to the last man-第35章
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our hosses。 Wal； that's natural for a rustler。 He'd have to steal a
hoss or a steer before goin' into a fight or to dinner or to a funeral。〃
〃It 'll be his funeral if he goes to foolin' 'round them hosses；〃
declared Guy Isbel； peering anxiously out of the door。
〃Wal； son； shore it 'll be somebody's funeral；〃 replied his father。
Jean paid but little heed to the conversation。 With sharp eyes fixed
upon the horsemen； he tried to grasp at their intention。 Daggs pointed
to the horses in the pasture lot that lay between him and the house。
These animals were the best on the range and belonged mostly to Guy
Isbel； who was the horse fancier and trader of the family。 His horses
were his passion。
〃Looks like they'd do some horse stealin'；〃 said Jean。
〃Lend me that glass；〃 demanded Guy； forcefully。 He surveyed the band
of men for a long moment； then he handed the glass back to Jean。
〃I'm goin' out there after my bosses；〃 he declared。
〃No！〃 exclaimed his father。
〃That gang come to steal an' not to fight。 Can't you see that？
If they meant to fight they'd do it。 They're out there arguin'
about my hosses。〃
Guy picked up his rifle。 He looked sullenly determined and the gleam
in his eye was one of fearlessness。
〃Son； I know Daggs；〃 said his father。 〃An' I know Jorth。 They've come
to kill us。 It 'll be shore death for y'u to go out there。〃
〃I'm goin'； anyhow。 They can't steal my hosses out from under my eyes。
An' they ain't in range。〃
〃Wal； Guy； you ain't goin' alone；〃 spoke up Jacobs； cheerily； as he
came forward。
The red…haired young wife of Guy Isbel showed no change of her grave
face。 She had been reared in a stern school。 She knew men in times
like these。 But Jacobs's wife appealed to him； 〃Bill； don't risk
your life for a horse or two。〃
Jacobs laughed and answered； 〃Not much risk；〃 and went out with Guy。
To Jean their action seemed foolhardy。 He kept a keen eye on them
and saw instantly when the band became aware of Guy's and Jacobs's
entrance into the pasture。 It took only another second then to realize
that Daggs and Jorth had deadly intent。 Jean saw Daggs slip out of his
saddle； rifle in hand。 Others of the gang did likewise； until half of
them were dismounted。
〃Dad； they're goin' to shoot；〃 called out Jean； sharply。 〃Yell for
Guy and Jacobs。 Make them come back。〃
The old man shouted； Bill Isbel yelled； Blaisdell lifted his
stentorian voice。
Jean screamed piercingly： 〃Guy！ Run！ Run！〃
But Guy Isbel and his companion strode on into the pasture； as if they
had not heard； as if no menacing horse thieves were within miles。 They
had covered about a quarter of the distance across the pasture； and
were nearing the horses； when Jean saw red flashes and white puffs of
smoke burst out from the front of that dark band of rustlers。 Then
followed the sharp； rattling crack of rifles。
Guy Isbel stopped short； and； dropping his gun； he threw up his arms
and fell headlong。 Jacobs acted as if he had suddenly encountered an
invisible blow。 He had been hit。 Turning； he began to run and ran fast
for a few paces。 There were more quick； sharp shots。 He let go of his
rifle。 His running broke。 Walking； reeling； staggering； he kept on。
A hoarse cry came from him。 Then a single rifle shot pealed out。 Jean
heard the bullet strike。 Jacobs fell to his knees； then forward on his
face。
Jean Isbel felt himself turned to marble。 The suddenness of this
tragedy paralyzed him。 His gaze remained riveted on those prostrate
forms。
A hand clutched his arma shaking woman's hand； slim and hard
and tense。
〃Bill'skilled！〃 whispered a broken voice。 〃I was watchin'。
。 。 。 They're both dead！〃
The wives of Jacobs and Guy Isbel had slipped up behind Jean and
from behind him they had seen the tragedy。
〃I asked Billnot togo；〃 faltered the Jacobs woman； and； covering
her face with her hands； she groped back to the comer of the cabin；
where the other women； shaking and white； received her in their arms。
Guy Isbel's wife stood at the window； peering over Jean's shoulder。
