in the carquinez woods-第3章

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invincible　as　a　boy；　dancing；　flirting；　fencing；　shooting；
swearing；　drinking；　smoking；　fighting　Teresa！　　〃Oh；　yes；　she　had
been　loved；　perhapswho　knows？but　always　feared。　　Why　should
she　change　now？　　Ha；　he　should　see。〃

She　had　lashed　herself　in　a　frenzy；　as　was　her　wont；　with
gestures；　ejaculations；　oaths；　adjurations；　and　passionate
apostrophes；　but　with　this　strange　and　unexpected　result。
Heretofore　she　had　always　been　sustained　and　kept　up　by　an
audience　of　some　kind　or　quality；　if　only　perhaps　a　humble
companion；　there　had　always　been　some　one　she　could　fascinate　or
horrify；　and　she　could　read　her　power　mirrored　in　their　eyes。
Even　the　half…abstracted　indifference　of　her　strange　host　had
been　something。　　But　she　was　alone　now。　　Her　words　fell　on
apathetic　solitude；　she　was　acting　to　viewless　space。　　She　rushed
to　the　opening；　dashed　the　hanging　bark　aside；　and　leaped　to　the
ground。

She　ran　forward　wildly　a　few　steps；　and　stopped。

〃Hallo！〃　she　cried。　　〃Look；　'tis　I；　Teresa！〃

The　profound　silence　remained　unbroken。　　Her　shrillest　tones　were
lost　in　an　echoless　space；　even　as　the　smoke　of　her　fire　had
faded　into　pure　ether。　　She　stretched　out　her　clenched　fists　as
if　to　defy　the　pillared　austerities　of　the　vaults　around　her。

〃Come　and　take　me　if　you　dare！〃

The　challenge　was　unheeded。　　If　she　had　thrown　herself　violently
against　the　nearest　tree…trunk；　she　could　not　have　been　stricken
more　breathless　than　she　was　by　the　compact；　embattled　solitude
that　encompassed　her。　　The　hopelessness　of　impressing　these　cold
and　passive　vaults　with　her　selfish　passion　filled　her　with　a
vague　fear。　　In　her　rage　of　the　previous　night　she　had　not　seen
the　wood　in　its　profound　immobility。　　Left　alone　with　the　majesty
of　those　enormous　columns；　she　trembled　and　turned　faint。　　The
silence　of　the　hollow　tree　she　had　just　quitted　seemed　to　her
less　awful　than　the　crushing　presence　of　these　mute　and　monstrous
witnesses　of　her　weakness。　　Like　a　wounded　quail　with　lowered
crest　and　trailing　wing；　she　crept　back　to　her　hiding　place。

Even　then　the　influence　of　the　wood　was　still　upon　her。　　She
picked　up　the　novel　she　had　contemptuously　thrown　aside；　only　to
let　it　fall　again　in　utter　weariness。　　For　a　moment　her　feminine
curiosity　was　excited　by　the　discovery　of　an　old　book；　in　whose
blank　leaves　were　pressed　a　variety　of　flowers　and　woodland
grasses。　　As　she　could　not　conceive　that　these　had　been　kept　for
any　but　a　sentimental　purpose；　she　was　disappointed　to　find　that
underneath　each　was　a　sentence　in　an　unknown　tongue；　that　even　to
her　untutored　eye　did　not　appear　to　be　the　language　of　passion。
Finally　she　rearranged　the　couch　of　skins　and　blankets；　and；
imparting　to　it　in　three　clever　shakes　an　entirely　different
character；　lay　down　to　pursue　her　reveries。　　But　nature　asserted
herself；　and　ere　she　knew　it　she　was　asleep。

So　intense　and　prolonged　had　been　her　previous　excitement　that；
the　tension　once　relieved；　she　passed　into　a　slumber　of
exhaustion　so　deep　that　she　seemed　scarce　to　breathe。　　High　noon
succeeded　morning；　the　central　shaft　received　a　single　ray　of
upper　sunlight；　the　afternoon　came　and　went；　the　shadows　gathered
below；　the　sunset　fires　began　to　eat　their　way　through　the
groined　roof；　and　she　still　slept。　　She　slept　even　when　the　bark
hangings　of　the　chamber　were　put　aside；　and　the　young　man
reentered。

He　laid　down　a　bundle　he　was　carrying　and　softly　approached　the
sleeper。　　For　a　moment　he　was　startled　from　his　indifference；　she
lay　so　still　and　motionless。　　But　this　was　not　all　that　struck
him；　the　face　before　him　was　no　longer　the　passionate；　haggard
visage　that　confronted　him　that　morning；　the　feverish　air；　the
burning　color；　the　strained　muscles　of　mouth　and　brow；　and　the
staring　eyes　were　gone；　wiped　away；　perhaps；　by　the　tears　that
still　left　their　traces　on　cheek　and　dark　eyelash。　　It　was　the
face　of　a　handsome　woman　of　thirty；　with　even　a　suggestion　of
softness　in　the　contour　of　the　cheek　and　arching　of　her　upper
lip；　no　longer　rigidly　drawn　down　in　anger；　but　relaxed　by　sleep
on　her　white　teeth。

