the last of the plainsmen-第25章

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orse。

〃By　the　Lord　Harry！　There's　something　here。〃

〃Here；　Colonel；　here's　the　bush　Sounder　smelt　and　there's　a　sandy　trail　under　it；〃　I　called。

〃There　go　Don　an'　Tige　down　into　the　break'　cried　Frank。　〃They've　got　a　hot　scent！〃

Jones　stooped　over　the　place　I　designated；　to　jerk　up　with　reddening　face；　and　as　he　flung　himself　into　the　saddle　roared　out：　〃After　Sounder！　Old　Tom！　Old　Tom！　Old　Tom！〃

We　all　heard　Sounder；　and　at　the　moment　of　Jones's　discovery；　Moze　got　the　scent　and　plunged　ahead　of　us。

〃Hi！　Hi！　Hi！　Hi！〃　yelled　the　Colonel。　Frank　sent　Spot　forward　like　a　white　streak。　Sounder　called　to　us　in　irresistible　bays；　which　Moze　answered；　and　then　crippled　Jude　bayed　in　baffled　impotent　distress。

The　atmosphere　was　charged　with　that　lion。　As　if　by　magic；　the　excitation　communicated　itself　to　all；　and　men；　horses　and　dogs　acted　in　accord。　The　ride　through　the　forest　had　been　a　jaunt。　This　was　a　steeplechase；　a　mad；　heedless；　perilous；　glorious　race。　And　we　had　for　a　pacemaker　a　cowboy　mounted　on　a　tireless　mustang。

Always　it　seemed　to　me；　while　the　wind　rushed；　the　brush　whipped；　I　saw　Frank　far　ahead；　sitting　his　saddle　as　if　glued　there；　holding　his　reins　loosely　forward。　To　see　him　ride　so　was　a　beautiful　sight。　Jones　let　out　his　Comanche　yell　at　every　dozen　jumps　and　Wallace　sent　back　a　thrilling　〃Waa…hoo…o！〃　In　the　excitement　I　had　again　checked　my　horse；　and　when　Jones　remembered；　and　loosed　the　bridle；　how　the　noble　animal　responded！　The　pace　he　settled　into　dazed　me；　I　could　hardly　distinguish　the　deer　trail　down　which　he　was　thundering。　I　lost　my　comrades　ahead；　the　pinyons　blurred　in　my　sight；　I　only　faintly　heard　the　hounds。　It　occurred　to　me　we　were　making　for　the　breaks；　but　I　did　not　think　of　checking　Satan。　I　thought　only　of　flying　on　faster　and　faster。

〃On！　On！　old　fellow！　Stretch　out！　Never　lose　this　race！　We've　got　to　be　there　at　the　finish！〃　I　called　to　Satan；　and　he　seemed　to　understand　and　stretched　lower；　farther；　quicker。

The　brush　pounded　my　legs　and　clutched　and　tore　my　clothes；　the　wind　whistled；　the　pinyon　branches　cut　and　whipped　my　face。　Once　I　dodged　to　the　left；　as　Satan　swerved　to　the　right；　with　the　result　that　I　flew　out　of　the　saddle；　and　crashed　into　a　pinyon　tree；　which　marvelously　brushed　me　back　into　the　saddle。　The　wild　yells　and　deep　bays　sounded　nearer。　Satan　tripped　and　plunged　down；　throwing　me　as　gracefully　as　an　aerial　tumbler　wings　his　flight。　I　alighted　in　a　bush；　without　feeling　of　scratch　or　pain。　As　Satan　recovered　and　ran　past；　I　did　not　seek　to　make　him　stop；　but　getting　a　good　grip　on　the　pommel；　I　vaulted　up　again。　Once　more　he　raced　like　a　wild　mustang。　And　from　nearer　and　nearer　in　front　pealed　the　alluring　sounds　of　the　chase。

Satan　was　creeping　close　to　Wallace　and　Jones；　with　Frank　looming　white　through　the　occasional　pinyons。　Then　all　dropped　out　of　sight；　to　appear　again　suddenly。　They　had　reached　the　first　break。　Soon　I　was　upon　it。　Two　deer　ran　out　of　the　ravine；　almost　brushing　my　horse　in　the　haste。　Satan　went　down　and　up　in　a　few　giant　strides。　Only　the　narrow　ridge　separated　us　from　another　break。　It　was　up　and　down　then　for　Satan；　a　work　to　which　he　manfully　set　himself。　Occasionally　I　saw　Wallace　and　Jones；　but　heard　them　oftener。　All　the　time　the　breaks　grew　deeper；　till　finally　Satan　had　to　zigzag　his　way　down　and　up。　Discouragement　fastened　on　me；　when　from　the　summit　of　the　next　ridge　I　saw　Frank　far　down　the　break；　with　Jones　and　Wallace　not　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away　from　him。　I　sent　out　a　long；　exultant　yell　as　Satan　crashed　into　the　hard；　dry　wash　in　the　bottom　of　the　break。

