flip-a california romance-第7部分

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been　told　of　this　hidden　pearl　were　surprised　to　find　it　so

jealously　protected。





CHAPTER　V。





The　long；　parched　summer　had　drawn　to　its　dusty　close。　　Much　of　it

was　already　blown　abroad　and　dissipated　on　trail　and　turnpike；　or

crackled　in　harsh；　unelastic　fibres　on　hillside　and　meadow。　　Some

of　it　had　disappeared　in　the　palpable　smoke　by　day　and　fiery　crests

by　night　of　burning　forests。　　The　besieging　fogs　on　the　Coast　Range

daily　thinned　their　hosts；　and　at　last　vanished。　　The　wind　changed

from　northwest　to　southwest。　　The　salt　breath　of　the　sea　was　on　the

summit。　　And　then　one　day　the　staring；　unchanged　sky　was　faintly

touched　with　remote　mysterious　clouds；　and　grew　tremulous　in

expression。　　The　next　morning　dawned　upon　a　newer　face　in　the

heavens；　on　changed　woods；　on　altered　outlines；　on　vanished　crests；

on　forgotten　distances。　　It　was　raining！



Four　weeks　of　this　change；　with　broken　spaces　of　sunlight　and

intense　blue　aerial　islands；　and　then　a　storm　set　in。　　All　day　the

summit　pines　and　redwoods　rocked　in　the　blast。　　At　times　the　onset

of　the　rain　seemed　to　be　held　back　by　the　fury　of　the　gale；　or　was

visibly　seen　in　sharp　waves　on　the　hillside。　　Unknown　and　concealed

watercourses　suddenly　overflowed　the　trails；　pools　became　lakes　and

brooks　rivers。　　Hidden　from　the　storm；　the　sylvan　silence　of

sheltered　valleys　was　broken　by　the　impetuous　rush　of　waters；　even

the　tiny　streamlet　that　traversed　Flip's　retreat　in　the　Gin　and

Ginger　Woods　became　a　cascade。



The　storm　drove　Fairley　from　his　couch　early。　　The　falling　of　a

large　tree　across　the　trail；　and　the　sudden　overflow　of　a　small

stream　beside　it；　hastened　his　steps。　　But　he　was　doomed　to

encounter　what　was　to　him　a　more　disagreeable　objecta　human

figure。　　By　the　bedraggled　drapery　that　flapped　and　fluttered　in

the　wind；　by　the　long；　unkempt　hair　that　hid　the　face　and　eyes；　and

by　the　grotesquely　misplaced　bonnet；　the　old　man　recognized　one　of

his　old　trespassers；an　Indian　squaw。



〃Clear　out　'er　that！　　Come；　make　tracks；　will　ye？〃　the　old　man

screamed；　but　here　the　wind　stopped　his　voice；　and　drove　him

against　a　hazel　bush。



〃Me　heap　sick；〃　answered　the　squaw；　shivering　through　her　muddy

shawl。



〃I'll　make　ye　a　heap　sicker　if　ye　don't　vamose　the　ranch；〃

continued　Fairley；　advancing。



〃Me　wantee　Wangee　girl。　　Wangee　girl　give　me　heap　grub；〃　said　the

squaw；　without　moving。



〃You　bet　your　life；〃　groaned　the　old　man　to　himself。　　Nevertheless

an　idea　struck　him。　　〃Ye　ain't　brought　no　presents；　hev　ye？〃　he

asked　cautiously。　　〃Ye　ain't　got　no　pooty　things　for　poor　Wangee

girl？〃　he　continued；　insinuatingly。



〃Me　got　heap　cache　nuts　and　berries；〃　said　the　squaw。



〃Oh；　in　course！　in　course！　　That's　just　it；〃　screamed　Fairley；

〃you've　got　'em　cached　only　two　mile　from　yer；　and　you'll　go　and

get　'em　for　a　half　dollar；　cash　down。〃



