the man of the forest-第20章

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〃'Most　anythin'；〃　he　replied。　　〃Al；　I　reckon；　knows　now。
Maybe　he's　rustlin'　into　the　mountains　by　this　time。　　If　he
meets　up　with　Anson；　well　an'　good；　for　Roy　won't　be　far
off。　　An'　sure　if　he　runs　across　Roy；　why　they'll　soon　be
here。　　But　if　I　were　you　I　wouldn't　count　on　seein'　your
uncle　very　soon。　　I'm　sorry。　　I've　done　my　best。　　It　sure　is　a
bad　deal。〃

〃Don't　think　me　ungracious；〃　replied　Helen；　hastily。　　How
plainly　he　had　intimated　that　it　must　be　privation　and
annoyance　for　her　to　be　compelled　to　accept　his　hospitality！
〃You　are　good　　kind。　　I　owe　you　much。　　I'll　be　eternally
grateful。〃

Dale　straightened　as　he　looked　at　her。　　His　glance　was
intent；　piercing。　　He　seemed　to　be　receiving　a　strange　or
unusual　portent。　　No　need　for　him　to　say　he　had　never　before
been　spoken　to　like　that！

〃You　may　have　to　stay　here　with　me　　for　weeks　　maybe
months　　if　we've　the　bad　luck　to　get　snowed　in；〃　he　said；
slowly；　as　if　startled　at　this　deduction。　　〃You're　safe　here。
No　sheep…thief　could　ever　find　this　camp。　　I'll　take　risks　to
get　you　safe　into　Al's　hands。　　But　I'm　goin'　to　be　pretty
sure　about　what　I'm　doin'。　。　。　。　　So　　there's　plenty　to　eat
an'　it's　a　pretty　place。〃

〃Pretty！　　Why；　it's　grand！〃　exclaimed　Bo。　　〃I've　called　it
Paradise　Park。〃

〃Paradise　Park；〃　he　repeated；　weighing　the　words。　　〃You've
named　it　an'　also　the　creek。　　Paradise　Creek！　　I've　been　here
twelve　years　with　no　fit　name　for　my　home　till　you　said
that。〃

〃Oh；　that　pleases　me！〃　returned　Bo；　with　shining　eyes。

〃Eat　now；〃　said　Dale。　　〃An'　I　reckon　you'll　like　that
turkey。〃

There　was　a　clean　tarpaulin　upon　which　were　spread　steaming；
fragrant　pans　　roast　turkey；　hot　biscuits　and　gravy；
mashed　potatoes　as　white　as　if　prepared　at　home；　stewed
dried　apples；　and　butter　and　coffee。　　This　bounteous　repast
surprised　and　delighted　the　girls；　when　they　had　once　tasted
the　roast　wild　turkey；　then　Milt　Dale　had　occasion　to　blush
at　their　encomiums。

〃I　hope　　Uncle　Al　　doesn't　come　for　a　month；〃　declared
Bo；　as　she　tried　to　get　her　breath。　　There　was　a　brown　spot
on　her　nose　and　one　on　each　cheek；　suspiciously　close　to　her
mouth。

Dale　laughed。　　It　was　pleasant　to　hear　him；　for　his　laugh
seemed　unused　and　deep；　as　if　it　came　from　tranquil　depths。

〃Won't　you　eat　with　us？〃　asked　Helen。

〃Reckon　I　will；〃　he　said。　　〃it'll　save　time；　an'　hot　grub
tastes　better。〃

Quite　an　interval　of　silence　ensued；　which　presently　was
broken　by　Dale。

〃Here　comes　Tom。〃

Helen　observed　with　a　thrill　that　the　cougar　was
magnificent；　seen　erect　on　all…fours；　approaching　with　slow；
sinuous　grace。　　His　color　was　tawny；　with　spots　of　whitish
gray。　　He　had　bow…legs；　big　and　round　and　furry；　and　a　huge
head　with　great　tawny　eyes。　　No　matter　how　tame　he　was　said
to　be；　he　looked　wild。　　Like　a　dog　he　walked　right　up；　and　it
so　happened　that　he　was　directly　behind　Bo；　within　reach　of
her　when　she　turned。

〃Oh；　Lord！〃　cried　Bo；　and　up　went　both　of　her　hands；　in　one
of　which　was　a　huge　piece　of　turkey。　　Tom　took　it；　not
viciously；　but　nevertheless　with　a　snap　that　made　Helen
jump。　　As　if　by　magic　the　turkey　vanished。　　And　Tom　took　a
closer　step　toward　Bo。　　Her　expression　of　fright　changed　to
consternation。

〃He　stole　my　turkey！〃

〃Tom；　come　here；〃　ordered　Dale；　sharply。　　The　cougar　glided
round　rather　sheepishly。　　〃Now　lie　down　an'　behave。〃

Tom　crouched　on　all…fours；　his　head　resting　on　his　paws；
with　his　beautiful　tawny　eyes；　light　and　piercing；　fixed
upon　the　hunter。

〃Don't　grab；〃　said　Dale；　holding　out　a　piece　of　turkey。
Whereupon　Tom　took　it　less　voraciously。

