American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-04-08
CHAPTER ~

Dan Enltlnk was lfAiAg Nv hNNAF |
hurt. The quick, flashing blows had
not done more than severely brulse
the flesh Of his face; and the mists OF
Inconsistencies that had been failing
over him were more nearly the result
of his own tremendous physical ex-
ertion. Now these mists were rising.
"Go-go away" the girl was COM
handing. ~ think you've killed him.
Dan opened his eyes to find her
kneeling close beside him, but stu
covering Cranston with her pistol. Her
hand was resting IN his bruised cheek.
He couldn't have believed that a hu'
man face could be as white, while life
still remained, as hers was then. All
the lovely tints that had been such a
delight to him, the play OF soft reds
and browns, had faded as an after
glow fades On the snow.
Dams glance moved with hers to
Cranston. He was standing easily al
a distance of a dozen feet and except
for the falntest tremble all over his
body, a muscular reaction from the
violence of his passion. he had entire
ly regained his self-composure. h
was quite characteristic OF the noun
tain men. They share with the beasts
a passion Of living that is wholly UNI
known on the plains; but yet they nave
a certain quality of imperturbabillty
known nowhere else. Nor Is II limited
to the native-born mountalneers. NO
man who intimately knows a member
of that curious, keen-eyed little army
of nahnralists and blg-gnme hunters
who 90 TO the north woods every fall,
as regularly and seemingly as mex
orably as the waterfowl go I'm spring,
can doubt this fact. They seem to
have acquired from the silence and
the SHOWS an I%mpregnation Of that
eternal calm and imperturbnbility That
is the wilderness itself. Cranston
wasn't In the least afraid. Fear IL
usually q matter of uncertainty. and
he knew exactly where he stood.
It is extremely doubtful II a plains
mar would have possessed this knowl
edge. But a plalnsmnn has not the
knowledge Of life itself that the noun
taineer has. simply because he does
not see II In the raw. And he has MOI
half the Intimate knowledge Of death
an absolute requisite OF self-com
posure. The mountalneer knows life
In its simple phases with little tradi
ton or convention to blur the vision
Death is a very intimate ~acqualntnnc'
that may be met in any snowdrift, OF
any rocky trail and these condition.
are very deadly 10 any decisions ina
he has in regard TO himself. He &C
qulres m ability TO see just where h
stands, and Of course that means self
possession. This quality had somethinI
. to do with the remarkable record tina
the mountain men. such as that mag
nificent warrior from Tennessee, mad
, In the late war.
Cranston knew exactly what Snow
{ bird would do. Although Of a highe
= order, che was q mountain creature
even as himself. She meant exnctl
what she said. II he hadn't climbe
from Dams prone body, she woul
y have shot quickly and very straight.
: he tried to attack either OF them nov
. her finger would press back before !
. could blink an eye. aud she wouldn
: weep any hysterical tears over b
dead body. II he kept bis distanc
y, she wouldn't shoot at oil. He meal
~ to keep his distance. But he did kno
that he could insult her without daI
= ger 10 himself. And by now his III
y. had acquired their old curl Of scorn.
~ an go, %snowbird," he said. II
leave you with your Sissy. But que
you saw what / did 10 him-in ~
to minutes"
e. 81 saw. But you must rememb
nj he's sick. Now CO."
ly IF he's sick. let him stay IN bed
m and have a wet nurse. Maybe you CT
be that"
ns The lids dropped halfway oyer b
y gray eyes. and the slim finger curl
ze more tightly about the trigger. 70
~ wish | could shoot you. BertI" 8
Nv said. She didn't whisper II. or hiss
or huri IL, OF do any Of thet things nae
al people are supposed 10 do IN mOmeT
rel Of violent emotion. She simply ~
1l IL. and her meaning was al I
III clearer.
mt But you can't. And I'll pound ~
mlk-sop Of yours TO a Jelly every ~
I see him. I'd think. SnOwbird y
Isy you'd want a man"
he re sfnrfed NJ the frsH +
q