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第8章

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

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