the man of the forest-第43章

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off。〃

〃What　for？〃　queried　Dale；　sharply。　　He　dropped　a　stick　of
wood　and　straightened　up　from　the　camp…fire。

〃You're　goin'　to　ride　down　to　Pine　with　me　　thet's　what
for。〃

Familiarly　then　came　back　to　Dale　the　quiet；　intent
suggestiveness　of　the　Beemans　in　moments　foreboding　trial。

At　this　certain　assurance　of　John's；　too　significant　to　be
doubted；　Dale's　though　of　Pine　gave　slow　birth　to　a　strange
sensation；　as　if　he　had　been　dead　and　was　vibrating　back　to
life。

〃Tell　what　you　got　to　tell！〃　he　broke　out。

Quick　as　a　flash　the　Mormon　replied：　〃Roy's　been　shot。　　But
he　won't　die。　　He　sent　for　you。　　Bad　deal's　afoot。　　Beasley
means　to　force　Helen　Rayner　out　an'　steal　her　ranch。〃

A　tremor　ran　all　through　Dale。　　It　seemed　another　painful　yet
thrilling　connection　between　his　past　and　this　vaguely
calling　future。　　His　emotions　had　been　broodings　dreams；
longings。　　This　thing　his　friend　said　had　the　sting　of　real
life。

〃Then　old　Al's　dead？〃　he　asked。

〃Long　ago　　I　reckon　around　the　middle　of　February。　　The
property　went　to　Helen。　　She's　been　doin'　fine。　　An'　many
folks　say　it's　a　pity　she'll　lose　it。〃

〃She　won't　lose　it；〃　declared　Dale。　　How　strange　his　voice
sounded　to　his　own　ears！　　It　was　hoarse　and　unreal；　as　if
from　disuse。

〃Wal；　we…all　have　our　idees。　　I　say　she　will。　　My　father　says
so。　　Carmichael　says　so。〃

〃Who's　he？〃

〃Reckon　you　remember　thet　cow…puncher　who　came　up　with　Roy
an'　Auchincloss　after　the　girls　　last　fall？〃

〃Yes。　　They　called　him　Las　　Las　Vegas。　　I　liked　his　looks。〃

〃Humph！　　You'll　like　him　a　heap　when　you　know　him。　　He's　kept
the　ranch　goin'　for　Miss　Helen　all　along。　　But　the　deal's
comin'　to　a　head。　　Beasley's　got　thick　with　thet　Riggs。　　You
remember　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Wal；　he's　been　hangin'　out　at　Pine　all　winter；　watchin'　for
some　chance　to　get　at　Miss　Helen　or　Bo。　　Everybody's　seen
thet。　　An'　jest　lately　he　chased　Bo　on　hossback　　gave　the
kid　a　nasty　fall。　　Roy　says　Riggs　was　after　Miss　Helen。　　But　I
think　one　or　t'other　of　the　girls　would　do　thet　varmint。
Wal；　thet　sorta　started　goin's…on。　　Carmichael　beat　Riggs　an'
drove　him　out　of　town。　　But　he　come　back。　　Beasley　called　on
Miss　Helen　an'　offered　to　marry　her　so's　not　to　take　the
ranch　from　her；　he　said。〃

Dale　awoke　with　a　thundering　curse。

〃Shore！〃　exclaimed　John。　　〃I'd　say　the　same　　only　I'm
religious。　　Don't　thet　beady…eyed　greaser's　gall　make　you
want　to　spit　all　over　yourself？　　My　Gawd！　　but　Roy　was　mad！
Roy's　powerful　fond　of　Miss　Helen　an'　Bo。　。　。　。　　Wal；　then；
Roy；　first　chance　he　got；　braced　Beasley　an'　give　him　some
straight　talk。　　Beasley　was　foamin'　at　the　mouth；　Roy　said。
It　was　then　Riggs　shot　Roy。　　Shot　him　from　behind　Beasley
when　Roy　wasn't　lookin'！　　An'　Riggs　brags　of　bein'　a
gun…fighter。　　Mebbe　thet　wasn't　a　bad　shot　for　him！〃

〃I　reckon；〃　replied　Dale；　as　he　swallowed　hard。　　〃Now；　just
what　was　Roy's　message　to　me？〃

〃Wal；　I　can't　remember　all　Roy　said；〃　answered　John；
dubiously。　　〃But　Roy　shore　was　excited　an'　dead　in　earnest。
He　says：　'Tell　Milt　what's　happened。　　Tell　him　Helen　Rayner's
in　more　danger　than　she　was　last　fall。　　Tell　him　I've　seen
her　look　away　acrost　the　mountains　toward　Paradise　Park　with
her　heart　in　her　eyes。　　Tell　him　she　needs　him　most　of　all！'〃

Dale　shook　all　over　as　with　an　attack　of　ague。　　He　was　seized
by　a　whirlwind　of　passionate；　terrible　sweetness　of
sensation；　when　what　he　wildly　wanted　was　to　curse　Roy　and
John　for　their　simple…minded　conclusions。

