the man of the forest-第13节

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believe　her　eyes。

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

Bo　was　not　living　up　to　the　reputation　with　which　Helen　had
credited　her。

〃Now；　miss；　you　get　up；〃　said　Roy　to　Helen。　　And　in　another
instant　she　found　herself　astride　a　black；　spirited　horse。
Numb　with　cold　as　she　was；　she　yet　felt　the　coursing　thrills
along　her　veins。

Roy　was　at　the　stirrups　with　swift　hands。

〃You're　taller　'n　I　guessed；〃　he　said。　　〃Stay　up；　but　lift
your　foot。　。　。　。　　Shore　now；　I'm　glad　you　have　them　thick；
soft　boots。　　Mebbe　we'll　ride　all　over　the　White　Mountains。〃

〃Bo；　do　you　hear　that？〃　called　Helen。

But　Bo　did　not　answer。　　She　was　leaning　rather　unnaturally　in
her　saddle。　　Helen　became　anxious。　　Just　then　Dale　strode　back
to　them。

〃All　cinched　up；　Roy？〃

〃Jest　ready；〃　replied　Roy。

Then　Dale　stood　beside　Helen。　　How　tall　he　was！　　His　wide
shoulders　seemed　on　a　level　with　the　pommel　of　her　saddle。
He　put　an　affectionate　hand　on　the　horse。

〃His　name's　Ranger　an'　he's　the　fastest　an'　finest　horse　in
this　country。〃

〃I　reckon　he　shore　is　　along　with　my　bay；〃　corroborated
Roy。

〃Roy；　if　you　rode　Ranger　he'd　beat　your　pet；〃　said　Dale。　　〃We
can　start　now。　　Roy；　you　drive　the　pack…horses。〃

He　took　another　look　at　Helen's　saddle　and　then　moved　to　do
likewise　with　Bo's。

〃Are　you　　all　right？〃　he　asked；　quickly。

Bo　reeled　in　her　seat。

〃I'm　n…near　froze；〃　she　replied；　in　a　faint　voice。　　Her　face
shone　white　in　the　starlight。　　Helen　recognized　that　Bo　was
more　than　cold。

〃Oh；　Bo！〃　she　called；　in　distress。

〃Nell；　don't　you　worry；　now。〃

〃Let　me　carry　you；〃　suggested　Dale。

〃No。　　I'll　s…s…stick　on　this　horse　or　d…die；〃　fiercely
retorted　Bo。

The　two　men　looked　up　at　her　white　face　and　then　at　each
other。　　Then　Roy　walked　away　toward　the　dark　bunch　of　horses
off　the　road　and　Dale　swung　astride　the　one　horse　left。

〃Keep　close　to　me；〃　he　said。

Bo　fell　in　line　and　Helen　brought　up　the　rear。

Helen　imagined　she　was　near　the　end　of　a　dream。　　Presently
she　would　awaken　with　a　start　and　see　the　pale　walls　of　her
little　room　at　home；　and　hear　the　cherry　branches　brushing
her　window；　and　the　old　clarion…voiced　cock　proclaim　the
hour　of　dawn。



CHAPTER　VI

The　horses　trotted。　　And　the　exercise　soon　warmed　Helen；
until　she　was　fairly　comfortable　except　in　her　fingers。　　In
mind；　however；　she　grew　more　miserable　as　she　more　fully
realized　her　situation。　　The　night　now　became　so　dark　that；
although　the　head　of　her　horse　was　alongside　the　flank　of
Bo's；　she　could　scarcely　see　Bo。　　From　time　to　time　Helen's
anxious　query　brought　from　her　sister　the　answer　that　she
was　all　right。

Helen　had　not　ridden　a　horse　for　more　than　a　year；　and　for
several　years　she　had　not　ridden　with　any　regularity。
Despite　her　thrills　upon　mounting；　she　had　entertained
misgivings。　　But　she　was　agreeably　surprised；　for　the　horse；
Ranger；　had　an　easy　gait；　and　she　found　she　had　not
forgotten　how　to　ride。　　Bo；　having　been　used　to　riding　on　a
farm　near　home；　might　be　expected　to　acquit　herself
admirably。　　It　occurred　to　Helen　what　a　plight　they　would
have　been　in　but　for　the　thick；　comfortable　riding　outfits。

