the seventh man-第17部分

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The　sheriff　sighed；　softly；　deeply。

〃I　thought　maybe　they　wouldn't　get　down　to　talk；〃　he　murmured。　But　since　the　last　chance　for　a　battle　was　gone；　he　stepped　fearlessly　from　behind　his　rock　and　advanced　into　the　open。　Two　tall　figures　came　to　meet　him。

〃Now；〃　said　Lee　Haines；　stalking　forward。　〃One　bad　move；　just　the　glint　of　a　single　gun　from　the　rest　of　you　sheep　thieves；　and　I'll　tame　your　pet　sheriff　and　send　him　to　hell　for　a　model。〃

They　halted；　close　to　each　other；　the　two　big　men；　Haines　in　the　front；　and　the　sheriff。

〃You're　Lee　Haines？〃

〃You've　named　me。〃

〃And　you're　Buck　Daniels？〃

〃That's　me。〃

〃Gents；　you've　resisted　an　officer　of　the　law　in　the　act　of　makin'　an　arrest。　I　s'pose　you　know　what　that　means？〃

Big　Lee　Haines　laughed。

〃Don't　start　a　bluff；　sheriff。　I　know　a　bit　about　the　law。〃

〃Maybe　by　experience？〃

It　was　an　odd　thing　to　watch　the　three；　every　one　of　them　a　practiced　fighter；　every　one　of　them　primed　for　trouble；　but　each　ostentatiously　keeping　his　hands　away　from　the　holsters。

〃What　we　might　have　done　if　we　had　come　to　a　pinch；〃　said　Haines；　〃is　one　thing；　and　what　we　did　do　is　another。　Barry　was　started　and　off　before　we　had　a　chance　to　show　teeth；　my　friend；　and　you　never　even　caught　the　flash　of　our　guns。　If　he'd　waited　but　he　didn't。　There's　nothing　left　for　us　to　do　except　say　good…by。〃

The　little　dusty　man　stroked　his　moustaches　thoughtfully。　He　had　gone　out　there　hoping　against　hope　that　his　chance　might　cometo　trick　the　two　into　violence；　even　to　start　an　arrest　for　reasons　which　he　knew　his　posse　would　swear　to；　but　it　must　be　borne　in　mind　that　Pete　Glass　was　a　careful　man　by　instinct。　Taking　in　probable　speed　of　hand　and　a　thousand　other　details　at　a　glance；　Pete　sensed　the　danger　of　these　two　and　felt　in　his　heart　of　hearts　that　he　was　more　than　master　of　either　of　them；　considered　alone；　better　than　Buck　Daniels　by　an　almost　safe　margin　of　steadiness；　better　than　Lee　Haines　by　a　flickering　instant　of　speed。　Had　either　of　them　alone　faced　him；　he　would　have　taken　his　chance；　perhaps；　to　kill　or　be　killed；　for　the　long　trail　and　the　escape　had　fanned　that　spark　within　him　to　a　cold；　hungry　fire；　but　to　attempt　a　play　with　both　at　the　same　time　was　death；　and　he　knew　it。　Seeing　that　the　game　was　up；　he　laid　his　cards　on　the　table　with　characteristic　frankness。

〃Gents；〃　he　said；　〃I　reckon　you've　come　clean　with　me。　You　ain't　my　meat　and　I　ain't　goin'　to　clutter　up　your　way。　Besides〃even　in　the　dull　moonshine　they　caught　the　humorous　glint　of　his　eyes〃a　friend　is　a　friend；　and　I'll　say　I'm　glad　that　you　didn't　step　into　the　shady　side　of　the　law　while　Barry　was　gettin'　away。〃

No　one　could　know　what　it　cost　Pete　Glass　to　be　genial　at　that　instant；　for　this　night　he　felt　that　he　had　just　missed　the　great　moment　which　he　had　yearned　for　since　the　day　when　he　learned　to　love　the　kick　of　a　six…shooter　against　the　heel　of　his　hand。　It　was　the　desire　to　meet　face　to　face　one　whose　metal　of　will　and　mind　was　equal　to　his　own；　whose　nerves　were　electric　energies　perfectly　under　command；　whose　muscles　were　fine　spun　steel。　He　had　gone　half　a　lifetime　on　the　trail　of　fighters　and　always　he　had　known　that　when　the　crisis　came　his　hand　would　be　the　swifter；　his　eyes　the　more　steady；　the　trailing　was　a　delight　always；　but　the　actual　kill　was　a　matter　of　slaughter　rather　than　a　game　of　hazard。　Only　the　rider　of　the　black　stallion　had　given　him　the　sense　of　equal　power；　and　his　whole　soul　had　risen　for　the　great　chance　of　All。　That　chance　was　gone；　he　pushed　the　thought　of　it　awayfor　the　timeand　turned　back　to　the　business　at　hand。

