to the last man-第4章

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what　to　say　presently；　and　then　he　felt　a　rather　vague　pleasure　in
stalking　beside　her。　　Her　profile　was　straight　cut　and　exquisite　in
line。　　From　this　side　view　the　soft　curve　of　lips　could　not　be　seen。

She　made　several　attempts　to　start　conversation；　all　of　which　Jean
ignored；　manifestly　to　her　growing　constraint。　　Presently　Jean；
having　decided　what　he　wanted　to　say；　suddenly　began：　〃I　like　this
adventure。　　Do　you？〃

〃Adventure！　Meetin'　me　in　the　woods？〃　　And　she　laughed　the　laugh
of　youth。　　〃Shore　you　must　be　hard　up　for　adventure；　stranger。〃

〃Do　you　like　it？〃　he　persisted；　and　his　eyes　searched　the
half…averted　face。

〃I　might　like　it；〃　she　answered；　frankly；　〃ifif　my　temper　had　not
made　a　fool　of　me。　　I　never　meet　anyone　I　care　to　talk　to。　　Why　should
it　not　be　pleasant　to　run　across　some　one　newsome　one　strange　in
this　heah　wild　country？　〃

〃We　are　as　we　are；〃　said　Jean；　simply。　　〃I　didn't　think　you　made　a
fool　of　yourself。　　If　I　thought　so；　would　I　want　to　see　you　again？〃

〃Do　y'u？〃　　The　brown　face　flashed　on　him　with　surprise；　with　a　light
he　took　for　gladness。　　And　because　he　wanted　to　appear　calm　and　friendly；
not　too　eager；　he　had　to　deny　himself　the　thrill　of　meeting　those
changing　eyes。

〃Sure　I　do。　　Reckon　I'm　overbold　on　such　short　acquaintance。　　But　I
might　not　have　another　chance　to　tell　you；　so　please　don't　hold　it
against　me。〃

This　declaration　over；　Jean　felt　relief　and　something　of　exultation。
He　had　been　afraid　he　might　not　have　the　courage　to　make　it。　　She
walked　on　as　before；　only　with　her　head　bowed　a　little　and　her　eyes
downcast。　　No　color　but　the　gold…brown　tan　and　the　blue　tracery　of
veins　showed　in　her　cheeks。　　He　noticed　then　a　slight　swelling　quiver
of　her　throat；　and　he　became　alive　to　its　graceful　contour；　and　to　how
full　and　pulsating　it　was；　how　nobly　it　set　into　the　curve　of　her
shoulder。　　Here　in　her　quivering　throat　was　the　weakness　of　her；
the　evidence　of　her　sex；　the　womanliness　that　belied　the　mountaineer
stride　and　the　grasp　of　strong　brown　hands　on　a　rifle。　　It　had　an
effect　on　Jean　totally　inexplicable　to　him；　both　in　the　strange　warmth
that　stole　over　him　and　in　the　utterance　he　could　not　hold　back。

〃Girl；　we're　strangers；　but　what　of　that？　　We've　met；　an'　I　tell　you
it　means　somethin'　to　me。　　I've　known　girls　for　months　an'　never　felt
this　way。　　I　don't　know　who　you　are　an'　I　don't　care。　　You　betrayed　a
good　deal　to　me。　　You're　not　happy。　　You're　lonely。　　An'　if　I　didn't
want　to　see　you　again　for　my　own　sake　I　would　for　yours。　　Some　things
you　said　I'll　not　forget　soon。　　I've　got　a　sister；　an'　I　know　you　have
no　brother。　　An'　I　reckon　。　。　。〃

At　this　juncture　Jean　in　his　earnestness　and　quite　without　thought
grasped　her　hand。　　The　contact　checked　the　flow　of　his　speech　and
suddenly　made　him　aghast　at　his　temerity。　　But　the　girl　did　not　make
any　effort　to　withdraw　it。　　So　Jean；　inhaling　a　deep　breath　and　trying
to　see　through　his　bewilderment；　held　on　bravely。　　He　imagined　he　felt
a　faint；　warm；　returning　pressure。　　She　was　young；　she　was　friendless；
she　was　human。　　By　this　hand　in　his　Jean　felt　more　than　ever　the
loneliness　of　her。　　Then；　just　as　he　was　about　to　speak　again；
she　pulled　her　hand　free。

〃Heah's　the　Rim；〃　she　said；　in　her　quaint　Southern　drawl。
〃An'　there's　Y'ur　Tonto　Basin。〃

Jean　had　been　intent　only　upon　the　girl。　　He　had　kept　step　beside　her
without　taking　note　of　what　was　ahead　of　him。　　At　her　words　he　looked
up　expectantly；　to　be　struck　mute。

He　felt　a　sheer　force；　a　downward　drawing　of　an　immense　abyss　beneath　him。
As　he　looked　afar　he　saw　a　black　basin　of　timbered　country；　the　darkest
and　wildest　he　had　ever　gazed　upon；　a　hundred　miles　of　blue　distance
across　to　an　unflung　mountain　range；　hazy　purple　against　the　sky。
It　seemed　to　be　a　stupendous　gulf　surrounded　on　three　sides　by　bold；
undulating　lines　of　peaks；　and　on　his　side　by　a　wall　so　high　that　he
felt　lifted　aloft　on　the　run　of　the　sky。

