tales of trail and town-第29章

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it　is　just　as　well；　somebody　would　see　them　or　hear　them；that

neigh　was　quite　human　and　awful；and　they　would　hurry　down　to　see

what　was　the　matter。　　SHE　couldn't　be　expected　to　get　out　and　look

after　the　horses　in　the　snow。　　Anyhow；　she　WOULDN'T！　　She　was　a

good　deal　safer　where　she　was；　it　might　have　been　rats　or　mice

about　that　frightened　them！　　Goodness！



She　was　still　watching　with　curious　wonder　the　continued　fright　of

the　animals；　when　suddenly　she　felt　the　wagon　half　bumped；　half

lifted　from　behind。　　It　was　such　a　lazy；　deliberate　movement　that

for　a　moment　she　thought　it　came　from　the　party；　who　had　returned

noiselessly　with　the　runners。　　She　scrambled　over　to　the　back　seat；

unbuttoned　the　leather　curtain；　lifted　it；　but　nothing　was　to　be

seen。　　Consequently；　with　feminine　quickness；　she　said；　〃I　see　you

perfectly；　Mr。　Waterhousedon't　be　silly！〃　　But　at　this　moment

there　was　another　shock　to　the　wagon；　and　from　beneath　it　arose

what　at　first　seemed　to　her　to　be　an　uplifting　of　the　drift　itself；

but；　as　the　snow　was　shaken　away　from　its　heavy　bulk；　proved　to　be

the　enormous　head　and　shoulders　of　a　bear！



Yet　even　then　she　was　not　WHOLLY　frightened；　for　the　snout　that

confronted　her　had　a　feeble　inoffensiveness；　the　small　eyes　were

bright　with　an　eager；　almost　childish　curiosity　rather　than　a

savage　ardor；　and　the　whole　attitude　of　the　creature　lifted　upon

its　hind　legs　was　circus…like　and　ludicrous　rather　than　aggressive。

She　was　enabled　to　say　with　some　dignity；　〃Go　away！　Shoo！〃　and　to

wave　her　luncheon　basket　at　it　with　exemplary　firmness。　　But　here

the　creature　laid　one　paw　on　the　back　seat　as　if　to　steady　itself；

with　the　singular　effect　of　collapsing　the　whole　side　of　the　wagon；

and　then　opened　its　mouth　as　if　in　some　sort　of　inarticulate　reply。

But　the　revelation　of　its　red　tongue；　its　glistening　teeth；　and；

above　all；　the　hot；　suggestive　fume　of　its　breath；　brought　the

first　scream　from　the　lips　of　Miss　Amy。　　It　was　real　and

convincing；　the　horses　joined　in　it；　the　three　screamed　together！

The　bear　hesitated　for　an　instant；　then；　catching　sight　of　the

honey…pot　on　the　front　seat；　which　the　shrinking…back　of　the　young

girl　had　disclosed；　he　slowly　reached　forward　his　other　paw　and

attempted　to　grasp　it。　　This　exceedingly　simple　movement；　however；

at　once　doubled　up　the　front　seat；　sent　the　honey…pot　a　dozen　feet

into　the　air；　and　dropped　Miss　Amy　upon　her　knees　in　the　bed　of　the

wagon。　　The　combined　mental　and　physical　shock　was　too　much　for

her；　she　instantly　and　sincerely　fainted；　the　last　thing　in　her

ears　amidst　this　wreck　of　matter　being　the　〃wheep〃　of　a　bullet　and

the　sharp　crack　of　a　rifle。



　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。



She　recovered　her　consciousness　in　the　flickering　light　of　a　fire

of　bark；　that　played　upon　the　rafters　of　a　roof　thatched　with　bark

and　upon　a　floor　of　strewn　and　shredded　bark。　　She　even　suspected

she　was　lying　upon　a　mattress　of　bark　underneath　the　heavy　bearskin

she　could　feel　and　touch。　　She　had　a　delicious　sense　of　warmth；

and；　mingled　with　this　strange　spicing　of　woodland　freedom；　even　a

sense　of　home　protection。　　And　surely　enough；　looking　around；　she

saw　her　father　at　her　side。



He　briefly　explained　the　situation。　　They　had　been　at　first

attracted　by　the　cry　of　the　frightened　horses　and　their　plunging；

which　they　could　see　distinctly；　although　they　saw　nothing　else。

〃But；　Mr。　Tenbrook〃



〃Mr。　Who？〃　said　Amy；　staring　at　the　rafters。



〃The　owner　of　this　cabinthe　man　who　helped　uscaught　up　his　gun；

