riders of the purple sage-第19部分

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knees；　he　went　over　the　little　flat　space；　feeling　for　stones。　He　removed　a　number；　and；　scraping　the　deep　dust　into　a　heap；　he　unfolded　the　outer　blanket　from　around　the　girl　and　laid　her　upon　this　bed。　Then　he　went　down　the　slope　again　for　his　boots；　rifle；　and　the　rabbit；　and；　bringing　also　his　lasso　with　him；　he　made　short　work　of　that　trip。

〃Areyouthere？〃　The　girl's　voice　came　low　from　the　blackness。

〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　and　was　conscious　that　his　laboring　breast　made　speech　difficult。

〃Are　wein　a　cave？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　listen！。。。The　waterfall！。。。I　hear　it！　You've　brought　me　back！〃

Venters　heard　a　murmuring　moan　that　one　moment　swelled　to　a　pitch　almost　softly　shrill　and　the　next　lulled　to　a　low；　almost　inaudible　sigh。

〃That'swind　blowingin　thecliffs；〃　he　panted。　〃You're　far　from　Oldring'scanyon。〃

The　effort　it　cost　him　to　speak　made　him　conscious　of　extreme　lassitude　following　upon　great　exertion。　It　seemed　that　when　he　lay　down　and　drew　his　blanket　over　him　the　action　was　the　last　before　utter　prostration。　He　stretched　inert；　wet；　hot；　his　body　one　great　strife　of　throbbing；　stinging　nerves　and　bursting　veins。　And　there　he　lay　for　a　long　while　before　he　felt　that　he　had　begun　to　rest。

Rest　came　to　him　that　night；　but　no　sleep。　Sleep　he　did　not　want。　The　hours　of　strained　effort　were　now　as　if　they　had　never　been；　and　he　wanted　to　think。　Earlier　in　the　day　he　had　dismissed　an　inexplicable　feeling　of　change；　but　now；　when　there　was　no　longer　demand　on　his　cunning　and　strength　and　he　had　time　to　think；　he　could　not　catch　the　illusive　thing　that　had　sadly　perplexed　as　well　as　elevated　his　spirit。

Above　him；　through　a　V…shaped　cleft　in　the　dark　rim　of　the　cliff；　shone　the　lustrous　stars　that　had　been　his　lonely　accusers　for　a　long；　long　year。　To…night　they　were　different。　He　studied　them。　Larger；　whiter；　more　radiant　they　seemed；　but　that　was　not　the　difference　he　meant。　Gradually　it　came　to　him　that　the　distinction　was　not　one　he　saw；　but　one　he　felt。　In　this　he　divined　as　much　of　the　baffling　change　as　he　thought　would　be　revealed　to　him　then。　And　as　he　lay　there；　with　the　singing　of　the　cliff…winds　in　his　ears；　the　white　stars　above　the　dark；　bold　vent；　the　difference　which　he　felt　was　that　he　was　no　longer　alone。



CHAPTER　IX。　SILVER　SPRUCE　AND　ASPENS

The　rest　of　that　night　seemed　to　Venters　only　a　few　moments　of　starlight；　a　dark　overcasting　of　sky；　an　hour　or　so　of　gray　gloom；　and　then　the　lighting　of　dawn。

When　he　had　bestirred　himself；　feeding　the　hungry　dogs　and　breaking　his　long　fast；　and　had　repacked　his　saddle…bags；　it　was　clear　daylight；　though　the　sun　had　not　tipped　the　yellow　wall　in　the　east。　He　concluded　to　make　the　climb　and　descent　into　Surprise　Valley　in　one　trip。　To　that　end　he　tied　his　blanket　upon　Ring　and　gave　Whitie　the　extra　lasso　and　the　rabbit　to　carry。　Then；　with　the　rifle　and　saddle…bags　slung　upon　his　back；　he　took　up　the　girl。　She　did　not　awaken　from　heavy　slumber。

That　climb　up　under　the　rugged；　menacing　brows　of　the　broken　cliffs；　in　the　face　of　a　grim；　leaning　boulder　that　seemed　to　be　weary　of　its　age…long　wavering；　was　a　tax　on　strength　and　nerve　that　Venters　felt　equally　with　something　sweet　and　strangely　exulting　in　its　accomplishment。　He　did　not　pause　until　he　gained　the　narrow　divide　and　there　he　rested。　Balancing　Rock　loomed　huge；　cold　in　the　gray　light　of　dawn；　a　thing　without　life；　yet　it　spoke　silently　to　Venters：　〃I　am　waiting　to　plunge　down；　to　shatter　and　crash；　roar　and　boom；　to　bury　your　trail；　and　close　forever　the　outlet　to　Deception　Pass！〃

