riders of the purple sage-第31部分

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wandered　in　the　fore；　often　turning；　often　trotting　back；　open…mouthed　and　solemn…eyed　and　happy。　Venters　lifted　his　gaze　to　the　grand　archway　over　the　entrance　to　the　valley；　and　Bess　lifted　hers　to　follow　his；　and　both　were　silent。　Sometimes　the　bridge　held　their　attention　for　a　long　time。　To…day　a　soaring　eagle　attracted　them。

〃How　he　sails！〃　exclaimed　Bess。　〃I　wonder　where　his　mate　is？〃

〃She's　at　the　nest。　It's　on　the　bridge　in　a　crack　near　the　top。〃

〃I　see　her　often。　She　s　almost　white。〃

They　wandered　on　down　the　terrace；　into　the　shady；　sun…flecked　forest。　A　brown　bird　fluttered　crying　from　a　bush。　Bess　peeped　into　the　leaves。　〃Look！　A　nest　and　four　little　birds。　They're　not　afraid　of　us。　See　how　they　open　their　mouths。　They're　hungry。〃

Rabbits　rustled　the　dead　brush　and　pattered　away。　The　forest　was　full　of　a　drowsy　hum　of　insects。　Little　darts　of　purple；　that　were　running　quail；　crossed　the　glades。　And　a　plaintive；　sweet　peeping　came　from　the　coverts。　Bess's　soft　step　disturbed　a　sleeping　lizard　that　scampered　away　over　the　leaves。　She　gave　chase　and　caught　it；　a　slim　creature　of　nameless　color　but　of　exquisite　beauty。

〃Jewel　eyes；〃　she　said。　〃It's　like　a　rabbitafraid。　We　won't　eat　you。　Therego。〃

Murmuring　water　drew　their　steps　down　into　a　shallow　shaded　ravine　where　a　brown　brook　brawled　softly　over　mossy　stones。　Multitudes　of　strange；　gray　frogs　with　white　spots　and　black　eyes　lined　the　rocky　bank　and　leaped　only　at　close　approach。　Then　Venters's　eye　descried　a　very　thin；　very　long　green　snake　coiled　round　a　sapling。　They　drew　closer　and　closer　till　they　could　have　touched　it。　The　snake　had　no　fear　and　watched　them　with　scintillating　eyes。

〃It's　pretty；〃　said　Bess。　〃How　tame！　I　thought　snakes　always　ran。〃

〃No。　Even　the　rabbits　didn't　run　here　till　the　dogs　chased　them。〃

On　and　on　they　wandered　to　the　wild　jumble　of　massed　and　broken　fragments　of　cliff　at　the　west　end　of　the　valley。　The　roar　of　the　disappearing　stream　dinned　in　their　ears。　Into　this　maze　of　rocks　they　threaded　a　tortuous　way；　climbing；　descending；　halting　to　gather　wild　plums　and　great　lavender　lilies；　and　going　on　at　the　will　of　fancy。　Idle　and　keen　perceptions　guided　them　equally。

〃Oh；　let　us　climb　there！〃　cried　Bess；　pointing　upward　to　a　small　space　of　terrace　left　green　and　shady　between　huge　abutments　of　broken　cliff。　And　they　climbed　to　the　nook　and　rested　and　looked　out　across　the　valley　to　the　curling　column　of　blue　smoke　from　their　campfire。　But　the　cool　shade　and　the　rich　grass　and　the　fine　view　were　not　what　they　had　climbed　for。　They　could　not　have　told；　although　whatever　had　drawn　them　was　well…satisfying。　Light；　sure…footed　as　a　mountain　goat；　Bess　pattered　down　at　Venters's　heels；　and　they　went　on；　calling　the　dogs；　eyes　dreamy　and　wide；　listening　to　the　wind　and　the　bees　and　the　crickets　and　the　birds。

Part　of　the　time　Ring　and　Whitie　led　the　way；　then　Venters；　then　Bess；　and　the　direction　was　not　an　object。　They　left　the　sun…streaked　shade　of　the　oaks；　brushed　the　long　grass　of　the　meadows；　entered　the　green　and　fragrant　swaying　willows；　to　stop；　at　length；　under　the　huge　old　cottonwoods　where　the　beavers　were　busy。

