desert gold-第25部分

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〃Luck　again！〃　he　whispered。　　〃The　wind's　in　your　face；　Jim。　　The　horses　won't　scent　you。　　Go　slow。　　Don't　crack　a　stone。　　Keep　close　under　the　wall。　　Try　to　get　up　as　high　as　this　at　the　other　end。　Wait　till　daylight　before　riskin'　a　loose　slope。　　I'll　be　ridin'　the　job　early。　　That's　all。〃

Ladd's　cool；　easy　speech　was　scarcely　significant　of　the　perilous　undertaking。　　Lash　moved　very　slowly　away；　leading　his　horse。　The　soft　pads　of　hoofs　ceased　to　sound　about　the　time　the　gray　shape　merged　into　the　black　shadows。　　Then　Ladd　touched　Dick's　arm；　and　turned　back　up　the　trail。

But　Dick　tarried　a　moment。　　He　wanted　a　fuller　sense　of　that　ebony…bottomed　abyss；　with　its　pale　encircling　walls　reaching　up　to　the　dusky　blue　sky　and　the　brilliant　stars。　　There　was　absolutely　no　sound。

He　retraced　his　steps　down；　soon　coming　up　with　Ladd；　and　together　they　picked　a　way　back　through　the　winding　recesses　of　cliff。　　The　campfire　was　smoldering。　　Ladd　replenished　it　and　lay　down　to　get　a　few　hours'　sleep；　while　Gale　kept　watch。　　The　after　part　of　the　night　wore　on　till　the　paling　of　stars；　the　thickening　of　gloom　indicated　the　dark　hour　before　dawn。　　The　spot　was　secluded　from　wind；　but　the　air　grew　cold　as　ice。　　Gale　spent　the　time　stripping　wood　from　a　dead　mesquite；　in　pacing　to　and　fro；　in　listening。　　Blanco　Sol　stamped　occasionally；　which　sound　was　all　that　broke　the　stilliness。　Ladd　awoke　before　the　faintest　gray　appeared。　　The　rangers　ate　and　drank。　　When　the　black　did　lighten　to　gray　they　saddled　the　horses　and　led　them　out　to　the　pass　and　down　to　the　point　where　they　had　parted　with　Lash。　　Here　they　awaited　daylight。

To　Gale　it　seemed　long　in　coming。　　Such　a　delay　always　aggravated　the　slow　fire　within　him。　　He　had　nothing　of　Ladd's　patience。　　He　wanted　action。　　The　gray　shadow　below　thinned　out；　and　the　patch　of　mesquite　made　a　blot　upon　the　pale　valley。　　The　day　dawned。

Still　Ladd　waited。　　He　grew　more　silent；　grimmer　as　the　time　of　action　approached。　　Gale　wondered　what　the　plan　of　attack　would　be。　　Yet　he　did　not　ask。　　He　waited　ready　for　orders。

The　valley　grew　clear　of　gray　shadow　except　under　leaning　walls　on　the　eastern　side。　　Then　a　straight　column　of　smoke　rose　from　among　the　mesquites。　　Manifestly　this　was　what　Ladd　had　been　awaiting。　　He　took　the　long　。405　from　its　sheath　and　tried　the　lever。　　Then　he　lifted　a　cartridge　belt　from　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　　Every　ring　held　a　shell　and　these　shells　were　four　inches　long。　　He　buckled　the　belt　round　him。

〃Come　on；　Dick。〃

Ladd　led　the　way　down　the　slope　until　he　reached　a　position　that　commanded　the　rising　of　the　trail　from　a　level。　　It　was　the　only　place　a　man　or　horse　could　leave　the　valley　for　the　pass。

〃Dick；　here's　your　stand。　　If　any　raider　rides　in　range　take　a　crack　at　him。。。。Now　I　want　the　lend　of　your　hoss。〃

〃Blanco　Sol！〃　　exclaimed　Gale；　more　in　amazement　that　Ladd　should　ask　for　the　horse　than　in　reluctance　to　lend　him。

〃Will　you　let　me　have　him？〃　Ladd　repeated；　almost　curtly。

〃Certainly；　Laddy。〃

A　smile　momentarily　chased　the　dark　cold　gloom　that　had　set　upon　the　ranger's　lean　face。

〃Shore　I　appreciate　it；　Dick。　　I　know　how　you　care　for　that　hoss。　I　guess　mebbe　Charlie　Ladd　has　loved　a　hoss！　　An'　one　not　so　good　as　Sol。　　I　was　only　tryin'　your　nerve；　Dick；　askin'　you　without　tellin'　my　plan。　　Sol　won't　get　a　scratch；　you　can　gamble　on　that！　I'll　ride　him　down　into　the　valley　an'　pull　the　greasers　out　in　the　open。　　They've　got　short…ranged　carbines。　　They　can't　keep　out　of　range　of　the　。405；　an'　I'll　be　takin'　the　dust　of　their　lead。　　Sabe；　senor？〃

