the man of the forest-第42章

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his　sayin's　in　my　argument　to　show　Beasley　thet　if　he　didn't
haul　up　short　he'd　end　almost　as　short。　　Beasley's
thick…headed；　an'　powerful　conceited。　　Vain　as　a　peacock！　　He
couldn't　see；　an'　he　got　mad。　　I　told　him　he　was　rich　enough
without　robbin'　you　of　your　ranch；　an'　　wal；　I　shore　put
up　a　big　talk　for　your　side。　　By　this　time　he　an'　his　gang
had　me　crowded　in　a　corner；　an'　from　their　looks　I　begun　to
get　cold　feet。　　But　I　was　in　it　an'　had　to　make　the　best　of
it。　　The　argument　worked　down　to　his　pinnin'　me　to　my　word
that　I'd　fight　for　you　when　thet　fight　come　off。　　An'　I　shore
told　him　for　my　own　sake　I　wished　it　'd　come　off　quick。　。　。
。　　Then　　wal　　then　somethin'　did　come　off　quick！〃

〃Roy；　then　he　shot　you！〃　exclaimed　Helen；　passionately。

〃Now；　Miss　Helen；　I　didn't　say　who　done　it；〃　replied　Roy；
with　his　engaging　smile。

〃Tell　me；　then　　who　did？〃

〃Wal；　I　reckon　I　sha'n't　tell　you　unless　you　promise　not　to
tell　Las　Vegas。　　Thet　cowboy　is　plumb　off　his　head。　　He　thinks
he　knows　who　shot　me　an'　I've　been　lyin'　somethin'
scandalous。　　You　see；　if　he　learns　　then　he'll　go　gunnin'。
An'；　Miss　Helen；　thet　Texan　is　bad。　　He　might　get　plugged　as
I　did　　an'　there　would　be　another　man　put　off　your　side
when　the　big　trouble　comes。〃

〃Roy；　I　promise　you　I　will　not　tell　Las　Vegas；〃　replied
Helen；　earnestly。

〃Wal；　then　　it　was　Riggs！〃　Roy　grew　still　paler　as　he
confessed　this　and　his　voice；　almost　a　whisper；　expressed
shame　and　hate。　　〃Thet　four…flush　did　it。　　Shot　me　from　behind
Beasley！　　I　had　no　chance。　　I　couldn't　even　see　him　draw。　　But
when　I　fell　an'　lay　there　an'　the　others　dropped　back；　then
I　seen　the　smokin'　gun　in　his　hand。　　He　looked　powerful
important。　　An'　Beasley　began　to　cuss　him　an'　was　cussin'　him
as　they　all　run　out。〃

〃Oh；　coward！　　the　despicable　coward！〃　cried　Helen。

〃No　wonder　Tom　wants　to　find　out！〃　exclaimed　Bo；　low　and
deep。　　〃I'll　bet　he　suspects　Riggs。〃

Shore　he　does；　but　I　wouldn't　give　him　no　satisfaction。〃

〃Roy；　you　know　that　Riggs　can't　last　out　here。〃

〃Wal；　I　hope　he　lasts　till　I　get　on　my　feet　again。〃

〃There　you　go！　　Hopeless；　all　you　boys！　　You　must　spill
blood！〃　murmured　Helen；　shudderingly。

〃Dear　Miss　Helen；　don't　take　on　so。　　I'm　like　Dale　　no　man
to　hunt　up　trouble。　　But　out　here　there's　a　sort　of　unwritten
law　　an　eye　for　an　eye　　a　tooth　for　a　tooth。　　I　believe
in　God　Almighty；　an'　killin'　is　against　my　religion；　but
Riggs　shot　me　　the　same　as　shootin'　me　in　the　back。〃

〃Roy；　I'm　only　a　woman　　I　fear；　faint…hearted　and　unequal
to　this　West。〃

〃Wait　till　somethin'　happens　to　you。　　'Supposin'　Beasley
comes　an'　grabs　you　with　his　own　dirty　big　paws　an'；　after
maulin'　you　some；　throws　you　out　of　your　home！　　Or　supposin'
Riggs　chases　you　into　a　corner！〃

