the man of the forest-第34章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


surely　urged　her　horse　on　faster。

Then　the　swift　pace　slackened。　　A　windfall　of　timber　delayed
Helen。　　She　caught　a　glimpse　of　Dale　far　ahead；　climbing　a
slope。　　The　forest　seemed　full　of　his　ringing　yell。　　Helen
strangely　wished　for　level　ground　and　the　former　swift
motion。　　Next　she　saw　Bo　working　down　to　the　right；　and
Dale's　yell　now　came　from　that　direction。　　Helen　followed；
got　out　of　the　timber；　and　made　better　time　on　a　gradual
slope　down　to　another　park。

When　she　reached　the　open　she　saw　Bo　almost　across　this
narrow　open　ground。　　Here　Helen　did　not　need　to　urge　her
mount。　　He　snorted　and　plunged　at　the　level　and　he　got　to
going　so　fast　that　Helen　would　have　screamed　aloud　in
mingled　fear　and　delight　if　she　had　not　been　breathless。

Her　horse　had　the　bad　luck　to　cross　soft　ground。　　He　went　to
his　knees　and　Helen　sailed　out　of　the　saddle　over　his　head。
Soft　willows　and　wet　grass　broke　her　fall。　　She　was　surprised
to　find　herself　unhurt。　　Up　she　bounded　and　certainly　did　not
know　this　new　Helen　Rayner。　　Her　horse　was　coming；　and　he　had
patience　with　her；　but　he　wanted　to　hurry。　　Helen　made　the
quickest　mount　of　her　experience　and　somehow　felt　a　pride　in
it。　　She　would　tell　Bo　that。　　But　just　then　Bo　flashed　into
the　woods　out　of　sight。　　Helen　fairly　charged　into　that　green
foliage；　breaking　brush　and　branches。　　She　broke　through　into
open　forest。　　Bo　was　inside；　riding　down　an　aisle　between
pines　and　spruces。　　At　that　juncture　Helen　heard　Dale's
melodious　yell　near　at　hand。　　Coming　into　still　more　open
forest；　with　rocks　here　and　there；　she　saw　Dale　dismounted
under　a　pine；　and　Pedro　standing　with　fore　paws　upon　the
tree…trunk；　and　then　high　up　on　a　branch　a　huge　tawny
colored　lion；　just　like　Tom。

Bo's　horse　slowed　up　and　showed　fear；　but　he　kept　on　as　far
as　Dale's　horse。　　But　Helen's　refused　to　go　any　nearer。　　She
had　difficulty　in　halting　him。　　Presently　she　dismounted　and；
throwing　her　bridle　over　a　stump；　she　ran　on；　panting　and
fearful；　yet　tingling　all　over；　up　to　her　sister　and　Dale。

〃Nell；　you　did　pretty　good　for　a　tenderfoot；〃　was　Bo's
greeting。

〃It　was　a　fine　chase；〃　said　Dale。　　〃You　both　rode　well。　　I
wish　you　could　have　seen　the　lion　on　the　ground。　　He　bounded
　great　long　bounds　with　his　tail　up　in　the　air　　very
funny。　　An'　Pedro　almost　caught　up　with　him。　　That　scared　me；
because　he　would　have　killed　the　hound。　　Pedro　was　close　to
him　when　he　treed。　　An'　there　he　is　　the　yellow
deer…killer。　　He's　a　male　an'　full　grown。〃

With　that　Dale　pulled　his　rifle　from　its　saddle…sheath　and
looked　expectantly　at　Bo。　　But　she　was　gazing　with　great
interest　and　admiration　up　at　the　lion。

〃Isn't　he　just　beautiful？〃　she　burst　out。　　〃Oh；　look　at　him
spit！　　Just　like　a　cat！　　Dale；　he　looks　afraid　he　might　fall
off。〃

〃He　sure　does。　　Lions　are　never　sure　of　their　balance　in　a
tree。　　But　I　never　saw　one　make　a　misstep。　　He　knows　he
doesn't　belong　there。〃

To　Helen　the　lion　looked　splendid　perched　up　there。　　He　was
long　and　round　and　graceful　and　tawny。　　His　tongue　hung　out
and　his　plump　sides　heaved；　showing　what　a　quick；　hard　run
he　had　been　driven　to。　　What　struck　Helen　most　forcibly　about
him　was　something　in　his　face　as　he　looked　down　at　the
hound。　　He　was　scared。　　He　realized　his　peril。　　It　was　not
possible　for　Helen　to　watch　him　killed；　yet　she　could　not
bring　herself　to　beg　Bo　not　to　shoot。　　Helen　confessed　she
was　a　tenderfoot。

〃Get　down；　Bo；　an'　let's　see　how　good　a　shot　you　are；　said
Dale。　　Bo　slowly　withdrew　her　fascinated　gaze　from　the　lion
and　looked　with　a　rueful　smile　at　Dale。

〃I've　changed　my　mind。　　I　said　I　would　kill　him；　but　now　I
can't。　　He　looks　so　　so　different　from　what　I'd　imagined。〃

Dale's　answer　was　a　rare　smile　of　understanding　and　approval
that　warmed　Helen's　heart　toward　him。　　All　the　same；　he　was
amused。　　Sheathing　the　gun；　he　mounted　his　horse。

〃Come　on；　Pedro；〃　he　called。　　〃Come；　I　tell　you；〃　he　added；
sharply；　〃Well；　girls；　we　treed　him；　anyhow；　an；　it　was　fun。
Now　we'll　ride　back　to　the　deer　he　killed　an'　pack　a　haunch
to　camp　for　our　own　use。〃

