the man of the forest-第33节

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of　the　forest　slope。　　Helen's　mount　climbed　on　a　run；
snorting　and　heaving；　through　aspens；　brush；　and　timber；　to
come　out　into　a　narrow；　long　opening　extending　lengthwise　up
the　slope。

A　sudden　prolonged　crash　ahead　alarmed　Helen　and　halted　her
horse。　　She　saw　a　shaking　of　aspens。　　Then　a　huge　brown　beast
leaped　as　a　cat　out　of　the　woods。　　It　was　a　bear　of　enormous
size。　　Helen's　heart　stopped　　her　tongue　clove　to　the　roof
of　her　mouth。　　The　bear　turned。　　His　mouth　was　open；　red　and
dripping。　　He　looked　shaggy；　gray。　　He　let　out　a　terrible
bawl。　　Helen's　every　muscle　froze　stiff。　　Her　horse　plunged
high　and　sidewise；　wheeling　almost　in　the　air；　neighing　his
terror。　　Like　a　stone　she　dropped　from　the　saddle。　　She　did
not　see　the　horse　break　into　the　woods；　but　she　heard　him。
Her　gaze　never　left　the　bear　even　while　she　was　falling；　and
it　seemed　she　alighted　in　an　upright　position　with　her　back
against　a　bush。　　It　upheld　her。　　The　bear　wagged　his　huge　head
from　side　to　side。　　Then；　as　the　hound　barked　close　at　hand；
he　turned　to　run　heavily　uphill　and　out　of　the　opening。

The　instant　of　his　disappearance　was　one　of　collapse　for
Helen。　　Frozen　with　horror；　she　had　been　unable　to　move　or
feel　or　think。　　All　at　once　she　was　a　quivering　mass　of　cold；
helpless　flesh；　wet　with　perspiration；　sick　with　a
shuddering；　retching；　internal　convulsion；　her　mind
liberated　from　paralyzing　shock。　　The　moment　was　as　horrible
as　that　in　which　the　bear　had　bawled　his　frightful　rage。　　A
stark；　icy；　black　emotion　seemed　in　possession　of　her。　　She
could　not　lift　a　hand；　yet　all　of　her　body　appeared　shaking。
There　was　a　fluttering；　a　strangling　in　her　throat。　　The
crushing　weight　that　surrounded　her　heart　eased　before　she
recovered　use　of　her　limbs。　　Then；　the　naked　and　terrible
thing　was　gone；　like　a　nightmare　giving　way　to
consciousness。　　What　blessed　relief！　　Helen　wildly　gazed　about
her。　　The　bear　and　hound　were　out　of　sight；　and　so　was　her
horse。　　She　stood　up　very　dizzy　and　weak。　　Thought　of　Bo　then
seemed　to　revive　her；　to　shock　different　life　and　feeling
throughout　all　her　cold　extremities。　　She　listened。

She　heard　a　thudding　of　hoofs　down　the　slope；　then　Dale's
clear；　strong　call。　　She　answered。　　It　appeared　long　before　he
burst　out　of　the　woods；　riding　hard　and　leading　her　horse。
In　that　time　she　recovered　fully；　and　when　he　reached　her；
to　put　a　sudden　halt　upon　the　fiery　Ranger；　she　caught　the
bridle　he　threw　and　swiftly　mounted　her　horse。　　The　feel　of
the　saddle　seemed　different。　　Dale's　piercing　gray　glance
thrilled　her　strangely。

〃You're　white。　　Are　you　hurt？〃　he　said。

〃No。　　I　was　scared。〃

〃But　he　threw　you？〃

〃Yes；　he　certainly　threw　me。〃

〃What　happened？〃

〃We　heard　the　hound　and　we　rode　along　the　timber。　　Then　we
saw　the　bear　　a　monster　　white　　coated　〃

〃I　know。　　It's　a　grizzly。　　He　killed　the　colt　　your　pet。
Hurry　now。　　What　about　Bo？〃

