to the last man-第39章

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〃Y'u　will　beEllenunless〃

〃Aw；　shut　up　that　kind　of　gab；　will　y'u？〃　broke　in　Colter；　harshly。

It　amazed　Ellen　that　Colter　should　dominate　her　uncle；　even　though　he
was　wounded。　　Tad　Jorth　had　been　the　last　man　to　take　orders　from　anyone；
much　less　a　rustler　of　the　Hash　Knife　Gang。　　This　Colter　began　to　loom
up　in　Ellen's　estimate　as　he　loomed　physically　over　her；　a　lofty　figure；
dark　motionless；　somehow　menacing。

〃Ellen；　has　Colter　told　y'u　yetabootaboot　Lee　an'　Jackson？〃
inquired　the　wounded　man。

The　pitch…black　darkness　of　the　cabin　seemed　to　help　fortify　Ellen
to　bear　further　trouble。

〃Colter　told　me　dad　an'　Uncle　Jackson　would　meet　us　heah；〃　she　rejoined；
hurriedly。

Jorth　could　be　heard　breathing　in　difficulty；　and　he　coughed　and
spat　again；　and　seemed　to　hiss。

〃Ellen；　he　lied　to　y'u。　　They'll　never　meet　usheah！〃

〃Why　not？〃　whispered　Ellen。

〃BecauseEllen　〃　he　replied；　in　husky　pants；　〃your　dad　an'uncle
Jacksonare　daidan'　buried！〃

If　Ellen　suffered　a　terrible　shock　it　was　a　blankness；　a　deadness；
and　a　slow；　creeping　failure　of　sense　in　her　knees。　　They　gave　way
under　her　and　she　sank　on　the　grass　against　the　cabin　wall。　　She　did
not　faint　nor　grow　dizzy　nor　lose　her　sight；　but　for　a　while　there　was
no　process　of　thought　in　her　mind。　　Suddenly　then　it　was　therethe
quick；　spiritual　rending　of　her　heartfollowed　by　a　profound　emotion
of　intimate　and　irretrievable　lossand　after　that　grief　and　bitter
realization。

An　hour　later　Ellen　found　strength　to　go　to　the　fire　and　partake　of
the　food　and　drink　her　body　sorely　needed。

Colter　and　the　men　waited　on　her　solicitously；　and　in　silence；　now　and
then　stealing　furtive　glances　at　her　from　under　the　shadow　of　their
black　sombreros。　　The　dark　night　settled　down　like　a　blanket。　　There
were　no　stars。　　The　wind　moaned　fitfully　among　the　pines；　and　all　about
that　lonely；　hidden　recess　was　in　harmony　with　Ellen's　thoughts。

〃Girl；　y'u're　shore　game；〃　said　Colter；　admiringly。　　〃An'　I　reckon
y'u　never　got　it　from　the　Jorths。〃

〃Tad　in　therehe's　game；〃　said　Queen；　in　mild　protest。

〃Not　to　my　notion；〃　replied　Colter。　　〃Any　man　can　be　game　when　he's
croakin'；　with　somebody　around。　。　。　。　But　Lee　Jorth　an'　Jacksonthey
always　was　yellow　clear　to　their　gizzards。　　They　was　born　in　Louisiana
not　Texas。　。　。　。　Shore　they're　no　more　Texans　than　I　am。　　Ellen　heah；
she　must　have　got　another　strain　in　her　blood。

To　Ellen　their　words　had　no　meaning。　　She　rose　and　asked；
〃Where　can　I　sleep？〃

〃I'll　fetch　a　light　presently　an'　y'u　can　make　your　bed　in　there　by
Tad；〃　replied　Colter。

