the man of the forest-第17章
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here under the stately pines there were no birds。 Squirrels；
however； began to be seen here and there； and in the course
of an hour's travel became abundant。 The only one with which
she was familiar was the chipmunk。 All the others； from the
slim bright blacks to the striped russets and the
white…tailed grays； were totally new to her。 They appeared
tame and curious。 The reds barked and scolded at the passing
cavalcade； the blacks glided to some safe branch； there to
watch； the grays paid no especial heed to this invasion of
their domain。
Once Dale； halting his horse； pointed with long arm； and
Helen； following the direction； descried several gray deer
standing in a glade； motionless； with long ears up。 They
made a wild and beautiful picture。 Suddenly they bounded
away with remarkable springy strides。
The forest on the whole held to the level； open character；
but there were swales and stream…beds breaking up its
regular conformity。 Toward noon； however； it gradually
changed； a fact that Helen believed she might have observed
sooner had she been more keen。 The general lay of the land
began to ascend； and the trees to grow denser。
She made another discovery。 Ever since she had entered the
forest she had become aware of a fullness in her head and a
something affecting her nostrils。 She imagined； with regret；
that she had taken cold。 But presently her head cleared
somewhat and she realized that the thick pine odor of the
forest had clogged her nostrils as if with a sweet pitch。
The smell was overpowering and disagreeable because of its
strength。 Also her throat and lungs seemed to burn。
When she began to lose interest in the forest and her
surroundings it was because of aches and pains which would
no longer be denied recognition。 Thereafter she was not
permitted to forget them and they grew worse。 One；
especially； was a pain beyond all her experience。 It lay in
the muscles of her side； above her hip； and it grew to be a
treacherous thing； for it was not persistent。 It came and
went。 After it did come； with a terrible flash； it could be
borne by shifting or easing the body。 But it gave no
warning。 When she expected it she was mistaken； when she
dared to breathe again； then； with piercing swiftness； it
returned like a blade in her side。 This； then； was one of
the riding…pains that made a victim of a tenderfoot on a
long ride。 It was almost too much to be borne。 The beauty of
the forest； the living creatures to be seen scurrying away；
the time； distance everything faded before that stablike
pain。 To her infinite relief she found that it was the trot
that caused this torture。 When Ranger walked she did not
have to suffer it。 Therefore she held him to a walk as long
as she dared or until Dale and Bo were almost out of sight；
then she loped him ahead until he had caught up。
So the hours passed； the sun got around low； sending golden
shafts under the trees； and the forest gradually changed to
a brighter； but a thicker； color。 This slowly darkened。
Sunset was not far away。
She heard the horses splashing in water； and soon she rode
up to see the tiny streams of crystal water running swiftly
over beds of green moss。 She crossed a number of these and
followed along the last one into a more open place in the
forest where the pines were huge； towering； and far apart。 A
low； gray bluff of stone rose to the right； perhaps
one…third as high as the trees。 From somewhere came the
rushing sound of running water。
〃Big Spring；〃 announced Dale。 〃We camp here。 You girls have
done well。〃
Another glance proved to Helen that all those little streams
poured from under this gray bluff。
〃I'm dying for a drink；〃 cried Bo。 with her customary
hyperbole。
〃I reckon you'll never forget your first drink here；〃
remarked Dale。
Bo essayed to dismount； and finally fell off； and when she
did get to the ground her legs appeared to refuse their
natural function； and she fell flat。 Dale helped her up。
〃What's wrong with me； anyhow？〃 she demanded； in great
amaze。
〃Just stiff； I reckon；〃 replied Dale； as he led her a few
awkward steps。
〃Bo； have you any hurts？〃 queried Helen； who still sat her
horse； loath to try dismounting； yet wanting to beyond all
words。
Bo gave her an eloquent glance。
〃Nell； did you have one in your side； like a wicked； long
darning…needle； punching deep when you weren't ready？〃
〃That one I'll never get over！〃 exclaimed Helen； softly。
Then； profiting by Bo's experience； she dismounted
cautiously； and managed to keep upright。 Her legs felt like
wooden things。
Presently the girls went toward the spring。
〃Drink slow；〃 called out Dale。
Big Spring had its source somewhere deep under the gray；
weathered bluff； from which came a hollow subterranean
gurgle and roar of water。 Its fountainhead must have been a
great well rushing up through the cold stone。
Helen and Bo lay flat on a mossy bank； seeing their faces as
they bent over； and they sipped a mouthful； by Dale's
advice； and because they were so hot and parched and burning
they wanted to tarry a moment with a precious opportunity。
The water was so cold that it sent a shock over Helen； made
her teeth ache； and a singular； revivifying current steal
all through her； wonderful in its cool absorption of that
dry heat of flesh； irresistible in its appeal to thirst。
Helen raised her head to look at this water。 It was
colorless as she had found it tasteless。
〃Nell drink！〃 panted Bo。 〃Think of our old spring
in the orchard full of pollywogs！〃
And then Helen drank thirstily； with closed eyes； while a
memory of home stirred from Bo's gift of poignant speech。
CHAPTER VII
The first camp duty Dale performed was to throw a pack off
one of the horses； and； opening it； he took out tarpaulin
and blankets； which he arranged on the ground under a
pine…tree。
〃You girls rest；〃 he said； briefly。
〃Can't we help？〃 asked Helen； though she could scarcely
stand。
〃You'll be welcome to do all you like after you're broke
in。〃
〃Broke in！〃 ejaculated Bo； with a little laugh。 〃I'm all
broke UP now。〃
〃Bo； it looks as if Mr。 Dale expects us to have quite a stay
with him in the woods。〃
〃It does；〃 replied Bo； as slowly she sat down upon the
blankets； stretched out with a long sigh； and laid her head
on a saddle。 〃Nell； didn't he say not to call him Mister？〃
Dale was throwing the packs off the other horses。
Helen lay down beside Bo； and then for once in her life she
experienced the sweetness of rest。
〃Well； sister； what do you intend to call him？〃 queried
Helen； curiously。
〃Milt； of course；〃 replied Bo。
Helen had to laugh despite her weariness and aches。
〃I suppose； then； when your Las Vegas cowboy comes along you
will call him what he called you。〃
Bo blushed； which was a rather unusual thing for her。
〃I will if I like；〃 she retorted。 〃Nell； ever since I could
remember you've raved about the West。 Now you're OUT West；
right in it good and deep。 So wake up！〃
That was Bo's blunt and characteristic way of advising the
elimination of Helen's superficialities。 It sank deep。 Helen
had no retort。 Her ambition； as far as the West was
concerned； had most assuredly not been for such a wild；
unheard…of jaunt as this。 But possibly the West a living
from day to day was one succession of adventures； trials；
tests； troubles； and achievements。 To make a place for
others to live comfortably some day！ That might be Bo's
meaning； embodied in her forceful hint。 But Helen was too
tired to think it out then。 She found it interesting and
vaguely pleasant to watch Dale。
He hobbled the horses and turned them loose。 Then with ax in
hand he approached a short； dead tree； standing among a few
white…barked aspens。 Dale appeared to advantage swinging the
ax。 With his coat off； displaying his wide shoulders；
straight back； and long； powerful arms； he looked a young
giant。 He was lithe and supple； brawny but not bulky。 The ax
rang on the hard wood； reverberating through the forest。 A
few strokes sufficed to bring down the stub。 Then he split
it up。 Helen was curious to see how he ki
