the man of the forest-第53节

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thick　flat　bunches　of　spruce　boughs　placed　under　their
hoofs。　　It　took　three　hours　of　breaking　toil　to　do　the　few
hundred　yards　of　deep　snow　on　the　height　of　the　pass。　　The
cougar　did　not　have　great　difficulty　in　following；　though　it
was　evident　he　did　not　like　such　traveling。

That　behind　them；　the　horses　gathered　heart　and　worked　on　to
the　edge　of　the　steep　descent；　where　they　had　all　they　could
do　to　hold　back　from　sliding　and　rolling。　　Fast　time　was　made
on　this　slope；　at　the　bottom　of　which　began　a　dense　forest
with　snow　still　deep　in　places　and　windfalls　hard　to　locate。
The　men　here　performed　Herculean　labors；　but　they　got
through　to　a　park　where　the　snow　was　gone。　　The　ground；
however；　soft　and　boggy；　in　places　was　more　treacherous　than
the　snow；　and　the　travelers　had　to　skirt　the　edge　of　the
park　to　a　point　opposite；　and　then　go　on　through　the　forest。
When　they　reached　bare　and　solid　ground；　just　before　dark
that　night；　it　was　high　time；　for　the　horses　were　ready　to
drop；　and　the　men　likewise。

Camp　was　made　in　an　open　wood。　　Darkness　fell　and　the　men
were　resting　on　bough　beds；　feet　to　the　fire；　with　Tom
curled　up　close　by；　and　the　horses　still　drooping　where　they
had　been　unsaddled。　　Morning；　however；　discovered　them
grazing　on　the　long；　bleached　grass。　　John　shook　his　head
when　he　looked　at　them。

〃You　reckoned　to　make　Pine　by　nightfall。　　How　far　is　it　
the　way　you'll　go？〃

〃Fifty　mile　or　thereabouts；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Wal；　we　can't　ride　it　on　them　critters。〃

〃John；　we'd　do　more　than　that　if　we　had　to。〃

They　were　saddled　and　on　the　move　before　sunrise；　leaving
snow　and　bog　behind。　　Level　parks　and　level　forests　led　one
after　another　to　long　slopes　and　steep　descents；　all　growing
sunnier　and　greener　as　the　altitude　diminished。　　Squirrels
and　grouse；　turkeys　and　deer；　and　less　tame　denizens　of　the
forest　grew　more　abundant　as　the　travel　advanced。　　In　this
game　zone；　however；　Dale　had　trouble　with　Tom。　　The　cougar
had　to　be　watched　and　called　often　to　keep　him　off　of
trails。

〃Tom　doesn't　like　a　long　trip；〃　said　Dale。　　〃But　I'm　goin'　to
take　him。　　Some　way　or　other　he　may　come　in　handy。〃

〃Sic　him　onto　Beasley's　gang；〃　replied　John。　　〃Some　men　are
powerful　scared　of　cougars。　　But　I　never　was。〃

〃Nor　me。　　Though　I've　had　cougars　give　me　a　darn　uncanny
feelin'。〃

The　men　talked　but　little。　　Dale　led　the　way；　with　Tom
trotting　noiselessly　beside　his　horse。　　John　followed　close
behind。　　They　loped　the　horses　across　parks；　trotted　through
the　forests；　walked　slow　up　what　few　inclines　they　met；　and
slid　down　the　soft；　wet；　pine…matted　descents。　　So　they
averaged　from　six　to　eight　miles　an　hour。　　The　horses　held　up
well　under　that　steady　travel；　and　this　without　any　rest　at
noon。

