Part 9 (1/2)
Consciously or otherwise she took stock of Bill Wagstaff She knew him to be in bad odor with Cariboo Meadows for soht in the street, knock ato her conceptions of behavior that was brutal and vulgar Drinking cas'
word that Bill Wagstaff not only got drunk, but was a ”holy terror”
when in that condition Yet she could not quite associate the twin traits of brutality and vulgarity with the htful look on his face His speech stamped hi in all that the word iathered enough of the West's wide liberality of view in regard to personal conduct to know that Roaring Bill Wagstaff must be a hard citizen indeed to be practically ostracized in a place like Cariboo Meadows She wondered what Cariboo Meadoould say if it could see her sitting by Bill Wagstaff's fire at nine in the evening in the heart of the woods What would they say when he piloted her hoot up
”Well, we'll make a move,” he said, and disappeared abruptly into the dark
She heard hi around at so three horses One he saddled The other two he rigged with his pack outfit, storing his varied belongings in two pair of kyaks, and loading kyaks and bedding on the horses with a deft speed that bespoke long practice He was too busy to talk, and Hazel sat beside the fire, watching in silence When he had tucked up the last rope end, he turned to her
”There,” he said; ”we're ready to hit the trail Can you ride?”
”I don't know,” Hazel answered dubiously ”I never have ridden a horse”
”My, lected--and you a schoollected,” Hazel retorted ”I don't need to ride, thank you”
”Yes, and stub your toe and fall down every ten feet,” Bill observed
”No, Miss Weir, your first lesson in horsemanshi+p is now due--if you aren't afraid of horses”
”I'm not afraid of horses at all,” Hazel declared ”But I don't think it's a very good place to take riding lessons I can just as alk, for I'm not in the least afraid” And then she added as an afterthought: ”How do you happen to know my name?”
”In the same way that you know mine,” Bill replied, ”even if you haven't mentioned it yet Lord bless you, do you suppose Cariboo Meadows could import a lady school-teacher fro who she was, and where she came from, and what she looked like? You furnished them a subject for conversation and speculation--the same as I do when I drop in there and whoop it up for a while I guess you don't realize what old granny gossips ild Westerners are Especially where girls are concerned”
Hazel stiffened a trifle She did not like the idea of Cariboo Meadows discussing her with such freedo sensitive on that subject--since the co of Mr Howard Perkins, for she felt that they were considering her frole that she did not relish
She wondered also if Roaring Bill Wagstaff had heard that gossip And if he had-- At any rate, she could not accuse hi impertinent or curious in so far as she was concerned After the first look and exclamation of a, his personal attitude was tinctured with indifference
”Well,” said he, ”on't argue the point”
He disappeared into the dark again This time he came back with the crown of his hat full of water, which he sprinkled over the dwindling fire As the red glow of the embers faded in a sputter of steam and ashes, Hazel realized ht in the woods Until her eyes accustolooue shapes that she knew to be the horses, and another distaff Beyond that the inky canopy above and the forest surrounding see, Miss Weir,” Roaring Bill spoke at her elbow ”I'll walk and lead the packs You ride Silk He's gentle All you have to do is sit still, and he'll stay right behind the packs I'll help you mount”
If Hazel had still been inclined to insist on walking, she had no chance to debate the question Bill took her by the arm and led her up beside the horse It was a unique experience for her, this being cos No man had ever issued ultimatums to her
Even Jack Barroith all an accepted lover's privileges, had never calmly told her that she must do thus and so, and acted on the supposition that his as final But here was Roaring Bill Wagstaff telling her how to put her foot in the stirrup, putting her for the first ti her to duck low branches In his mind there seemed to be no question as whether or not she would ride He had settled that
Unused to , she blundered at the first attempt, and flushed in the dark at Bill's aht her under the are of her one foot in the stirrup, set her gently in the seat of the saddle
”You're such a little person,” he said, ”these stirrups are aPut your feet in the leather above--so Now play follow your leader Give Silk his head”
He ed ahead, rustling in the dry grass, dry twigs snapping under foot Obedient to Bill's cole, and Silk followed close behind his mates Hazel lurched unsteadily at first, but presently she caught the swingingstiffly to the saddle horn
They crossed the sreater part of the way Hazel could see nothing; she could tell that Wagstaff and the pack horses ress, and that was all Now and then low-hanging limbs reached suddenly out of the dark, and touched her with unseen fingers, or swept rudely across her face and hair