I　knew　from　the　way　he　quickened　under　me　that　he　intended　to　overhaul　somebody。　Perhaps　because　of　the　clear　going；　or　because　my　frenzy　had　cooled　to　a　thrilling　excitement　which　permitted　detail；　I　saw　clearly　and　distinctly　the　speeding　horsemen　down　the　ravine。　I　picked　out　the　smooth　pieces　of　ground　ahead；　and　with　the　slightest　touch　of　the　rein　on　his　neck；　guided　Satan　into　them。　How　he　ran！　The　light；　quick　beats　of　his　hoofs　were　regular；　pounding。　Seeing　Jones　and　Wallace　sail　high　into　the　air；　I　knew　they　had　jumped　a　ditch。　Thus　prepared；　I　managed　to　stick　on　when　it　yawned　before　me；　and　Satan；　never　slackening；　leaped　up　and　up；　giving　me　a　new　swing。

Dust　began　to　settle　in　little　clouds　before　me；　Frank；　far　ahead；　had　turned　his　mustang　up　the　side　of　the　break；　Wallace；　within　hailing　distance；　now　turned　to　wave　me　a　hand。　The　rushing　wind　fairly　sang　in　my　ears；　the　walls　of　the　break　were　confused　blurs　of　yellow　and　green；　at　every　stride　Satan　seemed　to　swallow　a　rod　of　the　white　trail。

Jones　began　to　scale　the　ravine；　heading　up　obliquely　far　on　the　side　of　where　Frank　had　vanished；　and　as　Wallace　followed　suit；　I　turned　Satan。　I　caught　Wallace　at　the　summit；　and　we　raced　together　out　upon　another　flat　of　pinyon。　We　heard　Frank　and　Jones　yelling　in　a　way　that　caused　us　to　spur　our　horses　frantically。　Spot；　gleaming　white　near　a　clump　of　green　pinyons；　was　our　guiding　star。　That　last　quarter　of　a　mile　was　a　ringing　run；　a　ride　to　remember。

As　our　mounts　crashed　back　with　stiff　forelegs　and　haunches；　Wallace　and　I　leaped　off　and　darted　into　the　clump　of　pinyons；　whence　issued　a　hair…raising　medley　of　yells　and　barks。　I　saw　Jones；　then　Frank；　both　waving　their　arms；　then　Moze　and　Sounder　running　wildly；　airlessly　about。

〃Look　there！〃　rang　in　my　ear；　and　Jones　smashed　me　on　the　back　with　a　blow；　which　at　any　ordinary　time　would　have　laid　me　flat。

In　a　low；　stubby　pinyon　tree；　scarce　twenty　feet　from　us；　was　a　tawny　form。　An　enormous　mountain　lion；　as　large　as　an　African　lioness；　stood　planted　with　huge；　round　legs　on　two　branches；　and　he　faced　us　gloomily；　neither　frightened　nor　fierce。　He　watched　the　running　dogs　with　pale；　yellow　eyes；　waved　his　massive　head　and　switched　a　long；　black　tufted　tail。

〃It's　Old　Tom！　sure　as　you're　born！　It's　Old　Tom！〃　yelled　Jones。　〃There's　no　two　lions　like　that　in　one　country。　Hold　still　now。　Jude　is　here；　and　she'll　see　him；　she'll　show　him　to　the　other　hounds。　Hold　still！〃

We　heard　Jude　coming　at　a　fast　pace　for　a　lame　dog；　and　we　saw　her　presently；　running　with　her　nose　down　for　a　moment；　then　up。　She　entered　the　clump　of　trees；　and　bumped　her　nose　against　the　pinyon　Old　Tom　was　in；　and　looked　up　like　a　dog　that　knew　her　business。　The　series　of　wild　howls　she　broke　into　quickly　brought　Sounder　and　Moze　to　her　side。　They；　too；　saw　the　big　lion；　not　fifteen　feet　over　their　heads。

We　were　all　yelling　and　trying　to　talk　at　once；　in　some　such　state　as　the　dogs。

〃Hyar；　Moze！　Come　down　out　of　that！〃　hoarsely　shouted　Jones。

Moze　had　begun　to　climb　the　thick；　many…branched；　low　pinyon　tree。　He　paid　not　the　slightest　attention　to　Jones；　who　screamed　and　raged　at　him。

〃Cover　the　lion！〃　cried　he　to　me。　〃Don't　shoot　unless　he　crouches　to　jump　on　me。〃

The　little　beaded　front…sight　wavered　slightly　as　I　held　my　rifle　leveled　at　the　grim；　snarling　face；　and　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　as　it　were；　I　saw　Jones　dash　in　under　the　lion　and　grasp　Moze　by　the　hind　leg　and　haul　him　down。　He　broke　from　Jones　and　leaped　again　to　the　first　low　branch。　His　master　then　grasped　his　collar　and　carried　him　to　where　we　stood　and　held　him　choking。

〃Boys；　we　can't　keep　Tom　up　there。　When　he　jumps；　keep　out　of　his　way。　Maybe　we　can　chase　him　up　a　better　tree。〃

