the man of the forest-第52章

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〃Any　other　time　ain't　now。　。　。　。　　Burt　won't　ever　come　back！〃
Wilson　spoke　it　with　a　positive　finality。〃

〃A…huh！　　Some　more　of　them　queer　feelin's　of　yourn　
operatin'　again；　hey？　　Them　onnatural　kind　thet　you　can't
explain；　hey？〃

Anson's　queries　were　bitter　and　rancorous。

〃Yes。　　An'；　Snake；　I　tax　you　with　this　heah。　　Ain't　any　of
them　queer　feelin's　operatin'　in　you？　　〃

〃No！〃　rolled　out　the　leader；　savagely。　　But　his　passionate
denial　was　a　proof　that　he　lied。　　From　the　moment　of　this
outburst；　which　was　a　fierce　clinging　to　the　old；　brave
instincts　of　his　character；　unless　a　sudden　change　marked
the　nature　of　his　fortunes；　he　would　rapidly　deteriorate　to
the　breaking…point。　　And　in　such　brutal；　unrestrained　natures
as　his　this　breaking…point　meant　a　desperate　stand；　a
desperate　forcing　of　events；　a　desperate　accumulation　of
passions　that　stalked　out　to　deal　and　to　meet　disaster　and
blood　and　death。

Wilson　put　a　little　wood　on　the　fire　and　he　munched　a
biscuit。　　No　one　asked　him　to　cook。　　No　one　made　any　effort　to
do　so。　　One　by　one　each　man　went　to　the　pack　to　get　some
bread　and　meat。

Then　they　waited　as　men　who　knew　not　what　they　waited　for；
yet　hated　and　dreaded　it。

Twilight　in　that　glen　was　naturally　a　strange；　veiled
condition　of　the　atmosphere。　　It　was　a　merging　of　shade　and
light；　which　two　seemed　to　make　gray；　creeping　shadows。

Suddenly　a　snorting　and　stamping　of　the　horses　startled　the
men。

〃Somethin'　scared　the　hosses；〃　said　Anson；　rising。　　〃Come
on。〃

Moze　accompanied　him；　and　they　disappeared　in　the　gloom。
More　trampling　of　hoofs　was　heard；　then　a　cracking　of　brush；
and　the　deep　voices　of　men。　　At　length　the　two　outlaws
returned；　leading　three　of　the　horses；　which　they　haltered
in　the　open　glen。

The　camp…fire　light　showed　Anson's　face　dark　and　serious。

〃Jim；　them　hosses　are　wilder　'n　deer；〃　he　said。　　〃I　ketched
mine；　an'　Moze　got　two。　　But　the　rest　worked　away　whenever　we
come　close。　　Some　varmint　has　scared　them　bad。　　We　all　gotta
rustle　out　thar　quick。〃

Wilson　rose；　shaking　his　head　doubtfully。　　And　at　that　moment
the　quiet　air　split　to　a　piercing；　horrid　neigh　of　a
terrified　horse。　　Prolonged　to　a　screech；　it　broke　and　ended。
Then　followed　snorts　of　fright；　pound　and　crack　and　thud　of
hoofs；　and　crash　of　brush；　then　a　gathering　thumping；
crashing　roar；　split　by　piercing　sounds。

〃Stampede！〃　yelled　Anson；　and　he　ran　to　hold　his　own　horse；
which　he　had　haltered　right　in　camp。　　It　was　big　and
wild…looking；　and　now　reared　and　plunged　to　break　away。
Anson　just　got　there　in　time；　and　then　it　took　all　his
weight　to　pull　the　horse　down。　　Not　until　the　crashing；
snorting；　pounding　melee　had　subsided　and　died　away　over　the
rim　of　the　glen　did　Anson　dare　leave　his　frightened
favorite。

〃Gone！　　Our　horses　are　gone！　　Did　you　hear　'em？〃　he　exclaimed；
blankly。

〃Shore。　　They're　a　cut…up　an'　crippled　bunch　by　now；〃　replied
Wilson。

〃Boss；　we'll　never　git　'ern　back；　not　'n　a　hundred　years；〃
declared　Moze。

〃Thet　settles　us；　Snake　Anson；〃　stridently　added　Shady
Jones。　　〃Them　hosses　are　gone！　　You　can　kiss　your　hand　to
them。　。　。　。　　They　wasn't　hobbled。　　They　hed　an　orful　scare。
They　split　on　thet　stampede　an'　they'll　never　git　together。
。　。　。　　See　what　you've　fetched　us　to！〃

Under　the　force　of　this　triple　arraignment　the　outlaw　leader
dropped　to　his　seat；　staggered　and　silenced。　　In　fact；
silence　fell　upon　all　the　men　and　likewise　enfolded　the
glen。

