the man of the forest-第4节

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〃Why？　　I　declare；　Milt；　you　live　so　in　the　woods　you're　like
a　boy　of　ten　　an'　then　sometimes　as　old　as　the　hills。　。　。
。There's　no　young　man　to　compare　with　you；　hereabouts。　　An'
this　girl　　she'll　have　all　the　spunk　of　the
Auchinclosses。〃

〃Then　maybe　she'd　not　be　such　a　catch；　after　all；〃　replied
Dale。

〃Wal；　you've　no　cause　to　love　them；　that's　sure。　　But；　Milt；
the　Auchincloss　women　are　always　good　wives。〃

〃Dear　Auntie；　you're　dreamin'；〃　said　Dale；　soberly。　　〃I　want
no　wife。　　I'm　happy　in　the　woods。〃

〃Air　you　goin'　to　live　like　an　Injun　all　your　days；　Milt
Dale？〃　she　queried；　sharply。

〃I　hope　so。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　ashamed。　　But　some　lass　will　change　you；
boy；　an'　mebbe　it'll　be　this　Helen　Rayner。　　I　hope　an'　pray
so　to　thet。〃

〃Auntie；　supposin'　she　did　change　me。　　She'd　never　change　old
Al。　　He　hates　me；　you　know。〃

〃Wal；　I　ain't　so　sure；　Milt。　　I　met　Al　the　other　day。　　He
inquired　for　you；　an'　said　you　was　wild；　but　he　reckoned　men
like　you　was　good　for　pioneer　settlements。　　Lord　knows　the
good　turns　you've　done　this　village！　　Milt；　old　Al　doesn't
approve　of　your　wild　life；　but　he　never　had　no　hard　feelin's
till　thet　tame　lion　of　yours　killed　so　many　of　his　sheep。〃

〃Auntie；　I　don't　believe　Tom　ever　killed　Al's　sheep；〃
declared　Dale；　positively。

〃Wal；　Al　thinks　so；　an'　many　other　people；〃　replied　Mrs。
Cass；　shaking　her　gray　head　doubtfully。　　〃You　never　swore　he
didn't。　　An'　there　was　them　two　sheep…herders　who　did　swear
they　seen　him。〃

〃They　only　saw　a　cougar。　　An'　they　were　so　scared　they　ran。〃

〃Who　wouldn't？　　Thet　big　beast　is　enough　to　scare　any　one。
For　land's　sakes；　don't　ever　fetch　him　down　here　again！　　I'll
never　forgit　the　time　you　did。　　All　the　folks　an'　children
an'　hosses　in　Pine　broke　an'　run　thet　day。〃

〃Yes；　but　Tom　wasn't　to　blame。　　Auntie；　he's　the　tamest　of　my
pets。　　Didn't　he　try　to　put　his　head　on　your　lap　an'　lick
your　hand？〃

〃Wal；　Milt；　I　ain't　gainsayin'　your　cougar　pet　didn't　act
better　'n　a　lot　of　people　I　know。　　Fer　he　did。　　But　the　looks
of　him　an'　what's　been　said　was　enough　for　me。〃

〃An'　what's　all　that；　Auntie？〃

〃They　say　he's　wild　when　out　of　your　sight。　　An'　thet　he'd
trail　an'　kill　anythin'　you　put　him　after。〃

〃I　trained　him　to　be　just　that　way。〃

〃Wal；　leave　Tom　to　home　up　in　the　woods…when　you　visit　us。〃

Dale　finished　his　hearty　meal；　and　listened　awhile　longer　to
the　old　woman's　talk；　then；　taking　his　rifle　and　the　other
turkey；　he　bade　her　good…by。　　She　followed　him　out。

〃Now；　Milt；　you'll　come　soon　again；　won't　you　　jest　to　see
Al's　niece　　who'll　be　here　in　a　week？〃

〃I　reckon　I'll　drop　in　some　day。　。　。　。　　Auntie；　have　you　seen
my　friends；　the　Mormon　boys？〃

〃No；　I　'ain't　seen　them　an'　don't　want　to；〃　she　retorted。
〃Milt　Dale；　if　any　one　ever　corrals　you　it'll　be　Mormons。〃

〃Don't　worry；　Auntie。　　I　like　those　boys。　　They　often　see　me
up　in　the　woods　an'　ask　me　to　help　them　track　a　hoss　or　help
kill　some　fresh　meat。〃

