to the last man-第55章
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on Ellen； the strife and pang of her breast did not subside。 But with
the long hours and the strange closing in of the forest around her and
the fleeting glimpse of that wonderful star； with a subtle divination
of the meaning of her beating heart and throbbing mind； and； lastly；
with a voice thundering at her conscience that a man's faith in a
woman must not be greater； nobler； than her faith in God and eternity
with these she checked the dark flight of her soul toward destruction。
CHAPTER XII
A chill； gray； somber dawn was breaking when Ellen dragged herself
into the cabin and crept under her blankets； there to sleep the sleep
of exhaustion。
When she awoke the hour appeared to be late afternoon。 Sun and sky
shone through the sunken and decayed roof of the old cabin。 Her uncle；
Tad Jorth； lay upon a blanket bed upheld by a crude couch of boughs。
The light fell upon his face； pale； lined； cast in a still mold of
suffering。 He was not dead； for she heard his respiration。
The floor underneath Ellen's blankets was bare clay。 She and Jorth
were alone in this cabin。 It contained nothing besides their beds
and a rank growth of weeds along the decayed lower logs。 Half of the
cabin had a rude ceiling of rough…hewn boards which formed a kind of loft。
This attic extended through to the adjoining cabin； forming the ceiling
of the porch…like space between the two structures。 There was no
partition。 A ladder of two aspen saplings； pegged to the logs； and
with braces between for steps； led up to the attic。
Ellen smelled wood smoke and the odor of frying meat； and she heard the
voices of men。 She looked out to see that Slater and Somers had joined
their partyan addition that might have strengthened it for defense；
but did not lend her own situation anything favorable。 Somers had
always appeared the one best to avoid。
Colter espied her and called her to 〃Come an' feed your pale face。〃
His comrades laughed； not loudly； but guardedly； as if noise was
something to avoid。 Nevertheless； they awoke Tad Jorth； who began
to toss and moan on the bed。
Ellen hurried to his side and at once ascertained that he had a high
fever and was in a critical condition。 Every time he tossed he opened
a wound in his right breast； rather high up。 For all she could see；
nothing had been done for him except the binding of a scarf round his
neck and under his arm。 This scant bandage had worked loose。 Going to
the door； she called out：
〃Fetch me some water。〃 When Colter brought it； Ellen was rummaging
in her pack for some clothing or towel that she could use for bandages。
〃Weren't any of y'u decent enough to look after my uncle？〃 she queried。
〃Huh！ Wal； what the hell！〃 rejoined Colter。 〃We shore did all we could。
I reckon y'u think it wasn't a tough job to pack him up the Rim。 He was
done for then an' I said so。〃
〃I'll do all I can for him；〃 said Ellen。
〃Shore。 Go ahaid。 When I get plugged or knifed by that half…breed
I shore hope y'u'll be round to nurse me。〃
〃Y'u seem to be pretty shore of your fate； Colter。〃
〃Shore as hell！〃 he bit out； darkly。 〃Somers saw Isbel an' his gang
trailin' us to the Jorth ranch。〃
〃Are y'u goin' to stay heahan' wait for them？〃
〃Shore I've been quarrelin' with the fellars out there over that very
question。 I'm for leavin' the country。 But Queen； the damn gun fighter；
is daid set to kill that cowman； Blue； who swore he was King Fisher；
the old Texas outlaw。 None but Queen are spoilin' for another fight。
All the same they won't leave Tad Jorth heah alone。〃
Then Colter leaned in at the door and whispered： 〃Ellen； I cain't boss
this outfit。 So let's y'u an' me shake 'em。 I've got your dad's gold。
Let's ride off to…night an' shake this country。〃
Colter； muttering under his breath； left the door and returned to his
comrades。 Ellen had received her first intimation of his cowardice；
and his mention of her father's gold started a train of thought that
persisted in spite of her efforts to put all her mind to attending
her uncle。 He grew conscious enough to recognize her working over him；
and thanked her with a look that touched Ellen deeply。 It changed the
direction of her mind。 His suffering and imminent death； which she was
able to alleviate and retard somewhat； worked upon her pity and compassion
so that she forgot her own plight。 Half the night she was tending him；
cooling his fever； holding him quiet。 Well she realized that but for
her ministrations he would have died。 At length he went to sleep。
And Ellen； sitting beside him in the lonely； silent darkness of that
late hour； received again the intimation of nature； those vague and
nameless stirrings of her innermost being； those whisperings out of
the night and the forest and the sky。 Something great would not let
go of her soul。 She pondered。
Attention to the wounded man occupied Ellen； and soon she redoubled
her activities in this regard； finding in them something of protection
against Colter。
He had waylaid her as she went to a spring for water； and with a lunge
like that of a bear he had tried to embrace her。 But Ellen had been
too quick。
〃Wal； are y'u goin' away with me？〃 he demanded。
〃No。 I'll stick by my uncle；〃 she replied。
That motive of hers seemed to obstruct his will。 Ellen was keen to see
that Colter and his comrades were at a last stand and disintegrating
under a severe strain。 Nerve and courage of the open and the wild they
possessed； but only in a limited degree。 Colter seemed obsessed by his
passion for her； and though Ellen in her stubborn pride did not yet fear
him； she realized she ought to。 After that incident she watched closely；
never leaving her uncle's bedside except when Colter was absent。 One or
more of the men kept constant lookout somewhere down the canyon。
Day after day passed on the wings of suspense； of watching； of ministering
to her uncle； of waiting for some hour that seemed fixed。
Colter was like a hound upon her trail。 At every turn he was there to
importune her to run off with him； to frighten her with the menace of
the Isbels； to beg her to give herself to him。 It came to pass that
the only relief she had was when she ate with the men or barred the
cabin door at night。 Not much relief； however； was there in the shut
and barred door。 With one thrust of his powerful arm Colter could have
caved it in。 He knew this as well as Ellen。 Still she did not have
the fear she should have had。 There was her rifle beside her； and
though she did not allow her mind to run darkly on its possible use；
still the fact of its being there at hand somehow strengthened her。
Colter was a cat playing with a mouse； but not yet sure of his quarry。
Ellen came to know hours when she was weakweak physically； mentally；
spiritually； morallywhen under the sheer weight of this frightful
and growing burden of suspense she was not capable of fighting her
misery； her abasement； her low ebb of vitality； and at the same time
wholly withstanding Colter's advances。
He would come into the cabin and； utterly indifferent to Tad Jorth；
he would try to make bold and unrestrained love to Ellen。 When he
caught her in one of her unresisting moments and was able to hold
her in his arms and kiss her he seemed to be beside himself with the
wonder of her。 At such moments； if he had any softness or gentleness
in him； they expressed themselves in his sooner or later letting her go；
when apparently she was about to faint。 So it must have become
fascinatingly fixed in Colter's mind that at times Ellen repulsed
him with scorn and at others could not resist him。
Ellen had escaped two crises in her relation with this man； and as a
morbid doubt； like a poisonous fungus； began to strangle her mind；
she instinctively divined that there was an approaching and final
crisis。 No uplift of her spirit came this timeno intimationsno
whisperings。 How horrible it all was！ To long to be good and noble
to realize that she was neitherto sink lower day by day！ Must she
decay there like one of these rotting logs？ Worst of all； then； was
the insinuating and ever…growing hopelessness。 What was the
