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第40章

cressy-第40章

小说: cressy 字数: 每页4000字

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Yet even this desertion did not affect him as strongly as his

implicit belief in the cowardly treachery of his old associates。



It grew darker and darker; until the open theatre of the late

conflict appeared enclosed in funereal walls; a cool searching

breath of air that seemed to have crept through the bracken and

undergrowth like a stealthy animal; lifted the curls on his hot

forehead。  He grasped his hatchet firmly as against possible wild

beasts; and as a medicinal and remedial precaution; took another

turn with his suspender around his bandage。  It occurred to him

then that he would probably die。  They would all feel exceedingly

sorry and alarmed; and regret having made him wash himself on

Saturday night。  They would attend his funeral in large numbers in

the little graveyard; where a white tombstone inscribed to 〃John

Filgee; fell in a duel at the age of seven;〃 would be awaiting him。

He would forgive his brother; his father; and Mr。 Ford。  Yet even

then he vaguely resented a few leaves and twigs dropped by a

woodpecker in the tree above him; with a shake of his weak fist and

an incoherent declaration that they couldn't 〃play no babes in the

wood on HIM。〃  And then having composed himself he once more turned

on his side to die; as became the scion of a heroic race!  The free

woods; touched by an upspringing wind; waved their dark arms above

him; and higher yet a few patient stars silently ranged themselves

around his pillow。



But with the rising wind and stars came the swift trampling of

horses' hoofs and the flashing of lanterns; and Doctor Duchesne and

the master swept down into the opening。



〃It was here;〃 said the master quickly; 〃but they must have taken

him on to his own home。  Let us follow。〃



〃Hold on a moment;〃 said the doctor; who had halted before the

tree。  〃What's all this?  Why; it's baby Filgeeby thunder!〃



In another moment they had both dismounted and were leaning over

the half conscious child。  Johnny turned his feverishly bright eyes

from the lantern to the master and back again。



〃What is it; Johnny boy?〃 asked the master tenderly。  〃Were you

lost?〃



With a gleam of feverish exaltation; Johnny rose; albeit

wanderingly; to the occasion!



〃Hit!〃 he lisped feebly; 〃Hit in a doell! at the age of theven。〃



〃What!〃 asked the bewildered master。



But Doctor Duchesne; after a single swift scrutiny of the boy's

face; had unearthed him from his nest of leaves; laid him in his

lap; and deftly ripped away the preposterous bandage。  〃Hold the

light here。  By Jove! he tells the truth。  Who did it; Johnny?〃



But Johnny was silent。  In an interval of feverish consciousness

and pain; his perception and memory had been quickened; a suspicion

of the real cause of his disaster had dawned upon himbut his

childish lips were heroically sealed。  The master glanced

appealingly at the Doctor。



〃Take him before you in the saddle to McKinstry's;〃 said the latter

promptly。  〃I can attend to both。〃



The master lifted the boy tenderly in his arms。  Johnny; stimulated

by the prospect of a free ride; became feebly interested in his

fellow sufferer。



〃Did Theth hit him bad?〃 he asked。



〃Seth?〃 echoed the master; wildly。



〃Yeth。  I theed him when he took aim。〃



The master did not reply; but the next moment Johnny felt himself

clasped in his arms in the saddle before him; borne like a

whirlwind in the direction of the McKinstry ranch。





CHAPTER XIV。





They found the wounded man lying in the front room upon a rudely

extemporized couch of bear…skins; he having sternly declined the

effeminacy of his wife's bedroom。  In the possibility of a fatal

termination to his wound; and in obedience to a grim frontier

tradition; he had also refused to have his boots removed in order

that he might 〃die with them on;〃 as became his ancestral custom。

Johnny was therefore speedily made comfortable in the McKinstry

bed; while Dr。 Duchesne gave his whole attention to his more

serious patient。  The master glanced hurriedly around for Mrs。

McKinstry。  She was not only absent from the room; but there seemed

to be no suggestion of her presence in the house。  To his greater

surprise the hurried inquiry that rose to his lips was checked by a

significant warning from the attendant。  He sat down beside the now

sleeping boy; and awaited the doctor's return with his mind

wandering between the condition of the little sufferer and the

singular revelation that had momentarily escaped his childish lips。

If Johnny had actually seen Seth fire at McKinstry; the latter's

mysterious wound was accounted forbut not Seth's motive。  The act

was so utterly incomprehensible and inconsistent with Seth's avowed

hatred of the master that the boy must have been delirious。



He was roused by the entrance of the surgeon。  〃It's not so bad as

I thought;〃 he said; with a reassuring nod。  〃It was a mighty close

shave between a shattered bone and a severed artery; but we've got

the ball; and he'll pull through in a week。  By Jove! thoughthe

old fire…eater was more concerned about finding the ball than

living or dying!  Go in therehe wants to see you。  Don't let him

talk too much。  He's called in a lot of his friends for some reason

or otherand there's a regular mass…meeting in there。  Go in; and

get rid of 'em。  I'll look after baby Filgeethough the little

chap will be all right again after another dressing。〃



The master cast a hurried look of relief at the surgeon; and re…

entered the front room。  It was filled with men whom the master

instinctively recognized as his former adversaries。  But they gave

way before him with a certain rude respect and half abashed

sympathy as McKinstry called him to his side。  The wounded man

grasped his hand。  〃Lift me up a bit;〃 he whispered。  The master

assisted him with difficulty to his elbow。



〃Gentlemen!〃 said McKinstry; with a characteristic wave of his

crippled hand towards the crowd as he laid the other on the

master's shoulder。  〃Ye heerd me talkin' a minit ago; ye heer me

now。  This yer young man as we've slipped up on and meskalkilated

has told the truthevery time!  Ye ken tie to him whenever and

wherever ye want to。  Ye ain't expected to feel ez I feel; in

course; but the man ez goes back on HIMquo'lls with me。  That's

alland thanks for inquiring friends。  Ye'll git now; boys; and

leave him a minit with me。〃



The men filed slowly out; a few lingering long enough to shake the

master's hand with grave earnestness; or half smiling; half abashed

embarrassment。  The master received the proffered reconciliation of

these men; who but a few hours before would have lynched him with

equal sincerity; with cold bewilderment。  As the door closed on the

last of the party he turned to McKinstry。  The wounded man had sunk

down again; but was regarding with drowsy satisfaction a leaden

bullet he was holding between his finger and thumb。



〃This yer shot; Mr。 Ford;〃 he said in a slow voice; whose weakness

was only indicated by its extreme deliberation; 〃never kem from the

gun I gave yeand was never fired by you。〃  He paused and then

added with his old dull abstraction; 〃It's a long time since I've

run agin anythin' that makes me feel morekam。〃



In Mr。 McKinstry's weak condition the master did not dare to make

Johnny's revelation known to him; and contented himself by simply

pressing his hand; but the next moment the wounded man resumed;



〃That ball jest fits Seth's navy revolverand the hound hes made

tracks outer the country。〃



〃But what motive could he have in attacking YOU at such a time?〃

asked the master。



〃He reckoned that either I'd kill you and so he'd got shut of us

both in that way; without it being noticed; or if I missed you; the

others would hang YOUez they kalkilated tofor killing ME!  The

idea kem to him when he overheard you hintin' you wouldn't return

my fire。〃



A shuddering convic

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