the seventh man-第11部分

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d。

Barry　spoke　sharply　to　the　mare　and　loosed　the　reins；　but　she　started　into　a　full　gallop　too　late。　There　came　a　brief　hum；　a　thudding　blow；　and　Grey　Molly　pitched　forward。



Chapter　XI。　A　New　Trail　Begins

If　he　had　been　an　ordinary　rider；　sitting　heavily　far　back　in　the　saddle；　at　the　end　of　a　long　ride；　Barry　would　either　have　been　flung　clear　and　smashed　horribly　against　the　rocks；　or；　more　likely；　he　would　have　been　entangled　in　the　stirrups　and　crushed　to　death　instantly　by　the　weight　of　his　horse；　but　he　rode　always　lightly　poised　and　when　the　mare　pitched　forward　his　feet　were　already　clear　of　the　stirrups。　He　landed；　catlike；　on　hands　and　feet；　unhurt。

It　had　been　a　long　shot；　a　lucky　hit　even　for　a　marksman　of　the　sheriff's　caliber；　and　now　the　six　horsemen　streamed　over　a　distant　hilltop　and　swept　into　the　valley　to　take　their　quarry　dead；　or　half　dead；　from　his　fall。　However；　that　approaching　danger　was　nothing　in　the　eye　of　Barry。　He　ran　to　the　fallen　mare　and　caught　her　head　in　his　arms。　She　ceased　her　struggles　to　rise　as　soon　as　he　touched　her　and　whinneyed　softly。　The　left　foreleg　lay　twisted　horribly　beneath　her；　broken。　Grey　Molly　had　run　her　last　race；　and　as　Barry　kneeled；　holding　the　brave　head　close　to　him；　he　groaned；　and　looked　away　from　her　eyes。　It　was　only　an　instant　of　weakness；　and　when　he　turned　to　her　again　he　was　drawing　his　gun　from　its　holster。

The　beating　hoofs　of　the　posse　as　they　raced　towards　him　made　a　growing　murmur　through　the　clear　air。　Barry　glanced　towards　them　with　a　consummate　loathing。　They　had　killed　a　horse　to　stop　a　man；　and　to　him　it　was　more　than　murder。　What　harm　had　she　done　them　except　to　carry　her　rider　bravely　and　well？　The　tears　of　rage　and　sorrow　which　a　child　sheds　welled　into　the　eyes　of　Dan　Barry。　Every　one　of　them　had　a　hand　in　this　horrible　killing；　was；　to　that　half　animal　and　half…childish　nature；　a　murderer。

His　chin　was　on　his　shoulder；　the　quiver　of　pain　in　her　nostrils　ended　as　he　spoke；　and　while　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand　trailed　caressingly　across　her　forehead；　his　right　carried　the　muzzle　to　her　temple。

〃Brave　Molly；　good　girl；〃　he　whispered；　〃they'll　pay　for　you　a　death　for　a　death　and　a　man　for　a　hoss。〃　The　yellow　which　had　glinted　in　his　eyes　during　the　run　was　afire　now。　〃It　ain't　far；　only　a　step　to　go；　and　then　you'll　be　where　they　ain't　any　saddles；　nor　any　spurs　to　gall　you；　Molly；　but　just　pastures　that's　green　all　year；　and　nothin'　to　do　but　loaf　in　the　sun　and　smell　the　wind。　Here's　good　luck　to　you；　girl。〃

His　gun　spoke　sharp　and　short　and　he　laid　the　limp　head　reverently　on　the　ground。

It　had　all　happened　in　very　few　seconds；　and　the　posse　was　riding　through　the　river；　still　a　long　shot　off；　when　Barry　drew　his　rifle　from　its　case　on　the　saddle。　Moreover；　the　failing　light　which　had　made　the　sheriff's　hit　so　much　a　matter　of　luck　was　now　still　dimmer；　yet　Barry　snapped　his　gun　to　the　shoulder　and　fired　the　instant　the　butt　lay　in　the　grove。　For　another　moment　nothing　changed　in　the　appearance　of　the　riders；　then　a　man　leaned　out　of　his　saddle　and　fell　full　length　in　the　water。

Around　him　his　companions　floundered；　lifted　and　placed　him　on　the　bank；　and　then　threw　themselves　from　their　horses　to　take　shelter　behind　the　first　rocks　they　could　find；　they　had　no　wish　to　take　chances　with　a　man　who　could　snap…shoot　like　this　in　such　a　light；　at　such　a　distance。　By　the　time　they　were　in　position　their　quarry　had　slipped　out　of　sight　and　they　had　only　the　blackening　boulders　for　targets。