and；　calling　us　to　follow；　ran　like　lightning　down　the　trail。　　At

first　we　followed　blindly；　and　unknowingly；　for　we　could　only　see

the　struggling　horses；　who；　however；　seemed　to　be　ALONE；　and　the

wagon　from　which　you　did　not　seem　to　have　stirred。　　Then；　for　the

first　time；　my　dear　child；　we　suddenly　saw　your　danger。　　Imagine

how　we　felt　as　that　hideous　brute　rose　up　in　the　road　and　began

attacking　the　wagon。　　We　called　on　Tenbrook　to　fire；　but　for　some

inconceivable　reason　he　did　not；　although　he　still　kept　running　at

the　top　of　his　speed。　　Then　we　heard　you　shriek〃



〃I　didn't　shriek；　papa；　it　was　the　horses。〃



〃My　child；　I　knew　your　voice。〃



〃Well；　it　was　only　a　VERY　LITTLE　screambecause　I　had　tumbled。〃

The　color　was　coming　back　rapidly　to　her　pink　cheeks。



〃And；　then；　at　your　scream；　Tenbrook　fired！it　was　a　wonderful

shot　for　the　distance；　so　everybody　saysand　killed　the　bear；

though　Tenbrook　says　it　oughtn't　to。　　I　believe　he　wanted　to

capture　the　creature　alive。　　They've　queer　notions；　those　hunters。

And　then；　as　you　were　unconscious；　he　brought　you　up　here。〃



〃WHO　brought　me？〃



〃Tenbrook；　he's　as　strong　as　a　horse。　　Slung　you　up　on　his　shoulders

like　a　feather　pillow。〃



〃Oh！〃



〃And　then；　as　the　wagon　required　some　repairing　from　the　brute's

attack；　we　concluded　to　take　it　leisurely；　and　let　you　rest　here

for　a　while。〃



〃And　where　iswhere　are　THEY？〃



〃At　work　on　the　wagon。　　I　determined　to　stay　with　you；　though　you

are　perfectly　safe　here。〃



〃I　suppose　I　oughtto　thankthis　man；　papa？〃



〃Most　certainly；　though　of　course；　I　have　already　done　so。　　But　he

was　rather　curt　in　reply。　　These　half…savage　men　have　such　singular

ideas。　　He　said　the　beast　would　never　have　attacked　you　except　for


the　honey…pot　which　it　scented。　　That's　absurd。〃



〃Then　it's　all　my　fault？〃



〃Nonsense！　　How　could　YOU　know？〃



〃And　I've　made　all　this　trouble。　　And　frightened　the　horses。　　And

spoilt　the　wagon。　　And　made　the　man　run　down　and　bring　me　up　here

when　he　didn't　want　to！〃



〃My　dear　child！　　Don't　be　idiotic！　　Amy！　　Well；　really！〃



For　the　idiotic　one　was　really　wiping　two　large　tears　from　her

lovely　blue　eyes。　　She　subsided　into　an　ominous　silence；　broken　by

a　single　sniffle。　　〃Try　to　go　to　sleep；　dear；　you've　had　quite　a

shock　to　your　nerves；　added　her　father　soothingly。　　She　continued

silent；　but　not　sleeping。



〃I　smell　coffee。〃



〃Yes；　dear。〃



〃You've　been　having　coffee；　papa？〃



〃We　DID　have　some；　I　think；〃　said　the　wretched　man　apologetically；

though　why　he　could　not　determine。



〃Before　I　came　up？　while　the　bear　was　trying　to　eat　me？〃



〃No；　after。〃



〃I've　a　horrid　taste　in　my　mouth。　　It's　the　honey。　　I'll　never　eat

honey　again。　　Never！〃



〃Perhaps　it's　the　whiskey。〃



〃What？〃



〃The　whiskey。　　You　were　quite　faint　and　chilled；　you　know。　　We　gave

you　some。〃



〃Out　ofthatblackbottle？〃



〃Yes。〃



Another　silence。



〃I'd　like　some　coffee。　　I　don't　think　he'd　begrudge　me　that；　if　he

did　save　my　life。〃



〃I　dare　say　there's　some　left。〃　　Her　father　at　once　bestirred

himself　and　presently　brought　her　some　coffee　in　a　tin　cup。　　It　was

part　of　Miss　Amy's　rapid　convalescence；　or　equally　of　her

debilitated　condition；　that　she　made　no　comment　on　the　vessel。　　She

lay　for　some　moments　looking　curiously　around　the　cabin；　she　had　no

doubt　it　had　a　worse　look　in　the　daylight；　but　somehow　the

firelight　brought　out　a　wondrous　luxury　of　color　in　the　bark　floor

and　thatching。　　Besides；　it　was　not　〃smelly；〃　as　she　feared　it

would　be；　on　the　contrary　the　spicy　aroma　of　the　woods　was　always

