to the last man-第34章

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sunset　they　went　back　into　the　store；　closing　　door　and　window
shutters。　　Then　Blaisdell　called　the　Isbel　faction　to　have　food　and
drink。　　Jean　felt　no　hunger。　　And　Blue；　who　had　kept　apart　from　the
others；　showed　no　desire　to　eat。　　Neither　did　he　smoke；　though　early
in　the　day　he　had　never　been　without　a　cigarette　between　his　lips。

Twilight　fell　and　darkness　came。　　Not　a　light　showed　anywhere　in
the　blackness。

〃Wal；　I　reckon　it's　aboot　time；〃　said　Blue；　and　he　led　the　way　out　of
the　cabin　to　the　back　of　the　lot。　　Jean　strode　behind　him；　carrying
his　rifle　and　an　ax。　　Silently　the　other　men　followed。　　Blue　turned
to　the　left　and　led　through　the　field　until　he　came　within　sight　of
a　dark　line　of　trees。

〃Thet's　where　the　road　turns　off；〃　he　said　to　Jean。　　〃An'　heah's　the
back　of　Coleman's　place。　。　。　。　Wal；　Jean；　good　luck！〃

Jean　felt　the　grip　of　a　steel…like　hand；　and　in　the　darkness　he　caught
the　gleam　of　Blue's　eyes。　　Jean　had　no　response　in　words　for　the　laconic
Blue；　but　he　wrung　the　hard；　thin　hand　and　hurried　away　in　the　darkness。

Once　alone；　his　part　of　the　business　at　hand　rushed　him　into　eager
thrilling　action。　　This　was　the　sort　of　work　he　was　fitted　to　do。
In　this　instance　it　was　important；　but　it　seemed　to　him　that　Blue
had　coolly　taken　the　perilous　part。　　And　this　cowboy　with　gray　in　his
thin　hair　was　in　reality　the　great　King　Fisher！　　Jean　marveled　at　the
fact。　　And　he　shivered　all　over　for　Jorth。　　In　ten　minutesfifteen；
more　or　less；　Jorth　would　lie　gasping　bloody　froth　and　sinking　down。
Something　in　the　dark；　lonely；　silent；　oppressive　summer　night　told
Jean　this。　　He　strode　on　swiftly。　　Crossing　the　road　at　a　run；　he　kept
on　over　the　ground　he　had　traversed　during　the　afternoon；　and　in　a　few　
moments　he　stood　breathing　hard　at　the　edge　of　the　common　behind
Greaves's　store。

A　pin　point　of　light　penetrated　the　blackness。　　It　made　Jean's　heart
leap。　　The　Jorth　contingent　were　burning　the　big　lamp　that　hung　in　the
center　of　Greaves's　store。　　Jean　listened。　　Loud　voices　and　coarse　
laughter　sounded　discord　on　the　melancholy　silence　of　the　night。　　What
Blue　had　called　his　instinct　had　surely　guided　him　aright。　　Death　of
Gaston　Isbel　was　being　celebrated　by　revel。

In　a　few　moments　Jean　had　regained　his　breath。　　Then　all　his　faculties
set　intensely　to　the　action　at　hand。　　He　seemed　to　magnify　his　hearing
and　his　sight。　　His　movements　made　no　sound。　　He　gained　the　wagon；
where　he　crouched　a　moment。

The　ground　seemed　a　pale；　obscure　medium；　hardly　more　real　than　the
gloom　above　it。　　Through　this　gloom　of　night；　which　looked　thick　like
a　cloud；　but　was　really　clear；　shone　the　thin；　bright　point　of　light；
accentuating　the　black　square　that　was　Greaves's　store。　　Above　this
stood　a　gray　line　of　tree　foliage；　and　then　the　intensely　dark…blue
sky　studded　with　white；　cold　stars。

A　hound　bayed　lonesomely　somewhere　in　the　distance。　　Voices　of　men
sounded　more　distinctly；　some　deep　and　low；　others　loud；　unguarded；
with　the　vacant　note　of　thoughtlessness。

Jean　gathered　all　his　forces；　until　sense　of　sight　and　hearing　were　in
exquisite　accord　with　the　suppleness　and　lightness　of　his　movements。
He　glided　on　about　ten　short；　swift　steps　before　he　halted。　　That　was
as　far　as　his　piercing　eyes　could　penetrate。　　If　there　had　been　a　guard
stationed　outside　the　store　Jean　would　have　seen　him　before　being　seen。
He　saw　the　fence；　reached　it；　entered　the　yard；　glided　in　the　dense
shadow　of　the　barn　until　the　black　square　began　to　loom　graythe　color
of　stone　at　night。　　Jean　peered　through　the　obscurity。　　No　dark　figure
of　a　man　showed　against　that　gray　wallonly　a　black　patch；　which　must
be　the　hole　in　the　foundation　mentioned。　　A　ray　of　light　now　streaked
out　from　the　little　black　window。　　To　the　right　showed　the　wide；
black　door。

