the man of the forest-第18部分

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can　slip　the　girls　down　to　Pine。〃

〃No　one　but　you　an'　your　brothers　ever　seen　my　senaca。　　But
it　could　be　found　easy　enough。〃

〃Anson　might　blunder　on　it。　　But　thet　ain't　likely。〃

〃Why　ain't　it？〃

〃Because　I'll　stick　to　thet　sheep…thief's　tracks　like　a　wolf
after　a　bleedin'　deer。　　An'　if　he　ever　gets　near　your　camp
I'll　ride　in　ahead　of　him。〃

〃Good！〃　declared　Dale。　　〃I　was　calculatin'　you'd　go　down　to
Pine；　sooner　or　later。〃

〃Not　unless　Anson　goes。　　I　told　John　thet　in　case　there　was
no　fight　on　the　stage　to　make　a　bee…line　back　to　Pine。　　He
was　to　tell　Al　an'　offer　his　services　along　with　Joe　an'
Hal。〃

〃One　way　or　another；　then；　there's　bound　to　be　blood　spilled
over　this。〃

〃Shore！　　An'　high　time。　　I　jest　hope　I　get　a　look　down　my　old
'forty…four'　at　thet　Beasley。〃

〃In　that　case　I　hope　you　hold　straighter　than　times　I've
seen　you。〃

〃Milt　Dale；　I'm　a　good　shot；〃　declared　Roy；　stoutly。

〃You're　no　good　on　movin'　targets。〃

〃Wal；　mebbe　so。　　But　I'm　not　lookin'　for　a　movin'　target　when
I　meet　up　with　Beasley。　　I'm　a　hossman；　not　a　hunter。　　You're
used　to　shootin'　flies　off　deer's　horns；　jest　for　practice。〃

〃Roy；　can　we　make　my　camp　by　to…morrow　night？〃　queried　Dale；
more　seriously。

〃We　will；　if　each　of　us　has　to　carry　one　of　the　girls。　　But
they'll　do　it　or　die。　　Dale；　did　you　ever　see　a　gamer　girl
than　thet　kid　Bo？〃

〃Me！　　Where'd　I　ever　see　any　girls？〃　ejaculated　Dale。　　〃I
remember　some　when　I　was　a　boy；　but　I　was　only　fourteen
then。　　Never　had　much　use　for　girls。〃

〃I'd　like　to　have　a　wife　like　that　Bo；〃　declared　Roy；
fervidly。

There　ensued　a　moment's　silence。

〃Roy；　you're　a　Mormon　an'　you　already　got　a　wife；〃　was
Dale's　reply。

〃Now；　Milt；　have　you　lived　so　long　in　the　woods　thet　you
never　heard　of　a　Mormon　with　two　wives？〃　returned　Roy；　and
then　he　laughed　heartily。

〃I　never　could　stomach　what　I　did　hear　pertainin'　to　more
than　one　wife　for　a　man。〃

〃Wal；　my　friend；　you　go　an'　get　yourself　ONE。　　An'　see　then
if　you　wouldn't　like　to　have　TWO。〃

〃I　reckon　one　'd　be　more　than　enough　for　Milt　Dale。〃

〃Milt；　old　man；　let　me　tell　you　thet　I　always　envied　you
your　freedom；〃　said　Roy；　earnestly。　　〃But　it　ain't　life。〃

〃You　mean　life　is　love　of　a　woman？〃

〃No。　　Thet's　only　part。　　I　mean　a　son　　a　boy　thet's　like　you
　thet　you　feel　will　go　on　with　your　life　after　you're
gone。〃

〃I've　thought　of　that　　thought　it　all　out；　watchin'　the
birds　an'　animals　mate　in　the　woods。　。　。　。　　If　I　have　no　son
I'll　never　live　hereafter。〃

〃Wal；〃　replied　Roy；　hesitatingly；　〃I　don't　go　in　so　deep　as
thet。　　I　mean　a　son　goes　on　with　your　blood　an'　your　work。〃

〃Exactly。　。　。　　An'；　Roy；　I　envy　you　what　you　ve　got；　because
it's　out　of　all　bounds　for　Milt　Dale。〃

Those　words；　sad　and　deep；　ended　the　conversation。　　Again　the
rumbling；　rushing　stream　dominated　the　forest。　　An　owl　hooted
dismally。　　A　horse　trod　thuddingly　near　by　and　from　that
direction　came　a　cutting　tear　of　teeth　on　grass。


A　voice　pierced　Helen's　deep　dreams　and；　awaking；　she　found
Bo　shaking　and　calling　her。

〃Are　you　dead？〃　came　the　gay　voice。

〃Almost。　　Oh；　my　back's　broken；〃　replied　Helen。　　The　desire　to
move　seemed　clamped　in　a　vise；　and　even　if　that　came　she
believed　the　effort　would　be　impossible。

