the man of the forest-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


you'll　see　how　this　principle　works　out　among　all　creatures
of　the　forest。　　Strife！　　It's　the　meanin'　of　all　creation；　an'
the　salvation。　　If　you're　quick　to　see；　you'll　learn　that　the
nature　here　in　the　wilds　is　the　same　as　that　of　men　　only
men　are　no　longer　cannibals。　　Trees　fight　to　live　　birds
fight　　animals　fight　　men　fight。　　They　all　live　off　one
another。　　An'　it's　this　fightin'　that　brings　them　all　closer
an'　closer　to　bein'　perfect。　　But　nothin'　will　ever　be
perfect。〃

〃But　how　about　religion？〃　interrupted　Helen；　earnestly。

〃Nature　has　a　religion；　an'　it's　to　live　　to　grow　　to
reproduce；　each　of　its　kind。〃

〃But　that　is　not　God　or　the　immortality　of　the　soul；〃
declared　Helen。

〃Well；　it's　as　close　to　God　an'　immortality　as　nature　ever
gets。〃

〃Oh；　you　would　rob　me　of　my　religion！〃

〃No；　I　just　talk　as　I　see　life；〃　replied　Dale；　reflectively；
as　he　poked　a　stick　into　the　red　embers　of　the　fire。　　〃Maybe
I　have　a　religion。　　I　don't　know。　　But　it's　not　the　kind　you
have　　not　the　Bible　kind。　　That　kind　doesn't　keep　the　men
in　Pine　an'　Snowdrop　an'　all　over　　sheepmen　an'　ranchers
an'　farmers　an'　travelers；　such　as　I've　known　　the
religion　they　profess　doesn't　keep　them　from　lyin'；
cheatin'；　stealin'；　an'　killin'。　　I　reckon　no　man　who　lives
as　I　do　　which　perhaps　is　my　religion　　will　lie　or　cheat
or　steal　or　kill；　unless　it's　to　kill　in　self…defense　or
like　I'd　do　if　Snake　Anson　would　ride　up　here　now。　　My
religion；　maybe；　is　love　of　life　　wild　life　as　it　was　in
the　beginnin'　　an'　the　wind　that　blows　secrets　from
everywhere；　an'　the　water　that　sings　all　day　an'　night；　an'
the　stars　that　shine　constant；　an'　the　trees　that　speak
somehow；　an'　the　rocks　that　aren't　dead。　　I'm　never　alone
here　or　on　the　trails。　　There's　somethin'　unseen；　but　always
with　me。　　An'　that's　It！　　Call　it　God　if　you　like。　　But　what
stalls　me　is　　where　was　that　Spirit　when　this　earth　was　a
ball　of　fiery　gas？　　Where　will　that　Spirit　be　when　all　life
is　frozen　out　or　burned　out　on　this　globe　an'　it　hangs　dead
in　space　like　the　moon？　　That　time　will　come。　　There's　no
waste　in　nature。　　Not　the　littlest　atom　is　destroyed。　　It
changes；　that's　all；　as　you　see　this　pine　wood　go　up　in
smoke　an'　feel　somethin'　that's　heat　come　out　of　it。　　Where
does　that　go？　　It's　not　lost。　　Nothin'　is　lost。　　So；　the
beautiful　an'　savin'　thought　is；　maybe　all　rock　an'　wood；
water　an'　blood　an'　flesh；　are　resolved　back　into　the
elements；　to　come　to　life　somewhere　again　sometime。〃

〃Oh；　what　you　say　is　wonderful；　but　it's　terrible！〃
exclaimed　Helen。　　He　had　struck　deep　into　her　soul。

〃Terrible？　　I　reckon；〃　he　replied；　sadly。

Then　ensued　a　little　interval　of　silence。

〃Milt　Dale；　I　lose　the　bet；〃　declared　Bo；　with　earnestness
behind　her　frivolity。

〃I'd　forgotten　that。　　Reckon　I　talked　a　lot；〃　he　said；
apologetically。　　〃You　see；　I　don't　get　much　chance　to　talk；
except　to　myself　or　Tom。　　Years　ago；　when　I　found　the　habit
of　silence　settlin'　down　on　me；　I　took　to　thinkin'　out　loud
an'　talkin'　to　anythin'。〃

