第14章

"Wal，Ireckononlyabootfivehundredgoodhossstepsareseparatin’

usfromthatoutfit，"drawledBlaisdell。

Noonerepliedtohisjocularity。GastonIsbel’seyesnarrowedtoaslitinhisfurrowedfaceandhekeptthemfasteneduponGreaves’sstore。

Blue，likewise，hadasombercastofcountenance，not，perhaps，anydarkernorgrimmerthanthoseofhiscomrades，butmorerepresentativeofintensepreoccupationofmind。ThelookofhimthrilledJean，whocouldsenseitsdeadliness，yetcouldnotgraspanymore。Altogether，themannerofthevillagersandthewatchfulpacingtoandfrooftheJorthfollowersandthesilent，bodingfrontofIsbelandhismensummedupforJeanthemenaceofthemomentthatmustverysoonchangetoaterriblereality。

AtacallfromMeeker，whostoodatthebackofthecabin，GastonIsbelrodeintotheyard，followedbytheothersofhisparty。"Somebodylookafterthehosses，"orderedIsbel，ashedismountedandtookhisrifleandpack。"Betterleavethesaddleson，leastwaystillweseewhat’scomin’off。"

JeanandBillIsbelledthehorsesbacktothecorral。Whilewateringandfeedingthem，JeansomehowreceivedtheimpressionthatBillwastryingtospeak，toconfideinhim，tounburdenhimselfofsomeload。

ThispeculiarityofBill’shadbecomemarkedwhenhewasperfectlysober。

Yethehadneverspokenorevenbegunanythingunusual。Uponthepresentoccasion，however，Jeanbelievedthathisbrothermighthavegottenridofhisemotion，orwhateveritwas，hadtheynotbeeninterruptedbyColmor。

"Boys，theoldman’sordersareforustosneakroundonthreesidesofGreaves’sstore，keepin’outofgunshottillwefindgoodcover，an’thencrawlcloseran’topickoffanyofJorth’sgangwhoshowshimself。"

BillIsbelstrodeoffwithoutareplytoColmor。

"Well，Idon’tthinksomuchofthat，"saidJean，ponderingly。

"Jorthhaslotsoffriendshere。Somebodymightpickusoff。"

"Ikicked，buttheoldmanshutmeup。He’snottobebuckedag’in’

now。Struckmeaspowerfulqueer。Butnowonder。"

"Maybeheknowsbest。Didhesayanythin’aboutwhathean’therestofthemaregoin’todo？"

"Nope。Bluetaxedhimwiththatan’gotthesameasme。Ireckonwe’dbettertryitout，forawhile，anyway。"

"Lookslikehewantsustokeepoutofthefight，repliedJean，thoughtfully。"Maybe，though……Dad’snofool。Colmor，youwaitheretillIgetoutofsight。I’llgoroundan’comeupascloseasadvisablebehindGreaves’sstore。Youtaketherightside。

An’keephid。"

WiththatJeanstrodeoff，goingaroundthebarn，straightouttheorchardlanetotheopenflat，andthenclimbingafencetothenorthofthevillage。Presentlyhereachedalineofshedsandcorrals，towhichhehelduntilhearrivedattheroad。ThispointwasaboutaquarterofamilefromGreaves’sstore，andaroundthebend。Jeansightednoone。Theroad，thefields，theyards，thebacksofthecabinsalllookeddeserted。AblighthadsettleddownuponthepeacefulactivitiesofGrassValley。Crossingtheroad，Jeanbegantocircleuntilhecameclosetoseveralcabins，aroundwhichhemadeawidedetour。Thistookhimtotheedgeoftheslope，wherebrushandthicketsaffordedhimasafepassagetoalinedirectlybackofGreaves’sstore。Thenheturnedtowardit。Soonhewasagainapproachingacabinofthatside，andsomeofitsinmatesdescriedhim，Theiractionsattestedtotheiralarm。Jeanhalfexpectedashotfromthisquarter，suchwerehisgrowingdoubts，buthewasmistaken。Aman，unknowntoJean，closelywatchedhisguardedmovementsandthenwavedahand，asiftosignifytoJeanthathehadnothingtofear。Afterthisacthedisappeared。JeanbelievedthathehadbeenrecognizedbysomeonenotantagonistictotheIsbels。Thereforehepassedthecabinand，comingtoathickscrub—oaktreethatofferedshelter，hehidtheretowatch。FromthisspothecouldseethebackofGreaves’sstore，atadistanceprobablytoofarforariflebullettoreach。Beforehim，asfarasthestore，andoneachside，extendedthevillagecommon。

