第2章
Then，lookinguptoseeLucyBostilcomingalongtheroad，hebrightenedasifwithinspiration。
Lucywasathomeamongthem，andtheshyeyesoftheyoungerriders，especiallyVan，werenothingifnotrevealing。Shegreetedthemwithabrightsmile，andwhenshesawBracktonsheburstout:
"Oh，Mr。Brackton，thewagon"sin，anddidmyboxcome？To-day"smybirthday。"
""Deeditdid，Lucy；an"manymorehappyonestoyou!"hereplied，delightedinherdelight。"Butit"stooheavyforyou。I"llsenditup——ormebbeoneoftheboys——"
Fiveridersinunisoneagerlyofferedtheirservicesandlookedasifeachhadspokenfirst。ThenMacomberaddressedher:
"MissLucy，youseethisheresorrel？"
"Ah!thesamelazycrowdandthesameoldstory——ahorsetrade!"laughedLucy。
"There"salittledifferenceofopinion，"saidMacomber，politelyindicatingtheriders。"Now，MissLucy，we-allknowyou"reajudgeofahoss。Andasgoodasthetyoutellthetruth。Thetain"tinsomehoss-tradersIknow。Whatdoyouthinkofthismustang？"
Macomberhadeyesofenthusiasmforhislatestacquisition，butsomeofthecock-surenesshadbeenknockedoutofhimbythebluntriders。
"Macomber，aren"tyouagreatonetotalk？"queriedLucy，severely。"Didn"tyougetaroundDadandtradehimanold，blind，knock-kneedbagofbonesforaperfectlygoodpony——oneIlikedtoride？"
Theridersshoutedwithlaughterwhiletherancherstruggledwithconfusion。
""Ponmyword，MissLucy，I"msurprisedyoucouldthinkthetofsuchanoldfriendofyours——an"yourDad"s，too。I"mhopin"hedoesn"tsidealtogetherwithyou。"
"DadandIneveragreeaboutahorse。Hethinkshegotthebestofyou。Butyouknow，Macomber，whatahorse-thiefyouare。WorsethanCordts!"
"Wal，ifIgotthebestofBostilI"mwillin"tobethoughtbad。I"mthefirstfellertotakehimin。An"now，MissLucy，lookovermysorrel。"
LucyBostildidindeedhaveaneyeforahorse。Shewalkedstraightuptothewild，shaggymustangwithaconfidencebornofintuitionandexperience，andreachedahandforhishead，notslowly，noryetswiftly。Themustanglookedasifhewasabouttojump，buthedidnot。Hiseyesshowedthathewasnotusedtowomen。
"He"snotwellbroken，"saidLucy。"SomeNavajohasbeatenhisheadinbreakinghim。"
Thenshecarefullystudiedthemustangpointbypoint。
"He"sdeceivingatfirstbecausehe"sgoodtolookat，"saidLucy。"ButI
wouldn"townhim。Asaddlewillturnonhim。He"snotvicious，buthe"llnevergetoverhisscare。He"snarrowbetweentheeyes——abadsign。Hisearsarestiff——andtooclose。Idon"tseeanythingmorewrongwithhim。"
"Youseenenough，"declaredMacomber。"An"soyouwouldn"townhim？"
"Youcouldn"tmakemeapresentofhim——evenonmybirthday。"
"Wal，nowI"msorry，forIwasthinkin"ofthet，"repliedMacomber，ruefully。
Itwasplainthatthesorrelhadfallenirremediablyinhisestimation。
"Macomber，IoftentellDadallyouhorse-tradersgetyourdesertsnowandthen。It"svanityanddesiretobeattheothermanthat"syourdownfall。"
Lucywentaway，withVanshoulderingherbox，leavingMacombertryingtoreturnthebanteroftheriders。Thegood-naturedraillerywasinterruptedbyasharpwordfromoneofthem。
"Look!Darnmeifthetain"tanakedIndiancomin"!"
Theriderswhirledtoseeanapparentlynudesavageapproaching，almostonarun。
"Takeashotatthet，Bill，"saidanotherrider。"MissLucymightsee——No，she"soutofsight。But，mebbesomeotherwomanisaround。"
"Holdon，Bill，"calledMacomber。"YouneversawanIndianrunlikethet。"
Someoftheridersswore，otherslaughed，andallsuddenlybecamekeenwithinterest。
"Surehisfaceiswhite，ifhisbody"sred!"
Thestrangefigurenearedthem。Itwasindeedreduptotheface，whichseemedwhiteincontrast。Yetonlyingeneralshapeandactiondiditresembleaman。
"Damnedifitain"tJoelCreech!"sangoutBillStark。
Theotherridersaccordedtheirwonderingassent。
"Gonecrazy，sure!"
"Ialwaysseenitcomin"。"
"Say，butain"thewild？Foamin"atthemouthlikeawindedhoss!"
YoungCreechwasheadeddowntheroadtowardthefordacrosswhichhehadtogotoreachhome。Hesawthecuriousgroup，slowedhispace，andhalted。Hisfaceseemedconvulsedwithrageandpainandfatigue。Hisbody，eventohishands，wasincasedinathick，heavycoatingofredadobethathadcakedhard。
"God"ssake——fellers——"hepanted，witheyesrolling，"takethis——"dobemudoffme!I"mdyin"!"
