a cumberland vendetta-第13章

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　the　cliff；　with　his　resolute　face　against　the　stock　of　a　Winchester。

〃Drap　that　gun！〃

The　order　was　given　along　Stetson's　barrel；　and　the　weapon　was　dropped；　the　steel　ringing　on　the　stone　floor。　Rome　lowered　his　gun　to　the　hollow　of　his　arm；　and　the　two　young　leaders　faced　each　other　for　the　first　time　in　the　life　of　either。

Seem　kinder　s'prised　to　see　me；〃　said　the　Stetson；　grimly。　　〃　Hev　ye　got　a　pistol？

Young　Jasper　glared　at　him　in　helpless　ferocity。

〃Naw！〃

〃Knife？〃

He　drew　a　long…bladed　penknife　from　his　pocket；　and　tossed　it　at　Rome's　feet。

〃Jes'　move　over　thar；　will　ye？〃

The　Lewallen　took　his　stand　against　the　cliff。　Rome　picked　up　the　fallen　rifle　and　leaned　it　against　the　ledge。

〃Now；　Jas　Lewallen；　thar's　nobody　left　in　this　leetle　trouble　'cept　you　'n'　me；　'n'　ef　one　of　us　was　dead；　I　reckon　t'other　could　live　hyeh；　'n'　thar'd　be　peace　in　these　mount'ins。　I　thought　o'　that　when　I　had　ye　at　the　eend　o'　this　Winchester。　　I　reckon　you　would　'a'　shot　me　dead　ef　I　had　poked　my　head　over　a　rock　as　keerless　as　you。〃　　That　is　just　what　he　would　have　done；　and　Jasper　did　not　answer。　　〃I've　swore　to　kill　ye；　too；〃　added　Rome；　tapping　his　gun；　〃I've　got　a　cross　fer　ye　hyeh。〃

The　Lewallen　was　no　coward。　Outcry　or　resistance　was　useless。　　The　Stetson　meant　to　taunt　him；　to　make　death　more　bitter；　for　Jasper　expected　death；　and　he　sullenly　waited　for　it　against　the　cliff。

〃You've　been　banterin　me　a　long　time　now；　'lowin'　as　how　ye　air　the　better　man　o'　the　two；　n'　I've　got　a　notion　o'　givin'　ye　a　chance　to　prove　yer　tall　talk。　　Hit's　not　our　way　to　kill　a　man　in　cold　blood；　'n'　I　don't　want　to　kill　ye　anyways　ef　I　kin　he'p　it。　　Seem　s'prised　ag'in。　　Reckon　ye　don't　believe　me？　　I　don't　wonder　when　I　think　o'　my　own　dad；　'n'　all　the　meanness　yo　folks　have　done　mine；　but　I've　got　a　good　reason　fer　not　killin'　ye…ef　I　kin　he'p　it。　　Y'u　don't　know　what　it　is；　'n'　y'u'll　never　know；　but　I'll　give　yer　a　chance　now　fer　yer　life　ef　y'u'll　sw'ar　on　a　stack　o'　Bibles　as　high　as　that　tree　thar　that　y'u'll　leave　these　mount'ins　ef　I　whoops　ye；　'n'　nuver　come　back　ag'in　as　long　as　you　live。　　I'll　leave；　ef　ye　whoops　me。　Now　whut　do　ye　say？　　Will　ye　sw'ar？

〃I　reckon　I　will；　seem'　as　I've　got　to；〃　was　the　surly　answer。　　But　Jasper's　face　was　dark　with　suspicion；　and　Rome　studied　it　keenly。　The　Lewallens　once　had　been　men　whose　word　was　good；　but　he　did　not　like　Jasper's　look。

