the man of the forest-第73章

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〃Wonderin'　'round；　yes　　but　she's　daid！〃

〃My　Gawd！　　it　ain't　possible！〃

〃Wal；　if　she　ain't　wonderin'　round　daid　she's　almost　daid；〃
replied　Wilson。　　And　he　began　to　whisper　to　himself。

〃If　I'd　only　knowed　what　thet　deal　meant　I'd　hev　plugged
Beasley　instead　of　listenin'。　。　。　。　　An'　I　ought　to　hev
knocked　thet　kid　on　the　head　an'　made　sartin　she'd　croaked。
If　she　goes　screamin'　'round　thet　way　〃

His　voice　failed　as　there　rose　a　thin；　splitting；
high…pointed　shriek；　somewhat　resembling　the　first　scream；
only　less　wild。　　It　came　apparently　from　the　cliff。

From　another　point　in　the　pitch…black　glen　rose　the　wailing；
terrible　cry　of　a　woman　in　agony。　　Wild；　haunting；　mournful
wail！

Anson's　horse；　loosing　the　halter；　plunged　back；　almost
falling　over　a　slight　depression　in　the　rocky　ground。　　The
outlaw　caught　him　and　dragged　him　nearer　the　fire。　　The　other
horses　stood　shaking　and　straining。　　Moze　ran　between　them
and　held　them。　　Shady　Jones　threw　green　brush　on　the　fire。
With　sputter　and　crackle　a　blaze　started；　showing　Wilson
standing　tragically；　his　arms　out；　facing　the　black　shadows。

The　strange；　live　shriek　was　not　repeated。　　But　the　cry；　like
that　of　a　woman　in　her　death…throes；　pierced　the　silence
again。　　It　left　a　quivering　ring　that　softly　died　away。　　Then
the　stillness　clamped　down　once　more　and　the　darkness　seemed
to　thicken。　　The　men　waited；　and　when　they　had　begun　to　relax
the　cry　burst　out　appallingly　close；　right　behind　the　trees。
It　was　human　　the　personification　of　pain　and　terror　
the　tremendous　struggle　of　precious　life　against　horrible
death。　　So　pure；　so　exquisite；　so　wonderful　was　the　cry　that
the　listeners　writhed　as　if　they　saw　an　innocent；　tender；
beautiful　girl　torn　frightfully　before　their　eyes。　　It　was
full　of　suspense；　it　thrilled　for　death；　its　marvelous
potency　was　the　wild　note　　that　beautiful　and　ghastly　note
of　self…preservation。

In　sheer　desperation　the　outlaw　leader　fired　his　gun　at　the
black　wall　whence　the　cry　came。　　Then　he　had　to　fight　his
horse　to　keep　him　from　plunging　away。　　Following　the　shot　was
an　interval　of　silence；　the　horses　became　tractable；　the　men
gathered　closer　to　the　fire；　with　the　halters　still　held
firmly。

〃If　it　was　a　cougar　　thet　'd　scare　him　off；〃　said　Anson。

〃Shore；　but　it　ain't　a　cougar；〃　replied　Wilson。　　〃Wait　an'
see！〃

They　all　waited；　listening　with　ears　turned　to　different
points；　eyes　roving　everywhere；　afraid　of　their　very
shadows。　　Once　more　the　moan　of　wind；　the　mockery　of　brook；
deep　gurgle；　laugh　and　babble；　dominated　the　silence　of　the
glen。

〃Boss；　let's　shake　this　spooky　hole；〃　whispered　Moze。

The　suggestion　attracted　Anson；　and　he　pondered　it　while
slowly　shaking　his　head。

〃We've　only　three　hosses。　　An'　mine　'll　take　ridin'　　after
them　squalls；〃　replied　the　leader。　　〃We've　got　packs；　too。
An'　hell　'ain't　nothin'　on　this　place　fer　bein'　dark。〃

〃No　matter。　　Let's　go。　　I'll　walk　an'　lead　the　way；〃　said
Moze；　eagerly。　　〃I　got　sharp　eyes。　　You　fellars　can　ride　an'
carry　a　pack。　　We'll　git　out　of　here　an'　come　back　in
daylight　fer　the　rest　of　the　outfit。〃

〃Anson；　I'm　keen　fer　thet　myself；〃　declared　Shady　Jones。

〃Jim；　what　d'ye　say　to　thet？〃　queried　Anson。　　〃Rustlin'　out
of　this　black　hole？〃

〃Shore　it's　a　grand　idee；〃　agreed　Wilson。

〃Thet　was　a　cougar；〃　avowed　Anson；　gathering　courage　as　the
silence　remained　unbroken。　　〃But　jest　the　same　it　was　as
tough　on　me　as　if　it　hed　been　a　woman　screamin'　over　a　blade
twistin'　in　her　gizzards。〃

〃Snake；　shore　you　seen　a　woman　heah　lately？〃　deliberately
asked　Wilson。

〃Reckon　I　did。　　Thet　kid；〃　replied　Anson；　dubiously。

〃Wal；　you　seen　her　go　crazy；　didn't　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃'An'　she　wasn't　heah　when　you　went　huntin'　fer　her？〃

〃Correct。〃

〃Wal；　if　thet's　so；　what　do　you　want　to　blab　about　cougars
for？〃

Wilson's　argument　seemed　incontestable。　　Shady　and　Moze
nodded　gloomily　and　shifted　restlessly　from　foot　to　foot。
Anson　dropped　his　head。

