the man of the forest-第5章

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discussing　an　action　of　a　human　being。　　〃Sure　I'd　hate　to
doubt　old　Tom。　　But　he's　a　cougar。　　An'　the　ways　of　animals
are　strange　。　。　。　　Anyway；　Al；　I'll　make　good　the　loss　of
your　sheep。〃

〃No；　you　won't；〃　rejoined　Auchincloss；　quickly。　　〃We'll　call
it　off　。　　I'm　takin'　it　square　of　you　to　make　the　offer。
Thet's　enough。　　So　forget　your　worry　about　work；　if　you　had
any。〃

〃There's　somethin'　else；　Al；　I　wanted　to　say；〃　began　Dale；
with　hesitation。　　〃An'　it's　about　Beasley。〃

Auchincloss　started　violently；　and　a　flame　of　red　shot　into
his　face。　　Then　he　raised　a　big　hand　that　shook。　　Dale　saw　in
a　flash　how　the　old　man's　nerves　had　gone。

〃Don't　mention　　thet　　thet　greaser　　to　me！〃　burst　out
the　rancher。　　〃It　makes　me　see　　red。　。　。　。　　Dale；　I　ain't
overlookin'　that　you　spoke　up　fer　me　to…day　　stood　fer　my
side。　　Lem　Harden　told　me。　　I　was　glad。　　An'　thet's　why　
to…day　　I　forgot　our　old　quarrel。　。　。　。　　But　not　a　word
about　thet　sheep…thief　　or　I'll　drive　you　off　the　place！〃

〃But；　Al　　be　reasonable；〃　remonstrated　Dale。　　〃It's
necessary　thet　I　speak　of　　of　Beasley。〃

〃It　ain't。　　Not　to　me。　　I　won't　listen。〃

〃Reckon　you'll　have　to；　Al；〃　returned　Dale。　　〃Beasley's　after
your　property。　　He's　made　a　deal　〃

〃By　Heaven！　　I　know　that！〃　shouted　Auchincloss；　tottering　up；
with　his　face　now　black…red。　　〃Do　you　think　thet's　new　to　me？
Shut　up；　Dale！　　I　can't　stand　it。〃

〃But　Al　　there's　worse；〃　went　on　Dale；　hurriedly。　　〃Worse！
Your　life's　threatened　　an'　your　niece；　Helen　　she's　to
be　〃

〃Shut　up　　an'　clear　out！〃　roared　Auchincloss；　waving　his
huge　fists。

He　seemed　on　the　verge　of　a　collapse　as；　shaking　all　over；
he　backed　into　the　door。　　A　few　seconds　of　rage　had
transformed　him　into　a　pitiful　old　man。

〃But；　Al　　I'm　your　friend　〃　began　Dale；　appealingly。

〃Friend；　hey？〃　returned　the　rancher；　with　grim；　bitter
passion。　　〃Then　you're　the　only　one。　。　。　。　　Milt　Dale；　I'm
rich　an'　I'm　a　dyin'　man。　　I　trust　nobody　。　。　。　　But；　you　wild
hunter　　if　you're　my　friend　　prove　it！　　。　。　。　　Go　kill
thet　greaser　sheep…thief！　　DO　somethin'　　an'　then　come　talk
to　me！〃

With　that　he　lurched；　half　falling；　into　the　house；　and
slammed　the　door。

Dale　stood　there　for　a　blank　moment；　and　then；　taking　up　his
rifle；　he　strode　away。

Toward　sunset　Dale　located　the　camp　of　his　four　Mormon
friends；　and　reached　it　in　time　for　supper。

John；　Roy；　Joe；　and　Hal　Beeman　were　sons　of　a　pioneer　Mormon
who　had　settled　the　little　community　of　Snowdrop。　　They　were
young　men　in　years；　but　hard　labor　and　hard　life　in　the　open
had　made　them　look　matured。　　Only　a　year's　difference　in　age
stood　between　John　and　Roy；　and　between　Roy　and　Joe；　and
likewise　Joe　and　Hal。　　When　it　came　to　appearance　they　were
difficult　to　distinguish　from　one　another。　　Horsemen；
sheep…herders；　cattle…raisers；　hunters　　they　all　possessed
long；　wiry；　powerful　frames；　lean；　bronzed；　still　faces；　and
the　quiet；　keen　eyes　of　men　used　to　the　open。

Their　camp　was　situated　beside　a　spring　in　a　cove　surrounded
by　aspens；　some　three　miles　from　Pine；　and；　though　working
for　Beasley；　near　the　village；　they　had　ridden　to　and　fro
from　camp；　after　the　habit　of　seclusion　peculiar　to　their
kind。

Dale　and　the　brothers　had　much　in　common；　and　a　warm　regard
had　sprang　up。　　But　their　exchange　of　confidences　had　wholly
concerned　things　pertaining　to　the　forest。　　Dale　ate　supper
with　them；　and　talked　as　usual　when　he　met　them；　without
giving　any　hint　of　the　purpose　forming　in　his　mind。　　After
the　meal　he　helped　Joe　round　up　the　horses；　hobble　them　for
the　night；　and　drive　them　into　a　grassy　glade　among　the
pines。　　Later；　when　the　shadows　stole　through　the　forest　on
the　cool　wind；　and　the　camp…fire　glowed　comfortably；　Dale
broached　the　subject　that　possessed　him。

