the man of the forest-第36节

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Helen；　and　breathing　quick　and　fast。

〃A…huh！〃　muttered　Dale；　under　his　breath。

Helen　caught　the　relief　and　certainty　in　his　exclamation；
and　she　divined；　then；　something　of　what　the　moment　must
have　been　to　a　hunter。

Then　her　roving；　alert　glance　was　arrested　by　a　looming　gray
shadow　coming　out　of　the　forest。　　It　moved；　but　surely　that
huge　thing　could　not　be　a　bear。　　It　passed　out　of　gloom　into
silver　moonlight。　　Helen's　heart　bounded。　　For　it　was　a　great
frosty…coated　bear　lumbering　along　toward　the　dead　horse。
Instinctively　Helen's　hand　sought　the　arm　of　the　hunter。　　It
felt　like　iron　under　a　rippling　surface。　　The　touch　eased
away　the　oppression　over　her　lungs；　the　tightness　of　her
throat。　　What　must　have　been　fear　left　her；　and　only　a
powerful　excitement　remained。　　A　sharp　expulsion　of　breath
from　Bo　and　a　violent　jerk　of　her　frame　were　signs　that　she
had　sighted　the　grizzly。

In　the　moonlight　he　looked　of　immense　size；　and　that　wild
park　with　the　gloomy　blackness　of　forest　furnished　a　fit
setting　for　him。　　Helen's　quick　mind；　so　taken　up　with
emotion；　still　had　a　thought　for　the　wonder　and　the　meaning
of　that　scene。　　She　wanted　the　bear　killed；　yet　that　seemed　a
pity。

He　had　a　wagging；　rolling；　slow　walk　which　took　several
moments　to　reach　his　quarry。　　When　at　length　he　reached　it　he
walked　around　with　sniffs　plainly　heard　and　then　a　cross
growl。　　Evidently　he　had　discovered　that　his　meal　had　been
messed　over。　　As　a　whole　the　big　bear　could　be　seen
distinctly；　but　only　in　outline　and　color。　　The　distance　was
perhaps　two　hundred　yards。　　Then　it　looked　as　if　he　had　begun
to　tug　at　the　carcass。　　Indeed；　he　was　dragging　it；　very
slowly；　but　surely。

〃Look　at　that！〃　whispered　Dale。　　〃If　he　ain't　strong！　　。　。　。
Reckon　I'll　have　to　stop　him。〃

The　grizzly；　however；　stopped　of　his　own　accord；　just
outside　of　the　shadow…line　of　the　forest。　　Then　he　hunched　in
a　big　frosty　heap　over　his　prey　and　began　to　tear　and　rend。

〃Jess　was　a　mighty　good　horse；〃　muttered　Dale；　grimly；　〃too
good　to　make　a　meal　for　a　hog　silvertip。〃

Then　the　hunter　silently　rose　to　a　kneeling　position；
swinging　the　rifle　in　front　of　him。　　He　glanced　up　into　the
low　branches　of　the　tree　overhead。

〃Girls；　there's　no　tellin'　what　a　grizzly　will　do。　　If　I
yell；　you　climb　up　in　this　tree；　an'　do　it　quick。〃

With　that　he　leveled　the　rifle；　resting　his　left　elbow　on
his　knee。　　The　front　end　of　the　rifle；　reaching　out　of　the
shade；　shone　silver　in　the　moonlight。　　Man　and　weapon　became
still　as　stone。　　Helen　held　her　breath。　　But　Dale　relaxed；
lowering　the　barrel。

〃Can't　see　the　sights　very　well；〃　he　whispered；　shaking　his
head。　　〃Remember；　now　　if　I　yell　you　climb！〃

Again　he　aimed　and　slowly　grew　rigid。　　Helen　could　not　take
her　fascinated　eyes　off　him。　　He　knelt；　bareheaded；　and　in
the　shadow　she　could　make　out　the　gleam　of　his　clear…cut
profile；　stern　and　cold。

