in the carquinez woods-第15部分

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the　dd　Digger　that　he　was；　collected　these　herbs；　only　he
pretended　it　was　for　science。　　I　reckoned　the　book　was　his　and
that　he　mightn't　be　far　away。　　I　lay　low　and　waited。　　Bimeby　I
saw　a　lizard　running　down　the　root。　　When　he　got　sight　of　me　he
stopped。〃

〃Dn　the　lizard！　　What's　that　got　to　do　with　where　she　is　now？〃

〃Everything。　　That　lizard　had　a　piece　of　sugar　in　his　mouth。
Where　did　it　come　from？　　I　made　him　drop　it；　and　calculated　he'd
go　back　for　more。　　He　did。　　He　scooted　up　that　tree　and　slipped
in　under　some　hanging　strips　of　bark。　　I　shoved　'em　aside；　and
found　an　opening　to　the　hollow　where　they　do　their　housekeeping。〃

〃But　you　didn't　see　her　thereand　how　do　you　know　she　is　there
now？〃

〃I　determined　to　make　it　sure。　　When　she　left　to…day；　I　started
an　hour　ahead　of　her；　and　hid　myself　at　the　edge　of　the　woods。
An　hour　after　the　coach　arrived　at　Indian　Spring；　she　came　there
in　a　brown　duster　and　was　joined　by　him。　　I'd　have　followed　them；
but　the　dd　hound　has　the　ears　of　a　squirrel；　and　though　I　was
five　hundred　yards　from　him　he　was　on　his　guard。〃

〃Guard　be　blessed！　　Wasn't　you　armed？　　Why　didn't　you　go　for
him？〃　said　Dunn；　furiously。

〃I　reckoned　I'd　leave　that　for　you；〃　said　Brace　coolly。　　〃If　he'd
killed　me；　and　if　he'd　even　covered　me　with　his　rifle；　he'd　been
sure　to　let　daylight　through　me　at　double　the　distance。　　I
shouldn't　have　been　any　better　off；　nor　you　either。　　If　I'd
killed　HIM；　it　would　have　been　your　duty　as　sheriff　to　put　me　in
jail；　and　I　reckon　it　wouldn't　have　broken　your　heart；　Jim　Dunn；
to　have　got　rid　of　TWO　rivals　instead　of　one。　　Hullo！　　Where　are
you　going？〃

〃Going？〃　said　Dunn　hoarsely。　　〃Going　to　the　Carquinez　Woods；　by
God！　to　kill　him　before　her。　　I'LL　risk　it；　if　you　daren't。　　Let
me　succeed；　and　you　can　hang　ME　and　take　the　girl　yourself。〃

〃Sit　down；　sit　down。　　Don't　be　a　fool；　Jim　Dunn！　　You　wouldn't
keep　the　saddle　a　hundred　yards。　　Did　I　say　I　wouldn't　help　you？
No。　　If　you're　willing；　we'll　run　the　risk　together；　but　it　must
be　in　my　way。　　Hear　me。　　I'll　drive　you　down　there　in　a　buggy
before　daylight；　and　we'll　surprise　them　in　the　cabin　or　as　they
leave　the　wood。　　But　you　must　come　as　if　to　arrest　him　for　some
offensesay；　as　an　escaped　Digger　from　the　Reservation；　a
dangerous　tramp；　a　destroyer　of　public　property　in　the　forests；　a
suspected　road　agent；　or　anything　to　give　you　the　right　to　hunt
him。　　The　exposure　of　him　and　Nellie；　don't　you　see；　must　be
accidental。　　If　he　resists；　kill　him　on　the　spot；　and　nobody'll
blame　you；　if　he　goes　peaceably　with　you；　and　you　once　get　him　in
Excelsior　jail；　when　the　story　gets　out　that　he's　taken　the　belle
of　Excelsior　for　his　squaw；　if　you'd　the　angels　for　your　posse
you　couldn't　keep　the　boys　from　hanging　him　to　the　first　tree。
What's　that？〃

He　walked　to　the　window；　and　looked　out　cautiously。

〃If　it　was　the　old　man　coming　back　and　listening；〃　he　said；　after
a　pause；　〃it　can't　he　helped。　　He'll　hear　it　soon　enough；　if　he
don't　suspect　something　already。〃

〃Look　yer；　Brace；〃　broke　in　Dunn　hoarsely。　　〃Dd　if　I　understand
you　or　you　me。　　That　dog　Low　has　got　to　answer　to　ME；　not　to　the
LAW！　　I'll　take　my　risk　of　killing　him；　on　sight　and　on　the
square。　　I　don't　reckon　to　handicap　myself　with　a　warrant；　and　I
am　not　going　to　draw　him　out　with　a　lie。　　You　hear　me？　　That's　me
all　the　time！〃

