the seventh man-第14部分

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〃Look　here；　Dan。　If　you're　afraid　that　gang　may　trail　you　here　and　start　raising　the　devilhow　many　are　there？〃

〃Five。〃

〃I'm　as　good　with　a　gun　as　I　ever　was　in　the　old　days。　So　is　Buck。　Partner；　let's　make　the　show　down　together。　Stick　here　with　Kate　and　Joan　and　Buck　and　I　will　help　you　hold　the　fort。　Don't　look　at　me　like　that。　I　mean　it。　Do　you　think　I've　forgotten　what　you　did　for　me　that　night　in　Elkhead？　Not　in　a　thousand　years。　Dan；　I'd　rather　make　my　last　play　here　than　any　other　place　in　the　world。　Let　'em　come！　We'll　salt　them　down　and　plant　them　where　they　won't　grow。〃

As　he　talked　the　pallor　quite　left　him；　and　the　fighting　fire　blazed　in　his　eyes；　he　stood　lion…like；　his　feet　spread　apart　as　if　to　meet　a　shock；　his　tawny　head　thrown　back；　and　there　was　about　him　a　hair…trigger　sensitiveness；　in　spite　of　his　bulk；　a　nervousness　of　hand　and　coldness　of　glance　which　characterizes　the　gun…fighter。　Buck　Daniels　stepped　closer；　without　a　word；　but　one　felt　that　he　also　had　walked　into　the　alliance。　As　Barry　watched　them　the　yellow　which　swirled　in　his　eyes　flickered　away　for　a　moment。

〃Why；　gents；〃　he　murmured；　〃they　ain't　any　call　for　trouble。　The　posse？　What's　that　got　to　do　with　me？　Our　accounts　are　all　squared　up。〃

The　two　stared　dumbly。

〃They　killed　Grey　Molly；　I　killed　one　of　them。〃

〃A　horsefor　a　man？〃　repeated　Lee　Haines；　breathing　hard。

〃A　life　for　a　life；'〃said　Dan　simply。　〃They　got　no　call　for　complainin'。〃

Glances　of　wonder；　glances　of　meaning；　flashed　back　and　forth　from　Haines　to　Buck。

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　latter；　and　he　took　in　Kate　with　a　caution　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　〃if　that's　the　case；　let's　sit　down　and　chin　for　a　minute。〃

Dan　stood　with　his　head　bowed　a　little；　frowning；　two　forces　pulled　him；　and　Kate　leaned　against　the　wall　off　in　the　shadow　with　her　eyes　closed；　waiting；　waiting；　waiting　through　the　crisis。

〃I'd　like　to　stay　and　chin　with　you；　Buckbut；　I　got　to　be　off。　Out　therein　the　nightsomething　may　happen　before　mornin'。〃　Black　Bart　licked　the　hand　of　the　master　and　whined。　〃Easy；　boy。　We're　startin'。〃

〃But　the　night's　just　beginnin'；〃　said　Buck　Daniels　genially。　〃You　got　a　world　of　time　before　you；　and　with　Satan　to　fall　back　on　you　don't　have　to　count　your　minutes。　Pull　up　a　chair　beside　me；　Dan；　and〃

The　latter　shook　his　head；　decided。　〃Buck；　I　can't　do　it。　Just　to　sit　here〃he　looked　about　him〃makes　me　feel　sort　of　choked。　Them　walls　are　as　closeas　a　coffin。〃

He　was　already　turning；　Kate　straightened　in　the　shadow；　desperate。

〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　Dan；〃　said　Lee　Haines；　suddenly；　〃we　need　your　help　badly。〃

〃Help？〃

The　heart　of　Kate　stood　in　her　eyes　as　she　looked　at　Lee　Haines。

〃Sit　down　a　minute；　Dan；　and　I'll　tell　you　about　it。〃

Barry　slipped　into　a　chair　which　he　had　pulled　to　one　sideso　that　the　back　of　it　was　towards　the　wall；　and　every　one　in　the　room　was　before　him。



Chapter　XIV。　Suspense

The　help　which　Lee　Haines　wanted；　it　turned　out；　was　guidance　across　a　difficult　stretch　of　country　which　he　and　Buck　Daniels　wanted　to　prospect；　and　while　he　talked　Barry　listened　uneasily。　It　was　constitutionally　impossible　for　him　to　say　no　when　a　favor　was　asked　of　him；　and　Haines　counted　heavily　on　that　characteristic；　in　the　meantime　Black　Bart　lay　on　the　hearth　with　his　wistful　eyes　turned　steadily　up　to　the　master；　and　Buck　Daniels　went　to　Kate　on　the　farther　side　of　the　room。　She　sat　quivering；　alternately　crushing　and　soothing　Joan　with　the　strength　of　her　caresses。　Buck　drew　a　chair　close；　with　his　back　half　towards　the　fire。

