the man of the forest-第4章

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

〃Good　day　there　　you　Milt　Dale！〃　called　the　first　speaker。
〃When　you　git　away　from　these　lazy　men　come　over。〃

Dale　never　refused　a　service；　and　that　was　why　his
infrequent　visits　to　Pine　were　wont　to　be　prolonged　beyond
his　own　pleasure。

Presently　Beasley　strode　down　the　street；　and　when　about　to
enter　the　store　he　espied　Dale。

〃Hullo　there；　Milt！〃　he　called；　cordially；　as　he　came
forward　with　extended　hand。　　His　greeting　was　sincere；　but
the　lightning　glance　he　shot　over　Dale　was　not　born　of　his
pleasure。　　Seen　in　daylight；　Beasley　was　a　big；　bold；　bluff
man；　with　strong；　dark　features。　　His　aggressive　presence
suggested　that　he　was　a　good　friend　and　a　bad　enemy。

Dale　shook　hands　with　him。

〃How　are　you；　Beasley？〃

〃Ain't　complainin'；　Milt；　though　I　got　more　work　than　I　can
rustle。　　Reckon　you　wouldn't　take　a　job　bossin'　my
sheep…herders？〃

〃Reckon　I　wouldn't；〃　replied　Dale。　　〃Thanks　all　the　same。〃

〃What's　goin'　on　up　in　the　woods？〃

〃Plenty　of　turkey　an'　deer。　　Lots　of　bear；　too。　　The　Indians
have　worked　back　on　the　south　side　early　this　fall。　　But　I
reckon　winter　will　come　late　an'　be　mild。〃

〃Good！　　An'　where　're　you　headin'　from？〃

〃'Cross…country　from　my　camp；〃　replied　Dale；　rather
evasively。

〃Your　camp！　　Nobody　ever　found　that　yet；〃　declared　Beasley；
gruffly。

〃It's　up　there；〃　said　Dale。

〃Reckon　you've　got　that　cougar　chained　in　your　cabin　door？〃
queried　Beasley；　and　there　was　a　barely　distinguishable
shudder　of　his　muscular　frame。　　Also　the　pupils　dilated　in
his　hard　brown　eyes。

〃Tom　ain't　chained。　　An'　I　haven't　no　cabin；　Beasley。〃

〃You　mean　to　tell　me　that　big　brute　stays　in　your　camp
without　bein'　hog…tied　or　corralled！〃　demanded　Beasley。

〃Sure　he　does。〃

〃Beats　me！　　But；　then；　I'm　queer　on　cougars。　　Have　had　many　a
cougar　trail　me　at　night。　　Ain't　sayin'　I　was　scared。　　But　I
don't　care　for　that　brand　of　varmint。　。　。　。　　Milt；　you　goin'
to　stay　down　awhile？〃

〃Yes；　I'll　hang　around　some。〃

〃Come　over　to　the　ranch。　　Glad　to　see　you　any　time。　　Some　old
huntin'　pards　of　yours　are　workin'　for　me。〃

〃Thanks；　Beasley。　　I　reckon　I'll　come　over。〃

Beasley　turned　away　and　took　a　step；　and　then；　as　if　with　an
after…thought；　he　wheeled　again。

〃Suppose　you've　heard　about　old　Al　Auchincloss　bein'　near
petered　out？〃　queried　Beasley。　　A　strong；　ponderous　cast　of
thought　seemed　to　emanate　from　his　features。　　Dale　divined
that　Beasley's　next　step　would　be　to　further　his　advancement
by　some　word　or　hint。

〃Widow　Cass　was　tellin'　me　all　the　news。　　Too　bad　about　old
Al；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Sure　is。　　He's　done　for。　　An'　I'm　sorry　　though　Al's　never
been　square　〃

〃Beasley；〃　interrupted　Dale；　quickly；　〃you　can't　say　that　to
me。　　Al　Auchincloss　always　was　the　whitest　an'　squarest　man
in　this　sheep　country。〃