On　the　descent　of　the　other　side　Venters　had　easy　going；　but　was　somewhat　concerned　because　Whitie　appeared　to　have　succumbed　to　temptation；　and　while　carrying　the　rabbit　was　also　chewing　on　it。　And　Ring　evidently　regarded　this　as　an　injury　to　himself；　especially　as　he　had　carried　the　heavier　load。　Presently　he　snapped　at　one　end　of　the　rabbit　and　refused　to　let　go。　But　his　action　prevented　Whitie　from　further　misdoing；　and　then　the　two　dogs　pattered　down；　carrying　the　rabbit　between　them。

Venters　turned　out　of　the　gorge；　and　suddenly　paused　stock…still；　astounded　at　the　scene　before　him。　The　curve　of　the　great　stone　bridge　had　caught　the　sunrise；　and　through　the　magnificent　arch　burst　a　glorious　stream　of　gold　that　shone　with　a　long　slant　down　into　the　center　of　Surprise　Valley。　Only　through　the　arch　did　any　sunlight　pass；　so　that　all　the　rest　of　the　valley　lay　still　asleep；　dark　green；　mysterious；　shadowy；　merging　its　level　into　walls　as　misty　and　soft　as　morning　clouds。

Venters　then　descended；　passing　through　the　arch；　looking　up　at　its　tremendous　height　and　sweep。　It　spanned　the　opening　to　Surprise　Valley；　stretching　in　almost　perfect　curve　from　rim　to　rim。　Even　in　his　hurry　and　concern　Venters　could　not　but　feel　its　majesty；　and　the　thought　came　to　him　that　the　cliff…dwellers　must　have　regarded　it　as　an　object　of　worship。

Down；　down；　down　Venters　strode；　more　and　more　feeling　the　weight　of　his　burden　as　he　descended；　and　still　the　valley　lay　below　him。　As　all　other　canyons　and　coves　and　valleys　had　deceived　him；　so　had　this　deep；　nestling　oval。　At　length　he　passed　beyond　the　slope　of　weathered　stone　that　spread　fan…shape　from　the　arch；　and　encountered　a　grassy　terrace　running　to　the　right　and　about　on　a　level　with　the　tips　of　the　oaks　and　cottonwoods　below。　Scattered　here　and　there　upon　this　shelf　were　clumps　of　aspens；　and　he　walked　through　them　into　a　glade　that　surpassed　in　beauty　and　adaptability　for　a　wild　home；　any　place　he　had　ever　seen。　Silver　spruces　bordered　the　base　of　a　precipitous　wall　that　rose　loftily。　Caves　indented　its　surface；　and　there　were　no　detached　ledges　or　weathered　sections　that　might　dislodge　a　stone。　The　level　ground；　beyond　the　spruces；　dropped　down　into　a　little　ravine。　This　was　one　dense　line　of　slender　aspens　from　which　came　the　low　splashing　of　water。　And　the　terrace；　lying　open　to　the　west；　afforded　unobstructed　view　of　the　valley　of　green　treetops。

For　his　camp　Venters　chose　a　shady；　grassy　plot　between　the　silver　spruces　and　the　cliff。　Here；　in　the　stone　wall；　had　been　wonderfully　carved　by　wind　or　washed　by　water　several　deep　caves　above　the　level　of　the　terrace。　They　were　clean；　dry；　roomy。

He　cut　spruce　boughs　and　made　a　bed　in　the　largest　cave　and　laid　the　girl　there。　The　first　intimation　that　he　had　of　her　being　aroused　from　sleep　or　lethargy　was　a　low　call　for　water。

He　hurried　down　into　the　ravine　with　his　canteen。　It　was　a　shallow；　grass…green　place　with　aspens　growing　up　everywhere。　To　his　delight　he　found　a　tiny　brook　of　swift…running　water。　Its　faint　tinge　of　amber　reminded　him　of　the　spring　at　Cottonwoods；　and　the　thought　gave　him　a　little　shock。　The　water　was　so　cold　it　made　his　fingers　tingle　as　he　dipped　the　canteen。　Having　returned　to　the　cave；　he　was　glad　to　see　the　girl　drink　thirstily。　This　time　he　noted　that　she　could　raise　her　head　slightly　without　his　help。

