lla.theburninghills-第15章

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e　sun　was　a　ball　of　fire　in　a　sky　of　molten　flame　above　a　red　and　scarred　land　where　the　only　sound　was　the　muffled　beat　of　his　own　horse's　hoofs；　the　creak　of　his　own　saddle…leather。
　Down　there　ahead　of　him；　somewhere　in　the　desert；　must　be　a　rancheria。
　He　did　not　stop　for　food。　He　ate　from　the　sack　and　pushed　on。　The　big　red　horse　labored　now　but　seemed　to　understand　his　rider's　urgency。　And　he　was　stronger　than　the　small　grass…fed　Apaches'　ponies　and　he　was　gaining。
　Once　he　glanced　back。　And　felt　his　throat　tighten　when　he　did。　Behind　him　was　a　plume　of　dust
　They　had　wasted　no　time　in　picking　up　his　trail　once　he　began　moving。　And　there　was　no　time　for　playing　hare　to　their　hounds　now；　no　time　for　subterfuge。　Now　he　must　ride；　ride；　ride！
　Then；　far　ahead；　he　saw　dust。　A　wisp　of　dust；　soon　vanished。　He　broke　into　the　open　and　saw　them　ahead　of　him。　Three　horses；　hard…running。　Three。。。？
　Only　just　in　time；　he　swung　his　horse。　The　realization　that　only　three　riders　rode　ahead　caused　its　instant　reaction。　He　swung　the　horse　and　a　bullet　whipped　by　his　skull；　missing　by　inches　only。　And　then　he　saw　the　Apache　streaking　for　his　horse。　With　one　hand　he　swung　his　Winchester　and　fired　a　shot。
　The　bullet　spat　dust　just　ahead　of　the　fleeing　man　and；　slamming　Big　Bed　with　the　spurs；　Jordan　went　after　him；　working　the　lever　on　the　Winchester　as　he　rode。
　The　Apache　despaired　of　reaching　his　horse　and　turning；　fired。　He　shot　too　quick　and　missed　and　then　the　big　red　horse　slammed　into　him；　hitting　him　with　a　shoulder　and　knocking　the　Indian　rolling。
　Without　slowing；　Jordan　went　on；　only　taking　time　to　start　the　Apache's　pony　running。
　The　Apaches　ahead　spread　out；　taking　different　directions。　They　must　know　of　the　men　behind　him　or　they　would　have　stopped　to　fight；　but　now　they　ran。　One　man　carried　double　and　Jordan　went　after　him。　Yet　as　he　rode；　he　wondered　。。。　would　they　kill　her　when　he　reached　them？
　Suddenly　Maria　Cristina　was　fighting　and　then　with　the　pony　at　a　dead　run　she　twisted　free　and　flung　herself　from　the　saddle。　She　hit　the　sand；　bounding　like　a　sack　of　old　clothes；　then　rolling　over。
　The　Apache　veered　to　pursue　her　and　Jordan　came　between　them。　The　Apache　swung　his　rifle　but　Jordan　parried　the　blow　and　struck　up　with　the　butt。　He　knocked　the　rifle　from　the　Indian's　hands　and　then　they　were　off　their　horses　and　fighting　furiously。
　The　Apache's　hand　closed　over　his　knife　hilt　first　as　Jordan　hit　him　with　a　long　right。　The　blow　knocked　him　down　and　Jordan　sprang　for　him　with　both　boots。　The　Indian　rolled　over　and　came　up　fast　and　they　closed；　struggling　fiercely。　Then　Jordan　broke　a　hand　free　and　struck　upward　with　his　fist　The　blow　knocked　the　Indian　back　and　Jordan　kicked　him　in　the　knee　with　his　boot　heel。
　The　Apache　was　blocky；　powerfully　muscled　and　tough。　He　went　down　but　rolled　over　and　palmed　his　knife　for　a　throw　。。。　and　Trace　Jordan　shot　him　through　the　body。
　The　Apache　fell；　tried　to　get　up；　then　sprawled　out。　He　lay　still　then；　a　slim　brown　body　in　the　hot　white　sun；　and　the　dust　of　the　fighting　sifted　over。
　Trace　Jordan　mopped　the　sweat　from　his　brow。　Of　the　other　Indians　there　was　no　sign。　He　turned　slowly　and　walked　toward　Maria　Cristina。
　She　was　on　her　feet；　facing　him。　Her　face　was　dusty　and　her　hair　blew　in　the　wind。　It　blew　across　her　cheek。　Her　hands　were　bound　together　and　her　blouse　was　torn　but　she　stood；　feet　apart；　waiting　for　him。
　He　cut　free　her　hands。　For　an　instant　they　stood　together；　their　eyes　holding。　He　started　to　take　her　in　his　arms　but　she　stepped　back　quickly；　shrinking；　her　eyes　wide　like　those　of　a　frightened　animal　〃No　。　。　。　No　。　。　。〃
