the twins of table mountain-第15章

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distance　from　the　guides。

Miss　Alice　shrugged　her　pretty　shoulders　scornfully；　but　ignored
her　mother's　implication。

〃You　were　particularly　warned　against　going　into　the　valley　at　this
season；〃　she　only　replied　grimly。

Mrs。　Rightbody　raised　her　eyes　impatiently。

〃You　know　how　anxious　I　was　to　discover　your　poor　father's　strange
correspondent；　Alice。　　You　have　no　consideration。〃

〃But　when　YOU　HAVE　discovered　himwhat　then？〃　queried　Miss　Alice。

〃What　then？〃

〃Yes。　　My　belief　is；　that　you　will　find　the　telegram　only　a　mere
business　cipher；　and　all　this　quest　mere　nonsense。〃

〃Alice！　　Why；　YOU　yourself　thought　your　father's　conduct　that　night
very　strange。　　Have　you　forgotten？〃

The　young　lady　had　NOT；　but；　for　some　far…reaching　feminine　reason；
chose　to　ignore　it　at　that　moment；　when　her　late　tumble　in　the　snow
was　still　fresh　in　her　mind。

〃And　this　woman；　whoever　she　may　be〃　continued　Mrs。　Rightbody。

〃How　do　you　know　there's　a　woman　in　the　case？〃　interrupted　Miss
Alice；　wickedly　I　fear。

〃How　doIknowthere's　a　woman？〃　slowly　ejaculated　Mrs。
Rightbody；　floundering　in　the　snow　and　the　unexpected　possibility
of　such　a　ridiculous　question。　　But　here　her　guide　flew　to　her
assistance；　and　estopped　further　speech。　　And；　indeed；　a　grave
problem　was　before　them。

The　road　that　led　to　their　single　place　of　refugea　cabin；　half
hotel；　half　trading…post；　scarce　a　mile　awayskirted　the　base　of
the　rocky　dome；　and　passed　perilously　near　the　precipitous　wall　of
the　valley。　　There　was　a　rapid　descent　of　a　hundred　yards　or　more
to　this　terrace…like　passage；　and　the　guides　paused　for　a　moment　of
consultation；　cooly　oblivious；　alike　to　the　terrified　questioning
of　Mrs。　Rightbody；　or　the　half…insolent　independence　of　the
daughter。　　The　elder　guide　was　russet…bearded；　stout；　and　humorous：
the　younger　was　dark…bearded；　slight；　and　serious。

〃Ef　you　kin　git　young　Bunker　Hill　to　let　you　tote　her　on　your
shoulders；　I'll　git　the　Madam　to　hang　on　to　me；〃　came　to　Mrs。
Rightbody's　horrified　ears　as　the　expression　of　her　particular
companion。

〃Freeze　to　the　old　gal；　and　don't　reckon　on　me　if　the　daughter
starts　in　to　play　it　alone；〃　was　the　enigmatical　response　of　the
younger　guide。

Miss　Alice　overheard　both　propositions；　and；　before　the　two　men
returned　to　their　side；　that　high…spirited　young　lady　had　urged　her
horse　down　the　declivity。

Alas！　at　this　moment　a　gust　of　whirling　snow　swept　down　upon　her。
There　was　a　flounder；　a　mis…step；　a　fatal　strain　on　the　wrong　rein；
a　fall；　a　few　plucky　but　unavailing　struggles；　and　both　horse　and
rider　slid　ignominiously　down　toward　the　rocky　shelf。　　Mrs。
Rightbody　screamed。　　Miss　Alice；　from　a　confused　debris　of　snow　and
ice；　uplifted　a　vexed　and　coloring　face　to　the　younger　guide；　a
little　the　more　angrily；　perhaps；　that　she　saw　a　shade　of　impatience
on　his　face。

〃Don't　move；　but　tie　one　end　of　the　'lass'　under　your　arms；　and
throw　me　the　other；〃　he　said　quietly。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　'lass'the　lasso？〃　asked　Miss　Alice
disgustedly。

〃Yes；　ma'am。〃

〃Then　why　don't　you　say　so？〃

〃O　Alice！〃　reproachfully　interpolated　Mrs。　Rightbody；　encircled　by
the　elder　guide's　stalwart　arm。

Miss　Alice　deigned　no　reply；　but　drew　the　loop　of　the　lasso　over
her　shoulders；　and　let　it　drop　to　her　round　waist。　　Then　she
essayed　to　throw　the　other　end　to　her　guide。　　Dismal　failure！　　The
first　fling　nearly　knocked　her　off　the　ledge；　the　second　went　all
wild　against　the　rocky　wall；　the　third　caught　in　a　thorn…bush；
twenty　feet　below　her　companion's　feet。　　Miss　Alice's　arm　sunk
helplessly　to　her　side；　at　which　signal　of　unqualified　surrender；
the　younger　guide　threw　himself　half　way　down　the　slope；　worked　his
way　to　the　thorn…bush；　hung　for　a　moment　perilously　over　the
parapet；　secured　the　lasso；　and　then　began　to　pull　away　at　his
lovely　burden。　　Miss　Alice　was　no　dead　weight；　however；　but
steadily　half…scrambled　on　her　hands　and　knees　to　within　a　foot　or
two　of　her　rescuer。　　At　this　too　familiar　proximity；　she　stood　up；
and　leaned　a　little　stiffly　against　the　line；　causing　the　guide　to
give　an　extra　pull；　which　had　the　lamentable　effect　of　landing　her
almost　in　his　arms。