〃They're　workin'　for　Beasley　now。〃

〃Is　that　so？〃　rejoined　Dale；　with　a　sudden　start。　　〃An'　what
doin'？〃

〃Beasley　is　gettin'　so　rich　he's　buildin'　a　fence；　an'
didn't　have　enough　help；　so　I　hear。〃

〃Beasley　gettin'　rich！〃　repeated　Dale；　thoughtfully。　　〃More
sheep　an'　horses　an'　cattle　than　ever；　I　reckon？〃

〃Laws…a'…me！　　Why；　Milt；　Beasley　'ain't　any　idea　what　he
owns。　　Yes；　he's　the　biggest　man　in　these　parts；　since　poor
old　Al's　took　to　failin'。　　I　reckon　Al's　health　ain't　none
improved　by　Beasley's　success。　　They've　bad　some　bitter
quarrels　lately　　so　I　hear。　　Al　ain't　what　he　was。〃

Dale　bade　good…by　again　to　his　old　friend　and　strode　away；
thoughtful　and　serious。　　Beasley　would　not　only　be　difficult
to　circumvent；　but　he　would　be　dangerous　to　oppose。　　There
did　not　appear　much　doubt　of　his　driving　his　way　rough…shod
to　the　dominance　of　affairs　there　in　Pine。　　Dale；　passing
down　the　road；　began　to　meet　acquaintances　who　had　hearty
welcome　for　his　presence　and　interest　in　his　doings；　so　that
his　pondering　was　interrupted　for　the　time　being。　　He　carried
the　turkey　to　another　old　friend；　and　when　he　left　her　house
he　went　on　to　the　village　store。　　This　was　a　large　log　cabin；
roughly　covered　with　clapboards；　with　a　wide　plank　platform
in　front　and　a　hitching…rail　in　the　road。　　Several　horses
were　standing　there；　and　a　group　of　lazy；　shirt…sleeved
loungers。

〃I'll　be　doggoned　if　it　ain't　Milt　Dale！〃　exclaimed　one。

〃Howdy；　Milt；　old　buckskin！　　Right　down　glad　to　see　you；〃
greeted　another。

〃Hello；　Dale！　　You　air　shore　good　for　sore　eyes；〃　drawled
still　another。

After　a　long　period　of　absence　Dale　always　experienced　a
singular　warmth　of　feeling　when　he　met　these　acquaintances。
It　faded　quickly　when　he　got　back　to　the　intimacy　of　his
woodland；　and　that　was　because　the　people　of　Pine；　with　few
exceptions　　though　they　liked　him　and　greatly　admired　his
outdoor　wisdom　　regarded　him　as　a　sort　of　nonentity。
Because　he　loved　the　wild　and　preferred　it　to　village　and
range　life；　they　had　classed　him　as　not　one　of　them。　　Some
believed　him　lazy；　others　believed　him　shiftless；　others
thought　him　an　Indian　in　mind　and　habits；　and　there　were
many　who　called　him　slow…witted。　　Then　there　was　another　side
to　their　regard　for　him；　which　always　afforded　him
good…natured　amusement。　　Two　of　this　group　asked　him　to　bring
in　some　turkey　or　venison；　another　wanted　to　hunt　with　him。
Lem　Harden　came　out　of　the　store　and　appealed　to　Dale　to
recover　his　stolen　horse。　　Lem's　brother　wanted　a
wild…running　mare　tracked　and　brought　home。　　Jesse　Lyons
wanted　a　colt　broken；　and　broken　with　patience；　not
violence；　as　was　the　method　of　the　hard…riding　boys　at　Pine。
So　one　and　all　they　besieged　Dale　with　their　selfish　needs；
all　unconscious　of　the　flattering　nature　of　these　overtures。
And　on　the　moment　there　happened　by　two　women　whose　remarks；
as　they　entered　the　store；　bore　strong　testimony　to　Dale's
personality。

〃If　there　ain't　Milt　Dale！〃　exclaimed　the　older　of　the　two。
〃How　lucky！　　My　cow's　sick；　an'　the　men　are　no　good
doctorin'。　　I'll　jest　ask　Milt　over。〃

