第10章
ThatpraisewonSlone，andheengagedinconversationwiththeman，whosaidhisnamewasVorhees。ItdevelopedsoonthatVorheesownedalittlehouse，acorral，andapatchofgroundonalikelysiteupunderthebluff，andhewasanxioustosellcheapbecausehehadafineopportunityatDurango，wherehispeoplelived。WhatinterestedSlonemostwastheman"sremarkthathehadacorralwhichcouldnotbebrokeninto。Thepriceheaskedwasridiculouslylowifthepropertywasworthanything。AnideaflashedacrossSlone"smind。HewentuptoVorhees"splaceandwasmuchpleasedwitheverything，especiallythecorral，whichhadbeenbuiltbyamanwhofearedhorse-thievesasmuchasBostil。Theviewfromthedoorofthelittlecabinwasmagnificentbeyondcompare。SlonerememberedLucy"slastwords。Theyranglikebellsinhisears。
"Don"tgo——don"t!"TheywereenoughtochainhimtoBostil"sForduntilthecrackofdoom。Hedarednotdreamofwhattheymeant。Heonlylistenedtotheirmusicastheypealedoverandoverinhisears。
"Vorhees，areyouserious？"heasked。"Themoneyyouaskislittleenough。"
"It"senoughan"tospare，"repliedtheman。"An"I"dtakeitasafavorofyou。"
"Well，I"llgoyou，"saidSlone，andhelaughedalittleirrationally。"Onlyyouneedn"ttellrightawaythatIboughtyouout。"
Thedealwasconsummated，leavingSlonestillwithhalfofthemoneythathadbeenhisprizeintherace。Hefeltelated。Hewasrich。Heownedtwohorses——onethegrandestinalltheuplands，theotherthefaithfulest——andheownedaneatlittlecabinwhereitwasajoytositandlookout，andacorralwhichwouldlethimsleepatnight，andhehadmoneytoputintosuppliesandfurnishings，andagarden。Afterhedrankoutofthespringthatbubbledfromunderthebluffhetoldhimselfitalonewasworththemoney。
"LooksrightdownonBostil"splace，"Slonesoliloquized，withglee。"Won"thejustbemad!An"Lucy!Whatever"sshegoin"tothink？"
ThemoreSlonelookedaroundandthought，themorehebecameconvincedthatgoodfortunehadknockedathisdooratlast。AndwhenhereturnedtoBrackton"shewasinanexultantmood。Theoldstorekeepergavehimanudgeandpointedunderhandtoayoungmanofraggedaspectsittinggloomilyonabox。SlonerecognizedJoelCreech。Thefellowsurelymadeapatheticsight，andSlonepitiedhim。Helookedneedyandhungry。
"Say，"saidSlone，impulsively，"wanttohelpmecarrysomegruban"stuff？"
"Howdy!"repliedCreech，raisinghishead。"Suredo。"
Slonesustainedthequeerestshockofhislifewhenhemetthegazeofthosecontrastingeyes。Yethedidnotbelievethathisstrangefeelingcamefromsightofdifferent-coloredeyes。Therewasaninstinctorportentinthatmeeting。
HepurchasedabillofgoodsfromBrackton，and，withCreechhelping，carriedituptothecabinunderthebluff。Threetripswereneededtopackupallthesupplies，andmeanwhileCreechhadbutfewwordstosay，andtheseofnomoment。Sloneofferedhimmoney，whichherefused。
"I"llhelpyoufixup，an"eatabite，"hesaid。"Niceuphyar。"
Heseemedrationalenoughandcertainlyrespondedtokindness。SlonefoundthatVorheeshadleftthecabinsocleantherewaslittlecleaningtodo。Anopenfireplaceofstonerequiredsomerepairandtherewaswoodtocut。
"Joel，youstartafirewhileIgodownaftermyhorses，"saidSlone。
YoungCreechnoddedandSlonelefthimthere。ItwasnoteasytocatchWildfire，noranyeasiertogethimintothenewcorral；butatlastSlonesawhimsafelythere。Andthebarsandlocksonthegatemighthavedefiedanyefforttoopenorbreakthemquickly。Creechwasstandinginthedoorway，watchingthehorses，andsomehowSlonesaw，orimaginedhesaw，thatCreechworeadifferentaspect。
"Grandwildhoss!HedidwhatBluewasa-goin"todo——beatthetthered——dBostil"sKing!"
Creechwaggedhishead。Hewasgloomyandstrange。Hiseyeswereunpleasanttolookinto。Hisfacechanged。Andhemumbled。Slonepitiedhimthemore，butwishedtoseethelastofhim。Creechstayedon，however，andgrewstrangerandmoretalkativeduringthemeal。Herepeatedthingsoften——talkeddisconnectedly，andgaveotherindicationsthathewasnotwhollyrightinhismind。YetSlonesuspectedthatCreech"swantofbalanceconsistedonlyinwhatconcernedhorsesandtheBostils。AndSlone，wantingtolearnallhecould，encouragedCreechtotalkabouthisfatherandtheracersandtheriverandboat，andfinallyBostil。
Slonebecameconvincedthat，whetheryoungCreechwashalfcrazyornot，heknewhisfather"shorsesweredoomed，andthattheboatattheferryhadbeencutadrift。Slonecouldnotunderstandwhyhewasconvinced，buthewas。
FinallyCreechtoldhowhehadgonedowntotheriveronlyadaybefore；howhehadfoundthefloodstillraging，butmuchlower；howhehadworkedroundthecliffsandhadpulleduptheropecablestofindtheyhadbeencut。
"Yousee，Bostilcutthemwhenhedidn"tneedto，"continuedCreech，shrewdly。
"Buthedidn"tknowthefloodwascomin"downsoquick。Hewasafearedwe"dcomeacrossan"gittheboatthetnight。An"hemeanttotakeawaythemcutcables。Buthehadn"tnotime。"
"Bostil？"queriedSlone，ashegazedhardatCreech。Thefellowhadtoldthatrationallyenough。SlonewonderedifBostilcouldhavebeensobase。No!andyet——whenitcametohorsesBostilwasscarcelyhuman。
Slone"squeryservedtosendCreechoffonanothertangentwhichwoundupindark，mysteriousthreats。ThenSlonecaughtthenameofLucy。ItabruptlykilledhissympathyforCreech。
"What"sthegirlgottodowithit？"hedemanded，angrily。"Ifyouwanttotalktomedon"tusehername。"
"I"llusehernamewhenIwant，"shoutedCreech。
"Nottome!"