〃An'　so　you're　working　for　Beasley？〃　he　queried；　by　way　of
starting　conversation。

〃We　was；〃　drawled　John。　　〃But　to…day；　bein'　the　end　of　our
month；　we　got　our　pay　an'　quit。　　Beasley　sure　was　sore。〃

〃Why'd　you　knock　off？〃

John　essayed　no　reply；　and　his　brothers　all　had　that　quiet；
suppressed　look　of　knowledge　under　restraint。

〃Listen　to　what　I　come　to　tell　you；　then　you'll　talk；〃　went
on　Dale。　　And　hurriedly　he　told　of　Beasley's　plot　to　abduct
Al　Auchincloss's　niece　and　claim　the　dying　man's　property。

When　Dale　ended；　rather　breathlessly；　the　Mormon　boys　sat
without　any　show　of　surprise　or　feeling。　　John；　the　eldest；
took　up　a　stick　and　slowly　poked　the　red　embers　of　the　fire；
making　the　white　sparks　fly。

〃Now；　Milt；　why'd　you　tell　us　thet？〃　he　asked；　guardedly。

〃You're　the　only　friends　I've　got；〃　replied　Dale。　　〃It　didn't
seem　safe　for　me　to　talk　down　in　the　village。　　I　thought　of
you　boys　right　off。　　I　ain't　goin'　to　let　Snake　Anson　get
that　girl。　　An'　I　need　help；　so　I　come　to　you。〃

〃Beasley's　strong　around　Pine；　an'　old　Al's　weakenin'。
Beasley　will　git　the　property；　girl　or　no　girl；〃　said　John。

〃Things　don't　always　turn　out　as　they　look。　　But　no　matter
about　that。　　The　girl　deal　is　what　riled　me。　。　。　。　　She's　to
arrive　at　Magdalena　on　the　sixteenth；　an'　take　stage　for
Snowdrop。　。　。　。　　Now　what　to　do？　　If　she　travels　on　that　stage
I'll　be　on　it；　you　bet。　　But　she　oughtn't　to　be　in　it　at　all。
。　。　。　　Boys；　somehow　I'm　goin'　to　save　her。　　Will　you　help　me？
I　reckon　I've　been　in　some　tight　corners　for　you。　　Sure；　this
's　different。　　But　are　you　my　friends？　　You　know　now　what
Beasley　is。　　An'　you're　all　lost　at　the　hands　of　Snake
Anson's　gang。　　You've　got　fast　hosses；　eyes　for　trackin'；　an'
you　can　handle　a　rifle。　　You're　the　kind　of　fellows　I'd　want
in　a　tight　pinch　with　a　bad　gang。　　Will　you　stand　by　me　or
see　me　go　alone？〃

Then　John　Beeman；　silently；　and　with　pale　face；　gave　Dale's
hand　a　powerful　grip；　and　one　by　one　the　other　brothers　rose
to　do　likewise。　　Their　eyes　flashed　with　hard　glint　and　a
strange　bitterness　hovered　around　their　thin　lips。

〃Milt；　mebbe　we　know　what　Beasley　is　better　'n　you；〃　said
John；　at　length。　　〃He　ruined　my　father。　　He's　cheated　other
Mormons。　　We　boys　have　proved　to　ourselves　thet　he　gets　the
sheep　Anson's　gang　steals。　。　。　。　　An'　drives　the　herds　to
Phenix！　　Our　people　won't　let　us　accuse　Beasley。　　So　we've
suffered　in　silence。　　My　father　always　said；　let　some　one
else　say　the　first　word　against　Beasley；　an'　you've　come　to
us！〃

Roy　Beeman　put　a　hand　on　Dale's　shoulder。　　He；　perhaps；　was
the　keenest　of　the　brothers　and　the　one　to　whom　adventure
and　peril　called　most。　　He　had　been　oftenest　with　Dale；　on
many　a　long　trail；　and　he　was　the　hardest　rider　and　the　most
relentless　tracker　in　all　that　range　country。

〃An'　we're　goin'　with　you；〃　he　said；　in　a　strong　and　rolling
voice。

They　resumed　their　seats　before　the　fire。　　John　threw　on　more
wood；　and　with　a　crackling　and　sparkling　the　blaze　curled
up；　fanned　by　the　wind。　　As　twilight　deepened　into　night　the
moan　in　the　pines　increased　to　a　roar。　　A　pack　of　coyotes
commenced　to　pierce　the　air　in　staccato　cries。

