the man of the forest-第15节

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in　that　it　consisted　of　patches　of　high　silvery　grass　and
wide　brown　areas　of　pine…needles。　　These　manifestly　were　what
Roy　had　meant　by　pine…mats。　　Here　and　there　a　fallen　monarch
lay　riven　or　rotting。　　Helen　was　presently　struck　with　the
silence　of　the　forest　and　the　strange　fact　that　the　horses
seldom　made　any　sound　at　all；　and　when　they　did　it　was　a
cracking　of　dead　twig　or　thud　of　hoof　on　log。　　Likewise　she
became　aware　of　a　springy　nature　of　the　ground。　　And　then　she
saw　that　the　pine…mats　gave　like　rubber　cushions　under　the
hoofs　of　the　horses；　and　after　they　had　passed　sprang　back
to　place　again；　leaving　no　track。　　Helen　could　not　see　a　sign
of　a　trail　they　left　behind。　　Indeed；　it　would　take　a　sharp
eye　to　follow　Dale　through　that　forest。　　This　knowledge　was
infinitely　comforting　to　Helen；　and　for　the　first　time　since
the　flight　had　begun　she　felt　a　lessening　of　the　weight　upon
mind　and　heart。　　It　left　her　free　for　some　of　the
appreciation　she　might　have　had　in　this　wonderful　ride　under
happier　circumstances。

Bo；　however；　seemed　too　young；　too　wild；　too　intense　to　mind
what　the　circumstances　were。　　She　responded　to　reality。　　Helen
began　to　suspect　that　the　girl　would　welcome　any　adventure；
and　Helen　knew　surely　now　that　Bo　was　a　true　Auchincloss。
For　three　long　days　Helen　had　felt　a　constraint　with　which
heretofore　she　had　been　unfamiliar；　for　the　last　hours　it
had　been　submerged　under　dread。　　But　it　must　be；　she
concluded；　blood　like　her　sister's；　pounding　at　her　veins　to
be　set　free　to　race　and　to　burn。

Bo　loved　action。　　She　had　an　eye　for　beauty；　but　she　was　not
contemplative。　　She　was　now　helping　Dale　drive　the　horses　and
hold　them　in　rather　close　formation。　　She　rode　well；　and　as
yet　showed　no　symptoms　of　fatigue　or　pain。　　Helen　began　to　be
aware　of　both；　but　not　enough　yet　to　limit　her　interest。

A　wonderful　forest　without　birds　did　not　seem　real　to　her。
Of　all　living　creatures　in　nature　Helen　liked　birds　best；
and　she　knew　many　and　could　imitate　the　songs　of　a　few。　　But
here　under　the　stately　pines　there　were　no　birds。　　Squirrels；
however；　began　to　be　seen　here　and　there；　and　in　the　course
of　an　hour's　travel　became　abundant。　　The　only　one　with　which
she　was　familiar　was　the　chipmunk。　　All　the　others；　from　the
slim　bright　blacks　to　the　striped　russets　and　the
white…tailed　grays；　were　totally　new　to　her。　　They　appeared
tame　and　curious。　　The　reds　barked　and　scolded　at　the　passing
cavalcade；　the　blacks　glided　to　some　safe　branch；　there　to
watch；　the　grays　paid　no　especial　heed　to　this　invasion　of
their　domain。

Once　Dale；　halting　his　horse；　pointed　with　long　arm；　and
Helen；　following　the　direction；　descried　several　gray　deer
standing　in　a　glade；　motionless；　with　long　ears　up。　　They
made　a　wild　and　beautiful　picture。　　Suddenly　they　bounded
away　with　remarkable　springy　strides。

The　forest　on　the　whole　held　to　the　level；　open　character；
but　there　were　swales　and　stream…beds　breaking　up　its
regular　conformity。　　Toward　noon；　however；　it　gradually
changed；　a　fact　that　Helen　believed　she　might　have　observed
sooner　had　she　been　more　keen。　　The　general　lay　of　the　land
began　to　ascend；　and　the　trees　to　grow　denser。