〃I　could　listen　to　you　all　night；〃　returned　Bo；　dreamily。

〃Do　you　read　　do　you　have　books？〃　inquired　Helen；
suddenly。

〃Yes；　I　read　tolerable　well；　a　good　deal　better　than　I　talk
or　write；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　went　to　school　till　I　was　fifteen。
Always　hated　study；　but　liked　to　read。　　Years　ago　an　old
friend　of　mine　down　here　at　Pine　　Widow　Cass　　she　gave
me　a　lot　of　old　books。　　An'　I　packed　them　up　here。　　Winter's
the　time　I　read。〃

Conversation　lagged　after　that；　except　for　desultory
remarks；　and　presently　Dale　bade　the　girls　good　night　and
left　them。　　Helen　watched　his　tall　form　vanish　in　the　gloom
under　the　pines；　and　after　he　had　disappeared　she　still
stared。

〃Nell！〃　called　Bo；　shrilly。　　〃I've　called　you　three　times。　　I
want　to　go　to　bed。〃

〃Oh！　　I　　I　was　thinking；〃　rejoined　Helen；　half　embarrassed；
half　wondering　at　herself。　　〃I　didn't　hear　you。〃

〃I　should　smile　you　didn't；〃　retorted　Bo。　　〃Wish　you　could
just　have　seen　your　eyes。　　Nell；　do　you　want　me　to　tell　you
something？

〃Why　　yes；〃　said　Helen；　rather　feebly。　　She　did　not　at　all；
when　Bo　talked　like　that。

〃You're　going　to　fall　in　love　with　that　wild　hunter；〃
declared　Bo　in　a　voice　that　rang　like　a　bell。

Helen　was　not　only　amazed；　but　enraged。　　She　caught　her
breath　preparatory　to　giving　this　incorrigible　sister　a
piece　of　her　mind。　　Bo　went　calmly　on。

〃I　can　feel　it　in　my　bones。〃

〃Bo；　you're　a　little　fool　　a　sentimental；　romancing；　gushy
little　fool！〃　retorted　Helen。　　〃All　you　seem　to　hold　in　your
head　is　some　rot　about　love。　　To　hear　you　talk　one　would
think　there's　nothing　else　in　the　world　but　love。〃

Bo's　eyes　were　bright；　shrewd；　affectionate；　and　laughing　as
she　bent　their　steady　gaze　upon　Helen。

〃Nell；　that's　just　it。　　There　IS　nothing　else！〃



CHAPTER　X

The　night　of　sleep　was　so　short　that　it　was　difficult　for
Helen　to　believe　that　hours　had　passed。　　Bo　appeared　livelier
this　morning；　with　less　complaint　of　aches。

〃Nell；　you've　got　color！〃　exclaimed　Bo。　　〃And　your　eyes　are
bright。　　Isn't　the　morning　perfectly　lovely？　　。　。　。　　Couldn't
you　get　drunk　on　that　air？　　I　smell　flowers。　　And　oh！　　I'm
hungry！〃

〃Bo；　our　host　will　soon　have　need　of　his　hunting　abilities
if　your　appetite　holds；〃　said　Helen；　as　she　tried　to　keep
her　hair　out　of　her　eyes　while　she　laced　her　boots。

〃Look！　　there's　a　big　dog　　a　hound。〃

Helen　looked　as　Bo　directed；　and　saw　a　hound　of　unusually
large　proportions；　black　and　tan　in　color；　with　long；
drooping　ears。　　Curiously　he　trotted　nearer　to　the　door　of
their　hut　and　then　stopped　to　gaze　at　them。　　His　head　was
noble；　his　eyes　shone　dark　and　sad。　　He　seemed　neither
friendly　nor　unfriendly。

