按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that trail when we run across it。 On the way down we
found a camp where men had waited。 An' Bo's pony； led by a
rider on a big horse； come into that camp from the east
maybe north a little。 An' that tells the story。〃
〃Riggs ran her down made off with her！〃 cried Helen；
passionately。 〃Oh； the villain！ He had men in waiting。
That's Beasley's work。 They were after me。〃
〃It may not be just what you said； but that's close enough。
An' Bo's in a bad fix。 You must face that an' try to bear up
under fears of the worst。〃
〃My friend！ You will save her！〃
〃I'll fetch her back； alive or dead。〃
〃Dead！ Oh； my God！〃 Helen cried； and closed her eyes an
instant； to open them burning black。 〃But Bo isn't dead。 I
know that I feel it。 She'll not die very easy。 She's a
little savage。 She has no fear。 She'd fight like a tigress
for her life。 She's strong。 You remember how strong。 She can
stand anything。 Unless they murder her outright she'll live
a long time through any ordeal。 。 。 。 So I beg you； my
friend； don't lose an hour don't ever give up！〃
Dale trembled under the clasp of her hands。 Loosing his own
from her clinging hold； he stepped out on the porch At that
moment John appeared on Ranger； coming at a gallop。
〃Nell； I'll never come back without her；〃 said Dale。 〃I
reckon you can hope only be prepared。 That's all。 It's
hard。 But these damned deals are common out here in the
West。〃
〃Suppose Beasley comes here！〃 exclaimed Helen； and again
her hand went out toward him。
〃If he does； you refuse to get off ；〃 replied Dale。 〃But
don't let him or his greasers put a dirty hand on you。
Should he threaten force why； pack some clothes an'
your valuables an' go down to Mrs。 Cass's。 An' wait till
I come back！〃
〃Wait till you come back！〃 she faltered； slowly
turning white again。 Her dark eyes dilated。 〃Milt you're
like Las Vegas。 You'll kill Beasley！〃
Dale heard his own laugh； very cold and strange； foreign to
his ears。 A grim； deadly hate of Beasley vied with the
tenderness and pity he felt for this distressed girl。 It was
a sore trial to see her leaning there against the door to
be compelled to leave her alone。 Abruptly be stalked off the
porch。 Tom followed him。 The black horse whinnied his
recognition of Dale and snorted at sight of the cougar。 Just
then the Mexican boy returned with a bag。 Dale tied this；
with the small pack； behind the saddle。
〃John； you stay here with Miss Helen；〃 said Dale。 〃An' if
Carmichael comes back； keep him； too！ An' to…night； if any
one rides into Pine from the way we come； you be sure to
spot him。〃
〃I'll do thet； Milt；〃 responded John。
Dale mounted； and； turning for a last word to Helen； he felt
the words of cheer halted on his lips as he saw her standing
white and broken…hearted； with her hands to her bosom。 He
could not look twice。
〃Come on there； you Tom；〃 he called to the cougar。 Reckon on
this track you'll pay me for all my trainin' of you〃
〃Oh； my friend！〃 came Helen's sad voice； almost a whisper to
his throbbing ears。 〃Heaven help you to save her！ I 〃
Then Ranger started and Dale heard no more。 He could not
look back。 His eyes were full of tears and his breast ached。
By a tremendous effort he shifted that emotion called on
all the spiritual energy of his being to the duty of this
grim task before him。
He did not ride down through the village； but skirted the
northern border； and worked round to the south； where；
coming to the trail he had made an hour past； he headed on
it； straight for the slope now darkening in the twilight。
The big cougar showed more willingness to return on this
trail than he had shown in the coming。 Ranger was fresh and
wanted to go； but Dale held him in。
A cool wind blew down from the mountain with the coming of
night。 Against the brightening stars Dale saw the promontory
lift its bold outline。 It was miles away。 It haunted him；
strangely calling。 A night； and perhaps a day； separated him
from the gang that held Bo Rayner prisoner。 Dale had no plan
as yet。 He had only a motive as great as the love he bore
Helen Rayner。
Beasley's evil genius had planned this abduction。 Riggs was
a tool； a cowardly knave dominated by a stronger will。 Snake
Anson and his gang had lain in wait at that cedar camp； had
made that broad hoof track leading up the mountain。 Beasley
had been there with them that very day。 All this was as
assured to Dale as if he had seen the men。
But the matter of Dale's recovering the girl and doing it
speedily strung his mental strength to its highest pitch。
Many outlines of action flashed through his mind as he rode
on； peering keenly through the night； listening with
practised ears。 All were rejected。 And at the outset of
every new branching of thought he would gaze down at the
gray form of the cougar； long； graceful； heavy； as he padded
beside the horse。 From the first thought of returning to
help Helen Rayner he had conceived an undefined idea of
possible value in the qualities of his pet。 Tom had
performed wonderful feats of trailing； but he had never been
tried on men。 Dale believed he could make him trail
anything； yet he had no proof of this。 One fact stood out of
all Dale's conjectures； and it was that he had known men；
and brave men； to fear cougars。
Far up on the slope； in a little hollow where water ran and
there was a little grass for Ranger to pick； Dale haltered
him and made ready to spend the night。 He was sparing with
his food； giving Tom more than he took himself。 Curled close
up to Dale； the big cat went to sleep。
But Dale lay awake for long。
The night was still； with only a faint moan of wind on this
sheltered slope。 Dale saw hope in the stars。 He did not seem
to have promised himself or Helen that he could save her
sister； and then her property。 He seemed to have stated
something unconsciously settled； outside of his thinking。
Strange how this certainty was not vague； yet irreconcilable
with any plans he created！ Behind it； somehow nameless with
inconceivable power； surged all his wonderful knowledge of
forest； of trails； of scents； of night； of the nature of men
lying down to sleep in the dark； lonely woods； of the nature
of this great cat that lived its every action in accordance
with his will。
He grew sleepy； and gradually his mind stilled； with his
last conscious thought a portent that he would awaken to
accomplish his desperate task。
CHAPTER XX
Young Burt possessed the keenest eyes of any man in Snake
Anson's gang； for which reason he was given the post as
lookout from the lofty promontory。 His instructions were to
keep sharp watch over the open slopes below and to report
any sight of a horse。
A cedar fire with green boughs on top of dead wood sent up a
long； pale column of smoke。 This signal…fire had been kept
burning since sunrise。
The preceding night camp had been made on a level spot in
the cedars back of the promontory。 But manifestly Anson did
not expect to remain there long。 For； after breakfast； the
packs had been made up and the horses stood saddled and
bridled。 They were rest