riders of the purple sage-第49章

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。　He；　after　disrupting　the　calm　tenor　of　her　peace；　after　bringing　down　on　her　head　the　implacable　hostility　of　her　churchmen；　after　teaching　her　a　bitter　lesson　of　lifehe　was　to　be　her　salvation。　And　he　turned　away　again；　this　time　shaken　to　the　core　of　his　soul。　Jane　Withersteen　was　the　incarnation　of　selflessness。　He　experienced　wonder　and　terror；　exquisite　pain　and　rapture。　What　were　all　the　shocks　life　had　dealt　him　compared　to　the　thought　of　such　loyal　and　generous　friendship？

And　instantly；　as　if　by　some　divine　insight；　he　knew　himself　in　the　remakingtried；　found　wanting；　but　stronger；　better；　surerand　he　wheeled　to　Jane　Withersteen；　eager；　joyous；　passionate；　wild；　exalted。　He　bent　to　her；　he　left　tears　and　kisses　on　her　hands。

〃Jane；　II　can't　find　wordsnow；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　beyond　words。　OnlyI　understand。　And　I'll　take　the　blacks。〃

〃Don't　be　losin'　no　more　time；〃　cut　in　Lassiter。　〃I　ain't　certain；　but　I　think　I　seen　a　speck　up　the　sage…slope。　Mebbe　I　was　mistaken。　But；　anyway；　we　must　all　be　movin'。　I've　shortened　the　stirrups　on　Black　Star。　Put　Bess　on　him。〃

Jane　Withersteen　held　out　her　arms。

〃Elizabeth　Erne！〃　she　cried；　and　Bess　flew　to　her。

How　inconceivably　strange　and　beautiful　it　was　for　Venters　to　see　Bess　clasped　to　Jane　Withersteen's　breast！

Then　he　leaped　astride　Night。

〃Venters；　ride　straight　on　up　the　slope；〃　Lassiter　was　saying；　〃'an　if　you　don't　meet　any　riders　keep　on　till　you're　a　few　miles　from　the　village；　then　cut　off　in　the　sage　an'　go　round　to　the　trail。　But　you'll　most　likely　meet　riders　with　Tull。　Jest　keep　right　on　till　you're　jest　out　of　gunshot　an'　then　make　your　cut…off　into　the　sage。　They'll　ride　after　you；　but　it　won't　be　no　use。　You　can　ride；　an'　Bess　can　ride。　When　you're　out　of　reach　turn　on　round　to　the　west；　an'　hit　the　trail　somewhere。　Save　the　hosses　all　you　can；　but　don't　be　afraid。　Black　Star　and　Night　are　good　for　a　hundred　miles　before　sundown；　if　you　have　to　push　them。　You　can　get　to　Sterlin'　by　night　if　you　want。　But　better　make　it　along　about　to…morrow　mornin'。　When　you　get　through　the　notch　on　the　Glaze　trail；　swing　to　the　right。　You'll　be　able　to　see　both　Glaze　an'　Stone　Bridge。　Keep　away　from　them　villages。　You　won't　run　no　risk　of　meetin'　any　of　Oldrin's　rustlers　from　Sterlin'　on。　You'll　find　water　in　them　deep　hollows　north　of　the　Notch。　There's　an　old　trail　there；　not　much　used；　en'　it　leads　to　Sterlin'。　That's　your　trail。　An'　one　thing　more。　If　Tull　pushes　youor　keeps　on　persistent…like；　for　a　few　milesjest　let　the　blacks　out　an'　lose　him　an'　his　riders。〃

〃Lassiter；　may　we　meet　again！〃　said　Venters；　in　a　deep　voice。

〃Son；　it　ain't　likelyit　ain't　likely。　Well；　Bess　Oldrin'Masked　RiderElizabeth　Ernenow　you　climb　on　Black　Star。　I've　heard　you　could　ride。　Well；　every　rider　loves　a　good　horse。　An'；　lass；　there　never　was　but　one　that　could　beat　Black　Star。〃

〃Ah；　Lassiter；　there　never　was　any　horse　that　could　beat　Black　Star；〃　said　Jane；　with　the　old　pride。

〃I　often　wonderedmebbe　Venters　rode　out　that　race　when　he　brought　back　the　blacks。　Son；　was　Wrangle　the　best　hoss？〃

〃No；　Lassiter；〃　replied　Venters。　For　this　lie　he　had　his　reward　in　Jane's　quick　smile。

〃Well；　well；　my　hoss…sense　ain't　always　right。　An'　here　I'm　talkie'　a　lot；　wastin'　time。　It　ain't　so　easy　to　find　an'　lose　a　pretty　niece　all　in　one　hour！　Elizabethgood…by！〃

〃Oh；　Uncle　Jim！。。。Good…by！〃

〃Elizabeth　Erne；　be　happy！　Good…by；〃　said　Jane。

〃Good…byohgood…by！〃　In　lithe；　supple　action　Bess　swung　up　to　Black　Star's　saddle。