She　made　another　discovery。　　Ever　since　she　had　entered　the
forest　she　had　become　aware　of　a　fullness　in　her　head　and　a
something　affecting　her　nostrils。　　She　imagined；　with　regret；
that　she　had　taken　cold。　　But　presently　her　head　cleared
somewhat　and　she　realized　that　the　thick　pine　odor　of　the
forest　had　clogged　her　nostrils　as　if　with　a　sweet　pitch。
The　smell　was　overpowering　and　disagreeable　because　of　its
strength。　　Also　her　throat　and　lungs　seemed　to　burn。

When　she　began　to　lose　interest　in　the　forest　and　her
surroundings　it　was　because　of　aches　and　pains　which　would
no　longer　be　denied　recognition。　　Thereafter　she　was　not
permitted　to　forget　them　and　they　grew　worse。　　One；
especially；　was　a　pain　beyond　all　her　experience。　　It　lay　in
the　muscles　of　her　side；　above　her　hip；　and　it　grew　to　be　a
treacherous　thing；　for　it　was　not　persistent。　　It　came　and
went。　　After　it　did　come；　with　a　terrible　flash；　it　could　be
borne　by　shifting　or　easing　the　body。　　But　it　gave　no
warning。　　When　she　expected　it　she　was　mistaken；　when　she
dared　to　breathe　again；　then；　with　piercing　swiftness；　it
returned　like　a　blade　in　her　side。　　This；　then；　was　one　of
the　riding…pains　that　made　a　victim　of　a　tenderfoot　on　a
long　ride。　　It　was　almost　too　much　to　be　borne。　　The　beauty　of
the　forest；　the　living　creatures　to　be　seen　scurrying　away；
the　time；　distance　　everything　faded　before　that　stablike
pain。　　To　her　infinite　relief　she　found　that　it　was　the　trot
that　caused　this　torture。　　When　Ranger　walked　she　did　not
have　to　suffer　it。　　Therefore　she　held　him　to　a　walk　as　long
as　she　dared　or　until　Dale　and　Bo　were　almost　out　of　sight；
then　she　loped　him　ahead　until　he　had　caught　up。

So　the　hours　passed；　the　sun　got　around　low；　sending　golden
shafts　under　the　trees；　and　the　forest　gradually　changed　to
a　brighter；　but　a　thicker；　color。　　This　slowly　darkened。
Sunset　was　not　far　away。

She　heard　the　horses　splashing　in　water；　and　soon　she　rode
up　to　see　the　tiny　streams　of　crystal　water　running　swiftly
over　beds　of　green　moss。　　She　crossed　a　number　of　these　and
followed　along　the　last　one　into　a　more　open　place　in　the
forest　where　the　pines　were　huge；　towering；　and　far　apart。　　A
low；　gray　bluff　of　stone　rose　to　the　right；　perhaps
one…third　as　high　as　the　trees。　　From　somewhere　came　the
rushing　sound　of　running　water。

〃Big　Spring；〃　announced　Dale。　　〃We　camp　here。　　You　girls　have
done　well。〃

Another　glance　proved　to　Helen　that　all　those　little　streams
poured　from　under　this　gray　bluff。

〃I'm　dying　for　a　drink；〃　cried　Bo。　　with　her　customary
hyperbole。

〃I　reckon　you'll　never　forget　your　first　drink　here；〃
remarked　Dale。

Bo　essayed　to　dismount；　and　finally　fell　off；　and　when　she
did　get　to　the　ground　her　legs　appeared　to　refuse　their
natural　function；　and　she　fell　flat。　　Dale　helped　her　up。

〃What's　wrong　with　me；　anyhow？〃　she　demanded；　in　great
amaze。

〃Just　stiff；　I　reckon；〃　replied　Dale；　as　he　led　her　a　few
awkward　steps。

〃Bo；　have　you　any　hurts？〃　queried　Helen；　who　still　sat　her
horse；　loath　to　try　dismounting；　yet　wanting　to　beyond　all
words。

