the man of the forest-第6部分

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sheep　Anson's　gang　steals。　。　。　。　　An'　drives　the　herds　to
Phenix！　　Our　people　won't　let　us　accuse　Beasley。　　So　we've
suffered　in　silence。　　My　father　always　said；　let　some　one
else　say　the　first　word　against　Beasley；　an'　you've　come　to
us！〃

Roy　Beeman　put　a　hand　on　Dale's　shoulder。　　He；　perhaps；　was
the　keenest　of　the　brothers　and　the　one　to　whom　adventure
and　peril　called　most。　　He　had　been　oftenest　with　Dale；　on
many　a　long　trail；　and　he　was　the　hardest　rider　and　the　most
relentless　tracker　in　all　that　range　country。

〃An'　we're　goin'　with　you；〃　he　said；　in　a　strong　and　rolling
voice。

They　resumed　their　seats　before　the　fire。　　John　threw　on　more
wood；　and　with　a　crackling　and　sparkling　the　blaze　curled
up；　fanned　by　the　wind。　　As　twilight　deepened　into　night　the
moan　in　the　pines　increased　to　a　roar。　　A　pack　of　coyotes
commenced　to　pierce　the　air　in　staccato　cries。

The　five　young　men　conversed　long　and　earnestly；
considering；　planning；　rejecting　ideas　advanced　by　each。
Dale　and　Roy　Beeman　suggested　most　of　what　became　acceptable
to　all。　　Hunters　of　their　type　resembled　explorers　in　slow
and　deliberate　attention　to　details。　　What　they　had　to　deal
with　here　was　a　situation　of　unlimited　possibilities；　the
horses　and　outfit　needed；　a　long　detour　to　reach　Magdalena
unobserved；　the　rescue　of　a　strange　girl　who　would　no　doubt
be　self…willed　and　determined　to　ride　on　the　stage　　the
rescue　forcible；　if　necessary；　the　fight　and　the　inevitable
pursuit；　the　flight　into　the　forest；　and　the　safe　delivery
of　the　girl　to　Auchincloss。

〃Then；　Milt；　will　we　go　after　Beasley？〃　queried　Roy　Beeman；
significantly。

Dale　was　silent　and　thoughtful。

〃Sufficient　unto　the　day！〃　said　John。　　〃An；　fellars；　let's　go
to　bed。〃

They　rolled　out　their　tarpaulins；　Dale　sharing　Roy's
blankets；　and　soon　were　asleep；　while　the　red　embers　slowly
faded；　and　the　great　roar　of　wind　died　down；　and　the　forest
stillness　set　in。



CHAPTER　IV

Helen　Rayner　had　been　on　the　westbound　overland　train　fully
twenty…four　hours　before　she　made　an　alarming　discovery。

Accompanied　by　her　sister　Bo；　a　precocious　girl　of　sixteen；
Helen　had　left　St。　　Joseph　with　a　heart　saddened　by　farewells
to　loved　ones　at　home；　yet　full　of　thrilling　and　vivid
anticipations　of　the　strange　life　in　the　Far　West。　　All　her
people　had　the　pioneer　spirit；　love　of　change；　action；
adventure；　was　in　her　blood。　　Then　duty　to　a　widowed　mother
with　a　large　and　growing　family　had　called　to　Helen　to
accept　this　rich　uncle's　offer。　　She　had　taught　school　and
also　her　little　brothers　and　sisters；　she　had　helped　along
in　other　ways。　　And　now；　though　the　tearing　up　of　the　roots
of　old　loved　ties　was　hard；　this　opportunity　was
irresistible　in　its　call。　　The　prayer　of　her　dreams　had　been
answered。　　To　bring　good　fortune　to　her　family；　to　take　care
of　this　beautiful；　wild　little　sister；　to　leave　the　yellow；
sordid；　humdrum　towns　for　the　great；　rolling；　boundless
open；　to　live　on　a　wonderful　ranch　that　was　some　day　to　be
her　own；　to　have　fulfilled　a　deep；　instinctive；　and
undeveloped　love　of　horses；　cattle；　sheep；　of　desert　and
mountain；　of　trees　and　brooks　and　wild　flowers　　all　this
was　the　sum　of　her　most　passionate　longings；　now　in　some
marvelous；　fairylike　way　to　come　true。

