the man of the forest-第12章

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horses　and　prying　into　the　packs。　　She　was　curious　and　eager。

Dale　and　Roy　talked　in　low　tones　while　they　cleaned　up　the
utensils　and　packed　them　away　in　a　heavy　canvas　bag。

〃You　really　expect　Anson　'll　strike　my　trail　this　mornin'？〃
Dale　was　asking。

〃I　shore　do；〃　replied　Roy。

〃An'　how　do　you　figure　that　so　soon？〃

〃How'd　you　figure　it　　if　you　was　Snake　Anson？〃　queried
Roy；　in　reply。

〃Depends　on　that　rider　from　Magdalena；〃　Said　Dale；　soberly。
〃Although　it's　likely　I'd　seen　them　wheel　tracks　an'　hoss
tracks　made　where　we　turned　off。　　But　supposin'　he　does。〃

〃Milt；　listen。　　I　told　you　Snake　met　us　boys　face　to　face　day
before　yesterday　in　Show　Down。　　An'　he　was　plumb　curious。〃

〃But　he　missed　seein'　or　hearin'　about　me；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Mebbe　he　did　an'　mebbe　he　didn't。　　Anyway；　what's　the
difference　whether　he　finds　out　this　mornin'　or　this
evenin'？〃

〃Then　you　ain't　expectin'　a　fight　if　Anson　holds　up　the
stage？〃

〃Wal；　he'd　have　to　shoot　first；　which　ain't　likely。　　John　an'
Hal；　since　thet　shootin'…scrape　a　year　ago；　have　been　sort
of　gun…shy。　　Joe　might　get　riled。　　But　I　reckon　the　best　we
can　be　shore　of　is　a　delay。　　An'　it'd　be　sense　not　to　count
on　thet。〃

〃Then　you　hang　up　here　an'　keep　watch　for　Anson's　gang　
say　long　enough　so's　to　be　sure　they'd　be　in　sight　if　they
find　our　tracks　this　mornin'。　　Makin'　sure　one　way　or
another；　you　ride　'cross…country　to　Big　Spring；　where　I'll
camp　to…night。〃

Roy　nodded　approval　of　that　suggestion。　　Then　without　more
words　both　men　picked　up　ropes　and　went　after　the　horses。
Helen　was　watching　Dale；　so　that　when　Bo　cried　out　in　great
excitement　Helen　turned　to　see　a　savage　yellow　little
mustang　standing　straight　up　on　his　hind　legs　and　pawing　the
air。　　Roy　had　roped　him　and　was　now　dragging　him　into　camp。

〃Nell；　look　at　that　for　a　wild　pony！〃　exclaimed　Bo。

Helen　busied　herself　getting　well　out　of　the　way　of　the
infuriated　mustang。　　Roy　dragged　him　to　a　cedar　near　by。

〃Come　now；　Buckskin；〃　said　Roy；　soothingly；　and　he　slowly
approached　the　quivering　animal。　　He　went　closer；　hand　over
hand；　on　the　lasso。　　Buckskin　showed　the　whites　of　his　eyes
and　also　his　white　teeth。　　But　he　stood　while　Roy　loosened
the　loop　and；　slipping　it　down　over　his　head；　fastened　it　in
a　complicated　knot　round　his　nose。

〃Thet's　a　hackamore；〃　he　said；　indicating　the　knot。　　He's
never　had　a　bridle；　an'　never　will　have　one；　I　reckon。〃

〃You　don't　ride　him？〃　queried　Helen。

〃Sometimes　I　do；〃　replied　Roy；　with　a　smile。　　〃Would　you
girls　like　to　try　him？〃

〃Excuse　me；〃　answered　Helen。

〃Gee！〃　ejaculated　Bo。　　〃He　looks　like　a　devil。　　But　I'd　tackle
him　　if　you　think　I　could。〃

The　wild　leaven　of　the　West　had　found　quick　root　in　Bo
Rayner。

〃Wal；　I'm　sorry；　but　I　reckon　I'll　not　let　you　　for　a
spell；〃　replied　Roy；　dryly。

〃He　pitches　somethin'　powerful　bad。〃

〃Pitches。　　You　mean　bucks？〃

〃I　reckon。〃

In　the　next　half…hour　Helen　saw　more　and　learned　more　about
how　horses　of　the　open　range　were　handled　than　she　had　ever
heard　of。　　Excepting　Ranger；　and　Roy's　bay；　and　the　white
pony　Bo　rode；　the　rest　of　the　horses　had　actually　to　be
roped　and　hauled　into　camp　to　be　saddled　and　packed。　　It　was
a　job　for　fearless；　strong　men；　and　one　that　called　for
patience　as　well　as　arms　of　iron。　　So　that　for　Helen　Rayner
the　thing　succeeding　the　confidence　she　had　placed　in　these
men　was　respect。　　To　an　observing　woman　that　half…hour　told
much。