ThenhestaggeredintoBrackton"splace。Ahowlwentupfromtheridersandtheysurgedafterhim。
ThateveningaftersupperBostilstampedinthebigroom，roaringwithlaughter，redintheface；andheastonishedLucyandheraunttothepointofconsternation。
"Now——you"ve——done——it——LucyBostil!"heroared。
"Ohdear!Ohdear!"exclaimedAuntJane。
"Donewhat？"askedLucy，blankly。
Bostilconqueredhisparoxysm，and，wipinghismoistredface，heeyedLucyinmocksolemnity。
"Joel!"whisperedLucy，whohadaguiltyconscience。
"Lucy，Ineverheardthebeatofit。Joel"ssmarterinsomewaysthanwethought，an"crazierinothers。Hehadthesunfiggered，butwhat"dhewanttorunthroughtownfor？Why，neverinmylifehaveIseensuchtickledriders。"
"Dad!"almostscreamedLucy。"WhatdidJoeldo？"
"Wal，Iseeitthisway。Hecouldn"torwouldn"twaitforsundown。An"hewasn"thankerin"tobeburned。Sohewallowsina"dobemud-holean"covershimselfthickwithmud。Youknowthat"dobemud!Thenhestartshome。Buthehadn"tfiggeredonthe"dobegettin"hard，whichitdid——harder"nrock。An"
thetmusthavehurtmore"nsunburn。Latethisafternoonhecamerunnin"downtheroad，yellin"thethewasdyin"。Theboyshadconniptionfits。Joelain"tover-liked，youknow，an"heretheyhadoneonhim。Mebbetheydidn"ttryhardtocleanhimoff。Butthefactisnotforhoursdidtheygetthet"dobeoffhim。Theywashedan"scrubbedan"curriedhim，whileheyelledan"cussed。
Finallytheypeeleditoff，withhisskinIguess。Hewasraw。an"theysay，themaddestfellereverseeninBostil"sFord!"
Lucywasstrugglingbetweenfearandmirth。Shedidnotlooksorry。"Oh!Oh!
Oh，Dad!"
"Wasn"titgreat，Lucy？"
"Butwhat——willhe——do？"chokedLucy。
"Lordonlyknows。Thetworriesmesome。Becauseheneversaidawordabouthowhecometolosehisclothesorwhyhehadthe"dobeonhim。An"sureInevertold。Nobodyknowsbutus。"
"Dad，helldosomethingterribletome!"criedLucy，aghastatherpremonitionCHAPTERIII
ThedaysdidnotpassswiftlyatBostil"sFord。Andexceptinwinter，andduringthespringsand-storms，thelaggingtimepassedpleasantly。Lucyrodeeveryday，sometimeswithVan，andsometimesalone。Shewasnotover-keenaboutridingwithVan——first，becausehewasinlovewithher；andsecondly，inspiteofthat，shecouldnotbeathimwhenherodetheKing。TheyweretrainingBostil"shorsesforthemuch-anticipatedraces。
AtlastwordarrivedfromtheUtesandNavajosthattheyacceptedBostil"sinvitationandwouldcomeinforce，whichmeant，accordingtoHolleyandotheroldriders，thattheIndianswouldattendabouteighthundredstrong。
"Thetoldchief，Hawk，iscomin"，"HolleyinformedBostil。"Hehasn"tbeenhereferseveralyears。Recollectthetbunchofcoltshehad？They"rebosses，notmustangs。Soyoulookout，Bostil!"
Noriderorrancherorsheepman，infact，noone，everlostachancetowarnBostil。Someofitwasinfun，butmostofitwasearnest。ThenatureofeventswasthatsoonerorlaterahorsewouldbeattheKing。Bostilknewthataswellasanybody，thoughhewouldnotadmitit。Holley"shintmadeBostillookworried。MostofBostil"sgrayhairsmighthavebeentracedtohisyearsofworryabouthorses。
ThedayhereceivedwordfromtheIndianshesentforBrackton，Williams，Muncie，andCreechtocometohishousethatnight。Thesemen，withBostil，hadforyearsformedinawayaclub，whichgavetheForddistinction。CreechwasnolongerafriendofBostil"s，butBostilhadalwaysbeenfair-minded，andnowhedidnotallowhisanimositiestoinfluencehim。Holley，theveteranrider，madethesixthmemberoftheclub。
Bostilhadacedarlogblazingcheerilyinthewidefireplace，fortheseearlyspringnightsinthedesertwerecold。
Bracktonwasthelastguesttoarrive。Heshuffledinwithoutansweringthelaconicgreetingsaccordedhim，andhisusuallymildeyesseemedkeenandhard。
"John，Ireckonyouwon"tlovemeferthishereI"vegottotellyou，to-nightspecially，"hesaid，seriously。
"Youoldrobber，Icouldn"tloveyouanyhow，"retortedBostil。Buthishumordidnotharmonizewiththesuddengravityofhislook。"What"sup？"
"WhodoyousupposeIjestsoldwhiskyto？"
"I"venoidea，"repliedBostil。Yethelookedasifhewasperfectlysure。