Helen　felt　the　start　of　all　her　physical　being　　a　violent
leap　of　blood。　　But　she　could　only　judge　of　her　looks　from
the　grim　smile　of　the　wounded　man　as　he　watched　her　with　his
keen；　intent　eyes。

〃My　friend；　anythin'　can　happen；〃　he　said。　　〃But　let's　hope
it　won't　be　the　worst。〃

He　had　begun　to　show　signs　of　weakness；　and　Helen；　rising　at
once；　said　that　she　and　Bo　had　better　leave　him　then；　but
would　come　to　see　him　the　next　day。　　At　her　call　Carmichael
entered　again　with　Mrs。　　Cass；　and　after　a　few　remarks　the
visit　was　terminated。　　Carmichael　lingered　in　the　doorway。

〃Wal；　Cheer　up；　you　old　Mormon！〃　he　called。

〃Cheer　up　yourself；　you　cross　old　bachelor！〃　retorted　Roy；
quite　unnecessarily　loud。　　〃Can't　you　raise　enough　nerve　to
make　up　with　Bo？〃

Carmichael　evacuated　the　doorway　as　if　he　had　been　spurred。
He　was　quite　red　in　the　face　while　he　unhitched　the　team；
and　silent　during　the　ride　up　to　the　ranch…house。　　There　he
got　down　and　followed　the　girls　into　the　sitting　room。　　He
appeared　still　somber；　though　not　sullen；　and　had　fully
regained　his　composure。

〃Did　you　find　out　who　shot　Roy？〃　he　asked；　abruptly；　of
Helen。

〃Yes。　　But　I　promised　Roy　I　would　not　tell；〃　replied　Helen；
nervously。　　She　averted　her　eyes　from　his　searching　gaze；
intuitively　fearing　his　next　query。

〃Was　it　thet　　Riggs？〃

〃Las　Vegas；　don't　ask　me。　　I　will　not　break　my　promise。〃

He　strode　to　the　window　and　looked　out　a　moment；　and
presently；　when　he　turned　toward　Bo；　he　seemed　a　stronger；
loftier；　more　impelling　man；　with　all　his　emotions　under
control。

〃Bo；　will　you　listen　to　me　　if　I　swear　to　speak　the　truth
　as　I　know　it？〃

〃Why；　certainly；〃　replied　Bo；　with　the　color　coming　swiftly
to　her　face。

〃Roy　doesn't　want　me　to　know　because　he　wants　to　meet　thet
fellar　himself。　　An'　I　want　to　know　because　I　want　to　stop
him　before　he　can　do　more　dirt　to　us　or　our　friends。　　Thet's
Roy's　reason　an'　mine。　　An'　I'm　askin'　YOU　to　tell　me。〃

〃But；　Tom　　I　oughtn't；〃　replied　Bo；　haltingly。

〃Did　you　promise　Roy　not　to　tell？〃

〃No。〃

〃Or　your　sister？〃

〃No。　　I　didn't　promise　either。〃

〃Wal；　then　you　tell　me。　　I　want　you　to　trust　me　in　this　here
matter。　　But　not　because　I　love　you　an'　once　had　a　wild　dream
you　might　care　a　little　for　me　〃

〃Oh　　Tom！〃　faltered　Bo。

〃Listen。　　I　want　you　to　trust　me　because　I'm　the　one　who
knows　what's　best。　　I　wouldn't　lie　an'　I　wouldn't　say　so　if　I
didn't　know　shore。　　I　swear　Dale　will　back　me　up。　　But　he
can't　be　here　for　some　days。　　An'　thet　gang　has　got　to　be
bluffed。　　You　ought　to　see　this。　　I　reckon　you've　been　quick
in　savvyin'　Western　ways。　　I　couldn't　pay　you　no　higher
compliment；　Bo　Rayner。　。　。　。　　Now　will　you　tell　me？〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　replied　Bo；　with　the　blaze　leaping　to　her
eyes。

