the man of the forest-第3章

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around　a　clump　of　aspens。　　In　a　sunny　patch　of　grass　a　dozen
or　more　big　gobblers　stood；　all　suspiciously　facing　in　his
direction；　heads　erect；　with　that　wild　aspect　peculiar　to
their　species。　　Old　wild　turkey　gobblers　were　the　most
difficult　game　to　stalk。　　Dale　shot　two　of　them。　　The　others
began　to　run　like　ostriches；　thudding　over　the　ground；
spreading　their　wings；　and　with　that　running　start　launched
their　heavy　bodies　into　whirring　flight。　　They　flew　low；　at
about　the　height　of　a　man　from　the　grass；　and　vanished　in
the　woods。

Dale　threw　the　two　turkeys　over　his　shoulder　and　went　on　his
way。　　Soon　he　came　to　a　break　in　the　forest　level；　from　which
he　gazed　down　a　league…long　slope　of　pine　and　cedar；　out
upon　the　bare；　glistening　desert；　stretching　away；　endlessly
rolling　out　to　the　dim；　dark　horizon　line。

The　little　hamlet　of　Pine　lay　on　the　last　level　of　sparsely
timbered　forest。　　A　road；　running　parallel　with　a
dark…watered；　swift…flowing　stream；　divided　the　cluster　of
log　cabins　from　which　columns　of　blue　smoke　drifted　lazily
aloft。　　Fields　of　corn　and　fields　of　oats；　yellow　in　the
sunlight；　surrounded　the　village；　and　green　pastures；　dotted
with　horses　and　cattle；　reached　away　to　the　denser　woodland。
This　site　appeared　to　be　a　natural　clearing；　for　there　was
no　evidence　of　cut　timber。　　The　scene　was　rather　too　wild　to
be　pastoral；　but　it　was　serene；　tranquil；　giving　the
impression　of　a　remote　community；　prosperous　and　happy；
drifting　along　the　peaceful　tenor　of　sequestered　lives。

Dale　halted　before　a　neat　little　log　cabin　and　a　little
patch　of　garden　bordered　with　sunflowers。　　His　call　was
answered　by　an　old　woman；　gray　and　bent；　but　remarkably
spry；　who　appeared　at　the　door。

〃Why；　land's　sakes；　if　it　ain't　Milt　Dale！〃　she　exclaimed；
in　welcome。

〃Reckon　it's　me；　Mrs。　　Cass；〃　he　replied。　　〃An；　I've　brought
you　a　turkey。〃

〃Milt；　you're　that　good　boy　who　never　forgits　old　Widow
Cass。　。　。　。　　What　a　gobbler！　　First　one　I've　seen　this　fall。
My　man　Tom　used　to　fetch　home　gobblers　like　that。　。　。　。　　An'
mebbe　he'll　come　home　again　sometime。〃

Her　husband；　Tom　Cass；　had　gone　into　the　forest　years　before
and　had　never　returned。　　But　the　old　woman　always　looked　for
him　and　never　gave　up　hope。

〃Men　have　been　lost　in　the　forest　an'　yet　come　back；〃
replied　Dale；　as　he　had　said　to　her　many　a　time。

〃Come　right　in。　　You　air　hungry；　I　know。　　Now；　son；　when　last
did　you　eat　a　fresh　egg　or　a　flapjack？〃

〃You　should　remember；〃　he　answered；　laughing；　as　he　followed
her　into　a　small；　clean　kitchen。

〃Laws…a'…me！　　An'　thet's　months　ago；〃　she　replied；　shaking
her　gray　head。　　〃Milt；　you　should　give　up　that　wild　life　
an'　marry　　an'　have　a　home。〃

〃You　always　tell　me　that。〃

〃Yes；　an'　I'll　see　you　do　it　yet。　。　。　。　　Now　you　set　there；
an'　pretty　soon　I'll　give　you　thet　to　eat　which　'll　make
your　mouth　water。〃