〃No　matter　　if　we　only　don't　hear　〃　he　began；　suddenly
to　grow　mute。

Right　upon　them；　from　some　place；　just　out　the　circle　of
light；　rose　a　scream；　by　reason　of　its　proximity　the　most
piercing　and　agonizing　yet　heard；　simply　petrifying　the
group　until　the　peal　passed。　　Anson's　huge　horse　reared；　and
with　a　snort　of　terror　lunged　in　tremendous　leap；　straight
out。　　He　struck　Anson　with　thudding　impact；　knocking　him　over
the　rocks　into　the　depression　back　of　the　camp…fire；　and
plunging　after　him。　　Wilson　had　made　a　flying　leap　just　in
time　to　avoid　being　struck；　and　he　turned　to　see　Anson　go
down。　　There　came　a　crash；　a　groan；　and　then　the　strike　and
pound　of　hoofs　as　the　horse　struggled　up。　　Apparently　he　had
rolled　over　his　master。

〃Help；　fellars！〃　yelled　Wilson；　quick　to　leap　down　over　the
little　bank；　and　in　the　dim　light　to　grasp　the　halter。　　The
three　men　dragged　the　horse　out　and　securely　tied　him　close
to　a　tree。　　That　done；　they　peered　down　into　the　depression。
Anson's　form　could　just　barely　be　distinguished　in　the
gloom。　　He　lay　stretched　out。　　Another　groan　escaped　him。

〃Shore　I'm　scared　he's　hurt；〃　said　Wilson。

〃Hoss　rolled　right　on　top　of　him。　　An'　thet　hoss's　heavy；〃
declared　Moze。

They　got　down　and　knelt　beside　their　leader。　　In　the　darkness
his　face　looked　dull　gray。　　His　breathing　was　not　right。

〃Snake；　old　man；　you　ain't　　hurt？〃　asked　Wilson；　with　a
tremor　in　his　voice。　　Receiving　no　reply；　he　said　to　his
comrades；　〃Lay　hold　an'　we'll　heft　him　up　where　we　can　see。〃

The　three　men　carefully　lifted　Anson　up　on　the　bank　and　laid
him　near　the　fire　in　the　light。　　Anson　was　conscious。　　His
face　was　ghastly。　　Blood　showed　on　his　lips。

Wilson　knelt　beside　him。　　The　other　outlaws　stood　up；　and
with　one　dark　gaze　at　one　another　damned　Anson's　chance　of
life。　　And　on　the　instant　rose　that　terrible　distressing
scream　of　acute　agony　　like　that　of　a　woman　being
dismembered。　　Shady　Jones　whispered　something　to　Moze。　　Then
they　stood　up；　gazing　down　at　their　fallen　leader。

〃Tell　me　where　you're　hurt？〃　asked　Wilson。

〃He　　smashed　　my　chest；〃　said　Anson；　in　a　broken；
strangled　whisper。

Wilson's　deft　hands　opened　the　outlaw's　shirt　and　felt　of
his　chest。

…335…


〃No。　　Shore　your　breast…bone　ain't　smashed；〃　replied　Wilson；
hopefully。　　And　he　began　to　run　his　hand　around　one　side　of
Anson's　body　and　then　the　other。　　Abruptly　he　stopped；
averted　his　gaze；　then　slowly　ran　the　hand　all　along　that
side。　　Anson's　ribs　had　been　broken　and　crushed　in　by　the
weight　of　the　horse。　　He　was　bleeding　at　the　mouth；　and　his
slow；　painful　expulsions　of　breath　brought　a　bloody　froth；
which　showed　that　the　broken　bones　had　penetrated　the　lungs。
An　injury　sooner　or　later　fatal！

〃Pard；　you　busted　a　rib　or　two；〃　said　Wilson。

〃Aw；　Jim　　it　must　be　　wuss　'n　thet！〃　he　whispered。　　〃I'm
　in　orful　　pain。　　An'　I　can't　　git　any　　breath。〃

〃Mebbe　you'll　be　better；〃　said　Wilson；　with　a　cheerfulness
his　face　belied。

Moze　bent　close　over　Anson；　took　a　short　scrutiny　of　that
ghastly　face；　at　the　blood…stained　lips；　and　the　lean　hands
plucking　at　nothing。　　Then　he　jerked　erect。

〃Shady；　he's　goin'　to　cash。　　Let's　clear　out　of　this。〃

〃I'm　yours　pertickler　previous；〃　replied　Jones。

Both　turned　away。　　They　untied　the　two　horses　and　led　them　up
to　where　the　saddles　lay。　　Swiftly　the　blankets　went　on；
swiftly　the　saddles　swung　up；　swiftly　the　cinches　snapped。
Anson　lay　gazing　up　at　Wilson；　comprehending　this　move。　　And
Wilson　stood　strangely　grim　and　silent；　somehow　detached
coldly　from　that　self　of　the　past　few　hours。

〃Shady；　you　grab　some　bread　an'　I'll　pack　a　bunk　of　meat；〃
said　Moze。　　Both　men　came　near　the　fire；　into　the　light；
within　ten　feet　of　where　the　leader　lay。

〃Fellars　　you　ain't　　slopin'？〃　he　whispered；　in　husky
amaze。

〃Boss；　we　air　thet　same。　　We　can't　do　you　no　good　an'　this
hole　ain't　healthy；〃　replied　Moze。

Shady　Jones　swung　himself　astride　his　horse；　all　about　him
sharp；　eager；　strung。

〃Moze；　I'll　tote　the　grub　an'　you　lead　out　of　hyar；　till　we
git　past　the　wust　timber；〃　he　said。

〃Aw；　Moze　you　wouldn't　leave　　Jim　hyar　　alone；〃
implored　Anson。

〃Jim　can　stay　till　he　rot