The Man of the Forest
their luggage. Helen bade Bo take her share; thus burdened,
seized Helen's heavy bag, with which she
sure out in the wil
y kind. In the excitement of arriving Helen had forgotten him. The manner of sudden reminder-the insincerity of it-made her temper flash. She almost fell,
'll carry my
help Bo with hers,"
ith sharp determination. No little force
er with that joke, are you?" he queried, de
ied Helen. "I told you I d
ome town. An' I ain't goin' to let a quarrel keep me fr
d just helped Bo off the car. Then Helen looked up
len Rayner?
es
le. I've come
you?" added Helen
sent me," began the
who, grasping Helen by the
end you to meet my young friend
Riggs. She could not read this qu
n my own hook
then-they're in my c
en's, and if there was not a smile in them o
aid you didn't want th
her arm a little squeeze. Probably Bo's thought was like hers-here was a real Western man. T
gered clos
kin, I hail
e. His tone seemed friendly. "An' if you ever lived long in Texas
y. He dropped his right han
gun. It might go
probably just what Dale evidently had read it-h
. But she heard the thud as it struck. The gun went flying t
ourself some d
xcitement or emotion or hurry, it yet seemed full and significant of t
ssion was surprise. As the shuffling crowd began to snicker and whisper, Riggs gave Dale a
en's baggage, he said, "Come on," and shouldered a lane thro
you?" whispered Bo. "O
ld gray stage-coach and four lean horses. A grizzled, sunburned man sat on the driver's seat, whip and reins in hand. Beside him was a younger man with rifle across
sn't you
p the girls. Wanted to throw his gun on me. I was sur
ht. The young man at the coach door took a second look at h
stage, and then, placing the lighter luggage,
imb up,"
led the driver, "
door. He glanced at the crowd, now
you," he said, and indecis
exclaime
n' takes time. An' w
rry?" queried Helen
rec
he stage t
nin'. We rustled this old t
But I-I don't understand
ou to ride on the mornin
laimed Helen. Apprehensively she
n' facts may change your mind
Helen, blankly. "You mea
oundabout an' not hit Snow
-to my uncle-
goin' to
re now to be dependent upon her judgments. It was a hard moment and, though she shivered inwardly, she welcomed the initial and inevitable step. This man Dale, by his dress of buckskin, must be either scout or hunter. His size, his action, the tone of
said. "Get in, and let us h
l. Send 'em alo
the stage lurched and began to roll; the motley crowd was left behind. Helen awakened to the reality, as she saw Bo staring with bi
at first glance appeared darkly bronzed and hard, and then became clear, cold, aloof, still, intense. She wished she might see a smile upon it. And now that the die was cast she could not tell why
ot your sister," h
u know she'
she looks
ought so," replied H
ling, as she said, "Wish I
our name Helen
-some few ca
elen. An' what's yours?" w
it silly? But I wasn't asked whe
r heard it before. But I haven
cried Bo. "Look, Nell! How
y miles of that before we
and on to a bright, dark horizon-line, where the sun was setting rayless i
ite anythin' about a man n
e is familiar to us-and detestable. My uncle complained of this man for year
take the West as it is. There's good an' bad, maybe more bad. That's because the country's young.... So to come right out wit
e?" ejaculated H
worse than killing you!" declared Dale, gri
utterly
out. "Make off with me!...
o a fierce lit
ut of the way. He named the day you were to reach Magdalena. With Al dead an' you not there, Beasley could get the property. An' then he wouldn't care if you did come to claim it. It 'd be too late.... Well, they rode away that night. An' next day I rustled down to Pine. They're all my friends at Pine, except old Al. But they think I'm queer. I didn't want to confide in many people. Beasley is strong in Pine, an' for that matter I suspect Snake Anson has other friends there besides Beasley. So I went to see your uncle. He never had any use for me because he thought I was lazy like an Indian. Old Al hates lazy men. Then we fell out-or he fell out-because he believed a tame lion of mine had killed some of his sheep. An' now I reckon that Tom might have done it. I t
o, ringingly. She was white; her fin
oy's. Helen felt her body all rigid, yet slightly trembling. Her hands were cold. The horror of this r
efore we can turn off. To-day sometime the rest of the boys-Roy, John, an' Hal-were to leave Show Down, which's a town farther on from Snowdrop. They have my horses an' pac
her hands
o courage?" s
ou are," said Bo, consoli
both brace up. It's a bad job. But I've done my best. An' you'll be safer with me an
a coward-or-or ungrateful. I'm neither. It's only I'm so-so shocked. A
ar. Let's take what
ith the worst. Maybe we'll get through easy. When we meet the
and I ride fairly well," responded Helen.
ridin' before I get you up
of the stage Helen heard a rapid beat of
out. The stage rolled to a halt.
was that?"
