to the last man-第47章

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been　good！　　Do　y'u　heah　that？　。　。　。　I　AM　goodso　help　me　God；　y'u　an'
all　your　rottenness　cain't　make　me　bad！〃

Colter　lounged　to　his　tall　height　and　the　laxity　of　the　man　vanished。

Vanished　also　was　Jean　Isbel's　suspended　icy　dread；　the　cold　clogging
of　his　fevered　mindvanished　in　a　white；　living；　leaping　flame。

Silently　he　drew　his　knife　and　lay　there　watching　with　the　eyes　of　a
wildcat。　　The　instant　Colter　stepped　far　enough　over　toward　the　edge
of　the　loft　Jean　meant　to　bound　erect　and　plunge　down　upon　him。　　But
Jean　could　wait　now。　　Colter　had　a　gun　at　his　hip。　　He　must　never　have
a　chance　to　draw　it。

〃Ahuh！　　So　y'u　wish　Jean　Isbel　would　hop　in　heah；　do　y'u？〃　queried　Colter。
〃Wal；　if　I　had　any　pity　on　y'u；　that's　done　for　it。〃

A　sweep　of　his　long　arm；　so　swift　Ellen　had　no　time　to　move；　brought
his　hand　in　clutching　contact　with　her。　　And　the　force　of　it　flung　her
half　across　the　cabin　room；　leaving　the　sleeve　of　her　blouse　in　his　grasp。
Pantingly　she　put　out　that　bared　arm　and　her　other　to　ward　him　off　as
he　took　long；　slow　strides　toward　her。

Jean　rose　half　to　his　feet；　dragged　by　almost　ungovernable　passion　to
risk　all　on　one　leap。　　But　the　distance　was　too　great。　　Colter；　blind
as　he　was　to　all　outward　things；　would　hear；　would　see　in　time　to　make
Jean's　effort　futile。　　Shaking　like　a　leaf；　Jean　sank　back；　eye　again　
to　the　crack　between　the　rafters。

Ellen　did　not　retreat；　nor　scream；　nor　move。　　Every　line　of　her　body
was　instinct　with　fight；　and　the　magnificent　blaze　of　her　eyes　would
have　checked　a　less　callous　brute。

Colter's　big　hand　darted　between　Ellen's　arms　and　fastened　in　the　front
of　her　blouse。　　He　did　not　try　to　hold　her　or　draw　her　close。　　The
unleashed　passion　of　the　man　required　violence。　　In　one　savage　pull
he　tore　off　her　blouse；　exposing　her　white；　rounded　shoulders　and
heaving　bosom；　where　instantly　a　wave　of　red　burned　upward。

Overcome　by　the　tremendous　violence　and　spirit　of　the　rustler；　Ellen
sank　to　her　knees；　with　blanched　face　and　dilating　eyes；　trying　with
folded　arms　and　trembling　hand　to　hide　her　nudity。

At　that　moment　the　rapid　beat　of　hoofs　on　the　hard　trail　outside　halted
Colter　in　his　tracks。

〃Hell！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃An'　who's　that？〃　　With　a　fierce　action　he　flung
the　remnants　of　Ellen's　blouse　in　her　face　and　turned　to　leap　out　the　door。

Jean　saw　Ellen　catch　the　blouse　and　try　to　wrap　it　around　her；　while　she
sagged　against　the　wall　and　stared　at　the　door。　　The　hoof　beats　pounded
to　a　solid　thumping　halt　just　outside。

〃Jimthar's　hell　to　pay！〃　rasped　out　a　panting　voice。

〃Wal；　Springer；　I　reckon　I　wished　y'u'd　paid　it　without　spoilin'
my　deals；〃　retorted　Colter；　cool　and　sharp。

〃Deals？　　Ha！　　Y'u'll　be　forgettin'your　lady　lovein　a　minnit；〃
replied　Springer。　　〃When　I　catchmy　breath。〃

〃Where's　Somers？〃　demanded　Colter。

〃I　reckon　he's　all　shot　upif　my　eyes　didn't　fool　me。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃　yelled　Colter。

