the seventh man-第28部分

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〃You've　followed　me　like　a　skunk；〃　said　Barry；　〃from　the　time　you　killed　a　hoss　that　had　never　done　no　harm　to　you。　You　got　on　my　trail　when　I　was　livin'　peaceable。〃

There　was　a　tremendous　beating　on　the　outer　door　of　the　other　room；　but　Barry　went　on：　〃You　took　a　gent　that　was　livin'　straight　and　you　made　a　sneak　and　a　crook　out　of　him　and　sent　him　to　double…cross　me。　You　ain't　worth　livin'。　You've　spent　your　life　huntin'　men；　and　now　you're　at　the　end　of　your　trail。　Think　it　over。　You're　ready　to　kill　ag'in；　but　are　you　ready　to　die？〃

The　little　dusty　man　grew　dustier　still。　His　mouth　worked。

〃Damn　you；〃　he　whispered；　and　went　for　his　gun。

It　was　out；　his　finger　on　the　trigger；　the　barrel　whipping　into　line；　when　the　weapon　in　Barry's　hand　exploded。　The　sheriff　spun　on　his　heel　and　fell　on　his　face。　Three　times；　as　he　lay　there；　dead　in　all　except　the　instinctive　movement　of　his　muscles；　his　right　hand　clawed　at　the　empty　holster　at　his　side。　The　sixth　man　had　died　for　Grey　Molly。

The　outer　door　of　Billy's　room　crashed　to　the　floor；　and　heavy　feet　thundered　nearer。　Barry　ran　to　the　window　and　whistled　once；　very　high　and　thin。　It　brought　a　black　horse　racing　around　a　corner　nearby；　it　brought　a　wolf…dog　from　an　opposite　direction；　and　as　they　drew　up　beneath　the　window；　he　slid　out　and　dropped　lightly；　catlike；　to　the　ground。　One　leap　brought　him　to　the　saddle；　and　Satan　stretched　out　along　the　street。



Chapter　XXVIII。　The　Blood　Of　The　Father

On　the　night　of　her　failure　at　the　cave；　Kate　came　back　to　the　cabin　and　went　to　her　room　without　any　word　to　Buck　or　Lee　Haines；　but　when　they　sat　before　the　fire；　silent；　or　only　murmuring；　they　could　hear　her　moving　about。　Whatever　sleep　they　got　before　morning　was　not　free　from　dreams；　for　they　knew　that　something　was　impending；　and　after　breakfast　they　learned　what　it　was。　She　struck　straight　out　from　the　shoulder。　She　was　going　up　to　the　cave　and　if　Dan　was　away　she　would　take　Joan　by　force；　she　needed　help；　would　they　give　it？　They　sat　for　a　long　time；　looking　at　each　other　and　then　avoiding　Kate　with　their　eyes。　It　was　not　the　fear　of　death　but　of　something　more　which　both　of　them　connected　with　the　figure　of　Whistling　Dan。　It　was　not　until　she　took　her　light　cartridge　belt　from　the　wall　and　buckled　on　her　gun　that　they　rose　to　follow。　Before　the　first　freshness　of　the　morning　passed　they　were　winding　up　the　side　of　the　mountain；　Kate　a　little　in　the　lead；　for　she　alone　knew　the　way。

Where　they　rounded　the　shoulder；　the　men　reined　the　horses　with　which　Kate　had　provided　them　and　sat　looking　solemnly　at　each　other。

〃Maybe　we'll　have　no　chance　to　talk　alone　again；〃　said　Lee　Haines。　〃This　is　the　last　trail　either　for　Barry　or　for　us。　And　I　don't　think　that　Barry　is　that　close　to　the　end　of　his　rope。　Buck；　give　me　your　hand　and　say　good…bye。　All　that　a　man　can　do　against　Whistling　Dan；　and　that　isn't　much；　I'll　do。　Having　you　along　won't　make　us　a　whit　stronger。〃

〃Thanks；〃　growled　Buck　Daniels。　〃Jes　save　that　kind　farewell　till　I　show　yaller。　Hurry　up；　she's　gettin'　too　far　ahead。〃

At　the　bottom　of　the　ravine；　where　they　dismounted　for　the　precipitous　slope　above；　Kate　showed　her　first　hesitation。

〃You　both　know　what　it　means？〃　she　asked　them。

〃We　sure　do；〃　replied　Buck。

〃Dan　will　find　out　that　you've　helped　me；　and　then　he'll　never　forgive　you。　Will　you　risk　even　that？〃