When　all　was　in　readiness　for　a　start　Dale　mounted；　and
said；　significantly：　〃Roy；　I'll　look　for　you　about　sundown。
I　hope　no　sooner。〃

〃Wal；　it'd　be　bad　if　I　had　to　rustle　along　soon　with　bad
news。　　Let's　hope　for　the　best。　　We've　been　shore　lucky　so
far。　　Now　you　take　to　the　pine…mats　in　the　woods　an'　hide
your　trail。〃

Dale　turned　away。　　Then　the　girls　bade　Roy　good…by；　and
followed。　　Soon　Roy　and　his　buckskin…colored　mustang　were
lost　to　sight　round　a　clump　of　trees。

The　unhampered　horses　led　the　way；　the　pack…animals　trotted
after　them；　the　riders　were　close　behind。　　All　traveled　at　a
jog…trot。　　And　this　gait　made　the　packs　bob　up　and　down　and
from　side　to　side。　　The　sun　felt　warm　at　Helen's　back　and　the
wind　lost　its　frosty　coldness；　that　almost　appeared　damp；
for　a　dry；　sweet　fragrance。　　Dale　drove　up　the　shallow　valley
that　showed　timber　on　the　levels　above　and　a　black　border　of
timber　some　few　miles　ahead。　　It　did　not　take　long　to　reach
the　edge　of　the　forest。

Helen　wondered　why　the　big　pines　grew　so　far　on　that　plain
and　no　farther。　　Probably　the　growth　had　to　do　with　snow；
but；　as　the　ground　was　level；　she　could　not　see　why　the　edge
of　the　woods　should　come　just　there。

They　rode　into　the　forest。

To　Helen　it　seemed　a　strange；　critical　entrance　into　another
world；　which　she　was　destined　to　know　and　to　love。　　The　pines
were　big；　brown…barked；　seamed；　and　knotted；　with　no　typical
conformation　except　a　majesty　and　beauty。　　They　grew　far
apart。　　Few　small　pines　and　little　underbrush　flourished
beneath　them。　　The　floor　of　this　forest　appeared　remarkable
in　that　it　consisted　of　patches　of　high　silvery　grass　and
wide　brown　areas　of　pine…needles。　　These　manifestly　were　what
Roy　had　meant　by　pine…mats。　　Here　and　there　a　fallen　monarch
lay　riven　or　rotting。　　Helen　was　presently　struck　with　the
silence　of　the　forest　and　the　strange　fact　that　the　horses
seldom　made　any　sound　at　all；　and　when　they　did　it　was　a
cracking　of　dead　twig　or　thud　of　hoof　on　log。　　Likewise　she
became　aware　of　a　springy　nature　of　the　ground。　　And　then　she
saw　that　the　pine…mats　gave　like　rubber　cushions　under　the
hoofs　of　the　horses；　and　after　they　had　passed　sprang　back
to　place　again；　leaving　no　track。　　Helen　could　not　see　a　sign
of　a　trail　they　left　behind。　　Indeed；　it　would　take　a　sharp
eye　to　follow　Dale　through　that　forest。　　This　knowledge　was
infinitely　comforting　to　Helen；　and　for　the　first　time　since
the　flight　had　begun　she　felt　a　lessening　of　the　weight　upon
mind　and　heart。　　It　left　her　free　for　some　of　the
appreciation　she　might　have　had　in　this　wonderful　ride　under
happier　circumstances。

Bo；　however；　seemed　too　young；　too　wild；　too　intense　to　mind
what　the　circumstances　were。　　She　responded　to　reality。　　Helen
began　to　suspect　that　the　girl　would　welcome　any　adventure；
and　Helen　knew　surely　now　that　Bo　was　a　true　Auchincloss。
For　three　long　days　Helen　had　felt　a　constraint　with　which
heretofore　she　had　been　unfamiliar；　for　the　last　hours　it
had　been　submerged　under　dread。　　But　it　must　be；　she
concluded；　blood　like　her　sister's；　pounding　at　her　veins　to
be　set　free　to　race　and　to　burn。

Bo　loved　action。　　She　had　an　eye　for　beauty；　but　she　was　not
contemplative。　　She　was　now　helping　Dale　drive　the　horses　and
hold　them　in　rather　close　formation。　　She　rode　well；　and　as
yet　showed　no　symptoms　of　fatigue　or　pain。　　Helen　began　to　be
aware　of　both；　but　not　enough　yet　to　limit　her　interest。

A　wonderful　forest　without　birds　did　not　seem　real　to　her。
Of　all　living　creatures　in　nature　Helen　liked　birds　best；
and　she　knew　many　and　could　imitate　the　songs　of　a　few。　　But
here　under　the　stately　pines　there　were　no　birds。　　Squirrels；
however；　began　to　be　seen　here　and　there；　and　in　the　course
of　an　hour's　travel　became　abundant。　　The　only　one　with　which
she　was　familiar　was　the　chipmunk。　　All　the　others；　from　the
slim　bright　blacks　to　the　striped　russets　and　the
white…tailed　grays；　were　totally　new　to　her。　　They　appeared
tame　and　curious。　　The　reds　barked　and　scolded　at　the　passing
cavalcade；　the　blacks　glided　to　some　safe　branch；　there　to
watch；　the　grays　paid　no　especial　heed　to　this　invasion　of
their　domain。

