to the last man-第39部分

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driven　to　embrace　this　nameless　purport　of　the　morning。　　And　a
well…known　voice　broke　in　upon　her　rapture。

〃Wal；　lass；　I　like　to　see　you　happy　an'　I　hate　myself　fer　comin'。
Because　I've　been　to　Grass　Valley　fer　two　days　an'　I've　got　news。〃

Old　John　Sprague　stood　there；　with　a　smile　that　did　not　hide　a
troubled　look。

〃Oh！　　Uncle　John！　　You　startled　me；〃　exclaimed　Ellen；　shocked　back
to　reality。　　And　slowly　she　added：　〃Grass　Valley！　　News？〃

She　put　out　an　appealing　hand；　which　Sprague　quickly　took　in　his　own；
as　if　to　reassure　her。

〃Yes；　an'　not　bad　so　far　as　you　Jorths　are　concerned；〃　he　replied。
〃The　first　Jorth…Isbel　fight　has　come　off。　。　。　。　Reckon　you　remember
makin'　me　promise　to　tell　you　if　I　heerd　anythin'。　　Wal；　I　didn't
wait　fer　you　to　come　up。〃

〃So　Ellen　heard　her　voice　calmly　saying。　　What　was　this　lying　calm
when　there　seemed　to　be　a　stone　hammer　at　her　heart？　　The　first　fight
not　so　bad　for　the　Jorths！　　Then　it　had　been　bad　for　the　Isbels。
A　sudden；　cold　stillness　fell　upon　her　senses。

〃Let's　sit　downoutdoors；〃　Sprague　was　saying。　　〃Nice　an'　sunny　this
mornin'。　　I　declareI'm　out　of　breath。　　Not　used　to　walkin'。　　An'
besides；　I　left　Grass　Valley；　in　the　nightan'　I'm　tired。　　But　excoose
me　from　hangin'　round　thet　village　last　night！　　There　was　shore〃

〃Whowho　was　killed？〃　interrupted　Ellen；　her　voice　breaking　low　and　deep。

〃Guy　Isbel　an'　Bill　Jacobs　on　the　Isbel　side；　an'　Daggs；　Craig；　an'
Greaves　on　your　father's　side；〃　stated　Sprague；　with　something　of
awed　haste。

〃Ah！〃　breathed　Ellen；　and　she　relaxed　to　sink　back　against　the　cabin　wall。

Sprague　seated　himself　on　the　log　beside　her；　turning　to　face　her；
and　he　seemed　burdened　with　grave　and　important　matters。

〃I　heerd　a　good　many　conflictin'　stories；〃　he　said；　earnestly。　　〃The
village　folks　is　all　skeered　an'　there's　no　believin'　their　gossip。
But　I　got　what　happened　straight　from　Jake　Evarts。　　The　fight　come
off　day　before　yestiddy。　　Your　father's　gang　rode　down　to　Isbel's　ranch。
Daggs　was　seen　to　be　wantin'　some　of　the　Isbel　hosses；　so　Evarts　says。
An'　Guy　Isbel　an'　Jacobs　ran　out　in　the　pasture。　　Daggs　an'　some　others
shot　them　down

〃Killed　themthat　way？〃　put　in　Ellen；　sharply。

〃So　Evarts　says。　　He　was　on　the　ridge　an'　swears　he　seen　it　all。　　They
killed　Guy　an'　Jacobs　in　cold　blood。　　No　chance　fer　their　livesnot
even　to　fight！　。　。　。　Wall；　hen　they　surrounded　the　Isbel　cabin。　　The
fight　last　all　thet　day　an'　all　night　an'　the　next　day。　　Evarts　says
Guy　an'　Jacobs　laid　out　thar　all　this　time。　　An'　a　herd　of　hogs　broke　
in　the　pasture　an'　was　eatin'　the　dead　bodies　。　。　。〃

〃My　God！〃　burst　out　Ellen。　　〃Uncle　John；　y'u　shore　cain't　mean　my
father　wouldn't　stop　fightin'　long　enough　to　drive　the　hogs　off　an'
bury　those　daid　men？〃

〃Evarts　says　they　stopped　fightin'；　all　right；　but　it　was　to　watch
the　hogs；〃　declared　Sprague。　　〃An'　then；　what　d'　ye　think？　　The
wimminfolks　come　outthe　　red…headed　one；　Guy's　wife；　an'　Jacobs's
wifethey　drove　the　hogs　away　an'　buried　their　husbands　right　there
in　the　pasture。　　Evarts　says　he　seen　the　graves。〃

〃It　is　the　women　who　can　teach　these　bloody　Texans　a　lesson；〃
declared　Ellen；　forcibly。

