to the last man-第19章
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due credit。 True； he had kissed her； crudely and forcibly。 But that
kiss had not been an insult。 Ellen's finer feeling forced her to
believe this。 She remembered the honest amaze and shame and contrition
with which be had faced her； trying awkwardly to explain his bold act。
Likewise she recalled the subtle swift change in him at her words； 〃Oh；
I've been kissed before！〃 She was glad she had said that。 Stillwas
she glad； after all？
She watched him。 Every little while he shifted his gaze from the
blue gulf beneath him to the forest。 When he turned thus the sun
shone on his face and she caught the piercing gleam of his dark eyes。
She saw； too； that he was listening。 Watching and listening for her！
Ellen had to still a tumult within her。 It made her feel very young；
very shy； very strange。 All the while she hated him because he
manifestly expected her to come。 Several times he rose and walked
a little way into the woods。 The last time he looked at the westering
sun and shook his head。 His confidence had gone。 Then he sat and
gazed down into the void。 But Ellen knew he did not see anything
there。 He seemed an image carved in the stone of the Rim； and he
gave Ellen a singular impression of loneliness and sadness。 Was he
thinking of the miserable battle his father had summoned him to lead
of what it would costof its useless pain and hatred？ Ellen seemed
to divine his thoughts。 In that moment she softened toward him； and
in her soul quivered and stirred an intangible something that was like
pain； that was too deep for her understanding。 But she felt sorry for
an Isbel until the old pride resurged。 What if he admired her？ She
remembered his interest； the wonder and admiration； the growing light
in his eyes。 And it had not been repugnant to her until he disclosed
his name。 〃What's in a name？〃 she mused； recalling poetry learned in
her girlhood。 〃'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet'。 。 。 。
He's an Isbelyet he might be splendidnoble。 。 。 。 Bah！ he's not
and I'd hate him anyhow。〃 I
All at once Ellen felt cold shivers steal over her。 Isbel's piercing
gaze was directed straight at her hiding place。 Her heart stopped
beating。 If he discovered her there she felt that she would die of
shame。 Then she became aware that a blue jay was screeching in a
pine above her； and a red squirrel somewhere near was chattering his
shrill annoyance。 These two denizens of the woods could be depended
upon to espy the wariest hunter and make known his presence to their
kind。 Ellen had a moment of more than dread。 This keen…eyed；
keen…eared Indian might see right through her brushy covert； might
hear the throbbing of her heart。 It relieved her immeasurably to
see him turn away and take to pacing the promontory； with his head
bowed and his hands behind his back。 He had stopped looking off into
the forest。 Presently he wheeled to the west； and by the light upon
his face Ellen saw that the time was near sunset。 Turkeys were
beginning to gobble back on the ridge。
Isbel walked to his horse and appeared to be untying something from
the back of his saddle。 When he came back Ellen saw that he carried
a small package apparently wrapped in paper。 With this under his arm
he strode off in the direction of Ellen's camp and soon disappeared in
the forest。
For a little while Ellen lay there in bewilderment。 If she had made
conjectures before； they were now multiplied。 Where was Jean Isbel
going？ Ellen sat up suddenly。 〃Well； shore this heah beats me；〃
she said。 〃What did he have in that package？ What was he goin'
to do with it？ 〃
It took no little will power to hold her there when she wanted to
steal after him through the woods and find out what he meant。 But his
reputation influenced even her and she refused to pit her cunning in
the forest against his。 It would be better to wait until he returned
to his horse。 Thus decided； she lay back again in her covert and gave
her mind over to pondering curiosity。 Sooner than she expected she
espied Isbel approaching through the forest； empty handed。 He had not
taken his rifle。 Ellen averted her glance a moment and thrilled to see
the rifle leaning against a rock。 Verily Jean Isbel had been far removed
from hostile intent that day。 She watched him stride swiftly up to his
horse； untie the halter； and mount。 Ellen had an impression of his
arrowlike straight figure； and sinuous grace and ease。 Then he looked
back at the promontory； as if to fix a picture of it in his mind； and
rode away along the Rim。 She watched him out of sight。 What ailed her？
Something was wrong with her； but she recognized only relief。
When Isbel had been gone long enough to assure Ellen that she might
safely venture forth she crawled through the pine thicket to the Rim
on the other side of the point。 The sun was setting behind the Black
Range； shedding a golden glory over the Basin。 Westward the zigzag Rim
reached like a streamer of fire into the sun。 The vast promontories
jutted out with blazing beacon lights upon their stone…walled faces。
Deep down； the Basin was turning shadowy dark blue； going to sleep
for the night。
Ellen bent swift steps toward her camp。 Long shafts of gold preceded
her through the forest。 Then they paled and vanished。 The tips of
pines and spruces turned gold。 A hoarse…voiced old turkey gobbler was
booming his chug…a…lug from the highest ground； and the softer chick of
hen turkeys answered him。 Ellen was almost breathless when she arrived。
Two packs and a couple of lop…eared burros attested to the fact of
Antonio's return。 This was good news for Ellen。 She heard the bleat
of lambs and tinkle of bells coming nearer and nearer。 And she was glad
to feel that if Isbel had visited her camp； most probably it was during
the absence of the herders。
The instant she glanced into her tent she saw the package Isbel had
carried。 It lay on her bed。 Ellen stared blankly。 〃Thethe impudence
of him！〃 she ejaculated。 Then she kicked the package out of the tent。
Words and action seemed to liberate a dammed…up hot fury。 She kicked
the package again； and thought she would kick it into the smoldering
camp…fire。 But somehow she stopped short of that。 She left the thing
there on the ground。
Pepe and Antonio hove in sight； driving in the tumbling woolly flock。
Ellen did not want them to see the package； so with contempt for herself；
and somewhat lessening anger； she kicked it back into the tent。 What
was in it？ She peeped inside the tent； devoured by curiosity。 Neat；
well wrapped and tied packages like that were not often seen in the
Tonto Basin。 Ellen decided she would wait until after supper； and at
a favorable moment lay it unopened on the fire。 What did she care what
it contained？ Manifestly it was a gift。 She argued that she was highly
incensed with this insolent Isbel who had the effrontery to approach her
with some sort of present。
It developed that the usually cheerful Antonio had returned taciturn
and gloomy。 All Ellen could get out of him was that the job of sheep
herder had taken on hazards inimical to peace…loving Mexicans。 He had
heard something he would not tell。 Ellen helped prepare the supper and
she ate in silence。 She had her own brooding troubles。 Antonio
presently told her that her father had said she was not to start back
home after dark。 After supper the herders repaired to their own tents；
leaving Ellen the freedom of her camp…fire。 Wherewith she secured the
package and brought it forth to burn。 Feminine curiosity rankled strong
in her breast。 Yielding so far as to shake the parcel and press it；
and finally tear a comer off the paper； she saw some words written in
lead pencil。 Bending nearer the blaze； she read； 〃For my sister Ann。〃
Ellen gazed at the big； bold hand…writing； quite legible and fairly well
done。 Suddenly she tore the outside wrapper completely off。 From
printed words on the inside she gathered that the package had come
from a store in San Francisco。 〃Reckon he fetched home a lot of
presents for his folksthe kidsand his sister；〃 muttered Ellen。
〃That was nice of him。 Whatever this is he