"Cordts!Cordts，an"fourofhisoutfit。TwoofthemIdidn"tknow。Badmen，judgin"fromappearances，letalonecompany。TheotherswasHutchinsonan"——DickSears。"
"DICKSEARS!"exclaimedBostil。
MuncieandWilliamsechoedBostil。Holleyappearedsuddenlyinterested。Creechaloneshowednosurprise。
"ButSearsisdead，"addedBostil。
"Hewasdead——wethought，"repliedBrackton，withagrimlaugh。"Buthe"saliveagain。Hetoldmehe"dbeeninIdahofertwoyears，inthegold-fields。
Saidtheworkwastoohard，sohe"dcomebackhere。Laughedwhenhesaidit，thelittledevil!I"llbethewasthinkin"ofthetwagon-trainofminehestole。"
Bostilgazedathischiefrider。
"Wal，Ireckonwedidn"tkillSears，afterall，"repliedHolley。"Iwasn"tneversure。"
"Lord!Cordtsan"Searsincamp，"ejaculatedBostil，andhebegantopacetheroom。
"No，they"regonenow，"saidBrackton。
"Takeiteasy，boss。Sitdown，"drawledHolley。"TheKingissafe，an"alltheracers。Isweartothet。Why，Cordtscouldn"tchopintothetlog-an"-wirecorralifhean"hisgangchoppedallnight!Theyhatework。Besides，Farlaneisthere，an"theboys。"
ThisreassuredBostil，andheresumedhischair。Buthishandshookalittle。
"DidCordtshaveanythin"tosay？"heasked。
"Sure。Hewasfriendlyan"talkative，"repliedBrackton。"Hecameinjustafterdark。LeftamanIdidn"tseeoutwiththehosses。Heboughttwobigpacksofsupplies，an"someleatherstuff，an"，ofcourse，ammunition。Thensomewhisky。Hadplentyofgoldan"wouldn"ttakenochange。Thenwhilehismen，exceptSears，wascarryin"outthestuff，hetalked。"
"Goon。Tellme，"saidBostil。
"Wal，he"dbeenoutnorthofDurangoan"fetchednews。There"swildtalkbackthereofarailroadgoin"tobebuiltsomeday，joinin"eastan"west。It"sinterestin"，butnosensetoit。Howcouldtheybuildarailroadthroughthetcountry？"
"Northitain"tsocutupan"lumpyashere，"putinHolley。
"GrandestideaeverthoughtoffortheWest，"avowedBostil。"Ifthetrailroadeverstartswe"llallgetrich。Goon，Brack。"
"ThenCordtssaidwateran"grasswaspeterin"outbackonthetrail，sameasRedWilsonsaidlastweek。Finallyheasked，"How"smyfriendBostil？"Itoldhimyouwaswell。Helookedkindofthoughtfulthen，an"Iknewwhatwascomin"。"How"stheKing？""Grand"Itoldhim——"grand。""Whenisthemracescomin"off？"Isaidwehadn"tplannedthetimeyet，butitwouldbesoon——insideofamonthortwo。"Brackton，"hesaid，sharp-like，"isBostilgoin"topullagunonmeatsight？""Reckonheis，"Itoldhim。"Wal，I"mnotpowerfulgladtoknowthet。IhearCreech"sbluehosswillracetheKingthistime。Howaboutit？""Surean"certainthisyear。I"veCreech"san"
Bostil"swordforthet。"Cordtsputhishandonmyshoulder。Yououghtto"veseenhiseyes!。"Iwanttoseethetrace。I"mgoin"to。""Wal，"I
said，"you"llhavetostopbein"——You"llneedtochangeyourbizness。"Then，Bostil，whatdoyouthink？Cordtswassortofeageran"wild。Hesaidthetwasaracehejestcouldn"tmiss。Hesworehewouldn"tturnatrickorletamanofhisgangstirahandtillafterthetrace，ifyou"dlethimcome。"
AlightflittedacrossBostil"sface。
"IknowhowCordtsfeels，"hesaid。
"Wal，it"saqueerdeal，"wentonBrackton。"Feralongtimeyou"vemeanttodrawonCordtswhenyoumeet。Weallknowthet。"
"Yes，I"llkillhim!"ThelightleftBostil"sface。Hisvoicesoundeddifferently。Hismouthopened，droopedstrangelyatthecorners，thenshutinagrim，tenseline。Bostilhadkilledmorethanoneman。Thememory，nodoubt，washauntingandghastly。
"Cordtsseemedtothinkhiswordwasguaranteeofhisgoodfaith。Hesaidhe"dsendanIndianinheretofindoutifhecancometotheraces。Ireckon，Bostil，thetitwouldn"thurtnonetolethimcome。An"holdyourgunhandferthetimeheswearshe"llbehonest。Queerdeal，ain"tit，men？Ahoss-thiefturnin"honestjesttoseearace!Beatsme!Bostil，it"sacheapwaytogetatleastalittlehonestyfromCordts。An"refusin"mightrilehimbad。Whenall"ssaidCordtsain"tasbadashecouldbe。"
"I"lllethimcome，"repliedBostil，breathingdeep。"Butit"llbehardtoseehim，rememberin"howhe"srobbedme，an"whathe"sthreatened。An"Iain"tlettin"himcometobribeafewweeks"decencyfromhim。I"mdoin"itforonlyonereason。BecauseIknowhowhelovestheKing——howhewantstoseetheKingrunawayfromthefieldthetday!Thet"swhy!"
