按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
peoplebut out here； for wind and sand。〃
Looking back； she saw the family running out of the cottage； waving
handkerchiefs and bonnets as in the mad joy of congratulation。
〃They think we're running away together！〃 shouted Wilfred with
exultation。 The hurry of their flight； the certainty of pursuit； the prospect
of dangers from man and nature； thrilled his blood； fixed his jaw；
illumined his eye。 All life seemed suddenly a flight across a level world
whose cloud of yellow dust enveloped only himself and Lahoma。 〃They
think we're running away together。 Look at them； Lahoma。 How happy
they are at the idea！〃
〃They don't know there's nobody to object； if we don't；〃 returned
Lahoma gaily； as she urged on her steed。 〃Come along； Wilfred；〃 she
taunted； as his horse fell a neck behind hers； 〃what are you staying back
THERE for？ Tired？ If we get into the trail before that coach starts； we'll
have to put on all speed。〃
〃Doing my best；〃 he called； 〃but I made a bad bargain when I got this
beast。 This is his best lick； and it doesn't promise to last long。 However； it
148
… Page 149…
LAHOMA
was the only one left at the barn。〃
Lahoma slightly checked her animal。 〃That's a good thing； anywayif
there's none left； those horrible men can't follow。〃
Wilfred did not answer。 He was sure the stage would be driven in
pursuit at breakneck speed； and from the breathing of his horse he feared it
could not long endure the contest。 To be sure； Red Kimball and his men
had no lawful excuse to offer the stage…driver for an attempt to stop them；
but three men who had once been desperate highwaymen might not look
for lawful excuses on a dark night in a dreary desert。 Besides； Kimball
might； with some show of reason； argue that since he was bent on the
legitimate object of having a writ served on Brick Willock； he would be
justified in preventing Brick from being warned out of the country。
They galloped on in silence； Lahoma slightly holding back。 Night
rapidly drew on。
149
… Page 150…
LAHOMA
CHAPTER XX
TOGETHER
Before them； the trail； beaten and rutted； stretched interminably；
losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of
the world。 As darkness increased； the trail seemed to waver before their
eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground。 On either side of it；
the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness； now an unbroken
stretch of dead sage…brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes…
brushsuddenly； a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose
again； broken rocks sown broadcast。 Before final darkness came； the trail
itself was varicolored； sometimes white with alkali； sometimes skirting
low hills whose sides showed a deep blue； streaked with crimson。
But now all was black； sand； alkali； gypsum…beds； for the night had
fallen。
In their wide detour they had endeavored to escape detection from the
stage…station； but sheltered by no appreciable inequalities of land； and
denied the refuge that even a small grove might have furnished； they had；
as it were； been held up to view on the prairie； and though so far away；
their horses had been as distinctly outlined as two ants scurrying across a
white page。
Wilfred reflected。 〃If Kimball； when he came out of that restaurant；
happened to look in this direction； he must have seen us； and the first
inquiry at the barn would inform him who're on the horses。' But he said
nothing until； from the rear； came the sound long…dreaded； telling； though
far away； of bounding horses and groaning wheels。
〃Lahoma！〃
〃YesI hear them。〃
〃My horse is about used up。 We'll have to side…trail； or they'll ride us
down。〃
〃I could go on；〃 Lahoma answered； as she drew bard on the bit； 〃but I
wouldn't like to leave you here by yourself。〃
〃You couldn't travel that distance by yourself。 And good as your horse
is； it wouldn't last。 But thank you for thinking of me；〃 he added； smiling in
150
… Page 151…
LAHOMA
the darkness； as he dismounted。 〃Let me lead your horse as well as my
own。〃
〃No；〃 said Lahoma； 〃if leading is to be done； I'll do my part。〃 She
leaped lightly to the ground and seized her bridle。 Side by side they slowly
ventured from the trail into the invisible country on the left。 They found
themselves treading short dead mesquit that did not greatly obstruct their
progress。
〃Keep going；〃 Wilfred said； when she paused for breath。 〃It wouldn't
do for our horses to whinny； for those fellows would hear them if it was
thundering。 Give me your hand。〃
〃Here it is；〃 Lahoma felt about in the darkness。 〃My！ but I'm glad I've
got you； Wilfred！ Oh； how they are dashing along！ Listen how the man is
lashing his whip over those four horses。 Wish we could see 'emmust be
grand； tearing along at that rate！〃
The stage was rapidly coming up abreast of them； and Wilfred felt her
grasp tighten。 There was a flash of lights； a glimpse of the driver's face as
of creased leather as he raised his whip above his headthen noise and
cloud of dust passed on and the lights became trailing sparks that in a
minute or two the wind seemed to blow out。
〃My poor Brick！〃 Lahoma wailed。 〃Do you think he'll take good
enough care of himself from what I wrote in my letters？ But no； he doesn't
think Red Kimball is coming yet； for I didn't know it till after I'd written。
He's with Bill now； waiting for another letter。 Or for a telegram。〃
〃No； no； Lahoma；〃 Wilfred tried to sooth her。 〃He has been hiding for
days。 Why should he come out just at the wrong time？ You wrote that
you'd not send any more messages。 Brick will be on the lookout for
Kimball。 He is sure to be watching out for him。〃
〃I know Brick；〃 Lahoma protested； seemingly all at once overcome by
the fatigues of her journey and the hopelessness of the situation。 〃I was
afraid he wouldn't agree to hide at all； and just as soon as you came away；
and there wasn't any more prospects of letters； he'd get lonesome； and tire
of staying away from home。 He's in that cove this minute； and he'll be
there when Red Kimball takes the sheriff after him。〃 Her voice quivered
with distress。
151
… Page 152…
LAHOMA
〃Don't be afraid； Lahoma；〃 urged Wilfred； slipping his arm
protectingly about her。 〃Don't grieveI'm sure Brick is in a safe place。〃
〃Well； I'M not in danger；〃 said Lahoma； with…drawing from his
involuntary embrace。 〃Don't take ME for Brick！ Maybe you're rightbut
no； I'm sure he wouldn't be willing to stay out in the mountains week after
weekand during these cold nights！ For it is cold； right now。 We must
hurry on； Wilfred。〃
〃There's one comfort；〃 said Wilfred； as they retraced their way toward
the trail。 〃Mr。 Gledware won't appear as a witness against Brick。 We'll get
him cleared； easy enough。〃
〃But Mr。 Gledware WILL appear against him； and he'll swear anything
that Red Kimball wants。〃
〃I thought he agreed to do that only on condition that a certain pin〃
〃YES！ But Red Kimball brought him that pin just before I left！〃
〃Brought him the pin that the Indian had？〃
〃Yes； the pearl and onyx pin。 And Mr。 Gledware seemed to consider it
so important that I know Red Feather would never have given it up while
he had life。〃
〃Then。。。？〃
Lahoma shuddered。 〃YES！ You see； NOW； what a fiend Red Kimball
is。 And you know； NOW； what a hold he has over Mr。 Gledware；can
make him testify in such a way as to ruin my poor Brick。 If Brick knew
this； he'd understand how important it is to flee for his life and never；
never let himself be taken。 But he thinks nobody could get the better of
Red F