the seventh man-第8部分

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〃Joan！〃　called　a　voice　from　beyond；　and　the　soft　fiber　of　it　made　Vic　certain　that　it　belonged　to　the　rider　of　the　black　stallion。　The　little　girl　ran　a　step　towards　the　door；　and　then　stopped　and　shrank　back　against　the　bed。

〃If　you're　afraid　your　Dad'll　find　you　here；〃　said　Vic；　〃just　you　run　along。〃

She　was　nervously　twisting　her　hands　in　her　dress。

〃Daddy　Dan'll　know；〃　she　whispered　without　turning。　〃Andandhe　won't　let　me　be　afraid…even　of　him！〃

A　small　hand　slipped　up；　fumbled　a　bit；　found　the　thumb　of　Vic　Gregg；　and　closed　softly　over　it。　With　this　to　steady　her；　she　waited；　facing　the　door。



Chapter　VIII。　Discipline

A　light　step　crossed　the　outer　room；　with　something　peculiar　in　its　lightness；　as　if　the　heel　were　not　touching　the　floor；　with　the　effect　of　the　padded　fall　of　the　feet　of　some　great　cat；　there　was　both　softness　and　the　sense　of　weight。　First　the　wolf…dog　pricked　his　ears　and　turned　towards　the　door；　the　pudgy　fist　closed　convulsively　over　Vic's　thumb；　and　then　his　rescuer　stood　in　the　entrance。

〃Hello；　partner；〃　called　Vic。　〃I　got　company；　you　see。　The　door　blew　open　and　I　asked　your　little　girl　in。〃

〃I　told　you　not　to　come　here；〃　said　the　other。　Vic　felt　the　child　tremble；　but　there　was　no　burst　of　excuses。

〃She　didn't　want　to　come；〃　he　urged。　〃But　I　kep'　on　askin'　her。〃

The　emotionless　eye　of　〃Daddy　Dan〃　held　upon　Joan。　〃I　told　you　not　to　come；〃　he　said。　Joan　swallowed　in　mute　agony；　and　the　wolf…dog　slipped　to　the　side　of　the　master　and　licked　his　hand　as　though　in　dumb　intercession。　The　blood　ran　coldly　in　the　veins　of　Gregg；　as　if　he　saw　a　fist　raised　to　strike　the　little　girl。

〃You　go　out。〃

She　went　swiftly；　at　that；　sidled　past　her　father　with　her　eyes　lifted；　fascinated；　and　so　out　the　door　where　she　paused　an　instant　to　flash　back　a　wistful　appeal。　Nothing　but　silence；　and　then　her　feet　pattering　off　into　the　outer　room。

〃Maybe　you　better　go　keep　her　company；　Bart；〃　said　the　father；　and　at　this　sign　of　relenting　Vic　felt　his　tensed　muscles　relaxing；　the　wolf　whined　softly　and　glided　through　the　door。

〃You　feeling　better？〃

〃Like　a　hoss　off　green　feed。　I　been　lyin'　here　drinkin'　up　the　sunshine。〃

The　other　stood　beside　the　open　window　and　there　he　canted　his　head；　his　glance　far　off　and　intent。

〃D'you　hear？〃　he　asked；　turning　sharply。

There　was　a　fierce　eagerness　in　his　face。

〃Hear　what？〃

〃It's　spring；〃　he　murmured；　without　answering　more　directly　than　this；　and　Vic　felt　that　the　other　had　changed　again；　grown　understandable。　Nevertheless；　the　shock　of　that　sudden　alteration　at　the　window　kept　him　watching　his　host　with　breathless　interest。　Whatever　it　was　that　the　strange　fellow　heard；　a　light　had　gleamed　in　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　As　he　sauntered　back　towards　the　bed　just　a　trace　of　it　lingered　about　him；　a　hint　of　sternness。

〃Spring？〃　answered　Gregg。　〃Yep；　I　smelled　spring　a　few　days　back　and　I　started　out　to　find　some　action。　You　can　see　for　yourself　that　I　found　it；　partner。〃　He　stirred；　uneasily；　but　it　was　necessary　that　the　story　should　be　told　lest　it　reach　the　ears　of　this　man　from　another　source。　It　was　one　thing　to　shelter　a　fugitive　from　justice　whose　crime　was　unknown；　perhaps　trifling；　but　it　might　be　quite　another　story　if　this　gentle；　singular　man　learned　that　his　guest　was　a　new…made　murderer。　Better　that　he　should　learn　the　tale　now　and　form　his　prejudices　in　favor　of　Gregg。　〃I'll　tell　you　the　whole　story；〃　he　began。

