wildfire-第24部分

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〃You　can　ride　him。　I　reckon　I'd　like　to　see　that　race　just　as　much　as　Bostil
or　Cordts　or　any　man。　。　。　。　An'　see　here；　girl；　Wildfire　can　beat　this　gray
racer　of　your　father's。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Lucy。

〃Wildfire　can　beat　the　King；〃　repeated　the　rider；　intensely。　〃The　tame　horse
doesn't　step　on　this　earth　that　can　run　with　Wildfire。　He's　a　stallion。　He　has
been　a　killer　of　horses。　It's　in　him　to　KILL。　If　he　ran　a　race　it　would　be
that　instinct　in　him。〃

〃How　can　we　plan　it？〃　went　on　Lucy；　impulsively。　She　had　forgotten　to　withdraw
her　hands　from　his。　〃It　must　be　a　surprisea　complete　surprise。　If　you　came
to　the　Ford　we　couldn't　keep　it　secret。　And　Dad　or　Farlane　would　prevent　me；
somehow。〃

〃It's　easy。　Ride　out　here　as　often　as　you　can。　Bring　a　light　saddle　an'　let　me
put　you　up　on　Wildfire。　You'll　run　him；　train　him；　get　him　in　shape。　Then　the
day　of　the　races　or　the　night　before　I'll　go　in　an'　hide　out　in　the　sage　till
you　come　or　send　for　Wildfire。〃

〃Oh；　it'll　be　glorious；〃　she　cried；　with　eyes　like　stars。　〃I　know　just　where
to　have　you　hide。　A　pile　of　rocks　near　the　racecourse。　There's　a　spring　and
good　grass。　I　could　ride　out　to　you　just　before　the　big　race；　and　we'd　come
back；　with　me　on　Wildfire。　The　crowd　always　stays　down　at　the　end　of　the
racecourse。　Only　the　starters　stay　out　there。　。　。　。　Oh；　I　can　see　Bostil　when
that　red　stallion　runs　into　sight！〃

〃Well；　is　it　settled？〃　queried　the　rider；　strangely。

Lucy　was　startled　into　self…consciousness　by　his　tone。

How　strangely　he　must　have　felt。　And　his　eyes　were　piercing。

〃You　meanthat　I　ride　Wildfire？〃　she　replied；　shyly。　〃Yes；　if　you'll　let　me。〃

〃I'll　be　proud。〃

〃You're　very　good。　。　。　。　And　do　you　think　Wildfire　can　beat　the　King？〃

〃I　know　it。〃

〃How　do　you？〃

〃I've　seen　both　horses。〃

〃But　it　will　be　a　grand　race。〃

〃I　reckon　so。　It's　likely　to　be　the　grandest　ever　seen。　But　Wildfire　will　win
because　he's　run　wild　all　his　lifean'　run　to　kill　other　horses。　。　。　。　The
only　question　isCAN　you　ride　him？〃

〃Yes。　I　never　saw　the　horse　I　couldn't　ride。　Bostil　says　there　are　some　I
can't　ride。　Farlane　says　not。　Only　two　horses　have　thrown　me；　the　King　and
Sarchedon。　But　that　was　before　they　knew　me。　And　I　was　sort　of　wild。　I　can
make　your　Wildfire　love　me。〃

〃THAT'S　the　last　part　of　it　I'd　ever　doubt；〃　replied　the　rider。　〃It's　settled；
then。　I'll　camp　here。　I'll　be　well　in　a　few　days。　Then　I'll　take　Wildfire　in
hand。　You　will　ride　out　whenever　you　have　a　chance；　without　bein'　seen。　An'
the　two　of　us　will　train　the　stallion　to　upset　that　race。〃

〃Yesthenit's　settled。〃

Lucy's　gaze　was　impelled　and　held　by　the　rider's。　Why　was　he　so　pale？　But　then
he　had　been　injuredweakened。　This　compact　between　them　had　somehow　changed
their　relation。　She　seemed　to　have　known　him　long。

〃What's　your　name？〃　she　asked。

〃Lin　Slone；〃　replied　the　rider。

Then　she　released　her　hands。　〃I　must　ride　in　now。　If　this　isn't　a　dream　I'll
come　back　soon。〃　She　led　Sage　King　to　a　rock　and　mounted　him。

〃It's　good　to　see　you　up　there；〃　said　Slone。　〃An'　that　splendid　horse！　。　。　。
He　knows　what　he　is。　It'll　break　Bostil's　heart　to　see　that　horse　beat。〃

