the seventh man-第10部分

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ve　me　mad！〃

He　made　no　answer；　and　if　the　girl　wished　him　to　stay　now　seemed　the　time　for　persuasion；　but　she　gave　up　the　argument　suddenly。　She　turned　away；　and　Vic　saw　in　her　face　the　same　desperate；　helpless　look　as　that　of　a　boy　who　cannot　swim；　beyond　his　depth　in　the　river。　There　was　no　sign　of　tears；　they　might　come　afterwards。

What　had　come　over　them？　This　desperation　in　Kate；　this　touch　of　anxiety　in　the　very　horse　and　the　wolf…dog？　Vic　forgot　his　own　danger　while　he　stared　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　the　spark　of　change　had　come　from　Barry。　There　was　something　in　his　eyes　which　Vic　found　hard　to　meet。

〃The　moment　you　came　I　knew　you　brought　bad　luck　with　you！〃　cried　Kate。　〃He　brought　you　in　bleeding。　He　saved　you　and　came　in　with　blood　on　his　hands　and　I　guessed　at　the　end。　Oh；　I　wish　you〃

〃Kate！〃　broke　in　Barry。

She　dropped　upon　one　of　the　stones　and　buried　her　face　in　her　hands　and　Dan　paid　no　more　attention　to　her。

〃Hurry　up；〃　he　said。　〃They're　across　the　river。〃

And　Vic　gave　up　the　struggle；　for　the　tears　of　Kate　made　him　think　of　Betty　Neal　and　he　followed　Dan　towards　the　corral。　Around　them　the　stallion　ran　like　a　hunting　dog　eager　to　be　off。



Chapter　X。　One　Trail　Ends

〃You　can　trust　Grey　Molly　to　me；　Vic；〃　said　Dan；　standing　at　the　head　of　the　gray　mare。　〃I'll　keep　her　as　safe　as　if　she　was　Satan。〃

Gregg　watched　her　almost　sadly。　He　had　always　taken　a　rather　childish　pride　in　her　fierceness。　She　knew　him　as　a　dog　knows　its　master　and　he　had　always　been　the　only　one　who　could　handle　her　readily　in　the　saddle。　But　one　who　knew　nothing　of　horses　and　their　ways　could　see　the　entente　which　had　been　instantly　established　between　Barry　and　Grey　Molly。　When　he　spoke　her　ears　pricked。　When　he　raised　his　hand　she　stretched　her　nose　inquisitively。

There　was　no　pitch　in　her　when　Barry　swung　into　the　saddle　and　that　was　a　thing　without　precedent　in　Molly's　history。　She　tried　none　of　her　usual　catlike　side…steps　and　throwing　of　the　head。　Altogether；　Vic　was　troubled　even　as　he　would　have　been　at　the　sight　of　Betty　Neal　in　the　arms　of　another　man。　It　was　desertion。

〃Dan；〃　he　said；　〃I　know　what　you've　done　for　me　and　I　know　what　you're　doin'　now。〃　He　took　the　slender　hand　of　the　other　in　his　big　paw。

〃If　the　time　comes　when　I　can　pay　you　back；　so　help　me　God〃

〃Oaths　don't　do　no　good；〃　cut　in　Barry　without　a　trace　of　emotion。　He　added　frankly：　〃It　ain't　altogether　for　your　sake。　Those　gents　down　there　have　played　tag　once　with　me　and　now　I'd　like　to　play　with　them。　Molly's　fresh　today。〃

He　was　already　looking　over　his　shoulder　while　he　spoke；　as　if　his　mind　were　even　then　at　work　upon　the　posse。

〃S'long。〃

〃S'long；　partner。　Good　luck。〃

So　they　parted　and　Vic；　jogging　slowly　up　the　steep　path；　saw　Grey　Molly　wheeled　and　sent　at　a　sweeping　gallop　over　the　meadow。　His　heart　leaped　jealously　and　the　next　moment　went　out　in　a　flood　of　gratitude；　admiration；　as　Barry　swung　off　the　shoulder　of　the　mountain；　waved　his　hat　towards　Kate；　and　dipped　at　once　out　of　sight。

