AndSlonefoundhimselftremblingwithjoy。BeyondanydoubtthatlaughcouldnothavebeenLucy\'s。
Slonestolebackashehadcome，reachedtheshadowofthewall，anddrewawayuntilhefeltitsafetowalkquickly。WhenhereachedtheplacewhereheexpectedtofindWildfirehedidnotseehim。Slonelookedandlooked。Perhapshehadmisjudgeddistanceandplaceinthegloom。Still，henevermademistakesofthatnature。Hesearchedaroundtillhefoundthecedarstumptowhichhehadtiedthelasso。Inthegloomhecouldnotseeit，andwhenhereachedouthedidnotfeelit。Wildfirewasgone!Slonesankdown，overcome。
Hecursedwhatmusthavebeencarelessness，thoughheknewheneverwascarelesswithahorse。Whathadhappened？Hedidnotknow。ButWildfirewasgone——andthatmeantLucy\'sdoomandhis!Sloneshookwithcold。
Then，asheleanedagainstthestump，wetandshaking，familiarsoundmethisears。Itwasmadebytheteethofagrazinghorse——aslight，keen，tearingcut。Wildfirewascloseathand!WithasweepSlonecircledthestumpandhefoundtheknotofthelasso。Hehadmissedit。Hebegantogatherinthelongrope，andsoonfeltthehorse。IntheblackgloomagainstthewallSlonecouldnotdistinguishWild-fire。
\"Whew!\"hemuttered，wipingthesweatoffhisface。\"GoodLord!Allfornothin\'。\"
ItdidnottakeSlonelongtodecidetoleadthehorseandworkupthecanyonpastthecampers。Hemustgetaheadofthem，andoncetherehehadnofearofthem，eitherbynightorday。Hereallyhadnohopesofgettingbyundiscovered，andallhewishedforwastogetfarenoughsothathecouldnotbeintercepted。ThegrazinghorseswouldscentWildfireorhewouldscentthem。
ForawonderWildfireallowedhimselftobeledaswellasifhehadbeenold，faithfulNagger。Slonecouldnotkeepcloseintothewallforverylong，onaccountofthecedars，buthemanagedtostayintheouteredgeofshadowcastbythewall。Wildfirewindedthehorses，halted，threwuphishead。ButforsomereasonbeyondSlonethehorsedidnotsnortorwhistle。AsheknewWildfirehecouldhavebelievedhimintelligentenoughandhatefulenoughtobetrayhismaster。
Itwasoneoftheotherhorsesthatwhistledanalarm。Thiscameatapointalmostevenwiththecamp-fire。Slone，holdingWildfiredown，hadnotimetogetintoastirrup，butleapedtothesaddleandletthehorsego。Therewerehoarseyellsandthenstreaksoffireandshots。Sloneheardthewhizzofheavybullets，andhefearedforWildfire。Butthehorsedrewswiftlyawayintothedarkness。Slonecouldnotseewhetherthegroundwassmoothorbroken，andheleftthattoWildfire。Luckfavoredthem，andpresentlySlonepulledhimintoasafegait，andregrettedonlythathehadnothadachancetotakeashotatthatcamp。
Slonewalkedthehorseforanhour，andthendecidedthathecouldwellriskahaltforthenight。
Beforedawnhewasup，warminghischilledbodybyviolentmovements，andforcinghimselftoeat。
Therimofthewestwallchangedfromgraytopink。Amocking-birdburstintosong。Acoyotesneakedawayfromthelightofday。OutintheopenSlonefoundthetrailmadebyCreech\'smustangsandbythehorseofCordts\'sman。Thelattercouldnotbeveryfarahead。InlessthananhourSlonecametoaclumpofcedarswherethismanhadcamped。Anhourbehindhim!
Thiscanyonwasopen，withalevelandnarrowfloordividedbyadeepwash。
SloneputWildfiretoagallop。ThenarrowwashwasnoobstacletoWildfire；
hedidnothavetobeurgedorchecked。ItwasnotlongbeforeSlonesawahorsemanaquarterofamileahead，andhewasdiscoveredalmostatthesametime。Thisfellowshowedbothsurpriseandfear。Heranhishorse。ButincomparisonwithWildfirethathorseseemedsluggish。Slonewouldhavecaughtupwithhimverysoonbutforachangeinthelayoftheland。Thecanyonsplitupandallofitsgorgesandravinesandwashesheadeduponthepine-fringedplateau，nowonlyafewmilesdistant。Thegaitofthehorseshadtobereducedtoatrot，andthenawalk。ThemanSlonewasafterleftCreech\'strailandtooktoasidecleft。Slone，convincedhewouldsoonoverhaulhim，andthenreturntotakeupCreech\'strail，keptoninpursuit。
ThenSlonewascompelledtoclimb。Wildfirewassosuperiortotheother\'shorse，andSlonewassokeenatchoosinggroundandshortcuts，thathewouldhavebeenrightuponhimbutforasplitintherockwhichsuddenlyyawnedacrosshispath。Itwasimpassable。AfteraquickglanceSloneabandonedthedirectpursuit，and，turningalongthisgulch，hegainedapointwherethehorse-thiefwouldpassunderthebaseoftherim-wall，andhereSlonewouldhavehimwithineasyrifleshot。
Andtheman，intentongettingoutofthecanyon，rodeintothetrap，approachingtowithinahundredyardsofSlone，whosuddenlyshowedhimselfonfoot，rifleinhand。ThedeepgulchwasabarriertoSlone\'sfurtherprogress，buthisrifledominatedthesituation。
\"Holdon!\"hecalled，warningly。
\"Holdonyerself!\"yelledtheother，aghast，ashehaltedhishorse。Hegazeddownandevidentlywasquicktotakeinthefacts。
