in the carquinez woods-第15章

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Teresa　lowered　her　eyes　as　if　in　maidenly　confusion。　　〃Well；　if
I'd　known　that　YOU　had　any　feeling　of　your　own　about　itif　you'd
spoken　sooner〃

〃Answer　me；　you　devil！〃

〃He　is。〃

〃And　he　has　been　with　you　hereyesterdayto…night？〃

〃He　has。〃

〃Enough。〃　　He　laughed　a　weak；　foolish　laugh；　and；　turning　pale；
suddenly　lapsed　against　a　tree。　　He　would　have　fallen；　but　with　a
quick　instinct　Teresa　sprang　to　his　side；　and　supported　him
gently　to　a　root。　　The　action　over；　they　both　looked　astounded。

〃I　reckon　that　wasn't　much　like　either　you　or　me；〃　said　Dunn
slowly；　〃was　it？　　But　if　you'd　let　me　drop　then　you'd　have
stretched　out　the　biggest　fool　in　the　Sierras。〃　　He　paused；　and
looked　at　her　curiously。　　〃What's　come　over　you；　blessed　if　I
seem　to　know　you　now。〃

She　was　very　pale　again；　and　quiet；　that　was　all。

〃Teresa！　　dn　it；　look　here！　　When　I　was　laid　up　yonder　in
Excelsior　I　said　I　wanted　to　get　well　for　only　two　things。　　One
was　to　hunt　you　down；　the　other　to　marry　Nellie　Wynn。　　When　I
came　here　I　thought　that　last　thing　could　never　be。　　I　came　here
expecting　to　find　her　here　with　Low；　and　kill　himperhaps　kill
her　too。　　I　never　once　thought　of　you；　not　once。　　You　might　have
risen　up　before　mebetween　me　and　himand　I'd　have　passed　you
by。　　And　now　that　I　find　it's　all　a　mistake；　and　it　was　you；　not
her；　I　was　looking　for；　why〃

〃Why；〃　she　interrupted　bitterly；　〃you'll　just　take　me；　of　course；
to　save　your　time　and　earn　your　salary。　　I'm　ready。〃

〃But　I'M　not；　just　yet；〃　he　said　faintly。　　〃Help　me　up。〃

She　mechanically　assisted　him　to　his　feet。

〃Now　stand　where　you　are；〃　he　added；　〃and　don't　move　beyond　this
tree　till　I　return。〃

He　straightened　himself　with　an　effort；　clenched　his　fists　until
the　nails　were　nearly　buried　in　his　palms；　and　strode　with　a
firm；　steady　step　in　the　direction　he　had　come。　　In　a　few　moments
he　returned　and　stood　before　her。

〃I've　sent　away　my　deputythe　man　who　brought　me　here；　the　fool
who　thought　you　were　Nellie。　　He　knows　now　he　made　a　mistake。
But　who　it　was　he　mistook　for　Nellie　he　does　not　know；　nor　shall
ever　know；　nor　shall　any　living　being　know；　other　than　myself。
And　when　I　leave　the　wood　to…day　I　shall　know　it　no　longer。　　You
are　safe　here　as　far　as　I　am　concerned；　but　I　cannot　screen　you
from　others　prying。　　Let　Low　take　you　away　from　here　as　soon　as
he　can。〃

〃Let　him　take　me　away？　　Ah；　yes。　　For　what？〃

〃To　save　you；〃　said　Dunn。　　〃Look　here；　Teresa！　　Without　knowing
it；　you　lifted　me　out　of　hell　just　now；　and　because　of　the　wrong
I　might　have　done　herfor　HER　sake；　I　spare　you　and　shirk　my　duty。〃

〃For　her　sake！〃　gasped　the　woman〃for　her　sake！　　Oh；　yes！　　Go　on。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Dunn　gloomily；　〃I　reckon　perhaps　you'd　as　lieve　left
me　in　hell；　for　all　the　love　you　bear　me。　　And　may　be　you've
grudge　enough　agin　me　still　to　wish　I'd　found　her　and　him　together。〃

