the man of the forest-第14部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


treacherous　thing；　for　it　was　not　persistent。　　It　came　and
went。　　After　it　did　come；　with　a　terrible　flash；　it　could　be
borne　by　shifting　or　easing　the　body。　　But　it　gave　no
warning。　　When　she　expected　it　she　was　mistaken；　when　she
dared　to　breathe　again；　then；　with　piercing　swiftness；　it
returned　like　a　blade　in　her　side。　　This；　then；　was　one　of
the　riding…pains　that　made　a　victim　of　a　tenderfoot　on　a
long　ride。　　It　was　almost　too　much　to　be　borne。　　The　beauty　of
the　forest；　the　living　creatures　to　be　seen　scurrying　away；
the　time；　distance　　everything　faded　before　that　stablike
pain。　　To　her　infinite　relief　she　found　that　it　was　the　trot
that　caused　this　torture。　　When　Ranger　walked　she　did　not
have　to　suffer　it。　　Therefore　she　held　him　to　a　walk　as　long
as　she　dared　or　until　Dale　and　Bo　were　almost　out　of　sight；
then　she　loped　him　ahead　until　he　had　caught　up。

So　the　hours　passed；　the　sun　got　around　low；　sending　golden
shafts　under　the　trees；　and　the　forest　gradually　changed　to
a　brighter；　but　a　thicker；　color。　　This　slowly　darkened。
Sunset　was　not　far　away。

She　heard　the　horses　splashing　in　water；　and　soon　she　rode
up　to　see　the　tiny　streams　of　crystal　water　running　swiftly
over　beds　of　green　moss。　　She　crossed　a　number　of　these　and
followed　along　the　last　one　into　a　more　open　place　in　the
forest　where　the　pines　were　huge；　towering；　and　far　apart。　　A
low；　gray　bluff　of　stone　rose　to　the　right；　perhaps
one…third　as　high　as　the　trees。　　From　somewhere　came　the
rushing　sound　of　running　water。

〃Big　Spring；〃　announced　Dale。　　〃We　camp　here。　　You　girls　have
done　well。〃

Another　glance　proved　to　Helen　that　all　those　little　streams
poured　from　under　this　gray　bluff。

〃I'm　dying　for　a　drink；〃　cried　Bo。　　with　her　customary
hyperbole。

〃I　reckon　you'll　never　forget　your　first　drink　here；〃
remarked　Dale。

Bo　essayed　to　dismount；　and　finally　fell　off；　and　when　she
did　get　to　the　ground　her　legs　appeared　to　refuse　their
natural　function；　and　she　fell　flat。　　Dale　helped　her　up。

〃What's　wrong　with　me；　anyhow？〃　she　demanded；　in　great
amaze。

〃Just　stiff；　I　reckon；〃　replied　Dale；　as　he　led　her　a　few
awkward　steps。

〃Bo；　have　you　any　hurts？〃　queried　Helen；　who　still　sat　her
horse；　loath　to　try　dismounting；　yet　wanting　to　beyond　all
words。

Bo　gave　her　an　eloquent　glance。

〃Nell；　did　you　have　one　in　your　side；　like　a　wicked；　long
darning…needle；　punching　deep　when　you　weren't　ready？〃

〃That　one　I'll　never　get　over！〃　exclaimed　Helen；　softly。
Then；　profiting　by　Bo's　experience；　she　dismounted
cautiously；　and　managed　to　keep　upright。　　Her　legs　felt　like
wooden　things。

Presently　the　girls　went　toward　the　spring。

〃Drink　slow；〃　called　out　Dale。

Big　Spring　had　its　source　somewhere　deep　under　the　gray；
weathered　bluff；　from　which　came　a　hollow　subterranean
gurgle　and　roar　of　water。　　Its　fountainhead　must　have　been　a
great　well　rushing　up　through　the　cold　stone。

Helen　and　Bo　lay　flat　on　a　mossy　bank；　seeing　their　faces　as
they　bent　over；　and　they　sipped　a　mouthful；　by　Dale's
advice；　and　because　they　were　so　hot　and　parched　and　burning
they　wanted　to　tarry　a　moment　with　a　precious　opportunity。

The　water　was　so　cold　that　it　sent　a　shock　over　Helen；　made
her　teeth　ache；　and　a　singular；　revivifying　current　steal
all　through　her；　wonderful　in　its　cool　absorption　of　that
dry　heat　of　flesh；　irresistible　in　its　appeal　to　thirst。
Helen　raised　her　head　to　look　at　this　water。　　It　was
colorless　as　she　had　found　it　tasteless。

