the last of the plainsmen-第29节

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All　this　was　too　much　for　me；　so　I　slipped　off　again　to　be　alone；　and　this　time　headed　for　the　forest。　Warm　patches　of　sunlight；　like　gold；　brightened　the　ground；　dark　patches　of　sky；　like　ocean　blue；　gleamed　between　the　treetops。　Hardly　a　rustle　of　wind　in　the　fine…toothed　green　branches　disturbed　the　quiet。　When　I　got　fully　out　of　sight　of　camp；　I　started　to　run　as　if　I　were　a　wild　Indian。　My　running　had　no　aim；　just　sheer　mad　joy　of　the　grand　old　forest；　the　smell　of　pine；　the　wild　silence　and　beauty　loosed　the　spirit　in　me　so　it　had　to　run；　and　I　ran　with　it　till　the　physical　being　failed。

While　resting　on　a　fragrant　bed　of　pine　needles；　endeavoring　to　regain　control　over　a　truant　mind；　trying　to　subdue　the　encroaching　of　the　natural　man　on　the　civilized　man；　I　saw　gray　objects　moving　under　the　trees。　I　lost　them；　then　saw　them；　and　presently　so　plainly　that；　with　delight　on　delight；　I　counted　seventeen　deer　pass　through　an　open　arch　of　dark　green。　Rising　to　my　feet；　I　ran　to　get　round　a　low　mound。　They　saw　me　and　bounded　away　with　prodigiously　long　leaps。　Bringing　their　forefeet　together；　stiff…legged　under　them；　they　bounced　high；　like　rubber　balls；　yet　they　were　graceful。

The　forest　was　so　open　that　I　could　watch　them　for　a　long　way；　and　as　I　circled　with　my　gaze；　a　glimpse　of　something　white　arrested　my　attention。　A　light；　grayish　animal　appeared　to　be　tearing　at　an　old　stump。　Upon　nearer　view；　I　recognized　a　wolf；　and　he　scented　or　sighted　me　at　the　same　moment；　and　loped　off　into　the　shadows　of　the　trees。　Approaching　the　spot　where　I　had　marked　him　I　found　he　had　been　feeding　from　the　carcass　of　a　horse。　The　remains　had　been　only　partly　eaten；　and　were　of　an　animal　of　the　mustang　build　that　had　evidently　been　recently　killed。　Frightful　lacerations　under　the　throat　showed　where　a　lion　had　taken　fatal　hold。　Deep　furrows　in　the　ground　proved　how　the　mustang　had　sunk　his　hoofs；　reared　and　shaken　himself。　I　traced　roughly　defined　tracks　fifty　paces　to　the　lee　of　a　little　bank；　from　which　I　concluded　the　lion　had　sprung。

I　gave　free　rein　to　my　imagination　and　saw　the　forest　dark；　silent；　peopled　by　none　but　its　savage　denizens；　The　lion　crept　like　a　shadow；　crouched　noiselessly　down；　then　leaped　on　his　sleeping　or　browsing　prey。　The　lonely　night　stillness　split　to　a　frantic　snort　and　scream　of　terror；　and　the　stricken　mustang　with　his　mortal　enemy　upon　his　back；　dashed　off　with　fierce；　wild　love　of　life。　As　he　went　he　felt　his　foe　crawl　toward　his　neck　on　claws　of　fire；　he　saw　the　tawny　body　and　the　gleaming　eyes；　then　the　cruel　teeth　snapped　with　the　sudden　bite；　and　the　woodland　tragedy　ended。

On　the　spot　I　conceived　an　antipathy　toward　lions。　It　was　born　of　the　frightful　spectacle　of　what　had　once　been　a　glossy；　prancing　mustang；　of　the　mute；　sickening　proof　of　the　survival　of　the　fittest；　of　the　law　that　levels　life。

Upon　telling　my　camp…fellows　about　my　discovery；　Jones　and　Wallace　walked　out　to　see　it；　while　Jim　told　me　the　wolf　I　had　seen　was　a　〃lofer；〃　one　of　the　giant　buffalo　wolves　of　Buckskin；　and　if　I　would　watch　the　carcass　in　the　mornings　and　evenings；　I　would　〃shore　as　hell　get　a　plunk　at　him。〃

