the man of the forest-第49章

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sunrise　hour　common　to　all　woodsmen；　hunters；　or　outlaws；　to
whom　the　break　of　day　was　welcome。　　These　companions　　Anson
and　Riggs　included　　might　have　hated　to　see　the　dawn　come。
It　meant　only　another　meager　meal；　then　the　weary　packing
and　the　long；　long　ride　to　nowhere　in　particular；　and
another　meager　meal　　all　toiled　for　without　even　the
necessities　of　satisfactory　living；　and　assuredly　without
the　thrilling　hopes　that　made　their　life　significant；　and
certainly　with　a　growing　sense　of　approaching　calamity。

The　outlaw　leader　rose　surly　and　cross…grained。　　He　had　to
boot　Burt　to　drive　him　out　for　the　horses。　　Riggs　followed
him。　　Shady　Jones　did　nothing　except　grumble。　　Wilson；　by
common　consent；　always　made　the　sour…dough　bread；　and　he　was
slow　about　it　this　morning。　　Anson　and　Moze　did　the　rest　of
the　work；　without　alacrity。　　The　girl　did　not　appear。

〃Is　she　dead？〃　growled　Anson。

〃No；　she　ain't；〃　replied　Wilson；　looking　up。　　〃She's
sleepin'。　　Let　her　sleep。　　She'd　shore　be　a　sight　better　off
if　she　was　daid。〃

〃A…huh！　　So　would　all　of　this　hyar　outfit；〃　was　Anson's
response。

〃Wal；　Sna…ake；　I　shore　reckon　we'll　all　be　thet　there　soon；〃
drawled　Wilson；　in　his　familiar　cool　and　irritating　tone
that　said　so　much　more　than　the　content　of　the　words。

Anson　did　not　address　the　Texas　member　of　his　party　again。

Burt　rode　bareback　into　camp；　driving　half　the　number　of　the
horses；　Riggs　followed　shortly　with　several　more。　　But　three
were　missed；　one　of　them　being　Anson's　favorite。　　He　would
not　have　budged　without　that　horse。　　During　breakfast　he
growled　about　his　lazy　men；　and　after　the　meal　tried　to　urge
them　off。　　Riggs　went　unwillingly。　　Burt　refused　to　go　at　all。

〃Nix。　　I　footed　them　hills　all　I'm　a…goin'　to；〃　he　said。　　〃An'
from　now　on　I　rustle　my　own　hoss。〃

The　leader　glared　his　reception　of　this　opposition。　　Perhaps
his　sense　of　fairness　actuated　him　once　more；　for　he　ordered
Shady　and　Moze　out　to　do　their　share。

〃Jim；　you're　the　best　tracker　in　this　outfit。　　Suppose　you
go；〃　suggested　Anson。　　〃You　allus　used　to　be　the　first　one
off。〃

〃Times　has　changed；　Snake；〃　was　the　imperturbable　reply。

〃Wal；　won't　you　go？〃　demanded　the　leader；　impatiently。

〃I　shore　won't。〃

Wilson　did　not　look　or　intimate　in　any　way　that　he　would　not
leave　the　girl　in　camp　with　one　or　any　or　all　of　Anson's
gang；　but　the　truth　was　as　significant　as　if　he　had　shouted
it。　　The　slow…thinking　Moze　gave　Wilson　a　sinister　look。

〃Boss；　ain't　it　funny　how　a　pretty　wench　？〃　began　Shady
Jones；　sarcastically。

〃Shut　up；　you　fool！〃　broke　in　Anson。　　〃Come　on；　I'll　help
rustle　them　hosses。〃

After　they　had　gone　Burt　took　his　rifle　and　strolled　off
into　the　forest。　　Then　the　girl　appeared。　　Her　hair　was　down；
her　face　pale；　with　dark　shadows。　　She　asked　for　water　to
wash　her　face。　　Wilson　pointed　to　the　brook；　and　as　she
walked　slowly　toward　it　he　took　a　comb　and　a　clean　scarf
from　his　pack　and　carried　them　to　her。

Upon　her　return　to　the　camp…fire　she　looked　very　different
with　her　hair　arranged　and　the　red　stains　in　her　cheeks。

〃Miss；　air　you　hungry？〃　asked　Wilson。

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　she　replied。

He　helped　her　to　portions　of　bread；　venison　and　gravy；　and　a
cup　of　coffee。　　Evidently　she　relished　the　meat；　but　she　had
to　force　down　the　rest。

〃Where　are　they　all？〃　she　asked。

〃Rustlin'　the　hosses。〃

Probably　she　divined　that　he　did　not　want　to　talk；　for　the
fleeting　glance　she　gave　him　attested　to　a　thought　that　his
voice　or　demeanor　had　changed。　　Presently　she　sought　a　seat
under　the　aspen…tree；　out　of　the　sun；　and　the　smoke
continually　blowing　in　her　face；　and　there　she　stayed；　a
forlorn　little　figure；　for　all　the　resolute　lips　and　defiant
eyes。

