wildfire-第33部分

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fight。　If　I　could　only　have　kept　him　runnin'！　Thet　would　have　been　a　race！　。　。
。　But　Wildfire　got　in　closer　an'　closer。　He　crowded　us。　He　bit　at　the　King's
flank　an'　shoulder　an'　neck。　Lucy　pulled　till　I　yelled　she'd　throw　the　hoss
an'　kill　us　both。　Then　Wildfire　jumped　for　us。　Runnin'　an'　strikin'　with　both
feet　at　once！　Bostil；　thet　hoss's　hell！　Then　he　hit　us　an'　down　we　went。　I　had
a　bad　spill。　But　the　King's　not　hurt　an'　thet's　a　blessed　wonder。〃

〃No　race；　Van！　It　was　hard　luck。　Take　him　home；〃　said　Bostil。

Van's　story　of　the　accident　vindicated　Bostil's　doubts。　A　new　horse　had
appeared　on　the　scene；　wild　and　swift　and　grand；　but　Sage　King　was　still
unbeaten　in　a　fair　race。　There　would　come　a　reckoning；　Bostil　grimly　muttered。
Who　owned　this　Wildfire？

Holley　might　as　well　have　read　his　mind。　〃Reckon　this　feller　ridin'　up　will
take　down　the　prize　money；〃　remarked　Holley；　and　he　pointed　to　a　man　who　rode
a　huge；　shaggy；　black　horse　and　was　leading　Lucy's　pony。

〃A…huh！〃　exclaimed　Bostil。　〃A　strange　rider。〃

〃An'　here　comes　Lucy　coaxin'　the　stallion　back；〃　added　Holley。

〃A　wild　stallion　never　clear　broke！〃　ejaculated　Cordts。

All　the　men　looked　and　all　had　some　remark　of　praise　for　Lucy　and　her　mount。

Bostil　gazed　with　a　strange；　irresistible　attraction。　Never　had　he　expected　to
live　to　see　a　wild　stallion　like　this　one；　to　say　nothing　of　his　daughter
mounted　on　him；　with　the　record　of　having　put　Sage　King　out　of　the　race！

A　thousand　pairs　of　eyes　watched　Wildfire。　He　pranced　out　there　beyond　the
crowd　of　men　and　horses。　He　did　not　want　to　come　closer。　Yet　he　did　not　seem
to　fight　his　rider。　Lucy　hung　low　over　his　neck；　apparently　exhausted；　and　she
was　patting　him　and　caressing　him。　There　were　horses　and　Indians　on　each　side
of　the　race　track；　and　between　these　lines　Lucy　appeared　reluctant　to　come。

Bostil　strode　down　and；　waving　and　yelling　for　everybody　to　move　back　to　the
slope；　he　cleared　the　way　and　then　stood　out　in　front　alone。

〃Ride　up；　now；〃　he　called　to　Lucy。

It　was　then　Bostil　discovered　that　Lucy　did　not　wear　a　spur　and　she　had
neither　quirt　nor　whip。　She　turned　Wildfire　and　he　came　prancing　on；　head　and
mane　and　tail　erect。　His　action　was　beautiful；　springy；　and　every　few　steps；
as　Lucy　touched　him；　he　jumped　with　marvelous　ease　and　swiftness。

Bostil　became　all　eyes。　He　did　not　see　his　daughter　as　she　paraded　the　winner
before　the　applauding　throng。　And　Bostil　recorded　in　his　mind　that　which　he
would　never　forgeta　wild　stallion；　with　unbroken　spirit；　a　giant　of　a　horse；
glistening　red；　with　mane　like　dark…striped；　wind…blown　flame；　all　muscle；　all
grace；　all　power；　a　neck　long　and　slender　and　arching　to　the　small；　savagely
beautiful　head；　the　jaws　open；　and　the　thin…skinned；　pink…colored　nostrils
that　proved　the　Arabian　blood；　the　slanting　shoulders　and　the　deep；　broad
chest；　the　powerful　legs　and　knees　not　too　high　nor　too　low；　the　symmetrical
dark　hoofs　that　rang　on　the　little　stonesall　these　marks　so　significant　of
speed　and　endurance。　A　stallion　with　a　wonderful　physical　perfection　that
matched　the　savage；　ruthless　spirit　of　the　desert　killer　of　horses！

Lucy　waved　her　hand；　and　the　strange　rider　to　whom　Holley　had　called　attention
strode　out　of　the　crowd　toward　Wildfire。

