the man of the forest-第6章

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face　a　certain　weariness；　something　that　resembled　sloping
lines　of　distress；　dim　and　pale；　that　told　of　age　and　the
ebb…tide　of　vitality。　　His　features；　cast　in　large　mold；　were
clean…cut　and　comely；　and　he　had　frank　blue　eyes；　somewhat
sad；　yet　still　full　of　spirit。

Dale　had　no　idea　how　his　visit　would　be　taken；　and　he
certainly　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　be　ordered　off
the　place。　　He　had　not　set　foot　there　for　years。　　Therefore　it
was　with　surprise　that　he　saw　Auchincloss　wave　away　the
herders　and　take　his　entrance　without　any　particular
expression。

〃Howdy；　Al！　　How　are　you？〃　greeted　Dale；　easily；　as　he　leaned
his　rifle　against　the　log　wall。

Auchincloss　did　not　rise；　but　he　offered　his　hand。

〃Wal；　Milt　Dale；　I　reckon　this　is　the　first　time　I　ever　seen
you　that　I　couldn't　lay　you　flat　on　your　back；〃　replied　the
rancher。　　His　tone　was　both　testy　and　full　of　pathos。

〃I　take　it　you　mean　you　ain't　very　well；〃　replied　Dale。　　〃I'm
sorry；　Al。〃

〃No；　it　ain't　thet。　　Never　was　sick　in　my　life。　　I'm　just
played　out；　like　a　hoss　thet　had　been　strong　an'　willin'；
an'　did　too　much。　。　。　。　　Wal；　you　don't　look　a　day　older；
Milt。　　Livin'　in　the　woods　rolls　over　a　man's　head。〃

〃Yes；　I'm　feelin'　fine；　an'　time　never　bothers　me。〃

〃Wal；　mebbe　you　ain't　such　a　fool；　after　all。　　I've　wondered
lately　　since　I　had　time　to　think。　。　。　。　　But；　Milt；　you
don't　git　no　richer。〃

〃Al；　I　have　all　I　want　an'　need。〃

〃Wal；　then；　you　don't　support　anybody；　you　don't　do　any　good
in　the　world。〃

〃We　don't　agree；　Al；〃　replied　Dale；　with　his　slow　smile。

〃Reckon　we　never　did。　。　。　。　　An'　you　jest　come　over　to　pay
your　respects　to　me；　eh？〃

〃Not　altogether；〃　answered　Dale；　ponderingly。　　〃First　off；
I'd　like　to　say　I'll　pay　back　them　sheep　you　always　claimed
my　tame　cougar　killed。〃

〃You　will！　　An'　how'd　you　go　about　that？〃

〃Wasn't　very　many　sheep；　was　there？

〃A　matter　of　fifty　head。〃

〃So　many！　　Al；　do　you　still　think　old　Tom　killed　them　sheep？〃

〃Humph！　　Milt；　I　know　damn　well　he　did。〃

〃Al；　now　how　could　you　know　somethin'　I　don't？　　Be
reasonable；　now。　　Let's　don't　fall　out　about　this　again。　　I'll
pay　back　the　sheep。　　Work　it　out　〃

〃Milt　Dale；　you'll　come　down　here　an'　work　out　that　fifty
head　of　sheep！〃　ejaculated　the　old　rancher；　incredulously。

〃Sure。〃

〃Wal；　I'll　be　damned！〃　He　sat　back　and　gazed　with　shrewd
eyes　at　Dale。　　〃What's　got　into　you；　Milt？　　Hev　you　heard
about　my　niece　thet's　comin'；　an'　think　you'll　shine　up　to
her？〃

〃Yes；　Al；　her　comin'　has　a　good　deal　to　do　with　my　deal；〃
replied　Dale；　soberly。　　〃But　I　never　thought　to　shine　up　to
her；　as　you　hint。〃

