Then，lookinguptoseeLucyBostilcomingalongtheroad，hebrightenedasifwithinspiration。
Lucywasathomeamongthem，andtheshyeyesoftheyoungerriders，especiallyVan，werenothingifnotrevealing。Shegreetedthemwithabrightsmile，andwhenshesawBracktonsheburstout:
\"Oh，Mr。Brackton，thewagon\'sin，anddidmyboxcome？To-day\'smybirthday。\"
\"\'Deeditdid，Lucy；an\'manymorehappyonestoyou!\"hereplied，delightedinherdelight。\"Butit\'stooheavyforyou。I\'llsenditup——ormebbeoneoftheboys——\"
Fiveridersinunisoneagerlyofferedtheirservicesandlookedasifeachhadspokenfirst。ThenMacomberaddressedher:
\"MissLucy，youseethisheresorrel？\"
\"Ah!thesamelazycrowdandthesameoldstory——ahorsetrade!\"laughedLucy。
\"There\'salittledifferenceofopinion，\"saidMacomber，politelyindicatingtheriders。\"Now，MissLucy，we-allknowyou\'reajudgeofahoss。Andasgoodasthetyoutellthetruth。Thetain\'tinsomehoss-tradersIknow。Whatdoyouthinkofthismustang？\"
Macomberhadeyesofenthusiasmforhislatestacquisition，butsomeofthecock-surenesshadbeenknockedoutofhimbythebluntriders。
\"Macomber，aren\'tyouagreatonetotalk？\"queriedLucy，severely。\"Didn\'tyougetaroundDadandtradehimanold，blind，knock-kneedbagofbonesforaperfectlygoodpony——oneIlikedtoride？\"
Theridersshoutedwithlaughterwhiletherancherstruggledwithconfusion。
\"\'Ponmyword，MissLucy，I\'msurprisedyoucouldthinkthetofsuchanoldfriendofyours——an\'yourDad\'s，too。I\'mhopin\'hedoesn\'tsidealtogetherwithyou。\"
\"DadandIneveragreeaboutahorse。Hethinkshegotthebestofyou。Butyouknow，Macomber，whatahorse-thiefyouare。WorsethanCordts!\"
\"Wal，ifIgotthebestofBostilI\'mwillin\'tobethoughtbad。I\'mthefirstfellertotakehimin。An\'now，MissLucy，lookovermysorrel。\"
LucyBostildidindeedhaveaneyeforahorse。Shewalkedstraightuptothewild，shaggymustangwithaconfidencebornofintuitionandexperience，andreachedahandforhishead，notslowly，noryetswiftly。Themustanglookedasifhewasabouttojump，buthedidnot。Hiseyesshowedthathewasnotusedtowomen。
\"He\'snotwellbroken，\"saidLucy。\"SomeNavajohasbeatenhisheadinbreakinghim。\"
Thenshecarefullystudiedthemustangpointbypoint。
\"He\'sdeceivingatfirstbecausehe\'sgoodtolookat，\"saidLucy。\"ButI
wouldn\'townhim。Asaddlewillturnonhim。He\'snotvicious，buthe\'llnevergetoverhisscare。He\'snarrowbetweentheeyes——abadsign。Hisearsarestiff——andtooclose。Idon\'tseeanythingmorewrongwithhim。\"
\"Youseenenough，\"declaredMacomber。\"An\'soyouwouldn\'townhim？\"
\"Youcouldn\'tmakemeapresentofhim——evenonmybirthday。\"
\"Wal，nowI\'msorry，forIwasthinkin\'ofthet，\"repliedMacomber，ruefully。
Itwasplainthatthesorrelhadfallenirremediablyinhisestimation。
\"Macomber，IoftentellDadallyouhorse-tradersgetyourdesertsnowandthen。It\'svanityanddesiretobeattheothermanthat\'syourdownfall。\"
Lucywentaway，withVanshoulderingherbox，leavingMacombertryingtoreturnthebanteroftheriders。Thegood-naturedraillerywasinterruptedbyasharpwordfromoneofthem。
\"Look!Darnmeifthetain\'tanakedIndiancomin\'!\"
Theriderswhirledtoseeanapparentlynudesavageapproaching，almostonarun。
\"Takeashotatthet，Bill，\"saidanotherrider。\"MissLucymightsee——No，she\'soutofsight。But，mebbesomeotherwomanisaround。\"
\"Holdon，Bill，\"calledMacomber。\"YouneversawanIndianrunlikethet。\"
Someoftheridersswore，otherslaughed，andallsuddenlybecamekeenwithinterest。
\"Surehisfaceiswhite，ifhisbody\'sred!\"
Thestrangefigurenearedthem。Itwasindeedreduptotheface，whichseemedwhiteincontrast。Yetonlyingeneralshapeandactiondiditresembleaman。
\"Damnedifitain\'tJoelCreech!\"sangoutBillStark。
Theotherridersaccordedtheirwonderingassent。
\"Gonecrazy，sure!\"
\"Ialwaysseenitcomin\'。\"
\"Say，butain\'thewild？Foamin\'atthemouthlikeawindedhoss!\"
YoungCreechwasheadeddowntheroadtowardthefordacrosswhichhehadtogotoreachhome。Hesawthecuriousgroup，slowedhispace，andhalted。Hisfaceseemedconvulsedwithrageandpainandfatigue。Hisbody，eventohishands，wasincasedinathick，heavycoatingofredadobethathadcakedhard。