Slonehadmeanttokillthismanwithoutevenaword，yetnowwhenthemomenthadcomeafeelingalmostofsicknesscloudedhisresolve。Butheleveledtherifle。
\"Igotitonyou，\"hecalled。
\"Reckonyouhev。Butseehyar——\"
\"Icanhityouanywhere。\"
\"Wal，I\'lltakeyerwordferthet。\"
\"Allright。Nowtalkfast。AreyouoneofCordts\'sgang？\"
\"Sure。\"
\"Whyareyoualone？\"
\"Wesplitdownhyar。\"
\"DidyouknowIwasonthistrail？\"
\"Nope。Ididn\'tsure，oryou\'dneverketchedme，redhossorno。\"
\"Whowereyoutrailin\'？\"
\"OleCreechan\'thegirlhekidnapped。\"
Slonefelttheleapofhisbloodandthejerkitgavetherifleashistensefingertrembledonthetrigger。
\"Girl。Whatgirl？\"hecalled，hoarsely。
\"Bostil\'sgirl。\"
\"WhydidCordtssplitonthetrail？\"
\"Hean\'Hutchwentroundfersomemoreofthegang，an\'toheadoffJoelCreechwhenhecomesinwithBostil\'shosses。\"
Slonewasamazedtofindhowthehorsethieveshadcalculated；yet，onsecondthought，thesituation，oncetheCreecheshadbeenrecognized，appearedsimpleenough。
\"Whatwasyourgame？\"hedemanded。
\"Iwasfollerin\'Creechjesttofindoutwherehe\'dholeupwiththegirl。\"
\"What\'sCordts\'sgame——AFTERheheadsJoelCreech？\"
\"Thenhe\'sgoin\'ferthegirl。\"
Slonescarcelyneededtobetoldallthis，butthedeliberatewordsfromthelipsofoneofCordts\'sgangborearaw，brutalproofofLucy\'speril。AndyetSlonecouldnotbringhimselftokillthismanincoldblood。Hetried，butinvain。
\"Haveyougotagun？\"calledSlone，hoarsely。
\"Sure。\"
\"Ridebacktheotherway!Ifyoudon\'tlosemeI\'llkillyou!\"
Themanstared。Slonesawthecolorreturntohispaleface。Thenheturnedhishorseandrodebackoutofsight。Sloneheardhimrollingthestonesdownthelong，roughslope；andwhenhefeltsurethehorse-thiefhadgottenafairstarthewentbacktomountWildfireinpursuit。
ThistrailerofLucynevergotbacktoLucy\'strail——nevergotaway。
ButSlone，whenthatday\'shard，deadlypursuitended，foundhimselflostinthecanyons。Howbitterlyhecursedbothhisweaknessinnotshootingthemanatsight，andhisstrengthinfollowinghimwithimplacablepurpose!Fortobefair，togivethehorse-thiefachanceforhislife，SlonehadlostLucy\'strail。Thefactnearlydistractedhim。Hespentasleeplessnightoftorture。
Allnextday，likeawildman，herodeandclimbedanddescended，spurredbyonepurpose，pursuedbysuspenseanddread。ThatnighthetiedWildfirenearwaterandgrassandfellintothesleepofexhaustion。
Morningcame。Butwithitnohope。Hehadbeendesperate。Andnowhewasinafrightfulstate。Itseemedthatdaysanddayshadpassed，andnightsthatwerehideouswithfutilenightmares。
Herodedownintoacanyonwithslopingwalls，andbroken，likeallofthesecanyonsunderthegreatplateau。Everycanyonresembledanother。Theuplandwasonevastnetwork。Theworldseemedalabyrinthofcanyonsamongwhichhewashopelesslylost。Whatwould——whathadbecomeofLucy？Everythoughtinhiswhirlingbrainledbacktothat——anditwasterrible。
Then——hewasgazingtransfixeddownuponthefamiliartracksleftbyCreech\'smustangs。Daysold，butstillunfollowed!
CHAPTERXIX
Thattrackledupthenarrowingcanyontoitsheadatthebaseoftheplateau。
Slone，mindfulofhishorse，climbedonfoot，haltingatthezigzagturnstorest。Along，graduallyascendingtrailmountedthelastslope，whichwhencloseathandwasnotsoprecipitousasitappearedfrombelow。Uptherethewind，suckedoutofthecanyons，swoopedandtwistedhard。
AtlastSloneledWildfireovertherimandhaltedforanotherbreathing-spell。Beforehimwasabeautiful，gentlyslopingstretchofwavinggrassleadinguptothedarkpineforestfromwhichcamearoarofwind。
BeneathSlonethewildandwhorledcanyonbreaksextended，wonderfulinthousandsofdenudedsurfaces，goldandredandyellow，withthesmokydepthsbetween。
Wildfiresniffedthewindandsnorted。Sloneturned，instantlyalert。Thewildhorsehadgivenanalarm。LikeaflashSloneleapedintothesaddle。Afaintcry，awayfromthewind，startledSlone。Itwaslikeacryhehadheardindreams。Howoverstrainedhisperceptions!Hewasnotreallysureofanything，yetontheinstanthewastense。
StragglingcedarsonhisleftalmostwhollyobstructedSlone\'sview。
Wildfire\'searsandnosewerepointedthatway。Slonetrottedhimdowntowardtheedgeofthiscedarclumpsothathecouldseebeyond。Beforehereachedit，however，hesawsomethingblue，moving，waving，lifting。
\"Smoke!\"mutteredSlone。Andhethoughtmoreofthedangeroffireonthatwindyheightthanhedidofanotherperiltohimself。
Wildfirewashardtoholdasheroundedtheedgeofthecedars。
Slonesawalineofleapingflame，alineofsweepingsmoke，thegrassonfirehorses!——aman!
Wildfirewhistledhisringingblastofhateandmenace，hisdesertchallengetoanotherstallion。
Themanwhirledtolook。
SlonesawJoelCreech——andSageKing——andLucy，halfnaked，boundonhisback!
