to the last man-第28章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sheep…shearing outfit。 She had never seen any sheep sheared。
Ellen could never keep track of the many and different horses
running loose and hobbled round the ranch。 There were droves of
horses in the woods； and some of them wild as deer。 According to her
long…established understanding； her father and her uncles were keen
on horse trading and buying。
Then the many trails leading away from the Jorth ranchthese grew
to have a fascination for Ellen； and the time came when she rode out
on them to see for herself where they led。 The sheep ranch of Daggs；
supposed to be only a few miles across the ridges； down in Bear Canyon；
never materialized at all for Ellen。 This circumstance so interested
her that she went up to see her friend Sprague and got him to direct
her to Bear Canyon； so that she would be sure not to miss it。 And she
rode from the narrow； maple…thicketed head of it near the Rim down all
its length。 She found no ranch； no cabin； not even a corral in Bear
Canyon。 Sprague said there was only one canyon by that name。 Daggs
had assured her of the exact location on his place； and so had her
father。 Had they lied？ Were they mistaken in the canyon？ There were
many canyons； all heading up near the Rim； all running and widening down
for miles through the wooded mountain； and vastly different from the deep；
short； yellow…walled gorges that cut into the Rim from the Basin side。
Ellen investigated the canyons within six or eight miles of her home；
both to east and to west。 All she discovered was a couple of old log
cabins； long deserted。 Still； she did not follow out all the trails
to their ends。 Several of them led far into the deepest； roughest；
wildest brakes of gorge and thicket that she had seen。 No cattle or
sheep had ever been driven over these trails。
This riding around of Ellen's at length got to her father's ears。
Ellen expected that a bitter quarrel would ensue； for she certainly
would refuse to be confined to the camp； but her father only asked
her to limit her riding to the meadow valley； and straightway forgot
all about it。 In fact； his abstraction one moment； his intense
nervousness the next； his harder drinking and fiercer harangues with
the men； grew to be distressing for Ellen。 They presaged his further
deterioration and the ever…present evil of the growing feud。
One day Jorth rode home in the early morning； after an absence of
two nights。 Ellen heard the clip…clop of； horses long before she
saw them。
〃Hey； Ellen！ Come out heah；〃 called her father。
Ellen left her work and went outside。 A stranger had ridden in with
her father； a young giant whose sharp…featured face appeared marked by
ferret…like eyes and a fine； light； fuzzy beard。 He was long； loose
jointed； not heavy of build； and he had the largest hands and feet
Ellen bad ever seen。 Next Ellen espied a black horse they had evidently
brought with them。 Her father was holding a rope halter。 At once the
black horse struck Ellen as being a beauty and a thoroughbred。
〃Ellen； heah's a horse for you；〃 said Jorth； with something of pride。
〃I made a trade。 Reckon I wanted him myself； but he's too gentle for
me an' maybe a little small for my weight。〃
Delight visited Ellen for the first time in many days。 Seldom had she
owned a good horse； and never one like this。
〃Oh； dad！ 〃 she exclaimed； in her gratitude。
〃Shore he's yours on one condition；〃 said her father。
〃What's that？〃 asked Ellen； as she laid caressing hands on the
restless horse。
〃You're not to ride him out of the canyon。〃
〃Agreed。 。 。 。 All daid black； isn't he； except that white face？
What's his name； dad？
〃I forgot to ask；〃 replied Jorth。 as he began unsaddling his own horse。
〃Slater； what's this heah black's name？〃
The lanky giant grinned。 〃I reckon it was Spades。〃
〃Spades？〃 ejaculated Ellen； blankly。 〃What a name！ 。 。 。 Well； I guess
it's as good as any。 He's shore black。〃
〃Ellen； keep him hobbled when you're not ridin' him；〃 was her father's
parting advice as he walked off with the stranger。
Spades was wet and dusty and his satiny skin quivered。 He had fine；
dark； intelligent eyes that watched Ellen's every move。 She knew how
her father and his friends dragged and jammed horses through the woods
and over the rough trails。 It did not take her long to discover that
this horse had been a pet。 Ellen cleaned his coat and brushed him and
fed him。 Then she fitted her bridle to suit his head and saddled him。
His evident response to her kindness assured her that he was gentle；
so she mounted and rode him； to discover he had the easiest gait she
had ever experienced。 He walked and trotted to suit her will； but
when left to choose his own gait he fell into a graceful little pace
that was very easy for her。 He appeared quite ready to break into a
run at her slightest bidding； but Ellen satisfied herself on this first
ride with his slower gaits。
〃Spades； y'u've shore cut out my burro Jinny；〃 said Ellen； regretfully。
〃Well； I reckon women are fickle。〃
Next day she rode up the canyon to show Spades to her friend John
Sprague。 The old burro breeder was not at home。 As his door was open；
however； and a fire smoldering； Ellen concluded he would soon return。
So she waited。 Dismounting； she left Spades free to graze on the new
green grass that carpeted the ground。 The cabin and little level
clearing accentuated the loneliness and wildness of the forest。
Ellen always liked it here and had once been in the habit of visiting
the old man often。 But of late she had stayed away； for the reason that
Sprague's talk and his news and his poorly hidden pity depressed her。
Presently she heard hoof beats on the hard； packed trail leading down
the canyon in the direction from which she had come。 Scarcely likely
was it that Sprague should return from this direction。 Ellen thought
her father had sent one of the herders for her。 But when she caught
a glimpse of the approaching horseman； down in the aspens； she failed
to recognize him。 After he had passed one of the openings she heard
his horse stop。 Probably the man had seen her； at least she could not
otherwise account for his stopping。 The glimpse she had of him had
given her the impression that he was bending over； peering ahead in
the trail； looking for tracks。 Then she heard the rider come on again；
more slowly this time。 At length the horse trotted out into the opening；
to be hauled up short。 Ellen recognized the buckskin…clad figure；
the broad shoulders； the dark face of Jean Isbel。
Ellen felt prey to the strangest quaking sensation she had ever suffered。
It took violence of her new…born spirit to subdue that feeling。
Isbel rode slowly across the clearing toward her。 For Ellen his
approach seemed singularly swiftso swift that her surprise； dismay；
conjecture； and anger obstructed her will。 The outwardly calm and cold
Ellen Jorth was a travesty that mocked herthat she felt he would discern。
The moment Isbel drew close enough for Ellen to see his face she
experienced a strong； shuddering repetition of her first shock of
recognition。 He was not the same。 The light； the youth was gone。
This； however； did not cause her emotion。 Was it not a sudden
transition of her nature to the dominance of hate？ Ellen seemed
to feel the shadow of her unknown self standing with her。
Isbel halted his horse。 Ellen had been standing near the trunk of a
fallen pine and she instinctively backed against it。 How her legs
trembled！ Isbel took off his cap and crushed it nervously in his
bare； brown hand。
〃Good mornin'； Miss Ellen！ 〃 he said。
Ellen did not return his greeting； but queried； almost breathlessly；
〃Did y'u come by our ranch？〃
〃No。 I circled；〃 he replied。
〃Jean Isbel！ What do y'u want heah？〃 she demanded。
〃Don't you know？〃 he returned。 His eyes were intensely black and
piercing。 They seemed to search Ellen's very soul。 To meet their
gaze was an ordeal that only her rousing fury sustained。
Ellen felt on her lips a scornful allusion to his half…breed Indian
traits and the reputation that had preceded him。 But she could not
utter it。
〃No〃 she replied。
〃It's h