Dark　as　the　night　was；　Helen　could　dimly　make　out　the　road
underneath。　　It　was　rocky；　and　apparently　little　used。　　When
Dale　turned　off　the　road　into　the　low　brush　or　sage　of　what
seemed　a　level　plain；　the　traveling　was　harder；　rougher；　and
yet　no　slower。　　The　horses　kept　to　the　gait　of　the　leaders。
Helen；　discovering　it　unnecessary；　ceased　attempting　to
guide　Ranger。　　There　were　dim　shapes　in　the　gloom　ahead；　and
always　they　gave　Helen　uneasiness；　until　closer　approach
proved　them　to　be　rocks　or　low；　scrubby　trees。　　These
increased　in　both　size　and　number　as　the　horses　progressed。
Often　Helen　looked　back　into　the　gloom　behind。　　This　act　was
involuntary　and　occasioned　her　sensations　of　dread。　　Dale
expected　to　be　pursued。　　And　Helen　experienced；　along　with
the　dread；　flashes　of　unfamiliar　resentment。　　Not　only　was
there　an　attempt　afoot　to　rob　her　of　her　heritage；　but　even
her　personal　liberty。　　Then　she　shuddered　at　the　significance
of　Dale's　words　regarding　her　possible　abduction　by　this
hired　gang。　　It　seemed　monstrous；　impossible。　　Yet；　manifestly
it　was　true　enough　to　Dale　and　his　allies。　　The　West；　then；
in　reality　was　raw；　hard；　inevitable。

Suddenly　her　horse　stopped。　　He　had　come　up　alongside　Bo's
horse。　　Dale　had　halted　ahead；　and　apparently　was　listening。
Roy　and　the　pack…train　were　out　of　sight　in　the　gloom。

〃What　is　it？〃　whispered　Helen。

〃Reckon　I　heard　a　wolf；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Was　that　cry　a　wolf's？〃　asked　Bo。　　〃I　heard。　　It　was　wild。〃

〃We're　gettin'　up　close　to　the　foot…hills；〃　said　Dale。　　〃Feel
how　much　colder　the　air　is。〃

〃I'm　warm　now；〃　replied　Bo。　　〃I　guess　being　near　froze　was
what　ailed　me。　。　。　。　　Nell；　how　're　you？〃

〃I'm　warm；　too；　but　〃　Helen　answered。

〃If　you　had　your　choice　of　being　here　or　back　home；　snug　in
bed　　which　would　you　take？〃　asked　Bo。

〃Bo！〃　exclaimed　Helen；　aghast。

〃Well；　I'd　choose　to　be　right　here　on　this　horse；〃　rejoined
Bo。

Dale　heard　her；　for　he　turned　an　instant；　then　slapped　his
horse　and　started　on。

Helen　now　rode　beside　Bo；　and　for　a　long　time　they　climbed
steadily　in　silence。　　Helen　knew　when　that　dark　hour　before
dawn　had　passed；　and　she　welcomed　an　almost　imperceptible
lightening　in　the　east。　　Then　the　stars　paled。　　Gradually　a
grayness　absorbed　all　but　the　larger　stars。　　The　great　white
morning　star；　wonderful　as　Helen　had　never　seen　it；　lost　its
brilliance　and　life　and　seemed　to　retreat　into　the　dimming
blue。

Daylight　came　gradually；　so　that　the　gray　desert　became
distinguishable　by　degrees。　　Rolling　bare　hills；　half
obscured　by　the　gray　lifting　mantle　of　night；　rose　in　the
foreground；　and　behind　was　gray　space；　slowly　taking　form
and　substance。　　In　the　east　there　was　a　kindling　of　pale　rose
and　silver　that　lengthened　and　brightened　along　a　horizon
growing　visibly　rugged。