Therewasamomentofsilence，duringwhichallturnedtoCreech。Hewasastalwartman，nolongeryoung，withalinedface，deep-set，troubledeyes，andwhite，thinbeard。
"Bostil，ifCordtslovestheKingthetwell，he"sinferheartbreak，"saidCreech，witharinginhisvoice。
DowncrashedBostil"sheavybootsandfireflamedinhisgaze。Theothermenlaughed，andBracktoninterposed:
"Holdon，youboyriders!"heyelled。"Weain"ta-goin"tohaveanyargumentslikethet。Now，Bostil，it"ssettled，then？You"llletCordtscome？"
"Gladtohavehim，"repliedBostil。
"Good。An"nowmebbewe"dbettergetdowntothebiznessofthisheremeetin"。"
Theyseatedthemselvesaroundthetable，uponwhichBostillaidanoldandmuch-soiledledgerandastubofalead-pencil。
"Firstwellsetthetime，"hesaid，withanimation，"an"thenpitchintodetails。What"sthedate？"
Nooneanswered，andpresentlytheyalllookedblanklyfromonetotheother。
"It"sApril，ain"tit？"queriedHolley。
Thatassurancewasascloseastheycouldgettothetimeofyear。
"Lucy!"calledBostil，inaloudvoice。
Shecamerunningin，anxious，almostalarmed。
"Goodness!youmadeusjump!Whatonearthisthematter？"
"Lucy，wewanttoknowthedate，"repliedBostil。
"Date!DidyouhavetoscareAuntieandmeoutofourwitsjustforthat？"
"Whoscaredyou？Thisisimportant，Lucy。What"sthedate？"
"It"saweekto-daysincelastTuesday，"answeredLucy，sweetly。
"Huh!Thenit"sTuesdayagain，"saidBostil，laboriouslywritingitdown。
"Now，what"sthedate？"
"Don"tyouremember？"
"Remember？Ineverknew。"
"Dad!LastTuesdaywasmybirthday——thedayyouDIDNOTgivemeahorse!"
"Aw，soitwas，"rejoinedBostil，confusedatherreproach。"An"thetdatewas——let"ssee——Aprilsixth。ThenthisisAprilthirteenth。Muchobliged，Lucy。Runbacktoyourauntnow。Thishosstalkwon"tinterestyou。"
Lucytossedherhead。"I"llbetI"llhavetostraightenoutthewholething。"
Thenwithalaughshedisappeared。
"Threedaysbeginnin——sayJunefirst。Junefirst——second，an"third。Howaboutthetfortheraces？"
Everybodyagreed，andBostillaboriouslywrotethatdown。Thentheyplannedthedetails。Pursesandprizes，largelydonatedbyBostilandMuncie，therichmembersofthecommunity，wererecorded。Theoldruleswereadheredto。AnyrideroranyIndiancouldenteranyhorseinanyrace，orasmanyhorsesashelikedinasmanyraces。Butbywinningoneraceheexcludedhimselffromtheothers。Bostilarguedforacertainweightinriders，buttheothersruledoutthissuggestion。SpecialraceswerearrangedfortheIndians，withsaddles，bridles，blankets，gunsasprizes。
AllthisappearedofabsorbinginteresttoBostil。Heperspiredfreely。Therewasagleaminhiseye，betrayingexcitement。Whenitcametoarrangingthedetailsofthebigracebetweenthehigh-classracers，thenhegrewintenseandhardertodealwith。Manypointshadtogobyvote。MuncieandWilliamsbothhadfleethorsestoenterinthisrace；Holleyhadone；Creechhadtwo；
thereweresuretobeseveralIndiansenterfastmustangs；andBostilhadtheKingandfourotherstochoosefrom。Bostilheldoutstubbornlyforalongrace。ItwaswellknownthatSageKingwasunbeatableinalongrace。Iftherewereanychancetobeathimitmustbeatshortdistance。ThevotewentagainstBostil，muchtohischagrin，andthegreatracewassetdownfortwomiles。
"Buttwomiles!Twomiles!"hekeptrepeating。"Thet"sBlueRoan"sdistance。Thet"shisdistance。An"itain"tfairtotheKing!"