〃Dad'll　feel　bad；　but　it'll　do　him　good；〃　replied　Lucy。

That　was　the　old　rider's　ruthless　spirit　speaking　out　of　his　daughter's　lips。

Slone　went　close　to　the　King　and；　putting　a　hand　on　the　pommel；　he　looked　up
at　Lucy。　〃Maybeit　isa　dreaman'　you　won't　come　back；〃　he　said；　with
unsteady　voice。

〃Then　I'll　come　in　dreams；〃　she　flashed。　〃Be　careful　of　yourself。　。　。　。
Good…by。〃

And　at　a　touch　the　impatient　King　was　off。　From　far　up　the　slope　near　a
monument　Lucy　looked　back。　Slone　was　watching　her。　She　waved　a　gauntleted
handand　then　looked　back　no　more。



CHAPTER　X

Two　weeks　slipped　by　on　the　wings　of　time　and　opportunity　and　achievement；　all
colored　so　wonderfully　for　Lucy；　all　spelling　that　adventure　for　which　she　had
yearned。

Lucy　was　riding　down　into　the　sage　toward　the　monuments　with　a　whole　day
before　her。　Bostil　kept　more　and　more　to　himself；　a　circumstance　that　worried
her；　though　she　thought　little　about　it。　Van　had　taken　up　the　training　of　the
King；　and　Lucy　had　deliberately　quarreled　with　him　so　that　she　would　be　free
to　ride　where　she　listed。　Farlane　nagged　her　occasionally　about　her　rides　into
the　sage；　insisting　that　she　must　not　go　so　far　and　stay　so　long。　And　after
Van's　return　to　work　he　made　her　ride　Sarchedon。

Things　had　happened　at　the　Ford　which　would　have　concerned　Lucy　greatly　had
she　not　been　over…excited　about　her　own　affairs。　Some　one　had　ambushed　Bostil
in　the　cottonwoods　near　his　house　and　had　shot　at　him；　narrowly　missing　him。
Bostil　had　sworn　he　recognized　the　shot　as　having　come　from　a　rifle；　and　that
he　knew　to　whom　it　belonged。　The　riders　did　not　believe　this；　and　said　some
boy；　shooting　at　a　rabbit　or　coyote；　had　been　afraid　to　confess　he　had　nearly
hit　Bostil。　The　riders　all　said　Bostil　was　not　wholly　himself　of　late。　The
river　was　still　low。　The　boat　had　not　been　repaired。　And　Creech's　horses　were
still　on　the　other　side。

These　things　concerned　Lucy；　yet　they　only　came　and　went　swiftly　through　her
mind。　She　was　obsessed　by　things　intimately　concerning　herself。

〃Oh；　I　oughtn't　to　go；〃　she　said；　aloud。　But　she　did　not　even　check
Sarchedon's　long　swing；　his　rocking…chair　lope。　She　had　said　a　hundred　times
that　she　ought　not　go　again　out　to　the　monuments。　For　Lin　Slone　had　fallen
despairingly；　terribly　in　love　with　her。

It　was　not　this；　she　averred；　but　the　monuments　and　the　beautiful　Wildfire
that　had　woven　a　spell　round　her　she　could　not　break。　She　had　ridden　Wildfire
all　through　that　strange　region　of　monuments　and　now　they　claimed　something　of
her。　Just　as　wonderful　was　Wildfire's　love　for　her。　The　great　stallion　hated
Slone　and　loved　Lucy。　Of　all　the　remarkable　circumstances　she　had　seen　or
heard　about　a　horse；　this　fact　was　the　most　striking。　She　could　do　anything
with　him。　All　that　savageness　and　wildness　disappeared　when　she　approached
him。　He　came　at　her　call。　He　whistled　at　sight　of　her。　He　sent　out　a　ringing
blast　of　disapproval　when　she　rode　away。　Every　day　he　tried　to　bite　or　kick
Slone；　but　he　was　meek　under　Lucy's　touch。

But　this　morning　there　came　to　Lucy　the　first　vague　doubt　of　herself。　Once
entering　her　mind；　that　doubt　became　clear。　And　then　she　vowed　she　liked　Slone
as　she　might　a　brother。　And　something　within　her　accused　her　own　conviction。
The　conviction　was　her　real　self；　and　the　accusation　was　some　other　girl
lately　born　in　her。　Lucy　did　not　like　this　new　person。　She　was　afraid　of　her。
She　would　not　think　of　her　unless　she　had　to。

〃I　never　cared　for　himthat　way；〃　she　said；　aloud。　〃I　don'tI
couldn'teverIIlove　Lin　Slone！〃

