登陆注册
5240500000102

第102章 CHAPTER XXI. BLACK STAR AND NIGHT(5)

"It's a bad plan. You'll kill the burros in two days."

"Then we'll walk."

"That's more bad an' worse. Better go back down the Pass with me."

"Lassiter, this girl has been hidden all her life in that lonely place," went on Venters. "Oldring's men are hunting me. We'd not be safe there any longer. Even if we would be I'd take this chance to get her out. I want to marry her. She shall have some of the pleasures of life--see cities and people. We've gold--we'll be rich. Why, life opens sweet for both of us. And, by Heaven! I'll get her out or lose my life in the attempt!"

"I reckon if you go on with them burros you'll lose your life all right. Tull will have riders all over this sage. You can't get out on them burros. It's a fool idea. That's not doin' best by the girl. Come with me en' take chances on the rustlers."

Lassiter's cool argument made Venters waver, not in determination to go, but in hope of success.

"Bess, I want you to know. Lassiter says the trip's almost useless now. I'm afraid he's right. We've got about one chance in a hundred to go through. Shall we take it? Shall we go on?"

"We'll go on," replied Bess.

"That settles it, Lassiter."

Lassiter spread wide his hands, as if to signify he could do no more, and his face clouded.

Venters felt a touch on his elbow. Jane stood beside him with a hand on his arm. She was smiling. Something radiated from her, and like an electric current accelerated the motion of his blood.

"Bern, you'd be right to die rather than not take Elizabeth out of Utah--out of this wild country. You must do it. You'll show her the great world, with all its wonders. Think how little she has seen! Think what delight is in store for her! You have gold, You will be free; you will make her happy. What a glorious prospect! I share it with you. I'll think of you--dream of you--pray for you."

"Thank you, Jane," replied Venters, trying to steady his voice.

"It does look bright. Oh, if we were only across that wide, open waste of sage!"

"Bern, the trip's as good as made. It'll be safe--easy. It'll be a glorious ride," she said, softly.

Venters stared. Had Jane's troubles made her insane? Lassiter, too, acted queerly, all at once beginning to turn his sombrero round in hands that actually shook.

"You are a rider. She is a rider. This will be the ride of your lives," added Jane, in that same soft undertone, almost as if she were musing to herself.

"Jane!" he cried.

"I give you Black Star and Night!"

"Black Star and Night!" he echoed.

"It's done. Lassiter, put our saddle-bags on the burros."

Only when Lassiter moved swiftly to execute her bidding did Venters's clogged brain grasp at literal meanings. He leaped to catch Lassiter's busy hands.

"No, no! What are you doing?" he demanded, in a kind of fury. "I won't take her racers. What do you think I am? It'd be monstrous.

Lassiter! stop it, I say!...You've got her to save. You've miles and miles to go. Tull is trailing you. There are rustlers in the Pass. Give me back that saddle-bag!"

"Son--cool down," returned Lassiter, in a voice he might have used to a child. But the grip with which he tore away Venters's grasping hands was that of a giant. "Listen--you fool boyl Jane's sized up the situation. The burros'll do for us. Well sneak along an' hide. I'll take your dogs an' your rifle. Why, it's the trick. The blacks are yours, an' sure as I can throw a gun you're goin' to ride safe out of the sage."

"Jane--stop him--please stop him," gasped Venters. "I've lost my strength. I can't do--anything. This is hell for me! Can't you see that? I've ruined you--it was through me you lost all. You've only Black Star and Night left. You love these horses. Oh! I know how you must love them now! And--you're trying to give them to me. To help me out of Utah! To save the girl I love!"

"That will be my glory."

同类推荐
  • 雅道机要

    雅道机要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 图画见闻志

    图画见闻志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 甘疯子传

    甘疯子传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 五部六册

    五部六册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Forty-Two Poems

    Forty-Two Poems

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 重生之竹马装高冷

    重生之竹马装高冷

    一朝重生回到青春懵懂,她绝对远离渣男和绿茶,寻找高富帅站上人生巅峰!教室门口,扎着马尾的女孩一把拦住胖子,霸气宣言,虽然你不符合我的要求,但本姑娘心地善良,勉强收了你吧。多年后,胖子华丽变身,说好的收了我,为何要逃?
  • 穿越:福孕高照