Hisguests，exceptingCreech，arguedwithhim，explained，reasoned，showedhimthatitwasfairtoallconcerned。Bostilfinallyacquiesced，buthewasnothappy。Theplainfactwasthathewasfrightened。
WhenthemenweredepartingBostilcalledCreechbackintothesitting-room。
Creechappearedsurprised，yetitwasevidentthathewouldhavebeengladtomakefriendswithBostil。
"What"llyoutakefortheroan？"Bostilasked，tersely，"asifhehadneveraskedthatbefore。
"Bostil，didn"twethreshthetoutbefore——an"FELLoutoverit？"queriedCreech，withadeprecatingspreadofhishands。
"Wal，wecanfallinagain，ifyou"llsellortradethehoss。"
"I"msorry，butIcan"t。"
"Youneedmoneyan"hosses，don"tyou？"demandedBostil，brutally。Hehadnoconscienceinamatterofhorse-dealing。
"Lordknows，Ido，"repliedCreech。
"Wal，then，here"syourchance。I"llgiveyoufivehundredingoldan"
Sarchedontoboot。"
Creechlookedasifhehadnotheardaright。Bostilrepeatedtheoffer。
"No，"repliedCreech。
"I"llmakeitathousandan"throwPlumeinwithSarch，"flashedBostil。
"No!"Creechturnedpaleandswallowedhard。
"Twothousandan"DustyBenalongwiththeothers？"Thiswasanunheard-ofpricetopayforanyhorse。CreechsawthatBostilwasdesperate。Itwasanalmostoverpoweringtemptation。EvidentlyCreechresisteditonlybyapplyingallhismindtothethoughtofhisclean-limbed，soft-eyed，noblehorse。
BostildidnotgiveCreechtimetospeak。"Twenty-fivehundredan"TwoFacealongwiththerest!"
"MyGod，Bostil——stopit!Ican"tPARTwithBlueRoan。You"rerichan"you"venoheart。ThetIalwaysknew。Atleasttomeyouneverhad，sinceIownedthemtworacers。Didn"tIbegyou，alittletimeback，tolendmeafewhundred？Tomeetthetdebt？An"youwouldn"t，unlessI"dsellthehosses。An"Ihadtolosemysheep。NowI"mapoorman——gettin"poorerallthetime。ButIwon"tsellortradeBlueRoan，notforallyou"vegot!"
Creechseemedtogainstrengthwithhisspeechandpassionwiththestrength。
Hiseyesglintedatthehard，palingfaceofhisrival。Heraisedaclenchingfist。
"An"byG——d，I"mgoin"towinthetrace!"
DuringthatweekLucyhadheardmanythingsaboutJoelCreech，andsomeofthemweredisquieting。
SomeriderhadnotonlyfoundJoel"sclothesonthetrail，buthehadrecognizedthetrackofthehorseLucyrode，andatonceconnectedherwiththesingulardiscovery。CouplingthatwithJoel"sappearanceinthevillageincasedinaheavingarmorofadobe，theridersguessedprettyclosetothetruth。Forthemthejokewastremendous。AndJoelCreechwasexceedinglysensitivetoridicule。Theridersmadelifeunbearableforhim。TheyhadfunoutofitaslongasJoelshowedsignsoftakingthejokemanfully，whichwasnotlong，andthenhisresentmentwontheircontempt。Thatledtosarcasmontheirpartandbitterangeronhis。ItcametoLucy"searsthatJoelbegantoactandtalkstrangely。ShefoundoutthattheriderVanhadknockedJoeldowninBrackton"sstoreandhadkickedagunoutofhishand。VanlaughedofftherumorandBracktongavehernosatisfaction。Moreover，sheheardnootherrumors。Thechannelsofgossiphadsuddenlyclosedtoher。Bostil，whenquestionedbyLucy，sworeinawaythatamazedher，andallhetoldherwastoleaveCreechalone。Finally，whenMunciedischargedJoel，whoworkednowandthen，LucyrealizedthatsomethingwaswrongwithJoelandthatshewastoblameforit。
Shegrewworriedandanxiousandsorry，butsheheldherpeace，anddeterminedtofindoutforherselfwhatwaswrong。Everydaywhensherodeoutintothesagesheexpectedtomeethim，oratleastseehimsomewhere；neverthelessdayswentbyandtherewasnosignofhim。
OneafternoonshesawsomeIndiansdrivingsheepdowntheriverroadtowardtheford，and，actinguponimpulse，sheturnedherhorseafterthem。
Lucyseldomwentdowntheriverroad。Ridingdownandupwasmerelywork，andahorsehasaslittlelikingforitasshehad。Usuallyitwasahot，dustytrip，andthegreat，dark，overhangingwallshadadepressingeffect，uponher。Shealwaysfeltaweatthegloomycanyonandfearatthestrange，murmuringredriver。ButshestarteddownthisafternooninthehopeofmeetingJoel。Shehadahazyideaoftellinghimshewassorryforwhatshehaddone，andofaskinghimtoforgetitandpaynomoreheedtotheriders。
Thesheepraisedadust-cloudinthesandywashwheretheroadwounddown，andLucyhungbacktoletthemgetfartherahead。Graduallythetinyroarofpatteringhoofsandtheblendedbleatingandbaaingdiedaway。Thedust-cloud，however，hungovertheheadoftheravine，andLucyhadtoforceSarchedonthroughit。Sarchedondidnotmindsandanddust，buthesurelyhatedthesmellofsheep。LucyseldomputaspurtoSarchedon；still，shegavehimalashwithherquirt，andthenhewentonobediently，ifdisgustedly。Hecarriedhisheadlikeahorsethatwonderedwhyhismistresspreferredtodrivehimdownintoanunpleasantholewhenshemighthavebeencuttingthesweet，coolsagewindupontheslope。
