the man of the forest-第48章

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observing　her；　made　a　not　ungentle　move　to　pull　her　off。　　She
gave　him　a　sounding　slap　with　her　gloved　hand。

〃Keep　your　paws　to　yourself；〃　she　said。　　No　evidence　of
exhaustion　was　there　in　her　spirit。

Wilson　had　observed　this　by…play；　but　Anson　had　not。

〃What　come　off？〃　he　asked。

〃Wal；　the　Honorable　Gunman　Riggs　jest　got　caressed　by　the
lady　　as　he　was　doin'　the　elegant；〃　replied　Moze；　who
stood　nearest。

〃Jim；　was　you　watchin'？〃　queried　Anson。　　His　curiosity　had
held　through　the　afternoon。

〃He　tried　to　yank　her　off　an'　she　biffed　him；〃　replied
Wilson。

〃That　Riggs　is　jest　daffy　or　plain　locoed；〃　said　Snake；　in
an　aside　to　Moze。

〃Boss；　you　mean　plain　cussed。　　Mark　my　words；　he'll　hoodoo
this　outfit。　　Jim　was　figgerin'　correct。〃

〃Hoodoo　〃　cursed　Anson；　under　his　breath。

Many　hands　made　quick　work。　　In　a　few　moments　a　fire　was
burning　brightly；　water　was　boiling；　pots　were　steaming；　the
odor　of　venison　permeated　the　cool　air。　　The　girl　had　at　last
slipped　off　her　saddle　to　the　ground；　where　she　sat　while
Riggs　led　the　horse　away。　　She　sat　there　apparently
forgotten；　a　pathetic　droop　to　her　head。

Wilson　had　taken　an　ax　and　was　vigorously　wielding　it　among
the　spruces。　　One　by　one　they　fell　with　swish　and　soft　crash。
Then　the　sliding　ring　of　the　ax　told　how　he　was　slicing　off
the　branches　with　long　sweeps。　　Presently　he　appeared　in　the
semi…darkness；　dragging　half…trimmed　spruces　behind　him。　　He
made　several　trips；　the　last　of　which　was　to　stagger　under　a
huge　burden　of　spruce　boughs。　　These　he　spread　under　a　low；
projecting　branch　of　an　aspen。　　Then　he　leaned　the　bushy
spruces　slantingly　against　this　branch　on　both　sides；
quickly　improvising　a　V…shaped　shelter　with　narrow　aperture
in　front。　　Next　from　one　of　the　packs　he　took　a　blanket　and
threw　that　inside　the　shelter。　　Then；　touching　the　girl　on
the　shoulder；　he　whispered：

〃When　you're　ready；　slip　in　there。　　An'　don't　lose　no　sleep
by　worryin'；　fer　I'll　be　layin'　right　here。〃

He　made　a　motion　to　indicate　his　length　across　the　front　of
the　narrow　aperture。

〃Oh；　thank　you！　　Maybe　you　really　are　a　Texan；〃　she　whispered
back。

〃Mebbe；〃　was　his　gloomy　reply。



CHAPTER　XXI

The　girl　refused　to　take　food　proffered　her　by　Riggs；　but
she　ate　and　drank　a　little　that　Wilson　brought　her；　then　she
disappeared　in　the　spruce　lean…to。

Whatever　loquacity　and　companionship　had　previously　existed
in　Snake　Anson's　gang　were　not　manifest　in　this　camp。　　Each
man　seemed　preoccupied；　as　if　pondering　the　dawn　in　his　mind
of　an　ill　omen　not　clear　to　him　yet　and　not　yet　dreamed　of
by　his　fellows。　　They　all　smoked。　　Then　Moze　and　Shady　played
cards　awhile　by　the　light　of　the　fire；　but　it　was　a　dull
game；　in　which　either　seldom　spoke。　　Riggs　sought　his　blanket
first；　and　the　fact　was　significant　that　he　lay　down　some
distance　from　the　spruce　shelter　which　contained　Bo　Rayner。
Presently　young　Burt　went　off　grumbling　to　his　bed。　　And　not
long　afterward　the　card…players　did　likewise。

