riders of the purple sage-第34章

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〃Yes！　Oh　yes！〃

〃An'　another　thing；　Jane；〃　he　continued；　then　paused　for　long〃another　thingif　you　ain't　here　when　I　come　backif　you're　gonedon't　fear；　I'll　trail　youI'll　find　you　out。〃

〃My　dear　Lassiter；　where　could　I　be　goneas　you　put　it？〃　asked　Jane；　in　curious　surprise。

〃I　reckon　you　might　be　somewhere。　Mebbe　tied　in　an　old　barnor　corralled　in　some　gulchor　chained　in　a　cave！　Milly　Erne　wastill　she　give　in！　Mebbe　that's　news　to　you。。。。Well；　if　you're　gone　I'll　hunt　for　you。〃

〃No；　Lassiter；〃　she　replied；　sadly　and　low。　〃If　I'm　gone　just　forget　the　unhappy　woman　whose　blinded　selfish　deceit　you　repaid　with　kindness　and　love。〃

She　heard　a　deep；　muttering　curse；　under　his　breath；　and　then　the　silvery　tinkling　of　his　spurs　as　he　moved　away。

Jane　entered　upon　the　duties　of　that　day　with　a　settled；　gloomy　calm。　Disaster　hung　in　the　dark　clouds；　in　the　shade；　in　the　humid　west　wind。　Blake；　when　he　reported；　appeared　without　his　usual　cheer；　and　Jerd　wore　a　harassed　look　of　a　worn　and　worried　man。　And　when　Judkins　put　in　appearance；　riding　a　lame　horse；　and　dismounted　with　the　cramp　of　a　rider；　his　dust…covered　figure　and　his　darkly　grim；　almost　dazed　expression　told　Jane　of　dire　calamity。　She　had　no　need　of　words。

〃Miss　Withersteen；　I　have　to　reportloss　of　thewhite　herd；〃　said　Judkins；　hoarsely。

〃Come；　sit　down；　you　look　played　out；〃　replied　Jane；　solicitously。　She　brought　him　brandy　and　food；　and　while　he　partook　of　refreshments；　of　which　he　appeared　badly　in　need；　she　asked　no　questions。

〃No　one　ridercould　hev　done　moreMiss　Withersteen；〃　he　went　on；　presently。

〃Judkins；　don't　be　distressed。　You've　done　more　than　any　other　rider。　I've　long　expected　to　lose　the　white　herd。　It's　no　surprise。　It's　in　line　with　other　things　that　are　happening。　I'm　grateful　for　your　service。〃

〃Miss　Withersteen；　I　knew　how　you'd　take　it。　But　if　anythin'；　that　makes　it　harder　to　tell。　You　see；　a　feller　wants　to　do　so　much　fer　you；　an'　I'd　got　fond　of　my　job。　We　led　the　herd　a　ways　off　to　the　north　of　the　break　in　the　valley。　There　was　a　big　level　an'　pools　of　water　an'　tip…top　browse。　But　the　cattle　was　in　a　high　nervous　condition。　Wild　as　wild　as　antelope！　You　see；　they'd　been　so　scared　they　never　slept。　I　ain't　a…goin'　to　tell　you　of　the　many　tricks　that　were　pulled　off　out　there　in　the　sage。　But　there　wasn't　a　day　for　weeks　thet　the　herd　didn't　get　started　to　run。　We　allus　managed　to　ride　'em　close　an'　drive　'em　back　an'　keep　'em　bunched。　Honest；　Miss　Withersteen；　them　steers　was　thin。　They　was　thin　when　water　and　grass　was　everywhere。　Thin　at　this　seasonthet'll　tell　you　how　your　steers　was　pestered。　Fer　instance；　one　night　a　strange　runnin'　streak　of　fire　run　right　through　the　herd。　That　streak　was　a　coyotewith　an　oiled　an'　blazin'　tail！　Fer　I　shot　it　an'　found　out。　We　had　hell　with　the　herd　that　night；　an'　if　the　sage　an'　grass　hadn't　been　wetwe；　hosses；　steers；　an'　all　would　hev　burned　up。　But　I　said　I　wasn't　goin'　to　tell　you　any　of　the　tricks。。。。Strange　now；　Miss　Withersteen；　when　the　stampede　did　come　it　was　from　natural　cause　jest　a　whirlin'　devil　of　dust。　You've　seen　the　like　often。　An'　this　wasn't　no　big　whirl；　fer　the　dust　was　mostly　settled。　It　had　dried　out　in　a　little　swale；　an'　ordinarily　no　steer　would　ever　hev　run　fer　it。　But　the　herd　was　nervous　en'　wild。　An'　jest　as　Lassiter　said；　when　that　bunch　of　white　steers　got　to　movin'　they　was　as　bad　as　buffalo。　I've　seen　some　buffalo　stampedes　back　in　Nebraska；　an'　this　bolt　of　the　steers　was　the　same　kind。

