the man of the forest-第18章

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overtopped　by　lofty　pines；　made　dense　shade　over　a　brook
where　trout　splashed　on　the　brown；　swirling　current；　and
leaves　drifted　down；　and　stray　flecks　of　golden　sunlight
lightened　the　gloom。　　Here　was　hard　riding　to　and　fro　across
the　brook；　between　huge　mossy　boulders；　and　between　aspens
so　close　together　that　Helen　could　scarce　squeeze　her　knees
through。

Once　more　Roy　climbed　out　of　that　canuon；　over　a　ridge　into
another；　down　long　wooded　slopes　and　through　scrub…oak
thickets；　on　and　on　till　the　sun　stood　straight　overhead。
Then　he　halted　for　a　short　rest；　unsaddled　the　horses　to　let
them　roll；　and　gave　the　girls　some　cold　lunch　that　he　had
packed。　　He　strolled　off　with　his　gun；　and；　upon　returning；
resaddled　and　gave　the　word　to　start。

That　was　the　last　of　rest　and　easy　traveling　for　the　girls。
The　forest　that　he　struck　into　seemed　ribbed　like　a
washboard　with　deep　ravines　so　steep　of　slope　as　to　make
precarious　travel。　　Mostly　he　kept　to　the　bottom　where　dry
washes　afforded　a　kind　of　trail。　　But　it　was　necessary　to
cross　these　ravines　when　they　were　too　long　to　be　headed；
and　this　crossing　was　work。

The　locust　thickets　characteristic　of　these　slopes　were
thorny　and　close　knit。　　They　tore　and　scratched　and　stung
both　horses　and　riders。　　Ranger　appeared　to　be　the　most
intelligent　of　the　horses　and　suffered　less。　　Bo's　white
mustang　dragged　her　through　more　than　one　brambly　place。　　On
the　other　hand；　some　of　these　steep　slopes；　were
comparatively　free　of　underbrush。　　Great　firs　and　pines
loomed　up　on　all　sides。　　The　earth　was　soft　and　the　hoofs
sank　deep。　　Toward　the　bottom　of　a　descent　Ranger　would　brace
his　front　feet　and　then　slide　down　on　his　haunches。　　This
mode　facilitated　travel；　but　it　frightened　Helen。　　The　climb
out　then　on　the　other　side　had　to　be　done　on　foot。

After　half　a　dozen　slopes　surmounted　in　this　way　Helen's
strength　was　spent　and　her　breath　was　gone。　　She　felt
light…headed。　　She　could　not　get　enough　air。　　Her　feet　felt
like　lead；　and　her　riding…coat　was　a　burden。　　A　hundred
times；　hot　and　wet　and　throbbing；　she　was　compelled　to　stop。
Always　she　had　been　a　splendid　walker　and　climber。　　And　here；
to　break　up　the　long　ride；　she　was　glad　to　be　on　her　feet。
But　she　could　only　drag　one　foot　up　after　the　other。　　Then；
when　her　nose　began　to　bleed；　she　realized　that　it　was　the
elevation　which　was　causing　all　the　trouble。　　Her　heart；
however；　did　not　hurt　her；　though　she　was　conscious　of　an
oppression　on　her　breast。

At　last　Roy　led　into　a　ravine　so　deep　and　wide　and　full　of
forest　verdure　that　it　appeared　impossible　to　cross。
Nevertheless；　he　started　down；　dismounting　after　a　little
way。　　Helen　found　that　leading　Ranger　down　was　worse　than
riding　him。　　He　came　fast　and　he　would　step　right　in　her
tracks。　　She　was　not　quick　enough　to　get；　away　from　him。
Twice　he　stepped　on　her　foot；　and　again　his　broad　chest　hit
her　shoulder　and　threw　her　flat。　　When　he　began　to　slide；
near　the　bottom；　Helen　had　to　run　for　her　life。

〃Oh；　Nell！　　Isn't　　this　　great？〃　panted　Bo；　from
somewhere　ahead。

〃Bo　　your　　mind's　　gone；〃　panted　Helen；　in　reply。

Roy　tried　several　places　to　climb　out；　and　failed　in　each。
Leading　down　the　ravine　for　a　hundred　yards　or　more；　he
essayed　another　attempt。　　Here　there　had　been　a　slide；　and　in
part　the　earth　was　bare。　　When　he　had　worked　up　this；　he
halted　above；　and　called：

〃Bad　place！　　Keep　on　the　up　side　of　the　hosses！〃

This　appeared　easier　said　than　done。　　Helen　could　not　watch
Bo；　because　Ranger　would　not　wait。　　He　pulled　at　the　bridle
and　snorted。

