the man of the forest-第54章

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plucking　at　nothing。　　Then　he　jerked　erect。

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

〃I'm　yours　pertickler　previous；〃　replied　Jones。

Both　turned　away。　　They　untied　the　two　horses　and　led　them　up
to　where　the　saddles　lay。　　Swiftly　the　blankets　went　on；
swiftly　the　saddles　swung　up；　swiftly　the　cinches　snapped。
Anson　lay　gazing　up　at　Wilson；　comprehending　this　move。　　And
Wilson　stood　strangely　grim　and　silent；　somehow　detached
coldly　from　that　self　of　the　past　few　hours。

〃Shady；　you　grab　some　bread　an'　I'll　pack　a　bunk　of　meat；〃
said　Moze。　　Both　men　came　near　the　fire；　into　the　light；
within　ten　feet　of　where　the　leader　lay。

〃Fellars　　you　ain't　　slopin'？〃　he　whispered；　in　husky
amaze。

〃Boss；　we　air　thet　same。　　We　can't　do　you　no　good　an'　this
hole　ain't　healthy；〃　replied　Moze。

Shady　Jones　swung　himself　astride　his　horse；　all　about　him
sharp；　eager；　strung。

〃Moze；　I'll　tote　the　grub　an'　you　lead　out　of　hyar；　till　we
git　past　the　wust　timber；〃　he　said。

〃Aw；　Moze　you　wouldn't　leave　　Jim　hyar　　alone；〃
implored　Anson。

〃Jim　can　stay　till　he　rots；〃　retorted　Moze。　　〃I've　hed　enough
of　this　hole。〃

〃But；　Moze　　it　ain't　square　〃　panted　Anson。　　〃Jim
wouldn't　　leave　me。　　I'd　stick　　by　you。　。　。　。　　I'll　make
it　　all　up　to　you。〃

〃Snake；　you're　goin'　to　cash；〃　sardonically　returned　Moze。

A　current　leaped　all　through　Anson's　stretched　frame。　　His
ghastly　face　blazed。　　That　was　the　great　and　the　terrible
moment　which　for　long　had　been　in　abeyance。　　Wilson　had　known
grimly　that　it　would　come；　by　one　means　or　another。　　Anson
had　doggedly　and　faithfully　struggled　against　the　tide　of
fatal　issues。　　Moze　and　Shady　Jones；　deep　locked　in　their
self…centered　motives；　had　not　realized　the　inevitable　trend
of　their　dark　lives。

Anson；　prostrate　as　he　was；　swiftly　drew　his　gun　and　shot
Moze。　　Without　sound　or　movement　of　hand　Moze　fell。　　Then　the
plunge　of　Shady's　horse　caused　Anson's　second　shot　to　miss。
A　quick　third　shot　brought　no　apparent　result　but　Shady's
cursing　resort　to　his　own　weapon。　　He　tried　to　aim　from　his
plunging　horse。　　His　bullets　spattered　dust　and　gravel　over
Anson。　　Then　Wilson's　long　arm　stretched　and　his　heavy　gun
banged。　　Shady　collapsed　in　the　saddle；　and　the　frightened
horse；　throwing　him；　plunged　out　of　the　circle　of　light。
Thudding　hoofs；　crashings　of　brush；　quickly　ceased。

〃Jim　　did　you　　git　him？〃　whispered　Anson。

〃Shore　did；　Snake；〃　was　the　slow；　halting　response。　　Jim
Wilson　must　have　sustained　a　sick　shudder　as　he　replied。
Sheathing　his　gun；　he　folded　a　blanket　and　put　it　under
Anson's　head。

〃Jim　　my　feet　　air　orful　cold；〃　whispered　Anson。

〃Wal；　it's　gittin'　chilly；〃　replied　Wilson；　and；　taking　a
second　blanket；　he　laid　that　over　Anson's　limbs。　　〃Snake；　I'm
feared　Shady　hit　you　once。〃

〃A…huh！　　But　not　so　I'd　care　　much　　if　I　hed　　no　wuss
hurt。〃

〃You　lay　still　now。　　Reckon　Shady's　hoss　stopped　out　heah　a
ways。　　An'　I'll　see。〃

〃Jim　　I　'ain't　heerd　　thet　scream　fer　　a　little。〃

〃Shore　it's　gone。　。　。　。　　Reckon　now　thet　was　a　cougar。〃

〃I　knowed　it！〃

Wilson　stalked　away　into　the　darkness。　　That　inky　wall　did
not　seem　so　impenetrable　and　black　after　he　had　gotten　out
of　the　circle　of　light。　　He　proceeded　carefully　and　did　not
make　any　missteps。　　He　groped　from　tree　to　tree　toward　the
cliff　and　presently　brought　up　against　a　huge　flat　rock　as
high　as　his　head。　　Here　the　darkness　was　blackest；　yet　he　was
able　to　see　a　light　form　on　the　rock。

