the man of the forest-第47节

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She　panted　a　little　and　her　bosom　heaved。　　One　of　her
gauntlets　was　gone；　and　the　bare　band；　that　was　bruised　and
bloody；　trembled　as　she　held　it　out。

〃Dear；　tell　us　　are　you　badly　hurt？〃　queried　Helen；　with
hurried　gentleness。

〃Not　much。　　I've　had　a　spill；〃　replied　Bo。　　〃But　oh！　　I'm　mad
　I'm　boiling！〃

She　looked　as　if　she　might　have　exaggerated　her　doubt　of
injuries；　but　certainly　she　had　not　overestimated　her　state
of　mind。　　Any　blaze　Helen　had　heretofore　seen　in　those　quick
eyes　was　tame　compared　to　this　one。　　It　actually　leaped。　　Bo
was　more　than　pretty　then。　　Manifestly　Roy　was　admiring　her
looks；　but　Carmichael　saw　beyond　her　charm。　　And　slowly　he
was　growing　pale。

〃I　rode　out　the　south　range　　as　I　was　told；〃　began　Bo；
breathing　hard　and　trying　to　control　her　feelings。　　〃That's
the　ride　you　usually　take；　Nell；　and　you　bet　　if　you'd
taken　it　to…day　　you'd　not　be　here　now。　。　。　。　　About　three
miles　out　I　climbed　off　the　range　up　that　cedar　slope。　　I
always　keep　to　high　ground。　　When　I　got　up　I　saw　two　horsemen
ride　out　of　some　broken　rocks　off　to　the　east。　　They　rode　as
if　to　come　between　me　and　home。　　I　didn't　like　that。　　I
circled　south。　　About　a　mile　farther　on　I　spied　another
horseman　and　he　showed　up　directly　in　front　of　me　and　came
along　slow。　　That　I　liked　still　less。　　It　might　have　been
accident；　but　it　looked　to　me　as　if　those　riders　had　some
intent。　　All　I　could　do　was　head　off　to　the　southeast　and
ride。　　You　bet　I　did　ride。　　But　I　got　into　rough　ground　where
I'd　never　been　before。　　It　was　slow　going。　　At　last　I　made　the
cedars　and　here　I　cut　loose；　believing　I　could　circle　ahead
of　those　strange　riders　and　come　round　through　Pine。　　I　had
it　wrong。〃

Here　she　hesitated；　perhaps　for　breath；　for　she　had　spoken
rapidly；　or　perhaps　to　get　better　hold　on　her　subject。　　Not
improbably　the　effect　she　was　creating　on　her　listeners
began　to　be　significant。　　Roy　sat　absorbed；　perfectly
motionless；　eyes　keen　as　steel；　his　mouth　open。　　Carmichael
was　gazing　over　Bo's　head；　out　of　the　window；　and　it　seemed
that　he　must　know　the　rest　of　her　narrative。　　Helen　knew　that
her　own　wide…eyed　attention　alone　would　have　been
all…compelling　inspiration　to　Bo　Rayner。

〃Sure　I　had　it　wrong；〃　resumed　Bo。　　〃Pretty　soon　heard　a
horse　behind。　　I　looked　back。　　I　saw　a　big　bay　riding　down　on
me。　　Oh；　but　he　was　running！　　He　just　tore　through　the　cedars。
。　。　。　　I　was　scared　half　out　of　my　senses。　　But　I　spurred　and
beat　my　mustang。　　Then　began　a　race！　　Rough　going　　thick
cedars　　washes　and　gullies　I　had　to　make　him　run　　to
keep　my　saddle　　to　pick　my　way。　　Oh…h…h！　　but　it　was
glorious！　　To　race　for　fun　　that's　one　thing；　to　race　for
your　life　is　another！　　My　heart　was　in　my　mouth　　choking
me。　　I　couldn't　have　yelled。　　I　was　as　cold　as　ice　　dizzy
sometimes　　blind　others　　then　my　stomach　turned　　and　I
couldn't　get　my　breath。　　Yet　the　wild　thrills　I　had！　　。　。　。
But　I　stuck　on　and　held　my　own　for　several　miles　　to　the
edge　of　the　cedars。　　There　the　big　horse　gained　on　me。　　He
came　pounding　closer　　perhaps　as　close　as　a　hundred　yards
　I　could　hear　him　plain　enough。　　Then　I　had　my　spill。　　Oh；
my　mustang　tripped　　threw　me　'way　over　his　head。　　I　hit
light；　but　slid　far　　and　that's　what　scraped　me　so。　　I　know
my　knee　is　raw。　。　。　。　　When　I　got　to　my　feet　the　big　horse
dashed　up；　throwing　gravel　all　over　me　　and　his　rider
jumped　off。　。　。　。　　Now　who　do　you　think　he　was？〃

