the man of the forest-第48部分

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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！　　Milt；　you're　thin　an'
strange…lookin'。　　Roy's　had　a　little　setback。　　He　got　a　shock
to…day　an'　it　throwed　him　off。　　Fever　　an'　now　he's　out　of
his　head。　　It　won't　do　no　good　for　you　to　waste　time　seein'
him。　　Take　my　word　for　it　he's　all　right。　　But　there's　others
as　　For　the　land's　sakes；　Milt　Dale；　you　fetched　thet
cougar　back！　　Don't　let　him　near　me！〃

〃Tom　won't　hurt　you；　mother；〃　said　Dale；　as　the　cougar　came
padding　up　the　path。　　〃You　were　sayin'　somethin'　　about
others。　　Is　Miss　Helen　safe？　　Hurry！〃

〃Ride　up　to　see　her　　an'　waste　no　more　time　here。〃

Dale　was　quick　in　the　saddle；　followed　by　John；　but　the
horses　had　to　be　severely　punished　to　force　them　even　to　a
trot。　　And　that　was　a　lagging　trot；　which　now　did　not　leave
Torn　behind。

The　ride　up　to　Auchincloss's　ranch…house　seemed　endless　to
Dale。　　Natives　came　out　in　the　road　to　watch　after　he　had
passed。　　Stern　as　Dale　was　in　dominating　his　feelings；　he
could　not　wholly　subordinate　his　mounting　joy　to　a　waiting
terrible　anticipation　of　catastrophe。　　But　no　matter　what
awaited　　nor　what　fateful　events　might　hinge　upon　this
nameless　circumstance　about　to　be　disclosed；　the　wonderful
and　glorious　fact　of　the　present　was　that　in　a　moment　he
would　see　Helen　Rayner。

There　were　saddled　horses　in　the　courtyard；　but　no　riders。　　A
Mexican　boy　sat　on　the　porch　bench；　in　the　seat　where　Dale
remembered　he　had　encountered　Al　Auchincloss。　　The　door　of
the　big　sitting…room　was　open。　　The　scent　of　flowers；　the
murmur　of　bees；　the　pounding　of　hoofs　came　vaguely　to　Dale。
His　eyes　dimmed；　so　that　the　ground；　when　he　slid　out　of　his
saddle；　seemed　far　below　him。　　He　stepped　upon　the　porch。　　His
sight　suddenly　cleared。　　A　tight　fullness　at　his　throat　made
incoherent　the　words　he　said　to　the　Mexican　boy。　　But　they
were　understood；　as　the　boy　ran　back　around　the　house。　　Dale
knocked　sharply　and　stepped　over　the　threshold。

Outside；　John；　true　to　his　habits；　was　thinking；　even　in
that　moment　of　suspense；　about　the　faithful；　exhausted
horses。　　As　he　unsaddled　them　he　talked：　〃Fer　soft　an'　fat
hosses；　winterin'　high　up；　wal；　you've　done　somethin'！〃

Then　Dale　heard　a　voice　in　another　room；　a　step；　a　creak　of
the　door。　　It　opened。　　A　woman　in　white　appeared。　　He
recognized　Helen。　　But　instead　of　the　rich　brown　bloom　and
dark…eyed　beauty　so　hauntingly　limned　on　his　memory；　he　saw
a　white；　beautiful　face；　strained　and　quivering　in　anguish；
and　eyes　that　pierced　his　heart。　　He　could　not　speak。

〃Oh！　　my　friend　　you've　come！〃　she　whispered。

Dale　put　out　a　shaking　hand。　　But　she　did　not　see　it。　　She
clutched　his　shoulders；　as　if　to　feel　whether　or　not　he　was
real；　and　then　her　arms　went　up　round　his　neck。

〃Oh；　thank　God！　　I　knew　you　would　come！〃　she　said；　and　her
head　sank　to　his　shoulder。

Dale　divined　what　he　had　suspected。　　Helen's　sister　had　been
carried　off。　　Yet；　while　his　quick　mind　grasped　Helen's
broken　spirit　　the　unbalance　that　was　reason　for　this
marvelous　and　gl