Part 50 (1/2)
On another flank of the herd another rider charged in and shouted and shot and swung off. There was no time; there was no room! It was less than a hundred yards to the fence and to be caught between its stout strands and those charging heads meant terrible death. Curtis' warning cry cut in above the fury of the flight as he doubled back toward safety.
Within the fence were shouts. Figures sprang to outline in the darkness. The first steer's shoulders struck the wire, the fence held, threw him back and then, driven forward again by oncoming numbers the creature went through, torn and raw, through a torn and tangled barrier. There was a creaking strain of wire for rods, a snapping of stout posts and then orange stabs out of the night.... Two ... four ...
five, and the sound of rifle shots p.r.i.c.ked through the background of heavier sounds.
A steer bawled once, its voice pitched high, and went down. Another dropped beneath mincing hoofs without a sound. From their path ran the riflemen, desperate in their fright, heedless of damage done property or rights. Over, under and through the fence went the cattle, pouring across the cleared land, crowding, snorting, gaining momentum with each stride. On across the flat, on down the steep bank of the creek, on into the water that sloshed about their knees....
And there, as quickly as it had come, their panic departed, for the need of that water dissipated their fright. Noise of the flight subsided and into the night rose the greedy sound of their guzzling as the water which Cole had fenced and sought to hold was gulped down the parched throats of HC cattle.
Curtis rode up at a gallop, drawing his horse to such a quick stop that his hoofs scattered dirt over Azariah.
”What th' h.e.l.l?” he began.
”I found it!” cried the Reverend in exultation, holding up a fountain pen. ”Must have dropped out when I took off my coat--”
”But look what you've done!” cried the other. ”They knocked four steers dead as the Populist party!”
Azariah looked up at him, the shrewdness in his face covered by darkness, but his voice was guile itself.
”A small investment, brother, a good investment. Perhaps a parable is writ this night.... A pillar of fire, a smiting of the rock?”
Curtis whistled lowly.
”Reverend, you planned it all out?”
”It is not given to me to plan; I am guided by the spirit of righteousness! Besides, those who lack wisdom are the only ones who divulge their innermost thoughts, brother. I found a way out of Egypt for the cattle, as 't were. Remember, brother, the way of the Lord is strength!”
They had not heard Bobby Cole running through the brush toward them but as the Reverend stopped she stepped between him and Oliver's horse.
”So that's it!” she hissed. ”So you're th' one to blame! I'll tell you what I told your boss this mornin', that I'll run you out of the country if it's th' last thing I do, you Bible talkin' rat!
”This ain't th' first thing I've got against you,”--darkly. ”I might 've forgot th' other because she was to blame for it, but I've heard what you just said an' I won't forget this! And don't think I'm th'
only one who'll keep it in mind!
”Why, you'll be run out of this country like a snake 'uld be chased out of a cabin! Remember that!”
For a moment she stood confronting him in the darkness and though features were not clearly distinguishable they could see by the poise of her figure that those were no idle threats. Then she went as quickly as she had come, leaving the Reverend scratching his chin and Curtis whistling softly to himself.
”A woman possessed of the devil!” said Beal softly.
”Yeah. Or three or four,” commented the other.
”Yesterday I sought to save her soul and tomorrow I must seek to save my own skin!”
There was no more shooting because HC cattle were mingled with Cole's.
Curtis parlayed with the nester who made whining threats of a suit for damages. When Curtis returned to the beds for the remainder of the night the Reverend was not there.