〃Faster　you　come　the　better；〃　called　Roy。

Helen　could　not　see　the　sense　of　that；　but　she　tried。　　Roy
and　Bo　had　dug　a　deep　trail　zigzag　up　that　treacherous
slide。　　Helen　made　the　mistake　of　starting　to　follow　in　their
tracks；　and　when　she　realized　this　Ranger　was　climbing　fast；
almost　dragging　her；　and　it　was　too　late　to　get　above。　　Helen
began　to　labor。　　She　slid　down　right　in　front　of　Ranger。　　The
intelligent　animal；　with　a　snort；　plunged　out　of　the　trail
to　keep　from　stepping　on　her。　　Then　he　was　above　her。

〃Lookout　down　there；〃　yelled　Roy；　in　warning。　　〃Get　on　the　up
side！〃

But　that　did　not　appear　possible。　　The　earth　began　to　slide
under　Ranger；　and　that　impeded　Helen's　progress。　　He　got　in
advance　of　her；　straining　on　the　bridle。

〃Let　go！〃　yelled　Roy。

Helen　dropped　the　bridle　just　as　a　heavy　slide　began　to　move
with　Ranger。　　He　snorted　fiercely；　and；　rearing　high；　in　a
mighty　plunge　he　gained　solid　ground。　　Helen　was　buried　to
her　knees；　but；　extricating　herself；　she　crawled　to　a　safe
point　and　rested　before　climbing　farther。

〃Bad　cave…in；　thet；〃　was　Roy's　comment；　when　at　last　she
joined　him　and　Bo　at　the　top。

Roy　appeared　at　a　loss　as　to　which　way　to　go。　　He　rode　to
high　ground　and　looked　in　all　directions。　　To　Helen；　one　way
appeared　as　wild　and　rough　as　another；　and　all　was　yellow；
green；　and　black　under　the　westering　sun。　　Roy　rode　a　short
distance　in　one　direction；　then　changed　for　another。

Presently　he　stopped。

〃Wal；　I'm　shore　turned　round；〃　he　said。

〃You're　not　lost？〃　cried　Bo。

〃Reckon　I've　been　thet　for　a　couple　of　hours；〃　he　replied；
cheerfully。　　〃Never　did　ride　across　here　I　had　the　direction；
but　I'm　blamed　now　if　I　can　tell　which　way　thet　was。〃

Helen　gazed　at　him　in　consternation。

〃Lost！〃　she　echoed。



CHAPTER　IX

A　silence　ensued；　fraught　with　poignant　fear　for　Helen；　as
she　gazed　into　Bo's　whitening　face。　　She　read　her　sister's
mind。　　Bo　was　remembering　tales　of　lost　people　who　never　were
found。

〃Me　an'　Milt　get　lost　every　day；〃　said　Roy。　　〃You　don't
suppose　any　man　can　know　all　this　big　country。　　It's　nothin'
for　us　to　be　lost。〃

〃Oh！　　。　。　。　　I　was　lost　when　I　was　little；〃　said　Bo。

〃Wal；　I　reckon　it'd　been　better　not　to　tell　you　so　offhand
like；〃　replied　Roy；　contritely。　　〃Don't　feel　bad；　now。　　All　I
need　is　a　peek　at　Old　Baldy。　　Then　I'll　have　my　bearin'。　　Come
on。〃

Helen's　confidence　returned　as　Roy　led　off　at　a　fast　trot。
He　rode　toward　the　westering　sun；　keeping　to　the　ridge　they
had　ascended；　until　once　more　he　came　out　upon　a　promontory。
Old　Baldy　loomed　there；　blacker　and　higher　and　closer。　　The
dark　forest　showed　round；　yellow；　bare　spots　like　parks。

〃Not　so　far　off　the　track；〃　said　Roy；　as　he　wheeled　his
horse。　　〃We'll　make　camp　in　Milt's　senaca　to…night。〃

He　led　down　off　the　ridge　into　a　valley　and　then　up　to
higher　altitude；　where　the　character　of　the　forest　changed。
The　trees　were　no　longer　pines；　but　firs　and　spruce；　growing
thin　and　exceedingly　tall；　with　few　branches　below　the
topmost　foliage。　　So　dense　was　this　forest　that　twilight
seemed　to　have　come。

Travel　was　arduous。　　Everywhere　were　windfalls　that　had　to　be
avoided；　and　not　a　rod　was　there　without　a　fallen　tree。　　The
horses；　laboring　slowly；　sometimes　sank　knee…deep　into　the
brown　duff。　　Gray　moss　festooned　the　tree…trunks　and　an
amber…green　moss　grew　thick　on　the　rotting　logs。

Helen　loved　this　forest　primeval。　　It　was　so　still；　so　dark；
so　gloomy；　so　full　of　shadows　and　shade；　and　a　dank　smell　of
rotting　wood；　and　sweet　fragrance　of　spruce。　　The　great
windfalls；　where　trees　were　jammed　together　in　dozens；
showed　the　savagery　of　the　storms。　　Wherever　a　single　monarch
lay　uprooted　there　had　sprung　up　a　number　of　ambitious　sons；
jealous　of　one　another；　fighting　for　place。　　Even　the　trees
fought　one　another！　　The　forest　was　a　place　of　mystery；　but
its　strife　could　be　read　by　any　eye。　　The　lightnings　had
split　firs　clear　to　the　roots；　and　others　it　had　circled
with　ripping　tear　from　top　to　trunk。

