in the carquinez woods-第2章

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〃You　can　bet　your　life　on　it；　Johnny。〃

〃I　don't　bet；　and　my　name　isn't　Johnny。　　Then　you're　the　woman
who　stabbed　Dick　Curson　over　at　Lagrange's？〃

She　became　defiant　again。

〃That's　me；　all　the　time。　　What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃

〃Nothing。　　And　you　used　to　dance　at　the　Alhambra？〃　　She　whisked
the　shawl　from　her　shoulders；　held　it　up　like　a　scarf；　and　made
one　or　two　steps　of　the　sembicuacua。　　There　was　not　the　least
gayety；　recklessness；　or　spontaneity　in　the　action；　it　was　simply
mechanical　bravado。　　It　was　so　ineffective；　even　upon　her　own
feelings；　that　her　arms　presently　dropped　to　her　side；　and　she
coughed　embarrassedly。　　〃Where's　that　whiskey；　pardner？〃　she
asked。

The　young　man　turned　toward　the　tree　he　had　just　quitted；　and
without　further　words　assisted　her　to　mount　to　the　cavity。　　It
was　an　irregular…shaped　vaulted　chamber；　pierced　fifty　feet　above
by　a　shaft　or　cylindrical　opening　in　the　decayed　trunk；　which　was
blackened　by　smoke；　as　if　it　had　served　the　purpose　of　a　chimney。
In　one　corner　lay　a　bearskin　and　blanket；　at　the　side　were　two
alcoves　or　indentations；　one　of　which　was　evidently　used　as　a
table；　and　the　other　as　a　cupboard。　　In　another　hollow；　near　the
entrance；　lay　a　few　small　sacks　of　flour；　coffee；　and　sugar；　the
sticky　contents　of　the　latter　still　strewing　the　floor。　　From
this　storehouse　the　young　man　drew　a　wicker　flask　of　whiskey；　and
handed　it；　with　a　tin　cup　of　water；　to　the　woman。　　She　waved　the
cup　aside；　placed　the　flask　to　her　lips；　and　drank　the　undiluted
spirit。　　Yet　even　this　was　evidently　bravado；　for　the　water
started　to　her　eyes；　and　she　could　not　restrain　the　paroxysm　of
coughing　that　followed。

〃I　reckon　that's　the　kind　that　kills　at　forty　rods；〃　she　said；
with　a　hysterical　laugh。　　〃But　I　say；　pardner；　you　look　as　if　you
were　fixed　here　to　stay；〃　and　she　stared　ostentatiously　around
the　chamber。　　But　she　had　already　taken　in　its　minutest　details；
even　to　observing　that　the　hanging　strips　of　bark　could　be
disposed　so　as　to　completely　hide　the　entrance。

〃Well；　yes；〃　he　replied；　〃it　wouldn't　be　very　easy　to　pull　up　the
stakes　and　move　the　shanty　further　on。〃

Seeing　that　either　from　indifference　or　caution　he　had　not
accepted　her　meaning；　she　looked　at　him　fixedly；　and　said；

〃What　is　your　little　game？〃

〃Eh？〃

〃What　are　you　hiding　forhere；　in　this　tree？〃

〃But　I'm　not　hiding。〃

〃Then　why　didn't　you　come　out　when　they　hailed　you　last　night？〃

〃Because　I　didn't　care　to。〃

Teresa　whistled　incredulously。　　〃All　rightthen　if　you're　not
hiding；　I'm　going　to。〃　　As　he　did　not　reply；　she　went　on：　〃If　I
can　keep　out　of　sight　for　a　couple　of　weeks；　this　thing　will　blow
over　here；　and　I　can　get　across　into　Yolo。　　I　could　get　a　fair
show　there；　where　the　boys　know　me。　　Just　now　the　trails　are　all
watched；　but　no　one　would　think　of　lookin'　here。〃

〃Then　how　did　you　come　to　think　of　it？〃　he　asked　carelessly。

〃Because　I　knew　that　bear　hadn't　gone　far　for　that　sugar；　because
I　know　he　hadn't　stole　it　from　a　cacheit　was　too　fresh；　and
we'd　have　seen　the　torn…up　earth；　because　we　had　passed　no　camp；
and　because　I　knew　there　was　no　shanty　here。　　And；　besides；〃　she
added　in　a　low　voice；　〃maybe　I　was　huntin'　a　hole　myself　to　die
inand　spotted　it　by　instinct。〃

