the man of the forest-第7部分

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Helen。　　The　last　year　or　two；　since　Bo　had　grown　prettier　all
the　time；　she　had　been　a　magnet　for　admiring　glances。　　This
one　of　the　cowboy's　inspired　respect　and　liking；　as　well　as
amusement。　　It　certainly　was　not　lost　upon　Bo。

〃My　uncle　once　said　in　a　letter　that　he　never　had　enough　men
to　run　his　ranch；〃　replied　Helen；　smiling。
〃Shore　I'll　go。　　I　reckon　I'd　jest　naturally　drift　that　way
　now。〃

He　seemed　so　laconic；　so　easy；　so　nice；　that　he　could　not
have　been　taken　seriously；　yet　Helen's　quick　perceptions
registered　a　daring；　a　something　that　was　both　sudden　and
inevitable　in　him。　　His　last　word　was　as　clear　as　the　soft
look　he　fixed　upon　Bo。

Helen　had　a　mischievous　trait；　which；　subdue　it　as　she
would；　occasionally　cropped　out；　and　Bo；　who　once　in　her
wilful　life　had　been　rendered　speechless；　offered　such　a
temptation。

〃Maybe　my　little　sister　will　put　in　a　good　word　for　you　
to　Uncle　Al；〃　said　Helen。　　Just　then　the　train　jerked；　and
started　slowly。　　The　cowboy　took　two　long　strides　beside　the
car；　his　heated　boyish　face　almost　on　a　level　with　the
window；　his　eyes；　now　shy　and　a　little　wistful；　yet　bold；
too；　fixed　upon　Bo。

〃Good…by　　Sweetheart！〃　he　called。

He　halted　　was　lost　to　view。

〃Well！〃　ejaculated　Helen；　contritely；　half　sorry；　half
amused。　　〃What　a　sudden　young　gentleman！〃

Bo　had　blushed　beautifully。

〃Nell；　wasn't　he　glorious！〃　she　burst　out；　with　eyes
shining。

〃I'd　hardly　call　him　that；　but　he　was…nice；〃　replied　Helen；
much　relieved　that　Bo　had　apparently　not　taken　offense　at
her。

It　appeared　plain　that　Bo　resisted　a　frantic　desire　to　look
out　of　the　window　and　to　wave　her　hand。　　But　she　only　peeped
out；　manifestly　to　her　disappointment。

〃Do　you　think　he　　he'll　come　to　Uncle　Al's？〃　asked　Bo。

〃Child；　he　was　only　in　fun。〃

〃Nell；　I'll　bet　you　he　comes。　　Oh；　it'd　be　great！　　I'm　going
to　love　cowboys。　　They　don't　look　like　that　Harve　Riggs　who
ran　after　you　so。〃

Helen　sighed；　partly　because　of　the　reminder　of　her　odious
suitor；　and　partly　because　Bo's　future　already　called
mysteriously　to　the　child。　　Helen　had　to　be　at　once　a　mother
and　a　protector　to　a　girl　of　intense　and　wilful　spirit。

One　of　the　trainmen　directed　the　girls'　attention　to　a
green；　sloping　mountain　rising　to　a　bold；　blunt　bluff　of
bare　rock；　and；　calling　it　Starvation　Peak；　be　told　a　story
of　how　Indians　had　once　driven　Spaniards　up　there　and
starved　them。　　Bo　was　intensely　interested；　and　thereafter
she　watched　more　keenly　than　ever；　and　always　had　a　question
for　a　passing　trainman。　　The　adobe　houses　of　the　Mexicans
pleased　her；　and；　then　the　train　got　out　into　Indian
country；　where　pueblos　appeared　near　the　track　and　Indians
with　their　bright　colors　and　shaggy　wild　mustangs　　then
she　was　enraptured。

〃But　these　Indians　are　peaceful！〃　she　exclaimed　once；
regretfully。

〃Gracious；　child！　　You　don't　want　to　see　hostile　Indians；　do
you？〃　queried　Helen。

〃I　do；　you　bet；〃　was　the　frank　rejoinder。

〃Well；　I'LL　bet　that　I'll　be　sorry　I　didn't　leave　you　with
mother。〃

〃Nell　　you　never　will！〃


They　reached　Albuquerque　about　noon；　and　this　important
station；　where　they　had　to　change　trains；　had　been　the　first
dreaded　anticipation　of　the　journey。　　It　certainly　was　a　busy
place　　full　of　jabbering　Mexicans；　stalking；　red…faced；
wicked…looking　cowboys；　lolling　Indians。　　In　the　confusion
Helen　would　have　been　hard　put　to　it　to　preserve　calmness；
with　Bo　to　watch；　and　all　that　baggage　to　carry；　and　the
other　train　to　find；　but　the　kindly　brakeman　who　had　been
attentive　to　them　now　helped　them　off　the　train　into　the
other　　a　service　for　which　Helen　was　very　grateful。

