the man of the forest-第29章

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clear　against　the　cold　sky。　　The　horses　went　swiftly；　and　the
wind　cut　like　a　blade　of　ice。　　Helen　could　barely　get　her
breath　and　she　panted　as　if　she　had　just　climbed　a　laborsome
hill。　　The　stars　began　to　blink　out　of　the　blue；　and　the　gold
paled　somewhat；　and　yet　twilight　lingered。　　It　seemed　long
across　that　flat；　but　really　was　short。　　Coming　to　a　thin
line　of　trees　that　led　down　over　a　slope　to　a　deeper　but
still　isolated　patch　of　woods；　Dale　dismounted　and　tied　his
horse。　　When　the　girls　got　off　he　haltered　their　horses　also。

〃Stick　close　to　me　an'　put　your　feet　down　easy；〃　he
whispered。　　How　tall　and　dark　he　loomed　in　the　fading　light！
Helen　thrilled；　as　she　had　often　of　late；　at　the　strange；
potential　force　of　the　man。　　Stepping　softly；　without　the
least　sound；　Dale　entered　this　straggly　bit　of　woods；　which
appeared　to　have　narrow　byways　and　nooks。　　Then　presently　he
came　to　the　top　of　a　well…wooded　slope；　dark　as　pitch；
apparently。　　But　as　Helen　followed　she　perceived　the　trees；
and　they　were　thin　dwarf　spruce；　partly　dead。　　The　slope　was
soft　and　springy；　easy　to　step　upon　without　noise。　　Dale　went
so　cautiously　that　Helen　could　not　hear　him；　and　sometimes
in　the　gloom　she　could　not　see　him。　　Then　the　chill　thrills
ran　over　her。　　Bo　kept　holding　on　to　Helen；　which　fact
hampered　Helen　as　well　as　worked　somewhat　to　disprove　Bo's
boast。　　At　last　level　ground　was　reached。　　Helen　made　out　a
light…gray　background　crossed　by　black　bars。　　Another　glance
showed　this　to　be　the　dark　tree…trunks　against　the　open
park。

Dale　halted；　and　with　a　touch　brought　Helen　to　a　straining
pause。　　He　was　listening。　　It　seemed　wonderful　to　watch　him
bend　his　head　and　stand　as　silent　and　motionless　as　one　of
the　dark　trees。

〃He's　not　there　yet；〃　Dale　whispered；　and　he　stepped　forward
very　slowly。　　Helen　and　Bo　began　to　come　up　against　thin　dead
branches　that　were　invisible　and　then　cracked。　　Then　Dale
knelt　down；　seemed　to　melt　into　the　ground。

〃You'll　have　to　crawl；〃　he　whispered。

How　strange　and　thrilling　that　was　for　Helen；　and　hard　work！
The　ground　bore　twigs　and　dead　branches；　which　had　to　be
carefully　crawled　over；　and　lying　flat；　as　was　necessary；　it
took　prodigious　effort　to　drag　her　body　inch　by　inch。　　Like　a
huge　snake；　Dale　wormed　his　way　along。

Gradually　the　wood　lightened。　　They　were　nearing　the　edge　of
the　park。　　Helen　now　saw　a　strip　of　open　with　a　high；　black
wall　of　spruce　beyond。　　The　afterglow　flashed　or　changed；
like　a　dimming　northern　light；　and　then　failed。　　Dale　crawled
on　farther　to　halt　at　length　between　two　tree…trunks　at　the
edge　of　the　wood。

〃Come　up　beside　me；〃　he　whispered。

Helen　crawled　on；　and　presently　Bo　was　beside　her　panting；
with　pale　face　and　great；　staring　eyes；　plain　to　be　seen　in
the　wan　light。

〃Moon's　comin'　up。　　We're　just　in　time。　　The　old　grizzly's　not
there　yet；　but　I　see　coyotes。　　Look。〃

Dale　pointed　across　the　open　neck　of　park　to　a　dim　blurred
patch　standing　apart　some　little　distance　from　the　black
wall。

〃That's　the　dead　horse；〃　whispered　Dale。　　〃An'　if　you　watch
close　you　can　see　the　coyotes。　　They're　gray　an'　they　move。　。
。　。　　Can't　you　hear　them？〃

Helen's　excited　ears；　so　full　of　throbs　and　imaginings；
presently　registered　low　snaps　and　snarls。　　Bo　gave　her　arm　a
squeeze。

〃I　hear　them。　　They're　fighting。　　Oh；　gee！〃　she　panted；　and
drew　a　long；　full　breath　of　unutterable　excitement。

〃Keep　quiet　now　an'　watch　an'　listen；〃　said　the　hunter。

Slowly　the　black；　ragged　forest…line　seemed　to　grow　blacker
and　lift；　slowly　the　gray　neck　of　park　lightened　under　some
invisible　influence；　slowly　the　stars　paled　and　the　sky
filled　over。　　Somewhere　the　moon　was　rising。　　And　slowly　that
vague　blurred　patch　grew　a　little　clearer。

