Big Louie's face was upturned, and the
explanation of the two rifle reports and the driverless team was here.
For Big Louie's hand still clutched the handle of a canvas pail. They
had stopped to water the horses; they had been shot down from behind.
And first of all, unable to move, while horror parched her lips, the
girl remembered words which the limp one, half in the road and half in
the underbrush, had spoken to her in a moment of sternness.
"He has fired upon me from cover," the man who loved her had said. "He
has been taking money from a man who was bent on beating me at any
price!"
Giddiness rose and swayed her, and she beat Ragtime mercilessly for his
fear. Instinct clamored flight, and she forced herself to wait,
panting for that other shot which might leave her, too, lying in the
road. But even in that first frozen moment she began to reason
clearly. Back with the sleek team which welcomed her with questioning
eyes she left Ragtime, for he would stand there, and retraced her way
on foot. She could not do it, she sobbed drily--but she raced to him
and knelt and searched with swift fingers before the words were past
her lips. Her hand found moisture beneath his right shoulder; it was
stained red when she held it up and stared at it. And then she was
closest to fainting.
"Blood sickens me!" she whimpered aloud. "Blood sickens me!" But she
managed to turn him over upon his back.
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