the seventh man-第20部分

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grass。　One　could　grasp　the　cup　by　both　sides；　scorning　the　silly　handle；　and　if　occasionally　one　sipped　the　coffee　with　a　little　noisewhich　added　astonishingly　to　the　tastethere　was　no　sharp　warning；　no　frowning　eye　to　overlook。　Besides；　at　Munner's　table；　there　was　never　time　to　pay　attention　to　Joan；　for　there　was　talk　about　vague；　abstract　thingsthe　price　of　skins；　the　melting　of　the　snows；　the　condition　of　the　passes；　the　long　and　troubling　argument　about　the　wicker　chairs；　with　some　remarkably　foolish　asides；　now　and　then；　concerning　happiness　and　lovewhen　all　the　time　any　one　with　half　an　eye　could　see　that　the　thing　to　do　was　to　eat　and　eat　and　eat　until　that　hollow　place　ceased　to　be。　Talking　came　afterwards。

In　the　house　of　Daddy　Dan　all　these　things　were　ordered　as　they　should　be。　Not　a　word　was　said；　not　a　glance　of　criticism　rested　upon　her；　when　her　tin　plate　was　cleared　she　heard　no　reproofs　for　eating　too　greedily；　but　she　was　furnished　anew　from　the　store　of　good　things　on　the　rock。

In　place　of　conversation；　there　were　other　matters　to　occupy　the　mind　during　the　meal。　For　presently　she　observed　the　beautiful　head　of　Satan　just　behind　his　masterSatan；　who　could　pass　over　noisy　gravel　with　the　softness　of　a　cat；　and　now　loomed　out　of　the　deeper　night　down　the　cavern。　Inch　by　inch；　with　infinite　caution　and　keenly　pricked　ears；　the　head　lowered　beside　Dan；　and　the　quivering；　delicate　muzzle　stole　towards　a　fragment　of　the　〃pone。〃　Joan　watched　breathlessly　and　then　she　saw　that　in　spite　of　the　caution　of　that　movement　her　father　knew　all　about　itjust　a　glint　of　amusement　in　the　corner　of　his　eyes；　just　a　slight　twitch　at　the　corners　of　his　mouth　to　tell　Joan　that　he　was　as　delighted　as　a　boy　playing　a　trick。　Barely　in　time　to　save　the　morsel　of　pone；　he　spoke　and　the　head　was　dashed　up。　Yet　Satan　was　not　entirely　discouraged。　If　he　could　not　steal　the　bread　he　would　beg　for　it。　It　made　Joan　pause　in　her　destruction　of　the　edibles；　not　to　watch　openly；　for　an　instinct　told　her　that　the　thing　to　do　was　to　note　these　by…plays　from　the　corner　of　one's　eye；　as　Daddy　Dan　did；　and　swallow　the　ripples　of　mirth　that　came　tickling　in　the　throat。　She　knew　perfectly　well　that　Satan　would　have　it　in　the　end；　for　of　all　living　things　not　even　Munner　had　such　power　over　Dan　as　the　black　stallion。　He　maneuvered　adroitly。　First　he　circled　the　table　and　stood　opposite　the　master；　begging　with　his　eyes；　but　Dan　looked　fixedly　down　at　the　rock　until　an　impatient　whinny　called　up　his　eyes。　Then　he　pretended　the　most　absolute　surprise。

〃Why；　Satan；　you　old　scoundrel；　what　are　you　doin'　over　there？　Get　back　where　you　belong？〃

He　gestured　with　a　thumb　over　his　shoulder　and　Satan　glided　around　the　rock　and　stood　once　more　behind　Dan。

〃Manners？〃　continued　Dan。　〃You　ain't　got　'em。　You'll　be　tryin'　to　sit　down　at　the　table　with　me；　pretty　soon。〃　He　concluded：　〃But　I'll　teach　you　one　of　these　days；　and　you'll　smart　for　a　week。〃

Even　at　the　mock　menace　Joan　trembled　a　little；　but　to　her　astonishment　Satan　paid　not　the　slightest　heed。　Dan　sat　with　his　hat　on　his　headwhich　was　a　new　and　delightful　event　at　the　tableand　now　the　stallion　took　the　hat　by　the　crown；　dexterously；　and　raised　it　just　an　inch　and　put　it　back　in　place。　Black　Bart；　having　crept　out　of　the　shadows　sat　down　near　Joan　with　his　long　red　tongue　lolling　out。　This　procedure　called　a　growl　from　him；　but　the　master　continued　eating　without　the　slightest　interest；　apparently；　in　Satan's　insolence。

