the foreigner- 第39部分

〃I　wish　I'd　eaten　less；〃　he　grumbled。　　〃If　I'm　in　for　a　three　days'　storm；　and　it　looks　like　that；　my　grub　will　run　out。　　I'll　have　a　cup　of　tea　to…night　and　save　the　grub　for　to…morrow。〃

As　he　was　busy　with　these　preparations；　a　sudden　darkness　fell　on　the　valley。　　A　strange　sound　like　a　muffled　roaring　came　up　the　ravine。　　In　a　single　minute　everything　was　blotted　out　before　him。　There　hung　down　before　his　eyes　a　white；　whirling；　blinding；　choking　mass　of　driving　snow。

〃By　Jove！　that's　a　corker　of　a　blizzard；　sure　enough！　　I'll　draw　my　fire　further　in。〃

He　seized　his　shovel　and　began　to　scrape　the　embers　of　his　fire　together。　　With　a　shout　he　dropped　his　shovel；　fell　on　his　knees；　and　gazed　into　the　fire。　　Under　the　heap　of　burning　wood　there　was　a　mass　of　glowing　coal。

〃Coal！〃　he　shouted；　rushing　to　the　front　of　the　cave。　　〃Coal！　Coal！　　Oh；　Jack！　　Dear　old　Jack！　　It's　coal！〃

Trembling　between　fear　and　hope；　he　broke　in　pieces　the　glowing　lumps；　rushed　back　to　the　seam；　gathered　more　of　the　black　stuff；　and　heaped　it　around　the　fire。　　Soon　his　doubts　were　all　at　rest。　The　black　lumps　were　soon　on　fire　and　blazed　up　with　a　blue　flame。　But　for　his　foot；　he　would　have　mounted　Jacob　and　ridden　straight　off　for　the　ranch　through　all　the　storm。

〃Let　her　snow！〃　he　cried；　gazing　into　the　whirling　mist　before　his　eyes。　　〃I've　got　the　stuff　that　beats　blizzards！〃

He　turned　to　his　tea　making；　now　pausing　to　examine　the　great　black　seam；　and　again　going　to　the　cave　entrance　to　whistle　for　his　dogs。　As　he　stood　listening　to　the　soft　whishing　roar　of　the　storm；　he　thought　he　heard　the　deep　bay　of　Queen's　voice。　　Holding　his　breath；　he　listened　again。　　In　the　pause　of　the　storm　he　heard；　and　distinctly　this　time；　that　deep　musical　note。

〃They're　digging　out　a　wolf；〃　he　said。　　〃They'll　get　tired　and　come　back　soon。〃

He　drank　his　tea；　struggled　down　the　steep　slope；　the　descent　made　more　difficult　by　the　covering　of　soft　snow　upon　it；　and　drew　another　pail　of　water　for　evening　use。　　Still　the　dogs　did　not　appear。　　He　went　to　the　cave's　mouth　again；　and　whistled　loud　and　long。　　This　time　quite　distinctly　he　caught　Queen's　long；　deep　bay；　and　following　that；　a　call　as　of　a　human　voice。

〃What？〃　he　said；　〃some　one　out　in　that　storm？〃

He　dropped　upon　his　knees；　put　his　hands　up　to　his　ears；　and　listened　intently　again。　　Once　more；　in　a　lull　of　the　gale；　he　heard　a　long；　clear　call。

〃Heavens　above！〃　he　cried；　〃a　woman's　voice！　　And　I　can't　make　a　hundred　yards　with　this　foot　of　mine。〃

He　knew　enough　of　blizzards　to　realize　the　extreme　danger　to　any　one　caught　in　those　blinding；　whirling　snow　clouds。

〃I　can't　stay　here；　and　I　can't　make　it　with　this　foot；　butyes　By　Jove！　Jacob　can；　though。〃

He　seized　his　saddle　and　struggled　out　into　the　storm。　　Three　paces　from　the　door　he　fell　headlong　into　a　soft　drift；　wrenching　his　foot　anew。　　Choking；　blinded；　and　almost　fainting　with　the　pain；　he　got　to　his　feet　once　more　and　fought　his　way　down　the　slope　to　where　he　knew　his　horse　must　be。

〃Jacob！〃　he　called；　〃where　are　you？〃

The　faithful　broncho　answered　with　a　glad　whinny。

〃All　right；　old　boy；　I'll　get　you。〃

In　a　few　minutes　he　was　on　the　broncho's　back　and　off　down　the　valley；　feeling　his　way　carefully　among　the　trees　and　over　stones　and　logs。　　As　he　went　on；　he　caught　now　and　then　Queen's　ringing　bugle…note；　and　as　often　as　he　caught　it　he　answered　with　a　loud　〃Halloo！〃　　It　was　with　the　utmost　difficulty　that　he　could　keep　Jacob's　head　toward　the　storm。　　Yard　by　yard　he　pressed　his　way　against　the　gale；　holding　his　direction　by　means　of　the　flowing　stream。　　Nearer　and　nearer　sounded　the　cry　of　the　hound；　till　in　answer　to　his　shouting　he　heard　a　voice　call　loud　and　clear。　　The　valley　grew　wider；　the　timber　more　open；　and　his　progress　became　more　rapid。　　Soon；　through　the　drifting　mass；　he　caught　sight　of　two　white　moving　figures。　　The　dogs　bounded　toward　him。

