the man of the forest-第19节

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she　ever　leave　home　for　the　West？　　Her　solicitude　for　Bo　had
been　forgotten。　　Nevertheless；　any　marked　change　in　the
topography　of　the　country　was　registered；　perhaps
photographed　on　her　memory　by　the　torturing　vividness　of　her
experience。

The　forest　grew　more　level　and　denser。　　Shadows　of　twilight
or　gloom　lay　under　the　trees。　　Presently　Dale　and　Roy；
disappeared；　going　downhill；　and　likewise　Bo。　　Then　Helen's
ears　suddenly　filled　with　a　roar　of　rapid　water。　　Ranger
trotted　faster。　　Soon　Helen　came　to　the　edge　of　a　great
valley；　black　and　gray；　so　full　of　obscurity　that　she　could
not　see　across　or　down　into　it。　　But　she　knew　there　was　a
rushing　river　at　the　bottom。　　The　sound　was　deep；　continuous；
a　heavy；　murmuring　roar；　singularly　musical。　　The　trail　was
steep。　　Helen　had　not　lost　all　feeling；　as　she　had　believed
and　hoped。　　Her　poor；　mistreated　body　still　responded
excruciatingly　to　concussions；　jars；　wrenches；　and　all　the
other　horrible　movements　making　up　a　horse…trot。

For　long　Helen　did　not　look　up。　　When　she　did　so　there　lay　a
green；　willow…bordered；　treeless　space　at　the　bottom　of　the
valley；　through　which　a　brown…white　stream　rushed　with
steady；　ear…filling　roar。

Dale　and　Roy　drove　the　pack…animals　across　the　stream；　and
followed；　going　deep　to　the　flanks　of　their　horses。　　Bo　rode
into　the　foaming　water　as　if　she　had　been　used　to　it　all　her
days。　　A　slip；　a　fall；　would　have　meant　that　Bo　must　drown　in
that　mountain　torrent。

Ranger　trotted　straight　to　the　edge；　and　there；　obedient　to
Helen's　clutch　on　the　bridle；　he　halted。　　The　stream　was
fifty　feet　wide；　shallow　on　the　near　side；　deep　on　the
opposite；　with　fast　current　and　big　waves。　　Helen　was　simply
too　frightened　to　follow。

〃Let　him　come！〃　yelled　Dale。　　〃Stick　on　now！　　。　。　。　　Ranger！〃

The　big　black　plunged　in；　making　the　water　fly。　　That　stream
was　nothing　for　him；　though　it　seemed　impassable　to　Helen。
She　had　not　the　strength　left　to　lift　her　stirrups　and　the
water　surged　over　them。　　Ranger；　in　two　more　plunges；
surmounted　the　bank；　and　then；　trotting　across　the　green　to
where　the　other　horses　stood　steaming　under　some　pines；　he
gave　a　great　heave　and　halted。

Roy　reached　up　to　help　her　off。

〃Thirty　miles；　Miss　Helen；〃　he　said；　and　the　way　he　spoke
was　a　compliment。

He　had　to　lift　her　off　and　help　her　to　the　tree　where　Bo
leaned。　　Dale　had　ripped　off　a　saddle　and　was　spreading
saddle…blankets　on　the　ground　under　the　pine。

〃Nell　　you　swore　　you　loved　me！〃　was　Bo's　mournful
greeting。　　The　girl　was　pale；　drawn；　blue…lipped；　and　she
could　not　stand　up。

〃Bo；　I　never　did　　or　I'd　never　have　brought　you　to　this　
wretch　that　I　am！〃　cried　Helen。　　〃Oh；　what　a　horrible　ride！〃

Rain　was　falling；　the　trees　were　dripping；　the　sky　was
lowering。　　All　the　ground　was　soaking　wet；　with　pools　and
puddles　everywhere。　　Helen　could　imagine　nothing　but　a
heartless；　dreary；　cold　prospect。　　Just　then　home　was　vivid
and　poignant　in　her　thoughts。　　Indeed；　so　utterly　miserable
was　she　that　the　exquisite　relief　of　sitting　down；　of　a
cessation　of　movement；　of　a　release　from　that　infernal
perpetual…trotting　horse；　seemed　only　a　mockery。　　It　could
not　be　true　that　the　time　had　come　for　rest。