Beasley　gave　Dale　a　fleeting；　dark　glance。

〃Dale；　what　you　think　ain't　goin'　to　influence　feelin'　on
this　range；〃　returned　Beasley；　deliberately。　　〃You　live　in
the　woods　an'　〃

〃Reckon　livin'　in　the　woods　I　might　think　　an'　know　a
whole　lot；〃　interposed　Dale；　just　as　deliberately。　　The　group
of　men　exchanged　surprised　glances。　　This　was　Milt　Dale　in
different　aspect。　　And　Beasley　did　not　conceal　a　puzzled
surprise。

〃About　what　　now？〃　he　asked；　bluntly。

〃Why；　about　what's　goin'　on　in　Pine；〃　replied　Dale。

Some　of　the　men　laughed。

〃Shore　lots　goin'　on　　an'　no　mistake；〃　put　in　Lem　Harden。

Probably　the　keen　Beasley　had　never　before　considered　Milt
Dale　as　a　responsible　person；　certainly　never　one　in　any　way
to　cross　his　trail。　　But　on　the　instant；　perhaps；　some
instinct　was　born；　or　he　divined　an　antagonism　in　Dale　that
was　both　surprising　and　perplexing。

〃Dale；　I've　differences　with　Al　Auchincloss　　have　had　them
for　years；〃　said　Beasley。　　〃Much　of　what　he　owns　is　mine。　　An'
it's　goin'　to　come　to　me。　　Now　I　reckon　people　will　be　takin'
sides　　some　for　me　an'　some　for　Al。　　Most　are　for　me。　。　。　。
Where　do　you　stand？　　Al　Auchincloss　never　had　no　use　for　you；
an'　besides　he's　a　dyin'　man。　　Are　you　goin'　on　his　side？〃

〃Yes；　I　reckon　I　am。〃

〃Wal；　I'm　glad　you've　declared　yourself；〃　rejoined　Beasley；
shortly；　and　he　strode　away　with　the　ponderous　gait　of　a　man
who　would　brush　any　obstacle　from　his　path。

〃Milt；　thet's　bad　　makin'　Beasley　sore　at　you；〃　said　Lem
Harden。　　〃He's　on　the　way　to　boss　this　outfit。〃

〃He's　sure　goin'　to　step　into　Al's　boots；〃　said　another。

〃Thet　was　white　of　Milt　to　stick　up　fer　poor　old　Al；〃
declared　Lem's　brother。

Dale　broke　away　from　them　and　wended　a　thoughtful　way　down
the　road。　　The　burden　of　what　he　knew　about　Beasley　weighed
less　heavily　upon　him；　and　the　close…lipped　course　be　had
decided　upon　appeared　wisest。　　He　needed　to　think　before
undertaking　to　call　upon　old　Al　Auchincloss；　and　to　that　end
he　sought　an　hour's　seclusion　under　the　pines。



CHAPTER　III

In　the　afternoon；　Dale；　having　accomplished　some　tasks
imposed　upon　him　by　his　old　friends　at　Pine；　directed　slow
steps　toward　the　Auchincloss　ranch。

The　flat；　square　stone　and　log　cabin　of　unusually　large　size
stood　upon　a　little　hill　half　a　mile　out　of　the　village。　　A
home　as　well　as　a　fort；　it　had　been　the　first　structure
erected　in　that　region；　and　the　process　of　building　had　more
than　once　been　interrupted　by　Indian　attacks。　　The　Apaches
had　for　some　time；　however；　confined　their　fierce　raids　to
points　south　of　the　White　Mountain　range。　　Auchincloss's
house　looked　down　upon　barns　and　sheds　and　corrals　of　all
sizes　and　shapes；　and　hundreds　of　acres　of　well…cultivated
soil。　　Fields　of　oats　waved　gray　and　yellow　in　the　afternoon
sun；　an　immense　green　pasture　was　divided　by　a
willow…bordered　brook；　and　here　were　droves　of　horses；　and
out　on　the　rolling　bare　flats　were　straggling　herds　of
cattle。