Thewash，withitssandandclaywalls，droppedintoagulch，andtherewasanendofgreengrowths。Theroadleddownoversolidrock。Graduallytherimsofthegorgerose，shuttingoutthelightandthecliffs。Itwasawindingroadandonenotsafetotarryoninastormyseason。Lucyhadseenbouldersweighingatongoboomingdownthatgorgeduringoneofthesuddenfiercedesertstorms，whenatorrentofwaterandmudandstonewentplungingontotheriver。Theridethroughherewasshort，thoughslow。Lucyalwayshadtimetoadjustherfacultiesfortheoverpoweringcontrasttheselowerregionspresented。Longbeforeshereachedtheendofthegorgesheheardthesullenthunderoftheriver。Theriverwaslow，too，forotherwisetherewouldhavebeenadeafeningroar。
Presentlyshecameoutuponalowerbranchofthecanyon，intoagreatred-walledspace，withtheriverstillathousandfeetbelow，andthecliffstoweringashighaboveher。Theroadleddownalongthisrimwheretotheleftallwasopen，acrosstothesplitandpeakedwallopposite。Theriverappearedtosweeproundabold，bulgingcomeramileabove。Itwasawide，swift，muddy，turbulentstream。Agreatbarofsandstretchedoutfromtheshore。
Beyondit，throughthemouthofanintersectingcanyon，couldbeseenaclumpofcottonwoodsandwillowsthatmarkedthehomeoftheCreeches。Lucycouldnotseetheshorenearesther，asitwasalmostdirectlyunderher。Besides，inthisnarrowroad，onaspiritedhorse，shewasnotinclinedtowatchthescenery。ShehurriedSarchedondownanddown，undertheoverhangingbrowsofrock，towheretherimslopedoutandfailed。Herewasahalf-acreofsand，withafewscantwillows，setdownseeminglyinadentatthebaseofthegiant，beetlingcliffs。Theplacewaslight，thoughthelightseemedakindofveiledred，andtoLucyalwaysghastly。Shecouldnothavebeenjoyouswiththatrivermoaningbeforeher，evenifithadbeenuponalevel，intheclearandopenday。Asalittlegirleightyearsoldshehadconceivedaterrorandhatredofthishuge，jaggedrentsofullofredhazeandpurplesmokeandthethunderofrushingwaters。Andshehadneverwhollyoutgrownit。Thejoyofthesunandwind，theraptureintheboundlessopen，thesweetnessinthesage——thesewerenotpossiblehere。Somethingmightyandponderous，heavyasthosecolossalcliffs，weighteddownherspirit。Thevoiceoftheriverdroveoutanydream。Herewastheincessantfrowningpresenceofdestructiveforcesofnature。Andthefordwasassociatedwithcatastrophe——tosheep，tohorsesandtomen。
LucyrodeacrossthebartotheshorewheretheIndianswereloadingthesheepintoanimmenserudeflatboat。Asthesheepwerefrightened，theloadingwasnoeasytask。Theirbleatingcouldbeheardabovetheroaroftheriver。
Bostil"sboatmen，ShugrueandSomers，stoodknee-deepinthequicksandofthebar，andtheireffortstokeepfree-footedwereasstrenuousastheirhandlingofthesheep。Presentlytheflockwasallcrowdedonboard，theIndiansfollowed，andthentheboatmenslidtheunwieldycraftoffthesand-bar。Then，eachmanningaclumsyoar，theypulledup-stream。Alongshorewerewhirling，sloweddies，andthererowingwaspossible。Outinthatswiftcurrentitwouldhavebeenfollytotrytocontendwithit，letalonemakeprogress。Themethodofcrossingwastorowupalongtheshoreasfarasagreatcapeofrockjuttingout，andtheremakeintothecurrent，andwhiledriftingdownpullhardtoreachthelandingopposite。Heavilyladenastheboatwas，thechanceswerenotwhollyinfavorofasuccessfulcrossing。
Lucywatchedtheslow，laboriousstruggleoftheboatmenwiththeheavyoarsuntilshesuddenlyrememberedtheobjectofhervisitdowntotheford。Sheappearedtobealoneonhersideoftheriver。Atthelandingopposite，however，weretwomen；andpresentlyLucyrecognizedJoelCreelandhisfather。AsecondglanceshowedIndianswithburros，evidentlywaitingfortheboat。JoelCreechjumpedintoaskiffandshovedoff。Theelderman，judgingbyhismotions，seemedtobetryingtopreventhissonfromleavingtheshore。
ButJoelbegantorowup-stream，keepingclosetotheshore。Lucywatchedhim。
Nodoubthehadseenherandwascomingacross。Eithertheprospectofmeetinghimortheideaofmeetinghimthereintheplacewhereshewasneverherselfmadeherwanttoturnatonceandridebackhome。Butherstubbornsenseoffairnessoverruledthat。ShewouldholdhergroundsolelyinthehopeofpersuadingJoeltobereasonable。ShesawthebigflatboatsweepintolineofsightatthesametimeJoelturnedintothecurrent。Butwhilethelargercraftdriftedslowlytheotherway，thesmalleronecameswiftlydownandacross。Joelsweptoutofthecurrentintotheeddy，rowedacrossthat，andslidtheskiffuponthesand-bar。Thenhesteppedout。Hewasbareheadedandbarefooted，butitwasnotthatwhichmadehimseemastrangertoLucy。