〃Haw！　　Haw！　　You're　just　like　all　the　other　colts　hereabouts。
Reckon　it's　a　good　sign；　too。　　It'll　take　a　woman　to　fetch
you　out　of　the　woods。　　But；　boy；　this　niece　of　mine；　Helen
Rayner；　will　stand　you　on　your　head。　　I　never　seen　her。　　They
say　she's　jest　like　her　mother。　　An'　Nell　Auchincloss　　what
a　girl　she　was！〃

Dale　felt　his　face　grow　red。　　Indeed；　this　was　strange
conversation　for　him。

〃Honest；　Al　〃　he　began。

〃Son；　don't　lie　to　an　old　man。〃

〃Lie！　　I　wouldn't　lie　to　any　one。　　Al；　it's　only　men　who　live
in　towns　an'　are　always　makin'　deals。　　I　live　in　the　forest；
where　there's　nothin'　to　make　me　lie。〃

〃Wal；　no　offense　meant；　I'm　sure；〃　responded　Auchincloss。
〃An'　mebbe　there's　somethin'　in　what　you　say　。　。　。　　We　was
talkin'　about　them　sheep　your　big　cat　killed。　　Wal；　Milt；　I
can't　prove　it；　that's　sure。　　An'　mebbe　you'll　think　me
doddery　when　I　tell　you　my　reason。　　It　wasn't　what　them
greaser　herders　said　about　seein'　a　cougar　in　the　herd。〃

〃What　was　it；　then？〃　queried　Dale；　much　interested。

〃Wal；　thet　day　a　year　ago　I　seen　your　pet。　　He　was　lyin'　in
front　of　the　store　an'　you　was　inside　tradin'；　fer　supplies；
I　reckon。　　It　was　like　meetin'　an　enemy　face　to　face。
Because；　damn　me　if　I　didn't　know　that　cougar　was　guilty
when　he　looked　in　my　eyes！　　There！〃

The　old　rancher　expected　to　be　laughed　at。　　But　Dale　was
grave。

〃Al；　I　know　how　you　felt；〃　he　replied；　as　if　they　were
discussing　an　action　of　a　human　being。　　〃Sure　I'd　hate　to
doubt　old　Tom。　　But　he's　a　cougar。　　An'　the　ways　of　animals
are　strange　。　。　。　　Anyway；　Al；　I'll　make　good　the　loss　of
your　sheep。〃

〃No；　you　won't；〃　rejoined　Auchincloss；　quickly。　　〃We'll　call
it　off　。　　I'm　takin'　it　square　of　you　to　make　the　offer。
Thet's　enough。　　So　forget　your　worry　about　work；　if　you　had
any。〃

〃There's　somethin'　else；　Al；　I　wanted　to　say；〃　began　Dale；
with　hesitation。　　〃An'　it's　about　Beasley。〃

Auchincloss　started　violently；　and　a　flame　of　red　shot　into
his　face。　　Then　he　raised　a　big　hand　that　shook。　　Dale　saw　in
a　flash　how　the　old　man's　nerves　had　gone。

〃Don't　mention　　thet　　thet　greaser　　to　me！〃　burst　out
the　rancher。　　〃It　makes　me　see　　red。　。　。　。　　Dale；　I　ain't
overlookin'　that　you　spoke　up　fer　me　to…day　　stood　fer　my
side。　　Lem　Harden　told　me。　　I　was　glad。　　An'　thet's　why　
to…day　　I　forgot　our　old　quarrel。　。　。　。　　But　not　a　word
about　thet　sheep…thief　　or　I'll　drive　you　off　the　place！〃

〃But；　Al　　be　reasonable；〃　remonstrated　Dale。　　〃It's
necessary　thet　I　speak　of　　of　Beasley。〃

〃It　ain't。　　Not　to　me。　　I　won't　listen。〃

〃Reckon　you'll　have　to；　Al；〃　returned　Dale。　　〃Beasley's　after
your　property。　　He's　made　a　deal　〃