〃Hello；　doggie！　　Come　right　in　　we　won't　hurt　you；〃　called
Bo；　but　without　enthusiasm。

This　made　Helen　laugh。　　〃Bo；　you're　simply　delicious；〃　she
said。　　〃You're　afraid　of　that　dog。〃

〃Sure。　　Wonder　if　he's　Dale's。　　Of　course　he　must　be。〃

Presently　the　hound　trotted　away　out　of　sight。　　When　the
girls　presented　themselves　at　the　camp…fire　they　espied
their　curious　canine　visitor　lying　down。　　His　ears　were　so
long　that　half　of　them　lay　on　the　ground。

〃I　sent　Pedro　over　to　wake　you　girls　up；〃　said　Dale；　after
greeting　them。　　〃Did　he　scare　you？〃

〃Pedro。　　So　that's　his　name。　　No；　he　didn't　exactly　scare　me。
He　did　Nell；　though。　　She's　an　awful　tenderfoot；〃　replied　Bo。

〃He's　a　splendid…looking　dog；〃　said　Helen；　ignoring　her
sister's　sally。　　〃I　love　dogs。　　Will　he　make　friends？〃

〃He's　shy　an'　wild。　　You　see；　when　I　leave　camp　he　won't　hang
around。　　He　an'　Tom　are　jealous　of　each　other。　　I　had　a　pack
of　hounds　an'　lost　all　but　Pedro　on　account　of　Tom。　　I　think
you　can　make　friends　with　Pedro。　　Try　it。〃

Whereupon　Helen　made　overtures　to　Pedro；　and　not　wholly　in
vain。　　The　dog　was　matured；　of　almost　stern　aloofness；　and
manifestly　not　used　to　people。　　His　deep；　wine…dark　eyes
seemed　to　search　Helen's　soul。　　They　were　honest　and　wise；
with　a　strange　sadness。

〃He　looks　intelligent；〃　observed　Helen；　as　she　smoothed　the
long；　dark　ears。

〃That　hound　is　nigh　human；〃　responded　Dale。　　〃Come；　an'　while
you　eat　I'll　tell　you　about　Pedro。〃

Dale　had　gotten　the　hound　as　a　pup　from　a　Mexican
sheep…herder　who　claimed　he　was　part　California　bloodhound。
He　grew　up；　becoming　attached　to　Dale。　　In　his　younger　days
he　did　not　get　along　well　with　Dale's　other　pets　and　Dale
gave　him　to　a　rancher　down　in　the　valley。　　Pedro　was　back　in
Dale's　camp　next　day。　　From　that　day　Dale　began　to　care　more
for　the　hound；　but　he　did　not　want　to　keep　him；　for　various
reasons；　chief　of　which　was　the　fact　that　Pedro　was　too　fine
a　dog　to　be　left　alone　half　the　time　to　shift　for　himself。
That　fall　Dale　had　need　to　go　to　the　farthest　village；
Snowdrop；　where　he　left　Pedro　with　a　friend。　　Then　Dale　rode
to　Show　Down　and　Pine；　and　the　camp　of　the　Beemans'　and　with
them　he　trailed　some　wild　horses　for　a　hundred　miles；　over
into　New　Mexico。　　The　snow　was　flying　when　Dale　got　back　to
his　camp　in　the　mountains。　　And　there　was　Pedro；　gaunt　and
worn；　overjoyed　to　welcome　him　home。　　Roy　Beeman　visited　Dale
that　October　and　told　that　Dale's　friend　in　Snowdrop　had　not
been　able　to　keep　Pedro。　　He　broke　a　chain　and　scaled　a
ten…foot　fence　to　escape。　　He　trailed　Dale　to　Show　Down；
where　one　of　Dale's　friends；　recognizing　the　hound；　caught
him；　and　meant　to　keep　him　until　Dale's　return。　　But　Pedro
refused　to　eat。　　It　happened　that　a　freighter　was　going　out
to　the　Beeman　camp；　and　Dale's　friend　boxed　Pedro　up　and　put
him　on　the　wagon。　　Pedro　broke　out　of　the　box；　returned　to
Show　Down；　took　up　Dale's　trail　to　Pine；　and　then　on　to　the
Beeman　camp。　　That　was　as　far　as　Roy　could　trace　the
movements　of　the　hound。　　But　he　believed；　and　so　did　Dale；
that　Pedro　had　trailed　them　out　on　the　wild…horse　hunt。　　The
following　spring　Dale　learned　more　from　the　herder　of　a
sheepman　at　whose　camp　he　and　the　Beemans；　had　rested　on　the
way　into　New　Mexico。　　It　appeared　that　after　Dale　had　left
this　camp　Pedro　had　arrived；　and　another　Mexican　herder　had
stolen　the　hound。　　But　Pedro　got　away。

