the man of the forest-第32章
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choke them。 Only perhaps half of these aspens will survive；
to make one of the larger clumps； such as that one of
full…grown trees over there。 One season will give advantage
to this saplin' an' next year to that one。 A few seasons'
advantage to one assures its dominance over the others。 But
it is never sure of holdin' that dominance。 An 'if wind or
storm or a strong…growin' rival does not overthrow it； then
sooner or later old age will。 For there is absolute and
continual fight。 What is true of these aspens is true of all
the trees in the forest an' of all plant life in the forest。
What is most wonderful to me is the tenacity of life。〃
And next day Dale showed them an even more striking example
of this mystery of nature。
He guided them on horseback up one of the thick；
verdant…wooded slopes； calling their attention at various
times to the different growths； until they emerged on the
summit of the ridge where the timber grew scant and dwarfed。
At the edge of timber…line he showed a gnarled and knotted
spruce…tree； twisted out of all semblance to a beautiful
spruce； bent and storm…blasted； with almost bare branches；
all reaching one' way。 The tree was a specter。 It stood
alone。 It had little green upon it。 There seemed something
tragic about its contortions。 But it was alive and strong。
It had no rivals to take sun or moisture。 Its enemies were
the snow and wind and cold of the heights。
Helen felt； as the realization came to her； the knowledge
Dale wished to impart； that it was as sad as wonderful； and
as mysterious as it was inspiring。 At that moment there were
both the sting and sweetness of life the pain and the joy
in Helen's heart。 These strange facts were going to teach
her to transform her。 And even if they hurt； she welcomed
them。
CHAPTER XI
〃I'll ride you if it breaks my neck！〃 panted Bo；
passionately； shaking her gloved fist at the gray pony。
Dale stood near with a broad smile on his face。 Helen was
within earshot； watching from the edge of the park； and she
felt so fascinated and frightened that she could not call
out for Bo to stop。 The little gray mustang was a beauty；
clean…limbed and racy； with long black mane and tail； and a
fine； spirited head。 There was a blanket strapped on his
back； but no saddle。 Bo held the short halter that had been
fastened in a hackamore knot round his nose。 She wore no
coat； her blouse was covered with grass and seeds； and it
was open at the neck； her hair hung loose and disheveled；
one side of her face bore a stain of grass and dirt and a
suspicion of blood； the other was red and white； her eyes
blazed； beads of sweat stood out on her brow and wet places
shone on her cheeks。 As she began to strain on the halter；
pulling herself closer to the fiery pony； the outline of her
slender shape stood out lithe and strong。
Bo had been defeated in her cherished and determined
ambition to ride Dale's mustang； and she was furious。 The
mustang did not appear to be vicious or mean。 But he was
spirited； tricky； mischievous； and he had thrown her six
times。 The scene of Bo's defeat was at the edge of the park；
where thick moss and grass afforded soft places for her to
fall。 It also afforded poor foothold for the gray mustang；
obviously placing him at a disadvantage。 Dale did not bridle
him； because he had not been broken to a bridle； and though
it was harder for Bo to try to ride him bareback； there was
less risk of her being hurt。 Bo had begun in all eagerness
and enthusiasm； loving and petting the mustang； which she
named 〃Pony。〃 She had evidently anticipated an adventure；
but her smiling； resolute face had denoted confidence。 Pony
had stood fairly well to be mounted； and then had pitched
and tossed until Bo had slid off or been upset or thrown。
After each fall Bo bounced up with less of a smile； and more
of spirit； until now the Western passion to master a horse
had suddenly leaped to life within her。 It was no longer
