the man of the forest-第22章
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〃Lass； it's worth learnin'；〃 he said。
Helen's thought was too deep for words。 In such brief space
had she been transformed from misery to comfort！
The rain kept on falling； though it appeared to grow softer
as night settled down black。 The wind died away and the
forest was still； except for the steady roar of the stream。
A folded tarpaulin was laid between the pine and the fire；
well in the light and warmth； and upon it the men set
steaming pots and plates and cups； the fragrance from which
was strong and inviting。
〃Fetch the saddle…blanket an' set with your backs to the
fire；〃 said Roy。
Later； when the girls were tucked away snugly in their
blankets and sheltered from the rain； Helen remained awake
after Bo had fallen asleep。 The big blaze made the
improvised tent as bright as day。 She could see the smoke；
the trunk of the big pine towering aloft； and a blank space
of sky。 The stream hummed a song； seemingly musical at
times； and then discordant and dull； now low； now roaring；
and always rushing； gurgling； babbling； flowing； chafing in
its hurry。
Presently the hunter and his friend returned from hobbling
the horses； and beside the fire they conversed in low tones。
〃Wal； thet trail we made to…day will be hid； I reckon；〃 said
Roy； with satisfaction。
〃What wasn't sheeped over would be washed out。 We've had
luck。 An' now I ain't worryin'；〃 returned Dale。
〃Worryin'？ Then it's the first I ever knowed you to do。〃
〃Man； I never had a job like this；〃 protested the hunter。
〃Wal； thet's so。〃
〃Now； Roy； when old Al Auchincloss finds out about this
deal； as he's bound to when you or the boys get back to
Pine； he's goin' to roar。〃
〃Do you reckon folks will side with him against Beasley？〃
〃Some of them。 But Al； like as not； will tell folks to go
where it's hot。 He'll bunch his men an' strike for the
mountains to find his nieces。〃
〃Wal； all you've got to do is to keep the girls hid till I
can guide him up to your camp。 Or； failin' thet； till you
can slip the girls down to Pine。〃
〃No one but you an' your brothers ever seen my senaca。 But
it could be found easy enough。〃
〃Anson might blunder on it。 But thet ain't likely。〃
〃Why ain't it？〃
〃Because I'll stick to thet sheep…thief's tracks like a wolf
after a bleedin' deer。 An' if he ever gets near your camp
I'll ride in ahead of him。〃
〃Good！〃 declared Dale。 〃I was calculatin' you'd go down to
Pine； sooner or later。〃
〃Not unless Anson goes。 I told John thet in case there was
no fight on the stage to make a bee…line back to Pine。 He
was to tell Al an' offer his services along with Joe an'
Hal。〃
〃One way or another； then； there's bound to be blood spilled
over this。〃
〃Shore！ An' high time。 I jest hope I get a look down my old
'forty…four' at thet Beasley。〃
〃In that case I hope you hold straighter than times I've
seen you。〃
〃Milt Dale； I'm a good shot；〃 declared Roy； stoutly。
〃You're no good on movin' targets。〃
〃Wal； mebbe so。 But I'm not lookin' for a movin' target when
I meet up with Beasley。 I'm a hossman； not a hunter。 You're
used to shootin' flies off deer's horns； jest for practice。〃
〃Roy； can we make my camp by to…morrow night？〃 queried Dale；
more seriously。
〃We will； if each of us has to carry one of the girls。 But
they'll do it or die。 Dale； did you ever see a gamer girl
than thet kid Bo？〃
〃Me！ Where'd I ever see any girls？〃 ejaculated Dale。 〃I
remember some when I was a boy； but I was only fourteen
then。 Never had much use for girls。〃
〃I'd like to have a wife like that Bo；〃 declared Roy；
fervidly。
There ensued a moment's silence。
〃Roy； you're a Mormon an' you already got a wife；〃 was
Dale's reply。
〃Now； Milt； have you lived so long in the woods thet you
never heard of a Mormon with two wives？〃 returned Roy； and
then he laughed heartily。
〃I never could stomach what I did hear pertainin' to more
than one wife for a man。〃
〃Wal； my friend； you go an' get yourself ONE。 An' see then
if you wouldn't like to have TWO。〃