Evidently　this　place　had　been　a　camp　site　for　hunters　or
sheep…herders；　for　there　were　remains　of　a　fire。　　Dale　lifted
the　burnt　end　of　a　log　and　brought　it　down　hard　upon　the
ground；　splitting　off　pieces。　　Several　times　he　did　this。　　It
was　amazing　to　see　his　strength；　his　facility；　as　he　split
off　handfuls　of　splinters。　　He　collected　a　bundle　of　them；
and；　laying　them　down；　he　bent　over　them。　　Roy　wielded　the　ax
on　another　log；　and　each　stroke　split　off　a　long　strip。　　Then
a　tiny　column　of　smoke　drifted　up　over　Dale's　shoulder　as　he
leaned；　bareheaded；　sheltering　the　splinters　with　his　hat。　　A
blaze　leaped　up。　　Roy　came　with　an　armful　of　strips　all　white
and　dry；　out　of　the　inside　of　a　log。　　Crosswise　these　were
laid　over　the　blaze；　and　it　began　to　roar。　　Then　piece　by
piece　the　men　built　up　a　frame　upon　which　they　added　heavier
woods；　branches　and　stumps　and　logs；　erecting　a　pyramid
through　which　flames　and　smoke　roared　upward。　　It　had　not
taken　two　minutes。　　Already　Helen　felt　the　warmth　on　her　icy
face。　　She　held　up　her　bare；　numb　hands。

Both　Dale　and　Roy　were　wet　through　to　the　skin；　yet　they　did
not　tarry　beside　the　fire。　　They　relieved　the　horses。　　A　lasso
went　up　between　two　pines；　and　a　tarpaulin　over　it；　V…shaped
and　pegged　down　at　the　four　ends。　　The　packs　containing　the
baggage　of　the　girls　and　the　supplies　and　bedding　were
placed　under　this　shelter。

Helen　thought　this　might　have　taken　five　minutes　more。　　In
this　short　space　of　time　the　fire　had　leaped　and　flamed
until　it　was　huge　and　hot。　　Rain　was　falling　steadily　all
around；　but　over　and　near　that　roaring　blaze；　ten　feet　high；
no　water　fell。　　It　evaporated。　　The　ground　began　to　steam　and
to　dry。　　Helen　suffered　at　first　while　the　heat　was　driving
out　the　cold。　　But　presently　the　pain　ceased。

〃Nell；　I　never　knew　before　how　good　a　fire　could　feel；〃
declared　Bo。

And　therein　lay　more　food　for　Helen's　reflection。

In　ten　minutes　Helen　was　dry　and　hot。　　Darkness　came　down
upon　the　dreary；　sodden　forest；　but　that　great　camp…fire
made　it　a　different　world　from　the　one　Helen　had
anticipated。　　It　blazed　and　roared；　cracked　like　a　pistol；
hissed　and　sputtered；　shot　sparks　everywhere；　and　sent　aloft
a　dense；　yellow；　whirling　column　of　smoke。　　It　began　to　have
a　heart　of　gold。

Dale　took　a　long　pole　and　raked　out　a　pile　of　red　embers
upon　which　the　coffee…pot　and　oven　soon　began　to　steam。

〃Roy；　I　promised　the　girls　turkey　to…night；〃　said　the
hunter。

〃Mebbe　to…morrow；　if　the　wind　shifts。　　This　's　turkey
country。〃

〃Roy；　a　potato　will　do　me！〃　exclaimed　Bo。

〃Never　again　will　I　ask　for　cake　and　pie！　　I　never
appreciated　good　things　to　eat。　　And　I've　been　a　little　pig；
always。　　I　never　　never　knew　what　it　was　to　be　hungry　
until　now。〃

Dale　glanced　up　quickly。

〃Lass；　it's　worth　learnin'；〃　he　said。

Helen's　thought　was　too　deep　for　words。　　In　such　brief　space
had　she　been　transformed　from　misery　to　comfort！