A　check　to　her　happy　anticipations；　a　blank；　sickening　dash
of　cold　water　upon　her　warm　and　intimate　dreams；　had　been
the　discovery　that　Harve　Riggs　was　on　the　train。　　His
presence　could　mean　only　one　thing　　that　he　had　followed
her。　　Riggs　had　been　the　worst　of　many　sore　trials　back　there
in　St。　　Joseph。　　He　had　possessed　some　claim　or　influence　upon
her　mother；　who　favored　his　offer　of　marriage　to　Helen；　he
was　neither　attractive；　nor　good；　nor　industrious；　nor
anything　that　interested　her；　he　was　the　boastful；　strutting
adventurer；　not　genuinely　Western；　and　he　affected　long　hair
and　guns　and　notoriety。　　Helen　had　suspected　the　veracity　of
the　many　fights　he　claimed　had　been　his；　and　also　she
suspected　that　he　was　not　really　big　enough　to　be　bad　　as
Western　men　were　bad。　　But　on　the　train；　in　the　station　at　La
Junta；　one　glimpse　of　him；　manifestly　spying　upon　her　while
trying　to　keep　out　of　her　sight；　warned　Helen　that　she　now
might　have　a　problem　on　her　hands。

The　recognition　sobered　her。　　All　was　not　to　be　a　road　of
roses　to　this　new　home　in　the　West。　　Riggs　would　follow　her；
if　he　could　not　accompany　her；　and　to　gain　his　own　ends　he
would　stoop　to　anything。　　Helen　felt　the　startling
realization　of　being　cast　upon　her　own　resources；　and　then　a
numbing　discouragement　and　loneliness　and　helplessness。　　But
these　feelings　did　not　long　persist　in　the　quick　pride　and
flash　of　her　temper。　　Opportunity　knocked　at　her　door　and　she
meant　to　be　at　home　to　it。　　She　would　not　have　been　Al
Auchincloss's　niece　if　she　had　faltered。　　And；　when　temper
was　succeeded　by　genuine　anger；　she　could　have　laughed　to
scorn　this　Harve　Riggs　and　his　schemes；　whatever　they　were。
Once　and　for　all　she　dismissed　fear　of　him。　　When　she　left
St。　　Joseph　she　had　faced　the　West　with　a　beating　heart　and　a
high　resolve　to　be　worthy　of　that　West。　　Homes　had　to　be　made
out　there　in　that　far　country；　so　Uncle　Al　had　written；　and
women　were　needed　to　make　homes。　　She　meant　to　be　one　of
these　women　and　to　make　of　her　sister　another。　　And　with　the
thought　that　she　would　know　definitely　what　to　say　to　Riggs
when　he　approached　her；　sooner　or　later；　Helen　dismissed　him
from　mind。

While　the　train　was　in　motion；　enabling　Helen　to　watch　the
ever…changing　scenery；　and　resting　her　from　the　strenuous
task　of　keeping　Bo　well　in　hand　at　stations；　she　lapsed
again　into　dreamy　gaze　at　the　pine　forests　and　the　red；
rocky　gullies　and　the　dim；　bold　mountains。　　She　saw　the　sun
set　over　distant　ranges　of　New　Mexico　　a　golden　blaze　of
glory；　as　new　to　her　as　the　strange　fancies　born　in　her；
thrilling　and　fleeting　by。　　Bo's　raptures　were　not　silent；
and　the　instant　the　sun　sank　and　the　color　faded　she　just　as
rapturously　importuned　Helen　to　get　out　the　huge　basket　of
food　they　bad　brought　from　home。

They　had　two　seats；　facing　each　other；　at　the　end　of　the
coach；　and　piled　there；　with　the　basket　on　top；　was　luggage
that　constituted　all　the　girls　owned　in　the　world。　　Indeed；
it　was　very　much　more　than　they　had　ever　owned　before；
because　their　mother；　in　her　care　for　them　and　desire　to
have　them　look　well　in　the　eyes　of　this　rich　uncle；　had
spent　money　and　pains　to　give　them　pretty　and　serviceable
clothes。

