riders of the purple sage-第71章

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　horse；　at　the　blood　on　his　face；　at　the　rocks　growing　nearer；　last　at　Fay's　golden　hair；　the　ice　left　her　veins；　and　slowly；　strangely；　she　gained　hold　of　strength　that　she　believed　would　see　her　to　the　safety　Lassiter　promised。　And；　as　she　gazed；　Lassiter's　horse　stumbled　and　fell。　He　swung　his　leg　and　slipped　from　the　saddle。

〃Jane；　take　the　child；〃　he　said；　and　lifted　Fay　up。　Jane　clasped　her　arms　suddenly　strong。　〃They're　gainin'；〃　went　on　Lassiter；　as　he　watched　the　pursuing　riders。　〃But　we'll　beat　'em　yet。〃

Turning　with　Jane's　bridle　in　his　hand；　he　was　about　to　start　when　he　saw　the　saddle…bag　on　the　fallen　horse。

〃I've　jest　about　got　time；〃　he　muttered；　and　with　swift　fingers　that　did　not　blunder　or　fumble　he　loosened　the　bag　and　threw　it　over　his　shoulder。　Then　he　started　to　run；　leading　Jane's　horse；　and　he　ran；　and　trotted；　and　walked；　and　ran　again。　Close　ahead　now　Jane　saw　a　rise　of　bare　rock。　Lassiter　reached　it；　searched　along　the　base；　and；　finding　a　low　place；　dragged　the　weary　horse　up　and　over　round；　smooth　stone。　Looking　backward；　Jane　saw　Tull's　white　horse　not　a　mile　distant；　with　riders　strung　out　in　a　long　line　behind　him。　Looking　forward；　she　saw　more　valley　to　the　right；　and　to　the　left　a　towering　cliff。　Lassiter　pulled　the　horse　and　kept　on。

Little　Fay　lay　in　her　arms　with　wide…open　eyeseyes　which　were　still　shadowed　by　pain；　but　no　longer　fixed；　glazed　in　terror。　The　golden　curls　blew　across　Jane's　lips；　the　little　hands　feebly　clasped　her　arm；　a　ghost　of　a　troubled；　trustful　smile　hovered　round　the　sweet　lips。　And　Jane　Withersteen　awoke　to　the　spirit　of　a　lioness。

Lassiter　was　leading　the　horse　up　a　smooth　slope　toward　cedar　trees　of　twisted　and　bleached　appearance。　Among　these　he　halted。

〃Jane；　give　me　the　girl　en'　get　down；〃　he　said。　As　if　it　wrenched　him　he　unbuckled　the　empty　black　guns　with　a　strange　air　of　finality。　He　then　received　Fay　in　his　arms　and　stood　a　moment　looking　backward。　Tull's　white　horse　mounted　the　ridge　of　round　stone；　and　several　bays　or　blacks　followed。　〃I　wonder　what　he'll　think　when　he　sees　them　empty　guns。　Jane；　bring　your　saddle…bag　and　climb　after　me。〃

A　glistening；　wonderful　bare　slope；　with　little　holes；　swelled　up　and　up　to　lose　itself　in　a　frowning　yellow　cliff。　Jane　closely　watched　her　steps　and　climbed　behind　Lassiter。　He　moved　slowly。　Perhaps　he　was　only　husbanding　his　strength。　But　she　saw　drops　of　blood　on　the　stone；　and　then　she　knew。　They　climbed　and　climbed　without　looking　back。　Her　breast　labored；　she　began　to　feel　as　if　little　points　of　fiery　steel　were　penetrating　her　side　into　her　lungs。　She　heard　the　panting　of　Lassiter　and　the　quicker　panting　of　the　dogs。

〃Waithere；〃　he　said。

Before　her　rose　a　bulge　of　stone；　nicked　with　little　cut　steps；　and　above　that　a　corner　of　yellow　wall；　and　overhanging　that　a　vast；　ponderous　cliff。

The　dogs　pattered　up；　disappeared　round　the　corner。　Lassiter　mounted　the　steps　with　Fay；　and　he　swayed　like　a　drunken　man；　and　he　too　disappeared。　But　instantly　he　returned　alone；　and　half　ran；　half　slipped　down　to　her。

Then　from　below　pealed　up　hoarse　shouts　of　angry　men。　Tull　and　several　of　his　riders　had　reached　the　spot　where　Lassiter　had　parted　with　his　guns。

〃You'll　need　that　breathmebbe！〃　said　Lassiter；　facing　downward；　with　glittering　eyes。

〃Now；　Jane；　the　last　pull；〃　he　went　on。　〃Walk　up　them　little　steps。　I'll　follow　an'　steady　you。　Don't　think。　Jest　go。　Little　Fay's　above。　Her　eyes　are　open。　She　jest　said　to　me；　'Where's　movver　Jane？〃

Without　a　fear　or　a　tremor　or　a　slip　or　a　touch　of　Lassiter's　hand　Jane　Withersteen　walked　up　that　ladder　of　cut　steps。