Bo　gave　her　an　eloquent　glance。

〃Nell；　did　you　have　one　in　your　side；　like　a　wicked；　long
darning…needle；　punching　deep　when　you　weren't　ready？〃

〃That　one　I'll　never　get　over！〃　exclaimed　Helen；　softly。
Then；　profiting　by　Bo's　experience；　she　dismounted
cautiously；　and　managed　to　keep　upright。　　Her　legs　felt　like
wooden　things。

Presently　the　girls　went　toward　the　spring。

〃Drink　slow；〃　called　out　Dale。

Big　Spring　had　its　source　somewhere　deep　under　the　gray；
weathered　bluff；　from　which　came　a　hollow　subterranean
gurgle　and　roar　of　water。　　Its　fountainhead　must　have　been　a
great　well　rushing　up　through　the　cold　stone。

Helen　and　Bo　lay　flat　on　a　mossy　bank；　seeing　their　faces　as
they　bent　over；　and　they　sipped　a　mouthful；　by　Dale's
advice；　and　because　they　were　so　hot　and　parched　and　burning
they　wanted　to　tarry　a　moment　with　a　precious　opportunity。

The　water　was　so　cold　that　it　sent　a　shock　over　Helen；　made
her　teeth　ache；　and　a　singular；　revivifying　current　steal
all　through　her；　wonderful　in　its　cool　absorption　of　that
dry　heat　of　flesh；　irresistible　in　its　appeal　to　thirst。
Helen　raised　her　head　to　look　at　this　water。　　It　was
colorless　as　she　had　found　it　tasteless。

〃Nell　　drink！〃　panted　Bo。　　〃Think　of　our　　old　spring　
in　the　orchard　　full　of　pollywogs！〃

And　then　Helen　drank　thirstily；　with　closed　eyes；　while　a
memory　of　home　stirred　from　Bo's　gift　of　poignant　speech。



CHAPTER　VII

The　first　camp　duty　Dale　performed　was　to　throw　a　pack　off
one　of　the　horses；　and；　opening　it；　he　took　out　tarpaulin
and　blankets；　which　he　arranged　on　the　ground　under　a
pine…tree。

〃You　girls　rest；〃　he　said；　briefly。

〃Can't　we　help？〃　asked　Helen；　though　she　could　scarcely
stand。

〃You'll　be　welcome　to　do　all　you　like　after　you're　broke
in。〃

〃Broke　in！〃　ejaculated　Bo；　with　a　little　laugh。　　〃I'm　all
broke　UP　now。〃

〃Bo；　it　looks　as　if　Mr。　　Dale　expects　us　to　have　quite　a　stay
with　him　in　the　woods。〃

〃It　does；〃　replied　Bo；　as　slowly　she　sat　down　upon　the
blankets；　stretched　out　with　a　long　sigh；　and　laid　her　head
on　a　saddle。　　〃Nell；　didn't　he　say　not　to　call　him　Mister？〃

Dale　was　throwing　the　packs　off　the　other　horses。

Helen　lay　down　beside　Bo；　and　then　for　once　in　her　life　she
experienced　the　sweetness　of　rest。

〃Well；　sister；　what　do　you　intend　to　call　him？〃　queried
Helen；　curiously。

〃Milt；　of　course；〃　replied　Bo。

Helen　had　to　laugh　despite　her　weariness　and　aches。

〃I　suppose；　then；　when　your　Las　Vegas　cowboy　comes　along　you
will　call　him　what　he　called　you。〃

Bo　blushed；　which　was　a　rather　unusual　thing　for　her。

〃I　will　if　I　like；〃　she　retorted。　　〃Nell；　ever　since　I　could
remember　you've　raved　about　the　West。　　Now　you're　OUT　West；
right　in　it　good　and　deep。　　So　wake　up！〃

That　was　Bo's　blunt　and　characteristic　way　of　advising　the
elimination　of　Helen's　superficialities。　　It　sank　deep。