〃Yes；　I'd　like　that。〃

〃Wal；　if　y'u　reckon　y'u　can　coax　him　to　talk　you're　shore　wrong；
〃declared　Colter；　with　that　cold　timbre　of　voice　that　struck　like
steel　on　Ellen's　nerves。　　〃I　cussed　him　good　an'　told　him　he'd　keep
his　mouth　shut。　　Talkin'　makes　him　cough　an'　that　fetches　up　the　blood。
　。　。　Besides；　I　reckon　I'm　the　one　to　tell　y'u　how　your　dad　an'　uncle
got　killed。　　Tad　didn't　see　it　done；　an'　he　was　bad　hurt　when　it
happened。　　Shore　all　the　fellars　left　have　their　idee　aboot　it。
But　I've　got　it　straight。〃

〃Coltertell　me　now；〃　cried　Ellen。

〃Wal；　all　right。　　Come　over　heah；　〃he　replied；　and　drew　her　away　from
the　camp　fire；　out　in　the　shadow　of　gloom。　　〃Poor　kid！　　I　shore　feel
bad　aboot　it。〃　　He　put　a　long　arm　around　her　waist　and　drew　her　against
him。　　Ellen　felt　it；　yet　did　not　offer　any　resistance。　　All　her　faculties　
seemed　absorbed　in　a　morbid　and　sad　anticipation。

〃Ellen；　y'u　shore　know　I　always　loved　y'unow　don't　y　'u？〃　he　asked；
with　suppressed　breath。

〃No；　Colter。　　It's　news　to　mean'　not　what　I　want　to　heah。〃

〃Wal；　y'u　may　as　well　heah　it　right　now；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　true。
An'　what's　moreyour　dad　gave　y'u　to　me　before　he　died。〃

〃What！　Colter；　y'u　must　be　a　liar。〃

〃Ellen；　I　swear　I'm　not　lyin'；〃　he　returned；　in　eager　passion。　　〃I　was
with　your　dad　last　an'　heard　him　last。　　He　shore　knew　I'd　loved　y'u　for
years。　　An'　he　said　he'd　rather　y'u　be　left　in　my　care　than　anybody's。〃

〃My　father　gave　me　to　y'u　in　marriage！〃　ejaculated　Ellen；　in　bewilderment。

Colter's　ready　assurance　did　not　carry　him　over　this　point。　　It　was
evident　that　her　words　somewhat　surprised　and　disconcerted　him　for
the　moment。

〃To　let　me　marry　a　rustlerone　of　the　Hash　Knife　Gang！〃　exclaimed　Ellen；
with　weary　incredulity。

〃Wal；　your　dad　belonged　to　Daggs's　gang；　same　as　I　do；〃　replied　Colter；
recovering　his　cool　ardor。

〃No！〃　cried　Ellen。

〃Yes；　he　shore　did；　for　years；〃　declared　Colter；　positively。
〃Back　in　Texas。　　An'　it　was　your　dad　that　got　Daggs　to　come　to　Arizona。〃

Ellen　tried　to　fling　herself　away。　　But　her　strength　and　her　spirit
were　ebbing；　and　Colter　increased　the　pressure　of　his　arm。　　All　at
once　she　sank　limp。　　Could　she　escape　her　fate？　　Nothing　seemed　left
to　fight　with　or　for。

〃All　rightdon't　hold　meso　tight；〃　she　panted。　　〃Now　tell　me　how
dad　was　killed　。　。　。　an'　whowho〃

Colter　bent　over　so　he　could　peer　into　her　face。　　In　the　darkness　Ellen
just　caught　the　gleam　of　his　eyes。　　She　felt　the　virile　force　of　the
man　in　the　strain　of　his　body　as　he　pressed　her　close。　　It　all　seemed
unreala　hideous　dreamthe　gloom；　the　moan　of　the　wind；　the　weird
solitude；　and　this　rustler　with　hand　and　will　like　cold　steel。