The　rain　kept　on　falling；　though　it　appeared　to　grow　softer
as　night　settled　down　black。　　The　wind　died　away　and　the
forest　was　still；　except　for　the　steady　roar　of　the　stream。
A　folded　tarpaulin　was　laid　between　the　pine　and　the　fire；
well　in　the　light　and　warmth；　and　upon　it　the　men　set
steaming　pots　and　plates　and　cups；　the　fragrance　from　which
was　strong　and　inviting。

〃Fetch　the　saddle…blanket　an'　set　with　your　backs　to　the
fire；〃　said　Roy。


Later；　when　the　girls　were　tucked　away　snugly　in　their
blankets　and　sheltered　from　the　rain；　Helen　remained　awake
after　Bo　had　fallen　asleep。　　The　big　blaze　made　the
improvised　tent　as　bright　as　day。　　She　could　see　the　smoke；
the　trunk　of　the　big　pine　towering　aloft；　and　a　blank　space
of　sky。　　The　stream　hummed　a　song；　seemingly　musical　at
times；　and　then　discordant　and　dull；　now　low；　now　roaring；
and　always　rushing；　gurgling；　babbling；　flowing；　chafing　in
its　hurry。

Presently　the　hunter　and　his　friend　returned　from　hobbling
the　horses；　and　beside　the　fire　they　conversed　in　low　tones。

〃Wal；　thet　trail　we　made　to…day　will　be　hid；　I　reckon；〃　said
Roy；　with　satisfaction。

〃What　wasn't　sheeped　over　would　be　washed　out。　　We've　had
luck。　　An'　now　I　ain't　worryin'；〃　returned　Dale。

〃Worryin'？　　Then　it's　the　first　I　ever　knowed　you　to　do。〃

〃Man；　I　never　had　a　job　like　this；〃　protested　the　hunter。

〃Wal；　thet's　so。〃

〃Now；　Roy；　when　old　Al　Auchincloss　finds　out　about　this
deal；　as　he's　bound　to　when　you　or　the　boys　get　back　to
Pine；　he's　goin'　to　roar。〃

〃Do　you　reckon　folks　will　side　with　him　against　Beasley？〃

〃Some　of　them。　　But　Al；　like　as　not；　will　tell　folks　to　go
where　it's　hot。　　He'll　bunch　his　men　an'　strike　for　the
mountains　to　find　his　nieces。〃

〃Wal；　all　you've　got　to　do　is　to　keep　the　girls　hid　till　I
can　guide　him　up　to　your　camp。　　Or；　failin'　thet；　till　you
can　slip　the　girls　down　to　Pine。〃

〃No　one　but　you　an'　your　brothers　ever　seen　my　senaca。　　But
it　could　be　found　easy　enough。〃

〃Anson　might　blunder　on　it。　　But　thet　ain't　likely。〃

〃Why　ain't　it？〃

〃Because　I'll　stick　to　thet　sheep…thief's　tracks　like　a　wolf
after　a　bleedin'　deer。　　An'　if　he　ever　gets　near　your　camp
I'll　ride　in　ahead　of　him。〃

〃Good！〃　declared　Dale。　　〃I　was　calculatin'　you'd　go　down　to
Pine；　sooner　or　later。〃

〃Not　unless　Anson　goes。　　I　told　John　thet　in　case　there　was
no　fight　on　the　stage　to　make　a　bee…line　back　to　Pine。　　He
was　to　tell　Al　an'　offer　his　services　along　with　Joe　an'
Hal。〃

〃One　way　or　another；　then；　there's　bound　to　be　blood　spilled
over　this。〃

〃Shore！　　An'　high　time。　　I　jest　hope　I　get　a　look　down　my　old
'forty…four'　at　thet　Beasley。〃

〃In　that　case　I　hope　you　hold　straighter　than　times　I've
seen　you。〃

〃Milt　Dale；　I'm　a　good　shot；〃　declared　Roy；　stoutly。

〃You're　no　good　on　movin'　targets。〃

〃Wal；　mebbe　so。　　But　I'm　not　lookin'　for　a　movin'　target　when
I　meet　up　with　Beasley。　　I'm　a　hossman；　not　a　hunter。　　You're
used　to　shootin'　flies　off　deer's　horns；　jest　for　practice。〃

〃Roy；　c