The　shelving　ground　along　which　Barry　rode　sometimes　was　a　broad　surface　like　a　spacious；　graded　road；　again　it　shelved　away　and　opened　a　view　of　all　the　valley。　When　he　reached　the　first　of　these　places　the　rider　looked　back　and　down　and　saw　the　posse　skirting　rapidly　on　his　side　of　the　river；　behind　him　and　close　to　the　cliff。　They　rode　at　an　easy　lope；　and　he　could　see　that　their　heads　were　bent　to　watch　the　ground。　Even　at　this　casual　gait　they　would　reach　the　point　at　which　he　and　the　gray　must　swing　onto　the　floor　of　the　valley　before　him　unless　he　urged　Molly　to　top　speed。　He　must　get　there　at　a　sufficient　distance　from　them　to　escape　close　rifle　fire；　and　certainly　beyond　point…blank　revolver　range。　Accordingly　he　threw　his　weight　more　into　the　stirrups　and　over　the　withers　of　the　mare。　This　brought　greater　poundage　on　her　forehand　and　made　her　apt　to　stumble　or　actually　miss　her　step；　but　it　increased　her　running　power。

There　was　no　need　of　a　touch　of　the　spurs。　The　gathering　of　the　reins　seemed　to　tell　Molly　everything。　One　ear　flickered　back；　then　she　leaped　out　at　full　speed。　It　was　as　though　the　mind　of　the　man　had　sent　an　electric　current　down　the　reins　and　told　her　his　thought。　Now　she　floundered　at　her　foot；　struck　a　loose　stone；　now　she　veered　sharply　and　wide　to　escape　a　boulder；　now　she　cleared　a　gulley　with　a　long　leap；　and　riding　high　as　he　was；　bent　forward　out　of　balance　to　escape　observation　from　below。　It　was　only　a　miracle　of　horsemanship　that　kept　her　from　breaking　her　neck　as　they　lurched　down　the　pitch。　Grey　Molly　seemed　to　be　carrying　no　weight；　only　a　clinging　intelligence。

At　this　speed　he　was　sure　to　reach　the　valley　safely　in　front　unless　the　posse　caught　sight　of　him　on　the　way　and　gave　chase；　and　Barry　counted　on　that　instinct　in　hunting　men　which　makes　them　keep　their　eyes　lowthe　same　sense　which　leads　a　searcher　to　look　first　under　the　bed　and　last　of　all　at　the　wall　and　ceiling。　Once　more；　as　he　neared　his　goal；　he　looked　back　and　down；　and　there　came　the　six　horsemen；　their　quirts　swinging；　their　hat…brims　blown　straight　up　they　raced　at　full　speed。　They　had　seen　the　gray　and　they　rode　for　blood。

The　outstretched　neck　of　Grey　Molly；　her　flattened　ears；　the　rapid　clangor　of　her　hoofs　on　the　rocks；　seemed　to　indicate　that　she　already　was　doing　her　uttermost；　but　after　the　glimpse　of　the　pursuit；　Barry　crouched　a　little　lower；　his　hand　gathering　the　reins　just　behind　her　head；　his　voice　was　near　her；　speaking　softly；　quickly。　She　responded　with　a　snort　of　effort；　as　though　she　realized　the　danger　and　willingly　accepted　it。　One　ear；　as　she　rushed　down　the　slope；　was　pricked　and　one　flagged　back　to　the　guiding；　strengthening　voice　of　the　rider。

The　path　wound　in　leisurely　curves　now；　but　there　was　a　straight　cut　down　a　slide　of　gravel；　a　dangerous　slope　even　in　firm　ground；　a　terrible　angle　with　those　loose　pebbles　underfoot。　Yet　this　was　a　time　for　chance…taking。　Already　the　dusty　man　on　the　roan　rode　with　his　revolver　balanced　for　the　snap　shot。　The　next　instant　his　gun　swung　down；　he　actually　reined　up　in　astonishment。　The　fugitive　had　flung　himself　far　back　against　the　cantle　and　sent　Grey　Molly　at　the　slide。　It　was　not　a　matter　of　running　as　the　mare　shot　over　the　brink。　Molly　sat　back　on　her　haunches；　braced　her　forelegs；　and　went　down　like　an　avalanche。　Over　the　rush　and　roar　of　the　pebbles；　over　the　yell　of　wonder　from　the　pursuers；　she　heard　the　voice　of　her　rider；　a　clear　and　steady　voice；　and　the　tautened　reins　telegraphed　to　her　bewildered　mind　the　wish　of　the　man。　She　struck　the　level　with　stunning　force；　toppled；　nearly　fell；　and　then　straightened　along　her　course　in　a　staggering　gallop。　Started　from　its　nice　balance　by　the　rush　of　stones　they　loosened；　a　ten…ton　rock　came　toppling　after；　leaped　up　from　the　valley　floor　like　a　live　thing；　and　then　thundered　away　towards　the　river。

