haw！〃　came　from　the　watchers
outside。　　That　coarse　laugh　relieved　the　tension　in　Jean's　breast。
Possibly　the　Jorths　were　not　as　black　as　his　father　painted　them。
The　two　women　entered　an　open　shed　and　came　forth　with　a　shovel
and　spade。

〃Shore　they've　got　to　hurry；〃　burst　out　Gaston　Isbel。

Shifting　his　gaze；　Jean　understood　the　import　of　his　father's　speech。
The　leader　of　the　hogs　had　no　doubt　scented　the　bodies。　　Suddenly　he
espied　them　and　broke　into　a　trot。

〃Run；　Esther；　run！〃　yelled　Jean；　with　all　his　might。

That　urged　the　women　to　flight。　　Jean　began　to　shoot。　　The　hog　reached
the　body　of　Guy。　　Jean's　shots　did　not　reach　nor　frighten　the　beast。
All　the　hogs　now　had　caught　a　scent　and　went　ambling　toward　their
leader。　　Esther　and　her　companion　passed　swiftly　out　of　sight　behind
a　corral。　　Loud　and　piercingly；　with　some　awful　note；　rang　out　their
screams。　　The　hogs　appeared　frightened。　　The　leader　lifted　his　long
snout；　looked；　and　turned　away。　　The　others　had　halted。　　Then　they；
too；　wheeled　and　ran　off。

All　was　silent　then　in　the　cabin　and　also　outside　wherever　the　Jorth
faction　lay　concealed。　　All　eyes　manifestly　were　fixed　upon　the　brave
wives。　　They　spaded　up　the　sod　and　dug　a　grave　for　Guy　Isbel。　　For　a
shroud　Esther　wrapped　him　in　her　shawl。　　Then　they　buried　him。　　Next
they　hurried　to　the　side　of　Jacobs；　who　lay　some　yards　away。　　They
dug　a　grave　for　him。　　Mrs。　Jacobs　took　off　her　outer　skirt　to　wrap
round　him。　　Then　the　two　women　labored　hard　to　lift　him　and　lower　him。
Jacobs　was　a　heavy　man。　　When　he　had　been　covered　his　widow　knelt
beside　his　grave。　　Esther　went　back　to　the　other。　　But　she　remained
standing　and　did　not　look　as　if　she　prayed。　　Her　aspect　was　tragic
that　of　a　woman　who　had　lost　father；　mother；　sisters；　brother；　and　now
her　husband；　in　this　bloody　Arizona　land。

The　deed　and　the　demeanor　of　these　wives　of　the　murdered　men　surely
must　have　shamed　Jorth　and　his　followers。　　They　did　not　fire　a　shot
during　the　ordeal　nor　give　any　sign　of　their　presence。

Inside　the　cabin　all　were　silent；　too。　Jean's　eyes　blurred　so　that　he
continually　had　to　wipe　them。　　Old　Isbel　made　no　effort　to　hide　his
tears。　　Blaisdell　nodded　his　shaggy　head　and　swallowed　hard。　　The
women　sat　staring　into　space。　　The　children；　in　round…eyed　dismay；
gazed　from　one　to　the　other　of　their　elders。

〃Wal；　they're　comin'　back；〃　declared　Isbel；　in　immense　relief。
〃An'　so　help　meJorth　let　them　bury　their　daid！〃

The　fact　seemed　to　have　been　monstrously　strange　to　Gaston　Isbel。
When　the　women　entered　the　old　man　said；　brokenly：　〃I'm　shore　glad。
。　。　。　An'　I　reckon　I　was　wrong　to　oppose　you　。　。　。　an'　wrong　to　say
what　I　did　aboot　Jorth。〃

No　one　had　any　chance　to　reply　to　Isbel；　for　the　Jorth　gang；　as　if
to　make　up　for　lost　time　and　surcharged　feelings　of　shame；　renewed
the　attack　with　such　a　persistent　and　furious　volleying　that　the
defenders　did　not　risk　a　return　shot。　　They　all　had　to　lie　flat　next
to　the　lowest　log　in　order　to　keep　from　being　hit。　　Bullets　rained　in
through　the　window。　　And　all　the　clay　between　the　logs　low　down　was
shot　away。　　This　fusillade　lasted　for　more　than　an　hour；　then　gradually
the　fire　diminished　on　one　side　and　then　on　the　other　until　it　became
desultory　and　finally　ceased。

〃Ahuh！　　Shore　they've　shot　their　bolt；〃　declared　Gaston　Isbel。

〃Wal；　I　doon't　know　aboot　that；〃　returned　Blaisdell；　〃but　they've　shot
a　hell　of　a　lot　of　shells。〃

