Riders Of the Silences (1919)

by Max Brand

  He was saying easily: "This is your dance, isn't it?"

  "Right, Bud," answered the big man in a mellow voice as great as his size. "Sorry I can't swap partners with you, but I hunt alone."

  An overwhelming desire to get a distance between himself and this huge unknown came to Pierre.

  He said: "There goes the music. You're off."

  And the other, moving toward Jack, leaned down a little and murmured at the ear of the outlaw: "Thanks, Pierre."

  Then he was gone, and Jacqueline was laughing over his shoulder back to Pierre.

  Through his daze and through the rising clamor of the music, a voice said beside him: "You look sort of sick, dude. Who's your friend?"

  "Don't you know him?" asked Pierre.

  "No more than I do you; but I've ridden the range for ten years around here, and I know that he's new to these parts. If I'd ever glimpsed him before, I'd remember him. He'd be a bad man in a mix, eh?"

  And Pierre answered with devout earnestness: "He would."

  "But where'd you buy those duds, pal? Hey, look! Here's what I've been waiting for--the Barneses and the girl that's visitin' 'em from the East."

  "What girl?"

  "Look!"

  The Barnes group was passing through the door, and last came the unmistakable form of Dick Wilbur, masked, but not masked enough to hide his familiar smile or cover the well-known sound of his laughter as it drifted to Pierre across the hall, and on his arm was a girl in an evening dress of blue, with a small, black mask across her eyes, and deep-golden hair.

  Pausing before she swung into the dance with Wilbur, she made a gesture with the white arm, and looked up laughing to big, handsome Dick. Pierre trembled with a red rage when he saw the hands of Wilbur about her.

  Dick, in passing, marked Pierre's stare above the heads of the crowd, and frowned with trouble. The hungry eyes of Pierre followed them as they circled the hall again; and this time Wilbur, perhaps fearing that something had gone wrong with Pierre, steered close to the edge of the dancing crowd and looked inquisitively across.

  He leaned and spoke to the girl, and she turned her head, smiling, to Pierre. Then the smile went out, and even despite the mask, he saw her eyes widen. She stopped and slipped from the arm of Wilbur, and came step by step slowly toward him like one walking in her sleep. There, by the edge of the dancers, with the noise of the music and the shuffling feet to cover them, they met. The hands she held to him were cold and trembling.

  "Is it you?"

  "It is I."

  That was all; and then the shadow of Wilbur loomed above them.

  "What's this? Do you know each other? It isn't possible! Pierre, are you playing a game with me?"

  But under the glance of Pierre he fell back a step, and reached for the gun which was not there. They were alone once more.

  "Mary--Mary Brown!"

  "Pierre!"

  "But you are dead!"

  "No, no! But you--Pierre, where can we go?"

  "Outside."

  "Let us go quickly!"

  "Do you need a wrap?"

  "No."

  "But it is cold outside, and your shoulders are bare."

  "Then take that cloak. But quickly, Pierre, before we're followed."

  He drew it about her; he led her through the door; it clicked shut; they were alone with the sweet, frosty air before them. She tore away the mask.

  "And yours, Pierre?"

  "Not here."

  "Why?"

  "Because there are people. Hurry. Now here, with just the trees around us--"

  And he tore off his mask.

  The white, cold moon shone over them, slipping down between the dark tops of the trees, and the wind stirred slowly through the branches with a faint, hushing sound, as if once more a warning were coming to Pierre this night. He looked up, his left hand at the cross.

  "Look down. You are afraid of something, Pierre. What is it?"

  "With your arms around my neck, there's nothing in the world I fear. I never dreamed I could love anything more than the little girl who lay in the snow, and died there that night."

  "And I never dreamed I could smile at any man except the boy who lay by me that night. And he died."

  "What miracle saved you?"

  She said: "It was wonderful, and yet very simple. You remember how the tree crushed me down into the snow? Well, when the landslide moved, it carried the tree before it; the weight of the trunk was lifted from me. Perhaps it was a rock that struck me over the head then, for I lost consciousness. The slide didn't bury me, but the rush carried me before it like a stick before a wave, you see.

