riders of the purple sage-第21部分

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Venters　awakened　to　the　sound　of　melody　that　he　imagined　was　only　the　haunting　echo　of　dream　music。　He　opened　his　eyes　to　another　surprise　of　this　valley　of　beautiful　surprises。　Out　of　his　cave　he　saw　the　exquisitely　fine　foliage　of　the　silver　spruces　crossing　a　round　space　of　blue　morning　sky；　and　in　this　lacy　leafage　fluttered　a　number　of　gray　birds　with　black　and　white　stripes　and　long　tails。　They　were　mocking…birds；　and　they　were　singing　as　if　they　wanted　to　burst　their　throats。　Venters　listened。　One　long；　silver…tipped　branch　dropped　almost　to　his　cave；　and　upon　it；　within　a　few　yards　of　him；　sat　one　of　the　graceful　birds。　Venters　saw　the　swelling　and　quivering　of　its　throat　in　song。　He　arose；　and　when　he　slid　down　out　of　his　cave　the　birds　fluttered　and　flew　farther　away。

Venters　stepped　before　the　opening　of　the　other　cave　and　looked　in。　The　girl　was　awake；　with　wide　eyes　and　listening　look；　and　she　had　a　hand　on　Ring's　neck。

〃Mocking…birds！〃　she　said。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Venters；　〃and　I　believe　they　like　our　company。〃

〃Where　are　we？〃

〃Never　mind　now。　After　a　little　I'll　tell　you。〃

〃The　birds　woke　me。　When　I　heard　themand　saw　the　shiny　treesand　the　blue　skyand　then　a　blaze　of　gold　dropping　downI　wondered〃

She　did　not　complete　her　fancy；　but　Venters　imagined　he　understood　her　meaning。　She　appeared　to　be　wandering　in　mind。　Venters　felt　her　face　and　hands　and　found　them　burning　with　fever。　He　went　for　water；　and　was　glad　to　find　it　almost　as　cold　as　if　flowing　from　ice。　That　water　was　the　only　medicine　he　had；　and　he　put　faith　in　it。　She　did　not　want　to　drink；　but　he　made　her　swallow；　and　then　he　bathed　her　face　and　head　and　cooled　her　wrists。

The　day　began　with　the　heightening　of　the　fever。　Venters　spent　the　time　reducing　her　temperature；　cooling　her　hot　cheeks　and　temples。　He　kept　close　watch　over　her；　and　at　the　least　indication　of　restlessness；　that　he　knew　led　to　tossing　and　rolling　of　the　body；　he　held　her　tightly；　so　no　violent　move　could　reopen　her　wounds。　Hour　after　hour　she　babbled　and　laughed　and　cried　and　moaned　in　delirium；　but　whatever　her　secret　was　she　did　not　reveal　it。

Attended　by　something　somber　for　Venters；　the　day　passed。　At　night　in　the　cool　winds　the　fever　abated　and　she　slept。

The　second　day　was　a　repetition　of　the　first。　On　the　third　he　seemed　to　see　her　wither　and　waste　away　before　his　eyes。　That　day　he　scarcely　went　from　her　side　for　a　moment；　except　to　run　for　fresh；　cool　water；　and　he　did　not　eat。　The　fever　broke　on　the　fourth　day　and　left　her　spent　and　shrunken；　a　slip　of　a　girl　with　life　only　in　her　eyes。　They　hung　upon　Venters　with　a　mute　observance；　and　he　found　hope　in　that。

To　rekindle　the　spark　that　had　nearly　flickered　out；　to　nourish　the　little　life　and　vitality　that　remained　in　her；　was　Venters's　problem。　But　he　had　little　resource　other　than　the　meat　of　the　rabbits　and　quail；　and　from　these　he　made　broths　and　soups　as　best　he　could；　and　fed　her　with　a　spoon。　It　came　to　him　that　the　human　body；　like　the　human　soul；　was　a　strange　thing　and　capable　of　recovering　from　terrible　shocks。　For　almost　immediately　she　showed　faint　signs　of　gathering　strength。　There　was　one　more　waiting　day；　in　which　he　doubted；　and　spent　long　hours　by　her　side　as　she　slept；　and　watched　the　gentle　swell　of　her　breast　rise　and　fall　in　breathing；　and　the　wind　stir　the　tangled　chestnut　curls。　On　the　next　day　he　knew　that　she　would　live。

