in the carquinez woods(在卡圭尼兹森林)-第24章
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than Low's； the wood would have been impenetrable。 The central fire
was still confined to the lofty tree tops； but the downward rush of wind
from time to time drove the smoke into the aisles in blinding and
suffocating volumes。 To simulate the creeping animals； and fall to the
ground on hands and knees； feel his way through the underbrush when the
smoke was densest； or take advantage of its momentary lifting； and
without uncertainty； mistake； or hesitation glide from tree to tree in one
undeviating course； was possible only to an experienced woodsman。 To
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keep his reason and insight so clear as to be able in the midst of this
bewildering confusion to shape that course so as to intersect the wild and
unknown tract of an inexperienced； frightened wanderer belonged to Low；
and Low alone。 He was making his way against the wind towards the
fire。 He had reasoned that she was either in comparative safety to
windward of it； or he should meet her being driven towards him by it； or
find her succumbed and fainting at its feet。 To do this he must penetrate
the burning belt； and then pass under the blazing dome。 He was already
upon it； he could see the falling fire dropping like rain or blown like
gorgeous blossoms of the conflagration across his path。 The space was
lit up brilliantly。 The vast shafts of dull copper cast no shadow below；
but there was no sign nor token of any human being。 For a moment the
young man was at fault。 It was true this hidden heart of the forest bore
no undergrowth； the cool matted carpet of the aisles seemed to quench the
glowing fragments as they fell。 Escape might be difficult； but not
impossible； yet every moment was precious。 He leaned against a tree；
and sent his voice like a clarion before him： 〃Teresa！〃 There was no
reply。 He called again。 A faint cry at his back from the trail he had just
traversed made him turn。 Only a few paces behind him； blinded and
staggering； but following like a beaten and wounded animal； Teresa； halted；
knelt； clasped her hands； and dumbly held them out before her。 〃Teresa！〃
he cried again； and sprang to her side。
She caught him by the knees； and lifted her face imploringly to his。
〃Say that again！〃 she cried； passionately。 〃Tell me it was Teresa you
called； and no other！ You have come back for me！ You would not let
me die here alone！〃
He lifted her tenderly in his arms； and cast a rapid glance around him。
It might have been his fancy； but there seemed a dull glow in the direction
he had come。
〃You do not speak！〃 she said。 〃Tell me！ You did not come here to
seek her？〃
〃Whom？〃 he said quickly。
〃Nellie！〃
With a sharp cry he let her slip to the ground。 All the pent…up agony；
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rage； and mortification of the last hour broke from him in that inarticulate
outburst。 Then； catching her hands again； he dragged her to his level。
〃Hear me！〃 he cried； disregarding the whirling smoke and the fiery
baptism that sprinkled them〃hear me！ If you value your life； if you
value your soul； and if you do not want me to cast you to the beasts like
Jezebel of old； nevernever take that accursed name again upon your lips。
Seek herHER？ Yes！ Seek her to tie her like a witch's daughter of hell
to that blazing tree！〃 He stopped。 〃Forgive me；〃 he said in a changed
voice。 〃I'm mad； and forgetting myself and you。 Come。〃
Without noticing the expression of half…savage delight that had passed
across her face； he lifted her in his arms。
〃Which way are you going？〃 she asked； passing her hands vaguely
across his breast； as if to reassure herself of his identity。
〃To our camp by the scarred tree；〃 he replied。
〃Not there； not there；〃 she said； hurriedly。 〃I was driven from there
just now。 I thought the fire began there until I came here。〃
Then it was as he feared。 Obeying the same mysterious law that had
launched this fatal fire like a thunderbolt from the burning mountain crest
five miles away into the heart of the Carquinez Woods； it had again leaped
a mile beyond； and was hemming them between two narrowing lines of
fire。 But Low was not daunted。 Retracing his steps through the blinding
smoke； he strode off at right angles to the trail near the point where he had
entered the wood。 It was the spot where he had first lifted Nellie in his
arms to carry her to the hidden spring。 If any recollection of it crossed