Once　Dale；　halting　his　horse；　pointed　with　long　arm；　and
Helen；　following　the　direction；　descried　several　gray　deer
standing　in　a　glade；　motionless；　with　long　ears　up。　　They
made　a　wild　and　beautiful　picture。　　Suddenly　they　bounded
away　with　remarkable　springy　strides。

The　forest　on　the　whole　held　to　the　level；　open　character；
but　there　were　swales　and　stream…beds　breaking　up　its
regular　conformity。　　Toward　noon；　however；　it　gradually
changed；　a　fact　that　Helen　believed　she　might　have　observed
sooner　had　she　been　more　keen。　　The　general　lay　of　the　land
began　to　ascend；　and　the　trees　to　grow　denser。

She　made　another　discovery。　　Ever　since　she　had　entered　the
forest　she　had　become　aware　of　a　fullness　in　her　head　and　a
something　affecting　her　nostrils。　　She　imagined；　with　regret；
that　she　had　taken　cold。　　But　presently　her　head　cleared
somewhat　and　she　realized　that　the　thick　pine　odor　of　the
forest　had　clogged　her　nostrils　as　if　with　a　sweet　pitch。
The　smell　was　overpowering　and　disagreeable　because　of　its
strength。　　Also　her　throat　and　lungs　seemed　to　burn。

When　she　began　to　lose　interest　in　the　forest　and　her
surroundings　it　was　because　of　aches　and　pains　which　would
no　longer　be　denied　recognition。　　Thereafter　she　was　not
permitted　to　forget　them　and　they　grew　worse。　　One；
especially；　was　a　pain　beyond　all　her　experience。　　It　lay　in
the　muscles　of　her　side；　above　her　hip；　and　it　grew　to　be　a
treacherous　thing；　for　it　was　not　persistent。　　It　came　and
went。　　After　it　did　come；　with　a　terrible　flash；　it　could　be
borne　by　shifting　or　easing　the　body。　　But　it　gave　no
warning。　　When　she　expected　it　she　was　mistaken；　when　she
dared　to　breathe　again；　then；　with　piercing　swiftness；　it
returned　like　a　blade　in　her　side。　　This；　then；　was　one　of
the　riding…pains　that　made　a　victim　of　a　tenderfoot　on　a
long　ride。　　It　was　almost　too　much　to　be　borne。　　The　beauty　of
the　forest；　the　living　creatures　to　be　seen　scurrying　away；
the　time；　distance　　everything　faded　before　that　stablike
pain。　　To　her　infinite　relief　she　found　that　it　was　the　trot
that　caused　this　torture。　　When　Ranger　walked　she　did　not
have　to　suffer　it。　　Therefore　she　held　him　to　a　walk　as　long
as　she　dared　or　until　Dale　and　Bo　were　almost　out　of　sight；
then　she　loped　him　ahead　until　he　had　caught　up。

So　the　hours　passed；　the　sun　got　around　low；　sending　golden
shafts　under　the　trees；　and　the　forest　gradually　changed　to
a　brighter；　but　a　thicker；　color。　　This　slowly　darkened。
Sunset　was　not　far　away。

She　heard　the　horses　splashing　in　water；　and　soon　she　rode
up　to　see　the　tiny　streams　of　crystal　water　running　swiftly
over　beds　of　green　moss。　　She　crossed　a　number　of　these　and
followed　along　the　last　one　into　a　more　open　place　in　the
forest　where　the　pines　were　huge；　towering；　and　far　apart。　　A
low；　gray　bluff　of　stone　rose　to　the　right；　perhaps
one…third　as　high　as　the　trees。　　From　somewhere　came　the
rushing　sound　of　running　water。

〃Big　Spring；〃　announced　Dale。　　〃We　camp　here。　　You　girls　have
done　well。〃

Another　glance　proved　to　Helen　that　all　those　little　streams
poured　from　under　this　gray　bluff。

〃I'm　dying　for　a　drink；〃　cried　Bo。　　with　her　customary
hyperbole。

〃I　reckon　you'll　never　forget　your　first　drink　here；〃
remarked　Dale。

Bo　essayed　to　dismount；　and　finally　fell　off；　and　when　she
did　get　to　the　ground　her　legs　appeared　to　refuse　their
natural　function；　and　she　fell　flat。　　Dale　helped　her　up。

〃What's　wrong　with　me；　anyhow？〃　she　demanded；　in　great
amaze。

〃Just　stiff；　I　reckon；〃　replied　Dale；　as　he　led　he