Bostil's　gaze　took　in　the　splendid　build　of　this　lithe　rider；　the　clean…cut
face；　the　dark　eye。　This　fellow　had　a　shiny；　coiled　lasso　in　hand。　He　advanced
toward　Wildfire。　The　stallion　snorted　and　plunged。　If　ever　Bostil　raw　hate
expressed　by　a　horse　he　saw　it　then。　But　he　seemed　to　be　tractable　to　the
control　of　the　girl。　Bostil　swiftly　grasped　the　strange　situation。　Lucy　had
won　the　love　of　the　savage　stallion。　That　always　had　been　the　secret　of　her
power。　And　she　had　hated　Sage　King　because　he　alone　had　somehow　taken　a
dislike　to　her。　Horses　were　as　queer　as　people；　thought　Bostil。

The　rider　walked　straight　up　to　the　trembling　Wildfire。　When　Wildfire　plunged
and　reared　up　and　up　the　rider　leaped　for　the　bridle　and　with　an　iron　arm
pulled　the　horse　down。　Wildfire　tried　again；　almost　lifting　the　rider；　but　a
stinging　cut　from　the　lasso　made　him　come　to　a　stand。　Plainly　the　rider　held
the　mastery。

〃Dad！〃　called　Lucy；　faintly。

Bostil　went　forward；　close；　while　the　rider　held　Wildfire。　Lucy　was　as
wan…faced　as　a　flower　by　moonlight。　Her　eyes　were　dark　with　emotions；　fear
predominating。　Then　for　Bostil　the　half　of　his　heart　that　was　human　reasserted
itself。　Lucy　was　only　a　girl　now；　and　weakening。　Her　fear；　her　pitiful　little
smile；　as　if　she　dared　not　hope　for　her　father's　approval　yet　could　not　help
it；　touched　Bostil　to　the　quick；　and　he　opened　his　arms。　Lucy　slid　down　into
them。

〃Lucy；　girl；　you've　won　the　King's　race　an'　double…crossed　your　poor　old　dad！〃

〃Oh；　Dad；　I　never　knewI　never　dreamed　Wildfirewould　jump　the　King；〃　Lucy
faltered。　〃I　couldn't　hold　him。　He　was　terrible。　。　。　。　It　made　me　sick。　。　。　。
Daddy；　tell　me　Van　wasn't　hurtor　the　King！〃

〃The　hoss's　all　right　an'　so's　Van；〃　replied　Bostil。　〃Don't　cry；　Lucy。　It　was
a　fool　trick　you　pulled　off；　but　you　did　it　great。　By　Gad！　you　sure　was　ridin'
thet　red　devil。　。　。　。　An'　say；　it's　all　right　with　me！〃

Lucy　did　not　faint　then；　but　she　came　near　it。　Bostil　put　her　down　and　led　her
through　the　lines　of　admiring　Indians　and　applauding　riders；　and　left　her　with
the　women。

When　he　turned　again　he　was　in　time　to　see　the　strange　rider　mount　Wildfire。
It　was　a　swift　and　hazardous　mount；　the　stallion　being　in　the　air。　When　he
came　down　he　tore　the　turf　and　sent　it　flying；　and　when　he　shot　up　again　he
was　doubled　in　a　red　knot；　bristling　with　fiery　hair；　a　furious　wild　beast；
mad　to　throw　the　rider。　Bostil　never　heard　as　wild　a　scream　uttered　by　a
horse。　Likewise　he　had　never　seen　so　incomparable　a　horseman　as　this　stranger。
Indians　and　riders　alike　thrilled　at　a　sight　which　was　after　their　own　hearts。
The　rider　had　hooked　his　long　spurs　under　the　horse　and　now　appeared　a　part　of
him。　He　could　not　be　dislodged。　This　was　not　a　bucking　mustang；　but　a　fierce；
powerful；　fighting　stallion。　No　doubt；　thought　Bostil；　this　fight　took　place
every　time　the　rider　mounted　his　horse。　It　was　the　sort　of　thing　riders　loved。
Most　of　them　would　not　own　a　horse　that　would　not　pitch。　Bostil　presently
decided；　however；　that　in　the　case　of　this　red　stallion　no　rider　in　his　right
senses　would　care　for　such　a　fight；　simply　because　of　the　extraordinary
strengths；　activity；　and　ferocity　of　the　stallion。

The　riders　were　all　betting　the　horse　would　throw　the　stranger。　And　Bostil；
seeing　the　gathering　might　of　Wildfire's　momentum；　agreed　with　them。　No
horseman　could　stick　on　that　horse。　Suddenly　Wildfire　tripped　in　the　sage；　and
went　sprawling　in　the　dust；　throwing　his　rider　ahead。　Both　man　and　beast　were
quick　to　rise；　but　the　rider　had　a　foot　in　the　stirrup　before　Wildfire　was
under　way。　Then　the　horse　plunged；　ran　free；　came　circling　back；　and　slowly
gave　way　to　the　rider's　control。　Those　few　moments　of　frenzied　activity　had
brought　out　the　foam　and　the　sweatWildfire　was　wet。　The　man　pulled　him　in
before　Bostil　and　dismounted。

