sally dows-第20章

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some　response　from　its　decks。　　She　was　so　lost　in　this　occupation
that　she　did　not　see　that　a　pilot…boat　nearly　abreast　of　the　cove
had　put　out　a　two…oared　gig；　which　was　pulling　quickly　for　the
rocks。　　When　she　saw　it；　she　trembled　with　the　instinct　that　it
brought　her　intelligence。　　She　was　right；　it　was　a　brief　note　from
her　husband；　informing　her　that　he　had　been　hurriedly　dispatched　on
a　short　sea　cruise；　that　in　order　to　catch　the　tide　he　had　not　time
to　go　ashore　at　the　bluff；　but　he　would　explain　everything　on　his
return。　　Her　relief　was　only　partial；　she　was　already　experienced
enough　in　his　vocation　to　know　that　the　excuse　was　a　feeble　one。
He　could　easily　have　〃fetched〃　the　bluff　in　tacking　out　of　the　Gate
and　have　signaled　to　her　to　board　him　in　her　own　boat。　　The　next
day　she　locked　up　her　house；　rowed　round　the　Point　to　the
Embarcadero；　where　the　Bay　steamboats　occasionally　touched　and　took
up　passengers　to　San　Francisco。　　Captain　Simmons　had　not　seen　her
husband　this　last　trip；　indeed；　did　not　know　that　he　had　gone　out
of　the　Bay。　　Mrs。　Bunker　was　seized　with　a　desperate　idea。　　She
called　upon　the　Secretary　of　the　Fishing　Trust。　　That　gentle　man
was　business…like；　but　neither　expansive　nor　communicative。　　Her
husband　had　NOT　been　ordered　out　to　sea　by　them；　she　ought　to　know
that　Captain　Bunker　was　now　his　own　master；　choosing　his　own
fishing　grounds；　and　his　own　times　and　seasons。　　He　was　not　aware
of　any　secret　service　for　the　Company　in　which　Captain　Bunker　was
engaged。　　He　hoped　Mrs。　Bunker　would　distinctly　remember　that　the
little　matter　of　the　duel　to　which　she　referred　was　an　old　bygone
affair；　and　never　anything　but　a　personal　matter；　in　which　the
Fishery　had　no　concern　whatever；　and　in　which　HE　certainly　should
not　again　engage。　　He　would　advise　Mrs。　Bunker；　if　she　valued　her
own　good；　and　especially　her　husband's；　to　speedily　forget　all
about　it。　　These　were　ugly　times；　as　it　was。　　If　Mrs。　Bunker's
services　had　not　been　properly　rewarded　or　considered　it　was
certainly　a　great　shame；　but　really　HE　could　not　be　expected　to
make　it　good。　　Certain　parties　had　cost　him　trouble　enough　already。
Besides；　really；　she　must　see　that　his　position　between　her
husband；　whom　he　respected；　and　a　certain　other　party　was　a
delicate　one。　　But　Mrs。　Bunker　heard　no　more。　　She　turned　and　ran
down　the　staircase；　carrying　with　her　a　burning　cheek　and　blazing
eye　that　somewhat　startled　the　complacent　official。

She　did　not　remember　how　she　got　home　again。　　She　had　a　vague
recollection　of　passing　through　the　crowded　streets；　wondering　if
the　people　knew　that　she　was　an　outcast；　deserted　by　her　husband；
deceived　by　her　ideal　hero；　repudiated　by　her　friends！　　Men　had
gathered　in　knots　before　the　newspaper　offices；　excited　and
gesticulating　over　the　bulletin　boards　that　had　such　strange
legends　as　〃The　Crisis；〃　〃Details　of　an　Alleged　Conspiracy　to
Overthrow　the　Government；〃　〃The　Assassin　of　Henderson　to　the　Fore
Again；〃　〃Rumored　Arrests　on　the　Mexican　Frontier。〃　　Sometimes　she
thought　she　understood　the　drift　of　them；　even　fancied　they　were
the　outcome　of　her　visitas　if　her　very　presence　carried　treachery
and　suspicion　with　itbut　generally　they　only　struck　her　benumbed
sense　as　a　dull；　meaningless　echo　of　something　that　had　happened
long　ago。　　When　she　reached　her　house；　late　that　night；　the
familiar　solitude　of　shore　and　sea　gave　her　a　momentary　relief；　but
with　it　came　the　terrible　conviction　that　she　had　forfeited　her
right　to　it；　that　when　her　husband　came　back　it　would　be　hers　no
longer；　and　that　with　their　meeting　she　would　know　it　no　more。　　For
through　all　her　childish　vacillation　and　imaginings　she　managed　to
cling　to　one　steadfast　resolution。　　She　would　tell　him　EVERYTHING；
and　know　the　worst。　　Perhaps　he　would　never　come；　perhaps　she
should　not　be　alive　to　meet　him。