〃You　think　so？〃　she　said；　turning　her　head　away。

〃There；　dn　it！　　I　didn't　mean　to　make　you　cry。　　May　be　you
wouldn't；　then。　　Only　tell　that　fellow　to　take　you　out　of　this；
and　not　run　away　the　next　time　he　sees　a　man　coming。〃

〃He　didn't　run；〃　said　Teresa；　with　flashing　eyes。　　〃III　sent
him　away；〃　she　stammered。　　Then；　suddenly　turning　with　fury　upon
him；　she　broke　out；　〃Run！　　Run　from　you！　　Ha；　ha！　　You　said　just
now　I'd　a　grudge　against　you。　　Well；　listen；　Jim　Dunn。　　I'd　only
to　bring　you　in　range　of　that　young　man's　rifle；　and　you'd　have
dropped　in　your　tracks　like〃

〃Like　that　bar；　the　other　night；〃　said　Dunn；　with　a　short　laugh。
〃So　THAT　was　your　little　game？〃　　He　checked　his　laugh　suddenlya
cloud　passed　over　his　face。　　〃Look　here；　Teresa；〃　he　said；　with
an　assumption　of　carelessness　that　was　as　transparent　as　it　was
utterly　incompatible　with　his　frank；　open　selfishness。　　〃What
became　of　that　bar？　　The　skineh？　　That　was　worth　something？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Teresa　quietly。　　〃Low　exchanged　it　and　got　a　ring　for
me　from　that　trader　Isaacs。　　It　was　worth　more；　you　bet。　　And　the
ring　didn't　fit　either〃

〃Yes；〃　interrupted　Dunn；　with　an　almost　childish　eagerness。

〃And　I　made　him　take　it　back；　and　get　the　value　in　money。　　I　hear
that　Isaacs　sold　it　again　and　made　another　profit；　but　that's
like　those　traders。〃　　The　disingenuous　candor　of　Teresa's　manner
was　in　exquisite　contrast　to　Dunn。　　He　rose　and　grasped　her　hand
so　heartily　she　was　forced　to　turn　her　eyes　away。

〃Good…by！〃　he　said。

〃You　look　tired；〃　she　murmured；　with　a　sudden　gentleness　that
surprised　him；　〃let　me　go　with　you　a　part　of　the　way。〃

〃It　isn't　safe　for　you　just　now；〃　he　said；　thinking　of　the
possible　consequences　of　the　alarm　Brace　had　raised。

〃Not　the　way　YOU　came；〃　she　replied；　〃but　one　known　only　to
myself。〃

He　hesitated　only　a　moment。　　〃All　right；　then；〃　he　said　finally；
〃let　us　go　at　once。　　It's　suffocating　here；　and　I　seem　to　feel
this　dead　bark　crinkle　under　my　feet。〃

She　cast　a　rapid　glance　around　her；　and　then　seemed　to　sound　with
her　eyes　the　far…off　depths　of　the　aisles；　beginning　to　grow　pale
with　the　advancing　day；　but　still　holding　a　strange　quiver　of
heat　in　the　air。　　When　she　had　finished　her　half…abstracted
scrutiny　of　the　distance；　she　cast　one　backward　glance　at　her　own
cabin　and　stopped。

〃Will　you　wait　a　moment　for　me？〃　she　asked　gently。

〃Yesbutno　tricks；　Teresa！　　It　isn't　worth　the　time。〃

She　looked　him　squarely　in　the　eyes　without　a　word。

〃Enough；〃　he　said；　〃go！〃

She　was　absent　for　some　moments。　　He　was　beginning　to　become
uneasy；　when　she　made　her　appearance　again；　clad　in　her　old　faded
black　dress。　　Her　face　was　very　pale；　and　her　eyes　were　swollen；
but　she　placed　his　hand　on　her　shoulder；　and　bidding　him　not　to
fear　to　lean　upon　her；　for　she　was　quite　strong；　led　the　way。

