the man of the forest-第25节

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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　natural　you'd　find
time　drag　up　here；　bein'　used　to　lots　of　people　an'
goin's…on；　an'　work；　an'　all　girls　like。〃

〃I'd　never　be　lonesome　here；〃　replied　Helen；　with　her　direct
force。

Dale　did　not　betray　surprise；　but　he　showed　that　his　mistake
was　something　to　ponder　over。

〃Excuse　me；〃　he　said；　presently；　as　his　gray　eyes　held　hers。
〃That's　how　I　had　it。　　As　I　remember　girls　　an'　it　doesn't
seem　long　since　I　left　home　　most　of　them　would　die　of
lonesomeness　up　here。〃　Then　he　addressed　himself　to　Bo。　　〃How
about　you？　　You　see；　I　figured　you'd　be　the　one　that　liked
it；　an'　your　sister　the　one　who　wouldn't。〃

〃I　won't　get　lonesome　very　soon；〃　replied　Bo。

〃I'm　glad。　　It　worried　me　some　　not　ever　havin'　girls　as
company　before。　　An'　in　a　day　or　so；　when　you're　rested；　I'll
help　you　pass　the　time。〃

Bo's　eyes　were　full　of　flashing　interest；　and　Helen　asked
him；　〃How？〃

It　was　a　sincere　expression　of　her　curiosity　and　not
doubtful　or　ironic　challenge　of　an　educated　woman　to　a　man
of　the　forest。　　But　as　a　challenge　he　took　it。

〃How！〃　he　repeated；　and　a　strange　smile　flitted　across　his
face。　　〃Why；　by　givin'　you　rides　an'　climbs　to　beautiful
places。　　An'　then；　if　you're　interested；'　to　show　you　how
little　so…called　civilized　people　know　of　nature。〃

Helen　realized　then　that　whatever　his　calling；　hunter　or
wanderer　or　hermit；　he　was　not　uneducated；　even　if　he
appeared　illiterate。

〃I'll　be　happy　to　learn　from　you；〃　she　said。

〃Me；　too！〃　chimed　in　Bo。　　〃You　can't　tell　too　much　to　any　one
from　Missouri。〃

He　smiled；　and　that　warmed　Helen　to　him；　for　then　he　seemed
less　removed　from　other　people。　　About　this　hunter　there
began　to　be　something　of　the　very　nature　of　which　he　spoke
　a　stillness；　aloofness；　an　unbreakable　tranquillity；　a
cold；　clear　spirit　like　that　in　the　mountain　air；　a　physical
something　not　unlike　the　tamed　wildness　of　his　pets　or　the
strength　of　the　pines。

〃I'll　bet　I　can　tell　you　more　'n　you'll　ever　remember；〃　he
said。

〃What　'll　you　bet？〃　retorted　Bo。

〃Well；　more　roast　turkey　against　　say　somethin'　nice　when
you're　safe　an'　home　to　your　uncle　Al's；　runnin'　his　ranch。〃

