wyoming(怀俄明)-第16节
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〃Shall I take him； Cap？〃 cried one of the men。
〃No； he's mine。〃 The rifle smoked once more and again the runner
went down。 But this time he plunged headlong down the slope and out of
sight。
The outlaw chief turned on his heel。 〃I reckon he'll not run any more
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to…day。 Bring him into camp and we'll take him along with us；〃 he said
carelessly； and walked away to his horse in the creek bed。
Two of the men started forward； but they stopped half way； as if rooted
to the ground。 For a galloping horseman suddenly drew up at the very
point for which they were starting。 He leaped to the ground and warned
them back with his rifle。 While he covered them a second man rode up and
lifted Bannister to his saddle。
〃Ready； Mac；〃 he gave the word； and both horses disappeared with
their riders over the brow of the hill。 When the surprised desperadoes
recovered themselves and reached that point the rescuers had disappeared
in the heavy brush。
The alarm was at once given； and their captain； cursing them in a
raucous bellow for their blunder； ordered immediate pursuit。 It was some
little time before the trail of the fugitives was picked up； but once
discovered they were over hauled rapidly。
〃We're not going to get out without swapping lead；〃 McWilliams
admitted anxiously。 〃I wisht y'u wasn't hampered with that load； but I
reckon I'll have to try to stand them off alone。〃
〃We bucked into a slice of luck when I opened on his bronc
mavericking around alone。 Hadn't been for that we could never have made
it；〃 said Missou； who never crossed a bridge until he came to it。
〃We haven't made it yet； old hoss； not by a long mile； and two more on
top o' that。 They're beginning to pump lead already。 Huh！ Got to drap your
pills closer'n that 'fore y'u worry me。〃
〃I believe he's daid； anyway；〃 said Missou presently； peering down
into the white face of the unconscious man。
〃Got to hang onto the remains； anyhow； for Miss Helen。 Those coyotes
are too much of the wolf breed to leave him with them。〃
〃Looks like they're gittin' the aim some better；〃 equably remarked the
other a minute later； when a spurt of sand flew up in front of him。
〃They're ce'tainly crowding us。 I expaict I better send them a 'How…de…
do？' so as to discourage them a few。〃 He took as careful aim as he could
on the galloping horse； but his bullet went wide。
〃They're gaining like sixty。 It's my offhand opinion we better stop at
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that bunch of trees and argue some with them。 No use buck…jumpin' along
to burn the wind while they drill streaks of light through us。〃
〃All right。 Take the trees。 Y'u'll be able to get into the game some
then。〃
They debouched from the road to the little grove and slipped from
their horses。
〃Deader'n hell；〃 murmured Missou； as he lifted the limp body from his
horse。 〃 But I guess we'll pack what's left back to the little lady at the Lazy
D。〃
The leader of the pursuers halted his men just out of range and came
forward alone； holding his right hand up in the usual signal of peace。 In
appearance he was not unlike Ned Bannister。 There was the same long；
slim； tiger build； with the flowing muscles rippling easily beneath the
loose shirt； the same effect of power and dominance； the same clean；
springy stride。 The pose of the head； too； even the sweep of salient jaw；
bore a marked resemblance。 But similarity ceased at the expression。 For
instead of frankness there lurked here that hint of the devil of strong
passion uncontrolled。 He was the victim of his own moods； and in the
space of an hour one might； perhaps； read in that face cold cunning； cruel
malignity； leering ribaldry； as well as the hard…bitten virtues of unflinching
courage and implacable purpose。
〃I reckon you're near enough；〃 suggested Mac； when the man had
approached to within a hundred feet of the tree clump。
〃Y'u're drawing the dead…line；〃 the other acknowledged； indolently。 〃It
won't take ten words to tell y'u what I want and mean to have。 I'm giving
y'u two minutes to hand me over the body of Ned Bannister。 If y'u don't
see it that way I'll come and make a lead mine of your whole outfit。〃
〃Y'u can't come too quick； seh。 We're here a…shootin'； and don't y'u
forget it；〃 was McWilliams's prompt answer。
The sinister face of the man from the Shoshones darkened。 〃Y'u've
signed your own death warrants；〃 he let out through set teeth； and at the
word swung on his heel。
〃The ball's about to open。 Pardners for a waltz。 Have a dust…cutter；
Mac； before she grows warm。〃
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The puncher handed over his flask； and the other held it before his eye
and appraised the contents in approved fashion。 〃 Don't mind if I do。
Here's how！〃
〃How！〃 echoed Missou； in turn； and tipped up the bottle till the liquor
gurgled down his baked throat。
〃He's fanning out his men so as to； get us both at the front and back
door。 Lucky there ain't but four of them。〃
〃I guess we better lie back to back；〃 proposed Missou。 〃If our luck's
good I reckon they're going to have a gay time rushing this fort。〃
A few desultory shots had already been dropped among the
cottonwoods； and returned by the defendants when Missou let out a yell of
triumph。
〃Glory Hallelujah！ Here comes the boys splittin' down the road hell…
for…leather。 That lopsided； ring…tailed snorter of a hawss…thief is gathering
his wolves for a hike back to the tall timber。 Feed me a cigareet； Mac。 I
plumb want to celebrate。〃
It was as the cow…puncher had said。 Down the road a cloud of dust was
sweeping toward them； in the centre of which they made out three
hardriding cowboys from the ranch。 Farther back； in the distance； was
another dust whirl。 The outlaw chief's hard； vigilant gaze swept over the
reinforcements！ and decided instantly that the game had gone against him
for the present。 He whistled shrilly twice； and began a slow retreat toward
the hills。 The miscreants flung a few defiant shots at the advancing
cowmen； and disappeared； swallowed up in the earth swells。
The homeward march was a slow one； for Bannister had begun to
show signs of consciousness and it was necessary to carry him with
extreme care。 While they were still a mile from the ranch house the pinto
and its rider could be seen loping toward them。
〃Ride forward； Denver； and tell Miss Helen we're coming。 Better have
her get everything fixed to doctor him soon as we get there。 Give him the
best show in the world； and he'll still be sailing awful close to the divide。
I'll bet a hundred plunks he'll cash in； anyway。〃
〃DONE！〃
The voice came faintly from the improvised litter。 Mac turned with a
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start； for he had not known that Bannister was awake to his surroundings。
The man appeared the picture of helplessness； all the lusty power and
vigor stricken out of him； but his indomitable spirit still triumphed over
the physical collapse； for as the foreman looked a faint smile touched the
ashen lips。 It seemed to say： 〃Still in the ring； old man。〃
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CHAPTER 8。 IN THE LAZY D
HOSPITAL
Helen's first swift glance showed that the wounded man was Bannister。
She turned in crisp command to her foreman。
〃Have him taken to my room and put to bed there。 We have no time to
prepare another。 And send one of the boys on your best horse for a doctor。〃
They carried the limp figure in with rough tenderness and laid him in
the bed。 McWilliams un