As　it　happened；　the　little　bear　cub　saw　this　transaction；
and　he　plainly　indicated　his　opinion　of　the　preference　shown
to　Tom。

〃Oh；　the　dear！〃　exclaimed　Bo。　　〃He　means　it's　not　fair。　。　。　。
Come；　Bud　　come　on。〃

But　Bud　would　not　approach　the　group　until　called　by　Dale。
Then　he　scrambled　to　them　with　every　manifestation　of
delight。　　Bo　almost　forgot　her　own　needs　in　feeding　him　and
getting　acquainted　with　him。　　Tom　plainly　showed　his　jealousy
of　Bud；　and　Bud　likewise　showed　his　fear　of　the　great　cat。

Helen　could　not　believe　the　evidence　of　her　eyes　　that　she
was　in　the　woods　calmly　and　hungrily　partaking　of　sweet；
wild…flavored　meat　　that　a　full…grown　mountain　lion　lay　on
one　side　of　her　and　a　baby　brown　bear　sat　on　the　other　
that　a　strange　hunter；　a　man　of　the　forest；　there　in　his
lonely　and　isolated　fastness；　appealed　to　the　romance　in　her
and　interested　her　as　no　one　else　she　had　ever　met。

When　the　wonderful　meal　was　at　last　finished　Bo　enticed　the
bear　cub　around　to　the　camp　of　the　girls；　and　there　soon
became　great　comrades　with　him。　　Helen；　watching　Bo　play；　was
inclined　to　envy　her。　　No　matter　where　Bo　was　placed；　she
always　got　something　out　of　it。　　She　adapted　herself。　　She；
who　could　have　a　good　time　with　almost　any　one　or　anything；
would　find　the　hours　sweet　and　fleeting　in　this　beautiful
park　of　wild　wonders。

But　merely　objective　actions　　merely　physical　movements；
had　never　yet　contented　Helen。　　She　could　run　and　climb　and
ride　and　play　with　hearty　and　healthy　abandon；　but　those
things　would　not　suffice　long　for　her；　and　her　mind　needed
food。　　Helen　was　a　thinker。　　One　reason　she　had　desired　to
make　her　home　in　the　West　was　that　by　taking　up　a　life　of
the　open；　of　action；　she　might　think　and　dream　and　brood
less。　　And　here　she　was　in　the　wild　West；　after　the　three
most　strenuously　active　days　of　her　career；　and　still　the
same　old　giant　revolved　her　mind　and　turned　it　upon　herself
and　upon　all　she　saw。

〃What　can　I　do？〃　she　asked　Bo；　almost　helplessly。

〃Why；　rest；　you　silly！〃　retorted　Bo。　　〃You　walk　like　an　old；
crippled　woman　with　only　one　leg。〃

Helen　hoped　the　comparison　was　undeserved；　but　the　advice
was　sound。　　The　blankets　spread　out　on　the　grass　looked
inviting　and　they　felt　comfortably　warm　in　the　sunshine。　　The
breeze　was　slow；　languorous；　fragrant；　and　it　brought　the
low　hum　of　the　murmuring　waterfall；　like　a　melody　of　bees。
Helen　made　a　pillow　and　lay　down　to　rest。　　The　green
pine…needles；　so　thin　and　fine　in　their　crisscross　network；
showed　clearly　against　the　blue　sky。　　She　looked　in　vain　for
birds。　　Then　her　gaze　went。　　wonderingly　to　the　lofty　fringed
rim　of　the　great　amphitheater；　and　as　she　studied　it　she
began　to　grasp　its　remoteness；　how　far　away　it　was　in　the
rarefied　atmosphere。　　A　black　eagle；　sweeping　along；　looked
of　tiny　size；　and　yet　he　was　far　under　the　heights　above。
How　pleasant　she　fancied　it　to　be　up　there！　　And　drowsy　fancy
lulled　her　to　sleep。

Helen　slept　all　afternoon；　and　upon　awakening；　toward
sunset；　found　Bo　curled　beside　her。　　Dale　had　thoughtfully
covered　them　with　a　blanket；　also　he　had　built　a　camp…fire。
The　air　was　growing　keen　and　cold。

Later；　when　they　had　put　their　coats　on　and　made　comfortable
seats　beside　the　fire；　Dale　came　over；　apparently　to　visit
them。

〃I　reckon　you　can't　sleep　all　the　time；〃　he　said。　　〃An'　bein'
city　girls；　you'll　get　lonesome。〃

〃Lonesome！〃　echoed　Helen。　　The　idea　of　her　being　lonesome
here　had　not　occurred　to　her。

〃I've　thought　that　all　out；〃　went　on　Dale；　as　he　sat　down；
Indian　fashion；　before　the　blaze。　　〃It's　natural　you'd　find
time　drag　up　here；　bein'　used　to　lots　of　people　an'
goin's…on；　an'　work；　an'　all　girls　like。〃

〃I'd　never　be　lonesome　here；〃　replied　Helen；　with　her　direct
force。

Dale　did　not　betray　surprise；　but　he　showed　that　his　mistake
was　something　to　ponder　over。

