the man of the forest-第7章

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nothing　you　could　do　or　say　mattered　to　me。〃

〃Reckon　that　ain't　so；　Nell。　　Any　woman　I　keep　track　of　has
reason　to　think。　　An'　you　know　it。〃

〃Then　you　followed　me　　out　here？〃　demanded　Helen；　and　her
voice；　despite　her　control；　quivered　with　anger

〃I　sure　did；〃　he　replied；　and　there　was　as　much　thought　of
himself　in　the　act　as　there　was　of　her。

〃Why？　　Why？　　It's　useless　　hopeless。〃

〃I　swore　I'd　have　you；　or　nobody　else　would；〃　he　replied；
and　here；　in　the　passion　of　his　voice　there　sounded　egotism
rather　than　hunger　for　a　woman's　love。　　〃But　I　reckon　I'd
have　struck　West　anyhow；　sooner　or　later。〃

〃You're　not　going　to　　all　the　way　　to　Pine？〃　faltered
Helen；　momentarily　weakening。

〃Nell；　I'll　camp　on　your　trail　from　now　on；〃　he　declared。

Then　Bo　sat　bolt…upright；　with　pale　face　and　flashing　eyes。

〃Harve　Riggs；　you　leave　Nell　alone；〃　she　burst　out；　in
ringing；　brave　young　voice。　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　　I'll　bet
　if　you　follow　her　and　nag　her　any　more；　my　uncle　Al　or
some　cowboy　will　run　you　out　of　the　country。〃

〃Hello；　Pepper！〃　replied　Riggs；　coolly。　　〃I　see　your　manners
haven't　improved　an'　you're　still　wild　about　cowboys。〃

〃People　don't　have　good　manners　with　　with　〃

〃Bo；　hush！〃　admonished　Helen。　　It　was　difficult　to　reprove　Bo
just　then；　for　that　young　lady　had　not　the　slightest　fear　of
Riggs。　　Indeed；　she　looked　as　if　she　could　slap　his　face。　　And
Helen　realized　that　however　her　intelligence　had　grasped　the
possibilities　of　leaving　home　for　a　wild　country；　and
whatever　her　determination　to　be　brave；　the　actual　beginning
of　self…reliance　had　left　her　spirit　weak。　　She　would　rise
out　of　that。　　But　just　now　this　flashing…eyed　little　sister
seemed　a　protector。　　Bo　would　readily　adapt　herself　to　the
West；　Helen　thought；　because　she　was　so　young；　primitive；
elemental。

Whereupon　Bo　turned　her　back　to　Riggs　and　looked　out　of　the
window。　　The　man　laughed。　　Then　he　stood　up　and　leaned　over
Helen。

〃Nell；　I'm　goin'　wherever　you　go；〃　he　said；　steadily。　　〃You
can　take　that　friendly　or　not；　just　as　it　pleases　you。　　But
if　you've　got　any　sense　you'll　not　give　these　people　out
here　a　hunch　against　me。　　I　might　hurt　somebody。　。　。　。　　An'
wouldn't　it　be　better　　to　act　friends？　　For　I'm　goin'　to
look　after　you；　whether　you　like　it　or　not。〃

Helen　had　considered　this　man　an　annoyance；　and　later　a
menace；　and　now　she　must　declare　open　enmity　with　him。
However　disgusting　the　idea　that　he　considered　himself　a
factor　in　her　new　life；　it　was　the　truth。　　He　existed；　he　had
control　over　his　movements。　　She　could　not　change　that。　　She
hated　the　need　of　thinking　so　much　about　him；　and　suddenly；
with　a　hot；　bursting　anger；　she　hated　the　man。

〃You'll　not　look　after　me。　　I'll　take　care　of　myself；〃　she
said；　and　she　turned　her　back　upon　him。　　She　heard　him　mutter
under　his　breath　and　slowly　move　away　down　the　car。　　Then　Bo
slipped　a　hand　in　hers。

〃Never　mind；　Nell；〃　she　whispered。　　〃You　know　what　old
Sheriff　Haines　said　about　Harve　Riggs。　　'A　four…flush
would…be　gun…fighter！　　If　he　ever　strikes　a　real　Western　town
he'll　get　run　out　of　it。'　I　just　wish　my　red…faced　cowboy
had　got　on　this　train！〃

Helen　felt　a　rush　of　gladness　that　she　had　yielded　to　Bo's
wild　importunities　to　take　her　West。　　The　spirit　which　had
made　Bo　incorrigible　at　home　probably　would　make　her　react
happily　to　life　out　in　this　free　country。　　Yet　Helen；　with
all　her　warmth　and　gratefulness；　had　to　laugh　at　her　sister。

〃Your　red…faced　cowboy！　　Why；　Bo；　you　were　scared　stiff。　　And
now　you　claim　him！〃

〃I　certainly　could　love　that　fellow；〃　replied　Bo；　dreamily。

〃Child；　you've　been　saying　that　about　fellows　for　a　long
time。　　And　you've　never　looked　twice　at　any　of　them　yet。〃

