riders of the purple sage-第70章

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More　rattling　shots　disturbed　the　noonday　quiet。　She　heard　a　sliding　of　weathered　rock；　a　hoarse　shout　of　warning；　a　yell　of　alarm；　again　the　clear；　sharp　crack　of　the　rifle；　and　another　cry　that　was　a　cry　of　death。　Then　rifle　reports　pierced　a　dull　volley　of　revolver　shots。　Bullets　whizzed　over　Jane's　hiding…place；　one　struck　a　stone　and　whined　away　in　the　air。　After　that；　for　a　time；　succeeded　desultory　shots；　and　then　they　ceased　under　long；　thundering　fire　from　heavier　guns。

Sooner　or　later；　then；　Jane　heard　the　cracking　of　horses'　hoofs　on　the　stones；　and　the　sound　came　nearer　and　nearer。　Silence　intervened　until　Lassiter's　soft；　jingling　step　assured　her　of　his　approach。　When　he　appeared　he　was　covered　with　blood。

〃All　right；　Jane；〃　he　said。　〃I　come　back。　An'　don't　worry。〃

With　water　from　a　canteen　he　washed　the　blood　from　his　face　and　hands。

〃Jane；　hurry　now。　Tear　my　scarf　in　two；　en'　tie　up　these　places。　That　hole　through　my　hand　is　some　inconvenient；　worse　'n　this　at　over　my　ear。　Thereyou're　doin'　fine！　Not　a　bit　nervousno　tremblin'。　I　reckon　I　ain't　done　your　courage　justice。　I'm　glad　you're　brave　jest　nowyou'll　need　to　be。　Well；　I　was　hid　pretty　good；　enough　to　keep　them　from　shootin'　me　deep；　but　they　was　slingin'　lead　close　all　the　time。　I　used　up　all　the　rifle　shells；　an'　en　I　went　after　them。　Mebbe　you　heard。　It　was　then　I　got　hit。　Had　to　use　up　every　shell　in　my　own　gun；　an'　they　did；　too；　as　I　seen。　Rustlers　an'　Mormons；　Jane！　An'　now　I'm　packin'　five　bullet　holes　in　my　carcass；　an'　guns　without　shells。　Hurry；　now。〃

He　unstrapped　the　saddle…bags　from　the　burros；　slipped　the　saddles　and　let　them　lie；　turned　the　burros　loose；　and；　calling　the　dogs；　led　the　way　through　stones　and　cedars　to　an　open　where　two　horses　stood。

〃Jane；　are　you　strong？〃　he　asked。

〃I　think　so。　I'm　not　tired；〃　Jane　replied。

〃I　don't　mean　that　way。　Can　you　bear　up？〃

〃I　think　I　can　bear　anything。〃

〃I　reckon　you　look　a　little　cold　an'　thick。　So　I'm　preparin'　you。〃

〃For　what？〃

〃I　didn't　tell　you　why　I　jest　had　to　go　after　them　fellers。　I　couldn't　tell　you。　I　believe　you'd　have　died。　But　I　can　tell　you　nowif　you'll　bear　up　under　a　shock？〃

〃Go　on；　my　friend。〃

〃I've　got　little　Fay！　Alivebad　hurtbut　she'll　live！〃

Jane　Withersteen's　dead…locked　feeling；　rent　by　Lassiter's　deep；　quivering　voice；　leaped　into　an　agony　of　sensitive　life。

〃Here；〃　he　added；　and　showed　her　where　little　Fay　lay　on　the　grass。

Unable　to　speak；　unable　to　stand；　Jane　dropped　on　her　knees。　By　that　long；　beautiful　golden　hair　Jane　recognized　the　beloved　Fay。　But　Fay's　loveliness　was　gone。　Her　face　was　drawn　and　looked　old　with　grief。　But　she　was　not　deadher　heart　beatand　Jane　Withersteen　gathered　strength　and　lived　again。

〃You　see　I　jest　had　to　go　after　Fay；〃　Lassiter　was　saying；　as　he　knelt　to　bathe　her　little　pale　face。　〃But　I　reckon　I　don't　want　no　more　choices　like　the　one　I　had　to　make。　There　was　a　crippled　feller　in　that　bunch；　Jane。　Mebbe　Venters　crippled　him。　Anyway；　that's　why　they　were　holding　up　here。　I　seen　little　Fay　first　thing；　en'　was　hard　put　to　it　to　figure　out　a　way　to　get　her。　An'　I　wanted　hosses；　too。　I　had　to　take　chances。　So　I　crawled　close　to　their　camp。　One　feller　jumped　a　hoss　with　little　Fay；　an'　when　I　shot　him；　of　course　she　dropped。　She's　stunned　an'　bruisedshe　fell　right　on　her　head。　Jane；　she's　comin'　to！　She　ain't　bad　hurt！〃

Fay's　long　lashes　fluttered；　her　eyes　opened。　At　first　they　seemed　glazed　over。　They　looked　dazed　by　pain。　Then　they　quickened；　darkened；　to　shine　with　intelligencebewildermentmemoryand　sudden　wonderful　joy。

〃MuvverJane！〃　she　whispered。

〃Oh；　little　Fay；　little　Fay！〃　cried　Jane；　lifting；　clasping　the　child　to　her。

〃Now；　we've　got　to　rustle！〃　said　Lassiter；　in　grim　coolness。　〃Jane；　look　down　the　Pass！〃

Across　the　mounds　of　rock　and　sage　Jane　caught　sight　of　a　band　of　riders　filing　out　of　the　narrow　neck　of　the　Pass；　and　in　the　lead　was　a　white　horse；　which；　even　at　a　distance　of　a　mile　or　more；　she　knew。

