riders of the purple sage-第24部分

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　luminous　gloom。　Balancing　Rock　loomed　dark　and　leaned　over　the　pale　descent。　Transformed　in　the　shadowy　light；　it　took　shape　and　dimensions　of　a　spectral　god　waitingwaiting　for　the　moment　to　hurl　himself　down　upon　the　tottering　walls　and　close　forever　the　outlet　to　Deception　Pass。　At　night　more　than　by　day　Venters　felt　something　fearful　and　fateful　in　that　rock；　and　that　it　had　leaned　and　waited　through　a　thousand　years　to　have　somehow　to　deal　with　his　destiny。

〃Old　man；　if　you　must　roll；　wait　till　I　get　back　to　the　girl；　and　then　roll！〃　he　said；　aloud；　as　if　the　stones　were　indeed　a　god。

And　those　spoken　words；　in　their　grim　note　to　his　ear；　as　well　as　contents　to　his　mind；　told　Venters　that　he　was　all　but　drifting　on　a　current　which　he　had　not　power　nor　wish　to　stem。

Venters　exercised　his　usual　care　in　the　matter　of　hiding　tracks　from　the　outlet；　yet　it　took　him　scarcely　an　hour　to　reach　Oldring's　cattle。　Here　sight　of　many　calves　changed　his　original　intention；　and　instead　of　packing　out　meat　he　decided　to　take　a　calf　out　alive。　He　roped　one；　securely　tied　its　feet；　and　swung　it　over　his　shoulder。　Here　was　an　exceedingly　heavy　burden；　but　Venters　was　powerfulhe　could　take　up　a　sack　of　grain　and　with　ease　pitch　it　over　a　pack…saddleand　he　made　long　distance　without　resting。　The　hardest　work　came　in　the　climb　up　to　the　outlet　and　on　through　to　the　valley。　When　he　had　accomplished　it；　he　became　fired　with　another　idea　that　again　changed　his　intention。　He　would　not　kill　the　calf；　but　keep　it　alive。　He　would　go　back　to　Oldring's　herd　and　pack　out　more　calves。　Thereupon　he　secured　the　calf　in　the　best　available　spot　for　the　moment　and　turned　to　make　a　second　trip。

When　Venters　got　back　to　the　valley　with　another　calf；　it　was　close　upon　daybreak。　He　crawled　into　his　cave　and　slept　late。

Bess　had　no　inkling　that　he　had　been　absent　from　camp　nearly　all　night；　and　only　remarked　solicitously　that　he　appeared　to　be　more　tired　than　usual；　and　more　in　the　need　of　sleep。　In　the　afternoon　Venters　built　a　gate　across　a　small　ravine　near　camp；　and　here　corralled　the　calves；　and　he　succeeded　in　completing　his　task　without　Bess　being　any　the　wiser。

That　night　he　made　two　more　trips　to　Oldring's　range；　and　again　on　the　following　night；　and　yet　another　on　the　next。　With　eight　calves　in　his　corral；　he　concluded　that　he　had　enough；　but　it　dawned　upon　him　then　that　he　did　not　want　to　kill　one。　〃I've　rustled　Oldring's　cattle；〃　he　said；　and　laughed。　He　noted　then　that　all　the　calves　were　red。　〃Red！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃From　the　red　herd。　I've　stolen　Jane　Withersteen's　cattle！。。。That's　about　the　strangest　thing　yet。〃

One　more　trip　he　undertook　to　Oldring's　valley；　and　this　time　he　roped　a　yearling　steer　and　killed　it　and　cut　out　a　small　quarter　of　beef。　The　howling　of　coyotes　told　him　he　need　have　no　apprehension　that　the　work　of　his　knife　would　be　discovered。　He　packed　the　beef　back　to　camp　and　hung　it　upon　a　spruce…tree。　Then　he　sought　his　bed。

On　the　morrow　he　was　up　bright　and　early；　glad　that　he　had　a　surprise　for　Bess。　He　could　hardly　wait　for　her　to　come　out。　Presently　she　appeared　and　walked　under　the　spruce。　Then　she　approached　the　camp…fire。　There　was　a　tinge　of　healthy　red　in　the　bronze　of　her　cheeks；　and　her　slender　form　had　begun　to　round　out　in　graceful　lines。

〃Bess；　didn't　you　say　you　were　tired　of　rabbit？〃　inquired　Venters。　〃And　quail　and　beaver？〃

