riders of the purple sage-第5部分

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in　the　shadow　Venters　went　closer　and　closer　until　he　could　hear　voices。　But　he　could　not　distinguish　what　was　said。　He　recognized　many　Mormons；　and　looked　hard　for　Tull　and　his　men；　but　looked　in　vain。

Venters　concluded　that　the　rustlers　had　not　passed　along　the　village　street。　No　doubt　these　earnest　men　were　discussing　Lassiter's　coming。　But　Venters　felt　positive　that　Tull's　intention　toward　himself　that　day　had　not　been　and　would　not　be　revealed。

So　Venters；　seeing　there　was　little　for　him　to　learn；　began　retracing　his　steps。　The　church　was　dark；　Bishop　Dyer's　home　next　to　it　was　also　dark；　and　likewise　Tull's　cottage。　Upon　almost　any　night　at　this　hour　there　would　be　lights　here；　and　Venters　marked　the　unusual　omission。

As　he　was　about　to　pass　out　of　the　street　to　skirt　the　grove；　he　once　more　slunk　down　at　the　sound　of　trotting　horses。　Presently　he　descried　two　mounted　men　riding　toward　him。　He　hugged　the　shadow　of　a　tree。　Again　the　starlight；　brighter　now；　aided　him；　and　he　made　out　Tull's　stalwart　figure；　and　beside　him　the　short；　froglike　shape　of　the　rider　Jerry。　They　were　silent；　and　they　rode　on　to　disappear。

Venters　went　his　way　with　busy；　gloomy　mind；　revolving　events　of　the　day；　trying　to　reckon　those　brooding　in　the　night。　His　thoughts　overwhelmed　him。　Up　in　that　dark　grove　dwelt　a　woman　who　had　been　his　friend。　And　he　skulked　about　her　home；　gripping　a　gun　stealthily　as　an　Indian；　a　man　without　place　or　people　or　purpose。　Above　her　hovered　the　shadow　of　grim；　hidden；　secret　power。　No　queen　could　have　given　more　royally　out　of　a　bounteous　store　than　Jane　Withersteen　gave　her　people；　and　likewise　to　those　unfortunates　whom　her　people　hated。　She　asked　only　the　divine　right　of　all　womenfreedom；　to　love　and　to　live　as　her　heart　willed。　And　yet　prayer　and　her　hope　were　vain。

〃For　years　I've　seen　a　storm　clouding　over　her　and　the　village　of　Cottonwoods；〃　muttered　Venters；　as　he　strode　on。　〃Soon　it'll　burst。　I　don't　like　the　prospects。〃　That　night　the　villagers　whispered　in　the　streetand　night…riding　rustlers　muffled　horsesand　Tull　was　at　work　in　secretand　out　there　in　the　sage　hid　a　man　who　meant　something　terribleLassiter！

Venters　passed　the　black　cottonwoods；　and；　entering　the　sage；　climbed　the　gradual　slope。　He　kept　his　direction　in　line　with　a　western　star。　From　time　to　time　he　stopped　to　listen　and　heard　only　the　usual　familiar　bark　of　coyote　and　sweep　of　wind　and　rustle　of　sage。　Presently　a　low　jumble　of　rocks　loomed　up　darkly　somewhat　to　his　right；　and；　turning　that　way；　he　whistled　softly。

Out　of　the　rocks　glided　a　dog　that　leaped　and　whined　about　him。　He　climbed　over　rough；　broken　rock；　picking　his　way　carefully；　and　then　went　down。　Here　it　was　darker；　and　sheltered　from　the　wind。　A　white　object　guided　him。　It　was　another　dog；　and　this　one　was　asleep；　curled　up　between　a　saddle　and　a　pack。　The　animal　awoke　and　thumped　his　tail　in　greeting。　Venters　placed　the　saddle　for　a　pillow；　rolled　in　his　blankets；　with　his　face　upward　to　the　stars。　The　white　dog　snuggled　close　to　him。　The　other　whined　and　pattered　a　few　yards　to　the　rise　of　ground　and　there　crouched　on　guard。　And　in　that　wild　covert　Venters　shut　his　eyes　under　the　great　white　stars　and　intense　vaulted　blue；　bitterly　comparing　their　loneliness　to　his　own；　and　fell　asleep。

