a mountain woman(ɽ¸¾)-µÚ15ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
clean¡¡soft¡¡cushions£»¡¡writing¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mother¡£¡¡The¡¡floor¡¡was¡¡scrubbed£»¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡cabin¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡itself¡¡¡¡¡¡cupboards¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡packing¡boxes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
clothes¡presses¡¡and¡¡shelves£»¡¡curtains¡¡at¡¡the¡¡windows£»¡¡boxes¡¡for¡¡all¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡
necessaries£»¡¡from¡¡flour¡¡to¡¡tobacco£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cook¡book¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡
inscription¡¡within¡¡which¡¡was¡¡more¡¡appropriate¡¡than¡¡respectful¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡announced¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡further¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
come¡¡¡¡¡¡back£»¡¡Waite£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡Gillispie¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
afield£»¡¡made¡¡a¡¡little¡¡speech¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨After¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨we¡¡¡¡¡¡four¡¡¡¡¡¡stands¡¡¡¡¡¡er¡¡¡¡¡¡falls¡¡¡¡¡¡together¡£¡¡Now¡¡
look¡¡¡¡¡¡here£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there's¡¡¡¡¡¡lots¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡things¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡happen¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡person¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡cussed¡¡
praira£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡one¡¡be¡¡none¡¡th'¡¡wiser¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡see¡¡here£»¡¡Mis'¡¡Ford£»¡¡every¡¡night¡¡
one¡¡of¡¡us¡¡is¡¡a¡goin'¡¡to¡¡th'¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡this¡¡shack¡£¡¡From¡¡there¡¡we¡¡can¡¡see¡¡your¡¡
place¡£¡¡If¡¡anything¡¡is¡¡th'¡¡matter¡¡¡¡it¡¡don't¡¡signify¡¡how¡¡little¡¡er¡¡how¡¡big¡¡¡¡
you¡¡hang¡¡a¡¡lantern¡¡on¡¡th'¡¡stick¡¡that¡¡I'll¡¡put¡¡alongside¡¡th'¡¡house¡¡to¡morrow¡£¡¡
Yeh¡¡can¡¡h'ist¡¡th'¡¡light¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡string£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡mornin'¡¡before¡¡we¡¡go¡¡out¡¡
we'll¡¡look¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡white¡¡rag'll¡¡bring¡¡us¡¡quick¡¡as¡¡we¡¡can¡¡git¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡
don't¡¡¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡nothin'¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡owe¡¡¡¡¡¡yeh£»¡¡¡¡fur¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡ain't¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡way£»¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡
sticks¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other¡¡from¡¡this¡¡on¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Catherine's¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡moist¡£¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Henderson¡£¡¡His¡¡face¡¡had¡¡no¡¡
expression¡¡in¡¡it¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡even¡¡say¡¡good¡by¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡turned£»¡¡
with¡¡the¡¡tears¡¡sud¡¡¡denly¡¡dried¡¡under¡¡her¡¡lids£»¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡down¡¡the¡¡road¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡twilight¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Weeks¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gillispie¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Waite¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡often¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡
Catherine's£»¡¡Henderson¡¡never¡¡came¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gillispie¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡out¡¡as¡¡his¡¡opinion¡¡
that¡¡Henderson¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡ungrateful¡¡¡¡¡¡puppy£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡Waite¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡
strange¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡seemed¡¡like¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡unto¡¡¡ward¡¡accident¡¡of¡¡nature£»¡¡had¡¡
changed¡¡dur¡¡¡ing¡¡the¡¡summer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡big¡¡ill¡shaped¡¡body¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡more¡¡
gaunt£»¡¡his¡¡deep¡set¡¡gray¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡sunk¡¡deeper£»¡¡the¡¡gentleness¡¡which¡¡had¡¡
distinguished¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wild¡¡¡¡¡¡ranges¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Montana¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡
marked¡£¡¡Late¡¡in¡¡August¡¡he¡¡volunteered¡¡to¡¡take¡¡on¡¡himself¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡charge¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡night¡¡watch¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡46¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡47¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Mountain¡¡Woman¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡¡¡¡¡nicer¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡night£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Catherine¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡don't¡¡
keep¡¡look¡¡¡ing¡¡off¡¡at¡¡things£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡look¡¡inside£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡struck¡¡his¡¡breast¡¡
