the man of the forest-第51部分

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snatched　it　up；　cocked　it；　aimed　it；　all　before　Anson　could
move。　　But　he　yelled：

〃Drop　thet　gun；　you　little　devil！〃

Riggs　turned　ghastly　as　the　big　blue　gun　lined　on　him。　　He
also　yelled；　but　that　yell　was　different　from　Anson's。

〃Run　or　dance！〃　cried　the　girl。

The　big　gun　boomed　and　leaped　almost　out　of　her　hand。　　She
took　both　hands；　and　called　derisively　as　she　fired　again。
The　second　bullet　hit　at　Riggs's　feet；　scattering　the　dust
and　fragments　of　stone　all　over　him。　　He　bounded　here　
there　　then　darted　for　the　rocks。　　A　third　time　the　heavy
gun　spoke　and　this　bullet　must　have　ticked　Riggs；　for　he　let
out　a　hoarse　bawl　and　leaped　sheer　for　the　protection　of　a
rock。

〃Plug　him！　　Shoot　off　a　leg！〃　yelled　Snake　Anson；　whooping
and　stamping；　as　Riggs　got　out　of　sight。

Jim　Wilson　watched　the　whole　performance　with　the　same
quietness　that　had　characterized　his　manner　toward　the　girl。
Then；　as　Riggs　disappeared；　Wilson　stepped　forward　and　took
the　gun　from　the　girl's　trembling　hands。　　She　was　whiter　than
ever；　but　still　resolute　and　defiant。　　Wilson　took　a　glance
over　in　the　direction　Riggs　had　hidden　and　then　proceeded　to
reload　the　gun。　　Snake　Anson's　roar　of　laughter　ceased　rather
suddenly。

〃Hyar；　Jim；　she　might　have　held　up　the　whole　gang　with　thet
gun；〃　he　protested。

〃I　reckon　she　'ain't　nothin'　ag'in'　us；〃　replied　Wilson。

〃A…huh！　　You　know　a　lot　about　wimmen　now；　don't　you？　　But　thet
did　my　heart　good。　　Jim；　what　'n　earth　would　you　have　did　if
thet　'd　been　you　instead　of　Riggs？〃

The　query　seemed　important　and　amazing。　　Wilson　pondered。

〃Shore　I'd　stood　there　　stock…still　　an'　never　moved　an
eye…winker。〃

〃An'　let　her　shoot！〃　ejaculated　Anson；　nodding　his　long
head。　　〃Me；　too！〃

So　these　rough　outlaws；　inured　to　all　the　violence　and
baseness　of　their　dishonest　calling；　rose　to　the　challenging
courage　of　a　slip　of　a　girl。　　She　had　the　one　thing　they
respected　　nerve。

Just　then　a　halloo；　from　the　promontory　brought　Anson　up
with　a　start。　　Muttering　to　himself；　he　strode　out　toward　the
jagged　rocks　that　hid　the　outlook。　　Moze　shuffled　his　burly
form　after　Anson。

〃Miss；　it　shore　was　grand　　thet　performance　of　Mister
Gunman　Riggs；〃　remarked　Jim　Wilson；　attentively　studying　the
girl。

〃Much　obliged　to　you　for　lending　me　your　gun；〃　she　replied。
〃I　　I　hope　I　hit　him　　a　little。〃

〃Wal；　if　you　didn't　sting　him；　then　Jim　Wilson　knows　nothin'
about　lead。〃

〃Jim　Wilson？　　Are　you　the　man　　the　outlaw　my　uncle　Al
knew？〃

〃Reckon　I　am；　miss。　　Fer　I　knowed　Al　shore　enough。　　What　'd　he
say　aboot　me？〃

〃I　remember　once　he　was　telling　me　about　Snake　Anson's　gang。
He　mentioned　you。　　Said　you　were　a　real　gun…fighter。　　And　what
a　shame　it　was　you　had　to　be　an　outlaw。〃

〃Wal！　　An'　so　old　Al　spoke　thet　nice　of　me。　。　。　。　　It's
tolerable　likely　I'll　remember。　　An'　now；　miss；　can　I　do
anythin'　for　you？〃

Swift　as　a　flash　she　looked　at　him。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Wal；　shore　I　don't　mean　much；　I'm　sorry　to　say。　　Nothin'　to
make　you　look　like　thet。　。　。　。　　I　hev　to　be　an　outlaw；　shore
as　you're　born。　　But　　mebbe　there's　a　difference　in
outlaws。〃

She　understood　him　and　paid　him　the　compliment　not　to　voice
her　sudden　upflashing　hope　that　he　might　be　one　to　betray
his　leader。

〃Please　take　this　rope　off　my　feet。　　Let　me　walk　a　little。
Let　me　have　a　　a　little　privacy。　　That　fool　watched　every
move　I　made。　　I　promise　not　to　run　away。　　And；　oh！　　I'm
thirsty。〃