〃I　tried　to　mill　the　herd　jest　as　Lassiter　did。　But　I　wasn't　equal　to　it；　Miss　Withersteen。　I　don't　believe　the　rider　lives　who　could　hev　turned　thet　herd。　We　kept　along　of　the　herd　fer　miles；　an'　more　'n　one　of　my　boys　tried　to　get　the　steers　a…millin'。　It　wasn't　no　use。　We　got　off　level　ground；　goin'　down；　an'　then　the　steers　ran　somethin'　fierce。　We　left　the　little　gullies　an'　washes　level…full　of　dead　steers。　Finally　I　saw　the　herd　was　makin'　to　pass　a　kind　of　low　pocket　between　ridges。　There　was　a　hog…backas　we　used　to　call　'ema　pile　of　rocks　stickin'　up；　and　I　saw　the　herd　was　goin'　to　split　round　it；　or　swing　out　to　the　left。　An'　I　wanted　'em　to　go　to　the　right　so　mebbe　we'd　be　able　to　drive　'em　into　the　pocket。　So；　with　all　my　boys　except　three；　I　rode　hard　to　turn　the　herd　a　little　to　the　right。　We　couldn't　budge　'em。　They　went　on　en'　split　round　the　rocks；　en'　the　most　of　'em　was　turned　sharp　to　the　left　by　a　deep　wash　we　hedn't　seenhed　no　chance　to　see。

〃The　other　three　boysJimmy　Vail；　Joe　Willis；　an'　thet　little　Cairns　boya　nervy　kid！　they；　with　Cairns　leadin'；　tried　to　buck　thet　herd　round　to　the　pocket。　It　was　a　wild；　fool　idee。　I　couldn't　do　nothin'。　The　boys　got　hemmed　in　between　the　steers　an'　the　washthet　they　hedn't　no　chance　to　see；　either。　Vail　an'　Willis　was　run　down　right　before　our　eyes。　An'　Cairns；　who　rode　a　fine　hoss；　he　did　some　ridin'。　I　never　seen　equaled；　en'　would　hev　beat　the　steers　if　there'd　been　any　room　to　run　in。　I　was　high　up　an'　could　see　how　the　steers　kept　spillin'　by　twos　an'　threes　over　into　the　wash。　Cairns　put　his　hoss　to　a　place　thet　was　too　wide　fer　any　hoss；　an'　broke　his　neck　an'　the　hoss's　too。　We　found　that　out　after；　an'　as　fer　Vail　an'　Willistwo　thousand　steers　ran　over　the　poor　boys。　There　wasn't　much　left　to　pack　home　fer　burying！。。。An'；　Miss　Withersteen；　thet　all　happened　yesterday；　en'　I　believe；　if　the　white　herd　didn't　run　over　the　wall　of　the　Pass；　it's　runnin'　yet。〃

On　the　morning　of　the　second　day　after　Judkins's　recital；　during　which　time　Jane　remained　indoors　a　prey　to　regret　and　sorrow　for　the　boy　riders；　and　a　new　and　now　strangely　insistent　fear　for　her　own　person；　she　again　heard　what　she　had　missed　more　than　she　dared　honestly　confessthe　soft；　jingling　step　of　Lassiter。　Almost　overwhelming　relief　surged　through　her；　a　feeling　as　akin　to　joy　as　any　she　could　have　been　capable　of　in　those　gloomy　hours　of　shadow；　and　one　that　suddenly　stunned　her　with　the　significance　of　what　Lassiter　had　come　to　mean　to　her。　She　had　begged　him；　for　his　own　sake；　to　leave　Cottonwoods。　She　might　yet　beg　that；　if　her　weakening　courage　permitted　her　to　dare　absolute　loneliness　and　helplessness；　but　she　realized　now　that　if　she　were　left　alone　her　life　would　become　one　long；　hideous　nightmare。

When　his　soft　steps　clinked　into　the　hall；　in　answer　to　her　greeting；　and　his　tall；　black…garbed　form　filled　the　door；　she　felt　an　inexpressible　sense　of　immediate　safety。　In　his　presence　she　lost　her　fear　of　the　dim　passageways　of　Withersteen　House　and　of　every　sound。　Always　it　had　been　that；　when　he　entered　the　court　or　the　hall；　she　had　experienced　a　distinctly　sickening　but　gradually　lessening　shock　at　sight　of　the　huge　black　guns　swinging　at　his　sides。　This　time　the　sickening　shock　again　visited　her；　it　was；　however；　because　a　revealing　flash　of　thought　told　her　that　it　was　not　alone　Lassiter　who　was　thrillingly　welcome；　but　also　his　fatal　weapons。　They　meant　so　much。　How　she　had　fallenhow　broken　and　spiritless　must　she　beto　have　still　the　same　old　horror　of　Lassiter's　guns　and　his　name；　yet　feel　somehow　a　cold；　shrinking　protection　in　their　law　and　might　and　use。

〃Did　you　trail　Ventersfind　his　wonderful　valley？〃　she　asked；　eagerly。

〃Yes；　an'　I　reckon　it's　sure　a　wonderful　place。〃

〃Is　he　safe　there？〃

〃That's　been　botherin'　me　some。　I　tracked　him　an'　part　of　the　trail　was　the　hardest　I　ever　tackled。　Mebbe　there's　a　rustler　or　somebody　in　this　country　who's　as　good　at　trackin'　as　I　am。　If　that's　so　Venters　ain't　safe。〃