〃Oh；　Bo　　please　don't　　please　don't。　　Wait！〃　implored
Helen。

〃Bo　　it's　between　you　an'　me；〃　said　Carmichael。

〃Tom；　I'll　tell　you；〃　whispered　Bo。　　〃It　was　a　lowdown；
cowardly　trick。　。　。　。　　Roy　was　surrounded　　and　shot　from
behind　Beasley　　by　that　four…flush　Riggs！〃



CHAPTER　XIX

The　memory　of　a　woman　had　ruined　Milt　Dale's　peace；　had
confounded　his　philosophy　of　self…sufficient；　lonely
happiness　in　the　solitude　of　the　wilds；　had　forced　him　to
come　face　to　face　with　his　soul　and　the　fatal　significance
of　life。

When　he　realized　his　defeat；　that　things　were　not　as　they
seemed；　that　there　was　no　joy　for　him　in　the　coming　of
spring；　that　he　had　been　blind　in　his　free；　sensorial；
Indian　relation　to　existence；　he　fell　into　an　inexplicably
strange　state；　a　despondency；　a　gloom　as　deep　as　the　silence
of　his　home。　　Dale　reflected　that　the　stronger　an　animal；　the
keener　its　nerves；　the　higher　its　intelligence；　the　greater
must　be　its　suffering　under　restraint　or　injury。　　He　thought
of　himself　as　a　high　order　of　animal　whose　great　physical
need　was　action；　and　now　the　incentive　to　action　seemed
dead。　　He　grew　lax。　　He　did　not　want　to　move。　　He　performed　his
diminishing　duties　under　compulsion。

He　watched　for　spring　as　a　liberation；　but　not　that　he　could
leave　the　valley。　　He　hated　the　cold；　he　grew　weary　of　wind
and　snow；　he　imagined　the　warm　sun；　the　park　once　more　green
with　grass　and　bright　with　daisies；　the　return　of　birds　and
squirrels　and　deer　to　heir　old　haunts；　would　be　the　means
whereby　he　could　break　this　spell　upon　him。　　Then　he　might
gradually　return　to　past　contentment；　though　it　would　never
be　the　same。

But　spring；　coming　early　to　Paradise　Park；　brought　a　fever
to　Dale's　blood　　a　fire　of　unutterable　longing。　　It　was
good；　perhaps；　that　this　was　so；　because　he　seemed　driven　to
work；　climb；　tramp；　and　keep　ceaselessly　on　the　move　from
dawn　till　dark。　　Action　strengthened　his　lax　muscles　and　kept
him　from　those　motionless；　senseless　hours　of　brooding。　　He
at　least　need　not　be　ashamed　of　longing　for　that　which　could
never　be　his　　the　sweetness　of　a　woman　　a　home　full　of
light；　joy；　hope；　the　meaning　and　beauty　of　children。　　But
those　dark　moods　were　sinkings　into　a　pit　of　hell。

Dale　had　not　kept　track　of　days　and　weeks。　　He　did　not　know
when　the　snow　melted　off　three　slopes　of　Paradise　Park。　　All
he　knew　was　that　an　age　had　dragged　over　his　head　and　that
spring　had　come。　　During　his　restless　waking　hours；　and　even
when　he　was　asleep；　there　seemed　always　in　the　back　of　his
mind　a　growing　consciousness　that　soon　he　would　emerge　from
this　trial；　a　changed　man；　ready　to　sacrifice　his　chosen
lot；　to　give　up　his　lonely　life　of　selfish　indulgence　in
lazy　affinity　with　nature；　and　to　go　wherever　his　strong
hands　might　perform　some　real　service　to　people。
Nevertheless；　he　wanted　to　linger　in　this　mountain　fastness
until　his　ordeal　was　over　　until　he　could　meet　her；　and
the　world；　knowing　himself　more　of　a　man　than　ever　before。