〃Albuquerque's　a　hard　place；〃　confided　the　trainman。　　〃Better
stay　in　the　car　　and　don't　hang　out　the　windows。　。　。　。
Good　luck　to　you！〃

Only　a　few　passengers　were　in　the　car　and　they　were　Mexicans
at　the　forward　end。　　This　branch　train　consisted　of　one
passenger…coach；　with　a　baggage…car；　attached　to　a　string　of
freight…cars。　　Helen　told　herself；　somewhat　grimly；　that　soon
she　would　know　surely　whether　or　not　her　suspicions　of　Harve
Riggs　had　warrant。　　If　he　was　going　on　to　Magdalena　on　that
day　he　must　go　in　this　coach。　　Presently　Bo；　who　was　not
obeying　admonitions；　drew　her　head　out　of　the　window。　　Her
eyes　were　wide　in　amaze；　her　mouth　open。

〃Nell！　　I　saw　that　man　Riggs！〃　she　whispered。　　〃He's　going　to
get　on　this　train。〃

〃Bo；　I　saw　him　yesterday；〃　replied　Helen；　soberly。　　〃He's
followed　you　　the　　the　　〃

〃Now；　Bo；　don't　get　excited；〃　remonstrated　Helen。　　〃We've
left　home　now。　　We've　got　to　take　things　as　they　come。　　Never
mind　if　Riggs　has　followed　me。　　I'll　settle　him。〃

〃Oh！　　Then　you　won't　speak　　have　anything　to　do　with　him？〃

〃I　won't　if　I　can　help　it。〃

Other　passengers　boarded　the　train；　dusty；　uncouth；　ragged
men；　and　some　hard…featured；　poorly　clad　women；　marked　by
toil；　and　several　more　Mexicans。　　With　bustle　and　loud　talk
they　found　their　several　seats。

Then　Helen　saw　Harve　Riggs　enter；　burdened　with　much
luggage。　　He　was　a　man　of　about　medium　height；　of　dark；
flashy　appearance；　cultivating　long　black　mustache　and　hair。
His　apparel　was　striking；　as　it　consisted　of　black
frock…coat；　black　trousers　stuffed　in　high；　fancy…topped
boots；　an　embroidered　vest；　and　flowing　tie；　and　a　black
sombrero。　　His　belt　and　gun　were　prominent。　　It　was
significant　that　he　excited　comment　among　the　other
passengers。

When　he　had　deposited　his　pieces　of　baggage　he　seemed　to
square　himself；　and；　turning　abruptly；　approached　the　seat
occupied　by　the　girls。　　When　he　reached　it　he　sat　down　upon
the　arm　of　the　one　opposite；　took　off　his　sombrero；　and
deliberately　looked　at　Helen。　　His　eyes　were　light；　glinting；
with　hard；　restless　quiver；　and　his　mouth　was　coarse　and
arrogant。　　Helen　had　never　seen　him　detached　from　her　home
surroundings；　and　now　the　difference　struck　cold　upon　her
heart。

〃Hello；　Nell！〃　he　said。　　〃Surprised　to　see　me？〃

〃No；〃　she　replied；　coldly。

〃I'll　gamble　you　are。〃

〃Harve　Riggs；　I　told　you　the　day　before　I　left　home　that
nothing　you　could　do　or　say　mattered　to　me。〃

〃Reckon　that　ain't　so；　Nell。　　Any　woman　I　keep　track　of　has
reason　to　think。　　An'　you　know　it。〃

〃Then　you　followed　me　　out　here？〃　demanded　Helen；　and　her
voice；　despite　her　control；　quivered　with　anger

〃I　sure　did；〃　he　replied；　and　there　was　as　much　thought　of
himself　in　the　act　as　there　was　of　her。

〃Why？　　Why？　　It's　useless　　hopeless。〃

〃I　swore　I'd　have　you；　or　nobody　else　would；〃　he　replied；
and　here；　in　the　passion　of　his　voice　there　sounded　egotism
rather　than　hunger　for　a　woman's　love。　　〃But　I　reckon　I'd
have　struck　West　anyhow；　sooner　or　later。〃

〃You're　not　going　to　　all　the　way　　to　Pine？〃　faltered
Helen；　momentarily　weakening。

