The Preacher of Cedar Mountain: A Tale of the Open Country
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CHAPTER XXXV
When the Greasewood is in Bloom
Big things were in the air, as all the horsemen knew. Blazing Star hadwintered well and, being a four-and-a-half-year-old, was in his prime.Red Rover in the adjoining stable was watched with equal care. Prairiehay was judged good enough for the country horses; but baled timothy, atshocking prices, was brought from Pierre for the two racers; and, aftera brief period of letdown on clover and alfalfa, the regular routinediet of a race horse was begun, as a matter of course. Little Breecheshad left, chiefly because of unpleasant remarks that he continued tohear in the stable. He had taken a springtime job among the cattle. SoPeaches, having no other string to his bow, allowed the officers "tosecure his services as second assistant trainer," as he phrased it, or,as they with brutal simplicity put it, "as stable boy." He accepted thisgravely responsible position on the explicit understanding thatallusions to the late race were in bad taste.
Why should these two horses be so carefully trained? There was no raceon the calendar. No, but every one assumed that there would be achallenge, and nobody dreamed of declining it. So, one day when all theplains were spangle-glint with grass and bloom, the sentry reportedhorsemen in the south, a band of Indians, probably Sioux. It was an hourbefore they halted near the Fort, and Red Cloud, on a fine strong pony,came with his counsellors around him to swing his hand in the free graceof the sign talk, to smoke and wait, and wait and smoke, and then speak,as before, on the Colonel's porch.
"Did the Soldier High Chief want a race this year?"
"Sure thing," was all the interpreter had to transmute.
"When?"
"As before."
"When the greasewood blooms, on the white man's big noisy wet Sunday?"For the treaty money was to be paid that day. And Colonel Waller's eyeslit up.
So it was arranged that the Fourth of July they should race as before onthe Fort Ryan track; the horses were to be named on the day of the race.And Red Cloud rode away.
Jim Hartigan was present at that interview; he watched their every move,he drank in every word, and he rode at a gallop till he found Belle."Belle, the race is on for the Fourth of July, they're going to enterBlazing Star. Oh, glory be! I'll see that race; I'll see Blazing Starshow all the country how."
"Yes, unless you are sent back to college."
"Oh, Belle, that's a cruel one. Just as everything looks gay, you handme that," and his face clouded. He knew too well that there was littlelikelihood of an extension; it was most unusual. Why should an exceptionbe made in his case?
"You know, Jim," she said very seriously, "we have been trying to movethe president of the college; and the fact that you are so much of afavourite is additional reason for getting you back. The president hasturned us down."
"Well, Belle, I simply won't go."
"You mean you will break with the Church?"
"I'll avoid that as long as possible, but I won't go back--at least, notnow."
"Jim," she said, with a twinkle in her eye, "the president turned downDr. Jebb and John Higginbotham and you; but we were not licked. Mrs.Jebb, Hannah Higginbotham, and myself went after the president's wife,and this morning Dr. Jebb got a new mandate; not all we asked, but yourfurlough is extended for six months more."
"Hooray! Whoop!" was the response.
"Yes, I thought so," said Belle. "That's why I asked Dr. Jebb to let mebreak the news. For a serious divinity student, it's wonderful what agood imitation you can give of a man who hates books."
"Well, now, Belle, you know, and I know, and all the world knows, I canpreach a better sermon than Dr. Jebb, although he has studied a thousandbooks to my one and knows more in a minute of time than I can ever knowin a month of Sundays. And, if I go to college and learn to talk likehim, I'll put people to sleep in church just as he does. Hasn't theattendance doubled since I came?" There was no question of that due inpart to the growth of the town, and partly also to Hartigan's winningpersonality and interesting though not very scholarly sermons.
"All right," said Belle. "You are saved from the terrible fate for sixmonths. Be happy."
And he was. To such a buoyant soul a guarantee of six months' freedomput slavery so very far away that it was easy to forget it.