〃He　was　different。　。　。　。　　Nell；　I'll　bet　he　comes　to　Pine。〃

〃I　hope　he　does。　　I　wish　he　was　on　this　train。　　I　liked　his
looks；　Bo。〃

〃Well；　Nell　dear；　he　looked　at　ME　first　and　last　　so　don't
get　your　hopes　up。　。　。　。　　Oh；　the　train's　starting！　　。　。　。
Good…by；　Albu…ker　　what's　that　awful　name？　　。　。　。　　Nell；
let's　eat　dinner。　　I'm　starved。〃

Then　Helen　forgot　her　troubles　and　the　uncertain　future；　and
what　with　listening　to　Bo's　chatter；　and　partaking　again　of
the　endless　good　things　to　eat　in　the　huge　basket；　and
watching　the　noble　mountains；　she　drew　once　more　into　happy
mood。

The　valley　of　the　Rio　Grande　opened　to　view；　wide　near　at
hand　in　a　great　gray…green　gap　between　the　bare　black
mountains；　narrow　in　the　distance；　where　the　yellow　river
wound　away；　glistening　under　a　hot　sun。　　Bo　squealed　in　glee
at　sight　of　naked　little　Mexican　children　that　darted　into
adobe　huts　as　the　train　clattered　by；　and　she　exclaimed　her
pleasure　in　the　Indians；　and　the　mustangs；　and　particularly
in　a　group　of　cowboys　riding　into　town　on　spirited　horses。
Helen　saw　all　Bo　pointed　out；　but　it　was　to　the　wonderful
rolling　valley　that　her　gaze　clung　longest；　and　to　the　dim
purple　distance　that　seemed　to　hold　something　from　her。　　She
had　never　before　experienced　any　feeling　like　that；　she　had
never　seen　a　tenth　so　far。　　And　the　sight　awoke　something
strange　in　her。　　The　sun　was　burning　hot；　as　she　could　tell
when　she　put　a　hand　outside　the　window；　and　a　strong　wind
blew　sheets　of　dry　dust　at　the　train。　　She　gathered　at　once
what　tremendous　factors　in　the　Southwest　were　the　sun　and
the　dust　and　the　wind。　　And　her　realization　made　her　love
them。　　It　was　there；　the　open；　the　wild；　the　beautiful；　the
lonely　land；　and　she　felt　the　poignant　call　of　blood　in　her
　to　seek；　to　strive；　to　find；　to　live。　　One　look　down　that
yellow　valley；　endless　between　its　dark　iron　ramparts；　had
given　her　understanding　of　her　uncle。　　She　must　be　like　him
in　spirit；　as　it　was　claimed　she　resembled　him　otherwise。

At　length　Bo　grew　tired　of　watching　scenery　that　contained
no　life；　and；　with　her　bright　head　on　the　faded　cloak；　she
went　to　sleep。　　But　Helen　kept　steady；　farseeing　gaze　out
upon　that　land　of　rock　and　plain；　and　during　the　long　hours；
as　she　watched　through　clouds　of　dust　and　veils　of　heat；
some　strong　and　doubtful　and　restless　sentiment　seemed　to
change　and　then　to　fix。　　It　was　her　physical　acceptance　
her　eyes　and　her　senses　taking　the　West　as　she　had　already
taken　it　in　spirit。

A　woman　should　love　her　home　wherever　fate　placed　her；　Helen
believed；　and　not　so　much　from　duty　as　from　delight　and
romance　and　living。　　How　could　life　ever　be　tedious　or
monotonous　out　here　in　this　tremendous　vastness　of　bare
earth　and　open　sky；　where　the　need　to　achieve　made　thinking
and　pondering　superficial？

It　was　with　regret　that　she　saw　the　last　of　the　valley　of
the　Rio　Grande；　and　then　of　its　paralleled　mountain　ranges。
But　the　miles　brought　compensation　in　other　valleys；　other
bold；　black　upheavals　of　rock；　and　then　again　bare；
boundless　yellow　plains；　and　sparsely　cedared　ridges；　and
white　dry　washes；　ghastly　in　the　sunlight；　and　dazzling　beds
of　alkali；　and　then　a　desert　space　where　golden　and　blue
flowers　bloomed。

She　noted；　too；　that　the　whites　and　yellows　of　earth　and
rock　had　begun　to　shade　to　red　　and　this　she　knew　meant　an
approach　to　Arizona。　　Arizona；　the　wild；　the　lonely；　the　red
desert；　the　green　plateau　　Arizona　with　its　thundering
rivers；　its　unknown　spaces；　its　pasture…lands　and
timber…lands；　its　wild　horses；　cowboys；　outlaws；　wolves　and
lions　and　savages！　　As　to　a　boy；　that　name　stirred　and
thrilled　and　sang　to　her　of　nameless；　sweet；　intangible
things；　mysterious　and　all　of　adventure。　　But　she；　being　a
girl　of　twenty；　who　had　accepted　responsibilities；　must
conceal　the　depths　of　her　heart　and　that　which　her　mother
had　complained　was　her　misfortune　in　not　being　born　a　boy。