When　he　awoke；　day　had　dawned　and　all　about　him　was　bright　steel…gray。　The　air　had　a　cold　tang。　Arising；　he　greeted　the　fawning　dogs　and　stretched　his　cramped　body；　and　then；　gathering　together　bunches　of　dead　sage　sticks；　he　lighted　a　fire。　Strips　of　dried　beef　held　to　the　blaze　for　a　moment　served　him　and　the　dogs。　He　drank　from　a　canteen。　There　was　nothing　else　in　his　outfit；　he　had　grown　used　to　a　scant　fire。　Then　he　sat　over　the　fire；　palms　outspread；　and　waited。　Waiting　had　been　his　chief　occupation　for　months；　and　he　scarcely　knew　what　he　waited　for　unless　it　was　the　passing　of　the　hours。　But　now　he　sensed　action　in　the　immediate　present；　the　day　promised　another　meeting　with　Lassiter　and　Lane；　perhaps　news　of　the　rustlers；　on　the　morrow　he　meant　to　take　the　trail　to　Deception　Pass。

And　while　he　waited　he　talked　to　his　dogs。　He　called　them　Ring　and　Whitie；　they　were　sheep…dogs；　half　collie；　half　deerhound；　superb　in　build；　perfectly　trained。　It　seemed　that　in　his　fallen　fortunes　these　dogs　understood　the　nature　of　their　value　to　him；　and　governed　their　affection　and　faithfulness　accordingly。　Whitie　watched　him　with　somber　eyes　of　love；　and　Ring；　crouched　on　the　little　rise　of　ground　above；　kept　tireless　guard。　When　the　sun　rose；　the　white　dog　took　the　place　of　the　other；　and　Ring　went　to　sleep　at　his　master's　feet。

By　and　by　Venters　rolled　up　his　blankets　and　tied　them　and　his　meager　pack　together；　then　climbed　out　to　look　for　his　horse。　He　saw　him；　presently；　a　little　way　off　in　the　sage；　and　went　to　fetch　him。　In　that　country；　where　every　rider　boasted　of　a　fine　mount　and　was　eager　for　a　race；　where　thoroughbreds　dotted　the　wonderful　grazing　ranges；　Venters　rode　a　horse　that　was　sad　proof　of　his　misfortunes。

Then；　with　his　back　against　a　stone；　Venters　faced　the　east；　and；　stick　in　hand　and　idle　blade；　he　waited。　The　glorious　sunlight　filled　the　valley　with　purple　fire。　Before　him；　to　left；　to　right；　waving；　rolling；　sinking；　rising；　like　low　swells　of　a　purple　sea；　stretched　the　sage。　Out　of　the　grove　of　cottonwoods；　a　green　patch　on　the　purple；　gleamed　the　dull　red　of　Jane　Withersteen's　old　stone　house。　And　from　there　extended　the　wide　green　of　the　village　gardens　and　orchards　marked　by　the　graceful　poplars；　and　farther　down　shone　the　deep；　dark　richness　of　the　alfalfa　fields。　Numberless　red　and　black　and　white　dots　speckled　the　sage；　and　these　were　cattle　and　horses。

So；　watching　and　waiting；　Venters　let　the　time　wear　away。　At　length　he　saw　a　horse　rise　above　a　ridge；　and　he　knew　it　to　be　Lassiter's　black。　Climbing　to　the　highest　rock；　so　that　he　would　show　against　the　sky…line；　he　stood　and　waved　his　hat。　The　almost　instant　turning　of　Lassiter's　horse　attested　to　the　quickness　of　that　rider's　eye。　Then　Venters　climbed　down；　saddled　his　horse；　tied　on　his　pack；　and；　with　a　word　to　his　dogs；　was　about　to　ride　out　to　meet　Lassiter；　when　he　concluded　to　wait　for　him　there；　on　higher　ground；　where　the　outlook　was　commanding。

It　had　been　long　since　Venters　had　experienced　friendly　greeting　from　a　man。　Lassiter's　warmed　in　him　something　that　had　grown　cold　from　neglect。　And　when　he　had　returned　it；　with　a　strong　grip　of　the　iron　hand　that　held　his；　and　met　the　gray　eyes；　he　knew　that　Lassiter　and　he　were　to　be　friends。

〃Venters；　let's　talk　awhile　before　we　go　down　there；〃　said　Lassiter；　slipping　his　bridle。　〃I　ain't　in　no　hurry。　Them's　sure　fine　dogs　you've　got。〃　With　a　rider's　eye　he　took　in　the　points　of　Venter's　horse；　but　did　not　speak　his　thought。　〃Well；　did　anythin'　come　off　after　I　left　you　last　night？〃

