wildfire-第49部分

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lips　were　weak。　Creech　seemed　paralyzed。　The　King　shifted　his　position；　and
Lucy's　last　glimpse　of　Creech　was　one　she　would　never　forget。　It　was　as　if
Creech　faced　burning　hell！

Then　the　King　whistled　and　reared。　Lucy　heard　swift；　dull；　throbbing　beats。
Beats　of　a　fast　horse's　hoofs　on　the　run！　She　felt　a　surging　thrill　of　joy。
She　could　not　think。　All　of　her　blood　and　bone　and　muscle　seemed　to　throb。
Suddenly　the　air　split　to　a　high…pitched；　wild；　whistling　blast。　It　pierced　to
Lucy's　mind。　She　knew　that　whistle。

〃Wildfire！〃　she　screamed；　with　bursting　heart。

The　King　gave　a　mighty　convulsive　bound　of　terror。　He；　too；　knew　that　whistle。
And　in　that　one　great　bound　he　launched　out　into　a　run。　Straight　across　the
line　of　burning　grass！　Lucy　felt　the　sting　of　flame。　Smoke　blinded　and　choked
her。　Then　clear；　dry；　keen　wind　sung　in　her　ears　and　whipped　her　hair。　The
light　about　her　darkened。　The　King　had　headed　into　the　pines。　The　heavy　roar
of　the　gale　overhead　struck　Lucy　with　new　and　torturing　dread。　Sage　King　once
in　his　life　was　running　away；　bridleless；　and　behind　him　there　was　fire　on　the
wings　of　the　wind。



CHAPTER　XVII

For　the　first　time　in　his　experience　Bostil　found　that　horse…trading　palled
upon　him。　This　trip　to　Durango　was　a　failure。　Something　was　wrong。　There　was　a
voice　constantly　calling　into　his　inner　eara　voice　to　which　he　refused　to
listen。　And　during　the　five　days　of　the　return　trip　the　strange　mood　grew　upon
him。

The　last　day　he　and　his　riders　covered　over　fifty　miles　and　reached　the　Ford
late　at　night。　No　one　expected　them；　and　only　the　men　on　duty　at　the　corrals
knew　of　the　return。　Bostil；　much　relieved　to　get　home；　went　to　bed　and　at　once
fell　asleep。

He　awakened　at　a　late　hour　for　him。　When　he　dressed　and　went　out　to　the
kitchen　he　found　that　his　sister　had　learned　of　his　return　and　had　breakfast
waiting。

〃Where's　the　girl？〃　asked　Bostil。

〃Not　up　yet；〃　replied　Aunt　Jane。

〃What！〃

〃Lucy　and　I　had　a　tiff　last　night　and　she　went　to　her　room　in　a　temper。〃

〃Nothin'　new　about　thet。〃

〃Holley　and　I　have　had　our　troubles　holding　her　in。　Don't　you　forget　that。〃

Bostil　laughed。　〃Wal；　call　her　an'　tell　her　I'm　home。〃

Aunt　Jane　did　as　she　was　bidden。　Bostil　finished　his　breakfast。　But　Lucy　did
not　come。

Bostil　began　to　feel　something　strange；　and；　going　to　Lucy's　door；　he　knocked。
There　was　no　reply。　Bostil　pushed　open　the　door。　Lucy　was　not　in　evidence；　and
her　room　was　not　as　tidy　as　usual。　He　saw　her　white　dress　thrown　upon　the　bed
she　had　not　slept　in。　Bostil　gazed　around　with　a　queer　contraction　of　the
heart。　That　sense　of　something　amiss　grew　stronger。　Then　he　saw　a　chair　before
the　open　window。　That　window　was　rather　high；　and　Lucy　had　placed　a　chair
before　it　so　that　she　could　look　out　or　get　out。　Bostil　stretched　his　neck；
looked　out；　and　in　the　red　earth　beneath　the　window　he　saw　fresh　tracks　of
Lucy's　boots。　Then　he　roared　for　Jane。

She　came　running；　and　between　Bostil's　furious　questions　and　her　own　excited
answers　there　was　nothing　arrived　at。　But　presently　she　spied　the　white　dress；
and　then　she　ran　to　Lucy's　closet。　From　there　she　turned　a　white　face　to
Bostil。

〃She　put　on　her　riding…clothes！〃　gasped　Aunt　Jane。

〃Supposin'　she　did！　Where　is　she？〃　demanded　Bostil。

〃SHE'S　RUN　OFF　WITH　SLONE！〃

Bostil　could　not　have　been　shocked　or　hurt　any　more　acutely　by　a　knife…thrust。
He　glared　at　his　sister。

