the man of the forest-第53章

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the　girl　was　supposed　to　be　dead。　　His　gaunt　figure；　lighted
by　the　torch；　certainly　fitted　the　weird；　black
surroundings。　　And　it　was　seen　that　once　near　the　girl's
shelter　he　proceeded　more　slowly；　until　he　halted。　　He　bent
to　peer　inside。

〃SHE'S　GONE！〃　he　yelled；　in　harsh；　shaken　accents。

Than　the　torch　burned　out；　leaving　only　a　red　glow。　　He
whirled　it　about；　but　the　blaze　did　not　rekindle。　　His
comrades；　peering　intently；　lost　sight　of　his　tall　form　and
the　end　of　the　red…ended　stick。　　Darkness　like　pitch
swallowed　him。　　For　a　moment　no　sound　intervened。　　Again　the
moan　of　wind；　the　strange　little　mocking　hollow　roar；
dominated　the　place。　　Then　there　came　a　rush　of　something；
perhaps　of　air；　like　the　soft　swishing　of　spruce　branches
swinging　aside。　　Dull；　thudding　footsteps　followed　it。　　Anson
came　running　back　to　the　fire。　　His　aspect　was　wild；　his　face
pale；　his　eyes　were　fierce　and　starting　from　their　sockets。
He　had　drawn　his　gun。

〃Did　　ye　　see　er　hear　　anythin'？〃　he　panted；　peering
back；　then　all　around；　and　at　last　at　his　man。

〃No。　　An'　I　shore　was　lookin'　an'　listenin'；〃　replied　Wilson。

〃Boss；　there　wasn't　nothin'；〃　declared　Moze。

〃I　ain't　so　sartin；〃　said　Shady　Jones；　with　doubtful；
staring　eyes。　　〃I　believe　I　heerd　a　rustlin'。〃

〃She　wasn't　there！〃　ejaculated　Anson；　in　wondering　awe。
〃She's　gone！　　。　。　。　　My　torch　went　out。　　I　couldn't　see。　　An'
jest　then　I　felt　somethin'　was　passin'。　　Fast！　　I　jerked
'round。　　All　was　black；　an'　yet　if　I　didn't　see　a　big　gray
streak　I'm　crazier　'n　thet　gurl。　　But　I　couldn't　swear　to
anythin'　but　a　rushin'　of　wind。　　I　felt　thet。〃

〃Gone！〃　exclaimed　Wilson；　in　great　alarm。　　〃Fellars；　if
thet's　so；　then　mebbe　she　wasn't　daid　an'　she　wandered　off。
。　。　。　　But　she　was　daid！　　Her　heart　hed　quit　beatin'。　　I'll
swear　to　thet。〃

〃I　move　to　break　camp；〃　said　Shady　Jones；　gruffly；　and　he
stood　up。　　Moze　seconded　that　move　by　an　expressive　flash　of
his　black　visage。

〃Jim；　if　she's　dead　　an'　gone　　what　'n　hell's　come　off？〃
huskily　asked　Anson。　　〃It；　only　seems　thet　way。　　We're　all
worked　up。　。　。　。　　Let's　talk　sense。〃

〃Anson；　shore　there's　a　heap　you　an'　me　don't　know；〃　replied
Wilson。　　〃The　world　come　to　an　end　once。　　Wal；　it　can　come　to
another　end。　。　。　。　　I　tell　you　I　ain't　surprised　〃

〃THAR！〃　cried　Anson；　whirling；　with　his　gun　leaping　out。

Something　huge；　shadowy；　gray　against　the　black　rushed
behind　the　men　and　trees；　and　following　it　came　a
perceptible　acceleration　of　the　air。

〃Shore；　Snake；　there　wasn't　nothin'；〃　said　Wilson；
presently。〃

〃I　heerd；〃　whispered　Shady　Jones。

〃It　was　only　a　breeze　blowin'　thet　smoke；〃　rejoined　Moze。

〃I'd　bet　my　soul　somethin'　went　back　of　me；〃　declared　Anson；
glaring　into　the　void。