One　bright　morning；　while　he　was　at　his　camp…fire；　the　tame
cougar　gave　a　low；　growling　warning。　　Dale　was　startled。　　Tom
did　not　act　like　that　because　of　a　prowling　grizzly　or　a
straying　stag。　　Presently　Dale　espied　a　horseman　riding
slowly　out　of　the　straggling　spruces。　　And　with　that　sight
Dale's　heart　gave　a　leap；　recalling　to　him　a　divination　of
his　future　relation　to　his　kind。　　Never　had　he　been　so　glad
to　see　a　man！

This　visitor　resembled　one　of　the　Beemans；　judging　from　the
way　he　sat　his　horse；　and　presently　Dale　recognized　him　to
be　John。

At　this　juncture　the　jaded　horse　was　spurred　into　a　trot；
soon　reaching　the　pines　and　the　camp。

〃Howdy；　there；　you　ole　b'ar…hunter！〃　called　John；　waving　his
hand。

For　all　his　hearty　greeting　his　appearance　checked　a　like
response　from　Dale。　　The　horse　was　mud　to　his　flanks　and　John
was　mud　to　his　knees；　wet；　bedraggled；　worn；　and　white。　　This
hue　of　his　face　meant　more　than　fatigue。

〃Howdy；　John？〃　replied　Dale。

They　shook　hands。　　John　wearily　swung　his　leg　over　the
pommel；　but　did　not　at　once　dismount。　　His　clear　gray　eyes
were　wonderingly　riveted　upon　the　hunter。

〃Milt　　what　'n　hell's　wrong？〃　he　queried。

〃Why？〃

〃Bust　me　if　you　ain't　changed　so　I　hardly　knowed　you。　　You've
been　sick　　all　alone　here！〃

〃Do　I　look　sick？〃

〃Wal；　I　should　smile。　　Thin　an'　pale　an'　down　in　the　mouth！
Milt；　what　ails　you？〃

〃I've　gone　to　seed。〃

〃You've　gone　off　your　head；　jest　as　Roy　said；　livin'　alone
here。　　You　overdid　it；　Milt。　　An'　you　look　sick。〃

〃John；　my　sickness　is　here；〃　replied　Dale；　soberly；　as　he
laid　a　hand　on　his　heart。

〃Lung　trouble！〃　ejaculated　John。　　〃With　thet　chest；　an'　up　in
this　air？　　。　。　。　　Get　out！〃

〃No　　not　lung　trouble；〃　said　Dale。

〃I　savvy。　　Had　a　hunch　from　Roy；　anyhow。〃

〃What　kind　of　a　hunch？〃

〃Easy　now；　Dale；　ole　man。　。　。　。　　Don't　you　reckon　I'm　ridin'
in　on　you　pretty　early？　　Look　at　thet　hoss！〃　John　slid　off
and　waved　a　hand　at　the　drooping　beast；　then　began　to
unsaddle　him。　　〃Wal；　he　done　great。　　We　bogged　some　comin'
over。　　An'　I　climbed　the　pass　at　night　on　the　frozen　snow。〃

〃You're　welcome　as　the　flowers　in　May。　　John；　what　month　is
it？〃

〃By　spades！　　are　you　as　bad　as　thet？　　。　。　。　　Let's　see。　　It's
the　twenty…third　of　March。〃

〃March！　　Well；　I'm　beat。　　I've　lost　my　reckonin'　　an'　a　lot
more；　maybe。〃

〃Thar！〃　declared　John；　slapping　the　mustang。　　〃You　can　jest
hang　up　here　till　my　next　trip。　　Milt；　how　're　your　hosses？〃

〃Wintered　fine。〃

〃Wal；　thet's　good。　　We'll　need　two　big；　strong　hosses　right
off。〃

〃What　for？〃　queried　Dale；　sharply。　　He　dropped　a　stick　of
wood　and　straightened　up　fr