〃Wal；　Daggs　was　drunk；　an'　he　got　up　from　behind　where　the　gang　was
hidin'；　an'　dared　the　Isbels　to　come　out。　　They　shot　him　to　pieces。
An'　thet　night　some　one　of　the　Isbels　shot　Craig；　who　was　alone　on　guard。
。　。　。　An'　lastthis　here's　what　I　come　to　tell　youJean　Isbel　slipped　
up　in　the　dark　on　Greaves　an'　knifed　him。〃

〃Why　did　y'u　want　to　tell　me　that　particularly？〃　asked　Ellen；　slowly。

〃Because　I　reckon　the　facts　in　the　case　are　queeran'　because；　Ellen；
your　name　was　mentioned；〃　announced　Sprague；　positively。

〃My　namementioned？〃　echoed　Ellen。　　Her　horror　and　disgust　gave　way　to
a　quickening　process　of　thought；　a　mounting　astonishment。　　〃By　whom？〃

〃Jean　Isbel；〃　replied　Sprague；　as　if　the　name　and　the　fact　were　momentous。

Ellen　sat　still　as　a　stone；　her　hands　between　her　knees。　　Slowly　she
felt　the　blood　recede　from　her　face；　prickling　her　kin　down　below　her
neck。　　That　name　locked　her　thought。

〃Ellen；　it's　a　mighty　queer　storytoo　queer　to　be　a　lie；〃　went　on
Sprague。　　〃Now　you　listen！　　Evarts　got　this　from　Ted　Meeker。　　An'　Ted
Meeker　heerd　it　from　Greaves；　who　didn't　die　till　the　next　day　after
Jean　Isbel　knifed　him。　　An'　your　dad　shot　Ted　fer　tellin'　what　he　heerd。
。　。　。　No；　Greaves　wasn't　killed　outright。　　He　was　cut　somethin'　turrible
in　two　places。　　They　wrapped　him　all　up　an'　next　day　packed　him　in　a
wagon　back　to　Grass　Valley。　　Evarts　says　Ted　Meeker　was　friendly　with
Greaves　an'　went　to　see　him　as　he　was　layin'　in　his　room　next　to　the
store。　　Wal；　accordin'　to　Meeker's　story；　Greaves　came　to　an'　talked。
He　said　he　was　sittin'　there　in　the　dark；　shootin'　occasionally　at
Isbel's　cabin；　when　he　heerd　a　rustle　behind　him　in　the　grass。　　He
knowed　some　one　was　crawlin'　on　him。　　But　before　he　could　get　his　gun
around　he　was　jumped　by　what　he　thought　was　a　grizzly　bear。　　But　it　was
a　man。　　He　shut　off　Greaves's　wind　an'　dragged　him　back　in　the　ditch。
An'　he　said：　'Greaves；　it's　the　half…breed。　　An'　he's　goin'　to　cut　you
FIRST　FOR　ELLEN　JORTH！　an'　then　for　Gaston　Isbel！'　。　。　。　Greaves　said
Jean　ripped　him　with　a　bowie　knife。　。　。　。　An'　thet　was　all　Greaves
remembered。　　He　died　soon　after　tellin'　this　story。　　He　must　hev　fought　
awful　hard。　　Thet　second　cut　Isbel　gave　him　went　clear　through　him。　。　。　。
Some　of　the　gang　was　thar　when　Greaves　talked；　an'　naturally　they
wondered　why　Jean　Isbel　had　said　'first　for　Ellen　Jorth。'　。　。　。　Somebody
remembered　thet　Greaves　had　cast　a　slur　on　your　good　name；　Ellen。　　An'
then　they　had　Jean　Isbel's　reason　fer　sayin'　thet　to　Greaves。　　It　caused
a　lot　of　talk。　　An'　when　Simm　Bruce　busted　in　some　of　the　gang　haw…hawed
him　an'　said　as　how　he'd　get　the　third　cut　from　Jean　Isbel's　bowie。
Bruce　was　half　drunk　an'　he　began　to　cuss　an'　rave　about　Jean　Isbel
bein'　in　love　with　his　girl。　。　。　。　As　bad　luck　would　have　it；　a　couple
of　more　fellars　come　in　an'　asked　Meeker　questions。　　He　jest　got　to
thet　part；　'Greaves；　it's　the　half…breed；　an'　he's　goin'　to　cut　you
FIRST　FOR　ELLEN　JORTH；'　when　in　walked　your　father！　。　。　。　Then　it　all
had　to　come　outwhat　Jean　Isbel　had　said　an'　donean'　why。
How　Greaves　had　backed　Simm　Bruce　in　slurrin'　you！〃

Sprague　paused　to　look　hard　at　Ellen。

〃Oh！　　Thenwhat　did　dad　do？〃　whispered　Ellen。

〃He　said；　'By　God！　half…breed　or　not；　there's　one　Isbel　who's　a　man！'
An'　he　killed　Bruce　on　the　spot　an'　gave　Meeker　a　nasty　wound。
Somebody　grabbed　him　before　he　could　shoot　Meeker　again。　　They　threw
Meeker　out　an'　he　crawled　to　a　neighbor's　house；　where　he　was　when
Evarts　seen　him。〃

