riders of the purple sage-第29章

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〃What　are　they？〃

〃WhyI　suppose　relationship；　friendshiplove。〃

〃Love！〃

〃Yes。　Love　of　man　for　womanlove　of　woman　for　man。　That's　the　nature；　the　meaning；　the　best　of　life　itself。〃

She　said　no　more。　Wistfulness　of　glance　deepened　into　sadness。

〃Come；　let　us　go；〃　said　Venters。

Action　brightened　her。　Beside　him；　holding　his　hand　she　slipped　down　the　shelf；　ran　down　the　long；　steep　slant　of　sliding　stones；　out　of　the　cloud　of　dust；　and　likewise　out　of　the　pale　gloom。

〃We　beat　the　slide；〃　she　cried。

The　miniature　avalanche　cracked　and　roared；　and　rattled　itself　into　an　inert　mass　at　the　base　of　the　incline。　Yellow　dust　like　the　gloom　of　the　cave；　but　not　so　changeless；　drifted　away　on　the　wind；　the　roar　clapped　in　echo　from　the　cliff；　returned；　went　back；　and　came　again　to　die　in　the　hollowness。　Down　on　the　sunny　terrace　there　was　a　different　atmosphere。　Ring　and　Whitie　leaped　around　Bess。　Once　more　she　was　smiling；　gay；　and　thoughtless；　with　the　dream…mood　in　the　shadow　of　her　eyes。

〃Bess；　I　haven't　seen　that　since　last　summer。　Look！〃　said　Venters；　pointing　to　the　scalloped　edge　of　rolling　purple　clouds　that　peeped　over　the　western　wall。　〃We're　in　for　a　storm。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　not。　I'm　afraid　of　storms。〃

〃Are　you？　Why？〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　down　in　one　of　these　walled…up　pockets　in　a　bad　storm？〃

〃No；　now　I　think　of　it；　I　haven't。〃

〃Well；　it's　terrible。　Every　summer　I　get　scared　to　death　and　hide　somewhere　in　the　dark。　Storms　up　on　the　sage　are　bad；　but　nothing　to　what　they　are　down　here　in　the　canyons。　And　in　this　little　valleywhy；　echoes　can　rap　back　and　forth　so　quick　they'll　split　our　ears。〃

〃We're　perfectly　safe　here；　Bess。〃

〃I　know。　But　that　hasn't　anything　to　do　with　it。　The　truth　is　I'm　afraid　of　lightning　and　thunder；　and　thunder…claps　hurt　my　head。　If　we　have　a　bad　storm；　will　you　stay　close　to　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

When　they　got　back　to　camp　the　afternoon　was　closing；　and　it　was　exceedingly　sultry。　Not　a　breath　of　air　stirred　the　aspen　leaves；　and　when　these　did　not　quiver　the　air　was　indeed　still。　The　dark…purple　clouds　moved　almost　imperceptibly　out　of　the　west。

〃What　have　we　for　supper？〃　asked　Bess。

〃Bern；　can't　you　think　of　another　new　way　to　cook　rabbit？〃　went　on　Bess；　with　earnestness。

〃What　do　you　think　I　ama　magician？〃　retorted　Venters。

〃I　wouldn't　dare　tell　you。　But；　Bern；　do　you　want　me　to　turn　into　a　rabbit？〃

There　was　a　dark…blue；　merry　flashing　of　eyes　and　a　parting　of　lips；　then　she　laughed。　In　that　moment　she　was　naive　and　wholesome。

〃Rabbit　seems　to　agree　with　you；〃　replied　Venters。　〃You　are　well　and　strongand　growing　very　pretty。〃

Anything　in　the　nature　of　compliment　he　had　never　before　said　to　her；　and　just　now　he　responded　to　a　sudden　curiosity　to　see　its　effect。　Bess　stared　as　if　she　had　not　heard　aright；　slowly　blushed；　and　completely　lost　her　poise　in　happy　confusion。

〃I'd　better　go　right　away；〃　he　continued；　〃and　fetch　supplies　from　Cottonwoods。〃

A　startlingly　swift　change　in　the　nature　of　her　agitation　made　him　reproach　himself　for　his　abruptness。

〃No；　no；　don't　go！〃　she　said。　〃I　didn't　meanthat　about　the　rabbit。　II　was　only　trying　to　befunny。　Don't　leave　me　all　alone！〃

〃Bess；　I　must　go　sometime。〃

〃Wait　then。　Wait　till　after　the　storms。〃

The　purple　cloud…bank　darkened　the　lower　edge　of　the　setting　sun；　crept　up　and　up；　obscuring　its　fiery　red　heart；　and　finally　passed　over　the　last　ruddy　crescent　of　its　upper　rim。

The　intense　dead　silence　awakened　to　a　long；　low；　rumbling　roll　of　thunder。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Bess；　nervously。