his mind at that moment； it was only shown in his redoubled energy。 He
did not glide through the thick underbrush； as on that day； but seemed to
take a savage pleasure in breaking through it with sheer brute force。
Once Teresa insisted upon relieving him of the burden of her weight； but
after a few steps she staggered blindly against him； and would fain have
recourse once more to his strong arms。 And so； alternately staggering；
bending； crouching； or bounding and crashing on； but always in one
direction； they burst through the jealous rampart； and came upon the
sylvan haunt of the hidden spring。 The great angle of the half…fallen tree
acted as a harrier to the wind and drifting smoke； and the cool spring
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sparkled and bubbled in the almost translucent air。 He laid her down
beside the water； and bathed her face and hands。 As he did so his quick
eye caught sight of a woman's handkerchief lying at the foot of the
disrupted root。 Dropping Teresa's hand； he walked towards it； and with the
toe of his moccasin gave it one vigorous kick into the ooze at the overflow
of the spring。 He turned to Teresa； but she evidently had not noticed the
act。
〃Where are you？〃 she asked； with a smile。
Something in her movement struck him！ He came towards her； and
bending down looked into her face。 〃Teresa！ Good God！look at me！
What has happened？〃
She raised her eyes to his。 There was a slight film across them； the
lids were blackened； the beautiful lashes gone forever！
〃I see you a little now； I think；〃 she said； with a smile； passing her
hands vaguely over his face。 〃It must have happened when he fainted；
and I had to drag him through the blazing brush； both my hands were full；
and I could not cover my eyes。〃
〃Drag whom？〃 said Low； quickly。
〃Why； Dunn。〃
〃Dunn！ He here？〃 said Low； hoarsely。
〃Yes； didn't you read the note I left on the herbarium？ Didn't you
come to the camp…fire？〃 she asked hurriedly； clasping his hands。 〃Tell
me quickly！〃
〃No！〃
〃Then you were not therethen you didn't leave me to die？〃
〃No！ I swear it； Teresa！〃 the stoicism that had upheld his own agony
breaking down before her strong emotion。
〃Thank God！〃 She threw her arms around him； and hid her aching
eyes in his troubled breast。
〃Tell me all； Teresa；〃 he whispered in her listening ear。 〃Don't move；
stay there； and tell me all。〃
With her face buried in his bosom； as if speaking to his heart alone；
she told him part； but not all。 With her eyes filled with tears； but a smile
on her lips； radiant with new…found happiness； she told him how she had
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overheard the plans of Dunn and Brace； how she had stolen their
conveyance to warn him in time。 But here she stopped； dreading to say a
word that would shatter the hope she was building upon his sudden
revulsion of feeling for Nellie。 She could not bring herself to repeat their
interview that would come later； when they were safe and out of danger；
now not even the secret of his birth must come between them with its
distraction； to mar their perfect communion。 She faltered that Dunn had
fainted from weakness； and that she had dragged him out of danger。 〃He
will never interfere with usI mean；〃 she said softly； 〃with ME again。 I
can promise you that as well as if he had sworn it。〃
〃Let him pass； now；〃 said Low； 〃that will come later on；〃 he added；
unconsciously repeating her thought in a tone that made her heart sick。
〃But tell me； Teresa； why did you go to Excelsior？〃
She buried her head still deeper； as if to hide it。 He felt her broken
heart beat against his own； he was conscious of a depth of feeling her rival
had never awakened in him。 The possibility of Teresa loving him had
never occurred to his simple nature。 He bent his head and kissed her。
She was frightened； and unloosed her clinging arms； but he retained her
hand； and said； 〃We will leave this accursed place； and you shall go with
me as you said you would； nor need you ever leave me； unless you wish
it。〃
She could hear the beating of her own heart through his words； she
longed to look at the eyes and lips that told her this； and read the meaning
his voice alone could not entirely convey。 For the first time she felt the
loss of her sight。 She did not know that it was； in this moment of
happiness； the last blessing vouchsafed to her miserable life。
A few moments of silence followed； broken only by the distant rumor
of the conflagration and the crash of falling boughs。
〃It ma
