riders of the purple sage-第6章

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〃Good　news；〃　she　announced。　〃I've　been　to　the　village。　All　is　quiet。　I　expectedI　don't　know　what。　But　there's　no　excitement。　And　Tull　has　ridden　out　on　his　way　to　Glaze。〃

〃Tull　gone？〃　inquired　Venters；　with　surprise。　He　was　wondering　what　could　have　taken　Tull　away。　Was　it　to　avoid　another　meeting　with　Lassiter　that　he　went？　Could　it　have　any　connection　with　the　probable　nearness　of　Oldring　and　his　gang？

〃Gone；　yes；　thank　goodness；〃　replied　Jane。　〃Now　I'll　have　peace　for　a　while。　Lassiter；　I　want　you　to　see　my　horses。　You　are　a　rider；　and　you　must　be　a　judge　of　horseflesh。　Some　of　mine　have　Arabian　blood。　My　father　got　his　best　strain　in　Nevada　from　Indians　who　claimed　their　horses　were　bred　down　from　the　original　stock　left　by　the　Spaniards。〃

〃Well；　ma'am；　the　one　you've　been　ridin'　takes　my　eye；〃　said　Lassiter；　as　he　walked　round　the　racy；　clean…limbed；　and　fine…pointed　roan。

〃Where　are　the　boys？〃　she　asked；　looking　about。　〃Jerd；　Paul；　where　are　you？　Here；　bring　out　the　horses。〃

Lee　sound　of　dropping　bars　inside　the　barn　was　the　signal　for　the　horses　to　jerk　their　heads　in　the　windows；　to　snort　and　stamp。　Then　they　came　pounding　out　of　the　door；　a　file　of　thoroughbreds；　to　plunge　about　the　barnyard；　heads　and　tails　up；　manes　flying。　They　halted　afar　off；　squared　away　to　look；　came　slowly　forward　with　whinnies　for　their　mistress；　and　doubtful　snorts　for　the　strangers　and　their　horses。

〃Comecomecome；〃　called　Jane；　holding　out　her　hands。　〃Why；　Bells　Wrangle；　where　are　your　manners？　Come；　Black　Starcome；　Night。　Ah；　you　beauties！　My　racers　of　the　sage！〃

Only　two　came　up　to　her；　those　she　called　Night　and　Black　Star。　Venters　never　looked　at　them　without　delight。　The　first　was　soft　dead　black；　the　other　glittering　black；　and　they　were　perfectly　matched　in　size；　both　being　high　and　long…bodied；　wide　through　the　shoulders；　with　lithe；　powerful　legs。　That　they　were　a　woman's　pets　showed　in　the　gloss　of　skin；　the　fineness　of　mane。　It　showed；　too；　in　the　light　of　big　eyes　and　the　gentle　reach　of　eagerness。

〃I　never　seen　their　like；〃　was　Lassiter's　encomium；　〃an'　in　my　day　I've　seen　a　sight　of　horses。　Now；　ma'am；　if　you　was　wantin'　to　make　a　long　an'　fast　ride　across　the　sagesay　to　elope〃

Lassiter　ended　there　with　dry　humor；　yet　behind　that　was　meaning。　Jane　blushed　and　made　arch　eyes　at　him。

〃Take　care；　Lassiter；　I　might　think　that　a　proposal；〃　she　replied；　gaily。　〃It's　dangerous　to　propose　elopement　to　a　Mormon　woman。　Well；　I　was　expecting　you。　Now　will　be　a　good　hour　to　show　you　Milly　Erne's　grave。　The　day…riders　have　gone；　and　the　night…riders　haven't　come　in。　Bern；　what　do　you　make　of　that？　Need　I　worry？　You　know　I　have　to　be　made　to　worry。〃

〃Well；　it's　not　usual　for　the　night　shift　to　ride　in　so　late；〃　replied　Venters；　slowly；　and　his　glance　sought　Lassiter's。　〃Cattle　are　usually　quiet　after　dark。　Still；　I've　known　even　a　coyote　to　stampede　your　white　herd。〃

