登陆注册
5247100000020

第20章 CHAPTER V(5)

Then once more they were at a standstill. Helen heard the thud of boots striking the ground, and the snorts of horses.

"Nell, I see horses," whispered Bo, excitedly. "There, to the side of the road . . . and here comes a man. . . . Oh, if he shouldn't be the one they're expecting!"Helen peered out to see a tall, dark form, moving silently, and beyond it a vague outline of horses, and then pale gleams of what must have been pack-loads.

Dale loomed up, and met the stranger in the road.

"Howdy, Milt? You got the girl sure, or you wouldn't be here," said a low voice.

"Roy, I've got two girls -- sisters," replied Dale.

The man Roy whistled softly under his breath. Then another lean, rangy form strode out of the darkness, and was met by Dale.

"Now, boys -- how about Anson's gang?" queried Dale.

"At Snowdrop, drinkin' an' quarrelin'. Reckon they'll leave there about daybreak," replied Roy.

"How long have you been here?"

"Mebbe a couple of hours."

"Any horse go by?"

"No."

"Roy, a strange rider passed us before dark. He was hittin' the road. An' he's got by here before you came.""I don't like thet news," replied Roy, tersely. "Let's rustle. With girls on hossback you'll need all the start you can get. Hey, John?""Snake Anson shore can foller hoss tracks," replied the third man.

"Milt, say the word," went on Roy, as he looked up at the stars. "Daylight not far away. Here's the forks of the road, an' your hosses, an' our outfit. You can be in the pines by sunup."In the silence that ensued Helen heard the throb of her heart and the panting little breaths of her sister. They both peered out, hands clenched together, watching and listening in strained attention.

"It's possible that rider last night wasn't a messenger to Anson," said Dale. "In that case Anson won't make anythin' of our wheel tracks or horse tracks. He'll go right on to meet the regular stage. Bill, can you go back an' meet the stage comin' before Anson does?""Wal, I reckon so -- an' take it easy at thet," replied Bill.

"All right," continued Dale, instantly. "John, you an' Joe an' Hal ride back to meet the regular stage. An' when you meet it get on an' be on it when Anson holds it up.""Thet's shore agreeable to me," drawled John.

"I'd like to be on it, too," said Roy, grimly.

"No. I'll need you till I'm safe in the woods. Bill, hand down the bags. An' you, Roy, help me pack them. Did you get all the supplies I wanted?""Shore did. If the young ladies ain't powerful particular you can feed them well for a couple of months."Dale wheeled and, striding to the stage, he opened the door.

"Girls, you're not asleep? Come," he called.

Bo stepped down first.

"I was asleep till this -- this vehicle fell off the road back a ways," she replied.

Roy Beeman's low laugh was significant. He took off his sombrero and stood silent. The old driver smothered a loud guffaw.

"Veehicle! Wal, I'll be doggoned! Joe, did you hear thet?

All the spunky gurls ain't born out West."

As Helen followed with cloak and bag Roy assisted her, and she encountered keen eyes upon her face. He seemed both gentle and respectful, and she felt his solicitude. His heavy gun, swinging low, struck her as she stepped down.

Dale reached into the stage and hauled out baskets and bags.

These he set down on the ground.

"Turn around, Bill, an' go along with you. John an' Hal will follow presently," ordered Dale.

"Wal, gurls," said, looking down upon them, "I was shore powerful glad to meet you-all. An' I'm ashamed of my country -- offerin' two sich purty gurls insults an' low-down tricks. But shore you'll go through safe now. You couldn't be in better company fer ridin' or huntin' or marryin' or gittin' religion --""Shut up, you old grizzly!" broke in Dale, sharply.

"Haw! Haw! Good-by, gurls, an' good luck!" ended Bill, as he began to whip the reins.

Bo said good-by quite distinctly, but Helen could only murmur hers. The old driver seemed a friend.

Then the horses wheeled and stamped, the stage careened and creaked, presently to roll out of sight in the gloom.

"You're shiverin'," said Dale, suddenly, looking down upon Helen. She felt his big, hard hand clasp hers. "Cold as ice!""I am c-cold," replied Helen. "I guess we're not warmly dressed.""Nell, we roasted all day, and now we're freezing," declared Bo. "I didn't know it was winter at night out here.""Miss, haven't you some warm gloves an' a coat?" asked Roy, anxiously. "It 'ain't begun to get cold yet.""Nell, we've heavy gloves, riding-suits and boots -- all fine and new -- in this black bag," said Bo, enthusiastically kicking a bag at her feet.

"Yes, so we have. But a lot of good they'll do us, to-night," returned Helen.

