the man of the forest-第12节

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cold。　　I'm　freezing。〃

〃I　thought　you　loved　cold　air；〃　taunted　Helen。

〃Say；　Nell；　you　begin　to　talk　like　yourself；〃　responded　Bo。

It　was　difficult　to　hold　on　to　the　stage　and　each　other　and
the　cloak　all　at　once；　but　they　succeeded；　except　in　the
roughest　places；　when　from　time　to　time　they　were　bounced
around。　　Bo　sustained　a　sharp　rap　on　the　head。

〃Oooooo！〃　she　moaned。　　〃Nell　Rayner；　I'll　never　forgive　you
for　fetching　me　on　this　awful　trip。〃

〃Just　think　of　your　handsome　Las　Vegas　cowboy；〃　replied
Helen。

Either　this　remark　subdued　Bo　or　the　suggestion　sufficed　to
reconcile　her　to　the　hardships　of　the　ride。

Meanwhile；　as　they　talked　and　maintained　silence　and　tried
to　sleep；　the　driver　of　the　stage　kept　at　his　task　after　the
manner　of　Western　men　who　knew　how　to　get　the　best　out　of
horses　and　bad　roads　and　distance。

By　and　by　the　stage　halted　again　and　remained　at　a
standstill　for　so　long；　with　the　men　whispering　on　top；　that
Helen　and　Bo　were　roused　to　apprehension。

Suddenly　a　sharp　whistle　came　from　the　darkness　ahead。

〃Thet's　Roy；〃　said　Joe　Beeman；　in　a　low　voice。

〃I　reckon。　　An'　meetin'　us　so　quick　looks　bad；〃　replied　Dale。
〃Drive　on；　Bill。〃

〃Mebbe　it　seems　quick　to　you；〃　muttered　the　driver；　but　if
we　hain't　come　thirty　mile；　an'　if　thet　ridge　thar　hain't
your　turnin'…off　place；　why；　I　don't　know　nothin'。〃

The　stage　rolled　on　a　little　farther；　while　Helen　and　Bo　sat
clasping　each　other　tight；　wondering　with　bated　breath　what
was　to　be　the　next　thing　to　happen。

Then　once　more　they　were　at　a　standstill。　　Helen　heard　the
thud　of　boots　striking　the　ground；　and　the　snorts　of　horses。

〃Nell；　I　see　horses；〃　whispered　Bo；　excitedly。　　〃There；　to
the　side　of　the　road　。　。　。　　and　here　comes　a　man。　。　。　。　　Oh；
if　he　shouldn't　be　the　one　they're　expecting！〃

Helen　peered　out　to　see　a　tall；　dark　form；　moving　silently；
and　beyond　it　a　vague　outline　of　horses；　and　then　pale
gleams　of　what　must　have　been　pack…loads。

Dale　loomed　up；　and　met　the　stranger　in　the　road。

〃Howdy；　Milt？　　You　got　the　girl　sure；　or　you　wouldn't　be
here；〃　said　a　low　voice。

〃Roy；　I've　got　two　girls　　sisters；〃　replied　Dale。

The　man　Roy　whistled　softly　under　his　breath。　　Then　another
lean；　rangy　form　strode　out　of　the　darkness；　and　was　met　by
Dale。

〃Now；　boys　　how　about　Anson's　gang？〃　queried　Dale。

〃At　Snowdrop；　drinkin'　an'　quarrelin'。　　Reckon　they'll　leave
there　about　daybreak；〃　replied　Roy。

〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃

〃Mebbe　a　couple　of　hours。〃

〃Any　horse　go　by？〃

〃No。〃

〃Roy；　a　strange　rider　passed　us　before　dark。　　He　was　hittin'
the　road。　　An'　he's　got　by　here　before　you　came。〃

〃I　don't　like　thet　news；〃　replied　Roy；　tersely。　　〃Let's
rustle。　　With　girls　on　hossback　you'll　need　all　the　start　you
can　get。　　Hey；　John？〃

〃Snake　Anson　shore　can　foller　hoss　tracks；〃　replied　the
third　man。

〃Milt；　say　the　word；〃　went　on　Roy；　as　he　looked　up　at　the
stars。　　〃Daylight　not　far　away。　　Here's　the　forks　of　the　road；
an'　your　hosses；　an'　our　outfit。　　You　can　be　in　the　pines　by
sunup。〃