"Yes，toyou，mister。Iain"tcarin"ad——nferyou!"
"Youcrazyloon!"exclaimedSlone，withimpatienceanddisgustaddedtoanger。
"What"stheuseofbeingdecenttoyou？"
Creechcrouchedlow，hishandsdigginglikeclawsintothetable，asifheweremakingreadytospring。Atthatinstanthewashideous。
"Crazy，amI？"heyelled。"Mebbenotd——ncrazy!Ikintellyou"regoneonLucyBostil!Iseenyouwithheroutthereintherocksthemornin"oftherace。Iseenwhatyoudidtoher。An"I"ma-goin"totellit!An"I"ma-goin"toketchLucyBostilan"striphernaked，an"whenIgitthroughwithherI"lltieheronahossan"firethegrass!ByGawd!Iam!"Lividandwild，hebreathedhardashegotup，facingSlonemalignantly。
"Crazyornot，heregoes!"mutteredSlone，grimly；and，leapingup，withoneblowheknockedCreechhalfoutofthedoor，andthenkickedhimtherestoftheway。"Goonandhaveafit!"criedSlone。"I"mliabletokillyouifyoudon"thaveone!"
Creechgotupandrandownthepath，turningtwiceontheway。Thenhedisappearedamongthetrees。
Slonesatdown。"Lostmytemperagain!"hesaid。"Thishasbeenaday。GuessI"dbettercooloffrightnowan"stayhere。Thatpoordevil!Maybehe"snotsocrazy。Buthe"swilderthananIndian。ImustwarnLucy。Lord!I
wonderifBostilcouldhaveheldbackrepairin"thatboat，an"thencutitloose？Iwonder？YesterdayI"dhaveswornnever。To-day——"
Slonedrovetheconclusionofthatthoughtoutofhisconsciousnessbeforehewhollyadmittedit。Thenhesettoworkcuttingthelonggrassfromthewetandshadynooksunderthebluffwherethespringmadethegroundrich。Hecarriedanarmfuldowntothecorral。Naggerwasroamingaroundoutside，pickinggrassforhimself。WildfiresnortedasalwayswhenhesawSlone，andSloneasalways，whentimepermitted，triedtocoaxthestalliontohim。Hehadneversucceeded，nordidhethistime。WhenheleftthebundleofgrassonthegroundandwentoutsideWildfirereadilycameforit。
"You"rethattame，anyhow，youhungryreddevil，"saidSlone，jealously。
WildfirewouldtakeabunchofgrassfromLucyBostil"shand。Slone"sfeelingshadundergonesomereaction，thoughhestilllovedthehorse。Butitwaslovemixedwithbitterness。MorethaneverhemadeuphismindthatLucyshouldhaveWildfire。Thenhewalkedaroundhisplace，planningtheworkhemeanttostartatonce。
SeveraldaysslippedbywithSlonescarcelyrealizinghowtheyflew。
Unaccustomedlabortiredhimsothathewenttobedearlyandsleptlikealog。Ifithadnotbeenfortheever-presentworryandsuspenseandlonging，inregardtoLucy，hewouldhavebeenhappierthaneverhecouldremember。
Almostatoncehehadbecomeattachedtohislittlehome，andthemorehelaboredtomakeitproductiveandcomfortablethestrongergrewhisattachment。Practicaltoilwasnotconducivetodaydreaming，soSlonefeltalossofsomethingvagueandsweet。ManytimeshecaughthimselfwatchingwitheagereyesforaglimpseofLucyBostildownthereamongthecottonwoods。
Still，heneversawher，and，infact，hesawsofewvillagersthattheplacebegantohavealonelinesswhichendearedittohimthemore。ThentheviewdownthegrayvalleytothepurplemonumentswasalwaysthrillinglymemorabletoSlone。ItwasoutthereLucyhadsavedhishorseandhislife。Hiskeendesertgazecouldmakeoutevenatthatdistancethegreat，darkmonument，gold-crowned，intheshadowofwhichhehadheardLucyspeakwordsthathadtransformedlifeforhim。Hewouldrideouttheresomeday。Thespellofthoseloominggrandshaftsofcoloredrockwasstillstronguponhim。
OnemorningSlonehadavisitor——oldBrackton。Slone"scordialitydiedonhislipsbeforeitwashalfuttered。Brackton"sformerfriendlinesswasnotinevidenceindeed，helookedatSlonewithcuriosityanddisfavor"Howdy，Slone!Ijestwantedtoseewhatyouwasdoin"uphyar，"hesaid。
Slonespreadhishandsandexplainedinfewwords。
"Soyoutookovertheplace，hey？Weallfiggeredthet。ButVorheeswasmum。
Factis，hewassuremysterious。"BracktonsatdownandeyedSlonewithinterest。"Folksaretalkin"alotaboutyou，"hesaid，bluntly。
"Isthatso？"
"You"peartobeaprettymysteriouskindofafeller，Slone。Ikindoftookashinetoyouatfirst，an"thet"swhyIcomeuphyartotellyouit"dbewiseferyoutovamoose。"
"What!"exclaimedSlone。
Bracktonrepeatedsubstantiallywhathehadsaid，then，pausinganinstant，continued:"I"venocalltogiveyouahunch，butI"lldoitjestbecauseI
didlikeyoufustoff。"
Theoldmanseemedfussyandnervousandpatronizinganddisparagingallatonce。
"What"dyoubeatupthetpoorJoelCreechfer？"demandedBrackton。
"Hegotwhathedeserved，"repliedSlone，andthememory，comingontheheadofthisstrangeattitudeofBrackton"s，rousedSlone"stemper。
"Wal，Joeltellssomequeerthingsaboutyou——ferinstance，howyoutookadvantageoflittleLucyBostil，grabbin"heran"maulin"herthewayJoelseenyou。"
"D——ntheloon!"mutteredSlone，risingtopacethepath。
"Wal，Joel"sabitoff，buthe"snotloonyallthetime。He"sseenyouan"
he"stellin"it。WhenBostilhearsityou"dbetterbeacrostthecanyon!"