Farther　on　Jean　glided　silently。　　Then　he　halted。　　There　was　no　guard
outside。　　Jean　heard　the　clink　of　a　cap；　the　lazy　drawl　of　a　Texan；
and　then　a　strong；　harsh　voiceJorth's。　　It　strung　Jean's　whole　being
tight　and　vibrating。　　Inside　he　was　on　fire　while　cold　thrills　rippled
over　his　skin。　　It　took　tremendous　effort　of　will　to　hold　himself　back
another　instant　to　listen；　to　look；　to　feel；　to　make　sure。　　And　that
instant　charged　him　with　a　mighty　current　of　hot　blood；　straining；　
throbbing；　damming。

When　Jean　leaped　this　current　burst。　　In　a　few　swift　bounds　he　gained
his　point　halfway　between　door　and　window。　　He　leaned　his　rifle　against
the　stone　wall。　　Then　he　swung　the　ax。　　Crash！　　The　window　shutter　split
and　rattled　to　the　floor　inside。　　The　silence　then　broke　with　a　hoarse；　
〃What's　thet？〃

With　all　his　might　Jean　swung　the　heavy　ax　on　the　door。　　Smash！　　The
lower　half　caved　in　and　banged　to　the　floor。　　Bright　light　flared　out
the　hole。

〃Look　out！〃　yelled　a　man；　in　loud　alarm。　　〃They're　batterin'　the
back　door！〃

Jean　swung　again；　high　on　the　splintered　door。　　Crash！　　Pieces　flew　inside。

〃They've　got　axes；〃　hoarsely　shouted　another　voice。　　〃Shove　the　counter
ag'in'　the　door。〃

〃No！〃　thundered　a　voice　of　authority　that　denoted　terror　as　well。
〃Let　them　come　in。　　Pull　your　guns　an'　take　to　cover！〃

〃They　ain't　comin'　in；〃　was　the　hoarse　reply。　　〃They'll　shoot　in
on　us　from　the　dark。〃

〃Put　out　the　lamp！〃　yelled　another。

Jean's　third　heavy　swing　caved　in　part　of　the　upper　half　of　the　door。
Shouts　and　curses　intermingled　with　the　sliding　of　benches　across　the
floor　and　the　hard　shuffle　of　boots。　　This　confusion　seemed　to　be　split
and　silenced　by　a　piercing　yell；　of　different　caliber；　of　terrible
meaning。　　It　stayed　Jean's　swingcaused　him　to　drop　the　ax　and　snatch
up　his　rifle。

〃DON'T　ANYBODY　MOVE！〃

Like　a　steel　whip　this　voice　cut　the　silence。　　It　belonged　to　Blue。
Jean　swiftly　bent　to　put　his　eye　to　a　crack　in　the　door。　　Most　of　those
visible　seemed　to　have　been　frozen　into　unnatural　positions。　　Jorth　stood
rather　in　front　of　his　men；　hatless　and　coatless；　one　arm　outstretched；　
and　his　dark　profile　set　toward　a　little　man　just　inside　the　door。　　This
man　was　Blue。　　Jean　needed　only　one　flashing　look　at　Blue's　face；　at　his
leveled；　quivering　guns；　to　understand　why　he　had　chosen　this　trick。

〃Who're…you？〃　demanded　Jorth；　in　husky　pants。

〃Reckon　I'm　Isbel's　right…hand　man；〃　came　the　biting　reply。
〃Once　tolerable　well　known　in　Texas。　。　。　。　KING　FISHER！〃

The　name　must　have　been　a　guarantee　of　death。　　Jorth　recognized　this
outlaw　and　realized　his　own　fate。　　In　the　lamplight　his　face　turned
a　pale　greenish　white。　　His　outstretched　hand　began　to　quiver　down。

Blue's　left　gun　seemed　to　leap　up　and　flash　red　and　explode。　　Several
heavy　reports　merged　almost　as　one。　　Jorth's　arm　jerked　limply；　flinging
his　gun。　　And　his　body　sagged　in　the　middle。　　His　hands　fluttered　like
crippled　wings　and　found　their　way　to　his　abdomen。　　His　death…pale　face　
never　changed　its　set　look　nor　position　toward　Blue。　　But　his　gasping
utterance　was　one　of　horrible　mortal　fury　and　terror。　　Then　he　began
to　sway；　still　with　that　strange；　rigid　set　of　his　face　toward　his
slayer；　until　he　fell。

