the man of the forest-第9节

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change　and　then　to　fix。　　It　was　her　physical　acceptance　
her　eyes　and　her　senses　taking　the　West　as　she　had　already
taken　it　in　spirit。

A　woman　should　love　her　home　wherever　fate　placed　her；　Helen
believed；　and　not　so　much　from　duty　as　from　delight　and
romance　and　living。　　How　could　life　ever　be　tedious　or
monotonous　out　here　in　this　tremendous　vastness　of　bare
earth　and　open　sky；　where　the　need　to　achieve　made　thinking
and　pondering　superficial？

It　was　with　regret　that　she　saw　the　last　of　the　valley　of
the　Rio　Grande；　and　then　of　its　paralleled　mountain　ranges。
But　the　miles　brought　compensation　in　other　valleys；　other
bold；　black　upheavals　of　rock；　and　then　again　bare；
boundless　yellow　plains；　and　sparsely　cedared　ridges；　and
white　dry　washes；　ghastly　in　the　sunlight；　and　dazzling　beds
of　alkali；　and　then　a　desert　space　where　golden　and　blue
flowers　bloomed。

She　noted；　too；　that　the　whites　and　yellows　of　earth　and
rock　had　begun　to　shade　to　red　　and　this　she　knew　meant　an
approach　to　Arizona。　　Arizona；　the　wild；　the　lonely；　the　red
desert；　the　green　plateau　　Arizona　with　its　thundering
rivers；　its　unknown　spaces；　its　pasture…lands　and
timber…lands；　its　wild　horses；　cowboys；　outlaws；　wolves　and
lions　and　savages！　　As　to　a　boy；　that　name　stirred　and
thrilled　and　sang　to　her　of　nameless；　sweet；　intangible
things；　mysterious　and　all　of　adventure。　　But　she；　being　a
girl　of　twenty；　who　had　accepted　responsibilities；　must
conceal　the　depths　of　her　heart　and　that　which　her　mother
had　complained　was　her　misfortune　in　not　being　born　a　boy。

Time　passed；　while　Helen　watched　and　learned　and　dreamed。
The　train　stopped；　at　long　intervals；　at　wayside　stations
where　there　seemed　nothing　but　adobe　sheds　and　lazy
Mexicans；　and　dust　and　heat。　　Bo　awoke　and　began　to　chatter；
and　to　dig　into　the　basket。　　She　learned　from　the　conductor
that　Magdalena　was　only　two　stations　on。　　And　she　was　full　of
conjectures　as　to　who　would　meet　them；　what　would　happen。　　So
Helen　was　drawn　back　to　sober　realities；　in　which　there　was
considerable　zest。　　Assuredly　she　did　not　know　what　was　going
to　happen。　　Twice　Riggs　passed　up　and　down　the　aisle；　his
dark　face　and　light　eyes　and　sardonic　smile　deliberately
forced　upon　her　sight。　　But　again　Helen　fought　a　growing
dread　with　contemptuous　scorn。　　This　fellow　was　not　half　a
man。　　It　was　not　conceivable　what　he　could　do；　except　annoy
her；　until　she　arrived　at　Pine。　　Her　uncle　was　to　meet　her　or
send　for　her　at　Snowdrop；　which　place；　Helen　knew；　was
distant　a　good　long　ride　by　stage　from　Magdalena。　　This
stage…ride　was　the　climax　and　the　dread　of　all　the　long
journey；　in　Helen's　considerations。

〃Oh；　Nell！〃　cried　Bo；　with　delight。　　〃We're　nearly　there！
Next　station；　the　conductor　said。〃

