riders of the purple sage-第13章

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dually　swelled；　low；　rolling　clouds　of　dust　began　to　rise　above　the　sage。

〃It's　a　stampede；　an'　a　hummer；〃　said　Lassiter。

〃Oh；　Lassiter！　The　herd's　running　with　the　valley！　It　leads　into　the　canyon！　There's　a　straight　jump…off！〃

〃I　reckon　they'll　run　into　it；　too。　But　that's　a　good　many　miles　yet。　An'；　Jane；　this　valley　swings　round　almost　north　before　it　goes　east。　That　stampede　will　pass　within　a　mile　of　us。〃

The　long；　white；　bobbing　line　of　steers　streaked　swiftly　through　the　sage；　and　a　funnel…shaped　dust…cloud　arose　at　a　low　angle。　A　dull　rumbling　filled　Jane's　ears。

〃I'm　thinkin'　of　millin'　that　herd；〃　said　Lassiter。　His　gray　glance　swept　up　the　slope　to　the　west。　〃There's　some　specks　an'　dust　way　off　toward　the　village。　Mebbe　that's　Judkins　an'　his　boys。　It　ain't　likely　he'll　get　here　in　time　to　help。　You'd　better　hold　Black　Star　here　on　this　high　ridge。〃

He　ran　to　his　horse　and；　throwing　off　saddle…bags　and　tightening　the　cinches；　he　leaped　astride　and　galloped　straight　down　across　the　valley。

Jane　went　for　Black　Star　and；　leading　him　to　the　summit　of　the　ridge；　she　mounted　and　faced　the　valley　with　excitement　and　expectancy。　She　had　heard　of　milling　stampeded　cattle；　and　knew　it　was　a　feat　accomplished　by　only　the　most　daring　riders。

The　white　herd　was　now　strung　out　in　a　line　two　miles　long。　The　dull　rumble　of　thousands　of　hoofs　deepened　into　continuous　low　thunder；　and　as　the　steers　swept　swiftly　closer　the　thunder　became　a　heavy　roll。　Lassiter　crossed　in　a　few　moments　the　level　of　the　valley　to　the　eastern　rise　of　ground　and　there　waited　the　coming　of　the　herd。　Presently；　as　the　head　of　the　white　line　reached　a　point　opposite　to　where　Jane　stood；　Lassiter　spurred　his　black　into　a　run

Jane　saw　him　take　a　position　on　the　off　side　of　the　leaders　of　the　stampede；　and　there　he　rode。　It　was　like　a　race。　They　swept　on　down　the　valley；　and　when　the　end　of　the　white　line　neared　Lassiter's　first　stand　the　head　had　begun　to　swing　round　to　the　west。　It　swung　slowly　and　stubbornly；　yet　surely；　and　gradually　assumed　a　long；　beautiful　curve　of　moving　white。　To　Jane's　amaze　she　saw　the　leaders　swinging；　turning　till　they　headed　back　toward　her　and　up　the　valley。　Out　to　the　right　of　these　wild　plunging　steers　ran　Lassiter's　black；　and　Jane's　keen　eye　appreciated　the　fleet　stride　and　sure…footedness　of　the　blind　horse。　Then　it　seemed　that　the　herd　moved　in　a　great　curve；　a　huge　half…moon　with　the　points　of　head　and　tail　almost　opposite；　and　a　mile　apart　But　Lassiter　relentlessly　crowded　the　leaders；　sheering　them　to　the　left；　turning　them　little　by　little。　And　the　dust…blinded　wild　followers　plunged　on　madly　in　the　tracks　of　their　leaders。　This　ever…moving；　ever…changing　curve　of　steers　rolled　toward　Jane　and　when　below　her；　scarce　half　a　mile；　it　began　to　narrow　and　close　into　a　circle。　Lassiter　had　ridden　parallel　with　her　position；　turned　toward　her；　then　aside；　and　now　he　was　riding　directly　away　from　her；　all　the　time　pushing　the　head　of　that　bobbing　line　inward。

It　was　then　that　Jane；　suddenly　understanding　Lassiter's　feat　stared　and　gasped　at　the　riding　of　this　intrepid　man。　His　horse　was　fleet　and　tireless；　but　blind。　He　had　pushed　the　leaders　around　and　around　till　they　were　about　to　turn　in　on　the　inner　side　of　the　end　of　that　line　of　steers。　The　leaders　were　already　running　in　a　circle；　the　end　of　the　herd　was　still　running　almost　straight。　But　soon　they　would　be　wheeling。　Then；　when　Lassiter　had　the　circle　formed；　how　would　he　escape？　With　Jane　Withersteen　prayer　was　as　ready　as　praise；　and　she　prayed　for　this　man's　safety。　A　circle　of　dust　began　to　collect。　Dimly；　as　through　a　yellow　veil；　Jane　saw　Lassiter　press　the　leaders　inward　to　close　the　gap　in　the　sage。　She　lost　sight　of　him　in　the　dust；　again　she　thought　she　saw　the　black；　riderless　now；　rear　and　drag　himself　and　fall。　Lassiter　had　been　thrownlost！　Then　he　reappeared　running　out　of　the　dust　into　the　sage。　He　had　escaped；　and　she　breathed　again。