Here　they　rested　and　watched。　A　dam　of　brush　and　logs　and　mud　and　stones　backed　the　stream　into　a　little　lake。　The　round；　rough　beaver　houses　projected　from　the　water。　Like　the　rabbits；　the　beavers　had　become　shy。　Gradually；　however；　as　Venters　and　Bess　knelt　low；　holding　the　dogs；　the　beavers　emerged　to　swim　with　logs　and　gnaw　at　cottonwoods　and　pat　mud　walls　with　their　paddle…like　tails；　and；　glossy　and　shiny　in　the　sun；　to　go　on　with　their　strange；　persistent　industry。　They　were　the　builders。　The　lake　was　a　mud…hole；　and　the　immediate　environment　a　scarred　and　dead　region；　but　it　was　a　wonderful　home　of　wonderful　animals。

〃Look　at　that　onehe　puddles　in　the　mud；〃　said　Bess。　〃And　there！　See　him　dive！　Hear　them　gnawing！　I'd　think　they'd　break　their　teeth。　How's　it　they　can　stay　out　of　the　water　and　under　the　water？〃

And　she　laughed。

Then　Venters　and　Bess　wandered　farther；　and；　perhaps　not　all　unconsciously　this　time；　wended　their　slow　steps　to　the　cave　of　the　cliff…dwellers；　where　she　liked　best　to　go。

The　tangled　thicket　and　the　long　slant　of　dust　and　little　chips　of　weathered　rock　and　the　steep　bench　of　stone　and　the　worn　steps　all　were　arduous　work　for　Bess　in　the　climbing。　But　she　gained　the　shelf；　gasping；　hot　of　cheek；　glad　of　eye；　with　her　hand　in　Venters's。　Here　they　rested。　The　beautiful　valley　glittered　below　with　its　millions　of　wind…turned　leaves　bright…faced　in　the　sun；　and　the　mighty　bridge　towered　heavenward；　crowned　with　blue　sky。　Bess；　however；　never　rested　for　long。　Soon　she　was　exploring；　and　Venters　followed；　she　dragged　forth　from　corners　and　shelves　a　multitude　of　crudely　fashioned　and　painted　pieces　of　pottery；　and　he　carried　them。　They　peeped　down　into　the　dark　holes　of　the　kivas；　and　Bess　gleefully　dropped　a　stone　and　waited　for　the　long…coming　hollow　sound　to　rise。　They　peeped　into　the　little　globular　houses；　like　mud…wasp　nests；　and　wondered　if　these　had　been　store…places　for　grain；　or　baby　cribs；　or　what；　and　they　crawled　into　the　larger　houses　and　laughed　when　they　bumped　their　heads　on　the　low　roofs；　and　they　dug　in　the　dust　of　the　floors。　And　they　brought　from　dust　and　darkness　armloads　of　treasure　which　they　carried　to　the　light。　Flints　and　stones　and　strange　curved　sticks　and　pottery　they　found；　and　twisted　grass　rope　that　crumbled　in　their　hands；　and　bits　of　whitish　stone　which　crushed　to　powder　at　a　touch　and　seemed　to　vanish　in　the　air。

〃That　white　stuff　was　bone；〃　said　Venters；　slowly。　〃Bones　of　a　cliff…dweller。〃

〃No！〃　exclaimed　Bess。

〃Here's　another　piece。　Look！。。。Whew！　dry；　powdery　smoke！　That's　bone。〃

Then　it　was　that　Venters's　primitive；　childlike　mood；　like　a　savage's；　seeing；　yet　unthinking；　gave　way　to　the　encroachment　of　civilized　thought。　The　world　had　not　been　made　for　a　single　day's　play　or　fancy　or　idle　watching。　The　world　was　old。　Nowhere　could　be　gotten　a　better　idea　of　its　age　than　in　this　gigantic　silent　tomb。　The　gray　ashes　in　Venters's　hand　had　once　been　bone　of　a　human　being　like　himself。　The　pale　gloom　of　the　cave　had　shadowed　people　long　ago。　He　saw　that　Bess　had　received　the　same　shockcould　not　in　moments　such　as　this　escape　her　feeling　living；　thinking　destiny。

〃Bern；　people　have　lived　here；〃　she　said；　with　wide；　thoughtful　eyes。

〃Yes；〃　he　replied。

〃How　long　ago？〃

〃A　thousand　years　and　more。〃

〃What　were　they？〃

〃Cliff…dwellers。　Men　who　had　enemies　and　made　their　homes　high　out　of　reach。〃

〃They　had　to　fight？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃They　fought　forwhat？〃