〃Hello　there！〃　he　called。　　〃Here　you　are；　come　this　way。〃

He　urged　forward　his　horse　till　he　was　nearly　upon　them。

〃Oh；　Kalman！　　Kalman！　　I　knew　it　was　you！〃

In　an　instant　he　was　off　his　horse　and　at　her　side。

〃You！　　You！〃　he　shouted　aloud　above　the　howling　gale。　　〃Marjorie！　Marjorie！〃　　He　had　her　in　his　arms；　kissing　her　face　madly；　while　sobbing；　panting；　laughing；　she　sank　upon　his　breast。

〃Oh；　Kalman！　Kalman！〃　she　gasped。　　〃You　must　stop！　　You　must　stop！　Oh！　I　am　so　glad！　　You　must　stop！〃

〃God　in　Heaven！〃　shouted　the　man；　boy　no　longer。　　〃Who　can　stop　me？　How　can　I　stop？　　You　might　have　died　here　in　the　snow！〃

At　a　little　distance　the　other　figure　was　hanging　to　a　tree；　evidently　near　to　exhaustion。

〃Oh；　Kalman；　we　were　fair　done　when　the　dogs　came；　and　then　I　wouldn't　stop；　for　I　knew　you　were　near。　　But　my！　my！　you　were　so　long！〃

The　boy　still　held　her　in　his　arms。

〃I　say；　young　man；　what　the　deuce　are　we　going　to　do？　　I'm　played　out。　　I　cawn't　move　a　blawsted　foot。〃

The　voice　recalled　Kalman　from　heaven　to　earth。　　He　turned　to　the　speaker　and　made　out　Mr。　Edgar　Penny。

〃Do！〃　cried　Kalman。　　〃Why；　make　for　my　camp。　　Come　along。　　It's　up　stream　a　little　distance；　and　we　can　feel　our　way。　　Climb　up；　Marjorie。〃

〃Can　I？〃

〃Yes；　at　once；〃　said　Kalman；　taking　full　command　of　her。　　〃Now；　hold　on　tight；　and　we'll　soon　be　at　camp。〃

With　the　gale　in　their　backs；　they　set　off　up　stream；　the　men　holding　by　the　stirrups。　　For　some　minutes　they　battled　on　through　the　blizzard。　　Well　for　them　that　they　had　the　brawling　Creek　to　guide　them　that　night；　for　through　this　swaying；　choking　curtain　of　snow　it　was　impossible　to　see　more　than　a　horse　length。

In　a　few　minutes　Mr。　Penny　called　out；　〃I　say；　I　cawn't　go　a　step　further。　　Let's　rest　a　bit。〃　　He　sat　down　in　the　snow。　　Every　moment　the　wind　was　blowing　colder。

〃Come　on！〃　shouted　Kalman　through　the　storm。　　〃We　must　keep　going　or　we'll　freeze。〃

But　there　was　no　answer。

〃Mr。　Penny！　　Mr。　Penny！〃　cried　Marjorie；　〃get　up！　　We　must　go　on！〃

Still　there　was　no　answer。　　Kalman　made　his　way　round　to　the　man's　side。　　He　was　fast　asleep。

〃Get　up！　　Get　up；　you　fool；　or　you　will　be　smothered！〃　said　Kalman；　roughly　shaking　him。　　〃Get　up；　I　say！〃

He　pulled　the　man　to　his　feet　and　they　started　on　once　more；　Mr。　Penny　stumbling　along　like　a　drunken　man。

〃Let　me　walk；　Kalman；〃　entreated　Marjorie。　　〃I　feel　fresh　and　strong。　　He　can't　go　on；　and　he　will　only　keep　us　back。〃

〃You　walk！〃　cried　Kalman。　　〃Never！　　If　he　can't　keep　up　let　him　stay　and　die。〃

〃No；　Kalman；　I　am　quite　strong。〃

She　slipped　off　the　horse；　Kalman　growling　his　wrath　and　disgust；　and　together　they　assisted　Mr。　Penny　to　mount。　　By　this　time　they　had　reached　the　thickest　part　of　the　woods。　　The　trees　broke　to　some　extent　the　force　of　the　wind；　but　the　cold　was　growing　more　intense。

