in the carquinez woods-第7章

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〃Yes；　but　it's　getting　late；　and　if　we　are　not　going　forward〃
interrupted　the　girl　impatiently。

〃We　ARE　going　forward；〃　said　Low　imperturbably；　〃but　I　wanted　to
tell　you；　as　we　were　speaking　on　THAT　subject〃　（Nellie　looked　at
her　watch）；　〃I've　been　offered　the　place　of　botanist　and
naturalist　in　Professor　Grant's　survey　of　Mount　Shasta；　and　if　I
take　itwhy；　when　I　come　back；　darlingwell〃

〃But　you're　not　going　just　yet；〃　broke　in　Nellie；　with　a　new
expression　in　her　face。

〃No。〃

〃Then　we　need　not　talk　of　it　now；〃　she　said；　with　animation。

Her　sudden　vivacity　relieved　him。　　〃I　see　what's　the　matter；〃　he
said　gently；　looking　down　at　her　feet；　〃these　little　shoes　were
not　made　to　keep　step　with　a　moccasin。　　We　must　try　another　way。〃
He　stooped　as　if　to　secure　the　erring　buskin；　but　suddenly　lifted
her　like　a　child　to　his　shoulder。　　〃There；〃　he　continued；　placing
her　arm　round　his　neck；　〃you　are　clear　of　the　ferns　and　brambles
now；　and　we　can　go　on。　　Are　you　comfortable？〃　　He　looked　up；　read
her　answer　in　her　burning　eyes　and　the　warm　lips　pressed　to　his
forehead　at　the　roots　of　his　straight　dark　hair；　and　again　moved
onward　as　in　a　mesmeric　dream。　　But　he　did　not　swerve　from　his
direct　course；　and　with　a　final　dash　through　the　undergrowth
parted　the　leafy　curtain　before　the　spring。

At　first　the　young　girl　was　dazzled　by　the　strong　light　that　came
from　a　rent　in　the　interwoven　arches　of　the　wood。　　The　breach　had
been　caused　by　the　huge　bulk　of　one　of　the　great　giants　that　had
half　fallen；　and　was　lying　at　a　steep　angle　against　one　of　its
mightiest　brethren；　having　borne　down　a　lesser　tree　in　the　arc　of
its　downward　path。　　Two　of　the　roots；　as　large　as　younger　trees；
tossed　their　blackened　and　bare　limbs　high　in　the　air。　　The
springthe　insignificant　cause　of　this　vast　disruptiongurgled；
flashed；　and　sparkled　at　the　base；　the　limpid　baby　fingers　that
had　laid　bare　the　foundations　of　that　fallen　column　played　with
the　still　clinging　rootlets；　laved　the　fractured　and　twisted
limbs；　and；　widening；　filled　with　sleeping　water　the　graves　from
which　they　had　been　torn。

〃It　had　been　going　on　for　years；　down　there；〃　said　Low；　pointing
to　a　cavity　from　which　the　fresh　water　now　slowly　welled；　〃but　it
had　been　quickened　by　the　rising　of　the　subterranean　springs　and
rivers　which　always　occurs　at　a　certain　stage　of　the　dry　season。
I　remember　that　on　that　very　nightfor　it　happened　a　little
after　midnight；　when　all　sounds　are　more　audibleI　was　troubled
and　oppressed　in　my　sleep　by　what　you　would　call　a　nightmare；　a
feeling　as　if　I　was　kept　down　by　bonds　and　pinions　that　I　longed
to　break。　　And　then　I　heard　a　crash　in　this　direction；　and　the
first　streak　of　morning　brought　me　the　sound　and　scent　of　water。
Six　months　afterwards　I　chanced　to　find　my　way　here；　as　I　told
you；　and　gave　it　your　name。　　I　did　not　dream　that　I　should　ever
stand　beside　it　with　you；　and　have　you　christen　it　yourself。〃

He　unloosened　the　cup　from　his　flask；　and　filling　it　at　the
spring　handed　it　to　her。　　But　the　young　girl　leant　over　the　pool；
and　pouring　the　water　idly　back　said；　〃I'd　rather　put　my　feet　in
it。　　Mayn't　I？〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　he　said　wonderingly。

〃My　feet　are　SO　hot　and　dusty。　　The　water　looks　deliciously　cool。
May　I？〃

〃Certainly。〃

He　turned　away　as　Nellie；　with　apparent　unconsciousness；　seated
herself　on　the　bank；　and　removed　her　shoes　and　stockings。　　When
she　had　dabbled　her　feet　a　few　moments　in　the　pool；　she　said　over
her　shoulder

〃We　can　talk　just　as　well；　can't　we？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Well；　then；　why　didn't　you　come　to　church　more　often；　and　why
didn't　you　think　of　telling　father　that　you　were　convicted　of　sin
and　wanted　to　be　baptized？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　hesitated　the　young　man。

