the man of the forest-第24节

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murmured　sweetly　on　one　breath　of　wind；　and　lulled　with
another；　and　sometimes　died　out　altogether；　only　to　come
again　in　soft；　strange　roar。

〃Paradise　Park！〃　whispered　Bo　to　herself。

A　call　from　Dale　disturbed　their　raptures。　　Turning；　they
hobbled　with　eager　but　painful　steps　in　the　direction　of　a
larger　camp…fire；　situated　to　the　right　of　the　great　rock
that　sheltered　their　lean…to。　　No　hut　or　house　showed　there
and　none　was　needed。　　Hiding…places　and　homes　for　a　hundred
hunters　were　there　in　the　sections　of　caverned　cliffs；　split
off　in　bygone　ages　from　the　mountain　wall　above。　　A　few
stately　pines　stood　out　from　the　rocks；　and　a　clump　of
silver　spruce　ran　down　to　a　brown　brook。　　This　camp　was　only
a　step　from　the　lean…to；　round　the　corner　of　a　huge　rock；
yet　it　had　been　out　of　sight。　　Here　indeed　was　evidence　of　a
hunter's　home　　pelts　and　skins　and　antlers；　a　neat　pile　of
split　fire…wood；　a　long　ledge　of　rock；　well　sheltered；　and
loaded　with　bags　like　a　huge　pantry…shelf；　packs　and　ropes
and　saddles；　tools　and　weapons；　and　a　platform　of　dry　brush
as　shelter　for　a　fire　around　which　hung　on　poles　a　various
assortment　of　utensils　for　camp。

〃Hyar　　you　git！〃　shouted　Dale；　and　he　threw　a　stick　at
something。　　A　bear　cub　scampered　away　in　haste。　　He　was　small
and　woolly　and　brown；　and　he　grunted　as　he　ran。　　Soon　he
halted。

〃That's　Bud；〃　said　Dale；　as　the　girls　came　up。　　〃Guess　he
near　starved　in　my　absence。　　An'　now　he　wants　everythin'；
especially　the　sugar。　　We　don't　have　sugar　often　up　here。〃

〃Isn't　he　dear？　　Oh；　I　love　him！〃　cried　Bo。　　〃Come　back；　Bud。
Come；　Buddie。〃

The　cub；　however；　kept　his　distance；　watching　Dale　with
bright　little　eyes。

〃Where's　Mr。　　Roy？〃　asked　Helen。

〃Roy's　gone。　　He　was　sorry　not　to　say　good…by。　　But　it's
important　he　gets　down　in　the　pines　on　Anson's　trail。　　He'll
hang　to　Anson；　an'　in　case　they　get　near　Pine　he'll　ride　in
to　see　where　your　uncle　is。〃

〃What　do　you　expect？〃　questioned　Helen；　gravely。

〃'Most　anythin'；〃　he　replied。　　〃Al；　I　reckon；　knows　now。
Maybe　he's　rustlin'　into　the　mountains　by　this　time。　　If　he
meets　up　with　Anson；　well　an'　good；　for　Roy　won't　be　far
off。　　An'　sure　if　he　runs　across　Roy；　why　they'll　soon　be
here。　　But　if　I　were　you　I　wouldn't　count　on　seein'　your
uncle　very　soon。　　I'm　sorry。　　I've　done　my　best。　　It　sure　is　a
bad　deal。〃

〃Don't　think　me　ungracious；〃　replied　Helen；　hastily。　　How
plainly　he　had　intimated　that　it　must　be　privation　and
annoyance　for　her　to　be　compelled　to　accept　his　hospitality！
〃You　are　good　　kind。　　I　owe　you　much。　　I'll　be　eternally
grateful。〃

Dale　straightened　as　he　looked　at　her。　　His　glance　was
intent；　piercing。　　He　seemed　to　be　receiving　a　strange　or
unusual　portent。　　No　need　for　him　to　say　he　had　never　before
been　spoken　to　like　that！