〃I　reckon　I'll　trust　ye；〃　he　said；　at　last；　more　through　confidence　in　his　own　strength　than　faith　in　his　enemy；　foi　Jasper　whipped　would　be　as　much　at　his　mercy　as　he　was　now。　　So　Rome　threw　off　his　coat；　and　began　winding　his　homespun　suspenders　about　his　waist。　Watching　him　closely；　Jasper　did　the　same。

The　firing　below　had　ceased。　　A　flock　of　mountain　vultures　were　sailing　in　great　circles　over　the　thick　woods。　Two　eagles　swept　straight　from　the　rim　of　the　sun　above　Wolf's　Head；　beating　over　a　turbulent　sea　of　mist　for　the　cliffs；　scarcely　fifty　yards　above　the　ledge；　where　a　pine…tree　grew　between　two　rocks。　At　the　instant　of　lighting；　they　wheeled　away；　each　with　a　warning　scream　to　the　other。　A　figure　lying　flat　behind　the　pine　had　frightened　them；　and　now　a　face　peeped　to　one　side；　flushed　with　eagerness　over　the　coming　fight。　　Both　were　ready　now；　and　the　Lewallen　grew　suddenly　white　as　Rome　turned　again　and　reached　down　for　the　guns。

〃I　reckon　I'll　put　'em　a　leetle　furder　out　o'　the　way；〃　he　said；　kicking　the　knife　over　the　cliff；　and；　standing　on　a　stone；　he　thrust　them　into　a　crevice　high　above　his　head。

〃Now；　Jas；　we'll　fight　this　gredge　out；　as　our　grandads　have　done　afore　us。〃

Lewallen　and　Stetson　were　man　to　man　at　last。　Suspicion　was　gone　now；　and　a　short；　brutal　laugh　came　from　the　cliff。

〃I'll　fight　ye！　Oh；　by　God；　I'll　fight　ye！〃

The　ring　of　the　voice　struck　an　answering　gleam　from　Rome's　gray　eyes；　and　the　two　sprang　for　each　other。　It　was　like　the　struggle　of　primeval　men　who　had　not　yet　learned　even　the　use　of　clubs。　For　an　instant　both　stood　close；　like　two　wild　beasts　crouched　for　a　spring；　and　circling　about　to　get　at　each　other's　throats；　with　mouths　set；　eyes　watching　eyes；　and　hands　twitching　nervously。　Young　Jasper　leaped　first；　and　the　Stetson；　wary　of　closing　with　him；　shrank　back。　　There　were　a　few　quick；　heavy　blows；　and　the　Lewallen　was　beaten　away　with　blood　at　his　lips。　Then　each　knew　the　advantage　of　the　other。　The　Stetson's　reach　was　longer；　the　Lewallen　was　shorter　and　heavier；　and　again　he　closed　in。　Again　Rome　sent　out　his　long　arm。　A　turn　of　Jasper's　head　let　the　heavy　fist　pass　over　his　shoulder。　The　force　of　the　blow　drove　Rome　forward；　the　two　clinched；　and　Jasper's　arms　tightened　about　the　Stetson's　waist。　With　a　quick　gasp　for　breath　Rome　loosed　his　hold；　and；　bending　his　enemy's　head　back　with　one　hand；　rained　blow　after　blow　in　his　face　with　the　other。　One　terrible　stroke　on　the　jaw；　and　Jasper's　arms　were　loosed；　the　two　fell　apart；　the　one　stunned；　the　other　breathless。　One　dazed　moment　only；　and　for　a　third　time　the　Lewallen　came　on。　Rome　had　been　fighting　a　man；　now　he　faced　a　demon。　Jasper's　brows　stood　out　like　bristles；　and　the　eyes　under　them　were　red　and　fierce　like　a　mad　bull's。　Again　Rome's　blows　fell；　but　again　the　Lewallen　reached　him；　and　this　time　he　got　his　face　under　the　Stetson's　chin；　…'id　the　heavy　fist　fell　upon　the　back　of　his　head；　and　upon　his　neck；　as　upon　wood　and　leather。　Again　Rome　had　to　gasp　for　breath；　and　again　the　two　were　fiercely　locked…their　corded　arms　as　tense　as　serpents。　　Around　and　around　they　whirled；　straining；　tripping；　breaking　the　silence　only　with　deep；　quick　breaths　and　the　stamping　of　feet；　Jasper　firm　on　the　rock；　and　Rome's　agility　saving　him　from　being　lifted　in　the　air　and　tossed　from　the　cliff。　There　was　no　pause　for　rest。　　It　was　a　struggle　to　the　end；　and　a　quick　one；　and　under　stress　of　excitement　the　figure　at　the　pine…tree　had　risen　to　his　knees…　jumping　even　to　his　feet　in　plain　view；　when　the　short；　strong　arms　of　the　Lewallen　began　at　last　to　draw　Rome　closer　still；　and　to　bend　him　backward。　The　Stetson　was　giving　way　at　last。　The　Lewallen's　vindictive　face　grew　blacker；　and　his　white　teeth　showed　between　his　snarling　lips　as　he　fastened　one　leg　behind　his　enemy's；　and；　with　chin　against　his　shoulder；　bent　him　slowly；　slowly　back。　The　two　breathed　in　short；　painful　gasps；　their　swollen　muscles　trembled　under　the　strain　as　with　ague。　Back　…　back　…　the　Stetson　was　falling；　he　seemed　almost　down；　when…the　trick　is　an　old　one…whirling　with　the　quickness　of　light；　he　fell　heavily　on　his　opponent；　and　caught　him　by　the　throat　with　both　hands。