The　whole　ranch　showed　many　years　of　toil　and　the
perseverance　of　man。　　The　brook　irrigated　the　verdant　valley
between　the　ranch　and　the　village。　　Water　for　the　house；
however；　came　down　from　the　high；　wooded　slope　of　the
mountain；　and　had　been　brought　there　by　a　simple　expedient。
Pine　logs　of　uniform　size　had　been　laid　end　to　end；　with　a
deep　trough　cut　in　them；　and　they　made　a　shining　line　down
the　slope；　across　the　valley；　and　up　the　little　hill　to　the
Auchincloss　home。　　Near　the　house　the　hollowed　halves　of　logs
had　been　bound　together；　making　a　crude　pipe。　　Water　ran
uphill　in　this　case；　one　of　the　facts　that　made　the　ranch
famous；　as　it　had　always　been　a　wonder　and　delight　to　the
small　boys　of　Pine。　　The　two　good　women　who　managed
Auchincloss's　large　household　were　often　shocked　by　the
strange　things　that　floated　into　their　kitchen　with　the
ever…flowing　stream　of　clear；　cold　mountain　water。

As　it　happened　this　day　Dale　encountered　Al　Auchincloss
sitting　in　the　shade　of　a　porch；　talking　to　some　of　his
sheep…herders　and　stockmen。　　Auchincloss　was　a　short　man　of
extremely　powerful　build　and　great　width　of　shoulder。　　He　had
no　gray　hairs；　and　he　did　not　look　old；　yet　there　was　in　his
face　a　certain　weariness；　something　that　resembled　sloping
lines　of　distress；　dim　and　pale；　that　told　of　age　and　the
ebb…tide　of　vitality。　　His　features；　cast　in　large　mold；　were
clean…cut　and　comely；　and　he　had　frank　blue　eyes；　somewhat
sad；　yet　still　full　of　spirit。

Dale　had　no　idea　how　his　visit　would　be　taken；　and　he
certainly　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　be　ordered　off
the　place。　　He　had　not　set　foot　there　for　years。　　Therefore　it
was　with　surprise　that　he　saw　Auchincloss　wave　away　the
herders　and　take　his　entrance　without　any　particular
expression。

〃Howdy；　Al！　　How　are　you？〃　greeted　Dale；　easily；　as　he　leaned
his　rifle　against　the　log　wall。

Auchincloss　did　not　rise；　but　he　offered　his　hand。

〃Wal；　Milt　Dale；　I　reckon　this　is　the　first　time　I　ever　seen
you　that　I　couldn't　lay　you　flat　on　your　back；〃　replied　the
rancher。　　His　tone　was　both　testy　and　full　of　pathos。

〃I　take　it　you　mean　you　ain't　very　well；〃　replied　Dale。　　〃I'm
sorry；　Al。〃

〃No；　it　ain't　thet。　　Never　was　sick　in　my　life。　　I'm　just
played　out；　like　a　hoss　thet　had　been　strong　an'　willin'；
an'　did　too　much。　。　。　。　　Wal；　you　don't　look　a　day　older；
Milt。　　Livin'　in　the　woods　rolls　over　a　man's　head。〃

〃Yes；　I'm　feelin'　fine；　an'　time　never　bothers　me。〃

〃Wal；　mebbe　you　ain't　such　a　fool；　after　all。　　I've　wondered
lately　　since　I　had　time　to　think。　。　。　。　　But；　Milt；　you
don't　git　no　richer。〃

〃Al；　I　have　all　I　want　an'　need。〃

〃Wal；　then；　you　don't　support　anybody；　you　don't　do　any　good
in　the　world。〃

〃We　don't　agree；　Al；〃　replied　Dale；　with　his　slow　smile。

〃Reckon　we　never　did。　。　。　。　　An'　you　jest　come　over　to　pay
your　respects　to　me；　eh？〃