〃Shore　you've　got　sense。〃　He　freed　her　feet　and　helped　her
get　up。　　〃There'll　be　some　fresh　water　any　minit　now；　if
you'll　wait。〃

Then　he　turned　his　back　and　walked　over　to　where　Riggs　sat
nursing　a　bullet…burn　on　his　leg。

〃Say；　Riggs；　I'm　takin'　the　responsibility　of　loosin'　the
girl　for　a　little　spell。　　She　can't　get　away。　　An'　there　ain't
any　sense　in　bein'　mean。〃

Riggs　made　no　reply；　and　went　on　rolling　down　his　trousers
leg；　lapped　a　fold　over　at　the　bottom　and　pulled　on　his
boot。　　Then　he　strode　out　toward　the　promontory。　　Half…way
there　he　encountered　Anson　tramping　back。

〃Beasley's　comin'　one　way　an'　Shady's　comin'　another。　　We'll
be　off　this　hot　point　of　rock　by　noon；〃　said　the　outlaw
leader。

Riggs　went　on　to　the　promontory　to　look　for　himself。

〃Where's　the　girl？〃　demanded　Anson；　in　surprise；　when　he　got
back　to　the　camp。

〃Wal；　she's　walkin'　'round　between　heah　an'　Pine；〃　drawled
Wilson。

〃Jim；　you　let　her　loose？〃

〃Shore　I　did。　　She's　been　hawg…tied　all　the　time。　　An'　she
said　she'd　not　run　off。　　I'd　take　thet　girl's　word　even　to　a
sheep…thief。〃

〃A…huh。　　So　would　I；　for　all　of　thet。　　But；　Jim；　somethin's
workin'　in　you。　　Ain't　you　sort　of　rememberin'　a　time　when
you　was　young　　an'　mebbe　knowed　pretty　kids　like　this
one？〃

〃Wal；　if　I　am　it　'll　shore　turn　out　bad　fer　somebody。〃

Anson　gave　him　a　surprised　stare　and　suddenly　lost　the
bantering　tone。

〃A…huh！　　So　thet's　how　it's　workin'；〃　he　replied；　and　flung
himself　down　in　the　shade。

Young　Burt　made　his　appearance　then；　wiping　his　sallow　face。
His　deep…set；　hungry　eyes；　upon　which　his　comrades　set　such
store；　roved　around　the　camp。

〃Whar's　the　gurl？〃　he　queried。

〃Jim　let　her　go　out　fer　a　stroll；〃　replied　Anson。

〃I　seen　Jim　was　gittin'　softy　over　her。　　Haw！　　Haw！　　Haw！〃

But　Snake　Anson　did　not　crack　a　smile。　　The　atmosphere
appeared　not　to　be　congenial　for　jokes；　a　fact　Burt　rather
suddenly　divined。　　Riggs　and　Moze　returned　from　the
promontory；　the　latter　reporting　that　Shady　Jones　was　riding
up　close。　　Then　the　girl　walked　slowly　into　sight　and
approached　to　find　a　seat　within　ten　yards　of　the　group。
They　waited　in　silence　until　the　expected　horseman　rode　up
with　water…bottles　slung　on　both　sides　of　his　saddle。　　His
advent　was　welcome。　　All　the　men　were　thirsty。　　Wilson　took
water　to　the　girl　before　drinking　himself。

〃Thet's　an　all…fired　hot　ride　fer　water；〃　declared　the
outlaw　Shady；　who　somehow　fitted　his　name　in　color　and
impression。　　〃An'；　boss；　if　it's　the　same　to　you　I　won't　take
it　ag'in。〃

〃Cheer　up；　Shady。　　We'll　be　rustlin'　back　in　the　mountains
before　sundown；〃　said　Anson。

〃Hang　me　if　that　ain't　the　cheerfulest　news　I've　hed　in　some
days。　　Hey；　Moze？〃

The　black…faced　Moze　nodded　his　shaggy　head。

〃I'm　sick　an'　sore　of　this　deal；〃　broke　out　Burt；　evidently
encouraged　by　his　elders。　　〃Ever　since　last　fall　we've　been
hangin'　'round　　till　jest　lately　freezin'　in　camps　　no
money　　no　drink　　no　grub　wuth　havin'。　　All　on　promises！〃

Not　improbably　this　young　and　reckless　member　of　the　gang
had　struck　the　note　of　discord。　　Wilson　seemed　most　detached
from　any　sentiment　prevailing　there。　　Some　strong　thoughts
were　revolving　in　his　brain。

〃Burt；　you　ain't　insinuatin'　thet　I　made　promises？〃　inquired
Anson；　ominously。

〃No；　boss；　I　ain't。　　You　allus　said　we　might　hit　it　rich。　　But
them　promises　was　made　to　you。　　An'　it　'd　be　jest　like　thet
greaser　to　go　back　on　his　word　now　we　got　the　gurl。〃

