in the carquinez woods-第11部分

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responded　Low。

〃Safe　with　my　friends；〃　she　repeated　in　a　lower　voice。　　〃Safe
with　my　friendsyes！〃　　An　awkward　silence　followed；　Teresa　broke
it　gayly：　〃But　your　girl；　your　sweetheart；　my　benefactorwill
SHE　let　you　go？〃

〃I　haven't　told　her　yet；〃　said　Low；　gravely；　〃but　I　don't　see　why
she　should　object。〃

〃Object；　indeed！〃　interrupted　Teresa　in　a　high　voice　and　a　sudden
and　utterly　gratuitous　indignation；　〃how　should　she？　　I'd　like　to
see　her　do　it！〃

She　accompanied　him　some　distance　to　the　intersection　of　the
trail；　where　they　parted　in　good　spirits。　　On　the　dusty　plain
without　a　gale　was　blowing　that　rocked　the　high　tree…tops　above
her；　but；　tempered　and　subdued；　entered　the　low　aisles　with　a
fluttering　breath　of　morning　and　a　sound　like　the　cooing　of
doves。　　Never　had　the　wood　before　shown　so　sweet　a　sense　of
security　from　the　turmoil　and　tempest　of　the　world　beyond；　never
before　had　an　intrusion　from　the　outer　lifeeven　in　the　shape　of
a　letterseemed　so　wicked　a　desecration。　　Tempted　by　the
solicitation　of　air　and　shade；　she　lingered；　with　Low's　herbarium
slung　on　her　shoulder。

A　strange　sensation；　like　a　shiver；　suddenly　passed　across　her
nerves；　and　left　them　in　a　state　of　rigid　tension。　　With　every
sense　morbidly　acute；　with　every　faculty　strained　to　its　utmost；
the　subtle　instincts　of　Low's　woodcraft　transformed　and　possessed
her。　　She　knew　it　now！　　A　new　element　was　in　the　wooda　strange
beinganother　lifeanother　man　approaching！　　She　did　not　even
raise　her　head　to　look　about　her；　but　darted　with　the　precision
and　fleetness　of　an　arrow　in　the　direction　of　her　tree。　　But　her
feet　were　arrested；　her　limbs　paralzyed；　her　very　existence
suspended；　by　the　sound　of　a　voice：

〃Teresa！〃

It　was　a　voice　that　had　rung　in　her　ears　for　the　last　two　years
in　all　phases　of　intensity；　passion；　tenderness；　and　anger；　a
voice　upon　whose　modulations；　rude　and　unmusical　though　they
were；　her　heart　and　soul　had　hung　in　transport　or　anguish。　　But
it　was　a　chime　that　had　rung　its　last　peal　to　her　senses　as　she
entered　the　Carquinez　Woods；　and　for　the　last　week　had　been　as
dead　to　her　as　a　voice　from　the　grave。　　It　was　the　voice　of　her
loverDick　Curson！


CHAPTER　V


The　wind　was　blowing　towards　the　stranger；　so　that　he　was　nearly
upon　her　when　Teresa　first　took　the　alarm。　　He　was　a　man　over　six
feet　in　height；　strongly　built；　with　a　slight　tendency　to　a
roundness　of　bulk　which　suggested　reserved　rather　than　impeded
energy。　　His　thick　beard　and　mustache　were　closely　cropped　around
a　small　and　handsome　mouth　that　lisped　except　when　he　was
excited；　but　always　kept　fellowship　with　his　blue　eyes　in　a
perpetual　smile　of　half…cynical　good…humor。　　His　dress　was
superior　to　that　of　the　locality；　his　general　expression　that　of
a　man　of　the　world；　albeit　a　world　of　San　Francisco；　Sacramento；
and　Murderer's　Bar。　　He　advanced　towards　her　with　a　laugh　and　an
outstretched　hand。

〃YOU　here！〃　she　gasped；　drawing　back。

Apparently　neither　surprised　nor　mortified　at　this　reception；　he
answered　frankly；　〃Yeth。　　You　didn't　expect　me；　I　know。　　But
Doloreth　showed　me　the　letter　you　wrote　her；　andwellhere　I
am；　ready　to　help　you；　with　two　men　and　a　thpare　horthe　waiting
outside　the　woodth　on　the　blind　trail。〃