As　it　was；　her　intelligent　forehead　struck　his　nose　sharply；　and　I
regret　to　add；　treating　of　a　romantic　situation；　caused　that
somewhat　prominent　sign　and　token　of　a　hero　to　bleed　freely。　　Miss
Alice　instantly　clapped　a　handful　of　snow　over　his　nostrils。

〃Now　elevate　your　right　arm；〃　she　said　commandingly。

He　did　as　he　was　bidden；　but　sulkily。

〃That　compresses　the　artery。〃

No　man；　with　a　pretty　woman's　hand　and　a　handful　of　snow　over　his
mouth　and　nose；　could　effectively　utter　a　heroic　sentence；　nor；
with　his　arm　elevated　stiffly　over　his　head；　assume　a　heroic
attitude。　　But；　when　his　mouth　was　free　again；　he　said　half…
sulkily；　half…apologetically；

〃I　might　have　known　a　girl　couldn't　throw　worth　a　cent。〃

〃Why？〃　demanded　Miss　Alice　sharply。

〃Becausewhybecauseyou　seethey　haven't　got　the　experience；〃
he　stammered　feebly。

〃Nonsense！　they　haven't　the　CLAVICLEthat's　all！　　It's　because　I'm
a　woman；　and　smaller　in　the　collar…bone；　that　I　haven't　the　play　of
the　fore…arm　which　you　have。　　See！〃　　She　squared　her　shoulders
slightly；　and　turned　the　blaze　of　her　dark　eyes　full　on　his。
〃Experience；　indeed！　　A　girl　can　learn　anything　a　boy　can。〃

Apprehension　took　the　place　of　ill…humor　in　her　hearer。　　He　turned
his　eyes　hastily　away；　and　glanced　above　him。　　The　elder　guide　had
gone　forward　to　catch　Miss　Alice's　horse；　which；　relieved　of　his
rider；　was　floundering　toward　the　trail。　　Mrs。　Rightbody　was
nowhere　to　be　seen。　　And　these　two　were　still　twenty　feet　below　the
trail！

There　was　an　awkward　pause。

〃Shall　I　put　you　up　the　same　way？〃　he　queried。　　Miss　Alice　looked
at　his　nose；　and　hesitated。　　〃Or　will　you　take　my　hand？〃　he　added
in　surly　impatience。　　To　his　surprise；　Miss　Alice　took　his　hand；
and　they　began　the　ascent　together。

But　the　way　was　difficult　and　dangerous。　　Once　or　twice　her　feet
slipped　on　the　smoothly…worn　rock　beneath；　and　she　confessed　to　an
inward　thankfulness　when　her　uncertain　feminine　hand…grip　was
exchanged　for　his　strong　arm　around　her　waist。　　Not　that　he　was
ungentle；　but　Miss　Alice　angrily　felt　that　he　had　once　or　twice
exercised　his　superior　masculine　functions　in　a　rough　way；　and　yet
the　next　moment　she　would　have　probably　rejected　the　idea　that　she
had　even　noticed　it。　　There　was　no　doubt；　however；　that　he　WAS　a
little　surly。

A　fierce　scramble　finally　brought　them　back　in　safety　to　the　trail；
but　in　the　action　Miss　Alice's　shoulder；　striking　a　projecting
bowlder；　wrung　from　her　a　feminine　cry　of　pain；　her　first　sign　of
womanly　weakness。　　The　guide　stopped　instantly。

〃I　am　afraid　I　hurt　you？〃

She　raised　her　brown　lashes；　a　trifle　moist　from　suffering；　looked
in　his　eyes；　and　dropped　her　own。　　Why；　she　could　not　tell。　　And
yet　he　had　certainly　a　kind　face；　despite　its　seriousness；　and　a
fine　face；　albeit　unshorn　and　weather…beaten。　　Her　own　eyes　had
never　been　so　near　to　any　man's　before；　save　her　lover's；　and　yet
she　had　never　seen　so　much　in　even　his。　　She　slipped　her　hand　away；
not　with　any　reference　to　him；　but　rather　to　ponder　over　this
singular　experience；　and　somehow　felt　uncomfortable　thereat。