〃We've　had　big　black　clouds　before　this　without　rain；〃　said　Venters。　〃But　there's　no　doubt　about　that　thunder。　The　storms　are　coming。　I'm　glad。　Every　rider　on　the　sage　will　hear　that　thunder　with　glad　ears。〃

Venters　and　Bess　finished　their　simple　meal　and　the　few　tasks　around　the　camp；　then　faced　the　open　terrace；　the　valley；　and　the　west；　to　watch　and　await　the　approaching　storm。

It　required　keen　vision　to　see　any　movement　whatever　in　the　purple　clouds。　By　infinitesimal　degrees　the　dark　cloud…line　merged　upward　into　the　golden…red　haze　of　the　afterglow　of　sunset。　A　shadow　lengthened　from　under　the　western　wall　across　the　valley。　As　straight　and　rigid　as　steel　rose　the　delicate　spear…pointed　silver　spruces；　the　aspen　leaves；　by　nature　pendant　and　quivering；　hung　limp　and　heavy；　no　slender　blade　of　grass　moved。　A　gentle　splashing　of　water　came　from　the　ravine。　Then　again　from　out　of　the　west　sounded　the　low；　dull；　and　rumbling　roll　of　thunder。

A　wave；　a　ripple　of　light；　a　trembling　and　turning　of　the　aspen　leaves；　like　the　approach　of　a　breeze　on　the　water；　crossed　the　valley　from　the　west；　and　the　lull　and　the　deadly　stillness　and　the　sultry　air　passed　away　on　a　cool　wind。

The　night　bird　of　the　canyon；　with　clear　and　melancholy　notes　announced　the　twilight。　And　from　all　along　the　cliffs　rose　the　faint　murmur　and　moan　and　mourn　of　the　wind　singing　in　the　caves。　The　bank　of　clouds　now　swept　hugely　out　of　the　western　sky。　Its　front　was　purple　and　black；　with　gray　between；　a　bulging；　mushrooming；　vast　thing　instinct　with　storm。　It　had　a　dark；　angry；　threatening　aspect。　As　if　all　the　power　of　the　winds　were　pushing　and　piling　behind；　it　rolled　ponderously　across　the　sky。　A　red　flare　burned　out　instantaneously；　flashed　from　the　west　to　east；　and　died。　Then　from　the　deepest　black　of　the　purple　cloud　burst　a　boom。　It　was　like　the　bowling　of　a　huge　boulder　along　the　crags　and　ramparts；　and　seemed　to　roll　on　and　fall　into　the　valley　to　bound　and　bang　and　boom　from　cliff　to　cliff。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Bess；　with　her　hands　over　her　ears。　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃

〃Why；　Bess；　be　reasonable！〃　said　Venters。

〃I'm　a　coward。〃

〃Not　quite　that；　I　hope。　It's　strange　you're　afraid。　I　love　a　storm。〃

〃I　tell　you　a　storm　down　in　these　canyons　is　an　awful　thing。　I　know　Oldring　hated　storms。　His　men　were　afraid　of　them。　There　was　one　who　went　deaf　in　a　bad　storm；　and　never　could　hear　again。〃

〃Maybe　I've　lots　to　learn；　Bess。　I'll　lose　my　guess　if　this　storm　isn't　bad　enough。　We're　going　to　have　heavy　wind　first；　then　lightning　and　thunder；　then　the　rain。　Let's　stay　out　as　long　as　we　can。〃

The　tips　of　the　cottonwoods　and　the　oaks　waved　to　the　east；　and　the　rings　of　aspens　along　the　terraces　twinkled　their　myriad　of　bright　faces　in　fleet　and　glancing　gleam。　A　low　roar　rose　from　the　leaves　of　the　forest；　and　the　spruces　swished　in　the　rising　wind。　It　came　in　gusts；　with　light　breezes　between。　As　it　increased　in　strength　the　lulls　shortened　in　length　till　there　was　a　strong　and　steady　blow　all　the　time；　and　violent　puffs　at　intervals；　and　sudden　whirling　currents。　The　clouds　spread　over　the　valley；　rolling　swiftly　and　low；　and　twilight　faded　into　a　sweeping　darkness。　Then　the　singing　of　the　wind　in　the　caves　drowned　the　swift　roar　of　rustling　leaves；　then　the　song　swelled　to　a　mourning；　moaning　wail；　then　with　the　gathering　power　of　the　wind　the　wail　changed　to　a　shriek。　Steadily　the　wind　strengthened　and　constantly　the　strange　sound　changed。

The　last　bit　of　blue　sky　yielded　to　the　on…sweep　of　clouds。　Like　angry　surf　the　pale　gleams　of　gray；　amid　the　purple　of　that　scudding　front；　swept　beyond　the　eastern　rampart　of　the　valley。　The　purple　deepened　to　black。　Broad　sheets　of　lightning　flared　over　the　western　wall。　There　were　not　yet　any　ropes　or　zigzag　streaks　darting　down　through　the　gathering　darkness。　The　storm　center　was　still　beyond　Surprise　Valley。