Infrontofthestorerantheroad。Jean’spositionwassuchthathecouldnotcommandsightofthisroaddowntowardMeeker’shouse，afactthatdisturbedhim。Notsatisfiedwiththisstand，hestudiedhissurroundingsinthehopeofespyingabetter。Andhediscoveredwhathethoughtwouldbeamorefavorableposition，althoughhecouldnotseemuchfartherdowntheroad。Jeanwentbackaroundthecabinand，comingoutintotheopentotheright，hegotthecornerofGreaves’sbarnbetweenhimandthewindowofthestore。Thenheboldlyhurriedintotheopen，andsoonreachedanoldwagon，frombehindwhichheproposedtowatch。Hecouldnotseeeitherwindowordoorofthestore，butifanyoftheJorthcontingentcameoutthebackwaytheywouldbewithinreachofhisrifle。Jeantooktheriskofbeingshotatfromeitherside。

SosharpandrovingwashissightthathesoonespiedColmorslippingalongbehindthetreessomehundredyardstotheleft。AllhiseffortstocatchaglimpseofBill，however，werefruitless。AndthisappearedstrangetoJean，fortherewereseveralgoodplacesontherightfromwhichBillcouldhavecommandedthefrontofGreaves’sstoreandthewholewestside。

Colmordisappearedamongsomeshrubbery，andJeanseemedleftalonetowatchadeserted，silentvillage。Watchingandlistening，hefeltthatthetimedragged。Yettheshadowscastbythesunshowedhimthat，nomatterhowtensehefeltandhowthemomentsseemedhours，theywerereallyflying。

SuddenlyJean’searsrangwiththevibrantshockofariflereport。

Hejerkedup，strungandthrilling。Itcamefrominfrontofthestore。

Itwasfollowedbyrevolvershots，heavy，booming。Threehecounted，andtherestweretooclosetogethertoenumerate。Asinglehoarseyellpealedout，somehowtrenchantandtriumphant。Otheryells，notsowildandstrange，muffledthefirstone。Thensilenceclappeddownonthestoreandthe，opensquare。

JeanwasdeadlycertainthatsomeoftheJorthclanwouldshowthemselves。Hestrainedtostillthetremblingthosesuddenshotsandthatsignificantyellhadcausedhim。Nomanappeared。NomoresoundscaughtJean’sears。Thesuspense，then，grewunbearable。

Itwasnotthathecouldnotwaitforanenemytoappear，butthathecouldnotwaittolearnwhathadhappened。Everymomentthathestayedthere，withhandslikesteelonhisrifle，witheyesofafalcon，butaddedtoadreadful，darkcertaintyofdisaster。Arifleshotswiftlyfollowedbyrevolvershots！Whatcould，theymean？Revolvershotsofdifferentcaliber，surelyfiredbydifferentmen！Whatcouldtheymean？

ItwasnottheseshotsthataccountedforJean’sdread，buttheyellwhichhadfollowed。Allhisintelligenceandallhisnervewerenotsufficienttofightdownthefeelingofcalamity。Andatlast，yieldingtoit，helefthispost，andranlikeadeeracrosstheopen，throughthecabinyard，andaroundtheedgeoftheslopetotheroad。Herehiscautionbroughthimtoahalt。Notalivingthingcrossedhisvision。

Breakingintoarun，hesoonreachedthebackofMeeker’splaceandentered，tohurryforwardtothecabin。

Colmorwasthereintheyard，breathinghard，hisfaceworking，andinfrontofhimcrouchedseveralofthemenwithriflesready。Theroad，toJean’sflashingglance，wasapparentlydeserted。Bluesatonthedoorstep，lightingacigarette。ThenonthemomentBlaisdellstrodetothedoorofthecabin。Jeanhadneverseenhimlooklikethat。

"Jean——look——downtheroad，"hesaid，brokenly，andwithbighandshakinghepointeddowntowardGreaves’sstore。

LikelightningJean’sglanceshotdown——down——down——untilitstoppedtofixupontheprostrateformofaman，lyinginthemiddleoftheroad。

