wildfire-第23部分

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。　。　Anyway；　you're　the　first　wandering　rider　I　ever　metlike　this。〃

〃Well；　you're　good；〃　he　replied；　with　emotion。　Then　he　walked　away　with　slow；
stiff　steps　and　disappeared　behind　the　willows　in　the　little　hollow。

Lucy　uncoiled　the　rope　on　her　saddle　and　haltered　Sage　King　on　the　best　grass
near　at　hand。　Then　she　opened　the　pack　of　supplies；　thinking　the　while　that
she　must　not　tarry　here　long。

〃But　on　the　King　I　can　run　back　like　the　wind；〃　she　mused。

The　pack　contained　dried　fruits　and　meat　and　staples；　also　an　assortment　of
good　things　to　eat　that　were　of　a　perishable　nature；　already　much　the　worse
for　the　long　ride。　She　spread　all　this　out　in　the　shade　of　a　cedar。　The
utensils　were　fewtwo　cups；　two　pans；　and　a　tiny　pot。　She　gathered　wood；　and
arranged　it　for　a　fire；　so　that　the　rider　could　start　as　soon　as　he　came　back。
He　seemed　long　in　coming。　Lucy　waited；　yet　still　he　did　not　return。　Finally
she　thought　of　the　red　stallion；　and　started　off　down　the　wash　to　take　a　look
at　him。　He　was　grazing。　He　had　lost　some　of　the　dirt　and　dust　and　the
bedraggled　appearance。　When　he　caught　sight　of　her　he　lifted　his　head　high　and
whistled。　How　wild　he　looked！　And　his　whistle　was　shrill；　clear；　strong。　Both
the　other　horses　answered　it。　Lucy　went　on　closer　to　Wildfire。　She　was
fascinated　now。

〃If　he　doesn't　know　me！〃　she　cried。　Never　had　she　been　so　pleased。　She　had
expected　every　sign　of　savageness　on　his　part；　and　certainly　had　not　intended
to　go　near　him。　But　Wildfire　did　not　show　fear　or　hate　in　his　recognition。
Lucy　went　directly　to　him　and　got　a　hand　on　him。　Wildfire　reared　a　little　and
shook　a　little；　but　this　disappeared　presently　under　her　touch。　He　held　his
head　very　high　and　watched　her　with　wonderful　eyes。　Gradually　she　drew　his
head　down。　Standing　before　him；　she　carefully　and　slowly　changed　the　set　of
the　hackamore；　which　had　made　a　welt　on　his　nose。　It　seemed　to　have　been　her
good　fortune　that　every　significant　move　she　had　made　around　this　stallion　had
been　to　mitigate　his　pain。　Lucy　believed　he　knew　this　as　well　as　she　knew　it。
Her　theory；　an　often　disputed　one；　was　that　horses　were　as　intelligent　as
human　beings　and　had　just　the　same　fears；　likes；　and　dislikes。　Lucy　knew　she
was　safe　when　she　untied　the　lasso　from　the　strong　root　where　she　had　fastened
it；　and　led　the　stallion　down　the　wash　to　a　pool　of　water。　And　she　stood
beside　him　with　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　while　he　bent　his　head　to　sniff　at　the
water。　He　tasted　it；　plainly　with　disgust。　It　was　stagnant　water；　full　of
vermin。　But　finally　he　drank。　Lucy　led　him　up　the　wash　to　another　likely
place；　and　tied　him　securely。

When　she　got　back　to　the　camp　in　the　cedars　the　rider　was　there；　on　his　knees；
kindling　the　fire。　His　clean…shaved　face　and　new　apparel　made　him　vastly
different。　He　was　young；　and；　had　he　not　been　so　gaunt。　he　would　have　been
fine…looking；　Lucy　thought。

〃Wildfire　remembered　me；〃　Lucy　burst　out。　〃He　wasn't　a　bit　scary。　Let　me
handle　him。　Followed　me　to　water。〃

〃He's　taken　to　you；〃　replied　the　rider；　seriously。　〃I've　heard　of　the　like；
but　not　so　quick。　Was　he　in　a　bad　fix　when　you　got　to　him　yesterday？〃

Lucy　explained　briefly。

〃Aha！　。　。　。　If　that　red　devil　has　any　love　in　him　I'll　never　get　it。　I　wish　I
could　have　done　so　much　for　him。　But　always　when　he　sees　me　he'll　remember。〃

Lucy　saw　that　the　rider　was　in　difficulties。　He　could　not　bend　his　back；　and
evidently　it　pained　him　to　try。　His　brow　was　moist。