〃Listen！。。。Listen！〃　cried　Bess；　with　her　lips　close　to　Venters's　ear。　〃You'll　hear　Oldring's　knell！〃

〃What's　that？〃

〃Oldring's　knell。　When　the　wind　blows　a　gale　in　the　caves　it　makes　what　the　rustlers　call　Oldring's　knell。　They　believe　it　bodes　his　death。　I　think　he　believes　so；　too。　It's　not　like　any　sound　on　earth。。。。It's　beginning。　Listen！〃

The　gale　swooped　down　with　a　hollow　unearthly　howl。　It　yelled　and　pealed　and　shrilled　and　shrieked。　It　was　made　up　of　a　thousand　piercing　cries。　It　was　a　rising　and　a　moving　sound。　Beginning　at　the　western　break　of　the　valley；　it　rushed　along　each　gigantic　cliff；　whistling　into　the　caves　and　cracks；　to　mount　in　power；　to　bellow　a　blast　through　the　great　stone　bridge。　Gone；　as　into　an　engulfing　roar　of　surging　waters；　it　seemed　to　shoot　back　and　begin　all　over　again。

It　was　only　wind；　thought　Venters。　Here　sped　and　shrieked　the　sculptor　that　carved　out　the　wonderful　caves　in　the　cliffs。　It　was　only　a　gale；　but　as　Venters　listened；　as　his　ears　became　accustomed　to　the　fury　and　strife；　out　of　it　all　or　through　it　or　above　it　pealed　low　and　perfectly　clear　and　persistently　uniform　a　strange　sound　that　had　no　counterpart　in　all　the　sounds　of　the　elements。　It　was　not　of　earth　or　of　life。　It　was　the　grief　and　agony　of　the　gale。　A　knell　of　all　upon　which　it　blew！

Black　night　enfolded　the　valley。　Venters　could　not　see　his　companion；　and　knew　of　her　presence　only　through　the　tightening　hold　of　her　hand　on　his　arm。　He　felt　the　dogs　huddle　closer　to　him。　Suddenly　the　dense；　black　vault　overhead　split　asunder　to　a　blue…white；　dazzling　streak　of　lightning。　The　whole　valley　lay　vividly　clear　and　luminously　bright　in　his　sight。　Upreared；　vast　and　magnificent；　the　stone　bridge　glimmered　like　some　grand　god　of　storm　in　the　lightning's　fire。　Then　all　flashed　black　againblacker　than　pitcha　thick；　impenetrable　coal…blackness。　And　there　came　a　ripping；　crashing　report。　Instantly　an　echo　resounded　with　clapping　crash。　The　initial　report　was　nothing　to　the　echo。　It　was　a　terrible；　living；　reverberating；　detonating　crash。　The　wall　threw　the　sound　across；　and　could　have　made　no　greater　roar　if　it　had　slipped　in　avalanche。　From　cliff　to　cliff　the　echo　went　in　crashing　retort　and　banged　in　lessening　power；　and　boomed　in　thinner　volume；　and　clapped　weaker　and　weaker　till　a　final　clap　could　not　reach　across　the　waiting　cliff。

In　the　pitchy　darkness　Venters　led　Bess；　and；　groping　his　way；　by　feel　of　hand　found　the　entrance　to　her　cave　and　lifted　her　up。　On　the　instant　a　blinding　flash　of　lightning　illumined　the　cave　and　all　about　him。　He　saw　Bess's　face　white　now　with　dark；　frightened　eyes。　He　saw　the　dogs　leap　up；　and　he　followed　suit。　The　golden　glare　vanished；　all　was　black；　then　came　the　splitting　crack　and　the　infernal　din　of　echoes。

Bess　shrank　closer　to　him　and　closer；　found　his　hands；　and　pressed　them　tightly　over　her　ears；　and　dropped　her　face　upon　his　shoulder；　and　hid　her　eyes。

Then　the　storm　burst　with　a　succession　of　ropes　and　streaks　and　shafts　of　lightning；　playing　continuously；　filling　the　valley　with　a　broken　radiance；　and　the　cracking　shots　followed　each　other　swiftly　till　the　echoes　blended　in　one　fearful；　deafening　crash。

Venters　looked　out　upon　the　beautiful　valleybeautiful　now　as　never　beforemystic　in　its　transparent；　luminous　gloom；　weird　in　the　quivering；　golden　haze　of　lightning。　The　dark　spruces　were　tipped　with　glimmering　lights；　the　aspens　bent　low　in　the　winds；　as　waves　in　a　tempest　at　sea；　the　forest　of　oaks　tossed　wildly　and　shone　with　gleams　of　fire。　Across　the　valley　the　huge　cavern　of　the　cliff…dwellers　yawned　in　the　glare；　every　little　black　window　as　clear　as　at　noonday；　but　the　night　and　the　storm　added　to　their　tragedy。　Flung　arching　to　the　black　clouds；　the　great　stone　bridge　seemed　to　bear　the　brunt　o