Amanoflengthybuild，shirt—sleevedarmsflungwide，whiteheadinthedust——dead！Jean’srecognitionwasasswiftashissight。Hisfather！

Theyhadkilledhim！TheJorths！Itwasdone。Hisfather’spremonitionofdeathhadnotbeenfalse。Andthen，aftertheseflashingthoughts，cameasenseofblankness，momentarilyalmostoblivion，thatgaveplacetoarendingoftheheart。ThatpainJeanhadknownonlyatthedeathofhismother。Itpassed，thisagonizingpang，anditsicypressureyieldedtoarushinggustofblood，fieryashell。

"Who——didit？"whisperedJean。

"Jorth！"repliedBlaisdell，huskily。"Son，wecouldn’tholdyourdadback……Wecouldn’t。Hewaslikealion……An’hethrowedhislifeaway！

Oh，ifithadn’tbeenforthatit’dnotbesoawful。Shore，wecomeheahtoshootan’beshot。Butnotlikethat……ByGod，itwasmurder——murder！"

Jean’smutelipsframedaqueryeasilyread。

"Tellhim，Blue。Icain’t，"continuedBlaisdell，andhetrampedbackintothecabin。

"Setdown，Jean，an’takethingseasy，"saidBlue，calmly。"Youknowweallreckonedwe’dgitpluggedonewayoranotherinthisdeal。

An’shoreitdoesn’tmattermuchhowafellargitsit。Allthetoughttobotherusistomakeshoretheotheroutfitbitesthedust——sameasyourdadhadto。"

Underthisman’stranquilpresence，allthemorequietingbecauseitseemedtobesodeadlysureandcool，Jeanfelttheupliftofhisdarkspirit，theacceptanceoffatality，themountingcontroloffacultiesthatmustwait。Thelittlegunmanseemedtohaveabouthisinertpresencesomethingthatsuggestedarattlesnake’sinherentknowledgeofitsdestructiveness。Jeansatdownandwipedhisclammyface。

"Jean，yourdadreckonedtosquareaccountswithJorth，an’saveusall，"

beganBlue，puffingoutacloudofsmoke。"Buthereckonedtoolate。

Mebbeyears;ago——orevennotlongago——ifhe’dcalledJorthoutmantomanthere’dneverbeenanyJorth—Isbelwar。GastonIsbel’sconsciencewoketoolate。That’showIfiggerit。"

"Hurry！Tellme——howit——happen，"pantedJean。

"Wal，alittlewhileaftery’uleftIseenyourdadwritin’onaleafhetoreoutofabook——Meeker’sBible，asyucansee。Ithoughtthetwasfunny。An’Blaisdellgavemeahunch。PrettysoonalongcomesyoungEvarts。Theoldmancallshimoutofourhearin’an’talkstohim。

ThenIseenhimgivetheboysomethin’，whichIafterwardfiggeredwaswhathewroteontheleafoutoftheBible。Mean’Blaisdellbothtriedtogitoutofhimwhatthetmeant。Butnotaword。Ikeptwatchin’an’

afterawhileIseenyoungEvartsslipoutthebackway。MebbehalfanhourIseenabare—leggedkidcross，theroadan’gointoGreaves’sstore……ThenshoreItumbledtoyourdad。He’dsentanotetoJorthtocomeoutan’meethimfacetoface，mantoman！……

Shoreitwaslikereadin’whatyourdadhadwrote。ButIdidn’tsaynothin’toBlaisdell。Ijestwatched。"

Bluedrawledtheselastwords，asifheenjoyedremembranceofhiskeenreasoning。Asmilewreathedhisthinlips。Hedrewtwiceonthecigaretteandemittedanothercloudofsmoke。Quitesuddenlythenhechanged。Hemadearapidgesture——thewhipofahand，significantandpassionate。Andswiftwordsfollowed:

"ColonelLeeJorthstalkedoutofthestore——outintotheroad——mebbeahundredsteps。Thenhehalted。Heworehislongblackcoatan’hiswideblackhat，an’hestoodlikeastone。

"’Whatthehell！’burstoutBlaisdell，comin’outofhistrance。

"Therestofusjestlooked。I’dforgotyourdad，fortheminnit。

Sohadallofus。Butwerememberedsoonenoughwhenweseenhimstalkout。Everybodyhadahunchthen。Icalledhim。Blaisdellbeggedhimtocomeback。Allthefellars;hadasay。Nouse！