〃Excuse　me；〃　he　said；　presently；　as　his　gray　eyes　held　hers。
〃That's　how　I　had　it。　　As　I　remember　girls　　an'　it　doesn't
seem　long　since　I　left　home　　most　of　them　would　die　of
lonesomeness　up　here。〃　Then　he　addressed　himself　to　Bo。　　〃How
about　you？　　You　see；　I　figured　you'd　be　the　one　that　liked
it；　an'　your　sister　the　one　who　wouldn't。〃

〃I　won't　get　lonesome　very　soon；〃　replied　Bo。

〃I'm　glad。　　It　worried　me　some　　not　ever　havin'　girls　as
company　before。　　An'　in　a　day　or　so；　when　you're　rested；　I'll
help　you　pass　the　time。〃

Bo's　eyes　were　full　of　flashing　interest；　and　Helen　asked
him；　〃How？〃

It　was　a　sincere　expression　of　her　curiosity　and　not
doubtful　or　ironic　challenge　of　an　educated　woman　to　a　man
of　the　forest。　　But　as　a　challenge　he　took　it。

〃How！〃　he　repeated；　and　a　strange　smile　flitted　across　his
face。　　〃Why；　by　givin'　you　rides　an'　climbs　to　beautiful
places。　　An'　then；　if　you're　interested；'　to　show　you　how
little　so…called　civilized　people　know　of　nature。〃

Helen　realized　then　that　whatever　his　calling；　hunter　or
wanderer　or　hermit；　he　was　not　uneducated；　even　if　he
appeared　illiterate。

〃I'll　be　happy　to　learn　from　you；〃　she　said。

〃Me；　too！〃　chimed　in　Bo。　　〃You　can't　tell　too　much　to　any　one
from　Missouri。〃

He　smiled；　and　that　warmed　Helen　to　him；　for　then　he　seemed
less　removed　from　other　people。　　About　this　hunter　there
began　to　be　something　of　the　very　nature　of　which　he　spoke
　a　stillness；　aloofness；　an　unbreakable　tranquillity；　a
cold；　clear　spirit　like　that　in　the　mountain　air；　a　physical
something　not　unlike　the　tamed　wildness　of　his　pets　or　the
strength　of　the　pines。

〃I'll　bet　I　can　tell　you　more　'n　you'll　ever　remember；〃　he
said。

〃What　'll　you　bet？〃　retorted　Bo。

〃Well；　more　roast　turkey　against　　say　somethin'　nice　when
you're　safe　an'　home　to　your　uncle　Al's；　runnin'　his　ranch。〃

〃Agreed。　　Nell；　you　hear？〃

Helen　nodded　her　head。

〃All　right。　　We'll　leave　it　to　Nell；〃　began　Dale；　half
seriously。　　〃Now　I'll　tell　you；　first；　for　the　fun　of　passin'
time　we'll　ride　an'　race　my　horses　out　in　the　park。　　An'
we'll　fish　in　the　brooks　an'　hunt　in　the　woods。　　There's　an
old　silvertip　around　that　you　can　see　me　kill。　　An'　we'll
climb　to　the　peaks　an'　see　wonderful　sights。　。　。　。　　So　much
for　that。　　Now；　if　you　really　want　to　learn　　or　if　you　only
want　me　to　tell　you　　well；　that's　no　matter。　　Only　I'll　win
the　bet！　　。　。　。　　You'll　see　how　this　park　lies　in　the　crater
of　a　volcano　an'　was　once　full　of　water　　an'　how　the　snow
blows　in　on　one　side　in　winter；　a　hundred　feet　deep；　when
there's　none　on　the　other。　　An'　the　trees　　how　they　grow
an'　live　an'　fight　one　another　an'　depend　on　one　another；
an'　protect　the　forest　from　storm…winds。　　An'　how　they　hold
the　water　that　is　the　fountains　of　the　great　rivers。　　An'　how
the　creatures　an'　things　that　live　in　them　or　on　them　are
good　for　them；　an'　neither　could　live　without　the　other。　　An'
then　I'll　show　you　my　pets　tame　an'　untamed；　an'　tell　you
how　it's　man　that　makes　any　creature　wild　　how　easy　they
are　to　tame　　an'　how　they　learn　to　love　you。　　An'　there's
the　life　of　the　forest；　the　strife　of　it　　how　the　bear
lives；　an'　the　cats；　an'　the　wolves；　an'　the　deer。　　You'll
see　how　cruel　nature　is　how　savage　an'　wild　the　wolf　or
cougar　tears　down　the　deer　　how　a　wolf　loves　fresh；　hot
blood；　an'　how　a　cougar　unrolls　the　skin　of　a　deer　back　from
his　neck。　　An'　you'll　see　that　this　cruelty　of　nature　　this
work　of　the　wolf　an'　cougar　　is　what　makes　the　deer　so
beautiful　an'　healthy　an'　swift　an'　sensitive。　　Without　his
deadly　foes　the　deer　would　deteriorate　an'　die　out。　　An'
you'll　see　how　this　principle　works　out　among　all　creatures
of　the　forest。　　Strife！　　It's　the　meanin'