〃Kate；〃　broke　in　Lee　Haines；　〃don't　stop　for　questions。　Keep　on　and　we'll　follow。　I　don't　want　to　think　of　what　may　happen。〃

She　turned　without　a　word　and　went　up　the　steep　incline。

〃What　d'you　think　of　your　soft　girl　now？〃　panted　Buck　at　the　ear　of　Haines。　The　latter　flashed　a　significant　look　at　him　but　said　nothing。　They　reached　the　top　of　the　canyon　wall　and　passed　on　among　the　boulders。

Kate　had　drawn　back　to　them　now；　and　they　walked　as　cautiously　as　if　there　were　dried　leaves　under　foot。

She　had　only　lifted　a　finger　of　warning；　and　they　knew　that　they　were　near　to　the　crisis。　She　came　to　the　great　rock　around　which　she　had　first　seen　the　entrance　to　the　cave　on　the　day　before。　Inch　by　inch；　with　Buck　and　Lee　following　her　example；　they　worked　toward　the　edge　of　the　boulder　and　peered　carefully　around　it。

There　opened　the　cave；　and　in　front　of　it　was　Joan　playing　with　what　seemed　to　be　a　ball　of　gray　fur。　Her　hair　tumbled　loose　and　bright　about　her　shoulders；　she　wore　the　tawny　hide　which　Kate　had　seen　before；　and　on　her　feet；　since　the　sharp　rocks　had　long　before　worn　out　her　boots；　she　had　daintily　fashioned　moccasins。　Bare　knees；　profusely　scratched；　bare　arms　rapidly　browning　to　the　color　of　the　fur　she　wore；　Haines　and　Buck　had　to　rub　their　eyes　and　look　again　before　they　could　recognize　her。

They　must　have　made　a　noiseperhaps　merely　an　intaking　of　breath　inaudible　even　to　themselves　but　clear　to　the　ears　of　Joan。　She　was　on　her　feet；　with　bright；　wild　eyes　glancing　here　and　there。　There　was　no　suggestion　of　childishness　in　her；　but　a　certain　willingness　to　flee　from　a　great　danger　or　attack　a　weaker　force。　She　stood　alert；　rather　than　frightened；　with　her　bead　back　as　if　she　scented　the　wind　to　learn　what　approached。　The　ball　of　gray　fur　straightened　into　the　sharp　ears　and　the　flashing　teeth　of　a　coyote　puppy。　Buck　Daniels'　foot　slipped　on　a　pebble　and　at　the　sound　the　coyote　darted　to　the　shadow　of　a　little　shrub　and　crouched　there；　hardly　distinguishable　from　the　shade　which　covered　it；　and　the　child；　with　infinitely　cunning　instinct；　raced　to　a　patch　of　yellow　sand　and　tawny　rocks　among　which　she　cowered　and　remained　there　moveless。

One　thing　at　least　was　certain。　Whistling　Dan　was　not　in　the　cave；　for　if　he　had　been　the　child　would　have　run　to　him　for　protection；　or　at　least　cried　out　in　her　alarm。　This　information　Haines　whispered　to　Kate　and　she　nodded；　turning　a　white　face　toward　him。　Then　she　stepped　out　from　the　rock　and　went　straight　toward　Joan。

There　was　no　stir　in　the　little　figure。　Even　the　wind　seemed　to　take　part　in　the　secret　and　did　not　lift　the　golden　hair。　Once　the　eyes　of　the　child　glittered　as　they　turned　toward　Kate；　but　otherwise　she　made　no　motion；　like　a　rabbit　which　will　not　budge　until　the　very　shadow　of　the　reaching　hand　falls　over　it。

So　it　was　with　Joan；　and　as　Kate　leaned　silently　over　her　she　sprang　to　her　feet　and　darted　between　the　hands　of　her　mother　and　away　among　the　rocks。　Past　the　reaching　hands　of　Lee　Haines　she　swerved；　but　it　was　only　to　run　straight　into　the　grip　of　Buck　Daniels。　Up　to　that　moment　she　had　not　uttered　a　sound；　but　now　she　screamed　out；　twisted　in　his　arms；　and　beat　furiously　against　his　face。

〃Joan！〃　cried　Kate。　〃Joan！〃

She　reached　Buck　and　unwound　his　arms　from　the　struggling　body　of　the　child。

〃Honey；　why　are　you　afraid？　Oh；　my　baby！〃

For　an　instant　Joan　stood　free；　wavering；　and　her　eyes　held　steadily　upon　her　mother　bright　with　nothing　but　fear　and　strangeness。　Then　something　melted　in　her　little　round　face；　she　sighed。