ThenIshorecussedhiman’toldhimitwasplainasdaythetJorthdidn’thitmelikeanhonestman。Icansensesuchthings。IknewJorthhadtrickuphissleeve。I’venotbeenagunfighterfernothin’。

"Yourdadhadnorifle。Hepackedhisgunathiship。Hejeststalkeddownthetroadlikeagiant，goin’fasteran’faster，holdin’hisheadhigh。Itshorewasfinetoseehim。ButIwassick。IheerdBlaisdellgroan，an’Frederickstharcussedsomethin’fierce……Whenyourdadhalted——IreckonabootfiftystepsfromJorth——thenweallwentnumb。

Iheerdyourdad’svoice——thenJorth’s。Theycutlikeknives。

Y’ucouldshoreheahthehatetheyhedfereachother。"

Bluehadbecomealittlehusky。Hisspeechhadgrowngraduallytodenotehisfeeling。Underneathhisserenitytherewasadifferentorderofman。

"Ireckonbothyourdadan’Jorthwentfertheirgunsatthesametime——anevenbreak。Butjestastheydrew，someoneshotariflefromthestore。Musthevbeenaforty—fiveseventy。Abiggun！Thebulletmusthavehityourdadlowdown，abootthemiddle。Heactedthetway，sinkin’

tohisknees。An’hewaswildinshootin’——sowildthethemusthevmissed。Thenhewabbled——an’Jorthruninadozensteps，shootin’fast，tillyourdadfellover……Jorthruncloser，bentoverhim，an’thenstraightenedupwithanApacheyell，ifIeverheerdone……An’thenJorthbackedslow——lookin’allthetime——backedtothestore，an’wentin。"

Blue’svoiceceased。Jeanseemedsuddenlyreleasedfromanimpellingmagnetthatnowdroppedhimtosomenumb，dizzydepth。Blue’sleanfacegrewhazy。ThenJeanbowedhisheadinhishands，andsatthere，whileaslighttremorshookallhismusclesatonce。Hegrewdeathlycoldanddeathlysick。Thisparoxysmslowlyworeaway，andJeangrewconsciousofadullamazeattheapparentdeadnessofhisspirit。

Blaisdellplacedahuge，kindlyhandonhisshoulder。

"Braceup，son！"hesaid，withvoicenowclearandresonant。"Shoreit’swhatyourdadexpected——an’whatweallmustlookfor……

Ifyuwasgoin’tokillJorthbefore——thinkhow————shorey’u’regoin’

tokillhimnow。"

"Blaisdell’stalkin’，"putinBlue，andhisvoicehadacoldring。

"LeeJorthwillneverseethesunriseag’in！"

ThesecallstotheprimitiveinJean，totheIndian，werenotinvain。

Butevenso，whenthedarktideroseinhim，therewasstillahauntingconsciousnessofthecrueltyofthissingulardoomimposeduponhim。

StrangelyEllenJorth’sfacefloatedbackinthedepthsofhisvision，pale，fading，likethefaceofaspiritfloatingby。

"Blue，"saidBlaisdell，"let’sgetIsbel’sbodysoonaswedare，an’buryit。Reckonwecan，rightafterdark。"

"Shore，"repliedBlue。"Buty’ufellarsfiggerthetout。I’mthinkin’

hard。I’vegotsomethin’onmymind。"

Jeangrewfascinatedbythelooksandspeechandactionofthelittlegunman。Blue，indeed，hadsomethingonhismind。Anditbodedilltothemeninthatdarksquarestonehousedowntheroad。Hepacedtoandfrointheyard，backandforthonthepathtothegate，andthenheenteredthecabintostalkupanddown，fasterandfaster，untilallatoncehehaltedasifstruck，toupflinghisrightarminasingularfiercegesture。

"Jean，callthemenin，"hesaid，tersely。

Theyallfiledin，sinisterandsilent，witheagerfacesturnedtothelittleTexan。Hisdominanceshowedmarkedly。

Gordon，y’ustandinthedooran’keepyoureyepeeled，"wentonBlue……Now，boys，listen！I’vethoughtitallout。Thisgameofmanhuntin’isthesametomeascattleraisin’istoy’u。An’mylifeinTexasallcomesbacktome，Ireckon，ingoodsteadferusnow。I’mgoin’tokillLeeJorth！Himfirst，an’mebbehisbrothers。IhadtothinkofagoodmanywaysbeforeIhitononeIreckonwillbeshore。