Joy，agony，terrorinlightning-swiftturns，paralyzedSlone。ButWildfirelungedoutontherun。
SageKingrearedinfright，cameclowntoplungeaway。andwithamagnificentleapclearedthelineoffire。
Slone，morefromhabitthanthought，satcloseinthesaddle。AfewofWildfire\'slengtheningstrides，quickenedSlone\'sblood。ThenCreechmoved，alsoawakingfromastupefyingsurprise，andhesnatchedupagunandfired。
Slonesawthespurtsofred，thepuffsofwhite。Butheheardnothing。Thetorrentofhischangedblood，burningandterrible，filledhisearswithhateanddeath。
Heguidedtherunningstallion。InafewtremendousstridesWildfirestruckCreech，andSlonehadoneglimpseofallawfulface。Theimpactwasterrific。
Creechwenthurtlingthroughtheair，limpandbroken，togodownuponarock，hisskullcrackinglikeamelon。
Thehorseleapedoverthebodyandthestone，andbeyondheleapedthelineofburninggrass。
SlonesawtheKingrunningintotheforest。HesawpoorLucy\'swhitebodyswingingwiththehorse\'smotion。Oneglanceshowedthegreatgraytoberunningwild。Thenthehateandpassionclearedaway，leavingsuspenseandterror。
Wildfirereachedthepines。Theredowntheopenaislesbetweentheblacktreesranthefleetgrayracer。Wildfiresawhimandsnorted。TheKingwasahundredyardstothefore。
\"Wildfire——it\'scome——therace——therace!\"calledSlone。Buthecouldnothearhisowncall。Therewasaroaroverhead，heavy，almostdeafening。Thewind!
thewind!Yetthatroardidnotdeadenastrange，shriekingcracksomewherebehind。Wildfireleapedinfright。Sloneturned。Firehadrunupapine-tree，whichexplodedasifthetrunkwerepowder!
\"MYGOD!ARACEWITHFIRE!LUCY!LUCY!\"
InthatpoignantcrySloneutteredhisrealizationofthestrangefatethathadwaitedfortheinevitableracebetweenWildfireandtheKing；heutteredhisdespairingloveforLucy，andhisacceptanceofdeathforherandhimself。
Nohorsecouldoutrunwind-drivenfireinadrypineforest。Slonehadnohopeofthat。Howperfectlyfateandtimeandplaceandhorses，himselfandhissweetheart，hadmet!SlonedamnedJoelCreech\'sinsanesoultoeverlastingtorment。Tothink——tothinkhisidioticandwildthreathadcometrue——andcometruewithagaleinthepine-tops!Slonegrewoldatthethought，andthefactseemedtobeadream。Butthedry，pine-scentedairmadebreathinghard；
thegrayracer，carryingthatslender，half-nakedform，whiteintheforestshade，lengthenedintohisfleetandbeautifulstride；themotionofWildfire，soeasy，sosmooth，soswift，andthefiercereachofhisheadshootingforward——alltheseprovedthatitwasnodream。
TensequestionspiercedthedarkchaosofSlone\'smind——whatcouldhedo？RuntheKingdown!Make\'himkillLucy!Saveherfromhorribledeathbyfire!
Theredhorsehadnotgainedayardonthegray。Slone，keentojudgedistance，sawthis，andforthefirsttimehedoubtedWildfire\'spowertorandowntheKing。Notwithsuchalead!Itwashopeless——sohopeless——
Heturnedtolookback。Hesawnofire，nosmoke——onlythedarktrunks，andthemassedgreenfoliageinviolentagitationagainstthebluesky。Thatrevivedafainthope。Ifhecouldgetafewmilesahead，beforethefirebegantoleapacrossthepine-crests，thenitmightbepossibletorunoutoftheforestifitwerenotwide。
Thenastrongerhopegrew。ItseemedthatfootbyfootWildfirewasgainingontheKing。Slonestudiedthelevelforestfloorslidingtowardhim。Helosthishope——thenregaineditagain，andthenhespurredthehorse。WildfirehatedthatashehatedSlone。Butapparentlyhedidnotquickenhisstrides。AndSlonecouldnottellifhelengthenedthem。Hewasnotrunningnearhislimitbut，afterthenatureofsuchahorse，lefttochoosehisgait，runningslowly，butrisingtowardhisswiftestandfiercest。
Slone\'srider\'sbloodneverthrilledtothatrace，forhisbloodhadcurdled。
Thesicknesswithinrosetohismind。AndthatflashedupwheneverhedaredtolookforwardatLucy\'swhiteform。Slonecouldnotbearthissight；italmostmadehimreel，yethewasdriventolook。HesawthattheKingcarriednosaddle，sowithLucyonhimhewaslight。Heoughttorunalldaywithonlythatweight。Wildfirecarriedaheavysaddle，apack，awaterbag，andarifle。Sloneuntiedthepackandletitdrop。Healmostthrewasidethewater-bag，butsomethingwithheldhishand，andalsohekepthisrifle。Whatwereafewmorepoundstothisdesertstallioninhislastrun？SloneknewitwasWildfire\'sgreatestandlastrace。
SuddenlySlone\'searsrangwithaterribleon-comingroar。Foraninstanttheunknownsoundstiffenedhim，robbedhimofstrength。Onlythehornofthesaddle，hookingintohim，heldhimon。Thentheyearsofhisdesertlifeansweredtoacallmorethanhuman。
Hehadtoraceagainstfire。Hemustbeattheflametothegirlheloved。
Thereweremilesofdryforest，likepowder。Firebackedbyaheavygalecouldragethroughdrypinefasterthananyhorsecouldrun。HemightfailtosaveLucy。Fatehadgivenhimabitterride。Buthesworeagrimoaththathewouldbeattheflame。Theintenseandabnormalrider\'spassioninhim，likeBostil\'s，dammedup，butneverfullycontrolled，burstwithinhim，andsuddenlyheawoketoawildandterribleviolenceofheartandsoul。Hehadaccepteddeath；hehadnofear。Allthathewantedtodo，thelastthinghewantedtodo，wastoridedowntheKingandkillLucymercifully。Howhewouldhavegloriedtoburnthereintheforest，andforamillionyearsinthedarkbeyond，tosavethegirl!