〃A…huh！　So　thet's　the　way　you　watch　her！〃

〃Watch　her？　It　wasn't　possible。　She'swell；　she's　as　smart　as　you　are。　。　。　。
Oh；　I　knew　she'd　do　it！　She　was　wild　in　love　with　him！〃

Bostil　strode　out　of　the　room　and　the　house。　He　went　through　the　grove　and
directly　up　the　path　to　Slone's　cabin。　It　was　empty；　just　as　Bostil　expected
to　find　it。

The　bars　of　the　corral　were　down。　Both　Slone's　horses　were　gone。　Presently
Bostil　saw　the　black　horse　Nagger　down　in　Brackton's　pasture。

There　were　riders　in　front　of　Brackton's。　All　spoke　at　once　to　Bostil；　and　he
only　yelled　for　Brackton。　The　old　man　came　hurriedly　out；　alarmed。

〃Where's　this　Slone？〃　demanded　Bostil。

〃Slone！〃　ejaculated　Brackton。　〃I'm　blessed　if　I　know。　Ain't　he　home？〃

〃No。　An'　he's　left　his　black　hoss　in　your　field。〃

〃Wal；　by　golly；　thet's　news　to　me。　。　。　。　Bostil；　there's　been　strange　doin's
lately。〃　Brackton　seemed　at　a　loss　for　words。　〃Mebbe　Slone　got　out　because　of
somethin'　thet　come　off　last　night。　。　。　。　Now；　Joel　Creech　an'an'〃

Bostil　waited　to　hear　no　more。　What　did　he　care　about　the　idiot　Creech？　He
strode　down　the　lane　to　the　corrals。　Farlane；　Van；　and　other　riders　were
there；　leisurely　as　usual。　Then　Holley　appeared；　coming　out　of　the　barn。　He；
too；　was　easy；　cool；　natural；　lazy。　None　of　these　riders　knew　what　was　amiss。
But　instantly　a　change　passed　over　them。　It　came　because　Bostil　pulled　a　gun。
〃Holley；　I've　a　mind　to　bore　you！〃

The　old　hawk…eyed　rider　did　not　flinch　or　turn　a　shade　off　color。　〃What　fer？〃
he　queried。　But　his　customary　drawl　was　wanting。

〃I　left　you　to　watch　Lucy。　。　。　。　An'　she's　gone！〃

Holley　showed　genuine　surprise　and　distress。　The　other　riders　echoed　Bostil's
last　word。　Bostil　lowered　the　gun。

〃I　reckon　what　saves　you　is　you're　the　only　tracker　thet'd　have　a　show　to　find
this　cussed　Slone。〃

Holley　now　showed　no　sign　of　surprise；　but　the　other　riders　were　astounded。

〃Lucy's　run　off　with　Slone；〃　added　Bostil。

〃Wal；　if　she's　gone；　an'　if　he's　gone；　it's　a　cinch；〃　replied　Holley；　throwing
up　his　hands。　〃Boss；　she　double…crossed　me　same　as　you！　。　。　。　She　promised
faithful　to　stay　in　the　house。〃

〃Promises　nothin'！〃　roared　Bostil。　〃She's　in　love　with　this　wild…hoss
wrangler！　She　met　him　last　night！〃

〃I　couldn't　help　thet；〃　retorted　Holley。　〃An'　I　trusted　the　girl。〃

Bostil　tossed　his　hands。　He　struggled　with　his　rage。　He　had　no　fear　that　Lucy
would　not　soon　be　found。　But　the　opposition　to　his　will　made　him　furious。

Van　left　the　group　of　riders　and　came　close　to　Bostil。　〃It　ain't　an　hour　back
thet　I　seen　Slone　ride　off　alone　on　his　red　hoss。〃

〃What　of　thet？〃　demanded　Bostil。　〃Sure　she　was　waitin'　somewheres。　They'd　have
too　much　sense　to　go　together。　。　。　。　Saddle　up；　you　boys；　an'　we'll〃

〃Say；　Bostil；　I　happen　to　know　Slone　didn't　see　Lucy　last　night；〃　interrupted
Holley。

〃A…huh！　Wal；　you'd　better　talk　out。〃

〃I　trusted　Lucy；〃　said　Holley。　〃But　all　the　same；　knowin'　she　was　in　love；　I
jest　wanted　to　see　if　any　girl　in　love　could　keep　her　word。　。　。　。　So　about
dark　I　went　down　the　grove　an'　watched　fer　Slone。　Pretty　soon　I　seen　him。　He
sneaked　along　the　upper　end　an'　I　follered。　He　went　to　thet　bench　up　by　the
biggest　cottonwood。　An'　he　waited　a　long　time。　But　Lucy　didn't　come。　He　must
have　waited　till　midnight。　Then　he　left。　I　watched　him　go　backseen　him　go　up
to　his　cabin。〃