Slonefeltthehot，sickrushofbloodtohisface，andhumiliationandrageovertookhim。
"Joel"sdownatmyhouse。Hehadfitsafteryoubeathim，an"he"ain"tgotoverthemyet。Buthecouldblabtotheriders。VanSickle"slookin"feryou。
An"to-daywhenIwasalonewithJoelhetoldmesomemorequeerthingsaboutyou。Ishuthimupquick。ButIain"tguaranteein"Icankeephimshutup。"
"I"llbetyouIshuthimup，"declaredSlone。"Whatmoredidthefoolsay？"
"Slone，hevyoubeenroundthesehyarparts——downamongthemonuments——feranyconsiderabletime？"queriedBrackton。
"Yes，Ihave——severalweeksoutthere，an"abouttendaysorsoaroundtheFord。"
"Wherewasyouthenightoftheflood？"
Theshrewdscrutinyoftheoldman，thesuspicion，angeredSlone。
"Ifit"sanyofyourmix，Iwasoutontheslopeamongtherocks。Iheardthatfloodcomin"downlongbeforeitgothere，"repliedSlone，deliberately。
Bracktonavertedhisgaze，andabruptlyroseasiftheoccasionwasended。
"Wal，takemyhunchan"leave!"hesaid，turningaway。
"Brackton，ifyoumeanwell，I"mmuchobliged，"returnedSlone，slowly，ponderingly。"ButI"llnottakethehunch。"
"Suityourself，"addedBrackton，coldly，andhewentaway。
Slonewatchedhimgodownthepathanddisappearinthelaneofcottonwoods。
"I"llbedarned!"mutteredSlone。"Funnyoldman。MaybeCreech"snottheonlyloonyonehereabouts。"
Slonetriedtolaughofftheeffectoftheinterview，butitpersistedandworriedhimallday。Aftersupperhedecidedtowalkdownintothevillage，andwouldhavedonesobutforthefactthathesawamanclimbinghispath。
WhenherecognizedtheriderHolleyhesensedtrouble，andstraightwayhebecamegloomy。Bostil"sright-handmancouldnotcallonhimforanyfriendlyreason。Holleycameupslowly，awkwardly，afterthemannerofariderunusedtowalking。Slonehadbuiltalittleporchonthefrontofhiscabinandabench，whichhehadcoveredwithgoatskins。ItstruckhimalittlestrangelythatheshouldbendovertorearrangetheseskinsjustasHolleyapproachedtheporch。
"Howdy，son!"wastherider"sdrawledremark。"Suremakes——me——pufftoclimb——upthismountain。"
Sloneturnedinstantly，surprisedatthefriendlytone，doubtinghisownears，andwantingtoverifythem。HewasthemoresurprisedtoseeHolleyunmistakablyamiable。
"Hello，Holley!Howareyou？"hereplied。"Haveaseat。"
"Wal，I"mrightspryferanoldbird。ButIcan"tclimbwuthad——n
Say，thisherebeatsBostil"sview。"
"Yes，it"sfine，"repliedSlone，ratherawkwardly，ashesatdownontheporchstep。WhatcouldHolleywantwithhim？Thisoldriderwasabovecuriosityorgossip。
"Slone，youain"tholdin"itag"inme——thetItriedtoshutyouuptheotherday？"hedrawled，withdryfrankness"Why，no，Holley，I"mnot。Isawyourpoint。Youwereright。ButBostilmadememad。"
"Sure!He"dmakeanybodymad。I"veseenridersbitethemselves，theywassomadatBostil。Youcalledhim，an"yousuretickledalltheboys。Butyouhurtyourself，ferBostilownsan"runsthishereFord。"
"SoI"vediscovered，"repliedSlone。
"Yougotyourselfinbadrightoff，ferBostilhasturnedtheridersag"inyou，an"thisherepunchin"ofCreechhasturnedthevillagefolksag"inyou。
What"dpitchintohimfer？"
Slonecaughtthekindlyinterestandintentoftherider，anditwarmedhimasBrackton"sdisapprovalhadalienatedhim。
"Wal，IreckonI"dbettertellyou，"drawledHolley，asSlonehesitated，"thetLucywantstoknowIFyoubeatupJoelan"WHYyoudid。"
"Holley!Didsheaskyoutofindout？"
"Shesuredid。Thegirl"sworriedthesedays，Slone。Yousee，youhaven"tbeenaround，an"youdon"tknowwhat"scomin"off。"
"Bracktonwashereto-dayan"hetoldmeagooddeal。I"mworried，too，"saidSlone，dejectedly。
"Thethossofyours，Wildfire，he"senoughtomakeyouhatedinBostil"scamp，evenifyouhadn"tmadeafoolofyourself，whichyousurehave。"
Slonedroppedhisheadasadmission。
"WhatCreechswearsheseenyoudotoMissLucy，outthereamongtherocks，whereyouwashidwithWildfire——isthereanytruthinthet？"askedHolley，earnestly。"Tellme，Slone。Folksbelieveit。An"it"shurtyouattheFord。
Bostilhasn"theardityet，an"Lucyshedoesn"tknow。ButI"mfiggerin"thetyoupunchedJoelbecausehethroweditinyourface。"
"Hedid，an"Ilambastedhim，"repliedSlone，withforce。
"Youdidright。ButwhatIwanttoknow，isittruewhatJoelseen？"
"It"strue，Holley。ButwhatIdidisn"tsobad——sobadashe"dmakeitlook。"
"Wal，Iknowedthet。IknowedferalongtimehowLucycaresferyou，"
returnedtheoldrider，kindly。
Sloneraisedhisheadswiftly，incredulously。"Holley!Youcan"tbeserious。"
"Wal，Iam。I"vebeensortofabigbrothertoLucyBostilforeighteenyears。
