wildfire-第30部分

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had　been　telling　her　aunt　something；　and　that　worthy　woman　appeared　at　once
shocked　and　delighted。　But　Bostil's　entrance　had　caused　a　mysterious　break　in
everything　that　had　been　going　on；　except　the　preparation　of　the　morning　meal。

〃Now　I　rode　in　on　some　confab　or　other；　that's　sure；〃　said　Bostil；
good…naturedly。

〃You　sure　did；　Dad；〃　replied　Lucy；　with　a　bright　smile。

〃Wal；　let　me　sit　in　the　game；〃　he　rejoined。

〃Dad；　you　can't　even　ante；〃　said　Lucy。

〃Jane；　what's　this　kid　up　to？〃　asked　Bostil；　turning　to　his　sister。

〃The　good　Lord　only　knows！〃　replied　Aunt　Jane；　with　a　sigh。

〃Kid？　。　。　。　See　here；　Dad；　I'm　eighteen　long　ago。　I'm　grown　up。　I　can　do　as　I
please；　go　where　I　like；　and　anything。　。　。　。　Why；　Dad；　I　could　getmarried。〃

〃Haw！　haw！〃　laughed　Bostil。　〃Jane；　hear　the　girl。〃

〃I　hear　her；　Bostil；〃　sighed　Aunt　Jane。

〃Wal；　Lucy；　I'd　just　like　to　see　you　fetch　some　fool　love…sick　rider　around
when　I'm　feelin'　good；〃　said　Bostil。

Lucy　laughed；　but　there　was　a　roguish；　daring　flash　in　her　eyes。　〃Dad；　you　do
seem　to　have　all　the　young　fellows　scared。　Some　day　maybe　one　will　ride
alonga　rider　like　you　used　to　bethat　nobody　could　bluff。　。　。　。　And　he　can
have　me！〃

〃A…huh！　。　。　。　Lucy；　are　you　in　fun？〃

Lucy　tossed　her　bright　head；　but　did　not　answer。

〃Jane；　what's　got　into　her？〃　asked　Bostil；　appealing　to　his　sister。

〃Bostil；　she's　in　fun；　of　course；〃　declared　Aunt　Jane。　〃Still；　at　that；
there's　some　sense　in　what　she　says。　Come　to　your　breakfast；　now。〃

Bostil　took　his　seat　at　the　table；　glad　that　he　could　once　more　be　amiable
with　his　women…folk。　〃Lucy；　to…morrow'll　be　the　biggest　day　Bostil's　Ford　ever
seen；〃　he　said。

〃It　sure　will　be；　Dad。　The　biggest　SURPRISING　day　the　Ford　ever　had；〃　replied
Lucy。

〃Surprisin'？〃

〃Yes；　Dad。〃

〃Who's　goin'　to　get　surprised？〃

〃Everybody。〃

Bostil　said　to　himself　that　he　had　been　used　to　Lucy's　banter；　but　during　his
moody　spell　of　days　past　he　had　forgotten　how　to　take　her　or　else　she　was
different。

〃Brackton　tells　me　you've　entered　a　hoss　against　the　field。〃

〃It's　an　open　race；　isn't　it？〃

〃Open　as　the　desert；　Lucy；〃　he　replied。　〃What's　this　hoss　Wildfire　you've
entered？〃

〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　know？〃　taunted　Lucy。

〃If　he's　as　good　as　his　name　you　might　be　in　at　the　finish。　。　。　。　But；　Lucy；
my　dear；　talkin'　good　sense　nowyou　ain't　a…goin'　to　go　up　on　some　unbroken
mustang　in　this　big　race？〃

〃Dad；　I'm　going　to　ride　a　horse。〃

〃But；　Lucy；　ain't　it　a　risk　you'll　be　takin'all　for　fun？〃

〃Fun！　。。。　I'm　in　dead　earnest。〃

Bostil　liked　the　look　of　her　then。　She　had　paled　a　little；　her　eyes　blazed；
she　was　intense。　His　question　had　brought　out　her　earnestness；　and　straightway
Bostil　became　thoughtful。　If　Lucy　had　been　a　boy　she　would　have　been　the
greatest　rider　on　the　uplands；　and　even　girl　as　she　was；　superbly　mounted；　she
would　have　been　dangerous　in　any　race。

〃Wal；　I　ain't　afraid　of　your　handlin'　of　a　hoss；　〃　he　said；　soberly。　〃An'　as
long　as　you're　in　earnest　I　won't　stop　you。　But；　Lucy；　no　bettin'。　I　won't　let
you　gamble。〃

〃Not　even　with　you？〃　she　coaxed。

Bostil　stared　at　the　girl。　What　had　gotten　into　her？　〃What'll　you　bet？〃　he；
queried；　with　blunt　curiosity。

〃Dad；　I'll　go　you　a　hundred　dollars　in　gold　that　I　finish　one　twothree。〃

Bostil　threw　back　his　head　to　laugh　heartily。　What　a　chip　of　the　old　block　she
was！　〃Child；　there's　some　fast　hosses　that'll　be　back　of　the　King。　You'd　be
throwin'　away　money。〃