〃God　amighty；〃　cried　Ronicky　Joe；　〃are　you　goin'　to　let　that　murderin'　hound…dog　get　clear　off；　Pete？　Boys；　who's　with　me　for　a　run　at　him？〃

For　it　was　Harry　Fisher　who　had　fallen　and　lay　now　on　the　wet　bank　with　his　arms　flung　wide　and　a　red　spot　rimmed　with　purple　in　the　center　of　his　forehead；　and　Fisher　was　Ronicky　Joe's　partner。

〃You　lay　where　you　are；〃　commanded　the　sheriff；　and　indeed　there　had　been　no　rousing　response　to　Ronicky　Joe's　appeal。

〃You　yaller　quitters；〃　groaned　Joe。　〃Give　me　a　square　chance　and　I'll　tackle　Vic　Gregg　alone　day　or　night；　on　hoss　or　on　foot。　Are　we　five　goin'　to　lay　down　to　him？〃

〃If　that　was　Vic　Gregg；〃　answered　the　sheriff；　slipping　over　the　insult　with　perfect　calm；　〃I　wouldn't　of　told　you　to　scatter　for　cover；　but　that　ain't　Vic。〃

〃Pete；　what　in　hell　are　you　drivin'　at？〃

〃I　say　it　ain't　Vic；〃　said　the　sheriff。　〃Vic　is　a　good　man　with　a　hoss　and　a　good　man　with　a　gun；　but　he　couldn't　never　ride　like　the　gent　over　there　in　the　rocks；　and　he　couldn't　shoot　like　him。〃

He　pointed；　in　confirmation；　at　the　body　of　Harry　Fisher。

〃You　can　rush　that　hill　if　you　want；　but　speakin'　personal；　I　ain't　ready　to　die。〃

A　thoughtful　silence　held　the　others　until　Sliver　Waldron　broke　it　with　his　deep　bass。　〃You　ain't　far　off；　Pete。　I　done　some　thinkin'　along　them　lines　when　I　seen　him　standin'　up　there　over　the　arroyo　wavin'　his　hat　at　the　bullets。　Vic　didn't　never　have　the　guts　for　that。〃

All　the　lower　valley　was　gray；　dark　in　comparison　with　the　bright　peaks　above　it；　before　the　sheriff　rose　from　his　place　and　led　the　posse　towards　the　body　of　Grey　Molly。　There　they　found　as　much　confirmation　of　Pete's　theory　as　they　needed；　for　Vic's　silver…mounted　saddle　was　known　to　all　of　them；　and　this　was　a　plain　affair　which　they　found　on　the　dead　horse。　Waldron　pushed　back　his　hat　to　scratch　his　head。

〃Look　at　them　eyes；　boys；〃　he　suggested。　〃Molly　has　been　beatin'　us　all　day　and　she　looks　like　she's　fightin'　us　still。

The　sheriff　was　not　a　man　of　very　many　words；　and　surely　of　little　sentiment；　perhaps　it　was　the　heat　of　the　long　chase　which　now　made　him　take　off　his　hat　so　that　the　air　could　reach　his　sweaty　forehead。　〃Gents；〃　he　said；　〃she　lived　game　and　she　died　game。　But　they　ain't　no　use　of　wastin'　that　saddle。　Take　it　off。〃

And　that　was　Grey　Molly's　epitaph。


They　decided　to　head　straight　back　for　the　nearest　town　with　the　body　of　Harry　Fisher；　and；　fagged　by　the　desperate　riding　of　that　day；　they　let　their　horses　go　with　loose　rein；　at　a　walk。　Darkness　gathered；　the　last　light　faded　from　even　the　highest　peaks；　the　last　tinge　of　color　dropped　out　of　the　sky　as　they　climbed　from　the　valley。　Now　and　then　one　of　the　horses　cleared　its　nostrils　with　a　snort；　but　on　the　whole　they　went　in　perfect　silence　with　the　short　grass　silencing　the　hoofbeats；　and　never　a　word　passed　from　man　to　man。

Beyond　doubt；　if　it　had　not　been　for　that　same　silence；　if　it　had　not　been　for　the　slowness　with　which　they　drifted　through　the　dark；　what　follows　could　never　have　happened。　They　had　crossed　a　hill；　and　descended　into　a　very　narrow　ravine　which　came　to　so　sharp　a　point　that　the　horses　had　to　be　strung　out　in　single　file。　The　ravine　twisted　to　the　right　and　then　the　last　man　of　the　procession　heard　the　sheriff　call：　〃Halt；　there！　Up　with　your　hands；　or　I'll　drill　you！〃　When　they　swung　from　side　to　side；　craning　their　heads　to　look；　they　made　out　a　shadowy　horseman　facing　Pete　head　on。　Then　the　sheriff's　voice　again：　〃Gregg；　I'm　considerable　glad　to　meet　up　with　you。〃