And　so　the　days　and　nights　slowly　passed。　　The　solitude　which　her
previous　empty　deceit　had　enabled　her　to　fill　with　such　charming
visions　now　in　her　awakened　remorse　seemed　only　to　protract　her
misery。　　Had　she　been　a　more　experienced；　though　even　a　more
guilty；　woman　she　would　have　suffered　less。　　Without　sympathy　or
counsel；　without　even　the　faintest　knowledge　of　the　world　or　its
standards　of　morality　to　guide　her；　she　accepted　her　isolation　and
friendlessness　as　a　necessary　part　of　her　wrongdoing。　　Her　only
criterion　was　her　enemyMrs。　Fairfaxand　SHE　could　seek　her
relief　by　joining　her　lover；　but　Mrs。　Bunker　knew　now　that　she
herself　had　never　had　oneand　was　alone！　　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　broken
openly　with　her　husband；　but　SHE　had　DECEIVED　hers；　and　the
experience　and　reckoning　were　still　to　come。　　In　her　miserable
confession　it　was　not　strange　that　this　half　child；　half　woman；
sometimes　looked　towards　that　gray　sea；　eternally　waiting　for　her；
that　sea　which　had　taken　everything　from　her　and　given　her　nothing
in　return；for　an　obliterating　and　perhaps　exonerating　death！

The　third　day　of　her　waiting　isolation　was　broken　upon　by　another
intrusion。　　The　morning　had　been　threatening；　with　an　opaque；
motionless；　livid　arch　above；　which　had　taken　the　place　of　the
usual　flying　scud　and　shaded　cloud　masses　of　the　rainy　season。　　The
whole　outlying　ocean；　too；　beyond　the　bar；　appeared　nearer；　and
even　seemed　to　be　lifted　higher　than　the　Bay　itself；　and　was　lit
every　now　and　then　with　wonderful　clearness　by　long　flashes　of
breaking　foam　like　summer　lightning。　　She　knew　that　this　meant　a
southwester；　and　began；　with　a　certain　mechanical　deliberation；　to
set　her　little　domain　in　order　against　the　coming　gale。　　She　drove
the　cows　to　the　rude　shed　among　the　scrub　oaks；　she　collected　the
goats　and　young　kids　in　the　corral；　and　replenished　the　stock　of
fuel　from　the　woodpile。　　She　was　quite　hidden　in　the　shrubbery　when
she　saw　a　boat　making　slow　headway　against　the　wind　towards　the
little　cove　where　but　a　moment　before　she　had　drawn　up　the　dingey
beyond　the　reach　of　breaking　seas。　　It　was　a　whaleboat　from
Saucelito　containing　a　few　men。　　As　they　neared　the　landing　she
recognized　in　the　man　who　seemed　to　be　directing　the　boat　the
second　friend　of　Colonel　Marionthe　man　who　had　come　with　the
Secretary　to　take　him　off；　but　whom　she　had　never　seen　again。　　In
her　present　horror　of　that　memory　she　remained　hidden；　determined
at　all　hazards　to　avoid　a　meeting。　　When　they　had　landed；　one　of
the　men　halted　accidentally　before　the　shrubbery　where　she　was
concealed　as　he　caught　his　first　view　of　the　cottage；　which　had
been　invisible　from　the　point　they　had　rounded。

〃Look　here；　Bragg；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Marion's　friend；　in　a　voice
which　was　distinctly　audible　to　Mrs。　Bunker。　　〃What　are　we　to　say
to　these　people？〃

〃There's　only　one；〃　returned　the　other。　　〃The　man's　at　sea。　　His
wife's　here。　　She's　all　right。〃

〃You　said　she　was　one　of　us？〃

〃After　a　fashion。　　She's　the　woman　who　helped　Marion　when　he　was
here。　　I　reckon　he　made　it　square　with　her　from　the　beginning；　for
she　forwarded　letters　from　him　since。　　But　you　can　tell　her　as　much
or　as　little　as　you　find　necessary　when　you　see　her。〃

〃Yes；　but　we　must　settle　that　NOW；〃　said　Bragg　sharply；　〃and　I
propose　to　tell　her　NOTHING。　　I'm　against　having　any　more
petticoats　mixed　up　with　our　affairs。　　I　propose　to　make　an
examination　of　the　place　without　bothering　our　heads　about　her。〃

〃But　we　must　give　some　reason　for　coming　here；　and　we　must　ask　her
to　keep　dark；　or　we'll　have　her　blabbing　to　the　first　person　she
meets；〃　urged　the　other。

