the call of the canyon-第4部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

ound　the　peaks　ain't　very　promisin'。　Now；　miss；　haven't　you　a　heavier　coat　or　somethin'？〃

〃No；　I　have　not；〃　replied　Carley。　〃I'll　have　to　stand　it。　Did　you　say　this　was　desert？〃

〃I　shore　did。　Wal；　there's　a　hoss　blanket　under　the　seat；　an'　you　can　have　that；〃　he　replied；　and；　climbing　to　the　seat　in　front　of　Carley；　he　took　up　the　reins　and　started　the　horses　off　at　a　trot。

At　the　first　turning　Carley　became　specifically　acquainted　with　the　driver's　meaning　of　a　bad　day。　A　gust　of　wind；　raw　and　penetrating；　laden　with　dust　and　stinging　sand；　swept　full　in　her　face。　It　came　so　suddenly　that　she　was　scarcely　quick　enough　to　close　her　eyes。　It　took　considerable　clumsy　effort　on　her　part　with　a　handkerchief；　aided　by　relieving　tears；　to　clear　her　sight　again。　Thus　uncomfortably　Carley　found　herself　launched　on　the　last　lap　of　her　journey。

All　before　her　and　alongside　lay　the　squalid　environs　of　the　town。　Looked　back　at；　with　the　peaks　rising　behind；　it　was　not　unpicturesque。　But　the　hard　road　with　its　sheets　of　flying　dust；　the　bleak　railroad　yards；　the　round　pens　she　took　for　cattle　corrals；　and　the　sordid　debris　littering　the　approach　to　a　huge　sawmill；these　were　offensive　in　Carley's　sight。　From　a　tall　dome…like　stack　rose　a　yellowish　smoke　that　spread　overhead；　adding　to　the　lowering　aspect　of　the　sky。　Beyond　the　sawmill　extended　the　open　country　sloping　somewhat　roughly；　and　evidently　once　a　forest；　but　now　a　hideous　bare　slash；　with　ghastly　burned　stems　of　trees　still　standing；　and　myriads　of　stumps　attesting　to　denudation。

The　bleak　road　wound　away　to　the　southwest；　and　from　this　direction　came　the　gusty　wind。　It　did　not　blow　regularly　so　that　Carley　could　be　on　her　guard。　It　lulled　now　and　then；　permitting　her　to　look　about；　and　then　suddenly　again　whipping　dust　into　her　face。　The　smell　of　the　dust　was　as　unpleasant　as　the　sting。　It　made　her　nostrils　smart。　It　was　penetrating；　and　a　little　more　of　it　would　have　been　suffocating。　And　as　a　leaden　gray　bank　of　broken　clouds　rolled　up　the　wind　grew　stronger　and　the　air　colder。　Chilled　before；　Carley　now　became　thoroughly　cold。

There　appeared　to　be　no　end　to　the　devastated　forest　land；　and　the　farther　she　rode　the　more　barren　and　sordid　grew　the　landscape。　Carley　forgot　about　the　impressive　mountains　behind　her。　And　as　the　ride　wore　into　hours；　such　was　her　discomfort　and　disillusion　that　she　forgot　about　Glenn　Kilbourne。　She　did　not　reach　the　point　of　regretting　her　adventure；　but　she　grew　mightily　unhappy。　Now　and　then　she　espied　dilapidated　log　cabins　and　surroundings　even　more　squalid　than　the　ruined　forest。　What　wretched　abodes！　Could　it　be　possible　that　people　had　lived　in　them？　She　imagined　men　had　but　hardly　women　and　children。　Somewhere　she　had　forgotten　an　idea　that　women　and　children　were　extremely　scarce　in　the　West。