〃Miss；　are　you　there　　all　right？〃　he　called；　softly。

〃Yes；　but　I'm　scared　to　death；〃　she　whispered　in　reply。

〃Shore　it　wound　up　sudden。　　Come　now。　　I　reckon　your　trouble's
over。〃

He　helped　her　off　the　rock；　and；　finding　her　unsteady　on　her
feet；　he　supported　her　with　one　arm　and　held　the　other　out
in　front　of　him　to　feel　for　objects。　　Foot　by　foot　they
worked　out　from　under　the　dense　shadow　of　the　cliff；
following　the　course　of　the　little　brook。　　It　babbled　and
gurgled；　and　almost　drowned　the　low　whistle　Wilson　sent　out。
The　girl　dragged　heavily　upon　him　now；　evidently　weakening。
At　length　he　reached　the　little　open　patch　at　the　head　of
the　ravine。　　Halting　here；　he　whistled。　　An　answer　came　from
somewhere　behind　him　and　to　the　right。　　Wilson　waited；　with
the　girl　hanging　on　his　arm。

〃Dale's　heah；〃　he　said。　　〃An'　don't　you　keel　over　now　
after　all　the　nerve　you　hed。〃

A　swishing　of　brush；　a　step；　a　soft；　padded　footfall；　a
looming；　dark　figure；　and　a　long；　low　gray　shape；　stealthily
moving　　it　was　the　last　of　these　that　made　Wilson　jump。

〃Wilson！〃　came　Dale's　subdued　voice。

〃Heah。　　I've　got　her；　Dale。　　Safe　an　sound；〃　replied　Wilson；
stepping　toward　the　tall　form。　　And　he　put　the　drooping　girl
into　Dale's　arms。

〃Bo！　　Bo！　　You're　all　right？〃　Dale's　deep　voice　was　tremulous。

She　roused　up　to　seize　him　and　to　utter　little　cries　of　joy

〃Oh；　Dale！　　。　。　。　　Oh；　thank　Heaven！　　I'm　ready　to　drop　now。　。
。　。　　Hasn't　it　been　a　night　　an　adventure？　　。　。　。　　I'm　well
　safe　　sound。　。　。　。　　Dale；　we　owe　it　to　this　Jim　Wilson。〃

〃Bo；　I　　we'll　all　thank　him　　all　our　lives；〃　replied
Dale。　　〃Wilson；　you're　a　man！　　。　。　。　　If　you'll　shake　that　gang
〃

〃Dale；　shore　there　ain't　much　of　a　gang　left；　onless　you　let
Burt　git　away；〃　replied　Wilson。

〃I　didn't　kill　him　　or　hurt　him。　　But　I　scared　him　so　I'll
bet　he's　runnin'　yet。　。　。　。　　Wilson；　did　all　the　shootin'
mean　a　fight？〃

〃Tolerable。〃

〃Oh；　Dale；　it　was　terrible！　　I　saw　it　all。　　I　〃

〃Wal；　Miss；　you　can　tell　him　after　I　go。　。　。　。　　I'm　wishin'
you　good　luck。〃

His　voice　was　a　cool；　easy　drawl；　slightly　tremulous。

The　girl's　face　flashed　white　in　the　gloom。　　She　pressed
against　the　outlaw　　wrung　his　hands。

〃Heaven　help　you；　Jim　Wilson！　　You　ARE　from　Texas！　　。　。　。　　I'll
remember　you　　pray　for　you　all　my　life！〃

Wilson　moved　away；　out　toward　the　pale　glow　of　light　under
the　black　pines。



CHAPTER　XXIV

As　Helen　Rayner　watched　Dale　ride　away　on　a　quest　perilous
to　him；　and　which　meant　almost　life　or　death　for　her；　it　was
surpassing　strange　that　she　could　think　of　nothing　except
the　thrilling；　tumultuous　moment　when　she　had　put　her　arms
round　his　neck。

It　did　not　matter　that　Dale　　splendid　fellow　that　he　was
　had　made　the　ensuing　moment　free　of　shame　by　taking　her
action　as　he　had　taken　it　　the　fact　that　she　had　actually
done　it　was　enough。　　How　utterly　impossible　for　her　to
anticipate　her　impulses　or　to　understand　them；　once　they
were　acted　upon！　　Confounding　realization　then　was　that　when
Dale　returned　with　her　sister；　Helen　knew　she　would　do　the
same　thing　over　again！〃

〃If　I　do　　I　won't　be　two…faced　about　it；〃　she
soliloquized；　and　a　hot　blush　flamed　her　cheeks。

She　watched　Dale　until　he　rode　out　of　sight。

When　he　had　gone；　worry　and　dread　replaced　this　other
confusing　emotion。　　She　turned　to　the　business　of　meeting
events。　　Before　supper　she　packed　her　valuables　and　books；
papers；　and　clothes；　together　with　Bo's；　and　had　them　in
readiness　so　if　she　was　forced　to　vacate　the　premises　she
would　have　her　personal　possessions。

The　Mormon　boys　and　several　other　of　her　trusted　men　slept
in　their　tarpaulin　beds　on　the　porch　of　the　ranch…house　that
night；　so　that　Helen　at　least　would　not　be　surprised。　　But
the　day　came；　with　its　manifold　duties　undisturbed　by　any
event。　　And　it　passed　slowly　with　the　leaden　feet　of
listening；　watching　vigilance。