\"God\'ssake——fellers——\"hepanted，witheyesrolling，\"takethis——\'dobemudoffme!I\'mdyin\'!\"
ThenhestaggeredintoBrackton\'splace。Ahowlwentupfromtheridersandtheysurgedafterhim。
ThateveningaftersupperBostilstampedinthebigroom，roaringwithlaughter，redintheface；andheastonishedLucyandheraunttothepointofconsternation。
\"Now——you\'ve——done——it——LucyBostil!\"heroared。
\"Ohdear!Ohdear!\"exclaimedAuntJane。
\"Donewhat？\"askedLucy，blankly。
Bostilconqueredhisparoxysm，and，wipinghismoistredface，heeyedLucyinmocksolemnity。
\"Joel!\"whisperedLucy，whohadaguiltyconscience。
\"Lucy，Ineverheardthebeatofit。Joel\'ssmarterinsomewaysthanwethought，an\'crazierinothers。Hehadthesunfiggered，butwhat\'dhewanttorunthroughtownfor？Why，neverinmylifehaveIseensuchtickledriders。\"
\"Dad!\"almostscreamedLucy。\"WhatdidJoeldo？\"
\"Wal，Iseeitthisway。Hecouldn\'torwouldn\'twaitforsundown。An\'hewasn\'thankerin\'tobeburned。Sohewallowsina\'dobemud-holean\'covershimselfthickwithmud。Youknowthat\'dobemud!Thenhestartshome。Buthehadn\'tfiggeredonthe\'dobegettin\'hard，whichitdid——harder\'nrock。An\'
thetmusthavehurtmore\'nsunburn。Latethisafternoonhecamerunnin\'downtheroad，yellin\'thethewasdyin\'。Theboyshadconniptionfits。Joelain\'tover-liked，youknow，an\'heretheyhadoneonhim。Mebbetheydidn\'ttryhardtocleanhimoff。Butthefactisnotforhoursdidtheygetthet\'dobeoffhim。Theywashedan\'scrubbedan\'curriedhim，whileheyelledan\'cussed。
Finallytheypeeleditoff，withhisskinIguess。Hewasraw。an\'theysay，themaddestfellereverseeninBostil\'sFord!\"
Lucywasstrugglingbetweenfearandmirth。Shedidnotlooksorry。\"Oh!Oh!
Oh，Dad!\"
\"Wasn\'titgreat，Lucy？\"
\"Butwhat——willhe——do？\"chokedLucy。
\"Lordonlyknows。Thetworriesmesome。Becauseheneversaidawordabouthowhecometolosehisclothesorwhyhehadthe\'dobeonhim。An\'sureInevertold。Nobodyknowsbutus。\"
\"Dad，helldosomethingterribletome!\"criedLucy，aghastatherpremonitionCHAPTERIII
ThedaysdidnotpassswiftlyatBostil\'sFord。Andexceptinwinter，andduringthespringsand-storms，thelaggingtimepassedpleasantly。Lucyrodeeveryday，sometimeswithVan，andsometimesalone。Shewasnotover-keenaboutridingwithVan——first，becausehewasinlovewithher；andsecondly，inspiteofthat，shecouldnotbeathimwhenherodetheKing。TheyweretrainingBostil\'shorsesforthemuch-anticipatedraces。
AtlastwordarrivedfromtheUtesandNavajosthattheyacceptedBostil\'sinvitationandwouldcomeinforce，whichmeant，accordingtoHolleyandotheroldriders，thattheIndianswouldattendabouteighthundredstrong。
\"Thetoldchief，Hawk，iscomin\'，\"HolleyinformedBostil。\"Hehasn\'tbeenhereferseveralyears。Recollectthetbunchofcoltshehad？They\'rebosses，notmustangs。Soyoulookout，Bostil!\"
Noriderorrancherorsheepman，infact，noone，everlostachancetowarnBostil。Someofitwasinfun，butmostofitwasearnest。ThenatureofeventswasthatsoonerorlaterahorsewouldbeattheKing。Bostilknewthataswellasanybody，thoughhewouldnotadmitit。Holley\'shintmadeBostillookworried。MostofBostil\'sgrayhairsmighthavebeentracedtohisyearsofworryabouthorses。
ThedayhereceivedwordfromtheIndianshesentforBrackton，Williams，Muncie，andCreechtocometohishousethatnight。Thesemen，withBostil，hadforyearsformedinawayaclub，whichgavetheForddistinction。CreechwasnolongerafriendofBostil\'s，butBostilhadalwaysbeenfair-minded，andnowhedidnotallowhisanimositiestoinfluencehim。Holley，theveteranrider，madethesixthmemberoftheclub。
Bostilhadacedarlogblazingcheerilyinthewidefireplace，fortheseearlyspringnightsinthedesertwerecold。
Bracktonwasthelastguesttoarrive。Heshuffledinwithoutansweringthelaconicgreetingsaccordedhim，andhisusuallymildeyesseemedkeenandhard。
\"John，Ireckonyouwon\'tlovemeferthishereI\'vegottotellyou，to-nightspecially，\"hesaid，seriously。