〃Turn　around　a　little；　Kate；〃　he　cautioned。　〃Don't　let　Dan　see　your　face。〃

She　obeyed　him　automatically。

〃Is　there　a　hope；　Buck？　What　have　I　done　to　deserve　this？　I　don't　want　to　live；　I　want　to　die！　I　want　to　die！〃

〃Steady；　steady！〃　he　cut　in；　and　his　face　was　working。　〃If　you　keep　on　like　this　you'll　bust　down　in　a　minute　or　two。　And　you　know　what　tears　do　to　Dan；　he'll　be　out　of　this　house　like　a　scairt　coyote。　Brace　up！〃

She　struggled　and　won　a　partial　control。

〃I'm　fighting　hard；　Buck。〃

〃Fight　harder　still。　You　ought　to　know　him　better　than　I　do。　When　he's　like　this　it　drives　him　wild　to　have　other　folks　thinkin'　about　him。〃

He　looked　over　to　Dan。　In　spite　of　the　bowed　head　of　the　latter　as　he　listened　to　Haines　yarning　he　gave　an　impression　of　electric　awareness　to　all　that　was　around　him。

〃Talk　soft；〃　whispered　Buck。　〃Maybe　he　knows　we're　talkin'　about　him。〃

He　raised　his　voice　out　of　the　whisper；　breaking　in　on　a　sentence　about　Joan；　as　if　this　were　the　tenor　of　their　talk。　Then　he　lowered　his　tone　again。

〃Think　quick。　Talk　soft。　Do　you　want　Dan　kept　here？〃

〃For　God's　sake；　yes。〃

〃Suppose　the　posse　gets　him　here？〃　

〃We　musn't　dodge　the　law。〃

They　were　gauging　their　voices　with　the　closest　precision。　Talking　like　this　so　close　to　Barry　was　like　dancing　among　flasks　of　nitroglycerine。　Once；　and　once　only；　Lee　Haines　cast　a　desperate　eye　across　to　them；　begging　them　to　come　to　his　rescue；　then　he　went　back　to　his　talk　with　Dan；　raising　his　voice　to　shelter　the　conference　of　the　other　two。

〃If　they　come；　he'll　fight。〃

〃No；　he　isn't　at　the　fighting　pitch　yet；　I　know！〃

〃If　you're　wrong　they'll　be　dead　men　here。〃

〃He　sees　no　difference　between　the　death　of　a　horse　and　the　death　of　a　man。　He　feels　that　the　law　has　no　score　against　him。　He'll　go　quietly。〃

〃And　we'll　find　ways　of　fightin'　the　law？〃

〃Yes；　but　it　needs　money。〃

〃I've　got　a　stake。〃

〃God　bless　you；　Buck。〃

〃Take　my　advice。〃

〃What？〃

〃Let　him　go　now。〃

She　glanced　at　him　wildly。

〃Kate；　he's　gone　already。〃

〃No；　no；　no！〃

〃I　say　he's　gone。　Look　at　his　eyes。〃

〃I　don't　dare。〃

〃The　yaller　is　comin'　up　in　'em。　He's　wild　again。〃　She　shook　her　head　in　mute　agony。　Buck　Daniels　groaned；　softly。

〃Then　they's　goin'　to　be　a　small…sized　hell　started　around　this　cabin　before　mornin'。〃

He　got　up　and　went　slowly　back　towards　the　fire。　Lee　Haines　was　talking　steadily；　leisurely；　going　round　and　round　his　subject　again　and　again；　and　Barry　listened　with　bowed　head；　but　his　eyes　were　fixed　upon　those　of　the　wolf…dog　at　his　feet。　When　he　grew　restless；　Haines　chained　him　to　the　chair　with　some　direct　question；　yet　it　was　a　hard　game　to　play。　All　this　time　the　posse　might　be　gathering　around　the　cabin；　and　the　forehead　of　Haines　whitened　and　glistened　with　sweat。　His　voice　was　the　only　living　thing　in　the　cabin；　after　a　time；　sketching　his　imaginary　plans　for　the　benefit　of　Barryhis　voice　and　the　wistful　eyes　of　Joan　which　kept　steadily　on　Daddy　Dan。　Something　has　come　between　them　and　lifted　a　barrier　which　she　could　not　understand；　and　with　all　her　aching　child's　heart　she　wondered　at　it。