〃We'd　come　back　to　Greaves's　store；〃　Colter　began。　　〃An'　as　Greaves
was　daid　we　all　got　free　with　his　liquor。　　Shore　some　of　us　got　drunk。
Bruce　was　drunk；　an'　Tad　in　therehe　was　drunk。　　Your　dad　put　away
more　'n　I　ever　seen　him。　　But　shore　he　wasn't　exactly　drunk。　　He　got
one　of　them　weak　an'　shaky　spells。　　He　cried　an'　he　wanted　some　of　us
to　get　the　Isbels　to　call　off　the　fightin'。　。　。　。　He　shore　was　ready
to　call　it　quits。　　I　reckon　the　killin'　of　Daggsan'　then　the　awful
way　Greaves　was　cut　up　by　Jean　Isbeltook　all　the　fight　out　of　your
dad。　　He　said　to　me；　'Colter；　we'll　take　Ellen　an'　leave　this　heah
countryan'　begin　life　all　over　againwhere　no　one　knows　us。'〃

〃Oh；　did　he　really　say　that？　。　。　。　Did　hereally　mean　it？〃　murmured
Ellen；　with　a　sob。

〃I'll　swear　it　by　the　memory　of　my　daid　mother；〃　protested　Colter。
〃Wal；　when　night　come　the　Isbels　rode　down　on　us　in　the　dark　an'　began
to　shoot。　　They　smashed　in　the　doortried　to　burn　us　outan'　hollered
around　for　a　while。　　Then　they　left　an'　we　reckoned　there'd　be　no　more　
trouble　that　night。　　All　the　same　we　kept　watch。　　I　was　the　soberest　one
an'　I　bossed　the　gang。　　We　had　some　quarrels　aboot　the　drinkin'。　　Your
dad　said　if　we　kept　it　up　it　'd　be　the　end　of　the　Jorths。　　An'　he　planned
to　send　word　to　the　Isbels　next　mawnin'　that　he　was　ready　for　a　truce。
An'　I　was　to　go　fix　it　up　with　Gaston　Isbel。　　Wal；　your　dad　went　to　bed
in　Greaves's　room；　an'　a　little　while　later　your　uncle　Jackson　went　in
there；　too。　　Some　of　the　men　laid　down　in　the　store　an'　went　to　sleep。
I　kept　guard　till　aboot　three　in　the　mawnin'。　　An'　I　got　so　sleepy　I
couldn't　hold　my　eyes　open。　　So　I　waked　up　Wells　an'　Slater　an'　set
them　on　guard；　one　at　each　end　of　the　store。　　Then　I　laid　down　on　the
counter　to　take　a　nap。〃

Colter's　low　voice；　the　strain　and　breathlessness　of　him；　the　agitation
with　which　he　appeared　to　be　laboring；　and　especially　the　simple；
matter…of…fact　detail　of　his　story；　carried　absolute　conviction　to
Ellen　Jorth。　　Her　vague　doubt　of　him　had　been　created　by　his　attitude
toward　her。　　Emotion　dominated　her　intelligence。　　The　images；　the　scenes
called　up　by　Colter's　words；　were　as　true　as　the　gloom　of　the　wild　gulch
and　the　loneliness　of　the　night　solitudeas　true　as　the　strange　fact
that　she　lay　passive　in　the　arm　of　a　rustler。