Ellen　felt　Sprague's　rough　but　kindly　hand　shaking　her。　　〃An'　now　what
do　you　think　of　Jean　Isbel？〃　he　queried。

A　great；　unsurmountable　wall　seemed　to　obstruct　Ellen's　thought。
It　seemed　gray　in　color。　　It　moved　toward　her。　　It　was　inside　her　brain。

〃I　tell　you；　Ellen　Jorth；〃　declared　the　old　man；　〃thet　Jean　Isbel　loves
you…loves　you　turriblyan'　he　believes　you're　good。〃

〃Oh　nohe　doesn't！〃　faltered　Ellen。

〃Wal；　he　jest　does。〃

〃Oh；　Uncle　John；　he　cain't　believe　that！〃　she　cried。

〃Of　course　he　can。　　He　does。　　You　are　goodgood　as　gold；　Ellen；　an'
he　knows　it。　。　。　。　What　a　queer　deal　it　all　is！　　Poor　devil！　　To　love
you　thet　turribly　an'　hev　to　fight　your　people！　　Ellen；　your　dad　had
it　correct。　　Isbel　or　not；　he's　a　man。　。　。　。　An'　I　say　what　a　shame
you　two　are　divided　by　hate。　　Hate　thet　you　hed　nothin'　to　do　with。〃
Sprague　patted　her　head　and　rose　to　go。　　〃Mebbe　thet　fight　will　end
the　trouble。　　I　reckon　it　will。　　Don't　cross　bridges　till　you　come　to
them；　Ellen。　；　。　。　I　must　hurry　back　now。　　I　didn't　take　time　to　unpack
my　burros。　　Come　up　soon。　。　。　。　An'；　say；　Ellen；　don't　think　hard　any
more　of　thet　Jean　Isbel。〃

Sprague　strode　away；　and　Ellen　neither　heard　nor　saw　him　go。　　She　sat
perfectly　motionless；　yet　had　a　strange　sensation　of　being　lifted　by
invisible　and　mighty　power。　　It　was　like　movement　felt　in　a　dream。
She　was　being　impelled　upward　when　her　body　seemed　immovable　as　stone。
When　her　blood　beat　down　this　deadlock　of　an　her　physical　being　and
rushed　on　and　on　through　her　veins　it　gave　her　an　irresistible　impulse
to　fly；　to　sail　through　space；　to　ran　and　run　and　ran。

And　on　the　moment　the　black　horse；　Spades；　coming　from　the　meadow；
whinnied　at　sight　of　her。　　Ellen　leaped　up　and　ran　swiftly；　but　her
feet　seemed　to　be　stumbling。　　She　hugged　the　horse　and　buried　her　hot
face　in　his　mane　and　clung　to　him。　　Then　just　as　violently　she　rushed
for　her　saddle　and　bridle　and　carried　the　heavy　weight　as　easily　as　if
it　had　been　an　empty　sack。　　Throwing　them　upon　him；　she　buckled　and
strapped　with　strong；　eager　hands。　　It　never　occurred　to　her　that　she
was　not　dressed　to　ride。　　Up　she　flung　herself。　　And　the　horse；　sensing
her　spirit；　plunged　into　strong；　free　gait　down　the　canyon　trail。

The　ride；　the　action；　the　thrill；　the　sensations　of　violence　were　not
all　she　needed。　　Solitude；　the　empty　aisles　of　the　forest；　the　far　miles
of　lonely　wildernesswere　these　the　added　all？　　Spades　took　a　swinging；
rhythmic　lope　up　the　winding　trail。　　The　wind　fanned　her　hot　face。　　The　
sting　of　whipping　aspen　branches　was　pleasant。　　A　deep　rumble　of　thunder
shook　the　sultry　air。　　Up　beyond　the　green　slope　of　the　canyon　massed
the　creamy　clouds；　shading　darker　and　darker。　　Spades　loped　on　the
levels；　leaped　the　washes；　trotted　over　the　rocky　ground；　and　took　to
a　walk　up　the　long　slope。　　Ellen　dropped　the　reins　over　the　pommel。
Her　hands　could　not　stay　set　on　anything。　　They　pressed　her　breast
and　flew　out　to　caress　the　white　aspens　and　to　tear　at　the　maple　leaves；
and　gather　the　lavender　juniper　berries；　and　came　back　again　to　her　heart。
Her　heart　that　was　going　to　burst　or　break！　　As　it　had　swelled；　so　now
it　labored。　It　could　not　keep　pace　with　her　needs。　　All　that　was　physical；
all　that　was　living　in　her　had　to　be　unleashed。

Spades　gained　the　level　forest。　　How　the　great；　brown…green　pines　seemed
to　bend　their　lofty　branches　over　her；　protectively；　understandingly。
Patches　of　azure…blue　sky　flashed　between　the　trees。　　The　great　white