the man of the forest-第50章

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zigzag；　winding；　breaking；　climbing　hunt　for　the　kind　of
camp…site　suited　to　Anson's　fancy。　　He　seemed　to　be　growing
strangely　irrational　about　selecting　places　to　camp。　　At
last；　for　no　reason　that　could　have　been　manifest　to　a　good
woodsman；　he　chose　a　gloomy　bowl　in　the　center　of　the
densest　forest　that　had　been　traversed。　　The　opening；　if　such
it　could　have　been　called；　was　not　a　park　or　even　a　glade。　　A
dark　cliff；　with　strange　holes；　rose　to　one　side；　but　not　so
high　as　the　lofty　pines　that　brushed　it。　　Along　its　base
babbled　a　brook；　running　over　such　formation　of　rock　that
from　different　points　near　at　hand　it　gave　forth　different
sounds；　some　singing；　others　melodious；　and　one　at　least　of
a　hollow；　weird；　deep　sound；　not　loud；　but　strangely
penetrating。

〃Sure　spooky　I　say；〃　observed　Shady；　sentiently。

The　little　uplift　of　mood；　coincident　with　the　rifling　of
Riggs's　person；　had　not　worn　over　to　this　evening　camp。　　What
talk　the　outlaws　indulged　in　was　necessary　and　conducted　in
low　tones。　　The　place　enjoined　silence。

Wilson　performed　for　the　girl　very　much　the　same　service　as
he　had　the　night　before。　　Only　he　advised　her　not　to　starve
herself；　she　must　eat　to　keep　up　her　strength。　　She　complied
at　the　expense　of　considerable　effort。

As　it　had　been　a　back…breaking　day；　in　which　all　of　them；
except　the　girl；　had　climbed　miles　on　foot；　they　did　not
linger　awake　long　enough　after　supper　to　learn　what　a　wild；
weird；　and　pitch…black　spot　the　outlaw　leader　had　chosen。
The　little　spaces　of　open　ground　between　the　huge…trunked
pine…trees　had　no　counterpart　up　in　the　lofty　spreading
foliage。　　Not　a　star　could　blink　a　wan　ray　of　light　into　that
Stygian　pit。　　The　wind；　cutting　down　over　abrupt　heights
farther　up；　sang　in　the　pine…needles　as　if　they　were　strings
vibrant　with　chords。　　Dismal　creaks　were　audible。　　They　were
the　forest　sounds　of　branch　or　tree　rubbing　one　another；　but
which　needed　the　corrective　medium　of　daylight　to　convince
any　human　that　they　were　other　than　ghostly。　　Then；　despite
the　wind　and　despite　the　changing　murmur　of　the　brook；　there
seemed　to　be　a　silence　insulating　them；　as　deep　and
impenetrable　as　the　darkness。

But　the　outlaws；　who　were　fugitives　now；　slept　the　sleep　of
the　weary；　and　heard　nothing。　　They　awoke　with　the　sun；　when
the　forest　seemed　smoky　in　a　golden　gloom；　when　light　and
bird　and　squirrel　proclaimed　the　day。

The　horses　had　not　strayed　out　of　this　basin　during　the
night；　a　circumstance　that　Anson　was　not　slow　to　appreciate。

〃It　ain't　no　cheerful　camp；　but　I　never　seen　a　safer　place
to　hole　up　in；〃　he　remarked　to　Wilson。

〃Wal；　yes　　if　any　place　is　safe；〃　replied　that　ally；
dubiously。

〃We　can　watch　our　back　tracks。　　There　ain't　any　other　way　to
git　in　hyar　thet　I　see。〃