Helen　knew；　but　she　did　not　voice　her　conviction。　　Carmichael
knew　positively；　yet　he　kept　silent。　　Roy　was　smiling；　as　if
the　narrative　told　did　not　seem　so　alarming　to　him。

〃Wal；　the　fact　of　you　bein'　here；　safe　an'　sound；　sorta
makes　no　difference　who　thet　son…of…a…gun　was；〃　he　said。

〃Riggs！　　Harve　Riggs！〃　blazed　Bo。　　〃The　instant　I　recognized
him　I　got　over　my　scare。　　And　so　mad　I　burned　all　through
like　fire。　　I　don't　know　what　I　said；　but　it　was　wild　　and
it　was　a　whole　lot；　you　bet。

〃You　sure　can　ride；'　he　said。

〃I　demanded　why　he　had　dared　to　chase　me；　and　he　said　he　had
an　important　message　for　Nell。　　This　was　it：　'Tell　your
sister　that　Beasley　means　to　put　her　off　an'　take　the　ranch。
If　she'll　marry　me　I'll　block　his　deal。　　If　she　won't　marry
me；　I'll　go　in　with　Beasley。'　Then　he　told　me　to　hurry　home
and　not　to　breathe　a　word　to　any　one　except　Nell。　　Well；　here
I　am　　and　I　seem　to　have　been　breathing　rather　fast。〃

She　looked　from　Helen　to　Roy　and　from　Roy　to　Las　Vegas。　　Her
smile　was　for　the　latter；　and　to　any　one　not　overexcited　by
her　story　that　smile　would　have　told　volumes。

〃Wal；　I'll　be　doggoned！〃　ejaculated　Roy；　feelingly。

Helen　laughed。

〃Indeed；　the　working　of　that　man's　mind　is　beyond　me。　。　。　。
Marry　him　to　save　my　ranch？　　I　wouldn't　marry　him　to　save　my
life！

Carmichael　suddenly　broke　his　silence。

〃Bo；　did　you　see　the　other　men？〃

〃Yes。　　I　was　coming　to　that；〃　she　replied。　　〃I　caught　a
glimpse　of　them　back　in　the　cedars。　　The　three　were　together；
or；　at　least；　three　horsemen　were　there。　　They　had　halted
behind　some　trees。　　Then　on　the　way　home　I　began　to　think。
Even　in　my　fury　I　had　received　impressions。　　Riggs　was
SURPRISED　when　I　got　up。　　I'll　bet　he　had　not　expected　me　to
be　who　I　was。　　He　thought　I　was　NELL！　　。　。　。　　I　look　bigger　in
this　buckskin　outfit。　　My　hair　was　up　till　I　lost　my　hat；　and
that　was　when　I　had　the　tumble。　　He　took　me　for　Nell。　　Another
thing；　I　remember　　he　made　some　sign　　some　motion　while
I　was　calling　him　names；　and　I　believe　that　was　to　keep
those　other　men　back。　。　。　。　　I　believe　Riggs　had　a　plan　with
those　other　men　to　waylay　Nell　and　make　off　with　her。　　I
absolutely　know　it。〃

〃Bo；　you're　so　　so　　you　jump　at　wild　ideas　so；〃
protested　Helen；　trying　to　believe　in　her　own　assurance。　　But
inwardly　she　was　trembling。

〃Miss　Helen；　that　ain't　a　wild　idee；〃　said　Roy；　seriously。
〃I　reckon　your　sister　is　pretty　close　on　the　trail。　　Las
Vegas；　don't　you　savvy　it　thet　way？〃

Carmichael's　answer　was　to　stalk　out　of　the　room。

〃Call　him　back！〃　cried　Helen；　apprehensively。

〃Hold　on；　boy！〃　called　Roy；　sharply。

Helen　reached　the　door　simultaneously　with　Roy。　　The　cowboy
picked　up　his　sombrero；　jammed　it　on　his　head；　gave　his　belt
a　vicious　hitch　that　made　the　gun…sheath　jump；　and　then　in
one　giant　step　he　was　astride　Ranger。