Blue　fire　shone　in　his　daughter's　eyes。　She　meant　business；　all　right；　and
Bostil　thrilled　with　pride　in　her。

〃Dad；　I'll　bet　you　two　hundred；　even；　that　I　beat　the　King！〃　she　flashed。

〃Wal；　of　all　the　nerve！〃　ejaculated　Bostil。　〃No；　I　won't　take　you　up。　Reckon　I
never　before　turned　down　an　even　bet。　Understand；　Lucy；　ridin'　in　the　race　is
enough　for　you。〃

〃All　right；　Dad；〃　replied　Lucy；　obediently。

At　that　juncture　Bostil　suddenly　shoved　back　his　plate　and　turned　his　face　to
the　open　door。　〃Don't　I　hear　a　runnin'　hoss？〃

Aunt　Jane　stopped　the　noise　she　was　making；　and　Lucy　darted　to　the　door。　Then
Bostil　heard　the　sharp；　rhythmic　hoof…beats　he　recognized。　They　shortened　to
clatter　and　poundthen　ceased　somewhere　out　in　front　of　the　house。

〃It's　the　King　with　Van　up；〃　said　Lucy；　from　the　door。　〃Dad；　Van's　jumped
offhe's　coming　in　。　。　。　he's　running。　Something　has　happened。　。　。　。　There
are　other　horses　comingridersIndians。〃

Bostil　knew　what　was　coming　and　prepared　himself。　Rapid　footsteps　sounded
without。

〃Hello；　Miss　Lucy！　Where's　Bostil？〃

A　lean；　supple　rider　appeared　before　the　door。　It　was　Van；　greatly　excited。

〃Come　in；　boy；〃　said　Bostil。　〃What're　you　flustered　about？〃

Van　strode　in；　spurs　jangling；　cap　in　hand。　〃Boss；　there'sa　sixty…foot
raisein　the　river！〃　Van　panted。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Lucy；　wheeling　toward　her　father。

〃Wal；　Van；　I　reckon　I　knowed　thet；〃　replied　Bostil。　　〃Mebbe　I'm　gettin'　old；
but　I　can　still　hear。　。　。　。　Listen。〃

Lucy　tiptoed　to　the　door　and　turned　her　head　sidewise　and　slowly　bowed　it　till
she　stiffened。　Outside　were；　sounds　of　birds　and　horses　and　men；　but　when　a
lull　came　it　quickly　filled　with　a　sullen；　low　boom。

〃Highest　flood　weever　seen；〃　said　Van。

〃You've　been　down？〃　queried　Bostil；　sharply。

〃Not　to　the　river；〃　replied　Van。　〃I　went　as　far　aswhere　the　gulch　openson
the　bluff。　There　was　a　string　of　Navajos　goin'　down。　An'　some　comin'　up。　I
stayed　there　watchin'　the　flood；　an'　pretty　soon　Somers　come　up　the　trail　with
Blakesley　an'　Brack　an'　some　riders。　。　。　。　An'　Somers　hollered　out；　'The
boat's　gone！'〃

〃Gone！〃　exclaimed　Bostil；　his　loud　cry　showing　consternation。

〃Oh；　Dad！　Oh；　Van！〃　cried　Lucy；　with　eyes　wide　and　lips　parted。

〃Sure　she's　gone。　An'　the　whole　place　down　therewhere　the　willows　was　an'
the　sand…barit　was　deep　under　water。〃

〃What　will　become　of　Creech's　horses？〃　asked　Lucy；　breathlessly。

〃My　God！　ain't　it　a　shame！〃　went　on　Bostil；　and　he　could　have　laughed　aloud　at
his　hypocrisy。　He　felt　Lucy's　blue　eyes　riveted　upon　his　face。

〃Thet's　what　we　all　was　sayin'；〃　went　on　Van。　〃While　we　was　watchin'　the　awful
flood　an'　listenin'　to　the　deep　bumbumbum　of　rollin'　rocks　some　one　seen
Creech　an'　two　Piutes　leadin'　the　hosses　up　thet　trail　where　the　slide　was。　We
counted　the　hossesnine。　An'　we　saw　the　roan　shine　blue　in　the　sunlight。〃

〃Piutes　with　Creech！〃　exclaimed　Bostil；　the　deep　gloom　in　his　eyes　lighting。
〃By　all　thet's　lucky！　Mebbe　them　Indians　can　climb　the　hosses　out　of　thet　hole
an'　find　water　an'　grass　enough。〃

〃Mebbe；〃　replied　Van；　doubtfully。　〃Sure　them　Piutes　could　if　there's　a　chance。
But　there　ain't　any　grass。〃

〃It　won't　take　much　grass　travelin'　by　night。〃

〃So　lots　of　the　boys　say。　But　the　Navajos　they　shook　their　heads。　An'　Farlane
an'　Holley；　why；　they　jest　held　up　their　hands。〃

