the man of the forest-第16章

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was　she　that　the　exquisite　relief　of　sitting　down；　of　a
cessation　of　movement；　of　a　release　from　that　infernal
perpetual…trotting　horse；　seemed　only　a　mockery。　　It　could
not　be　true　that　the　time　had　come　for　rest。

Evidently　this　place　had　been　a　camp　site　for　hunters　or
sheep…herders；　for　there　were　remains　of　a　fire。　　Dale　lifted
the　burnt　end　of　a　log　and　brought　it　down　hard　upon　the
ground；　splitting　off　pieces。　　Several　times　he　did　this。　　It
was　amazing　to　see　his　strength；　his　facility；　as　he　split
off　handfuls　of　splinters。　　He　collected　a　bundle　of　them；
and；　laying　them　down；　he　bent　over　them。　　Roy　wielded　the　ax
on　another　log；　and　each　stroke　split　off　a　long　strip。　　Then
a　tiny　column　of　smoke　drifted　up　over　Dale's　shoulder　as　he
leaned；　bareheaded；　sheltering　the　splinters　with　his　hat。　　A
blaze　leaped　up。　　Roy　came　with　an　armful　of　strips　all　white
and　dry；　out　of　the　inside　of　a　log。　　Crosswise　these　were
laid　over　the　blaze；　and　it　began　to　roar。　　Then　piece　by
piece　the　men　built　up　a　frame　upon　which　they　added　heavier
woods；　branches　and　stumps　and　logs；　erecting　a　pyramid
through　which　flames　and　smoke　roared　upward。　　It　had　not
taken　two　minutes。　　Already　Helen　felt　the　warmth　on　her　icy
face。　　She　held　up　her　bare；　numb　hands。

Both　Dale　and　Roy　were　wet　through　to　the　skin；　yet　they　did
not　tarry　beside　the　fire。　　They　relieved　the　horses。　　A　lasso
went　up　between　two　pines；　and　a　tarpaulin　over　it；　V…shaped
and　pegged　down　at　the　four　ends。　　The　packs　containing　the
baggage　of　the　girls　and　the　supplies　and　bedding　were
placed　under　this　shelter。

Helen　thought　this　might　have　taken　five　minutes　more。　　In
this　short　space　of　time　the　fire　had　leaped　and　flamed
until　it　was　huge　and　hot。　　Rain　was　falling　steadily　all
around；　but　over　and　near　that　roaring　blaze；　ten　feet　high；
no　water　fell。　　It　evaporated。　　The　ground　began　to　steam　and
to　dry。　　Helen　suffered　at　first　while　the　heat　was　driving
out　the　cold。　　But　presently　the　pain　ceased。

〃Nell；　I　never　knew　before　how　good　a　fire　could　feel；〃
declared　Bo。

And　therein　lay　more　food　for　Helen's　reflection。

In　ten　minutes　Helen　was　dry　and　hot。　　Darkness　came　down
upon　the　dreary；　sodden　forest；　but　that　great　camp…fire
made　it　a　different　world　from　the　one　Helen　had
anticipated。　　It　blazed　and　roared；　cracked　like　a　pistol；
hissed　and　sputtered；　shot　sparks　everywhere；　and　sent　aloft
a　dense；　yellow；　whirling　column　of　smoke。　　It　began　to　have
a　heart　of　gold。

Dale　took　a　long　pole　and　raked　out　a　pile　of　red　embers
upon　which　the　coffee…pot　and　oven　soon　began　to　steam。

〃Roy；　I　promised　the　girls　turkey　to…night；〃　said　the
hunter。

〃Mebbe　to…morrow；　if　the　wind　shifts。　　This　's　turkey
country。〃

〃Roy；　a　potato　will　do　me！〃　exclaimed　Bo。

〃Never　again　will　I　ask　for　cake　and　pie！　　I　never
appreciated　good　things　to　eat。　　And　I've　been　a　little　pig；
always。　　I　never　　never　knew　what　it　was　to　be　hungry　
until　now。〃