〃Jane　Withersteen！。。。Good…by！〃　called　Venters　hoarsely。

〃BernBessriders　of　the　purple　sagegood…by！〃



CHAPTER　XXII。　RIDERS　OF　THE　PURPLE　SAGE

Black　Star　and　Night；　answering　to　spur；　swept　swiftly　westward　along　the　white；　slow…rising；　sage…bordered　trail。　Venters　heard　a　mournful　howl　from　Ring；　but　Whitie　was　silent。　The　blacks　settled　into　their　fleet；　long…striding　gallop。　The　wind　sweetly　fanned　Venters's　hot　face。　From　the　summit　of　the　first　low…swelling　ridge　he　looked　back。　Lassiter　waved　his　hand；　Jane　waved　her　scarf。　Venters　replied　by　standing　in　his　stirrups　and　holding　high　his　sombrero。　Then　the　dip　of　the　ridge　hid　them。　From　the　height　of　the　next　he　turned　once　more。　Lassiter；　Jane；　and　the　burros　had　disappeared。　They　had　gone　down　into　the　Pass。　Venters　felt　a　sensation　of　irreparable　loss。

〃Bernlook！〃　called　Bess；　pointing　up　the　long　slope。

A　small；　dark；　moving　dot　split　the　line　where　purple　sage　met　blue　sky。　That　dot　was　a　band　of　riders。

〃Pull　the　black；　Bess。〃

They　slowed　from　gallop　to　canter；　then　to　trot。　The　fresh　and　eager　horses　did　not　like　the　check。

〃Bern；　Black　Star　has　great　eyesight。〃

〃I　wonder　if　they're　Tull's　riders。　They　might　be　rustlers。　But　it's　all　the　same　to　us。〃

The　black　dot　grew　to　a　dark　patch　moving　under　low　dust　clouds。　It　grew　all　the　time；　though　very　slowly。　There　were　long　periods　when　it　was　in　plain　sight；　and　intervals　when　it　dropped　behind　the　sage。　The　blacks　trotted　for　half　an　hour；　for　another　half…hour；　and　still　the　moving　patch　appeared　to　stay　on　the　horizon　line。　Gradually；　however；　as　time　passed；　it　began　to　enlarge；　to　creep　down　the　slope；　to　encroach　upon　the　intervening　distance。

〃Bess；　what　do　you　make　them　out？〃　asked　Venters。　〃I　don't　think　they're　rustlers。〃

〃They're　sage…riders；〃　replied　Bess。　〃I　see　a　white　horse　and　several　grays。　Rustlers　seldom　ride　any　horses　but　bays　and　blacks。〃

〃That　white　horse　is　Tull's。　Pull　the　black；　Bess。　I'll　get　down　and　cinch　up。　We're　in　for　some　riding。　Are　you　afraid？〃

〃Not　now；〃　answered　the　girl；　smiling。

〃You　needn't　be。　Bess；　you　don't　weigh　enough　to　make　Black　Star　know　you're　on　him。　I　won't　be　able　to　stay　with　you。　You'll　leave　Tull　and　his　riders　as　if　they　were　standing　still。〃

〃How　about　you？〃

〃Never　fear。　If　I　can't　stay　with　you　I　can　still　laugh　at　Tull。〃

〃Look；　Bern！　They've　stopped　on　that　ridge。　They　see　us。〃

〃Yes。　But　we're　too　far　yet　for　them　to　make　out　who　we　are。　They'll　recognize　the　blacks　first。　We've　passed　most　of　the　ridges　and　the　thickest　sage。　Now；　when　I　give　the　word；　let　Black　Star　go　and　ride！〃

Venters　calculated　that　a　mile　or　more　still　intervened　between　them　and　the　riders。　They　were　approaching　at　a　swift　canter。　Soon　Venters　recognized　Tull's　white　horse；　and　concluded　that　the　riders　had　likewise　recognized　Black　Star　and　Night。　But　it　would　be　impossible　for　Tull　yet　to　see　that　the　blacks　were　not　ridden　by　Lassiter　and　Jane。　Venters　noted　that　Tull　and　the　line　of　horsemen；　perhaps　ten　or　twelve　in　number；　stopped　several　times　and　evidently　looked　hard　down　the　slope。　It　must　have　been　a　puzzling　circumstance　for　Tull。　Venters　laughed　grimly　at　the　thought　of　what　Tull's　rage　would　be　when　he　finally　discovered　the　trick。　Venters　meant　to　sheer　out　into　the　sage　before　Tull　could　possibly　be　sure　who　rode　the　blacks。

The　gap　closed　to　a　distance　to　half　a　mile。　Tull　halted。　His　riders　came　up　and　formed　a　dark　group　around　him。　Venters　thought　he　saw　him　wave　his　arms　and　was　certain　of　it　when　the　riders　dashed　into　the　sage；　to　right　and　left　of　the　trail。　Tull　had　anticipated　just　the　move　held　in　mind　by　Venters。

〃Now　Bess！〃　shouted　Venters。　〃Strike　north。　Go　round　those　riders　and　turn　west。〃