〃By　Heaven！　　I　know　that！〃　shouted　Auchincloss；　tottering　up；
with　his　face　now　black…red。　　〃Do　you　think　thet's　new　to　me？
Shut　up；　Dale！　　I　can't　stand　it。〃

〃But　Al　　there's　worse；〃　went　on　Dale；　hurriedly。　　〃Worse！
Your　life's　threatened　　an'　your　niece；　Helen　　she's　to
be　〃

〃Shut　up　　an'　clear　out！〃　roared　Auchincloss；　waving　his
huge　fists。

He　seemed　on　the　verge　of　a　collapse　as；　shaking　all　over；
he　backed　into　the　door。　　A　few　seconds　of　rage　had
transformed　him　into　a　pitiful　old　man。

〃But；　Al　　I'm　your　friend　〃　began　Dale；　appealingly。

〃Friend；　hey？〃　returned　the　rancher；　with　grim；　bitter
passion。　　〃Then　you're　the　only　one。　。　。　。　　Milt　Dale；　I'm
rich　an'　I'm　a　dyin'　man。　　I　trust　nobody　。　。　。　　But；　you　wild
hunter　　if　you're　my　friend　　prove　it！　　。　。　。　　Go　kill
thet　greaser　sheep…thief！　　DO　somethin'　　an'　then　come　talk
to　me！〃

With　that　he　lurched；　half　falling；　into　the　house；　and
slammed　the　door。

Dale　stood　there　for　a　blank　moment；　and　then；　taking　up　his
rifle；　he　strode　away。

Toward　sunset　Dale　located　the　camp　of　his　four　Mormon
friends；　and　reached　it　in　time　for　supper。

John；　Roy；　Joe；　and　Hal　Beeman　were　sons　of　a　pioneer　Mormon
who　had　settled　the　little　community　of　Snowdrop。　　They　were
young　men　in　years；　but　hard　labor　and　hard　life　in　the　open
had　made　them　look　matured。　　Only　a　year's　difference　in　age
stood　between　John　and　Roy；　and　between　Roy　and　Joe；　and
likewise　Joe　and　Hal。　　When　it　came　to　appearance　they　were
difficult　to　distinguish　from　one　another。　　Horsemen；
sheep…herders；　cattle…raisers；　hunters　　they　all　possessed
long；　wiry；　powerful　frames；　lean；　bronzed；　still　faces；　and
the　quiet；　keen　eyes　of　men　used　to　the　open。

Their　camp　was　situated　beside　a　spring　in　a　cove　surrounded
by　aspens；　some　three　miles　from　Pine；　and；　though　working
for　Beasley；　near　the　village；　they　had　ridden　to　and　fro
from　camp；　after　the　habit　of　seclusion　peculiar　to　their
kind。

Dale　and　the　brothers　had　much　in　common；　and　a　warm　regard
had　sprang　up。　　But　their　exchange　of　confidences　had　wholly
concerned　things　pertaining　to　the　forest。　　Dale　ate　supper
with　them；　and　talked　as　usual　when　he　met　them；　without
giving　any　hint　of　the　purpose　forming　in　his　mind。　　After
the　meal　he　helped　Joe　round　up　the　horses；　hobble　them　for
the　night；　and　drive　them　into　a　grassy　glade　among　the
pines。　　Later；　when　the　shadows　stole　through　the　forest　on
the　cool　wind；　and　the　camp…fire　glowed　comfortably；　Dale
broached　the　subject　that　possessed　him。

〃An'　so　you're　working　for　Beasley？〃　he　queried；　by　way　of
starting　conversation。

〃We　was；〃　drawled　John。　　〃But　to…day；　bein'　the　end　of　our
month；　we　got　our　pay　an'　quit。　　Beasley　sure　was　sore。〃

〃Why'd　you　knock　off？〃

John　essayed　no　reply；　and　his　brothers　all　had　that　quiet；
suppressed　look　of　knowledge　under　restraint。

〃Li