wildfire-第47部分

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Sage　King　or　Sarchedon　or　Dusty　Benor　any　racer。　He　loses　them　or　me；　I
thought。　That's　what　I　am　here　for。〃

Creech's　aspect　changed。　The　eagerness　and　sympathy　fled　from　his　face；
leaving　it　once　more　hard　and　stern。　He　got　up　and　stood　a　tall；　dark；　and
gloomy　man；　brooding　over　his　loss；　as　he　watched　the　canyon。　Still；　there　was
in　him　then　a　struggle　that　Lucy　felt。　Presently　he　bent　over　and　put　his　big
hand　on　her　head。　It　seemed　gentle　and　tender　compared　with　former　contacts；
and　it　made　Lucy　thrill。　She　could　not　see　his　face。　What　did　he　mean？　She
divined　something　startling；　and　sat　there　trembling　in　suspense。

〃Bostil　won't　lose　his　only　girlor　his　favorite　hoss！　。　。　。　Lucy；　I　never
had　no　girl。　But　it　seems　I'm　rememberin'　them　rides　you　used　to　have　on　my
knee　when　you　was　little！〃

Then　he　strode　away　toward　the　forest。　Lucy　watched　him　with　a　full　heart；　and
as　she　thought　of　his　overcoming　the　evil　in　him　when　her　father　had　yielded
to　it；　she　suffered　poignant　shame。　This　Creech　was　not　a　bad　man。　He　was
going　to　let　her　go；　and　he　was　going　to　return　Bostil's　horses　when　they
came。　Lucy　resolved　with　a　passionate　determination　that　her　father　must　make
ample　restitution　for　the　loss　Creech　had　endured。　She　meant　to　tell　Creech
so。

Upon　his　return；　however；　he　seemed　so　strange　and　forbidding　again　that　her
heart　failed　her。　Had　he　reconsidered　his　generous　thought？　Lucy　almost
believed　so。　These　old　horse…traders　were　incomprehensible　in　any　relation
concerning　horses。　Recalling　Creech's　intense　interest　in　Wildfire　and　in　the
inevitable　race　to　be　run　between　him　and　Sage　King；　Lucy　almost　believed　that
Creech　would　sacrifice　his　vengeance　just　to　see　the　red　stallion　beat　the
gray。　If　Creech　kept　the　King　in　ransom　for　Lucy　he　would　have　to　stay　deeply
hidden　in　the　wild　breaks　of　the　canyon　country　or　leave　the　uplands。　For
Bostil　would　never　let　that　deed　go　unreckoned　with。　Like　Bostil；　old　Creech
was　half　horse　and　half　human。　The　human　side　had　warmed　to　remorse。　He　had
regretted　Lucy's　plight；　he　wanted　her　to　be　safe　at　home　again　and　to　find
happiness；　he　remembered　what　she　had　been　to　him　when　she　was　a　little　girl。
Creech's　other　side　was　more　complex。

Before　the　evening　meal　ended　Lucy　divined　that　Creech　was　dark　and　troubled
because　he　had　resigned　himself　to　a　sacrifice　harder　than　it　had　seemed　in
the　first　flush　of　noble　feeling。　But　she　doubted　him　no　more。　She　was　safe。
The　King　would　be　returned。　She　would　compel　her　father　to　pay　Creech　horse
for　horse。　And　perhaps　the　lesson　to　Bostil　would　be　worth　all　the　pain　of
effort　and　distress　of　mind　that　it　had　cost　her。

That　night　as　she　lay　awake　listening　to　the　roar　of　the　wind　in　the　pines　a
strange　premonitionlike　a　mysterious　voice…came　to　her　with　the　assurance
that　Slone　was　on　her　trail。

On　the　following　day　Creech　appeared　to　have　cast　off　the　brooding　mood。
Still；　he　was　not　talkative。　He　applied　himself　to　constant　watching　from　the
rim。

Lucy　began　to　feel　rested。　That　long　trip　with　Creech　had　made　her　thin　and
hard　and　strong。　She　spent　the　hours　under　the　shade　of　a　cedar　on　the　rim
that　protected　her　from　sun　and　wind。　The　wind；　particularly；　was　hard　to
stand。　It　blew　a　gale　out　of　the　west；　a　dry；　odorous；　steady　rush　that　roared
through　the　pine…tops　and　flattened　the　long；　white　grass。　This　day　Creech　had
to　build　up　a　barrier　of　rock　round　his　camp…fire；　to　keep　it　from　blowing
away。　And　there　was　a　constant　danger　of　firing　the　grass。