〃I　refuse　to　borrow　trouble。　Come；〃　said　Jane。

They　mounted；　and；　with　Jane　in　the　lead；　rode　down　the　lane；　and；　turning　off　into　a　cattle　trail；　proceeded　westward。　Venters's　dogs　trotted　behind　them。　On　this　side　of　the　ranch　the　outlook　was　different　from　that　on　the　other；　the　immediate　foreground　was　rough　and　the　sage　more　rugged　and　less　colorful；　there　were　no　dark…blue　lines　of　canyons　to　hold　the　eye；　nor　any　uprearing　rock　walls。　It　was　a　long　roll　and　slope　into　gray　obscurity。　Soon　Jane　left　the　trail　and　rode　into　the　sage；　and　presently　she　dismounted　and　threw　her　bridle。　The　men　did　likewise。　Then；　on　foot；　they　followed　her；　coming　out　at　length　on　the　rim　of　a　low　escarpment。　She　passed　by　several　little　ridges　of　earth　to　halt　before　a　faintly　defined　mound。　It　lay　in　the　shade　of　a　sweeping　sage…brush　close　to　the　edge　of　the　promontory；　and　a　rider　could　have　jumped　his　horse　over　it　without　recognizing　a　grave。

〃Here！〃

She　looked　sad　as　she　spoke；　but　she　offered　no　explanation　for　the　neglect　of　an　unmarked；　uncared…for　grave。　There　was　a　little　bunch　of　pale；　sweet　lavender　daisies；　doubtless　planted　there　by　Jane。

〃I　only　come　here　to　remember　and　to　pray；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　leave　no　trail！〃

A　grave　in　the　sage！　How　lonely　this　resting…place　of　Milly　Erne！　The　cottonwoods　or　the　alfalfa　fields　were　not　in　sight；　nor　was　there　any　rock　or　ridge　or　cedar　to　lend　contrast　to　the　monotony。　Gray　slopes；　tinging　the　purple；　barren　and　wild；　with　the　wind　waving　the　sage；　swept　away　to　the　dim　horizon。

Lassiter　looked　at　the　grave　and　then　out　into　space。　At　that　moment　he　seemed　a　figure　of　bronze。

Jane　touched　Venters's　arm　and　led　him　back　to　the　horses。

〃Bern！〃　cried　Jane；　when　they　were　out　of　hearing。　〃Suppose　Lassiter　were　Milly's　husbandthe　father　of　that　little　girl　lost　so　long　ago！〃

〃It　might　be；　Jane。　Let　us　ride　on。　If　he　wants　to　see　us　again　he'll　come。〃

So　they　mounted　and　rode　out　to　the　cattle　trail　and　began　to　climb。　From　the　height　of　the　ridge；　where　they　had　started　down；　Venters　looked　back。　He　did　not　see　Lassiter；　but　his　glance；　drawn　irresistibly　farther　out　on　the　gradual　slope；　caught　sight　of　a　moving　cloud　of　dust。

〃Hello；　a　rider！〃

〃Yes；　I　see；〃　said　Jane。

〃That　fellow's　riding　hard。　Jane；　there's　something　wrong。〃

〃Oh　yes；　there　must　be。。。。How　he　rides！〃

The　horse　disappeared　in　the　sage；　and　then　puffs　of　dust　marked　his　course。

〃He's　short…cut　on　ushe's　making　straight　for　the　corrals。〃

Venters　and　Jane　galloped　their　steeds　and　reined　in　at　the　turning　of　the　lane。　This　lane　led　down　to　the　right　of　the　grove。　Suddenly　into　its　lower　entrance　flashed　a　bay　horse。　Then　Venters　caught　the　fast　rhythmic　beat　of　pounding　hoofs。　Soon　his　keen　eye　recognized　the　swing　of　the　rider　in　his　saddle。