〃Wall；　after　a　while　I　woke　up；〃　went　on　Colter；　clearing　his　throat。
〃It　was　gray　dawn。　　All　was　as　still　as　death。　。　。　。　An'　somethin'　shore
was　wrong。　　Wells　an'　Slater　had　got　to　drinkin'　again　an'　now　laid　daid
drunk　or　asleep。　　Anyways；　when　I　kicked　them　they　never　moved。　　Then　I　
heard　a　moan。　　It　came　from　the　room　where　your　dad　an'　uncle　was。　　I
went　in。　　It　was　just　light　enough　to　see。　　Your　uncle　Jackson　was　layin'
on　the　floorcut　half　in　twodaid　as　a　door　nail。　。　。　。　Your　dad　lay
on　the　bed。　　He　was　alive；　breathin'　his　last。　。　。　。　He　says；　'That　
half…breed　Isbelknifed　uswhile　we　slept！'　。　。　。　The　winder　shutter
was　open。　　I　seen　where　Jean　Isbel　had　come　in　an'　gone　out。　　I　seen
his　moccasin　tracks　in　the　dirt　outside　an'　I　seen　where　he'd　stepped
in　Jackson's　blood　an'　tracked　it　to　the　winder。　　Y'u　shore　can　see
them　bloody　tracks　yourself；　if　y'u　go　back　to　Greaves's　store。　。　。　。
Your　dad　was　goin'　fast。　。　。　。　He　said；　'Coltertake　care　of　Ellen；'
an'　I　reckon　he　meant　a　lot　by　that。　　He　kept　sayin'；　'My　God！　if　I'd
only　seen　Gaston　Isbel　before　it　was　too　late！'　an'　then　he　raved　a
little；　whisperin'　out　of　his　haid。　。　。　。　An'　after　that　he　died。　。　。　。
I　woke　up　the　men；　an'　aboot　sunup　we　carried　your　dad　an'　uncle　out　of
town　an'　buried　them。　。　。　。　An'　them　Isbels　shot　at　us　while　we　were
buryin'　our　daid！　　That's　where　Tad　got　his　hurt。　。　。　。　Then　we　hit
the　trail　for　Jorth's　ranch。　。　。　。　An　now；　Ellen；　that's　all　my　story。
Your　dad　was　ready　to　bury　the　hatchet　with　his　old　enemy。　　An'　that
Nez　Perce　Jean　Isbel；　like　the　sneakin'　savage　he　is；　murdered　your
uncle　an'　your　dad。　。　。　。　Cut　him　horriblemade　him　suffer　tortures
of　hellall　for　Isbel　revenge！〃

When　Colter's　husky　voice　ceased　Ellen　whispered　through　lips　as　cold
and　still　as　ice；　〃Let　me　go　。　。　。　leave　meheahalone！〃

〃Why；　shore！　　I　reckon　I　understand；〃　replied　Colter。　　〃I　hated　to
tell　y'u。　　But　y'u　had　to　heah　the　truth　aboot　that　half…breed。　。　。　。
I'll　carry　your　pack　in　the　cabin　an'　unroll　your　blankets。〃

Releasing　her；　Colter　strode　off　in　the　gloom。　　Like　a　dead　weight；
Ellen　began　to　slide　until　she　slipped　down　full　length　beside　the　log。
And　then　she　lay　in　the　cool；　damp　shadow；　inert　and　lifeless　so　far
as　outward　physical　movement　was　concerned。　　She　saw　nothing　and　felt　
nothing　of　the　night；　the　wind；　the　cold；　the　falling　dew。　　For　the
moment　or　hour　she　was　crushed　by　despair；　and　seemed　to　see　herself
sinking　down　and　down　into　a　black；　bottomless　pit；　into　an　abyss　where
murky　tides　of　blood　and　furious　gusts　of　passion　contended　between　her
body　and　her　soul。　　Into　the　stormy　blast　of　hell！　　In　her　despair　she
longed；　she　ached　for　death。　　Born　of　infidelity；　cursed　by　a　taint　of
evil　blood；　further　cursed　by　higher　instinct　for　good　and　happy　life；
dragged　from　one　lonely　and　wild　and　sordid　spot　to　another；　never
knowing　love　or　peace　or　joy　or　home；　left　to　the　companionship　of
violent　and　vile　men；　driven　by　a　strange　fate　to　love　with　unquenchable
and　insupportable　love　a'　half…breed；　a　savage；　an　Isbel；　the　hereditary
enemy　of　her　people；　and　at　last　the。　ruthless　murderer　of　her　father
what　in　the　name　of　God　had　she　left　to　live　for？　　Revenge！　　An　eye　for
an　eye！　　A　life　for　a　life！　　But　she　could　not　kill　Jean　Isbel。
Woman's　love　could　turn　to　hate；　but　not　the　love　of　Ellen　Jorth。
He　could　drag　her　by　the　hair　in　the　dust；　beat　her；　and　make　her　a
thing　to　loathe；　and　cut　her　mortally　in　his　savage　and　implacable
thirst　for　revengebut　with　her　last　gasp　she　would　whisper　she　loved
him　and　that　she　had　lied　to　him　to　kill　his　fait