A　velvety　muzzle　appeared；　with　the　chin　resting　on　the　shoulder　of　Dan　and　the　great；　luminous　eyes　above。　He　whinnied　so　softly　that　it　was　not　more　than　a　human　whisper；　and　meant　almost　as　much。

〃Oh；〃　said　Dan；　in　all　seeming　just　roused　to　attention；　〃hungry；　old　boy？〃

He　raised　the　morsel　of　〃pone〃　between　thumb　and　forefinger；　holding　it　tightly。　Then　it　was　a　joy　to　watch　Satan。　He　tried　to　tug　it　all　away　at　once；　but　only　a　fragment　broke　off。　He　stamped　in　impatience；　and　then　went　to　work　to　nibble　the　bread　away　on　all　sides　of　Dan's　fingers；　very　fine　work　for　such　broad；　keen　chisels　as　Satan's　teeth；　but　he　went　about　it　with　the　skill　of　long　practice；　turning　his　head　this　way　and　that　and　always　watching　the　face　of　the　master　with　sidewise　eyes；　one　ear　forward　and　one　ear　back。　Finally　the　tight　fingers　opened　out；　and　Satan　gathered　the　last　crumbs　from　the　smooth　palm。

Two　or　three　times　during　this　performance　Black　Bart　had　half　risen　from　his　haunches　and　a　growl　swelled　almost　inaudibly　in　his　throat；　but　now　he　stalked　around　the　table　and　pushed　his　narrow　head　between　Dan's　shoulder　and　the　stallion。　A　snarl　of　incredible　ferocity　made　Satan　turn；　but　without　the　slightest　dread；　apparently。　For　an　instant　the　two　stood　nose　to　nose；　Black　Bart　a　picture　of　snarling　danger　and　Satan　with　curiously　pricking　ears　and　bright　eyes。　The　growling　rose　towards　a　crescendo；　a　terrible　sound；　then　a　lean　hand　shot　out　with　that　speed　which　Joan　could　never　comprehendand　which　always　made　her　think；　rather　breathlessly；　of　the　strike　of　a　snake。　The　fingers　settled　around　the　muzzle　of　Bart。

〃Of　all　the　no…good　houn'…dogs；〃　declared　Dan；　〃you're　the　worst；　and　the　most　jealousest。　Lie　down！〃

Bart　obeyed；　slowly；　but　his　evil　eyes　were　fixed　upwards　upon　the　head　of　Satan。

〃If　you　got　any　manners；〃　remarked　Dan；　〃you'll　be　sayin'　that　you're　sorry。〃

The　ears　flattened　along　the　snaky　head；　otherwise　no　answer。

〃Sorry！〃　repeated　the　master。

Out　of　the　deep　throat　of　Black　Bart；　infinitely；　ludicrously　small；　came　a　whine　which　was　more　doglike　than　anything　Joan　had　ever　heard；　before；　from　the　wolf。

〃Now；〃　continued　the　implacable　master；　〃you　go　over　in　that　corner；　and　lie　down。〃

Black　Bart　arose　with　a　finally　ugly　look　for　Satan　and　sneaked　with　hanging　head　and　tail　to　the　outer　edge　of　the　circle　of　light。

〃Farther！　Clear　over　there　in　the　dark；〃　came　the　order；　and　Bart　had　to　uncoil　himself　again　in　the　very　act　of　lying　down　and　retreat　with　another　ominous　growl　clear　into　the　darkness。　Satan　held　his　head　high　and　watched　triumphantly。

But　Joan　felt　that　this　was　a　little　hard　on　Bart；　she　wanted　to　run　over　and　comfort　him；　but　she　knew　from　of　old　that　it　was　dangerous　to　interfere　where　Daddy　Dan　was　disciplining　either　horse　or　wolf；　besides；　she　was　not　quite　free　from　her　new　awe　for　Bart。

〃All　right；〃　said　the　master　presently；　and　without　raising　his　voice。

It　brought　a　dark　thunder　bolt　rushing　into　the　circle　of　the　light　and　stopping　at　Dan's　side　with　such　suddenness　that　his　paws　slid　in　the　gravel。　There　he　stood；　actually　wagging　his　bushy　tailan　unprecedented　outburst　of　joy　for　Bart！and　staring　hungrily　into　the　face　of　Dan。　She　saw　a　wonderful　softening　in　the　eyes　of　her　father　as　he　looked　at　the　great；　dangerous　beast。