with¡¡his¡¡splay¡¡hand¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Cattle¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡timorous¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡stars¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡vastness¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡plains£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
sweep¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡under¡¡the¡¡unbroken¡¡arch£»¡¡frighten¡¡them£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡made¡¡
for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡close¡¡¡¡¡¡comforts¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡barn¡yard£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡apprehension¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡con¡¡¡
tagious£»¡¡as¡¡every¡¡ranchman¡¡knows¡£¡¡Waite¡¡realized¡¡the¡¡need¡¡of¡¡becoming¡¡
good¡¡friends¡¡with¡¡his¡¡animals¡£¡¡Night¡¡after¡¡night£»¡¡riding¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
twilight¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡stars£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡dozing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡rolled¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡blanket£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡shelter¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
knoll£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡hear¡¡a¡¡low¡¡roar£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡the¡¡alarmist¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡from¡¡
every¡¡direction¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡would¡¡rise¡¡with¡¡trembling¡¡awkwardness¡¡on¡¡their¡¡
knees£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡answer£»¡¡¡¡¡¡giving¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡sullen¡¡¡¡¡¡bellowings¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡
begin¡¡to¡¡move¡¡from¡¡place¡¡to¡¡place£»¡¡spreading¡¡the¡¡baseless¡¡alarm£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡
came¡¡the¡¡time¡¡for¡¡action£»¡¡else¡¡over¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡in¡¡mere¡¡fruitless¡¡frenzy¡¡would¡¡
go¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡frantic¡¡band£»¡¡lashed¡¡to¡¡madness¡¡by¡¡their¡¡own¡¡fears£»¡¡trampling¡¡
each¡¡other£»¡¡heed¡¡¡less¡¡of¡¡any¡¡obstacle£»¡¡in¡¡pitiable£»¡¡deadly¡¡rout¡£¡¡Waite¡¡knew¡¡
the¡¡premonitory¡¡signs¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡warning¡¡bellow¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡
feet£»¡¡¡¡¡¡alert¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡determined£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡energy¡¡¡¡¡¡nerved¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡struggle¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
always¡¡conquered¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Waite¡¡had¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡which¡¡he¡¡told¡¡to¡¡none£»¡¡knowing£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡unanalytical¡¡
fashion£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡believed¡¡in¡£¡¡But¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡heads¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡began¡¡to¡¡lift¡¡themselves£»¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡resonant¡¡voice¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡
stillness¡£¡¡The¡¡songs¡¡he¡¡sang¡¡were¡¡hymns£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡made¡¡them¡¡into¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡
imperative¡¡lullaby¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Waite¡¡let¡¡his¡¡lungs¡¡and¡¡soul¡¡fill¡¡with¡¡the¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
night£»¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡up¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡exaltation¡¡of¡¡¡¡mastering¡¡those¡¡¡¡trembling¡¡
brutes¡£¡¡Mount¡¡¡ing£»¡¡melodious£»¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡and¡¡¡¡powerful¡¡swing¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡let¡¡his¡¡
full¡¡notes¡¡fall¡¡on¡¡the¡¡air¡¡in¡¡the¡¡confidence¡¡of¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one¡¡the¡¡
reassured¡¡cattle¡¡would¡¡lie¡¡down¡¡again£»¡¡lowing¡¡in¡¡soft¡¡contentment£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡
fall¡¡¡¡¡¡asleep¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡noses¡¡¡¡¡¡stretched¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡mute¡¡¡¡¡¡attention£»¡¡¡¡¡¡till¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡presence¡¡
could¡¡hardly¡¡be¡¡guessed¡¡except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sweet¡¡aroma¡¡of¡¡their¡¡cuds¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡
night¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡early¡¡¡¡¡¡dusk£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡Cath¡¡¡¡¡¡¡erine¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡¡¡¡¡hastening¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
prairie¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡Bill¡¡¡¡¡¡Deems¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡sent¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡halloo¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡both¡¡
answered¡¡as¡¡they¡¡ran¡¡on¡£¡¡Waite¡¡knew¡¡on¡¡what¡¡errand¡¡of¡¡mercy¡¡Cath¡¡¡erine¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡47¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡48¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Mountain¡¡Woman¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡bent£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡chil¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dren¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cabin¡¡¡¡¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡
cattle¡¡were¡¡quiet£»¡¡the¡¡night¡¡beautiful£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡con¡¡¡cluded¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡safe¡¡
enough£»¡¡since¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡pony£»¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡down¡¡there¡¡about¡¡mid¡¡¡night¡¡and¡¡
see¡¡that¡¡the¡¡little¡¡ones¡¡were¡¡safe¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡dark¡¡sky£»¡¡pricked¡¡with¡¡points¡¡of¡¡in¡¡¡tensest¡¡light£»¡¡hung¡¡over¡¡him¡¡so¡¡
beneficently¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡heart¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡leaped¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡joy¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡¡
present¡¡sorrow¡¡could¡¡not¡¡dis¡¡¡turb¡£¡¡This¡¡sorrow¡¡Waite¡¡openly¡¡admitted¡¡not¡¡
only¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡others¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Catherine£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡see£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡
always¡¡hev¡¡to¡¡love¡¡yeh¡£¡¡An'¡¡yeh'll¡¡not¡¡git¡¡cross¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡goin'¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
in¡¡th'¡¡way¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡Catherine¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡with¡¡tears¡¡in¡¡her¡¡¡¡eyes£»¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
love¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡com¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fort¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡woman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡words£»¡¡
which¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡fellow¡¡had¡¡in¡¡no¡¡sense¡¡mistaken£»¡¡comforted¡¡him¡¡always£»¡¡
became¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡joy¡¡as¡¡he¡¡rode¡¡there£»¡¡under¡¡those¡¡piercing¡¡stars£»¡¡to¡¡look¡¡
after¡¡her¡¡little¡¡ones¡£¡¡He¡¡found¡¡them¡¡sleeping¡¡in¡¡their¡¡bunks£»¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡tight¡¡
in¡¡Kitty's¡¡arms£»¡¡the¡¡little¡¡boy¡¡above¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡bunk£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡long¡¡hair¡¡of¡¡his¡¡brown¡¡spaniel¡£¡¡Waite¡¡softly¡¡kissed¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡
Kitty£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡¡¡waking£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡afterwards£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡then£»¡¡
bethinking¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Catherine¡¡might¡¡not¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡return¡¡in¡¡time¡¡for¡¡their¡¡
break¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fast£»¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡milk¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡bread£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡table¡£¡¡
Catherine¡¡had¡¡been¡¡writing£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡unfinished¡¡letter¡¡lay¡¡open¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡
ink¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡pen¡¡and¡¡wrote£»¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡childdren¡¡was¡¡all¡¡asleep¡¡at¡¡twelv¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨J¡£¡¡W¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡pony¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡
ominous¡¡sound¡¡that¡¡made¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡leap¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡frantic¡¡dull¡¡pounding¡¡of¡¡
hoofs¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡in¡¡a¡¡second¡¡what¡¡it¡¡meant¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stam¡¡¡pede¡¡among¡¡
the¡¡cattle¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡animals¡¡had¡¡all¡¡been¡¡his£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡judgment¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡realization¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡voluntarily¡¡¡¡¡¡undertaken¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
care¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡larger¡¡part¡¡of¡¡them¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡his¡¡friends£»¡¡put¡¡
him¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡passion¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡appre¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hension¡¡¡¡¡¡that£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡ranchman£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡
explicable¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡others¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡cattle¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
right¡¡¡¡¡¡senses¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡doing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Gillispie¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Hender¡¡¡¡¡¡¡son£»¡¡¡¡¡¡talking¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
over¡¡¡¡¡¡afterward£»¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡able¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡understand¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡possible¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡48¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡49¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Mounta