But here he ran against a second obstacle. Sliver’s voice rose in the darkness. “An’ there’s nothing I’d like better ’n to look after Lady-girl. But I ain’t so much of a fool that I don’t know the store she sets by you, Bull, that’s been father an’ mother to her, now, for nigh on a year. So it don’t go that-a-way. It’s me for Arboles while you-all hit with them for the States.”
“Good enough!” Jake’s acid tones trembled through the gloom. “With a small amendment. You’re that young an’ foolish, Sliver, it ’u’d be a shame to cut you off—worse ’n the green grass that goes to the oven. So it stan’s like this—you-all go back; I go on.”
“No, you don’t.” Gordon’s quiet voice interrupted. “At any other time I’d feel diffident about putting in my oar. But these are our people. I could never look my wife”—he felt her hand steal up into his—“I could never look her in the face again if I stood for this. She ought to get out at once, and if you fellows will see her to the border—”
“They won’t—till we all go,” Lee broke in. “It’s easy to see that you’ve all made up your minds to stay—and you’ll need me to hold the horses. We’d better be getting on.”
“But, Missy—” Bull began.
But already she had mounted. The clatter of her horse’s hoofs returned unmistakable answer.
[XXXVIII: FIRE]
Hitherto Bull had always ridden on Lee’s right, but when the trail permitted two to ride abreast he now, with instinctive delicacy, yielded his old place to Gordon. In this order they rode along the flank of the mountain, their hoofs beating a dark tattoo to the lower rhythm of creaking leather, flapping holsters; rode on past the San Carlos trail, the Bowl forks, had almost reached the head of the ravine above Antonio’s fonda when Lee, who was riding ahead, reined in with an exclamation.
Out of the gloom that wrapped the plains below had burst a sudden glow which gave birth, as they gazed, to a flower of flame that quivered and swung under the breath of the night wind. It was too far away for them to see the buildings; but, clearly as though they were looking down upon it from the first rise, their minds filled in the picture; supplied the flames roaring through the Arboles patio, bursting from doors and windows, scaling the guard-house, running a scarlet race along the rows of adobes.
“My poor people!” Lee sat her horse and gazed.