  "When I woke I was almost completely covered with a blanket of debris, but I could move my arms, and managed to prop myself up in a sitting posture. It was there that my father and his searching party found me; he had been combing that district all night. They carried me back, terribly bruised, but without even a bone broken. It was a miracle that I escaped, and the miracle must have been worked by your cross; do you remember?"

  He shuddered. "The cross--for every good fortune it has brought me, it has brought bad luck to others. I'll throw it away, now--and then--no, it makes no difference. We are done for."

  "Pierre!"

  "Don't you see, Mary, or are you still blind as I was ever since I saw you tonight? It's all in that name--Pierre."

  "There's nothing in it, Pierre, that I don't love."

  His head was bowed as if with the weight of the words which he foresaw. "You have heard of the wild men of the mountains, and the long-riders?"

  He knew that she nodded, though she could not speak.

  "I am Red Pierre."

  "_You_!"

  "Yes."

  Yet he had the courage to raise his head and watch her shrink with horror. It was only an instant. Then she was beside him again, and one arm around him, while she turned her head and glanced fearfully back at the lighted schoolhouse. The faint music mocked them.

  "And you dared to come to the dance? We must go. Look, there are horses! We'll ride off into the mountains, and they'll never find us--we'll--"

  "Hush! One day's riding would kill you--riding as I ride."

  "I'm strong--very strong, and the love of you, Pierre, will give me more strength. But quickly, for if they knew you, every man in that place would come armed and ready to kill. I know, for I've heard them talk. Tell me, are one-half of all the terrible things they say--"

  "They are true, I guess."

  "I won't think of them. Whatever you've done, it was not you, but some devil that forced you on. Pierre, I love you more than ever. Will you go East with me, and home? We will lose ourselves in New York. The millions of the crowd will hide us."

  "Mary, there are some men from whom even the night can't hide me. If they were blind their hate would give them eyes to find me."

  "Pierre, you are not turning away from me--Pierre--There's some ghost of a chance for us. Will you take that chance and come with me?"

  He thought of many things, but what he answered was: "I will."

  "Then let's go at once. The railroad--"

  "Not that way. No one in that house suspects me now. We'll go back and put on our masks again, and--hush. What's there?"

  "Nothing."

  "There is--a man's step."

  And she, seeing the look on his face, covered her eyes in horror. When she looked up a great form was looming through the dark, and then the voice of Wilbur came, hard and cold.

  "I've looked everywhere for you. Miss Brown, they are anxious about you in the schoolhouse. Will you go back?"

  "No--I--"

  But Pierre commanded: "Go back."

  So she turned, and he ordered again: "I think our friend has something to say to me. You can find your way easily. Tomorrow--"

  "Tomorrow, Pierre?"

  "Yes."

  "I shall be waiting."

  With what a voice she said it! And then she was gone.

  He turned quietly to big Dick Wilbur, on whos
e contorted face the moonlight fell.

  "Say it, Dick, and have it out in cursing me, if that'll help."

  The big man stood with his hands gripped behind, fighting for self-control.

  "Pierre, I've cared for you more than I've cared for any other man. I've thought of you like a kid brother. Now tell me that you haven't done this thing, and I'll believe you rather than my senses. Tell me you haven't stolen the girl I love away from me; tell me--"

  "I love her, Dick."

  "Damn you! And she?"

  "She'll forget me; God knows I hope she'll forget me."

  "I brought two guns with me. Here they are."

  He held out the weapons.

  "Take your choice."

  "Does it have to be this way?"

  "If you'd rather have me shoot you down in cold blood?"

  "I suppose this is as good a way as any."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Nothing. Give me a gun."

  "Here. This is ten paces. Are you ready?"

  "Yes."

  "Pierre. God forgive you for what you've done. She liked me, I know. If it weren't for you, I would have won her and a chance for real life again--but now--damn you!"

  "I'll count to ten, slowly and evenly. When I reach ten we fire?"