In　the　silence　that　ensued　Helen　heard　the　throb　of　her
heart　and　the　panting　little　breaths　of　her　sister。　　They
both　peered　out；　hands　clenched　together；　watching　and
listening　in　strained　attention。

〃It's　possible　that　rider　last　night　wasn't　a　messenger　to
Anson；〃　said　Dale。　　〃In　that　case　Anson　won't　make　anythin'
of　our　wheel　tracks　or　horse　tracks。　　He'll　go　right　on　to
meet　the　regular　stage。　　Bill；　can　you　go　back　an'　meet　the
stage　comin'　before　Anson　does？〃

〃Wal；　I　reckon　so　　an'　take　it　easy　at　thet；〃　replied
Bill。

〃All　right；〃　continued　Dale；　instantly。　　〃John；　you　an'　Joe
an'　Hal　ride　back　to　meet　the　regular　stage。　　An'　when　you
meet　it　get　on　an'　be　on　it　when　Anson　holds　it　up。〃

〃Thet's　shore　agreeable　to　me；〃　drawled　John。

〃I'd　like　to　be　on　it；　too；〃　said　Roy；　grimly。

〃No。　　I'll　need　you　till　I'm　safe　in　the　woods。　　Bill；　hand
down　the　bags。　　An'　you；　Roy；　help　me　pack　them。　　Did　you　get
all　the　supplies　I　wanted？〃

〃Shore　did。　　If　the　young　ladies　ain't　powerful　particular
you　can　feed　them　well　for　a　couple　of　months。〃

Dale　wheeled　and；　striding　to　the　stage；　he　opened　the　door。

〃Girls；　you're　not　asleep？　　Come；〃　he　called。

Bo　stepped　down　first。

〃I　was　asleep　till　this　　this　vehicle　fell　off　the　road
back　a　ways；〃　she　replied。

Roy　Beeman's　low　laugh　was　significant。　　He　took　off　his
sombrero　and　stood　silent。　　The　old　driver　smothered　a　loud
guffaw。

〃Veehicle！　　Wal；　I'll　be　doggoned！　　Joe；　did　you　hear　thet？
All　the　spunky　gurls　ain't　born　out　West。〃

As　Helen　followed　with　cloak　and　bag　Roy　assisted　her；　and
she　encountered　keen　eyes　upon　her　face。　　He　seemed　both
gentle　and　respectful；　and　she　felt　his　solicitude。　　His
heavy　gun；　swinging　low；　struck　her　as　she　stepped　down。

Dale　reached　into　the　stage　and　hauled　out　baskets　and　bags。
These　he　set　down　on　the　ground。

〃Turn　around；　Bill；　an'　go　along　with　you。　　John　an'　Hal　will
follow　presently；〃　ordered　Dale。

〃Wal；　gurls；〃　said；　looking　down　upon　them；　〃I　was　shore
powerful　glad　to　meet　you…all。　　An'　I'm　ashamed　of　my　country
　offerin'　two　sich　purty　gurls　insults　an'　low…down
tricks。　　But　shore　you'll　go　through　safe　now。　　You　couldn't
be　in　better　company　fer　ridin'　or　huntin'　or　marryin'　or
gittin'　religion　〃

〃Shut　up；　you　old　grizzly！〃　broke　in　Dale；　sharply。

〃Haw！　　Haw！　　Good…by；　gurls；　an'　good　luck！〃　ended　Bill；　as　he
began　to　whip　the　reins。

Bo　said　good…by　quite　distinctly；　but　Helen　could　only
murmur　hers。　　The　old　driver　seemed　a　friend。

Then　the　horses　wheeled　and　stamped；　the　stage　careened　and
creaked；　presently　to　roll　out　of　sight　in　the　gloom。

〃You're　shiverin'；〃　said　Dale；　suddenly；　looking　down　upon
Helen。　　She　felt　his　big；　hard　hand　clasp　hers。　　〃Cold　as
ice！〃

〃I　am　c…cold；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃I　guess　we're　not　warmly
dressed。〃

〃Nell；　we　roasted　all　day；　and　now　we're　freezing；〃　declared
Bo。　　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　winter　at　night　out　here。〃

〃Miss；　haven't　you　some　warm　gloves　an'　a　coat？〃　asked　Roy；
anxiously。　　〃It　'ain't　begun　to　get　cold　yet。〃