Night　set　in　jet…black；　dismal；　lonely；　without　a　star。
Faintly　the　wind　moaned。　　Weirdly　the　brook　babbled　through
its　strange　chords　to　end　in　the　sound　that　was　hollow。　　It
was　never　the　same　　a　rumble；　as　if　faint；　distant　thunder
　a　deep　gurgle；　as　of　water　drawn　into　a　vortex　　a
rolling；　as　of　a　stone　in　swift　current。　　The　black　cliff　was
invisible；　yet　seemed　to　have　many　weird　faces；　the　giant
pines　loomed　spectral；　the　shadows　were　thick；　moving；
changing。　　Flickering　lights　from　the　camp…fire　circled　the
huge　trunks　and　played　fantastically　over　the　brooding　men。
This　camp…fire　did　not　burn　or　blaze　cheerily；　it　had　no
glow；　no　sputter；　no　white　heart；　no　red；　living　embers。　　One
by　one　the　outlaws；　as　if　with　common　consent；　tried　their
hands　at　making　the　fire　burn　aright。　　What　little　wood　had
been　collected　was　old；　it　would　burn　up　with　false　flare；
only　to　die　quickly。

After　a　while　not　one　of　the　outlaws　spoke　or　stirred。　　Not
one　smoked。　　Their　gloomy　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　fire。　　Each
one　was　concerned　with　his　own　thoughts；　his　own　lonely　soul
unconsciously　full　of　a　doubt　of　the　future。　　That　brooding
hour　severed　him　from　comrade。

At　night　nothing　seemed　the　same　as　it　was　by　day。　　With
success　and　plenty；　with　full…blooded　action　past　and　more
in　store；　these　outlaws　were　as　different　from　their　present
state　as　this　black　night　was　different　from　the　bright　day
they　waited　for。　　Wilson；　though　he　played　a　deep　game　of
deceit　for　the　sake　of　the　helpless　girl　　and　thus　did　not
have　haunting　and　superstitious　fears　on　her　account　　was
probably　more　conscious　of　impending　catastrophe　than　any　of
them。

The　evil　they　had　done　spoke　in　the　voice　of　nature；　out　of
the　darkness；　and　was　interpreted　by　each　according　to　his
hopes　and　fears。　　Fear　was　their　predominating　sense。　　For
years　they　had　lived　with　some　species　of　fear　　of　honest
men　or　vengeance；　of　pursuit；　of　starvation；　of　lack　of
drink　or　gold；　of　blood　and　death；　of　stronger　men；　of　luck；
of　chance；　of　fate；　of　mysterious　nameless　force。　　Wilson　was
the　type　of　fearless　spirit；　but　he　endured　the　most　gnawing
and　implacable　fear　of　all　　that　of　himself　　that　he
must　inevitably　fall　to　deeds　beneath　his　manhood。

So　they　hunched　around　the　camp…fire；　brooding　because　hope
was　at　lowest　ebb；　listening　because　the　weird；　black
silence；　with　its　moan　of　wind　and　hollow　laugh　of　brook；
compelled　them　to　hear；　waiting　for　sleep；　for　the　hours　to
pass；　for　whatever　was　to　come。

And　it　was　Anson　who　caught　the　first　intimation　of　an
impending　doom。



CHAPTER　XXIII

〃Listen！〃

Anson　whispered　tensely。　　His　poise　was　motionless；　his　eyes
roved　everywhere。　　He　held　up　a　shaking；　bludgy　finger；　to
command　silence。

A　third　and　stranger　sound　accompanied　the　low；　weird　moan
of　the　wind；　and　the　hollow　mockery　of　the　brook　　and　it
seemed　a　barely　perceptible；　exquisitely　delicate　wail　or
whine。　　It　filled　in　the　lulls　between　the　other　sounds。

〃If　thet's　some　varmint　he's　close；〃　whispered　Anson。

〃But　shore；　it's　far　off；〃　said　Wilson。

Shady　Jones　and　Moze　divided　their　opinions　in　the　same　way。

All　breathed　freer　when　the　wail　ceased；　relaxing　to　their
former　lounging　positions　around　the　fire。　　An　impenetrable
wall　of　blackness　circled　the　pale　space　lighted　by　the
camp…fire；　and　this　circle　contained　the　dark；　somber　group
of　men　in　the　center；　the　dying　camp…fire；　and　a　few
spectral　trunks　of　pines　and　the　tethered　horses　on　the
outer　edge。　　The　horses　scarcely　moved　from　their　tracks；　and
their　erect；　alert　heads　attested　to　their　sensitiveness　to
the　peculiarities　of　the　night。

Then；　at　an　unusually　quiet　lull　the　strange　sound　gradually
arose　to　a　wailing　whine。

〃It's　thet　crazy　wench　cryin'；〃　declared　the　outlaw　leader。

Apparently　his　allies　accepted　that　statement　with　as　much
relief　as　they　had　expressed　for　the　termination　of　the
sound。

〃Shore；　thet　must　be　it；〃　agreed　Jim　Wilson；　gravely。

〃We'll　git　a　lot　of　sleep　with　thet　gurl　whinin'　all　night；〃
growled　Shady　Jones。

〃She　gives　me　the　creeps；〃　said　Moze。

Wilson　got　up　to　resume　his　pondering　walk；　head　bent；　hands
behind　his　back；　a　grim；　realistic　figure　of　perturbation。