〃Will　the　lion　go　back　to　his　　his　kill；　I　think　you
called　it？〃　asked　Bo。

〃I've　chased　one　away　from　his　kill　half　a　dozen　times。
Lions　are　not　plentiful　here　an'　they　don't　get　overfed。　　I
reckon　the　balance　is　pretty　even。〃

This　last　remark　made　Helen　inquisitive。　　And　as　they　slowly
rode　on　the　back…trail　Dale　talked。

〃You　girls；　bein'　tender…hearted　an'　not　knowin'　the　life　of
the　forest；　what's　good　an'　what's　bad；　think　it　was　a　pity
the　poor　deer　was　killed　by　a　murderous　lion。　　But　you're
wrong。　　As　I　told　you；　the　lion　is　absolutely　necessary　to
the　health　an'　joy　of　wild　life　　or　deer's　wild　life；　so
to　speak。　　When　deer　were　created　or　came　into　existence；
then　the　lion　must　have　come；　too。　　They　can't　live　without
each　other。　　Wolves；　now；　are　not　particularly　deer…killers。
They　live　off　elk　an'　anythin'　they　can　catch。　　So　will
lions；　for　that　matter。　　But　I　mean　lions　follow　the　deer　to
an'　fro　from　winter　to　summer　feedin'…grounds。　　Where　there's
no　deer　you　will　find　no　lions。　　Well；　now；　if　left　alone
deer　would　multiply　very　fast。　　In　a　few　years　there　would　be
hundreds　where　now　there's　only　one。　　An'　in　time；　as　the
generations　passed；　they'd　lose　the　fear；　the　alertness；　the
speed　an'　strength；　the　eternal　vigilance　that　is　love　of
life　　they'd　lose　that　an'　begin　to　deteriorate；　an'
disease　would　carry　them　off。　　I　saw　one　season　of
black…tongue　among　deer。　　It　killed　them　off；　an'　I　believe
that　is　one　of　the　diseases　of　over…production。　　The　lions；
now；　are　forever　on　the　trail　of　the　deer。　　They　have
learned。　　Wariness　is　an　instinct　born　in　the　fawn。　　It　makes
him　keen；　quick；　active；　fearful；　an'　so　he　grows　up　strong
an'　healthy　to　become　the　smooth；　sleek；　beautiful；
soft…eyed；　an'　wild…lookin'　deer　you　girls　love　to　watch。
But　if　it　wasn't　for　the　lions；　the　deer　would　not　thrive。
Only　the　strongest　an'　swiftest　survive。　　That　is　the　meanin'
of　nature。　　There　is　always　a　perfect　balance　kept　by　nature。
It　may　vary　in　different　years；　but　on　the　whole；　in　the
long　years；　it　averages　an　even　balance。〃

〃How　wonderfully　you　put　it！〃　exclaimed　Bo；　with　all　her
impulsiveness。　　〃Oh；　I'm　glad　I　didn't　kill　the　lion。〃

〃What　you　say　somehow　hurts　me；〃　said　Helen；　wistfully；　to
the　hunter。　　〃I　see　　I　feel　how　true　　how　inevitable　it
is。　　But　it　changes　my　　my　feelings。　　Almost　I'd　rather　not
acquire　such　knowledge　as　yours。　　This　balance　of　nature　
how　tragic　　how　sad！〃

〃But　why？〃　asked　Dale。　　〃You　love　birds；　an'　birds　are　the
greatest　killers　in　the　forest。〃

〃Don't　tell　me　that　　don't　prove　it；〃　implored　Helen。　　It
is　not　so　much　the　love　of　life　in　a　deer　or　any　creature；
and　the　terrible　clinging　to　life；　that　gives　me　distress。
It　is　suffering。　　I　can't　bear　to　see　pain。　　I　can　STAND　pain
myself；　but　I　can't　BEAR　to　see　or　think　of　it。〃

〃Well；〃　replied。　　Dale；　thoughtfully；　〃There　you　stump　me
again。　　I've　lived　long　in　the　forest　an'　when　a　man's　alone
he　does　a　heap　of　thinkin'。　　An'　always　I　couldn't　understand
a　reason　or　a　meanin'　for　pain。　　Of　all　the　bafflin'　things
of　life；　that　is　the　hardest　to　understand　an'　to　forgive　
pain！〃


That　evening；　as　they　sat　in　restful　places　round　the
camp…fire；　with　the　still　twilight　fading　into　night；　Dale
seriously　asked　the　girls　what　the　day's　chase　had　meant　to
them。　　His　manner　of　asking　was　productive　of　thought。　　Both
girls　were　silent　for　a　moment。

〃Glorious！〃　was　Bo's　brief　and　eloquent　reply。

〃Why？〃　asked。　　Dale；　curiously。　　〃You　are　a　girl。　　You've　been
used　to　home；　people；　love；　comfort；　safety；　quiet。〃

〃Maybe　that　is　just　why　it　was　glorious；〃　said　Bo；
earnestly。　　〃I　can　hardly　explain。　　I　loved　the　motion　of　the
horse；　the　feel　of　wind　in　my　face；　the　smell　of　the　pine；
the　sight　of　slope　and　forest　glade　and　windfall　and　rocks；
and　the　black　shade　under　the　spruces。　　My　blood　beat　and
burned。　　My　teeth　clicked。　　My　nerves　all　quivered。　　My　heart
sometimes；　at　dangerous　moments；　almost　choked　me；　and　all
the　time　it　pounded　hard。　　Now　my　skin　was　hot　and　then　it
was　cold。　　But　I　thin