\"Youoldrobber，Icouldn\'tloveyouanyhow，\"retortedBostil。Buthishumordidnotharmonizewiththesuddengravityofhislook。\"What\'sup？\"
\"WhodoyousupposeIjestsoldwhiskyto？\"
\"I\'venoidea，\"repliedBostil。Yethelookedasifhewasperfectlysure。
\"Cordts!Cordts，an\'fourofhisoutfit。TwoofthemIdidn\'tknow。Badmen，judgin\'fromappearances，letalonecompany。TheotherswasHutchinsonan\'——DickSears。\"
\"DICKSEARS!\"exclaimedBostil。
MuncieandWilliamsechoedBostil。Holleyappearedsuddenlyinterested。Creechaloneshowednosurprise。
\"ButSearsisdead，\"addedBostil。
\"Hewasdead——wethought，\"repliedBrackton，withagrimlaugh。\"Buthe\'saliveagain。Hetoldmehe\'dbeeninIdahofertwoyears，inthegold-fields。
Saidtheworkwastoohard，sohe\'dcomebackhere。Laughedwhenhesaidit，thelittledevil!I\'llbethewasthinkin\'ofthetwagon-trainofminehestole。\"
Bostilgazedathischiefrider。
\"Wal，Ireckonwedidn\'tkillSears，afterall，\"repliedHolley。\"Iwasn\'tneversure。\"
\"Lord!Cordtsan\'Searsincamp，\"ejaculatedBostil，andhebegantopacetheroom。
\"No，they\'regonenow，\"saidBrackton。
\"Takeiteasy，boss。Sitdown，\"drawledHolley。\"TheKingissafe，an\'alltheracers。Isweartothet。Why，Cordtscouldn\'tchopintothetlog-an\'-wirecorralifhean\'hisgangchoppedallnight!Theyhatework。Besides，Farlaneisthere，an\'theboys。\"
ThisreassuredBostil，andheresumedhischair。Buthishandshookalittle。
\"DidCordtshaveanythin\'tosay？\"heasked。
\"Sure。Hewasfriendlyan\'talkative，\"repliedBrackton。\"Hecameinjustafterdark。LeftamanIdidn\'tseeoutwiththehosses。Heboughttwobigpacksofsupplies，an\'someleatherstuff，an\'，ofcourse，ammunition。Thensomewhisky。Hadplentyofgoldan\'wouldn\'ttakenochange。Thenwhilehismen，exceptSears，wascarryin\'outthestuff，hetalked。\"
\"Goon。Tellme，\"saidBostil。
\"Wal，he\'dbeenoutnorthofDurangoan\'fetchednews。There\'swildtalkbackthereofarailroadgoin\'tobebuiltsomeday，joinin\'eastan\'west。It\'sinterestin\'，butnosensetoit。Howcouldtheybuildarailroadthroughthetcountry？\"
\"Northitain\'tsocutupan\'lumpyashere，\"putinHolley。
\"GrandestideaeverthoughtoffortheWest，\"avowedBostil。\"Ifthetrailroadeverstartswe\'llallgetrich。Goon，Brack。\"
\"ThenCordtssaidwateran\'grasswaspeterin\'outbackonthetrail，sameasRedWilsonsaidlastweek。Finallyheasked，\'How\'smyfriendBostil？\'Itoldhimyouwaswell。Helookedkindofthoughtfulthen，an\'Iknewwhatwascomin\'。\'How\'stheKing？\'\'Grand\'Itoldhim——\'grand。\'\'Whenisthemracescomin\'off？\'Isaidwehadn\'tplannedthetimeyet，butitwouldbesoon——insideofamonthortwo。\'Brackton，\'hesaid，sharp-like，\'isBostilgoin\'topullagunonmeatsight？\'\'Reckonheis，\'Itoldhim。\'Wal，I\'mnotpowerfulgladtoknowthet。IhearCreech\'sbluehosswillracetheKingthistime。Howaboutit？\'\'Surean\'certainthisyear。I\'veCreech\'san\'
Bostil\'swordforthet。\'Cordtsputhishandonmyshoulder。Yououghtto\'veseenhiseyes!。\'Iwanttoseethetrace。I\'mgoin\'to。\'\'Wal，\'I
said，\'you\'llhavetostopbein\'——You\'llneedtochangeyourbizness。\'Then，Bostil，whatdoyouthink？Cordtswassortofeageran\'wild。Hesaidthetwasaracehejestcouldn\'tmiss。Hesworehewouldn\'tturnatrickorletamanofhisgangstirahandtillafterthetrace，ifyou\'dlethimcome。\"
AlightflittedacrossBostil\'sface。
\"IknowhowCordtsfeels，\"hesaid。
\"Wal，it\'saqueerdeal，\"wentonBrackton。\"Feralongtimeyou\'vemeanttodrawonCordtswhenyoumeet。Weallknowthet。\"
\"Yes，I\'llkillhim!\"ThelightleftBostil\'sface。Hisvoicesoundeddifferently。Hismouthopened，droopedstrangelyatthecorners，thenshutinagrim，tenseline。Bostilhadkilledmorethanoneman。Thememory，nodoubt，washauntingandghastly。
\"Cordtsseemedtothinkhiswordwasguaranteeofhisgoodfaith。Hesaidhe\'dsendanIndianinheretofindoutifhecancometotheraces。Ireckon，Bostil，thetitwouldn\'thurtnonetolethimcome。An\'holdyourgunhandferthetimeheswearshe\'llbehonest。Queerdeal，ain\'tit，men？Ahoss-thiefturnin\'honestjesttoseearace!Beatsme!Bostil，it\'sacheapwaytogetatleastalittlehonestyfromCordts。An\'refusin\'mightrilehimbad。Whenall\'ssaidCordtsain\'tasbadashecouldbe。\"