〃No　one　like　Milt！〃　responded　the　other　woman；　heartily。

〃Good　day　there　　you　Milt　Dale！〃　called　the　first　speaker。
〃When　you　git　away　from　these　lazy　men　come　over。〃

Dale　never　refused　a　service；　and　that　was　why　his
infrequent　visits　to　Pine　were　wont　to　be　prolonged　beyond
his　own　pleasure。

Presently　Beasley　strode　down　the　street；　and　when　about　to
enter　the　store　he　espied　Dale。

〃Hullo　there；　Milt！〃　he　called；　cordially；　as　he　came
forward　with　extended　hand。　　His　greeting　was　sincere；　but
the　lightning　glance　he　shot　over　Dale　was　not　born　of　his
pleasure。　　Seen　in　daylight；　Beasley　was　a　big；　bold；　bluff
man；　with　strong；　dark　features。　　His　aggressive　presence
suggested　that　he　was　a　good　friend　and　a　bad　enemy。

Dale　shook　hands　with　him。

〃How　are　you；　Beasley？〃

〃Ain't　complainin'；　Milt；　though　I　got　more　work　than　I　can
rustle。　　Reckon　you　wouldn't　take　a　job　bossin'　my
sheep…herders？〃

〃Reckon　I　wouldn't；〃　replied　Dale。　　〃Thanks　all　the　same。〃

〃What's　goin'　on　up　in　the　woods？〃

〃Plenty　of　turkey　an'　deer。　　Lots　of　bear；　too。　　The　Indians
have　worked　back　on　the　south　side　early　this　fall。　　But　I
reckon　winter　will　come　late　an'　be　mild。〃

〃Good！　　An'　where　're　you　headin'　from？〃

〃'Cross…country　from　my　camp；〃　replied　Dale；　rather
evasively。

〃Your　camp！　　Nobody　ever　found　that　yet；〃　declared　Beasley；
gruffly。

〃It's　up　there；〃　said　Dale。

〃Reckon　you've　got　that　cougar　chained　in　your　cabin　door？〃
queried　Beasley；　and　there　was　a　barely　distinguishable
shudder　of　his　muscular　frame。　　Also　the　pupils　dilated　in
his　hard　brown　eyes。

〃Tom　ain't　chained。　　An'　I　haven't　no　cabin；　Beasley。〃

〃You　mean　to　tell　me　that　big　brute　stays　in　your　camp
without　bein'　hog…tied　or　corralled！〃　demanded　Beasley。

〃Sure　he　does。〃

〃Beats　me！　　But；　then；　I'm　queer　on　cougars。　　Have　had　many　a
cougar　trail　me　at　night。　　Ain't　sayin'　I　was　scared。　　But　I
don't　care　for　that　brand　of　varmint。　。　。　。　　Milt；　you　goin'
to　stay　down　awhile？〃

〃Yes；　I'll　hang　around　some。〃

〃Come　over　to　the　ranch。　　Glad　to　see　you　any　time。　　Some　old
huntin'　pards　of　yours　are　workin'　for　me。〃

〃Thanks；　Beasley。　　I　reckon　I'll　come　over。〃

Beasley　turned　away　and　took　a　step；　and　then；　as　if　with　an
after…thought；　he　wheeled　again。

〃Suppose　you've　heard　about　old　Al　Auchincloss　bein'　near
petered　out？〃　queried　Beasley。　　A　strong；　ponderous　cast　of
thought　seemed　to　emanate　from　his　features。　　Dale　divined
that　Beasley's　next　step　would　be　to　further　his　advancement
by　some　word　or　hint。

〃Widow　Cass　was　tellin'　me　all　the　news。　　Too　bad　about　old
Al；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Sure　is。　　He's　done　for。　　An'　I'm　sorry　　though　Al's　never
been　square　〃

〃Beasley；〃　interrupted　Dale；　quickly；　〃you　can't　say　that　to
me。　　Al　Auchincloss　always　was　the　whitest　an'　squarest　man
in　this　sheep　country。〃

Beasley　gave　Dale　a　fleeting；　dark　glance。

〃Dale；　what　you　think　ain't　goin'　to　influence　feelin'　on
this　range；〃　returned　Beasley；　deliberately。　　〃You　live　in
the　woods　an'　〃

〃Reckon　livin'　in　the　woods　I　might　think　　an'　know　a
whole　lot；〃　inter