〃Jimhe's　layin'　up　in　the　bushes　round　thet　bluff。　　I　didn't　wait
to　see　how　he　was　hurt。　　But　he　shore　stopped　some　lead。　　An'　he　flopped
like　a　chicken　with　itshaid　cut　off。〃

〃Where's　Antonio？〃

〃He　run　like　the　greaser　he　is；〃　declared　Springer；　disgustedly。

〃Ahuh！　　An'　where's　Queen？〃　queried　Colter；　after　a　significant　pause。

〃Dead！〃

The　silence　ensuing　was　fraught　with　a　suspense　that　held　Jean　in　cold
bonds。　　He　saw　the　girl　below　rise　from　her　knees；　one　hand　holding　the
blouse　to　her　breast；　the　other　extended；　and　with　strange；　repressed；
almost　frantic　look　she　swayed　toward　the　door。

〃Wal；　talk；〃　ordered　Colter；　harshly。

〃Jim；　there　ain't　a　hell　of　a　lot；〃　replied　Springer；　drawing　a　deep
breath；　〃but　what　there　is　is　shore　interestin'。　。　。　。　Me　an'　Somers
took　Antonio　with　us。　　He　left　his　woman　with　the　sheep。　　An'　we　rode
up　the　canyon；　clumb　out　on　top；　an'　made　a　circle　back　on　the　ridge。
That's　the　way　we've　been　huntin'　fer　tracks。　　Up　thar　in　a　bare　spot
we　run　plump　into　Queen　sittin'　against　a　tree；　right　out　in　the　open。
Queerest　sight　y'u　ever　seen！　　The　damn　gunfighter　had　set　down　to　wait
for　Isbel；　who　was　trailin'　him；　as　we　suspected…an'　he　died　thar。
He　wasn't　cold　when　we　found　him。　。　。　。　Somers　was　quick　to　see　a　trick。
So　he　propped　Queen　up　an'　tied　the　guns　to　his　handsan'；　Jim；　the
queerest　thing　aboot　that　deal　was　thisQueen's　guns　was　empty！　　Not
a　shell　left！　　It　beat　us　holler。　。　。　。　We　left　him　thar；　an'　hid　up　
high　on　the　bluff；　mebbe　a　hundred　yards　off。　　The　hosses　we　left　back
of　a　thicket。　　An'　we　waited　thar　a　long　time。　　But；　sure　enough；
the　half…breed　come。　　He　was　too　smart。　　Too　much　Injun！　　He　would　not
cross　the　open；　but　went　around。　　An'　then　he　seen　Queen。　　It　was　great
to　watch　him。　　After　a　little　he　shoved　his　rifle　out　an'　went　right
fer　Queen。　　This　is　when　I　wanted　to　shoot。　　I　could　have　plugged　him。
But　Somers　says　wait　an'　make　it　sure。　　When　Isbel　got　up　to　Queen　he
was　sort　of　half　hid　by　the　tree。　　An'　I　couldn't　wait　no　longer；
so　I　shot。　　I　hit　him；　too。　　We　all　begun　to　shoot。　　Somers　showed
himself；　an'　that's　when　Isbel　opened　up。　　He　used　up　a　whole　magazine
on　Somers　an'　then；　suddenlike；　he　quit。　　It　didn't　take　me　long　to
figger　mebbe　he　was　out　of　shells。　　When　I　seen　him　run　I　was　certain
of　it。　　Then　we　made　for　the　hosses　an'　rode　after　Isbel。　　Pretty　soon
I　seen　him　runnin'　like　a　deer　down　the　ridge。　　I　yelled　an'　spurred
after　him。　　There　is　where　Antonio　quit　me。　　But　I　kept　on。　　An'　I　got
a　shot　at　Isbel。　　He　ran　out　of　sight。　　I　follered　him　by　spots　of　blood　
on　the　stones　an'　grass　until　I　couldn't　trail　him　no　more。　　He　must
have　gone　down　over　the　cliffs。　　He　couldn't　have　done　nothin'　else
without　me　seein'　him。　　I　found　his　rifle；　an'　here　it　is　to　prove　what
I　say。　　I　had　to　go　back　to　climb　down　off　the　Rim；　an'　I　rode　fast
down　the　canyon。　　He's　somewhere　along　that　west　wall；　hidin'　in　the
brush；　hard　hit　if　I　know　anythin'　aboot　the　color　of　blood。〃