Dale　glanced　up　quickly。

〃Lass；　it's　worth　learnin'；〃　he　said。

Helen's　thought　was　too　deep　for　words。　　In　such　brief　space
had　she　been　transformed　from　misery　to　comfort！

The　rain　kept　on　falling；　though　it　appeared　to　grow　softer
as　night　settled　down　black。　　The　wind　died　away　and　the
forest　was　still；　except　for　the　steady　roar　of　the　stream。
A　folded　tarpaulin　was　laid　between　the　pine　and　the　fire；
well　in　the　light　and　warmth；　and　upon　it　the　men　set
steaming　pots　and　plates　and　cups；　the　fragrance　from　which
was　strong　and　inviting。

〃Fetch　the　saddle…blanket　an'　set　with　your　backs　to　the
fire；〃　said　Roy。


Later；　when　the　girls　were　tucked　away　snugly　in　their
blankets　and　sheltered　from　the　rain；　Helen　remained　awake
after　Bo　had　fallen　asleep。　　The　big　blaze　made　the
improvised　tent　as　bright　as　day。　　She　could　see　the　smoke；
the　trunk　of　the　big　pine　towering　aloft；　and　a　blank　space
of　sky。　　The　stream　hummed　a　song；　seemingly　musical　at
times；　and　then　discordant　and　dull；　now　low；　now　roaring；
and　always　rushing；　gurgling；　babbling；　flowing；　chafing　in
its　hurry。

Presently　the　hunter　and　his　friend　returned　from　hobbling
the　horses；　and　beside　the　fire　they　conversed　in　low　tones。

〃Wal；　thet　trail　we　made　to…day　will　be　hid；　I　reckon；〃　said
Roy；　with　satisfaction。

〃What　wasn't　sheeped　over　would　be　washed　out。　　We've　had
luck。　　An'　now　I　ain't　worryin'；〃　returned　Dale。

〃Worryin'？　　Then　it's　the　first　I　ever　knowed　you　to　do。〃

〃Man；　I　never　had　a　job　like　this；〃　protested　the　hunter。

〃Wal；　thet's　so。〃

〃Now；　Roy；　when　old　Al　Auchincloss　finds　out　about　this
deal；　as　he's　bound　to　when　you　or　the　boys　get　back　to
Pine；　he's　goin'　to　roar。〃

〃Do　you　reckon　folks　will　side　with　him　against　Beasley？〃

〃Some　of　them。　　But　Al；　like　as　not；　will　tell　folks　to　go
where　it's　hot。　　He'll　bunch　his　men　an'　strike　for　the
mountains　to　find　his　nieces。〃

〃Wal；　all　you've　got　to　do　is　to　keep　the　girls　hid　till　I
can　guide　him　up　to　your　camp。　　Or；　failin'　thet；　till　you
can　slip　the　girls　down　to　Pine。〃

〃No　one　but　you　an'　your　brothers　ever　seen　my　senaca。　　But
it　could　be　found　easy　enough。〃

〃Anson　might　blunder　on　it。　　But　thet　ain't　likely。〃

〃Why　ain't　it？〃

〃Because　I'll　stick　to　thet　sheep…thief's　tracks　like　a　wolf
after　a　bleedin'　deer。　　An'　if　he　ever　gets　near　your　camp
I'll　ride　in　ahead　of　him。〃

〃Good！〃　declared　Dale。　　〃I　was　calculatin'　you'd　go　down　to
Pine；　sooner　or　later。〃

〃Not　unless　Anson　goes。　　I　told　John　thet　in　case　there　was
no　fight　on　the　stage　to　make　a　bee…line　back　to　Pine。　　He
was　to　tell　Al　an'　offer　his　services　along　with　Joe　an'
Hal。〃