〃Reckon　we'd　better　catch　up　with　Roy；〃　said　Dale；　and　he
spurred　his　horse。

Ranger　and　Bo's　mount　needed　no　other　urging；　and　they　swung
into　a　canter。　　Far　ahead　the　pack…animals　showed　with　Roy
driving　them。　　The　cold　wind　was　so　keen　in　Helen's　face　that
tears　blurred　her　eyes　and　froze　her　cheeks。　　And　riding
Ranger　at　that　pace　was　like　riding　in　a　rocking…chair。　　That
ride；　invigorating　and　exciting；　seemed　all　too　short。

〃Oh；　Nell；　I　don't　care　　what　becomes　of　　me！〃　exclaimed
Bo；　breathlessly。

Her　face　was　white　and　red；　fresh　as　a　rose；　her　eyes
glanced　darkly　blue；　her　hair　blew　out　in　bright；　unruly
strands。　　Helen　knew　she　felt　some　of　the　physical
stimulation　that　had　so　roused　Bo；　and　seemed　so
irresistible；　but　somber　thought　was　not　deflected　thereby。

It　was　clear　daylight　when　Roy　led　off　round　a　knoll　from
which　patches　of　scrubby　trees　　cedars；　Dale　called　them
　straggled　up　on　the　side　of　the　foot…hills。

〃They　grow　on　the　north　slopes；　where　the　snow　stays
longest；〃　said　Dale。

They　descended　into　a　valley　that　looked　shallow；　but　proved
to　be　deep　and　wide；　and　then　began　to　climb　another
foot…hill。　　Upon　surmounting　it　Helen　saw　the　rising　sun；　and
so　glorious　a　view　confronted　her　that　she　was　unable　to
answer　Bo's　wild　exclamations。

Bare；　yellow；　cedar…dotted　slopes；　apparently　level；　so
gradual　was　the　ascent；　stretched　away　to　a　dense　ragged
line　of　forest　that　rose　black　over　range　after　range；　at
last　to　fail　near　the　bare　summit　of　a　magnificent　mountain；
sunrise…flushed　against　the　blue　sky。

〃Oh；　beautiful！〃　cried　Bo。　　〃But　they　ought　to　be　called
Black　Mountains。〃

〃Old　Baldy；　there；　is　white　half　the　year；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Look　back　an'　see　what　you　say；〃　suggested　Roy。

The　girls　turned　to　gaze　silently。　　Helen　imagined　she　looked
down　upon　the　whole　wide　world。　　How　vastly　different　was　the
desert！　　Verily　it　yawned　away　from　her；　red　and　gold　near　at
hand；　growing　softly　flushed　with　purple　far　away；　a　barren
void；　borderless　and　immense；　where　dark…green　patches　and
black　lines　and　upheaved　ridges　only　served　to　emphasize
distance　and　space。

〃See　thet　little　green　spot；〃　said　Roy；　pointing。　　〃Thet's
Snowdrop。　　An'　the　other　one　　'way　to　the　right　　thet's
Show　Down。〃

〃Where　is　Pine？〃　queried　Helen；　eagerly。

〃Farther　still；　up　over　the　foot…hills　at　the　edge　of　the
woods。〃

〃Then　we're　riding　away　from　it。〃

〃Yes。　　If　we'd　gone　straight　for　Pine　thet　gang　could
overtake　us。　　Pine　is　four　days'　ride。　　An'　by　takin'　to　the
mountains　Milt　can　hide　his　tracks。　　An'　when　he's　thrown
Anson　off　the　scent；　then　he'll　circle　down　to　Pine。〃

〃Mr。　　Dale；　do　you　think　you'll　get　us　there　safely　　and
soon？〃　asked　Helen；　wistfully。

〃I　won't　promise　soon；　but　I　promise　safe。　　An'　I　don't　like
bein'　called　Mister；〃　he　replied。

〃Are　we　ever　going　to　eat？〃　inquired　Bo；　demurely。

At　this　query　Roy　Beeman　turned　with　a　laugh　to　look　at　Bo。
Helen　saw　his　face　fully　in　the　light；　and　it　was　thin　and
hard；　darkly　bronzed；　with　eyes　like　those　of　a　hawk；　and
with　square　chin　and　lean　jaws　showing　scant