  "Yes."

  "I'll trust you not to beat the count, Dick."

  "And I you. Start."

  He counted quietly, evenly: "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine--ten!"

  The gun jerked up in the hand of Wilbur, but he stayed the movement with his finger pressing still upon the trigger. The hand of Pierre had not moved.

  He cried: "By God, Pierre, what do you mean?"

  There was no answer. He strode across the intervening space, dropped his gun and caught the other by the shoulders. Out of Pierre's nerveless fingers the revolver slipped to the ground.

  "In the name of God, Pierre, what has happened to you?"

  "Dick, why didn't you fire?"

  "Fire? Murder you?"

  "You shoot straight--I know--it would have been over quickly."

  "What is it, boy? You look dead--there's no color in your face, no light in your eyes, even your voice is dead. I know it isn't fear. What is it?"

  "You're wrong. It's fear."

  "Fear and Red Pierre. The two don't mate."

  "Fear of living, Dick."

  "So that's it? God help you. Pierre, forgive me. I should have known that you had met her before, but I was mad, and didn't know what I was doing, couldn't think."

  "It's over and forgotten. I have to go back and get Jack. Will you ride home with us?"

  "Jack? She's not in the hall. She left shortly after you went, and she means some deviltry. There's a jealous fiend in that girl. I watched her eyes when they followed you and Mary from the hall."

  "Then we'll ride back alone."

  "Not I. Carry the word to Jim that I'm through with the game. I'm going to wash some of the grime off my conscience and try to make myself fit to speak to this girl again."

  "It's the cross," said Pierre.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Nothing. The bad luck has come to poor old Jim at last, because he saved me out of the snow. Patterson has gone, and now you, and perhaps Jack--well, this is good-bye, Dick?"

  "Yes."

  Their hands met.

  "You forgive me, Dick?"

  "With all my heart, old fellow."

  "I'll try to wish you luck. Stay close to her. Perhaps you'll win her."

  "I'll do what one man can."

  "But if you succeed, ride out of the mountain-desert with her--never let me hear of it."

  "I don't understand. Will you tell me what's between you, Pierre? You've some sort of claim on her. What is it?"

  "I've said good-bye. Only one thing more. Never mention my name to her."

  So he turned and walked out into the moonlight and Wilbur stared after him until he disappeared beyond the shoulder of a hill.

  Chapter 23

  It was early morning before Pierre reached the refuge of Boone's gang, but there was still a light through the window of the large room, and he entered to find Boone, Mansie, and Gandil grouped about the fire, all ominously silent, all ominously wakeful. They looked up to him and big Jim nodded his gray head. Otherwise there was no greeting.

  From a shadowy corner Jacqueline rose and went toward the door. He crossed quickly and barred the way.

  "What is it, Jack?"

  "Get out of the way."

  "Not till you tell me what's wrong."

  A veritable devil of fury came blazing in her eyes, and her hand twitched nervously back to her hip where the dark holster hung. She said in a voice that shook with anger: "Don't try your bluff on me. I ain't no shorthorn, Pierre le Rouge."

  He stepped aside, frowning.

  "Tomorrow I'll argue the point with you, Jack."

  She turned at the door and snapped back: "You? You ain't fast enough on the draw to argue with me!"

  And she was gone. He turned to face the mocking smile of Black Gandil and a rapid volley of questions.

  "Where's Patterson?"

  "No more idea than you have."

  "And Branch?"

  "What's become of Branch? Hasn't he returned?"

  "No. And Dick Wilbur?"

  "Boys, he's done with this life and I'm glad of it. He's starting on a new track."

  "After a woman?" sneered Bud Mansie.

  "Shut up, Bud," broke in Boone, and then slowly to Pierre:

  "Patterson is gone for two days now. You ought to know what that means. Branch ought to have returned from looking for him, and Branch is still out. Wilbur is gone. Out of seven we're only four left. Who's next?"

  He stared gloomily from face to face, and Gandil snarled: "A fellow who saves a shipwrecked man--"

  "Damn you, keep still, Gandil."