His　fall　broke　the　spell。　　Even　Blue；　like　the　gunman　he　was；　had　paused
to　watch　Jorth　in　his　last　mortal　action。　　Jorth's　followers　began　to
draw　and　shoot。　　Jean　saw　Blue's　return　fire　bring　down　a　huge　man；
who　fell　across　Jorth's　body。　　Then　Jean；　quick　as　the　thought　that
actuated　him；　raised　his　rifle　and　shot　at　the　big　lamp。　　It　burst　in
a　flare。　　It　crashed　to　the　floor。　　Darkness　followeda　blank；　thick；
enveloping　mantle。　　Then　red　flashes　of　guns　emphasized　the　blackness。
Inside　the　store　there　broke　loose　a　pandemonium　of　shots；　yells；　curses；
and　thudding　boots。　　Jean　shoved　his　rifle　barrel　inside　the　door　and；
holding　it　low　down；　he　moved　it　to　and　fro　while　he　worked　lever　and
trigger　until　the　magazine　was　empty。　　Then；　drawing　his　six…shooter；
he　emptied　that。　　A　roar　of　rifles　from　the　front　of　the　store　told
Jean　that　his　comrades　had　entered　the　fray。　　Bullets　zipped　through
the　door　he　had　broken。　　Jean　ran　swiftly　round　the　corner；　taking　care
to　sheer　off　a　little　to　the　left；　and　when　he　got　clear　of　the　building
he　saw　a　line　of　flashes　in　the　middle　of　the　road。　　Blaisdell　and　the
others　were　firing　into　the　door　of　the　store。　　With　nimble　fingers
Jean　reloaded　his　rifle。　　Then　swiftly　he　ran　across　the　road　and　down
to　get　behind　his　comrades。　　Their　shooting　had　slackened。　　Jean　saw
dark　forms　coming　his　way。

〃Hello；　Blaisdell！〃　he　called；　warningly。

〃That　y'u；　Jean？〃　returned　the　rancher；　looming　up。　　〃Wal；　we　wasn't
worried　aboot　y'u。〃

〃Blue？〃　queried　Jean；　sharply。

A　little；　dark　figure　shuffled　past　Jean。　　〃Howdy；　Jean！〃　said　Blue；
dryly。　　〃Y'u　shore　did　your　part。　　Reckon　I'll　need　to　be　tied　up；
but　I　ain't　hurt　much。〃

〃Colmor's　hit；〃　called　the　voice　of　Gordon；　a　few　yards　distant。
〃Help　me；　somebody！〃

Jean　ran　to　help　Gordon　uphold　the　swaying　Colmor。　　〃Are　you　hurt…bad？〃
asked　Jean；　anxiously。　　The　young　man's　head　rolled　and　hung。　　He　was　
breathing　hard　and　did　not　reply。　　They　had　almost　to　carry　him。

〃Come　on；　men！〃　called　Blaisdell；　turning　back　toward　the　others　who
were　still　firing。　　〃We'll　let　well　enough　alone。　。　。　。　Fredericks；
y'u　an'　Bill　help　me　find　the　body　of　the　old　man。　　It's　heah　somewhere。〃

Farther　on　down　the　road　the　searchers　stumbled　over　Gaston　Isbel。
They　picked　him　up　and　followed　Jean　and　Gordon；　who　were　supporting
the　wounded　Colmor。　　Jean　looked　back　to　see　Blue　dragging　himself
along　in　the　rear。　　It　was　too　dark　to　see　distinctly；　nevertheless；
Jean　got　the　impression　that　Blue　was　more　severely　wounded　than　he
had　claimed　to　be。　　The　distance　to　Meeker's　cabin　was　not　far；　but
it　took　what　Jean　felt　to　be　a　long　and　anxious　time　to　get　there。
Colmor　apparently　rallied　somewhat。　　When　this　procession　entered
Meeker's　yard；　Blue　was　lagging　behind。

〃Blue；　how　air　y'u？　〃　called　Blaisdell；　with　concern。

〃Wal；　I　gotmy　bootsonanyhow；〃　replied　Blue；　huskily。

He　lurched　into　the　yard　and　slid　down　on　the　grass　and　stretched　out。

〃Man！　　Y'u're　hurt　bad！〃　exclaimed　Blaisdell。　　The　others　halted　in
their　slow　march　and；　as　if　by　tacit；　unspoken　word；　lowered　the　body
of　Isbel　to　the　ground。　　Then　Blaisdell　knelt　beside　Blue。　　Jean　left
Colmor　to　Gordon　and　hurried　to　peer　down　into　Blue's　dim　face。

〃No；　I　ain'thurt；〃　said　Blue；　in　a　much　weaker　voice。　　I'mjest
killed！　。　。　。　It　was　Queen！　。　。　。　Y'u　all　heerd　meQueen　wasonly
bad　man　in　that　lot。　　I　knowed　it。　。　。　。　I　couldhev　killed　him。　。　。　。
But　I　wasafter　Lee　Jorth　an'　his　brothers。　。　。　。〃

Blue's　voice　failed　there。

〃Wal！〃　ejaculated　Blaisdell。

〃Shore　was　funnyJorth's　facewhen　I　saidKing　Fisher；〃　whispered
Blue。　　〃Funnierwhen　I　boredhim　through。　。　。　。　But　itwasQueen〃

His　whisper　died　away。

〃Blue！〃　called　Blaisdell；　sharply。　　Receiving　no　answer；　he　bent　lower
in　the　starlight　and　placed　a　hand　upon　the　man's　breast。

〃Wal；　he's　gone。　。　。　。　I　wonder　if　he　really　was　the　old　Texas　King
Fisher。　　No　one　would　ever　believe　it。　。　。　。　But　if　he　killed　the　Jorths；
I'll　shore　believe　him。



CHAPTER　X

Two　weeks　of　lonely　solitude　in　the　forest　had　worked　incalculable
change　in　Ellen　Jorth。

Late　in　June　her