〃Indeed　I　did。〃

〃What　would　you　like？〃

〃I'm　tired　of　meat；　but　if　we　have　to　live　on　it　I'd　like　some　beef。〃

〃Well；　how　does　that　strike　you？〃　Venters　pointed　to　the　quarter　hanging　from　the　spruce…tree。　〃We'll　have　fresh　beef　for　a　few　days；　then　we'll　cut　the　rest　into　strips　and　dry　it。〃

〃Where　did　you　get　that？〃　asked　Bess；　slowly。

〃I　stole　that　from　Oldring。〃

〃You　went　back　to　the　canyonyou　risked〃　While　she　hesitated　the　tinge　of　bloom　faded　out　of　her　cheeks。

〃It　wasn't　any　risk；　but　it　was　hard　work。〃

〃I'm　sorry　I　said　I　was　tired　of　rabbit。　Why！　HowWhen　did　you　get　that　beef？〃

〃Last　night。〃

〃While　I　was　asleep？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　woke　last　night　sometimebut　I　didn't　know。〃

Her　eyes　were　widening；　darkening　with　thought；　and　whenever　they　did　so　the　steady；　watchful；　seeing　gaze　gave　place　to　the　wistful　light。　In　the　former　she　saw　as　the　primitive　woman　without　thought；　in　the　latter　she　looked　inward；　and　her　gaze　was　the　reflection　of　a　troubled　mind。　For　long　Venters　had　not　seen　that　dark　change；　that　deepening　of　blue；　which　he　thought　was　beautiful　and　sad。　But　now　he　wanted　to　make　her　think。

〃I've　done　more　than　pack　in　that　beef；〃　he　said。　〃For　five　nights　I've　been　working　while　you　slept。　I've　got　eight　calves　corralled　near　a　ravine。　Eight　calves；　all　alive　and　doing　fine！〃

〃You　went　five　nights！〃

All　that　Venters　could　make　of　the　dilation　of　her　eyes；　her　slow　pallor；　and　her　exclamation；　was　fearfear　for　herself　or　for　him。

〃Yes。　I　didn't　tell　you；　because　I　knew　you　were　afraid　to　be　left　alone。〃

〃Alone？〃　She　echoed　his　word；　but　the　meaning　of　it　was　nothing　to　her。　She　had　not　even　thought　of　being　left　alone。　It　was　not；　then；　fear　for　herself；　but　for　him。　This　girl；　always　slow　of　speech　and　action；　now　seemed　almost　stupid。　She　put　forth　a　hand　that　might　have　indicated　the　groping　of　her　mind。　Suddenly　she　stepped　swiftly　to　him；　with　a　look　and　touch　that　drove　from　him　any　doubt　of　her　quick　intelligence　or　feeling。

〃Oldring　has　men　watch　the　herdsthey　would　kill　you。　You　must　never　go　again！〃

When　she　had　spoken；　the　strength　and　the　blaze　of　her　died；　and　she　swayed　toward　Venters。

〃Bess；　I'll　not　go　again；〃　he　said；　catching　her。

She　leaned　against　him；　and　her　body　was　limp　and　vibrated　to　a　long；　wavering　tremble。　Her　face　was　upturned　to　his。　Woman's　face；　woman's　eyes；　woman's　lipsall　acutely　and　blindly　and　sweetly　and　terribly　truthful　in　their　betrayal！　But　as　her　fear　was　instinctive；　so　was　her　clinging　to　this　one　and　only　friend。

Venters　gently　put　her　from　him　and　steadied　her　upon　her　feet；　and　all　the　while　his　blood　raced　wild；　and　a　thrilling　tingle　unsteadied　his　nerve；　and　somethingthat　he　had　seen　and　felt　in　herthat　he　could　not　understandseemed　very　close　to　him；　warm　and　rich　as　a　fragrant　breath；　sweet　as　nothing　had　ever　before　been　sweet　to　him。

With　all　his　will　Venters　strove　for　calmness　and　thought　and　judgment　unbiased　by　pity；　and　reality　unswayed　by　sentiment。　Bess's　eyes　were　still　fixed　upon　him　with　all　her　soul　bright　in　that　wistful　light。　Swiftly；　resolutely　he　put　out　of　mind　all　of　her　life　except　what　had　been　spent　with　him。　He　scorned　himself　for　the　intelligence　that　made　him　still　doubt。　He　meant　to　judge　her　as　she　had　judged　him。　He　was　face　to　face　with　the　inevitableness　of　life　itself。　He　saw　destiny　in　the　dark；　straight　path　of　her　wonderful　eyes。　Here　was　the　simplicity；　the　sweetness　of　a　girl　contending　with　new　and　strange　and　enthralling　emotions　here　the　living　truth　of　innocence；　here　the　blind　terror　of　a　woman　confronted　with　the　thought　of　death　to　her　savior　and　protector。　All　this　Venters　saw；　but；　besides；　there　was　in　Bess's　eyes　a　slow…dawning　consciousness　that　seemed　about　to　break　out　in　glorious　radiance。

