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6 Split the Wind
The sky was dark by the time they got to the rise.The wind was cool，almost cold.
“Whoa，” said Slim.
Dusty slowed to a halt.
“They’re camped down there，” Slim said in a low voice. “In that patch of trees.”
Jack saw a campfire at the bottom of the slope. He saw the horses gathered in a dark clump.One let out a loud whinny.
“Hear that?” said Slim.“The mare.She senses Sunset is nearby.”
The mare whinnied again.
“Sounds like she’s tied to a tree，” said Slim.“I think the rest of the herd are loose.”
“What’s our plan?” whispered Jack.
“Smiley， you stay here and guard Sunset，” said Slim.
“Right，” said Annie.
“Shorty， you and I ride down near their camp，” said Slim. “You keep Dusty quiet while I cut the mare loose.”
How do you keep a horse quiet?wondered Jack.
“Once the mare’s loose， she’ll break for Sunset，” said Slim. “Then you and Sunset take off， Smiley.”
“Got it，” said Annie.
“Then we’ll split the wind，” said Slim.
What’s that mean?wondered Jack.
“Till we get to Blue Canyon，” said Slim.
Where’s that?wondered Jack.
“All set?Any questions?” asked Slim.
“Nope，” said Annie cheerfully.
Yup， about a million， thought Jack.
“Okay， pardners，” said Slim. “See ya soon， Smiley. Come on， Shorty.”
“Have fun，” said Annie.
Fun?thought Jack. Is she nuts?Our lives are at stake.
Slim snapped his reins. Dusty started down the rise.Their way was litby a nearly full moon and a million stars.
Maybe now I can ask Slim some questions， thought Jack.
But just then voices came from the rustlers’ camp. They were mean voices， followed by mean laughter.
A chill went through Jack.
Dusty halted.
“This is far enough，” whispered Slim. He slipped off of Dusty.
“Keep him here，” Slim whispered to Jack， “and keep him quiet.”
“Wait—” whispered Jack. He needed more information.
But Slim was gone.
Jack gripped the reins and held his breath. He hoped Dusty wouldn’t do anything.
For a moment Dusty was still.But then he snorted and began walking.
Oh， no!thought Jack. He tried to think of the rules on how to treat a horse.
He remembered：a soft hand，a firm voice.
He patted Dusty softly.
“Whoa!” he said firmly. To his surprise， Dusty froze and was quiet.
Jack remembered another rule：a sunny attitude.He patted Dusty again.“Don’t worry，” he whispered. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
Just then a loud whinny came from the herd of mustangs.They began moving up the moonlit slope.
“Hey!The horses!” a rustler shouted.
A gun went off. Jack ducked.
“Come on， Shorty!” came Slim’s voice. Jack looked up. Slim was riding the mare!
Jack was shocked.He had thought that Slim was coming back to ride Dusty.
Instead， Slim rode right past him!As he got close to Annie， she took off on Sunset.
The mare galloped after Sunset. And the band of mustangs galloped after the mare.
Bang!Bang!
Jack snapped the reins. “Go， Dusty!” he said.
Dusty leaped after the mustangs. Jack nearly fell off. He clutched the reins in one hand and the saddle horn in the other.
Bang!Bang!
The rustlers were on their horses now.They were getting closer.
“Hurry!”Jack cried.
Dusty cleared the rise in an awkward leap.Jack started to slip out of the saddle. He let go of the reins and tried to hold on to the saddle
horn， but his weight pulled him down.He closed his eyes as he fell to the ground.
Bang!Bang!
Oh， man， thought Jack， this is the end.
He opened his eyes. Dusty was looking at him.Jack scrambled up and tried to climb back into the saddle.It was hard without Slim’s help.
As Jack struggled， he heard shouts from the rustlers. Their horses gave high-pitched neighs.
Jack looked back.
A shimmering white figure was moving across the top of the rise!The rustlers’ horses were panicking and backing away.
Jack didn’t have time to think about what he was seeing. He knew it might be his only chance to escape.Using all his strength， he pulled himself into the saddle.
“Go， Dusty， go!” he shouted.
Dusty took off at full gallop over the prairie.Jack held on for dear life as they split the wind.
