the man of the forest-第34节

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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　her　hands；　scratched　her　face；　barked
her　knees。　　The　horse　formed　a　habit　suddenly　of　deciding　to
go　the　way　he　liked　instead　of　the　way　Helen　guided　him；　and
when　he　plunged　between　saplings　too　close　to　permit　easy
passage　it　was　exceedingly　hard　on　her。　　That　did　not　make
any　difference　to　Helen。　　Once　worked　into　a　frenzy；　her
blood　stayed　at　high　pressure。　　She　did　not　argue　with
herself　about　a　need　of　desperate　hurry。　　Even　a　blow　on　the
head　that　nearly　blinded　her　did　not　in　the　least　retard
her。　　The　horse　could　hardly　be　held；　and　not　at　all　in　the
few　open　places。

At　last　Helen　reached　another　slope。　　Coming　out　upon　canuon
rim；　she　heard　Dale's　clear　call；　far　down；　and　Bo's
answering　peal；　high　and　piercing；　with　its　note　of　exultant
wildness。　　Helen　also　heard　the　bear　and　the　hound　fighting
at　the　bottom　of　this　canuon。

Here　Helen　again　missed　the　tracks　made　by　Dale　and　Bo。　　The
descent　looked　impassable。　　She　rode　back　along　the　rim；　then
forward。　　Finally　she　found　where　the　ground　had　been　plowed
deep　by　hoofs；　down　over　little　banks。　　Helen's　horse　balked
at　these　jumps。　　When　she　goaded　him　over　them　she　went
forward　on　his　neck。　　It　seemed　like　riding　straight
downhill。　　The　mad　spirit　of　that　chase　grew　more　stingingly
keen　to　Helen　as　the　obstacles　grew。　　Then；　once　more　the　bay
of　the　hound　and　the　bawl　of　the　bear　made　a　demon　of　her
horse。　　He　snorted　a　shrill　defiance。　　He　plunged　with　fore
hoofs　in　the　air。　　He　slid　and　broke　a　way　down　the　steep；
soft　banks；　through　the　thick　brush　and　thick　clusters　of
saplings；　sending　loose　rocks　and　earth　into　avalanches
ahead　of　him。　　He　fell　over　one　bank；　but　a　thicket　of　aspens
upheld　him　so　that　he　rebounded　and　gained　his　feet。　　The
sounds　of　fight　ceased；　but　Dale's　thrilling　call　floated　up
on　the　pine…scented　air。

Before　Helen　realized　it　she　was　at　the　foot　of　the　slope；
in　a　narrow　canuon…bed；　full　of　rocks　and　trees；　with　a　soft
roar　of　running　water　filling　her　ears。　　Tracks　were
everywhere；　and　when　she　came　to　the　first　open　place　she
saw　where　the　grizzly　had　plunged　off　a　sandy　bar　into　the
water。　　Here　he　had　fought　Pedro。　　Signs　of　that　battle　were
easy　to　read。　　Helen　saw　where　his　huge　tracks；　still　wet；
led　up　the　opposite　sandy　bank。

Then　down…stream　Helen　did　some　more　reckless　and　splendid
riding。　　On　level　ground　the　horse　was　great。　　Once　he　leaped
clear　across　the　brook。　　Every　plunge；　every　turn　Helen
expected　to　come　upon　Dale　and　Bo　facing　the　bear。　　The　canuon
narrowed；　the　stream…bed　deepened。　　She　had　to　slow　down　to
get　through　the　trees　and　rocks。　　Quite　unexpectedly　she　rode
pell…mell　upon　Dale　and　Bo　and　the　panting　Pedro。　　Her　horse
plunged　to　a　halt；　answering　the　shrill　neighs　of　the　other
horses。