〃Listen　an'　let's　make　shore；〃　suggested　Wilson。

The　guilty；　agitated　faces　of　the　outlaws　showed　plain
enough　in　the　flickering　light　for　each　to　see　a　convicting
dread　in　his　fellow。　　Like　statues　they　stood；　watching　and
listening。

Few　sounds　stirred　in　the　strange　silence。　　Now　and　then　the
horses　heaved　heavily；　but　stood　still；　a　dismal；　dreary
note　of　the　wind　in　the　pines　vied　with　a　hollow　laugh　of
the　brook。　　And　these　low　sounds　only　fastened　attention　upon
the　quality　of　the　silence。　　A　breathing；　lonely　spirit　of
solitude　permeated　the　black　dell。　　Like　a　pit　of　unplumbed
depths　the　dark　night　yawned。　　An　evil　conscience；　listening
there；　could　have　heard　the　most　peaceful；　beautiful；　and
mournful　sounds　of　nature　only　as　strains　of　a　calling　hell。

Suddenly　the　silent；　oppressive；　surcharged　air　split　to　a
short；　piercing　scream。

Anson's　big　horse　stood　up　straight；　pawing　the　air；　and
came　down　with　a　crash。　　The　other　horses　shook　with　terror。

〃Wasn't　　thet　　a　cougar？〃　whispered　Anson；　thickly。

〃Thet　was　a　woman's　scream；〃　replied　Wilson；　and　he　appeared
to　be　shaking　like　a　leaf　in　the　wind。

〃Then　　I　figgered　right　　the　kid's　alive　　wonderin'
around　　an'　she　let　out　thet　orful　scream；〃　said　Anson。

〃Wonderin'　'round；　yes　　but　she's　daid！〃

〃My　Gawd！　　it　ain't　possible！〃

〃Wal；　if　she　ain't　wonderin'　round　daid　she's　almost　daid；〃
replied　Wilson。　　And　he　began　to　whisper　to　himself。

〃If　I'd　only　knowed　what　thet　deal　meant　I'd　hev　plugged
Beasley　instead　of　listenin'。　。　。　。　　An'　I　ought　to　hev
knocked　thet　kid　on　the　head　an'　made　sartin　she'd　croaked。
If　she　goes　screamin'　'round　thet　way　〃

His　voice　failed　as　there　rose　a　thin；　splitting；
high…pointed　shriek；　somewhat　resembling　the　first　scream；
only　less　wild。　　It　came　apparently　from　the　cliff。

From　another　point　in　the　pitch…black　glen　rose　the　wailing；
terrible　cry　of　a　woman　in　agony。　　Wild；　haunting；　mournful
wail！

Anson's　horse；　loosing　the　halter；　plunged　back；　almost
falling　over　a　slight　depression　in　the　rocky　ground。　　The
outlaw　caught　him　and　dragged　him　nearer　the　fire。　　The　other
horses　stood　shaking　and　straining。　　Moze　ran　between　them
and　held　them。　　Shady　Jones　threw　green　brush　on　the　fire。
With　sputter　and　crackle　a　blaze　started；　showing　Wilson
standing　tragically；　his　arms　out；　facing　the　black　shadows。

The　strange；　live　shriek　was　not　repeated。　　But　the　cry；　like
that　of　a　woman　in　her　death…throes；　pierced　the　silence
again。　　It　left　a　quivering　ring　that　softly　died　away。　　Then
the　stillness　clamped　down　once　more　and　the　darkness　seemed
to　thicken。　　The　men　waited；　and　when　they　had　begun　to　relax
the　cry　burst　out　appallingly　close；　right　behind　the　trees。
It　was　human　　the　personification　of　pain　and　terror　
the　tremendous　struggle　of　precious　life　against　horrible
death。　　So　pure；　so　exquisite；　so　wonderful　was　the　cry　that
the　listeners　writhed　as　if　they　saw　an　innocent；　tender；
beautiful　girl　torn　frightfully　before　their　eyes。　　It　was
full　of　suspense；　it　thrilled　for　death；　its　marvelous
potency　was　the　wild　note　　that　beautiful　and　ghastly　note
of　self…preservation。