〃Pedro　was　fighting　the　bear。　　Bo　said　he'd　be　killed。　　She
rode　right　up　here。　　My　horse　followed。　　I　couldn't　have
stopped　him。　　But　we　lost　Bo。　　Right　there　the　bear　came　out。
He　roared。　　My　horse　threw　me　and　ran　off。　　Pedro's　barking
saved　me　　my　life；　I　think。　　Oh！　　that　was　awful！　　Then　the
bear　went　up　　there。　。　。　。　　And　you　came。〃

〃Bo's　followin'　the　hound！〃　ejaculated　Dale。　　And；　lifting
his　hands　to　his　mouth；　he　sent　out　a　stentorian　yell　that
rolled　up　the　slope；　rang　against　the　cliffs；　pealed　and
broke　and　died　away。　　Then　he　waited；　listening。　　From　far　up
the　slope　came　a　faint；　wild　cry；　high…pitched　and　sweet；　to
create　strange　echoes；　floating　away　to　die　in　the　ravines。

〃She's　after　him！〃　declared　Dale；　grimly。

〃Bo's　got　your　rifle；〃　said　Helen。　　〃Oh；　we　must　hurry。〃

〃You　go　back；〃　ordered　Dale；　wheeling　his　horse。

〃No！〃　Helen　felt　that　word　leave　her　lips　with　the　force　of
a　bullet。

Dale　spurred　Ranger　and　took　to　the　open　slope。　　Helen　kept
at　his　heels　until　timber　was　reached。　　Here　a　steep　trail
led　up。　　Dale　dismounted。

〃Horse　tracks　　bear　tracks　　dog　tracks；〃　he　said；
bending　over。　　〃We'll　have　to　walk　up　here。　　It'll　save　our
horses　an'　maybe　time；　too。〃

〃Is　Bo　riding　up　there？〃　asked　Helen；　eying　the　steep
ascent。

〃She　sure　is。〃　With　that　Dale　started　up；　leading　his　horse。
Helen　followed。　　It　was　rough　and　hard　work。　　She　was　lightly
clad；　yet　soon　she　was　hot；　laboring；　and　her　heart　began　to
hurt。　　When　Dale　halted　to　rest　Helen　was　just　ready　to　drop。
The　baying　of　the　hound；　though　infrequent；　inspirited　her。
But　presently　that　sound　was　lost。　　Dale　said　bear　and　hound
had　gone　over　the　ridge　and　as　soon　as　the　top　was　gained　he
would　hear　them　again。

〃Look　there；〃　he　said；　presently；　pointing　to　fresh　tracks；
larger　than　those　made　by　Bo's　mustang。　　〃Elk　tracks。　　We've
scared　a　big　bull　an'　he's　right　ahead　of　us。　　Look　sharp　an'
you'll　see　him。〃

Helen　never　climbed　so　hard　and　fast　before；　and　when　they
reached　the　ridge…top　she　was　all　tuckered　out。　　It　was　all
she　could　do　to　get　on　her　horse。　　Dale　led　along　the　crest
of　this　wooded　ridge　toward　the　western　end；　which　was
considerably　higher。　　In　places　open　rocky　ground　split　the
green　timber。　　Dale　pointed　toward　a　promontory。

Helen　saw　a　splendid　elk　silhouetted　against　the　sky。　　He　was
a　light　gray　over　all　his　hindquarters；　with　shoulders　and
head　black。　　His　ponderous；　wide…spread　antlers　towered　over
him；　adding　to　the　wildness　of　his　magnificent　poise　as　he
stood　there；　looking　down　into　the　valley；　no　doubt
listening　for　the　bay　of　the　hound。　　When　he　heard　Dale's
horse　he　gave　one　bound；　gracefully　and　wonderfully　carrying
his　antlers；　to　disappear　in　the　green。

Again　on　a　bare　patch　of　ground　Dale　pointed　down。　　Helen　saw
big　round　tracks；　toeing　in　a　little；　that　gave　her　a　chill。
She　knew　these　were　grizzly　tracks。

Hard　riding　was　not　possible　on　this　ridge　crest；　a　fact
that　gave　Helen　time　to　catch　her　breath。　　At　length；　coming
out　upon　the　very　summit　of　the　mountain；　Dale　heard　the
hound。　　Helen's　eyes　feasted　afar　upon　a　wild　scene　of　rugged
grandeur；　before　she　looked　down　on　this　western　slope　at
her　feet　to　see　bare；　gradual　descent；　leading　down　to
sparsely　wooded　bench　and　on　to　deep…green　canuon。

