to the last man-第56章

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decay　there　like　one　of　these　rotting　logs？　　Worst　of　all；　then；　was
the　insinuating　and　ever…growing　hopelessness。　　What　was　the　use？
What　did　it　matter？　　Who　would　ever　think　of　Ellen　Jorth？　　〃O　God！〃
she　whispered　in　her　distraction；　〃is　there　nothing　leftnothing　at　all？〃

A　period　of　several　days　of　less　torment　to　Ellen　followed。　　Her　uncle
apparently　took　a　turn　for　the　better　and　Colter　let　her　alone。　　This
last　circumstance　nonplused　Ellen。　　She　was　at　a　loss　to　understand　it
unless　the　Isbel　menace　now　encroached　upon　Colter　so　formidably　that
he　had　forgotten　her　for　the　present。

Then　one　bright　August　morning；　when　she　had　just　begun　to　relax　her
eternal　vigilance　and　breathe　without　oppression；　Colter　encountered
her　and；　darkly　silent　and　fierce；　he　grasped　her　and　drew　her　off　her
feet。　　Ellen　struggled　violently；　but　the　total　surprise　had　deprived
her　of　strength。　　And　that　paralyzing　weakness　assailed　her　as　never
before。　　Without　apparent　effort　Colter　carried　her；　striding　rapidly
away　from　the　cabins　into　the　border　of　spruce　trees　at　the　foot　of
the　canyon　wall。

〃Colterwhereoh；　where　are　Y'u　takin'　me？〃　she　found　voice　to　cry　out。

〃By　God！　　I　don't　know；〃　he　replied；　with　strong；　vibrant　passion。
〃I　was　a　fool　not　to　carry　y'u　off　long　ago。　　But　I　waited。　　I　was
hopin'　y'u'd　love　me！　。　。　。　An'　now　that　Isbel　gang　has　corralled　us。
Somers　seen　the　half…breed　up　on　the　rocks。　　An'　Springer　seen　the
rest　of　them　sneakin'　around。　　I　run　back　after　my　horse　an'　y'u。〃

〃But　Uncle　Tad！　。　。　。　We　mustn't　leave　him　alone；〃　cried　Ellen。

〃We've　got　to；〃　replied　Colter；　grimly。　　〃Tad　shore　won't　worry　y'u
no　moresoon　as　Jean　Isbel　gets　to　him。〃

〃Oh；　let　me　stay；〃　implored　Ellen。　　〃I　will　save　him。〃

Colter　laughed　at　the　utter　absurdity　of　her　appeal　and　claim。
Suddenly　he　set　her　down　upon　her　feet。　　〃Stand　still；〃　he　ordered。
Ellen　saw　his　big　bay　horse；　saddled；　with　pack　and　blanket；　tied
there　in　the　shade　of　a　spruce。　　With　swift　hands　Colter　untied　him
and　mounted　him；　scarcely　moving　his　piercing　gaze　from　Ellen。　　He
reached　to　grasp　her。　　〃Up　with　y'u！　。　。　。　Put　your　foot　in　the
stirrup！〃　His　will；　like　his　powerful　arm；　was　irresistible　for　Ellen
at　that　moment。　　She　found　herself　swung　up　behind　him。　　Then　the　horse
plunged　away。　　What　with　the　hard　motion　and　Colter's　iron　grasp　on　her
Ellen　was　in　a　painful　position。　　Her　knees　and　feet　came　into　violent
contact　with　branches　and　snags。　　He　galloped　the　horse；　tearing　through
the　dense　thicket　of　willows　that　served　to　hide　the　entrance　to　the
side　canyon；　and　when　out　in　the　larger　and　more　open　canyon　he　urged
him　to　a　run。　　Presently　when　Colter　put　the　horse　to　a　slow　rise　of
ground；　thereby　bringing　him　to　a　walk；　it　was　just　in　time　to　save
Ellen　a　serious　bruising。　　Again　the　sunlight　appeared　to　shade　over。
They　were　in　the　pines。　　Suddenly　with　backward　lunge　Colter　halted
the　horse。　　Ellen　heard　a　yell。　　She　recognized　Queen's　voice。

〃Turn　back；　Colter！　　Turn　back！〃

With　an　oath　Colter　wheeled　his　mount。　　〃If　I　didn't　run　plump　into
them；〃　he　ejaculated；　harshly。　　And　scarcely　had　the　goaded　horse　gotten
a　start　when　a　shot　rang　out。　　Ellen　felt　a　violent　shock；　as　if　her
momentum　had　suddenly　met　with　a　check；　and　then　she　felt　herself
wrenched　from　Colter；　from　the　saddle；　and　propelled　into　the　air。
She　alighted　on　soft　ground　and　thick　grass；　and　was　unhurt　save　for
the　violent　wrench　and　shaking　that　had　rendered　her　breathless。　　Before
she　could　rise　Colter　was　pulling　at　her；　lifting　her　to　her　feet。　　She
saw　the　horse　lying　with　bloody　head。　　Tall　pines　loomed　all　around。
Another　rifle　cracked。　　〃Run！〃　hissed　Colter；　and　he　bounded　off；
dragging　her　by　the　hand。　　Another　yell　pealed　out。　　〃Here　we　are；
Colter！〃。　　Again　it　was　Queen's　shrill　voice。　　Ellen　ran　with　all　her
might；　her　heart　in　her　throat；　her　sight　failing　to　record　more　than
a　blur　of　passing　pines　and　a　blank　green　wall　of　spruce。　　Then　she
lost　her　balance；　was　falling；　yet　could　not　fall　because　of　that　steel
grip　on　her　hand；　and　was　dragged；　and　finally　carried；　into　a　dense
shade。　　She　was　blinded。　　The　trees　whirled　and　faded。　　Voices　and　shots
sounded　far　away。　　Then　something　black　seemed　to　be　wiped　across　her
feeling。