Southeast　y'u　see　the　Sierra　Anchas；〃　said　the　girl　pointing。　〃That
notch　in　the　range　is　the　pass　where　sheep　are　driven　to　Phoenix　an'
Maricopa。　　Those　big　rough　mountains　to　the　south　are　the　Mazatzals。
Round　to　the　west　is　the　Four　Peaks　Range。　　An'　y'u're　standin'　on
the　Rim。〃

Jean　could　not　see　at　first　just　what　the　Rim　was；　but　by　shifting
his　gaze　westward　he　grasped　this　remarkable　phenomenon　of　nature。
For　leagues　and　leagues　a　colossal　red　and　yellow　wall；　a　rampart；
a　mountain…faced　cliff；　seemed　to　zigzag　westward。　　Grand　and　bold
were　the　promontories　reaching　out　over　the　void。　　They　ran　toward
the　westering　sun。　　Sweeping　and　impressive　were　the　long　lines
slanting　away　from　them；　sloping　darkly　spotted　down　to　merge　into
the　black　timber。　　Jean　had　never　seen　such　a　wild　and　rugged
manifestation　of　nature's　depths　and　upheavals。　　He　was　held　mute。

〃Stranger；　look　down；〃　said　the　girl。

Jean's　sight　was　educated　to　judge　heights　and　depths　and　distances。
This　wall　upon　which　he　stood　sheered　precipitously　down；　so　far　that
it　made　him　dizzy　to　look；　and　then　the　craggy　broken　cliffs　merged
into　red…slided；　cedar…greened　slopes　running　down　and　down　into
gorges　choked　with　forests；　and　from　which　soared　up　a　roar　of　rushing
waters。　　Slope　after　slope；　ridge　beyond　ridge；　canyon　merging　into
canyonso　the　tremendous　bowl　sunk　away　to　its　black；　deceiving　depths；
a　wilderness　across　which　travel　seemed　impossible。

〃Wonderful！〃　exclaimed　Jean。

〃Indeed　it　is！〃　murmured　the　girl。　　〃Shore　that　is　Arizona。　　I　reckon
I　love　THIS。　　The　heights　an'　depthsthe　awfulness　of　its　wilderness！〃

〃An'　you　want　to　leave　it？〃

〃Yes　an'　no。　　I　don't　deny　the　peace　that　comes　to　me　heah。　　But　not
often　do　I　see　the　Basin；　an'　for　that　matter；　one　doesn't　live　on
grand　scenery。〃

〃Child；　even　once　in　a　whilethis　sight　would　cure　any　misery；　if　you
only　see。　　I'm　glad　I　came。　　I'm　glad　you　showed　it　to　me　first。〃

She　too　seemed　under　the　spell　of　a　vastness　and　loneliness　and　beauty
and　grandeur　that　could　not　but　strike　the　heart。

Jean　took　her　hand　again。　　〃Girl；　say　you　will　meet　me　here；〃　he　said；
his　voice　ringing　deep　in　his　ears。

〃Shore　I　will；〃　she　replied；　softly；　and　turned　to　him。　　It　seemed
then　that　Jean　saw　her　face　for　the　first　time。　　She　was　beautiful
as　he　had　never　known　beauty。　　Limned　against　that　scene；　she　gave
it　lifewild；　sweet；　young　lifethe　poignant　meaning　of　which
haunted　yet　eluded　him。　　But　she　belonged　there。　　Her　eyes　were
again　searching　his；　as　if。　for　some　lost　part　of　herself；　unrealized；
never　known　before。　　Wondering；　wistful；　hopeful；　glad…they　were　eyes
that　seemed　surprised；　to　reveal　part　of　her　soul。

Then　her　red　lips　parted。　　Their　tremulous　movement　was　a　magnet　to　Jean。
An　invisible　and　mighty　force　pulled　him　down　to　kiss　them。　　Whatever
the　spell　had　been；　that　rude；　unconscious　action　broke　it。

He　jerked　away；　as　if　he　expected　to　be　struck。　〃GirlII〃he　gasped
in　amaze　and　sudden…dawning　contrition〃　I　kissed　youbut　I　swear　it
wasn't　intentionalI　never　thought。　。　。　。〃

The　anger　that　Jean　anticipated　failed　to　materialize。　　He　stood；
breathing　hard；　with　a　hand　held　out　in　unconscious　appeal。　　By　the
same　magic；　perhaps；　that　had　transfigured　her　a　moment　past；　she　was
now　invested　again　by　the　older　character。

〃Shore　I　reckon　my　callin'　y'u　a　gentleman　was　a　little　previous；〃
she　said；　with　a　rather　dry　bitterness。　　〃But；　stranger；　yu're　sudden。〃

