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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。