Icarriedherintheseherehandswhensheweighednomore"nmyspurs。I
taughtherhowtoride——whatsheknowsabouthosses。An"sheknowsmore"nherdad。Itaughthertoshoot。Iknowherbetter"nanybody。An"latelyshe"sbeendifferent，She"sworriedan"unhappy。"
"ButHolley，allthat——itdoesn"tseem——"
"Ireckonnot，"wentonHolley，asSlonehalted。"Ithinkshecaresferyou。
An"I"myourfriend，Slone。You"regoin"tobuckupag"insomehellroundheresoonerorlater。An"you"llneedafriend。"
"Thanks——Holley，"repliedSlone，unsteadily。Hethrilledundertheirongraspoftherider"shardhand。
"You"vegotanotherfriendyoucangambleon，"saidHolley，significantly。
"Another!Who？"
"LucyBostil。An"don"tyoufergitthet。I"llbetshe"llraisemoretroublethanBostilwhenshehearswhatJoelCreechistellin"。Fershe"sboundtohearit。VanSickleswearshe"sa-goin"totellheran"thenbeatyouupwithaquirt。"
"Heis，ishe？"snappedSlone，darkly。
"I"veahunchLucy"sguessedwhyyoupunchedJoel。Butshewantstoknowfersure。Now，Slone，I"lltellherwhy。"
"Oh，don"t!"saidSlone，involuntarily。
"Wal，it"llbebettercomin"fromyouan"me。Takemywordferthet。I"llprepareLucy。An"she"sasgoodascrapperasBostil，anyday。"
"Itallscaresme，"repliedSlone。Hedidfeelpanicky，andthatwasfromthoughtsofwhatshamemightbefallLucy。Thecoldsweatoozedoutofeverypore。WhatmightnotBostildo？"Holley，Ilovethegirl。SoI——Ididn"tinsulther。Bostilwillneverunderstand。An"what"shegoin"todowhenhefindsout？"
"Wal，let"shopeyouwon"tgitanywuss"nyougiveJoel。"
"LetBostilbeatme!"ejaculatedSlone。"IthinkI"mwillin——now——the——wayI
feel。ButI"veatemper，andBostilrubsmethewrongway。"
"Wallleaveyourgunhome，an"fightBostil。You"reprettyhusky。Surehe"lllickyou，butmebbeyoucouldgivetheoldcussablackeye。"Holleylaughedasiftheideagavehiminfinitepleasure。
"FightBostil？Lucywouldhateme!"criedSlone。
"Nix!Youdon"tknowthetkid。IftheoldmangoesafteryouLucy"llcaremoreferyou。She"sjestlikehiminsomeways。"Holleypulledoutastubbyblackpipeand，fillingandlightingit，heappearedtogrowmorethoughtful。"Itwasn"tonlyLucythetsentmeupheretoseeyou。Bostilhadbeenpesterin"meferdays。ButIkeptfightin"shyofittillLucygotholdofme。"
"Bostilsentyou？Why？"
"Reckonyoucanguess。Hecan"tsleep，thinkin"aboutyourredhoss。NoneofuseverseenBostilhavesichabadcase。HeraisedSageKing。Buthe"salwaysbeencrazyferagreatwildstallion。An"hereyoucomealong——an"yourhossjumpstheKing——an"there"stroublegenerally。"
"Holley，doyouthinkWildfirecanbeatSageKing？"askedSlone，eagerly。
"ReckonIdo。Lucysaysso，an"I"llbackheranyday。But，son，Iain"tparadin"whatIthink。I"dgitinbadmyself。Farlanean"theotherboys，they"rewithBostil。Vanhe"stoblameferthet。He"stakin"adisliketoyou，rightoff。An"whathetellsBostilan"theboysaboutthetracedon"tagreewithwhatLucytellsme。LucysaysWildfireranfieryan"crankyatthestart。
Hewantedtorunroundan"killtheKinginsteadofracin"。SohewasthreelengthsbehindwhenMacomberdroppedtheflag。LucysaystheKinggotintohisstride。Sheknows。An"thereWildfirecomesfrombehindan"climbsallovertheKing!Vantellsadifferentstory。"
"ItcameoffjustasLucytoldyou，"declaredSlone。"Isaweverymove。"
"Wal，thet"sneitherherenorthere。Whatyou"reupag"inisthis。Bostilissoresinceyoucalledhim。Butheholdshimselfinbecausehehasn"tgivenuphopeofgittin"Wildfire。An"，Slone，you"resurewise，ain"tyou，thetifBostildoesn"tbuyhimyoucan"tstayonhere？"
"I"mwise。ButIwon"tsellWildfire，"repliedSlone，doggedly。
"Wal，I"dneverwastedmybreathtellin"youallthisifIhadn"tfiggeredaboutLucy。You"vegothertothinkof。"
SloneturnedonHolleypassionately。"Youkeephintin"there"sahopeforme，whenIknowthere"snone!"
"You"reonlyaboy，"repliedHolley。"Son，wherethere"slifethere"shope。I
ain"ta-goin"totellyouaginthetIknowLucyBostil。"
Slonecouldnotstandnorwalknorkeepstill。Hewasshakingfromheadtofoot。
"Wildfire"snotminetosell。He"sLucy"s!"confessedSlone。
"Thedevilyousay!"ejaculatedHolley，andhenearlydroppedhispipe。
"IgaveWildfiretoher。Sheacceptedhim。ItwasDONE。Then——thenIlostmyheadan"madehermad。An"——shesaidshe"dridehimintherace，butwouldn"tkeephim。ButheIShers。"
"Oho!Isee。Slone，Iwasgoin"toadviseyoutosellWildfire——allonaccountofLucy。You"reyoungan"you"dhaveabigstartinlifeifyouwould。
ButLucy"syourgirlan"yougiveherthehoss。Thetsettlesthet!"