But　the　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃You　leave　the　story　be；〃　he　said；　and　there　was　something　in　the　quiet　firmness　of　his　manner　which　made　it　impossible　for　Vic　to　continue。　〃You're　here　and　you're　hurt　and　you　need　a　pile　of　rest。　That's　about　enough　story　for　me。〃

Vic　put　himself　swiftly　in　the　place　of　the　other。　Suppose　that　he　and　Betty　Neal　should　have　a　cabin　off　in　the　mountains　like　this；　how　would　they　receive　a　wounded　fugitive　from　justice？　As　unquestioningly　as　this？　In　a　surge　of　gratitude　he　looked　mistily　towards　his　host。

〃Stranger；〃　he　said；　〃you're　white。　Damned　white。　That's　all。　My　name's　Vic　Gregg　and　I　come　from〃

〃Thanks；〃　cut　in　the　other。　〃I'm　glad　to　know　your　name　but　in　case　anybody　might　be　askin'　me　I　wouldn't　care　to　know　where　you　come　from。〃　He　smiled。　〃I'm　Dan　Barry。〃

It　had　to　be　a　left…handed　shake　on　the　part　of　Vic；　a　thing　of　which　he　often　thought　in　the　days　that　followed；　but　now　he　sent　his　memory　hunting。

〃Seems　like　I've　heard　your　name　before；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　dunno　where。　Were　you　ever　around　Alder；　Barry？〃

〃No。〃　His　manner　suggested　that　the　topic　might　as　well　be　closed。　He　reached　over　and　dropped　his　hand　lightly　on　the　forehead　of　Vic。　A　tingling　current　flowed　from　it　into　the　brain　of　the　wounded　man。　〃Your　blood's　still　a　bit　hot；〃　he　added。　〃Lie　quiet　and　don't　even　think。　You're　safe　here。　They　ain't　a　thing　goin'　to　get　at　you。　Not　a　thing。　You'll　stay　till　you　get　ready　to　leave。　S'long。　I'll　see　that　you　get　something　to　eat。〃

He　went　out　with　that　unusual；　padding　step　which　Vic　had　noticed　before　and　closed　the　door　softly　behind　him。　In　spite　of　that　barrier　Gregg　could　hear　the　noises　from　the　next　room　quite　clearly；　as　some　one　brought　in　wood　and　dropped　it　on　a　stone　hearth；　rattling。　He　fell　into　a　pleasant　doze；　just　stretching　his　body　now　and　then　to　enjoy　the　coolness　of　the　sheets；　the　delicious　sense　of　being　cared　for　and　the　returning　strength　in　his　muscles。　Through　that　haze　he　heard　voices；　presently；　which　called　him　back　to　wakefulness。

〃That　ought　to　be　good　for　him。　Take　it　in；　Kate。〃

〃I　shall。　Dan；　what　has　Joan　done？〃

〃She　went　in　there。　I　told　her　to　leave　him　alone。〃

〃But　she　says　he　asked　her　to　come　insaid　he　would　take　the　blame。〃

〃I　told　her　not　to　go。〃

〃Poor　baby！　She's　outside；　now；　weeping　her　eyes　out　on　Bart's　shoulder　and　he's　trying　to　comfort　her。〃

It　was　purer　English　than　Vic　was　accustomed　to　hear　even　from　his　schoolmistress；　but　more　than　the　words；　the　voice　surprised　him；　the　low；　controlled　voice　of　a　woman　of　gentle　blood。　He　turned　his　head　and　looked　out　the　window；　baffled。　Far　above；　shooting　out　of　sight；　went　the　slope　of　a　mountain；　a　cliff　shining　in　the　slant　sun　of　the　afternoon　here；　a　tumbled　slide　of　rocks　and　debris　there；　and　over　the　shoulder　of　this　mountain　he　saw　white…headed　monsters　stepping　back　in　range　beyond　range。　Why　should　a　girl　of　refinement　choose　the　isolation　of　such　a　place　as　this　for　her　home？　It　was　not　the　only　strange　thing　about　this　household；　however；　and　he　would　dismiss　conjectures　until　he　was　once　more　on　his　feet。

She　was　saying：　〃Won't　you　speak　to　her　now？〃

A　little　pause。　Then：　〃No；　not　until　evenin'。〃

〃Please；　Dan。〃

〃She's　got　to　learn。〃

A　little　exclamation　of　unhappiness　and　then　the　door　moved　open；　Vic　found　himself　looking　up　to　the　face　with　the　golden　hair　which　he　remembered　out　of　his　nightmare。　She　nodded　to　him　cheerily。