〃Laddy！　　You'll　run　Sol　away　from　the　raiders　when　they　chase　you？　Run　him　after　them　when　they　try　to　get　away？〃

〃Shore。　　I'll　run　all　the　time。　　They　can't　gain　on　Sol；　an'　he'll　run　them　down　when　I　want。　　Can　you　beat　it？〃

〃No。　　It's　great！。。。But　suppose　a　raider　comes　out　on　Blanco　Diablo？〃

〃I　reckon　that's　the　one　weak　place　in　my　plan。　　I'm　figgerin'　they'll　never　think　of　that　till　it's　too　late。　　But　if　they　do；　well；　Sol　can　outrun　Diablo。　　An'　I　can　always　kill　the　white　devil！〃

Ladd's　strange　hate　of　the　horse　showed　in　the　passion　of　his　last　words；　in　his　hardening　jaw　and　grim　set　lips。

Gale's　hand　went　swiftly　to　the　ranger's　shoulder。

〃Laddy。　　Don't　kill　Diablo　unless　it's　to　save　your　life。〃

〃All　right。　　But；　by　God；　if　I　get　a　chance　I'll　make　Blanco　Sol　run　him　off　his　legs！〃

He　spoke　no　more　and　set　about　changing　the　length　of　Sol's　stirrups。　　When　he　had　them　adjusted　to　suit　he　mounted　and　rode　down　the　trail　and　out　upon　the　level。　　He　rode　leisurely　as　if　merely　going　to　water　his　horse。　　The　long　black　rifle　lying　across　his　saddle；　however；　was　ominous。

Gale　securely　tied　the　other　horse　to　a　mesquite　at　hand；　and　took　a　position　behind　a　low　rock　over　which　he　could　easily　see　and　shoot　when　necessary。　　He　imagined　Jim　Lash　in　a　similar　position　at　the　far　end　of　the　valley　blocking　the　outlet。　　Gale　had　grown　accustomed　to　danger　and　the　hard　and　fierce　feelings　peculiar　to　it。　　But　the　coming　drama　was　so　peculiarly　different　in　promise　from　all　he　had　experienced；　that　he　waited　the　moment　of　action　with　thrilling　intensity。　　In　him　stirred　long；　brooding　wrath　at　these　border　raidersaffection　for　Belding；　and　keen　desire　to　avenge　the　outrages　he　had　sufferedwarm　admiration　for　the　cold；　implacable　Ladd　and　his　absolute　fearlessness；　and　a　curious　throbbing　interest　in　the　old；　much…discussed　and　never…decided　argument　as　to　whether　Blanco　Sol　was　fleeter；　stronger　horse　than　Blanco　Diablo。　　Gale　felt　that　he　was　to　see　a　race　between　these　great　rivalsthe　kind　of　race　that　made　men　and　horses　terrible。

Ladd　rode　a　quarter　of　a　mile　out　upon　the　flat　before　anything　happened。　　Then　a　whistle　rent　the　still；　cold　air。　　A　horse　had　seen　or　scented　Blanco　Sol。　　The　whistle　was　prolonged；　faint；　but　clear。　　It　made　the　boood　thrum　in　Gale's　ears。　　Sol　halted。　　His　head　shot　up　with　the　old；　wild；　spirited　sweep。　　Gale　leveled　his　glass　at　the　patch　of　mesquites。　　He　saw　the　raiders　running　to　an　open　place；　pointing；　gesticulating。　　The　glass　brought　them　so　close　that　he　saw　the　dark　faces。　　Suddenly　they　broke　and　fled　back　among　the　trees。　　Then　he　got　only　white　and　dark　gleams　of　moving　bodies。　　Evidently　that　moment　was　one　of　boots；　guns；　and　saddles　for　the　raiders。

Lowering　the　glass；　Gale　saw　that　Blanco　Sol　had　started　forward　again。　　His　gait　was　now　a　canter；　and　he　had　covered　another　quarter　of　a　mile　before　horses　and　raiders　appeared　upon　the　outskirts　of　the　mesquites。　　Then　Blanco　Sol　stopped。　His　shrill；　ringing　whistle　came　distinctly　to　Gale's　ears。　The　raiders　were　mounted　on　dark　horses；　and　they　stood　abreast　in　a　motionless　line。　　Gale　chuckled　as　he　appreciated　what　a　puzzle　the　situation　presented　for　them。　　A　lone　horseman　in　the　middle　of　the　valley　did　not　perhaps　seem　so　menacing　himself　as　the　possibilities　his　presence　suggested。