〃One　way　or　another；　then；　there's　bound　to　be　blood　spilled
over　this。〃

〃Shore！　　An'　high　time。　　I　jest　hope　I　get　a　look　down　my　old
'forty…four'　at　thet　Beasley。〃

〃In　that　case　I　hope　you　hold　straighter　than　times　I've
seen　you。〃

〃Milt　Dale；　I'm　a　good　shot；〃　declared　Roy；　stoutly。

〃You're　no　good　on　movin'　targets。〃

〃Wal；　mebbe　so。　　But　I'm　not　lookin'　for　a　movin'　target　when
I　meet　up　with　Beasley。　　I'm　a　hossman；　not　a　hunter。　　You're
used　to　shootin'　flies　off　deer's　horns；　jest　for　practice。〃

〃Roy；　can　we　make　my　camp　by　to…morrow　night？〃　queried　Dale；
more　seriously。

〃We　will；　if　each　of　us　has　to　carry　one　of　the　girls。　　But
they'll　do　it　or　die。　　Dale；　did　you　ever　see　a　gamer　girl
than　thet　kid　Bo？〃

〃Me！　　Where'd　I　ever　see　any　girls？〃　ejaculated　Dale。　　〃I
remember　some　when　I　was　a　boy；　but　I　was　only　fourteen
then。　　Never　had　much　use　for　girls。〃

〃I'd　like　to　have　a　wife　like　that　Bo；〃　declared　Roy；
fervidly。

There　ensued　a　moment's　silence。

〃Roy；　you're　a　Mormon　an'　you　already　got　a　wife；〃　was
Dale's　reply。

〃Now；　Milt；　have　you　lived　so　long　in　the　woods　thet　you
never　heard　of　a　Mormon　with　two　wives？〃　returned　Roy；　and
then　he　laughed　heartily。

〃I　never　could　stomach　what　I　did　hear　pertainin'　to　more
than　one　wife　for　a　man。〃

〃Wal；　my　friend；　you　go　an'　get　yourself　ONE。　　An'　see　then
if　you　wouldn't　like　to　have　TWO。〃

〃I　reckon　one　'd　be　more　than　enough　for　Milt　Dale。〃

〃Milt；　old　man；　let　me　tell　you　thet　I　always　envied　you
your　freedom；〃　said　Roy；　earnestly。　　〃But　it　ain't　life。〃

〃You　mean　life　is　love　of　a　woman？〃

〃No。　　Thet's　only　part。　　I　mean　a　son　　a　boy　thet's　like　you
　thet　you　feel　will　go　on　with　your　life　after　you're
gone。〃

〃I've　thought　of　that　　thought　it　all　out；　watchin'　the
birds　an'　animals　mate　in　the　woods。　。　。　。　　If　I　have　no　son
I'll　never　live　hereafter。〃

〃Wal；〃　replied　Roy；　hesitatingly；　〃I　don't　go　in　so　deep　as
thet。　　I　mean　a　son　goes　on　with　your　blood　an'　your　work。〃

〃Exactly。　。　。　　An'；　Roy；　I　envy　you　what　you　ve　got；　because
it's　out　of　all　bounds　for　Milt　Dale。〃

Those　words；　sad　and　deep；　ended　the　conversation。　　Again　the
rumbling；　rushing　stream　dominated　the　forest。　　An　owl　hooted
dismally。　　A　horse　trod　thuddingly　near　by　and　from　that
direction　came　a　cutting　tear　of　teeth　on　grass。


A　voice　pierced　Helen's　deep　dreams　and；　awaking；　she　found
Bo　shaking　and　calling　her。

〃Are　you　dead？〃　came　the　gay　voice。

〃Almost。　　Oh；　my　back's　broken；〃　replied　Helen。　　The　desire　to
move　seemed　clamped　in　a　vise；　and　even　if　that　came　she
believed　the　effort　would　be　impossible。

