On the flaring4 fringes of their sweeping5 skirts where the streams ran, maples6 trembled in the airy sun and cottonwoods shook their thousand palms of silver.
Great cañons cut the ridges7, dark and mysterious, murmuring with snow water, painted fantastically in the reds and browns and yellows of their weathered stone. Pine trees grew here, and piñons, hemlock10 and spruce, all the dark and sombre people of the forest, majestic11 and aloof12.
But in the sweet valleys that ran like playful fingers all ways among the hills, where lay tender grass of a laughing brightness, flowers nodded thick in the drowsy13 meadows. It was a lonesome land, set far from civilization, but beautiful withal, serene14, silent, wild with crag and peak and precipice15. Deer browsed16 in its sheltered places, a few timber wolves preyed17 on them, while here and there a panther screamed to the stars at night.
For many years a pair of golden eagles had reared their young on the beetling18 escarpment that crowned Mystery Ridge8.
It was a rich land, too, for many cattle ran on its timbered slants and grew sleek19 and fat for fall along the reaches of the river.
On a day when all the world seemed basking20 in the tempered sun, a horse and rider came down along the slopes heading toward the west. On the broad background of this primeval setting they made a striking picture, one to arrest the eye, for both were remarkable21. Of the two, perhaps the horse would first have caught the attention of an observer, owing to its great stature22 and its shining mouse-blue coat.
Far off, also, the prideful grace of its carriage, the lightness, the arrogance23 of its step, would have been noticeable. But as they drew near, one looked instinctively24 to see what manner of rider bestrode so splendid a fellow, and was not disappointed—for the rider was a woman.
She was a gallant25 woman, if one could so describe her, not large but built with such nicety of line, of proportion, as best to show off the spirit in her—and that was a thing which might not be described. Under her sombrero, worn low on her brow and level, one got the seeming of darkness shot with fire—the black eyes and bit of dusky hair above cheeks brightly flushed. She rode at ease, her gauntleted hands clasped on her pommel, her reins27 swinging. A blue flannel28 shirt, gay with pearl buttons, lay open at the throat and bloused a trifle above a broad leather belt, well worn and studded with nickel spots. A divided skirt of dark leather, precisely29 fitted and deeply fringed at the bottom, concealed30 the tops of high laced boots. All her clothing betokened31 especial make, and very thorough wear.
As the blue horse sidled expertly down the slope a loose stone turned under his shod hoof32, causing him to stumble ever so slightly, though he caught himself instantly.
As instantly the woman’s spurred heel struck his flank, her swift tightening33 of the rein26 anticipated his resultant start.
“Pick up your feet, you!” she said sharply, frowning.
The stallion did pick up his feet, for he was intelligent, but he shook his proud head, laid his ears back on his neck, and the sweat started on his sensitive skin at the needless rake of the spur. The great dark eyes in his grey-blue face shone for a time like fox-fire in the dark, twin sparks beneath the light of his tossing silver forelock.
He choose his footing more carefully, though he was an artist in hill climbing at all times, for the woman on his back was a hard task-master. Caught as a colt in the high meadows of the Upper Country beyond the Deep Heart hills, the horse had served her faithfully for four of his seven years of life, and hated her sullenly34. There was mixed blood in his veins—wild, from the slim white mother who had never felt a rope, patrician35, gentle, tractable36, from the thoroughbred black father lost from a horse-trader’s string eleven years back and sought for many bootless moons because of his great value.
Swayed by the instincts of these two strains the superb animal obeyed this woman who was unquestionably his master, though rebellion surged in him at every chastisement37.
The sun was at the zenith, marking the time of short shadows, and its light fell in pale golden washes over the tapestried38 green slopes. Tall flowers nodded on slim stalks in nook and crevasse—frail columbine and flaming bleeding hearts—and mosses39 crept in the damp places.
For an hour the two came down along the breast of a ridge, dropping slowly in a long diagonal, and presently came out on a bold shoulder that jutted40 from the parent spine41. Here, with the thinning trees falling abruptly42 away, a magnificent view spread out below. For a long time there had been in the rider’s ears a low and heavy murmur9, a ceaseless sound of power. Now its source was visible—the river that wound between wide meadows spread like flaring flounces on either side—broad, level, green stretches that looked rich as a king’s lands, and were.
The woman reined43 up her horse and sitting sidewise looked down with moody44 eyes. A frown drew close the dark brows under the hat brim, the full sensuous45 lips hardened into a tight line.