Once　Lucy　asked　Creech　what　would　happen　in　that　case。

〃Wal；　I　reckon　the　grass　would　burn　back　even　ag'in　thet　wind；〃　replied
Creech。　〃I'd　hate　to　see　fire　in　the　woods　now　before　the　rains　come。　It's
been　the　longest；　dryest　spell　I　ever　lived　through。　But　fer　thet　my　hosses
This　hyar's　a　west　wind；　an'　it's　blowin'　harder　every　day。　It'll　fetch　the
rains。〃

Next　day　about　noon；　when　both　wind　and　heat　were　high；　Lucy　was　awakened　from
a　doze。　Creech　was　standing　near　her。　When　he　turned　his　long　gaze　away　from
the　canyon　he　was　smiling。　It　was　a　smile　at　once　triumphant　and　sad。

〃Joel's　comin'　with　the　hosses！〃

Lucy　jumped　up；　trembling　and　agitated。　〃Oh！　。　。　。　Where？　Where？〃

Creech　pointed　carefully　with　bent　hand；　like　an　Indian；　and　Lucy　either　could
not　get　the　direction　or　see　far　enough。

〃Right　down　along　the　base　of　thet　red　wall。　A　line　of　hosses。　Jest　like　a　few
crawlin'　ants'　。　。　。　An'　now　they're　creepin'　out　of　sight。〃

〃Oh；　I　can't　see　them！〃　cried　Lucy。　〃Are　you　SURE？〃

〃Positive　an'　sartin；〃　he　replied。　〃Joel's　comin'。　He'll　be　up　hyar　before
long。　I　reckon　we'd　jest　as　well　let　him　come。　Fer　there's　water　an'　grass
hyar。　An'　down　below　grass　is　scarce。〃

It　seemed　an　age　to　Lucy；　waiting　there；　until　she　did　see　horses　zigzagging
the　ridges　below。　They　disappeared；　and　then　it　was　another　age　before　they
reappeared　close　under　the　bulge　of　wall。　She　thrilled　at　sight　of　Sage　King
and　Sarchedon。　She　got　only　a　glimpse　of　them。　They　must　pass　round　under　her
to　climb　a　split　in　the　wall；　and　up　a　long　draw　that　reached　level　ground
back　in　the　forest。　But　they　were　near；　and　Lucy　tried　to　wait。　Creech　showed
eagerness　at　first；　and　then　went　on　with　his　camp…fire　duties。　While　in　camp
he　always　cooked　a　midday　meal。

Lucy　saw　the　horses　first。　She　screamed　out。　Creech　jumped　up　in　alarm。

Joel　Creech；　mounted　on　Sage　King；　and　leading　Sarchedon；　was　coming　at　a
gallop。　The　other　horses　were　following。

〃What's　his　hurry？〃　demanded　Lucy。　〃After　climbing　out　of　that　canyon　Joel
ought　not　to　push　the　horses。〃

〃He'll　git　it　from　me　if　there's　no　reason；〃　growled　Creech。　〃Them　hosses　is
wet。〃

〃Look　at　Sarch！　He's　wild。　He　always　hated　Joel。〃

〃Wal；　Lucy；　I　reckon　I　ain't　likin'　this　hyar。　Look　at　Joel！〃　muttered　Creech；
and　he　strode　out　to　meet　his　son。

Lucy　ran　out　too；　and　beyond　him。　She　saw　only　Sage　King。　He　saw　her；
recognized　her；　and；　whistled　even　while　Joel　was　pulling　him　in。　For　once　the
King　showed　he　was　glad　to　see　Lucy。　He　had　been　having　rough　treatment。　But
he　was　not　windedonly　hot　and　wet。　She　assured　herself　of　that；　then　ran　to
quiet　the　plunging　Sarch。　He　came　down　at　once；　and　pushed　his　big　nose　almost
into　her　face。　She　hugged　his　great；　hot　neck。　He　was　quivering　all　over。　Lucy
heard　the　other　horses　pounding　up；　she　recognized　Two　Face's　high　whinny；
like　a　squeal；　and　in　her　delight　she　was　about　to　run　to　them　when　Creech's
harsh　voice　arrested　her。　And　sight　of　Joel's　face　suddenly　made　her　weak。

〃What'd　you　say？〃　demanded　Creech。

〃I'd　a　good　reason　to　run　the　hosses　up…hillthet's　what！〃　snapped　Joel。　He
was　frothing　at　the　mouth。

〃Out　with　it！〃

〃Cordts　an'　Hutch！〃

〃What？〃　roared　Creech；　grasping　the　pale　Joel　and　shaking　him。

〃Cordts　an'　Hutch　rode　in　behind　me　down　at　thet　cross　canyon。　They　seen　me。
An'　they're　after　me　hard！〃