"Areyoulookin"ferme？"heshouted。
Lucywavedahandforhimtocomeup。
Thenheapproached。Hewasatall，leanyoungman，stoop-shoulderedandbow-leggedfrommuchriding，withsallow，freckledface，athinfuzzofbeard，weakmouthandchin，andeyesremarkablefortheirsmallsizeandpiercingqualityanddifferentcolor。Foronewasgrayandtheotherwashazel。Therewasnoscaronhisface，buttheirregularityofhisfeaturesremindedonewhoknewthathehadoncebeenkickedinthefacebyahorse。
Creechcameuphurriedly，inaneager，wildwaythatmadeLucysuddenlypityhim。Hedidnotseemtorememberthatthestallionhadanantipathyforhim。
ButLucy，ifshehadforgotten，wouldhavebeenremindedbySarchedon"saction。
"Lookout，Joel!"shecalled，andshegavetheblack"sheadajerk。Sarchedonwentupwithasnortandcamedownpoundingthesand。QuickasanIndianLucywasoutofthesaddle。
"Lemmeyourquirt，"saidJoel，showinghisteethlikeawolf。
"No。Iwouldn"tletyouhitSarch。Youbeathimonce，andhe"sneverforgotten，"repliedLucy。
Theeyeofthehorseandthemanmetandclashed，andtherewasahostiletensionintheirattitudes。ThenLucydroppedthebridleanddrewJoelovertoahugedrift-log，halfburiedinthesand。Hereshesatdown，butJoelremainedstanding。Hisgazewasnowallthestrangerforitswistfulness。Lucywasquicktocatchasubtledifferenceinhim，butshecouldnottellwhereinitlay。
"What"dyouwant？"askedJoel。
"I"veheardalotofthings，Joel，"repliedLucy，tryingtothinkofjustwhatshewantedtosay。
"Reckonyouhave，"saidJoel，dejectedly，andthenhesatdownontheloganddugholesinthesandwithhisbarefeet。
Lucyhadneverbeforeseenhimlooktired，anditseemedthatsomeofthehealthybrownofhischeekshadthinnedout。ThenLucytoldhim，guardedly，afewoftherumorsshehadheard。
"Allthetyousayisnothin"towhat"shappened，"hereplied，bitterly。"Themridersmockedthelifean"souloutofme。"
"But，Joel，youshouldn"tbeso——sotouchy，"saidLucy，earnestly。"Afterall，thejokeWASonyou。Whydidn"tyoutakeitlikeaman？"
"Buttheyknewyoustolemyclothes，"heprotested。
"Supposethey，did。Thatwasn"tmuchtocareabout。Ifyouhadn"ttakenitsohardthey"dhaveletuponyou。"
"MebbeImighthavestoodthat。Buttheytauntedmewithbein"——loonyaboutyou。"
Joelspokehuskily。Therewasnodoubtthathehadbeendeeplyhurt。Lucysawtearsinhiseyes，andherfirstimpulsewastoputahandonhisandtellhimhowsorryshewas。Butshedesisted。ShedidnotfeelathereasewithJoel。
"What"dyouandVanfightabout？"sheasked，presently。Joelhunghishead。"I
reckonIain"ta-goin"totellyou。"
"You"reashamedofit？"
Joel"ssilenceansweredthat。
"Yousaidsomethingaboutme？"Lucycouldnotresisthercuriosity，backofwhichwasalittleheat。"Itmusthavebeen——bad——elseVanwouldn"thavestruckyou。"
"Hehitme——heknockedmeflat，"passionatelysaidJoel。
"Andyoudrewagunonhim？"
"Idid，an"likeafoolIdidn"twaittillIgotup。Thenhekickedme!
Bostil"sFordwillneverbebigenoughfermean"Vannow。"
"Don"ttalkfoolish。Youwon"tfightwithVan。Joel，maybeyoudeservedwhatyougot。Yousaysome——somerudethings。"
"IonlysaidI"dpayyouback，"burstoutJoel。
"How？"
"IsworeI"dlayferyou——an"stealyourclothes——soyou"dhavetorunhomenaked。"
TherewasindeedsomethinglackinginJoel，butitwasnotsincerity。Hishurthadrankleddeepandhisvoicetrembledwithindignation。
"But，Joel，Idon"tgoswimminginspring-holes，"protestedLucy，dividedbetweenamusementandannoyance。
"Imeantit，anyhow，"saidJoel，doggedly。
"Areyouabsolutelyhonest？IsthatallyousaidtoprovokeVan？"
"It"sall，Lucy，Iswear。"
Shebelievedhim，andsawtheunfortunatecircumstancemorethaneverherfault。"I"msorry，Joel。I"mmuchtoblame。Ishouldn"thavelostmytemperandplayedthattrickwithyourclothes。Ifyou"donlyhadsenseenoughtostayouttillafterdark!Butnousecryingoverspiltmilk。Now，ifyou"lldoyourshareI"lldomine。I"lltelltheboysIwastoblame。I"llpersuadethemtoletyoualone。I"llgotoMuncie——"
"Noyouwon"tgocryin"smallferme!"blurtedoutJoel。
Lucywassurprisedtoseeprideinhim。"Joel，I"llnotmakeitappear——"
"You"llnotsayonewordaboutmetoanyone，"hewenton，withthebloodbeginningtodarkenhisface。Andnowhefacedher。Howstrangetheblazeinhisdifferentlycoloredeyes!"LucyBostil，there"sbeenthetdonean"saidtomewhichI"llneverforgive。I"mnogoodinBostil"sFord。MebbeIneverwasmuch。ButIcouldgetajobwhenIwanteditan"creditwhenIneededit。NowIcan"tgetnothin"。I"mnogood!I"mnogood!An"it"syourfault!"