With　the　lithe；　soft　tread　that　was　habitual　to　him；　the　young
man　moved　about；　examining　the　condition　of　the　little　chamber
and　its　stock　of　provisions　and　necessaries；　and　withdrew
presently；　to　reappear　as　noiselessly　with　a　tin　bucket　of　water。
This　done；　he　replenished　the　little　pile　of　fuel　with　an　armful
of　bark　and　pine　cones；　cast　an　approving　glance　about　him；　which
included　the　sleeper；　and　silently　departed。

It　was　night　when　she　awoke。　　She　was　surrounded　by　a　profound
darkness；　except　where　the　shaft…like　opening　made　a　nebulous
mist　in　the　corner　of　her　wooden　cavern。　　Providentially　she
struggled　back　to　consciousness　slowly；　so　that　the　solitude　and
silence　came　upon　her　gradually；　with　a　growing　realization　of
the　events　of　the　past　twenty…four　hours；　but　without　a　shock。
She　was　alone　here；　but　safe　still；　and　every　hour　added　to　her
chances　of　ultimate　escape。　　She　remembered　to　have　seen　a　candle
among　the　articles　on　the　shelf；　and　she　began　to　grope　her　way
towards　the　matches。　　Suddenly　she　stopped。　　What　was　that　panting？

Was　it　her　own　breathing；　quickened　with　a　sudden　nameless
terror？　or　was　there　something　outside？　　Her　heart　seemed　to　stop
beating　while　she　listened。　　Yes！　it　was　a　panting　outsidea
panting　now　increased；　multiplied；　redoubled；　mixed　with　the
sounds　of　rustling；　tearing；　craunching；　and　occasionally　a
quick；　impatient　snarl。　　She　crept　on　her　hands　and　knees　to　the
opening　and　looked　out。　　At　first　the　ground　seemed　to　be
undulating　between　her　and　the　opposite　tree。　　But　a　second
glance　showed　her　the　black　and　gray；　bristling；　tossing　backs　of
tumbling　beasts　of　prey；　charging　the　carcass　of　the　bear　that
lay　at　its　roots；　or　contesting　for　the　prize　with　gluttonous；
choked　breath；　sidelong　snarls；　arched　spines；　and　recurved
tails。　　One　of　the　boldest　had　leaped　upon　a　buttressing　root　of
her　tree　within　a　foot　of　the　opening。　　The　excitement；　awe；　and
terror　she　had　undergone　culminated　in　one　wild；　maddened　scream；
that　seemed　to　pierce　even　the　cold　depths　of　the　forest；　as　she
dropped　on　her　face；　with　her　hands　clasped　over　her　eyes　in　an
agony　of　fear。

Her　scream　was　answered；　after　a　pause；　by　a　sudden　volley　of
firebrands　and　sparks　into　the　midst　of　the　panting；　crowding
pack；　a　few　smothered　howls　and　snaps；　and　a　sudden　dispersion　of
the　concourse。　　In　another　moment　the　young　man；　with　a　blazing
brand　in　either　hand；　leaped　upon　the　body　of　the　bear。

Teresa　raised　her　head；　uttered　a　hysterical　cry；　slid　down　the
tree；　flew　wildly　to　his　side；　caught　convulsively　at　his　sleeve；
and　fell　on　her　knees　beside　him。

〃Save　me！　save　me！〃　she　gasped；　in　a　voice　broken　by　terror。
〃Save　me　from　those　hideous　creatures。　　No；　no！〃　she　implored；　as
he　endeavored　to　lift　her　to　her　feet。　　〃Nolet　me　stay　here
close　beside　you。　　So；〃　clutching　the　fringe　of　his　leather
hunting…shirt；　and　dragging　herself　on　her　knees　nearer　him
〃sodon't　leave　me；　for　God's　sake！〃

〃They　are　gone；〃　he　replied；　gazing　down　curiously　at　her；　as　she
wound　the　fringe　around　her　hand　to　strengthen　her　hold；　〃they're
only　a　lot　of　cowardly　coyotes　and　wolves；　that　dare　not　attack
anything　that　lives　and　can　move。〃

The　young　woman　responded　with　a　nervous　shudder。　　〃Yes；　that's
it；〃　she　whispered；　in　a　broken　voice；　〃it's　only　the　dead　they
want。　　Promise　meswear　to　me；　if　I'm　caught；　or　hung；　or　shot；
you　won't　let　me　be　left　here　to　be　torn　andah！　my　God！　what's
that？〃

