in the carquinez woods(在卡圭尼兹森林)-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
14
… Page 15…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
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。〃
15
… Page 16…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
〃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。
16
… Page 17…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
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 Wynn； not
unfrequently known as 〃Father Wynn；〃 pastor of the First Baptist church。
The 〃pastorage；〃 as it was cheerfully called； had the glaring distinction of
being built of brick； and was； as had been wickedly pointed out by idle
scoffers； the only 〃fireproof〃 structure in town。 This sarcasm was not；
however； supposed to be particularly distasteful to 〃Father Wynn；〃 who
enjoyed the reputation of being 〃hail fellow； well met〃 with the rough
mining element； who called them by their Christian names； had been
known to drink at the bar of the Polka Saloon while engaged in the
conversion of a prominent citizen； and was popularly said to have no
〃gospel starch〃 about him。 Certain conscious outcasts and transgressors
were touched at this apparent unbending of the spiritual authority。 The
rigid tenets of Father Wynn's faith were lost in the supposed catholicity of
his humanity。 〃A preacher that can jine a man when he's histin' liquor
into him； without jawin' about it； ought to be allowed to wrestle with
sinners and splash about in as much cold water as he likes；〃 was the
criticism of one of his converts。 Nevertheless； it was true that Father
Wynn was somewhat loud and intolerant in his tolerance。 It was true that
he was a little more rough； a little more frank； a little more hearty； a little
17
… Page 18…
IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
more impulsive than his disciples。 It was true that often the proclamation
of his extreme liberality and brotherly equality partook somewhat of an
apology。 It is true that a few who might have been most benefited by this
kind of gospel regarded him with a singular disdain。 It is true that his
liberality was of an ornamental； insinuating quality； accompanied with but
little sacrifice； his acceptance of a collection taken up in a gambling
saloon for the rebuilding of his church； destroyed by fire； gave him a
pop
