to the last man-第51部分

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clenched　at　her　sides。　　She　was'　listening；　waiting　for　that　jangling；
slow　step。　　It　came；　and　with　the　sound　she　subtly　changed。　　She　was　a
woman　hiding　her　true　feelings。　　She　relaxed；　and　that　strong；　dark
look　of　fury　seemed　to　fade　back　into　her　eyes。

Colter　appeared　at　the　door；　carrying　a　roll　of　blankets　and　a　pack。

〃Throw　them　heah；〃　she　said。　　〃I　reckon　y'u　needn't　bother　coming　in。〃

That　angered　the　man。　　With　one　long　stride　he　stepped　over　the　doorsill；
down　into　the　cabin；　and　flung　the　blankets　at　her　feet　and　then　the　pack
after　it。　　Whereupon　he　deliberately　sat　down　in　the　door；　facing　her。
With　one　hand　he　slid　off　his　sombrero；　which　fell　outside；　and　with
the　other　he　reached　in　his　upper　vest　pocket　for　the　little　bag　of
tobacco　that　showed　there。　　All　the　time　he　looked　at　her。　　By　the
light　now　unobstructed　Jean　descried　Colter's　face；　and　sight　of　it
then　sounded　the　roll　and　drum　of　his　passions。

〃Wal；　Ellen；　I　reckon　we'll　have　it　out　right　now　an'　heah；〃　he　said；
and　with　tobacco　in　one　hand；　paper　in　the　other　he　began　the　operations
of　making　a　cigarette。　　However；　he　scarcely　removed　his　glance　from　her。

〃Yes？〃　queried　Ellen　Jorth。

〃I'm　goin'　to　have　things　the　way　they　were　beforean'　more；〃　he
declared。　　The　cigarette　paper　shook　in　his　fingers。

〃What　do　y'u　mean？〃　she　demanded。

〃Y'u　know　what　I　mean；〃　he　retorted。　　Voice　and　action　were　subtly
unhinging　this　man's　control　over　himself。

〃Maybe　I　don't。　　I　reckon　y'u'd　better　talk　plain。〃

The　rustler　had　clear　gray…yellow　eyes；　flawless；　like；　crystal；
and　suddenly　they　danced　with　little　fiery　flecks。

〃The　last　time　I　laid　my　hand　on　y'u　I　got　hit　for　my　pains。
An'　shore　that's　been　ranklin'。〃

〃Colter；　y'u'll　get　hit　again　if　y'u。　put　your　hands　on　me；〃　she　said；
dark；　straight　glance　on　him。　　A　frown　wrinkled　the　level　brows。

〃Y'u　mean　that？〃　he　asked；　thickly。

〃I　shore；　do。〃

Manifestly　he　accepted　her　assertion。　　Something　of　incredulity　and
bewilderment；　that　had　vied　with　his　resentment；　utterly　disappeared
from　his　face。

〃Heah　I've　been　waitin'　for　y'u　to　love　me；〃　he　declared；　with　a　gesture
not　without　dignified　emotion。　　〃Your　givin'　in　without　that　wasn't　so
much　to　me。〃

And　at　these　words　of　the　rustler's　Jean　Isbel　felt　an　icy；　sickening
shudder　creep　into　his　soul。　　He　shut　his　eyes。　　The　end　of　his　dream
had　been　long　in　coming；　but　at　last　it　had　arrived。　　A　mocking　voice；
like　a　hollow　wind；　echoed　through　that　regionthat　lonely　and
ghost…like　hall　of　his　heart　which　had　harbored　faith。

She　burst　into　speech；　louder　and　sharper；　the　first　words　of　which
Jean's　strangely　throbbing　ears　did　not　distinguish。

〃　　you！　。　。　。　I　never　gave　in　to　y'u　an'　I　never　will。〃

〃But；　girlI　kissed　y'uhugged　y'uhandled　y'u〃　he　expostulated；
and　the　making　of　the　cigarette　ceased。

〃Yes；　y'u　didy'u　brutewhen　I　was　so　downhearted　and　weak　I
couldn't　lift　my　hand；〃　she　flashed。

〃Ahuh！　　Y'u　mean　I　couldn't　do　that　now？〃

〃I　should　smile　I　do；　Jim　Colter！〃　she　replied。

〃Wal；　mebbeI'll　seepresently；〃　he　went　on；　straining　with　words。
〃But　I'm　shore　curious。　。　。　。　Daggs；　thenhe　was　nothin'　to　y'u？〃

〃No　more　than　y'u；〃　she　said；　morbidly。　　〃He　used　to　run　after　me
long　ago；　it　seems。　。　。　。　。　I　was　only　a　girl　theninnocentan'　I'd
not　known　any　but　rough　men。　　I　couldn't　all　the　timeevery　day；　every
hourkeep　him　at　arm's　length。　　Sometimes　before　I　knewI　didn't　care。
I　was　a　child。　　A　kiss　meant　nothing　to　me。　　But　after　I　knew〃

