the seventh man-第18部分

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e　compared　to　Kate。〃

Lee　Haines　gaped　at　him；　too　astonished　to　be　angry。　He　suggested　softening　of　the　brain　to　Buck；　but　the　latter　waved　aside　the　implications。

〃Now；　supposin'　Kate　was　one　of　these　dark　girls　with　eyes　like　black　diamonds　and　a　lot　of　snap　and　zip　to　her。　If　she　was　like　that　I　s'pose　you'd　figure　her　to　forget　all　about　Dan　inside　of　a　monthand　maybe　marry　you？〃

〃You　be　damned！〃

〃Maybe　I　am。　Them　hard；　snappy　lookin'　girls　are　the　ones　that　smash。　They're　brittle；　that's　why；　but　you　take　a　soft　lookin'　girl　like　Kate；　maybe　she　ain't　a　diamond　point　to　cut　glass；　but　she's　tempered　steel　that'll　bend；　and　bend；　and　bend；　and　then　when　you　wait　for　it　to　break　it　flips　up　and　knocks　you　down。　That's　Kate。〃

Lee　Haines　rolled　a　cigarette　in　silence。　He　was　too　disgusted　to　answer；　until　his　first　puff　of　smoke　dissolved　Buck　in　a　cloud　of　thin　blue。

〃You　ought　to　sing　to　a　congregation　instead　of　to　cows；　Buck。　You　have　the　tune；　and　you　might　get　by　in　a　church；　but　cows　have　sense。〃

〃Kate　will　buckle　and　bend　and　fade　for　a　while；〃　went　on　Buck；　wholly　unperturbed；　〃but　just　when　you　go　out　to　pick　daisies　for　her　you'll　come　back　and　find　her　singing　to　the　stove。　Her　strength　is　down　deep；　like　some　of　these　outlaw　hosses　that　got　a　filmy；　sleepy　lookin'　eye。　They　save　their　hell　till　you　sink　the　spurs　in　'em。　You　think　she　loves　Dan；　don't　you？〃

〃I　have　a　faint　suspicion　of　it；〃　sneered　Haines。　〃I　suppose　I'm　wrong？〃

〃You　are。〃

〃Buck；　I　may　have　slipped　a　nickel　into　you；　but　you're　playing　the　wrong　tune。　Knock　off　and　talk　sense；　will　you？〃

〃When　you　grow　up；　son；　you'll　understand　some　of　the　things　I'm　tryin'　to　explain　in　words　of　one　syllable。

〃She　don't　love　Dan。　She　thinks　she　does；　but　down　deep　they　ain't　a　damned　thing　in　the　world　she　gives　a　rap　about　exceptin'　Joan。　Men？　What　are　they　to　her？　Marriage？　That's　simply　an　accident　that's　needed　so　she　can　have　a　baby。　Delicate；　shrinkin'　flower；　is　she？　I　tell　you；　my　boy；　if　it　was　necessary　for　Joan　she'd　tear　out　your　heart　and　mine　and　send　Dan　plumb　to　hell。　You　fasten　on　to　them　words；　because　they're　gospel。〃

It　was　late　afternoon　while　they　talked；　and　they　were　swinging　slowly　down　a　gulch　towards　the　home　cabin。　At　that　very　time　Kate；　from　the　door　of　the　house　where　she　sat；　saw　a　dark　form　slink　from　rock　to　rock　at　the　rim　of　the　little　plateau；　a　motion　so　swift　that　it　flicked　through　the　corner　of　her　eye；　a　thing　to　be　sensed　rather　than　seen。　She　set　up　very　stiff；　her　lips　white　as　chalk；　but　nothing　more　stirred。　A　few　minutes　later；　when　her　heart　was　beating　almost　at　normal　she　heard　Joan　scream　from　behind　the　house；　not　in　terror；　or　pain；　as　her　keen　mother…ear　knew　perfectly　well；　but　with　a　wild　delight。　She　whipped　about　the　corner　of　the　house　and　there　she　saw　Joan　with　her　pudgy　arms　around　the　neck　of　Black　Bart。