〃Roy's　　crazy！〃　panted　Dale。

〃Wal；　now；　Milt　　thet's　downright　surprisin'　of　you。　　Roy's
the　level…headest　of　any　fellars　I　know。〃

〃Man！　　if　he　MADE　me　believe　him　　an'　it　turned　out　untrue
　I'd　　I'd　kill　him；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Untrue！　　Do　you　think　Roy　Beeman　would　lie？〃

〃But；　John　　you　fellows　can't　see　my　case。　　Nell　Rayner
wants　me　　needs　me！　　。　。　。　　It　can't　be　true！〃

〃Wal；　my　love…sick　pard　　it　jest　IS　true！〃　exclaimed　John；
feelingly。　　〃Thet's　the　hell　of　life　　never　knowin'。　　But
here　it's　joy　for　you。　　You　can　believe　Roy　Beeman　about
women　as　quick　as　you'd　trust　him　to　track　your　lost　hoss。
Roy's　married　three　girls。　　I　reckon　he'll　marry　some　more。
Roy's　only　twenty…eight　an'　he　has　two　big　farms。　　He　said
he'd　seen　Nell　Rayner's　heart　in　her　eyes；　lookin'　for　you
　an'　you　can　jest　bet　your　life　thet's　true。　　An'　he　said
it　because　he　means　you　to　rustle　down　there　an'　fight　for
thet　girl。〃

〃I'll　　go；〃　said　Dale；　in　a　shaky　whisper；　as　he　sat　down
on　a　pine　log　near　the　fire。　　He　stared　unseeingly　at　the
bluebells　in　the　grass　by　his　feet　while　storm　after　storm
possessed　his　breast。　　They　were　fierce　and　brief　because
driven　by　his　will。　　In　those　few　moments　of　contending
strife　Dale　was　immeasurably　removed　from　that　dark　gulf　of
self　which　had　made　his　winter　a　nightmare。　　And　when　he
stood　erect　again　it　seemed　that　the　old　earth　had　a
stirring；　electrifying　impetus　for　his　feet。　　Something
black；　bitter；　melancholy；　and　morbid；　always　unreal　to　him；
had　passed　away　forever。　　The　great　moment　had　been　forced
upon　him。　　He　did　not　believe　Roy　Beeman's　preposterous　hint
regarding　Helen；　but　he　had　gone　back　or　soared　onward；　as
if　by　magic；　to　his　old　true　self。


Mounted　on　Dale's　strongest　horses；　with　only　a　light　pack；
an　ax；　and　their　weapons；　the　two　men　had　reached　the
snow…line　on　the　pass　by　noon　that　day。　　Tom；　the　tame
cougar；　trotted　along　in　the　rear。

The　crust　of　the　snow；　now　half　thawed　by　the　sun；　would　not
hold　the　weight　of　a　horse；　though　it　upheld　the　men　on
foot。　　They　walked；　leading　the　horses。　　Travel　was　not
difficult　until　the　snow　began　to　deepen；　then　progress
slackened　materially。　　John　had　not　been　able　to　pick　out　the
line　of　the　trail；　so　Dale　did　not　follow　his　tracks。　　An　old
blaze　on　the　trees　enabled　Dale　to　keep　fairly　well　to　the
trail；　and　at　length　the　height　of　the　pass　was　reached；
where　the　snow　was　deep。　　Here　the　horses　labored；　plowing
through　foot　by　foot。　　When；　finally；　they　sank　to　their
flanks；　they　had　to　be　dragged　and　goaded　on；　and　helped　by
thick　flat　bunches　of　spruce　boughs　placed　under　their
hoofs。　　It　took　three　hours　of　breaking　toil　to　do　the　few
hundred　yards　of　deep　snow　on　the　height　of　the　pass。　　The
cougar　did　not　have　great　difficulty　in　following；　though　it
was　evident　he　did　not　like　such　traveling。

That　behind　them；　the　horses　gathered　heart　and　worked　on　to
the　edge　of　the　steep　descent；　where　they　had　all　they　could
do　to　hold　back　from　sliding　and　rolling。　　Fast　time　was　made
on　this　slope；　at　the　bottom　of　which　began　a　dense　forest
with　snow　still　deep　in　places　and　windfalls　hard　to　locate。
The　men　here　performed　Herculean　labors；　but　they　got
through　to　a　park　where　the　snow　was　gone。　　The　ground；
however；　soft　and　boggy；　in　places　was　more　treacherous　than
the　snow；　and　the　travelers　had　to　skirt　the　edge　of　the
park　to　a　point　opposite；　and　then　go　on　through　the　forest。
When　they　reached　bare　and　solid　ground；　just　before　dark
that　night；　it　was　high　time；　for　the　horses　were　ready　to
drop；　and　the　men　likewise。

Camp　was　made　in　an　open　wood。　　Darkness　fell　and　the　men
were　resting　on　bough　beds；　feet　to　the　fire；　with　Tom
curled　up　close　by；　and　the　horses　still　drooping　where　they
had　been　unsaddled。　　Morning；　however；　discovered　them
grazing　on　the　long；　bleached　grass。　　John　shook　his　head
when　he　looked　at　them。