In　sheer　desperation　the　outlaw　leader　fired　his　gun　at　the
black　wall　whence　the　cry　came。　　Then　he　had　to　fight　his
horse　to　keep　him　from　plunging　away。　　Following　the　shot　was
an　interval　of　silence；　the　horses　became　tractable；　the　men
gathered　closer　to　the　fire；　with　the　halters　still　held
firmly。

〃If　it　was　a　cougar　　thet　'd　scare　him　off；〃　said　Anson。

〃Shore；　but　it　ain't　a　cougar；〃　replied　Wilson。　　〃Wait　an'
see！〃

They　all　waited；　listening　with　ears　turned　to　different
points；　eyes　roving　everywhere；　afraid　of　their　very
shadows。　　Once　more　the　moan　of　wind；　the　mockery　of　brook；
deep　gurgle；　laugh　and　babble；　dominated　the　silence　of　the
glen。

〃Boss；　let's　shake　this　spooky　hole；〃　whispered　Moze。

The　suggestion　attracted　Anson；　and　he　pondered　it　while
slowly　shaking　his　head。

〃We've　only　three　hosses。　　An'　mine　'll　take　ridin'　　after
them　squalls；〃　replied　the　leader。　　〃We've　got　packs；　too。
An'　hell　'ain't　nothin'　on　this　place　fer　bein'　dark。〃

〃No　matter。　　Let's　go。　　I'll　walk　an'　lead　the　way；〃　said
Moze；　eagerly。　　〃I　got　sharp　eyes。　　You　fellars　can　ride　an'
carry　a　pack。　　We'll　git　out　of　here　an'　come　back　in
daylight　fer　the　rest　of　the　outfit。〃

〃Anson；　I'm　keen　fer　thet　myself；〃　declared　Shady　Jones。

〃Jim；　what　d'ye　say　to　thet？〃　queried　Anson。　　〃Rustlin'　out
of　this　black　hole？〃

〃Shore　it's　a　grand　idee；〃　agreed　Wilson。

〃Thet　was　a　cougar；〃　avowed　Anson；　gathering　courage　as　the
silence　remained　unbroken。　　〃But　jest　the　same　it　was　as
tough　on　me　as　if　it　hed　been　a　woman　screamin'　over　a　blade
twistin'　in　her　gizzards。〃

〃Snake；　shore　you　seen　a　woman　heah　lately？〃　deliberately
asked　Wilson。

〃Reckon　I　did。　　Thet　kid；〃　replied　Anson；　dubiously。

〃Wal；　you　seen　her　go　crazy；　didn't　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃'An'　she　wasn't　heah　when　you　went　huntin'　fer　her？〃

〃Correct。〃

〃Wal；　if　thet's　so；　what　do　you　want　to　blab　about　cougars
for？〃

Wilson's　argument　seemed　incontestable。　　Shady　and　Moze
nodded　gloomily　and　shifted　restlessly　from　foot　to　foot。
Anson　dropped　his　head。

〃No　matter　　if　we　only　don't　hear　〃　he　began；　suddenly
to　grow　mute。

Right　upon　them；　from　some　place；　just　out　the　circle　of
light；　rose　a　scream；　by　reason　of　its　proximity　the　most
piercing　and　agonizing　yet　heard；　simply　petrifying　the
group　until　the　peal　passed。　　Anson's　huge　horse　reared；　and
with　a　snort　of　terror　lunged　in　tremendous　leap；　straight
out。　　He　struck　Anson　with　thudding　impact；　knocking　him　over
the　rocks　into　the　depression　back　of　the　camp…fire；　and
plunging　after　him。　　Wilson　had　made　a　flying　leap　just　in
time　to　avoid　being　struck；　and　he　turned　to　see　Anson　go
down。　　There　came　a　crash；　a　groan；　and　then　the　strike　and
pound　of　hoofs　as　the　horse　struggled　up。　　Apparently　he　had
rolled　over　his　master。