〃Bess；　are　you　thinking？〃　he　asked。

〃Yesoh　yes！〃

〃Do　you　realize　we　are　here　aloneman　and　woman？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Have　you　thought　that　we　may　make　our　way　out　to　civilization；　or　we　may　have　to　stay　herealonehidden　from　the　world　all　our　lives？〃

〃I　never　thoughttill　now。〃

〃Well；　what's　your　choiceto　goor　to　stay　herealone　with　me？〃

〃Stay！〃　New…born　thought　of　self；　ringing　vibrantly　in　her　voice；　gave　her　answer　singular　power。

Venters　trembled；　and　then　swiftly　turned　his　gaze　from　her　facefrom　her　eyes。　He　knew　what　she　had　only　half　divinedthat　she　loved　him。



CHAPTER　XI。　FAITH　AND　UNFAITH

At　Jane　Withersteen's　home　the　promise　made　to　Mrs。　Larkin　to　care　for　little　Fay　had　begun　to　be　fulfilled。　Like　a　gleam　of　sunlight　through　the　cottonwoods　was　the　coming　of　the　child　to　the　gloomy　house　of　Withersteen。　The　big；　silent　halls　echoed　with　childish　laughter。　In　the　shady　court；　where　Jane　spent　many　of　the　hot　July　days；　Fay's　tiny　feet　pattered　over　the　stone　flags　and　splashed　in　the　amber　stream。　She　prattled　incessantly。　What　difference；　Jane　thought；　a　child　made　in　her　home！　It　had　never　been　a　real　home；　she　discovered。　Even　the　tidiness　and　neatness　she　had　so　observed；　and　upon　which　she　had　insisted　to　her　women；　became；　in　the　light　of　Fay's　smile；　habits　that　now　lost　their　importance。　Fay　littered　the　court　with　Jane's　books　and　papers；　and　other　toys　her　fancy　improvised；　and　many　a　strange　craft　went　floating　down　the　little　brook。

And　it　was　owing　to　Fay's　presence　that　Jane　Withersteen　came　to　see　more　of　Lassiter。　The　rider　had　for　the　most　part　kept　to　the　sage。　He　rode　for　her；　but　he　did　not　seek　her　except　on　business；　and　Jane　had　to　acknowledge　in　pique　that　her　overtures　had　been　made　in　vain。　Fay；　however；　captured　Lassiter　the　moment　he　first　laid　eyes　on　her。

Jane　was　present　at　the　meeting；　and　there　was　something　about　it　which　dimmed　her　sight　and　softened　her　toward　this　foe　of　her　people。　The　rider　had　clanked　into　the　court；　a　tired　yet　wary　man；　always　looking　for　the　attack　upon　him　that　was　inevitable　and　might　come　from　any　quarter；　and　he　had　walked　right　upon　little　Fay。　The　child　had　been　beautiful　even　in　her　rags　and　amid　the　surroundings　of　the　hovel　in　the　sage；　but　now；　in　a　pretty　white　dress；　with　her　shining　curls　brushed　and　her　face　clean　and　rosy；　she　was　lovely。　She　left　her　play　and　looked　up　at　Lassiter。

If　there　was　not　an　instinct　for　all　three　of　them　in　that　meeting；　an　unreasoning　tendency　toward　a　closer　intimacy；　then　Jane　Withersteen　believed　she　had　been　subject　to　a　queer　fancy。　She　imagined　any　child　would　have　feared　Lassiter。　And　Fay　Larkin　had　been　a　lonely；　a　solitary　elf　of　the　sage；　not　at　all　an　ordinary　child；　and　exquisitely　shy　with　strangers。　She　watched　Lassiter　with　great；　round；　grave　eyes；　but　showed　no　fear。　The　rider　gave　Jane　a　favorable　report　of　cattle　and　horses；　and　as　he　took　the　seat　to　which　she　invited　him；　little　Fay　edged　as　much　as　half　an　inch　nearer。　Jane　replied　to　his　look