〃You　reckoned　to　make　Pine　by　nightfall。　　How　far　is　it　
the　way　you'll　go？〃

〃Fifty　mile　or　thereabouts；〃　replied　Dale。

〃Wal；　we　can't　ride　it　on　them　critters。〃

〃John；　we'd　do　more　than　that　if　we　had　to。〃

They　were　saddled　and　on　the　move　before　sunrise；　leaving
snow　and　bog　behind。　　Level　parks　and　level　forests　led　one
after　another　to　long　slopes　and　steep　descents；　all　growing
sunnier　and　greener　as　the　altitude　diminished。　　Squirrels
and　grouse；　turkeys　and　deer；　and　less　tame　denizens　of　the
forest　grew　more　abundant　as　the　travel　advanced。　　In　this
game　zone；　however；　Dale　had　trouble　with　Tom。　　The　cougar
had　to　be　watched　and　called　often　to　keep　him　off　of
trails。

〃Tom　doesn't　like　a　long　trip；〃　said　Dale。　　〃But　I'm　goin'　to
take　him。　　Some　way　or　other　he　may　come　in　handy。〃

〃Sic　him　onto　Beasley's　gang；〃　replied　John。　　〃Some　men　are
powerful　scared　of　cougars。　　But　I　never　was。〃

〃Nor　me。　　Though　I've　had　cougars　give　me　a　darn　uncanny
feelin'。〃

The　men　talked　but　little。　　Dale　led　the　way；　with　Tom
trotting　noiselessly　beside　his　horse。　　John　followed　close
behind。　　They　loped　the　horses　across　parks；　trotted　through
the　forests；　walked　slow　up　what　few　inclines　they　met；　and
slid　down　the　soft；　wet；　pine…matted　descents。　　So　they
averaged　from　six　to　eight　miles　an　hour。　　The　horses　held　up
well　under　that　steady　travel；　and　this　without　any　rest　at
noon。

Dale　seemed　to　feel　himself　in　an　emotional　trance。　　Yet；
despite　this；　the　same　old　sensorial　perceptions　crowded
thick　and　fast　upon　him；　strangely　sweet　and　vivid　after　the
past　dead　months　when　neither　sun　nor　wind　nor　cloud　nor
scent　of　pine　nor　anything　in　nature　could　stir　him。　　His
mind；　his　heart；　his　soul　seemed　steeped　in　an　intoxicating
wine　of　expectation；　while　his　eyes　and　ears　and　nose　had
never　been　keener　to　register　the　facts　of　the　forest…land。
He　saw　the　black　thing　far　ahead　that　resembled　a　burned
stump；　but　he　knew　was　a　bear　before　it　vanished；　he　saw
gray　flash　of　deer　and　wolf　and　coyote；　and　the　red　of　fox；
and　the　small；　wary　heads　of　old　gobblers　just　sticking
above　the　grass；　and　he　saw　deep　tracks　of　game　as　well　as
the　slow…rising　blades　of　bluebells　where　some　soft…footed
beast　had　just　trod。　　And　he　heard　the　melancholy　notes　of
birds；　the　twitter　of　grouse；　the　sough　of　the　wind；　the
light　dropping　of　pine…cones；　the　near　and　distant　bark　of
squirrels；　the　deep　gobble　of　a　turkey　close　at　hand　and　the
challenge　from　a　rival　far　away；　the　cracking　of　twigs　in
the　thickets；　the　murmur　of　running　water；　the　scream　of　an
eagle　and　the　shrill　cry　of　a　hawk；　and　always　the　soft；
dull；　steady　pads　of　the　hoofs　of　the　horses。

The　smells；　too；　were　the　sweet；　stinging　ones　of　spring；
warm　and　pleasant　　the　odor　of　the　clean；　fresh　earth
cutting　its　way　through　that　thick；　strong　fragrance　of
pine；　the　smell　of　logs　rotting　in　the　sun；　and　of　fresh　new
grass　and　flowers　along　a　brook　of　snow…water。

〃I　smell　smoke；〃　said　Dale；　suddenly；　as　he　reined　in；　and
turned　for　corroboration　from　his　companion。

John　sniffed　the　warm　air。

〃Wal；　you're　more　of　an　Injun　than　me；〃　he　replied；　shaking
his　head。

They　traveled　on；　and　presently　came　out　upon　the　rim　of　the
last　slope。　　A　long　league　of　green　slanted　below　them；
breaking　up　into　straggling　lines　of　trees　and　groves　that
joined　the　cedars；　and　these　in　turn　stretched　on　and　down
in　gray…black　patches　to　the　desert；　that　glittering　and
bare；　with　streaks　of　somber　hue；　faded　in　the　obscurity　of
distance。

The　village　of　Pine　appeared　to　nestle　in　a　curve　of　the
edge　of　the　great　forest；　and　the　cabins　looked　like　tiny
white　dots　set　in　green。

〃Look　there；〃　said　Dale；　pointing。

Some　miles　to　the　right　a　gray　escarpment　of　rock　cropped
out　of