Spellbound；　Jane　Withersteen　watched　this　stupendous　millwheel　of　steers。　Here　was　the　milling　of　the　herd。　The　white　running　circle　closed　in　upon　the　open　space　of　sage。　And　the　dust　circles　closed　above　into　a　pall。　The　ground　quaked　and　the　incessant　thunder　of　pounding　hoofs　rolled　on。　Jane　felt　deafened；　yet　she　thrilled　to　a　new　sound。　As　the　circle　of　sage　lessened　the　steers　began　to　bawl；　and　when　it　closed　entirely　there　came　a　great　upheaval　in　the　center；　and　a　terrible　thumping　of　heads　and　clicking　of　horns。　Bawling；　climbing；　goring；　the　great　mass　of　steers　on　the　inside　wrestled　in　a　crashing　din；　heaved　and　groaned　under　the　pressure。　Then　came　a　deadlock。　The　inner　strife　ceased；　and　the　hideous　roar　and　crash。　Movement　went　on　in　the　outer　circle；　and　that；　too；　gradually　stilled。　The　white　herd　had　come　to　a　stop；　and　the　pall　of　yellow　dust　began　to　drift　away　on　the　wind。

Jane　Withersteen　waited　on　the　ridge　with　full　and　grateful　heart。　Lassiter　appeared；　making　his　weary　way　toward　her　through　the　sage。　And　up　on　the　slope　Judkins　rode　into　sight　with　his　troop　of　boys。　For　the　present；　at　least；　the　white　herd　would　be　looked　after。

When　Lassiter　reached　her　and　laid　his　hand　on　Black　Star's　mane；　Jane　could　not　find　speech。

〃Killedmyhoss；〃　he　panted。

〃Oh！　I'm　sorry；〃　cried　Jane。　〃Lassiter！　I　know　you　can't　replace　him；　but　I'll　give　you　any　one　of　my　racersBells；　or　Night；　even　Black　Star。〃

〃I'll　take　a　fast　hoss；　Jane；　but　not　one　of　your　favorites；〃　he　replied。　〃Onlywill　you　let　me　have　Black　Star　now　an'　ride　him　over　there　an'　head　off　them　fellers　who　stampeded　the　herd？〃

He　pointed　to　several　moving　specks　of　black　and　puffs　of　dust　in　the　purple　sage。

〃I　can　head　them　off　with　this　hoss；　an'　then〃

〃Then；　Lassiter？〃

〃They'll　never　stampede　no　more　cattle。〃

〃Oh！　No！　No！。。。Lassiter；　I　won't　let　you　go！〃

But　a　flush　of　fire　flamed　in　her　cheeks；　and　her　trembling　hands　shook　Black　Star's　bridle；　and　her　eyes　fell　before　Lassiter's。



CHAPTER　VII。　THE　DAUGHTER　OF　WITHERSTEEN

〃Lassiter；　will　you　be　my　rider？〃　Jane　had　asked　him。

〃I　reckon　so；〃　he　had　replied。

Few　as　the　words　were；　Jane　knew　how　infinitely　much　they　implied。　She　wanted　him　to　take　charge　of　her　cattle　and　horse　and　ranges；　and　save　them　if　that　were　possible。　Yet；　though　she　could　not　have　spoken　aloud　all　she　meant；　she　was　perfectly　honest　with　herself。　Whatever　the　price　to　be　paid；　she　must　keep　Lassiter　close　to　her；　she　must　shield　from　him　the　man　who　had　led　Milly　Erne　to　Cottonwoods。　In　her　fear　she　so　controlled　mind　that　she　did　not　whisper　this　Mormon's　name　to　her　own　soul；　she　did　not　even　think　it。　Besides；　beyond　this　thing　she　regarded　as　a　sacred　obligation　thrust　upon　her；　was　the　need　of　a　helper；　of　a　friend；　of　a　champion　in　this　critical　time。　If　she　could　rule　this　gun…man；　as　Venters　had　called　him；　if　she　could　even　keep　him　from　shedding　blood；　what　strategy　to　play　his　flame　and　his　presence　against　the　game　of　oppression　her　churchmen　were　waging　against　her？　Never　would　she　forget　the　effect　on　Tull　and　his　men　when　Venters　shouted　Lassiter's　name。　If　she　could　not　wholly　control　Lassiter；　then　what　she　could　do　night　put　off　the　fatal　day。

One　of　her　safe　racers　was　a　dark　bay；　and　she　called　him　Bells　because　of　the　way　he　struck　his　iron　shoes　on　the　stones。　When　Jerd　led　out　this　slender；　beautifully　built　horse　Lassiter　suddenly　became　all　eyes。　A　rider's　love　of　a　thoroughbred　shone　in　them。　Round　and　round　Bells　he　walked；　plainly　weakening　all　the　time　in　his　determination　not　to　take　one　of　Jane's　favorite　racers。