〃Wal！　。　。　。　that　beats　me　holler；　too；〃　ejaculated　Colter。

〃Jim；　what's　to　be　done？〃　inquired　Springer；　eagerly。　　If　we're　sharp
we　can　corral　that　half…breed。　　He's　the　last　of　the　Isbels。〃

〃More；　pard。　　He's　the　last　of　the　Isbel　outfit；〃　declared　Colter。
〃If　y'u　can　show　me　blood　in　his　tracks　I'll　trail　him。〃

〃Y'u　can　bet　I'll　show　y'u；〃　rejoined　the　other　rustler。　　〃But　listen！
Wouldn't　it　be　better　for　us　first　to　see　if　he　crossed　the　canyon？
I　reckon　he　didn't。　　But　let's　make　sure。　　An'　if　he　didn't　we'll　have
him　somewhar　along　that　west　canyon　wall。　　He's　not　got　no　gun。　　He'd
never　run　thet　way　if　he　had。　。　。　。　Jim；　he's　our　meat！〃

〃Shore；　he'll　have　that　knife；　〃　pondered　Colter。

〃We　needn't　worry　about　thet；〃　said　the　other；　positively。　　〃He's　hard　
hit；　I　tell　y'u。　　All　we　got　to　do　is　find　thet　bloody　trail　again　an'
stick　to　itgoin'　careful。　　He's　layin'　low　like　a　crippled　wolf。〃

〃Springer；　I　want　the　job　of　finishin'　that　half…breed；〃　hissed　Colter。
〃I'd　give　ten　years　of　my　life　to　stick　a　gun　down　his　throat　an'　shoot
it　off。〃

〃All　right。　　Let's　rustle。　　Mebbe　y'u'll　not　have　to　give　much　more　'n
ten　minnits。　　Because　I　tell　y'u　I　can　find　him。　　It'd　been　easybut；
Jim；　I　reckon　I　was　afraid。〃

〃Leave　your　hoss　for　me　an'　go　ahaid；〃　the　rustler　then　said；　brusquely。
〃I've　a　job　in　the　cabin　heah。〃

〃Haw…haw！　。　。　。　Wal；　Jim；　I'll　rustle　a　bit　down　the　trail　an'　wait。
No　huntin'　Jean　Isbel　alonenot　fer　me。　　I've　had　a　queer　feelin'
about　thet　knife　he　used　on　Greaves。　　An'　I　reckon　y'u'd　oughter　let
thet　Jorth　hussy　alone　long　enough　to〃

〃Springer；　I　reckon　I've　got　to　hawg…tie　her〃　　His　voice　became
indistinguishable；　and　footfalls　attested　to　a　slow　moving　away　of
the　men。

Jean　had　listened　with　ears　acutely　strung　to　catch　every　syllable　while
his　gaze　rested　upon　Ellen　who　stood　beside　the　door。　　Every　line　of　her
body　denoted　a　listening　intensity。　　Her　back　was　toward　Jean；　so　that　he
could　not　see　her　face。　　And　he　did　not　want　to　see；　but　could　not　help
seeing　her　naked　shoulders。　　She　put　her　head　out　of　the　door。　　Suddenly
she　drew　it　in　quickly　and　half　turned　her　face；　slowly　raising　her　white
arm。　　This　was　the　left　one　and　bore　the　marks　of　Colter's　hard　fingers。

She　gave　a　little　gasp。　　Her　eyes　became　large　and　staring。　　They　were
bent　on　the　hand　that　she　had　removed　from　a　step　on　the　ladder。　　On　hand
and　wrist　showed　a　bright…red　smear　of　blood。