〃You　ain't　a　bad　sort；〃　he　said；　〃but　you　need　puttin'　in　place　continual。〃

Black　Bart　whined　agreement。

After　that；　when　the　dishes　were　being　cleared　away　and　cleaned　with　a　speed　fully　as　marvelous　as　the　preparation　of　the　supper；　Joan　remembered　with　a　guilty　start　the　message　which　she　should　have　given　to　Daddy　Dan；　and　she　brought　out　the　paper；　much　rumpled。

He　stood　by　the　fire　to　read　the　letter。

〃Dan　come　back　to　us。　The　house　is　empty　and　there's　no　sign　of　you　except　your　clothes　and　the　skins　you　left　drying　in　the　vacant　room。　Joan　sits　all　day；　mourning　for　you；　and　my　heart　is　breaking。　Oh；　Dan；　I　don't　grieve　so　much　for　what　has　been　done；　but　I　tremble　for　what　you　may　do　in　the　future。〃

With　the　letter　still　in　his　hand　Dan　walked　thoughtfully　to　Satan　and　took　the　fine　head　between　his　fingers。

〃S'pose　some　gent　was　to　drop　you；　Satan；〃　he　murmured。　〃S'pose　he　was　to　plug　you　while　you　was　doin'　your　best　to　take　me　where　I　want　to　go。　S'pose　he　shot　you　not　for　anything　you'd　done　but　because　of　something　agin　me。　And　s'pose　after　killin'　you　he　was　to　sneak　up　on　me　with　a　lot　of　other　gents　and　try　to　murder　me　before　I　had　a　chance　to　fight　back。　Satan；　wouldn't　I　be　right　to　trail　'em　alland　kill　'em　one　by　one？　Wouldn't　it？〃

Joan　heard　very　little　of　the　wordsonly　a　soft　murmur　of　anxiety；　and　she　saw　that　Daddy　Dan　was　very　thoughtful　indeed。　The　stallion　reached　for　the　brim　of　Dan's　hatit　was　withdrawn　from　his　reachhis　head　bowed；　like　a　nod　of　assent。

〃Why；　even　Satan　can　see　I'm　right；〃　murmured　Dan；　and　moving　back　to　the　fire；　he　tore　the　letter　into　many　pieces　which　fluttered　down　in　a　white　stream　and　made　the　blaze　leap　up。



Chapter　XXI。　The　Acid　Test

Mrs。　Johnny　Sommers　managed　to　preserve　her　dignity　while　she　escorted　the　visitor　into　the　front　room；　and　even　while　she　asked　him　to　sit　down　and　wait；　but　once　she　had　closed　the　door　behind　her　she　cast　dignity　far　away　and　did　two　steps　at　a　time　going　upstairs。　The　result　was　that　she；　reached　the　room　of　Betty　Neal　entirely　out　of　breath；　two　hundred　pounds　of　fat；　good…natured　widowhood　do　not　go　with　speed。　She　tossed　open　the　door　without　any　preliminary　knock　and　stood　there　very　red　with　a　clearly　defined　circle　of　white　in　the　center　of　each　check。　For　a　moment　there　was　no　sound　except　her　panting　and　Betty　Neal　stared　wildly　at　her　from　above　her　book。

〃He's　come！〃　gasped　Mrs。　Sommers。

〃Who？〃

〃Him！〃

As　if　this　odd　explanation　made　everything　clear；　Betty　Neal　sprang　from　her　chair　and　she　grew　so　pale　that　every　freckle　stood　out。

〃Him！〃　she　echoed　ungrammatically。

Then：　〃Where　is　he？　Let　me　downstairs。〃

But　the　widow　closed　the　door　swiftly　behind　her　and　leaned　her　comfortable　bulk　against　it。

〃You　ain't　goin'；〃　she　asserted。　〃You　ain't　goin'；　leastways　not　till　you　got　time　to　think　it　over。〃

〃I　haven't　time　to　think。　Ihe〃

〃That　was　the　way　with　me；〃　nodded　Mrs。　Sommers；　and　her　eyes　were　tragic。　〃I　went　ahead　and　married　Johnny　in　spite　of　everything；　and　look　at　me　nowa　widder！　No；　I　ain't　sorry　for　myself　because　I　was　a　fool。〃

〃Mrs。　Sommers；〃　said　Betty；　〃will　you　please　step　out　of　my　way？〃

〃Honey；　for　heaven's　sake　think　a　minute　before　you　go　down　and　face　that　man。　He's　dangerous。　When　I　opened　the　door　and　seen　him；　I　tell　you　the　shivers　went　up　my　back。〃

〃Is　he　thin？　Is　he　pale？〃　cried