〃Carmichael！　　Stay！〃　cried　Helen。

The　cowboy　spurred　the　black；　and　the　stones　rang　under
iron…shod　hoofs。

〃Bo！　　Call　him　back！　　Please　call　him　back！〃　importuned　Helen；
in　distress。

〃I　won't；〃　declared　Bo　Rayner。　　Her　face　shone　whiter　now　and
her　eyes　were　like　fiery　flint。　　That　was　her　answer　to　a
loving；　gentle…hearted　sister；　that　was　her　answer　to　the
call　of　the　West。

〃No　use；〃　said　Roy；　quietly。　　〃An'　I　reckon　I'd　better　trail
him　up。〃

He；　too；　strode　out　and；　mounting　his　horse；　galloped
swiftly　away。


It　turned　out　that　Bo；　was　more　bruised　and　scraped　and
shaken　than　she　had　imagined。　　One　knee　was　rather　badly　cut；
which　injury　alone　would　have　kept　her　from　riding　again
very　soon。　　Helen；　who　was　somewhat　skilled　at　bandaging
wounds；　worried　a　great　deal　over　these　sundry　blotches　on
Bo's　fair　skin；　and　it　took　considerable　time　to　wash　and
dress　them。　　Long　after　this　was　done；　and　during　the　early
supper；　and　afterward；　Bo's　excitement　remained　unabated。
The　whiteness　stayed　on　her　face　and　the　blaze　in　her　eyes。
Helen　ordered　and　begged　her　to　go　to　bed；　for　the　fact　was
Bo　could　not　stand　up　and　her　hands　shook。

〃Go　to　bed？　　Not　much；〃　she　said。　　〃I　want　to　know　what　he
does　to　Riggs。〃

It　was　that　possibility　which　had　Helen　in　dreadful
suspense。　　If　Carmichael　killed　Riggs；　it　seemed　to　Helen
that　the　bottom　would　drop　out　of　this　structure　of　Western
life　she　had　begun　to　build　so　earnestly　and　fearfully。　　She
did　not　believe　that　he　would　do　so。　　But　the　uncertainty　was
torturing。

〃Dear　Bo；〃　appealed　Helen；　〃you　don't　want　　Oh！　　you　do
want　Carmichael　to　　to　kill　Riggs？〃

〃No；　I　don't；　but　I　wouldn't　care　if　he　did；〃　replied　Bo；
bluntly。

〃Do　you　think　　he　will？〃

〃Nell；　if　that　cowboy　really　loves　me　he　read　my　mind　right
here　before　he　left；〃　declared　Bo。　　〃And　he　knew　what　I
thought　he'd　do。〃

〃And　what's　　that？〃　faltered　Helen。

〃I　want　him　to　round　Riggs　up　down　in　the　village　
somewhere　in　a　crowd。　　I　want　Riggs　shown　up　as　the　coward；
braggart；　four…flush　that　he　is。　　And　insulted；　slapped；
kicked　　driven　out　of　Pine！〃

Her　passionate　speech　still　rang　throughout　the　room　when
there　came　footsteps　on　the　porch。　　Helen　hurried　to　raise
the　bar　from　the　door　and　open　it　just　as　a　tap　sounded　on
the　door…post。　　Roy's　face　stood　white　out　of　the　darkness。
His　eyes　were　bright。　　And　his　smile　made　Helen's　fearful
query　needless。

〃How　are　you…all　this　evenin'？〃　he　drawled；　as　he　came　in。

A　fire　blazed　on　the　hearth　and　a　lamp　burned　on　the　table。
By　their　light　Bo　looked　white　and　eager…eyed　as　she
reclined　in　the　big　arm…chair。

〃What　'd　he　do？〃　she　asked；　with　all　her　amazing　force。

〃Wal；　now；　ain't　you　goin'　to　tell　me　how　you　are？〃

〃Roy；　I'm　all　bunged　up。　　I　ought　to　be　in　bed；　but　I　just
couldn't　sleep　till　I　hear　what　Las　Vegas　did。　　I'd　forgive
anything　except　him　gettin