6穿风而过
他们到达高处时，天已经黑了。风凉凉的，甚至有些冷。
“吁！”瘦子说。
灰尘慢了下来，最后停下了脚步。
“他们就在那里扎营。”瘦子压低声音说，“就在那片树林里。”
杰克看到斜坡的下面有一堆篝火，他还看到那些马聚在一起，其中一匹马还大声地嘶叫。
“听见没？”瘦子说，“是那匹母马。它一定是感觉到了日落就在附近。”
母马又嘶叫起来。
“听起来它被拴在树上了。”瘦子说，“我想其他的马应该没被拴着。”
“你有什么计划？”杰克小声地问。
“爱笑的丫头，你就留在这里保护日落。”瘦子说。
“好。”安妮回答。
“小矮子，你和我骑马到他们的营地附近去。”瘦子说，“我解开母马的时候你要让灰尘保持安静。”
怎么才能让马保持安静呢？杰克琢磨着。
“母马一被解开，就会朝日落奔来。”瘦子说，“爱笑的丫头，这时你和日落就开始跑。”
“明白了。”安妮说。
“然后我们就能穿风而过。”
这是什么意思？杰克想。
“直到我们到达蓝色大峡谷。”瘦子说。
那是什么地方？杰克想。
“都准备好了吗？还有问题吗？”瘦子问。
“没了。”安妮开心地说。
“有啊，有上百万个问题呢。”杰克心想。
“好，伙计们。”瘦子说，“一会儿见，爱笑的丫头。来吧，小矮子。”
“祝你愉快。”安妮说。
愉快？杰克想，她该不是傻了吧。我们的性命都难保呢。
瘦子一挥缰绳，灰尘立刻往坡下跑去。一轮满月和数不清的星星照亮着他们前行的道路。
也许我现在可以问瘦子几个问题。杰克这么想着。
但是就在这时从盗马贼的营地传来了一阵声音，声音听起来不怀好意，还夹杂着不怀好意的笑声。
杰克不禁周身感到一股寒意。
灰尘停住了步伐。
“这已经够远了。”瘦子小声说道，一下子溜下了马背。
“就让它待在这里，”瘦子对杰克小声地说，“别让它出声。”
“等等——”杰克轻声说。他还需要更多的信息。
但瘦子已经走了。
杰克握紧缰绳，屏住呼吸。他真希望灰尘不要有任何动静。
灰尘安静了一小会儿，但不久就开始发出呼噜呼噜的声音，并且踱起了步。
哦，千万别！杰克想。他开始回忆那些对待马的方法。
他想起来了：手要轻柔，声音要坚定。
他轻轻地拍了拍灰尘。
“吁！”杰克坚定地说。让他吃惊的是，灰尘真的停住了，安静了下来。
杰克想起了另一个方法：态度要热情。他又拍了拍灰尘，轻声说：“别着急，一切都会顺利的。”
就在这时，一声响亮的响鼻从那群野马的方向传来。马群开始向月光照亮的斜坡上走。
“嘿！看那些马！”一个盗马贼喊道。
一声枪响。杰克急忙低头一躲。
“快来，小矮子！”瘦子的声音响了起来。杰克抬头一看，瘦子正骑在母马背上。
杰克吓了一跳。他还以为瘦子回来时要骑灰尘呢。
瘦子骑着马从杰克身边飞奔而过。就在他快跑到安妮身边时，安妮也骑着日落跑了起来。
母马跟在日落后面，而那群野马就跟在母马身后。
砰！砰！
杰克挥动缰绳，大叫：“快跑，灰尘！”
灰尘跟在野马后面一路飞驰，杰克几乎跌下马来。他一手紧紧抓住缰绳，一手紧紧握着马鞍的鞍头。
砰！砰！
盗马贼们已经上了马，离杰克他们越来越近。
“快啊！”杰克喊着。
灰尘一个陡跃上了斜坡。杰克开始往下滑，就快滑下马鞍了。他松了缰绳，试图抓住鞍头，但他自身的重量直把他往下拽。在摔下马来的一瞬间，杰克闭上了眼 睛。
砰！砰！
哦，天啊！杰克想，我的末日到了。
他睁开眼睛，灰尘正望着他。杰克挣扎着爬起来，想再爬上马鞍。但没有瘦子帮忙这真是太难了。
杰克正挣扎着，只听盗马贼们又喊又叫，他们的马也高声嘶叫着。
杰克回头看去。
一个耀眼的白色身影正越过斜坡顶。盗马贼的马受到惊吓，直往后退。
杰克都来不及去想他看到的是什么。他只知道这可能是他逃生的惟一机会了。他使上全身力气爬上了马鞍。
“跑，灰尘，快跑！”他喊着。
灰尘全力向前跑去，飞奔在大草原上。杰克紧紧地抓着马鞍，一路穿风而过。
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