〃Roy　called　us；〃　said　Bo。　　〃He　said　hurry。　　I　thought　I'd　die
just　sitting　up；　and　I'd　give　you　a　million　dollars　to　lace
my　boots。　　Wait；　sister；　till　you　try　to　pull　on　one　of　those
stiff　boots！〃

With　heroic　and　violent　spirit　Helen　sat　up　to　find　that　in
the　act　her　aches　and　pains　appeared　beyond　number。　　Reaching
for　her　boots；　she　found　them　cold　and　stiff。　　Helen　unlaced
one　and；　opening　it　wide；　essayed　to　get　her　sore　foot　down
into　it。　　But　her　foot　appeared　swollen　and　the　boot　appeared
shrunken。　　She　could　not　get　it　half　on；　though　she　expended
what　little　strength　seemed　left　in　her　aching　arms。　　She
groaned。

Bo　laughed　wickedly。　　Her　hair　was　tousled；　her　eyes　dancing；
her　cheeks　red。

〃Be　game！〃　she　said。　　〃Stand　up　like　a　real　Western　girl　and
PULL　your　boot　on。〃

Whether　Bo's　scorn　or　advice　made　the　task　easier　did　not
occur　to　Helen；　but　the　fact　was　that　she　got　into　her
boots。　　Walking　and　moving　a　little　appeared　to　loosen　the
stiff　joints　and　ease　that　tired　feeling。　　The　water　of　the
stream　where　the　girls　washed　was　colder　than　any　ice　Helen
had　ever　felt。　　It　almost　paralyzed　her　hands。　　Bo　mumbled；
and　blew　like　a　porpoise。　　They　had　to　run　to　the　fire　before
being　able　to　comb　their　hair。　　The　air　was　wonderfully　keen。
The　dawn　was　clear；　bright；　with　a　red　glow　in　the　east
where　the　sun　was　about　to　rise。

〃All　ready；　girls；〃　called　Roy。　　〃Reckon　you　can　help
yourselves。　　Milt　ain't　comin'　in　very　fast　with　the　hosses。
I'll　rustle　off　to　help　him。　　We've　got　a　hard　day　before　us。
Yesterday　wasn't　nowhere　to　what　to…day　'll　be。〃

〃But　the　sun's　going　to　shine？〃　implored　Bo。

〃Wal；　you　bet；〃　rejoined　Roy；　as　he　strode　off。

Helen　and　Bo　ate　breakfast　and　had　the　camp　to　themselves
for　perhaps　half　an　hour；　then　the　horses　came　thudding
down；　with　Dale　and　Roy　riding　bareback。

By　the　time　all　was　in　readiness　to　start　the　sun　was　up；
melting　the　frost　and　ice；　so　that　a　dazzling；　bright　mist；
full　of　rainbows；　shone　under　the　trees。

Dale　looked　Ranger　over；　and　tried　the　cinches　of　Bo's
horse。

〃What's　your　choice　　a　long　ride　behind　the　packs　with　me
　or　a　short　cut　over　the　hills　with　Roy？〃　he　asked。

〃I　choose　the　lesser　of　two　rides；〃　replied　Helen；　smiling。
〃Reckon　that　'll　be　easier；　but　you'll　know　you've　had　a
ride；〃　said　Dale；　significantly。

〃What　was　that　we　had　yesterday？〃　asked　Bo；　archly。

〃Only　thirty　miles；　but　cold　an'　wet。　　To…day　will　be　fine
for　ridin'。〃

〃Milt；　I'll　take　a　blanket　an'　some　grub　in　case　you　don't
meet　us　to…night；〃　said　Roy。　　〃An'　I　reckon　we'll　split　up
here　where　I'll　have　to　strike　out　on　thet　short　cut。〃

Bo　mounted　without　a　helping　hand；　but　Helen's　limbs　were　so
stiff　that　she　could　not　get　astride　the　high　Ranger　without
assistance。　　The　hunter　headed　up　the　slope　of　the　canuon；
which　on　that　side　was　not　steep。　　It　was　brown　pine　forest；
with　here　and　the