〃Bart！　Dear　old　Bart！　Has　he　come？　Has　he　come？〃

And　she　strained　her　eyes　against　the　familiar　mountains　around　her　as　if　she　would　force　her　vision　through　rock。　There　was　no　trace　of　Dan；　no　sign　or　sound　when　she　would　even　have　welcomed　the　eerie　whistle。　The　wolf…dog　was　already　at　play　with　Joan。　She　was　on　his　back　and　he　darted　off　in　an　effortless　gallop；　winding　to　and　fro　among　the　rocks。　Most　children　would　have　toppled　among　the　stones　at　the　first　of　his　swerves；　but　Joan　clung　like　a　burr；　both　hands　dug　into　his　hair；　shrieking　with　excitement。　Sometimes　she　reeled　and　almost　slid　at　one　of　those　lightning　turns；　for　the　game　was　to　almost　unseat　her；　but　just　as　she　was　sliding　off　Bart　would　slacken　his　pace　and　let　her　find　a　firm　seat　once　more。　They　wound　farther　and　farther　away；　and　suddenly　Kate　cried；　terror…stricken：　〃Joan！　Come　back！〃

A　tug　at　the　ear　of　the　wolf…dog　swung　them　around；　then　as　they　approached；　the　fear　left　the　mind　of　the　mother　and　a　new　thought　came　in　its　place。　She　coaxed　Joan　from　Bartthey　could　play　later　on；　she　promised；　to　their　heart's　desireand　led　her　into　the　house。　Black　Bart　followed　to　the　door；　but　not　all　their　entreaty　or　scolding　could　make　him　cross　the　threshold。　He　merely　snarled　at　Kate；　and　even　Joan's　tugging　at　his　ears　could　not　budge　him。　He　stood　canting　his　head　and　watching　them　wistfully　while　Kate　changed　Joan's　clothes。

She　dressed　her　as　if　for　a　festival；　with　a　blue　bonnet　that　let　the　yellow　hair　curl　out　from　the　edges；　and　a　little　blue　cloak；　and　shiny　boots　incredibly　small；　and　around　the　bonnet　she　laid　a　wreath　of　yellow　wild　flowers。　Then　she　wrote　her　letter；　closed　it　in　an　envelope；　and　fastened　it　securely　in　the　pocket　of　the　cloak。

She　drew　Joan　in　front　of　her　and　held　her　by　both　hands。

〃Joan；　darling；〃　she　said；　〃munner　wants　you　to　go　with　Bart　up　through　the　mountains。　Will　you　be　afraid？〃

A　very　decided　shake　of　the　head　answered　her；　for　Joan's　eyes　were　already　over　her　shoulder　looking　towards　the　big　dog。　And　she　was　a　little　sullen　at　these　unnecessary　words。

〃It　might　grow　dark；〃　she　said。　〃You　wouldn't　care？〃

Here　Joan　became　a　little　dubious；　but　a　whine　from　Bart　seemed　to　reassure　her。

〃Bart　will　keep　Joan；〃　she　said。

〃He　will。　And　he'll　take　you　up　through　the　rocks　to　Daddy　Dan。〃

The　face　of　the　child　grew　brilliant。

〃Daddy　Dan？〃　she　whispered。

〃And　when　you　get　to　him；　take　this　little　paper　out　of　your　pocket　and　give　it　to　him。　You　won't　forget？〃

〃Give　the　paper　to　Daddy　Dan；〃　repeated　Joan　solemnly。

Kate　dropped　to　her　knees　and　gathered　the　little　close；　close；　until　Joan　cried　out；　but　when　she　was　eased　the　child　reached　up　an　astonished　hand；　touched　the　face　of　Kate　with　awe；　and　then　stared　at　her　finger　tips。

A　moment　later；　Joan　stood　in　front　of　Black　Bart；　with　the　head　of　the　wolf…dog　seized　firmly　between　her　hands　while　she　frowned　intently　into　his　face。

〃Take　Joan　to　Daddy　Dan；〃　she　ordered。

At　the　name；　the　sharp　ears　pricked；　a　speaking　intelligence　grew　up　in　his　eyes。

〃Giddap；〃　commanded　Joan；　when　she　was　in　position　on　the　back　of　Bart。　And　she　thumped　her　heels　against　the　furry　ribs。

Towards　Kate；　who　stood　trembling　in　the　door；　Bart　cast　the　departing　favor　of　a　throat…tearing　growl；　and　then　shambled　across　the　meadow　with　that　smooth　trot　which　wears　down　all　other　four…footed　creatures。　He　was　already　on　the　far　side　of　the　meadow；　and　beginning　the　ascent　of　the　first　slope　when　the　glint　of　the　sun　on　the　yellow　wild　flowers　flashed　on　the　eye　of　Kate。　It　had　all　seemed　natural　until　that　moment；　the　only　possible　thing　to　do；　but　now　she　felt　suddenly　that　Joan　was　thrown　away　thought　of　the　darkness　which　would　soon　comeremembered　the　yellow　terror　which　sometimes　gleamed　in　the　eyes　of　Black　Bart　after　nightfall。