Through　the　tips　of　the　spruce；　now　seen　to　be　rather　close
at　hand；　shone　a　slender；　silver　crescent　moon；　darkening；
hiding；　shining　again；　climbing　until　its　exquisite
sickle…point　topped　the　trees；　and　then；　magically；　it
cleared　them；　radiant　and　cold。　　While　the　eastern　black　wall
shaded　still　blacker；　the　park　blanched　and　the　border…line
opposite　began　to　stand　out　as　trees。

〃Look！　　Look！〃　cried　Bo；　very　low　and　fearfully；　as　she
pointed。

〃Not　so　loud；〃　whispered　Dale。

〃But　I　see　something！〃

〃Keep　quiet；〃　he　admonished。

Helen；　in　the　direction　Bo　pointed；　could　not　see　anything
but　moon…blanched　bare　ground；　rising　close　at　hand　to　a
little　ridge。

〃Lie　still；〃　whispered　Dale。　　〃I'm　goin'　to　crawl　around　to
get　a　look　from　another　angle。　　I'll　be　right　back。〃

He　moved　noiselessly　backward　and　disappeared。　　With　him
gone；　Helen　felt　a　palpitating　of　her　heart　and　a　prickling
of　her　skin。

〃Oh；　my！　　Nell！　　Look！〃　whispered　Bo；　in　fright。　　〃I　know　I　saw
something。〃

On　top　of　the　little　ridge　a　round　object　moved　slowly；
getting　farther　out　into　the　light。　　Helen　watched　with
suspended　breath。　　It　moved　out　to　be　silhouetted　against　the
sky　　apparently　a　huge；　round；　bristling　animal；　frosty　in
color。　　One　instant　it　seemed　huge　　the　next　small　　then
close　at　hand　　and　far　away。　　It　swerved　to　come　directly
toward　them。　　Suddenly　Helen　realized　that　the　beast　was　not
a　dozen　yards　distant。　　She　was　just　beginning　a　new
experience　　a　real　and　horrifying　terror　in　which　her
blood　curdled；　her　heart　gave　a　tremendous　leap　and　then
stood　still；　and　she　wanted　to　fly；　but　was　rooted　to　the
spot　　when　Dale　returned　to　her　side。

〃That's　a　pesky　porcupine；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Almost　crawled
over　you。　　He　sure　would　have　stuck　you　full　of　quills。〃

Whereupon　he　threw　a　stick　at　the　animal。　　It　bounced
straight　up　to　turn　round　with　startling　quickness；　and　it
gave　forth　a　rattling　sound；　then　it　crawled　out　of　sight。

〃Por　　cu　　pine！〃　whispered　Bo；　pantingly。　　〃It　might　
as　well　　have　been　　an　elephant！〃

Helen　uttered　a　long；　eloquent　sigh。　　She　would　not　have
cared　to　describe　her　emotions　at　sight　of　a　harmless
hedgehog。

〃Listen！〃　warned　Dale；　very　low。　　His　big　hand　closed　over
Helen's　gauntleted　one。　　〃There　you　have　　the　real　cry　of
the　wild。〃

Sharp　and　cold　on　the　night　air　split　the　cry　of　a　wolf；
distant；　yet　wonderfully　distinct。　　How　wild　and　mournful　and
hungry！　　How　marvelously　pure！　　Helen　shuddered　through　all
her　frame　with　the　thrill　of　its　music；　the　wild　and
unutterable　and　deep　emotions　it　aroused。　　Again　a　sound　of
this　forest　had　pierced　beyond　her　life；　back　into　the　dim
remote　past　from　which　she　had　come。

The　cry　was　not　repeated。　　The　coyotes　were　still。　　And
silence　fell；　absolutely　unbroken。

Dale　nudged　Helen；　and　then　reached　over　to　give　Bo　a　tap。
He　was　peering　keenly　ahead　and　his　strained　intensity　could
be　felt。　　Helen　looked　with　all　her　might　and　she　saw　the
shadowy　gray　forms　of　the　coyotes　skulk　away；　out　of　the
moonlight　into　the　gloom　of　the　woods；　where　they
disappeared。　　Not　only　Dale's　intensity；　but　the　very
silence；　the　wildness　of　the　moment　and　place；　seemed
fraught　with　wonderful　potency。　　Bo　must　have　felt　it；　too；
for　she　was　trembling　all　over；　and　holding　tightly　to
Helen；　and　breathing　quick　and　fast。

〃A…huh！〃　muttered　Dale；　under　his　breath。

Helen　caught　the　relief　and　certainty　in　his　exclamation；
and　she　divined；　then；　something　of　what　the　moment　must
have　been　to　a　hunter。