dominant。　　She　remembered　that　it　was　this　that　always　made　a

greasy；　oily　picnic　tolerable。　　She　raised　herself　on　her　elbow；

seeing　which　her　father　continued　confidently；　〃Perhaps；　dear；　if

you　sat　up　for　a　few　moments　you　might　be　strong　enough　presently

to　walk　down　with　me　to　the　wagon。　　It　would　save　time。〃



Amy　instantly　lay　down　again。　　〃I　don't　know　what　you　can　be

thinking　of；　papa。　　After　this　shock　really　I　don't　feel　as　if　I

could　STAND　alone；　much　less　WALK。　　But；　of　course；〃　with　pathetic

resignation；　〃if　you　and　Mr。　Waterhouse　supported　me；　perhaps　I

might　crawl　a　few　steps　at　a　time。〃



〃Nonsense；　Amy。　　Of　course；　this　man　Tenbrook　will　carry　you　down

as　he　brought　you　up。　　Only　I　thought；but　there　are　steps；

they're　coming　now。　　No！only　HE。〃



The　sound　of　crackling　in　the　underbrush　was　followed　by　a

momentary　darkening　of　the　open　door　of　the　cabin。　　It　was　the　tall

figure　of　the　mountaineer。　　But　he　did　not　even　make　the　pretense

of　entering；　standing　at　the　door　he　delivered　his　news　to　the

interior　generally。　　It　was　to　the　effect　that　everything　was

ready；　and　the　two　other　men　were　even　then　harnessing　the　horses。

Then　he　drew　back　into　the　darkness。



〃Papa；〃　said　Amy；　in　a　sudden　frightened　voice；　〃I've　lost　my

bracelet。〃



〃Haven't　you　dropped　it　somewhere　there　in　the　bunk？〃　asked　her

father。



〃No。　　It's　on　the　floor　of　the　wagon。　　I　remember　now　it　fell　off

when　I　tumbled！　　And　it　will　be　trodden　upon　and　crushed！　　Couldn't

you　run　down；　ahead　of　me；　and　warn　them；　papa；　dear？　　Mr。　Tenbrook

will　have　to　go　so　slowly　with　me。〃　　She　tumbled　out　of　the　bunk

with　singular　alacrity；　shook　herself　and　her　skirts　into

instantaneous　gracefulness；　and　fitted　the　velvet　cap　on　her

straying　hair。　　Then　she　said　hurriedly；　〃Run　quick；　papa　dear；　and

as　you　go；　call　him　in　and　say　I　am　quite　ready。〃



Thus　adjured；　the　obedient　parent　disappeared　in　the　darkness。

With　him　also　disappeared　Miss　Amy's　singular　alacrity。　　Sitting

down　carefully　again　on　the　edge　of　the　bunk；　she　leaned　against

the　post　with　a　certain　indefinable　languor　that　was　as　touching　as

it　was　graceful。　　I　need　not　tell　any　feminine　readers　that　there

was　no　dissimulation　in　all　this；no　coquetry；　no　ostentation；

and　that　the　young　girl　was　perfectly　sincere！　　But　the　masculine

reader　might　like　to　know　that　the　simple　fact　was　that；　since　she

had　regained　consciousness；　she　had　been　filled　with　remorse　for

her　capricious　and　ungenerous　rejection　of　Tenbrook's　proffered

service。　　More　than　that；　she　felt　she　had　periled　her　life　in　that

moment　of　folly；　and　that　this　manthis　herohad　saved　her。　　For

hero　he　was；　even　if　he　did　not　fulfill　her　ideal；it　was　only　SHE

that　was　not　a　heroine。　　Perhaps　if　he　had　been　more　like　what　she

wished　she　would　have　felt　this　less　keenly；　love　leaves　little

room　for　the　exercise　of　moral　ethics。　　So　Miss　Amy　Forester；　being

a　good　girl　at　bottom；　and　not　exactly　loving　this　man；　felt

towards　him　a　frank　and　tender　consideration　which　a　more　romantic

passion　would　have　shrunk　from　showing。　　Consequently；　when

Tenbrook　entered　a　moment　later；　he　found　Amy　paler　and　more

thoughtful；　but；　as　he　fancied；　much　prettier　than　before；　looking

up　at　him　with　eyes　of　the　sincerest　solicitude。



Nevertheless；　he　remained　standing　near　the　door；　as　if　indicating

a　possible　intrusion；　his　face　wearing　a　look　of　lowering

abstraction。　　It　struck　her　that　this　might　be　the　effect　of　his

long　hair　and　general　uncouthness；　and　this　only　spurred　her　to　a

fuller　recognition　of　his　other　qualities。



〃I　am　afraid；〃　she　began；　with　a　charming　embarrassment；　〃that