the foreigner-第43部分

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〃Now　we'll　soon　see；〃　he　cried。

He　hurriedly　gathered　some　dry　wood；　heaped　the　black　stuff　upon　it；　lighted　it；　and　sat　down　to　wait　the　issue。　　Wild　hopes　were　throbbing　at　his　heart。　　He　knew　enough　of　the　value　of　coal　to　realize　the　importance　of　the　discovery。　　If　it　should　prove　to　be　coal；　what　a　splendid　thing　it　would　be　for　Jack　and　for　him！　　How　much　they　would　be　able　to　do　for　Mrs。　French　and　for　his　sister　Irma！　　Amid　his　dreams　a　new　face　mingled；　a　face　with　saucy　brown　eyes；　but　on　that　face　he　refused　to　allow　himself　the　rapture　of　looking。　　He　dared　not；　at　least　not　yet。　　Keenly　he　watched　the　fire。　　Was　it　taking　hold　of　the　black　lumps？　　The　flames　were　dying　down。　　The　wood　had　nearly　burned　itself　out。　　The　black　lumps　were　charred　and　dead；　and　with　their　dying　died　his　hopes。

He　glanced　out　upon　the　ravine。　　Large　soft　flakes　of　snow　were　falling　lazily　through　the　trees。

〃I'll　get　my　blankets　and　grub　under　cover；　and　get　some　more　wood　for　the　night。　　It's　going　to　be　cold。〃

He　heaped　the　remains　of　the　wood　he　had　gathered　upon　the　fire；　and　with　great　difficulty；　for　his　foot　was　growing　more　and　more　painful　with　every　move；　he　set　about　gathering　wood；　of　which　there　was　abundance　near　at　hand；　and　making　himself　snug　for　the　night。　　He　brought　up　a　pail　of　water　from　the　Creek；　and　tethered　his　broncho　where　there　was　a　bunch　of　grass　at　the　bottom　of　the　ravine。　　Before　he　had　finished　these　operations　the　ground　was　white　with　snow；　and　the　wind　was　beginning　to　sigh　ominously　through　the　trees。

〃Going　to　be　a　blizzard；　sure；〃　he　said。　　〃But　let　her　blow。　　We're　all　right　in　here。　　Hello！　where　are　those　dogs？　　After　the　wolves；　I'll　be　bound。　　They'll　come　back　when　they're　ready。〃

With　every　moment　the　snow　came　down　more　thickly；　and　the　wind　grew　toward　a　gale。

〃If　it's　going　to　be　a　storm；　I'd　better　lay　in　some　more　wood。〃

At　the　cost　of　great　pain　and　labour；　he　dragged　within　reach　of　the　cave　a　number　of　dead　trees。　　He　was　disgusted　to　find　his　stock　of　provisions　rather　low。

〃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；　Kalma