Straggling　bits　of　forestyellow　pines；　the　driver　called　the　treesbegan　to　encroach　upon　the　burned…over　and　arid　barren　land。　To　Carley　these　groves；　by　reason　of　contrast　and　proof　of　what　once　was；　only　rendered　the　landscape　more　forlorn　and　dreary。　Why　had　these　miles　and　miles　of　forest　been　cut？　By　money　grubbers；　she　supposed；　the　same　as　were　devastating　the　Adirondacks。　Presently；　when　the　driver　had　to　halt　to　repair　or　adjust　something　wrong　with　the　harness；　Carley　was　grateful　for　a　respite　from　cold　inaction。　She　got　out　and　walked。　Sleet　began　to　fall；　and　when　she　resumed　her　seat　in　the　vehicle　she　asked　the　driver　for　the　blanket　to　cover　her。　The　smell　of　this　horse　blanket　was　less　endurable　than　the　cold。　Carley　huddled　down　into　a　state　of　apathetic　misery。　Already　she　had　enough　of　the　West。

But　the　sleet　storm　passed；　the　clouds　broke；　the　sun　shone　through；　greatly　mitigating　her　discomfort。　By　and　by　the　road　led　into　a　section　of　real　forest；　unspoiled　in　any　degree。　Carley　saw　large　gray　squirrels　with　tufted　ears　and　white　bushy　tails。　Presently　the　driver　pointed　out　a　flock　of　huge　birds；　which　Carley；　on　second　glance；　recognized　as　turkeys；　only　these　were　sleek　and　glossy；　with　flecks　of　bronze　and　black　and　white；　quite　different　from　turkeys　back　East。　〃There　must　be　a　farm　near；〃　said　Carley；　gazing　about。

〃No；　ma'am。　Them's　wild　turkeys；〃　replied　the　driver；　〃an'　shore　the　best　eatin'　you　ever　had　in　your　life。〃

A　little　while　afterwards；　as　they　were　emerging　from　the　woodland　into　more　denuded　country；　he　pointed　out　to　Carley　a　herd　of　gray　white…rumped　animals　that　she　took　to　be　sheep。

〃An'　them's　antelope；〃　he　said。　〃Once　this　desert　was　overrun　by　antelope。　Then　they　nearly　disappeared。　An'　now　they're　increasin'　again。〃

More　barren　country；　more　bad　weather；　and　especially　an　exceedingly　rough　road　reduced　Carley　to　her　former　state　of　dejection。　The　jolting　over　roots　and　rocks　and　ruts　was　worse　than　uncomfortable。　She　had　to　hold　on　to　the　seat　to　keep　from　being　thrown　out。　The　horses　did　not　appreciably　change　their　gait　for　rough　sections　of　the　road。　Then　a　more　severe　jolt　brought　Carley's　knee　in　violent　contact　with　an　iron　bolt　on　the　forward　seat；　and　it　hurt　her　so　acutely　that　she　had　to　bite　her　lips　to　keep　from　screaming。　A　smoother　stretch　of　road　did　not　come　any　too　soon　for　her。

It　led　into　forest　again。　And　Carley　soon　became　aware　that　they　had　at　last　left　the　cut　and　burned…over　district　of　timberland　behind。　A　cold　wind　moaned　through　the　treetops　and　set　the　drops　of　water　pattering　down　upon　her。　It　lashed　her　wet　face。　Carley　closed　her　eyes　and　sagged　in　her　seat；　mostly　oblivious　to　the　passing　scenery。　〃The　girls　will　never　believe　this　of　me；〃　she　soliloquized。　And　indeed　she　was　amazed　at　herself。　Then　thought　of　Glenn　strengthened　her。　It　did　not　really　matter　what　she　suffered　on　the　way　to　him。　Only　she　was　disgusted　at　her　lack　of　stamina；　and　her　appalling　sensitiveness　to　discomfort。

〃Wal；　hyar's　Oak　Creek　Canyon；〃　called　the　driver。

Carley；　rousing　out　of　her　weary　preoccupation；　opened　her　eyes　to　see　that　the　driver　had　halted　at　a　turn　of　the　road；　where　apparently　it　descended　a　fearful　declivity。