〃She's　not　likely　to　see　anybody　before　night；　when　the　brig　will
be　in　and　the　men　and　guns　landed。　　Move　on；　and　let　Jim　take
soundings　off　the　cove；　while　I　look　along　the　shore。　　It's　just　as
well　that　there's　a　house　here；　and　a　little　cover　like　this〃
pointing　to　the　shrubbery〃to　keep　the　men　from　making　too　much　of
a　show　until　after　the　earthworks　are　up。　　There　are　sharp　eyes
over　at　the　Fort。〃

〃There　don't　seem　to　be　any　one　in　the　house　now；〃　returned　the
other　after　a　moment's　scrutiny　of　the　cottage；　〃or　the　woman　would
surely　come　out　at　the　barking　of　the　dog；　even　if　she　hadn't　seen
us。　　Likely　she's　gone　to　Saucelito。〃

〃So　much　the　better。　　Just　as　well　that　she　should　know　nothing
until　it　happens。　　Afterwards　we'll　settle　with　the　husband　for　the
price　of　possession；　he　has　only　a　squatter's　rights。　　Come　along；
we'll　have　bad　weather　before　we　get　back　round　the　Point　again；
but　so　much　the　better；　for　it　will　keep　off　any　inquisitive
longshore　cruisers。〃

They　moved　away。　　But　Mrs。　Bunker；　stung　through　her　benumbed　and
brooding　consciousness；　and　made　desperate　by　this　repeated
revelation　of　her　former　weakness；　had　heard　enough　to　make　her
feverish　to　hear　more。　　She　knew　the　intricacies　of　the　shrubbery
thoroughly。　　She　knew　every　foot　of　shade　and　cover　of　the
clearing；　and　creeping　like　a　cat　from　bush　to　bush　she　managed；
without　being　discovered；　to　keep　the　party　in　sight　and　hearing
all　the　time。　　It　required　no　great　discernment；　even　for　an
inexperienced　woman　like　herself；　at　the　end　of　an　hour；　to　gather
their　real　purpose。　　It　was　to　prepare　for　the　secret　landing　of　an
armed　force；　disguised　as　laborers；　who；　under　the　outward　show　of
quarrying　in　the　bluff；　were　to　throw　up　breastworks；　and　fortify
the　craggy　shelf。　　The　landing　was　fixed　for　that　night；　and　was　to
be　effected　by　a　vessel　now　cruising　outside　the　Heads。

She　understood　it　all　now。　　She　remembered　Marion's　speech　about
the　importance　of　the　bluff　for　military　purposes；　she　remembered
the　visit　of　the　officers　from　the　Fort　opposite。　　The　strangers
were　stealing　a　march　upon　the　Government；　and　by　night　would　be　in
possession。　　It　was　perhaps　an　evidence　of　her　newly　awakened　and
larger　comprehension　that　she　took　no　thought　of　her　loss　of　home
and　property；perhaps　there　was　little　to　draw　her　to　it　now；but
was　conscious　only　of　a　more　terrible　catastrophea　catastrophe　to
which　she　was　partly　accessory；　of　which　any　other　woman　would　have
warned　her　husbandor　at　least　those　officers　of　the　Fort　whose
business　it　was　to　　Ah；　yes！　the　officers　of　the　Fortonly　just
opposite　to　her！　　She　trembled；　and　yet　flushed　with　an
inspiration。　　It　was　not　too　late　yetwhy　not　warn　them　NOW？

But　how？　　A　message　sent　by　Saucelito　and　the　steamboat　to　San
Franciscothe　usual　waywould　not　reach　them　tonight。　　To　go
herself；　rowing　directly　across　in　the　dingey；　would　be　the　only
security　of　success。　　If　she　could　do　it？　　It　was　a　long　pullthe
sea　was　getting　upbut　she　would　try。

She　waited　until　the　last　man　had　stepped　into　the　boat；　in　nervous
dread　of　some　one　remaining。　　Then；　when　the　boat　had　vanished
round　the　Point　again；　she　ran　back　to　the　cottage；　arrayed　herself
in　her　husband's　pilot　coat；　hat；　and　boots；　and　launched　the
dingey。　　It　was　a　heavy；　slow；　but　luckily　a　stanch　and　seaworthy
boat。　　It　was　not　until　she　was　well　off　shore　that　she　began　to
feel　the　full　fury　of　the　wind　and　waves；　and　knew　the　difficulty
and　danger　of　her　undertaking。　　She　had　decided　that　her　shortest
and　most　direct　course　was　within　a　few　points　of　the　wind；　but　the
quartering　of　the　waves　on　the　broad　bluff　bows　of　the　boat　tended
to　throw　it　to　leewar