the man of the forest-第19章
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〃What are a cougar and a silvertip？〃
〃Cougar means mountain…lion or panther； an' a silvertip is a
grizzly bear。〃
〃Oh； they're all cruel！〃 exclaimed Helen； shrinking。
〃I reckon。 Often I've shot wolves for relayin' a deer。〃
〃What's that？〃
〃Sometimes two or more wolves will run a deer； an' while one
of them rests the other will drive the deer around to his
pardner； who'll； take up the chase。 That way they run the
deer down。 Cruel it is； but nature； an' no worse than snow
an' ice that starve deer； or a fox that kills turkey…chicks
breakin' out of the egg； or ravens that pick the eyes out of
new…born lambs an' wait till they die。 An' for that matter；
men are crueler than beasts of prey； for men add to nature；
an' have more than instincts。〃
Helen was silenced； as well as shocked。 She had not only
learned a new and striking viewpoint in natural history； but
a clear intimation to the reason why she had vaguely
imagined or divined a remarkable character in this man。 A
hunter was one who killed animals for their fur； for their
meat or horns； or for some lust for blood that was
Helen's definition of a hunter； and she believed it was held
by the majority of people living in settled states。 But the
majority might be wrong。 A hunter might be vastly different；
and vastly more than a tracker and slayer of game。 The
mountain world of forest was a mystery to almost all men。
Perhaps Dale knew its secrets； its life； its terror； its
beauty； its sadness； and its joy； and if so； how full； how
wonderful must be his mind！ He spoke of men as no better
than wolves。 Could a lonely life in the wilderness teach a
man that？ Bitterness； envy； jealousy； spite； greed； and hate
these had no place in this hunter's heart。 It was not
Helen's shrewdness； but a woman's intuition； which divined
that。
Dale rose to his feet and； turning his ear to the north；
listened once more。
〃Are you expecting Roy still？〃 inquired Helen。
〃No； it ain't likely he'll turn up to…night；〃 replied Dale；
and then he strode over to put a hand on the pine…tree that
soared above where the girls lay。 His action； and the way he
looked up at the tree…top and then at adjacent trees； held
more of that significance which so interested Helen。
〃I reckon he's stood there some five hundred years an' will
stand through to…night；〃 muttered Dale。
This pine was the monarch of that wide…spread group。
〃Listen again；〃 said Dale。
Bo was asleep。 And Helen； listening； at once caught low；
distant roar。
〃Wind。 It's goin' to storm；〃 explained Dale。 〃You'll hear
somethin' worth while。 But don't be scared。 Reckon we'll be
safe。 Pines blow down often。 But this fellow will stand any
fall wind that ever was。 。 。 。 Better slip under the
blankets so I can pull the tarp up。〃
Helen slid down； just as she was； fully dressed except for
boots； which she and Bo had removed； and she laid her head
close to Bo's。 Dale pulled the tarpaulin up and folded it
back just below their heads。
〃When it rains you'll wake； an' then just pull the tarp up
over you；〃 he said。
〃Will it rain？〃 Helen asked。 But she was thinking that this
moment was the strangest that had ever happened to her。 By
the light of the camp…fire she saw Dale's face； just as
usual； still； darkly serene； expressing no thought。 He was
kind； but he was not thinking of these sisters as girls；
alone with him in a pitch…black forest； helpless and
defenseless。 He did not seem to be thinking at all。 But
Helen had never before in her life been so keenly
susceptible to experience。
〃I'll be close by an' keep the fire goin' all night；〃 he
said。
She heard him stride off into the darkness。 Presently there
came a dragging； bumping sound； then a crash of a log
dropped upon the fire。 A cloud of sparks shot up； and many
pattered down to hiss upon the damp ground。 Smoke again
curled upward along the great； seamed tree…trunk； and flames
sputtered and crackled。
Helen listened again for the roar of wind。 It seemed to come
on a breath of air that fanned her cheek and softly blew