There　was　something　in　this　suggestion　of　a　hunted　animal　that；
unlike　anything　she　had　previously　said　or　suggested；　was　not
exaggerated；　and　caused　the　young　man　to　look　at　her　again。　　She
was　standing　under　the　chimney…like　opening；　and　the　light　from
above　illuminated　her　head　and　shoulders。　　The　pupils　of　her　eyes
had　lost　their　feverish　prominence；　and　were　slightly　suffused
and　softened　as　she　gazed　abstractedly　before　her。　　The　only
vestige　of　her　previous　excitement　was　in　her　left…hand　fingers；
which　were　incessantly　twisting　and　turning　a　diamond　ring　upon
her　right　hand；　but　without　imparting　the　least　animation　to　her
rigid　attitude。　　Suddenly；　as　if　conscious　of　his　scrutiny；　she
stepped　aside　out　of　the　revealing　light　and　by　a　swift　feminine
instinct　raised　her　hand　to　her　head　as　if　to　adjust　her　straggling
hair。　　It　was　only　for　a　moment；　however；　for；　as　if　aware　of　the
weakness；　she　struggled　to　resume　her　aggressive　pose。

〃Well；〃　she　said。　　〃Speak　up。　　Am　I　goin'　to　stop　here；　or　have　I
got　to　get　up　and　get？〃

〃You　can　stay；〃　said　the　young　man　quietly；　〃but　as　I've　got　my
provisions　and　ammunition　here；　and　haven't　any　other　place　to　go
to　just　now；　I　suppose　we'll　have　to　share　it　together。〃

She　glanced　at　him　under　her　eyelids；　and　a　half…bitter；　half…
contemptuous　smile　passed　across　her　face。　　〃All　right；　old　man；〃
she　said；　holding　out　her　hand；　〃it's　a　go。　　We'll　start　in
housekeeping　at　once；　if　you　like。〃

〃I'll　have　to　come　here　once　or　twice　a　day；〃　he　said；　quite
composedly；　〃to　look　after　my　things；　and　get　something　to　eat；
but　I'll　be　away　most　of　the　time；　and　what　with　camping　out
under　the　trees　every　night　I　reckon　my　share　won't　incommode
you。〃

She　opened　her　black　eyes　upon　him；　at　this　original　proposition。
Then　she　looked　down　at　her　torn　dress。　　〃I　suppose　this　style　of
thing　ain't　very　fancy；　is　it？〃　she　said；　with　a　forced　laugh。

〃I　think　I　know　where　to　beg　or　borrow　a　change　for　you；　if　you
can't　get　any；〃　he　replied　simply。

She　stared　at　him　again。　　〃Are　you　a　family　man？〃

〃No。〃

She　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃you　can　tell
your　girl　I'm　not　particular　about　its　being　in　the　latest
fashion。〃

There　was　a　slight　flush　on　his　forehead　as　he　turned　toward　the
little　cupboard；　but　no　tremor　in　his　voice　as　he　went　on：
〃You'll　find　tea　and　coffee　here；　and；　if　you're　bored；　there's　a
book　or　two。　　You　read；　don't　youI　mean　English？〃

She　nodded；　but　cast　a　look　of　undisguised　contempt　upon　the　two
worn；　coverless　novels　he　held　out　to　her。　　〃You　haven't　got　last
week's　'Sacramento　Union；'　have　you？　　I　hear　they　have　my　case
all　in；　only　them　lying　reporters　made　it　out　against　me　all　the
time。〃

〃I　don't　see　the　papers；〃　he　replied　curtly。

〃They　say　there's　a　picture　of　me　in　the　'Police　Gazette；'　taken
in　the　act；〃　and　she　laughed。

He　looked　a　little　abstracted；　and　turned　as　if　to　go。　　〃I　think
you'll　do　well　to　rest　a　while　just　now；　and　keep　as　close　hid　as
possible　until　afternoon。　　The　trail　is　a　mile　away　at　the
nearest　point；　but　some　one　might　miss　it　and　stray　over　here。
You're　quite　safe　if　you're　careful；　and　stand　by　the　tree。　　You
can　build　a　fire　here；〃　he　stepped　under　the　chimney…like
opening；　〃without　its　being　noticed。　　Even　the　smoke　is　lost　and
cannot　be　seen　so　high。〃

The　light　from　above　was　falling　on　his　head　and　shoulders；　as　it
had　on　hers。　　She　looked　at　him　intently。

〃You　travel　a　good　deal　on　your　figure；　pardner；　don't　you？〃　she
said；　with　a　certain　admiration　that　was　quite　sexless　in　its
quality；　〃but　I　don't　see　how　you　pick　up　a　living　by　it　in　the
Carquinez　Woods。　　So　you're　going；　are　you？　　You　might　be　more
sociable。　　Good…by。〃

〃Good…by！〃　　He　leaped　from　the　opening。

〃I　say　pardner！〃

He　turned　a　little　impatiently。　　She　had　knelt　down　at　the
entrance；　so　as　to　be　nearer　his　level；　and　was　holding　out　her
hand。　　But　he　did　not　notice　it；　and　she　quietly　withdrew　it。