\"I\'lllethimcome，\"repliedBostil，breathingdeep。\"Butit\'llbehardtoseehim，rememberin\'howhe\'srobbedme，an\'whathe\'sthreatened。An\'Iain\'tlettin\'himcometobribeafewweeks\'decencyfromhim。I\'mdoin\'itforonlyonereason。BecauseIknowhowhelovestheKing——howhewantstoseetheKingrunawayfromthefieldthetday!Thet\'swhy!\"
Therewasamomentofsilence，duringwhichallturnedtoCreech。Hewasastalwartman，nolongeryoung，withalinedface，deep-set，troubledeyes，andwhite，thinbeard。
\"Bostil，ifCordtslovestheKingthetwell，he\'sinferheartbreak，\"saidCreech，witharinginhisvoice。
DowncrashedBostil\'sheavybootsandfireflamedinhisgaze。Theothermenlaughed，andBracktoninterposed:
\"Holdon，youboyriders!\"heyelled。\"Weain\'ta-goin\'tohaveanyargumentslikethet。Now，Bostil，it\'ssettled，then？You\'llletCordtscome？\"
\"Gladtohavehim，\"repliedBostil。
\"Good。An\'nowmebbewe\'dbettergetdowntothebiznessofthisheremeetin\'。\"
Theyseatedthemselvesaroundthetable，uponwhichBostillaidanoldandmuch-soiledledgerandastubofalead-pencil。
\"Firstwellsetthetime，\"hesaid，withanimation，\"an\'thenpitchintodetails。What\'sthedate？\"
Nooneanswered，andpresentlytheyalllookedblanklyfromonetotheother。
\"It\'sApril，ain\'tit？\"queriedHolley。
Thatassurancewasascloseastheycouldgettothetimeofyear。
\"Lucy!\"calledBostil，inaloudvoice。
Shecamerunningin，anxious，almostalarmed。
\"Goodness!youmadeusjump!Whatonearthisthematter？\"
\"Lucy，wewanttoknowthedate，\"repliedBostil。
\"Date!DidyouhavetoscareAuntieandmeoutofourwitsjustforthat？\"
\"Whoscaredyou？Thisisimportant，Lucy。What\'sthedate？\"
\"It\'saweekto-daysincelastTuesday，\"answeredLucy，sweetly。
\"Huh!Thenit\'sTuesdayagain，\"saidBostil，laboriouslywritingitdown。
\"Now，what\'sthedate？\"
\"Don\'tyouremember？\"
\"Remember？Ineverknew。\"
\"Dad!LastTuesdaywasmybirthday——thedayyouDIDNOTgivemeahorse!\"
\"Aw，soitwas，\"rejoinedBostil，confusedatherreproach。\"An\'thetdatewas——let\'ssee——Aprilsixth。ThenthisisAprilthirteenth。Muchobliged，Lucy。Runbacktoyourauntnow。Thishosstalkwon\'tinterestyou。\"
Lucytossedherhead。\"I\'llbetI\'llhavetostraightenoutthewholething。\"
Thenwithalaughshedisappeared。
\"Threedaysbeginnin——sayJunefirst。Junefirst——second，an\'third。Howaboutthetfortheraces？\"
Everybodyagreed，andBostillaboriouslywrotethatdown。Thentheyplannedthedetails。Pursesandprizes，largelydonatedbyBostilandMuncie，therichmembersofthecommunity，wererecorded。Theoldruleswereadheredto。AnyrideroranyIndiancouldenteranyhorseinanyrace，orasmanyhorsesashelikedinasmanyraces。Butbywinningoneraceheexcludedhimselffromtheothers。Bostilarguedforacertainweightinriders，buttheothersruledoutthissuggestion。SpecialraceswerearrangedfortheIndians，withsaddles，bridles，blankets，gunsasprizes。
AllthisappearedofabsorbinginteresttoBostil。Heperspiredfreely。Therewasagleaminhiseye，betrayingexcitement。Whenitcametoarrangingthedetailsofthebigracebetweenthehigh-classracers，thenhegrewintenseandhardertodealwith。Manypointshadtogobyvote。MuncieandWilliamsbothhadfleethorsestoenterinthisrace；Holleyhadone；Creechhadtwo；
thereweresuretobeseveralIndiansenterfastmustangs；andBostilhadtheKingandfourotherstochoosefrom。Bostilheldoutstubbornlyforalongrace。ItwaswellknownthatSageKingwasunbeatableinalongrace。Iftherewereanychancetobeathimitmustbeatshortdistance。ThevotewentagainstBostil，muchtohischagrin，andthegreatracewassetdownfortwomiles。
\"Buttwomiles!Twomiles!\"hekeptrepeating。\"Thet\'sBlueRoan\'sdistance。Thet\'shisdistance。An\'itain\'tfairtotheKing!\"
Hisguests，exceptingCreech，arguedwithhim，explained，reasoned，showedhimthatitwasfairtoallconcerned。Bostilfinallyacquiesced，buthewasnothappy。Theplainfactwasthathewasfrightened。