"IfIgoawayfromherean"leaveWildfireforLucy——doyouthinkshecouldkeephim？Wouldn"tBostiltakehimfromher？"
"Wal，son，ifhetriedthetonLucyshe"djumpWildfirean"hityourtrailan"
hangontoittillshefoundyou。"
"What"llyoutellBostil？"askedSlone，halfbesidehimself。
"I"mconsarnedifIknow，"repliedHolley。"MebbeI"llthinkofsomeidee。
I"llgobacknow。An"say，son，Ireckonyou"dbetterhangclosetohome。IfyoumeetBostildowninthevillageyoutwo"dclashsure。I"llcomeupsoon，butit"llbeafterdark。"
"Holley，allthisis——isgoodofyou，"saidSlone。"I——I"ll——"
"Shutup，son，"interruptedtherider，dryly。"Thet"syouronlyweakness，sofarasIcansee。Yousaytoomuch。"
Holleystarteddownthen，hislong，clinkingspursdiggingintothesteeppath。HeleftSloneapreytodeepthoughtsatonceanxiousanddreamy。
NextdaySloneworkedhardallday，lookingforwardtonightfall，expectingthatHolleywouldcomeup。HetriedtoresistthesweetandtantalizinganticipationofamessagefromLucy，butinvain。TheriderhadimmeasurablyupliftedSlone"shopethatLucy，atleast，caredforhim。NotforamomentalldaycouldSlonedriveawaythehope。Attwilighthewastooeagertoeat——tooobsessedtoseethemagnificentsunset。ButHolleydidnotcome，andSlonewenttobedlate，halfsickwithdisappointment。
Thenextdaywasworse。Slonefoundworkirksome，yetheheldtoit。Onthethirddayherestedanddreamed，andgrewdoubtfulagain，andthenmoody。OnthefourthdaySlonefoundheneededsuppliesthathemustobtainfromthestore。HedidnotforgetHolley"swarning，buthedisregardedit，thinkingtherewouldscarcelybeachanceofmeetingBostilatmidday。
Therewerehorsesstanding，bridlesdown，beforeBrackton"splace，andridersloungingattherailandstep。SomeofthesemenhadbeenpleasanttoSloneonearlieroccasions。Thisdaytheyseemednottoseehim。Slonewastinglingalloverwhenhewentintothestore。Somedeviltrywasafoot!Hehadanangrythoughtthattheseriderscouldnothavemindsoftheirown。JustinsidethedoorSloneencounteredWetherby，theyoungrancherfromDurango。Slonespoke，butWetherbyonlyrepliedwithaninsolentstare。SlonedidnotglanceatthemantowhomWetherbywastalking。Onlyafewpeoplewereinsidethestore，andBracktonwaswaitinguponthem。Slonestoodbackalittleintheshadow。
Bracktonhadobservedhisentrance，butdidnotgreethim。ThenSloneabsolutelyknewthatforhimthegoodwillofBostil"sFordwasathingofthepast。
PresentlyBracktonwasatleisure，butheshowednodispositiontoattendtoSlone"swants。ThenSlonewalkeduptothecounterandaskedforsupplies。
"Haveyougotthemoney？"askedBrackton，asifaddressingonehewouldnottrust。
"Yes，"repliedSlone，growingredunderaninsultthatheknewWetherbyhadheard。
Bracktonhandedoutthesuppliesandreceivedthemoney，withoutaword。Heheldhisheaddown。Itwasasingularactionforamanusedtodealingfairlywitheveryone。Slonefeltoutraged。Hehurriedoutoftheplace，withshameburninghim，withhisowneyesdowncast，andinhishurryhebumpedsquareintoaburlyform。Slonerecoiled——lookedup。Bostil!Theoldriderwaseyinghimwithcoolspeculation。
"Wal，areyoudrunk？"hequeried，withoutanyparticularexpression。
YetthequerywastoSlonelikeablow。Itbroughthisheadupwithajerk，hisglancesteadyandkeenonBostil"s。
"Bostil，youknowIdon"tdrink，"hesaid。
"A-huh!Iknowalotaboutyou，Slone。IheardyouboughtVorhees"splace，uponthebench。"
"Yes。"
"Didhetellyouitwasmortgagedtomeformore"nit"sworth？"
"No，hedidn"t。"
"Didhemakeoveranypaperstoyou？"
"No。"
"Wal，ifitinterestsyouI"llshowyoupapersthetprovestheproperty"smine。"
Slonesufferedapang。Thelittlehomehadgrowndeareranddearertohim。
"Allright，Bostil。Ifit"syours——it"syours，"hesaid，calmlyenough。
"IreckonI"ddroveyououtbeforethisifIhadn"tfeltwecouldmakeadeal。"
"Wecan"tagreeonanydeal，Bostil，"repliedSlone，steadily。ItwasnotwhatBostilsaid，butthewayhesaidit，thesubtlemeaningandpowerbehindit，thatgaveSloneasenseofmenaceandperil。Thesehehadbeenusedtoforyears；hecouldmeetthem。Buthewashandicappedherebecauseitseemedthat，thoughhecouldmeetBostilfacetoface，hecouldnotfighthim。ForhewasLucy"sfather。Slone"sposition，theimpotenceofit，renderedhimlessabletocontrolhistemper。
"Whycan"twe？"demandedBostil。"Ifyouwasn"tsotouchywecould。An"letmesay，youngfeller，thetthere"smorereasonnowthetyouDOmakeadealwithme。"
"Deal？Whatabout？"
"Aboutyourredhoss。"
"Wildfire!Nodeals，Bostil，"returnedSlone，andmadeasiftopasshim。
ThebighandthatforcedSlonebackwasfarfromgentle，andagainhefeltthequickrushofblood。
"MebbeIcantellyousomethin"thet"llmakeyousellWildfire，"saidBostil。
"Notifyoutalkedyourselfdumb!"flashedSlone。TherewasnousetotrytokeepcoolwiththisBostil，ifhetalkedhorses。"I"llraceWildfireagainsttheKing。Butnomore。"
"Race!Wal，wedon"trunracesaroundherewithoutstakes，"repliedBostil，withdeepscorn。"An"whatcanyoubet？Thetlittledabofprizemoneyisgone，an"wouldn"tbeenoughtomeetme。You"reastrangeoneintheseparts。
I"vepridean"reputationtouphold。Youbragofracin"withme——an"youabeggarlyrider!Youwouldn"thavethemclothesan"bootsifmygirlhadn"tfetchedthemtoyou。"
TheridersbehindBostillaughed。Wetherby"sfacewasthereinthedoor，notamused，buthardwithscornandsomethingelse。Slonefeltasickening，terriblegustofpassion。Itfairlyshookhim。Andasthewavesubsidedthequickcoolingofskinandbodypainedhimlikeaburnmadewithice。
"Yes，Bostil，I"mwhatyousay，"respondedSlone，andhisvoiceseemedtofillhisears。"Butyou"redeadwrongwhenyousayI"venothin"tobetonarace。"
"An"what"llyoubet？"
"Mylifean"myhorse!"