The　Texan　paced　to　and　fro　beside　the　camp…fire　with　bent
head；　and　hands　locked　behind　him。　　But　for　the　swinging　gun
he　would　have　resembled　a　lanky　farmer；　coatless　and
hatless；　with　his　brown　vest　open；　his　trousers　stuck　in　the
top　of　the　high　boots。

And　neither　he　nor　the　girl　changed　their　positions
relatively　for　a　long　time。　　At　length；　however；　after
peering　into　the　woods；　and　listening；　he　remarked　to　the
girl　that　he　would　be　back　in　a　moment；　and　then　walked　off
around　the　spruces。

No　sooner　had　he　disappeared　　in　fact；　so　quickly
after…ward　that　it　presupposed　design　instead　of　accident　
than　Riggs　came　running　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　glade。
He　ran　straight　to　the　girl；　who　sprang　to　her　feet。

〃I　hid　　two　of　the　　horses；〃　he　panted；　husky　with
excitement。　　〃I'll　take　　two　saddles。　　You　grab　some　grub。
We'll　run　for　it。〃

〃No；〃　she　cried；　stepping　back。

〃But　it's　not　safe　　for　us　　here；〃　he　said；　hurriedly；
glancing　all　around。　　〃I'll　take　you　　home。　　I　swear。　。　。　。
Not　safe　　I　tell　you　　this　gang's　after　me。　　Hurry！〃

He　laid　hold　of　two　saddles；　one　with　each　hand。　　The　moment
had　reddened　his　face；　brightened　his　eyes；　made　his　action
strong。

〃I'm　safer　　here　with　this　outlaw　gang；〃　she　replied。

〃You　won't　come！〃　His　color　began　to　lighten　then；　and　his
face　to　distort。　　He　dropped　his　hold　on　the　saddles。

〃Harve　Riggs；　I'd　rather　become　a　toy　and　a　rag　for　these
ruffians　than　spend　an　hour　alone　with　you；〃　she　flashed　at
him；　in　unquenchable　hate。

〃I'll　drag　you！〃

He　seized　her；　but　could　not　hold　her。　　Breaking　away；　she
screamed。

〃Help！〃

That　whitened　his　face；　drove　him　to　frenzy。　　Leaping
forward；　he　struck　her　a　hard　blow　across　the　mouth。　　It
staggered　her；　and；　tripping　on　a　saddle；　she　fell。　　His
hands　flew　to　her　throat；　ready　to　choke　her。　　But　she　lay
still　and　held　her　tongue。　　Then　he　dragged　her　to　her　feet。

〃Hurry　now　　grab　that　pack　　an'　follow　me。〃　Again　Riggs
laid　hold　of　the　two　saddles。　　A　desperate　gleam；　baleful　and
vainglorious；　flashed　over　his　face。　　He　was　living　his　one
great　adventure。

The　girl's　eyes　dilated。　　They　looked　beyond　him。　　Her　lips
opened。

〃Scream　again　an'　I'll　kill　you！〃　he　cried；　hoarsely　and
swiftly。　　The　very　opening　of　her　lips　had　terrified　Riggs。

〃Reckon　one　scream　was　enough；〃　spoke　a　voice；　slow；　but
without　the　drawl；　easy　and　cool；　yet　incalculable　in　some
terrible　sense。

Riggs　wheeled　with　inarticulate　cry。　　Wilson　stood　a　few
paces　off；　with　his　gun　half　leveled；　low　down。　　His　face
seemed　as　usual；　only　his　eyes　held　a　quivering；　light
intensity；　like　boiling　molten　silver。

〃Girl；　what　made　thet　blood　on　your　mouth？〃

〃Riggs　hit　me！〃　she　whispered。　　Then　at　something　she　feared
or　saw　or　divined　she　shrank　back；　dropped　on　her　knees；　and
crawled　into　the　spruce　shelter。

〃Wal；　Riggs；　I'd　invite　you　to　draw　if　thet　'd　be　any　use；〃
said　Wilson。　　This　speech　was　reflective；　yet　it　hurried　a
little。

Riggs　could　not　draw　nor　move　nor　speak。　　He　seemed　turned　to
stone；　except　his　jaw；　which　slowly　fell。

〃Harve　Riggs；　gunman　from　down　Missouri　way；〃　continued　the
voice　of　incalculable　intent；　〃reckon　you've　looked　into　a
heap　of　gun…barrels　in　your　day。　　Shore！　　Wal；　look　in　this
heah　one！〃

Wilson　deliberately　leveled　the　gun　on　a　line　with　Riggs's
starting　eyes。

〃Wasn't　you　heard　to　brag　in　Turner's　saloon　　thet　you
could　see　lead　comin'　　an'　dodge　it？　　Shore　you　must　be
swift！　　。　。　。　　DODGE　THIS　HEAH　BULLET！〃

The　gun　spouted　flame　and　boomed。　　One　of　Riggs's　starting；
popping　eyes　　the　right　one　　went　out；　like　a　lamp。　　The
other　rolled　horribly；　then　set　in　blank　dead　fixedness。
Riggs　swayed　in　slow　motion　until　a　lost　balance　felled　him
heavily；　an　inert　mass。