〃Tor　life。　For　their　homes；　food；　children；　parentsfor　their　women！〃

〃Has　the　world　changed　any　in　a　thousand　years？〃

〃I　don't　knowperhaps　a　little。〃

〃Have　men？〃

〃I　hope　soI　think　so。〃

〃Things　crowd　into　my　mind；〃　she　went　on；　and　the　wistful　light　in　her　eyes　told　Venters　the　truth　of　her　thoughts。　〃I've　ridden　the　border　of　Utah。　I've　seen　peopleknow　how　they　livebut　they　must　be　few　of　all　who　are　living。　I　had　my　books　and　I　studied　them。　But　all　that　doesn't　help　me　any　more。　I　want　to　go　out　into　the　big　world　and　see　it。　Yet　I　want　to　stay　here　more。　What's　to　become　of　us？　Are　we　cliff…dwellers？　We're　alone　here。　I'm　happy　when　I　don't　think。　Thesethese　bones　that　fly　into　dustthey　make　me　sick　and　a　little　afraid。　Did　the　people　who　lived　here　once　have　the　same　feelings　as　we　have？　What　was　the　good　of　their　living　at　all？　They're　gone！　What's　the　meaning　of　it　allof　us？〃

〃Bess；　you　ask　more　than　I　can　tell。　It's　beyond　me。　Only　there　was　laughter　here　onceand　now　there's　silence。　There　was　lifeand　now　there's　death。　Men　cut　these　little　steps；　made　these　arrow…heads　and　mealing…stones；　plaited　the　ropes　we　found；　and　left　their　bones　to　crumble　in　our　fingers。　As　far　as　time　is　concerned　it　might　all　have　been　yesterday。　We're　here　to…day。　Maybe　we're　higher　in　the　scale　of　human　beingsin　intelligence。　But　who　knows？　We　can't　be　any　higher　in　the　things　for　which　life　is　lived　at　all。〃

〃What　are　they？〃

〃WhyI　suppose　relationship；　friendshiplove。〃

〃Love！〃

〃Yes。　Love　of　man　for　womanlove　of　woman　for　man。　That's　the　nature；　the　meaning；　the　best　of　life　itself。〃

She　said　no　more。　Wistfulness　of　glance　deepened　into　sadness。

〃Come；　let　us　go；〃　said　Venters。

Action　brightened　her。　Beside　him；　holding　his　hand　she　slipped　down　the　shelf；　ran　down　the　long；　steep　slant　of　sliding　stones；　out　of　the　cloud　of　dust；　and　likewise　out　of　the　pale　gloom。

〃We　beat　the　slide；〃　she　cried。

The　miniature　avalanche　cracked　and　roared；　and　rattled　itself　into　an　inert　mass　at　the　base　of　the　incline。　Yellow　dust　like　the　gloom　of　the　cave；　but　not　so　changeless；　drifted　away　on　the　wind；　the　roar　clapped　in　echo　from　the　cliff；　returned；　went　back；　and　came　again　to　die　in　the　hollowness。　Down　on　the　sunny　terrace　there　was　a　different　atmosphere。　Ring　and　Whitie　leaped　around　Bess。　Once　more　she　was　smiling；　gay；　and　thoughtless；　with　the　dream…mood　in　the　shadow　of　her　eyes。

〃Bess；　I　haven't　seen　that　since　last　summer。　Look！〃　said　Venters；　pointing　to　the　scalloped　edge　of　rolling　purple　clouds　that　peeped　over　the　western　wall。　〃We're　in　for　a　storm。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　not。　I'm　afraid　of　storms。〃

〃Are　you？　Why？〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　down　in　one　of　these　walled…up　pockets　in　a　bad　storm？〃

〃No；　now　I　think　of　it；　I　haven't。〃

〃Well；　it's　terrible。　Every　summer　I　get　scared　to　death　and　hide　somewhere　in　the　dark。　Storms　up　on　the　sage　are　bad；　but　nothing　to　what　they　are　down　here　in　the　canyons。　And　in　this　little　valleywhy；　echoes　can　rap　back　and　forth　so　quick　they'll　split　our　ears。〃

〃We're　perfectly　safe　here；　Bess。〃

〃I　know。　But　that　hasn't　anything　to　do　with　it。　The　truth　is　I'm　afraid　of　lightning　and　thunder；　and　thunder…claps　hurt　my　head。　If　we　have　a　bad　storm；　will　you　stay　close　to　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

When　they　got　back　to　camp　the　afternoon　was　closing；　and　it　was　exceedingly　sultry。　Not　a　breath　of　air　stirred　the　aspen　leaves；　and　when　these　did　not　quiver　the　air　was　indeed　still。　The　dark…purple　clouds　moved　almost　imperceptibly　out　of　the　west。

〃What　have　we　for　supper？〃　asked