Upon　realizing　it　he　abruptly　left　the　cave　and　sought　his　accustomed　seat　against　the　trunk　of　a　big　spruce；　where　once　more　he　let　his　glance　stray　along　the　sloping　terraces。　She　would　live；　and　the　somber　gloom　lifted　out　of　the　valley；　and　he　felt　relief　that　was　pain。　Then　he　roused　to　the　call　of　action；　to　the　many　things　he　needed　to　do　in　the　way　of　making　camp　fixtures　and　utensils；　to　the　necessity　of　hunting　food；　and　the　desire　to　explore　the　valley。

But　he　decided　to　wait　a　few　more　days　before　going　far　from　camp；　because　he　fancied　that　the　girl　rested　easier　when　she　could　see　him　near　at　hand。　And　on　the　first　day　her　languor　appeared　to　leave　her　in　a　renewed　grip　of　life。　She　awoke　stronger　from　each　short　slumber；　she　ate　greedily；　and　she　moved　about　In　her　bed　of　boughs；　and　always；　it　seemed　to　Venters；　her　eyes　followed　him。　He　knew　now　that　her　recovery　would　be　rapid。　She　talked　about　the　dogs；　about　the　caves；　the　valley；　about　how　hungry　she　was；　till　Venters　silenced　her；　asking　her　to　put　off　further　talk　till　another　time。　She　obeyed；　but　she　sat　up　in　her　bed；　and　her　eyes　roved　to　and　fro；　and　always　back　to　him。

Upon　the　second　morning　she　sat　up　when　he　awakened　her；　and　would　not　permit　him　to　bathe　her　face　and　feed　her；　which　actions　she　performed　for　herself。　She　spoke　little；　however；　and　Venters　was　quick　to　catch　in　her　the　first　intimations　of　thoughtfulness　and　curiosity　and　appreciation　of　her　situation。　He　left　camp　and　took　Whitie　out　to　hunt　for　rabbits。　Upon　his　return　he　was　amazed　and　somewhat　anxiously　concerned　to　see　his　invalid　sitting　with　her　back　to　a　corner　of　the　cave　and　her　bare　feet　swinging　out。　Hurriedly　he　approached；　intending　to　advise　her　to　lie　down　again；　to　tell　her　that　perhaps　she　might　overtax　her　strength。　The　sun　shone　upon　her；　glinting　on　the　little　head　with　its　tangle　of　bright　hair　and　the　small；　oval　face　with　its　pallor；　and　dark…blue　eyes　underlined　by　dark…blue　circles。　She　looked　at　him　and　he　looked　at　her。　In　that　exchange　of　glances　he　imagined　each　saw　the　other　in　some　different　guise。　It　seemed　impossible　to　Venters　that　this　frail　girl　could　be　Oldring's　Masked　Rider。　It　flashed　over　him　that　he　had　made　a　mistake　which　presently　she　would　explain。

〃Help　me　down；〃　she　said。

〃Butare　you　well　enough？〃　he　protested。　〃Waita　little　longer。〃

〃I'm　weakdizzy。　But　I　want　to　get　down。〃

He　lifted　herwhat　a　light　burden　now！and　stood　her　upright　beside　him；　and　supported　her　as　she　essayed　to　walk　with　halting　steps。　She　was　like　a　stripling　of　a　boy；　the　bright；　small　head　scarcely　reached　his　shoulder。　But　now；　as　she　clung　to　his　arm；　the　rider's　costume　she　wore　did　not　contradict；　as　it　had　done　at　first；　his　feeling　of　her　femininity。　She　might　be　the　famous　Masked　Rider　of　the　uplands；　she　might　resemble　a　boy；　but　her　outline；　her　little　hands　and　feet；　her　hair；　her　big　eyes　and　tremulous　lips；　and　especially　a　something　that　Venters　felt　as　a　subtle　essence　rather　than　what　he　saw；　proclaimed　her　sex。

She　soon　tired。　He　arranged　a　comfortable　seat　for　her　under　the　spruce　that　overspread　the　camp…fire。

〃Now　tell　meeverything；〃　she　said。

He　recounted　all　that　had　happened　from　the　time　of　his　discovery　of　the　rustlers　in　the　canyon　up　to　the　present　moment。

〃You　shot　meand　now　you've　saved　my　life？〃

〃Yes。　After　almost　killing　you　I've　pulled　you　through。〃

〃Are　you　glad？〃

〃I　should　say　so！〃

Her　eyes　were　unusually　expressive；　and　they　regarded　him　steadily；　she　was　unconscious　of　that　mirroring　of　her　emotions　and　they　shone　with　gratefulness　and　interest　and　wonder　and　sadness。