Then　her　roving；　alert　glance　was　arrested　by　a　looming　gray
shadow　coming　out　of　the　forest。　　It　moved；　but　surely　that
huge　thing　could　not　be　a　bear。　　It　passed　out　of　gloom　into
silver　moonlight。　　Helen's　heart　bounded。　　For　it　was　a　great
frosty…coated　bear　lumbering　along　toward　the　dead　horse。
Instinctively　Helen's　hand　sought　the　arm　of　the　hunter。　　It
felt　like　iron　under　a　rippling　surface。　　The　touch　eased
away　the　oppression　over　her　lungs；　the　tightness　of　her
throat。　　What　must　have　been　fear　left　her；　and　only　a
powerful　excitement　remained。　　A　sharp　expulsion　of　breath
from　Bo　and　a　violent　jerk　of　her　frame　were　signs　that　she
had　sighted　the　grizzly。

In　the　moonlight　he　looked　of　immense　size；　and　that　wild
park　with　the　gloomy　blackness　of　forest　furnished　a　fit
setting　for　him。　　Helen's　quick　mind；　so　taken　up　with
emotion；　still　had　a　thought　for　the　wonder　and　the　meaning
of　that　scene。　　She　wanted　the　bear　killed；　yet　that　seemed　a
pity。

He　had　a　wagging；　rolling；　slow　walk　which　took　several
moments　to　reach　his　quarry。　　When　at　length　he　reached　it　he
walked　around　with　sniffs　plainly　heard　and　then　a　cross
growl。　　Evidently　he　had　discovered　that　his　meal　had　been
messed　over。　　As　a　whole　the　big　bear　could　be　seen
distinctly；　but　only　in　outline　and　color。　　The　distance　was
perhaps　two　hundred　yards。　　Then　it　looked　as　if　he　had　begun
to　tug　at　the　carcass。　　Indeed；　he　was　dragging　it；　very
slowly；　but　surely。

〃Look　at　that！〃　whispered　Dale。　　〃If　he　ain't　strong！　　。　。　。
Reckon　I'll　have　to　stop　him。〃

The　grizzly；　however；　stopped　of　his　own　accord；　just
outside　of　the　shadow…line　of　the　forest。　　Then　he　hunched　in
a　big　frosty　heap　over　his　prey　and　began　to　tear　and　rend。

〃Jess　was　a　mighty　good　horse；〃　muttered　Dale；　grimly；　〃too
good　to　make　a　meal　for　a　hog　silvertip。〃

Then　the　hunter　silently　rose　to　a　kneeling　position；
swinging　the　rifle　in　front　of　him。　　He　glanced　up　into　the
low　branches　of　the　tree　overhead。

〃Girls；　there's　no　tellin'　what　a　grizzly　will　do。　　If　I
yell；　you　climb　up　in　this　tree；　an'　do　it　quick。〃

With　that　he　leveled　the　rifle；　resting　his　left　elbow　on
his　knee。　　The　front　end　of　the　rifle；　reaching　out　of　the
shade；　shone　silver　in　the　moonlight。　　Man　and　weapon　became
still　as　stone。　　Helen　held　her　breath。　　But　Dale　relaxed；
lowering　the　barrel。

〃Can't　see　the　sights　very　well；〃　he　whispered；　shaking　his
head。　　〃Remember；　now　　if　I　yell　you　climb！〃

Again　he　aimed　and　slowly　grew　rigid。　　Helen　could　not　take
her　fascinated　eyes　off　him。　　He　knelt；　bareheaded；　and　in
the　shadow　she　could　make　out　the　gleam　of　his　clear…cut
profile；　stern　and　cold。

A　streak　of　fire　and　a　heavy　report　startled　her。　　Then　she
heard　the　bullet　hit。　　Shifting　her　glance；　she　saw　the　bear
lurch　with　convulsive　action；　rearing　on　his　hind　legs。　　Loud
clicking　snaps　must　have　been　a　clashing　of　his　jaws　in
rage。　　But　there　was　no　other　sound。　　Then　again　Dale's　heavy
gun　boomed。　　Helen　heard　again　that　singular　spatting　thud　of
striking　lead。　　The　bear　went　down　with　a　flop　as　if　he　had
been　dealt　a　terrific　blow。　　But　just　as　quickly　he　was　up　on
all…fours　and　began　to　whirl　with　hoarse；　savage　bawls　of
agony　and　fury。　　His　action　quickly　carried　him　out　of　the
moonlight　into　the　shadow；　where　he　disappeared。　　There　the
bawls　gave　place　to　gnashing　snarls；　and　crashings　in　the
brush；　and　snapping　of　branches；　as　he　made　his　way　into　the
forest。

〃Sure　he's　mad；〃　said　Dale；　rising　to　his　feet。　　〃An'　I
reckon　hard　hit。　　But　I　won't　follow　him　to…night。〃

Both　the　girls　got　up；　and　Helen　found　she　was　shaky　on　her
feet　and　very　cold。

〃Oh…h；　wasn't　　it　　won…wonder…ful！〃　cried　Bo。

〃Are　you　scared？　　Your　teeth　are　chatterin'；〃　queried　Dale。

〃I'm　　cold。〃

〃Well；　it　sure　is　cold；　all　right；〃　he　responded。　　〃Now　the
fun's　over；　you'll　feel　it。　。　。　。　　Nell；