〃I　wonder　if　the　stage　travels　at　night；〃　said　Helen；
thoughtfully。

〃Sure　it　does！〃　replied　the　irrepressible　Bo。

The　train；　though　it　clattered　along　as　usual；　seemed　to
Helen　to　fly。　　There　the　sun　was　setting　over　bleak　New
Mexican　bluffs；　Magdalena　was　at　hand；　and　night；　and
adventure。　　Helen's　heart　beat　fast。　　She　watched　the　yellow
plains　where　the　cattle　grazed；　their　presence；　and
irrigation　ditches　and　cottonwood…trees　told　her　that　the
railroad　part　of　the　journey　was　nearly　ended。　　Then；　at　Bo's
little　scream；　she　looked　across　the　car　and　out　of　the
window　to　see　a　line　of　low；　flat；　red…adobe　houses。　　The
train　began　to　slow　down。　　Helen　saw　children　run；　white
children　and　Mexican　together；　then　more　houses；　and　high
upon　a　hill　an　immense　adobe　church；　crude　and　glaring；　yet
somehow　beautiful。

Helen　told　Bo　to　put　on　her　bonnet；　and；　performing　a　like
office　for　herself；　she　was　ashamed　of　the　trembling　of　her
fingers。　　There　were　bustle　and　talk　in　the　car。

The　train　stopped。　　Helen　peered　out　to　see　a　straggling
crowd　of　Mexicans　and　Indians；　all　motionless　and　stolid；　as
if　trains　or　nothing　else　mattered。　　Next　Helen　saw　a　white
man；　and　that　was　a　relief。　　He　stood　out　in　front　of　the
others。　　Tall　and　broad；　somehow　striking；　he　drew　a　second
glance　that　showed　him　to　be　a　hunter　clad　in　gray…fringed
buckskin；　and　carrying　a　rifle。



CHAPTER　V

Here；　there　was　no　kindly　brakeman　to　help　the　sisters　with
their　luggage。　　Helen　bade　Bo　take　her　share；　thus　burdened；
they　made　an　awkward　and　laborious　shift　to　get　off　the
train。

Upon　the　platform　of　the　car　a　strong　hand　seized　Helen's
heavy　bag；　with　which　she　was　straining；　and　a　loud　voice
called　out：

〃Girls；　we're　here　　sure　out　in　the　wild　an'　woolly　West！〃

The　speaker　was　Riggs；　and　he　had　possessed　himself　of　part
of　her　baggage　with　action　and　speech　meant　more　to　impress
the　curious　crowd　than　to　be　really　kind。　　In　the　excitement
of　arriving　Helen　had　forgotten　him。　　The　manner　of　sudden
reminder　　the　insincerity　of　it　　made　her　temper　flash。
She　almost　fell；　encumbered　as　she　was；　in　her　hurry　to
descend　the　steps。　　She　saw　the　tall　hunter　in　gray　step
forward　close　to　her　as　she　reached　for　the　bag　Riggs　held。

〃Mr。　　Riggs；　I'll　carry　my　bag；〃　she　said。

〃Let　me　lug　this。　　You　help　Bo　with　hers；〃　he　replied；
familiarly。

〃But　I　want　it；〃　she　rejoined；　quietly；　with　sharp
determination。　　No　little　force　was　needed　to　pull　the　bag
away　from　Riggs。

〃See　here；　Helen；　you　ain't　goin'　any　farther　with　that
joke；　are　you？〃　he　queried；　deprecatingly；　and　he　still
spoke　quite　loud。

〃It's　no　joke　to　me；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃I　told　you　I　didn't
want　your　attention。〃

〃Sure。　　But　that　was　temper。　　I'm　your　friend　　from　your
home　town。　　An'　I　ain't　goin'　to　let　a　quarrel　keep　me　from
lookin'　after　you　till　you're　safe　at　your　uncle's。〃

Helen　turned　her　back　upon　him。　　The　tall　hunter　had　just
helped　Bo　off　the　car。　　Then　Helen　looked　up　into　a　smooth
bronzed　face　and　piercing　gray　eyes。

〃Are　you　Helen　Rayner？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes。〃

〃My　name's　Dale。　　I've　come　to　meet　you。〃

〃Ah！　　My　uncle　sent　you？〃　added　Helen；　in　quick　relief。

〃No；　I　can't　say　Al　sent　me；〃　began　the　man；　〃but　I　reckon
〃

He　was　interrupted　by　Riggs；　who；　grasping　Helen　by　the　arm；
pulled　her　back　a　step。

〃Say；　mister；　did　Auchincloss　send　you　to　meet　my　young
friends　here？〃　he　demanded；　arrogantly。