〃Let　me　do　that；〃　she　said。

〃Thanks。　It　took　about　all　my　strength　to　get　into　this　new　outfit；〃　he　said；
relinquishing；　his　place　to　Lucy。

When　she　looked　up　from　her　task；　presently；　he　was　sitting　in　the　shade　of
the　cedar；　watching　her。　He　had　the　expression　of　a　man　who　hardly　believed
what　he　saw。

〃Did　you　have　any　trouble　gettin'　away；　without　tellin'about　me？〃　he　asked。

〃No。　But　I　sure　had　a　job　with　those　packs；〃　she　replied。

〃You　must　be　a　wonder　with　a　horse。〃

As　far　as　vanity　was　concerned　Lucy　had　only　one　weaknessand　he　had　touched
upon　it。

〃Well；　Dad　and　Holley　and　Farlane　argue　much　about　me。　Still；　I　guess　they　all
agree　I　can　ride。〃

〃Holley　an'　Farlane　are　riders？〃　he　questioned。

〃Yes；　Dad's　right…hand　men。〃

〃Your　dad　hires　many　riders；　I　supposed？〃

〃Sure　I　never　heard　of　him　turning　any　rider　down；　at　least　not　without　a
try。〃

〃I　wonder　if　he　would　give　me　a　job？〃

Lucy　glanced　up　quickly。　The　idea　surprised　herpleased　her。　〃In　a　minute；〃
she　replied。　〃And　he'd　be　grand　to　you。　You　see；　he'd　have　an　eye　for
Wildfire。〃

The　rider　nodded　his　head　as　if　he　understood　how　that　would　be。

〃And　of　course　you'd　never　sell　nor　trade　Wildfire？〃　went　on　Lucy。

The　rider's　smile　was　sad；　but　it　was　conclusive。

〃Then　you'd　better　stay　away　from　Bostil；〃　returned　Lucy；　shortly。

He　remained　silent；　and　Lucy；　busy　about　the　campfire；　did　not　speak　again
till　the　simple　fare　was　ready。　Then　she　spread　a　tarpaulin　in　the　shade。

〃I'm　pretty　hungry　myself；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　don't　suppose　I　know　what　hunger
is。〃

〃After　a　while　a　fellow　loses　the　feelin'　of　hunger；〃　he　replied。　〃I　reckon
it'll　come　back　quick。　。　。　。　This　all　looks　good。〃

So　they　began　to　eat。　Lucy's　excitement；　her　sense　of　the　unreality　of　this
adventure；　in　no　wise　impaired　her　appetite。　She　seemed　acutely　sensitive　to
the　perceptions　of　the　moment。　The　shade　of　the　cedars　was　cool。　And　out　on
the　desert　she　could　see　the　dark　smoky　veils　of　heat　lifting。　The　breeze
carried　a　dry　odor　of　sand　and　grass。　She　heard　bees　humming　by。　And　all
around　the　great　isolated　monuments　stood　up；　red　tops　against　the　blue　sky。
It　was　a　silent；　dreaming；　impressive　place；　where　she　felt　unlike　herself。

〃I　mustn't　stay　long；〃　she　said；　suddenly　remembering。

〃Will　you　come　backagain？〃　he　asked。

The　question　startled　Lucy。　〃WhyII　don't　know。　。　。　。　Won't　you　ride　in　to
the　Ford　just　as　soon　as　you're　able？〃

〃I　reckon　not。〃

〃But　it's　the　only　place　where　there's　people　in　hundreds　of　miles。　Surely　you
won't　try　to　go　back　the　way　you　came？〃

〃When　Wildfire　left　that　country　I　left　it。　We　can't　back。〃

〃Then　you've　no　peopleno　one　you　care　for？〃　she　asked；　in　sweet　seriousness。

〃There's　no　one。　I'm　an　orphan。　My　people　were　lost　in　an　Indian
massacrewith　a　wagon…train　crossin'　Wyomin'。　A　few　escaped；　an'　I　was　one　of
the　youngsters。　I　had　a　tough　time；　like　a　stray　dog；　till　I　grew　up。　An'　then
I　took　to　the　desert。〃

〃Oh；　I　see。　II'm　sorry；〃　replied　Lucy。　〃But　that's　not　very　different　from
my　dad's　story；　of　his　early　years。　。　。　。　What　will　you　do　now？〃

〃I'll　stay　here　till　my　back　straightens　out。　。　。　。　Will　you　ride　out　again？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Lucy；　without　looking　at　him；　and　she　wondered　if　it　were
really　she　who　was　speaking。