The　spoken　thoughtthe　sound　of　the　words　played　havoc　with　Lucy's
self…conscious　calmness。　She　burned。　She　trembled。　She　was　in　a　rage　with
herself。　She　spurred　Sarchedon　into　a　run　and　tore　through　the　sage；　down　into
the　valley；　running　him　harder　than　she　should　have　run　him。　Then　she　checked
him；　and；　penitent；　petted　him　out　of　all　proportion　to　her　thoughtlessness。
The　violent　exercise　only　heated　her　blood　and；　if　anything；　increased　this
sudden　and　new　torment。　Why　had　she　discarded　her　boy's　rider　outfit　and　chaps
for　a　riding…habit　made　by　her　aunt；　and　one　she　had　scorned　to　wear？　Some
awful；　accusing　voice　thundered　in　Lucy's　burning　ears　that　she　had　done　this
because　she　was　ashamed　to　face　Lin　Slone　any　more　in　that　costumeshe　wanted
to　appear　different　in　his　eyes；　to　look　like　a　girl。　If　that　shameful
suspicion　was　a　fact　why　was　it…what　did　it　mean？　She　could　not　tell；　yet
she　was　afraid　of　the　truth。

All　of　a　sudden　Lin　Slone　stood　out　clearer　in　her　mental　vision　the　finest
type　of　a　rider　she　had　ever　knowna　strong；　lithe；　magnificent　horseman；
whose　gentleness　showed　his　love　for　horses；　whose　roughness　showed　his
powera　strange；　intense；　lonely　man　in　whom　she　had　brought　out　pride；
gratitude；　kindness；　passion；　and　despair。　She　felt　her　heart　swell　at　the
realization　that　she　had　changed　him；　made　him　kinder；　made　him　divide　his
love　as　did　her　father；　made　him　human；　hopeful；　longing　for　a　future
unfettered　by　the　toils　of　desert　allurement。　She　could　not　control　her　pride。
She　must　like　him　very　much。　She　confessed　that；　honestly；　without　a　qualm。　It
was　only　bewildering　moments　of　strange　agitation　and　uncertainty　that
bothered　her。　She　had　refused　to　be　concerned　by　them　until　they　had　finally
impinged　upon　her　peace　of　mind。　Then　they　accused　her；　now　she　accused
herself。　She　ought　not　go　to　meet　Lin　Slone　any　more。

〃But　thenthe　race！〃　she　murmured。　〃I　couldn't　give　that　up。　。　。　。　And　oh！
I'm　afraid　the　harm　is　done！　What　can　I　do？〃

After　the　racewhat　then？　To　be　sure；　all　of　Bostil's　Ford　would　know　she　had
been　meeting　Slone　out　in　the　sage；　training　his　horse。　What　would　people　say？

〃Dad　will　simply　be　radiant；　IF　he　can　buy　Wildfireand　a　fiend　if　he　can't；〃
she　muttered。

Lucy　saw　that　her　own　impulsiveness　had　amounted　to　daring。　She　had　gone　too
far。　She　excused　thatfor　she　had　a　rider's　bloodshe　was　Bostil's　girl。　But
she　had；　in　her　wildness　and　joy　and　spirit；　spent　many　hours　alone　with　a
rider；　to　his　undoing。　She　could　not　excuse　that。　She　was　ashamed。　What　would
he　say　when　she　told　him　she　could　see　him　no　more？　The　thought　made　her　weak。
He　would　accept　and　go　his　wayback　to　that　lonely　desert；　with　only　a　horse。

〃Wildfire　doesn't　love　him！〃　she　said。

And　the　scarlet　fired　her　neck　and　cheek　and　temple。　That　leap　of　blood　seemed
to　release　a　riot　of　emotions。　What　had　been　a　torment　became　a　torture。　She
turned　Sarchedon　homeward；　but　scarcely　had　faced　that　way　when　she　wheeled
him　again。　She　rode　slowly　and　she　rode　swiftly。　The　former　was　hateful
because　it　held　her　backfrom　what　she　no　longer　dared　think；　the　latter　was
fearful　because　it　hurried　her　on　swiftly；　irresistibly　to　her　fate。

Lin　Slone　had　changed　his　camp　and　had　chosen　a　pass　high　up　where　the　great
walls　had　began　to　break　into　sections。　Here　there　was　intimacy　with　the　sheer
cliffs　of　red　and　yellow。　Wide　avenues　between　the　walls　opened　on　all　points
of　the　compass；　and　th