〃You're　not　insulted？〃　asked　Jean；　hurriedly。

〃Oh；　I've　been　kissed　before。　　Shore　men　are　all　alike。〃

〃They're　not；〃　he　replied；　hotly；　with　a　subtle　rush　of　disillusion；
a　dulling　of　enchantment。　　〃Don't　you　class　me　with　other　men　who've
kissed　you。　　I　wasn't　myself　when　I　did　it　an'　I'd　have　gone　on　my
knees　to　ask　your　forgiveness。　。　。　。　But　now　I　wouldn'tan'　I　wouldn't
kiss　you　again；　eithereven　if　youyou　wanted　it。〃

Jean　read　in　her　strange　gaze　what　seemed　to　him　a　vague　doubt；
as　if　she　was　questioning　him。

〃Miss；　I　take　that　back；〃　added　Jean；　shortly。　　〃I'm　sorry。　　I　didn't
mean　to　be　rude。　　It　was　a　mean　trick　for　me　to　kiss　you。　　A　girl　alone
in　the　woods　who's　gone　out　of　her　way　to　be　kind　to　me！　　I　don't　know
why　I　forgot　my　manners。　　An'　I　ask　your　pardon。〃

She　looked　away　then；　and　presently　pointed　far　out　and　down
into　the　Basin。

〃There's　Grass　Valley。　　That　long　gray　spot　in　the　black。　　It's　about
fifteen　miles。　　Ride　along　the　Rim　that　way　till　y'u　cross　a　trail。
Shore　y'u　can't　miss　it。　　Then　go　down。〃

〃I'm　much　obliged　to　you；〃　replied　Jean；　reluctantly　accepting　what
he　regarded　as　his　dismissal。　　Turning　his　horse；　he　put　his　foot　in
the　stirrup；　then；　hesitating；　he　looked　across　the　saddle　at　the　girl。
Her　abstraction；　as　she　gazed　away　over　the　purple　depths　suggested
loneliness　and　wistfulness。　　She　was　not　thinking　of　that　scene　spread
so　wondrously　before　her。　　It　struck　Jean　she　might　be　pondering　a
subtle　change　in　his　feeling　and　attitude；　something　he　was　conscious
of；　yet　could　not　define。

〃Reckon　this　is　good…by；〃　he　said；　with　hesitation。

〃ADIOS；　SENOR；〃　she　replied；　facing　him　again。　　She　lifted　the　little
carbine　to　the　hollow　of　her　elbow　and；　half　turning；　appeared　ready
to　depart。

〃Adios　means　good…by？　〃　he　queried。

〃Yes；　good…by　till　to…morrow　or　good…by　forever。　　Take　it　as　y'u　like。〃

〃Then　you'll　meet　me　here　day　after　to…morrow？〃　　How　eagerly　he　spoke；
on　impulse；　without　a　consideration　of　the　intangible　thing　that　had
changed　him！

〃Did　I　say　I　wouldn't？　〃

〃No。　　But　I　reckoned　you'd　not　care　to　after〃　he　replied；
breaking　off　in　some　confusion。

〃Shore　I'll　be　glad　to　meet　y'u。　　Day　after　to…morrow　about
mid…afternoon。　　Right　heah。　　Fetch　all　the　news　from　Grass　Valley。〃

〃All　right。　　Thanks。　　That'll　befine；〃　replied　Jean；　and　as　he　spoke
he　experienced　a　buoyant　thrill；　a　pleasant　lightness　of　enthusiasm；
such　as　always　stirred　boyishly　in　him　at　a　prospect　of　adventure。
Before　it　passed　he　wondered　at　it　and　felt　unsure　of　himself。
He　needed　to　think。

〃Stranger　shore　I'm　not　recollectin'　that　y'u　told　me　who　y'u　are；〃
she　said。

〃No；　reckon　I　didn't　tell；〃　he　returned。　　〃What　difference　does　that
make？　　I　said　I　didn't　care　who　or　what　you　are。　　Can't　you　feel　the
same　about　me？　〃

〃ShoreI　felt　that　way；〃　she　replied；　somewhat　non…plussed；　with　the
level　brown　gaze　steadily　on　his　face。　　But　now　y'u　make　me　think。〃

〃Let's　meet　without　knowin'　any　more　about　each　other　than　we　do　now。〃

〃Shore。　　I'd　like　that。　　In　this　big　wild　Arizona　a　girlan'　I　reckon
a　manfeels　so　insignificant。　　What's　a　name；　anyhow？　　Still；　people
an'　things　have　to　be　distinguished。　　I'll　call　y'u　'Stranger'　an'　be
satisfiedif　y'u　say　it's　fair　for　y'u　not　to　tell　who　y'u　are。〃

〃Fair！　　No；　it's　not；〃　declared　Jean；　forced　to　confession。　　〃My　name's
JeanJean　Isbel。〃

〃ISBEL！〃　she　exclaimed；　with　a　violent　start。　　〃Shore　y'u　can't　be
son　of　old　Gass　Isbel。　。　。　。　I've　seen　both　his　sons。〃

〃He　has　three；〃　replied　Jean；　with　relief；　now　the　secret　was　out。
〃I'm　the　youngest。　　I'm　twenty…four。　　Never　been　out　of　Oregon　till
now。　　On　my　way〃

The　brown　color　slowly　faded　out　of　her　face；　leaving　her　quite　pale；
with　eyes　t