WhenthemenweredepartingBostilcalledCreechbackintothesitting-room。
Creechappearedsurprised，yetitwasevidentthathewouldhavebeengladtomakefriendswithBostil。
\"What\'llyoutakefortheroan？\"Bostilasked，tersely，\'asifhehadneveraskedthatbefore。
\"Bostil，didn\'twethreshthetoutbefore——an\'FELLoutoverit？\"queriedCreech，withadeprecatingspreadofhishands。
\"Wal，wecanfallinagain，ifyou\'llsellortradethehoss。\"
\"I\'msorry，butIcan\'t。\"
\"Youneedmoneyan\'hosses，don\'tyou？\"demandedBostil，brutally。Hehadnoconscienceinamatterofhorse-dealing。
\"Lordknows，Ido，\"repliedCreech。
\"Wal，then，here\'syourchance。I\'llgiveyoufivehundredingoldan\'
Sarchedontoboot。\"
Creechlookedasifhehadnotheardaright。Bostilrepeatedtheoffer。
\"No，\"repliedCreech。
\"I\'llmakeitathousandan\'throwPlumeinwithSarch，\"flashedBostil。
\"No!\"Creechturnedpaleandswallowedhard。
\"Twothousandan\'DustyBenalongwiththeothers？\"Thiswasanunheard-ofpricetopayforanyhorse。CreechsawthatBostilwasdesperate。Itwasanalmostoverpoweringtemptation。EvidentlyCreechresisteditonlybyapplyingallhismindtothethoughtofhisclean-limbed，soft-eyed，noblehorse。
BostildidnotgiveCreechtimetospeak。\"Twenty-fivehundredan\'TwoFacealongwiththerest!\"
\"MyGod，Bostil——stopit!Ican\'tPARTwithBlueRoan。You\'rerichan\'you\'venoheart。ThetIalwaysknew。Atleasttomeyouneverhad，sinceIownedthemtworacers。Didn\'tIbegyou，alittletimeback，tolendmeafewhundred？Tomeetthetdebt？An\'youwouldn\'t，unlessI\'dsellthehosses。An\'Ihadtolosemysheep。NowI\'mapoorman——gettin\'poorerallthetime。ButIwon\'tsellortradeBlueRoan，notforallyou\'vegot!\"
Creechseemedtogainstrengthwithhisspeechandpassionwiththestrength。
Hiseyesglintedatthehard，palingfaceofhisrival。Heraisedaclenchingfist。
\"An\'byG——d，I\'mgoin\'towinthetrace!\"
DuringthatweekLucyhadheardmanythingsaboutJoelCreech，andsomeofthemweredisquieting。
SomeriderhadnotonlyfoundJoel\'sclothesonthetrail，buthehadrecognizedthetrackofthehorseLucyrode，andatonceconnectedherwiththesingulardiscovery。CouplingthatwithJoel\'sappearanceinthevillageincasedinaheavingarmorofadobe，theridersguessedprettyclosetothetruth。Forthemthejokewastremendous。AndJoelCreechwasexceedinglysensitivetoridicule。Theridersmadelifeunbearableforhim。TheyhadfunoutofitaslongasJoelshowedsignsoftakingthejokemanfully，whichwasnotlong，andthenhisresentmentwontheircontempt。Thatledtosarcasmontheirpartandbitterangeronhis。ItcametoLucy\'searsthatJoelbegantoactandtalkstrangely。ShefoundoutthattheriderVanhadknockedJoeldowninBrackton\'sstoreandhadkickedagunoutofhishand。VanlaughedofftherumorandBracktongavehernosatisfaction。Moreover，sheheardnootherrumors。Thechannelsofgossiphadsuddenlyclosedtoher。Bostil，whenquestionedbyLucy，sworeinawaythatamazedher，andallhetoldherwastoleaveCreechalone。Finally，whenMunciedischargedJoel，whoworkednowandthen，LucyrealizedthatsomethingwaswrongwithJoelandthatshewastoblameforit。
Shegrewworriedandanxiousandsorry，butsheheldherpeace，anddeterminedtofindoutforherselfwhatwaswrong。Everydaywhensherodeoutintothesagesheexpectedtomeethim，oratleastseehimsomewhere；neverthelessdayswentbyandtherewasnosignofhim。
OneafternoonshesawsomeIndiansdrivingsheepdowntheriverroadtowardtheford，and，actinguponimpulse，sheturnedherhorseafterthem。
Lucyseldomwentdowntheriverroad。Ridingdownandupwasmerelywork，andahorsehasaslittlelikingforitasshehad。Usuallyitwasahot，dustytrip，andthegreat，dark，overhangingwallshadadepressingeffect，uponher。Shealwaysfeltaweatthegloomycanyonandfearatthestrange，murmuringredriver。ButshestarteddownthisafternooninthehopeofmeetingJoel。Shehadahazyideaoftellinghimshewassorryforwhatshehaddone，andofaskinghimtoforgetitandpaynomoreheedtotheriders。