〃It's　Judkins；　your　Gentile　rider！〃　he　cried。　〃Jane；　when　Judkins　rides　like　that　it　means　hell！〃



CHAPTER　IV。　DECEPTION　PASS

The　rider　thundered　up　and　almost　threw　his　foam…flecked　horse　in　the　sudden　stop。　He　was　a　giant　form；　and　with　fearless　eyes。

〃Judkins；　you're　all　bloody！〃　cried　Jane；　in　affright。　〃Oh；　you've　been　shot！〃

〃Nothin'　much　Miss　Withersteen。　I　got　a　nick　in　the　shoulder。　I'm　some　wet　an'　the　hoss's　been　throwin'　lather；　so　all　this　ain't　blood。〃

〃What's　up？〃　queried　Venters；　sharply。

〃Rustlers　sloped　off　with　the　red　herd。〃

〃Where　are　my　riders？〃　demanded　Jane。

〃Miss　Withersteen；　I　was　alone　all　night　with　the　herd。　At　daylight　this　mornin'　the　rustlers　rode　down。　They　began　to　shoot　at　me　on　sight。　They　chased　me　hard　an'　far；　burnin'　powder　all　the　time；　but　I　got　away。〃

〃Jud；　they　meant　to　kill　you；〃　declared　Venters。

〃Now　I　wonder；〃　returned　Judkins。　〃They　wanted　me　bad。　An'　it　ain't　regular　for　rustlers　to　waste　time　chasin'　one　rider。〃

〃Thank　heaven　you　got　away；〃　said　Jane。　〃But　my　riderswhere　are　they？〃

〃I　don't　know。　The　night…riders　weren't　there　last　night　when　I　rode　down；　en'　this　mornin'　I　met　no　day…riders。〃

〃Judkins！　Bern；　they've　been　set　uponkilled　by　Oldring's　men！〃

〃I　don't　think　so；〃　replied　Venters；　decidedly。　〃Jane；　your　riders　haven't　gone　out　in　the　sage。〃

〃Bern；　what　do　you　mean？〃　Jane　Withersteen　turned　deathly　pale。

〃You　remember　what　I　said　about　the　unseen　hand？〃

〃Oh！。。。Impossible！〃

〃I　hope　so。　But　I　fear〃　Venters　finished；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。

〃Bern；　you're　bitter；　but　that's　only　natural。　We'll　wait　to　see　what's　happened　to　my　riders。　Judkins；　come　to　the　house　with　me。　Your　wound　must　be　attended　to。〃

〃Jane；　I'll　find　out　where　Oldring　drives　the　herd；〃　vowed　Venters。

〃No；　no！　Bern；　don't　risk　it　nowwhen　the　rustlers　are　in　such　shooting　mood。〃

〃I'm　going。　Jud；　how　many　cattle　in　that　red　herd？〃

〃Twenty…five　hundred　head。〃

〃Whew！　What　on　earth　can　Oldring　do　with　so　many　cattle？　Why；　a　hundred　head　is　a　big　steal。　I've　got　to　find　out。〃

〃Don't　go；〃　implored　Jane。

〃Bern；　you　want　a　hoss　thet　can　run。　Miss　Withersteen；　if　it's　not　too　bold　of　me　to　advise；　make　him　take　a　fast　hoss　or　don't　let　him　go。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Judkins。　He　must　ride　a　horse　that　can't　be　caught。　Which　oneBlack　StarNight？〃

〃Jane；　I　won't　take　either；〃　said　Venters；　emphatically。　〃I　wouldn't　risk　losing　one　of　your　favorites。〃

〃Wrangle；　then？〃

〃Thet's　the　hoss；〃　replied　Judkins。　〃Wrangle　can　outrun　Black　Star　an'　Night。　You'd　never　believe　it；　Miss　Withersteen；　but　I　know。　Wrangle's　the　biggest　en'　fastest　hoss　on　the　sage。〃