Hatred46 flamed in her passionate47 face, for the smiling valley was tenanted. At the far edge of the green floor across the river there nestled against the hills that rose abruptly the small log buildings of a homestead. There was a cabin, squarely built and neat, a stable, a shed or two, and stout48 corrals, built after the fashion of a stockade49, their close-set upright saplings gleaming faintly in the light.
And on the green carpet a long brown line lay stretched from end to end, straight as a plumb-line, attesting50 to the accuracy of the eye that drew it. A team of big bay horses even now plodded51 along that line, leaving behind them a tiny addition in the form of a flange52 of new turned earth, the resistless effect of the conquering plow53.
The plow, hated of all those who follow the fringe of the wilderness54, savage55, trapper, and cattleman.
In the furrow56 behind walked the owner of the accurate eyes—deep, wide, blue eyes they were, set beautifully apart under calm brows of a golden bronze which matched exactly the thick lashes57 and the heavy rope of hair braided and pinned around the head hidden in an old-fashioned sunbonnet—for this only other figure in the primeval picture was a woman also. She was young by the grace of the upright carriage, strong by the way she handled her plow, confident in every movement, every action. She stood almost as tall as the average man, and she walked with the free swing of one.
For a long time the rider on the high shoulder of the ridge sat regarding these tiny plodders in the valley.
Then she deliberately58 took from its straps59 the rifle that hung on her saddle, lifted it to her shoulder, took slow aim and fired. It was a high-power gun, capable of carrying much farther than this point of aim, and its bullet spat60 whiningly61 into the earth so near the moving team that one of the horses jumped and squatted62.
The woman lowered the gun and watched.
But the upright figure plodding63 in its furrow never so much as turned its head. It merely pulled the lines buckled64 about its waist, thereby65 steadying the frightened horse back to its business, and crept ahead at its plowing66.
“Damn!” said the woman.
She laid the rifle across her pommel, reined the blue stallion sharply away and went on her interrupted journey.
Two hours later she rode into the shady, crooked67 lane that passed for a street in Cordova. Composed of a general store, a blacksmith-shop, a few ancient cabins, the isolated68 trading point called itself a town. McKane of the store did four-ply business and fancied himself exceedingly.
As the woman came cantering down the street between the cabins he ceased whittling69 on the splinter in his hands and watched her. She was well worth watching, too, for she was straight as an Indian and she rode like one. Of the half-dozen men lounging on the store porch in the drowsy afternoon, not one but gazed at her with covetous70 eyes.
A light grew up in McKane’s keen face, a satisfaction, an appreciation71, a recognition of excellence72.
“By George!” he said softly. “Boys, I don’t know which is the most worth while—the half-breed Bluefire or Kate Cathrew on his back!”
“I’ll take the woman,” said a lean youth in worn leather, his starved young face attesting to the womanless wilderness of the Upper County from whence he hailed. “Yea, Lord—I’ll take the woman.”
“You mean you would,” said McKane, smiling, “if you could. Many a man has tried it, but Kate rides alone. Yes, and rules her kingdom with an iron hand—that’s wrong—it’s steel, and Toledo steel at that, tempered fine. And merciless.”
“You seem to know th’ lady pretty well.”
“All Nameless River knows her,” said the trader, lowering his voice as she drew near, “and the Deep Hearts, too, as far as cattle run.”
“Take an’ keep yer woman—if ye can—” put in a bearded man of fifty who sat against a post, this booted feet stretched along the floor, “but give me th’ horse. I’ve loved him ever sence I first laid eyes on him two years back.
“He’s more than a horse—he’s got brains behind them speakin’ eyes, soft an’ black when he’s peaceful, but burnin’ like coals when he’s mad. I’ve seen him mad, an’ itched73 to own him then. Kate’s a brute74 to him—don’t understand him, an’ don’t want to.”
McKane dropped his chair forward and rose quickly to his feet as the woman cantered up.
“Hello, Kate,” he said, as she sat a moment regarding the group, “how’s the world at Sky Line Ranch75?”
“All there,” she said shortly, “or was when I left.”
She swung out of her saddle and flung her reins to the ground. She pulled off her gloves and pushed the hat back from her forehead, which showed sweated white above the tan of her face. She passed into the store with McKane, the spurs rattling76 on her booted heels.
Left alone the big, blue stallion turned his alert head and looked at the men on the porch, drawing a deep breath and rolling the wheel in his half-breed bit.
It was as the bearded man had said—intelligence in a marked degree looked out of the starry77 eyes in the blue face. That individual reached out a covetous hand, but the horse did not move. He knew his business too well as Kate Cathrew’s servant.