Thesheepraisedadust-cloudinthesandywashwheretheroadwounddown，andLucyhungbacktoletthemgetfartherahead。Graduallythetinyroarofpatteringhoofsandtheblendedbleatingandbaaingdiedaway。Thedust-cloud，however，hungovertheheadoftheravine，andLucyhadtoforceSarchedonthroughit。Sarchedondidnotmindsandanddust，buthesurelyhatedthesmellofsheep。LucyseldomputaspurtoSarchedon；still，shegavehimalashwithherquirt，andthenhewentonobediently，ifdisgustedly。Hecarriedhisheadlikeahorsethatwonderedwhyhismistresspreferredtodrivehimdownintoanunpleasantholewhenshemighthavebeencuttingthesweet，coolsagewindupontheslope。
Thewash，withitssandandclaywalls，droppedintoagulch，andtherewasanendofgreengrowths。Theroadleddownoversolidrock。Graduallytherimsofthegorgerose，shuttingoutthelightandthecliffs。Itwasawindingroadandonenotsafetotarryoninastormyseason。Lucyhadseenbouldersweighingatongoboomingdownthatgorgeduringoneofthesuddenfiercedesertstorms，whenatorrentofwaterandmudandstonewentplungingontotheriver。Theridethroughherewasshort，thoughslow。Lucyalwayshadtimetoadjustherfacultiesfortheoverpoweringcontrasttheselowerregionspresented。Longbeforeshereachedtheendofthegorgesheheardthesullenthunderoftheriver。Theriverwaslow，too，forotherwisetherewouldhavebeenadeafeningroar。
Presentlyshecameoutuponalowerbranchofthecanyon，intoagreatred-walledspace，withtheriverstillathousandfeetbelow，andthecliffstoweringashighaboveher。Theroadleddownalongthisrimwheretotheleftallwasopen，acrosstothesplitandpeakedwallopposite。Theriverappearedtosweeproundabold，bulgingcomeramileabove。Itwasawide，swift，muddy，turbulentstream。Agreatbarofsandstretchedoutfromtheshore。
Beyondit，throughthemouthofanintersectingcanyon，couldbeseenaclumpofcottonwoodsandwillowsthatmarkedthehomeoftheCreeches。Lucycouldnotseetheshorenearesther，asitwasalmostdirectlyunderher。Besides，inthisnarrowroad，onaspiritedhorse，shewasnotinclinedtowatchthescenery。ShehurriedSarchedondownanddown，undertheoverhangingbrowsofrock，towheretherimslopedoutandfailed。Herewasahalf-acreofsand，withafewscantwillows，setdownseeminglyinadentatthebaseofthegiant，beetlingcliffs。Theplacewaslight，thoughthelightseemedakindofveiledred，andtoLucyalwaysghastly。Shecouldnothavebeenjoyouswiththatrivermoaningbeforeher，evenifithadbeenuponalevel，intheclearandopenday。Asalittlegirleightyearsoldshehadconceivedaterrorandhatredofthishuge，jaggedrentsofullofredhazeandpurplesmokeandthethunderofrushingwaters。Andshehadneverwhollyoutgrownit。Thejoyofthesunandwind，theraptureintheboundlessopen，thesweetnessinthesage——thesewerenotpossiblehere。Somethingmightyandponderous，heavyasthosecolossalcliffs，weighteddownherspirit。Thevoiceoftheriverdroveoutanydream。Herewastheincessantfrowningpresenceofdestructiveforcesofnature。Andthefordwasassociatedwithcatastrophe——tosheep，tohorsesandtomen。
LucyrodeacrossthebartotheshorewheretheIndianswereloadingthesheepintoanimmenserudeflatboat。Asthesheepwerefrightened，theloadingwasnoeasytask。Theirbleatingcouldbeheardabovetheroaroftheriver。
Bostil\'sboatmen，ShugrueandSomers，stoodknee-deepinthequicksandofthebar，andtheireffortstokeepfree-footedwereasstrenuousastheirhandlingofthesheep。Presentlytheflockwasallcrowdedonboard，theIndiansfollowed，andthentheboatmenslidtheunwieldycraftoffthesand-bar。Then，eachmanningaclumsyoar，theypulledup-stream。Alongshorewerewhirling，sloweddies，andthererowingwaspossible。Outinthatswiftcurrentitwouldhavebeenfollytotrytocontendwithit，letalonemakeprogress。Themethodofcrossingwastorowupalongtheshoreasfarasagreatcapeofrockjuttingout，andtheremakeintothecurrent，andwhiledriftingdownpullhardtoreachthelandingopposite。Heavilyladenastheboatwas，thechanceswerenotwhollyinfavorofasuccessfulcrossing。