Venters　told　him　about　the　rustlers。

〃I　was　snug　hid　in　the　sage；〃　replied　Lassiter；　〃an'　didn't　see　or　hear　no　one。　Oldrin's　got　a　high　hand　here；　I　reckon。　It's　no　news　up　in　Utah　how　he　holes　in　canyons　an'　leaves　no　track。〃　Lassiter　was　silent　a　moment。　〃Me　an'　Oldrin'　wasn't　exactly　strangers　some　years　back　when　he　drove　cattle　into　Bostil's　Ford；　at　the　head　of　the　Rio　Virgin。　But　he　got　harassed　there　an'　now　he　drives　some　place　else。〃

〃Lassiter；　you　knew　him？　Tell　me；　is　he　Mormon　or　Gentile？〃

〃I　can't　say。　I've　knowed　Mormons　who　pretended　to　be　Gentiles。〃

〃No　Mormon　ever　pretended　that　unless　he　was　a　rustler〃　declared　Venters。

〃Mebbe　so。〃

〃It's　a　hard　country　for　any　one；　but　hardest　for　Gentiles。　Did　you　ever　know　or　hear　of　a　Gentile　prospering　in　a　Mormon　community？〃

〃I　never　did。〃

〃Well；　I　want　to　get　out　of　Utah。　I've　a　mother　living　in　Illinois。　I　want　to　go　home。　It's　eight　years　now。〃

The　older　man's　sympathy　moved　Venters　to　tell　his　story。　He　had　left　Quincy；　run　off　to　seek　his　fortune　in　the　gold　fields　had　never　gotten　any　farther　than　Salt　Lake　City；　wandered　here　and　there　as　helper；　teamster；　shepherd；　and　drifted　southward　over　the　divide　and　across　the　barrens　and　up　the　rugged　plateau　through　the　passes　to　the　last　border　settlements。　Here　he　became　a　rider　of　the　sage；　had　stock　of　his　own；　and　for　a　time　prospered；　until　chance　threw　him　in　the　employ　of　Jane　Withersteen。

〃Lassiter；　I　needn't　tell　you　the　rest。〃

〃Well；　it'd　be　no　news　to　me。　I　know　Mormons。　I've　seen　their　women's　strange　love　en'　patience　en'　sacrifice　an'　silence　en'　whet　I　call　madness　for　their　idea　of　God。　An'　over　against　that　I've　seen　the　tricks　of　men。　They　work　hand　in　hand；　all　together；　an'　in　the　dark。　No　man　can　hold　out　against　them；　unless　he　takes　to　packin'　guns。　For　Mormons　are　slow　to　kill。　That's　the　only　good　I　ever　seen　in　their　religion。　Venters；　take　this　from　me；　these　Mormons　ain't　just　right　in　their　minds。　Else　could　a　Mormon　marry　one　woman　when　he　already　has　a　wife；　an'　call　it　duty？〃

〃Lassiter；　you　think　as　I　think；〃　returned　Venters。

〃How'd　it　come　then　that　you　never　throwed　a　gun　on　Tull　or　some　of　them？〃　inquired　the　rider；　curiously。

〃Jane　pleaded　with　me；　begged　me　to　be　patient；　to　overlook。　She　even　took　my　guns　from　me。　I　lost　all　before　I　knew　it；〃　replied　Venters；　with　the　red　color　in　his　face。　〃But；　Lassiter；　listen。

〃Out　of　the　wreck　I　saved　a　Winchester；　two　Colts；　and　plenty　of　shells。　I　packed　these　down　into　Deception　Pass。　There；　almost　every　day　for　six　months；　I　have　practiced　with　my　rifle　till　the　barrel　burnt　my　hands。　Practised　the　drawthe　firing　of　a　Colt；　hour　after　hour！〃

〃Now　that's　interestin'　to　me；〃　said　Lassiter；　with　a　quick　uplift　of　his　head　and　a　concentration　of　his　gray　gaze　on　Venters。　〃Could　you　throw　a　gun　before　you　began　that　practisin'？〃

〃Yes。　And　now。。。〃　Venters　made　a　lightning…swift　movement。

Lassiter　smiled；　and　then　his　bronzed　eyelids　narrowed　till　his　eyes　seemed　mere　gray　slits。　〃You'll　kill　Tull！〃　He　did　not　question；　he　affirmed。

〃I　promised　Jane　Withersteen　I'd　try　to　avoid　Tull。　I'll　keep　my　word。　But　sooner　or　later　Tull　and　I　will　meet。　As　I　feel　now；　if　he　even　looks　at　me　I'll　draw！〃

〃I　reckon　so。　There'll　be　hell　down　there；　presently。〃　He　paused　a　moment　and　flicked　a　sage…brush　with　his　quirt。