Snake　Anson　and　Jim　Wilson　were　left　brooding　in　silence
beside　the　dying　camp…fire。

The　night　was　dark；　with　only　a　few　stars　showing。　　A　fitful
wind　moaned　unearthly　through　the　spruce。　　An　occasional
thump　of　hoof　sounded　from　the　dark　woods。　　No　cry　of　wolf　or
coyote　or　cat　gave　reality　to　the　wildness　of　forest…land。

By　and　by　those　men　who　had　rolled　in　their　blankets　were
breathing　deep　and　slow　in　heavy　slumber。

〃Jim；　I　take　it　this　hyar　Riggs　has　queered　our　deal；〃　said
Snake　Anson；　in　low　voice。

〃I　reckon；〃　replied　Wilson。

〃An'　I'm　feared　he's　queered　this　hyar　White　Mountain
country　fer　us。〃

〃Shore　I　'ain't　got　so　far　as　thet。　　What　d'　ye　mean；　Snake？〃

〃Damme　if　I　savvy；〃　was　the　gloomy　reply。　　〃I　only　know　what
was　bad　looks　growin'　wuss。　　Last　fall　　an'　winter　　an'
now　it's　near　April。　　We've　got　no　outfit　to　make　a　long
stand　in　the　woods。　。　。　。　　Jim；　jest　how　strong　is　thet
Beasley　down　in　the　settlements？〃

〃I've　a　hunch　he　ain't　half　as　strong　as　he　bluffs。〃

〃Me；　too。　　I　got　thet　idee　yesterday。　　He　was　scared　of　the
kid　　when　she　fired　up　an'　sent　thet　hot…shot　about　her
cowboy　sweetheart　killin'　him。　　He'll　do　it；　Jim。　　I　seen　that
Carmichael　at　Magdalena　some　years　ago。　　Then　he　was　only　a
youngster。　　But；　whew！　　Mebbe　he　wasn't　bad　after　toyin'　with
a　little　red　liquor。〃

〃Shore。　　He　was　from　Texas；　she　said。〃

〃Jim；　I　savvied　your　feelin's　was　hurt　　by　thet　talk　about
Texas　　an'　when　she　up　an'　asked　you。〃

Wilson　had　no　rejoinder　for　this　remark。

〃Wal；　Lord　knows；　I　ain't　wonderin'。　　You　wasn't　a　hunted
outlaw　all　your　life。　　An'　neither　was　I。　。　。　。　　Wilson；　I
never　was　keen　on　this　girl　deal　　now；　was　I？〃

〃I　reckon　it's　honest　to　say　no　to　thet；〃　replied　Wilson。
But　it's　done。　　Beasley　'll　get　plugged　sooner　or　later。　　Thet
won't　help　us　any。　　Chasin'　sheep…herders　out　of　the　country
an'　stealin'　sheep　　thet　ain't　stealin'　gurls　by　a　long
sight。　　Beasley　'll　blame　that　on　us；　an'　be　greaser　enough
to　send　some　of　his　men　out　to　hunt　us。　　For　Pine　an'　Show
Down　won't　stand　thet　long。　　There's　them　Mormons。　　They'll　be
hell　when　they　wake　up。　　Suppose　Carmichael　got　thet　hunter
Dale　an'　them　hawk…eyed　Beemans　on　our　trail？〃

〃Wal；　we'd　cash　in　　quick；〃　replied　Anson；　gruffly。

〃Then　why　didn't　you　let　me　take　the　gurl　back　home？〃

〃Wal；　come　to　think　of　thet；　Jim；　I'm　sore；　an'　I　need　money
　an'　I　knowed　you'd　never　take　a　dollar　from　her　sister。
An'　I've　made　up　my　mind　to　git　somethin'　out　of　her。〃