〃Single　file　here！〃　shouted　Kalman　to　Marjorie。　　〃You　follow　me。〃

Slowly；　painfully；　through　the　darkness　and　drifted　snow；　with　teeth　clenched　to　keep　back　the　groans　which　the　pain　of　his　foot　was　forcing　from　him；　Kalman　stumbled　along。　　At　length　a　misstep　turned　his　foot。　　He　sank　with　a　groan　into　the　snow。　　With　a　cry　Marjorie　was　beside　him。

〃Oh；　Kalman；　you　have　hurt　yourself！〃

〃It　is　this　cursed　foot　of　mine；〃　he　groaned。　　〃I　twisted　it　and　something's　broken；　I　am　afraid；　and　it　IS　rather　sore。〃

〃Hello　there！　what's　up？〃　cried　Mr。　Penny　from　his　saddle。　　〃I'm　getting　beastly　cold　up　here。〃

Marjorie　turned　wrathfully　upon　him。

〃Here；　you　great　lazy　thing；　come　down！〃　she　cried。　　〃Kalman；　you　must　ride。〃

But　Kalman　was　up　and　once　more　leading　the　way。

〃We're　almost　there；〃　he　cried。　　〃Come　along；　he　couldn't　find　the　path。〃

〃It's　just　a　great　shame！〃　cried　Marjorie；　half　sobbing；　keeping　by　his　side。　　〃Can't　I　help　you？　　Let　me　try。〃

Her　arm　around　him　put　new　life　into　him。

〃By　Jove！　I　see　a　fire；〃　shouted　Mr。　Penny。

〃That's　camp；〃　said　Kalman；　pausing　for　breath　while　Marjorie　held　him　up。　　〃We're　just　there。〃

And　so；　staggering　and　stumbling；　they　reached　the　foot　of　the　landslip。　　Here　Kalman　took　the　saddle　off　Jacob；　turned　him　loose；　and　clambered　up　to　the　cave；　followed　by　the　others。　　Mr。　Penny　sank　to　the　ground　and　lay　upon　the　cave　floor　like　one　dead。

〃Well；　here　we　are　at　last；〃　said　Kalman；　〃thank　God！〃

〃Yes；　thank　God！〃　said　Marjorie　softly；　〃andyou；　Kalman。〃

She　sank　to　her　knees　on　the　ground；　and　putting　her　face　in　her　hands；　burst　into　tears。

〃What　is　it；　Marjorie？〃　said　Kalman；　taking　her　hands　down　from　her　face。　　〃Are　you　hurt？　　What　is　it？　　I　can't　bear　to　see　you　cry　like　that。〃　　But　he　didn't　kiss　her。　　The　conventionalities　were　seizing　upon　him　again。　　His　old　shyness　was　stealing　over　his　spirit。　　〃Tell　me　what　to　do；〃　he　said。

〃Do！〃　cried　Marjorie　through　her　sobs。　　〃What　more　can　you　do？　　Oh；　Kalman；　you　have　saved　me　from　an　awful　death！〃

〃Don't　speak　of　it；〃　said　the　boy　with　a　shudder。　　〃Don't　I　know　it？　　I　can't　bear　to　think　of　it。　　But　are　you　all　right？〃

〃Right？〃　said　Marjorie　briskly；　wiping　away　her　tears。　　〃Of　course　I'm　all　right；　an'　sair　hungry；　tae。〃

〃Why；　of　course。　　What　a　fool　I　am！〃　said　Kalman。　　〃I'll　make　you　tea　in　a　minute。〃

〃No；　let　me；〃　cried　Marjorie。　　〃Your　poor　foot　must　be　awful。　Where's　your　teapot？　　I'm　a　gran'　tea　maker；　ye　ken。〃　　She　was　in　one　of　her　daft　moods；　as　Aunt　Janet　would　say。

Never　was　such　tea　as　that　which　they　had　from　the　tin　tea　pail　and　from　the　one　tin　cup。　　What　though　the　blizzard　howled　its　loudest　in　front　of　their　cave？　　What　though　the　swirling　snow　threatened　now　and　then　to　douse　their　fire？　　What　though　the　tea　boiled　over　and　the　pork　burned　to　a　crisp？　　What　though　a　single　bannock　stood　alone　between　them　and　starvation？　　What　cared　they？　　Heaven　was　about　them；　and　its　music　was　ringing　in　their　hearts。

Refreshed　by　their　tea；　they　sat　before　the　blazing　fire；　all　three；　drying　their　soaked　garments；　while　Mr。　Penny　and　Marjorie　recounted　their　experiences。　　They　had　intended　to　make　Wakota；　but　missed　the　trail。　　The　day　was　fine；　however；　and　that　gave　them　no　concern　till　the　storm　came　up；　when　suddenly　they　had　lost　all　sense　of　direction　and　allowed　their　ponies　to　take　them　where　they　would。　　With　the　instinct　bred　on　the　plains；　t