Dale　gazed　in　admiring　amazement　at　Helen。

〃Say；　did　you　meet　the　bear　again？〃　he　queried；　blankly。

〃No。　　Didn't　　you　　kill　him？〃　panted　Helen；　slowly
sagging　in　her　saddle。

〃He　got　away　in　the　rocks。　　Rough　country　down　here。

Helen　slid　off　her　horse　and　fell　with　a　little　panting　cry
of　relief。　　She　saw　that　she　was　bloody；　dirty；　disheveled；
and　wringing　wet　with　perspiration。　　Her　riding　habit　was
torn　into　tatters。　　Every　muscle　seemed　to　burn　and　sting；
and　all　her　bones　seemed　broken。　　But　it　was　worth　all　this
to　meet　Dale's　penetrating　glance；　to　see　Bo's　utter；
incredulous　astonishment。

〃Nell　　Rayner！〃　gasped　Bo。

〃If　　my　horse　'd　been　　any　good　　in　the　woods；〃　panted
Helen；　〃I'd　not　lost　　so　much　time　　riding　down　this
mountain。　　And　I'd　caught　you　　beat　you。〃

〃Girl；　did　you　RIDE　down　this　last　slope？〃　queried　Dale。

〃I　sure　did；〃　replied　Helen；　smiling。

〃We　walked　every　step　of　the　way；　and　was　lucky　to　get　down
at　that；〃　responded　Dale；　gravely。　　〃No　horse　should　have
been　ridden　down　there。　　Why；　he　must　have　slid　down。〃

〃We　slid　　yes。　　But　I　stayed　on　him。〃

Bo's　incredulity　changed　to　wondering；　speechless
admiration。　　And　Dale's　rare　smile　changed　his　gravity。

〃I'm　sorry。　　It　was　rash　of　me。　　I　thought　you'd　go　back。　。　。
。　　But　all's　well　that　ends　well。　。　。　。　　Helen；　did　you　wake
up　to…day？〃

She　dropped　her　eyes；　not　caring　to　meet　the　questioning
gaze　upon　her。

〃Maybe　　a　little；〃　she　replied；　and　she　covered　her　face
with　her　hands。　　Remembrance　of　his　questions　　of　his
assurance　that　she　did　not　know　the　real　meaning　of　life　
of　her　stubborn　antagonism　　made　her　somehow　ashamed。　　But
it　was　not　for　long。

〃The　chase　was　great；〃　she　said。　　〃I　did　not　know　myself。　　You
were　right。〃

〃In　how　many　ways　did　you　find　me　right？〃　he　asked。

〃I　think　all　　but　one；〃　she　replied；　with　a　laugh　and　a
shudder。　　〃I'm　near　starved　NOW　　I　was　so　furious　at　Bo
that　I　could　have　choked　her。　　I　faced　that　horrible　brute。　。
。　。　　Oh；　I　know　what　it　is　to　fear　death！　　。　。　。　　I　was　lost
twice　on　the　ride　　absolutely　lost。　　That's　all。〃

Bo　found　her　tongue。　　〃The　last　thing　was　for　you　to　fall
wildly　in　love；　wasn't　it？〃

〃According　to　Dale；　I　must　add　that　to　my　new　experiences　of
to…day　　before　I　can　know　real　life；〃　replied　Helen；
demurely。

The　hunter　turned　away。　　〃Let　us　go；〃　he　said；　soberly。



CHAPTER　XIII

After　more　days　of　riding　the　grassy　level　of　that
wonderfully　gold　and　purple　park；　and　dreamily　listening　by
day　to　the　ever…low　and　ever…changing　murmur　of　the
waterfall；　and　by　night　to　the　wild；　lonely　mourn　of　a
hunting　wolf；　and　climbing　to　the　dizzy　heights　where　the
wind　stung　sweetly；　Helen　Rayner　lost　track　of　time　and
forgot　her　peril。

Roy　Beeman　did　not　return。　　If　occasionally　Dale　mentioned
Roy　and　his　quest；　the　girls　had　little　to　say　beyond　a
recurrent　anxiety　for　the　old　uncle；　and　then　they　forgot
again。　　Paradise　Park；　lived　in　a　little　while　at　that　season
of　the　year；　would　have　claimed　any　one；　and　ever　afterward
haunted　sleeping　or　waking　dreams。