〃Snake；　we　was　tolerable　fair　sheep…rustlers；　but　we're　no
good　woodsmen。〃

Anson　grumbled　his　disdain　of　this　comrade　who　had　once　been
his　mainstay。　　Then　he　sent　Burt　out　to　hunt　fresh　meat　and
engaged　his　other　men　at　cards。　　As　they　now　had　the　means　to
gamble；　they　at　once　became　absorbed。　　Wilson　smoked　and
divided　his　thoughtful　gaze　between　the　gamblers　and　the
drooping　figure　of　the　girl。　　The　morning　air　was　keen；　and
she；　evidently　not　caring　to　be　near　her　captors　beside　the
camp…fire；　had　sought　the　only　sunny　spot　in　this　gloomy
dell。　　A　couple　of　hours　passed；　the　sun　climbed　high；　the
air　grew　warmer。　　Once　the　outlaw　leader　raised　his　head　to
scan　the　heavy…timbered　slopes　that　inclosed　the　camp。

〃Jim；　them　hosses　are　strayin'　off　；〃　he　observed。

Wilson　leisurely　rose　and　stalked　off　across　the　small；　open
patches；　in　the　direction　of　the　horses。　　They　had　grazed
around　from　the　right　toward　the　outlet　of　the　brook。　　Here
headed　a　ravine；　dense　and　green。　　Two　of　the　horses　had　gone
down。　　Wilson　evidently　heard　them；　though　they　were　not　in
sight；　and　he　circled　somewhat　so　as　to　get　ahead　of　them
and　drive　them　back。　　The　invisible　brook　ran　down　over　the
rocks　with　murmur　and　babble。　　He　halted　with　instinctive
action。　　He　listened。　　Forest　sounds；　soft；　lulling；　came　on
the　warm；　pine…scented　breeze。　　It　would　have　taken　no　keen
ear　to　hear　soft　and　rapid　padded　footfalls。　　He　moved　on
cautiously　and　turned　into　a　little　open；　mossy　spot；
brown…matted　and　odorous；　full　of　ferns　and　bluebells。　　In
the　middle　of　this；　deep　in　the　moss；　he　espied　a　huge　round
track　of　a　cougar。　　He　bent　over　it。　　Suddenly　he　stiffened；
then　straightened　guardedly。　　At　that　instant　he　received　a
hard　prod　in　the　back。　　Throwing　up　his　hands；　he　stood
still；　then　slowly　turned。　　A　tall　hunter　in　gray　buckskin；
gray…eyed　and　square…jawed；　had　him　covered　with　a　cocked
rifle。　　And　beside　this　hunter　stood　a　monster　cougar；
snarling　and　blinking。



CHAPTER　XXII

〃Howdy；　Dale；〃　drawled　Wilson。　　〃Reckon　you're　a　little
previous　on　me。〃

〃Sssssh！　　Not　so　loud；〃　said　the　hunter；　in　low　voice。
〃You're　Jim　Wilson？〃

〃Shore　am。　　Say；　Dale；　you　showed　up　soon。　　Or　did　you　jest
happen　to　run　acrost　us？〃

〃I've　trailed　you。　　Wilson；　I'm　after　the　girl。〃

〃I　knowed　thet　when　I　seen　you！〃

The　cougar　seemed　actuated　by　the　threatening　position　of
his　master；　and　he　opened　his　mouth；　showing　great　yellow
fangs；　and　spat　at　Wilson。　　The　outlaw　apparently　had　no　fear
of　Dale　or　the　cocked　rifle；　but　that　huge；　snarling　cat
occasioned　him　uneasiness。

〃Wilson；　I've　heard　you　spoken　of　as　a　white　outlaw；〃　said
Dale。

〃Mebbe　I　am。　　But　shore　I'll　be　a　scared　one　in　a　minit。
Dale；　he's　goin'　to　jump　me！〃

〃The　cougar　won't　jump　you　unless　I　make　him。　　Wilson；　if　I
let　you　go　will　you　get　the　girl　for　me？〃

〃Wal；　lemme　see。　　Supposin'　I　refuse？〃　queried　Wilson；
shrewdly。

〃Then；　one　way　or　another；　it's　all　up　with　you。〃

〃Reckon　I　'ain't　got　much　choice。　　Yes；　I'll　do　it。　　But；
Dale；　are　you　goin'　to　take　my　word　for　thet　an'　let　me　go
back　to　Anson？〃