Theriderssuddenlygrewsilentandintense。Bostilvibratedtothat。Heturnedwhite。Hemorethananyriderontheuplandsmusthavefeltthenatureofthatoffer。
"Ag"inwhat？"hedemanded，hoarsely。
"YOURDAUGHTERLUCY!"
OneinstantthesurpriseheldBostilmuteandmotionless。Thenheseemedtoexpand。Hishugebulkjerkedintomotionandhebellowedlikeamadbull。
Slonesawtheblowcoming，madenomovetoavoidit。Thebigfisttookhimsquareonthemouthandchinandlaidhimflatontheground。SightfailedSloneforalittle，andlikewiseabilitytomove。Buthedidnotloseconsciousness。Hisheadseemedtohavebeenburstintoraysandredmistthatblurredhiseyes。Thentheseclearedaway，leavingintensepain。Hestartedtogetup，hisbraininawhirl。Wherewashisgun？Hehadleftitathome。ButforthathewouldhavekilledBostil。Hehadalreadykilledoneman。Thethingwasaburningflash——thenallover!Hecoulddoitagain。ButBostilwasLucy"sfather!
Slonegatheredupthepackagesofsupplies，andwithoutlookingatthemenhehurriedaway。Heseemedpossessedofafurytoturnandrunback。Someforce，likeaninvisiblehand，withheldhim。Whenhereachedthecabinheshuthimselfin，andlayonhisbunk，forgettingthattheplacedidnotbelongtohim，aliveonlytothemysteryofhistrouble，smartingwiththeshameoftheassaultuponhim。Itwasdarkbeforehecomposedhimselfandwentout，andthenhehadnotthedesiretoeat。Hemadenomovetoopenthesuppliesoffood，didnotevenmakealight。Buthewentouttotakegrassandwatertothehorses。Whenhereturnedtothecabinamanwasstandingattheporch。
SlonerecognizedHolley"sshapeandthenhisvoice。
"Son，youraisedthedevilto-day。"
"Holley，don"tyougobackonme!"criedSlone。"Iwasdriven!"
"Don"ttalksoloud，"whisperedtheriderinreturn。"I"veonlyaminnit……Here——aletterfromLucy。An"，son，don"tgittheideethetI"llgobackonyou。"
Slonetooktheletterwithtremblingfingers。Allthefuryandgloominstantlyfled。Lucyhadwrittenhim!Hecouldnotspeak。
"Son，I"mdouble-crossin"theboss，rightthisminnit!"whisperedHolley，hoarsely。"An"thesametimeI"mplayin"Lucy"sgame。IfBostilfindsouthe"llkillme。Imustn"tbeketcheduphere。ButIwon"tlosetrackofyou——whereveryougo。"
Holleyslippedawaystealthilyinthedusk，leavingSlonewithathrobbingheart。
"Whereveryougo!"heechoed。"Ah!Iforgot!Ican"tstayhere。"
Lucy"slettermadehisfingerstingle——madethemsohastyandawkwardthathehaddifficultyinkindlingblazeenoughtoseetoread。Theletterwasshort，writteninlead-pencilonthetornleafofaledger。Slonecouldnotreadrapidly——thoseyearsonthedeserthadseentothat——andhishastetolearnwhatLucysaidbewilderedhim。Atfirstallthewordsblurred:
Comeatoncetothebenchinthecottonwoods。I"llmeetyouthere。Myheartisbreaking。It"salie——alie——whattheysay。I"llswearyouwerewithmethenighttheboatwascutadrift。IKNOWyoudidn"tdothat。Iknowwho……Oh，come!Iwillsticktoyou。Iwillrunoffwithyou。Iloveyou!"
CHAPTERXV
Slone"sheartleapedtohisthroat，anditsbeatingchokedhisutterancesofraptureandamazeanddread。Butrapturedominatedtheotheremotions。HecouldscarcelycontroltheimpulsetoruntomeetLucy，withoutasinglecautiousthought。
Heputthepreciousletterinsidehisblouse，whereitseemedtowarmhisbreast。Hebuckledonhisgun-belt，and，extinguishingthelight，hehurriedout。
Acrescentmoonhadjusttippedthebluff。Thevillagelanesandcabinsandtreeslaysilverinthemoon-light。Alonesomecoyotebarkedinthedistance。
Allelsewasstill。Theairwascool，sweet，fragrant。Thereappearedtobeaglamouroflight，ofsilence，ofbeautyoverthedesert。
Slonekeptunderthedarkleeofthebluffandworkedaroundsothathecouldbeabovethevillage，wheretherewaslittledangerofmeetinganyone。Yetpresentlyhehadtogooutoftheshadowintothemoon-blanchedlane。SwiftandsilentasanIndianhewentalong，keepingintheshadeofwhattreestherewere，untilhecametothegroveofcottonwoods。Thegrovewasablackmysterylancedbysilverrays。Heslippedinamongthetrees，haltingeveryfewstepstolisten。Theaction，therealizationhadhelpedtomakehimcool，tosteelhim，thoughneverbeforeinhislifehadhebeensoexalted。ThepursuitandcaptureofWildfire，atonetimethedesireofhisheart，wereasnothingtothis。Lovehadcalledhim——andlife——andheknewdeathhunginthebalance。IfBostilfoundhimseekingLucytherewouldbebloodspilled。Slonequakedatthethought，forthecoldandghastlyoppressionfollowingthedeathhehadmetedouttoSearscametohimattimes。Butsuchthoughtswerefleeting；onlyonethoughtreallyheldhismind——andtheonewasthatLucylovedhim，hadsentstrange，wild，passionatewordstohim。
Hefoundthenarrowpath，itswhitecrossedbyslowlymovingblackbarsofshadow，andstealthilyhefollowedthis，keenofeyeandear，stoppingateveryrustle。HewellknewthebenchLucyhadmentioned。Itwasinaremotecornerofthegrove，underbigtreesnearthespring。OnceSlonethoughthehadaglimpseofwhite。Perhapsitwasonlymoonlight。Heslippedonandon，andwhenbeyondthebranchingpathsthatledtowardthehousehebreathedfreer。Thegroveappeareddeserted。Atlasthecrossedtherunwayfromthespring，smelledthecool，wetmossandwatercress，andsawthebigcottonwood，loomingdarkabovetheothertrees。Apatchofmoonlightbrightenedalittlegladejustattheedgeofdenseshadecastbythecottonwood。Herethebenchstood。Itwasempty!