It　turned　to　gray；　to　moving　blankness；　to　dim；　hazy　objects；　spectral
and　tall；　like　blanketed　trees；　and　when　Ellen　fully　recovered
consciousness　she　was　being　carried　through　the　forest。

〃Wal；　little　one；　that　was　a　close　shave　for　y'u；〃　said　Colter's　hard
voice；　growing　clearer。　　〃Reckon　your　keelin'　over　was　natural　enough。〃

He　held　her　lightly　in　both　arms；　her　head　resting　above　his　left　elbow。
Ellen　saw　his　face　as　a　gray　blur；　then　taking　sharper　outline；　until
it　stood　out　distinctly；　pale　and　clammy；　with　eyes　cold　and　wonderful
in　their　intense　flare。　　As　she　gazed　upward　Colter　turned　his　head　to
look　back　through　the　woods；　and　his　motion　betrayed　a　keen；　wild
vigilance。　　The　veins　of　his　lean；　brown　neck　stood　out　like　whipcords。
Two　comrades　were　stalking　beside　him。　　Ellen　heard　their　stealthy
steps；　and　she　felt　Colter　sheer　from　one　side　or　the　other。　　They　were
proceeding　cautiously；　fearful　of　the　rear；　but　not　wholly　trusting　to
the　fore。

〃Reckon　we'd　better　go　slow　an'　look　before　we　leap；〃　said　one　whose
voice　Ellen　recognized　as　Springer's。

〃Shore。　　That　open　slope　ain't　to　my　likin'；　with　our　Nez　Perce　friend
prowlin'　round；〃　drawled　Colter；　as　he　set　Ellen　down　on　her　feet。

Another　of　the　rustlers　laughed。　　〃Say；　can't　he　twinkle　through　the
forest？　　I　had　four　shots　at　him。　　Harder　to　hit　than　a　turkey　runnin'
crossways。〃

This　facetious　speaker　was　the　evil…visaged；　sardonic　Somers。
He　carried　two　rifles　and　wore　two　belts　of　cartridges。

〃Ellen；　shore　y'u　ain't　so　daid　white　as　y'u　was；〃　observed　Colter；
and　he　chucked　her　under　the　chin　with　familiar　hand。　　〃Set　down　heah。
I　don't　want　y'u　stoppin'　any　bullets。　　An'　there's　no　tellin'。〃

Ellen　was　glad　to　comply　with　his　wish。　　She　had　begun　to　recover　wits
and　strength；　yet　she　still　felt　shaky。　　She　observed　that　their　position
then　was　on　the　edge　of　a　well…wooded　slope　from　which　she　could　see　the
grassy　canyon　floor　below。　　They　were　on　a　level　bench；　projecting　out
from　the　main　canyon　wall　that　loomed　gray　and　rugged　and　pine　fringed。
Somers　and　Cotter　and　Springer　gave　careful　attention　to　all　points　of
the　compass；　especially　in　the　direction　from　which　they　had　come。
They　evidently　anticipated　being　trailed　or　circled　or　headed　off；
but　did　not　manifest　much　concern。　　Somers　lit　a　cigarette；　Springer
wiped　his　face　with　a　grimy　hand　and　counted　the　shells　in　his　belt；
which　appeared　to　be　half　empty。　　Colter　stretched　his　long　neck　like
a　vulture　and　peered　down　the　slope　and　through　the　aisles　of　the　forest
up　toward　the　canyon　rim。

〃Listen！〃　he　said；　tersely；　and　bent　his　head　a　little　to　one　side；
ear　to　the　slight　breeze。

They　all　listened。　　Ellen　heard　the　beating　of　her　heart；　the　rustle
of　leaves；　the　tapping　of　a　woodpecker；　and　faint；　remote　sounds　that
she　could　not　name。

〃Deer；　I　reckon；〃　spoke　up　Somers。

〃Ahuh！　　Wal；　I　reckon　they　ain't　trailin'　us　yet；〃　replied　Colter。
〃We　gave　them　a　shade　better　'n　they　sent　us。〃

〃Short　an'　sweet！〃　ejaculated　Springer；　and　he　removed　his　black
sombrero　to　poke　a　dirty　forefinger　through　a　buffet　hole　in　the　crown。
〃Thet's　how　close　I　come　to　cashin'。　　I　was　lyin'　behind　a　log；
listenin'　an'　watchin'；　an'　when　I　stuck　my　head　up　a　littlezam！
Somebody　made　my　bonnet　leak。〃

〃Where's　Queen？〃　asked　Colter。

〃He　was　with　me　fust　off；〃　replied　Somers。　　〃An'　then　when　the　shootin'
slackedafter　I'd　plugged　thet　big；　red…faced；　white…haired　pal　of
Isbel's〃

〃Reckon　thet　was　Blaisdell；〃　interrupted　Springer。

〃Queenhe　got　tired　layin'　low；〃　went　on　Somers。　　〃He　wanted　action。
I　heerd　him　chewin'　to　himself；　an'　when　I　asked　him　what　was　eatin'
him　he　up　an'　growled　he　was　goin'　to　quit　this　Injun　fightin'。
An'　he　slipped　off　in　the　woods。〃

〃Wal；　that's　the　gun　fighter　of　it；〃　declared　Colter；　wagging　his　head；
〃Ever　since　that　cowman；　Blue；　braced　us　an'　s