〃Yes；　I　am。　　You're　no　fool。　　An'　I　believe　you're　square。
I've　got　Anson　and　his　gang　corralled。　　You　can't　slip　me　
not　in　these　woods。　　I　could　run　off　your　horses　　pick　you
off　one　by　one　　or　turn　the　cougar　loose　on　you　at　night。〃

〃Shore。　　It's　your　game。　　Anson　dealt　himself　this　hand。　。　。　。
Between　you　an'　me；　Dale；　I　never　liked　the　deal。〃

〃Who　shot　Riggs？　　。　。　。　　I　found　his　body。〃

〃Wal；　yours　truly　was　around　when　thet　come　off；〃　replied
Wilson；　with　an　involuntary　little　shudder。　　Some　thought
made　him　sick。

〃The　girl？　　Is　she　safe　　unharmed？〃　queried　Dale；
hurriedly。

〃She's　shore　jest　as　safe　an'　sound　as　when　she　was　home。
Dale；　she's　the　gamest　kid　thet　ever　breathed！　　Why；　no　one
could　hev　ever　made　me　believe　a　girl；　a　kid　like　her；　could
hev　the　nerve　she's　got。　　Nothin's　happened　to　her　'cept
Riggs　hit　her　in　the　mouth。　。　。　。　　I　killed　him　for　thet。　。　。
。　　An'；　so　help　me；　God；　I　believe　it's　been　workin'　in　me　to
save　her　somehow！　　Now　it'll　not　be　so　hard。〃

〃But　how？〃　demanded　Dale。

〃Lemme　see。　。　。　。　　Wal；　I've　got　to　sneak　her　out　of　camp　an'
meet　you。　　Thet's　all。〃

〃It　must　be　done　quick。〃

〃But；　Dale；　listen；〃　remonstrated　Wilson；　earnestly。　　〃Too
quick　'll　be　as　bad　as　too　slow。　　Snake　is　sore　these　days；
gittin'　sorer　all　the　time。　　He　might　savvy　somethin'；　if　I
ain't　careful；　an'　kill　the　girl　or　do　her　harm。　　I　know
these　fellars。　　They're　all　ready　to　go　to　pieces。　　An'　shore
I　must　play　safe。　　Shore　it'd　be　safer　to　have　a　plan。〃

Wilson's　shrewd；　light　eyes　gleamed　with　an　idea。　　He　was
about　to　lower　one　of　his　upraised　hands；　evidently　to　point
to　the　cougar；　when　he　thought　better　of　that。

〃Anson's　scared　of　cougars。　　Mebbe　we　can　scare　him　an'　the
gang　so　it　'd　be　easy　to　sneak　the　girl　off。　　Can　you　make
thet　big　brute　do　tricks？　　Rush　the　camp　at　night　an'　squall
an'　chase　off　the　horses？〃

〃I'll　guarantee　to　scare　Anson　out　of　ten　years'　growth；〃
replied　Dale。

〃Shore　it's　a　go；　then；〃　resumed　Wilson；　as　if　glad。　　〃I'll
post　the　girl　　give　her　a　hunch　to　do　her　part。　　You　sneak
up　to…night　jest　before　dark。　　I'll　hev　the　gang　worked　up。
An'　then　you　put　the　cougar　to　his　tricks；　whatever　you
want。　　When　the　gang　gits　wild　I'll　grab　the　girl　an'　pack
her　off　down　heah　or　somewheres　aboot　an'　whistle　fer　you。　。
。　。　　But　mebbe　thet　ain't　so　good。　　If'　thet　cougar　comes
pilin'　into　camp　he　might　jump　me　instead　of　one　of　the
gang。　　An'　another　hunch。　　He；　might　slope　up　on　me　in　the
dark　when　I　was　tryin'　to　find　you。　　Shore　thet　ain't
appealin'　to　me。〃