〃You　look　more　like　yourself　now；　and　yetblast　it　all！you
don't　either；〃　said　Dunn；　looking　down　upon　her。　　〃You've　changed
in　some　way。　　What　is　it？　　Is　it　on　account　of　that　Injin？
Couldn't　you　have　found　a　white　man　in　his　place？〃

〃I　reckon　he's　neither　worse　nor　better　for　that；〃　she　replied
bitterly；　〃and　perhaps　he　wasn't　as　particular　in　his　taste　as　a
white　man　might　have　been。　　But；〃　she　added；　with　a　sudden　spasm
of　her　old　rage；　〃it's　a　lie；　he's　NOT　an　Indian；　no　more　than　I
am。　　Not　unless　being　born　of　a　mother　who　scarcely　knew　him；　of
a　father　who　never　even　saw　him；　and　being　brought　up　among　white
men　and　wild　beastsless　cruel　than　they　werecould　make　him　one！〃

Dunn　looked　at　her　in　surprise　not　unmixed　with　admiration。　　〃If
Nellie；〃　he　thought；　〃could　but　love　ME　like　that！〃　　But　he　only
said：

〃For　all　that；　he's　an　Injin。　　Why；　look　at　his　name。　　It　ain't
Low。　　It's　L'Eau　Dormante；　Sleeping　Water；　an　Injin　name。〃

〃And　what　does　that　prove？〃　returned　Teresa。　　〃Only　that　Indians
clap　a　nick…name　on　any　stranger；　white　or　red；　who　may　camp　with
them。　　Why；　even　his　own　father；　a　white　man；　the　wretch　who
begot　him　and　abandoned　him；HE　had　an　Indian　nameLoup　Noir。〃

〃What　name　did　you　say？〃

〃Le　Loup　Noir；　the　Black　Wolf。　　I　suppose　you'd　call　him　an
Indian；　too？　　Eh！　　What's　the　matter？　　We're　walking　too　fast。
Stop　a　moment　and　rest。　　Therethere；　lean　on　me！〃

She　was　none　too　soon；　for；　after　holding　him　upright　a　moment；
his　limbs　failed；　and　stooping　gently　she　was　obliged　to　support
him　half　reclining　against　a　tree。

〃Its　the　heat！〃　he　said。　　〃Give　me　some　whisky　from　my　flask。
Never　mind　the　water；〃　he　added　faintly；　with　a　forced　laugh；
after　he　had　taken　a　draught　at　the　strong　spirit。　　〃Tell　me　more
about　the　other　waterthe　Sleeping　Wateryou　know。　　How　do　you
know　all　this　about　him　and　hisfather？〃

〃Partly　from　him　and　partly　from　Curson；　who　wrote　to　me　about
him；〃　she　answered　with　some　hesitation。

But　Dunn　did　not　seem　to　notice　this　incongruity　of　correspondence
with　a　former　lover。　　〃And　HE　told　you？〃

〃Yes；　and　I　saw　the　name　on　an　old　memorandum　book　he　has；　which
he　says　belonged　to　his　father。　　It's　full　of　old　accounts　of
some　trading　post　on　the　frontier。　　It's　been　missing　for　a　day
or　two；　but　it　will　turn　up。　　But　I　can　swear　I　saw　it。〃

Dunn　attempted　to　rise　to　his　feet。　　〃Put　your　hand　in　my
pocket；〃　he　said　in　a　hurried　whisper。　　〃No；　there！bring　out　a
book。　　There；　I　haven't　looked　at　it　yet。　　Is　that　it？〃　he　added；
handing　her　the　book　Brace　had　given　him　a　few　hours　before。