He　pushed　her　round　the　corner　of　the　wall。　Fay　lay；　with　wide　staring　eyes；　in　the　shade　of　a　gloomy　wall。　The　dogs　waited。　Lassiter　picked　up　the　child　and　turned　into　a　dark　cleft。　It　zigzagged。　It　widened。　It　opened。　Jane　was　amazed　at　a　wonderfully　smooth　and　steep　incline　leading　up　between　ruined；　splintered；　toppling　walls。　A　red　haze　from　the　setting　sun　filled　this　passage。　Lassiter　climbed　with　slow；　measured　steps；　and　blood　dripped　from　him　to　make　splotches　on　the　white　stone。　Jane　tried　not　to　step　in　his　blood；　but　was　compelled；　for　she　found　no　other　footing。　The　saddle…bag　began　to　drag　her　down；　she　gasped　for　breath；　she　thought　her　heart　was　bursting。　Slower；　slower　yet　the　rider　climbed；　whistling　as　he　breathed。　The　incline　widened。　Huge　pinnacles　and　monuments　of　stone　stood　alone；　leaning　fearfully。　Red　sunset　haze　shone　through　cracks　where　the　wall　had　split。　Jane　did　not　look　high；　but　she　felt　the　overshadowing　of　broken　rims　above。　She　felt　that　it　was　a　fearful；　menacing　place。　And　she　climbed　on　in　heartrending　effort。　And　she　fell　beside　Lassiter　and　Fay　at　the　top　of　the　incline　in　a　narrow；　smooth　divide。

He　staggered　to　his　feetstaggered　to　a　huge；　leaning　rock　that　rested　on　a　small　pedestal。　He　put　his　hand　on　itthe　hand　that　had　been　shot　throughand　Jane　saw　blood　drip　from　the　ragged　hole。　Then　he　fell。

〃JaneIcan'tdoit！〃　he　whispered。

〃What？〃

〃Roll　thestone！。。。All　mylife　I've　lovedto　roll　stonesen'　now　Ican't！〃

〃What　of　it？　You　talk　strangely。　Why　roll　that　stone？〃

〃I　planned　tofetch　you　hereto　roll　this　stone。　See！　It'll　smash　the　cragsloosen　the　wallsclose　the　outlet！〃

As　Jane　Withersteen　gazed　down　that　long　incline；　walled　in　by　crumbling　cliffs；　awaiting　only　the　slightest　jar　to　make　them　fall　asunder；　she　saw　Tull　appear　at　the　bottom　and　begin　to　climb。　A　rider　followed　him　anotherand　another。

〃See！　Tull！　The　riders！〃

〃Yesthey'll　get　usnow。〃

〃Why？　Haven't　you　strength　left　to　roll　the　stone？〃

〃Janeit　ain't　thatI've　lost　my　nerve！〃

〃You！。。。Lassiter！〃

〃I　wanted　to　roll　itmeant　tobut　Ican't。　Venters's　valley　is　down　behind　here。　We　couldlive　there。　But　if　I　roll　the　stonewe're　shut　in　for　always。　I　don't　dare。　I'm　thinkin'　of　you！〃

〃Lassiter！　Roll　the　stone！〃　she　cried。

He　arose；　tottering；　but　with　set　face；　and　again　he　placed　the　bloody　hand　on　the　Balancing　Rock。　Jane　Withersteen　gazed　from　him　down　the　passageway。　Tull　was　climbing。　Almost；　she　thought；　she　saw　his　dark；　relentless　face。　Behind　him　more　riders　climbed。　What　did　they　mean　for　Fayfor　Lassiterfor　herself？

〃Roll　the　stone！。。。Lassiter；　I　love　you！〃

Under　all　his　deathly　pallor；　and　the　blood；　and　the　iron　of　seared　cheek　and　lined　brow；　worked　a　great　change。　He　placed　both　hands　on　the　rock　and　then　leaned　his　shoulder　there　and　braced　his　powerful　body。

ROLL　THE　STONE！

It　stirred；　it　groaned；　it　grated；　it　moved；　and　with　a　slow　grinding；　as　of　wrathful　relief；　began　to　lean。　It　had　waited　ages　to　fall；　and　now　was　slow　in　starting。　Then；　as　if　suddenly　instinct　with　life；　it　leaped　hurtingly　down　to　alight　on　the　steep　incline；　to　bound　more　swiftly　into　the　air；　to　gather　momentum；　to　plunge　into　the　lofty　leaning　crag　below。　The　crag　thundered　into　atoms。　A　wave　of　aira　splitting　shock！　Dust　shrouded　the　sunset　red　of　shaking　rims；　dust　shrouded　Tull　as　he　fell　on　his　knees　with　uplifted　arms。　Shafts　and　monuments　and　sections　of　wall　fell　majestically。

From　the　depths　there　rose　a　long…drawn　rumbling　roar。　The　outlet　to　Deception　Pass　closed　forever。





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