〃Help；　fellars！〃　yelled　Wilson；　quick　to　leap　down　over　the
little　bank；　and　in　the　dim　light　to　grasp　the　halter。　　The
three　men　dragged　the　horse　out　and　securely　tied　him　close
to　a　tree。　　That　done；　they　peered　down　into　the　depression。
Anson's　form　could　just　barely　be　distinguished　in　the
gloom。　　He　lay　stretched　out。　　Another　groan　escaped　him。

〃Shore　I'm　scared　he's　hurt；〃　said　Wilson。

〃Hoss　rolled　right　on　top　of　him。　　An'　thet　hoss's　heavy；〃
declared　Moze。

They　got　down　and　knelt　beside　their　leader。　　In　the　darkness
his　face　looked　dull　gray。　　His　breathing　was　not　right。

〃Snake；　old　man；　you　ain't　　hurt？〃　asked　Wilson；　with　a
tremor　in　his　voice。　　Receiving　no　reply；　he　said　to　his
comrades；　〃Lay　hold　an'　we'll　heft　him　up　where　we　can　see。〃

The　three　men　carefully　lifted　Anson　up　on　the　bank　and　laid
him　near　the　fire　in　the　light。　　Anson　was　conscious。　　His
face　was　ghastly。　　Blood　showed　on　his　lips。

Wilson　knelt　beside　him。　　The　other　outlaws　stood　up；　and
with　one　dark　gaze　at　one　another　damned　Anson's　chance　of
life。　　And　on　the　instant　rose　that　terrible　distressing
scream　of　acute　agony　　like　that　of　a　woman　being
dismembered。　　Shady　Jones　whispered　something　to　Moze。　　Then
they　stood　up；　gazing　down　at　their　fallen　leader。

〃Tell　me　where　you're　hurt？〃　asked　Wilson。

〃He　　smashed　　my　chest；〃　said　Anson；　in　a　broken；
strangled　whisper。

Wilson's　deft　hands　opened　the　outlaw's　shirt　and　felt　of
his　chest。

…335…


〃No。　　Shore　your　breast…bone　ain't　smashed；〃　replied　Wilson；
hopefully。　　And　he　began　to　run　his　hand　around　one　side　of
Anson's　body　and　then　the　other。　　Abruptly　he　stopped；
averted　his　gaze；　then　slowly　ran　the　hand　all　along　that
side。　　Anson's　ribs　had　been　broken　and　crushed　in　by　the
weight　of　the　horse。　　He　was　bleeding　at　the　mouth；　and　his
slow；　painful　expulsions　of　breath　brought　a　bloody　froth；
which　showed　that　the　broken　bones　had　penetrated　the　lungs。
An　injury　sooner　or　later　fatal！

〃Pard；　you　busted　a　rib　or　two；〃　said　Wilson。

〃Aw；　Jim　　it　must　be　　wuss　'n　thet！〃　he　whispered。　　〃I'm
　in　orful　　pain。　　An'　I　can't　　git　any　　breath。〃

〃Mebbe　you'll　be　better；〃　said　Wilson；　with　a　cheerfulness
his　face　belied。

Moze　bent　close　over　Anson；　took　a　short　scrutiny　of　that
ghastly　face；　at　the　blood…stained　lips；　and　the　lean　hands
plucking　at　nothing。　　Then　he　jerked　erect。

〃Shady；　he's　goin'　to　cash。　　Let's　clear　out　of　this。〃

〃I'm　yours　pertick