Bo　gave　up　to　the　wild　life；　to　the　horses　and　rides；　to　the
many　pets；　and　especially　to　the　cougar；　Tom。　　The　big　cat
followed　her　everywhere；　played　with　her；　rolling　and
pawing；　kitten…like；　and　he　would　lay　his　massive　head　in
her　lap　to　purr　his　content。　　Bo　had　little　fear　of　anything；
and　here　in　the　wilds　she　soon　lost　that。

Another　of　Dale's　pets　was　a　half…grown　black　bear　named
Muss。　　He　was　abnormally　jealous　of　little　Bud　and　he　had　a
well…developed　hatred　of　Tom；　otherwise　he　was　a　very
good…tempered　bear；　and　enjoyed　Dale's　impartial　regard。
Tom；　however；　chased　Muss　out　of　camp　whenever　Dale's　back
was　turned；　and　sometimes　Muss　stayed　away；　shifting　for
himself。　　With　the　advent　of　Bo；　who　spent　a　good　deal　of
time　on　the　animals；　Muss　manifestly　found　the　camp　more
attractive。　　Whereupon；　Dale　predicted　trouble　between　Tom
and　Muss。

Bo　liked　nothing　better　than　a　rough…and…tumble　frolic　with
the　black　bear。　　Muss　was　not　very　big　nor　very　heavy；　and　in
a　wrestling　bout　with　the　strong　and　wiry　girl　he　sometimes
came　out　second　best。　　It　spoke　well　of　him　that　he　seemed　to
be　careful　not　to　hurt　Bo。　　He　never　bit　or　scratched；　though
he　sometimes　gave　her　sounding　slaps　with　his　paws。
Whereupon；　Bo　would　clench　her　gauntleted　fists　and　sail
into　him　in　earnest。

One　afternoon　before　the　early　supper　they　always　had；　Dale
and　Helen　were　watching　Bo　teasing　the　bear。　　She　was　in　her
most　vixenish　mood；　full　of　life　and　fight。　　Tom　lay　his　long
length　on　the　grass；　watching　with　narrow；　gleaming　eyes。

When　Bo　and　Muss　locked　in　an　embrace　and　went　down　to　roll
over　and　over；　Dale　called　Helen's　attention　to　the　cougar。

〃Tom's　jealous。　　It's　strange　how　animals　are　like　people。
Pretty　soon　I'll　have　to　corral　Muss；　or　there'll　be　a
fight。〃

Helen　could　not　see　anything　wrong　with　Tom　except　that　he
did　not　look　playful。

During　supper…time　both　bear　and　cougar　disappeared；　though
this　was　not　remarked　until　afterward。　　Dale　whistled　and
called；　but　the　rival　pets　did　not　return。　　Next　morning　Tom
was　there；　curled　up　snugly　at　the　foot　of　Bo's　bed；　and
when　she　arose　he　followed　her　around　as　usual。　　But　Muss　did
not　return。

The　circumstance　made　Dale　anxious。　　He　left　camp；　taking　Tom
with　him；　and　upon　returning　stated　that　he　had　followed
Muss's　track　as　far　as　possible；　and　then　had　tried　to　put
Tom　on　the　trail；　but　the　cougar　would　not　or　could　not
follow　it。　　Dale　said　Tom　never　liked　a　bear　trail；　anyway；
cougars　and　bears　being　common　enemies。　　So；　whether　by
accident　or　design；　Bo　lost　one　of　her　playmates。

The　hunter　searched　some　of　the　slopes　next　day　and　even
went　up　on　one　of　the　mountains。　　He　did　not　discover　any
sign　of　Muss；　but　he　said　he　had　found　something　else。

〃Bo　you　girls　want　some　more　real　excitement？〃　he　asked。

Helen　smiled　her　acquiescence　and　Bo　replied　with　one　of　her
forceful　speeches。

〃Don't　mind　bein'　good　an'　scared？〃　he　went　on。

〃You　can't　scare　me；〃　bantered　Bo。　　But　Helen　looked
doubtful。

〃Up　in　one　of　the　parks　I　ran　across　one　of　my　horses　　a
lame　bay　you　haven't　seen。　　Well；　he　had　been　killed　by　that
old　silvertip。　　The　one