the man of the forest-第8章
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food they bad brought from home。
They had two seats； facing each other； at the end of the
coach； and piled there； with the basket on top； was luggage
that constituted all the girls owned in the world。 Indeed；
it was very much more than they had ever owned before；
because their mother； in her care for them and desire to
have them look well in the eyes of this rich uncle； had
spent money and pains to give them pretty and serviceable
clothes。
The girls sat together； with the heavy basket on their
knees； and ate while they gazed out at the cool； dark
ridges。 The train clattered slowly on； apparently over a
road that was all curves。 And it was supper…time for
everybody in that crowded coach。 If Helen had not been so
absorbed by the great； wild mountain…land she would have had
more interest in the passengers。 As it was she saw them； and
was amused and thoughtful at the men and women and a few
children in the car； all middle…class people； poor and
hopeful； traveling out there to the New West to find homes。
It was splendid and beautiful； this fact； yet it inspired a
brief and inexplicable sadness。 From the train window； that
world of forest and crag； with its long bare reaches
between； seemed so lonely； so wild； so unlivable。 How
endless the distance！ For hours and miles upon miles no
house； no hut； no Indian tepee！ It was amazing； the length
and breadth of this beautiful land。 And Helen； who loved
brooks and running streams； saw no water at all。
Then darkness settled down over the slow…moving panorama； a
cool night wind blew in at the window； white stars began to
blink out of the blue。 The sisters； with hands clasped and
heads nestled together； went to sleep under a heavy cloak。
Early the next morning； while the girls were again delving
into their apparently bottomless basket； the train stopped
at Las Vegas。
〃Look！ Look！〃 cried Bo； in thrilling voice。 〃Cowboys！ Oh；
Nell； look！〃
Helen； laughing； looked first at her sister； and thought how
most of all she was good to look at。 Bo was little； instinct
with pulsating life； and she had chestnut hair and dark…blue
eyes。 These eyes were flashing； roguish； and they drew like
magnets。
Outside on the rude station platform were railroad men；
Mexicans； and a group of lounging cowboys。 Long； lean；
bow…legged fellows they were； with young； frank faces and
intent eyes。 One of them seemed particularly attractive with
his superb build； his red…bronze face and bright…red scarf；
his swinging gun； and the huge； long； curved spurs。
Evidently he caught Bo's admiring gaze； for； with a word to
his companions； he sauntered toward the window where the
girls sat。 His gait was singular； almost awkward； as if he
was not accustomed to walking。 The long spurs jingled
musically。 He removed his sombrero and stood at ease； frank；
cool； smiling。 Helen liked him on sight； and； looking to see
what effect he had upon Bo； she found that young lady
staring； frightened stiff。
〃Good mawnin'；〃 drawled the cowboy； with slow； good…humored
smile。 〃Now where might you…all be travelin'？〃
The sound of his voice； the clean…cut and droll geniality；
seemed new and delightful to Helen。
〃We go to Magdalena then take stage for the White
Mountains；〃 replied Helen。
The cowboy's still； intent eyes showed surprise。
〃Apache country； miss；〃 he said。 〃I reckon I'm sorry。 Thet's
shore no place for you…all 。 。 。 Beggin' your pawdin you
ain't Mormons？〃
〃No。 We're nieces of Al Auchincloss；〃 rejoined Helen。
〃Wal； you don't say！ I've been down Magdalena way an' heerd
of Al。 。 。 。 Reckon you're goin' a…visitin'？〃
〃It's to be home for us。〃
〃Shore thet's fine。 The West needs girls。 。 。 。 Yes； I've
heerd of Al。 An old Arizona cattle…man in a sheep country！
Thet's bad。 。 。 。 Now I'm wonderin' if I'd drift down
there an' ask him for a job ridin' for him would I get
it？〃
His lazy smile was infectious and his meaning was as clear
as crystal water。 The gaze he bent upon Bo somehow pleased