Old　Tom　suddenly　left　the　branches；　swinging　violently；　and　hitting　the　ground　like　a　huge　cat　on　springs；　he　bounded　off；　tail　up；　in　a　most　ludicrous　manner。　His　running；　however；　did　not　lack　speed；　for　he　quickly　outdistanced　the　bursting　hounds。

A　stampede　for　horses　succeeded　this　move。　I　had　difficulty　in　closing　my　camera；　which　I　had　forgotten　until　the　last　moment；　and　got　behind　the　others。　Satan　sent　the　dust　flying　and　the　pinyon　branches　crashing。　Hardly　had　I　time　to　bewail　my　ill…luck　in　being　left；　when　I　dashed　out　of　a　thick　growth　of　trees　to　come　upon　my　companions；　all　dismounted　on　the　rim　of　the　Grand　Canyon。

〃He's　gone　down！　He's　gone　down！〃　raged　Jones；　stamping　the　ground。　〃What　luck！　What　miserable　luck！　But　don't　quit；　spread　along　the　rim；　boys；　and　look　for　him。　Cougars　can't　fly。　There's　a　break　in　the　rim　somewhere。〃

The　rock　wall；　on　which　we　dizzily　stood；　dropped　straight　down　for　a　thousand　feet；　to　meet　a　long；　pinyon…covered　slope；　which　graded　a　mile　to　cut　off　into　what　must　have　been　the　second　wall。　We　were　far　west　of　Clarke's　trail　now；　and　faced　a　point　above　where　Kanab　Canyon；　a　red　gorge　a　mile　deep；　met　the　great　canyon。　As　I　ran　along　the　rim；　looking　for　a　fissure　or　break；　my　gaze　seemed　impellingly　drawn　by　the　immensity　of　this　thing　I　could　not　name；　and　for　which　I　had　as　yet　no　intelligible　emotion。

Two　〃Waa…hoos〃　in　the　rear　turned　me　back　in　double…quick　time；　and　hastening　by　the　horses；　I　found　the　three　men　grouped　at　the　head　of　a　narrow　break。

〃He　went　down　here。　Wallace　saw　him　round　the　base　of　that　tottering　crag。〃

The　break　was　wedge…shaped；　with　the　sharp　end　off　toward　the　rim；　and　it　descended　so　rapidly　as　to　appear　almost　perpendicular。　It　was　a　long；　steep　slide　of　small；　weathered　shale；　and　a　place　that　no　man　in　his　right　senses　would　ever　have　considered　going　down。　But　Jones；　designating　Frank　and　me；　said　in　his　cool；　quick　voice：

〃You　fellows　go　down。　Take　Jude　and　Sounder　in　leash。　If　you　find　his　trail　below　along　the　wall；　yell　for　us。　Meanwhile；　Wallace　and　I　will　hang　over　the　rim　and　watch　for　him。〃

Going　down；　in　one　sense；　was　much　easier　than　had　appeared；　for　the　reason　that　once　started　we　moved　on　sliding　beds　of　weathered　stone。　Each　of　us　now　had　an　avalanche　for　a　steed。　Frank　forged　ahead　with　a　roar；　and　then　seeing　danger　below；　tried　to　get　out　of　the　mass。　But　the　stones　were　like　quicksand；　every　step　he　took　sunk　him　in　deeper。　He　grasped　the　smooth　cliff；　to　find　holding　impossible。　The　slide　poured　over　a　fall　like　so　much　water。　He　reached　and　caught　a　branch　of　a　pinyon；　and　lifting　his　feet　up；　hung　on　till　the　treacherous　area　of　moving　stones　had　passed。

While　I　had　been　absorbed　in　his　predicament；　my　avalanche　augmented　itself　by　slide　on　slide；　perhaps　loosened　by　his；　and　before　I　knew　it；　I　was　sailing　down　with　ever…increasing　momentum。　The　sensation　was　distinctly　pleasant；　and　a　certain　spirit；　before　restrained　in　me；　at　last　ran　riot。　The　slide　narrowed　at　the　drop　where　Frank　had　jumped；　and　the　stones　poured　over　in　a　stream。　I　jumped　also；　but　having　a　rifle　in　one　hand；　failed　to　hold；　and　plunged　down　into　the　slide　again。　My　feet　were　held　this　time；　as　in　a　vise。　I　kept　myself　upright　and　waited。　Fortunately；　the　jumble　of　loose　stone　slowed　and　stopped；　enabling　me　to　crawl　over　to　one　side　where　there　was　comparatively　good　footing。　Below　us；　for　fifty　yards　was　a　sheet　of　rough　stone；　as　bare　as　washed　granite　well　could　be。　We　slid　down　this　in　regular　schoolboy　fashion；　and　had　reached　another　restricted　neck　in　the　fissure；　when　a　sliding　crash　above　warned　us　that　the　avalanches　had　decided　to　move　of　their　own　free　will。　Only　a　fraction　of　a　moment　had　we　to　find　footing　along　the　yellow　cliff；　when；　with　a　cracking　roar；　the　mass　struck　the　slippery　granite。　If　we　had　been　on　t