〃Nell；　I'll　camp　on　your　trail　from　now　on；〃　he　declared。

Then　Bo　sat　bolt…upright；　with　pale　face　and　flashing　eyes。

〃Harve　Riggs；　you　leave　Nell　alone；〃　she　burst　out；　in
ringing；　brave　young　voice。　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　　I'll　bet
　if　you　follow　her　and　nag　her　any　more；　my　uncle　Al　or
some　cowboy　will　run　you　out　of　the　country。〃

〃Hello；　Pepper！〃　replied　Riggs；　coolly。　　〃I　see　your　manners
haven't　improved　an'　you're　still　wild　about　cowboys。〃

〃People　don't　have　good　manners　with　　with　〃

〃Bo；　hush！〃　admonished　Helen。　　It　was　difficult　to　reprove　Bo
just　then；　for　that　young　lady　had　not　the　slightest　fear　of
Riggs。　　Indeed；　she　looked　as　if　she　could　slap　his　face。　　And
Helen　realized　that　however　her　intelligence　had　grasped　the
possibilities　of　leaving　home　for　a　wild　country；　and
whatever　her　determination　to　be　brave；　the　actual　beginning
of　self…reliance　had　left　her　spirit　weak。　　She　would　rise
out　of　that。　　But　just　now　this　flashing…eyed　little　sister
seemed　a　protector。　　Bo　would　readily　adapt　herself　to　the
West；　Helen　thought；　because　she　was　so　young；　primitive；
elemental。

Whereupon　Bo　turned　her　back　to　Riggs　and　looked　out　of　the
window。　　The　man　laughed。　　Then　he　stood　up　and　leaned　over
Helen。

〃Nell；　I'm　goin'　wherever　you　go；〃　he　said；　steadily。　　〃You
can　take　that　friendly　or　not；　just　as　it　pleases　you。　　But
if　you've　got　any　sense　you'll　not　give　these　people　out
here　a　hunch　against　me。　　I　might　hurt　somebody。　。　。　。　　An'
wouldn't　it　be　better　　to　act　friends？　　For　I'm　goin'　to
look　after　you；　whether　you　like　it　or　not。〃

Helen　had　considered　this　man　an　annoyance；　and　later　a
menace；　and　now　she　must　declare　open　enmity　with　him。
However　disgusting　the　idea　that　he　considered　himself　a
factor　in　her　new　life；　it　was　the　truth。　　He　existed；　he　had
control　over　his　movements。　　She　could　not　change　that。　　She
hated　the　need　of　thinking　so　much　about　him；　and　suddenly；
with　a　hot；　bursting　anger；　she　hated　the　man。

〃You'll　not　look　after　me。　　I'll　take　care　of　myself；〃　she
said；　and　she　turned　her　back　upon　him。　　She　heard　him　mutter
under　his　breath　and　slowly　move　away　down　the　car。　　Then　Bo
slipped　a　hand　in　hers。

〃Never　mind；　Nell；〃　she　whispered。　　〃You　know　what　old
Sheriff　Haines　said　about　Harve　Riggs。　　'A　four…flush
would…be　gun…fighter！　　If　he　ever　strikes　a　real　Western　town
he'll　get　run　out　of　it。'　I　just　wish　my　red…faced　cowboy
had　got　on　this　train！〃

Helen　felt　a　rush　of　gladness　that　she　had　yielded　to　Bo's
wild　importunities　to　take　her　West。　　The　spirit　which　had
made　Bo　incorrigible　at　home　probably　would　make　her　react
happily　to　life　out　in　this　free　country。　　Yet　Helen；　with
all　her　warmth　and　gratefulness；　had　to　laugh　at　her　sister。

〃Your　red…faced　cowboy！　　Why；　Bo；　you　were　scared　stiff。　　And
now　you　claim　him！〃

〃I　certainly　could　love　that　fellow；〃　replied　Bo；　dreamily。

〃Child；　you've　been　saying　that　about　fellows　for　a　long
time。　　And　you've　never　looked　twice　at　any　of　them　yet。〃

〃He　was　different。　。　。　。　　Nell；　I'll　bet　he　comes　to　Pine。〃

〃I　hope　he　does。　　I　wish　he　was　on　this　train。　　I　liked　his
looks；　Bo。〃

〃Well；　Nell　dear；　he　looked　at　ME　first　and　last　　so　don't
get　your　hopes　up。　。　。　。　　Oh；　the　train's　starting！　　。　。　。
Good…by；　Albu…ker　　what's　that　awful　name？　　。　。　。　　Nell；
let's　eat　dinner。　　I'm　starved。〃

Then　Helen　forgot　her　troubles　and　the　uncertain　future；　an