riders of the purple sage-第38部分

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rotection　in　their　law　and　might　and　use。

〃Did　you　trail　Ventersfind　his　wonderful　valley？〃　she　asked；　eagerly。

〃Yes；　an'　I　reckon　it's　sure　a　wonderful　place。〃

〃Is　he　safe　there？〃

〃That's　been　botherin'　me　some。　I　tracked　him　an'　part　of　the　trail　was　the　hardest　I　ever　tackled。　Mebbe　there's　a　rustler　or　somebody　in　this　country　who's　as　good　at　trackin'　as　I　am。　If　that's　so　Venters　ain't　safe。〃

〃Welltell　me　all　about　Bern　and　his　valley。〃

To　Jane's　surprise　Lassiter　showed　disinclination　for　further　talk　about　his　trip。　He　appeared　to　be　extremely　fatigued。　Jane　reflected　that　one　hundred　and　twenty　miles；　with　probably　a　great　deal　of　climbing　on　foot；　all　in　three　days；　was　enough　to　tire　any　rider。　Moreover；　it　presently　developed　that　Lassiter　had　returned　in　a　mood　of　singular　sadness　and　preoccupation。　She　put　it　down　to　a　moodiness　over　the　loss　of　her　white　herd　and　the　now　precarious　condition　of　her　fortune。

Several　days　passed；　and　as　nothing　happened；　Jane's　spirits　began　to　brighten。　Once　in　her　musings　she　thought　that　this　tendency　of　hers　to　rebound　was　as　sad　as　it　was　futile。　Meanwhile；　she　had　resumed　her　walks　through　the　grove　with　little　Fay。

One　morning　she　went　as　far　as　the　sage。　She　had　not　seen　the　slope　since　the　beginning　of　the　rains；　and　now　it　bloomed　a　rich　deep　purple。　There　was　a　high　wind　blowing；　and　the　sage　tossed　and　waved　and　colored　beautifully　from　light　to　dark。　Clouds　scudded　across　the　sky　and　their　shadows　sailed　darkly　down　the　sunny　slope。

Upon　her　return　toward　the　house　she　went　by　the　lane　to　the　stables；　and　she　had　scarcely　entered　the　great　open　space　with　its　corrals　and　sheds　when　she　saw　Lassiter　hurriedly　approaching。　Fay　broke　from　her　and；　running　to　a　corral　fence；　began　to　pat　and　pull　the　long；　hanging　ears　of　a　drowsy　burro。

One　look　at　Lassiter　armed　her　for　a　blow。

Without　a　word　he　led　her　across　the　wide　yard　to　the　rise　of　the　ground　upon　which　the　stable　stood。

〃Janelook！〃　he　said；　and　pointed　to　the　ground。

Jane　glanced　down；　and　again；　and　upon　steadier　vision　made　out　splotches　of　blood　on　the　stones；　and　broad；　smooth　marks　in　the　dust；　leading　out　toward　the　sage。

〃What　made　these？〃　she　asked。

〃I　reckon　somebody　has　dragged　dead　or　wounded　men　out　to　where　there　was　hosses　in　the　sage。〃

〃Deadorwoundedmen！〃

〃I　reckonJane；　are　you　strong？　Can　you　bear　up？〃

His　hands　were　gently　holding　hers；　and　his　eyessuddenly　'she　could　no　longer　look　into　them。　〃Strong？〃　she　echoed；　trembling。　〃II　will　be。〃

Up　on　the　stone…flag　drive；　nicked　with　the　marks　made　by　the　iron…shod　hoofs　of　her　racers；　Lassiter　led　her；　his　grasp　ever　growing　firmer。

〃Where's　Blakeandand　Jerb？〃　she　asked；　haltingly。

〃I　don't　know　where　Jerb　is。　Bolted；　most　likely；〃　replied　Lassiter；　as　he　took　her　through　the　stone　door。　〃But　Blakepoor　Blake！　He's　gone　forever！。。。Be　prepared；　Jane。〃

With　a　cold　prickling　of　her　skin；　with　a　queer　thrumming　in　her　ears；　with　fixed　and　staring　eyes；　Jane　saw　a　gun　lying　at　her　feet　with　chamber　swung　and　empty；　and　discharged　shells　scattered　near。

Outstretched　upon　the　stable　floor　lay　Blake；　ghastly　whitedeadone　hand　clutching　a　gun　and　the　other　twisted　in　his　bloody　blouse。

〃Whoever　the　thieves　were；　whether　your　people　or　rustlersBlake　killed　some　of　them！〃　said　Lassiter。