〃Yes；〃　said　Teresa；　in　surprise。　　〃Where　did　you　find　it？〃

〃Never　mind！　　Now　let　me　see　it；　quick。　　Open　it；　for　my　sight　is
failing。　　Therethank　youthat's　all！〃

〃Take　more　whisky；〃　said　Teresa；　with　a　strange　anxiety　creeping
over　her。　　〃You　are　faint　again。〃

〃Wait！　　Listen；　Teresalowerput　your　ear　lower。　　Listen！　　I
came　near　killing　that　chap　Low　to…day。　　Wouldn't　it　have　been
ridiculous？〃

He　tried　to　smile；　but　his　head　fell　back。　　He　had　fainted。


CHAPTER　IX


For　the　first　time　in　her　life　Teresa　lost　her　presence　of　mind
in　an　emergency。　　She　could　only　sit　staring　at　the　helpless　man；
scarcely　conscious　of　his　condition；　her　mind　filled　with　a
sudden　prophetic　intuition　of　the　significance　of　his　last　words。
In　the　light　of　that　new　revelation　she　looked　into　his　pale；
haggard　face　for　some　resemblance　to　Low；　but　in　vain。　　Yet　her
swift　feminine　instinct　met　the　objection。　　〃It's　the　mother's
blood　that　would　show；〃　she　murmured；　〃not　this　man's。〃

Recovering　herself；　she　began　to　chafe　his　hands　and　temples；　and
moistened　his　lips　with　the　spirit。　　When　his　respiration
returned　with　a　faint　color　to　his　cheeks；　she　pressed　his　hands
eagerly　and　leaned　over　him。

〃Are　you　sure？〃　she　asked。

〃Of　what？〃　he　whispered　faintly。

〃That　Low　is　really　your　son？〃

〃Who　said　so？〃　he　asked；　opening　his　round　eyes　upon　her。

〃You　did　yourself；　a　moment　ago；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃Don't　you
remember？〃

〃Did　I？〃

〃You　did。　　Is　it　not　so？〃

He　smiled　faintly。　　〃I　reckon。〃

She　held　her　breath　in　expectation。　　But　only　the　ludicrousness
of　the　discovery　seemed　paramount　to　his　weakened　faculties。
〃Isn't　it　just　about　the　ridiculousest　thing　all　round？〃　he　said；
with　a　feeble　chuckle。　　〃First　YOU　nearly　kill　me　before　you　know
I　am　Low's　father；　then　I'm　just　spoilin'　to　kill　him　before　I
know　he's　my　son；　then　that　god…forsaken　fool　Jack　Brace　mistakes
you　for　Nellie　and　Nellie　for　you。　　Ain't　it　just　the　biggest
thing　for　the　boys　to　get　hold　of？　　But　we　must　keep　it　dark
until　after　I　marry　Nellie；　don't　you　see？　　Then　we'll　have　a
good　time　all　round；　and　I'll　stand　the　drinks。　　Think　of　it；
Teresha！　　You　don'　no　me；　I　do'　no　you；　nobody　knowsh　anybody
elsh。　　I　try　kill　Lo'。　　Lo'　wants　kill　Nellie。　　No　thath　no　ri'〃
but　the　potent　liquor；　overtaking　his　exhausted　senses；
thickened；　impeded；　and　at　last　stopped　his　speech。　　His　head
slipped　to　her　shoulder；　and　he　became　once　more　unconscious。

Teresa　breathed　again。　　In　that　brief　moment　she　had　abandoned
herself　to　a　wild　inspiration　of　hope　which　she　could　scarcely
define。　　Not　that　it　was　entirely　a　wild　inspiration；　she　tried
to　reason　calmly。　　What　if　she　revealed　the　truth　to　him？　　What
if　she　told　the　wretched　man　before　her　that　she　had　deceived
him；　that　she　had　overheard　his　conversation　with　Brace；　that　she
had　stolen　Brace's　horse　to　bring　Lo