Then　he　asked　her　about　the　Ford；　and　Bostil；　and　the　ranches　and　villages
north；　and　the　riders　and　horses。　Lucy　told　him　everything　she　knew　and　could
think　of；　and；　lastly；　after　waxing　eloquent　on　the　horses　of　the　uplands；
particularly　Bostil's；　she　gave　him　a　graphic　account　of　Cordts　and　Dick
Sears。

〃Horse…thieves！〃　exclaimed　the　rider；　darkly。　There　was　a　grimness　as　well　as
fear　in　his　tone。　〃I've　heard　of　Sears；　but　not　Cordts。　Where　does　this　band
hang　out？〃

〃No　one　knows。　Holley　says　they　hide　up　in　the　canyon　country。　None　of　the
riders　have　ever　tried　to　track　them　far。　It　would　be　useless。　Holley　says
there　are　plateaus　of　rich　grass　and　great　forests。　The　Ute　Indians　say　that
much；　too。　But　we　know　little　about　the　wild　country。〃

〃Aren't　there　any　hunters　at　Bostil's　Ford？〃

〃Wild…horse　hunters；　you　mean？〃

〃No。　Bear　an'　deer　hunters。〃

〃There's　none。　And　I　suppose　that's　why　we're　not　familiar　with　the　wild
canyon　country。　I'd　like　to　ride　in　there　sometime　and　camp。　But　our　people
don't　go　in　for　that。　They　love　the　open　ranges。　No　one　I　know；　except　a
half…witted　boy；　ever　rode　down　among　these　monuments。　And　how　wonderful　a
place！　It　can't　be　more　than　twenty　miles　from　home。　。　。　。　I　must　be　going
soon。　I'm　forgetting　Sage　King。　Did　I　tell　you　I　was　training　him　for　the
races？〃

〃No；　you　didn't。　What　races？　Tell　me；〃　he　replied；　with　keen　interest。

Then　Lucy　told　him　about　the　great　passion　of　her　fatherabout　the　long；
time…honored　custom　of　free…for…all　races；　and　the　great　races　that　had　been
run　in　the　past；　about　the　Creeches　and　their　swift　horses；　about　the　rivalry
and　speculation　and　betting；　and　lastly　about　the　races　to　be　run　in　a　few
weeksraces　so　wonderful　in　prospect　that　even　the　horse…thief；　Cordts；　had
begged　to　be　allowed　to　attend。

〃I'm　going　to　see　the　King　beat　Creech's　roan；〃　shouted　the　rider；　with　red　in
his　cheeks　and　a　flash　in　his　eye。

His　enthusiasm　warmed　Lucy's　interest；　yet　it　made　her　thoughtful。　Ideas
flashed　into　her　mind。　If　the　rider　attended　the　races　he　would　have　that
fleet　stallion　with　him。　He　could　not　be　separated　from　the　horse　that　had
cost　him　so　dearly。　What　would　Bostil　and　Holley　and　Farlane　say　at　sight　of
Wildfire？　Suppose　Wildfire　was　to　enter　the　races！　It　was　probable　that　he
could　run　away　from　the　whole　fieldeven　beat　the　King。　Lucy　thrilled　and
thrilled。　What　a　surprise　it　would　be！　She　had　the　rider's　true　love　of　seeing
the　unheralded　horse　win　over　the　favorite。　She　had　for　years　wanted　to　see　a
horseand　ride　a　horseout　in　front　of　Sage　King。　Then　suddenly　all　these
flashing　ideas　coruscated　seemingly　into　a　gleam　a　leaping；　radiant；
wonderful　thought。　Irresistibly　it　burst　from　her。

〃Let　ME　ride　your　Wildfire　in　the　great　race？〃　she　cried；　breathlessly。

His　response　was　instantaneousa　smile　that　was　keen　and　sweet　and　strong；
and　a　proffered　hand。　Impulsively　Lucy　clasped　that　hand　with　both　hers。

〃You　don't　mean　it；〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　it's　what　Auntie　would　call　one　of　my　wild
dreams！　。　。　。　And　I'm　growing　upthey　say。　。　。　。　But　Oh；　if　I　could　ride
Wildfire　against　the　field　in　that　race。　。　。　。　If　I　ONLY　COULD！〃

She　was　on　fire　with　the　hope；　flushing；　tingling。　She　was　unconscious　of　her
effect　upon　the　rider；　who　gazed　at　her　with　a　new…born　light　in　his　eyes。

〃You　can　ride　him。　I　reckon　I'd　like　to　see　that　race　just　as　much　as　Bostil
or　Cordts　or　an