Hegoadedthehorse。Thenhelookedback。
Throughtheaislesoftheforesthesawastrange，streaky，murkysomethingmoving，alive，shiftingupanddown，neveraninstantthesame。Itmusthavebeenthewind——theheatbeforethefire。Heseemedtoseethroughit，buttherewasnothingbeyond，onlyopaque，dim，musteringclouds。Hotpuffsshotforwardintohisface。Hiseyessmartedandstung。Hisearshurtandweregrowingdeaf。Thetumultwastherearofavalanches，ofmaelstroms，ofrushingseas，ofthewreckoftheuplandsandtheruinoftheearth。Itgrewtobesogreataroarthathenolongerheard。Therewasonlysilence。
Andheturnedtofaceahead。Thestallionstretchedlowonadeadrun；thetipsofthepineswerebendingbeforethewind；andWildfire，theterriblethingforwhichhishorsewasnamed，wasleapingthroughtheforest。Buttherewasnosound。
AheadofSlone，downtheaisles，lowunderthetreesspreadingovertherunningKing，floatedswiftlysomemedium，likeatransparentveil。Itwasneithersmokenorair。Itcarriedfaintpinpointsoflight，sparks，thatresembledatomsofdustfloatinginsunlight。Itwasawaveofheatdrivenbeforethestormoffire。Slonedidnotfeelpain，butheseemedtobedryingup。parching。AndLucymustbesufferingnow。Hegoadedthestallion，rakinghisflanks。Wildfireansweredwithascreamandagreaterspeed。AllexceptLucyandSageKingandWildfireseemedsostrangeandunreal——theswiftrushbetweenthepines，nowgrowingghostlyinthedimminglight，thesenseofapursuing，overpoweringforce，andyetabsolutesilence。
Slonefoughtthedesiretolookback。Buthecouldnotresistit。Somehorriblefascinationcompelledhim。Allbehindhadchanged。Ahotwind，likeablastfromafurnace，blewlight，stingingparticlesintohisface。Thefirewasracinginthetree-tops，whilebelowallwasyetclear。Alashing，leapingflameengulfedthecanopyofpines。Itwaswhite，seething，inconceivablyswift，withathousandflashingtongues。Ittraveledaheadofsmoke。Itwassothinhecouldseethebranchesthroughit，andthefierycloudsbehind。Itsweptonward，asublimeandanappallingspectacle。Slonecouldnotthinkofwhatitlookedlike。Itwasfire，liberated，freedfromthebowelsoftheearth，tremendous，devouring。This，then，wasthemeaningoffire。This，then，wasthehorriblefatetobefallLucy。
Butno!Hethoughthemustbeinsanenottobeovercomeinspirit。Yethewasnot。HewouldbeattheflametoLucy。Hefeltthelossofsomething，somekindofasensationwhichheoughttohavehad。Stillherodethatracetokillhissweetheartbetterthananyracehehadeverbeforeridden。Hekepthisseat；
hedodgedthesnags；hepulledthemaddenedhorsetheshortestway，hekepttheKingrunningstraight。
Nohorsehadeverrunsomagnificentarace!Wildfirewasoutracingwindandfire，andhewasoverhaulingthemostnotedraceroftheuplandsagainstatremendoushandicap。ButnowhewasnolongerracingtokilltheKing；hewasrunninginterror。Formilesheheldthatlong，swift，wonderfulstridewithoutabreak。Hewasrunningtohisdeath，whetherornothedistancedthefire。Nothingcouldstophimnowbutaburstingheart。
Sloneuntiedhislassoandcoiledthenoose。AlmostwithinreachoftheKing!
Onethrow——onesuddenswerve——andtheKingwouldgodown。Lucywouldknowonlyastunningshock。Slone\'sheartbroke。Couldhekillher——crushthatdeargoldenhead？Hecouldnot，yethemust!Hesawalong，curved，redweltonLucy\'swhiteshoulders。Whatwasthat？Hadabranchlashedher？Slonecouldnotseeherface。Shecouldnothavebeendeadorinafaint，forshewasridingtheKing，boundasshewas!