〃YouYOUhere？〃　she　only　repeated。

Curson　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Yeth。〃　　Of　courth　you　never
expected　to　thee　me　again；　and　leatht　of　all　HERE。　　I'll　admit
that；　I'll　thay　I　wouldn't　if　I'd　been　in　your　plathe。　　I'll　go
further；　and　thay　you　didn't　want　to　thee　me　againanywhere。
But　it　all　cometh　to　the　thame　thing；　here　I　am。　　I　read　the
letter　you　wrote　Doloreth。　　I　read　how　you　were　hiding　here；
under　Dunn'th　very　nothe；　with　his　whole　pothe　out；　cavorting
round　and　barkin'　up　the　wrong　tree。　　I　made　up　my　mind　to　come
down　here　with　a　few　nathty　friends　of　mine　and　cut　you　out　under
Dunn'th　nothe；　and　run　you　over　into　Yubathat'th　all。〃

〃How　dared　she　show　you　my　letterYOU　of　all　men？　　How　dared　she
ask　YOUR　help？〃　continued　Teresa；　fiercely。

〃But　she　didn't　athk　my　help；〃　he　responded　coolly。　　〃Dd　if　I
don't　think　she　jutht　calculated　I'd　be　glad　to　know　you　were
being　hunted　down　and　thtarving；　that　I　might　put　Dunn　on　your
track。〃

〃You　lie！〃　said　Teresa；　furiously；　〃she　was　my　friend。　　A　better
friend　than　those　who　professedmore；〃　she　added；　with　a
contemptuous　drawing　away　of　her　skirt　as　if　she　feared　Curson's
contamination。

〃All　right。　　Thettle　that　with　her　when　you　go　back；〃　continued
Curson　philosophically。　　〃We　can　talk　of　that　on　the　way。　　The
thing　now　ith　to　get　up　and　get　out　of　thethe　woods。　　Come！〃

Teresa's　only　reply　was　a　gesture　of　scorn。

〃I　know　all　that；〃　continued　Curson　half　soothingly；　〃but　they're
waiting。〃

〃Let　them　wait。　　I　shall　not　go。〃

〃What　will　you　do？〃

〃Stay　heretill　the　wolves　eat　me。〃

〃Teresa；　listen。　　D…　it　allTeresaTita！　see　here；〃　he　said
with　sudden　energy。　　〃I　swear　to　God　it's　all　right。　　I'm　willing
to　let　by…gones　be　by…gones　and　take　a　new　deal。　　You　shall　come
back　as　if　nothing　had　happened；　and　take　your　old　place　as
before。　　I　don't　mind　doing　the　square　thing；　all　round。　　If
that's　what　you　mean；　if　that's　all　that　stands　in　the　way；　why；
look　upon　the　thing　as　settled。　　There；　Tita；　old　girl；　come。〃

Careless　or　oblivious　of　her　stony　silence　and　starting　eyes；　he
attempted　to　take　her　hand。　　But　she　disengaged　herself　with　a
quick　movement；　drew　back；　and　suddenly　crouched　like　a　wild
animal　about　to　spring。　　Curson　folded　his　arms　as　she　leaped　to
her　feet；　the　little　dagger　she　had　drawn　from　her　garter　flashed
menacingly　in　the　air；　but　she　stopped。

The　man　before　her　remained　erect；　impassive；　and　silent；　the
great　trees　around　and　beyond　her　remained　erect；　impassive；　and
silent；　there　was　no　sound　in　the　dim　aisles　but　the　quick
panting　of　her　mad　passion；　no　movement　in　the　calm；　motionless
shadow　but　the　trembling　of　her　uplifted　steel。　　Her　arm　bent　and
slowly　sank；　her　fingers　relaxed；　the　knife　fell　from　her　hand。

〃That'th　quite　enough　for　a　thow；〃　he　said；　with　a　return　to　his
former　cynical　ease　and　a　perceptible　tone　of　relief　in　his
voice。　　〃It'th　the　thame　old　Theretha。　　Well；　then；　if　you　won't
go　with　me；　go　without　me；　take　the　led　horthe　and　cut　away。
Dick　Athley　and　Petereth　will　follow　you　over　the　county　line。
If　you　want　thome　money；　there　it　ith。〃　　He　took　a　buckskin　purse
from　his　pocket。　　〃If　you　won't　take　it　from　mehe　hesitated　as
she　made　no　reply〃Athley'th　flush　and　ready　to　lend　you　thome。〃

She　had　not　seemed　to　hear　him；　but　had　stooped　in　some
embarrassment；　picked　up　the　knife　and　hastily　hid　it；　then　with
averted　face　and　nervous　fingers　was　beginning　to　tear　strips　of
loose　bark　from　the　nearest　trunk。