It’sgottobeSHORE。Jorthhasgottodie！Wal，heah’smyplan……

ThetJorthoutfitisdrinkin’some，wecangambleonit。They’renotgoin’toleavethetstore。An’ofcoursethey’llbeexpectin’ustostartafight。Ireckonthey’lllookfersomesuchsiegeastheyheldroundIsbel’sranch。Butweshoreain’tgoin’todothet。I’mgoin’

tosurprisethetoutfit。There’sonlyonemanamongthemwhoisdangerous，an’thet’sQueen。IknowQueen。Buthedoesn’tknowme。

An’I’mgoin’tofinishmyjobbeforehegetsacquaintedwithme。

Afterthet，allright！"

Bluepausedamoment，hiseyesnarrowingdown，hiswholefacesettinginhardcastofintensepreoccupation，asifhevisualizedasceneofextraordinarynature。

"Wal，what’syourtrick？"demandedBlaisdell。

"Y’uallknowGreaves’sstore，"continuedBlue。"Howthemwindershavewoodenshuttersthetkeepalightfromshowin’outside？Wal，I’mgamblin’

thetassoonasit’sdarkJorth’sgangwillbecelebratin。They’llbedrinkin’an’they’llhavealight，an’thewinderswillbeshut。They’renotgoin’toworrynoneabootus。Thetstoreislikeafort。Itwon’tburn。An’shorethey’dneverthinkofuschargin’theminthere。Wal，assoonasit’sdark，we’llgoroundbehindthelotsan’comeupjestacrosttheroadfromGreaves’s。Ireckonwe’dbetterleaveIsbelwherehelaystillthisfight’sover。Mebbey’u’llhavemore’nhimtobury。

We’llcrawlbehindthembushesinfrontofColeman’syard。An’heah’swhereJeancomesin。He’lltakeanax，an’hisguns，ofcourse，an’dosomeofhisInjunsneakin’roundtothebackofGreaves’sstore……

An’，Jean，y’umustdoaslickjobofthis。ButIreckonit’llbeeasyferyou。Backthereit’llbedarkaspitch，feranyonelookin’outofthestore。An’I’mfiggerin’y’ucantakeyourtimean’crawlrightup。

Nowify’udon’trememberhowGreaves’sbackyardlooksI’lltelly’u。"

HereBluedroppedononekneetothefloorandwithafingerhetracedamapofGreaves’sbarnandfence，thebackdoorandwindow，andespeciallyabreakinthestonefoundationwhichledintoakindofcellarwhereGreavesstoredwoodandotherthingsthatcouldbeleftoutdoors。

"Jean，Itakeparticularpainstoshowy’uwherethisholeis，"saidBlue，"becauseifthegangrunsouty’ucouldduckintherean’hide。

An’iftheyrunoutintotheyard——wal，y’u’dmakeitasorryrunferthem……Wal，wheny’u’vecrawledupclosetoGreaves’sbackdoor，an’waitedlongenoughtoseean’listen——thenyou’retorunfastan’

swingyouraxsmashag’in’thewinder。Takeaquickpeepinify’uwantto。Itmighthelp。Thenjumpquickan’takeaswingatthedoor。

Y’u’llbestandin’tooneside，soifthegangshootsthroughthedoortheywon’thity’u。Bangthetdoorgoodan’hard……Wal，now’swhereIcomein。Wheny’uswingthetaxI’llshorerunferthefrontofthestore。Jorthan’hisoutfitwillbesomeattentivetothetpoundin’ofyoursonthebackdoor。SoIreckon。An’they’llbelookin’thetway。I’llrunin——yell——an’throwmygunsonJorth。"

"Humph！Isthatall？"ejaculatedBlaisdell。

"Ireckonthet’sallan’I’mfiggerin’it’sahellofalot，"respondedBlue，dryly。"Thet’swhatJorthwillthink。"

"Wheredowecomein？"

"Wal，y’uallcanbackmeup，"repliedBlue，dubiously。Y’usee，myplangoesasfaraskillin’Jorth——an’mebbehisbrothers。MebbeI’llgetacrackatQueen。ButI’llbeshoreofJorth。Afterthetalldepends。Mebbeit’llbeeasyfermetogetout。An’ifIdoy’ufellarswillknowitan’canfillthetstoreroomfullofbullets。"