〃Well；　you　lost　the　chance　of　having　father　convert　you；　baptize
you；　and　take　you　into　full　church　fellowship。〃

〃I　never　thought〃　he　began。

〃You　never　thought。　　Aren't　you　a　Christian？〃

〃I　suppose　so。〃

〃He　supposes　so！　　Have　you　no　convictionsno　profession？〃

〃But；　Nellie；　I　never　thought　that　you〃

〃Never　thought　that　Iwhat？　　Do　you　think　that　I　could　ever　be
anything　to　a　man　who　did　not　believe　in　justification　by　faith；
or　in　the　covenant　of　church　fellowship？　　Do　you　think　father
would　let　me？〃

In　his　eagerness　to　defend　himself　he　stepped　to　her　side。　　But
seeing　her　little　feet　shining　through　the　dark　water；　like
outcroppings　of　delicately　veined　quartz；　he　stopped　embarrassed。
Miss　Nellie；　however；　leaped　to　one　foot；　and；　shaking　the　other
over　the　pool；　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder　to　steady　herself。
〃You　haven't　got　a　towelor；〃　she　said　dubiously；　looking　at　her
small　handkerchief；　〃anything　to　dry　them　on？〃

But　Low　did　not；　as　she　perhaps　expected；　offer　his　own　handkerchief。

〃If　you　take　a　bath　after　our　fashion；〃　he　said　gravely；　〃you
must　learn　to　dry　yourself　after　our　fashion。〃

Lifting　her　again　lightly　in　his　arms；　he　carried　her　a　few　steps
to　the　sunny　opening；　and　bade　her　bury　her　feet　in　the　dried
mosses　and　baked　withered　grasses　that　were　bleaching　in　a
hollow。　　The　young　girl　uttered　a　cry　of　childish　delight；　as　the
soft　ciliated　fibres　touched　her　sensitive　skin。

〃It　is　healing；　too；〃　continued　Low；　〃a　moccasin　filled　with　it
after　a　day　on　the　trail　makes　you　all　right　again。〃

But　Miss　Nellie　seemed　to　be　thinking　of　something　else。

〃Is　that　the　way　the　squaws　bathe　and　dry　themselves？〃

〃I　don't　know；　you　forget　I　was　a　boy　when　I　left　them。〃

〃And　you're　sure　you　never　knew　any？〃

〃None。〃

The　young　girl　seemed　to　derive　some　satisfaction　in　moving　her
feet　up　and　down　for　several　minutes　among　the　grasses　in　the
hollow；　then；　after　a　pause；　said；　〃You　are　quite　certain　I　am
the　first　woman　that　ever　touched　this　spring？〃

〃Not　only　the　first　woman；　but　the　first　human　being；　except
myself。〃

〃How　nice！〃

They　had　taken　each　other's　hands；　seated　side　by　side；　they
leaned　against　a　curving　elastic　root　that　half　supported；　half
encompassed；　them。　　The　girl's　capricious；　fitful　manner
succumbed　as　before　to　the　near　contact　of　her　companion。
Looking　into　her　eyes；　Low　fell　into　a　sweet；　selfish　lover's
monologue；　descriptive　of　his　past　and　present　feelings　towards
her；　which　she　accepted　with　a　heightened　color；　a　slight
exchange　of　sentiment；　and　a　strange　curiosity。　　The　sun　had
painted　their　half…embraced　silhouettes　against　the　slanting
tree…trunk；　and　began　to　decline　unnoticed；　the　ripple　of　the
water　mingling　with　their　whispers　came　as　one　sound　to　the
listening　ear；　even　their　eloquent　silences　were　as　deep；　and；　I
wot；　perhaps　as　dangerous；　as　the　darkened　pool　that　filled　so
noiselessly　a　dozen　yards　away。　　So　quiet　were　they　that　the
tremor　of　invading　wings　once　or　twice　shook　the　silence；　or　the
quick　scamper　of　frightened　feet　rustled　the　dead　grass。　　But　in
the　midst　of　a　prolonged　stillness　the　young　man　sprang　up　so
suddenly　that　Nellie　was　still　half　clinging　to　his　neck　as　he
stood　erect。　　〃Hush！〃　he　whispered；　〃some　one　is　near！〃

He　disengaged　her　anxious　hands　gently；　leaped　upon　the　slanting
tree…trunk；　and　running　half…way　up　its　incline　with　the　agility
of　a　squirrel；　stretched　himself　at　full　length　upon　it　and
listened。

To　the　impatient；　inexplicably　startled　girl；　it　seemed　an　age
before　he　rejoined　her。

〃You　are　safe；〃　he　said；　〃he　is　going　by　the　western　trail
towards　Indian　Spring。〃