〃Then　you　calkilate　to　go　down　thar；〃　said　Brace　contemptuously；
〃yell　out　for　him　and　Nellie；　and　let　him　line　you　on　a　rest　from
the　first　tree　as　if　you　were　a　grizzly。〃

There　was　a　pause。　　〃What's　that　you　were　saying　just　now　about　a
bearskin　he　sold？〃　asked　Dunn　slowly；　as　if　reflecting。

〃He　exchanged　a　bearskin；〃　replied　Brace；　〃with　a　single　hole
right　over　the　heart。　　He's　a　dead　shot；　I　tell　you。〃

〃Dn　his　shooting；〃　said　Dunn。　　〃I'm　not　thinking　of　that。　　How
long　ago　did　he　bring　in　that　bearskin？〃

〃About　two　weeks；　I　reckon。　　Why？〃

〃Nothing！　　Look　yer；　Brace；　you　mean　wellthar's　my　hand。　　I'll
go　down　with　you　there；　but　not　as　the　sheriff。　　I'm　going　there
as　Jim　Dunn；　and　you　can　come　along　as　a　white　man；　to　see　things
fixed　on　the　square。　　Come！〃

Brace　hesitated。　　〃You'll　think　better　of　my　plan　before　you　get
there；　but　I've　said　I'd　stand　by　you；　and　I　will。　　Come；　then。
There's　no　time　to　lose。〃

They　passed　out　into　the　darkness　together。

〃What　are　you　waiting　for？〃　said　Dunn　impatiently；　as　Brace；　who
was　supporting　him　by　the　arm；　suddenly　halted　at　the　corner　of
the　house。

〃Some　one　was　listeningdid　you　not　see　him？　　Was　it　the　old
man？〃　asked　Brace　hurriedly。

〃Blast　the　old　man！　　It　was　only　one　of　them　Mexican　packers
chock…full　of　whisky；　and　trying　to　hold　up　the　house。　　What　are
you　thinking　of？　　We　shall　be　late。〃

In　spite　of　his　weakness；　the　wounded　man　hurriedly　urged　Brace
forward；　until　they　reached　the　latter's　lodgings　。　　To　his
surprise；　the　horse　and　buggy　were　already　before　the　door。

〃Then　you　reckoned　to　go；　any　way？〃　said　Dunn；　with　a　searching
look　at　his　companion。

〃I　calkilated　SOMEBODY　would　go；〃　returned　Brace；　evasively；
patting　the　impatient　Buckskin；　〃but　come　in　and　take　a　drink
before　we　leave。〃

Dunn　started　out　of　a　momentary　abstraction；　put　his　hand　on　his
hip；　and　mechanically　entered　the　house。　　They　had　scarcely
raised　the　glasses　to　their　lips　when　a　sudden　rattle　of　wheels
was　heard　in　the　street。　　Brace　set　down　his　glass　and　ran　to　the
window。

〃It's　the　mare　bolted；〃　he　said；　with　an　oath。　　〃We've　kept　her
too　long　standing。　　Follow　me；〃　and　he　dashed　down　the　staircase
into　the　street。　　Dunn　followed　with　difficulty；　when　he　reached
the　door　he　was　already　confronted　by　his　breathless　companion。
〃She's　gone　off　on　a　run；　and　I'll　swear　there　was　a　man　in　the
buggy！〃　　He　stopped　and　examined　the　halter…strap；　still　fastened
to　the　fence。　　〃Cut！　by　God！〃

Dunn　turned　pale　with　passion。　　〃Who's　got　another　horse　and
buggy？〃　he　demanded。

〃The　new　blacksmith　in　Main　Street；　but　we　won't　get　it　by
borrowing；〃　said　Brace。

〃How　then？〃　asked　Dunn　savagely。

〃Seize　it；　as　the　sheriff　of　Yuba　and　his　deputy；　pursuing　a
confederate　of　the　Injin　LowTHE　HORSE　THIEF！〃


CHAPTER　VIII


The　brief　hour　of　darkness　that　preceded　the　dawn　was　that　night
intensified　by　a　dense　smoke；　which；　after　blotting　out　horizon
and　sky；　dropped　a　thick　veil　on　the　high　road　and　the　silent
streets　of　Indian　Spring。　　As　the　buggy　containing　Sheriff　Dunn
and　Brace　dashed　through　the　obscurity；　Brace　suddenly　turned　to
his　companion。

〃Some　one　ahead！〃

The　two　men　bent　forward　over　the　dashboard。　　Above　the　steady
plunging　of　their　own　horse…hoofs　they　could　hear　the　quicker
irregular　beat　of　other　hoofs　in　the　darkness　before　them。