Lucywatchedtheslow，laboriousstruggleoftheboatmenwiththeheavyoarsuntilshesuddenlyrememberedtheobjectofhervisitdowntotheford。Sheappearedtobealoneonhersideoftheriver。Atthelandingopposite，however，weretwomen；andpresentlyLucyrecognizedJoelCreelandhisfather。AsecondglanceshowedIndianswithburros，evidentlywaitingfortheboat。JoelCreechjumpedintoaskiffandshovedoff。Theelderman，judgingbyhismotions，seemedtobetryingtopreventhissonfromleavingtheshore。
ButJoelbegantorowup-stream，keepingclosetotheshore。Lucywatchedhim。
Nodoubthehadseenherandwascomingacross。Eithertheprospectofmeetinghimortheideaofmeetinghimthereintheplacewhereshewasneverherselfmadeherwanttoturnatonceandridebackhome。Butherstubbornsenseoffairnessoverruledthat。ShewouldholdhergroundsolelyinthehopeofpersuadingJoeltobereasonable。ShesawthebigflatboatsweepintolineofsightatthesametimeJoelturnedintothecurrent。Butwhilethelargercraftdriftedslowlytheotherway，thesmalleronecameswiftlydownandacross。Joelsweptoutofthecurrentintotheeddy，rowedacrossthat，andslidtheskiffuponthesand-bar。Thenhesteppedout。Hewasbareheadedandbarefooted，butitwasnotthatwhichmadehimseemastrangertoLucy。
\"Areyoulookin\'ferme？\"heshouted。
Lucywavedahandforhimtocomeup。
Thenheapproached。Hewasatall，leanyoungman，stoop-shoulderedandbow-leggedfrommuchriding，withsallow，freckledface，athinfuzzofbeard，weakmouthandchin，andeyesremarkablefortheirsmallsizeandpiercingqualityanddifferentcolor。Foronewasgrayandtheotherwashazel。Therewasnoscaronhisface，buttheirregularityofhisfeaturesremindedonewhoknewthathehadoncebeenkickedinthefacebyahorse。
Creechcameuphurriedly，inaneager，wildwaythatmadeLucysuddenlypityhim。Hedidnotseemtorememberthatthestallionhadanantipathyforhim。
ButLucy，ifshehadforgotten，wouldhavebeenremindedbySarchedon\'saction。
\"Lookout，Joel!\"shecalled，andshegavetheblack\'sheadajerk。Sarchedonwentupwithasnortandcamedownpoundingthesand。QuickasanIndianLucywasoutofthesaddle。
\"Lemmeyourquirt，\"saidJoel，showinghisteethlikeawolf。
\"No。Iwouldn\'tletyouhitSarch。Youbeathimonce，andhe\'sneverforgotten，\"repliedLucy。
Theeyeofthehorseandthemanmetandclashed，andtherewasahostiletensionintheirattitudes。ThenLucydroppedthebridleanddrewJoelovertoahugedrift-log，halfburiedinthesand。Hereshesatdown，butJoelremainedstanding。Hisgazewasnowallthestrangerforitswistfulness。Lucywasquicktocatchasubtledifferenceinhim，butshecouldnottellwhereinitlay。
\"What\'dyouwant？\"askedJoel。
\"I\'veheardalotofthings，Joel，\"repliedLucy，tryingtothinkofjustwhatshewantedtosay。
\"Reckonyouhave，\"saidJoel，dejectedly，andthenhesatdownontheloganddugholesinthesandwithhisbarefeet。
Lucyhadneverbeforeseenhimlooktired，anditseemedthatsomeofthehealthybrownofhischeekshadthinnedout。ThenLucytoldhim，guardedly，afewoftherumorsshehadheard。
\"Allthetyousayisnothin\'towhat\'shappened，\"hereplied，bitterly。\"Themridersmockedthelifean\'souloutofme。\"
\"But，Joel，youshouldn\'tbeso——sotouchy，\"saidLucy，earnestly。\"Afterall，thejokeWASonyou。Whydidn\'tyoutakeitlikeaman？\"
\"Buttheyknewyoustolemyclothes，\"heprotested。
\"Supposethey，did。Thatwasn\'tmuchtocareabout。Ifyouhadn\'ttakenitsohardthey\'dhaveletuponyou。\"
\"MebbeImighthavestoodthat。Buttheytauntedmewithbein\'——loonyaboutyou。\"
Joelspokehuskily。Therewasnodoubtthathehadbeendeeplyhurt。Lucysawtearsinhiseyes，andherfirstimpulsewastoputahandonhisandtellhimhowsorryshewas。Butshedesisted。ShedidnotfeelathereasewithJoel。
\"What\'dyouandVanfightabout？\"sheasked，presently。Joelhunghishead。\"I
reckonIain\'ta-goin\'totellyou。\"
\"You\'reashamedofit？\"
Joel\'ssilenceansweredthat。
\"Yousaidsomethingaboutme？\"Lucycouldnotresisthercuriosity，backofwhichwasalittleheat。\"Itmusthavebeen——bad——elseVanwouldn\'thavestruckyou。\"
\"Hehitme——heknockedmeflat，\"passionatelysaidJoel。
\"Andyoudrewagunonhim？\"
\"Idid，an\'likeafoolIdidn\'twaittillIgotup。Thenhekickedme!