〃Snake；　you're　no　fool。　　How　'll　you　do　thet　same　an'　do　it
quick？〃

〃'Ain't　reckoned　it　out　yet。〃

〃Wal；　you　got　aboot　to…morrer　an'　thet's　all；〃　returned
Wilson；　gloomily。

〃Jim；　what's　ailin'　you？〃

〃I'll　let　you　figger　thet　out。〃

〃Wal；　somethin'　ails　the　whole　gang；〃　declared　Anson；
savagely。　　〃With　them　it's　nothin'　to　eat　　no　whisky　　no
money　to　bet　with　　no　tobacco！。　。　。　　But　thet's　not　what's
ailin'　you；　Jim　Wilson；　nor　me！〃

〃Wal；　what　is；　then？〃　queried　Wilson。

〃With　me　it's　a　strange　feelin'　thet　my　day's　over　on　these
ranges。　　I　can't　explain；　but　it　jest　feels　so。　　Somethin'　in
the　air。　　I　don't　like　them　dark　shadows　out　there　under　the
spruces。　　Savvy？　　。　。　。　　An'　as　fer　you；　Jim　　wal；　you　allus
was　half　decent；　an'　my　gang's　got　too　lowdown　fer　you。〃

〃Snake；　did　I　ever　fail　you？〃

〃No；　you　never　did。　　You're　the　best　pard　I　ever　knowed。　　In
the　years　we've　rustled　together　we　never　had　a　contrary
word　till　I　let　Beasley　fill　my　ears　with　his　promises。
Thet's　my　fault。　　But；　Jim；　it's　too　late。〃

〃It　mightn't　have　been　too　late　yesterday。〃

〃Mebbe　not。　　But　it　is　now；　an'　I'll　hang　on　to　the　girl　or
git　her　worth　in　gold；〃　declared　the　outlaw；　grimly。

〃Snake；　I've　seen　stronger　gangs　than　yours　come　an'　go。
Them　Big　Bend　gangs　in　my　country　　them　rustlers　　they
were　all　bad　men。　　You　have　no　likes　of　them　gangs　out　heah。
If　they　didn't　get　wiped　out　by　Rangers　or　cowboys；　why　they
jest　naturally　wiped　out　themselves。　　Thet's　a　law　I
recognize　in　relation　to　gangs　like　them。　　An'　as　for　yours
　why；　Anson；　it　wouldn't　hold　water　against　one　real
gun…slinger。〃

〃A…huh'　Then　if　we　ran　up　ag'in'　Carmichael　or　some　such
fellar　　would　you　be　suckin'　your　finger　like　a　baby？〃

〃Wal；　I　wasn't　takin'　count　of　myself。　　I　was　takin'
generalities。〃

〃Aw；　what　'n　hell　are　them？〃　asked　Anson；　disgustedly。　　Jim；
I　know　as　well　as　you　thet　this　hyar　gang　is　hard　put。　　We're
goin'　to　be　trailed　an'　chased。　　We've　got　to　hide　　be　on
the　go　all　the　time　　here　an'　there　　all　over；　in　the
roughest　woods。　　An'　wait　our　chance　to　work　south。〃

〃Shore。　　But；　Snake；　you　ain't　takin'　no　count　of　the
feelin's　of　the　men　　an'　of　mine　an'　yours。　。　。　。　　I'll　bet
you　my　hoss　thet　in　a　day　or　so　this　gang　will　go　to
pieces。〃

〃I'm　feared　you　spoke　what's　been　crowdin'　to　git　in　my
mind；〃　replied　Anson。　　Then　he　threw　up　his　hands　in　a
strange　gesture　of　resignation。　　The　outlaw　was　brave；　but
all　men　of　the　wilds　recognized　a　force　stronger　than
themselves。　　He　sat　there　resembling　a　brooding　snake　with
basilisk　eyes　upon　the　fire。　　At　length　he　arose；　and　without
another　word　to　his　comrade　he　walked　wearily　to　where　lay
the　dark；　quiet　forms　of　the　sleepers。