〃Me　bring　Wangee　girl　to　cache；〃　replied　the　Indian；　pointing　to

the　wood。　　〃Honest　Injin。〃



Another　bright　idea　struck　Mr。　Fairley。　　But　it　required　some

elaboration。　　Hurrying　the　squaw　with　him　through　the　pelting　rain；

he　reached　the　shelter　of　the　corral。　　Vainly　the　shivering

aborigine　drew　her　tightly　bandaged　papoose　closer　to　her　square；

flat　breast；　and　looked　longingly　toward　the　cabin；　the　old　man

backed　her　against　the　palisade。　　Here　he　cautiously　imparted　his

dark　intentions　to　employ　her　to　keep　watch　and　ward　over　the

ranch；　and　especially　over　its　young　mistress〃clear　out　all　the

tramps　'ceptin'　yourself；　and　I'll　keep　ye　in　grub　and　rum。〃　　Many

and　deliberate　repetitions　of　this　offer　in　various　forms　at　last

seemed　to　affect　the　squaw；　she　nodded　violently；　and　echoed　the

last　word　〃rum。〃　　〃Now；〃　she　added。　　The　old　man　hesitated；　she　was

in　possession　of　his　secret；　he　groaned；　and；　promising　an

immediate　installment　of　liquor；　led　her　to　the　cabin。



The　door　was　so　securely　fastened　against　the　impact　of　the　storm

that　some　moments　elapsed　before　the　bar　was　drawn；　and　the　old　man

had　become　impatient　and　profane。　　When　it　was　partly　opened　by

Flip　he　hastily　slipped　in；　dragging　the　squaw　after　him；　and　cast

one　single　suspicious　glance　around　the　rude　apartment　which　served

as　a　sitting…room。　　Flip　had　apparently　been　writing。　　A　small

inkstand　was　still　on　the　board　table；　but　her　paper　had　evidently

been　concealed　before　she　allowed　them　to　enter。　　The　squaw

instantly　squatted　before　the　adobe　hearth；　warmed　her　bundled

baby；　and　left　the　ceremony　of　introduction　to　her　companion。　　Flip

regarded　the　two　with　calm　preoccupation　and　indifference。　　The

only　thing　that　touched　her　interest　was　the　old　squaw's　draggled

skirt　and　limp　neckerchief。　　They　were　Flip's　own；　long　since

abandoned　and　cast　off　in　the　Gin　and　Ginger　Woods。　　〃Secrets

again；〃　whined　Fairley；　still　eying　Flip　furtively。　　〃Secrets

again；　in　coursein　coursejiss　so。　　Secrets　that　must　be　kep

from　the　ole　man。　　Dark　doin's　by　one's　own　flesh　and　blood。　　Go

on！　go　on！　　Don't　mind　me。〃　　Flip　did　not　reply。　　She　had　even　lost

the　interest　in　her　old　dress。　　Perhaps　it　had　only　touched　some

note　in　unison　with　her　revery。



〃Can't　ye　get　the　poor　critter　some　whiskey？〃　he　queried；　fretfully。

〃Ye　used　to　be　peart　enuff　before。〃　　As　Flip　turned　to　the　corner　to

lift　the　demijohn；　Fairley　took　occasion　to　kick　the　squaw　with　his

foot；　and　indicate　by　extravagant　pantomime　that　the　bargain　was　not

to　be　alluded　to　before　the　girl。　　Flip　poured　out　some　whiskey　in　a

tin　cup；　and；　approaching　the　squaw；　handed　it　to　her。　　〃It's　like

ez　not；〃　continued　Fairley　to　his　daughter；　but　looking　at　the

squaw；　〃that　she'll　be　huntin'　the　woods　off　and　on；　and　kinder

looking　after　the　last　pit　near　the　Madronos；　ye'll　give　her　grub

and　licker　ez　she　likes。　　Well；　d'ye　hear；　Flip？　　Are　ye　moonin'