Joe. "I seen him 'way back. He was ridin' some. An'
as if he did not lik
get by Roy on thi
y before Roy strik
n't li
. Dale, you think he was a messenger-go
," replied D
above and called: "Miss Helen, don't you worry. Thet
, and she had never let the fact remain before her consciousness. This cheerful young man spoke calmly of spilling blood in her behalf. The thought it roused was tragic-for bloodshed was insupportable
said Dale, reaching out a long arm. Presently he placed a cloth-cov
t half full yet,
up on top with the boys an' eat my supper. It'll be dark, pre
oor, clambered up to the driver's seat. Then t
ntful evening was the way Bo reached for the
N'T EAT!" s
to have some pretty severe trials.... Gee! it's all great-just like a story! The unexpected-why, he looks like a prince turned hunter!-long, dark, stage journey-held up-fight-escape-wild ride on hor
o, tell me, are
tern girls stand such things, we can.
she had given herself in dreams, and she was at once as
with me!" exclaimed Helen, ferve
air blow in. The sun had long since sunk. Out to the west, where a bold, black horizon-line swept away endlessly, the sky was clear gold, shading to yellow and blue above. Stars were out, pale
said Bo, suddenly, and she
fs, the clink of chains, the creak and rattle of the old
pulled the cloaks up over them, and close together leaned back in a corner of the
erval. "Where are we, Nell? Those men up the
't a Mormon,"
o you
the way he spok
such a wonderful looking fellow? What'd they call him? Milt-Milt Dale. He said he lived in t
hispered, startlingly, "Wonder if
s," replied Hel
-what did Uncle Al used to call it?-sav-savvied-that's
What do yo
al danger. But I felt it. Something went light i
t Uncle Al's, sure as
ver bother your head again about him. I'll bet they're all men
d back to the loved ones at home, now seemingly at the other side of the world, a
have fallen asleep i
she had chosen to dream of gipsies. And now it struck her grimly that, if these first few hours of her a
t. She looked out, expecting to find it pitch-dark. It was black, yet a transparent blackness. To her surprise she could see a long way. A shooting-star electrified her. Th
a few moments, and once more in motion it began a laborsome climb. Helen imagined miles had been covered. The desert appeared to heave into billows, growing rougher, and dark, round
I?" asked
s desire, but I can't tell you
ct was now no wonder, considerin
, Nell!... Is
like this, I think," replied Helen.
out of t
But it'd be nice if it was
loved cold air,
in to talk like you
at once, but they succeeded, except in the roughest places, when from ti
ner, I'll never forgive you for
handsome Las Vegas c
he suggestion sufficed to reconcil
he driver of the stage kept at his task after the manner of Western me
standstill for so long, with the men whispering on
histle came from t
aid Joe Beeman,
so quick looks bad," repli
if we hain't come thirty mile, an' if thet ridge thar h
d Bo sat clasping each other tight, wondering with b
l. Helen heard the thud of boots striki
e, to the side of the road... and here comes a man..
lently, and beyond it a vague outline of horses, and
and met the stra
girl sure, or you wouldn't
wo girls-sisters
ath. Then another lean, rangy form strode
bout Anson's gan
relin'. Reckon they'll leave th
have you b
couple
orse g
N
re dark. He was hittin' the road. An
y. "Let's rustle. With girls on hossback you'
foller hoss tracks,"
s. "Daylight not far away. Here's the forks of the road, an' y
the panting little breaths of her sister. They both peered out, ha
se Anson won't make anythin' of our wheel tracks or horse tracks. He'll go right on to me
n' take it easy at
oe an' Hal ride back to meet the regular stage. An' when
greeable to me,
on it, too," s
ill, hand down the bags. An' you, Roy, help me p
't powerful particular you can feed
riding to the stage,
not asleep? C
ped dow
s vehicle fell off the road
He took off his sombrero and stood silen
Joe, did you hear thet? All the
keen eyes upon her face. He seemed both gentle and respectful, and she felt
hauled out baskets and bags. T
g with you. John an' Hal will f
hamed of my country-offerin' two sich purty gurls insults an' low-down tricks. But shore you'll go thro
grizzly!" broke
n' good luck!" ended Bill, a
but Helen could only murmur hers
the stage careened and creaked, prese
looking down upon Helen. She felt his b
d Helen. "I guess we'
're freezing," declared Bo. "I didn't
an' a coat?" asked Roy, anxiously.
ots-all fine and new-in this black bag," said
ot of good they'll do us,
aid Roy, earnestly. "It'll save time in the l
was advised to change her traveling-dress for a riding-suit-out somewhere
e were his sister. And when she indicated t
hanically at their heels. Dale led them a fe
. "We'll make a pack of your out
ay and in a few st
face and big, gleaming eyes by the light of the stars. It struck her then tha
" said Bo, reflectively. "Aren't
, but after she had gotten launched on the task she found that it required more fortitude than courage
was so c-c-cold in all my life. Nell Ray
ands, yet this, the hardest physical ordeal she had ever experienced, almost overcame her. Bo outdistanced her by moments, help
s!" exclaimed Helen. "Oh, Bo,
morrow-on a l-log," rep
note, did not carry her share of the bur
de a group of horses, one
relieving Helen of the grip. "Roy, pu
t two of t
ating Bo. "The stirrups
uch awkward and slow work of it in this ins
n them. Guess they're about right.... Caref
the reputation with whic
t she found herself astride a black, spirited horse. Numb with co
e stirrups wi
your foot.... Shore now, I'm glad you have them thick, s
hear that?"
er unnaturally in her saddle. Helen became
nched u
ady," re
ide shoulders seemed on a level with the pommel of h
e's the fastest an' fine
is-along with my ba
our pet," said Dale. "We can start n
len's saddle and then move
right?" he as
ed in h
voice. Her face shone white in the starlight
he called,
n't you w
ry you," su
this horse or d-die,"
other. Then Roy walked away toward the dark bunch of hors
se to me,
and Helen brou
start and see the pale walls of her little room at home, and hear the cherry branc