Dale　seemed　to　feel　himself　in　an　emotional　trance。　　Yet；
despite　this；　the　same　old　sensorial　perceptions　crowded
thick　and　fast　upon　him；　strangely　sweet　and　vivid　after　the
past　dead　months　when　neither　sun　nor　wind　nor　cloud　nor
scent　of　pine　nor　anything　in　nature　could　stir　him。　　His
mind；　his　heart；　his　soul　seemed　steeped　in　an　intoxicating
wine　of　expectation；　while　his　eyes　and　ears　and　nose　had
never　been　keener　to　register　the　facts　of　the　forest…land。
He　saw　the　black　thing　far　ahead　that　resembled　a　burned
stump；　but　he　knew　was　a　bear　before　it　vanished；　he　saw
gray　flash　of　deer　and　wolf　and　coyote；　and　the　red　of　fox；
and　the　small；　wary　heads　of　old　gobblers　just　sticking
above　the　grass；　and　he　saw　deep　tracks　of　game　as　well　as
the　slow…rising　blades　of　bluebells　where　some　soft…footed
beast　had　just　trod。　　And　he　heard　the　melancholy　notes　of
birds；　the　twitter　of　grouse；　the　sough　of　the　wind；　the
light　dropping　of　pine…cones；　the　near　and　distant　bark　of
squirrels；　the　deep　gobble　of　a　turkey　close　at　hand　and　the
challenge　from　a　rival　far　away；　the　cracking　of　twigs　in
the　thickets；　the　murmur　of　running　water；　the　scream　of　an
eagle　and　the　shrill　cry　of　a　hawk；　and　always　the　soft；
dull；　steady　pads　of　the　hoofs　of　the　horses。

The　smells；　too；　were　the　sweet；　stinging　ones　of　spring；
warm　and　pleasant　　the　odor　of　the　clean；　fresh　earth
cutting　its　way　through　that　thick；　strong　fragrance　of
pine；　the　smell　of　logs　rotting　in　the　sun；　and　of　fresh　new
grass　and　flowers　along　a　brook　of　snow…water。

〃I　smell　smoke；〃　said　Dale；　suddenly；　as　he　reined　in；　and
turned　for　corroboration　from　his　companion。

John　sniffed　the　warm　air。

〃Wal；　you're　more　of　an　Injun　than　me；〃　he　replied；　shaking
his　head。

They　traveled　on；　and　presently　came　out　upon　the　rim　of　the
last　slope。　　A　long　league　of　green　slanted　below　them；
breaking　up　into　straggling　lines　of　trees　and　groves　that
joined　the　cedars；　and　these　in　turn　stretched　on　and　down
in　gray…black　patches　to　the　desert；　that　glittering　and
bare；　with　streaks　of　somber　hue；　faded　in　the　obscurity　of
distance。

The　village　of　Pine　appeared　to　nestle　in　a　curve　of　the
edge　of　the　great　forest；　and　the　cabins　looked　like　tiny
white　dots　set　in　green。

〃Look　there；〃　said　Dale；　pointing。

Some　miles　to　the　right　a　gray　escarpment　of　rock　cropped
out　of　the　slope；　forming　a　promontory；　and　from　it　a　thin；
pale　column　of　smoke　curled　upward　to　be　lost　from　sight　as
soon　as　it　had　no　background　of　green。

〃Thet's　your　smoke；　shore　enough；〃　replied　John；
thoughtfully。　　〃Now；　I　jest　wonder　who's　campin'　there。　　No
water　near　or　grass　for　hosses。〃

〃John；　that　point's　been　used　for　smoke　signals　many　a
time。〃

〃Was　jest　thinkin'　of　thet　same。　　Shall　we　ride　around　there
an'　take　a　peek？〃

〃No。　　But　we'll　remember　that。　　If　Beasley's　got　his　deep
scheme　goin'；　he'll　have　Snake　Anson's　gang　somewhere
close。〃

〃Roy　said　thet　same。　　Wal；　it's　some　three　hours　till
sundown。　　The　hosses　keep　up。　　I　reckon　I'm　fooled；　for　we'll
make　Pine　all　right。　　But　old　Tom　there；　he's　tired　or　lazy。〃

The　big　cougar　was　lying　down；　panting；　and　his　half…shut
eyes　were　on　Dale。

〃Tom's　only　lazy　an'　fat。　　He　could　travel　at　this　gait　for　a
week。　　But　let's　rest　a　half…hour　an'　watch　that　smoke　before
movin'　on。　　We　can　make　Pine　before　sundown。〃