〃If　anybody　dropped　in　and　asked　for　you；　what　name　will　they　say？〃

He　smiled。　　〃Don't　wait　to　hear。〃

〃But　suppose　I　wanted　to　sing　out　for　you；　what　will　I　call　you？〃

He　hesitated。　　〃Call　meLo。〃

〃Lo；　the　poor　Indian？〃*

〃Exactly。〃


*　The　first　word　of　Pope's　familiar　apostrophe　is　humorously　used
in　the　Far　West　as　a　distinguishing　title　for　the　Indian。


It　suddenly　occurred　to　the　woman；　Teresa；　that　in　the　young
man's　height；　supple；　yet　erect　carriage；　color；　and　singular
gravity　of　demeanor　there　was　a　refined；　aboriginal　suggestion。
He　did　not　look　like　any　Indian　she　had　ever　seen；　but　rather　as
a　youthful　chief　might　have　looked。　　There　was　a　further
suggestion　in　his　fringed　buckskin　shirt　and　moccasins；　but
before　she　could　utter　the　half…sarcastic　comment　that　rose　to
her　lips　he　had　glided　noiselessly　away；　even　as　an　Indian　might
have　done。

She　readjusted　the　slips　of　hanging　bark　with　feminine　ingenuity；
dispersing　them　so　as　to　completely　hide　the　entrance。　　Yet　this
did　not　darken　the　chamber；　which　seemed　to　draw　a　purer　and　more
vigorous　light　through　the　soaring　shaft　that　pierced　the　roof
than　that　which　came　from　the　dim　woodland　aisles　below。
Nevertheless；　she　shivered；　and　drawing　her　shawl　closely　around
her　began　to　collect　some　half…burnt　fragments　of　wood　in　the
chimney　to　make　a　fire。　　But　the　preoccupation　of　her　thoughts
rendered　this　a　tedious　process；　as　she　would　from　time　to　time
stop　in　the　middle　of　an　action　and　fall　into　an　attitude　of　rapt
abstraction；　with　far…off　eyes　and　rigid　mouth。　　When　she　had　at
last　succeeded　in　kindling　a　fire　and　raising　a　film　of　pale　blue
smoke；　that　seemed　to　fade　and　dissipate　entirely　before　it
reached　the　top　of　the　chimney　shaft；　she　crouched　beside　it；
fixed　her　eyes　on　the　darkest　corner　of　the　cavern；　and　became
motionless。

What　did　she　see　through　that　shadow？

Nothing　at　first　but　a　confused　medley　of　figures　and　incidents
of　the　preceding　night；　things　to　be　put　away　and　forgotten；
things　that　would　not　have　happened　but　for　another　thingthe
thing　before　which　everything　faded！　　A　ball…room；　the　sounds　of
music；　the　one　man　she　had　cared　for　insulting　her　with　the
flaunting　ostentation　of　his　unfaithfulness；　herself　despised；
put　aside；　laughed　at；　or　worse；　jilted。　　And　then　the　moment　of
delirium；　when　the　light　danced；　the　one　wild　act　that　lifted
her；　the　despised　one；　above　them　allmade　her　the　supreme
figure；　to　be　glanced　at　by　frightened　women；　stared　at　by　half…
startled；　half…admiring　men！　　〃Yes；〃　she　laughed；　but　struck　by
the　sound　of　her　own　voice；　moved　twice　round　the　cavern
nervously；　and　then　dropped　again　into　her　old　position。

As　they　carried　him　away　he　had　laughed　at　herlike　a　hound　that
he　was；　he　who　had　praised　her　for　her　spirit；　and　incited　her
revenge　against　others；　he　who　had　taught　her　to　strike　when　she
was　insulted；　and　it　was　only　fit　he　should　reap　what　he　had
sown。　　She　was　what　he；　what　other　men；　had　made　her。　　And　what
was　she　now？　　What　had　she　been　once？

She　tried　to　recall　her　childhood：　the　man　and　woman　who　might
have　been　her　father　and　mother；　who　fought　and　wrangled　over　her
precocious　little　life；　abused　or　caressed　her　as　she　sided　with
either；　and　then　left　her　with　a　circus　troupe；　where　she　first
tasted　the　power　of　her　courage；　her　beauty；　and　her
recklessness。　　She　remembered　those　flashes　of　triumph　that　left
a　fever　in　her　veinsa　fever　that　when　it　failed　must　be
stimulated　by　dissipation；　by　anything；　by　everything　that　would
keep　her　name　a　wonder　in　men's　mouths；　an　envious　fear　to　women。
She　recalled　her　transfer　to　the　strolling　players；　her　cheap
pleasures；　and　cheaper　rivalries　and　hatredbut　always　Teresa！
the　daring　Teresa！　the　reckless　Teresa！　audacious　as　a　woman；
invincible　as　a　boy；　dancing；　flirting；　fencing；　shooting；
swearing；　drinking；　smoking；　fighting　Teresa！　　〃Oh；　yes；　she　had
been　l