fun； no more a daring circus trick to scare Helen and rouse
Dale's admiration。 The issue now lay between Bo and the
mustang。
Pony reared； snorting； tossing his head； and pawing with
front feet。
〃Pull him down！〃 yelled Dale。
Bo did not have much weight； but she had strength； an she
hauled with all her might； finally bringing him down。
〃Now hold hard an' take up rope an' get in to him；〃 called
Dale。 〃Good！ You're sure not afraid of him。 He sees that。
Now hold him； talk to him； tell him you're goin' to ride
him。 Pet him a little。 An' when he quits shakin'； grab his
mane an' jump up an' slide a leg over him。 Then hook your
feet under him； hard as you can； an' stick on。〃
If Helen had not been so frightened for Bo she would have
been able to enjoy her other sensations。 Creeping； cold
thrills chased over her as Bo； supple and quick； slid an arm
and a leg over Pony and straightened up on him with a
defiant cry。 Pony jerked his head down； brought his feet
together in one jump； and began to bounce。 Bo got the swing
of him this time and stayed on。
〃You're ridin' him；〃 yelled Dale。 〃Now squeeze hard with
your knees。 Crack him over the head with your rope。 。 。 。
That's the way。 Hang on now an' you'll have him beat。〃
The mustang pitched all over the space adjacent to Dale and
Helen； tearing up the moss and grass。 Several times he
tossed Bo high； but she slid back to grip him again with her
legs； and he could not throw her。 Suddenly he raised his
head and bolted。 Dale answered Bo's triumphant cry。 But Pony
had not run fifty feet before he tripped and fell； throwing
Bo far over his head。 As luck would have it good luck；
Dale afterward said she landed in a boggy place and the
force of her momentum was such that she slid several yards；
face down； in wet moss and black ooze。
Helen uttered a scream and ran forward。 Bo was getting to
her knees when Dale reached her。 He helped her up and half
led； half carried her out of the boggy place。 Bo was not
recognizable。 From head to foot she was dripping black ooze。
〃Oh； Bo！ Are you hurt？〃 cried Helen。
Evidently Bo's mouth was full of mud。
〃Ppsutt！ Ough！ Whew！〃 she sputtered。 〃Hurt？ No！ Can't
you see what I lit in？ Dale； the sun…of…a…gun didn't throw
me。 He fell； and I went over his head。〃
〃Right。 You sure rode him。 An' he tripped an' slung you a
mile；〃 replied Dale。 〃It's lucky you lit in that bog。〃
〃Lucky！ With eyes and nose stopped up？ Oooo！ I'm full of
mud。 And my nice new riding…suit！〃
Bo's tones indicated that she was ready to cry。 Helen；
realizing Bo had not been hurt； began to laugh。 Her sister
was the funniest…looking object that had ever come before
her eyes。
〃Nell Rayner are you laughing at me？〃 demanded Bo；
in most righteous amaze and anger。
〃Me laugh…ing？ N…never； Bo； 〃replied Helen。 〃Can't you see
I'm just just 〃
〃See？ You idiot！ my eyes are full of mud！〃 flashed Bo。 〃But
I hear you。 I'll I'll get even。〃
Dale was laughing； too； but noiselessly； and Bo； being blind
for the moment； could not be aware of that。 By this time
they had reached camp。 Helen fell flat and laughed as she
had never laughed before。 When Helen forgot herself so far
as to roll on the ground it was indeed a laughing matter。
Dale's big frame shook as he possessed himself of a towel
and； wetting it at the spring； began to wipe the mud off
Bo's face。 But that did not serve。 Bo asked to be led to the
water； where she knelt and； with splashing； washed out her
eyes； and then her face； and then the bedraggled strands of
hair。
〃That mustang didn't break my neck； but he rooted my face in
the mud。 I'll fix him；〃 she muttered； as she got up。 〃Please
let me have the towel； now。 。 。 。 Well！ Milt Dale； you're
laughing！〃
〃Ex…cuse me； Bo。 I Haw！ haw！ haw！〃 Then Dale lurched off；
holding his sides。
Bo gazed after him and then back at Helen。
〃I suppose if I'd been kicked and smashed and killed you'd
laugh；〃 she said。 And then she melted。 〃Oh； my pretty
riding…suit！ What a mess！ I must be a sight。 。 。 。 Nell； I
rode that wild pony the sun…of…a…gun！ I rode him！ That's
enough for me。 YOU try it。 L