〃Not　altogether；〃　answered　Dale；　ponderingly。　　〃First　off；
I'd　like　to　say　I'll　pay　back　them　sheep　you　always　claimed
my　tame　cougar　killed。〃

〃You　will！　　An'　how'd　you　go　about　that？〃

〃Wasn't　very　many　sheep；　was　there？

〃A　matter　of　fifty　head。〃

〃So　many！　　Al；　do　you　still　think　old　Tom　killed　them　sheep？〃

〃Humph！　　Milt；　I　know　damn　well　he　did。〃

〃Al；　now　how　could　you　know　somethin'　I　don't？　　Be
reasonable；　now。　　Let's　don't　fall　out　about　this　again。　　I'll
pay　back　the　sheep。　　Work　it　out　〃

〃Milt　Dale；　you'll　come　down　here　an'　work　out　that　fifty
head　of　sheep！〃　ejaculated　the　old　rancher；　incredulously。

〃Sure。〃

〃Wal；　I'll　be　damned！〃　He　sat　back　and　gazed　with　shrewd
eyes　at　Dale。　　〃What's　got　into　you；　Milt？　　Hev　you　heard
about　my　niece　thet's　comin'；　an'　think　you'll　shine　up　to
her？〃

〃Yes；　Al；　her　comin'　has　a　good　deal　to　do　with　my　deal；〃
replied　Dale；　soberly。　　〃But　I　never　thought　to　shine　up　to
her；　as　you　hint。〃

〃Haw！　　Haw！　　You're　just　like　all　the　other　colts　hereabouts。
Reckon　it's　a　good　sign；　too。　　It'll　take　a　woman　to　fetch
you　out　of　the　woods。　　But；　boy；　this　niece　of　mine；　Helen
Rayner；　will　stand　you　on　your　head。　　I　never　seen　her。　　They
say　she's　jest　like　her　mother。　　An'　Nell　Auchincloss　　what
a　girl　she　was！〃

Dale　felt　his　face　grow　red。　　Indeed；　this　was　strange
conversation　for　him。

〃Honest；　Al　〃　he　began。

〃Son；　don't　lie　to　an　old　man。〃

〃Lie！　　I　wouldn't　lie　to　any　one。　　Al；　it's　only　men　who　live
in　towns　an'　are　always　makin'　deals。　　I　live　in　the　forest；
where　there's　nothin'　to　make　me　lie。〃

〃Wal；　no　offense　meant；　I'm　sure；〃　responded　Auchincloss。
〃An'　mebbe　there's　somethin'　in　what　you　say　。　。　。　　We　was
talkin'　about　them　sheep　your　big　cat　killed。　　Wal；　Milt；　I
can't　prove　it；　that's　sure。　　An'　mebbe　you'll　think　me
doddery　when　I　tell　you　my　reason。　　It　wasn't　what　them
greaser　herders　said　about　seein'　a　cougar　in　the　herd。〃

〃What　was　it；　then？〃　queried　Dale；　much　interested。

〃Wal；　thet　day　a　year　ago　I　seen　your　pet。　　He　was　lyin'　in
front　of　the　store　an'　you　was　inside　tradin'；　fer　supplies；
I　reckon。　　It　was　like　meetin'　an　enemy　face　to　face。
Because；　damn　me　if　I　didn't　know　that　cougar　was　guilty
when　he　looked　in　my　eyes！　　There！〃

The　old　rancher　expected　to　be　laughed　at。　　But　Dale　was
grave。

〃Al；　I　know　how　you　felt；〃　he　replied；　as　if　they　were
discussing　an　action　of　a　human　being。　　〃Sure　I'd　hate　to
doubt　old　Tom。　　But　he's　a　cougar。　　An'　the