〃Wal；　if　she　didn't　meet　him；　where　was　she？　She　wasn't　in　her　room。〃

Bostil　gazed　at　Holley　and　the　other　riders；　then　back　to　Holley。　What　was　the
matter　with　this　old　rider？　Bostil　had　never　seen　Holley　seem　so　strange。　The
whole　affair　began　to　loom　strangely；　darkly。　Some　portent　quickened　Bostil's
lumbering　pulse。　It　seemed　that　Holley's　mind　must　have　found　an　obstacle　to
thought。　Suddenly　the　old　rider's　face　changedthe　bronze　was　blotted　outa
grayness　came；　and　then　a　dead　white。

〃Bostil；　mebbe　you　'ain't　been　told　yet　thetthet　Creech　rode　in　yesterday。　。
。　。　He　lost　all　his　racers！　He　had　to　shoot　both　Peg　an'　Roan！〃

Bostil's　thought　suffered　a　sudden；　blank　halt。　Then；　with　realization；　came
the　shock　for　which　he　had　long　been　prepared。

〃A…huh！　Is　thet　so？　。　。　。　Wal；　an'　what　did　he　say？〃

Holley　laughed　a　grim；　significant　laugh　that　curdled　Bostil's　blood。　〃Creech
said　a　lot！　But　let　thet　go　now。　。　。　。　Come　with　me。〃

Holley　started　with　rapid　strides　down　the　lane。　Bostil　followed。　And　he　heard
the　riders　coming　behind。　A　dark　and　gloomy　thought　settled　upon　Bostil。　He
could　not　check　that；　but　he　held　back　impatience　and　passion。

Holley　went　straight　to　Lucy's　window。　He　got　down　on　his　knees　to　scrutinize
the　tracks。

〃Made　more　'n　twelve　hours　ago；〃　he　said；　swiftly。　〃She　had　on　her　boots；　but
no　spurs。　。　。　。　Now　let's　see　where　she　went。〃

Holley　began　to　trail　Lucy's　progress　through　the　grove；　silently　pointing　now
and　then　to　a　track。　He　went　swifter；　till　Bostil　had　to　hurry。　The　other　men
came　whispering　after　them。

Holley　was　as　keen　as　a　hound　on　scent。

〃She　stopped　there；〃　he　said；　〃mebbe　to　listen。　Looks　like　she　wanted　to　cross
the　lane；　but　she　didn't：　here　she　got　to　goin'　faster。〃

Holley　reached　an　intersecting　path　and　suddenly　halted　stock…still；　pointing
at　a　big　track　in　the　dust。

〃My　God！　。　。　。　Bostil；　look　at　thet！〃

One　riving　pang　tore　through　Bostiland　then　he　was　suddenly　his　old　self；
facing　the　truth　of　danger　to　one　he　loved。　He　saw　beside　the　big　track　a
faint　imprint　of　Lucy's　small　foot。　That　was　the　last　sign　of　her　progress　and
it　told　a　story。

〃Bostil；　thet　ain't　Slone's　track；〃　said　Holley；　ringingly。

〃Sure　it　ain't。　Thet's　the　track　of　a　big　man；〃　replied　Bostil。

The　other　riders；　circling　round　with　bent　heads；　all　said　one　way　or　another
that　Slone　could　not　have　made　the　trail。

〃An'　whoever　he　was　grabbed　Lucy　upmade　off　with　her？〃　asked　Bostil。

〃Plain　as　if　we　seen　it　done！〃　exclaimed　Holley。　There　was　fire　in　the　clear；
hawk　eyes。

〃Cordts！〃　cried　Bostil；　hoarsely。

〃Mebbemebbe。　But　thet　ain't　my　idee。　。　。　。　Come　on。〃

Holley　went　so　fast　he　almost　ran；　and　he　got　ahead　of　Bostil。　Finally　several
hundred　yards　out　in　the　sage　he　halted；　and　again　dropped　to　his　knees。
Bostil　and　the　riders　hurried　on。

〃Keep　back；　don't　stamp　round　so　close；〃　ordered　Holley。　Then　like　a　man
searching　for　lost　gold　in　sand　and　grass　he　searched　the　ground。　To　Bostil　it
seemed　a　long　time　before　he　got　through。　When　he　arose　there　was　a　dark　and
deadly　certainty　in　his　face；　by　which　Bostil　knew　the　worst　had　befallen
Lucy。

〃Four　mustangs　an'　two　men　last　night；〃　said　Holley；　rapidly。　〃Here's　where
Lucy　was　set　down　on　her　feet。　Here's　where　she　mounted。　。　。　。　An'　here's　the
tracks　of　a　third　mantracks　made　this　mornin'。〃

Bostil　straightened　up　and　faced