〃'Nough？　〃　he　asked；　hoarsely。　It　was　the　first　word　uttered。

The　only　answer　was　a　fierce　struggle。　Rome　felt　the　Lewallen's　teeth　sinking　in　his　arm；　and　his　fingers　tightened　like　twisting　steel；　till　Jasper　caught　his　breath　as　though　strangling　to　death。

〃'Nough？〃　asked　the　hoarse　voice　again。

No　answer；　tighter　clinched　the　fingers。　The　Lewallen　shook　his　head　feebly；　his　purple　face　paled　suddenly　as　Rome　loosed　his　hold；　and　his　lips　moved　in　a　whisper。

〃'Nough！〃

Rome　rose　dizzily　to　one　knee。　Jasper　turned；　gasping；　and　lay　with　his　face　to　the　rock。　For　a　while　both　were　quiet；　Rome；　panting　with　open　mouth　and　white　with　exhaustion；　looking　down　now　and　then　at　the　Lewallen；　whose　face　was　turned　away　with　shame。

The　sun　was　blazing　above　Wolf's　Head　now；　and　the　stillness　about　them　lay　unbroken　on　the　woods　below。

〃I've　whooped　ye；　Jas；〃　Rome　said；　at　last；　〃I've　whooped　ye　in　a　fa'r　fight；　'n'　I've　got　nothin'　now　to　say　'bout　yer　tall　talk；　'n'　I　reckon　you　hevn't　nuther。　　Now；　hit's　understood；　hain't　it；　that　y'u'll　leave　these　mount'ins？

Y'u　kin　go　West；〃　he　continued；　as　the　Lewallen　did　not　answer。　〃　Uncle　Rufe　used　to　say　thar's　a　good　deal　to　do　out　thar；　'n'　nobody　axes　questions。　Thar's　nobody　left　hyeh　but　you　'n'　me；　but　these　mount'ins　was　never　big　'nough　fer　one　Lewallen　'n'　one　Stetson；　'n'　you've　got　to　go。　　I　reckon　ye　won't　believe　me；　but　I'm　glad　I　didn't　hev　to　kill　ye。　But　you've　promised　to　go；　now；　'n'　I'll　take　yer　word　fer　it。〃　He　turned　his　face；　and　the　Lewallen；　knowing　it　from　the　sound　of　his　voice；　sprang