〃Listen；〃　suddenly　called　Jean。　〃Somebody's　yellin'。〃

〃Hey；　Isbel！〃　came　in　loud；　hoarse　voice。　　〃Let　your　women　fight
for　you。〃

Gaston　Isbel　sat　up　with　a　start　and　his　face　turned　livid。　　Jean
needed　no　more　to　prove　that　the　derisive　voice　from　outside　had
belonged　to　Jorth。　　The　old　rancher　lunged　up　to　his　full　height
and　with　reckless　disregard　of　life　he　rushed　to　the　window。
〃Jorth；〃　he　roared；　〃I　dare　you　to　meet　meman　to　man！〃

This　elicited　no　answer。　　Jean　dragged　his　father　away　from　the　window。
After　that　a　waiting　silence　ensued；　gradually　less　fraught　with
suspense。　　Blaisdell　started　conversation　by　saying　he　believed　the
fight　was　over　for　that　particular　time。　　No　one　disputed　him。
Evidently　Gaston　Isbel　was　loath　to　believe　it。　　Jean；　however；
watching　at　the　back　of　the　kitchen；　eventually　discovered　that　the
Jorth　gang　had　lifted　the　siege。　　Jean　saw　them　congregate　at　the　edge
of　the　brush；　somewhat　lower　down　than　they　had　been　the　day　before。
A　team　of　mules；　drawing　a　wagon；　appeared　on　the　road；　and　turned
toward　the　slope。　　Saddled　horses　were　led　down　out　of　the　junipers。
Jean　saw　bodies；　evidently　of　dead　men；　lifted　into　the　wagon；　to　be
hauled　away　toward　the　village。　　Seven　mounted　men；　leading　four
riderless　horses；　rode　out　into　the　valley　and　followed　the　wagon。

〃Dad；　they've　gone；〃　declared　Jean。　　〃We　had　the　best　of　this　fight。
。　。　。　If　only　Guy　an'　Jacobs　had　listened！〃

The　old　man　nodded　moodily。　　He　had　aged　considerably　during　these　two
trying　days。　　His　hair　was　grayer。　　Now　that　the　blaze　and　glow　of　the
fight　had　passed　he　showed　a　subtle　change；　a　fixed　and　morbid　sadness；
a　resignation　to　a　fate　he　had　accepted。

The　ordinary　routine　of　ranch　life　did　not　return　for　the　Isbels。
Blaisdell　returned　home　to　settle　matters　there；　so　that　he　could
devote　all　his　time　to　this　feud。　　Gaston　Isbel　sat　down　to　wait　for
the　members　of　his　clan。

The　male　members　of　the　family　kept　guard　in　turn　over　the　ranch　that
night。　　And　another　day　dawned。　　It　brought　word　from　Blaisdell　that
Blue；　Fredericks；　Gordon；　and　Colmor　were　all　at　his　house；　on　the　way
to　join　the　Isbels。　　This　news　appeared　greatly　to　rejuvenate　Gaston
Isbel。　　But　his　enthusiasm　did　not　last　long。　　Impatient　and　moody　by
turns；　he　paced　or　moped　around　the　cabin；　always　looking　out；　sometimes
toward　Blaisdell's　ranch；　but　mostly　toward　Grass　Valley。

It　struck　Jean　as　singular　that　neither　Esther　Isbel　nor　Mrs。　Jacobs
suggested　a　reburial　of　their　husbands。　　The　two　bereaved　women　did　not
ask　for　assistance；　but　repaired　to　the　pasture；　and　there　spent　several
hours　working　over　the　graves。　　They　raised　mounds；　which　they　sodded；
and　then　placed　stones　at　the　heads　and　feet。　　Lastly；　they　fenced　in
the　graves。

〃I　reckon　I'll　hitch　up　an'　drive　back　home；〃　said　Mrs。　Jacobs；　when
she　returned　to　the　cabin。　　〃I've　much　to　do　an'　plan。　　Probably　I'll
go　to　my　mother's　home。　　She's　old　an'　will　be　glad　to　have　me。〃

〃If　I　had　any　place　to　go　to　I'd　sure　go；〃　declared　Esther　Isbel；
bitterly。

Gaston　Isbel　heard　this　remark。　　He　raised　his　face　from　his　hands；
evidently　both　nettled　and　hurt。

〃Esther；　shore　that's　not　kind；〃　he　said。

The　red…haired　womanfor　she　did　not　appear　to　be　a　girl　any　more
halted　before　his　chair　and　gazed　d