〃Jim　　set　down。　　You　make　me　nervous；〃　said　Anson；
irritably。

Wilson　actually　laughed；　but　low；　as　if　to　keep　his　strange
mirth　well　confined。

〃Snake；　I'll　bet　you　my　hoss　an'　my　gun　ag'in'　a　biscuit
thet　in　aboot　six　seconds　more　or　less　I'll　be　stampedin
like　them　hosses。〃

Anson's　lean　jaw　dropped。　　The　other　two　outlaws　stared　with
round　eyes。　　Wilson　was　not　drunk；　they　evidently　knew；　but
what　he　really　was　appeared　a　mystery。

〃Jim　Wilson；　are　you　showin'　yellow？〃　queried　Anson；
hoarsely。

〃Mebbe。　　The　Lord　only　knows。　　But　listen　heah。　。　。　。　　Snake；
you've　seen　an'　heard　people　croak？〃

〃You　mean　cash　in　　die？〃

〃Shore。〃

〃Wal；　yes　　a　couple　or　so；〃　replied　Anson；　grimly。

〃But　you　never　seen　no　one　die　of　shock　　of　an　orful
scare？〃

〃No；　I　reckon　I　never　did。〃

〃I　have。　　An'　thet's　what's　ailin'　Jim　Wilson；〃　and　he
resumed　his　dogged　steps。

Anson　and　his　two　comrades　exchanged　bewildered　glances　with
one　another。

〃A…huh！　　Say；　what's　thet　got　to　do　with　us　hyar？　　asked
Anson；　presently。

〃Thet　gurl　is　dyin'！〃　retorted　Wilson；　in　a　voice　cracking
like　a　whip。

The　three　outlaws　stiffened　in　their　seats；　incredulous；　yet
irresistibly　swayed　by　emotions　that　stirred　to　this　dark；
lonely；　ill…omened　hour。

Wilson　trudged　to　the　edge　of　the　lighted　circle；　muttering
to　himself；　and　came　back　again；　then　he　trudged　farther；
this　time　almost　out　of　sight；　but　only　to　return；　the　third
time　he　vanished　in　the　impenetrable　wall　of　light。　　The
three　men　scarcely　moved　a　muscle　as　they　watched　the　place
where　he　had　disappeared。　　In　a　few　moments　he　came　stumbling
back。

〃Shore　she's　almost　gone；〃　he　said；　dismally。　　〃It　took　my
nerve；　but　I　felt　of　her　face。　。　。　。　　Thet　orful　wail　is　her
breath　chokin'　in　her　throat。　。　。　。　　Like　a　death…rattle；
only　long　instead　of　short。〃

〃Wal；　if　she's　gotta　croak　it's　good　she　gits　it　over
quick；〃　replied　Anson。　　〃I　'ain't　hed　sleep　fer　three　nights。
。　。　。　　An'　what　I　need　is　whisky。〃

〃Snake；　thet's　gospel　you're　spoutin'；〃　remarked　Shady
Jones；　morosely。

The　direction　of　sound　in　the　glen　was　difficult　to　be
assured　of；　but　any　man　not　stirred　to　a　high　pitch　of
excitement　could　have　told　that　the　difference　in　volume　of
this　strange　wail　must　have　been　caused　by　different
distances　and　positions。　　Also；　when　it　was　loudest；　it　was
most　like　a　whine。　　But　these　outlaws　heard　with　their
consciences。

At　last　it　ceased　abruptly。

Wilson　again　left　the　group　to　be　swallowed　up　by　the　night。
His　absence　was　longer　than　usual；　but　he　returned
hurriedly。

〃She's　daid！〃　he　exclaimed；　solemnly。　　〃Thet　innocent　kid　
who　never　harmed　no　one　　an'　who'd　make　any　man　better　fer
seein'　her　　she's　daid！　　。　。　。　　Anson；　you've　shore　a　heap
to　answer　fer　when　your　time　comes。〃

〃What's　eatin'　you？〃　demanded　the　leader；　angrily。　　〃Her
blood　ain't　on　my　hands。〃

〃It　shore　is；〃　shouted　Wilson；　shaking　his　hand　at　Anson。
〃An'　you'll　hev　to　take　your　medicine。　　I　felt　thet　comin'
all　along。　　An'　I　feel　some　more。〃

〃Aw！　　She's　jest　gone　to　sleep；〃　declared　Anson；　shaking　his
long　frame　as　he　rose。　　〃Gimme　a　light。〃

〃Boss；　you're　plumb　off　to　go　near　a　dead　gurl　thet's　jest
died　crazy；〃　protested　Shady　Jones。

〃Off！　　Haw！　　Haw！　　Who　ain't　off　in　this　outfit；　I'd　like　to
know？〃　Anson　possessed　himself　of　a　stick　blazing　at　one
and；　and　with　this　he　stalked　off　toward　the　lean…to　where
the　girl　was　supposed　to　be　dead。　　His　gaunt　figure；　lighted
by　the　torch；　certai