The　girls　sat　together；　with　the　heavy　basket　on　their
knees；　and　ate　while　they　gazed　out　at　the　cool；　dark
ridges。　　The　train　clattered　slowly　on；　apparently　over　a
road　that　was　all　curves。　　And　it　was　supper…time　for
everybody　in　that　crowded　coach。　　If　Helen　had　not　been　so
absorbed　by　the　great；　wild　mountain…land　she　would　have　had
more　interest　in　the　passengers。　　As　it　was　she　saw　them；　and
was　amused　and　thoughtful　at　the　men　and　women　and　a　few
children　in　the　car；　all　middle…class　people；　poor　and
hopeful；　traveling　out　there　to　the　New　West　to　find　homes。
It　was　splendid　and　beautiful；　this　fact；　yet　it　inspired　a
brief　and　inexplicable　sadness。　　From　the　train　window；　that
world　of　forest　and　crag；　with　its　long　bare　reaches
between；　seemed　so　lonely；　so　wild；　so　unlivable。　　How
endless　the　distance！　　For　hours　and　miles　upon　miles　no
house；　no　hut；　no　Indian　tepee！　　It　was　amazing；　the　length
and　breadth　of　this　beautiful　land。　　And　Helen；　who　loved
brooks　and　running　streams；　saw　no　water　at　all。

Then　darkness　settled　down　over　the　slow…moving　panorama；　a
cool　night　wind　blew　in　at　the　window；　white　stars　began　to
blink　out　of　the　blue。　　The　sisters；　with　hands　clasped　and
heads　nestled　together；　went　to　sleep　under　a　heavy　cloak。


Early　the　next　morning；　while　the　girls　were　again　delving
into　their　apparently　bottomless　basket；　the　train　stopped
at　Las　Vegas。

〃Look！　　Look！〃　cried　Bo；　in　thrilling　voice。　　〃Cowboys！　　Oh；
Nell；　look！〃

Helen；　laughing；　looked　first　at　her　sister；　and　thought　how
most　of　all　she　was　good　to　look　at。　　Bo　was　little；　instinct
with　pulsating　life；　and　she　had　chestnut　hair　and　dark…blue
eyes。　　These　eyes　were　flashing；　roguish；　and　they　drew　like
magnets。

Outside　on　the　rude　station　platform　were　railroad　men；
Mexicans；　and　a　group　of　lounging　cowboys。　　Long；　lean；
bow…legged　fellows　they　were；　with　young；　frank　faces　and
intent　eyes。　　One　of　them　seemed　particularly　attractive　with
his　superb　build；　his　red…bronze　face　and　bright…red　scarf；
his　swinging　gun；　and　the　huge；　long；　curved　spurs。
Evidently　he　caught　Bo's　admiring　gaze；　for；　with　a　word　to
his　companions；　he　sauntered　toward　the　window　where　the
girls　sat。　　His　gait　was　singular；　almost　awkward；　as　if　he
was　not　accustomed　to　walking。　　The　long　spurs　jingled
musically。　　He　removed　his　sombrero　and　stood　at　ease；　frank；
cool；　smiling。　　Helen　liked　him　on　sight；　and；　looking　to　see
what　effect　he　had　upon　Bo；　she　found　that　young　lady
staring；　frightened　stiff。

〃Good　mawnin'；〃　drawled　the　cowboy；　with　slow；　good…humored
smile。　　〃Now　where　might　you…all　be　travelin'？〃

The　sound　of　his　voice；　the　clean…cut　and　droll　geniality；
seemed　new　and　delightful　to　Helen。

〃We　go　to　Magdalena　　then　take　stage　for　the　White
Mountains；〃　replied　Helen。

The　cowboy's　still；　intent　eyes　showed　surprise。

〃Apache　country；　miss；〃　he　said。　　〃I　reckon　I'm　sorry。　　Thet's
shore　no　place　for　you…all　。　。　。　　Beggin'　your　pawdin　　you
ain't　Mormons？〃

〃No。　　We're　nieces　of　Al　Auchincloss；〃　rejoined　Helen。

〃Wal；　you　don't　say！　　I've　been　down　Magdalena　way　an'　heerd
of　Al。　。　。　。　　Reckon　you're　goin'　a…visitin'？〃

〃It's　to　be　home　for　us。〃

〃Shore　thet's　fine。　　The　West　needs　girls。　。　。　。　　Yes；　I've
heerd　of　Al。　　An　old　Arizona　cattle…man　in　a　sheep　country！
Thet's　bad。　。　。　。　　Now　I'm　wonderin'　　if　I'd　drift　down
there　an'　ask　him　for　a　job　ridin'　for　him　　would　I　get
it？〃

His　lazy　smile　was　infectious　and　his　meaning　was　as　clear
as　crystal　water。　　The　gaze　he　bent　upon　Bo　somehow　pleased
Helen。　　The　last　year　or　two；　since　Bo　had　grown　prettier　all
the　time；　she　had　been　a　magnet　for　admiring　glances。　　This
one