〃Agreed。　　Nell；　you　hear？〃

Helen　nodded　her　head。

〃All　right。　　We'll　leave　it　to　Nell；〃　began　Dale；　half
seriously。　　〃Now　I'll　tell　you；　first；　for　the　fun　of　passin'
time　we'll　ride　an'　race　my　horses　out　in　the　park。　　An'
we'll　fish　in　the　brooks　an'　hunt　in　the　woods。　　There's　an
old　silvertip　around　that　you　can　see　me　kill。　　An'　we'll
climb　to　the　peaks　an'　see　wonderful　sights。　。　。　。　　So　much
for　that。　　Now；　if　you　really　want　to　learn　　or　if　you　only
want　me　to　tell　you　　well；　that's　no　matter。　　Only　I'll　win
the　bet！　　。　。　。　　You'll　see　how　this　park　lies　in　the　crater
of　a　volcano　an'　was　once　full　of　water　　an'　how　the　snow
blows　in　on　one　side　in　winter；　a　hundred　feet　deep；　when
there's　none　on　the　other。　　An'　the　trees　　how　they　grow
an'　live　an'　fight　one　another　an'　depend　on　one　another；
an'　protect　the　forest　from　storm…winds。　　An'　how　they　hold
the　water　that　is　the　fountains　of　the　great　rivers。　　An'　how
the　creatures　an'　things　that　live　in　them　or　on　them　are
good　for　them；　an'　neither　could　live　without　the　other。　　An'
then　I'll　show　you　my　pets　tame　an'　untamed；　an'　tell　you
how　it's　man　that　makes　any　creature　wild　　how　easy　they
are　to　tame　　an'　how　they　learn　to　love　you。　　An'　there's
the　life　of　the　forest；　the　strife　of　it　　how　the　bear
lives；　an'　the　cats；　an'　the　wolves；　an'　the　deer。　　You'll
see　how　cruel　nature　is　how　savage　an'　wild　the　wolf　or
cougar　tears　down　the　deer　　how　a　wolf　loves　fresh；　hot
blood；　an'　how　a　cougar　unrolls　the　skin　of　a　deer　back　from
his　neck。　　An'　you'll　see　that　this　cruelty　of　nature　　this
work　of　the　wolf　an'　cougar　　is　what　makes　the　deer　so
beautiful　an'　healthy　an'　swift　an'　sensitive。　　Without　his
deadly　foes　the　deer　would　deteriorate　an'　die　out。　　An'
you'll　see　how　this　principle　works　out　among　all　creatures
of　the　forest。　　Strife！　　It's　the　meanin'　of　all　creation；　an'
the　salvation。　　If　you're　quick　to　see；　you'll　learn　that　the
nature　here　in　the　wilds　is　the　same　as　that　of　men　　only
men　are　no　longer　cannibals。　　Trees　fight　to　live　　birds
fight　　animals　fight　　men　fight。　　They　all　live　off　one
another。　　An'　it's　this　fightin'　that　brings　them　all　closer
an'　closer　to　bein'　perfect。　　But　nothin'　will　ever　be
perfect。〃

〃But　how　about　religion？〃　interrupted　Helen；　earnestly。

〃Nature　has　a　religion；　an'　it's　to　live　　to　grow　　to
reproduce；　each　of　its　kind。〃

〃But　that　is　not　God　or　the　immortality　of　the　soul；〃
declared　Helen。

〃Well；　it's　as　close　to　God　an'　immortality　as　nature　ever
gets。〃

〃Oh；　you　would　rob　me　of　my　religion！〃

〃No；　I　just　talk　as　I　see　life；〃　replied　Dale；　reflectively；
as　he　poked　a　stick　into　the　red　embers　of　the　fire。　　〃Maybe
I　have　a　religion。　　I　don't　know。　　But　it's　not　the　kind　you
have　　not　the　Bible　kind。　　That　kind　doesn't　keep　the　men
in　Pine　an'　Snowdrop　an'　all　over　　sheepmen　an'　ranchers
an'　farmers　an'　travelers；　such　as　I've　known　　the
religion　they　profess　doesn't　keep　them　from　lyin'；
cheatin'；　stealin'；　an'　killin'。　　I　reckon　no　man　who　lives
as　I　do　　which　perhaps　is　my　religion　　will　lie　or　cheat
or　steal　or　kill；　unless　it's　to　kill　in　self…defense　or
like　I'd　do　if　Snake　Anson　would　ride　up　here　now。　　My
religion；　maybe；　is　love　of　life　　wild　life　as　it　was　in
the　beginnin'　　an'　the　wind　that　blows　secrets　from
everywhere；　an'　the　water　that　sings　all　day　an'　night；　an'
the　stars　that　shine　constant；　an'　the　trees　that　speak
somehow；　an'　the　rocks　that　aren't　dead。　　I'm　never　alone
here　or　on　the　trails。　　There's　somethin'　unseen；　but　always
with　me。　　An'　that's　It！　　Call　it　God　if　you　like。　　But　what
stalls　me　is　　where　was　that　Spirit　when　this　earth　was　a
ball　of　fiery　gas？　　Where　will　that　Spirit　be　when　all　life
is　frozen　out　or　burned　out　on　this　globe　an'　it　hangs　dead
in　space　like　the　moon？　　That　time　will　come。　　There's　no
waste　in　nature。　　Not　the　littlest　atom　is　destroyed。　　It
changes；　that's　all；　as　you　see　this　pine　wood　go　up　in
smoke　an'　feel　somethin'　that's　heat　come　out　of　it。　　Where
does　that　go？　　It's　not　lost。　　Nothin'　is　lost。　　So；　the
beautiful　an'　savin'　thought　is；　maybe　all　rock　an'　wood；
water　an'　blood　an'　flesh；　are　resolved　back　into　the
elements；　to　come　to　life　somewhere　again　sometime。〃