Then　Gale　saw　a　raider　gallop　swiftly　from　the　group　toward　the　farther　outlet　of　the　valley。　　This　might　have　been　owing　to　characteristic　cowardice；　but　it　was　more　likely　a　move　of　the　raiders　to　make　sure　of　retreat。　　Undoubtedly　Ladd　saw　this　galloping　horseman。　　A　few　waiting　moments　ensued。　　The　galloping　horseman　reached　the　slope；　began　to　climb。　　With　naked　eyes　Gale　saw　a　puff　of　white　smoke　spring　out　of　the　rocks。　　Then　the　raider　wheeled　his　plunging　horse　back　to　the　level；　and　went　racing　wildly　down　the　valley。

The　compact　bunch　of　bays　and　blacks　seemed　to　break　apart　and　spread　rapidly　from　the　edge　of　the　mesquites。　　Puffs　of　white　smoke　indicated　firing；　and　showed　the　nature　of　the　raiders'　excitement。　They　were　far　out　of　ordinary　range；　but　they　spurred　toward　Ladd；　shooting　as　they　rode。　　Ladd　held　his　ground；　the　big　white　horse　stood　like　a　rock　in　his　tracks。　　Gale　saw　little　spouts　of　dust　rise　in　front　of　Blanco　Sol　and　spread　swift　as　sight　to　his　rear。　The　raiders'　bullets；　striking　low；　were　skipping　along　the　hard；　bare　floor　of　the　valley。　　Then　Ladd　raised　the　long　rifle。　　There　was　no　smoke；　but　three　high；　spanging　reports　rang　out。　　A　gap　opened　in　the　dark　line　of　advancing　horsemen；　then　a　riderless　steed　sheered　off　to　the　right。　　Blanco　Sol　seemed　to　turn　as　on　a　pivot　and　charged　back　toward　the　lower　end　of　the　valley。　　He　circled　over　to　Gale's　right　and　stretched　out　into　his　run。　　There　were　now　five　raiders　in　pursuit；　and　they　came　sweeping　down；　yelling　and　shooting；　evidently　sure　of　their　quarry。　　Ladd　reserved　his　fire。　　He　kept　turning　from　back　to　front　in　his　saddle。

Gale　saw　how　the　space　widened　between　pursuers　and　pursued；　saw　distinctly　when　Ladd　eased　up　Sol's　running。　　Manifestly　Ladd　intended　to　try　to　lead　the　raiders　round　in　front　of　Gale's　position；　and；　presently；　Gale　saw　he　was　going　to　succeed。　　The　raiders；　riding　like　vaqueros；　swept　on　in　a　curve；　cutting　off　what　distance　they　could。　　One　fellow；　a　small；　wiry　rider；　high　on　his　mount's　neck　like　a　jockey；　led　his　companions　by　many　yards。　　He　seemed　to　be　getting　the　range　of　Ladd；　or　else　he　shot　high；　for　his　bullets　did　not　strike　up　the　dust　behind　Sol。　Gale　was　ready　to　shoot。　　Blanco　Sol　pounded　by；　his　rapid；　rhythmic　hoofbeats　plainly　to　be　heard。　　He　was　running　easily。

Gale　tried　to　still　the　jump　of　heart　and　pulse；　and　turned　his　eye　again　on　the　nearest　pursuer。　　This　raider　was　crossing　in；　his　carbine　held　muzzle　up　in　his　right　hand；　and　he　was　coming　swiftly。　　It　was　a　long　shot；　upward　of　five　hundred　yards。　　Gale　had　not　time　to　adjust　the　sights　of　the　Remington；　but　he　knew　the　gun　and；　holding　coarsely　upon　the　swiftly　moving　blot；　he　began　to　shoot。　　The　first　bullet　sent　up　a　great　splash　of　dust　beneath　the　horse's　nose；　making　him　leap　as　if　to　hurdle　a　fence。　The　rifle　was　automatic；　Gale　needed　only　to　pull　the　trigger。　　He　saw　now　that　the　raiders　behind　were　in　line。　　Swiftly　he　worked　the　trigger。　　Suddenly　the　leading　horse　leaped　convulsively；　not　up　nor　aside；　but　straight　ahead；　and　then　he　crashed　to　the　ground　throwing　his　rider　like　a　catapult；　and　then　slid　and　rolled。　　He　half　got　up；　fell　back；　and　kicked；　but　his　rider　never　moved。

The　other　rangers　sawed　the　reins　of　plunging　steeds　and