Ellen　dropped　her　head　in　brooding　silence。

〃Say；　do　y'u　expect　me　to　believe　that？〃　he　queried；　with　a　derisive　leer。

〃Bah！　　What　do　I　care　what　y'u　believe？〃　she　cried；　with　lifting　head。

〃How　aboot　Simm　Brace？〃

〃That　coyote！　。　。　。　He　lied　aboot　me；　Jim　Colter。　　And　any　man　half
a　man　would　have　known　he　lied。〃

〃Wal；　Simm。　always　bragged　aboot　y'u　bein'　his　girl；〃　asserted　Colter。
〃An'　he　wasn't　overparticular　aboot　details　of　your　love…makin'。〃

Ellen　gazed　out　of　the　door；　over　Colter's　head；　as　if　the　forest
out　there　was　a　refuge。　　She　evidently　sensed　more　about　the　man　than
appeared　in　his　slow　talk；　in　his　slouching　position。　　Her　lips　shut
in　a　firm　line；　as　if　to　hide　their　trembling　and　to　still　her
passionate　tongue。　　Jean；　in　his　absorption；　magnified　his　perceptions。
Not　yet　was　Ellen　Jorth　afraid　of　this　man；　but　she　feared　the　situation。
Jean's　heart　was　at　bursting　pitch。　　All　within　him　seemed　chaosa
wreck　of　beliefs　and　convictions。　　Nothing　was　true。　　He　would　wake
presently　out　of　a　nightmare。　　Yet；　as　surely　as　he　quivered　there；
he　felt　the　imminence　of　a　great　momenta　lightning　flasha
thunderbolta　balance　struck。

Colter　attended　to　the　forgotten　cigarette。　　He　rolled　it；　lighted　it；
all　the　time　with　lowered；　pondering　head；　and　when　he　had　puffed　a
cloud　of　smoke　he　suddenly　looked　up　with　face　as　hard　as　flint；
eyes　as　fiery　as　molten　steel。

〃Wal；　Ellenhow　aboot　Jean　Isbelour　half…breed　Nez　Perce　friendwho
was　shore　seen　handlin'　y'u　familiar？〃　he　drawled。

Ellen　Jorth　quivered　as　under　a　lash；　and　her　brown　face　turned　a　dusty
scarlet；　that　slowly　receding　left　her　pale。

〃Damn　y'u；　Jim　Colter！〃　she　burst　out；　furiously。　　〃I　wish　Jean　Isbel
would　jump　in　that　dooror　down　out　of　that　loft！　。　。　。　He　killed
Greaves　for　defiling　my　name！　。　。　。　He'd　kill　Y'U　for　your　dirty　insult。
。　。　。　And　I'd　like　to　watch　him　do　it。　。　。　。　Y'u　cold…blooded　Texan！
Y'u　thieving　rustler！　　Y'u　liar！　。　。　。　Y'u　lied　aboot　my　father's　death。
And　I　know　why。　　Y'u　stole　my　father's　gold。　。　。　。　An'　now　y'u　want　me
y'u　expect　me　to　fall　into　your　arms。　。　。　。　My　Heaven！　cain't　y'u　tell
a　decent　woman？　　Was　your　mother　decent？　　Was　your　sister　decent？
。　。　。　Bah！　I'm　appealing　to　deafness。　　But　y'u'll　HEAH　this；　Jim　Colter！
。　。　。　I'm　not　what　yu　think　I　am！　　I'm　not　thethe　damned　hussy　y'u
liars　have　made　me　out。　。　。　。　I'm　a　Jorth；　alas！　　I've　no　home；　no
relatives；　no　friends！　　I've　been　forced　to　live　my　life　with　rustlers
vile　men　like　y'u　an'　Daggs　an'　the　rest　of　your　like。　。　。　。　But　I've
been　good！　　Do　y'u　heah　that？　。　。　。　I　AM　goodso　help　me　God；　y'u　an'
all　your　rottenness　cain't　make　me　bad！〃

Colter　lounged　to　his　tall　height　and　the　laxity　of　the　man　vanished。

Vanished　also　was　Jean　Isbel's　suspended　icy　dread；　the　cold　clogging
of　his　fevered　mindvanished　in　a　white；　living；　leaping　flame。

Silently　he　drew　his　knife　and　lay　there　watching　with　the　eyes　of　a
wildcat。　　The　instant　Colter　stepped　far　enough　over　toward　the　edge
of　the　loft　Jean　meant　to　bound　erect　and　plunge　down　upon　him。　　But
Jean　could　wait　now。　　Colter　had　a　gun　at　his　hip。　　He　must　never　have
a　chance　to　draw　it。

