The Sweep Winner. Gould Nat

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СКАЧАТЬ doing all this time? He had promised to watch, but Glen had not promised to come back. Jim's mind was in a chaotic state, and he was hardly responsible for it.

      Spotty pricked his ears. Jim accepted this as a sign that he heard something, and listened intently.

      The dog gave a short, sharp bark, a true signal this time.

      In his great sense of relief Jim stood up. He could bear the strain no longer.

      Spotty flew at him, straight at his throat. Jim caught him with both hands and held him, the dog growling, snarling, trying to wrench himself free to bite his hands. Jim held on. He heard the hoof-beats. It was Glen returning and all would be well, but he was tired and cramped with the strain, and Spotty was a ferocious dog, and strong.

      The woman moved and half sat up; then she sank back again. He was thankful.

      Ping halted. Glen got out of the saddle with the precious burden and strode into the hut. Unstrung as he was, the sight that met his gaze caused him to drop the package. With a cry of despair he caught at it, just breaking its fall.

      Spotty, seeing his master, ceased struggling. Jim let go his hold and fell on the floor in a dead faint.

      "Get out," almost yelled Glen, and the dog shot through the opening like a fox bolting from hounds, dashing under Ping's belly and scouring across country at top speed. Yet he had only guarded his master's hut, and his doggy brain resented the injustice.

      Glen opened the package before attending to Jim. There was no damage done, and he had never felt so like offering up a prayer before – supposing, after all, he had gone through, the precious bottles had broken? He knelt down beside Jim, summing up the situation, and wondering how long he had been subjected to the strain caused by the dog. Opening one of the bottles, he poured a small quantity down Jim's throat, being careful not to spill a drop.

      Presently Jim sat up, looked round in a dazed way, and then seeing Glen said, "It was a near go. The dog watched me for hours. I dared not move for fear he would savage me or her, but when I heard you coming I could stand it no longer. I got up, and he flew at me. She's been like that ever since you left. What have you brought?"

      "Many things, but I'd a job to work round Bill. There'd been a row in his shanty. Two of your fellows smashed things up, and he was in a towering rage. Fetch some water. It's funny we can get it nice, cool, clean and fresh. We haven't done that for months, have we?"

      As he spoke he was busy with the package placing the things carefully on the floor. Bill had made amends after all, and opened his heart. He was a dashed good sort, and should be repaid.

      Jim staggered out for the water. The tank was overflowing into sundry water-catchers. It was far too precious to waste, although many times the quantity would have been used to wash up after a single meal in a big hotel.

      Glen made the mixture weak, then, taking a bit of rag, he moistened her lips with it, squeezing a little into her mouth.

      He was glad she was alive. A tremendous sense of relief came over him, and with it relaxation from the strain he too had gone through. He could have lain down on the floor and slept for many hours.

      "Get some rest, Jim. You need it," he said.

      "Not so much as you."

      "Yes, your struggle was greater than mine. Sleep, man; then you can watch when I give up."

      Jim lay down. He was in a dead slumber in a minute or two.

      Glen sat looking at the woman. A slight colour came into her cheeks, her lips were not so blue, a warmth spread over her body; he could feel it as he touched her bare arm. Then a curious thing happened. He bent down and kissed her, not like Jim Benny, on the lips, but on her forehead, reverently, tenderly, like a father would a child – and he was the most reckless rider on the fence. Both men were among the legion of the lost, why was only known to themselves, but they had given this woman what many a one of her sex in a great city would have been thankful for – human kindness.

      "Sleep's best for her," he thought, as he moistened her lips again. "She's been hot and cold, but there's a nice glow on her now. It's healthy. She'll pull through. I'll bet she pulls through, and we'll have done it, Jim, and I, and Bill. He's had a big share in it. I should say the three of us will be able to look after her and find out all about her."

      Jim had his rest. Glen roused him when he found sleep would overcome him whether he willed it or no.

      "Wet her lips with it when they're dry. Place your finger on and feel."

      Jim nodded. He thought how he had placed his lips to hers when Glen was away. He was ashamed of it; somehow he thought he ought to tell him. He'd think it over while he slept.

      In the midst of nature's great silent solitudes these three were working out their fate. It was so still that to most people the silence would have been worse than the noise and rush of traffic. Outside, Ping, neglected after his long journey, unsaddled, was finding refreshment. The horse was weary, leg tired, but his heart was in the right place. He was the sort that never gives in until something snaps.

      Spotty called a halt when he had gone a couple of miles, and considered the question of the unjustness of his master. He must have arrived at some conclusion for he retraced his steps slowly. Near the hut he encountered Ping, so nosed round him as though apologising for the sudden bolt under him. Ping and Spotty were chums. They were both mongrels, but there is often a lot of good to be found in such animals. Eventually when Ping lay down Spotty curled up close to his back; the silence was unbroken.

      When Glen awoke he saw at a glance the woman was coming round. She began to mutter. They listened but could make out no words.

      "She's pulling through. I reckon she'll mend now. We've all of us got to get her round."

      "All of us?"

      "Yes, you and Bill and me."

      "And what about the fence?" asked Jim.

      "Damn the fence," answered Glen fiercely, "I've done with it."

      "Then so have I," echoed Jim almost gladly.

      "Good boy. It's a cursed job. Keepers of the fence. I tell you, Jim, it's slow murder. I'd as lief have solitary confinement."

      "I guess we'd get better tucker in prison," said Jim.

      The word murder recalled to Glen's mind the death of Calder.

      "Jim!"

      "Well?"

      "Joe Calder's been shot dead on the track."

      "Serves the brute right," replied Jim in a hard voice.

      "You haven't told me yet what brought you here," said Glen looking at him.

      "That was it."

      "What?"

      "The Calder business."

      "You – ?"

      Jim nodded.

      "I shot him."

      CHAPTER VI

      "COME"

      Glen asked no questions. If Jim Benny had shot Calder he must have had good СКАЧАТЬ