Free Max Brand by The Garden of Eden Page A

it. Who are they? Who is
the master? What does he do? What is his power? That is another reason
why I wish to go in; and why should you fear me? I am alone; I am
unarmed."
    It seemed that Joseph learned more from Connor's expression than from
his words.
    "The law is the will of David."
    The Garden became to Connor as the forbidden room to Bluebeard's wife;
it tempted him as a high cliff tempts the climber toward a fall. He
mustered a calm air and voice.
    "That is a matter I can arrange with your master. He may have laws to
keep out thieves, but certainly he has nothing against honest men."
    Joseph shrugged his big shoulders, but Ephraim answered: "The will of
David never changes. I am no longer young, but since I have been old
enough to remember, I have never seen a man either come into the valley
or leave it except Joseph."
    The solemnity of the old man staggered Connor. He felt his resolution to
enter at any cost waver, and then Abra, the young stallion, came to his
side and looked in his face.
    It was the decisive touch. The life which the devotee would risk for his
God, or the patriot for his country, the gambler was willing to venture
for the sake of a "sure thing."
    "Let us exchange gifts," said Connor; "I give you the ivory head. It may
bring you good luck. You give me the right to enter the valley and I
accept any good or evil that comes to me."
    The huge fingers of Joseph curled softly over the image.
    "Beware of the law!" cried Ephraim. "And the hand of the master!"
    The giant shrank, but he looked at Ephraim with sullen defiance.
    "Come," he said to Connor. "This is on your own head."

Chapter Ten
*
    "It is a long ride to the house of David," said Jacob. "Your horse is
footsore; take Abra."
    But Ephraim broke in: "If you care for speed and wise feet beneath you,
Tabari herself is there."
    He whistled as Jacob had done before, but with another grace-note at the
end.
    "Those of my household answer when they are called," continued the old
man proudly. "Listen!"
    A soft whinny out of the darkness, and Tabari galloped into the
firelight, and stopped at the side of her master motionless.
    "Choose," said Ephraim.
    He smiled at Jacob, who in return was darkly silent.
    The mare tugged at the heartstrings of Connor, but he answered, slipping
carefully into the formal language which apparently was approved most in
the valley.
    "She is worthy of a king, but Abra was offered to me first. But will he
carry a saddle?"
    "He will carry anything but a whip," said Jacob, casting a glance of
triumph at Ephraim. "You will see!" He was already busy at the knot
under the flap of Connor's saddle, and presently he slipped the saddle
from the back of the chestnut. "Come!" he called.
    Abra came, but he came like a fighter into the ring, dancing, ready for
trouble.
    "Fool!" shouted Jacob, stamping. "Fool, and grandson of a fool, stand!"
    The ears of Abra flicked back along his neck and he trembled as the
saddle was swung over him. Under its impact he crouched and shuddered,
but the outbreak of bucking for which Connor waited did not come. The
jerk on the cinch brought a snort from him, but that was all.
    "We may not put iron in his mouth," said Jacob, as Connor came up with
the bridle, "but a touch on this will turn him or stop him, as you
wish."
    As he spoke he picked up a small rope, which he knotted around the neck
of Abra close to the ears, and handed the end to Connor.
    "Look!" he said to the horse, pointing to Connor. "This is your master
to-night. Bear him as you would bear me, Abra, without leaping or
stumbling, smoothly, as son of Khalissa should do. And hark," he added
in the ear of the young stallion; "if the mare of Joseph outruns you,
you are no horse of my household, but a mongrel, a bloodless knave."
    Joseph was already trotting through the gate and growing dim beyond, so
Connor put his foot in the stirrup and swung into the saddle. He landed
as upon springs, all the lithe body of the stallion giving under the
shock; and Connor