〃Oh；　what　you　say　is　wonderful；　but　it's　terrible！〃
exclaimed　Helen。　　He　had　struck　deep　into　her　soul。

〃Terrible？　　I　reckon；〃　he　replied；　sadly。

Then　ensued　a　little　interval　of　silence。

〃Milt　Dale；　I　lose　the　bet；〃　declared　Bo；　with　earnestness
behind　her　frivolity。

〃I'd　forgotten　that。　　Reckon　I　talked　a　lot；〃　he　said；
apologetically。　　〃You　see；　I　don't　get　much　chance　to　talk；
except　to　myself　or　Tom。　　Years　ago；　when　I　found　the　habit
of　silence　settlin'　down　on　me；　I　took　to　thinkin'　out　loud
an'　talkin'　to　anythin'。〃

〃I　could　listen　to　you　all　night；〃　returned　Bo；　dreamily。

〃Do　you　read　　do　you　have　books？〃　inquired　Helen；
suddenly。

〃Yes；　I　read　tolerable　well；　a　good　deal　better　than　I　talk
or　write；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　went　to　school　till　I　was　fifteen。
Always　hated　study；　but　liked　to　read。　　Years　ago　an　old
friend　of　mine　down　here　at　Pine　　Widow　Cass　　she　gave
me　a　lot　of　old　books。　　An'　I　packed　them　up　here。　　Winter's
the　time　I　read。〃

Conversation　lagged　after　that；　except　for　desultory
remarks；　and　presently　Dale　bade　the　girls　good　night　and
left　them。　　Helen　watched　his　tall　form　vanish　in　the　gloom
under　the　pines；　and　after　he　had　disappeared　she　still
stared。

〃Nell！〃　called　Bo；　shrilly。　　〃I've　called　you　three　times。　　I
want　to　go　to　bed。〃

〃Oh！　　I　　I　was　thinking；〃　rejoined　Helen；　half　embarrassed；
half　wondering　at　herself。　　〃I　didn't　hear　you。〃

〃I　should　smile　you　didn't；〃　retorted　Bo。　　〃Wish　you　could
just　have　seen　your　eyes。　　Nell；　do　you　want　me　to　tell　you
something？

〃Why　　yes；〃　said　Helen；　rather　feebly。　　She　did　not　at　all；
when　Bo　talked　like　that。

〃You're　going　to　fall　in　love　with　that　wild　hunter；〃
declared　Bo　in　a　voice　that　rang　like　a　bell。

Helen　was　not　only　amazed；　but　enraged。　　She　caught　her
breath　preparatory　to　giving　this　incorrigible　sister　a
piece　of　her　mind。　　Bo　went　calmly　on。

〃I　can　feel　it　in　my　bones。〃

〃Bo；　you're　a　little　fool　　a　sentimental；　romancing；　gushy
little　fool！〃　retorted　Helen。　　〃All　you　seem　to　hold　in　your
head　is　some　rot　about　love。　　To　hear　you　talk　one　would
think　there's　nothing　else　in　the　world　but　love。〃

Bo's　eyes　were　bright；　shrewd；　affectionate；　and　laughing　as
she　bent　their　steady　gaze　upon　Helen。

〃Nell；　that's　just　it。　　There　IS　nothing　else！〃



CHAPTER　X

The　night　of　sleep　was　so　short　that　it　was　difficult　for
Helen　to　believe　that　hours　had　passed。　　Bo　appeared　livelier
this　morning；　with　less　complaint　of　aches。

〃Nell；　you've　got　color！〃　exclaimed　Bo。　　〃And　your　eyes　are
bright。　　Isn't　the　morning　perfectly　lovely？　　。　。　。　　Couldn't
you　get　drunk　on　that　air？　　I　smell　flowers