〃Roy　called　us；〃　said　Bo。　　〃He　said　hurry。　　I　thought　I'd　die
just　sitting　up；　and　I'd　give　you　a　million　dollars　to　lace
my　boots。　　Wait；　sister；　till　you　try　to　pull　on　one　of　those
stiff　boots！〃

With　heroic　and　violent　spirit　Helen　sat　up　to　find　that　in
the　act　her　aches　and　pains　appeared　beyond　number。　　Reaching
for　her　boots；　she　found　them　cold　and　stiff。　　Helen　unlaced
one　and；　opening　it　wide；　essayed　to　get　her　sore　foot　down
into　it。　　But　her　foot　appeared　swollen　and　the　boot　appeared
shrunken。　　She　could　not　get　it　half　on；　though　she　expended
what　little　strength　seemed　left　in　her　aching　arms。　　She
groaned。

Bo　laughed　wickedly。　　Her　hair　was　tousled；　her　eyes　dancing；
her　cheeks　red。

〃Be　game！〃　she　said。　　〃Stand　up　like　a　real　Western　girl　and
PULL　your　boot　on。〃

Whether　Bo's　scorn　or　advice　made　the　task　easier　did　not
occur　to　Helen；　but　the　fact　was　that　she　got　into　her
boots。　　Walking　and　moving　a　little　appeared　to　loosen　the
stiff　joints　and　ease　that　tired　feeling。　　The　water　of　the
stream　where　the　girls　washed　was　colder　than　any　ice　Helen
had　ever　felt。　　It　almost　paralyzed　her　hands。　　Bo　mumbled；
and　blew　like　a　porpoise。　　They　had　to　run　to　the　fire　before
being　able　to　comb　their　hair。　　The　air　was　wonderfully　keen。
The　dawn　was　clear；　bright；　with　a　red　glow　in　the　east
where　the　sun　was　about　to　rise。

〃All　ready；　girls；〃　called　Roy。　　〃Reckon　you　can　help
yourselves。　　Milt　ain't　comin'　in　very　fast　with　the　hosses。
I'll　rustle　off　to　help　him。　　We've　got　a　hard　day　before　us。
Yesterday　wasn't　nowhere　to　what　to…day　'll　be。〃

〃But　the　sun's　going　to　shine？〃　implored　Bo。

〃Wal；　you　bet；〃　rejoined　Roy；　as　he　strode　off。

Helen　and　Bo　ate　breakfast　and　had　the　camp　to　themselves
for　perhaps　half　an　hour；　then　the　horses　came　thudding
down；　with　Dale　and　Roy　riding　bareback。

By　the　time　all　was　in　readiness　to　start　the　sun　was　up；
melting　the　frost　and　ice；　so　that　a　dazzling；　bright　mist；
full　of　rainbows；　shone　under　the　trees。

Dale　looked　Ranger　over；　and　tried　the　cinches　of　Bo's
horse。

〃What's　your　choice　　a　long　ride　behind　the　packs　with　me
　or　a　short　cut　over　the　hills　with　Roy？〃　he　asked。

〃I　choose　the　lesser　of　two　rides；〃　replied　Helen；　smiling。
〃Reckon　that　'll　be　easier；　but　you'll　know　you've　had　a
ride；〃　said　Dale；　significantly。

〃What　was　that　we　had　yesterday？〃　asked　Bo；　archly。

〃Only　thirty　miles；　but　cold　an'　wet。　　To…day　will　be　fine
for　ridin'。〃

〃Milt；　I'll　take　a　blanket　an'　some　grub　in　case　you　don't
meet　us　to…night；〃　said　Roy。　　〃An'　I　reckon　we'll　split　up
here　where　I'll　have　to　strike　out　on　thet　short　cut。〃

Bo　mounted　without　a　helping　hand；　but　Helen's　limbs　were　so
stiff　that　she　could　not　get　astride　the　high　Ranger　without
assistance。　　The　hunter　headed　up　the　slope　of　the　canuon；
which　on　that　side　was　not　steep。　　It　was　brown　pine　forest；
with　here　and　there　a　clump　of　dark；　silver…pointed
evergreens　that　Roy　called　spruce。　　By　the　time　this　slope
was　surmounted　Helen's　aches　were　not　so　bad。　　The　saddle
appeared　to　fit　her　better；　and　the　gait　of　the　horse　was
not　so　unfamiliar。　　She　reflected；　however；　that　she　always
had　done　pretty　well　uphill。　　Here　it　was　beautiful
forest…land；　uneven　and　wilder。　　They　rode　for　a　time　along
the　rim；　with　the　white　rushing　stream　in　plain　sight　far
below；　with　its　melodious　roar　ever　thrumming　in　the　ear。