〃Thieves？〃　whispered　Jane。

〃I　reckon。　Hoss…thieves！。。。Look！〃　Lassiter　waved　his　hand　toward　the　stalls。

The　first　stallBells's　stallwas　empty。　All　the　stalls　were　empty。　No　racer　whinnied　and　stamped　greeting　to　her。　Night　was　gone！　Black　Star　was　gone！



CHAPTER　XVI。　GOLD

As　Lassiter　had　reported　to　Jane；　Venters　〃went　through〃　safely；　and　after　a　toilsome　journey　reached　the　peaceful　shelter　of　Surprise　Valley。　When　finally　he　lay　wearily　down　under　the　silver　spruces；　resting　from　the　strain　of　dragging　packs　and　burros　up　the　slope　and　through　the　entrance　to　Surprise　Valley；　he　had　leisure　to　think；　and　a　great　deal　of　the　time　went　in　regretting　that　he　had　not　been　frank　with　his　loyal　friend；　Jane　Withersteen。

But；　he　kept　continually　recalling；　when　he　had　stood　once　more　face　to　face　with　her　and　had　been　shocked　at　the　change　in　her　and　had　heard　the　details　of　her　adversity；　he　had　not　had　the　heart　to　tell　her　of　the　closer　interest　which　had　entered　his　life。　He　had　not　lied；　yet　he　had　kept　silence。

Bess　was　in　transports　over　the　stores　of　supplies　and　the　outfit　he　had　packed　from　Cottonwoods。　He　had　certainly　brought　a　hundred　times　more　than　he　had　gone　for；　enough；　surely；　for　years；　perhaps　to　make　permanent　home　in　the　valley。　He　saw　no　reason　why　he　need　ever　leave　there　again。

After　a　day　of　rest　he　recovered　his　strength　and　shared　Bess's　pleasure　in　rummaging　over　the　endless　packs；　and　began　to　plan　for　the　future。　And　in　this　planning；　his　trip　to　Cottonwoods；　with　its　revived　hate　of　Tull　and　consequent　unleashing　of　fierce　passions；　soon　faded　out　of　mind。　By　slower　degrees　his　friendship　for　Jane　Withersteen　and　his　contrition　drifted　from　the　active　preoccupation　of　his　present　thought　to　a　place　in　memory；　with　more　and　more　infrequent　recalls。

And　as　far　as　the　state　of　his　mind　was　concerned；　upon　the　second　day　after　his　return；　the　valley；　with　its　golden　hues　and　purple　shades；　the　speaking　west　wind　and　the　cool；　silent　night；　and　Bess's　watching　eyes　with　their　wonderful　light；　so　wrought　upon　Venters　that　he　might　never　have　left　them　at　all。

That　very　afternoon　he　set　to　work。　Only　one　thing　hindered　him　upon　beginning；　though　it　in　no　wise　checked　his　delight；　and　that　in　the　multiplicity　of　tasks　planned　to　make　a　paradise　out　of　the　valley　he　could　not　choose　the　one　with　which　to　begin。　He　had　to　grow　into　the　habit　of　passing　from　one　dreamy　pleasure　to　another；　like　a　bee　going　from　flower　to　flower　in　the　valley；　and　he　found　this　wandering　habit　likely　to　extend　to　his　labors。　Nevertheless；　he　made　a　start。

At　the　outset　he　discovered　Bess　to　be　both　a　considerable　help　in　some　ways　and　a　very　great　hindrance　in　others。　Her　excitement　and　joy　were　spurs；　inspirations；　but　she　was　utterly　impracticable　in　her　ideas；　and　she　flitted　from　one　plan　to　another　with　bewildering　vacillation。　Moreover；　he　fancied　that　she　grew　more　eager；　youthful；　and　sweet；　and　he　marked　that　it　was　far　easier　to　watch　her　and　listen　to　her　than　it　was　to　work。　Therefore　he　gave　her　tasks　that　necessitated　her　going　often　to　the　cave　where　he　had　stored　his　packs。

Upon　the　last　of　these　trips；　when　he　was　some　distance　down　the　terrace　and　out　of　sight　of　camp；　he　heard　a　scream；　and　then　the　sharp　barking　of　the　dogs。