Jim　Wilson　remained　beside　the　flickering　fire。　　He　was
reading　something　in　the　red　embers；　perhaps　the　past。
Shadows　were　on　his　face；　not　all　from　the　fading　flames　or
the　towering　spruces。　　Ever　and　anon　he　raised　his　head　to
listen；　not　apparently　that　he　expected　any　unusual　sound；
but　as　if　involuntarily。　　Indeed；　as　Anson　had　said；　there
was　something　nameless　in　the　air。　　The　black　forest　breathed
heavily；　in　fitful　moans　of　wind。　　It　had　its　secrets。　　The
glances　Wilson　threw　on　all　sides　betrayed　that　any　hunted
man　did　not　love　the　dark　night；　though　it　hid　him。　　Wilson
seemed　fascinated　by　the　life　inclosed　there　by　the　black
circle　of　spruce。　　He　might　have　been　reflecting　on　the
strange　reaction　happening　to　every　man　in　that　group；　since
a　girl　had　been　brought　among　them。　　Nothing　was　clear；
however；　the　forest　kept　its　secret；　as　did　the　melancholy
wind；　the　outlaws　were　sleeping　like　tired　beasts；　with
their　dark　secrets　locked　in　their　hearts。

After　a　while　Wilson　put　some　sticks　on　the　red　embers；　then
pulled　the　end　of　a　log　over　them。　　A　blaze　sputtered　up；
changing　the　dark　circle　and　showing　the　sleepers　with　their
set；　shadowed　faces　upturned。　　Wilson　gazed　on　all　of　them；　a
sardonic　smile　on　his　lips；　and　then　his　look　fixed　upon　the
sleeper　apart　from　the　others　　Riggs。　　It　might　have　been
the　false　light　of　flame　and　shadow　that　created　Wilson's
expression　of　dark　and　terrible　hate。　　Or　it　might　have　been
the　truth；　expressed　in　that　lonely；　unguarded　hour；　from
the　depths　of　a　man　born　in　the　South　　a　man　who　by　his
inheritance　of　race　had　reverence　for　all　womanhood　　by
whose　strange；　wild；　outlawed　bloody　life　of　a　gun…fighter
he　must　hate　with　the　deadliest　hate　this　type　that　aped　and
mocked　his　fame。

It　was　a　long　gaze　Wilson　rested　upon　Riggs　　as　strange
and　secretive　as　the　forest　wind　moaning　down　the　great
aisles　　and　when　that　dark　gaze　was　withdrawn　Wilson
stalked　away　to　make　his　bed　with　the　stride　of　one　ill　whom
spirit　had　liberated　force。

He　laid　his　saddle　in　front　of　the　spruce　shelter　where　the
girl　had　entered；　and　his　tarpaulin　and　blankets　likewise
and　then　wearily　stretched　his　long　length　to　rest。

The　camp…fire　blazed　up；　showing　the　exquisite　green。　　and
brown…flecked　festooning　of　the　spruce　branches；　symmetrical
and　perfect；　yet　so　irregular；　and　then　it　burned　out　and
died　down；　leaving　all　in　the　dim　gray　starlight。　　The　horses
were　not　moving　around；　the　moan　of　night　wind　had　grown
fainter；　the　low　hum　of　insects；　was　dying　away；　even　the
tinkle　of　the　brook　had　diminished。　　And　that　growth　toward
absolute　silence　continued；　yet　absolute　silence　was　never
attained。　　Life　abided　in　the　forest；　only　it　had　changed　its
form　for　the　dark　hours。


Anson's　gang　did　not　bestir　themselves　at　the　usual　early
sunrise　hour　common　to　all　woodsmen；　hunters；　or　outlaws；　to
whom　the　break　of　day　was　welcome。　　These　companions　　Anson
and　Riggs