Black　Star　sailed　over　the　low　sage；　and　in　a　few　leaps　got　into　his　stride　and　was　running。　Venters　spurred　Night　after　him。　It　was　hard　going　in　the　sage。　The　horses　could　run　as　well　there；　but　keen　eyesight　and　judgment　must　constantly　be　used　by　the　riders　in　choosing　ground。　And　continuous　swerving　from　aisle　to　aisle　between　the　brush；　and　leaping　little　washes　and　mounds　of　the　pack…rats；　and　breaking　through　sage；　made　rough　riding。　When　Venters　had　turned　into　a　long　aisle　he　had　time　to　look　up　at　Tull's　riders。　They　were　now　strung　out　into　an　extended　line　riding　northeast。　And；　as　Venters　and　Bess　were　holding　due　north；　this　meant；　if　the　horses　of　Tull　and　his　riders　had　the　speed　and　the　staying　power；　they　would　head　the　blacks　and　turn　them　back　down　the　slope。　Tull's　men　were　not　saving　their　mounts；　they　were　driving　them　desperately。　Venters　feared　only　an　accident　to　Black　Star　or　Night；　and　skilful　riding　would　mitigate　possibility　of　that。　One　glance　ahead　served　to　show　him　that　Bess　could　pick　a　course　through　the　sage　as　well　as　he。　She　looked　neither　back　nor　at　the　running　riders；　and　bent　forward　over　Black　Star's　neck　and　studied　the　ground　ahead。

It　struck　Venters；　presently；　after　he　had　glanced　up　from　time　to　time；　that　Bess　was　drawing　away　from　him　as　he　had　expected。　He　had；　however；　only　thought　of　the　light　weight　Black　Star　was　carrying　and　of　his　superior　speed；　he　saw　now　that　the　black　was　being　ridden　as　never　before；　except　when　Jerry　Card　lost　the　race　to　Wrangle。　How　easily；　gracefully；　naturally；　Bess　sat　her　saddle！　She　could　ride！　Suddenly　Venters　remembered　she　had　said　she　could　ride。　But　he　had　not　dreamed　she　was　capable　of　such　superb　horsemanship。　Then　all　at　once；　flashing　over　him；　thrilling　him；　came　the　recollection　that　Bess　was　Oldring's　Masked　Rider。

He　forgot　Tullthe　running　ridersthe　race。　He　let　Night　have　a　free　rein　and　felt　him　lengthen　out　to　suit　himself；　knowing　he　would　keep　to　Black　Star's　course；　knowing　that　he　had　been　chosen　by　the　best　rider　now　on　the　upland　sage。　For　Jerry　Card　was　dead。　And　fame　had　rivaled　him　with　only　one　rider；　and　that　was　the　slender　girl　who　now　swung　so　easily　with　Black　Star's　stride。　Venters　had　abhorred　her　notoriety；　but　now　he　took　passionate　pride　in　her　skill；　her　daring；　her　power　over　a　horse。　And　he　delved　into　his　memory；　recalling　famous　rides　which　he　had　heard　related　in　the　villages　and　round　the　camp…fires。　Oldring's　Masked　Rider！　Many　times　this　strange　rider；　at　once　well　known　and　unknown；　had　escaped　pursuers　by　matchless　riding。　He　had　to　run　the　gantlet　of　vigilantes　down　the　main　street　of　Stone　Bridge；　leaving　dead　horses　and　dead　rustlers　behind。　He　had　jumped　his　horse　over　the　Gerber　Wash；　a　deep；　wide　ravine　separating　the　fields　of　Glaze　from　the　wild　sage。　He　had　been　surrounded　north　of　Sterling；　and　he　had　broken　through　the　line。　How　often　had　been　told　the　story　of　day　stampedes；　of　night　raids；　of　pursuit；　and　then　how　the　Masked　Rider；　swift　as　the　wind；　was　gone　in　the　sage！　A　fleet；　dark　horsea　slender；　dark　forma　black　maska　driving　run　down　the　slopea　dot　on　the　purple　sagea　shadowy；　muffled　steed　disappearing　in　the　night！

And　this　Masked　Rider　of　the　uplands　had　been　Elizabeth　Erne！

The　sweet　sage　wind　rushed　in　Venters's　face　and　sang　a　song　in　his　ears。　He　heard　the　dull；　rapid　beat　of　Night's　hoofs；　he　saw　Black　Star　drawing　away；　farther　and　farther。　He　realized　both　horses　were　swinging　to　the　west。　Then　gunshots　in　the　rear　reminded　him　of　Tull。　Venters　looked　back。　Far　to　the　side；　dropping　behind；　trooped　the　riders。　They　were　shooting。　Venters　saw　no　puffs　or　dust；　heard　no　whistling　bullets。　He　was　out　of　range。　When　he　looked　back　again　Tull's　riders　had　given　up　pursuit。　The　best　they　could　do；　no　doubt；　had　been　to　get　near　enough　to　recognize　who　really　rode　the　blacks。　Venters　saw　Tull　drooping　in　his　saddle。

Then　Venters　pulled　Night　out　of　his　running　str