〃What's　the　news；　Auntie？〃　he　asked。

〃Nary　news　in　this　dead　place。　　Why；　nobody's　been　to
Snowdrop　in　two　weeks！　　。　。　。　　Sary　Jones　died；　poor　old　soul
　she's　better　off　　an'　one　of　my　cows　run　away。　　Milt；
she's　wild　when　she　gits　loose　in　the　woods。　　An'　you'll　have
to　track　her；　'cause　nobody　else　can。　　An'　John　Dakker's
heifer　was　killed　by　a　lion；　an'　Lem　Harden's　fast　hoss　
you　know　his　favorite　　was　stole　by　hoss…thieves。　　Lem　is
jest　crazy。　　An'　that　reminds　me；　Milt；　where's　your　big
ranger；　thet　you'd　never　sell　or　lend？〃

〃My　horses　are　up　in　the　woods；　Auntie；　safe；　I　reckon；　from
horse…thieves。〃

〃Well；　that's　a　blessin'。　　We've　had　some　stock　stole　this
summer；　Milt；　an'　no　mistake。〃

Thus；　while　preparing　a　meal　for　Dale；　the　old　woman　went　on
recounting　all　that　had　happened　in　the　little　village　since
his　last　visit。　　Dale　enjoyed　her　gossip　and　quaint
philosophy；　and　it　was　exceedingly　good　to　sit　at　her　table。
In　his　opinion；　nowhere　else　could　there　have　been　such
butter　and　cream；　such　ham　and　eggs。　　Besides；　she　always　had
apple　pie；　it　seemed；　at　any　time　he　happened　in；　and　apple
pie　was　one　of　Dale's　few　regrets　while　up　in　the　lonely
forest。

〃How's　old　Al　Auchincloss？〃　presently　inquired　Dale。

〃Poorly　　poorly；〃　sighed　Mrs。　　Cass。　　〃But　he　tramps　an'
rides　around　same　as　ever。　　Al's　not　long　for　this　world。　。　。
。　　An'；　Milt；　that　reminds　me　　there's　the　biggest　news　you
ever　heard。〃

〃You　don't　say　so！〃　exclaimed　Dale；　to　encourage　the　excited
old　woman。

〃Al　has　sent　back　to　Saint　Joe　for　his　niece；　Helen　Rayner。
She's　to　inherit　all　his　property。　　We've　heard　much　of　her
　a　purty　lass；　they　say。　。　。　。　　Now；　Milt　Dale；　here's　your
chance。　　Stay　out　of　the　woods　an'　go　to　work。　。　。　。　　You　can
marry　that　girl！〃

〃No　chance　for　me；　Auntie；〃　replied　Dale；　smiling。

The　old　woman　snorted。　　〃Much　you　know！　　Any　girl　would　have
you；　Milt　Dale；　if　you'd　only　throw　a　kerchief。〃

〃Me！　　。　。　。　　An'　why；　Auntie？〃　he　queried；　half　amused；　half
thoughtful。　　When　he　got　back　to　civilization　he　always　had
to　adjust　his　thoughts　to　the　ideas　of　people。

〃Why？　　I　declare；　Milt；　you　live　so　in　the　woods　you're　like
a　boy　of　ten　　an'　then　sometimes　as　old　as　the　hills。　。　。
。There's　no　young　man　to　compare　with　you；　hereabouts。　　An'
this　girl　　she'll　have　all　the　spunk　of　the
Auchinclosses。〃

〃Then　maybe　she'd　not　be　such　a　catch；　after　all；〃　replied
Dale。

〃Wal；　you've　no　cause　to　love　them；　that's　sure。　　But；　Milt；
the　Auchincloss　women　are　always　good　wives。〃

〃Dear　Auntie；　you're　dreamin'；〃　said　Dale；　soberly。　　〃I　want
no　wife。　　I'm　happy　in　the　woods。〃

