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