〃I'm　so　happy　that　you're　better；〃　she　said。　〃Dan　says　that　the　fever　is　nearly　gone。〃　She　rested　a　large　tray　she　carried　on　the　foot　of　the　bed　and　Vic　discovered；　to　his　great　content；　that　it　was　not　hard　to　meet　her　eyes。　Usually　girls　embarrassed　him；　but　he　recognized　so　much　of　Joan　in　the　features　of　the　mother　that　he　felt　well　acquainted　at　once。　Motherhood；　surely；　sat　as　lightly　on　her　shoulders　as　fatherhood　did　on　Dan　Barry；　yet　he　felt　a　great　pity　as　he　looked　at　her；　this　flowerlike　beauty　lost　in　the　rocks　and　snow　with　only　one　man　near　her。　She　was　like　music　played　without　an　audience　except　senseless　things。

〃Yep；　I'm　a　lot　better；〃　he　answered；　〃but　it　sure　makes　me　terrible　sorry；　ma'am；　that　I　got　your　little　girl　in　trouble。　Mostly；　it　was　my　fault。〃

She　waved　away　all　need　of　apology。

〃Don't　think　an　instant　about　that；　Mr。　Gregg。　Joan　needs　a　great　deal　of　disciplining。〃　She　laughed　a　little。　〃She　has　so　much　of　her　father　in　her；　you　see。　Now；　are　you　strong　enough　to　lift　yourself　higher　in　the　pillows？〃

They　managed　it　between　them；　for　he　was　weaker　than　he　thought　and　when　he　was　padded　into　position　with　cushions　she　laid　the　tray　across　his　knees。　His　head　swam　at　sight　of　it。　Forty…eight　hours　of　fasting　had　sharpened　his　appetite；　and　the　loaded　tray　whetted　a　razor　edge；　for　a　great　bowl　of　broth　steamed　forth　an　exquisite　fragrance　on　one　side　and　beside　it　she　lifted　a　napkin　to　let　him　peek　at　a　slice　of　venison　steak。　Then　there　was　butter；　yellow　as　the　gold　for　which　he　had　been　digging　all　winter；　and　real　cream　for　his　coffeea　whole　pitcher　of　itand　snowy　bread。　Best　of　all；　she　did　not　stay　to　embarrass　him　with　her　watching　while　he　ate；　since　above　all　things　in　the　world　a　hungry　man　hates　observation　when　the　board　is　spread。

Afterwards；　consuming　sleep　rippled　over　him　from　his　feet　to　his　eyes　to　his　brain。　He　partially　roused　when　the　tray　was　removed；　and　the　pillows　slipped　from　under　his　back；　but　with　a　vague　understanding　that　expert　hands　were　setting　the　bed　in　order　his　senses　fled　once　more。

Hours　and　hours　later　he　opened　his　eyes　in　utter　darkness　with　a　thin；　sweet　voice　still　ringing　in　his　ears。　He　could　not　place　himself　until　he　turned　his　head　and　saw　a　meager；　broken；　rectangular　line　of　light　which　was　the　door；　and　immediately　afterwards　the　voice　cried：　〃Oh；　Daddy　Dan！　And　what　did　the　wolf　do　then？〃

〃I'm　comin'　to　that；　Joan；　but　don't　you　talk　about　wolves　so　loud　or　old　Black　Bart'll　think　you're　talkin'　about　him。　See　him　lookin'　at　you　now？〃

〃But　please　go　on。　I　won't　say　one　little　word。〃

The　man's　voice　began　again；　softly；　so　that　not　a　word　was　audible　to　Gregg；　he　heard　the　crackle　of　burning　logs　upon　the　hearth；　saw　the　rectangle　of　light　flicker；　caught　a　faint　scent　of　wood　smoke；　and　then　he　slept　once　more。



Chapter　IX。　The　Long　Arm　Of　The　Law

From　the　first　the　wound　healed　rapidly；　for　Vic's　blood　was　perfectly　pure；　the　mountain　air　a　tonic　which　strengthened　him；　and　his　food　and　care　of　the　best。　The　high…powered　rifle　bullet　whipped　cleanly　through　his　shoulder；　breaking　no　bone　and　tearing　no　ligament；　and　the　flesh　closed　swiftly。　Even　Vic's　mind　carried　no　burden　to　oppress　him　in　care　for　the　future　or　regret　for　the　past；　for　i