Grey　Molly；　finding　her　legs　once　more；　tried　the　level　going。　She　had　beaten　the　same　horses　before　under　the　crushing　impost　of　Gregg's　weight。　With　this　lighter　rider　who　clung　like　a　part　of　her；　who　gave　perfectly　to　the　rhythm　of　her　gallop；　she　fairly　walked　away　from　the　posse。　Once；　twice　and　again　the　gun　spoke　from　the　hand　of　Pete　Glass；　but　it　was　the　taking　of　a　long　last　chance　rather　than　a　sign　of　closing　on　his　chase。　In　ten　minutes　Grey　Molly　dipped　out　of　sight　among　the　hills。

After　the　first　hour　Barry　could　have　cut　away　across　country　with　little　fear　of　discovery　from　the　sheriff；　but　he　was　in　no　hurry　to　escape。　Sometimes　he　dismounted　and　looked　to　his　cinches　and　talked　to　the　horse。　Grey　Molly　listened　with　pricking　ears　and　often　canted　her　head　to　one　side　as　though　she　strove　to　understand　the　game。

It　was　a　new　and　singular　pleasure　to　Barry。　He　was　accustomed　to　the　exhaustless；　elastic　strength　of　Satan；　with　the　cunning　brain　of　a　beast　of　prey　and　the　speed　of　an　antelope。　On　the　black　horse　he　could　have　ridden　circles　around　that　posse　all　day。　But　Grey　Molly　was　a　different　problem。　She　was　not　a　force　to　be　simply　directed　and　controlled。　She　was　something　to　be　helped。　Her　very　weakness；　compared　with　the　stallion；　appealed　to　him。　And　it　was　a　thrilling　pleasure　to　feel　his　power　over　her　grow　until　she；　also；　seemed　to　have　entered　the　game。

A　game　it　was；　as　he　had　said　to　Vic　when　they　parted；　with　the　rather　essential　difference　that　in　this　pastime　one　was　tagged　with　a　forty…five　caliber　chunk　of　lead　and　was　quite　apt　to　remain　〃it〃　for　the　remainder　of　eternity。　Barry　dropped　further　and　further　back　towards　the　posse。　The　danger　fascinated　him。　Once　he　whistled　high　and　shrill　as　a　hawk's　scream　from　the　top　of　a　bluff　while　the　posse　labored　through　a　ravine　below。　He　saw　the　guns　flash　out；　and　waited。　He　heard　the　sing　of　the　bullets　around　him；　and　the　splashing　lead　on　a　solid…rock　face　just　beneath　him；　he　listened　till　the　deep　echoes　spoke　from　the　gulch；　then　waved　his　hat　and　disappeared。

This　was　almost　defeating　the　purpose　of　his　play　for　if　he　came　that　close　again　they　would　probably　make　out　that　they　were　following　a　decoy。　Accordingly；　since　he　had　now　drawn　them　well　away　from　Vic's　line　of　escape；　he　turned　his　back　reluctantly　on　the　posse　and　struck　across　the　hills。

He　kept　on　for　the　better　part　of　an　hour　before　he　doubled　and　swung　in　a　wide　circle　towards　his　cabin。　He　had　laid　out　a　course　which　the　wise　sheriff　could　follow　until　dark　and　be　none　the　wiser；　and　if　Pete　Glass　were　the　finest　trailer　who　ever　studied　sign　and　would　never　be　able　to　read　the　tokens　of　the　return　ride。　Accordingly；　with　all　this　well　in　mind；　he　brought　Grey　Molly　to　a　full　halt　and　gazed　around；　utterly　stunned　by　surprise；　when；　half　way　up　the　valley；　a　rifle　spoke　small　but　sharp　from　one　side；　and　a　bullet　clipped　the　rocks　not　the　length　of　the　horse　away。　He　understood。　When　he　cut　straightaway　across　the　country　he　had　indeed　left　a　baffling　trail；　a　trail　so　dim；　in　fact；　that　Pete　Glass　had　wisely　given　it　up　and　taken　the　long　chance　by　cutting　back　to　the　point　at　which　the　hunt　began。　So　their　paths　crossed。

Barry　spoke　sharply　to　the　mare　and　loosed　the　reins；　but　she　started　into　a　full　gallop　too　l