〃It's　that　horse　thief！〃　said　Dunn；　in　a　savage　whisper。　　〃Bear
to　the　right；　and　hand　me　the　whip。〃

A　dozen　cuts　of　the　cruel　lash；　and　their　maddened　horse；
bounding　at　each　stroke；　broke　into　a　wild　canter。　　The　frail
vehicle　swayed　from　side　to　side　at　each　spring　of　the　elastic
shafts。　　Steadying　himself　by　one　hand　on　the　low　rail；　Dunn　drew
his　revolver　with　the　other。　　〃Sing　out　to　him　to　pull　up；　or
we'll　fire。　　My　voice　is　clean　gone；〃　he　added；　in　a　husky　whisper。

They　were　so　near　that　they　could　distinguish　the　bulk　of　a
vehicle　careering　from　side　to　side　in　the　blackness　ahead。　　Dunn
deliberately　raised　his　weapon。　　〃Sing　out！〃　he　repeated
impatiently。　　But　Brace；　who　was　still　keeping　in　the　shadow；
suddenly　grasped　his　companion's　arm。

〃Hush！　　It's　NOT　Buckskin；〃　he　whispered　hurriedly。

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃DON'T　YOU　SEE　WE'RE　GAINING　ON　HIM？〃　replied　the　other
contemptuously。　　Dunn　grasped　his　companion's　hand　and　pressed　it
silently。　　Even　in　that　supreme　moment　this　horseman's　tribute　to
the　fugitive　Buckskin　forestalled　all　baser　considerations　of
pursuit　and　capture！

In　twenty　seconds　they　were　abreast　of　the　stranger；　crowding　his
horse　and　buggy　nearly　into　the　ditch；　Brace　keenly　watchful；
Dunn　suppressed　and　pale。　　In　half　a　minute　they　were　leading　him
a　length；　and　when　their　horse　again　settled　down　to　his　steady
work；　the　stranger　was　already　lost　in　the　circling　dust　that
followed　them。　　But　the　victors　seemed　disappointed。　　The
obscurity　had　completely　hidden　all　but　the　vague　outlines　of　the
mysterious　driver。

〃He's　not　our　game；　anyway；〃　whispered　Dunn。　　〃Drive　on。〃

〃But　if　it　was　some　friend　of　his；〃　suggested　Brace　uneasily；
〃what　would　you　do？〃

〃What　I　SAID　I'd　do；〃　responded　Dunn　savagely。　　〃I　don't　want
five　minutes　to　do　it　in；　either；　we'll　be　half　an　hour　ahead　of
that　dd　fool；　whoever　he　is。　　Look　here；　all　you've　got　to　do
is　to　put　me　in　the　trail　to　that　cabin。　　Stand　back　of　me；　out
of　gun…shot；　alone；　if　you　like；　as　my　deputy；　or　with　any　number
you　can　pick　up　as　my　posse。　　If　he　gets　by　me　as　Nellie's　lover；
you　may　shoot　him　or　take　him　as　a　horse　thief；　if　you　like。〃

〃Then　you　won't　shoot　him　on　sight？〃

〃Not　till　I've　had　a　word　with　him。〃

〃But〃

〃I've　chirped；〃　said　the　sheriff　gravely。　　〃Drive　on。〃

For　a　few　moments　only　the　plunging　hoofs　and　rattling　wheels
were　heard。　　A　dull；　lurid　glow　began　to　define　the　horizon。
They　were　silent　until　an　abatement　of　the　smoke；　the　vanishing
of　the　gloomy　horizon　line；　and　a　certain　impenetrability　in　the
darkness　ahead　showed　them　they　were　nearing　the　Carquinez　Woods。
But　they　were　surprised　on　entering　them　to　find　the　dim　aisles
alight　with　a　faint　mystic　Aurora。　　The　tops　of　the　towering
spires　above　them　had　caught　the　gleam　of　the　distant　forest
fires；　and　reflected　it　as　from　a　gilded　dome。

〃It　would　be　hot　work　if　the　Carquinez　Woods　should　conclude　to
take　a　hand　in　this　yer　little　game　that's　going　on　over　on　the
Divide　yonder；〃　said　Brace；　securing　his　horse　and　glancing　at
the　spires　overhead。　　〃I　reckon　I'd　rather　take　a　back　seat　at
Injin　Spring　when　the　show　commences。〃

Dunn　did　not　reply；　but；　buttoning　his　coat；　placed　one　hand　on
his　companion's　shoulder；　and　sullenly　bade　him　〃lead　the　way。〃
Advancing　slowly　and　with　difficulty　the　desperate　man　might　have
been　taken　for　a　peaceful　invalid　returning　from　an　early　morning
stroll。　　His