CloserandcloserdrewWildfire。Heseemedtogofasterandfasterasthatwindofflamegaineduponthem。Theairwastoothicktobreathe。Ithadanirresistibleweight。Itpushedhorsesandridersonwardintheirflight——strawsonthecrestofacyclone。
AgainSlonelookedbackandagainthespectaclewasdifferent。Therewasawhiteandgoldenfuryofflameabove，beautifulandblinding；andbelow，fartherback，aninfernoofglowingfire，black-streaked，withtrembling，explodingpuffsandstreamsofyellowsmoke。Theaislesbetweentheburningpinesweresmoky，murkycaverns，movingandweird。Slonesawfireshootfromthetree-topsdownthetrunks，andhesawfireshootupthetrunks，liketrainsofpowder。Theyexplodedlikehugerockets。Andalongtheforestfloorleapedthelittleflames。Hiseyesburnedandblurredtillallmergedintoawide，pursuingstormtooawfulforthegazeofman。
WildfirewasrunningdowntheKing。Thegreatgrayhadnotlessenedhisspeed，buthewasbreaking。Slonefeltaghastlytriumphwhenhebegantowhirlthenooseofthelassoroundhishead。Alreadyhewaswithinrange。Butheheldbackhisthrowwhichmeanttheendofall。AndashehesitatedWildfiresuddenlywhistledoneshriekingblast。
Slonelooked。Aheadtherewaslightthroughtheforest!Slonesawawhite，openspaceofgrass。Apark？No——theendoftheforest!Wildfire，likeademon，hurtledonward，withhissmoothnessofactiongone，beginningtobreak，withinalengthoftheKing。
AcryescapedSlone——acryassilentasiftherehadbeennodeafeningroar——aswildastherace，andasterribleastheruthlessfire。Itwasthecryoflife——insteadofdeath。BothSageKingandWildfirewouldbeattheflame。
Then，withtheopenjustahead，Slonefeltawaveofhotwindrollingoverhim。Hesawthelashingtonguesofflameabovehiminthepines。Thestormhadcaughthim。Itforgedahead。Hewasridingunderacanopyoffire。Burningpinecones，liketorches，droppedallaroundhim。Hehadaterribleblanksenseofweight，ofsuffocation，oftheairturningtofire。
ThenWildfire，withhisnoseatSageKing\'sflank，flashedoutofthepinesintotheopen。Slonesawagrassywidereachinclininggentlytowardadarkbreakinthegroundwithcragsrisingsheeraboveit，andtotherightagreatopenspace。
Slonefeltthatclearairasthebreathofdeliverance。Hisreelingsenserighted。There——theKingran，blindlygoingtohisdeath。Wildfirewasbreakingfast。Hismomentumcarriedhim。Hewasalmostdone。
SloneropedtheKing，andholdinghard，waitedfortheend。Theyranon，breaking，breaking。SlonethoughthewouldhavetothrowtheKing，fortheywereperilouslynearthedeepcleftintherim。ButSageKingwenttohisknees。
SloneleapedoffjustasWildfirefell。HowthebladeflashedthatreleasedLucy!Shewaswetfromthehorse\'ssweatandfoam。SheslidoffintoSlone\'sarms，andhecalledhername。Couldshehearabovethatroarbackthereintheforest？ThepiecesofropehungtoherwristsandSlonesawdarkbruises，rawandbloody。Shefellagainsthim。Wasshedead？Hisheartcontracted。Howwhitetheface!No；hesawherbreastheaveagainsthis!Andhecriedaloud，incoherentlyinhisjoy。Shewasalive。Shewasnotbadlyhurt。Shestirred。
Shepluckedathimwithnervelesshands。Shepressedclosetohim。Heheardasmotheredvoice，yetsofull，sowonderful!
\"Put——your——coat——onme!\"camesomehowtohisears。
Slonestartedviolently。Abashed，shamedtorealizehehadforgottenshewashalfnude，heblindlytoreoffhiscoat，blindlyfoldeditaroundher。
\"Lin!Lin!\"shecried。
\"Lucy——Oh!arey-you——\"hereplied，huskily。
\"I\'mnothurt。I\'mallright。\"
\"Butthatwretch，Joel。He——\"
\"He\'dkilledhisfather——justa——minute——beforeyoucame。Ifoughthim!Oh!。ButI\'mallright。Didyou——\"
\"Wildfireranhimdown——smashedhim。Lucy!thiscan\'tbetrue。YetIfeelyou!ThankGod!\"
WithherfreehandLucyreturnedhisclasp。Sheseemedtobestrong。ItwasapreciousmomentforSlone，inwhichhewasupliftedbeyondalldreams。
\"Letmeloose——asecond，\"shesaid。\"Iwantto——getinyourcoat。\"
Shelaughedashereleasedher。Shelaughed!AndSlonethrilledwithunutterablesweetnessatthatlaugh。
Asheturnedawayhefeltaswiftwind，thenastrangeimpactfromaninvisibleforcethatstaggeredhim，thentherendofflesh。Afterthatcametheheavyreportofagun。
Slonefell。Heknewhehadbeenshot。Followingtherendingofhisfleshcameahotagony。Itwasinhisshoulder，highup，andthedark，swiftfearforhislifewaschecked。
Lucystoodstaringdownathim，unabletocomprehend，slowlypaling。Herhandsclaspedthecoatroundher。Slonesawher，sawtheedgeofstreamingcloudsofsmokeaboveher，sawonthecliffbeyondthegorgetwomen，onewithasmokinggunhalfleveled。
IfSlonehadbeeninattentivetohissurroundingsbefore，thesightofCordtselectrifiedhim。
\"Lucy!dropdown!quick!\"
\"Oh，what\'shappened？You——you——\"
\"I\'vebeenshot。Dropdown，Itellyou。Getbehindthehorsean\'pullmyrifle。\"
\"Shot!\"exclaimedLucy，blankly。
\"Yes——Yes。MyGod!Lucy，he\'sgoin\'toshootagain!\"