agin　with　yer　secrets？　　What's　gone　with　ye？〃



If　the　child　were　dreaming；　it　was　a　delicious　dream。　　Her　magnetic

eyes　were　suffused　by　a　strange　light；　as　though　the　eye　itself　had

blushed；　her　full　pulse　showed　itself　more　in　the　rounding　outline

of　her　cheek　than　in　any　deepening　of　color；　indeed；　if　there　was

any　heightening　of　tint；　it　was　in　her　freckles；　which　fairly

glistened　like　tiny　spangles。　　Her　eyes　were　downcast；　her

shoulders　slightly　bent；　but　her　voice　was　low　and　clear　and

thoughtful　as　ever。



〃One　o'　the　big　pines　above　the　Madrono　pit　has　blown　over　into　the

run；〃　she　said。　　〃It's　choked　up　the　water；　and　it's　risin'　fast。

Like　ez　not　it's　pourin'　over　into　the　pit　by　this　time。〃



The　old　man　rose　with　a　fretful　cry。　　〃And　why　in　blames　didn't　you

say　so　first？〃　he　screamed；　catching　up　his　axe　and　rushing　to　the

door。



〃Ye　didn't　give　me　a　chance；〃　said　Flip；　raising　her　eyes　for　the

first　time。　　With　an　impatient　imprecation；　Fairley　darted　by　her

and　rushed　into　the　wood。　　In　an　instant　she　had　shut　the　door　and

bolted　it。　　In　the　same　instant　the　squaw　arose；　dashed　the　long

hair　not　only　from　her　eyes；　but　from　her　head；　tore　away　her　shawl

and　blanket；　and　revealed　the　square　shoulders　of　Lance　Harriott！

Flip　remained　leaning　against　the　door；　but　the　young　man　in　rising

dropped　the　bandaged　papoose；　which　rolled　from　his　lap　into　the

fire。　　Flip；　with　a　cry；　sprang　toward　it；　but　Lance　caught　her　by

the　waist　with　one　arm；　as　with　the　other　he　dragged　the　bundle

from　the　flames。



〃Don't　be　alarmed；〃　he　said；　gayly；　〃it's　only〃



〃What？〃　said　Flip；　trying　to　disengage　herself。



〃My　coat　and　trousers。〃



Flip　laughed；　which　encouraged　Lance　to　another　attempt　to　kiss

her。　　She　evaded　it　by　diving　her　head　into　his　waistcoat；　and

saying；　〃There's　father。〃



〃But　he's　gone　to　clear　away　that　tree？〃　suggested　Lance。



One　of　Flip's　significant　silences　followed。



〃Oh；　I　see；〃　he　laughed。　　〃That　was　a　plan　to　get　him　away！　　Ah！〃

She　had　released　herself。



〃Why　did　you　come　like　that？〃　she　said；　pointing　to　his　wig　and

blanket。



〃To　see　if　you'd　know　me；〃　he　responded。



〃No；〃　said　Flip；　dropping　her　eyes。　　〃It's　to　keep　other　people

from　knowing　you。　　You're　hidin'　agin。〃



〃I　am；〃　returned　Lance；　〃but；〃　he　interrupted；　〃it's　only　the　same

old　thing。〃



〃But　you　wrote　from　Monterey　that　it　was　all　over；〃　she　persisted。



〃So　it　would　have　been；〃　he　said　gloomily；　〃but　for　some　dog　down

here　who　is　hunting　up　an　old　scent。　　I'll　spot　him　yet；　and〃　　He

stopped　suddenly；　with　such　utter　abstraction　of　hatred　in　his

fixed　and　glittering　eyes　that　she　almost　feared　him。　　She　laid　her

hand　quite　unconsciously　on　his　arm。　　He　grasped　it；　his　face

changed。



〃I　couldn't　wait　any　longer　to　see　you；　Flip；　so　I　came　here

anyway；〃　he　went　on。　　〃I　thought　to　hang　round　and　get　a　chance　to

speak　to　you　first；　when　I　fell　afoul　of　the　old　man。　　He　didn't

know　me；　and　tumbled　right　in　my　little　game。　　Why；　do　you　believe

he　wants　to　hire　me　for　my　grub　and　liquor；　to　act　as　a　sort　of

sentry　over　you　and　the　ranch？〃　　And　here　he　related　with　great

gusto　the　substance　of　his　interview。　　〃I　reckon　as　he's　that

suspicious；〃　he　concluded；　〃I'd　better　play　it　out　now　as　I've

begun；　only　it's　mighty　hard　I　can't　see　you　here　before　the　fire

in　your　fancy　toggery；　Flip；　but　must　dodge　in　and　out　of　the　wet

underbrush　in　these　yer　duds　of　yours　that　I　picked　up　in　the　old

place　in　the　Gin　and　Ginger　Woods。〃



〃Then　you　came　here　just　to　see　me？〃　asked　Flip。



〃I　did。〃



〃For　only　that？〃



〃Only　that。〃



Flip　dropped　her　eyes。　　Lance　had　got　his　other　arm　around　her

waist；　but　her　resisting　little　hand　was　still　potent。



〃Listen；〃　she　said　at　last　without　looking　up；　but　apparently

talking　to　the　intruding　arm；　〃when　Dad　comes　I'll　get　him　to　send

you　to　watch　the　diamond　pit。　　It　isn't　far；　it's　warm；　and〃



〃What？〃



〃I'll　come；　after　a　bit；　and　see　you。　　Quit　foolin'　now。　　If　you'd

only　have　come　here