〃Nell　　drink！〃　panted　Bo。　　〃Think　of　our　　old　spring　
in　the　orchard　　full　of　pollywogs！〃

And　then　Helen　drank　thirstily；　with　closed　eyes；　while　a
memory　of　home　stirred　from　Bo's　gift　of　poignant　speech。



CHAPTER　VII

The　first　camp　duty　Dale　performed　was　to　throw　a　pack　off
one　of　the　horses；　and；　opening　it；　he　took　out　tarpaulin
and　blankets；　which　he　arranged　on　the　ground　under　a
pine…tree。

〃You　girls　rest；〃　he　said；　briefly。

〃Can't　we　help？〃　asked　Helen；　though　she　could　scarcely
stand。

〃You'll　be　welcome　to　do　all　you　like　after　you're　broke
in。〃

〃Broke　in！〃　ejaculated　Bo；　with　a　little　laugh。　　〃I'm　all
broke　UP　now。〃

〃Bo；　it　looks　as　if　Mr。　　Dale　expects　us　to　have　quite　a　stay
with　him　in　the　woods。〃

〃It　does；〃　replied　Bo；　as　slowly　she　sat　down　upon　the
blankets；　stretched　out　with　a　long　sigh；　and　laid　her　head
on　a　saddle。　　〃Nell；　didn't　he　say　not　to　call　him　Mister？〃

Dale　was　throwing　the　packs　off　the　other　horses。

Helen　lay　down　beside　Bo；　and　then　for　once　in　her　life　she
experienced　the　sweetness　of　rest。

〃Well；　sister；　what　do　you　intend　to　call　him？〃　queried
Helen；　curiously。

〃Milt；　of　course；〃　replied　Bo。

Helen　had　to　laugh　despite　her　weariness　and　aches。

〃I　suppose；　then；　when　your　Las　Vegas　cowboy　comes　along　you
will　call　him　what　he　called　you。〃

Bo　blushed；　which　was　a　rather　unusual　thing　for　her。

〃I　will　if　I　like；〃　she　retorted。　　〃Nell；　ever　since　I　could
remember　you've　raved　about　the　West。　　Now　you're　OUT　West；
right　in　it　good　and　deep。　　So　wake　up！〃

That　was　Bo's　blunt　and　characteristic　way　of　advising　the
elimination　of　Helen's　superficialities。　　It　sank　deep。　　Helen
had　no　retort。　　Her　ambition；　as　far　as　the　West　was
concerned；　had　most　assuredly　not　been　for　such　a　wild；
unheard…of　jaunt　as　this。　　But　possibly　the　West　　a　living
from　day　to　day　　was　one　succession　of　adventures；　trials；
tests；　troubles；　and　achievements。　　To　make　a　place　for
others　to　live　comfortably　some　day！　　That　might　be　Bo's
meaning；　embodied　in　her　forceful　hint。　　But　Helen　was　too
tired　to　think　it　out　then。　　She　found　it　interesting　and
vaguely　pleasant　to　watch　Dale。

He　hobbled　the　horses　and　turned　them　loose。　　Then　with　ax　in
hand　he　approached　a　short；　dead　tree；　standing　among　a　few
white…barked　aspens。　　Dale　appeared　to　advantage　swinging　the
ax。　　With　his　coat　off；　displaying　his　wide　shoulders；
straight　back；　and　long；　powerful　arms；　he　looked　a　young
giant。　　He　was　lithe　and　supple；　brawny　but　not　bulky。　　The　ax
rang　on　the　hard　wood；　reverberating　through　the　forest。　　A
few　strokes　sufficed　to　bring　down　the　stub。　　Then　he　split
it　up。　　Helen　was　curious　to　see　how　he　kindled　a　fire。　　First
he　ripped　splinters　out　of　the　heart　of　the　log；　and　laid
them　with　coarser　pieces　on　the　ground。　　Then　from　a
saddlebag　which　hung　on　a　near…by　branch　he　took　flint　and
steel　and　a　piece　of　what　Helen　supposed　was　rag　or
buckskin；　upon　which　powder　had　been　rubbed。　　At　any　rate；
the　first　strike　of　the　steel　brought　sparks；　a　blaze；　and
burning　splinters。　　Instantly　the　flame　leaped　a　foot　high。
He　put　on　larger　pieces　of　wood　crosswise；　and　the　fire
roared。