ItwasthenLucyBostilsawCordtsacrossthegulch。Hewasnotfiftyyardsdistant，plainlyrecognizable，tall，gaunt，sardonic。Heheldthehalf-leveledgunreadyasifwaiting。Hehadwaitedthereinambush。Thecloudsofsmokerolledupabovehim，hidingthecrags。
\"CORDTS!\"Bostil\'sbloodspokeinthegirl\'sthrillingcry。
\"Hunchdown，Lucy!\"criedSlone。\"Pullmyrifle。I\'monlywinged——nothurt。Hurry!He\'sgoin\'——\"
AnotherheavyreportinterruptedSlone。Thebulletmissed，butSlonemadeapretense，aconvulsiveflop，asifstruck。
\"Gettherifle!Quick!\"hecalled。
ButLucymisunderstoodhisrusetodeceiveCordts。Shethoughthehadbeenhitagain。SherantothefallenWildfireandjerkedtheriflefromitssheath。
Cordtshadbeguntoclimbroundaledge，evidentlyashortcuttogetdownandacross。HutchinsonsawtherifleandyelledtoCordts。Thehorse-thiefhalted，hisdarkfacegleamingtowardLucy。
WhenLucyrosethecoatfellfromhernudeshoulders。AndSlone，watching，suddenlylosthisagonyofterrorforherandutteredapealingcryofdefianceandofrapture。
Shesweptuptherifle。Itwavered。Hutchinsonwasabove，andCordts，reachingup，yelledforhelp。Hutchinsonwasreluctant。Butthestrongerforcedominated。Heleaneddown——claspedCordts\'soutstretchedhands，andpulled。
Hutchinsonbawledouthoarsely。Cordtsturnedwhatseemedapalerface。Hehaddifficultyontheslightfooting。Hewasslow。
SlonetriedtocalltoLucytoshootlow，buthislipshaddrawntightafterhisoneyell。Slonesawherwhite，roundedshouldersbent，withcold，whitefacepressedagainsttherifle，withslimarmsquiveringandgrowingtense，withthetangledgoldenhairblowingout。
Thensheshot。
Slone\'sglanceshifted。Hedidnotseethebulletstrikeupdust。Thefiguresofthemenremainedthesame——Hutchinsonstraining，Cordts。No，Cordtswasnotthesame!Astrangechangeseemedmanifestinhislongform。Itdidnotseeminstinctwitheffort。Yetitmoved。
Hutchinsonalsowasactingstrangely，yelling，heaving，wrestling。ButhecouldnothelpCordts。Heliftedviolently，raisedCordtsalittle，andthenappearedtobeinperiloflosinghisbalance。
Cordtsleanedagainstthecliff。ThenitdawneduponSlonethatLucyhadhitthehorse-thief。Hardhit!Hewouldnot——hecouldnotletgoofHutchinson。
Hiswasadeathclutch。TheburlyHutchinsonslippedfromhisknee-hold，andashemovedCordtsswayed，hisfeetlefttheledge，hehung，upheldonlybythetotteringcomrade。
WhataharshandterriblecryfromHutchinson!Hemadeonelastconvulsiveeffortanditdoomedhim。Slowlyhelosthisbalance。Cordts\'sdark，evil，hauntingfaceswunground。Bothmenbecamelaxandplunged，andseparated。Thedustrosefromtheroughsteps。Thenthedarkformsshotdown——Cordtsfallingsheerandstraight，Hutchinsonheadlong，withwavingarms——downanddown，vanishinginthedepths。Nosoundcameup。Alittlecolumnofyellowdustcurledfromthefatalledgeand，catchingthewindabove，streamedawayintothedriftingcloudsofsmoke。
CHAPTERXX
Adarkness，likethestreamingcloudsoverhead，seemedtoblotoutSlone\'ssight，andthenpassedaway，leavingitclearer。
Lucywasbendingoverhim，bindingascarfroundhisshoulderandunderhisarm。\"Lin!It\'snothing!\"shewassaying，earnestly。\"Nevertouchedabone!\"
Slonesatup。Thesmokewasclearingaway。Littlecurvesofburninggrasswereworkingdownalongtherim。HeputoutahandtograspLucy，rememberinginaflash。Hepointedtotheledgeacrossthechasm。
\"They\'re——gone!\"criedLucy，withastrangeanddeepnoteinhervoice。Sheshookviolently。ButshedidnotlookawayfromSlone。
\"Wildfire!TheKing!\"headded，hoarsely。
\"Bothwheretheydropped。Oh，I\'mafraidto——tolook。And，Lin，IsawSarch，TwoFace，andBenandPlumegodownthere。\"
Shehadherbacktothechasmwherethetrailleddown，andshepointedwithoutlooking。
Slonegotup，alittleunsteadyonhisfeetandconsciousofadullpain。
\"Sarchwillgostraighthome，andtheotherswillfollowhim，\"saidLucy。
\"TheygotawayherewhereJoelcameupthetrail。Thefirechasedthemoutofthewoods。Sarchwillgohome。Andthat\'llfetchtheriders。\"
\"Wewon\'tneedthemifonlyWildfireandtheKing——\"Slonebrokeoffandgrimly，withacatchinhisbreath，turnedtothehorses。
HowstrangethatSloneshouldruntowardtheKingwhileLucyrantoWildfire!
SageKingwasabeaten，brokenhorse，buthewouldlivetorunanotherrace。
LucywaskneelingbesideWildfire，sobbingandcrying:\"Wildfire!Wildfire!\"
AllofWildfirewaswhiteexceptwherehewasred，andthatredwasnotnowhisglossy，flamingskin。Aterriblemuscularconvulsionasofinternalcollapsegrewslowerandslower。Yetchoked，blinded，dying，killedonhisfeet，WildfireheardLucy\'svoice。
\"Oh，Lin!Oh，Lin!\"moanedLucy。
Whiletheyknelttheretheviolentconvulsionschangedtoslowheaves。
\"HeruntheKingdown——carryin\'weight——withalongleadtoovercome!\"Slonemuttered，andheputashakinghandonthehorse\'swetneck。
\"Oh，hebeattheKing!\"criedLucy。\"Butyoumustn\'t——youCAN\'TtellDad!\"
\"WhatCANwetellhim？\"
\"Oh，Iknow。OldCreechtoldmewhattosay!\"
Achange，bothofbodyandspirit，seemedtopassoverthegreatstallion。
\"WILDFIRE!WILDFIRE!\"