Bo's curls； and it was stronger。 But it died out presently；
only to come again； and still stronger。 Helen realized then
that the sound was that of an approaching storm。 Her heavy
eyelids almost refused to stay open； and she knew if she let
them close she would instantly drop to sleep。 And she wanted
to hear the storm…wind in the pines。
A few drops of cold rain fell upon her face； thrilling her
with the proof that no roof stood between her and the
elements。 Then a breeze bore the smell of burnt wood into
her face； and somehow her quick mind flew to girlhood days
when she burned brush and leaves with her little brothers。
The memory faded。 The roar that had seemed distant was now
back in the forest； coming swiftly； increasing in volume。
Like a stream in flood it bore down。 Helen grew amazed；
startled。 How rushing； oncoming； and heavy this storm…wind！
She likened its approach to the tread of an army。 Then the
roar filled the forest； yet it was back there behind her。
Not a pine…needle quivered in the light of the camp…fire。
But the air seemed to be oppressed with a terrible charge。
The roar augmented till it was no longer a roar； but an
on…sweeping crash； like an ocean torrent engulfing the
earth。 Bo awoke to cling to Helen with fright。 The deafening
storm…blast was upon them。 Helen felt the saddle…pillow move
under her head。 The giant pine had trembled to its very
roots。 That mighty fury of wind was all aloft； in the
tree…tops。 And for a long moment it bowed the forest under
its tremendous power。 Then the deafening crash passed to
roar； and that swept on and on； lessening in volume；
deepening in low detonation； at last to die in the distance。
No sooner had it died than back to the north another low
roar rose and ceased and rose again。 Helen lay there；
whispering to Bo； and heard again the great wave of wind
come and crash and cease。 That was the way of this
storm…wind of the mountain forest。
A soft patter of rain on the tarpaulin warned Helen to
remember Dale's directions； and； pulling up the heavy
covering； she arranged it hoodlike over the saddle。 Then；
with Bo close and warm beside her； she closed her eyes； and
the sense of the black forest and the wind and rain faded。
Last of all sensations was the smell of smoke that blew
under the tarpaulin。
When she opened her eyes she remembered everything； as if
only a moment had elapsed。 But it was daylight； though gray
and cloudy。 The pines were dripping mist。 A fire crackled
cheerily and blue smoke curled upward and a savory odor of
hot coffee hung in the air。 Horses were standing near by；
biting and kicking at one another。 Bo was sound asleep。 Dale
appeared busy around the camp…fire。 As Helen watched the
hunter she saw him pause in his task； turn his ear to
listen； and then look expectantly。 And at that juncture a
shout pealed from the forest。 Helen recognized Roy's voice。
Then she heard a splashing of water； and hoof…beats coming
closer。 With that the buckskin mustang trotted into camp；
carrying Roy。
〃Bad mornin' for ducks； but good for us；〃 he called。
〃Howdy； Roy！〃 greeted Dale； and his gladness was
unmistakable。 〃I was lookin' for you。〃
Roy appeared to slide off the mustang without effort； and
his swift hands slapped the straps as he unsaddled。 Buckskin
was wet with sweat and foam mixed with rain。 He heaved。 And
steam rose from him。
〃Must have rode hard；〃 observed Dale。
〃I shore did；〃 replied Roy。 Then he espied Helen； who had
sat up； with hands to her hair； and eyes staring at him。
〃Mornin'； miss。 It's good news。〃
〃Thank Heaven！〃 murmured Helen； and then she shook Bo。 That
young lady awoke； but was loath to give up slumber。 〃Bo！ Bo！
Wake up！ Mr。 Roy is back。〃
Whereupon Bo sat up； disheveled and sleepy…eyed。
〃Oh…h； but I ache！〃 she moaned。 But her eyes took in the
camp scene to the effect that she added； 〃Is breakfast
ready？〃
〃Almost。 An' flapjacks this mornin'；〃 replied Dale。
Bo manifested active symptoms of health in the manner with
which she laced her boots。 Helen got their traveling…