〃Tull！〃　she　almost　screamed。

〃I　reckon。　But；　Jane；　we've　still　got　the　game　in　our　hands。　They're　ridin'　tired　hosses。　Venters　likely　give　them　a　chase。　He　wouldn't　forget　that。　An'　we've　fresh　hosses。〃

Hurriedly　he　strapped　on　the　saddle…bags；　gave　quick　glance　to　girths　and　cinches　and　stirrups；　then　leaped　astride。

〃Lift　little　Fay　up；〃　he　said。

With　shaking　arms　Jane　complied。

〃Get　back　your　nerve；　woman！　This's　life　or　death　now。　Mind　that。　Climb　up！　Keep　your　wits。　Stick　close　to　me。　Watch　where　your　hoss's　goin'　en'　ride！〃

Somehow　Jane　mounted；　somehow　found　strength　to　hold　the　reins；　to　spur；　to　cling　on；　to　ride。　A　horrible　quaking；　craven　fear　possessed　her　soul。　Lassiter　led　the　swift　flight　across　the　wide　space；　over　washes；　through　sage；　into　a　narrow　canyon　where　the　rapid　clatter　of　hoofs　rapped　sharply　from　the　walls。　The　wind　roared　in　her　ears；　the　gleaming　cliffs　swept　by；　trail　and　sage　and　grass　moved　under　her。　Lassiter's　bandaged；　blood…stained　face　turned　to　her；　he　shouted　encouragement；　he　looked　back　down　the　Pass；　he　spurred　his　horse。　Jane　clung　on；　spurring　likewise。　And　the　horses　settled　from　hard；　furious　gallop　into　a　long…stridng；　driving　run。　She　had　never　ridden　at　anything　like　that　pace；　desperately　she　tried　to　get　the　swing　of　the　horse；　to　be　of　some　help　to　him　in　that　race；　to　see　the　best　of　the　ground　and　guide　him　into　it。　But　she　failed　of　everything　except　to　keep　her　seat　the　saddle；　and　to　spur　and　spur。　At　times　she　closed　her　eyes　unable　to　bear　sight　of　Fay's　golden　curls　streaming　in　the　wind。　She　could　not　pray；　she　could　not　rail；　she　no　longer　cared　for　herself。　All　of　life；　of　good；　of　use　in　the　world；　of　hope　in　heaven　entered　in　Lassiter's　ride　with　little　Fay　to　safety。　She　would　have　tried　to　turn　the　iron…jawed　brute　she　rode；　she　would　have　given　herself　to　that　relentless；　dark…browed　Tull。　But　she　knew　Lassiter　would　turn　with　her；　so　she　rode　on　and　on。

Whether　that　run　was　of　moments　or　hours　Jane　Withersteen　could　not　tell。　Lassiter's　horse　covered　her　with　froth　that　blew　back　in　white　streams。　Both　horses　ran　their　limit；　were　allowed　slow　down　in　time　to　save　them；　and　went　on　dripping；　heaving；　staggering。

〃Oh；　Lassiter；　we　must　runwe　must　run！〃

He　looked　back；　saying　nothing。　The　bandage　had　blown　from　his　head；　and　blood　trickled　down　his　face。　He　was　bowing　under　the　strain　of　injuries；　of　the　ride；　of　his　burden。　Yet　how　cool　and　gay　he　lookedhow　intrepid！

The　horses　walked；　trotted；　galloped；　ran；　to　fall　again　to　walk。　Hours　sped　or　dragged。　Time　was　an　instantan　eternity。　Jane　Withersteen　felt　hell　pursuing　her；　and　dared　not　look　back　for　fear　she　would　fall　from　her　horse。

〃Oh；　Lassiter！　Is　he　coming？〃

The　grim　rider　looked　over　his　shoulder；　but　said　no　word。　Fay's　golden　hair　floated　on　the　breeze。　The　sun　shone；　the　walls　gleamed；　the　sage　glistened。　And　then　it　seemed　the　sun　vanished；　the　walls　shaded；　the　sage　paled。　The　horses　walkedtrottedgallopedranto　fall　again　to　walk。　Shadows　gathered　under　shelving　cliffs。　The　canyon　turned；　brightened；　opened　into　a　long；　wide；　wall…enclosed　valley。　Again　the　sun；　lowering　in　the　west；　reddened　the　sage。　Far　ahead　round；　scrawled　stone　appeared　to　block　the　Pass。

〃Bear　up；　Jane；　bear　up！〃　called　Lassiter。　〃It's　our　game；　if　you　don't　weaken。〃

〃Lassiter！　Go　onalone！　Save　little　Fay！〃

〃Only　with　you！〃

〃Oh！I'm　a　cowarda　miserable　coward！　I　can't　fight　or　think　or　hope　or　pray！　I'm　lost！　Oh；　Lassiter；　look　back！　Is　he　coming？　I'll　nothold　out〃

〃Keep　your　breath；　woman；　an'　ride　not　for　yourself　or　for　me；　but　for　Fay！〃

A　last　breaking　run　across　the　sage　brought　Lassiter's　horse　to　a　walk。

〃He's　done；〃　said　the　rider。

〃Oh；　nono！〃　moaned　Jane。

〃Look　back；　Jane；　look　back。　Threefour　miles　we've　come　across　this　valley；　en'　no　Tull　yet　in　sight。　Only　a　few　more　miles！〃

Jane　looked　back　over　the　long　stretch　of　sage；　and　found　the　narrow　gap　in　the　wall；　out　of　which　came　a　file　of　dark　horses　with　a　white　horse　in　the　lead。　Sight　of　the　riders　acted　upon　Jane　as　a　stimulant。　The　weight　of　cold；　horrible　terror　lessened。　And；　gazing　forward　at　the　dogs；　at　Lassiter's　limping