〃Son；　it　happens　we　got　the　wrong　one。　　Our　long…haired　pard
hyar　　Mister　Riggs　　him　with　the　big　gun　　he　waltzes
up　with　this　sassy　kid　instead　of　the　woman　Beasley　wanted。〃

Burt　snorted　his　disgust　while　Shady　Jones；　roundly
swearing；　pelted　the　smoldering　camp…fire　with　stones。　　Then
they　all　lapsed　into　surly　silence。　　The　object　of　their
growing　scorn；　Riggs；　sat　a　little　way　apart；　facing　none　of
them；　but　maintaining　as　bold　a　front　as　apparently　he　could
muster。

Presently　a　horse　shot　up　his　ears；　the　first　indication　of
scent　or　sound　imperceptible　to　the　men。　　But　with　this　cue
they　all；　except　Wilson；　sat　up　attentively。　　Soon　the　crack
of　iron…shod　hoofs　on　stone　broke　the　silence。　　Riggs
nervously　rose　to　his　feet。　　And　the　others；　still　excepting
Wilson；　one　by　one　followed　suit。　　In　another　moment　a　rangy
bay　horse　trotted　out　of　the　cedars；　up　to　the　camp；　and　his
rider　jumped　off　nimbly　for　so　heavy　a　man。

〃Howdy；　Beasley？〃　was　Anson's　greeting。

〃Hello；　Snake；　old　man！〃　replied　Beasley；　as　his　bold；
snapping　black　eyes　swept　the　group。　　He　was　dusty　and　hot；
and　wet　with　sweat；　yet　evidently　too　excited　to　feel
discomfort。　　〃I　seen　your　smoke　signal　first　off　an'　jumped
my　hoss　quick。　　But　I　rode　north　of　Pine　before　I　headed
'round　this　way。　　Did　you　corral　the　girl　or　did　Riggs？　　Say！
　you　look　queer！　　。　。　。　　What's　wrong　here？　　You　haven't
signaled　me　for　nothin'？

Snake　Anson　beckoned　to　Bo。

〃Come　out　of　the　shade。　　Let　him　look　you　over。〃

The　girl　walked　out　from　under　the　spreading　cedar　that　had
hidden　her　from　sight。

Beasley　stared　aghast　　his　jaw　dropped。

〃Thet's　the　kid　sister　of　the　woman　I　wanted！〃　he
ejaculated。

〃So　we've　jest　been　told。〃

Astonishment　still　held　Beasley。

〃Told？〃　he　echoed。　　Suddenly　his　big　body　leaped　with　a
start。　　〃Who　got　her？　　；　Who　fetched　her？〃

〃Why；　Mister　Gunman　Riggs　hyar；〃　replied　Anson；　with　a
subtle　scorn。

〃Riggs；　you　got　the　wrong　girl；〃　shouted　Beasley。　　〃You　made
thet　mistake　once　before。　　What're　you　up　to？〃

〃I　chased　her　an'　when　I　got　her；　seein'　it　wasn't　Nell
Rayner　　why　　I　kept　her；　anyhow；〃　replied　Riggs。　　〃An'
I've　got　a　word　for　your　ear　alone。〃

〃Man；　you're　crazy　　queerin'　my　deal　thet　way！〃　roared
Beasley。　　〃You　heard　my　plans。　。　。　。　　Riggs；　this
girl…stealin'　can't　be　done　twice。　　Was　you　drinkin'　or
locoed　or　what？〃

〃Beasley；　he　was　giving　you　the　double…cross；〃　cut　in　Bo
Rayner's　cool　voice。

The　rancher　stared　speechlessly　at　her；　then　at　Anson；　then
at　Wilson；　and　last　at　Riggs；　when　his　brown　visage　shaded
dark　with　rush　of　purple　blood。　　With　one　lunge　he　knocked
Riggs　flat；　then　stood　over　him　with　a　convulsive　hand　at
his　gun。

〃You　white…livered　card…sharp！　　I've　a　notion　to　bore　you。　。
。　。　　They　told　me　you　had　a　deal　of　your　own；　an'　now　I
believe　it。〃

〃Yes　　I　had；〃　replied　Riggs；　cautiously　getting　up。　　He　was
ghastly。　　〃But　I　wasn't　double…crossin'　you。　　Your　deal　was　to
get　the　girl　away　from　home　so　you　could　take　possession　of
her　property。　　An'　I　wanted　her。〃

〃What　for　did　you　fetch　the　sister；　then？〃　demanded　Beasley；
his　big　jaw　bulging。

〃Because　I've　a　plan　to　〃

〃Plan　hell！　　You've　spoiled　my　plan　an'　I've　seen　about
enough　of　you。〃　Beasley　breathed　har