That　done；　he　stood　erect；　and；　facing　the　north；　he
listened。　　Helen　remembered　now　that　she　had　seen　him　do　the
same　thing　twice　before　since　the　arrival　at　Big　Spring。　　It
was　Roy　for　whom　he　was　listening　and　watching。　　The　sun　had
set　and　across　the　open　space　the　tips　of　the　pines　were
losing　their　brightness。

The　camp　utensils；　which　the　hunter　emptied　out　of　a　sack；
gave　forth　a　jangle　of　iron　and　tin。　　Next　he　unrolled　a
large　pack；　the　contents　of　which　appeared　to　be　numerous
sacks　of　all　sizes。　　These　evidently　contained　food　supplies。
The　bucket　looked　as　if　a　horse　had　rolled　over　it；　pack　and
all。　　Dale　filled　it　at　the　spring。　　Upon　returning　to　the
camp…fire　he　poured　water　into　a　washbasin；　and；　getting
down　to　his　knees；　proceeded　to　wash　his　hands　thoroughly。
The　act　seemed　a　habit；　for　Helen　saw　that　while　he　was
doing　it　he　gazed　off　into　the　woods　and　listened。　　Then　he
dried　his　hands　over　the　fire；　and；　turning　to　the
spread…out　pack；　he　began　preparations　for　the　meal。

Suddenly　Helen　thought　of　the　man　and　all　that　his　actions
implied。　　At　Magdalena；　on　the　stage…ride；　and　last　night；
she　had　trusted　this　stranger；　a　hunter　of　the　White
Mountains；　who　appeared　ready　to　befriend　her。　　And　she　had
felt　an　exceeding　gratitude。　　Still；　she　had　looked　at　him
impersonally。　　But　it　began　to　dawn　upon　her　that　chance　had
thrown　her　in　the　company　of　a　remarkable　man。　　That
impression　baffled　her。　　It　did　not　spring　from　the　fact　that
he　was　brave　and　kind　to　help　a　young　woman　in　peril；　or
that　he　appeared　deft　and　quick　at　camp…fire　chores。　　Most
Western　men　were　brave；　her　uncle　had　told　her；　and　many
were　roughly　kind；　and　all　of　them　could　cook。　　This　hunter
was　physically　a　wonderful　specimen　of　manhood；　with
something　leonine　about　his　stature。　　But　that　did　not　give
rise　to　her　impression。　　Helen　had　been　a　school…teacher　and
used　to　boys；　and　she　sensed　a　boyish　simplicity　or　vigor　or
freshness　in　this　hunter。　　She　believed；　however；　that　it　was
a　mental　and　spiritual　force　in　Dale　which　had　drawn　her　to
think　of　it。

〃Nell；　I've　spoken　to　you　three　times；〃　protested　Bo；
petulantly。　　〃What　're　you　mooning　over？〃

〃I'm　pretty　tired　　and　far　away；　Bo；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃What
did　you　say？〃

〃I　said　I　had　an　e…normous　appetite。〃

〃Really。　　That's　not　remarkable　for　you。　　I'm　too　tired　to
eat。　　And　afraid　to　shut　my　eyes。　　They'd　never　come　open。
When　did　we　sleep　last；　Bo？〃

〃Second　night　before　we　left　home；〃　declared　Bo。

〃Four　nights！　　Oh；　we've　slept　some。〃

〃I'll　bet　I　make　mine　up　in　this　woods。　　Do　you　suppose　we'll
sleep　right　here　　under　this　tree　　with　no　covering？〃

〃It　looks　so；〃　replied　Helen；　dubiously。

〃How　perfectly　lovely！〃　exclaimed　Bo；　in　delight。　　〃We'll　see
the　stars　through　the　pines。〃

〃Seems　to　be　clouding　over。　　Wouldn't　it　be　awful　if　we　had　a
storm？〃

〃Why；　I　don't　know；〃　answered　Bo；　thoughtfully。　　〃It　must
storm　out　West。〃

Again　Helen　felt　a　quality　of　inevitableness　in　Bo。　　It　was
something　that　had　appeared　only　practical　in　the　humdrum
home　life　in　St。　　Joseph。　　All　of　a　sudden　Helen　received　a
flash　of　wondering　thought　　a　thrilling　consciousness　that
she　and　Bo　had　begun　to　develop　in　a　new　and　wild
environment。　　How　strange；　and　fearful；　perhaps；　to　watch
that　growth！　　Bo；　being　younger；　more　impressionable；　with
elemental　rather　than　intellectual　instincts；　would　grow
stronger　more　swiftly。　　Helen　wondered　if　she　could　yield　to
her　own　leaning　to　the　primit