Bostil\'sFordwillneverbebigenoughfermean\'Vannow。\"
\"Don\'ttalkfoolish。Youwon\'tfightwithVan。Joel，maybeyoudeservedwhatyougot。Yousaysome——somerudethings。\"
\"IonlysaidI\'dpayyouback，\"burstoutJoel。
\"How？\"
\"IsworeI\'dlayferyou——an\'stealyourclothes——soyou\'dhavetorunhomenaked。\"
TherewasindeedsomethinglackinginJoel，butitwasnotsincerity。Hishurthadrankleddeepandhisvoicetrembledwithindignation。
\"But，Joel，Idon\'tgoswimminginspring-holes，\"protestedLucy，dividedbetweenamusementandannoyance。
\"Imeantit，anyhow，\"saidJoel，doggedly。
\"Areyouabsolutelyhonest？IsthatallyousaidtoprovokeVan？\"
\"It\'sall，Lucy，Iswear。\"
Shebelievedhim，andsawtheunfortunatecircumstancemorethaneverherfault。\"I\'msorry，Joel。I\'mmuchtoblame。Ishouldn\'thavelostmytemperandplayedthattrickwithyourclothes。Ifyou\'donlyhadsenseenoughtostayouttillafterdark!Butnousecryingoverspiltmilk。Now，ifyou\'lldoyourshareI\'lldomine。I\'lltelltheboysIwastoblame。I\'llpersuadethemtoletyoualone。I\'llgotoMuncie——\"
\"Noyouwon\'tgocryin\'smallferme!\"blurtedoutJoel。
Lucywassurprisedtoseeprideinhim。\"Joel，I\'llnotmakeitappear——\"
\"You\'llnotsayonewordaboutmetoanyone，\"hewenton，withthebloodbeginningtodarkenhisface。Andnowhefacedher。Howstrangetheblazeinhisdifferentlycoloredeyes!\"LucyBostil，there\'sbeenthetdonean\'saidtomewhichI\'llneverforgive。I\'mnogoodinBostil\'sFord。MebbeIneverwasmuch。ButIcouldgetajobwhenIwanteditan\'creditwhenIneededit。NowIcan\'tgetnothin\'。I\'mnogood!I\'mnogood!An\'it\'syourfault!\"
\"Oh，Joel，whatcanIdo？\"criedLucy。
\"Ireckonthere\'sonlyonewayyoucansquareme，\"hereplied，suddenlygrowingpale。Buthiseyeswerelikeflint。Hecertainlylookedtobeinpossessionofallhiswits。
\"How？\"queriedLucy，sharply。
\"Youcanmarryme。Thet\'llshowthetgang!An\'it\'llsquareme。ThenI\'llgobacktoworkan\'I\'llstick。Thet\'sall，LucyBostil。\"
Manifestlyhewaslaboringunderstrongsuppressedagitation。ThatmomentwasthelastofrealstrengthanddignityevershownbyJoelCreech。
\"But，Joel，Ican\'tmarryyou——evenifIamtoblameforyourruin，\"saidLucy，simply。
\"Why？\"
\"BecauseIdon\'tloveyou。\"
\"Ireckonthetwon\'tmakeanydifference，ifyoudon\'tlovesomeoneelse。\"
Lucygazedblanklyathim。Hebegantoshake，andhiseyesgrewwild。Sherosefromthelog。
\"Doyouloveanybodyelse？\"heasked，passionately。
\"Noneofyourbusiness!\"retortedLucy。Then，atastrangedarkeningofhisface，anaspectunfamiliartoher，shegrewsuddenlyfrightened。
\"It\'sVan!\"hesaid，thickly。
\"Joel，you\'reafool!\"
Thatonlyinfuriatedhim。
\"Sotheyallsay。An\'theygotmyoldmanbelievin\'it，too。MebbeIam。
ButI\'ma-goin\'tokillVan!\"
\"No!No!Joel，whatareyousaying？Idon\'tloveVan。Idon\'tcareanymoreforhimthanforanyotherrider——or——oryou。\"
\"Thet\'salie，LucyBostil!\"
\"HowdareyousayIlie？\"demandedLucy。\"I\'veamindtoturnmybackonyou。
I\'mtryingtomakeupformyblunderandyou——youinsultme!\"
\"Youtalksweetbuttalkisn\'tenough。Youmademeno-goodWillyoumarryme？\"
\"Iwillnot!\"AndLucy，withherbloodup，couldnotkeepcontemptoutofvoiceandlook，andshedidnotcare。Thatwasthefirsttimeshehadevershownanything，approachingridiculeforJoel。Theeffectwasremarkable。Likealashuponarawwounditmadehimwrithe；butmoresignificanttoLucywasthesuddenconvulsiveworkingofhisfeaturesandthewildnessofhiseyes。
Thensheturnedherback，notfromcontempt，buttohurryawayfromhim。
Heleapedafterherandgraspedherwithrudehands。
\"Letmego!\"criedLucy，standingperfectlymotionless。Thehardclutchofhisfingersrousedafierce，hotanger。
Joeldidnotheedhercommand。Hewasforcingherback。Hetalkedincoherently。OneglimpseofhisfaceaddedterrortoLucy\'sfury。
\"Joel，you\'reoutofyourhead!\"shecried，andshebegantowrenchandwritheoutofhisgrasp。Thenensuedashort，sharpstruggle。JoelcouldnotholdLucy，buthetoreherblouseintoshreds。ItseemedtoLucythathedidthatsavagely。Shebrokefreefromhim，andhelungedatheragain。Withallherstrengthshelashedhisfacewiththeheavyleatherquirt。Thatstaggeredhim。
Healmostfell。
LucyboundedtoSarchedon。Inarushshewasupinthesaddle。Joelwasrunningtowardher。Bloodonhisface!Bloodonhishands!HewasnottheJoelCreechsheknew。
\"Stop!\"criedLucy，fiercely。\"I\'llrunyoudown!\"
Thebigblackplungedatatouchofspurandcamedownquivering，readytobolt。
Creechswervedtooneside。Hisfacewaslividlywhiteexceptwherethebloodyweltscrossedit。Hisjawseemedtohangloosely，makingspeechdifficult。
\"Jestfer——thet——\"hepanted，hoarsely，\"I\'lllayferyou——an\'I\'llstripyou——an\'I\'lltieyouonahoss——an\'I\'lldriveyounakedthroughBostil\'sFord!\"
Lucysawtheutterfutilityofallhergoodintentions。SomethinghadsnappedinJoelCreech\'smind。Andinherskindnesshadgivenprecedencetoafuryshedidnotknowwasinher。ForthesecondtimeshetouchedaspurtoSarchedon。
Heleapedout，flashedpastCreech，andthundereduptheroad。ItwasallLucycoulddotobreakhisgaitatthefirststeeprise。