A　streak　of　fire　and　a　heavy　report　startled　her。　　Then　she
heard　the　bullet　hit。　　Shifting　her　glance；　she　saw　the　bear
lurch　with　convulsive　action；　rearing　on　his　hind　legs。　　Loud
clicking　snaps　must　have　been　a　clashing　of　his　jaws　in
rage。　　But　there　was　no　other　sound。　　Then　again　Dale's　heavy
gun　boomed。　　Helen　heard　again　that　singular　spatting　thud　of
striking　lead。　　The　bear　went　down　with　a　flop　as　if　he　had
been　dealt　a　terrific　blow。　　But　just　as　quickly　he　was　up　on
all…fours　and　began　to　whirl　with　hoarse；　savage　bawls　of
agony　and　fury。　　His　action　quickly　carried　him　out　of　the
moonlight　into　the　shadow；　where　he　disappeared。　　There　the
bawls　gave　place　to　gnashing　snarls；　and　crashings　in　the
brush；　and　snapping　of　branches；　as　he　made　his　way　into　the
forest。

〃Sure　he's　mad；〃　said　Dale；　rising　to　his　feet。　　〃An'　I
reckon　hard　hit。　　But　I　won't　follow　him　to…night。〃

Both　the　girls　got　up；　and　Helen　found　she　was　shaky　on　her
feet　and　very　cold。

〃Oh…h；　wasn't　　it　　won…wonder…ful！〃　cried　Bo。

〃Are　you　scared？　　Your　teeth　are　chatterin'；〃　queried　Dale。

〃I'm　　cold。〃

〃Well；　it　sure　is　cold；　all　right；〃　he　responded。　　〃Now　the
fun's　over；　you'll　feel　it。　。　。　。　　Nell；　you're　froze；　too？〃

Helen　nodded。　　She　was；　indeed；　as　cold　as　she　had　ever　been
before。　　But　that　did　not　prevent　a　strange　warmness　along
her　veins　and　a　quickened　pulse；　the　cause　of　which　she　did
not　conjecture。

〃Let's　rustle；〃　said　Dale；　and　led　the　way　out　of　the　wood
and　skirted　its　edge　around　to　the　slope。　　There　they　climbed
to　the　flat；　and　went　through　the　straggling　line　of　trees
to　where　the　horses　were　tethered。

Up　here　the　wind　began　to　blow；　not　hard　through　the　forest；
but　still　strong　and　steady　out　in　the　open；　and　bitterly
cold。　　Dale　helped　Bo　to　mount；　and　then　Helen。

〃I'm　　numb；〃　she　said。　　〃I'll　fall　off　　sure。〃

〃No。　　You'll　be　warm　in　a　jiffy；〃　he　replied；　〃because　we'll
ride　some　goin'　back。　　Let　Ranger　pick　the　way　an'　you　hang
on。〃

With　Ranger's　first　jump　Helen's　blood　began　to　run。　　Out　he
shot；　his　lean；　dark　head　beside　Dale's　horse。　　The　wild　park
lay　clear　and　bright　in　the　moonlight；　with　strange；　silvery
radiance　on　the　grass。　　The　patches　of　timber；　like　spired
black　islands　in　a　moon…blanched　lake；　seemed　to　harbor
shadows；　and　places　for　bears　to　hide；　ready　to　spring　out。
As　Helen　neared　each　little　grove　her　pulses　shook　and　her
heart　beat。　　Half　a　mile　of　rapid　riding　burned　out　the　cold。
And　all　seemed　glorious　　the　sailing　moon；　white　in　a
dark…blue　sky；　the　white；　passionless　stars；　so　solemn；　so
far　away；　the　beckoning　fringe　of　forest…land　at　once
mysterious　and　friendly；　and　the　fleet　horses；　running　with
soft；　rhythmic　thuds　over　the　grass；　leaping　the　ditches　and
the　hollows；　making　the　bitter　wind　sting　and　cut。　　Coming　up
that　park　the　ride　had　been　long；　going　back　was　as　short　as
it　was　thrilling。　　In　Helen；　experiences　gathered　realization
slowly；　and　it　was　this　swift　ride；　the　horses　neck　and
neck；　and　all　the　wildness　and　beauty；　that　completed　the
slow；　insidious　work　of　years。　　The　tears　of　excitement　froze
on　her　cheeks　and　her　heart　heaved　full。　　All　that　pertained
to　this　night　got　into　her　blood。　　It　was　only　to　feel；　to
live　now；　but　it　could　be　understood　and　remembered　forever
afterward。

