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evidently had been stalking the turkeys； and as they saw him
and darted into the timber he took a quick shot at the
hindmost。 His bullet struck low； as he had meant it to； but
too low； and the coyote got only a dusting of earth and
pine…needles thrown up into his face。 This frightened him so
that he leaped aside blindly to butt into a tree； rolled
over； gained his feet； and then the cover of the forest。
Dale was amused at this。 His hand was against all the
predatory beasts of the forest； though he had learned that
lion and bear and wolf and fox were all as necessary to the
great scheme of nature as were the gentle； beautiful wild
creatures upon which they preyed。 But some he loved better
than others； and so he deplored the inexplicable cruelty。
He crossed the wide； grassy plain and struck another gradual
descent where aspens and pines crowded a shallow ravine and
warm； sun…lighted glades bordered along a sparkling brook。
Here be heard a turkey gobble； and that was a signal for him
to change his course and make a crouching； silent detour
around a clump of aspens。 In a sunny patch of grass a dozen
or more big gobblers stood； all suspiciously facing in his
direction； heads erect； with that wild aspect peculiar to
their species。 Old wild turkey gobblers were the most
difficult game to stalk。 Dale shot two of them。 The others
began to run like ostriches； thudding over the ground；
spreading their wings； and with that running start launched
their heavy bodies into whirring flight。 They flew low； at
about the height of a man from the grass； and vanished in
the woods。
Dale threw the two turkeys over his shoulder and went on his
way。 Soon he came to a break in the forest level； from which
he gazed down a league…long slope of pine and cedar； out
upon the bare； glistening desert； stretching away； endlessly
rolling out to the dim； dark horizon line。
The little hamlet of Pine lay on the last level of sparsely
timbered forest。 A road； running parallel with a
dark…watered； swift…flowing stream； divided the cluster of
log cabins from which columns of blue smoke drifted lazily
aloft。 Fields of corn and fields of oats； yellow in the
sunlight； surrounded the village； and green pastures； dotted
with horses and cattle； reached away to the denser woodland。
This site appeared to be a natural clearing； for there was
no evidence of cut timber。 The scene was rather too wild to
be pastoral； but it was serene； tranquil； giving the
impression of a remote community； prosperous and happy；
drifting along the peaceful tenor of sequestered lives。
Dale halted before a neat little log cabin and a little
patch of garden bordered with sunflowers。 His call was
answered by an old woman； gray and bent； but remarkably
spry； who appeared at the door。
〃Why； land's sakes； if it ain't Milt Dale！〃 she exclaimed；
in welcome。
〃Reckon it's me； Mrs。 Cass；〃 he replied。 〃An； I've brought
you a turkey。〃
〃Milt； you're that good boy who never forgits old Widow
Cass。 。 。 。 What a gobbler！ First one I've seen this fall。
My man Tom used to fetch home gobblers like that。 。 。 。 An'
mebbe he'll come home again sometime。〃
Her husband； Tom Cass； had gone into the forest years before
and had never returned。 But the old woman always looked for
him and never gave up hope。
〃Men have been lost in the forest an' yet come back；〃
replied Dale； as he had said to her many a time。
〃Come right in。 You air hungry； I know。 Now； son； when last
did you eat a fresh egg or a flapjack？〃
〃You should remember；〃 he answered； laughing； as he followed
her into a small； clean kitchen。
〃Laws…a'…me！ An' thet's months ago；〃 she replied； shaking
her gray head。 〃Milt； you should give up that wild life
an' marry an' have a home。〃
〃You always tell me that。〃
〃Yes； an' I'll see you do it yet。 。 。 。 Now you set there；
an' pretty soon I'll give you thet to eat which 'll make
your mouth water。〃
〃What's the news； Auntie？〃 he asked。
〃Nary news in this dead place。 Why； nobody's been to
Snowdrop in two weeks！ 。 。 。 Sary Jones died； poor old soul
she's better off an' one of my cows run away。 Milt；
she's wild when she gits loose in the woods。 An' you'll have
to track her； 'cause nobody else can。 An' John Dakker's
heifer was killed by a lion； an' Lem Harden's fast hoss
you know his favorite was stole by hoss…thieves。 Lem is
jest crazy。 An' that reminds me； Milt； where's your big
ranger； thet you'd never sell or lend？〃
〃My horses are up in the woods； Auntie； safe； I reckon； from
horse…thieves。〃
〃Well； that's a blessin'。 We've had some stock stole this
summer； Milt； an' no mistake。〃
Thus； while preparing a meal for Dale； the old woman went on
recounting all that had happened in the little village since
his last visit。 Dale enjoyed her gossip and quaint
philosophy； and it was exceedingly good to sit at her table。
In his opinion； nowhere else could there have been such
butter and cream； such ham and eggs。 Besides； she always had
apple pie； it seemed； at any time he happened in； and apple
pie was one of Dale's few regrets while up in the lonely
forest。
〃How's old Al Auchincloss？〃 presently inquired Dale。
〃Poorly poorly；〃 sighed Mrs。 Cass。 〃But he tramps an'
rides around same as ever。 Al's not long for this world。 。 。
。 An'； Milt； that reminds me there's the biggest news you
ever heard。〃
〃You don't say so！〃 exclaimed Dale； to encourage the excited
old woman。
〃Al has sent back to Saint Joe for his niece； Helen Rayner。
She's to inherit all his property。 We've heard much of her
a purty lass； they say。 。 。 。 Now； Milt Dale； here's your
chance。 Stay out of the woods an' go to work。 。 。 。 You can
marry that girl！〃
〃No chance for me； Auntie；〃 replied Dale； smiling。
The old woman snorted。 〃Much you know！ Any girl would have
you； Milt Dale； if you'd only throw a kerchief。〃
〃Me！ 。 。 。 An' why； Auntie？〃 he queried； half amused； half
thoughtful。 When he got back to civilization he always had
to adjust his thoughts to the ideas of people。
〃Why？ I declare； Milt； you live so in the woods you're like
a boy of ten an' then sometimes as old as the hills。 。 。
。There's no young man to compare with you； hereabouts。 An'
this girl she'll have all the spunk of the
Auchinclosses。〃
〃Then maybe she'd not be such a catch； after all；〃 replied
Dale。
〃Wal； you've no cause to love them； that's sure。 But； Milt；
the Auchincloss women are always good wives。〃
〃Dear Auntie； you're dreamin'；〃 said Dale； soberly。 〃I want
no wife。 I'm happy in the woods。〃
〃Air you goin' to live like an Injun all your days； Milt
Dale？〃 she queried； sharply。
〃I hope so。〃
〃You ought to be ashamed。 But some lass will change you；
boy； an' mebbe it'll be this Helen Rayner。 I hope an' pray
so to thet。〃
〃Auntie； supposin' she did change me。 She'd never change old
Al。 He hates me； you know。〃
〃Wal； I ain't so sure； Milt。 I met Al the other day。 He
inquired for you； an' said you was wild； but he reckoned men
like you was good for pioneer settlements。 Lord knows the
good turns you've done this village！ Milt； old Al doesn't
approve of yo