〃Wilson；　this　cougar　is　a　pet；〃　replied　Dale。　　〃You　think
he's　dangerous；　but　he's　not。　　No　more　than　a　kitten。　　He　only
looks　fierce。　　He　has　never　been　hurt　by　a　person　an'　he's
never　fought　anythin'　himself　but　deer　an'　bear。　　I　can　make
him　trail　any　scent。　　But　the　truth　is　I　couldn't　make　him
hurt　you　or　anybody。　　All　the　same；　he　can　be　made　to　scare
the　hair　off　any　one　who　doesn't　know　him。〃

〃Shore　thet　settles　me。　　I'll　be　havin'　a　grand　joke　while
them　fellars　is　scared　to　death。　。　。　。　　Dale；　you　can　depend
on　me。　　An'　I'm　beholdin'　to　you　fer　what　'll　square　me　some
with　myself。　。　。　。　　To…night；　an'　if　it　won't　work　then；
to…morrer　night　shore！〃

Dale　lowered　the　rifle。　　The　big　cougar　spat　again。　　Wilson
dropped　his　hands　and；　stepping　forward；　split　the　green
wall　of　intersecting　spruce　branches。　　Then　he　turned　up　the
ravine　toward　the　glen。　　Once　there；　in　sight　of　his
comrades；　his　action　and　expression　changed。

〃Hosses　all　thar；　Jim？〃　asked　Anson；　as　he　picked　up；　his
cards。

〃Shore。　　They　act　awful　queer；　them　hosses；〃　replied。　　Wilson。
〃They're　afraid　of　somethin'。〃

〃A…huh！　　Silvertip　mebbe；〃　muttered　Anson。　　〃Jim；　You　jest
keep　watch　of　them　hosses。　　We'd　be　done　if　some　tarnal
varmint　stampeded　them。〃

〃Reckon　I'm　elected　to　do　all　the　work　now；〃　complained
Wilson；　〃while　you　card…sharps　cheat　each　other。〃　Rustle　the
hosses　　an'　water　an'　fire…wood。　　Cook　an'　wash。　　Hey？〃

〃No　one　I　ever　seen　can　do　them　camp　tricks　any　better　'n
Jim　Wilson；〃　replied　Anson。

〃Jim；　you're　a　lady's　man　an'　thar's　our　pretty　hoodoo　over
thar　to　feed　an'　amoose；〃　remarked　Shady　Jones；　with　a　smile
that　disarmed　his　speech。

The　outlaws　guffawed。

〃Git　out；　Jim；　you're　breakin'　up　the　game；〃　said　Moze；　who
appeared　loser。

〃Wal；　thet　gurl　would　starve　if　it　wasn't　fer　me；〃　replied
Wilson；　genially；　and　he　walked　over　toward　her；　beginning
to　address　her；　quite　loudly；　as　he　approached。　　〃Wal；　miss；
I'm　elected　cook　an'　I'd　shore　like　to　heah　what　you　fancy
fer　dinner。〃

The　outlaws　heard；　for　they　guffawed　again。　　〃Haw！　　Haw！　　if
Jim　ain't　funny！〃　exclaimed　Anson。

The　girl　looked　up　amazed。　　Wilson　was　winking　at　her；　and
when　he　got　near　he　began　to　speak　rapidly　and　low。

〃I　jest　met　Dale　down　in　the　woods　with　his　pet　cougar。　　He's
after　you。　　I'm　goin'　to　help　him　git　you　safe　away。　　Now　you
do　your　part。　　I　want　you　to　pretend　you've　gone　crazy。
Savvy？　　Act　out　of　your　head！　　Shore　I　don't　care　what　you　do
or　say；　only　act　crazy。　　An'　don't　be　scared。　　We're　goin'　to
scare　the　gang　so　I'll　hev　a　chance　to　sneak　you　away。
To…night　or　to…morrow　　shore。〃

Before　he　began　to　speak　she　was　pale；　sad；　dull　of　eye。
Swiftly；　with　his　words；　she　wa