〃Ride　hard　now！〃　yelled　Dale。　　〃I　see　Bo；　an'　I'll　have　to
ride　to　catch　her。〃

Dale　spurred　down　the　slope。　　Helen　rode　in　his　tracks　and；
though　she　plunged　so　fast　that　she　felt　her　hair　stand　up
with　fright；　she　saw　him　draw　away　from　her。　　Sometimes　her
horse　slid　on　his　haunches　for　a　few　yards；　and　at　these
hazardous　moments　she　got　her　feet　out　of　the　stirrups　so　as
to　fall　free　from　him　if　he　went　down。　　She　let　him　choose
the　way；　while　she　gazed　ahead　at　Dale；　and　then　farther　on；
in　the　hope　of　seeing　Bo。　　At　last　she　was　rewarded。　　Far　Down
the　wooded　bench　she　saw　a　gray　flash　of　the　little　mustang
and　a　bright　glint　of　Bo's　hair。　　Her　heart　swelled。　　Dale
would　soon　overhaul　Bo　and　come　between　her　and　peril。　　And
on　the　instant；　though　Helen　was　unconscious　of　it　then；　a
remarkable　change　came　over　her　spirit。　　Fear　left　her。　　And　a
hot；　exalting；　incomprehensible　something　took　possession　of
her。

She　let　the　horse　run；　and　when　he　had　plunged　to　the　foot
of　that　slope　of　soft　ground　he　broke　out　across　the　open
bench　at　a　pace　that　made　the　wind　bite　Helen's　cheeks　and
roar　in　her　ears。　　She　lost　sight　of　Dale。　　It　gave　her　a
strange；　grim　exultance。　　She　bent　her　eager　gaze　to　find　the
tracks　of　his　horse；　and　she　found　them。　　Also　she　made　out
the　tracks　of　Bo's　mustang　and　the　bear　and　the　hound。　　Her
horse；　scenting　game；　perhaps；　and　afraid　to　be　left　alone；
settled　into　a　fleet　and　powerful　stride；　sailing　over　logs
and　brush。　　That　open　bench　had　looked　short；　but　it　was
long；　and　Helen　rode　down　the　gradual　descent　at　breakneck
speed。　　She　would　not　be　left　behind。　　She　had　awakened　to　a
heedlessness　of　risk。　　Something　burned　steadily　within　her。
A　grim；　hard　anger　of　joy！　　When　she　saw；　far　down　another
open；　gradual　descent；　that　Dale　had　passed　Bo　and　that　Bo
was　riding　the　little　mustang　as　never　before；　then　Helen
flamed　with　a　madness　to　catch　her；　to　beat　her　in　that
wonderful　chase；　to　show　her　and　Dale　what　there　really　was
in　the　depths　of　Helen　Rayner。

Her　ambition　was　to　be　short…lived；　she　divined　from　the　lay
of　the　land　ahead；　but　the　ride　she　lived　then　for　a　flying
mile　was　something　that　would　always　blanch　her　cheeks　and
prick　her　skin　in　remembrance。

The　open　ground　was　only　too　short。　　That　thundering　pace
soon　brought　Helen's　horse　to　the　timber。　　Here　it　took　all
her　strength　to　check　his　headlong　flight　over　deadfalls　and
between　small　jack…pines。　　Helen　lost　sight　of　Bo；　and　she
realized　it　would　take　all　her　wits　to　keep　from　getting
lost。　　She　had　to　follow　the　trail；　and　in　some　places　it　was
hard　to　see　from　horseback。

Besides；　her　horse　was　mettlesome；　thoroughly　aroused；　and
he　wanted　a　free　rein　and　his　own　way。　　Helen　tried　that；
only　to　lose　the　trail　and　to　get　sundry　knocks　from　trees
and　branches。　　She　could　not　hear　the　hound；　nor　Dale。　　The
pines　were　small；　close　together；　and　tough。　　They　were　hard
to　bend。　　Helen　hurt　he