If　that　meeting　had　taken　place　in　any　other　spot　probably　Gregg　would　have　taken　his　chance　on　escaping　through　the　night；　but　in　this　narrow　pass　he　could　swing　to　neither　side　and　before　he　could　turn　the　brown　horse　entirely　around　the　sheriff　might　pump　him　full　of　lead。　They　gathered　in　a　solemn　quiet　around　him；　the　irons　were　already　upon　his　wrists。

〃All　right；　boys；〃　he　said；　〃you've　got　me；　but　you'll　have　to　give　in　that　you　had　all　the　luck。〃

A　moment　after　that　sharp　command　in　the　familiar；　dreaded　voice　of　Pete　Glass；　Vic　had　been　glad　that　the　lone　flight　was　over。　Eventually　this　was　bound　to　come。　He　would　go　back　and　face　the　law；　and　three　men　lived　to　swear　that　Blondy　had　gone　after　his　gun　first。

〃Maybe　luck；〃　said　the　sheriff。　〃How　d'　you　come　back　this　way？〃

〃Made　a　plumb　circle；〃　chuckled　Gregg。　〃Rode　like　a　fool　not　carin'　where　I　hit　out　for；　and　the　end　of　it　was　that　it　was　dark　before　I'd　had　sense　to　watch　where　the　sun　went　down。〃

〃Kind　of　cheerful；　ain't　you？〃　cut　in　Ronicky　Joe；　and　his　voice　was　as　dry　as　the　crisping　leaves　in　an　autumn　wind。

〃They　ain't　any　call　for　me　to　wear　crepe　yet；〃　answered　Gregg。　〃Worst　fool　thing　I　ever　done　was　to　cut　and　run　for　it。　The　old　Captain　will　tell　you　gents　that　Blondy　went　for　his　gun　firsthad　it　clean　out　of　the　leather　before　I　touched　mine。〃

He　paused；　and　the　silence　of　those　dark　figures　sank　in　upon　him。

〃I　got　to　warn　you；〃　said　Pete　Glass；　〃that　what　you　say　now　can　be　used　again　you　later　on　before　the　jury。〃

〃My　God；　boys；〃　burst　out　Vic；　〃d'you　think　I'm　a　plain；　low…down；　murderin'　snake？　Harry；　ain't　you　got　a　word　for　me？　Are　you　like　the　rest　of　'em？〃

No　voice　answered。

〃Harry；〃　said　Ronicky；　〃why　don't　you　speak　to　him？〃

It　was　a　brutal　thing　to　do；　but　Ronicky　was　never　a　gentle　sort　in　his　best　moments；　he　scratched　a　match　and　held　it　so　that　under　the　spluttering　light　Gregg　found　himself　staring　into　the　face　of　Harry　Fisher。　And　he　could　not　turn　his　eyes　away　until　the　match　burned　down　to　Ronicky's　finger　tip　and　then　dropped　in　a　streak　of　red　to　the　ground。

Then　the　sheriff　spoke　cold　and　hard。

〃Partner；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　old　days；　maybe　your　line　of　talk　would　do　some　good；　but　not　now。　You　picked　that　fight　with　Blondy。　You　knew　you　was　faster　on　the　draw　and　Hansen　didn't　have　a　chance。　He　was　the　worst　shot　in　Alder　and　everybody　in　Alder　knew　it。　You　picked　that　fight　and　you　killed　your　man；　and　you're　goin'　to　hang　for　it。〃

Another　hush；　no　murmur　of　assent　or　dissent。

〃But　they's　one　way　out　for　you；　Gregg；　and　I'm　layin'　it　clear。　We　wanted　you　bad；　and　we　got　you；　but　they's　another　man　we　want　a　lot　worse。　A　pile！　Gregg；　take　me　where　I　can　find　the　gent　what　done　for　Harry　Fisher　and　you'll　never　stand　up　in　front　of　a　jury。　You　got　my　word　on　that。〃



Chapter　XII。　The　Crisis

Those　mountains　above　the　Barry　cabin　were；　as　he　told　Vic　Gregg；　inaccessible　to　men　on　horseback　except　by　one　path；　yet　there　was　a　single　class　of　travelers　who　roamed　at　will　through　far　more　difficult　ground　than　this。　Speaking　in　general；　where　a　man　can　go　a　burro　can　go；　and　where　a