For　the　second　time　that　evening　the　wolf　stood　up　on　the　hearth；　but　he　was　not　yet　on　his　feet　before　Dan　was　out　of　his　chair　and　standing　close　to　the　wall；　where　the　shadows　swallowed　him。　Lee　Haines　sat　with　his　lips　frozen　on　the　next　unspoken　word。　Two　shadows；　whose　feet　made　no　sound；　Black　Bart　and　Dan　glided　to　the　door　and　peered　into　the　nightthen　Barry　went　back；　step　by　step；　until　his　back　was　once　more　to　the　wall。　Not　until　that　instant　did　the　others　hear。　It　was　a　step　which　approached　behind　the　house；　a　loud　rap　at　the　back　door。

It　was　the　very　loudness　of　the　knock　which　made　Kate　draw　a　breath　of　relief；　if　it　had　been　a　stealthy　tap　she　would　have　screamed。　He　who　rapped　did　not　wait　for　an　answer；　they　heard　the　door　creak　open；　the　sound　of　a　heavy　man's　step。

〃It's　Vic；〃　said　Dan　quietly；　and　then　the　door　opened　which　led　into　the　kitchen　and　the　tall　form　of　Gregg　entered。　He　paused　there。

〃Here　I　am　again；　ma'am。〃

〃Good　evening；〃　she　answered　faintly。

He　cleared　his　throat；　embarrassed。

〃Darned　if　I　didn't　play　a　fool　game　todayhello；　Dan。〃

The　other　nodded。

〃Rode　in　a　plumb　circle　and　come　back　where　I　started。〃　He　laughed；　and　the　laughter　broke　off　a　little　shortly。　He　stepped　to　the　wall　and　hung　up　his　bridle　on　its　peg；　which　is　the　immemorial　manner　of　asking　hospitality　in　the　mountain…desert。　〃Hope　I　ain't　puttin'　you　out；　Kate。　I　see　you　got　company。〃

She　started；　recalled　from　her　thoughts。

〃Excuse　me；　Vic。　Vic　Gregg；　Buck　Daniels；　Lee　Haines。〃

They　shook　hands；　and　Vic　detained　Haines　a　moment。

〃Seems　to　me　I've　heard　of　you；　Haines。〃

〃Maybe。〃

Gregg　looked　at　the　big　man　narrowly；　and　then　swung　back　towards　Dan。　He　knew　many　things；　now。　Lee　Hainesyes；　that　was　the　name。　One　of　the　crew　who　followed　Jim　Silent；　and　Dan　Barry？　What　a　fool　he　had　been　not　to　remember！　It　was　Dan　Barry　who　had　gone　on　the　trail　of　Silent's　gang　and　hounded　it　to　death；　Lee　Haines　alone　had　been　spared。　Yes；　half　a　dozen　years　before　the　mountain…folk　had　heard　that　story；　a　wild　and　improbable　one。　It　fitted　in　with　what　Pete　Glass　had　told　him　of　the　shooting　of　Harry　Fisher；　it　explained　a　great　deal　which　had　mystified　him　since　he　first　met　Barry；　it　made　the　thing　he　had　come　to　do　at　once　easier　and　harder。

〃I　s'pose　Molly　showed　a　clean　pair　of　heels　to　the　whole　lot　of　'em？〃　he　said　to　Dan。

〃She's　dead。〃

〃Dead？〃　His　astonishment　was　well　enough　affected。　〃God　amighty；　Dan；　not　Grey　Mollymy　hoss？〃

〃Dead。　I　shot　her。〃

Vic　gasped。　〃You？〃

〃They'd　busted　her　leg。　I　put　her　out　of　pain。〃

Gregg　dropped　into　a　chair。　It　was　not　altogether　an　affectation；　not　altogether　a　piece　of　skilful　acting　now；　for　though　the　sheriff　had　told　him　all　that　happened　he　had　not　had　a　chance　to　feel　the　truth；　but　now　it　swept　over　him；　all　her　tricks；　all　her　deviltry；　all　that　long　companionship。　His　head　bowed。

No　smile　touched　the　faces　of　the　others　in　the　room；　but　a　reverent　silence　fell　on　the　room。　Then　that　figure　among　the　shadows　moved　out；　stepped　to　the　side　of　Vic；　and　a　light　hand　rested　on　his　shoulder。　The　other　looked　up；　haggard。

〃She's　gone；　partner；〃　Dan　said　gently；　〃but　she's　paid　for。〃

〃Paid　for？　Dan；　they　ain't　any　money　could　pay　me　back　for　Grey　Molly。〃

〃I　know；　I　know！　Not　that　way；　but　there　was　a　life　given　for　a　life。〃

〃Eh？〃

〃One　man　died　for　Molly。〃

As　the　meaning　came　home　to　Gregg　he　blinked；　and　then；　looking　up；　he　found　a　change　in　the　eyes　of　Barry；　f