〃Air　you　goin'　to　live　like　an　Injun　all　your　days；　Milt
Dale？〃　she　queried；　sharply。

〃I　hope　so。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　ashamed。　　But　some　lass　will　change　you；
boy；　an'　mebbe　it'll　be　this　Helen　Rayner。　　I　hope　an'　pray
so　to　thet。〃

〃Auntie；　supposin'　she　did　change　me。　　She'd　never　change　old
Al。　　He　hates　me；　you　know。〃

〃Wal；　I　ain't　so　sure；　Milt。　　I　met　Al　the　other　day。　　He
inquired　for　you；　an'　said　you　was　wild；　but　he　reckoned　men
like　you　was　good　for　pioneer　settlements。　　Lord　knows　the
good　turns　you've　done　this　village！　　Milt；　old　Al　doesn't
approve　of　your　wild　life；　but　he　never　had　no　hard　feelin's
till　thet　tame　lion　of　yours　killed　so　many　of　his　sheep。〃

〃Auntie；　I　don't　believe　Tom　ever　killed　Al's　sheep；〃
declared　Dale；　positively。

〃Wal；　Al　thinks　so；　an'　many　other　people；〃　replied　Mrs。
Cass；　shaking　her　gray　head　doubtfully。　　〃You　never　swore　he
didn't。　　An'　there　was　them　two　sheep…herders　who　did　swear
they　seen　him。〃

〃They　only　saw　a　cougar。　　An'　they　were　so　scared　they　ran。〃

〃Who　wouldn't？　　Thet　big　beast　is　enough　to　scare　any　one。
For　land's　sakes；　don't　ever　fetch　him　down　here　again！　　I'll
never　forgit　the　time　you　did。　　All　the　folks　an'　children
an'　hosses　in　Pine　broke　an'　run　thet　day。〃

〃Yes；　but　Tom　wasn't　to　blame。　　Auntie；　he's　the　tamest　of　my
pets。　　Didn't　he　try　to　put　his　head　on　your　lap　an'　lick
your　hand？〃

〃Wal；　Milt；　I　ain't　gainsayin'　your　cougar　pet　didn't　act
better　'n　a　lot　of　people　I　know。　　Fer　he　did。　　But　the　looks
of　him　an'　what's　been　said　was　enough　for　me。〃

〃An'　what's　all　that；　Auntie？〃

〃They　say　he's　wild　when　out　of　your　sight。　　An'　thet　he'd
trail　an'　kill　anythin'　you　put　him　after。〃

〃I　trained　him　to　be　just　that　way。〃

〃Wal；　leave　Tom　to　home　up　in　the　woods…when　you　visit　us。〃

Dale　finished　his　hearty　meal；　and　listened　awhile　longer　to
the　old　woman's　talk；　then；　taking　his　rifle　and　the　other
turkey；　he　bade　her　good…by。　　She　followed　him　out。

〃Now；　Milt；　you'll　come　soon　again；　won't　you　　jest　to　see
Al's　niece　　who'll　be　here　in　a　week？〃

〃I　reckon　I'll　drop　in　some　day。　。　。　。　　Auntie；　have　you　seen
my　friends；　the　Mormon　boys？〃

〃No；　I　'ain't　seen　them　an'　don't　want　to；〃　she　retorted。
〃Milt　Dale；　if　any　one　ever　corrals　you　it'll　be　Mormons。〃

〃Don't　worry；　Auntie。　　I　like　those　boys。　　They　often　see　me
up　in　the　woods　an'　ask　me　to　help　them　track　a　hoss　or　help
kill　some　fresh　meat。〃

〃They're　workin'　for　Beasley　now。〃

〃Is　that　so？〃　rejoined　Dale；　with　a　sudden　start。　　〃An'　what
doin'？〃

〃Beasley　is　gettin'　so　rich　he's　buildin'　a　fence；　an'
didn't　have　enough　help；　so　I　hear。〃