She had the nerve of a man。 She had looked out upon death before。
〃Yes； they're dead；〃 she said； bitterly。 〃An' how are we goin' to
get their bodies？〃
At this Gaston Isbel seemed to rouse from the cold spell that had
transfixed him。
〃God； this is hell for our women；〃 he cried out； hoarsely。 My son
my son！ 。 。 。 Murdered by the Jorths！〃 Then he swore a terrible oath。
Jean saw the remainder of the mounted rustlers get off； and then； all
of them leading their horses； they began to move around to the left。
〃Dad； they're movin' round；〃 said Jean。
〃Up to some trick；〃 declared Bill Isbel。
〃Bill； you make a hole through the back wall； say aboot the fifth
log up；〃 ordered the father。 〃Shore we've got to look out。〃
The elder son grasped a tool and； scattering the children； who had
been playing near the back corner； he began to work at the point
designated。 The little children backed away with fixed； wondering；
grave eyes。 The women moved their chairs； and huddled together as
if waiting and listening。
Jean watched the rustlers until they passed out of his sight。 They
had moved toward the sloping； brushy ground to the north and west of
the cabins。
〃Let me know when you get a hole in the back wall；〃 said Jean； and he
went through the kitchen and cautiously out another door to slip into
a low…roofed； shed…like end of the rambling cabin。 This small space
was used to store winter firewood。 The chinks between the walls had
not been filled with adobe clay； and he could see out on three sides。
The rustlers were going into the juniper brush。 They moved out of
sight； and presently reappeared without their horses。 It looked to
Jean as if they intended to attack the cabins。 Then they halted at
the edge of the brush and held a long consultation。 Jean could see
them distinctly； though they were too far distant for him to recognize
any particular man。 One of them； however； stood and moved apart from
the closely massed group。 Evidently； from his strides and gestures；
he was exhorting his listeners。 Jean concluded this was either Daggs
or Jorth。 Whoever it was had a loud； coarse voice； and this and his
actions impressed Jean with a suspicion that the man was under the
influence of the bottle。
Presently Bill Isbel called Jean in a low voice。 〃Jean； I got the
hole made； but we can't see anyone。〃
〃I see them；〃 Jean replied。 〃They're havin' a powwow。 Looks to me
like either Jorth or Daggs is drunk。 He's arguin' to charge us； an'
the rest of the gang are holdin' back。 。 。 。 Tell dad； an' all of you
keep watchin'。 I'll let you know when they make a move。〃
Jorth's gang appeared to be in no hurry to expose their plan of battle。
Gradually the group disintegrated a little； some of them sat down；
others walked to and fro。 Presently two of them went into the brush；
probably back to the horses。 In a few moments they reappeared； carrying
a pack。 And when this was deposited on the ground all the rustlers sat
down around it。 They had brought food and drink。 Jean had to utter a
grim laugh at their coolness； and he was reminded of many dare…devil
deeds known to have been perpetrated by the Hash Knife Gang。 Jean was
glad of a reprieve。 The longer the rustlers put off an attack the more
time the allies of the Isbels would have to get here。 Rather hazardous；
however； would it be now for anyone to attempt to get to the Isbel cabins
in the daytime。 Night would be more favorable。
Twice Bill Isbel came through the kitchen to whisper to Jean。 The strain
in the large room； from which the rustlers could not be seen； must have
been great。 Jean told him all he had seen and what he thought about it。
〃Eatin' an' drinkin'！〃 ejaculated Bill。 〃Well； I'll be！ That 'll jar
the old man。 He wants to get the fight over。
〃Tell him I said it'll be over too quickfor usunless are mighty
careful；〃 replied Jean； sharply。
Bill went back muttering to himself。 Then followed a long wait； fraught
with suspense； during which Jean watched the rustlers regale themselves。
The day was hot and still。 And the unnatural silence