The　five　young　men　conversed　long　and　earnestly；
considering；　planning；　rejecting　ideas　advanced　by　each。
Dale　and　Roy　Beeman　suggested　most　of　what　became　acceptable
to　all。　　Hunters　of　their　type　resembled　explorers　in　slow
and　deliberate　attention　to　details。　　What　they　had　to　deal
with　here　was　a　situation　of　unlimited　possibilities；　the
horses　and　outfit　needed；　a　long　detour　to　reach　Magdalena
unobserved；　the　rescue　of　a　strange　girl　who　would　no　doubt
be　self…willed　and　determined　to　ride　on　the　stage　　the
rescue　forcible；　if　necessary；　the　fight　and　the　inevitable
pursuit；　the　flight　into　the　forest；　and　the　safe　delivery
of　the　girl　to　Auchincloss。

〃Then；　Milt；　will　we　go　after　Beasley？〃　queried　Roy　Beeman；
significantly。

Dale　was　silent　and　thoughtful。

〃Sufficient　unto　the　day！〃　said　John。　　〃An；　fellars；　let's　go
to　bed。〃

They　rolled　out　their　tarpaulins；　Dale　sharing　Roy's
blankets；　and　soon　were　asleep；　while　the　red　embers　slowly
faded；　and　the　great　roar　of　wind　died　down；　and　the　forest
stillness　set　in。



CHAPTER　IV

Helen　Rayner　had　been　on　the　westbound　overland　train　fully
twenty…four　hours　before　she　made　an　alarming　discovery。

Accompanied　by　her　sister　Bo；　a　precocious　girl　of　sixteen；
Helen　had　left　St。　　Joseph　with　a　heart　saddened　by　farewells
to　loved　ones　at　home；　yet　full　of　thrilling　and　vivid
anticipations　of　the　strange　life　in　the　Far　West。　　All　her
people　had　the　pioneer　spirit；　love　of　change；　action；
adventure；　was　in　her　blood。　　Then　duty　to　a　widowed　mother
with　a　large　and　growing　family　had　called　to　Helen　to
accept　this　rich　uncle's　offer。　　She　had　taught　school　and
also　her　little　brothers　and　sisters；　she　had　helped　along
in　other　ways。　　And　now；　though　the　tearing　up　of　the　roots
of　old　loved　ties　was　hard；　this　opportunity　was
irresistible　in　its　call。　　The　prayer　of　her　dreams　had　been
answered。　　To　bring　good　fortune　to　her　family；　to　take　care
of　this　beautiful；　wild　little　sister；　to　leave　the　yellow；
sordid；　humdrum　towns　for　the　great；　rolling；　boundless
open；　to　live　on　a　wonderful　ranch　that　was　some　day　to　be
her　own；　to　have　fulfilled　a　deep；　instinctive；　and
undeveloped　love　of　horses；　cattle；　sheep；　of　desert　and
mountain；　of　trees　and　brooks　and　wild　flowers　　all　this
was　the　sum　of　her　most　passionate　longings；　now　in　some
marvelous；　fairylike　way　to　come　true。

A　check　to　her　happy　anticipations；　a　blank；　sickening　dash
of　cold　water　upon　her　warm　and　intimate　dreams；　had　been
the　discovery　that　Harve　Riggs　was　on　the　train。　　His
presence　could　mean　only　one　thing　　that　he　had　followed
her。　　Riggs　had　been　the　worst　of　many　sore　trials　back　there
in　St。　　Joseph。　　He　had　possessed　some　claim　or　influence　upon
her　mother；　who　favored　his　offer　of　marriage　to　Helen；　he
was　neither　attractive；　nor　good；　nor　industrious；　nor
anything　that　interested　her；　he　was　the　boastful；　strutting
adventurer；　not　genuinely　Western；　and　he　affected　long　hair
and　guns　and　notoriety。　　Helen　had　suspected　the　veracity　of
the　many　fights　he　claimed　had　been　his；　and　also　she
suspected　that　he　was　not　really　big　enough　to　be　bad　　as
Western　men　were　bad。　　But　on　the　train；　in　the　station　at　La
Junta；　one　glimpse　of　him；　manifestly　spying　upon　her　while
trying　to　keep　out　of　her　sight；　warned　Helen　that　she　now
might　have　a　problem　on　her　hands。

The　recognition　sobered　her。　　All　was　not　to　be　a　road　of
roses　to　this　new　home　in　the　West。　　Riggs　would　follow　her；
if　he　could　not　accompany　her；　and　to　gain　his　own　ends　he
would　stoop　to　anything。　　Helen　felt　the　startling
realization　of　being　cast　upon　her　own　resources；　and　then　a
numbing　discouragement　and　loneliness　and　helplessness。　　But
these　feelings　did　not　long　persist　in　the　quick　pride　and
flash　of　her　temper。　　Opportunity　knocked　at　her　door　and　she
meant　to　be　at　home　to　it。　　She　would　not　have　been　Al
Auchincloss's　niece　if　she　had　faltered。　　And；　when　temper
was　succeeded　by　genuine　anger；　she　could　have　laughed　to
scorn　this　Harve　Riggs　and　his　schemes；　whatever　they　were。
Once　and　for　all　she　dismissed　fear　of　him。　　When　she　left
St。　　Joseph　she　had　faced　the　West　with　a　beating　heart　and　a
high　resolve　to　be　worthy　of　that　West。　　Homes　h