Againtheridercalledtohishorse，withalowandpiercingcry。ButWildfiredidnothear。
ThemorningsunglancedbrightlyovertheripplingsagewhichrolledawayfromtheFordlikeagraysea。
Bostilsatonhisporch，astrickenman。Hefacedthebluehazeofthenorth，wheredaysbeforeallthathehadlovedhadvanished。Everyday，fromsunrisetillsunset，hehadbeenthere，waitingandwatching。Hisridersweregroupednearhim，silent，awedbyhisagony，awaitingordersthatnevercame。
Frombehindaridgepuffedupathincloudofdust。Bostilsawitandgaveastart。Abovethesageappearedabobbing，blackobject——theheadofahorse。
Thenthebigblackbodyfollowed。
\"Sarch!\"exclaimedBostil。
Withspursclinkingtheridersranandtroopedbehindhim。
\"Morehossesback，\"saidHolley，quietly。
\"Thar\'sPlume!\"exclaimedFarlane。
\"An\'TwoFace!\"addedVan。
\"DustyBen!\"saidanother。
\"RIDERLESS!\"finishedBostil。
Thenallwereintenselyquiet，watchingtheracerscometrottinginsinglefiledowntheridge。Sarchedon\'sshrillneigh，likeawhistle-blast，pealedinfromthesage。From，fieldsandcorralsclamoredtheanswerattendedbytheclatteringofhundredsofhoofs。
Sarchedonandhisfollowersbrokefromtrottocanter——cantertogallop——andsoonwerecrackingtheirhardhoofsonthestonycourt。Likeaswarmofbeestheridersswoopeddownupontheracers，caughtthem，andledthemuptoBostil。
OnSarchedon\'sneckshowedadry，dust-cakedstainofreddishtinge。Holley，theoldhawk-eyedrider，hadprecedenceintheexamination。
\"Wal，thet\'sabullet-mark，plainasday，\"saidHolley。
\"Whoshothim？\"demandedBostil。
Holleyshookhisgrayhead。
\"Hesmellsofsmoke，\"putinFarlane，whohadkneltattheblack\'slegs。\"He\'sbeenrunnin\'fire。Seethet!Fetlocksallsinged!\"
Alltheriderslooked，andthenwithgrave，questioningeyesatoneanother。
\"Reckonthar\'sbeenhell!\"mutteredHolley，darkly。
Someoftheridersledthehorsesawaytowardthecorrals。Bostilwheeledtofacethenorthagain。Hisbrowwaslowering；hischeekwaspaleandsunken；
hisjawwasset。
Theriderscameandwent，butBostilkepthisvigil。Thehourspassed。
Afternooncameandworeon。Thesunlostitsbrightnessandburnedred。
Againdust-clouds，nowlikereddenedsmoke，puffedovertheridge。Ahorsecarryingadark，thickfigureappearedabovethesage。
Bostilleapedup。\"Isthetagrayhoss——oram——Iblind？\"hecalled，unsteadily。
Theridersdarednotanswer。Theymustbesure。Theygazedthroughnarrowslitsofeyelids；andthesilencegrewintense。
Holleyshadedthehawkeyeswithhishand。\"Grayheis——Bostil——grayasthesage。AN\'SOHELPMEGODIFHEAIN\'TTHEKING!\"
\"Yes，it\'stheKing!\"criedtheriders，excitedly。\"Sure!Ireckon!Nomistakeaboutthet!It\'stheKing!\"
Bostilshookhishugeframe，andherubbedhiseyesasiftheyhadbecomedim，andhestaredagain。
\"Who\'sthetuponhim？\"
\"Slone。Ineverseenhislikeonahoss，\"repliedHolley。
\"An\'what\'s——hepackin\'？\"queriedBostil，huskily。
PlaintoallkeeneyeswastheglintofLucyBostil\'sgoldenhair。ButonlyHolleyhadcouragetospeak。
\"It\'sLucy!Iseenthetlongago。\"
Astrange，fleetinglightofjoydiedoutofBostil\'sface。Thechangeoncemoresilencedhisriders。TheywatchedtheKingtrottinginfromthesage。Hisheaddrooped。Heseemedgrayerthaneverandhelimped。ButhewasSageKing，splendidasofold，allthemoregladdeningtotheriders\'eyesbecausehehadbeenlost。Hecameon，quickeningalittletotheclamoringwelcomefromthecorrals。
Holleyputoutaswifthand。\"Bostil——thegirl\'salive——she\'ssmilin\'!\"hecalled，andthecoolvoicewasstrangelydifferent。
TheriderswaitedforBostil。Slonerodeintothecourtyard。Hewaswhiteandweary，reelinginthesaddle。Abloodyscarfwasboundroundhisshoulder。HeheldLucyinhisarms。Shehadonhiscoat。Awansmilelightedherhaggardface。
Bostil，cursingdeep，likemutteringthunder，strodeout。\"Lucy!Youain\'tbadhurt？\"heimplored，inavoicenoonehadeverheardbefore。
\"I\'m——allright——Dad，\"shesaid，andslippeddownintohisarms。
Hekissedthepalefaceandheldheruplikeachild，andthen，carryinghertothedoorofthehouse，heroaredforAuntJane。
WhenhereappearedthecrowdofridersscatteredfromaroundSlone。ButitseemedthatBostilsawonlytheKing。Thehorsewascakedwithdustylather，scratchedanddisheveled，wearyandbroken，yethewasstillbeautiful。Heraisedhisdroopingheadandreachedforhismasterwithalookassoftanddarkandeloquentasawoman\'s。
NoridertherebutfeltBostil\'spassionofdoubtandhope。HadtheKingbeenbeaten？Bostil\'sgloryandpridewerebattlingwithlove。Mightyasthatwas，itdidnotatonceovercomehisfearofdefeat。
SlowlythegazeofBostilmovedawayfromSageKingandrovedouttothesageandback，asifheexpectedtoseeanotherhorse。Butnootherhorsewasinsight。Atlasthishardeyesresteduponthewhite-facedSlone。
\"Beensome——hardridin\'？\"hequeried，haltingly。Allthereknewthathadnotbeenthequestionuponhislips。
\"Prettyhard——yes，\"repliedSlone。Hewasweary，yettight-lipped，intense。
\"Now——themCreeches？\"slowlycontinuedBostil。