Helen。 The last year or two； since Bo had grown prettier all
the time； she had been a magnet for admiring glances。 This
one of the cowboy's inspired respect and liking； as well as
amusement。 It certainly was not lost upon Bo。
〃My uncle once said in a letter that he never had enough men
to run his ranch；〃 replied Helen； smiling。
〃Shore I'll go。 I reckon I'd jest naturally drift that way
now。〃
He seemed so laconic； so easy； so nice； that he could not
have been taken seriously； yet Helen's quick perceptions
registered a daring； a something that was both sudden and
inevitable in him。 His last word was as clear as the soft
look he fixed upon Bo。
Helen had a mischievous trait； which； subdue it as she
would； occasionally cropped out； and Bo； who once in her
wilful life had been rendered speechless； offered such a
temptation。
〃Maybe my little sister will put in a good word for you
to Uncle Al；〃 said Helen。 Just then the train jerked； and
started slowly。 The cowboy took two long strides beside the
car； his heated boyish face almost on a level with the
window； his eyes； now shy and a little wistful； yet bold；
too； fixed upon Bo。
〃Good…by Sweetheart！〃 he called。
He halted was lost to view。
〃Well！〃 ejaculated Helen； contritely； half sorry； half
amused。 〃What a sudden young gentleman！〃
Bo had blushed beautifully。
〃Nell； wasn't he glorious！〃 she burst out； with eyes
shining。
〃I'd hardly call him that； but he was…nice；〃 replied Helen；
much relieved that Bo had apparently not taken offense at
her。
It appeared plain that Bo resisted a frantic desire to look
out of the window and to wave her hand。 But she only peeped
out； manifestly to her disappointment。
〃Do you think he he'll come to Uncle Al's？〃 asked Bo。
〃Child； he was only in fun。〃
〃Nell； I'll bet you he comes。 Oh； it'd be great！ I'm going
to love cowboys。 They don't look like that Harve Riggs who
ran after you so。〃
Helen sighed； partly because of the reminder of her odious
suitor； and partly because Bo's future already called
mysteriously to the child。 Helen had to be at once a mother
and a protector to a girl of intense and wilful spirit。
One of the trainmen directed the girls' attention to a
green； sloping mountain rising to a bold； blunt bluff of
bare rock； and； calling it Starvation Peak； be told a story
of how Indians had once driven Spaniards up there and
starved them。 Bo was intensely interested； and thereafter
she watched more keenly than ever； and always had a question
for a passing trainman。 The adobe houses of the Mexicans
pleased her； and； then the train got out into Indian
country； where pueblos appeared near the track and Indians
with their bright colors and shaggy wild mustangs then
she was enraptured。
〃But these Indians are peaceful！〃 she exclaimed once；
regretfully。
〃Gracious； child！ You don't want to see hostile Indians； do
you？〃 queried Helen。
〃I do； you bet；〃 was the frank rejoinder。
〃Well； I'LL bet that I'll be sorry I didn't leave you with
mother。〃
〃Nell you never will！〃
They reached Albuquerque about noon； and this important
station； where they had to change trains； had been the first
dreaded anticipation of the journey。 It certainly was a busy
place full of jabbering Mexicans； stalking； red…faced；
wicked…looking cowboys； lolling Indians。 In the confusion
Helen would have been hard put to it to preserve calmness；
with Bo to watch； and all that baggage to carry； and the
other train to find； but the kindly brakeman who had been
attentive to them now helped them off the train into the
other a service for which Helen was very grateful。
〃Albuquerque's a hard place；〃 confided the trainman。 〃Better
stay in the car and don't hang out the windows。 。 。 。
Good luck to you！〃
Only a few passengers were in the car and they were Mexicans
at the forward end。 This branch train consisted of one
passenger…coach； with a baggage…car； attached to a string of
freight…cars。 Helen told herself； somewhat grimly； that soon
she would know surely whether or not her suspicions of Harve
Riggs had warrant。 If he was going on to Magdalena on that