When　travel　had　been　resumed；　half…way　down　the　slope　Dale's
sharp　eyes　caught　a　broad　track　where　shod　horses　had
passed；　climbing　in　a　long　slant　toward　the　promontory。　　He
dismounted　to　examine　it；　and　John；　coming　up；　proceeded
with　alacrity　to　get　off　and　do　likewise。　　Dale　made　his
deductions；　after　which　he　stood　in　a　brown　study　beside　his
horse；　waiting　for　John。

〃Wal；　what　'd　you　make　of　these　here　tracks？〃　asked　that
worthy。

〃Some　horses　an'　a　pony　went　along　here　yesterday；　an'
to…day　a　single　horse　made；　that　fresh　track。〃

〃Wal；　Milt；　for　a　hunter　you　ain't　so　bad　at　hoss　tracks；〃
observed　John；　〃But　how　many　hosses　went　yesterday　？〃

〃I　couldn't　make　out　　several　　maybe　four　or　five。〃

〃Six　hosses　an'　a　colt　or　little　mustang；　unshod；　to　be
strict…correct。　　Wal；　supposin'　they　did。　　What　's　it　mean　to
us？〃

〃I　don't　know　as　I'd　thought　anythin'　unusual；　if　it　hadn't
been　for　that　smoke　we　saw　off　the　rim；　an'　then　this　here
fresh　track　made　along　to…day。　　Looks　queer　to　me。〃

〃Wish　Roy　was　here；〃　replied　John；　scratching　his　head。
〃Milt；　I've　a　hunch；　if　he　was；　he'd　foller　them　tracks。〃

〃Maybe。　　But　we　haven't　time　for　that。　　We　can　backtrail　them；
though；　if　they　keep　clear　as　they　are　here。　　An'　we'll　not
lose　any　time；　either。〃

That　broad　track　led　straight　toward　Pine；　down　to　the　edge
of　the　cedars；　where；　amid　some　jagged　rocks；　evidences
showed　that　men　had　camped　there　for　days。　　Here　it　ended　as
a　broad　trail。　　But　from　the　north　came　the　single　fresh
track　made　that　very　day；　and　from　the　east；　more　in　a　line
with　Pine；　came　two　tracks　made　the　day　before。　　And　these
were　imprints　of　big　and　little　hoofs。　　Manifestly　these
interested　John　more　than　they　did　Dale；　who　had　to　wait　for
his　companion。

〃Milt；　it　ain't　a　colt's　　thet　little　track；〃　avowed　John。

〃Why　not　　an'　what　if　it　isn't？〃　queried　Dale。

〃Wal；　it　ain't；　because　a　colt　always　straggles　back；　an'
from　one　side　to　t'other。　　This　little　track　keeps　close　to
the　big　one。　　An'；　by　George！　　it　was　made　by　a　led　mustang。〃

John　resembled　Roy　Beeman　then　with　that　leaping；　intent
fire　in　his　gray　eyes。　　Dale's　reply　was　to　spur　his　horse
into　a　trot　and　call　sharply　to　the　lagging　cougar。

When　they　turned　into　the　broad；　blossom…bordered　road　that
was　the　only　thoroughfare　of　Pine　the　sun　was　setting　red
and　gold　behind　the　mountains。　　The　horses　were　too　tired　for
any　more　than　a　walk。　　Natives　of　the　village；　catching　sight
of　Dale　and　Beeman；　and　the　huge　gray　cat　following　like　a
dog；　called　excitedly　to　one　another。　　A　group　of　men　in
front　of　Turner's　gazed　intently　down　the　road；　and　soon
manifested　signs　of　excitement。　　Dale　and　his　comrade
dismounted　in　front　of　Widow　Cass's　cottage。　　And　Dale　called
as　he　strode　up　the　little　path。　　Mrs。　　Cass　came　out。　　She　was
white　and　shaking；　but　appeared　calm。　　At　sight　of　her　John
Beeman　drew　a　sharp　breath。

〃Wal；　now　〃　he　began；　hoarsely；　and　left　off。

〃How's　Roy？〃　queried　Dale。

〃Lord　knows　I'm　glad　to　see　you；　boys！