〃With　them　Indians　Creech　has　a　chance　to　get　his　hosses　out；〃　declared
Bostil。　He　was　sure　of　his　sincerity；　but　he　was　not　certain　that　his
sincerity　was　not　the　birth　of　a　strange；　sudden　hope。　And　then　he　was　able　to
meet　the　eyes　of　his　daughter。　That　was　his　supreme　test。

〃Oh；　Dad；　why；　why　didn't　you　hurry　Creech's　horses　over？〃　said　Lucy；　with　her
tears　falling。

Something　tight　within　Bostil's　breast　seemed　to　ease　and　lessen。　〃Why　didn't
I？　。　。　。　Wal；　Lucy；　I　reckon　I　wasn't　in　no　hurry　to　oblige　Creech。　I'm　sorry
now。〃

〃It　won't　be　so　terrible　if　he　doesn't　lose　the　horses；〃　murmured　Lucy。

〃Where's　young　Joel　Creech？〃　asked　Bostil。

〃He　stayed　on　this　side　last　night；〃　replied　Van。　〃Fact　is；　Joel's　the　one　who
first　knew　the　flood　was　on。　Some　one　said　he　said　he　slept　in　the　canyon　last
night。　Anyway；　he's　ravin'　crazy　now。　An'　if　he　doesn't　do　harm　to　some　one　or
hisself　I'll　miss　my　guess。〃

〃A…huh！〃　grunted　Bostil。　〃Right　you　are。〃

〃Dad；　can't　anything　be　done　to　help　Creech　now？〃　appealed　Lucy；　going　close
to　her　father。

Bostil　put　his　arm　around　her　and　felt　immeasurably　relieved　to　have　the
golden　head　press　close　to　his　shoulder。　〃Child；　we　can't　fly　acrost　the
river。　Now　don't　you　cry　about　Creech's　hosses。　They　ain't　starved　yet。　It's
hard　luck。　But　mebbe　it'll　turn　out　so　Creech'll　lose　only　the　race。　An'；
Lucy；　it　was　a　dead　sure　bet　he'd　have　lost　thet　anyway。〃

Bostil　fondled　his　daughter　a　moment；　the　first　time　in　many　a　day；　and　then
he　turned　to　his　rider　at　the　door。　〃Van；　how's　the　King？〃

〃Wild　to　run；　Bostil；　jest　plumb　wild。　There　won't　be　any　hoss　with　the　ghost
of　a　show　to…morrow。〃

Lucy　raised　her　drooping　head。　〃Is　THAT　so；　Van　Sickle？　。　。　。　Listen　here。　If
you　and　Sage　King　don't　get　more　wild　running　to…morrow　than　you　ever　had　I'll
never　ride　again！〃　With　this　retort　Lucy　left　the　room。

Van　stared　at　the　door　and　then　at　Bostil。　〃What'd　I　say；　Bostil？〃　he　asked；
plaintively。　〃I'm　always　r'ilin'　her。〃

〃Cheer　up；　Van。　You　didn't　say　much。　Lucy　is　fiery　these　days。　She's　got　a
hoss　somewhere　an'　she's　goin'　to　ride　him　in　the　race。　She　offered　to　bet　on
himagainst　the　King！　It　certainly　beat　me　all　hollow。　But　see　here；　Van。
I've　a　hunch　there's　a　dark　hoss　goin'　to　show　up　in　this　race。　So　don't
underrate　Lucy　an'　her　mount；　whatever　he　is。　She　calls　him　Wildfire。　Ever　see
him？〃

〃I　sure　haven't。　Fact　is；　I　haven't　seen　Lucy　for　days　an'　days。　As　for　the
hunch　you　gave；　I'll　say　I　was　figurin'　Lucy　for　some　real　race。　Bostil；　she
doesn't　MAKE　a　hoss　run。　He'll　run　jest　to　please　her。　An'　Lucy's　lighter　'n　a
feather。　Why；　Bostil；　if　she　happened　to　ride　out　there　on　Blue　Roan　or　some
other　hoss　as　fast　I'dI'd　jest　wilt。〃

Bostil　uttered　a　laugh　full　of　pride　in　his　daughter。　〃Wal；　she　won't　show　up
on　Blue　Roan；〃　he　replied；　with　grim　gruffness。　〃Thet's　sure　as　death。　。　。　。
Come　on　out　now。　I　want　a　look　at　the　King。〃

Bostil　went　into　the　village。　All　day　long　he　was　so　busy　with　a　thousand　and
one　things　referred　to　him；　put　on　him；　undertaken　by　him；　that　he　had　no　time
to　think。　Back　in　his　mind；　however；　there　was　a　burden　of　which　he　was
vaguely　conscious　all　the　time。　He　worked　late　into　the　night　and　slept　late
the　next　morning。

Never　in　his　life　had　Bostil　been　gloomy　or　retrospective　on　the　day　of　a
race。　In　the　press　of　matters　he　had　only　a　w