She　had　thrown　her　arms　around　his　knees；　completely　pinioning
him　to　her　frantic　breast。　　Something　like　a　smile　of　disdain
passed　across　his　face　as　he　answered；　〃It's　nothing。　　They　will
not　return。　　Get　up！〃

Even　in　her　terror　she　saw　the　change　in　his　face。　　〃I　know；　I
know！〃　she　cried。　　〃I'm　frightenedbut　I　cannot　bear　it　any
longer。　　Hear　me！　　Listen！　　Listenbut　don't　move！　　I　didn't
mean　to　kill　Cursonno！　I　swear　to　God；　no！　　I　didn't　mean　to
kill　the　sheriffand　I　didn't。　　I　was　only　braggingdo　you
hear？　　I　lied！　　I　lieddon't　move；　I　swear　to　God　I　lied。　　I've
made　myself　out　worse　than　I　was。　　I　have。　　Only　don't　leave　me
nowand　if　I　dieand　it's　not　far　off；　may　beget　me　away　from
hereand　from　THEM。　　Swear　it！〃

〃All　right；〃　said　the　young　man；　with　a　scarcely　concealed
movement　of　irritation。　　〃But　get　up　now；　and　go　back　to　the
cabin。〃

〃No；　not　THERE　alone。〃　　Nevertheless；　he　quietly　but　firmly
released　himself。

〃I　will　stay　here；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　would　have　been　nearer　to
you；　but　I　thought　it　better　for　your　safety　that　my　camp…fire
should　be　further　off。　　But　I　can　build　it　here；　and　that　will
keep　the　coyotes　off。〃

〃Let　me　stay　with　youbeside　you；〃　she　said　imploringly。

She　looked　so　broken；　crushed；　and　spiritless；　so　unlike　the
woman　of　the　morning　that；　albeit　with　an　ill　grace；　he　tacitly
consented；　and　turned　away　to　bring　his　blankets。　　But　in　the
next　moment　she　was　at　his　side；　following　him　like　a　dog；　silent
and　wistful；　and　even　offering　to　carry　his　burden。　　When　he　had
built　the　fire；　for　which　she　had　collected　the　pine…cones　and
broken　branches　near　them；　he　sat　down；　folded　his　arms；　and
leaned　back　against　the　tree　in　reserved　and　deliberate　silence。

Humble　and　submissive；　she　did　not　attempt　to　break　in　upon　a
reverie　she　could　not　help　but　feel　had　little　kindliness　to
herself。　　As　the　fire　snapped　and　sparkled；　she　pillowed　her　head
upon　a　root；　and　lay　still　to　watch　it。

It　rose　and　fell；　and　dying　away　at　times　to　a　mere　lurid　glow；
and　again；　agitated　by　some　breath　scarcely　perceptible　to　them；
quickening　into　a　roaring　flame。　　When　only　the　embers　remained；
a　dead　silence　filled　the　wood。　　Then　the　first　breath　of　morning
moved　the　tangled　canopy　above；　and　a　dozen　tiny　sprays　and
needles　detached　from　the　interlocked　boughs　winged　their　soft
way　noiselessly　to　the　earth。　　A　few　fell　upon　the　prostrate
woman　like　a　gentle　benediction；　and　she　slept。　　But　even　then；
the　young　man；　looking　down；　saw　that　the　slender　fingers　were
still　aimlessly　but　rigidly　twisted　in　the　leather　fringe　of　his
hunting…shirt。


CHAPTER　II。


It　was　a　peculiarity　of　the　Carquinez　Wood　that　it　stood　apart
and　distinct　in　its　gigantic　individuality。　　Even　where　the
integrity　of　its　own　singular　species　was　not　entirely　preserved；
it　admitted　no　inferior　trees。　　Nor　was　there　any　diminishing
fringe　on　its　outskirts；　the　sentinels　that　guarded　the　few
gateways　of　the　dim　trails　were　as　monstrous　as　the　serried　ranks
drawn　up　in　the　heart　of　the　forest。　　Consequently；　the　red
highway　that　skirted　the　eastern　angle　was　bare　and　shadeless；
until　it　slipped　a　league　off　into　a　watered　valley　and　refreshed
itself　under　lesser　sycamores　and　willows。　　It　was　here　the　newly
born　city　of　Excelsior；　still　in　its　cradle；　had；　like　an　infant
Hercules；　strangled　the　serpentine　North　Fork　of　the　American
river；　and　turned　its　life　current　into　the　ditches　and　flumes　of
the　Excelsior　mines。

Newest　of　the　new　houses　that　seemed　to　have　accidentally　formed
its　single；　straggling　street　was　the　residence　of　the　Rev。
Winslow　W