〃Munner！〃　and　stole　a　pace　closer。　A　moment　later　Kate　sat　with　Joan　in　her　arms；　rocking　to　and　fro　and　weeping。

〃What's　happened？〃　gasped　Haines　to　Daniels。　〃What's　happened　to　the　kid？〃

〃Don't　talk；〃　answered　Buck；　his　face　gray　as　that　of　Kate。　〃It's　Dan's　blood。〃

He　drew　a　great　breath。

〃Did　you　see　her　try　toto　bite　me　while　I　was　holdin'　her？〃

Kate　had　started　to　her　feet；　holding　Joan　in　one　arm　and　dashing　away　her　tears　with　the　free　hand。　All　weakness　was　gone　from　her。

〃Hurry！〃　she　commanded。　〃We　haven't　any　time　to　lose。　Buck；　come　here！　No；　Lee；　you're　stronger。　Honey；　this　is　your　Uncle　Lee。　He'll　take　care　of　you；　he　won't　hurt　you。　Will　you　go　to　him？〃

Joan　shrank　away　while　she　examined　him；　but　the　instincts　of　a　child　move　with　thrice　the　speed　of　a　mature　person's　judgment；　she　read　the　kindly　honesty　which　breathed　from　every　line　of　Haines'　face；　and　held　out　her　arms　to　him。

Then　they　started　down　the　slope　for　the　horses；　running　wildly；　for　the　moment　they　turned　their　backs　on　the　cave　the　same　thought　was　in　the　mind　of　each；　the　same　haunting　fear　of　that　small；　shrill　whistle　pursuing。　Half　running；　half　sliding；　they　went　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　gorge。　While　the　pebble　they　started　rushed　after　them　in　small　avalanches；　and　they　even　had　to　dodge　rocks　of　considerable　size　which　came　bounding　after；　Joan；　alert　upon　the　shoulder　of　Lee　Haines；　enjoyed　every　moment　of　it；　her　hair　tossed　in　the　sun；　her　arms　were　outstretched　for　balance。　So　they　reached　the　horses；　and　climbed　into　the　saddles。　Then；　without　a　word　from　one　to　the　other；　but　with　many　a　backward　look；　they　started　on　the　flight。

By　the　time　they　reached　the　shoulder　of　the　hill　on　the　farther　side；　with　a　long　stretch　of　down　slope　before；　they　had　placed　a　large　handicap　between　them　and　the　danger　of　pursuit；　but　still　they　were　not　at　ease。　On　their　trail；　sooner　or　later；　would　come　three　powers　working　towards　one　end；　the　surety　of　Black　Bart　following　a　scent；　the　swiftness　of　Satan　which　never　tired；　and　above　all　the　rider　who　directed　them　both　and　kept　them　to　their　work。　His　was　the　arm　which　could　strike　from　the　distance　and　bring　them　down。　They　spurted　down　the　hill。

No　sooner　were　they　in　full　motion　than　Joan；　for　the　first　time；　seemed　to　realize　what　it　was　all　about。　She　was　still　carried　by　Lee　Haines；　who　cradled　her　easily　in　his　powerful　left　arm；　but　now　she　began　to　struggle。　Then　she　stiffened　and　screamed：　〃Daddy　Dan！　Daddy　Dan！〃

〃For　God's　sake；　stop　her　mouth　or　he'll　hear！〃　groaned　Buck　Daniels。

〃He　can't！〃　said　Haines。　〃We're　too　far　away　even　if　he　were　at　the　cave　now。〃

〃I　tell　you　he'll　hear！　Don't　talk　to　me　about　distance。〃

Kate　reined　her　horse　beside　Lee。　

〃Joan！〃　she　commanded。

They　were　sweeping　across　the　meadow　now　at　an　easy　gallop。　Joan　screamed　again；　a　wild　plea　for　help。

〃Joan！〃　repeated　Kate；　and　her　voice　was　fierce。　She　raised　her　quirt　and　shook　it。　〃Be　quiet；　Munner　whiphard！〃

Another　call　died　away　on　the　lips　of　Joan。　She　looked　at　her　mother　with　astonishment　and　then　with　a　new　respect。

〃If　you　cry　once　more；　munner　whip！〃

And　Joan　was　silent；　staring　with　wonder　and　defiance。

When　they　came　close　to　the　cabin；　Lee　Haines　drew　rein