White　pine　burned　in　a　beautiful；　clear　blue　flame；　with　no　smoke；　and　in　the　center　of　the　campfire　left　a　golden　heart。　But　Jones　would　not　have　any　sitting　up；　and　hustled　us　off　to　bed；　saying　we　would　be　〃blamed〃　glad　of　it　in　about　fifteen　hours。　I　crawled　into　my　sleeping…bag；　made　a　hood　of　my　Navajo　blanket；　and　peeping　from　under　it；　watched　the　fire　and　the　flickering　shadows。　The　blaze　burned　down　rapidly。　Then　the　stars　blinked。　Arizona　stars　would　be　moons　in　any　other　State！　How　serene；　peaceful；　august；　infinite　and　wonderfully　bright！　No　breeze　stirred　the　pines。　The　clear　tinkle　of　the　cowbells　on　the　hobbled　horses　rang　from　near　and　distant　parts　of　the　forest。　The　prosaic　bell　of　the　meadow　and　the　pasture　brook；　here；　in　this　environment；　jingled　out　different　notes；　as　clear；　sweet；　musical　as　silver　bells。



CHAPTER　12。　OLD　TOM

At　daybreak　our　leader　routed　us　out。　The　frost　mantled　the　ground　so　heavily　that　it　looked　like　snow；　and　the　rare　atmosphere　bit　like　the　breath　of　winter。　The　forest　stood　solemn　and　gray；　the　canyon　lay　wrapped　in　vapory　slumber。

Hot　biscuits　and　coffee；　with　a　chop　or　two　of　the　delicious　Persian　lamb　meat；　put　a　less　Spartan　tinge　on　the　morning；　and　gave　Wallace　and　me　more　strengthwe　needed　not　incentive　to　leave　the　fire；　hustle　our　saddles　on　the　horses　and　get　in　line　with　our　impatient　leader。　The　hounds　scampered　over　the　frost；　shoving　their　noses　at　the　tufts　of　grass　and　bluebells。　Lawson　and　Jim　remained　in　camp；　the　rest　of　us　trooped　southwest。

A　mile　or　so　in　that　direction；　the　forest　of　pine　ended　abruptly；　and　a　wide　belt　of　low；　scrubby　old　trees；　breast　high　to　a　horse；　fringed　the　rim　of　the　canyon　and　appeared　to　broaden　out　and　grow　wavy　southward。　The　edge　of　the　forest　was　as　dark　and　regular　as　if　a　band　of　woodchoppers　had　trimmed　it。　We　threaded　our　way　through　this　thicket；　all　peering　into　the　bisecting　deer　trails　for　cougar　tracks　in　the　dust。

〃Bring　the　dogs！　Hurry！〃　suddenly　called　Jones　from　a　thicket。

We　lost　no　time　complying；　and　found　him　standing　in　a　trail；　with　his　eyes　on　the　sand。　〃Take　a　look；　boys。　A　good…sized　male　cougar　passed　here　last　night。　Hyar；　Sounder；　Don；　Moze；　come　on！〃

It　was　a　nervous；　excited　pack　of　hounds。　Old　Jude　got　to　Jones　first；　and　she　sang　out；　then　Sounder　opened　with　his　ringing　bay；　and　before　Jones　could　mount；　a　string　of　yelping　dogs　sailed　straight　for　the　forest。