〃You　may　have　to　stay　here　with　me　　for　weeks　　maybe
months　　if　we've　the　bad　luck　to　get　snowed　in；〃　he　said；
slowly；　as　if　startled　at　this　deduction。　　〃You're　safe　here。
No　sheep…thief　could　ever　find　this　camp。　　I'll　take　risks　to
get　you　safe　into　Al's　hands。　　But　I'm　goin'　to　be　pretty
sure　about　what　I'm　doin'。　。　。　。　　So　　there's　plenty　to　eat
an'　it's　a　pretty　place。〃

〃Pretty！　　Why；　it's　grand！〃　exclaimed　Bo。　　〃I've　called　it
Paradise　Park。〃

〃Paradise　Park；〃　he　repeated；　weighing　the　words。　　〃You've
named　it　an'　also　the　creek。　　Paradise　Creek！　　I've　been　here
twelve　years　with　no　fit　name　for　my　home　till　you　said
that。〃

〃Oh；　that　pleases　me！〃　returned　Bo；　with　shining　eyes。

〃Eat　now；〃　said　Dale。　　〃An'　I　reckon　you'll　like　that
turkey。〃

There　was　a　clean　tarpaulin　upon　which　were　spread　steaming；
fragrant　pans　　roast　turkey；　hot　biscuits　and　gravy；
mashed　potatoes　as　white　as　if　prepared　at　home；　stewed
dried　apples；　and　butter　and　coffee。　　This　bounteous　repast
surprised　and　delighted　the　girls；　when　they　had　once　tasted
the　roast　wild　turkey；　then　Milt　Dale　had　occasion　to　blush
at　their　encomiums。

〃I　hope　　Uncle　Al　　doesn't　come　for　a　month；〃　declared
Bo；　as　she　tried　to　get　her　breath。　　There　was　a　brown　spot
on　her　nose　and　one　on　each　cheek；　suspiciously　close　to　her
mouth。

Dale　laughed。　　It　was　pleasant　to　hear　him；　for　his　laugh
seemed　unused　and　deep；　as　if　it　came　from　tranquil　depths。

〃Won't　you　eat　with　us？〃　asked　Helen。

〃Reckon　I　will；〃　he　said。　　〃it'll　save　time；　an'　hot　grub
tastes　better。〃

Quite　an　interval　of　silence　ensued；　which　presently　was
broken　by　Dale。

〃Here　comes　Tom。〃

Helen　observed　with　a　thrill　that　the　cougar　was
magnificent；　seen　erect　on　all…fours；　approaching　with　slow；
sinuous　grace。　　His　color　was　tawny；　with　spots　of　whitish
gray。　　He　had　bow…legs；　big　and　round　and　furry；　and　a　huge
head　with　great　tawny　eyes。　　No　matter　how　tame　he　was　said
to　be；　he　looked　wild。　　Like　a　dog　he　walked　right　up；　and　it
so　happened　that　he　was　directly　behind　Bo；　within　reach　of
her　when　she　turned。

〃Oh；　Lord！〃　cried　Bo；　and　up　went　both　of　her　hands；　in　one
of　which　was　a　huge　piece　of　turkey。　　Tom　took　it；　not
viciously；　but　nevertheless　with　a　snap　that　made　Helen
jump。　　As　if　by　magic　the　turkey　vanished。　　And　Tom　took　a
closer　step　toward　Bo。　　Her　expression　of　fright　changed　to
consternation。

〃He　stole　my　turkey！〃

〃Tom；　come　here；〃　ordered　Dale；　sharply。　　The　cougar　glided
round　rather　sheepishly。　　〃Now　lie　down　an'　behave。〃

Tom　crouched　on　all…fours；　his　head　resting　on　his　paws；
with　his　beautiful　tawny　eyes；　light　and　piercing；　fixed
upon　the　hunter。

〃Don't　grab；〃　said　Dale；　holding　out　a　piece　of　turkey。
Whereupon　Tom　took　it　less　voraciously。

As　it　happened；　the　little　bear　cub　saw　this　transaction；
and　he　plainly　indicated　his　opinion　of　the　preference　shown
to　Tom。

〃Oh；　the　dear！〃　exclaimed　Bo。　　〃He　means　it's　not　fair。　。　。　。
Come；　Bud　　come　on。〃

But　Bud　would　not　approach　the　group　until　called　by　Dale。
Then　he　scrambled　to　them　with　every　manifestation　of
delight。　　Bo　almost　forgot　her　own　needs　in　feeding　him　and
getting　acquainted　with　him。　　Tom　plainly　showed　his　jealousy
of　Bud；　and　Bud　likewise　showed　his　fear　of　the　great　cat。