For　an　instant　he　straightened　up；　amazed。　Danger　for　her　had　been　absolutely　out　of　his　mind。　She　had　seen　a　rattlesnakeor　a　wildcat。　Still　she　would　not　have　been　likely　to　scream　at　sight　of　either；　and　the　barking　of　the　dogs　was　ominous。　Dropping　his　work；　he　dashed　back　along　the　terrace。　Upon　breaking　through　a　clump　of　aspens　he　saw　the　dark　form　of　a　man　in　the　camp。　Cold；　then　hot；　Venters　burst　into　frenzied　speed　to　reach　his　guns。　He　was　cursing　himself　for　a　thoughtless　fool　when　the　man's　tall　form　became　familiar　and　he　recognized　Lassiter。　Then　the　reversal　of　emotions　changed　his　run　to　a　walk；　he　tried　to　call　out；　but　his　voice　refused　to　carry；　when　he　reached　camp　there　was　Lassiter　staring　at　the　white…faced　girl。　By　that　time　Ring　and　Whitie　had　recognized　him。

〃Hello；　Venters！　I'm　makin'　you　a　visit；〃　said　Lassiter；　slowly。　〃An'　I'm　some　surprised　to　see　you've　aa　young　feller　for　company。〃

One　glance　had　sufficed　for　the　keen　rider　to　read　Bess's　real　sex；　and　for　once　his　cool　calm　had　deserted　him。　He　stared　till　the　white　of　Bess's　cheeks　flared　into　crimson。　That；　if　it　were　needed；　was　the　concluding　evidence　of　her　femininity；　for　it　went　fittingly　with　her　sun…tinted　hair　and　darkened；　dilated　eyes；　the　sweetness　of　her　mouth；　and　the　striking　symmetry　of　her　slender　shape。

〃Heavens！　Lassiter！〃　panted　Venters；　when　he　caught　his　breath。　〃What　reliefit's　only　you！　Howin　the　name　of　all　that's　wonderfuldid　you　ever　get　here？〃

〃I　trailed　you。　WeI　wanted　to　know　where　you　was；　if　you　had　a　safe　place。　So　I　trailed　you。〃

〃Trailed　me；〃　cried　Venters；　bluntly。

〃I　reckon。　It　was　some　of　a　job　after　I　got　to　them　smooth　rocks。　I　was　all　day　trackin'　you　up　to　them　little　cut　steps　in　the　rock。　The　rest　was　easy。〃

〃Where's　your　hoss？　I　hope　you　hid　him。〃

〃I　tied　him　in　them　queer　cedars　down　on　the　slope。　He　can't　be　seen　from　the　valley。〃

〃That's　good。　Well；　well！　I'm　completely　dumfounded。　It　was　my　idea　that　no　man　could　track　me　in　here。〃

〃I　reckon。　But　if　there's　a　tracker　in　these　uplands　as　good　as　me　he　can　find　you。〃

〃That's　bad。　That'll　worry　me。　But；　Lassiter；　now　you're　here　I'm　glad　to　see　you。　Andand　my　companion　here　is　not　a　young　fellow！。。。Bess；　this　is　a　friend　of　mine。　He　saved　my　life　once。〃

The　embarrassment　of　the　moment　did　not　extend　to　Lassiter。　Almost　at　once　his　manner；　as　he　shook　hands　with　Bess；　relieved　Venters　and　put　the　girl　at　ease。　After　Venters's　words　and　one　quick　look　at　Lassiter；　her　agitation　stilled；　and；　though　she　was　shy；　if　she　were　conscious　of　anything　out　of　the　ordinary　in　the　situation；　certainly　she　did　not　show　it。

〃I　reckon　I'll　only　stay　a　little　while；〃　Lassiter　was　saying。　〃An'　if　you　don't　mind　troublin'；　I'm　hungry。　I　fetched　some　biscuits　along；　but　they're　gone。　Venters；　this　place　is　sure　the　wonderfullest　ever　seen。　Them　cut　steps　on　the　slope！　That　outlet　into　the　gorge！　An'　it's　like　climbin'　up　through　hell　into　heaven　to　climb　through　that　gorge　into　this　valley！　There's　a　queer…lookin'　rock　at　the　top　of　the　passage。　I　didn't　have　time　to　stop。　I'm　wonderin'　how　you　ever　found　this　place。　It's　sure　interestin'。〃

During　the　preparation　and　eating　of　dinner　Lassiter　listened　mostly；　as　was　his　wont；　and　occasionally　he　spoke　in　his　quaint　and　dry　way。　Venters　noted；　however；　that　the　rider　showed　an　increasing　interest　in　Bess。　He　asked　her　no　questions；　and　only　directed　his　attention　to　her　while　she　was　occupied　and　had　no　opportunity　to　observe　his　scrutiny。　It　seemed　to　Venters　that　Lassiter　grew　more　and　mo