Time　passed；　while　Helen　watched　and　learned　and　dreamed。
The　train　stopped；　at　long　intervals；　at　wayside　stations
where　there　seemed　nothing　but　adobe　sheds　and　lazy
Mexicans；　and　dust　and　heat。　　Bo　awoke　and　began　to　chatter；
and　to　dig　into　the　basket。　　She　learned　from　the　conductor
that　Magdalena　was　only　two　stations　on。　　And　she　was　full　of
conjectures　as　to　who　would　meet　them；　what　would　happen。　　So
Helen　was　drawn　back　to　sober　realities；　in　which　there　was
considerable　zest。　　Assuredly　she　did　not　know　what　was　going
to　happen。　　Twice　Riggs　passed　up　and　down　the　aisle；　his
dark　face　and　light　eyes　and　sardonic　smile　deliberately
forced　upon　her　sight。　　But　again　Helen　fought　a　growing
dread　with　contemptuous　scorn。　　This　fellow　was　not　half　a
man。　　It　was　not　conceivable　what　he　could　do；　except　annoy
her；　until　she　arrived　at　Pine。　　Her　uncle　was　to　meet　her　or
send　for　her　at　Snowdrop；　which　place；　Helen　knew；　was
distant　a　good　long　ride　by　stage　from　Magdalena。　　This
stage…ride　was　the　climax　and　the　dread　of　all　the　long
journey；　in　Helen's　considerations。

〃Oh；　Nell！〃　cried　Bo；　with　delight。　　〃We're　nearly　there！
Next　station；　the　conductor　said。〃

〃I　wonder　if　the　stage　travels　at　night；〃　said　Helen；
thoughtfully。

〃Sure　it　does！〃　replied　the　irrepressible　Bo。

The　train；　though　it　clattered　along　as　usual；　seemed　to
Helen　to　fly。　　There　the　sun　was　setting　over　bleak　New
Mexican　bluffs；　Magdalena　was　at　hand；　and　night；　and
adventure。　　Helen's　heart　beat　fast。　　She　watched　the　yellow
plains　where　the　cattle　grazed；　their　presence；　and
irrigation　ditches　and　cottonwood…trees　told　her　that　the
railroad　part　of　the　journey　was　nearly　ended。　　Then；　at　Bo's
little　scream；　she　looked　across　the　car　and　out　of　the
window　to　see　a　line　of　low；　flat；　red…adobe　houses。　　The
train　began　to　slow　down。　　Helen　saw　children　run；　white
children　and　Mexican　together；　then　more　houses；　and　high
upon　a　hill　an　immense　adobe　church；　crude　and　glaring；　yet
somehow　beautiful。

Helen　told　Bo　to　put　on　her　bonnet；　and；　performing　a　like
office　for　herself；　she　was　ashamed　of　the　trembling　of　her
fingers。　　There　were　bustle　and　talk　in　the　car。

The　train　stopped。　　Helen　peered　out　to　see　a　straggling
crowd　of　Mexicans　and　Indians；　all　motionless　and　stolid；　as
if　trains　or　nothing　else　mattered。　　Next　Helen　saw　a　white
man；　and　that　was　a　relief。　　He　stood　out　in　front　of　the
others。　　Tall　and　broad；　somehow　striking；　he　drew　a　second
glance　that　showed　him　to　be　a　hunter　clad　in　gray…fringed
buckskin；　and　carrying　a　rifle。



CHAPTER　V

Here；　there　was　no　kindly　brakeman　to　help　the　sisters　with
their　luggage。　　Helen　bade　Bo　take　her　share；　thus　burdened；
they　made　an　awkward　and　laborious　shift　to　get　off　the
train。

Upon　the　platform　of　the　car　a　strong　hand　seized　Helen's
heavy　bag；　with　which　she　was　straining；　and　a　loud　voice
called　out：

〃Girls；　we're　here　　sure　out　in　the　wild　an'　woolly　West！〃

The　speaker　was　Riggs；　and　he　had　possessed　himself　of　part
of　her　baggage　with　action　and　speech　meant　more　to　impress
the　curious　crowd　than　to　be　really　kind。　　In　the　excitement
of　arriving　Helen　had　forgotten　him。　　The　manner　of　sudden
reminder　　the　insincerity　of　it　　made　her　temper　flash。
She　almost　fell；　encumbered　as　she　was；　in　her　hurry　to
descend　the　steps。　　She　saw　the　tall　hunter　in　gray　step
forward　close　to　her　as　she　reached　for　the　bag　Riggs　held。

〃Mr。　　Riggs；　I'll　carry　my　bag；〃　she　said。

〃Let　me　lug　this。　　You　help　Bo　with　he