Slone"srapturevanished。Hewassuddenlychilled。Shewasnotthere!Shemighthavebeenintercepted。Hewouldnotseeher。Thedisappointment，thesuddenrelaxation，washorrible。Thenawhite，slendershapeflashedfrombesidetheblacktree-trunkandflewtowardhim。Itwasnoiseless，likeaspecter，andswiftasthewind。Washedreaming？Hefeltsostrange。Then——thewhiteshapereachedhimandheknew。
Lucyleapedintohisarms。
"Lin!Lin!Oh，I"mso——sogladtoseeyou!"shewhispered。Sheseemedbreathless，keen，newtohim，notintheleastafraidnorshy。Slonecouldonlyholdher。Hecouldnothavespoken，evenifshehadgivenhimachance。
"Iknoweverything——whattheyaccuseyouof——howtheriderstreatedyou——howmydadstruckyou。Oh!He"sabrute!Ihatehimforthat。Whydidn"tyoukeepoutofhisway？Vansawitall。Oh，Ihatehim，too!Hesaidyoulaystill——whereyoufell!DearLin，thatblowmayhavehurtyoudreadfully——shamedyoubecauseyoucouldn"tstrikebackatmydad——butitreachedme，too。Ithurtme。Itwokemyheart。Where——wheredidhehityou？Oh，I"veseenhimhitmen!Histerriblefists!"
"Lucy，nevermind，"whisperedSlone。"I"dstoodtobeshotjustforthis。"
Hefeltherhandssoftlyonhisface，feelingaroundtenderlytilltheyfoundtheswollenbruiseonmouthandchin。
"Ah!Hestruckyou。AndI——I"llkissyou，"shewhispered。"Ifkisseswillmakeitwell——it"llbewell!"
Sheseemedstrange，wild，passionateinhertenderness。Sheliftedherfaceandkissedhimsoftlyagainandagainandagain，tillthetouchthathadbeenexquisitelypainfultohisbruisedlipsbecamerapture。Thensheleanedbackinhisarms，herhandsonhisshoulders，white-faced，dark-eyed，andlaughedupinhisface，lovingly，daringly，asifshedefiedtheworldtochangewhatshehaddone。
"Lucy!Lucy!Hecanbeatme——again!"saidSlone，lowandhoarsely。
"Ifyoulovemeyou"llkeepoutofhisway，"repliedthegirl。
"IfIloveyou？MyGod!I"vefeltmyheartdieathousandtimessincethatmornin"——when——whenyou——"
"Lin，Ididn"tknow，"sheinterrupted，withsweet，graveearnestness。"Iknownow!"
AndSlonecouldnotbutknow，too，lookingather；andthesweetness，theeloquence，thenobleabandonofheravowalsoundedtothedepthsofhim。Hisdread，hisresignation，hisshame，allspedforeverinthedeep，fullbreathofreliefwithwhichhecastoffthatburden。Hetastedthenectarofhappiness，thefirsttimeinhislife。Heliftedhishead——never，heknew，toloweritagain。Hewouldbetruetowhatshehadmadehim。
"Comeintheshade，"hewhispered，andwithhisarmroundherheledhertothegreattree-trunk。"Isitsafeforyouhere？An"howlongcanyoustay？"
"IhaditoutwithDad——lefthimlickedonceinhislife，"shereplied。"ThenIwenttomyroom，fastenedthedoor，andslippedoutofmywindow。IcanstayoutaslongasIwant。Noonewillknow。"
Slone"sheartthrobbed。Shewashis。Theclaspofherhandsonhis，thegleamofhereyes，thewhite，daringflashofherfaceintheshadowofthemoon——thesetoldhimshewashis。Howithadcomeaboutwasbeyondhim，butherealizedthetruth。Whatagirl!ThiswasthesamenervewhichsheshowedwhenshehadrunWildfireoutinfrontofthefleetesthorsesintheuplands。
"Tellme，then，"hebegan，quietly，withkeengazerovingunderthetreesandeyesstrainedtight，"tellmewhat"scomeoff。"
"Don"tyouknow？"shequeried，inamaze。
"OnlythatforsomereasonI"mdoneinBostil"sFord。Itcan"tbebecauseI
punchedJoelCreech。IfeltitbeforeImetBostilatthestore。Hetauntedme。Wehadbitterwords。HetoldbeforeallofthemhowtheoutfitIworeyougaveme。An"thenIdaredhimtoracetheKing。Myhorsean"mylifeagainstYOU!"