  "Don't damn me, Pierre le Rouge, but damn the luck you've brought to Jim Boone."

  "Jim, do you chalk all this up against me?"

  "I, lad? No, no! But it's queer. Patterson's done for; there's no doubt of that. Good-natured Garry Patterson. God, boy, how we'll miss him! And Branch seems to have gone the same way. If neither of them show up before morning we can cross 'em off the list. Now Wilbur has gone and Jack has ridden home looking like a small-sized thunderstorm, and now you come with a white face and a blank eye. What hell is trailin' us, Pierre, what hell is in store for us. You've seen something, and we want to know what it is."

  "A ghost, Jim, that's all."

  Bud Mansie said softly: "There's only one ghost that could make you look like this. Was it McGurk, Pierre?"

  Boone commanded: "No more of that, Bud. Boys, we're going to turn in, and tomorrow we'll climb the hills looking for the two we've lost. But there's something or someone after us. Lads, I'm thinking our good days are over. The seven of us have been too many for a small posse and too fast for a big one, but the seven are down to four. The good days are over."

  And the three answered in a solemn chorus: "The good days are over."

  All eyes fixed on Pierre, and his glance was settled on the floor.

  The morning brought them no better cheer, for Jack, whose singing generally wakened them, was not to be coaxed into speech, and when Pierre entered the room she rose and left the breakfast table. The sad eyes of Jim Boone followed her and then turned to Pierre. No explanation was forthcoming, and he asked for none. The old fatalist had accepted the worst, and now he waited for doom to descend.

  They took their horses after breakfast and rode out to search the hills, for it was quite possible that an accident had crippled at least one of the two lost men, either Patterson or Branch. Not a gully within miles was left unsearched, but toward evening they rode back, one by one, with no tidings.

  One by one they rode up, and whistled to announce their coming, and then rode on to the stable to unsaddle their horses. About the supper table all gathered with the exception of Bud Mansie. So they waited the meal a
nd each from time to time stole a glance at the fifth plate where Bud should sit.

  It was Jack who finally stirred herself from her dumb gloom to take up that fifth and carry it out of the room. It was as if she had announced the death of Mansie.

  After that, they ate what they could and then went back around the fire. The evening waned, but it brought no sign of any of the missing three. The wood burned low in the fire. The first to break the long silence was Jim Boone, with "Who brings in the wood?"

  And Black Gandil answered: "We'll match, eh?"

  In an outburst of energy the day before he disappeared Garry Patterson had chopped up some wood and left a pile of it at the corner of the house. It was a very little thing to bring in an armful of that wood, but long-riders do not love work, and now they started the matching seriously. The odd man was out, and Pierre went out on the first toss of the coins.

  "You see," said Gandil. "Bad luck to everyone but himself."

  At the next throw Jacqueline was the lucky one, and her father afterward. Gandil rose and stretched himself leisurely, yet as he sauntered toward the door his backward glance at Pierre was black indeed. He glanced curiously toward Jack--who looked away sharply--and then turned his eyes to her father.

  The latter was considering him with a gloomy, foreboding stare and considering over and over again, as Pierre le Rouge well knew, the prophecy of Black Morgan Gandil.

  He fell in turn into a solemn brooding, and many a picture out of the past came up beside him and stood near till he could almost feel its presence. He was roused by the creaking of the floor beneath the ponderous step of Jim Boone, who flung the door open and shouted: "Oh, Morgan."

  In the silence he turned and stared back at Pierre.

  "What's up with Gandil?"

  "God knows, not I."

  Pierre rose and ran from the room and around the side of the building. There by the woodpile lay the prostrate body. It was a mere limp weight when he turned and raised it in his arms. So he walked back into the house carrying all that was left of Black Morgan Gandil, and placed his burden on a bunk at the side of the room.

  There had been no outcry from either Jim Boone or his daughter, but they came quickly to him, and Jacqueline pressed her ear over the heart of the hurt man.

  She said: "He's still alive, but nearly gone. Where's the wound?"