〃An'　he　was　here　when　I　arrived；〃　concluded　Dale；　smiling。
〃I　never　wanted　to　get　rid　of　him　after　that。　　He's　turned
out　to　be　the　finest　dog　I　ever　knew。　　He　knows　what　I　say。
He　can　almost　talk。　　An'　I　swear　he　can　cry。　　He　does　whenever
I　start　off　without　him。〃

〃How　perfectly　wonderful！〃　exclaimed　Bo。　　〃Aren't　animals
great？　　。　。　。　　But　I　love　horses　best。〃

It　seemed　to　Helen　that　Pedro　understood　they　were　talking
about　him；　for　he　looked　ashamed；　and　swallowed　hard；　and
dropped　his　gaze。　　She　knew　something　of　the　truth　about　the
love　of　dogs　for　their　owners。　　This　story　of　Dale's；
however；　was　stranger　than　any　she　had　ever　heard。

Tom；　the　cougar；　put　in　an　appearance　then；　and　there　was
scarcely　love　in　the　tawny　eyes　he　bent　upon　Pedro。　　But　the
hound　did　not　deign　to　notice　him。　　Tom　sidled　up　to　Bo；　who
sat　on　the　farther　side　of　the　tarpaulin　table…cloth；　and
manifestly　wanted　part　of　her　breakfast。

〃Gee！　　I　love　the　look　of　him；〃　she　said。　　〃But　when　he's
close　he　makes　my　flesh　creep。〃

〃Beasts　are　as　queer　as　people；〃　observed　Dale。　　〃They　take
likes　an'　dislikes。　　I　believe　Tom　has　taken　a　shine　to　you
an'　Pedro　begins　to　be　interested　in　your　sister。　　I　can
tell。〃

〃Where's　Bud？〃　inquired　Bo。

〃He's　asleep　or　around　somewhere。　　Now；　soon　as　I　get　the
work　done；　what　would　you　girls　like　to　do？〃

〃Ride！〃　declared　Bo；　eagerly。

〃Aren't　you　sore　an'　stiff？〃

〃I　am　that。　　But　I　don't　care。　　Besides；　when　I　used　to　go　out
to　my　uncle's　farm　near　Saint　Joe　I　always　found　riding　to
be　a　cure　for　aches。〃

〃Sure　is；　if　you　can　stand　it。　　An'　what　will　your　sister
like　to　do？〃　returned　Dale；　turning　to　Helen。

〃Oh；　I'll　rest；　and　watch　you　folks　　and　dream；〃　replied
Helen。

〃But　after　you've　rested　you　must　be　active；〃　said　Dale；
seriously。　　〃You　must　do　things。　　It　doesn't　matter　what；　just
as　long　as　you　don't　sit　idle。〃

〃Why？〃　queried　Helen；　in　surprise。　　〃Why　not　be　idle　here　in
this　beautiful；　wild　place？　　just　to　dream　away　the　hours　
the　days！　　I　could　do　it。〃

〃But　you　mustn't。　　It　took　me　years　to　learn　how　bad　that