〃They's　only　one　thing；〃　he　went　on。　〃Sliver！　Ronicky！　Step　along；　gents；　and　we'll　have　a　look　at　the　insides　of　that　house。〃

〃Steady！〃　broke　in　Haines。　He　barred　the　path　to　the　front　door。　〃Sheriff；　you　don't　know　me；　but　I'm　going　to　ask　you　to　take　my　word　for　what's　in　that　house。〃

Glass　swept　him　with　a　look　of　a　new　nature。

〃I　got　an　idea　your　word　might　do。　Well；　what's　in　the　house？〃

〃A　little　five…year…old　girl　and　her　mother；　nothing　else　worth　seeing。〃

〃Nothing　else；〃　considered　the　sheriff；　〃but　that's　quite　a　lot。　Maybe　his　wife　could　tell　me　where　he's　going？　Give　me　an　idea　where　I　might　call　on　him？〃

〃Partner；　you　can't　see　her。〃

〃Can't？〃

〃No；　by　God！〃

〃H…m…m！〃　murmured　the　sheriff。　He　watched　the　big　man　plant　himself；　swaying　a　little　on　his　feet　as　though　poising　for　action；　and　beside　him　a　slightly　smaller　figure　not　less　determined。

〃That　girl　in　there　is　old　man　Cumberlan's　daughter；〃　said　Daniels；　〃and　no　matter　what　herwhat　Dan　Barry　may　be；　Kate　Cumberland　is　white　folks。〃

The　sheriff　remembered　what　Vic　had　said　of　yellow　hair　and　soft　blue　eyes。

〃Leastways；〃　he　said；　〃she　seems　to　have　a　sort　of　way　with　the　men。〃

〃Sheriff　you're　on　a　cold　trail；〃　said　Haines。　〃Inside　that　house　is　just　a　heart…broken　girl　and　her　baby。　If　you　want　to　see　themgo　ahead！〃

〃She　might　know　something；〃　mused　the　sheriff；　〃and　I　s'pose　I'd　ought　to　pry　it　out　of　her　right　now：　but　I　don't　care　for　that　sort　of　pickin's。〃　He　repeated　softly：　〃A　girl　and　a　baby！〃　and　turned　on　his　heel。　〃All　right；　boys；　climb　your　hosses。　Two　of　you　take　Mat。　We'll　bury　him　where　we　put　Harry。　I　guess　we　can　pack　him　that　far。〃

〃How's　that？〃　This　from　Haines。　〃One　of　your　gang　dropped？〃

〃He　is。〃

They　followed　him　and　stood　presently　beside　the　body。　Aside　from　the　red　mark　in　the　forehead　he　seemed　asleep；　and　smiling　at　some　pleasant　dream；　a　handsome　fellow　in　the　strength　of　first　manhood；　this　man　who　was　the　second　to　die　for　Grey　Molly。

〃It's　the　end　of　Dan　Barry；〃　said　Buck。　〃Lee；　we'll　never　have　Whistlin'　Dan　for　a　friend　again。　He's　wild　for　good。〃

The　sheriff　turned　and　eyed　him　closely。

〃He's　got　to　come　back；〃　said　Haines。　〃He's　got　to　come　back　for　the　sake　of　Kate。〃

〃He'd　better　be　dead　for　the　sake　of　Kate；〃　answered　Buck。

〃Why；　partner；　this　isn't　the　first　time　he's　gone　wild。〃

〃Don't　you　see；　Lee？〃

〃Well？〃

〃He's　fighting　to　kill。　He's　shooting　to　kill；　and　he　ain't　ever　done　that　before。　He　crippled　his　men；　he　put　'em　out　of　the　way　with　a　busted　leg　or　a　plugged　shoulder；　but　now　he's　out　to　finish　'em。　Lee；　he'll　never　come　back。〃

He　looked　to　the　white　face　of　Vic　Gregg；　standing　by；　and　he　said　without　anger；　〃Maybe　it　ain't　your　fault；　but　you've　started　a　pile　of　harm。　Look　at　these　gents　around　you；　the　sheriff　and　allthey're　no　better'n　dead；　Gregg；　and　that's　all　along　of　you。　Barry　has　started　on　the　trail　of　all　of　you。　Look　at　that　house　back　there。　It's　packed　full　of　hell；　and　all　along　of　you。　Lee；　let's　get　back。　I'm　feelin'　sick　inside。〃