　He　let　his　hands　fall。　Turning；　he　went　to　where　his　horse　waited　and　gathered　up　the　reins。　Then　he　rounded　up　an　Apache　pony　and　led　it　to　her。　Without　ment　she　mounted　and　as　she　got　into　the　Indian's　blanket　saddle　he　noticed　she　had　taken　the　Indian's　Winchester　and　ammunition。　The　cartridge　belt　was　slung　across　her　shoulder。
　Behind　them　the　dust　was　closer。　He　even　believed　he　could　distinguish　figures　through　the　dust。
　They　started；　but　not　too　fast　The　horses　behind　them　had　e　far　and　would　be　in　no　shape　for　a　sprint。　And　his　own　horse　needed　rest。
　They　were　riding　north　now　and　his　thoughts　were　going　on　ahead。　This　was　still　Mexico　but　the　Arizona　border　was　north　of　them　and　they　would　reach　the　border　sixty　or　seventy　miles　west　of　the　Sutton…Bayless　holdings。　If　they　could　reach　a　town；　Just　any　town　where　there　was　a　sheriff。　。。。
　But　there　was　no　town。　Not　close　enough　to　help。　Tubac　was　still　farther　west；　Tucson　and　Tombstone　too　far　north。　Their　best　chance　was　the　John　Slaughter　ranch　at　San　Bernardino　Springs。　And　there　was　a　chance　they　could　reach　it　in　time。　They　might　then　claim　sanctuary　from　John　Slaughter　and　he　was　no　man　with　whom　to　trifle；　not　even　the　Sutton　outfit。
　He　led　the　way　into　an　arroyo；　then　doubled　back　along　the　canyon　to　another；　then　out　of　it　and　into　a　thick　forest　of　yucca　and　nopal。　He　used　every　trick　now；　riding　slower；　taking　their　time；　their　horses　a　dozen　yards　apart　to　raise　less　dust　They　used　the　brush　for　cover；　moving　together；　then　apart。
　Behind　them　the　riders　had　separated；　they　had　spread　out　to　cover　more　ground。　And　they　were　gaining。
　Suddenly　he　had　an　idea。　It　came　to　him　out　of　nowhere；　so　foolish；　so　risky；　so　dangerous　that　for　a　moment　he　doubted　his　sanity。　It　was　the　fact　that　they　were　riding　spread　out　that　gave　them　a　chance。
　He　glanced　right　and　left；　seeing　some　fairly　dense　brush。　Lifting　a　hand　for　a　halt　during　the　few　minutes　they　were　out　of　sight；　he　slid　quicldy　to　the　ground　and　threw　his　horse。　By　the　time　Maria　Cristina　had　e　up；　he　had　blindfolded　his　horse　and；　seeing　what　he　had　done；　she　slid　to　the　ground　and　did　likewise。　Hurriedly　then　they　gathered　brush　to　cover　both　horses。　Then　they　lay　down；　under　the　edge　of　the　brush　themselves。　Big　Red　was　trembling　but　at　the　calming　voices　of　Jordan　and　Maria　Cristina　both　horses　quieted；　frightened　by　this　sudden　darkness　in　which　they　found　themselves。
　It　was　an　old　trick。　Many　a　time　he　had　seen　horses　led　across　rickety　bridges　in　this　way　or　taken　from　fires。　A　blindfolded　horse　lies　quiet。
　It　was　very　hot。　The　heat　of　the　earth　was　frightful。　If　one　of　the　horses　moved　at　the　wrong　time　。。。　but　the　sudden　darkness　held　them　still。
　Dust　was　thick　beneath　them。　Gun　in　hand；　he　waited。　Sweat　ran　down　his　face　and　he　knew　that　if　one　of　the　riders　swung　closer　and　came　into　this　space　their　concealment　would　not　be　sufficient。　There　was　the　smell　of　the　horse；　of　his　own　unwashed　clothing；　and　the　mingled　smells　of　creosote　and　crushed　thamnosma。　And　then　he　heard　the　horses　ing。
　He　heard　two　of　them　at　once　and　was　immediately　sure　they　were　too　close。　He　tensed；　ready　to　spring　up　shooting。　If　they　got　him　he　figured　he　could　take　at　least　two　with　him。　He　would　。。。　he　could　hear　a　horse　walking。　He　put　a　quieting　hand　on　Big　Red。
　A　man　swore　bitterly　and　he　heard　brush　scrape　along　his　chaps。　The　man　nearest　them　yelled；　〃See　anything？〃
　〃No！〃　The　reply　was　from　some　distance　off　to　the　other　side。　〃Canyon　up　ahead。〃
　Their　concealment　was　far　from　adequate。　Only　their　pursuers　were　not　expecting　this　and　their　eyes　were　looking　ahead；　always　ahead。
