I dont believe your stories at all, she declared firmly.
De Spain flushed. The irritation and the serious danger bore in on him. If you dont believe me its not my fault, he retorted. Ive told you the truth. Ride on, Sassoon.
He spoke angrily, but this in no wise daunted Nan. She wheeled her horse directly in front of them. Dont you stir, Sassoon, she commanded, until I call Uncle Duke.
De Spain spurred straight at her; their horses collided, and his knee touched hers in the saddle. Im going to take this man out of here, he announced in a tone she never had heard before from a man. Ive no time to talk. Go call your uncle if you like. We must pass.
You shant pass a step!
With the quick words of defiance the two glared at each other. De Spain was taken aback. He had expected no more than a war of wordsa few screams at the most. Nans face turned white, but there was no symptom even of a whimper. He noticed her quick breathing, and felt, instinctively, the restrained gesture of her right hand as it started back to her side. The move steadied him. One question, he said bluntly, are you armed?
She hated even to answer, and met his searching gaze resentfully, but something
in his tone and manner wrung a reply. I can defend myself, she exclaimed angrily.
De Spain raised his right hand from his thigh to the pommel of his saddle. The slight gesture was eloquent of his surrender of the issue of force. I cant go into a shooting-match with you about this cur. If you call your uncle there will be bloodshedunless you drop me off my horse right here and now before he appears. All I ask you is this: Is this kind of a cutthroat worth that? If you shoot me, my whole posse from Sleepy Cat is right below us in the aspens. Some of your own people will be killed in a general fight. If you want to shoot me, shootyou can have the match all to yourself. If you dont, let us go by. And if Ive told you one word that isnt true, call me back to this spot any time you like, and Ill come at your call, and answer for it.
His words and his manner confounded her for a moment. She could not at once make an answer, for she could not decide what to say. Then, of a sudden, she was robbed of her chance to answer. From down the trail came a yell like a shot. The clatter of hoofs rang out, and men on horses dashed from the entrance of the Gap toward them. De Spain could not make them out distinctly, but he knew Lefevers yell, and pointed. There they are, he exclaimed hurriedly. There is the whole posse. They are coming! A shot, followed closely by a second, rang out from below. Go, he cried to Nan. Therell be shooting here that I cant stop! He slapped Sassoons pony viciously with his hand, yelled loud in answer to Lefever, and before the startled girl could collect herself, de Spain, crouching in his saddle, as a fusillade cracked from Lefevers and Scotts revolvers, urged Sassoons horse around Nans, kicked it violently, spurred past her himself, and was away. White with consternation and anger, she steadied herself and looked after the fleeing pair. Then whirling in her saddle, she ran her pony back to the ranch-house to give the alarm.
Yelling like half a dozen men, Lefever and Scott, as de Spain and his prisoner dashed toward them, separated, let the pair pass, and spurred in behind to cover the flight and confront any pursuers. None at the moment threatened, but no words were exchanged until the whole party, riding fast, were well past El Capitan and out of the Gap. For some unexpressed reasonso strong is the influence of tradition and reputationno one of the three coveted a close encounter with the Morgans within its walls.
Its the long heels for it now, boys, cried de Spain. His companions closed up again.
Save your horses, cautioned Scott, between strides. Its a good ways home.
Make for Calabasas, shouted Lefever.
No, yelled Scott. They would stand us a siege at Calabasas. While the trail is open make for the railroad.
A great globe of dazzling gold burst into the east above the distant hills. But the glory of the sunrise called forth no admiration from the three men hurrying a fourth urgently along the Sleepy Cat trail. Between breaths de Spain explained his awkward meeting with Nan, and of the strait he was in when Lefevers strong lungs enabled him to get away unscratched. But for a gunman a narrow squeak is as good as a wide one, and no one found fault with the situation. They had the advantagethe only question was whether they could hold it. And while they continued to cast anxious glances behind, Scotts Indian eyes first perceived signs on the horizon that marked their pursuit.
No matter, declared Lefever. This is a little fast for a fat man, anyway. He was not averse, either, to the prospect of a long-range exchange with the fighting mountaineers. All drew rein a little. Suppose I cover the rear till we see what this is, suggested Lefever, limbering up as the other two looked back. Push ahead with Sassoon. These fellows wont follow far.