wyoming(怀俄明)-第42部分
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〃We'll go on； Mac； to the rendezvous he had appointed with his outfit。
We ought to reach there by noon； and the boys can send a wagon back to
get the bodies。〃
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CHAPTER 23。 JOURNEYS END
IN LOVERS' MEETING
It had been six days since the two Ned Bannisters had ridden away
together into the mountains； and every waking hour since that time had
been for Helen one of harassing anxiety。 No word had yet reached her of
the issue of that dubious undertaking； and she both longed and dreaded to
hear。 He had promised to send a messenger as soon as he had anything
definite to tell； but she knew it would be like his cousin； too； to send her
some triumphant word should he prove the victor in the struggle between
them。 So that every stranger she glimpsed brought to her a sudden beating
of the heart。
But it was not the nature of Helen Messiter to sit down and give
herself up a prey to foreboding。 Her active nature cried out for work to
occupy her and distract her attention。 Fortunately this was to be had in
abundance just now。 For the autumn round…up was on； and since her
foreman was away the mistress of the Lazy D found plenty of work ready
to her hand。
The meeting place for the round…up riders was at Boom Creek； five
miles from the ranch； and Helen rode out there to take charge of her own
interests in person。 With her were six riders； and for the use of each of
them in addition to his present mount three extra ponies were brought in
the remuda。 For the riding is so hard during the round…up that a horse can
stand only one day in four of it。 At the appointed rendezvous a score of
other cowboys and owners met them。 Without any delay they proceeded to
business。 Mr。 Bob Austin； better known as 〃Texas；〃 was elected boss of
the round…up； and he immediately assigned the men to their places and
announced that they would work Squaw Creek。 They moved camp at once；
Helen returning to the ranch。
It was three o'clock in the morning when the men were roused by the
cook's triangle calling them to the 〃chuck wagon〃 for breakfast。 It was still
cold and dark as the boys crawled from under their blankets and squatted
round the fire to eat jerky； biscuits and gravy； and to drink cupfuls of hot；
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black coffee。 Before sun rose every man was at his post far up on the
Squaw Creek ridges ready to begin the drive。
Later in the day Helen rode to the parade grounds； toward which a
stream of cattle was pouring down the canyon of the creek。 Every gulch
tributary to the creek contributed its quota of wild cows and calves。 These
came romping down the canyon mouth； where four picked men； with a
bunch of tame cows in front of them； stopped the rush of flying cattle。
Lunch was omitted； and branding began at once。 Every calf belonging to a
Lazy D cow； after being roped and tied； was flanked with the great D
which indicated its ownership by Miss Messiter； and on account of the
recumbent position of which letter the ranch had its name。
It was during the branding that a boyish young fellow rode up and
handed Helen a note。 Her heart pumped rapidly with relief； for one glance
told her that it was in the handwriting of the Ned Bannister she loved。 She
tore it open and glanced swiftly through it。
DEAR FRIEND： Two hours ago my cousin was killed by one of his
own men。 I am sending back to you a boy who had been led astray by him；
and it would be a great service to me if you would give him something to
do till I return。 His name is Hugh Rogers。 I think if you trust him he will
prove worthy of it。
Jim and I are going to stay here a few days longer to finish the work
that is begun。 We hope to meet and talk with as many of the men
implicated in my cousin's lawlessness as is possible。 What the result will
be I cannot say。 We do not consider ourselves in any danger whatever；
though we are not taking chances。 If all goes well we shall be back within
a few days。
I hope you are not missing Jim too much at the roundup。 Sincerely；
NED BANNISTER
She liked the letter because there was not a hint of the relationship
between them to be read in it。 He had guarded her against the chance of its
falling into the wrong hands and creating talk about them。
She turned to Hughie。 〃Can you ride？〃
〃In a way； ma'am。 I can't ride like these men。〃 His glance indicated a
cow…puncher pounding past after a wild steer that had broken through the
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cordon of riders and was trying to get away。
〃Do you want to learn？〃
〃I'd like to if I had a chance；〃 he answered wistfully。
〃All right。 You have your chance。 I'll see that Mr。 Austin finds
something for you to do。 From to…day you are in my employ。〃
She rode back to the ranch in the late afternoon； while the sun was
setting in a great splash of crimson。 The round…up boss had hinted that if
she were nervous about riding alone he could find it convenient to
accompany her。 But the girl wanted to be alone with her own thoughts；
and she had slipped away while he was busy cutting out calves from the
herd。 It had been a wonderful relief to her to find that HER Ned Bannister
was the one that had survived in the conflict； and her heart sang a paean of
joy as she rode into the golden glow of the westering sun。 He was aliveto
love and be loved。 The unlived years of her future seemed to unroll before
her as a vision。 She glowed with a resurgent happiness that was almost an
ecstasy。 The words of a bit of verse she had once seena mere scrap from
a magazine that had stuck in an obscure corner of her memorysang again
and again in her heart：
Life and love And a bright sky o'er us； AndGod take care Of the way
before us！
Ah； the way before them； before her and her romance…radiating hero！
It might he rough and hilly； but if they trod it together Her tangled
thoughts were off again in another glad leap of imagination。
The days passed somehow。 She busied herself with the affairs of the
ranch； rode out often to the scenes of the cattle drives and watched the
round…up； and every twenty…four hours brought her one day nearer to his
return； she told herself。 Nora； too； was on the lookout under her longlashed；
roguish eyelids； and the two young women discussed the subject of their
lovers' return in that elusive； elliptical way common to their sex。
No doubt each of these young women had conjectured as to the
manner of that homecoming and the meeting that would accompany it； but
it is safe to say that neither of them guessed in her day…dreams how it
actually was to occur。
Nora had been eager to see something of the round…up； and as she was
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no horsewoman her mistress took her out one day in her motor。 The drive
had been that day on Bronco Mesa； and had finished in the natural corral
made by Bear Canon； fenced with a cordon of riders at the end opening to
the plains below。 After watching for two hours the busy scenes of cutting
out； roping and branding； Helen wheeled her car and started down the
canyon on their return。
Now； a herd of wild cattle is uncertain as an April day's behavior。
Under the influence of the tame valley cattle among which they are driven；
after a little milling around； the whole bunch may gentle almost
immediately； or； on the other hand； it may break through and go crashing
away on a wild stampede at a moment's notice。 Every experienced
cowman knows enough to expect the unexpected。
At Bronco Mesa the round…up had proceeded with unusual facility。
Scores of wiry； long…legged steers had drifted down the ridges or gulches
that led to the canon； and many a cow； followed by its calf； had stumbled
forward to the herd and apparently accepted the inevitable。 But before
Helen Messiter had well started out of the canyon's mouth the situation
changed absolutely。
A big hill steer； which had not seen a man for a year； broke through the
human corral with a bellow near a point where Reddy kept guard。 The
puncher wheeled and gave chase； Before the other men could close the
opening a couple of two…year…olds seized the opportunity and followed its
lead。 A second rider gave chase； and at once； as if some imp of mischief
had stirred them； fifty tails went up in wild flight。 Another minute and the
whole herd was in stampede。
Down the gulch the five hundred cattle thundered toward the motor car；
which lay directly in thei