Creech　gave　close　and　keen　scrutiny　to　the　strange　face　of　his　son。　Then　he
wheeled　away。

〃Help　me　pack。　An'　you；　too；　Lucy。　We've　got　to　rustle　out　of　hyar。〃

Lucy　fought　a　sick　faintness　that　threatened　to　make　her　useless。　But　she
tried　to　help；　and　presently　action　made　her　stronger。

The　Creeches　made　short　work　of　that　breaking　of　camp。　But　when　it　came　to
getting　the　horses　there　appeared　danger　of　delay。　Sarchedon　had　led　Dusty　Ben
and　Two　Face　off　in　the　grass。　When　Joel　went　for　them　they　galloped　away
toward　the　woods。　Joel　ran　back。

〃Son；　you're　a　smart　hossman！〃　exclaimed　Creech；　in　disgust。

〃Shall　I　git　on　the　King　an'　ketch　them？〃

〃No。　Hold　the　King。〃　Creech　went　out　after　Plume；　but　the　excited　and　wary
horse　eluded　him。　Then　Creech　gave　up；　caught　his　own　mustangs；　and　hurried
into　camp。

〃Lucy；　if　Cordts　gits　after　Sarch　an'　the　others　it'll　be　as　well　fer　us；〃　he
said。

Soon　they　were　riding　into　the　forest；　Creech　leading；　Lucy　in　the　center；　and
Joel　coming　behind　on　the　King。　Two　unsaddled　mustangs　carrying　the　packs　were
driven　in　front。　Creech　limited　the　gait　to　the　best　that　the　pack…horses
could　do。　They　made　fast　time。　The　level　forest　floor；　hard　and　springy；
afforded　the　best　kind　of　going。

A　cold　dread　had　once　more　clutched　Lucy's　heart。　What　would　be　the　end　of
this　flight？　The　way　Creech　looked　back　increased　her　dread。　How　horrible　it
would　be　if　Cordts　accomplished　what　he　had　always　threatenedto　run　off　with
both　her　and　the　King！　Lucy　lost　her　confidence　in　Creech。　She　did　not　glance
again　at　Joel。　Once　had　been　enough。　She　rode　on　with　heavy　heart。　Anxiety　and
dread　and　conjecture　and　a　gradual　sinking　of　spirit　weighed　her　down。　Yet　she
never　had　a　clearer　perception　of　outside　things。　The　forest　loomed　thicker
and　darker。　The　sky　was　seen　only　through　a　green；　crisscross　of　foliage
waving　in　the　roaring　gale。　This　strong　wind　was　like　a　blast　in　Lucy's　face；
and　its　keen　dryness　cracked　her　lips。

When　they　rode　out　of　the　forest；　down　a　gentle　slope　of　wind…swept　grass；　to
an　opening　into　a　canyon　Lucy　was　surprised　to　recognize　the　place。　How
quickly　the　ride　through　the　forest　had　been　made！

Creech　dismounted。　〃Git　off；　Lucy。　You；　Joel；　hurry　an'　hand　me　the　little
pack。　。　。　。　Now　I'll　take　Lucy　an'　the　King　down　in　hyar。　You　go　thet　way　with
the　hosses　an'　make　as　if　you　was　hidin'　your　trail；　but　don't。　Do　you　savvy？〃

Joel　shook　his　head。　He　looked　sullen；　somber；　strange。　His　father　repeated
what　he　had　said。

〃You're　wantin'　Cordts　to　split　on　the　trail？〃　asked　Joel。

〃Sure。　He'll　ketch　up　with　you　sometime。　But　you　needn't　be　afeared　if　he
does。〃

〃I　ain't　a…goin'　to　do　thet。〃

〃Why　not？〃　Creech　demanded；　slowly；　with　a　rising　voice。

〃I'm　a…goin'　with　you。　What　d'ye　mean；　Dad；　by　this　move？　You'll　be　headin'
back　fer　the　Ford。　An'　we'd　git　safer　if　we　go　the　other　way。〃

Creech　evidently　controlled　his　temper　by　an　effort。　〃I'm　takin'　Lucy　an'　the
King　back　to　Bostil。〃

Joel　echoed　those　words；　slowly　divining　them。　〃Takin'　them　BOTH！　The　girl。　。
。　。　An'　givin'　up　the　King！〃

〃Yes；　both　of　them。　I've　changed　my　mind；　Joel。　Nowyou〃

But　Creech　never　finished　what　he　meant　to　say。　Joel　Creech　was　suddenly
seized　by　a　horrible　madness。　It　was　then；　perh