〃Lassiter；　you're　half　horse；　and　Bells　sees　it　already；〃　said　Jane；　laughing。　〃Look　at　his　eyes。　He　likes　you。　He'll　love　you；　too。　How　can　you　resist　him？　Oh；　Lassiter；　but　Bells　can　run！　It's　nip　and　tuck　between　him　and　Wrangle；　and　only　Black　Star　can　beat　him。　He's　too　spirited　a　horse　for　a　woman。　Take　him。　He's　yours。〃

〃I　jest　am　weak　where　a　hoss's　concerned；〃　said　Lassiter。　〃I'll　take　him；　an'　I'll　take　your　orders；　ma'am。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad；　but　never　mind　the　ma'am。　Let　it　still　be　Jane。〃

From　that　hour；　it　seemed；　Lassiter　was　always　in　the　saddle；　riding　early　and　late；　and　coincident　with　his　part　in　Jane's　affairs　the　days　assumed　their　old　tranquillity。　Her　intelligence　told　her　this　was　only　the　lull　before　the　storm；　but　her　faith　would　not　have　it　so。

She　resumed　her　visits　to　the　village；　and　upon　one　of　these　she　encountered　Tull。　He　greeted　her　as　he　had　before　any　trouble　came　between　them；　and　she；　responsive　to　peace　if　not　quick　to　forget；　met　him　halfway　with　manner　almost　cheerful。　He　regretted　the　loss　of　her　cattle；　he　assured　her　that　the　vigilantes　which　had　been　organized　would　soon　rout　the　rustlers；　when　that　had　been　accomplished　her　riders　would　likely　return　to　her。

〃You've　done　a　headstrong　thing　to　hire　this　man　Lassiter；〃　Tull　went　on；　severely。　〃He　came　to　Cottonwoods　with　evil　intent。〃

〃I　had　to　have　somebody。　And　perhaps　making　him　my　rider　may　turn　out　best　in　the　end　for　the　Mormons　of　Cottonwoods。〃

〃You　mean　to　stay　his　hand？〃

〃I　doif　I　can。〃

〃A　woman　like　you　can　do　anything　with　a　man。　That　would　be　well；　and　would　atone　in　some　measure　for　the　errors　you　have　made。〃

He　bowed　and　passed　on。　Jane　resumed　her　walk　with　conflicting　thoughts。　She　resented　Elder　Tull's　cold；　impassive　manner　that　looked　down　upon　her　as　one　who　had　incurred　his　just　displeasure。　Otherwise　he　would　have　been　the　same　calm；　dark…browed；　impenetrable　man　she　had　known　for　ten　years。　In　fact；　except　when　he　had　revealed　his　passion　in　the　matter　of　the　seizing　of　Venters；　she　had　never　dreamed　he　could　be　other　than　the　grave；　reproving　preacher。　He　stood　out　now　a　strange；　secretive　man。　She　would　have　thought　better　of　him　if　he　had　picked　up　the　threads　of　their　quarrel　where　they　had　parted。　Was　Tull　what　he　appeared　to　be？　The　question　flung　itself　in　voluntarily　over　Jane　Withersteen's　inhibitive　habit　of　faith　without　question。　And　she　refused　to　answer　it。　Tull　could　not　fight　in　the　open　Venters　had　said；　Lassiter　had　said；　that　her　Elder　shirked　fight　and　worked　in　the　dark。　Just　now　in　this　meeting　Tull　had　ignored　the　fact　that　he　had　sued；　exhorted；　demanded　that　she　marry　him。　He　made　no　mention　of　Venters。　His　manner　was　that　of　the　minister　who　had　been　outraged；　but　who　overlooked　the　frailties　of　a　woman。　Beyond　question　he　seemed　unutterably　aloof　from　all　knowledge　of　pressure　being　brought　to　bear　upon　her；　absolutely　guiltless　of　any　connection　with　secret　power　over　riders；　with　night　journeys；　with　rustlers　and　stampedes　of　cattle。　And　that　convinced　her　again　of　unjust　suspicions。　But　it　was　convincement　through　an　obstinate　faith。　She　shuddered　as　she　accepted　it；　and　that　shudder　was　the　nucleus　of　a　terrible　revolt。

Jane　turned　into　one　of　the　wide　lanes　leading　from　the　main　street　and　entered　a　huge；　shady　yard。　Here　were　sweet…smelling　clover；　alfalfa；　flowers；　and　vegetables；　all　growing　in　happy　confusion。　And　like　these　fresh　green　things　were　the　dozens　of　babies；　tots；　toddlers；　noisy　urchins；　laughing　girls；　a　whole　multitude　of　children　of　one　family。　For　Collier　Brandt；　the　father　of　all　this　numerous　progeny；　was　a　Morm