"Oh，Joel，whatcanIdo？"criedLucy。
"Ireckonthere"sonlyonewayyoucansquareme，"hereplied，suddenlygrowingpale。Buthiseyeswerelikeflint。Hecertainlylookedtobeinpossessionofallhiswits。
"How？"queriedLucy，sharply。
"Youcanmarryme。Thet"llshowthetgang!An"it"llsquareme。ThenI"llgobacktoworkan"I"llstick。Thet"sall，LucyBostil。"
Manifestlyhewaslaboringunderstrongsuppressedagitation。ThatmomentwasthelastofrealstrengthanddignityevershownbyJoelCreech。
"But，Joel，Ican"tmarryyou——evenifIamtoblameforyourruin，"saidLucy，simply。
"Why？"
"BecauseIdon"tloveyou。"
"Ireckonthetwon"tmakeanydifference，ifyoudon"tlovesomeoneelse。"
Lucygazedblanklyathim。Hebegantoshake，andhiseyesgrewwild。Sherosefromthelog。
"Doyouloveanybodyelse？"heasked，passionately。
"Noneofyourbusiness!"retortedLucy。Then，atastrangedarkeningofhisface，anaspectunfamiliartoher，shegrewsuddenlyfrightened。
"It"sVan!"hesaid，thickly。
"Joel，you"reafool!"
Thatonlyinfuriatedhim。
"Sotheyallsay。An"theygotmyoldmanbelievin"it，too。MebbeIam。
ButI"ma-goin"tokillVan!"
"No!No!Joel，whatareyousaying？Idon"tloveVan。Idon"tcareanymoreforhimthanforanyotherrider——or——oryou。"
"Thet"salie，LucyBostil!"
"HowdareyousayIlie？"demandedLucy。"I"veamindtoturnmybackonyou。
I"mtryingtomakeupformyblunderandyou——youinsultme!"
"Youtalksweetbuttalkisn"tenough。Youmademeno-goodWillyoumarryme？"
"Iwillnot!"AndLucy，withherbloodup，couldnotkeepcontemptoutofvoiceandlook，andshedidnotcare。Thatwasthefirsttimeshehadevershownanything，approachingridiculeforJoel。Theeffectwasremarkable。Likealashuponarawwounditmadehimwrithe；butmoresignificanttoLucywasthesuddenconvulsiveworkingofhisfeaturesandthewildnessofhiseyes。
Thensheturnedherback，notfromcontempt，buttohurryawayfromhim。
Heleapedafterherandgraspedherwithrudehands。
"Letmego!"criedLucy，standingperfectlymotionless。Thehardclutchofhisfingersrousedafierce，hotanger。
Joeldidnotheedhercommand。Hewasforcingherback。Hetalkedincoherently。OneglimpseofhisfaceaddedterrortoLucy"sfury。
"Joel，you"reoutofyourhead!"shecried，andshebegantowrenchandwritheoutofhisgrasp。Thenensuedashort，sharpstruggle。JoelcouldnotholdLucy，buthetoreherblouseintoshreds。ItseemedtoLucythathedidthatsavagely。Shebrokefreefromhim，andhelungedatheragain。Withallherstrengthshelashedhisfacewiththeheavyleatherquirt。Thatstaggeredhim。
Healmostfell。
LucyboundedtoSarchedon。Inarushshewasupinthesaddle。Joelwasrunningtowardher。Bloodonhisface!Bloodonhishands!HewasnottheJoelCreechsheknew。
"Stop!"criedLucy，fiercely。"I"llrunyoudown!"
Thebigblackplungedatatouchofspurandcamedownquivering，readytobolt。
Creechswervedtooneside。Hisfacewaslividlywhiteexceptwherethebloodyweltscrossedit。Hisjawseemedtohangloosely，makingspeechdifficult。
"Jestfer——thet——"hepanted，hoarsely，"I"lllayferyou——an"I"llstripyou——an"I"lltieyouonahoss——an"I"lldriveyounakedthroughBostil"sFord!"
Lucysawtheutterfutilityofallhergoodintentions。SomethinghadsnappedinJoelCreech"smind。Andinherskindnesshadgivenprecedencetoafuryshedidnotknowwasinher。ForthesecondtimeshetouchedaspurtoSarchedon。
Heleapedout，flashedpastCreech，andthundereduptheroad。ItwasallLucycoulddotobreakhisgaitatthefirststeeprise。