〃Sometimes　I　ride　him。　then　sometimes　I　don't；〃　he　said；　with　a　smile。

Bostil　held　out　his　hand。　He　liked　this　rider。　He　would　have　liked　the　frank
face；　less　hard　than　that　of　most　riders；　and　the　fine；　dark　eyes；　straight
and　steady；　even　if　their　possessor　had　not　come　with　the　open　sesame　to
Bostil's　regarda　grand；　wild　horse；　and　the　nerve　to　ride　him。

〃Wal；　you　rode　him　longer　'n　any　of　us　figgered　〃　said　Bostil；　heartily
shaking　the　man's　hand。　〃I'm　Bostil。　Glad　to　meet　you。〃

〃My　name's　SloneLin　Slone；〃　replied　the　rider；　frankly。　〃I'm　a　wild…horse
hunter　an'　hail　from　Utah。〃

〃Utah？　How'd　you　ever　get　over？　Wal；　you've　got　a　grand　hossan'　you　put　a
grand　rider　up　on　him　in　the　race。　。　。　。　My　girl　Lucy〃

Bostil　hesitated。　His　mind　was　running　swiftly。　Back　of　his　thoughts　gathered
the　desire　and　the　determination　to　get　possession　of　this　horse　Wildfire。　He
had　forgotten　what　he　might　have　said　to　this　stranger　under　different
circumstances。　He　looked　keenly　into　Slone's　face　and　saw　no　fear；　no
subterfuge。　The　young　man　was　honest。

〃Bostil；　I　chased　this　wild　horse　days　an'　weeks　an'　months；　hundreds　of
milesacross　the　canyon　an'　the　river〃

〃No！〃　interrupted　Bostil；　blankly。

〃Yes。　I'll　tell　you　how　later。　。　。　。　Out　here　somewhere　I　caught　Wildfire；
broke　him　as　much　as　he'll　ever　be　broken。　He　played　me　out　an'　got　away。　Your
girl　rode　alongsaved　my　horsean'　saved　my　life；　too。　I　was　in　bad　shape
for　days。　But　I　got　well　an'an'　then　she　wanted　me　to　let　her　run　Wildfire
in　the　big　race。　I　couldn't　refuse。　。　。　。　An'　it　would　have　been　a　great　race
but　for　the　unlucky　accident　to　Sage　King。　I'm　sorry；　sir。〃

〃Slone；　it　jarred　me　some；　thet　disappointment。　But　it's　over；〃　replied
Bostil。　〃An'　so　thet's　how　Lucy　found　her　hoss。　She　sure　was　mysterious。　。　。　。
Wal；　wal。〃　Bostil　became　aware　of　others　behind　him。　〃Holley；　shake　hands　with
Slone；　hoss…wrangler　out　of　Utah。　。　。　。　You；　too；　Cal　Blinn。　。　。　。　An'
Macomberan'　Wetherby；　meet　my　friend　hereyoung　Slone。　。　。　。　An'；　Cordts；
shake　hands　with　a　feller　thet　owns　a　grand　hoss！〃

Bostil　laughed　as　he　introduced　the　horse…thief　to　Slone。　The　others　laughed；
too；　even　Cordts　joining　in。　There　was　much　of　the　old　rider　daredevil　spirit
left　in　Bostil；　and　it　interested　and　amused　him　to　see　Cordts　and　Slone　meet。
Assuredly　Slone　had　heard　of　the　noted　stealer　of　horses。　The　advantage　was
certainly　on　Cordts's　side；　for　he　was　good…natured　and　pleasant　while　Slone
stiffened；　paling　slightly　as　he　faced　about　to　acknowledge　the　introduction。

〃Howdy；　Slone；〃　drawled　Cordts；　with　hand　outstretched。　〃I　sure　am　glad　to
meet　yuh。　I'd　like　to　trade　the　Sage　King　for　this　red　stallion！〃

A　roar　of　laughter　greeted　this　sally；　all　but　Bostil　and　Slone　joining　in。
The　joke　was　on　Bostil；　and　he　showed　it。　Slone　did　not　even　smile。

〃Howdy；　Cordts；〃　he　replied。　〃I'm　glad　to　meet　youso　I'll　know　you　when　I
see　you　again。〃

〃Wal；　we're　all　good　fellers　to…day；〃　interposed　Bostil。　〃An'　now　let's　ride
home　an'　eat。　Slone；　you　come　with　me。〃

The　group　slowly　mounted　th