　The　riders　went　by　and　then　as　he　was　about　to　look；　another　rider；　and　closer　still。　They　heard　the　horse　walking；　heard　a　cork　pulled　from　a　canteen　and　the　gurgle　of　water　as　the　rider　drank　At　the　moment　he　passed　them　he　was　plainly　within　view；　only　his　head　was　tipped　back　and　he　was　drinking。　Then　they　heard　him　rinse　his　mouth　and　spit。
　Trace　Jordan　lay　stifl；　counting　a　slow　fifty。　When　he　did　take　a　chance　and　look　he　could　see　but　one　rider；　some　distance　off。　The　rest　must　have　gone　down　into　the　canyon　the　rider　had　mentioned。　Swiftly　they　got　to　their　feet　and；　ripping　off　the　blindfolds；　got　the　horses　to　their　feet。
　Turning　at　right　angles　they　headed　west；　then　turned　north　again；　wanting　to　lose　no　miles　that　would　carry　them　closer　to　safety。　Soon　they　went　into　the　forest　of　yucca；　and　when　well　inside　were　out　of　sight　of　anyone　behind　them。
　What　they　had　gained　was　at　best　a　breathing　spell。　When　Lantz　found　no　more　tracks　he　would　begin　searching。　They　would　back…trail　until　they　found　the　brush　and　the　marks　of　the　bodies。　Jordan　grinned；　picturing　the　old　tracker's　disgust。　But　they　had　gained　an　hour；　perhaps　less。
　Several　intermittent　streams　that　flowed　only　during　the　rains　lay　between　themselves　and　the　border。　Some　of　these　flowed　into　the　Bio　de　San　Bernardino；　and　others　to　the　Bio　de　Bavispe。　The　canyon　of　one　of　these　streams　might　offer　some　protection　for　their　ride　to　the　border；　although　most　of　them　ran　northeast　instead　of　northwest
　There　was　no　run　left　in　the　Apache　pony　and　not　enough　in　the　big　red　horse。　And　then　they　found　the　canyon　they　needed　and；　descending　into　it；　they　rode　into　the　shallow　water　which　flowed　much　of　the　distance　over　shelves　of　stone　and　they　rode　upstream。
　For　over　a　mile　they　rode　in　water　scarcely　hock…deep；　then　down　to　a　thin　sheet　scarcely　more　than　two　inches　in　depth。　They　dismounted　now　and　walked；　liking　the　feeling　of　the　cool　water　on　their　feet；　leaving　slow　miles　behind　them　and　little　trail。
　Ten　miles　from　the　point　at　which　they　entered　the　canyon；　they　saw　a　way　out　and　accepted　the　chance。　Carefully　they　mounted　the　wall　At　the　rim；　Jordan　stepped　down　from　the　saddle　and　took　a　long；　slow　study　of　the　country。
　Wherever　he　looked　the　country　was　wide　and　barren。　There　were　rocks　and　much　cacti；　thickets　of　mesquite；　broken　ledges　upthrust　from　below。
　Emerging；　they　proceeded　with　care。　Exhaustion　had　drawn　his　face　into　haggard　lines。　Dust　lay　along　the　creases　in　his　face。　His　eyeballs　grated　in　their　sockets　and　he　rode　in　a　daze　of　weariness。　Half　a　length　back；　slumping　in　the　saddle；　Maria　Cristina　sat　a　horse　that　was　all　but　ready　to　drop。　
　They　needed　rest；　food　and　a　chance　to　recuperate。　They　needed　fodder　for　the　horses。
　When　he　first　saw　the　scraggly…looking　brush　he　was　not　impressed。　It　was　like　fifty　other　such　vague　clumps　they　had　passed。　It　stretched　out　over　most　of　an　acre　but　what　caught　his　attention　was　a　dip　in　the　ground　at　one　edge　of　the　clump。　He　rode　nearer。　It　was　a　hollow　nestled　with　brush　and；　inside；　a　small　clearing。　It　was　a　doubtful…looking　place　but　it　offered　shelter　of　an　unsuspected　kind。　In　the　bottom　of　the　hollow　there　was　a　small　seep。
　They　could　risk　no　fire　but　there　was　grass　for　the　horses　and　water　they　could　suck　from　the　grass　of　the　seep。　Trace　Jordan　unsaddled　the　horses　and　put　them　on　picket　ropes；　then　began　making　a　small　pool　by　pulling　clumps　of　grass　in　the　wettest　part　of　the　seep。　Maria　Gristina　returned　to　the　clearing　with　some　green　leaves　with　reddish　stems。　These　she　soaked　in　water　and　held　against　a　cut　on　her　arm。
　〃Yerba　mansa；〃　Jordan　said；　looking　at　the　leaves。
　She　looked　up；　faintly　amused。　〃Well！　What　d'you　know！　You　know　the　herbs。〃
　〃Some。〃
　〃Maybe　you　do　well　on　your　ranch。　Maybe　you　good　for　something　after　all。〃
　He　chuckled。　〃You're　hard　to　convince；〃　he　said。　〃I　never