〃You　were　thirsty；〃　he　said。　〃It's　good　water。　I've　found　a　fine　place。　Tell　mehow　do　you　feel？〃

〃There's　painhere；〃　she　replied；　and　moved　her　hand　to　her　left　side。

〃Why；　that's　strange！　Your　wounds　are　on　your　right　side。　I　believe　you're　hungry。　Is　the　pain　a　kind　of　dull　achea　gnawing？〃

〃It's　likethat。〃

〃Then　it's　hunger。〃　Venters　laughed；　and　suddenly　caught　himself　with　a　quick　breath　and　felt　again　the　little　shock。　When　had　he　laughed？　〃It's　hunger；〃　he　went　on。　〃I've　had　that　gnaw　many　a　time。　I've　got　it　now。　But　you　mustn't　eat。　You　can　have　all　the　water　you　want；　but　no　food　just　yet。〃

〃Won't　Istarve？〃

〃No；　people　don't　starve　easily。　I've　discovered　that。　You　must　lie　perfectly　still　and　rest　and　sleepfor　days。〃

〃My　handsare　dirty；　my　face　feelsso　hot　and　sticky；　my　boots　hurt。〃　It　was　her　longest　speech　as　yet；　and　it　trailed　off　in　a　whisper。

〃Well；　I'm　a　fine　nurse！〃

It　annoyed　him　that　he　had　never　thought　of　these　things。　But　then；　awaiting　her　death　and　thinking　of　her　comfort　were　vastly　different　matters。　He　unwrapped　the　blanket　which　covered　her。　What　a　slender　girl　she　was！　No　wonder　he　had　been　able　to　carry　her　miles　and　pack　her　up　that　slippery　ladder　of　stone。　Her　boots　were　of　soft；　fine　leather；　reaching　clear　to　her　knees。　He　recognized　the　make　as　one　of　a　boot…　maker　in　Sterling。　Her　spurs；　that　he　had　stupidly　neglected　to　remove；　consisted　of　silver　frames　and　gold　chains；　and　the　rowels；　large　as　silver　dollars；　were　fancifully　engraved。　The　boots　slipped　off　rather　hard。　She　wore　heavy　woollen　rider's　stockings；　half　length；　and　these　were　pulled　up　over　the　ends　of　her　short　trousers。　Venters　took　off　the　stockings　to　note　her　little　feet　were　red　and　swollen。　He　bathed　them。　Then　he　removed　his　scarf　and　bathed　her　face　and　hands。

〃I　must　see　your　wounds　now；〃　he　said；　gently。

She　made　no　reply；　but　watched　him　steadily　as　he　opened　her　blouse　and　untied　the　bandage。　His　strong　fingers　trembled　a　little　as　he　removed　it。　If　the　wounds　had　reopened！　A　chill　struck　him　as　he　saw　the　angry　red　bullet…mark；　and　a　tiny　stream　of　blood　winding　from　it　down　her　white　breast。　Very　carefully　he　lifted　her　to　see　that　the　wound　in　her　back　had　closed　perfectly。　Then　he　washed　the　blood　from　her　breast；　bathed　the　wound；　and　left　it　unbandaged；　open　to　the　air。

Her　eyes　thanked　him。

〃Listen；〃　he　said；　earnestly。　〃I've　had　some　wounds；　and　I've　seen　many。　I　know　a　little　about　them。　The　hole　in　your　back　has　closed。　If　you　lie　still　three　days　the　one　in　your　breast　will　close　and　you'll　be　safe。　The　danger　from　hemorrhage　will　be　over。〃

He　had　spoken　with　earnest　sincerity；　almost　eagerness。

〃Whydo　youwant　meto　get　well？〃　she　asked；　wonderingly。

The　simple　question　seemed　unanswerable　except　on　grounds　of　humanity。　But　the　circumstances　under　which　he　had　shot　this　strange　girl；　the　shock　and　realization；　the　waiting　for　death；　the　hope；　had　resulted　in　a　condition　of　mind　wherein　Venters　wanted　her　to　live　more　than　he　had　ever　wanted　anything。　Yet　he　could　not　tell　why。　He　believed　the　killing　of　the　rustler　and　the　subsequent　excitement　had　disturbed　him。　For　how　else　could　he　explain　the　throbbing　of　his　brain；　the　heat　of　his　blood；　the　undefined　sense　of　full　hours；　charged；　vibrant　with　pulsat