同类推荐
  • 鼎镌国朝名公神断详刑公案

    鼎镌国朝名公神断详刑公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 持诵准提真言法要

    持诵准提真言法要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Twilight Land

    Twilight Land

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • On the Ruin of Britain

    On the Ruin of Britain

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 增广和剂局方药性总论

    增广和剂局方药性总论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 祀义篇

    祀义篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 千骑红尘妃子笑

    千骑红尘妃子笑

    *本文参与言情小说吧新人训练营*一字之差,贻害三人。妹妹,她还有他都因这一字之差而波澜狂现妹妹私奔,他沦为笑柄,她为了赎罪而嫁与他。小姑难缠,婆婆势力,小三张狂。而他却在初时的缱绻后对她失了信任。当年的伤逝成为他与她之间不能开口的禁忌。桃花灼灼,耀人眼目,却又刺入心扉,溃烂呈殇。谁的芬芳,染一世清华,留一缕暗香?执谁之手,与之偕老,不弃不休?赵慕寒:抚额叹息,“卿言,你要怎么样才能原谅我?”赵构:执着一心,“卿言,我要你做我的后。”而她游走在两个男人之间彷徨迷惘。一颗心,乱了。烽火连天号角起,狼烟四起城阙破。一己之身,待罪赎身。家族荣辱,载沉载浮。【四海阁】爱是天时地利的迷信按下面的↓↓收藏本书↓↓为小袖子加油打气哈。
  • 洪荒截教仙尊

    洪荒截教仙尊

    青牛新书,圣禁之门已发布,希望兄弟们支持一下,感谢
  • 腹黑丞相呆萌妻

    腹黑丞相呆萌妻

    小师妹下山了!嗯,奉师父的命令,为小师妹找对象这件事情诸师兄是摆在第一位的。放眼整个长安城,诸师兄将眼光放在了那高贵清雅洁身自好且手握大权的丞相身上。巧的是当今丞相奉少帝的命令抛绣球征婚啦!于是诸师兄从此就将自家懵懂的师妹给送上了一条不归路!许久以后当丞相大张旗鼓的领着迎亲队伍来求娶小师妹,他们才后悔不已。说好的高贵清雅洁身自好呢?简直就是一只扮作猪的狐狸把自家的好白菜给拱了!这是一个呆萌小师妹在诸师兄的神助攻下,拿下精明腹黑丞相的故事。
  • 加州旅馆

    加州旅馆

    男人很年轻。事情发生在男人出差的最后一天。那一天清晨,男人醒得有些早,但他不想起来。他睁着眼睛,想起平常时候,在家,女人窝在他怀里,呼吸匀称或者不匀称。她是个爱撒娇的老婆,贪,要,不行,我还要,再来!肉胳膊肉腿,死死地环着他,不让起床。他得想办法脱身,呵痒痒,说去给她买好吃的,深深地吻她然后突然离开……花样百出。一大早,两人继续睡前的缠绵,乐此不疲。也正常,他们毕竟才结婚半年还不到。此刻,他真的有些想念女人,他伸出一只手,拔下床头柜上正在充电的手机,想着,要不要跟她打电话,会不会太早?他还在犹豫,电话响了。他笑,想都不用想,这才是夫妻。
  • 爱情传(男女情感史)

    爱情传(男女情感史)

    爱情的永恒占据了我们生活在迷宫之中的命运。牢牢地抓住爱情绳索的读者啊。此书将帮助你去漂流爱河,咏叹波峰浪谷,一路风光。爱是个体的、个性的,又是我们永恒的生活,无尽的文明。当长河日落,生命的潮悄然退去,爱情涅槃了,我们超越了么?本书献给那些长久地学习爱情,并施展爱情魔法的15岁—80岁的读者。
  • 山河碎:素手复乾坤

    山河碎:素手复乾坤

    新书《九州棋》连载中,古风仙侠,欢迎阅读~她是卫国的嫡公主,张扬不羁,洒脱狂傲,曾笑意明媚如阳光。…他是申国的落魄世子,城府极深,善用谋略,曾为了保住岌岌可危的世子之位,亲自去往卫国求亲。…其后风云翻覆,强大的卫国迅速衰败,凭借卫国的帮助成功登上君位的申国世子羽巧施手段得到一纸退婚书,并最终联合别国攻进了卫国。…当山河破碎,她又将如何用一双纤纤素水,再复立乾坤?…当国仇家恨阴郁了那夜如水的月光,她也许再不会记得云雾节时的巧遇,他们成了命定有缘之人,那时月光和灯火交织起来,照亮了他一身白衣纤尘不染,身姿挺拔翩然而立,恍若谪仙一般。…她也再不会承认,只是那一眼,便悄悄沉沦的心。
  • 穿越之风月

    穿越之风月

    让我们在春江花月夜,做一段风花雪月事。一段轻松诙谐的穿越故事:春有百花秋有月,夏有凉风冬有雪。明月何时映落花,流雪何年随风绝?
  • 残种

    残种

    盛朝二百零八年,天地摇曳,西南腹地裂渊千里,深不可知,方圆寸草不生皆成荒漠…… 一段曲折的爱情故事,一个剑指苍天的传奇,搅动天地的大事,譿世倾心制作大场景 神魔巨作,三年一剑成,万年阴谋破! “待我剑指苍天,破凡成圣,定回来还你十里红妆相伴到老!”
  • 诸天武道从武当开始

    诸天武道从武当开始

    这是一个现代职业道士,穿越古代武当山下,一个农家小子,本来只是想,凭着肚子里对道经的熟悉,上山当个道士,好过地里刨食,谁知听到自己的道号是自己记忆中的那个名字后,他就知道他这一生,不能只读道经了。然后,他便开始了传奇的第二世,第三世,第四世……(本书无限流)书友群:551845914,可以来聊聊天