Jean；　with　a　convulsive　leap　of　his　heart；　realized　that　he　had　left　his
bloody　tracks　on　the　ladder　as　he　had　climbed。　　That　moment　seemed　the
supremely　terrible　one　of　his　life。

Ellen　Jorth's　face　blanched　and　her　eyes　darkened　and　dilated　with
exceeding　amaze　and　flashing　thought　to　become　fixed　with　horror。
That　instant　was　the　one　in　which　her　reason　connected　the　blood
on　the　ladder　with　the　escape　of　Jean　Isbel。

One　moment　she　leaned　there；　still　as　a　stone　except　for　her　heaving
breast；　and　then　her　fixed　gaze　changed　to　a　swift；　dark　blaze；
comprehending；　yet　inscrutable；　as　she　flashed　it　up　the　ladder　to
the　loft。　　She　could　see　nothing；　yet　she　knew　and　Jean　knew　that
she　knew　he　was　there。　　A　marvelous　transformation　passed　over　her
features　and　even　over　her　form。　　Jean　choked　with　the　ache　in　his　throat。
Slowly　she　put　the　bloody　hand　behind　her　while　with　the　other　she　still
held　the　torn　blouse　to　her　breast。

Colter's　slouching；　musical　step　sounded　outside。　　And　it　might　have
been　a　strange　breath　of　infinitely　vitalizing　and　passionate　life
blown　into　the　well…springs　of　Ellen　Jorth's　being。　　Isbel　had　no　name
for　her　then。　　The　spirit　of　a　woman　had　been　to　him　a　thing　unknown。

She　swayed　back　from　the　door　against　the　wall　in　singular；　softened
poise；　as　if　all　the　steel　had　melted　out　of　her　body。　　And　as　Colter's
tall　shadow　fell　across　the　threshold　Jean　Isbel　felt　himself　staring
with　eyeballs　that　achedstraining　incredulous　sight　at　this　woman　who
in　a　few　seconds　had　bewildered　his　senses　with　her　transfiguration。
He　saw　but　could　not　comprehend。

〃JimI　heardall　Springer　told　y'u；〃　she　said。　　The　look　of　her
dumfounded　Colter　and　her　voice　seemed　to　shake　him　visibly。

〃Suppose　y'u　did。　　What　then？〃　he　demanded；　harshly；　as　he　halted　with
one　booted　foot　over　the　threshold。　　Malignant　and　forceful；　he　eyed
her　darkly；　doubtfully。

〃I'm　afraid；〃　she　whispered。

〃What　of？　Me？〃

〃No。　Ofof　Jean　Isbel。　　He　might　kill　y'u　andthen　where　would　I　be？〃

〃Wal；　I'm　damned！〃　ejaculated　the　rustler。　　〃What's　got　into　y'u？〃
He　moved　to　enter；　but　a　sort　of　fascination　bound　him。

〃Jim；　I　hated　y'u　a　moment　ago；〃　she　burst　out。　　〃But　nowwith　that
Jean　Isbel　somewhere　nearhidin'watchin'　to　kill　y'uan'　maybe　me；
tooII　don't　hate　y'u　any　more。　。　。　。　Take　me　away。〃

〃Girl；　have　y'u　lost　your　nerve？〃　he　demanded。

〃My　God！　Coltercain't　y'u　see？〃　she　implored。　　〃Won't　y'u　take　me　away？〃

〃I　shore　willpresently；〃　he　replied；　grimly。　　〃But　y'u'll　wait　till
I've　shot　the　lights　out　of　this　Isbel。〃

〃No！〃　she　cried。　　〃Take　me　away　now。　。　。　。　An'　I'll　give　inI'll　be
what　y'uwant。　。　。　。　Y'u　can　do　with　meas　y'u　like。〃

Colter's　lofty　frame　leaped　as　if　at　the　release　of　bursting　blood。
With　a　lunge　he　cleared　the　threshold　to