Dale's　glance　turned　from　Helen　to　Riggs。　　She　could　not　read
this　quiet　gray　gaze；　but　it　thrilled　her。

〃No。　　I　come　on　my　own　hook；〃　he　answered。

〃You'll　understand；　then　　they're　in　my　charge；〃　added
Riggs。

This　time　the　steady　light…gray　eyes　met　Helen's；　and　if
there　was　not　a　smile　in　them　or　behind　them　she　was　still
further　baffled。

〃Helen；　I　reckon　you　said　you　didn't　want　this　fellow's
attention。〃

〃I　certainly　said　that；〃　replied　Helen；　quickly。　　Just　then
Bo　slipped　close　to　her　and　gave　her　arm　a　little　squeeze。
Probably　Bo's　thought　was　like　hers　　here　was　a　real
Western　man。　　That　was　her　first　impression；　and　following
swiftly　upon　it　was　a　sensation　of　eased　nerves。

Riggs　swaggered　closer　to　Dale。

〃Say；　Buckskin；　I　hail　from　Texas　〃

〃You're　wastin'　our　time　an'　we've　need　to　hurry；〃
interrupted　Dale。　　His　tone　seemed　friendly。　　〃An'　if　you　ever
lived　long　in　Texas　you　wouldn't　pester　a　lady　an'　you　sure
wouldn't　talk　like　you　do。〃

〃What！〃　shouted　Riggs；　hotly。　　He　dropped　his　right　hand
significantly　to　his　hip。

〃Don't　throw　your　gun。　　It　might　go　off；〃　said　Dale。

Whatever　Riggs's　intention　had　been　　and　it　was　probably
just　what　Dale　evidently　had　read　it　　he　now　flushed　an
angry　red　and　jerked　at　his　gun。

Dale's　hand　flashed　too　swiftly　for　Helen's　eye　to　follow
it。　　But　she　heard　the　thud　as　it　struck。　　The　gun　went　flying
to　the　platform　and　scattered　a　group　of　Indians　and
Mexicans。

〃You'll　hurt　yourself　some　day；〃　said　Dale。

Helen　had　never　heard　a　slow；　cool　voice　like　this　hunter's。
Without　excitement　or　emotion　or　hurry；　it　yet　seemed　full
and　significant　of　things　the　words　did　not　mean。　　Bo　uttered
a　strange　little　exultant　cry。

Riggs's　arm　had　dropped　limp。　　No　doubt　it　was　numb。　　He
stared；　and　his　predominating　expression　was　surprise。　　As
the　shuffling　crowd　began　to　snicker　and　whisper；　Riggs　gave
Dale　a　malignant　glance；　shifted　it　to　Helen；　and　then
lurched　away　in　the　direction　of　his　gun。

Dale　did　not　pay　any　more　attention　to　him。　　Gathering　up
Helen's　baggage；　he　said；　〃Come　on；〃　and　shouldered　a　lane
through　the　gaping　crowd。　　The　girls　followed　close　at　his
heels。

〃Nell！　　what　'd　I　tell　you？〃　whispered　Bo。　　〃Oh；　you're　all
atremble！〃

Helen　was　aware　of　her　unsteadiness；　anger　and　fear　and
relief　in　quick　succession　had　left　her　rather　weak。　　Once
through　the　motley　crowd　of　loungers；　she　saw　an　old　gray
stage…coach　and　four　lean　horses。　　A　grizzled；　sunburned　man
sat　on　the　driver's　seat；　whip　and　reins　in　hand。　　Beside　him
was　a　younger　man　with　rifle　across　his　knees。　　Another　man；
young；　tall；　lean；　dark；　stood　holding　the　coach　door　open。
He　touched　his　sombrero　to　the　girls。　　His　eyes　were　sharp　as
he　addressed　Dale。

〃Milt；　wasn't　you　held　up？〃

〃No。　　But　some　long…haired　galoot　was　tryin'　to　hold　up　the
girls。　　Wanted　to　throw　his　gun　on　me。　　I　was　sure　scared；〃
replied　Dale；　as　he　deposited　the　luggage。

Bo　laug