〃Who　is　HE？〃　she　asked；　biting　her　lips　with　a　poorly　restrained
gesture　of　mortification　and　disappointment。

〃Some　stranger；〃　replied　Low。

〃As　long　as　he　wasn't　coming　here；　why　did　you　give　me　such　a
fright？〃　she　said　pettishly。　　〃Are　you　nervous　because　a　single
wayfarer　happens　to　stray　here？〃

〃It　was　no　wayfarer；　for　he　tried　to　keep　near　the　trail；〃　said
Low。　　〃He　was　a　stranger　to　the　wood；　for　he　lost　his　way　every
now　and　then。　　He　was　seeking　or　expecting　some　one；　for　he
stopped　frequently　and　waited　or　listened。　　He　had　not　walked
far；　for　he　wore　spurs　that　tinkled　and　caught　in　the　brush；　and
yet　he　had　not　ridden　here；　for　no　horse's　hoofs　passed　the　road
since　we　have　been　here。　　He　must　have　come　from　Indian　Spring。〃

〃And　you　heard　all　that　when　you　listened　just　now？〃　asked　Nellie；
half　disdainfully。

Impervious　to　her　incredulity　Low　turned　his　calm　eyes　on　her
face。　　〃Certainly；　I'll　bet　my　life　on　what　I　say。　　Tell　me：　do
you　know　anybody　in　Indian　Spring　who　would　likely　spy　upon　you？〃

The　young　girl　was　conscious　of　a　certain　ill…defined　uneasiness；
but　answered；　〃No。〃

〃Then　it　was　not　YOU　he　was　seeking；〃　said　Low　thoughtfully。
Miss　Nellie　had　not　time　to　notice　the　emphasis；　for　he　added；
〃You　must　go　at　once；　and　lest　you　have　been　followed　I　will　show
you　another　way　back　to　Indian　Spring。　　It　is　longer；　and　you
must　hasten。　　Take　your　shoes　and　stockings　with　you　until　we　are
out　of　the　bush。〃

He　raised　her　again　in　his　arms　and　strode　once　more　out　through
the　covert　into　the　dim　aisles　of　the　wood。　　They　spoke　but
little；　she　could　not　help　feeling　that　some　other　discordant
element；　affecting　him　more　strongly　than　it　did　her；　had　come
between　them；　and　was　half　perplexed　and　half　frightened。　　At　the
end　of　ten　minutes　he　seated　her　upon　a　fallen　branch；　and
telling　her　he　would　return　by　the　time　she　had　resumed　her　shoes
and　stockings　glided　from　her　like　a　shadow。　　She　would　have
uttered　an　indignant　protest　at　being　left　alone；　but　he　was　gone
ere　she　could　detain　him。　　For　a　moment　she　thought　she　hated
him。　　But　when　she　had　mechanically　shod　herself　once　more；　not
without　nervous　shivers　at　every　falling　needle；　he　was　at　her　side。

〃Do　you　know　anyone　who　wears　a　frieze　coat　like　that？〃　he　asked；
handing　her　a　few　torn　shreds　of　wool　affixed　to　a　splinter　of　bark。

Miss　Nellie　instantly　recognized　the　material　of　a　certain
sporting　coat　worn　by　Mr。　Jack　Brace　on　festive　occasions；　but　a
strange　yet　infallible　instinct　that　was　part　of　her　nature　made
her　instantly　disclaim　all　knowledge　of　it。

〃No；〃　she　said。

〃Not　anyone　who　scents　himself　with　some　doctor's　stuff　like
cologne？〃　continued　Low；　with　the　disgust　of　keen　olfactory
sensibilities。

Again　Miss　Nellie　recognized　the　perfume　with　which　the　gallant
expressman　was　wont　to　make　redolent　her　little　parlor；　but　again
she　avowed　no　knowledge　of　its　possessor。　　〃Well；〃　returned　Low
with　some　disappointment；　〃such　a　man　has　been　here。　　Be　on　your
guard。　　Let　us　go　at　once。〃

She　required　no　urging　to　hasten　her　steps；　but　hurried
breathlessly　at　his　side。　　He　had　taken　a　new　trail　by　which　they
left　the　wood　at　right　angles　with　the　highway；　two　miles　away。
Following　an　almost　effaced　mule　track　along　a　slight　depression
of　the　plain；　deep　enough；　however；　to　hide　them　from　view；　he
accompanied　her；　until；　rising　to　the　level　again；　she　saw　they
were　beginning　to　approach　the　highway　and　the　distant　roofs　of
Indian　Spring。　　〃Nobody　meeting　you　now；〃　he　whispered；　〃would
suspect　where　you　had　been。　　Good　night！　until　next　weekremember。〃

They　pressed　each　other's　hands；　and　standing　on　the　slight　ridge
outlined　against　the　paling　sky；　in　full　view　of　the　highway；
parting　carelessly