Chapter　XVIII。　Concerning　The　Strength　Of　Women

There　were　three　things　discussed　by　Lee　Haines　and　Buck　Daniels　in　the　dreary　days　which　followed。　The　first　was　to　keep　on　their　way　across　the　mountains　and　cut　themselves　away　from　the　sorrow　of　that　cabin。　The　second　was　to　strike　the　trail　of　Barry　and　hunt　until　they　found　his　refuge　and　attempt　to　lead　him　back　to　his　family。　The　third　was　simply　to　stay　on　and　where　they　found　the　opportunity；　help　Kate。　They　discarded　the　first　idea　without　much　talk；　it　would　be　yellow；　they　decided；　and　the　debt　they　owed　to　the　Dan　Barry　of　the　old　days　was　too　great　to　be　shouldered　off　so　easily：　they　cast　away　the　second　thought　still　more　quickly；　for　the　trail　which　baffled　the　shrewd　sheriff；　as　they　knew；　would　be　too　much　for　them。　It　remained　to　stay　with　Kate；　making　excursions　through　the　mountains　from　day　to　day　to　maintain　the　pretence　of　carrying　on　their　own　business；　and　always　at　hand　in　time　of　need。

It　was　no　easy　part　to　play；　for　in　the　house　they　found　Kate　more　and　more　silent；　more　and　more　thoughtful；　never　speaking　of　her　trouble；　but　behind　her　eyes　a　ghost　of　waiting　that　haunted　them。　If　the　wind　shrilled　down　the　pass；　if　a　horse　neighed　from　the　corral；　there　was　always　the　start　in　her；　the　thrill　of　hope；　and　afterwards　the　pitiful　deadening　of　her　smile。　She　was　not　less　beautiful　they　thought；　as　she　grew　paler；　but　the　terrible　silence　of　the　place　drove　them　away　time　and　again。　Even　Joan　no　longer　pattered　about　the　house；　and　when　they　came　down　out　of　the　mountains　they　never　heard　her　shrill　laughter。　She　sat　cross…legged　by　the　hearth　in　her　old　place　during　the　evenings　with　her　chin　resting　on　one　hand　and　her　eyes　fixed　wistfully　upon　the　fire；　and　sometimes　they　found　her　on　the　little　hillock　behind　the　house；　from　the　top　of　which　she　could　view　every　approach　to　the　cabin。　Of　Dan　and　even　of　Black　Bart；　her　playmate　she　soon　learned　not　to　speak；　for　the　mention　of　them　made　her　mother　shrink　and　whiten。　Indeed；　the　saddest　thing　in　that　house　was　the　quiet　in　which　the　child　waited；　waited；　waited；　and　never　spoke。

〃She　ain't　more'n　a　baby；〃　said　Buck　Daniels；　〃and　you　can　leave　it　to　time　to　make　her　forget。〃

〃But；〃　growled　Lee　Haines；　〃Kate　isn't　a　baby。　Buck；　it　drives　me　damn　near　crazy　to　see　her　fade　this　way。〃

〃Now　you　lay　to　this；〃　answered　Buck。　〃She'll　pull　through。　She'll　never　forget；　maybe；　but　she'll　go　on　livin'　for　the　sake　of　the　kid。〃

〃You　know　a　hell　of　a　lot　about　women；　don't　you？〃　said　Haines。

〃I　know　enough；　son；〃　nodded　Buck。

He　had；　in　fact；　reduced　women　to　a　few　distinct　categories；　and　he　only　waited　to　place　a　girl　in　her　particular　class　before　he　felt　quite　intimate　acquaintance　with　her　entire　mind　and　soul。

〃It'll　kill　her；〃　pronounced　Lee　Haines。　〃Why；　she's　like　a　flower；　Buck；　and　sorrow　will　cut　her　off　at　the　root。　Think　of　a　girl　like　that　thrown　away　in　these　damned　deserts！　It　makes　me　sicksick！　She　ought　to　have　nothing　but　velvet　to　touchnothing　but　a　millionaire　for　a　husband；　and　never　a　worry　in　her　life。〃　He　grew　excited。　〃But　here's　the　flower　thrown　away　and　the　heel　crushing　it　without　mercy。〃

Buck　Daniels　regarded　him　with　pity。

〃I　feel　kind　of　sorry　for　you；　Lee；　when　I　hear　you　talk　about　girls。　No　wonder　they　make　a　fool　of　you。　A　flower　crushed　under　the　foot；　eh？　You　just　listen　to　me；　my　boy。　You　and　me　figure　to　be　pretty　hard；　don't　we？　Well；　soft　pine　stacked　up　agin'　quartzite；　is　what　we　are　compared　to　Kate。〃

Lee