Carmichael　did　not　come　back；　nor　was　there　news　of　him　to
be　had。　　The　last　known　of　him　had　been　late　the　afternoon　of
the　preceding　day；　when　a　sheep…herder　had　seen　him　far　out
on　the　north　range；　headed　for　the　hills。　　The　Beemans
reported　that　Roy's　condition　had　improved；　and　also　that
there　was　a　subdued　excitement　of　suspense　down　in　the
village。

This　second　lonely　night　was　almost　unendurable　for　Helen。
When　she　slept　it　was　to　dream　horrible　dreams；　when　she　lay
awake　it　was　to　have　her　heart　leap　to　her　throat　at　a
rustle　of　leaves　near　the　window；　and　to　be　in　torture　of
imagination　as　to　poor　Bo's　plight。　　A　thousand　times　Helen
said　to　herself　that　Beasley　could　have　had　the　ranch　and
welcome；　if　only　Bo　had　been　spared。　　Helen　absolutely
connected　her　enemy　with　her　sister's　disappearance。　　Riggs
might　have　been　a　means　to　it。

Daylight　was　not　attended　by　so　many　fears；　there　were
things　to　do　that　demanded　attention。　　And　thus　it　was　that
the　next　morning；　shortly　before　noon；　she　was　recalled　to
her　perplexities　by　a　shouting　out　at　the　corrals　and　a
galloping　of　horses　somewhere　near。　　From　the　window　she　saw
a　big　smoke。

〃Fire！　　That　must　be　one　of　the　barns　　the　old　one；
farthest　out；〃　she　said；　gazing　out　of　the　window。　　〃Some
careless　Mexican　with　his　everlasting　cigarette！〃

Helen　resisted　an　impulse　to　go　out　and　see　what　had
happened。　　She　had　decided　to　stay　in　the　house。　　But　when
footsteps　sounded　on　the　porch　and　a　rap　on　the　door；　she
unhesitatingly　opened　it。　　Four　Mexicans　stood　close。　　One　of
them；　quick　as　thought；　flashed　a　hand　in　to　grasp　her；　and
in　a　single　motion　pulled　her　across　the　threshold。

〃No　hurt；　Senuora；〃　he　said；　and　pointed　　making　motions
she　must　go。

Helen　did　not　need　to　be　told　what　this　visit　meant。　　Many　as
her　conjectures　had　been；　however；　she　had　not　thought　of
Beasley　subjecting　her　to　this　outrage。　　And　her　blood
boiled。

〃How　dare　you！〃　she　said；　trembling　in　her　effort　to　control
her　temper。　　But　class；　authority；　voice　availed　nothing　with
these　swarthy　Mexicans。　　They　grinned。　　Another　laid　hold　of
Helen　with　dirty；　brown　hand。　　She　shrank　from　the　contact。

〃Let　go！〃　she　burst　out；　furiously。　　And　instinctively　she
began　to　struggle　to　free　herself。　　Then　they　all　took　hold
of　her。　　Helen's　dignity　might　never　have　been！　　A　burning；
choking　rush　of　blood　was　her　first　acquaintance　with　the
terrible　passion　of　anger　that　was　her　inheritance　from　the
Auchinclosses。　　She　who　had　resolved　never　to　lay　herself
open　to　indignity　now　fought　like　a　tigress。　　The　Mexicans；
jabbering　in　their　excitement；　had　all　they　could　do；　until
they　lifted　her　bodily　from　the　porch。　　They　handled　her　as
if　she　had　been　a　half…empty　sack　of　corn。　　One　holding　each
hand　and　foot　they　packed　her；　with　dress　disarranged　and
half　torn　off；　down　the　path　to　the　lane　and　down　the　lane
to　the　road。　　There　they　stood　upright　and　pushed　her　off　her
property。

Through　half…blind　eyes　Helen　saw　them　guarding　the　gateway；
ready　to　prevent　her　entrance。　　She　staggered　down　the　road
to　the　village。　　It　seemed　she　made　her　way　through　a　red
dimness　　that　there　was　a　congestion　in　her　brain　　that
the　distance　to　Mrs。　　Cass's　cottage　was　insurmountable。　　But
she　got　there；　to　stagger　up　the　path；　to　hear　the　old
woman's　cry。　　Dizzy；　faint；　sick；　with　a　blackness　enveloping
all　she　looked　at；　Helen　felt　herself　led　into　the
sitting…room　and　placed　in　the　big　chair。

Presently　sight　and　clearness　of　mind　returned　to　her。　　She
saw　Roy；　white　as　a　sheet；　questioning　her　with　terrible
eyes。　　The　old　woman　hung　murmuring　over　her；　trying　to
comfort　her　as　well　as　fasten　the　disordered　dress。

〃Four　greasers　　packed　me　down　　the　hill　　threw　me　off
my　ranch　　into　the　road！〃　panted　Helen。

She　seemed　t