    穿越:福孕高照

    她觉得自己应该不算什么好运,好死不死穿越到架空的古代,爹妈死了,又进了宫,被人当做棋子送到慕云昭身边,尔虞我诈勾心斗角的生活根本就不适合她,可她偏偏是个有福的,福大命大,好孕连年!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 这样做女孩最聪明

    这样做女孩最聪明

    看过这本书后,你就会明白,真实的社会跟你想象的世界相差实在太远,你以前的种种空想都是纸上谈兵。而踏入社会,就意味着你将失去以前的种种保护膜,像一个毫无免疫力的生命一样,亲身去接触很多你以前没接触过的事情,去感受很多你以前没有过的情感。这个时候,好的坏的、美的丑的、有利的有害的、真实的虚伪的,都会一股脑儿的朝你飞来。你会辨别真伪吗?你会应付现实与理想的磨合吗?……这一切都能在本书中找到你想寻找的答案。毫无疑问,这是一本改变女孩一生的智慧书,它真真切切地让女孩的一生变得更聪明、更睿智!
  • 神探刘曦

    神探刘曦

    新文此案不关风与月已经上线,大家多多支持古代推理文,看女捕头如何断案,有小虐,有小宠。容侦远远地看着这一切,他拉着全京城的人演了一出大戏,两个极致的交界线,就那样呈现在他眼前。一边龙舟比赛的鼓点声,百姓的呐喊声,生机勃勃,热闹非凡。一边血流成河,迎凤楼坍塌压住的人,嘶哑地呼救,嚎啕地大哭,满地狼藉,哀声一片。两边地声音夹杂在一起,像是一篇世纪乐章,他把两个完全不同的,那么紧张的时刻的画面刻画在了一起。年少有为的将门公子,多面的江湖奇侠,罪该万死的宦官,以及当年事件的所有关系人…………前面写得不好,还请大家多多担待,后面还是可以看的。
  • 上仙有毒

    上仙有毒

    她是辗转几世的妖,他是杀伐果断的魔,几世的孽缘,剪不断理还乱的纠缠,将他们紧紧的扭转在一起,彼岸花开,几世纷乱的记忆接踵而至的复始,他与她会如何了断……(推荐叶小晔的书《婚然天成:男神的神秘娇妻》)我的书友群玫瑰の后宫,群号码:313099084,欢迎大家进来探讨《上仙有毒》的剧情
  • 蜜婚之萌妻嫁到

    蜜婚之萌妻嫁到

    大龄未婚男青年裴少钦在婚纱店被相亲认识的女友放鸽子幸得婚纱店兼职店员乔雨珊好心相助,方才解了一时之难却不想,施恩者非但未得回报,反引来了‘失身’之祸——“爸爸,这位阿姨好像很喜欢小孩子,娶了她吧。”他家闺女迫不及待“碰上这么好的女孩子还不知道先下手为强?”他家老妈也是心急如焚☆某天,刚从医学院毕业的她成了他管辖科室的实习护士近水楼台先得月,先下手为强似乎是‘手到擒来’之事事实却是前有桃花、后有情敌,他处处示好,她却避之如鬼神逼急了他,干脆一不做二不休,连哄带骗地拐她去领了证再说☆一句话:腹黑军医与呆萌小护士的甜蜜婚恋史暖萌系宠文,双处,无虐无小三,J——Q不断
  • 成就妙法莲华经王瑜伽观智仪轨

    成就妙法莲华经王瑜伽观智仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 亳州牡丹史

    亳州牡丹史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉斗山人集

    玉斗山人集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 追忆似水年华:女逃亡者(第六卷)

    追忆似水年华:女逃亡者(第六卷)

    《追忆似水年华》以回忆的形式对往事作了回顾,有童年的回忆、家庭生活、初恋与失恋、历史事件的观察、以及对艺术的见解和对时空的认识等等。时间是这部小说的主人公。作者凭着智慧和想象力,使时间变得具体、生动、完美。它就像一首由多种主题构成的交响乐,爱情、嫉妒、死亡、回忆、时光,时而交叉重叠在一起,时而又游离开来,然而在宏观上,整个作品浑然一体,具有蓬勃的生命力。《追忆似水年华》被公认为文学创作的一次新的尝试,开意识流小说之先河。