"Wal，Blue，withallduerespecttoy’u，Ishoredon’tlikeyourplan，"

declaredBlaisdell。"Successdependsupontoomanylittlethingsanyoneofwhichmightgowrong。"

"Blaisdell，IreckonIknowthisheahgamebetterthany’u，"repliedBlue。"Agunfightergoesbyinstinct。Thistrickwillwork。"

"ButsupposethatfrontdoorofGreaves’sstoreisbarred，"protestedBlaisdell。

"Ithasn’tgotanybar，"saidBlue。

"Y’u’reshore？"

"Yes，Ireckon，"repliedBlue。

"Hell，man！Aren’ty’utakin’aterriblechance？"queriedBlaisdell。

Blue’sanswertothatwasalookthatbroughtthebloodtoBlaisdell’sface。Onlythendidtherancherreallycomprehendhowthelittlegunmanhadtakensuchdesperatechancesbefore，andmeanttotakethemnow，notwithanyhopeorassuranceofescapingwithhislife，buttoliveuptohispeculiarcodeofhonor。

"Blaisdell，didy’ueverheahofmeinTexas？"hequeried，dryly。

"Wal，no，Blue，Icain’tswearIdid，"repliedtherancher，apologetically。"An’Isbelwasalwayssortof’mysteriousaboothisacquaintancewithyou。"

"Myname’snotBlue。"

"Ahuh！Wal，whatisit，then——ifI’msafetoask？"returnedBlaisdell，gruffly。

"It’sKingFisher，"repliedBlue。

TheshockthatstiffenedBlaisdellmusthavebeencommunicatedtotheothers。Jeancertainlyfeltamaze，andsomeotheremotionnotfullyrealized，whenhefoundhimselffacetofacewithoneofthemostnotoriouscharacterseverknowninTexas——anoutlawlongsupposedtobedead。

"Men，IreckonI’dkeptmysecretifI’danyideeofcomin’outofthisIsbel—Jorthwaralive，"saidBlue。"ButI’mgoin’tocash。Ifeelitheah……Isbelwasmyfriend。Hesavedmefrombein’lynchedinTexas。An’soI’mgoin’tokillJorth。NowI’lltakeitkindofy’u——ifanyofy’ucomeoutofthisalive——totellwhoIwasan’whyIwasontheIsbelside。Becausethissheepan’cattlewar——thistalkofJorthan’theHashKnifeGang——itmakesme，sick。IKNOWthere’sbeencrookedworkonIsbel’sside，too。An’IneverwantitonrecordthetIkilledJorthbecausehewasarustler。"

"ByGod，Blue！it’slateinthedayforsuchtalk，"burstoutBlaisdell，inrageandamaze。"ButIreckony’uknowwhaty’u’retalkin’aboot……Wal，Ishoredon’twanttoheahit。"

AtthisjunctureBillIsbelquietlyenteredthecabin，toolatetohearanyofBlue’sstatement。Jeanwaspositiveofthat，forasBluewasspeakingthoselastrevealingwordsBill’sheavybootshadresoundedonthegravelpathoutside。YetsomethinginBill’slookorinthewayBlueavertedhisleanfaceorintheentranceofBillatthatparticularmoment，orallthesetogether，seemedtoJeantoaddfurthermysterytothelongsecretcausesleadinguptotheJorth—Isbelwar。DidBillknowwhatBlueknew？Jeanhadaninklingthathedid。Andonthemoment，soperplexingandbitter，Jeangazedoutthedoor，downthedesertedroadtowherehisdeadfatherlay，white—hairedandghastlyinthesunlight。

"Blue，youcouldhavekeptthattoyourself，aswellasyourrealname，"

interposedJean，withbitterness。"It’stoolatenowforeithertodoanygood……ButIappreciateyourfriendshipfordad，an’I’mreadytohelpcarryoutyourplan。"