"Yes，Iknow，"shewhispered，softly。"It"sallovertown。Oh，Lin!itwasagrandbet!AndBostilfour-flushed，astheriderssay。FordaysaracebetweenWildfireandtheKinghadbeenintheair。There"llneverbepeaceinBostil"sFordagaintillthatraceisrun。"
"But，Lucy，couldBostil"swantin"Wildfirean"hatin"mebecauseIwon"tsell——couldthatruinmehereattheFord？"
"Itcould。But，Lin，there"smore。Oh，Ihatetotellyou!"shewhispered，passionately。"Ithoughtyou"dknow。JoelCreechsworeyoucuttheropesontheferry-boatandsentitadrift。"
"Theloon!"ejaculatedSlone，andhelaughedlowinbothangerandridicule。
"Lucy，that"sonlyafool"stalk。"
"He"scrazy。Oh，ifIevergethiminfrontofmeagainwhenI"monSarch——I"ll——I"ll。"SheendedwithalittlegaspandleanedamomentagainstSlone。Hefeltherheartbeat——feltthestrongclaspofherhands。ShewasindeedBostil"sfleshandblood，andtherewasthatinherdangeroustoarouse。
"Lin，thefolksherearequeer，"sheresumed，morecalmly。"ForlongyearsDadhasruledthem。Theyseewithhiseyesandtalkwithhisvoice。JoelCreechsworeyoucutthosecables。Sworehetrailedyou。Bracktonbelievedhim。Vanbelievedhim。Theytoldmyfather。Andhe——mydad——Godforgivehim!hejumpedatthat。ThevillageasonepersonnowbelievesyousenttheboatadriftsoCreech"shorsescouldnotcrossandyoucouldwintherace。"
"Lucy，ifitwasn"tso——sofunnyI"dbemadas——as——"burstoutSlone。
"Itisn"tfunny。It"sterrible。Iknowwhocutthosecables。Holleyknows。DADknows——an"，oh，Lin——I——hate——Ihatemyownfather!"
"MyGod!"gaspedSlone，asthefullsignificationburstuponhim。ThenhisnextthoughtwasforLucy。"Listen，dear——youmustn"tsaythat，"heentreated。
"He"syourfather。He"sagoodmaneverywayexceptwhenhe"safterhorses。
Thenhe"shalfhorse。Iunderstandhim。Ifeelsorryforhim。An"ifhe"sthrowedtheblameonme，allright。I"llstandit。WhatdoIcare？Iwasqueered，anyhow，becauseIwouldn"tpartwithmyhorse。Itcan"tmattersomuchifpeoplethinkIdidthatjusttohelpwinarace。Butiftheyknewyour——yourfatherdidit，an"ifCreech"shorsesstarve，whyit"dbeadisgraceforhim——an"you。"
"LinSlone——you"llaccepttheblame!"shewhispered，withwide，darkeyesonhim，handsathisshoulders。
"SureIwill，"repliedSlone。"Ican"tbeanyworseoff。"
"You"rebetterthanallofthem——myrider!"shecried，full-voicedandtremulous。"Lin，youmakemeloveyouso——it——ithurts!"Andsheseemedabouttoflingherselfintohisarmsagain。Therewasastrangenessabouther——aglory。"Butyou"llnottaketheshameofthatact。ForIwon"tletyou。I"lltellmyfatherIwaswithyouwhentheboatwascutloose。He"llbelieveme。"
"Yes，an"he"llKILLme!"groanedSlone。"GoodLord!Lucy，don"tdothat!"
"Iwill!An"he"llnotkillyou。Lin，Dadtookagreatfancytoyou。Iknowthat。Hethinkshehatesyou。Butinhishearthedoesn"t。IfhegotholdofWildfire——why，he"dneverbeabletodoenoughforyou。Henevercouldmakeitup。Whatdoyouthink？Itoldhimyouhuggedandkissedmeshamefullythatday。"
"Oh，Lucy!youdidn"t？"imploredSlone。
"Isuredid。Andwhatdoyouthink？Hesaidheoncedidthesametomymother!。No，Lin，Dad"dneverkillyouforanythingexceptafuryabouthorses。
Allthefightsheeverhadwereoverhorsedeals。Thetwomen——he——he——"LucyfalteredandhershudderwasilluminatingtoSlone。"Bothofthem——fightsoverhorsetrades!"
"Lucy，ifI"meverunluckyenoughtomeetBostilagainI"llbedeafan"dumb。
An"nowyoupromisemeyouwon"ttellhimyouwerewithmethatnight。"
"Lin，iftheoccasioncomes，Iwill——Icouldn"thelpit，"repliedLucy。
"Thenfightshyoftheoccasion，"herejoined，earnestly。"ForthatwouldbetheendofLinSlone!"
"Then——whatonearthcan——wedo？"Lucysaid，withsuddenbreakofspirit。
"Ithinkwemustwait。Youwroteinyourletteryou"dsticktome——you"d——"
Hecouldnotgetthewordsout，thethoughtsoovercamehim。
"Ifitcomestoafinish，I"llgowithyou，"Lucyreturned，withpassionrisingagain。
"Oh!torideoffwithyou，Lucy——tohaveyoualltomyself——Idaren"tthinkofit。Butthat"sonlyselfish。"
"Maybeit"snotsoselfishasyoubelieve。IfyoulefttheFord——now——it"dbreakmyheart。I"dnevergetoverit。"
"Lucy!Youloveme——thatwell？"
Thentheirlipsmetagainandtheirhandslocked，andtheystoodsilent，strainingtowardeachother。Heheldtheslightform，sopliant，soresponsive，soalive，closetohim，andherfacelayhiddenonhisbreast；andhelookedoutoverherheadintothequiveringmoonlitshadows。Thenightwasasstillasoneawayonthedesertfarfromtheabodeofmen。Itwasmorebeautifulthananydreamofanightinwhichhehadwanderedfarintostrangelandswherewildhorseswereandforestslayblackundermoon-silveredpeaks。
"We"llrun——then——ifitcomestoafinish，"saidSlone，huskily。"ButI"llwait。I"llstickitouthere。I"lltakewhatcomes。So——maybeI"llnotdisgraceyoumore。"
"ItoldVanI——Igloriedinbeinghuggedbyyouthatday，"shereplied，andherlittledefiantlaughtoldwhatshethoughtoftheallegeddisgrace。
"Youtormenthim，"remonstratedSlone。"Yousethimagainstus。Itwouldbebettertokeepstill。"
"Butmybloodisup!"shesaid，andshepoundedhisshoulderwithherfist。