〃Tell　meabout　yourself？〃　she　asked。

He　made　this　a　briefer　story；　telling　of　his　coming　to　Utah；　his　various　occupations　till　he　became　a　rider；　and　then　how　the　Mormons　had　practically　driven　him　out　of　Cottonwoods；　an　outcast。

Then；　no　longer　able　to　withstand　his　own　burning　curiosity；　he　questioned　her　in　turn。

〃Are　you　Oldring's　Masked　Rider？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　and　dropped　her　eyes。

〃I　knew　itI　recognized　your　figureand　mask；　for　I　saw　you　once。　Yet　I　can't　believe　it！。。。But　you　never　were　really　that　rustler；　as　we　riders　knew　him？　A　thiefa　maraudera　kidnapper　of　womena　murderer　of　sleeping　riders！〃

〃No！　I　never　stoleor　harmed　any　onein　all　my　life。　I　only　rode　and　rode〃

〃But　whywhy？〃　he　burst　out。　〃Why　the　name？　I　understand　Oldring　made　you　ride。　But　the　black　maskthe　mysterythe　things　laid　to　your　handsthe　threats　in　your　infamous　namethe　night…riding　credited　to　youthe　evil　deeds　deliberately　blamed　on　you　and　acknowledged　by　rustlerseven　Oldring　himself！　Why？　Tell　me　why？〃

〃I　never　knew　that；〃　she　answered　low。　Her　drooping　head　straightened；　and　the　large　eyes；　larger　now　and　darker；　met　Venters's　with　a　clear；　steadfast　gaze　in　which　he　read　truth。　It　verified　his　own　conviction。

〃Never　knew？　That's　strange！　Are　you　a　Mormon？〃

〃No。〃

〃Is　Oldring　a　Mormon？〃

〃No。〃

〃Do　youcare　for　him？〃

〃Yes。　I　hate　his　menhis　lifesometimes　I　almost　hate　him！〃

Venters　paused　in　his　rapid…fire　questioning；　as　if　to　brace　him　self　to　ask　for　a　truth　that　would　be　abhorrent　for　him　to　confirm；　but　which　he　seemed　driven　to　hear。

〃What　arewhat　were　you　to　Oldring？〃

Like　some　delicate　thing　suddenly　exposed　to　blasting　heat；　the　girl　wilted；　her　head　dropped；　and　into　her　white；　wasted　cheeks　crept　the　red　of　shame。

Venters　would　have　given　anything　to　recall　that　question。　It　seemed　so　differenthis　thought　when　spoken。　Yet　her　shame　established　in　his　mind　something　akin　to　the　respect　he　had　strangely　been　hungering　to　feel　for　her。

〃Dn　that　question！forget　it！〃　he　cried；　in　a　passion　of　pain　for　her　and　anger　at　himself。　〃But　once　and　for　alltell　meI　know　it；　yet　I　want　to　hear　you　say　soyou　couldn't　help　yourself？〃

〃Oh　no。〃

〃Well；　that　makes　it　all　right　with　me；〃　he　went　on；　honestly。　〃II　want　you　to　feel　that。。。you　seewe've　been　thrown　togetherandand　I　want　to　help　younot　hurt　you。　I　thought　life　had　been　cruel　to　me；　but　when　I　think　of　yours　I　feel　mean　and　little　for　my　complaining。　Anyway；　I　was　a　lonely　outcast。　And　now！。。。I　don't　see　very　clearly　what　it　all　means。　Only　we　are　heretogether。　We've　got　to　stay　here；　for　long；　surely　till　you　are　well。　But　you'll　never　go　back　to　Oldring。　And　I'm　sure　helping　you　will　help　me；　for　I　was　sick　in　mind。　There's　something　now　for　me　to　do。　And　if　I　can　win　back　your　strengththen　get　you　away；　out　of　this　wild　countryhelp　you　somehow　to　a　happier　lifejust　think　how　good　that'll　be　for　me！〃



CHAPTER　X。　LOVE

During　all　these　waiting　days　Venters；　with　the　exception　of　the　afternoon　when　he　had　built　the　gate　in　the　gorge；　had　scarcely　gone　out　of　sight　of　camp　and　never　out　of　hearing。　His　desire　to　explore　Surprise　Valley　was　keen；　and　on　the