〃Ahuh！　　So　y'u　wish　Jean　Isbel　would　hop　in　heah；　do　y'u？〃　queried　Colter。
〃Wal；　if　I　had　any　pity　on　y'u；　that's　done　for　it。〃

A　sweep　of　his　long　arm；　so　swift　Ellen　had　no　time　to　move；　brought
his　hand　in　clutching　contact　with　her。　　And　the　force　of　it　flung　her
half　across　the　cabin　room；　leaving　the　sleeve　of　her　blouse　in　his　grasp。
Pantingly　she　put　out　that　bared　arm　and　her　other　to　ward　him　off　as
he　took　long；　slow　strides　toward　her。

Jean　rose　half　to　his　feet；　dragged　by　almost　ungovernable　passion　to
risk　all　on　one　leap。　　But　the　distance　was　too　great。　　Colter；　blind
as　he　was　to　all　outward　things；　would　hear；　would　see　in　time　to　make
Jean's　effort　futile。　　Shaking　like　a　leaf；　Jean　sank　back；　eye　again　
to　the　crack　between　the　rafters。

Ellen　did　not　retreat；　nor　scream；　nor　move。　　Every　line　of　her　body
was　instinct　with　fight；　and　the　magnificent　blaze　of　her　eyes　would
have　checked　a　less　callous　brute。

Colter's　big　hand　darted　between　Ellen's　arms　and　fastened　in　the　front
of　her　blouse。　　He　did　not　try　to　hold　her　or　draw　her　close。　　The
unleashed　passion　of　the　man　required　violence。　　In　one　savage　pull
he　tore　off　her　blouse；　exposing　her　white；　rounded　shoulders　and
heaving　bosom；　where　instantly　a　wave　of　red　burned　upward。

Overcome　by　the　tremendous　violence　and　spirit　of　the　rustler；　Ellen
sank　to　her　knees；　with　blanched　face　and　dilating　eyes；　trying　with
folded　arms　and　trembling　hand　to　hide　her　nudity。

At　that　moment　the　rapid　beat　of　hoofs　on　the　hard　trail　outside　halted
Colter　in　his　tracks。

〃Hell！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃An'　who's　that？〃　　With　a　fierce　action　he　flung
the　remnants　of　Ellen's　blouse　in　her　face　and　turned　to　leap　out　the　door。

Jean　saw　Ellen　catch　the　blouse　and　try　to　wrap　it　around　her；　while　she
sagged　against　the　wall　and　stared　at　the　door。　　The　hoof　beats　pounded
to　a　solid　thumping　halt　just　outside。

〃Jimthar's　hell　to　pay！〃　rasped　out　a　panting　voice。

〃Wal；　Springer；　I　reckon　I　wished　y'u'd　paid　it　without　spoilin'
my　deals；〃　retorted　Colter；　cool　and　sharp。

〃Deals？　　Ha！　　Y'u'll　be　forgettin'your　lady　lovein　a　minnit；〃
replied　Springer。　　〃When　I　catchmy　breath。〃

〃Where's　Somers？〃　demanded　Colter。

〃I　reckon　he's　all　shot　upif　my　eyes　didn't　fool　me。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃　yelled　Colter。

〃Jimhe's　layin'　up　in　the　bushes　round　thet　bluff。　　I　didn't　wait
to　see　how　he　was　hurt。　　But　he　shore　stopped　some　lead。　　An'　he　flopped
like　a　chicken　with　itshaid　cut　off。〃

〃Where's　Antonio？〃

〃He　run　like　the　greaser　he　is；〃　declared　Springer；　disgustedly。

〃Ahuh！　　An'　where's　Queen？〃　queried　Colter；　after　a　significant　pause。

〃Dead！〃

The　silence　ensuing　was　fraught　with　a　suspense　that　held　Jean　in　cold
bonds。　　He　saw　the　girl　below　rise　from　her　knees；　one　hand　holding　the
blouse　to　her　breast；　the　other　extended；　and　with　strange；　repressed；
almost　frantic　look　she　swayed　toward　the　door。

〃Wal；　talk；〃　ordered　Colter；　harshly。

〃Jim；　there　ain't　a　hell　of　a　lot；〃　replied　Springer；　drawing　a　deep
breath；　〃but　what　there　is　is　shore　interestin'。　。　。　。　Me　an'　Somers
took　Antonio　with　us。　　He　left　his　woman　with　the　sheep。　　An'　we　rode
up　the　canyon；　clumb　out　on　top；　an'　made　a　circle　back　on　the　ridge。
That's　the　way　we've　been　huntin'　fer　tracks。　　Up　thar　in　a　bare　spot
we　run　plump　into　Queen　sittin'　against　a　tree；　right　out　in　the　open。
Queerest　sight　y'u　ever　seen！　　The　damn　gunfighter　had　set　down　to　wait
for　Isbel；　who　was　trailin'　him；　as　we　susp