〃Welltell　me　all　about　Bern　and　his　valley。〃

To　Jane's　surprise　Lassiter　showed　disinclination　for　further　talk　about　his　trip。　He　appeared　to　be　extremely　fatigued。　Jane　reflected　that　one　hundred　and　twenty　miles；　with　probably　a　great　deal　of　climbing　on　foot；　all　in　three　days；　was　enough　to　tire　any　rider。　Moreover；　it　presently　developed　that　Lassiter　had　returned　in　a　mood　of　singular　sadness　and　preoccupation。　She　put　it　down　to　a　moodiness　over　the　loss　of　her　white　herd　and　the　now　precarious　condition　of　her　fortune。

Several　days　passed；　and　as　nothing　happened；　Jane's　spirits　began　to　brighten。　Once　in　her　musings　she　thought　that　this　tendency　of　hers　to　rebound　was　as　sad　as　it　was　futile。　Meanwhile；　she　had　resumed　her　walks　through　the　grove　with　little　Fay。

One　morning　she　went　as　far　as　the　sage。　She　had　not　seen　the　slope　since　the　beginning　of　the　rains；　and　now　it　bloomed　a　rich　deep　purple。　There　was　a　high　wind　blowing；　and　the　sage　tossed　and　waved　and　colored　beautifully　from　light　to　dark。　Clouds　scudded　across　the　sky　and　their　shadows　sailed　darkly　down　the　sunny　slope。

Upon　her　return　toward　the　house　she　went　by　the　lane　to　the　stables；　and　she　had　scarcely　entered　the　great　open　space　with　its　corrals　and　sheds　when　she　saw　Lassiter　hurriedly　approaching。　Fay　broke　from　her　and；　running　to　a　corral　fence；　began　to　pat　and　pull　the　long；　hanging　ears　of　a　drowsy　burro。

One　look　at　Lassiter　armed　her　for　a　blow。

Without　a　word　he　led　her　across　the　wide　yard　to　the　rise　of　the　ground　upon　which　the　stable　stood。

〃Janelook！〃　he　said；　and　pointed　to　the　ground。

Jane　glanced　down；　and　again；　and　upon　steadier　vision　made　out　splotches　of　blood　on　the　stones；　and　broad；　smooth　marks　in　the　dust；　leading　out　toward　the　sage。

〃What　made　these？〃　she　asked。

〃I　reckon　somebody　has　dragged　dead　or　wounded　men　out　to　where　there　was　hosses　in　the　sage。〃

〃Deadorwoundedmen！〃

〃I　reckonJane；　are　you　strong？　Can　you　bear　up？〃

His　hands　were　gently　holding　hers；　and　his　eyessuddenly　'she　could　no　longer　look　into　them。　〃Strong？〃　she　echoed；　trembling。　〃II　will　be。〃

Up　on　the　stone…flag　drive；　nicked　with　the　marks　made　by　the　iron…shod　hoofs　of　her　racers；　Lassiter　led　her；　his　grasp　ever　growing　firmer。

〃Where's　Blakeandand　Jerb？〃　she　asked；　haltingly。

〃I　don't　know　where　Jerb　is。　Bolted；　most　likely；〃　replied　Lassiter；　as　he　took　her　through　the　stone　door。　〃But　Blakepoor　Blake！　He's　gone　forever！。。。Be　prepared；　Jane。〃

With　a　cold　prickling　of　her　skin；　with　a　queer　thrumming　in　her　ears；　with　fixed　and　staring　eyes；　Jane　saw　a　gun　lying　at　her　feet　with　chamber　swung　and　empty；　and　discharged　shells　scattered　near。

Outstretched　upon　the　stable　floor　lay　Blake；　ghastly　whitedeadone　hand　clutching　a　gun　and　the　other　twisted　in　his　bloody　blouse。

〃Whoever　the　thieves　were；　whether　your　people　or　rustlersBlake　killed　some　of　them！〃　said　Lassiter。

〃Thieves？〃　whispered　Jane。

〃I　reckon。　Hoss…thieves！。。。Look！〃　Lassiter　waved　his　hand　toward　the　stalls。

The　first　stallBells's　stallwas　empty。　All　the　stalls　were　empty。　No　racer　whinnied　and　stamped　greeting　to　her。　Night　was　gone！　Black　Star　was　gone！



CHAPTER　XVI。　GOLD

As　Lassiter　had　reported　to　Jane；　Venters　〃went　through〃　safely；　and　after　a　toilsome　journey　reached　the　peaceful　shelter　of　Surprise　Valley。　When　finally　he　lay　wearily　down　under　the　silver　spruces；　resting　from　the　strain　of　dragging　packs　and　burros　up　the　slope　and　through　the　entrance　to　Surprise　Valley；　he　had　leisure　to　think；　and　a　great　deal　of　the　time　went　in　regretting　that　he　had　not　been　frank　with　his　loyal　friend；　Jane　Withersteen。

But；　he　kept　continually　recalling；　when　he　had　st