ThatdecisionofJean’sappearedtoputanendtoprotestorargumentfromBlaisdelloranyoftheothers。Blue’sfleetingdarksmilewasoneofsatisfaction。Thenuponmostofthisgroupofmenseemedtosettleagrimrestraint。Theywentoutandwalkedandwatched;theycameinagain，restlessandsomber。Jeanthoughtthathemusthavebenthisgazeathousandtimesdowntheroadtothetragicfigureofhisfather。Thatsightrousedallemotionsinhisbreast，andtheonethatstirredtheremostwaspity。Thepityofit！GastonIsbellyingfacedowninthedustofthevillagestreet！Patchesofbloodshowedonthebackofhisvestandonewhite—sleevedshoulder。Hehadbeenshotthrough。EverytimeJeansawthisbloodhehadtostifleagatheringofwild，savageimpulses。

Meanwhiletheafternoonhoursdraggedbyandthevillageremainedasifitsinhabitantshadabandonedit。Notevenadogshowedonthesideroad。Jorthandsomeofhismencameoutinfrontofthestoreandsatonthesteps，incloseconveninggroups。Everymovethey，madeseemedsignificantoftheirconfidenceandimportance。Aboutsunsettheywentbackintothestore，closingdoorandwindowshutters。ThenBlaisdellcalledtheIsbelfactiontohavefoodanddrink。Jeanfeltnohunger。AndBlue，whohadkeptapartfromtheothers，showednodesiretoeat。Neitherdidhesmoke，thoughearlyinthedayhehadneverbeenwithoutacigarettebetweenhislips。

Twilightfellanddarknesscame。Notalightshowedanywhereintheblackness。

"Wal，Ireckonit’saboottime，"saidBlue，andheledthewayoutofthecabintothebackofthelot。Jeanstrodebehindhim，carryinghisrifleandanax。Silentlytheothermenfollowed。Blueturnedtotheleftandledthroughthefielduntilhecamewithinsightofadarklineoftrees。

"Thet’swheretheroadturnsoff，"hesaidtoJean。"An’heah’sthebackofColeman’splace……Wal，Jean，goodluck！"

Jeanfeltthegripofasteel—likehand，andinthedarknesshecaughtthegleamofBlue’seyes。JeanhadnoresponseinwordsforthelaconicBlue，buthewrungthehard，thinhandandhurriedawayinthedarkness。

Oncealone，hispartofthebusinessathandrushedhimintoeagerthrillingaction。Thiswasthesortofworkhewasfittedtodo。

Inthisinstanceitwasimportant，butitseemedtohimthatBluehadcoollytakentheperilouspart。AndthiscowboywithgrayinhisthinhairwasinrealitythegreatKingFisher！Jeanmarveledatthefact。AndheshiveredalloverforJorth。Intenminutes——fifteen，moreorless，Jorthwouldliegaspingbloodyfrothandsinkingdown。

Somethinginthedark，lonely，silent，oppressivesummernighttoldJeanthis。Hestrodeonswiftly。Crossingtheroadatarun，hekeptonoverthegroundhehadtraversedduringtheafternoon，andinafewmomentshestoodbreathinghardattheedgeofthecommonbehindGreaves’sstore。

Apinpointoflightpenetratedtheblackness。ItmadeJean’sheartleap。TheJorthcontingentwereburningthebiglampthathunginthecenterofGreaves’sstore。Jeanlistened。Loudvoicesandcoarselaughtersoundeddiscordonthemelancholysilenceofthenight。WhatBluehadcalledhisinstincthadsurelyguidedhimaright。DeathofGastonIsbelwasbeingcelebratedbyrevel。

InafewmomentsJeanhadregainedhisbreath。Thenallhisfacultiessetintenselytotheactionathand。Heseemedtomagnifyhishearingandhissight。Hismovementsmadenosound。Hegainedthewagon，wherehecrouchedamoment。

Thegroundseemedapale，obscuremedium，hardlymorerealthanthegloomaboveit。Throughthisgloomofnight，whichlookedthicklikeacloud，butwasreallyclear，shonethethin，brightpointoflight，accentuatingtheblacksquarethatwasGreaves’sstore。Abovethisstoodagraylineoftreefoliage，andthentheintenselydark—blueskystuddedwithwhite，coldstars。

Ahoundbayedlonesomelysomewhereinthedistance。Voicesofmensoundedmoredistinctly，somedeepandlow，othersloud，unguarded，withthevacantnoteofthoughtlessness。

Jeangatheredallhisforces，untilsenseofsightandhearingwereinexquisiteaccordwiththesupplenessandlightnessofhismovements。