Inside the store the woman took two letters which McKane gave her from the dingy78 pigeonholes79 that did duty as post office, read them, frowned and put them in the pocket of her leather riding skirt. Then she selected a few things from the shelves which she stowed in a flour-sack and was ready to go. McKane followed her close, his eyes searching her face with ill-concealed desire. She did not notice the men on the porch, who regarded her frankly80, but passed out among them as though they were not there. It was this cool insolence81 which cleared the path before her wherever she appeared, as if all observers, feeling the inferiority her disdain82 implied, acknowledged it.
But as she descended83 the five or six steps that led down from the porch, she came face to face with a newcomer, one who neither gaped84 nor shifted back, but looked her square in the face.
This was a man of some thirty-four or five, big, brawny85, lean and fit, of a rather homely86 countenance87 lighted by grey eyes that read his kind like print.
He looked like a cattleman save for one thing—the silver star pinned to the left breast of his flannel shirt, for this was Sheriff Price Selwood.
“Good day, Kate,” he said.
A red flush rose in the woman’s face, but it was not set there by any liking88 for the speaker who accosted89 her, that was plain.
“It’s never a good day when I meet you,” she said evenly, “it’s a bad one.”
The Sheriff smiled.
“That’s good,” he answered, “but some day I’ll make it better.”
McKane, his own face flushed with sudden anger, stepped close.
“Price,” he said thinly, “you and I’ve been pretty fair friends, but when you talk to Miss Cathrew like that, you’ve got me to settle with. That sounded like a threat.”
“Did it?” said Selwood. “It was.”
The trader was as good as his word.
With the last syllable90 his fist shot out and took the speaker in the jaw91, a clean stroke, timed a half-second sooner than the other had expected, though he had expected it. It snapped his head back on his shoulders, but did not make him stagger, and the next moment he had met McKane half-way with all the force of his two hundred pounds of bone and muscle.
In the midst of the whirlwind fight that followed, Kate Cathrew, having pulled on her gloves and coolly tied her sack in place on her saddle, mounted Bluefire and rode away without a backward look.
Twenty minutes later the Sheriff picked up the trader and rolled him up on the porch. He stood panting himself, one hand on the worn planking, the other wiping the blood and dirt from his face.
“Get some water, boys,” he said quietly, “and when he comes around tell him I’ll be back tomorrow for my coffee and tobacco—five pounds of each—and anything more he wants to give me.”
He picked up his wide hat, brushed it with his torn sleeve, set it back on his head precisely, walked to his own horse, which was tied some distance away, mounted and rode south toward the more open country where his own ranch lay.
“I’m damned!” said the bearded man softly, “it didn’t take her long to stir up somethin’ on a peaceful day! If it’d been over Bluefire, now—there’s somethin’ to fight for—but a woman; Hell!”
“But—Glory—Glory!” whispered the lean boy who had watched Kate hungrily, “ain’t she worth it! Oh, just ain’t she! Wisht I was McKane this minute!”
“Druther be th’ Sheriff,” said the other enigmatically.
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1
slants
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| （使）倾斜，歪斜( slant的第三人称单数 )； 有倾向性地编写或报道 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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3
tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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5
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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hemlock
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| n.毒胡萝卜，铁杉 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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13
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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15
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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16
browsed
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| v.吃草( browse的过去式和过去分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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17
preyed
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| v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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18
beetling
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| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
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19
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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20
basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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21
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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25
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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26
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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27
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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28
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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31
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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33
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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38
tapestried
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| adj.饰挂绣帷的，织在绣帷上的v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
mosses
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| n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式 | |
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40
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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41
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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42
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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43
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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44
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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45
sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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46
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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47
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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49
stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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50
attesting
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| v.证明( attest的现在分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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51
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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52
flange
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| n.边缘，轮缘，凸缘，法兰 | |
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53
plow
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| n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough | |
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54
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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55
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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56
furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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57
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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58
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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59
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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60
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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61
whiningly
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62
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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63
plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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64
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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65
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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66
plowing
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| v.耕( plow的现在分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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67
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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68
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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69
whittling
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| v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的现在分词 ) | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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71
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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72
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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73
itched
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| v.发痒( itch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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79
pigeonholes
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| n.鸽舍出入口( pigeonhole的名词复数 )；小房间；文件架上的小间隔v.把…搁在分类架上( pigeonhole的第三人称单数 )；把…留在记忆中；缓办；把…隔成小格 | |
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80
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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81
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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84
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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85
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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86
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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87
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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89
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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