The　very　forest…fringed　earth　seemed　to　have　opened　into　a　deep　abyss；　ribbed　by　red　rock　walls　and　choked　by　steep　mats　of　green　timber。　The　chasm　was　a　V…shaped　split　and　so　deep　that　looking　downward　sent　at　once　a　chill　and　a　shudder　over　Carley。　At　that　point　it　appeared　narrow　and　ended　in　a　box。　In　the　other　direction；　it　widened　and　deepened；　and　stretched　farther　on　between　tremendous　walls　of　red；　and　split　its　winding　floor　of　green　with　glimpses　of　a　gleaming　creek；　bowlder…strewn　and　ridged　by　white　rapids。　A　low　mellow　roar　of　rushing　waters　floated　up　to　Carley's　ears。　What　a　wild；　lonely；　terrible　place！　Could　Glenn　possibly　live　down　there　in　that　ragged　rent　in　the　earth？　It　frightened　herthe　sheer　sudden　plunge　of　it　from　the　heights。　Far　down　the　gorge　a　purple　light　shone　on　the　forested　floor。　And　on　the　moment　the　sun　burst　through　the　clouds　and　sent　a　golden　blaze　down　into　the　depths；　transforming　them　incalculably。　The　great　cliffs　turned　gold；　the　creek　changed　to　glancing　silver；　the　green　of　trees　vividly　freshened；　and　in　the　clefts　rays　of　sunlight　burned　into　the　blue　shadows。　Carley　had　never　gazed　upon　a　scene　like　this。　Hostile　and　prejudiced；　she　yet　felt　wrung　from　her　an　acknowledgment　of　beauty　and　grandeur。　But　wild；　violent；　savage！　Not　livable！　This　insulated　rift　in　the　crust　of　the　earth　was　a　gigantic　burrow　for　beasts；　perhaps　for　outlawed　mennot　for　a　civilized　personnot　for　Glenn　Kilbourne。

〃Don't　be　scart；　ma'am；〃　spoke　up　the　driver。　〃It's　safe　if　you're　careful。　An'　I've　druv　this　manys　the　time。〃

Carley's　heartbeats　thumped　at　her　side；　rather　denying　her　taunted　assurance　of　fearlessness。　Then　the　rickety　vehicle　started　down　at　an　angle　that　forced　her　to　cling　to　her　seat。


CHAPTER　II

Carley；　clutching　her　support；　with　abated　breath　and　prickling　skin；　gazed　in　fascinated　suspense　over　the　rim　of　the　gorge。　Sometimes　the　wheels　on　that　side　of　the　vehicle　passed　within　a　few　inches　of　the　edge。　The　brakes　squeaked；　the　wheels　slid；　and　she　could　hear　the　scrape　of　the　iron…shod　hoofs　of　the　horses　as　they　held　back　stiff　legged；　obedient　to　the　wary　call　of　the　driver。

The　first　hundred　yards　of　that　steep　road　cut　out　of　the　cliff　appeared　to　be　the　worst。　It　began　to　widen；　with　descents　less　precipitous。　Tips　of　trees　rose　level　with　her　gaze；　obstructing　sight　of　the　blue　depths。　Then　brush　appeared　on　each　side　of　the　road。　Gradually　Carley's　strain　relaxed；　and　also　the　muscular　contraction　by　which　she　had　braced　herself　in　the　seat。　The　horses　began　to　trot　again。　The　wheels　rattled。　The　road　wound　around　abrupt　corners；　and　soon　the　green　and　red　wall　of　the　opposite　side　of　the　canyon　loomed　close。　Low　roar　of　running　water　rose　to　Carley's　ears。　When　at　length　she　looked　out　instead　of　down　she　could　see　nothing　but　a　mass　of　green　foliage　crossed　by　tree　trunks　and　branches　of　brown　and　gray。　Then　the　vehicle　bowled　under　dark　cool　shade；　into　a　tunnel　with　mossy　wet　cliff　on　one　side；　and　close…standing　trees　on　the　other；

〃Reckon　we're　all　right　now；　onless　we　meet　somebody　comin'　up；〃　declared　the　driver。

Carley　relaxed。　She　drew　a　deep　breat