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"I want to enjoy this race," he said, with a smile that somehow hinted of the years he had packed those guns day and night. "Cordts, I don't want to take your guns," replied Bostil, bluntly. "I've taken your word an' that's enough." "Thanks, Bostil. All the same, as I'm your guest I won't pack them," returned Cordts, and he hung the belt on the horn of Bostil's saddle. "Some of my men are with me.
Then she told him how she had been dropping cedar berries and bits of cedar leaves along the bare and stony course they had traversed. "Wal, I'm " Creech stifled an oath. Then he laughed, but gruffly. "You air a cute one. But I reckon you didn't promise not to do thet.... An' now if Cordts gits you there'll be only yourself to blame." "Oh!" cried Lucy, frantically looking back.
"What on earth does this mean?" she gasped, very low. She had no sense of fear of Creech. Once, when he and her father had been friends, she had been a favorite of Creech's. When a little girl she had ridden his knee many times. Between Creech and Cordts there was immeasurable distance. Yet she had been violently seized and carried out into the sage and menaced. Creech leaned down.
Cordts had got her! She knew it. She grew limp as a rag and her senses dulled. She almost fainted. The sickening paralysis of her faculties lingered. But she felt her body released she was placed upon her feet she was shaken by a rough hand. She swayed, and but for that hand might have fallen. She could see a tall, dark form over her, and horses, and the gloomy gray open of the sage slope.
He thought he recognized Lucy. Stunned, he crouched down again with his hands clenched round his rifle. And there he remained for a long moment of agony before reason asserted itself over emotion. Had he really seen Lucy? He had heard of a girl now and then in the camps of these men, especially Cordts. Maybe Creech had fallen in with comrades.
If Slone had been inattentive to his surroundings before, the sight of Cordts electrified him. "Lucy! drop down! quick!" "Oh, what's happened? You you " "I've been shot. Drop down, I tell you. Get behind the horse an' pull my rifle." "Shot!" exclaimed Lucy, blankly. "Yes Yes.... My God! Lucy, he's goin' to shoot again!" It was then Lucy Bostil saw Cordts across the gulch.
He thought that possibly Cordts had split his party, one to trail along after Creech, the others to work around to head him off. Undoubtedly Cordts knew this broken canyon country and could tell where Creech was going, and knew how to intercept him. The uncertainty wore heavily upon Slone. He grew desperate. He had no time to steal along cautiously. He must be the first to get to Creech.
Hutchinson was reluctant. But the stronger force dominated. He leaned down clasped Cordts's outstretched hands, and pulled. Hutchinson bawled out hoarsely. Cordts turned what seemed a paler face. He had difficulty on the slight footing. He was slow. Slone tried to call to Lucy to shoot low, but his lips had drawn tight after his one yell.
"CORDTS!" Bostil leaned forward in sudden, fierce eagerness. "Yes, Cordts.... His outfit run across Creech's trail an' we bunched. I can't tell now.... But we had hell! An' Cordts is dead so's Hutch an' that other pard of his.... Bostil, they'll never haunt your sleep again!" Slone finished with a strange sternness that seemed almost bitter. Bostil raised both his huge fists.
But I'd rather lose all my stock then have Cordts or Dick Sears get within a mile of you." "A mile!" exclaimed Lucy, lightly, though a fleeting shade crossed her face. "Why, I'd run away from him, if I was on the King, even if he got within ten yards of me." "A mile is close enough, my daughter," replied Bostil. "Don't ever forget to keep your eye open.
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