〃Oh　no；　Wrangle　can't　beat　Black　Star。　But；　Bern；　take　Wrangle　if　you　will　go。　Ask　Jerd　for　anything　you　need。　Oh；　be　watchful　careful。。。。　God　speed　you。〃

She　clasped　his　hand；　turned　quickly　away；　and　went　down　a　lane　with　the　rider。

Venters　rode　to　the　barn；　and；　leaping　off；　shouted　for　Jerd。　The　boy　came　running。　Venters　sent　him　for　meat；　bread；　and　dried　fruits；　to　be　packed　in　saddlebags。　His　own　horse　he　turned　loose　into　the　nearest　corral。　Then　he　went　for　Wrangle。　The　giant　sorrel　had　earned　his　name　for　a　trait　the　opposite　of　amiability。　He　came　readily　out　of　the　barn；　but　once　in　the　yard　he　broke　from　Venters；　and　plunged　about　with　ears　laid　back。　Venters　had　to　rope　him；　and　then　he　kicked　down　a　section　of　fence；　stood　on　his　hind　legs；　crashed　down　and　fought　the　rope。　Jerd　returned　to　lend　a　hand。

〃Wrangle　don't　git　enough　work；〃　said　Jerd；　as　the　big　saddle　went　on。　〃He's　unruly　when　he's　corralled；　an'　wants　to　run。　Wait　till　he　smells　the　sage！〃

〃Jerd；　this　horse　is　an　iron…jawed　devil。　I　never　straddled　him　but　once。　Run？　Say；　he's　swift　as　wind！〃

When　Venters's　boot　touched　the　stirrup　the　sorrel　bolted；　giving　him　the　rider's　flying　mount。　The　swing　of　this　fiery　horse　recalled　to　Venters　days　that　were　not　really　long　past；　when　he　rode　into　the　sage　as　the　leader　of　Jane　Withersteen's　riders。　Wrangle　pulled　hard　on　a　tight　rein。　He　galloped　out　of　the　lane；　down　the　shady　border　of　the　grove；　and　hauled　up　at　the　watering…trough；　where　he　pranced　and　champed　his　bit。　Venters　got　off　and　filled　his　canteen　while　the　horse　drank。　The　dogs；　Ring　and　Whitie；　came　trotting　up　for　their　drink。　Then　Venters　remounted　and　turned　Wrangle　toward　the　sage。

A　wide；　white　trail　wound　away　down　the　slope。　One　keen；　sweeping　glance　told　Venters　that　there　was　neither　man　nor　horse　nor　steer　within　the　limit　of　his　vision；　unless　they　were　lying　down　in　the　sage。　Ring　loped　in　the　lead　and　Whitie　loped　in　the　rear。　Wrangle　settled　gradually　into　an　easy　swinging　canter；　and　Venters's　thoughts；　now　that　the　rush　and　flurry　of　the　start　were　past；　and　the　long　miles　stretched　before　him；　reverted　to　a　calm　reckoning　of　late　singular　coincidences。

There　was　the　night　ride　of　Tull's；　which；　viewed　in　the　light　of　subsequent　events；　had　a　look　of　his　covert　machinations；　Oldring　and　his　Masked　Rider　and　his　rustlers　riding　muffled　horses；　the　report　that　Tull　had　ridden　out　that　morning　with　his　man　Jerry　on　the　trail　to　Glaze；　the　strange　disappearance　of　Jane　Withersteen's　riders；　the　unusually　determined　attempt　to　kill　the　one　Gentile　still　in　her　employ；　an　intention　frustrated；　no　doubt；　only　by　Judkin's　magnificent　riding　of　her　racer；　and　lastly　the　driving　of　the　red　herd。　These　events；　to　Venters's　color　of　mind；　had　a　dark　relationship。　Remembering　Jane's　accusation　of　bitterness；　he　trie