Dale's　horse；　a　little　in　advance；　sailed　over　a　ditch。
Ranger　made　a　splendid　leap；　but　he　alighted　among　some
grassy　tufts　and　fell。　　Helen　shot　over　his　head。　　She　struck
lengthwise；　her　arms　stretched；　and　slid　hard　to　a　shocking
impact　that　stunned　her。

Bo's　scream　rang　in　her　ears；　she　felt　the　wet　grass　under
her　face　and　then　the　strong　hands　that　lifted　her。　　Dale
loomed　over　her；　bending　down　to　look　into　her　face；　Bo　was
clutching　her　with　frantic　hands。　　And　Helen　could　only　gasp。
Her　breast　seemed　caved　in。　　The　need　to　breathe　was　torture。

〃Nell！　　　you're　not　hurt。　　You　fell　light；　like　a　feather。
All　grass　here。　。　。　。　　You　can't　be　hurt！〃　said　Dale；
sharply。

His　anxious　voice　penetrated　beyond　her　hearing；　and　his
strong　hands　went　swiftly　over　her　arms　and　shoulders；
feeling　for　broken　bones。

〃Just　had　the　wind　knocked　out　of　you；〃　went　on　Dale。　　It
feels　awful；　but　it's　nothin'。〃

Helen　got　a　little　air；　that　was　like　hot　pin…points　in　her
lungs；　and　then　a　deeper　breath；　and　then　full；　gasping
respiration。

〃I　guess　　I'm　not　hurt　　not　a　bit；〃　she　choked　out。

〃You　sure　had　a　header。　　Never　saw　a　prettier　spill。　　Ranger
doesn't　do　that　often。　　I　reckon　we　were　travelin'　too　fast。
But　it　was　fun；　don't　you　think？〃

It　was　Bo　who　answered。　　〃Oh；　glorious！　　。　。　。　　But；　gee！　　I　was
scared。〃

Dale　still　held　Helen's　hands。　　She　released　them　while
looking　up　at　him。　　The　moment　was　realization　for　her　of
what　for　days　had　been　a　vague；　sweet　uncertainty；　becoming
near　and　strange；　disturbing　and　present。　　This　accident　had
been　a　sudden；　violent　end　to　the　wonderful　ride。　　But　its
effect；　the　knowledge　of　what　had　got　into　her　blood；　would
never　change。　　And　inseparable　from　it　was　this　man　of　the
forest。



CHAPTER　XIV

On　the　next　morning　Helen　was　awakened　by　what　she　imagined
had　been　a　dream　of　some　one　shouting。　　With　a　start　she　sat
up。　　The　sunshine　showed　pink　and　gold　on　the　ragged　spruce
line　of　the　mountain　rims。　　Bo　was　on　her　knees；　braiding　her
hair　with　shaking　hands；　and　at　the　same　time　trying　to　peep
out。

And　the　echoes　of　a　ringing　cry　were　cracking　back　from　the
cliffs。　　That　had　been　Dale's　voice。

〃Nell！　　Nell！　　Wake　up！〃　called　Bo；　wildly。　　〃Oh；　some　one's
come！　　Horses　and　men！〃

Helen　got　to　her　knees　and　peered　out　over　Bo's　shoulder。
Dale；　standing　tall　and　striking　beside　the　campfire；　was
waving　his　sombrero。　　Away　down　the　open　edge　of　the　park
came　a　string　of　pack…burros　with　mounted　men　behind。　　In　the
foremost　rider　Helen　recognized　Roy　Beeman。

〃That　first　one's　Roy！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I'd　never　forget　him
on　a　horse。　。　。　。　　Bo；　it　must　mean　Uncle　Al's　come！〃

〃Sure！　　We're　born　lucky。　　Here　we　are　safe　and　sound　　and
all　this　grand　camp　trip。　。　。　。　　Look　at　the　cowboys。　。　。　。
LOOK！　　Oh；　maybe　this　isn't　great！〃　babbled　Bo。

Dale　wheeled　to　see　the　girls　peeping　out。

〃It's　time　you're　up！〃　he　called。　　〃Your