Helen　could　not　believe　the　evidence　of　her　eyes　　that　she
was　in　the　woods　calmly　and　hungrily　partaking　of　sweet；
wild…flavored　meat　　that　a　full…grown　mountain　lion　lay　on
one　side　of　her　and　a　baby　brown　bear　sat　on　the　other　
that　a　strange　hunter；　a　man　of　the　forest；　there　in　his
lonely　and　isolated　fastness；　appealed　to　the　romance　in　her
and　interested　her　as　no　one　else　she　had　ever　met。

When　the　wonderful　meal　was　at　last　finished　Bo　enticed　the
bear　cub　around　to　the　camp　of　the　girls；　and　there　soon
became　great　comrades　with　him。　　Helen；　watching　Bo　play；　was
inclined　to　envy　her。　　No　matter　where　Bo　was　placed；　she
always　got　something　out　of　it。　　She　adapted　herself。　　She；
who　could　have　a　good　time　with　almost　any　one　or　anything；
would　find　the　hours　sweet　and　fleeting　in　this　beautiful
park　of　wild　wonders。

But　merely　objective　actions　　merely　physical　movements；
had　never　yet　contented　Helen。　　She　could　run　and　climb　and
ride　and　play　with　hearty　and　healthy　abandon；　but　those
things　would　not　suffice　long　for　her；　and　her　mind　needed
food。　　Helen　was　a　thinker。　　One　reason　she　had　desired　to
make　her　home　in　the　West　was　that　by　taking　up　a　life　of
the　open；　of　action；　she　might　think　and　dream　and　brood
less。　　And　here　she　was　in　the　wild　West；　after　the　three
most　strenuously　active　days　of　her　career；　and　still　the
same　old　giant　revolved　her　mind　and　turned　it　upon　herself
and　upon　all　she　saw。

〃What　can　I　do？〃　she　asked　Bo；　almost　helplessly。

〃Why；　rest；　you　silly！〃　retorted　Bo。　　〃You　walk　like　an　old；
crippled　woman　with　only　one　leg。〃

Helen　hoped　the　comparison　was　undeserved；　but　the　advice
was　sound。　　The　blankets　spread　out　on　the　grass　looked
inviting　and　they　felt　comfortably　warm　in　the　sunshine。　　The
breeze　was　slow；　languorous；　fragrant；　and　it　brought　the
low　hum　of　the　murmuring　waterfall；　like　a　melody　of　bees。
Helen　made　a　pillow　and　lay　down　to　rest。　　The　green
pine…needles；　so　thin　and　fine　in　their　crisscross　network；
showed　clearly　against　the　blue　sky。　　She　looked　in　vain　for
birds。　　Then　her　gaze　went。　　wonderingly　to　the　lofty　fringed
rim　of　the　great　amphitheater；　and　as　she　studied　it　she
began　to　grasp　its　remoteness；　how　far　away　it　was　in　the
rarefied　atmosphere。　　A　black　eagle；　sweeping　along；　looked
of　tiny　size；　and　yet　he　was　far　under　the　heights　above。
How　pleasant　she　fancied　it　to　be　up　there！　　And　drowsy　fancy
lulled　her　to　sleep。

Helen　slept　all　afternoon；　and　upon　awakening；　toward
sunset；　found　Bo　curled　beside　her。　　Dale　had　thoughtfully
covered　them　with　a　blanket；　also　he　had　built　a　camp…fire。
The　air　was　growing　keen　and　cold。

Later；　when　they　had　put　their　coats　on　and　made　comfortable
seats　beside　the　fire；　Dale　came　over；　apparently　to　visit
them。

〃I　reckon　you　can't　sleep　all　the　time；〃　he　said。　　〃An'　bein'
city　girls；　you'll　get　lonesome。〃

〃Lonesome！〃　echoed　Helen。　　The　idea　of　her　being　lonesome
here　had　not　occurred　to　her。

〃I've　thought　that　all　out；〃　went　on　Dale；　as　he　sat　down；
Indian　fashion；　before　the　blaze。　　〃It's　n