She　cried　out；　but　the　wolf…dog　kept　swiftly　on　his　way。　She　began　to　run；　still　calling；　but　rapidly　as　she　went；　Black　Bart　slid　steadily　away　from　her；　and　when　she　reached　the　shoulder　of　the　mountain；　she　saw　the　dark　form　of　Bart　with　the　blue　patch　above　it　drifting　up　the　wall　of　the　opposite　ravine。

She　knew　where　they　were　going　now；　it　was　the　old　cave　upon　which　she　and　Dan　had　come　one　day　in　their　rides；　and　Dan　had　prowled　for　a　long　time　through　the　shadowy　recesses。



Chapter　XIX。　The　Venture

From　the　moment　Joan　gave　the　name　of　Daddy　Dan；　the　wolf…dog　kept　to　the　trail　with　arrowy　straightness。　Whatever　the　limitations　of　Bart's　rather　uncanny　intelligence；　upon　one　point　he　was　usually　letter…perfect；　and　even　when　a　stranger　mentioned　Dan　in　the　hearing　of　the　dog　it　usually　brought　a　whine　or　at　least　an　anxious　look。　He　hewed　to　his　line　now　with　that　animal　sense　of　direction　which　men　can　never　wholly　understand。　Boulders　and　trees　slipped　away　on　either　side　of　Joan；　now　on　a　descent　of　the　mountain…side　he　broke　into　a　lope　that　set　the　flowers　fluttering　on　her　bonnet；　now　he　prowled　up　the　ravine　beyond；　utterly　tireless。

He　was　strictly　business。　When　she　slipped　a　little　from　her　place　as　he　veered　around　a　rock　he　did　not　slow　up；　as　usual；　that　she　might　regain　her　seat；　but　switched　his　head　back　with　a　growl　that　warned　her　into　position。　That　surprise　was　hardly　out　of　her　mind　when　she　saw　a　gay　patch　of　wild…flowers　a　little　from　the　line　of　his　direction；　and　she　tugged　at　his　ear　to　swing　him　towards　it。　A　sharp　jerk　of　his　head　tossed　her　hand　aside；　and　again　she　caught　the　glint　of　wild　eyes　as　he　looked　back　at　her。　Then　she　grew　grave；　puzzled。　She　trusted　Black　Bart　with　all　her　heart；　as　only　a　child　can　trust　dumb　animals；　but　now　she　sensed　a　change　in　him。　She　had　guessed　at　a　difference　on　that　night　when　Dan　came　home　for　the　last　time；　and　the　same　thing　seemed　to　be　in　the　dog　today。

Before　she　could　make　up　her　mind　as　to　what　it　might　be；　Black　Bart　swung　aside　up　a　steep　slope；　and　whisked　her　into　the　gloom　of　a　cave。　Into　the　very　heart　of　the　darkness　he　glided　and　stopped。

〃Daddy　Dan！〃　she　called。

A　faint　echo；　after　a　moment；　came　back　to　her　from　the　depths　of　the　cave；　making　her　voice　strangely　deep。　Otherwise；　there　was　no　answer。

〃Bart！〃　she　whispered；　suddenly　frightened　by　the　last　murmur　of　that　echo；　〃Daddy　Dan's　not　here。　Go　back！〃

She　tugged　at　his　ear　to　turn　him；　but　again　that　jerk　of　the　head　freed　his　ear。　He　caught　her　by　the　cloak；　crouched　close　to　the　floor；　and　she　found　herself　all　at　once　sitting　on　the　gravelly　floor　of　the　cave　with　Bart　facing　her。

〃Bad　Bart！〃　she　said；　scrambling　to　her　feet。

〃Naughty　dog！〃

She　was　still　afraid　to　raise　her　voice　in　that　awful　silence；　and　in　the　dark。　When　she　glanced　around　her；　she　made　out　vague　forms　through　the　dimness　that　might　be　the　uneven　walls　of　the　cave；　or　might　be　strange　and　awful　forms　of　night。

〃Take　me　home！〃

A　growl　that　went　shuddering　down　the　cave　stopped　her；　and　now　she　saw　that　the　eyes　of　Bart　glowed　green　and　yellow。　Even　then　she　could　not　believe　that　he　would　harm　her；　and　stretched　out　a　tentative　hand。　This　time　she　made　out　the　flash　of　his　teeth　as　he　snarled。　He　was　no　longer　the　Bart　she　had　played　with　around　the　cabin；　but　a　strange　wild　thing；　and　with　a　scream　she　darted　past　him　toward　the　door。　Never　had　those　chubby　legs　flown　so　fast；　but　eve