〃Beasley　gettin'　rich！〃　repeated　Dale；　thoughtfully。　　〃More
sheep　an'　horses　an'　cattle　than　ever；　I　reckon？〃

〃Laws…a'…me！　　Why；　Milt；　Beasley　'ain't　any　idea　what　he
owns。　　Yes；　he's　the　biggest　man　in　these　parts；　since　poor
old　Al's　took　to　failin'。　　I　reckon　Al's　health　ain't　none
improved　by　Beasley's　success。　　They've　bad　some　bitter
quarrels　lately　　so　I　hear。　　Al　ain't　what　he　was。〃

Dale　bade　good…by　again　to　his　old　friend　and　strode　away；
thoughtful　and　serious。　　Beasley　would　not　only　be　difficult
to　circumvent；　but　he　would　be　dangerous　to　oppose。　　There
did　not　appear　much　doubt　of　his　driving　his　way　rough…shod
to　the　dominance　of　affairs　there　in　Pine。　　Dale；　passing
down　the　road；　began　to　meet　acquaintances　who　had　hearty
welcome　for　his　presence　and　interest　in　his　doings；　so　that
his　pondering　was　interrupted　for　the　time　being。　　He　carried
the　turkey　to　another　old　friend；　and　when　he　left　her　house
he　went　on　to　the　village　store。　　This　was　a　large　log　cabin；
roughly　covered　with　clapboards；　with　a　wide　plank　platform
in　front　and　a　hitching…rail　in　the　road。　　Several　horses
were　standing　there；　and　a　group　of　lazy；　shirt…sleeved
loungers。

〃I'll　be　doggoned　if　it　ain't　Milt　Dale！〃　exclaimed　one。

〃Howdy；　Milt；　old　buckskin！　　Right　down　glad　to　see　you；〃
greeted　another。

〃Hello；　Dale！　　You　air　shore　good　for　sore　eyes；〃　drawled
still　another。

After　a　long　period　of　absence　Dale　always　experienced　a
singular　warmth　of　feeling　when　he　met　these　acquaintances。
It　faded　quickly　when　he　got　back　to　the　intimacy　of　his
woodland；　and　that　was　because　the　people　of　Pine；　with　few
exceptions　　though　they　liked　him　and　greatly　admired　his
outdoor　wisdom　　regarded　him　as　a　sort　of　nonentity。
Because　he　loved　the　wild　and　preferred　it　to　village　and
range　life；　they　had　classed　him　as　not　one　of　them。　　Some
believed　him　lazy；　others　believed　him　shiftless；　others
thought　him　an　Indian　in　mind　and　habits；　and　there　were
many　who　called　him　slow…witted。　　Then　there　was　another　side
to　their　regard　for　him；　which　always　afforded　him
good…natured　amusement。　　Two　of　this　group　asked　him　to　bring
in　some　turkey　or　venison；　another　wanted　to　hunt　with　him。
Lem　Harden　came　out　of　the　store　and　appealed　to　Dale　to
recover　his　stolen　horse。　　Lem's　brother　wanted　a
wild…running　mare　tracked　and　brought　home。　　Jesse　Lyons
wanted　a　colt　broken；　and　broken　with　patience；　not
violence；　as　was　the　method　of　the　hard…riding　boys　at　Pine。
So　one　and　all　they　besieged　Dale　with　their　selfish　needs；
all　unconscious　of　the　flattering　nature　of　these　overtures。
And　on　the　moment　there　happened　by　two　women　whose　remarks；
as　they　entered　the　store；　bore　strong　testimony　to　Dale's
personality。

〃If　there　ain't　Milt　Dale！〃　exclaimed　the　older　of　the　two。
〃How　lucky！　　My　cow's　sick；　an'　the　men　are　no　good
doctorin'。　　I'll　jest　ask　Milt　over。〃

〃No　one　like　Milt！〃　responded　the　other　woman；　heartily。

〃Good　day　there　　you　Milt　Dale！〃　called　the　first　speaker。
〃When　you　g