“I don't know you,” he said doggedly. “And I've done all the running
away I'm going to do. You go back and tell Wilkins I'm here and to come
and get me. The sooner the better.” The sneer faded, and he turned
on Bassett with a depth of tragedy in his eyes that frightened the
reporter. “My God,” he said, “I killed a man last night! I can't go
through life with that on me. I'm done, I tell you.”
“Last night!” Some faint comprehension began to dawn in Bassett's mind,
a suspicion of the truth. But there was no time to verify it. He turned
and carefully inspected the trail to where it came into sight at the
opposite rim of the valley. When he was satisfied that the pursuit was
still well behind them he spoke again.
“Pull yourself together, Livingstone,” he said, rather sharply. “Think
a bit. You didn't kill anybody last night. Now listen,” he added
impressively. “You are Livingstone, Doctor Richard Livingstone. You
stick to that, and think about it.”
But Dick was not listening, save to some bitter inner voice, for
suddenly he turned his horse around on the trail. “Get out of the way,”
he said, “I'm going back to give myself up.”
He would have done it, probably, would have crowded past Bassett on
the narrow trail and headed back toward capture, but for his horse. It
balked and whirled on the ledge, but it would not pass Bassett. Dick
swore and kicked it, his face ugly and determined, but it refused
sullenly. He slid out of the saddle then and tried to drag it on, but he
was suddenly weak and sick. He staggered. Bassett was off his horse in
a moment and caught him. He eased him onto a boulder, and he sat there,
his shoulders sagging and his whole body twitching.
“Been drinking my head off,” he said at last. “If I had a drink now I'd
straighten out.” He tried to sit up. “That's what's the matter with me.
I'm funking, of course, but that's not all. I'd give my soul for some
whisky.”'
“I can get you a drink, if you'll come on about a mile,” Bassett coaxed.
“At the cabin you and I talked about yesterday.”
“Now you're talking.” Dick made an effort and got to his feet, shaking
off Bassett's assisting arm. “For God's sake keep your hands off me,” he
said irritably. “I've got a hangover, that's all.”
He got into his saddle without assistance and started off up the trail.
Bassett once more searched the valley, but it was empty save for a deer
drinking at the stream far below. He turned and followed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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