〃I reckon one 'd be more than enough for Milt Dale。〃
〃Milt； old man； let me tell you thet I always envied you
your freedom；〃 said Roy； earnestly。 〃But it ain't life。〃
〃You mean life is love of a woman？〃
〃No。 Thet's only part。 I mean a son a boy thet's like you
thet you feel will go on with your life after you're
gone。〃
〃I've thought of that thought it all out； watchin' the
birds an' animals mate in the woods。 。 。 。 If I have no son
I'll never live hereafter。〃
〃Wal；〃 replied Roy； hesitatingly； 〃I don't go in so deep as
thet。 I mean a son goes on with your blood an' your work。〃
〃Exactly。 。 。 An'； Roy； I envy you what you ve got； because
it's out of all bounds for Milt Dale。〃
Those words； sad and deep； ended the conversation。 Again the
rumbling； rushing stream dominated the forest。 An owl hooted
dismally。 A horse trod thuddingly near by and from that
direction came a cutting tear of teeth on grass。
A voice pierced Helen's deep dreams and； awaking； she found
Bo shaking and calling her。
〃Are you dead？〃 came the gay voice。
〃Almost。 Oh； my back's broken；〃 replied Helen。 The desire to
move seemed clamped in a vise； and even if that came she
believed the effort would be impossible。
〃Roy called us；〃 said Bo。 〃He said hurry。 I thought I'd die
just sitting up； and I'd give you a million dollars to lace
my boots。 Wait； sister； till you try to pull on one of those
stiff boots！〃
With heroic and violent spirit Helen sat up to find that in
the act her aches and pains appeared beyond number。 Reaching
for her boots； she found them cold and stiff。 Helen unlaced
one and； opening it wide； essayed to get her sore foot down
into it。 But her foot appeared swollen and the boot appeared
shrunken。 She could not get it half on； though she expended
what little strength seemed left in her aching arms。 She
groaned。
Bo laughed wickedly。 Her hair was tousled； her eyes dancing；
her cheeks red。
〃Be game！〃 she said。 〃Stand up like a real Western girl and
PULL your boot on。〃
Whether Bo's scorn or advice made the task easier did not
occur to Helen； but the fact was that she got into her
boots。 Walking and moving a little appeared to loosen the
stiff joints and ease that tired feeling。 The water of the
stream where the girls washed was colder than any ice Helen
had ever felt。 It almost paralyzed her hands。 Bo mumbled；
and blew like a porpoise。 They had to run to the fire before
being able to comb their hair。 The air was wonderfully keen。
The dawn was clear； bright； with a red glow in the east
where the sun was about to rise。
〃All ready； girls；〃 called Roy。 〃Reckon you can help
yourselves。 Milt ain't comin' in very fast with the hosses。
I'll rustle off to help him。 We've got a hard day before us。
Yesterday wasn't nowhere to what to…day 'll be。〃
〃But the sun's going to shine？〃 implored Bo。
〃Wal； you bet；〃 rejoined Roy； as he strode off。
Helen and Bo ate breakfast and had the camp to themselves
for perhaps half an hour； then the horses came thudding
down； with Dale and Roy riding bareback。
By the time all was in readiness to start the sun was up；
melting the frost and ice； so that a dazzling； bright mist；
full of rainbows； shone under the trees。
Dale looked Ranger over； and tried the cinches of Bo's
horse。
〃What's your choice a long ride behind the packs with me
or a short cut over the hills with Roy？〃 he asked。
〃I choose the lesser of two rides；〃 replied Helen； smiling。
〃Reckon that 'll be easier； but you'll know you've had a
ride；〃 said Dale； significantly。
〃What was that we had yesterday？〃 asked Bo； archly。
〃Only thirty miles； but cold an' wet。 To…day will be fine
for ridin'。〃
〃Milt； I'll take a blanket an' some grub in case you don't
meet us to…night；〃 said Roy。 〃An' I reckon we'll split up
here where I'll have to strike out on thet short cut。〃
Bo mounted without a helping hand； but Helen's limbs were so
stiff that she could not get astride the high Ranger without
assistance。 The hunter headed up the slope of the canuon；
which on that side was not steep。 It was brown pine fore