Nor　was　he　less　so。　　It　was　but　a　few　days　ago　that　he　had　accepted
the　charge　of　this　young　woman　from　the　elder　guide；　who　was　the
recognized　escort　of　the　Rightbody　party；　having　been　a　former
correspondent　of　her　father's。　　He　had　been　hired　like　any　other
guide；　but　had　undertaken　the　task　with　that　chivalrous　enthusiasm
which　the　average　Californian　always　extends　to　the　sex　so　rare　to
him。　　But　the　illusion　had　passed；　and　he　had　dropped　into　a　sulky；
practical　sense　of　his　situation；　perhaps　fraught　with　less　danger
to　himself。　　Only　when　appealed　to　by　his　manhood　or　her　weakness；
he　had　forgotten　his　wounded　vanity。

He　strode　moodily　ahead；　dutifully　breaking　the　path　for　her　in　the
direction　of　the　distant　canyon；　where　Mrs。　Rightbody　and　her
friend　awaited　them。　　Miss　Alice　was　first　to　speak。　　In　this
trackless；　uncharted　terra　incognita　of　the　passions；　it　is　always
the　woman　who　steps　out　to　lead　the　way。

〃You　know　this　place　very　well。　　I　suppose　you　have　lived　here
long？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　were　not　born　hereno？〃

A　long　pause。

〃I　observe　they　call　you　'Stanislaus　Joe。'　　Of　course　that　is　not
your　real　name？〃　　（Mem。Miss　Alice　had　never　called　him　ANYTHING；
usually　prefacing　any　request　with　a　languid；　〃O…er…er；　please；
mister…er…a！〃　explicit　enough　for　his　station。）

〃No。〃

Miss　Alice　（trotting　after　him；　and　bawling　in　his　ear）。〃WHAT
name　did　you　say？〃

The　Man　（doggedly）。〃I　don't　know。〃　　Nevertheless；　when　they
reached　the　cabin；　after　an　half…hour's　buffeting　with　the　storm；
Miss　Alice　applied　herself　to　her　mother's　escort；　Mr。　Ryder。

〃What's　the　name　of　the　man　who　takes　care　of　my　horse？〃

〃Stanislaus　Joe；〃　responded　Mr。　Ryder。

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃No。　　Sometimes　he's　called　Joe　Stanislaus。〃

Miss　Alice　（satirically）。〃I　suppose　it's　the　custom　here　to　send
young　ladies　out　with　gentlemen　who　hide　their　names　under　an
alias？〃

Mr。　Ryder　（greatly　perplexed）。〃Why；　dear　me；　Miss　Alice；　you
allers　'peared　to　me　as　a　gal　as　was　able　to　take　keer〃

Miss　Alice　（interrupting　with　a　wounded；　dove…like　timidity）。〃Oh；
never　mind；　please！〃

The　cabin　offered　but　scanty　accommodation　to　the　tourists；　which
fact；　when　indignantly　presented　by　Mrs。　Rightbody；　was　explained
by　the　good…humored　Ryder　from　the　circumstance　that　the　usual
hotel　was　only　a　slight　affair　of　boards；　cloth；　and　paper；　put　up
during　the　season；　and　partly　dismantled　in　the　fall。　　〃You
couldn't　be　kept　warm　enough　there；〃　he　added。　　Nevertheless　Miss
Alice　noticed　that　both　Mr。　Ryder　and　Stanislaus　Joe　retired　there
with　their　pipes；　after　having　prepared　the　ladies'　supper；　with
the　assistance　of　an　Indian　woman；　who　apparently　emerged　from　the
earth　at　the　coming　of　the　party；　and　disappeared　as　mysteriously。

The　stars　came　out　brightly　before　they　slept；　and　the　next　morning
a　clear；　unwinking　sun　beamed　with　almost　summer　power　through　the
shutterless　window　of　their　cabin；　and　ironically　disclosed　the
details　of　its　rude　interior。　　Two　or　three　mangy；　half…eaten
buffalo…robes；　a　bearskin；　some　suspicious…looking　blankets；　rifles
and　saddles；　deal…tables；　and　barrels；　made　up　its　scant　inventory。
A　strip　of　faded　calico　hung　before　a　recess　near　the　chimney；　but
so　blackened　by　smoke　and　age　that　even　feminine　curiosity
respected　its　secret。　　Mrs。　Rightbody　was　in　high　spirits；　and
informed　her　daughter　that　she　was　at　last　on　the　track　of　her
husband's　unknown　correspondent。　　〃Seventy…Four　and　Seventy…Five
represent　two　members　of　the　Vigilance　Committee；　my　dear；　and　Mr。
Ryder　will　assist　me　to　find　them。〃

〃Mr。　Ryder！〃　ejaculated　Miss　Alice；　in　scornful　astonishment。

〃Alice；〃　said　Mrs。　Rightbody；　with　a　suspicious　assumption　of
sudden　defence；　〃you　injure　yourself；　you　injure　me；　by　this
exclusive　attitude。　　Mr。　Ryder　is　a　friend　of　your　father's；　an
exceedingly　well…informed　gentleman。　　I　have　not；　of　course；
imparted　to