Dale　reined　in　and　peered　down　at　the　pine…mat。

〃Fresh　deer　sign　all　along　here；〃　he　said；　pointing。

〃Wal；　I　seen　thet　long　ago；〃　rejoined　Roy。

Helen's　scrutiny　was　rewarded　by　descrying　several　tiny
depressions　in　the　pine…needles；　dark　in　color　and　sharply
defined。

〃We　may　never　get　a　better　chance；〃　said　Dale。　　〃Those　deer
are　workin'　up　our　way。　　Get　your　rifle　out。〃

Travel　was　resumed　then；　with　Roy　a　little　in　advance　of　the
pack…train。　　Presently　he　dismounted；　threw　his　bridle；　and
cautiously　peered　ahead。　　Then；　turning；　he　waved　his
sombrero。　　The　pack…animals　halted　in　a　bunch。　　Dale　beckoned
for　the　girls　to　follow　and　rode　up　to　Roy's　horse。　　This
point；　Helen　saw；　was　at　the　top　of　an　intersecting　canuon。
Dale　dismounted；　without　drawing　his　rifle　from　its
saddle…sheath；　and　approached　Roy。

〃Buck　an'　two　does；〃　he　said；　low…voiced。　　〃An'　they've
winded　us；　but　don't　see　us　yet。　。　。　。　　Girls；　ride　up
closer。〃

Following　the　directions　indicated　by　Dale's　long　arm；　Helen
looked　down　the　slope。　　It　was　open；　with　tall　pines　here　and
there；　and　clumps　of　silver　spruce；　and　aspens　shining　like
gold　in　the　morning　sunlight。　　Presently　Bo　exclaimed：　〃Oh；
look！　　I　see！　　I　see！〃　Then　Helen's　roving　glance　passed
something　different　from　green　and　gold　and　brown。　　Shifting
back　to　it　she　saw　a　magnificent　stag；　with　noble　spreading
antlers；　standing　like　a　statue；　his　head　up　in　alert　and
wild　posture。　　His　color　was　gray。　　Beside　him　grazed　two　deer
of　slighter　and　more　graceful　build；　without　horns。

〃It's　downhill；〃　whispered　Dale。　　〃An'　you're　goin'　to
overshoot。〃

Then　Helen　saw　that　Roy　had　his　rifle　leveled。

〃Oh；　don't！〃　she　cried。

Dale's　remark　evidently　nettled　Roy。　　He　lowered　the　rifle。

〃Milt；　it's　me　lookin'　over　this　gun。　　How　can　you　stand
there　an'　tell　me　I'm　goin'　to　shoot　high？　　I　had　a　dead　bead
on　him。〃

〃Roy；　you　didn't　allow　for　downhill　。　。　。　　Hurry。　　He　sees　us
now。〃

Roy　leveled　the　rifle　and；　taking　aim　as　before；　he　fired。
The　buck　stood　perfectly　motionless；　as　if　he　had　indeed
been　stone。　　The　does；　however；　jumped　with　a　start；　and
gazed　in　fright　in　every　direction。

〃Told　you！　　I　seen　where　your　bullet　hit　thet　pine　　half　a
foot　over　his　shoulder。　　Try　again　an'　aim　at　his　legs。〃

Roy　now　took　a　quicker　aim　and　pulled　trigger。　　A　puff　of
dust　right　at　the　feet　of　the　buck　showed　where　Roy's　lead
had　struck　this　time。　　With　a　single　bound；　wonderful　to　see；
the　big　deer　was　out　of　sight　behind　trees　and　brush。　　The
does　leaped　after　him。

〃Doggone　the　luck！〃　ejaculated　Roy；　red　in　the　face；　as　he
worked　the　lever　of　his　rifle。　　〃Never　could　shoot　downhill；
nohow！〃

His　rueful　apology　to　the　girls　for　missing　brought　a　merry
laugh　from　Bo。

〃Not　for　worlds　would　I　have　had　you　kill　that　beautiful
deer！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃We　won't　have　venison　steak　off　him；　that's　certain；〃
remarked　Dale；　dryly。　　〃An'　maybe　none　off　any　deer；　if　Roy
does　the　shootin'。〃

They　resumed　travel；　sheering　off　to　the　right　and　keeping
to　the　edge　of　the　intersecting　canuon。　　At　length　they　rode
down　to　the　bottom；　where　a　tiny　brook　babbled　through
willows；　and　they　followed　this　for　a　mile　or　so　down　to
where　it　flowed　into　the　larger　stream。　　A　dim　trail
overgrown　with　grass　showed　at　this　point。

〃Here's　where　we　part；〃　said　Dale。　　〃You'll　beat　me　into　my
camp；　but　I'll　get　there　sometime　after　dark。〃

〃Hey；　Milt；　I　forgot　about　thet　darned　pet　cougar　of　yours
an'　the　rest　of　your　menager