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Bo's incredulity changed to wondering； speechless
admiration。 And Dale's rare smile changed his gravity。
〃I'm sorry。 It was rash of me。 I thought you'd go back。 。 。
。 But all's well that ends well。 。 。 。 Helen； did you wake
up to…day？〃
She dropped her eyes； not caring to meet the questioning
gaze upon her。
〃Maybe a little；〃 she replied； and she covered her face
with her hands。 Remembrance of his questions of his
assurance that she did not know the real meaning of life
of her stubborn antagonism made her somehow ashamed。 But
it was not for long。
〃The chase was great；〃 she said。 〃I did not know myself。 You
were right。〃
〃In how many ways did you find me right？〃 he asked。
〃I think all but one；〃 she replied； with a laugh and a
shudder。 〃I'm near starved NOW I was so furious at Bo
that I could have choked her。 I faced that horrible brute。 。
。 。 Oh； I know what it is to fear death！ 。 。 。 I was lost
twice on the ride absolutely lost。 That's all。〃
Bo found her tongue。 〃The last thing was for you to fall
wildly in love； wasn't it？〃
〃According to Dale； I must add that to my new experiences of
to…day before I can know real life；〃 replied Helen；
demurely。
The hunter turned away。 〃Let us go；〃 he said； soberly。
CHAPTER XIII
After more days of riding the grassy level of that
wonderfully gold and purple park； and dreamily listening by
day to the ever…low and ever…changing murmur of the
waterfall； and by night to the wild； lonely mourn of a
hunting wolf； and climbing to the dizzy heights where the
wind stung sweetly； Helen Rayner lost track of time and
forgot her peril。
Roy Beeman did not return。 If occasionally Dale mentioned
Roy and his quest； the girls had little to say beyond a
recurrent anxiety for the old uncle； and then they forgot
again。 Paradise Park； lived in a little while at that season
of the year； would have claimed any one； and ever afterward
haunted sleeping or waking dreams。
Bo gave up to the wild life； to the horses and rides； to the
many pets； and especially to the cougar； Tom。 The big cat
followed her everywhere； played with her； rolling and
pawing； kitten…like； and he would lay his massive head in
her lap to purr his content。 Bo had little fear of anything；
and here in the wilds she soon lost that。
Another of Dale's pets was a half…grown black bear named
Muss。 He was abnormally jealous of little Bud and he had a
well…developed hatred of Tom； otherwise he was a very
good…tempered bear； and enjoyed Dale's impartial regard。
Tom； however； chased Muss out of camp whenever Dale's back
was turned； and sometimes Muss stayed away； shifting for
himself。 With the advent of Bo； who spent a good deal of
time on the animals； Muss manifestly found the camp more
attractive。 Whereupon； Dale predicted trouble between Tom
and Muss。
Bo liked nothing better than a rough…and…tumble frolic with
the black bear。 Muss was not very big nor very heavy； and in
a wrestling bout with the strong and wiry girl he sometimes
came out second best。 It spoke well of him that he seemed to
be careful not to hurt Bo。 He never bit or scratched； though
he sometimes gave her sounding slaps with his paws。
Whereupon； Bo would clench her gauntleted fists and sail
into him in earnest。
One afternoon before the early supper they always had； Dale
and Helen were watching Bo teasing the bear。 She was in her
most vixenish mood； full of life and fight。 Tom lay his long
length on the grass； watching with narrow； gleaming eyes。
When Bo and Muss locked in an embrace and went down to roll
over and over； Dale called Helen's attention to the cougar。
〃Tom's jealous。 It's strange how animals are like people。
Pretty soon I'll have to corral Muss； or there'll be a
fight。〃
Helen could not see anything wrong with Tom except that he
did not look playful。
During supper…time both bear and cougar disappeared； though
this was not remarked until afterward。 Dale whistled and
called； but the rival pets did not return。 Next morning Tom
was there； curled up snugly at the foot of Bo's bed； and
when she arose he followed her around as usual。 But Muss did
not return。
The circumstance made Dale anxious。 He left camp； taking Tom
with him； and upon returning stated that he had followed
Muss's track as far as possible； and then had tried to put
Tom on the trail； but the cougar would not or could not
follow it。 Dale said Tom never liked a bear trail； anyway；
cougars and bears being common enemies。 So； whether by
accident or design； Bo lost one of her playmates。
The hunter searched some of the slopes next day and even
went up on one of the mountains。 He did not discover any
sign of Muss； but he said he had found something else。
〃Bo you girls want some more real excitement？〃 he asked。
Helen smiled her acquiescence and Bo replied with one of her
forceful speeches。
〃Don't mind bein' good an' scared？〃 he went on。
〃You can't scare me；〃 bantered Bo。 But Helen looked
doubtful。
〃Up in one of the parks I ran across one of my horses a
lame bay you haven't seen。 Well； he had been killed by that
old silvertip。 The one we chased。 Hadn't been dead over an
hour。 Blood was still runnin' an' only a little meat eaten。
That bear heard me or saw me an' made off into the woods。
But he'll come back to…night。 I'm goin' up there； lay for
him； an' kill him this time。 Reckon you'd better go； because
I don't want to leave you here alone at night。〃
〃Are you going to take Tom？〃 asked Bo。
〃No。 The bear might get his scent。 An'； besides； Tom ain't
reliable on bears。 I'll leave Pedro home； too。〃
When they had hurried supper； and Dale had gotten in the
horses； the sun had set and the valley was shadowing low
down； while the ramparts were still golden。 The long zigzag
trail Dale followed up the slope took nearly an hour to
climb； so that when that was surmounted and he led out of
the woods twilight had fallen。 A rolling park extended as
far as Helen could see； bordered by forest that in places
sent out straggling stretches of trees。 Here and there； like
islands； were isolated patches of timber。
At ten thousand feet elevation the twilight of this clear
and cold night was a rich and rare atmospheric effect。 It
looked as if it was seen through perfectly clear smoked
glass。 Objects were singularly visible； even at long range；
and seemed magnified。 In the west； where the afterglow of
sunset lingered over the dark； ragged； spruce…speared
horizon…line； there was such a transparent golden line
melting into vivid star…fired blue that Helen could only
gaze and gaze in wondering admiration。
Dale spurred his horse into a lope and the spirited mounts
of the girls kept up with him。 The ground was rough； with
tufts of grass growing close together； yet the horses did
not stumble。 Their action and snorting betrayed excitement。
Dale led around several clumps of timber； up a long grassy
swale； and then straight westward across an open flat toward
where the dark…fringed forest…line raised itself wild and
clear against the cold sky。 The horses went swiftly； and the
wind cut like a blade of ice。 Helen