Time　came；　however；　when　the　exceeding　wildness　of　the
forest；　in　density　and　fallen　timber；　made　it　imperative　for
Helen　to　put　all　her　attention　on　the　ground　and　trees　in
her　immediate　vicinity。　　So　the　pleasure　of　gazing　ahead　at
the　beautiful　wilderness　was　denied　her。　　Thereafter　travel
became　toil　and　the　hours　endless。

Roy　led　on；　and　Ranger　followed；　while　the　shadows　darkened
under　the　trees。　　She　was　reeling　in　her　saddle；　half　blind
and　sick；　when　Roy　called　out　cheerily　that　they　were　almost
there。

Whatever　his　idea　was；　to　Helen　it　seemed　many　miles　that
she　followed　him　farther；　out　of　the　heavy…timbered　forest
down　upon　slopes　of　low　spruce；　like　evergreen；　which
descended　sharply　to　another　level；　where　dark；　shallow
streams　flowed　gently　and　the　solemn　stillness　held　a　low
murmur　of　falling　water；　and　at　last　the　wood　ended　upon　a
wonderful　park　full　of　a　thick；　rich；　golden　light　of
fast…fading　sunset。

〃Smell　the　smoke；〃　said　Roy。　　〃By　Solomon！　　if　Milt　ain't　here
ahead　of　me！〃

He　rode　on。　　Helen's　weary　gaze　took　in　the　round　senaca；　the
circling　black　slopes；　leading　up　to　craggy　rims　all　gold
and　red　in　the　last　flare　of　the　sun；　then　all　the　spirit
left　in　her　flashed　up　in　thrilling　wonder　at　this
exquisite；　wild；　and　colorful　spot。

Horses　were　grazing　out　in　the　long　grass　and　there　were
deer　grazing　with　them。　　Roy　led　round　a　corner　of　the
fringed；　bordering　woodland；　and　there；　under　lofty　trees；
shone　a　camp…fire。　　Huge　gray　rocks　loomed　beyond；　and　then
cliffs　rose　step　by　step　to　a　notch　in　the　mountain　wall；
over　which　poured　a　thin；　lacy　waterfall。　　As　Helen　gazed　in
rapture　the　sunset　gold　faded　to　white　and　all　the　western
slope　of　the　amphitheater　darkened。

Dale's　tall　form　appeared。

〃Reckon　you're　late；〃　he　said；　as　with　a　comprehensive　flash
of　eye　he　took　in　the　three。

〃Milt；　I　got　lost；〃　replied　Roy。

〃I　feared　as　much。　。　。　。　　You　girls　look　like　you'd　done
better　to　ride　with　me；〃　went　on　Dale；　as　he　offered　a　hand
to　help　Bo　off。　　She　took　it；　tried　to　get　her　foot　out　of
the　stirrups；　and　then　she　slid　from　the　saddle　into　Dale's
arms。　　He　placed　her　on　her　feet　and；　supporting　her；　said；
solicitously：　〃A　hundred…mile　ride　in　three　days　for　a
tenderfoot　is　somethin'　your　uncle　Al　won't　believe。　。　。　。
Come；　walk　if　it　kills　you！〃

Whereupon　he　led　Bo；　very　much　as　if　he　were　teaching　a
child　to　walk。　　The　fact　that　the　voluble　Bo　had　nothing　to
say　was　significant　to　Helen；　who　was　following；　with　the
assistance　of　Roy。

One　of　the　huge　rocks　resembled　a　sea…shell　in　that　it
contained　a　hollow　over　which　the　wide…spreading　shelf
flared　out。　　It　reached　toward　branches　of　great　pines。　　A
spring　burst　from　a　crack　in　the　solid　rock。　　The　campfire
blazed　under　a　pine；　and　the　blue　column　of　smoke　rose　just
in　front　of　the　shelving　rock。　　Packs　were　lying　on　the　grass
and　some　of　them　were　open。　　There　were　no　signs　here　of　a
permanent　habitation　of　the　hunter。　　But　farther　on　were
other　huge　rocks；　leaning；　cracked；　and　forming　caverns；
some　of　which　perhaps　he　utilized。

〃My　camp　is　just　back；〃　said　Dale；　as　if　he　had　read　Helen's
mind。　　〃To…morrow　we'll　fix　up　comfortable…like　round　here
for　you　girls。〃

Helen　and　Bo　were　made　as　easy　as　blankets　and　saddles　could
make　them；　and　the　men　went　about　their　tasks。

〃Nell　　isn't　this　　a　dream？〃　murmured　Bo。

〃No；　child。　　It's　real　　terribly　real；〃　replied　Helen。　　〃Now
that　we're　here　　with　that　awful　ride　over　　we　can
think。〃

〃It's　so　pretty　　here；〃　yawned　Bo。　　〃I'd　just　as　lief　Uncle
Al　didn't　find　us　very