Wilson　bent　over　the　prostrate　form。　　Strange；　violent
contrast　to　the　cool　scorn　of　the　preceding　moment！　　Hissing；
spitting；　as　if　poisoned　by　passion；　he　burst　with　the　hate
that　his　character　had　forbidden　him　to　express　on　a　living
counterfeit。　　Wilson　was　shaken；　as　if　by　a　palsy。　　He　choked
over　passionate；　incoherent　invective。　　It　was　class　hate
first；　then　the　hate　of　real　manhood　for　a　craven；　then　the
hate　of　disgrace　for　a　murder。　　No　man　so　fair　as　a
gun…fighter　in　the　Western　creed　of　an　〃even　break〃！

Wilson's　terrible　cataclysm　of　passion　passed。　　Straightening
up；　he　sheathed　his　weapon　and　began　a　slow　pace　before　the
fire。　　Not　many　moments　afterward　he　jerked　his　head　high　and
listened。　　Horses　were　softly　thudding　through　the　forest。
Soon　Anson　rode　into　sight　with　his　men　and　one　of　the
strayed　horses。　　It　chanced；　too；　that　young　Burt　appeared　on
the　other　side　of　the　glade。　　He　walked　quickly；　as　one　who
anticipated　news。

Snake　Anson　as　he　dismounted　espied　the　dead　man。

〃Jim　　I　thought　I　heard　a　shot。〃

The　others　exclaimed　and　leaped　off　their　horses　to　view　the
prostrate　form　with　that　curiosity　and　strange　fear　common
to　all　men　confronted　by　sight　of　sudden　death。

That　emotion　was　only　momentary。

〃Shot　his　lamp　out！〃　ejaculated　Moze。

〃Wonder　how　Gunman　Riggs　liked　thet　plumb　center　peg！〃
exclaimed　Shady　Jones；　with　a　hard　laugh。

〃Back　of　his　head　all　gone！〃　gasped　young　Burt。　　Not
improbably　he　had　not　seen　a　great　many　bullet…marked　men。

〃Jim！　　　the　long…haired　fool　didn't　try　to　draw　on　you！〃
exclaimed　Snake　Anson；　astounded。

Wilson　neither　spoke　nor　ceased　his　pacing。

〃What　was　it　over？〃　added　Anson；　curiously。

〃He　hit　the　gurl；〃　replied　Wilson。

Then　there　were　long…drawn　exclamations　all　around；　and
glance　met　glance。

〃Jim；　you　saved　me　the　job；〃　continued　the　outlaw　leader。
〃An'　I'm　much　obliged。　。　。　。　　Fellars；　search　Riggs　an'　we'll
divvy。　。　。　。　　Thet　all　right；　Jim？〃

〃Shore；　an'　you　can　have　my　share。〃

They　found　bank…notes　in　the　man's　pocket　and　considerable
gold　worn　in　a　money…belt　around　his　waist。　　Shady　Jones
appropriated　his　boots；　and　Moze　his　gun。　　Then　they　left　him
as　he　had　fallen。

〃Jim；　you'll　have　to　track　them　lost　hosses。　　Two　still
missin'　an'　one　of　them's　mine；〃　called　Anson　as　Wilson
paced　to　the　end　of　his　beat。

The　girl　heard　Anson；　for　she　put　her　head　out　of　the　spruce
shelter　and　called：　〃Riggs　said　he'd　hid　two　of　the　horses。
They　must　be　close。　　He　came　that　way。〃

〃Howdy；　kid！　　Thet's　good　news；〃　replied　Anson。　　His　spirits
were　rising。　　〃He　must　hev　wanted　you　to　slope　with　him？〃

〃Yes。　　I　wouldn't　go。〃

〃An'　then　he　hit　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Wal；　recallin'　your　talk　of　yestiddy；　I　can't　see　as　Mister
Riggs　lasted　much　longer　hyar　than　he'd　hev　lasted　in　Texas。
We've　some　of　thet　great　country　right　in　our　outfit。〃

The　girl　withdrew　her　white　face。

〃It's　break　camp；　boys；〃　was　the　leader's　order。　　〃A　couple
of　you　look　up　them　hosses。　　They'll　be　hid　in　some　thick
spruces。　　The　rest　of　us　'll　pack。〃


Soon　the　gang　was　on　the　move；　heading　toward　the　height　of
land；　and　swerving　from　it　only　to　find　soft　and　grassy
ground　that　would　not　leave　any　tracks。

They　did　not　travel　more　than　a　dozen　miles　during　the
afternoon；　but　they　climbed　bench　after　bench　until　they
reached　the　timbered　plateau　that　stretched　in　sheer　black
slope　up　to　the　peaks。　　Here　rose　the　great　and　gloomy　forest
of　firs　and　pines；　with　the　spruce　overshadowed　and　thinned
out。　　The　last　hour　of　travel　was　tedious　and　toilsome；　a
zigzag；　winding；　breaking；　climbing　hunt　for　the　kind　of
camp…site　suited　to　Anson's　fancy。　　He　seemed　to　be　gr