〃Well；　what　do　you　thay？〃

〃I　don't　want　any　money；　and　I　shall　stay　here。〃　　She　hesitated；
looked　around　her；　and　then　added；　with　an　effort；　〃I　suppose　you
meant　well。　　Be　it　so！　　Let　by…gones　be　by…gones。　　You　said　just
now；　'It's　the　same　old　Teresa。'　　So　she　is；　and　seeing　she's　the
same　she's　better　here　than　anywhere　else。〃

There　was　enough　bitterness　in　her　tone　to　call　for　Curson's
half…perfunctory　sympathy。

〃That　be　dd；〃　he　responded　quickly。　　〃Jutht　thay　you'll　come；
Tita；　and〃

She　stopped　his　half…spoken　sentence　with　a　negative　gesture。
〃You　don't　understand。　　I　shall　stay　here。〃

〃But　even　if　they　don't　theek　you　here；　you　can't　live　here
forever。　　The　friend　that　you　wrote　about　who　wath　tho　good　to
you；　you　know；　can't　keep　you　here　alwayth；　and　are　you　thure　you
can　alwayth　trutht　her？〃

〃It　isn't　a　woman；　it's　a　man。〃　　She　stopped　short；　and　colored
to　the　line　of　her　forehead。　　〃Who　said　it　was　a　woman？〃　she
continued　fiercely；　as　if　to　cover　her　confusion　with　a　burst　of
gratuitous　anger。　　〃Is　that　another　of　your　lies？〃

Curson's　lips；　which　for　a　moment　had　completely　lost　their
smile；　were　now　drawn　together　in　a　prolonged　whistle。　　He　gazed
curiously　at　her　gown；　at　her　hat；　at　the　bow　of　bright　ribbon
that　tied　her　black　hair；　and　said；　〃Ah！〃

〃A　poor　man　who　has　kept　my　secret；〃　she　went　on　hurriedly〃a
man　as　friendless　and　lonely　as　myself。　　Yes；〃　disregarding
Curson's　cynical　smile；　〃a　man　who　has　shared　everything〃

〃Naturally；〃　suggested　Curson。

〃And　turned　himself　out　of　his　only　shelter　to　give　me　a　roof　and
covering；〃　she　continued　mechanically；　struggling　with　the　new
and　horrible　fancy　that　his　words　awakened。

〃And　thlept　every　night　at　Indian　Thpring　to　save　your　reputation；〃
said　Curson。　　〃Of　courthe。〃

Teresa　turned　very　white。　　Curson　was　prepared　for　an　outburst　of
furyperhaps　even　another　attack。　　But　the　crushed　and　beaten
woman　only　gazed　at　him　with　frightened　and　imploring　eyes。　　〃For
God's　sake；　Dick；　don't　say　that！〃

The　amiable　cynic　was　staggered。　　His　good…humor　and　a　certain
chivalrous　instinct　he　could　not　repress　got　the　better　of　him。
He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃What　I　thay；　and　what　you　DO；
Teretha；　needn't　make　us　quarrel。　　I've　no　claim　on　youI　know
it。　　Only〃　a　vivid　sense　of　the　ridiculous；　powerful　in　men　of
his　stamp；　completed　her　victory〃only　don't　thay　anything　about
my　coming　down　here　to　cut　you　out　from　thetheTHE　SHERIFF。〃
He　gave　utterance　to　a　short　but　unaffected　laugh；　made　a　slight
grimace；　and　turned　to　go。

Teresa　did　not　join　in　his　mirth。　　Awkward　as　it　would　have　been
if　he　had　taken　a　severer　view　of　the　subject；　she　was　mortified
even　amidst　her　fears　and　embarrassment　at　his　levity。　　Just　as
she　had　become　convinced　that　his　jealousy　had　made　her　over…
conscious；　his　apparent　good…humored　indifference　gave　that　over…
consciousness　a　guilty　significance。　　Yet　this　was　lost　in　her
sudden　alarm　as　her　companion；　looking　up；　uttered　an
exclamation；　and　placed　his　hand　upon　his　revolver。　　With　a
sinking　conviction　that　the　climax　had　come；　Teresa　turned　her
eyes。　　From　the　dim　aisles　beyond；　Low　was　approaching。　　The
catastrophe　seemed　complete。

She　had　barely　time　to　utter　an　imploring　whisper：　〃In　the　name
of　God；　not　a　word　to　him。〃　　But　a　change　had　already　come　over
her　companion。　　It　was　no　longer　a　parley　with　a　foolish　woman；
he　had　to　deal　with　a　man　like　h