tales of trail and town- 第35部分

And；　I　grieve　to　say；writing　of　an　idealist　that　WAS；　and　a

heroine　that　IS　to　be；she　was　getting　outrageously　hungry。



There　were　a　few　biscuits　in　her　traveling…bag；　and　she　remembered

that　she　had　been　presented　with　a　small　jar　of　California　honey　at

San　Jose。　　This　she　took　out　and　opened　on　the　seat　before　her；　and

spreading　the　honey　on　the　biscuits；　ate　them　with　a　keen　schoolgirl

relish　and　a　pleasant　suggestion　of　a　sylvan　picnic　in　spite　of　the

cold。　　It　was　all　very　strange；　quite　an　experience　for　her　to　speak

of　afterwards。　　People　would　hardly　believe　that　she　had　spent　an

hour　or　two；　all　alone；　in　a　deserted　wagon　in　a　mountain　snow　pass。

It　was　an　adventure　such　as　one　reads　of　in　the　magazines。　　Only

something　was　lacking　which　the　magazines　always　supplied；something

heroic；　something　done　by　somebody。　　If　that　awful…looking

mountaineerthat　man　with　the　long　hair　and　mustache；　and　that

horrible　gold　ring；why　such　a　ring？was　only　different！　　But　he

was　probably　gorging　beefsteak　or　venison　with　her　father　and　Mr。

Waterhouse；men　were　always　such　selfish　creatures！and　had　quite

forgotten　all　about　her。　　It　would　have　been　only　decent　for　them　to

have　brought　her　down　something　hot；　biscuits　and　honey　were

certainly　cloying；　and　somehow　didn't　agree　with　the　temperature。

She　was　really　half　starved！　　And　much　they　cared！　　It　would　just

serve　them　right　if　something　DID　happen　to　her；or　SEEM　to　happen

to　her；if　only　to　frighten　them。　　And　the　pretty　face　that　was

turned　up　in　the　moonlight　wore　a　charming　but　decided　pout。



Good　gracious；　what　was　that？　　The　horses　were　either　struggling　or

fighting　in　their　snow　shelters。　　Then　one　with　a　frightened　neigh

broke　from　its　halter　and　dashed　into　the　road；　only　to　be　plunged

snorting　and　helpless　into　the　drifts。　　Then　the　other　followed。

How　silly！　　Something　had　frightened　them。　　Perhaps　only　a　rabbit

or　a　mole；　horses　were　such　absurdly　nervous　creatures！　　However；

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；　s