\"Dead。\"
Amurmurranthroughthelisteningriders，andtheydrewcloser。
\"Bothofthem？\"
\"Yes。Joelkilledhisfather，fightin\'togetLucy。An\'Iran——WildfireoverJoel——smashedhim!\"
\"Wal，I\'msorryfortheoldman，\"repliedBostil，gruffly。\"Imeanttomakeuptohim。Butthetfoolboy!An\'Slone——you\'reallbloody。\"
Hesteppedforwardandpulledthescarfaside。Hewascuriousandkindly，asifitwasbeyondhimtobeotherwise。Yetthatdarkcoldsomething，almostsullenclungroundhim。
\"Beenbored，eh？Wal，itain\'tlow，an\'thet\'sgood。Whoshotyou？\"
\"Cordts。\"
\"CORDTS!\"Bostilleanedforwardinsudden，fierceeagerness。
\"Yes，Cordts。HisoutfitrunacrossCreech\'strailan\'webunched。I
can\'ttellnow。Butwehad——hell!An\'Cordtsisdead——so\'sHutch——an\'
thatotherpardofhis。Bostil，they\'llneverhauntyoursleepagain!\"
Slonefinishedwithastrangesternnessthatseemedalmostbitter。
Bostilraisedbothhishugefists。Thebloodwasbulginghisthickneck。Itwasanotherkindofpassionthatobsessedhim。OnlysomeviolentchecktohisemotionpreventedhimfromembracingSlone。Thehugefistsunclenchedandthebigfingersworked。
\"YoumeantotellmeyoudidferCordtsan\'HutchwhatyoudidferSears？\"heboomedout。
\"They\'redead——gone，Bostil——honesttoGod!\"replied。Slone。
Holleythrustaquivering，brownhandintoBostil\'sface。\"WhatdidItellyou？\"heshouted。\"Didn\'tIsaywait？\"
Bostilthrewawayallthatdeepfuryofpassion，andthereseemedonlyaresistlessandspeechlessadmirationleft。Thenensuedamomentofsilence。
TheriderswatchedSlone\'swearyfaceasitdrooped，andBostil，asheloomedoverhim。
\"Where\'stheredstallion？\"queriedBostil。Thatwasthequestionhardtogetout。
Sloneraisedeyesdarkwithpain，yettheyflashedashelookedstraightupintoBostil\'sface。\"Wildfire\'sdead!\"
\"DEAD!\"ejaculatedBostil。
Anothermomentofstrainedexcitingsuspense。
\"Shot？\"hewenton。
\"No。\"
\"Whatkilledhim？\"
\"TheKing，sir!Killedhimonhisfeet!\"
Bostil\'sheavyjawbulgedandquivered。HishandshookashelaiditonSageKing\'smane——thefirsttouchsincethereturnofhisfavorite。
\"Slone——what——isit？\"hesaid，brokenly，withvoicestrangelysoftened。Hisfacebecametransfigured。
\"SageKingkilledWildfireonhisfeet。Agrandrace，Bostil!ButWildfire\'sdead——an\'here\'stheKing!Askmenomore。Iwanttoforget。\"
Bostilputhisarmaroundtheyoungman\'sshoulder。\"Slone，ifIdon\'tknowwhatyoufeelferthelossofthetgrandhoss，norideronearthknows!
Gointhehouse。Boys，takehimin——allofyou——an\'lookafterhim。\"
Bostilwantedtobealone，towelcometheKing，toleadhimbacktothehomecorral，perhapstohidefromalleyesthechangeandtheupliftthatwouldforeverkeephimfromwronginganotherman。
Thelaterainscameandlikemagic，inafewdays，thesagegrewgreenandlustrousandfresh，thegrayturningtopurple。
Everymorningthesunrosewhiteandhotinablueandcloudlesssky。Andthensoonthehorizonlineshowedcreamycloudsthatroseandspreadanddarkened。
Everyafternoonstormshungalongtherampartsandrainbowscurveddownbeautifulandethereal。Thedimblacknessofthestorm-cloudswassplittotheblindingzigzagoflightning，andthethunderrolledandboomed，liketheColoradoinflood。
Thewindwasfragrant，sage-laden，nolongerdryandhot，butcoolintheshade。
SloneandLucyneverrodedownsofarasthestatelymonuments，thoughtheseheldmemoriesashauntinglysweetasotherswerepoignantlybitter。LucyneverrodetheKingagain。ButSlonerodehim，learnedtolovehim。AndLucydidnotraceanymore。WhenSlonetriedtostirinhertheoldspiritalltheresponsehegotwasawistfulshakeofheadoralaughthathidthetruthoranexcusethatthestrainonheranklesfromJoelCreech\'slassohadnevermended。Thegirlwasunutterablyhappy，butitwaspossiblethatshewouldneverraceahorseagain。
SherodeSarchedon，andshelikedtotrotorlopealongbesideSlonewhiletheylinkedhandsandwatchedthedistance。Butherglanceshunnedthenorth，thatdistancewhichheldthewildcanyonsandthebrokenbattlementsandthelong，black，pine-fringedplateau。
\"Won\'tyoueverridewithme，outtotheoldcamp，whereIusedtowaitforyou？\"askedSlone。
\"Someday，\"shesaid，softly。
\"When？\"
\"When——whenwecomebackfromDurango，\"shereplied，withavertedeyesandscarletcheek。AndSlonewassilent，forthatplannedtriptoDurango，withitswonderfulgifttobe，madehisheartswell。
Andsoonthisrainbowday，withstormsallaroundthem，andblueskyabove，theyrodeonlyasfarasthevalley。Butfromthere，beforetheyturnedtogoback，themonumentsappearedclose，andtheyloomedgrandlywiththebackgroundofpurplebankandcreamycloudandshaftsofgoldenlightning。
Theyseemedlikesentinels——guardiansofagreatandbeautifullovebornundertheirloftyheights，inthelonelysilenceofday，inthestar-thrownshadowofnight。Theywerelikethatlove。AndtheyheldLucyandSlone，callingeveryday，givinganamelessandtranquilcontent，bindingthemtruetolove，truetothesageandtheopen，truetothatwilduplandhome。