〃Ooze　along；　boys！〃　yelled　Frank；　wheeling　Spot。

With　the　cowboy　leading；　we　strung　into　the　pines；　and　I　found　myself　behind。　Presently　even　Wallace　disappeared。　I　almost　threw　the　reins　at　Satan；　and　yelled　for　him　to　go。　The　result　enlightened　me。　Like　an　arrow　from　a　bow；　the　black　shot　forward。　Frank　had　told　me　of　his　speed；　that　when　he　found　his　stride　it　was　like　riding　a　flying　feather　to　be　on　him。　Jones；　fearing　he　would　kill　me；　had　cautioned　me　always　to　hold　him　in；　which　I　had　done。　Satan　stretched　out　with　long　graceful　motions；　he　did　not　turn　aside　for　logs；　but　cleared　them　with　easy　and　powerful　spring；　and　he　swerved　only　slightly　to　the　trees。　This　latter；　I　saw　at　once；　made　the　danger　for　me。　It　became　a　matter　of　saving　my　legs　and　dodging　branches。　The　imperative　need　of　this　came　to　me　with　convincing　force。　I　dodged　a　branch　on　one　tree；　only　to　be　caught　square　in　the　middle　by　a　snag　on　another。　Crack！　If　the　snag　had　not　broken；　Satan　would　have　gone　on　riderless；　and　I　would　have　been　left　hanging；　a　pathetic　and　drooping　monition　to　the　risks　of　the　hunt。　I　kept　ducking　my　head；　now　and　then　falling　flat　over　the　pommel　to　avoid　a　limb　that　would　have　brushed　me　off；　and　hugging　the　flanks　of　my　horse　with　my　knees。　Soon　I　was　at　Wallace's　heels；　and　had　Jones　in　sight。　Now　and　then　glimpses　of　Frank's　white　horse　gleamed　through　the　trees。

We　began　to　circle　toward　the　south；　to　go　up　and　down　shallow　hollows；　to　find　the　pines　thinning　out；　then　we　shot　out　of　the　forest　into　the　scrubby　oak。　Riding　through　this　brush　was　the　cruelest　kind　of　work；　but　Satan　kept　on　close　to　the　sorrel。　The　hollows　began　to　get　deeper；　and　the　ridges　between　them　narrower。　No　longer　could　we　keep　a　straight　course。

On　the　crest　of　one　of　the　ridges　we　found　Jones　awaiting　us。　Jude；　Tige　and　Don　lay　panting　at　his　feet。　Plainly　the　Colonel　appeared　vexed。

〃Listen；〃　he　said；　when　we　reined　in。

We　complied；　but　did　not　hear　a　sound。

〃Frank's　beyond　there　some　place；〃　continued　Jones；　〃but　I　can't　see　him；　nor　hear　the　hounds　anymore。　Don　and　Tige　split　again　on　deer　trails。　Old　Jude　hung　on　the　lion　track；　but　I　stopped　her　here。　There's　something　I　can't　figure。　Moze　held　a　beeline　southwest；　and　he　yelled　seldom。　Sounder　gradually　stopped　baying。　Maybe　Frank　can　tell　us　something。〃

Jones's　long　drawn…out　signal　was　answered　from　the　direction　he　expected；　and　after　a　little　time；　Frank's　white　horse　shone　out　of　the　gray…green　of　a　ledge　a　mile　away。

This　drew　my　attention　to　our　position。　We　were　on　a　high　ridge　out　in　the　open；　and　I　could　see　fifty　miles　of　the　shaggy　slopes　of　Buckskin。　Southward　the　gray；　ragged　line　seemed　to　stop　suddenly；　and　beyond　it　purple　haze　hung　over　a　void　I　knew　to　be　the　canyon。　And　facing　west；　I　came；　at　last；　to　understand　perfectly　the　meaning　of　the　breaks　in　the　Siwash。　They　were　nothing　more　than　ravines　that　headed　up　on　the　slopes　and　ran　down；　getting　steeper　and　steeper；　though　scarcely　wider；　to　break　into　the　canyon。　Knife…crested　ridges　rolled　westward；　wave　on　wave；　like　the　billows　of　a　sea。　I　appreciated　that　these　breaks　were；　at　their　sources；　little　washes　easy　to　jump　across；　and　at　their　mouths　a　mile　deep　and　impassable。　Huge　pine　trees　shaded　these　gullies；　to　give　way　to　the　gray　growth　of　stunted　oak；　which　in　turn　merged　into　the　dark　green　of　pinyon。　A　wonderful　country　for　deer　and　lions；　it　seemed　to　me；　but　impassable；　all　but　impossible　for　a　hunter。

Frank　soon　appeared；　brushing　through　the　bending　oaks；　and　Sounder　trotted　along　behind　him。

〃Where's　Moze？〃　inquired　Jones。

〃The