〃Nell；　we've　heavy　gloves；　riding…suits　and　boots　　all
fine　and　new　　in　this　black　bag；〃　said　Bo；
enthusiastically　kicking　a　bag　at　her　feet。

〃Yes；　so　we　have。　　But　a　lot　of　good　they'll　do　us；
to…night；〃　returned　Helen。

〃Miss；　you'd　do　well　to　change　right　here；〃　said　Roy；
earnestly。　　〃It'll　save　time　in　the　long　run　an'　a　lot　of
sufferin'　before　sunup。〃

Helen　stared　at　the　young　man；　absolutely　amazed　with　his
simplicity。　　She　was　advised　to　change　her　traveling…dress
for　a　riding…suit　　out　somewhere　in　a　cold；　windy　desert
　in　the　middle　of　the　night　　among　strange　young　man！

〃Bo；　which　bag　is　it？〃　asked　Dale；　as　if　she　were　his
sister。　　And　when　she　indicated　the　one；　he　picked　it　up。
〃Come　off　the　road。〃

Bo　followed　him；　and　Helen　found　herself　mechanically　at
their　heels。　　Dale　led　them　a　few　paces　off　the　road　behind
some　low　bushes。

〃Hurry　an'　change　here；〃　he　said。　　〃We'll　make　a　pack　of　your
outfit　an'　leave　room　for　this　bag。〃

Then　he　stalked　away　and　in　a　few　strides　disappeared。

Bo　sat　down　to　begin　unlacing　her　shoes。　　Helen　could　just
see　her　pale；　pretty　face　and　big；　gleaming　eyes　by　the
light　of　the　stars。　　It　struck　her　then　that　Bo　was　going　to
make　eminently　more　of　a　success　of　Western　life　than　she
was。

〃Nell；　those　fellows　are　n…nice；〃　said　Bo；　reflectively。
〃Aren't　you　c…cold？　　Say；　he　said　hurry！〃

It　was　beyond　Helen's　comprehension　how　she　ever　began　to
disrobe　out　there　in　that　open；　windy　desert；　but　after　she
had　gotten　launched　on　the　task　she　found　that　it　required
more　fortitude　than　courage。　　The　cold　wind　pierced　right
through　her。　　Almost　she　could　have　laughed　at　the　way　Bo
made　things　fly。

〃G…g…g…gee！〃　chattered　Bo。　　〃I　n…never　w…was　so　c…c…cold　in
all　my　life。　　Nell　Rayner；　m…may　the　g…good　Lord　forgive
y…you！〃

Helen　was　too　intent　on　her　own　troubles　to　take　breath　to
talk。　　She　was　a　strong；　healthy　girl；　swift　and　efficient
with　her　hands；　yet　this；　the　hardest　physical　ordeal　she
had　ever　experienced；　almost　overcame　her。　　Bo　outdistanced
her　by　moments；　helped　her　with　buttons；　and　laced　one　whole
boot　for　her。　　Then；　with　hands　that　stung；　Helen　packed　the
traveling…suits　in　the　bag。

〃There！　　But　what　an　awful　mess！〃　exclaimed　Helen。　　〃Oh；　Bo；
our　pretty　traveling…dresses！〃

〃We'll　press　them　t…to…morrow　　on　a　l…log；〃　replied　Bo；
and　she　giggled。

They　started　for　the　road。　　Bo；　strange　to　note；　did　not
carry　her　share　of　the　burden；　and　she　seemed　unsteady　on
her　feet。

The　men　were　waiting　beside　a　group　of　horses；　one　of　which
carried　a　pack。

〃Nothin'　slow　about　you；〃　said　Dale；　relieving　Helen　of　the
grip。　　〃Roy；　put　them　up　while　I　sling　on　this　bag。〃

Roy　led　out　two　of　the　horses。

〃Get　up；〃　he　said；　indicating　Bo。　　〃The　stirrups　are　short　on
this　saddle。〃

Bo　was　an　adept　at　mounting；　but　she　made　such　awkward　and
slow　work　of　it　in　this　instance　that　Helen　could　not
believe　her　eyes。

〃Haw　're　the　stirrups？〃　asked　Roy。　　〃Stand　in　them。　　Guess
they're　about　right。　。　。　。　　Careful　now！　　Thet　hoss　is
skit