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in the carquinez woods(在卡圭尼兹森林)-第22部分

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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 right   hand 



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was buried thoughtfully in the side pocket of his coat。              Only Brace knew 

that it rested on the handle of his pistol。 

     From time to time the latter stopped and consulted the faint trail with a 

minuteness   that   showed   recent   careful   study。   Suddenly   he   paused。         〃I 

made a blaze hereabouts to show where to leave the trail。                There it is;〃 he 

added; pointing to a slight notch cut in the trunk of an adjoining tree。 

     〃But we've just passed one;〃 said Dunn; 〃if that's what you are looking 

after; a hundred yards back。〃 

     Brace   uttered   an   oath;   and   ran   back   in   the direction   signified   by  his 

companion。       Presently he returned with a smile of triumph。 

     〃They've   suspected   something。        It's   a   clever   trick;   but   it   won't   hold 

water。     That blaze which was done to muddle you was cut with an axe; 

this which I made was done with a bowie…knife。                It's the real one。    We're 

not far off now。      Come on。〃 

     They proceeded cautiously; at right angles with the 〃blazed〃 tree; for 

ten minutes more。        The heat was oppressive; drops of perspiration rolled 

from the forehead of the sheriff; and at times; when he attempted to steady 

his uncertain limbs; his hands shrank from the heated; blistering bark he 

touched with ungloved palms。 

     〃Here we are;〃 said Brace; pausing at last。            〃Do you see that biggest 

tree; with the root stretching out halfway across to the opposite one?〃 

     〃No; it's further to the right and abreast of the dead brush;〃 interrupted 

Dunn quickly; with a sudden revelation that this was the spot where he had 

found the dead bear in the night Teresa escaped。 

     〃That's so;〃 responded Brace; in astonishment。 

     〃And the opening is on the other side; opposite the dead brush;〃 said 

Dunn。 

     〃Then you know it?〃 said Brace suspiciously。 

     〃I reckon!〃 responded Dunn; grimly。            〃That's enough!       Fall back!〃 

     To the surprise of his companion; he lifted his head erect; and with a 

strong;   firm   step   walked   directly   to   the   tree。 Reaching   it;   he   planted 

himself squarely before the opening。 

     〃Halloo!〃 he said。 

     There   was   no   reply。    A   squirrel   scampered   away   close   to   his   feet。 



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Brace;   far   in   the   distance;   after   an   ineffectual   attempt   to   distinguish   his 

companion       through     the  intervening     trunks;   took    off  his  coat;   leaned 

against a tree; and lit a cigar。 

     〃Come out of that cabin!〃 continued Dunn; in a clear; resonant voice。 

〃Come out before I drag you out!〃 

     〃All right; 'Captain Scott。'        Don't shoot; and I'll come down;〃 said a 

voice as clear and as high as his own。             The hanging strips of bark were 

dashed aside; and a woman leaped lightly to the ground。 

     Dunn staggered back。         〃Teresa! by the Eternal!〃 

     It was Teresa! the old Teresa!          Teresa; a hundred times more vicious; 

reckless;    hysterical;    extravagant;    and   outrageous     than   before。    Teresa; 

staring   with   tooth   and   eye;   sunburnt   and   embrowned;   her   hair   hanging 

down her shoulders; and her shawl drawn tightly around her neck。 

     〃Teresa   it   is!   the   same   old   gal! Here   we   are   again! Return   of   the 

favorite in her original character!         For two weeks only! Houp la!            Tshk!〃 

and; catching her yellow skirt with her fingers; she pirouetted before the 

astounded man; and ended in a pose。 Recovering himself with an effort; 

Dunn dashed forward and seized her by the wrist。 

     〃Answer me; woman!            Is that Low's cabin?〃 

     〃It is。〃 

     〃Who occupies it besides?〃 

     〃I do。〃 

     〃And who else?〃 

     〃Well;〃    drawled     Teresa    slowly;   with   an   extravagant     affectation   of 

modesty; 〃nobody else but us; I reckon。              Two's company; you know; and 

three's none。〃 

     〃Stop!      Will    you    swear    that   there   isn't  a   young     girl;  hishis 

sweetheartconcealed there with you?〃 

     The fire in Teresa's eye was genuine as she answered steadily; 〃Well; it 

ain't my style to put up with that sort of thing; at least; it wasn't over at 

Yolo; and you know it; Jim Dunn; or I wouldn't be here。〃 

     〃Yes; yes;〃 said Dunn hurriedly。           〃But I'm a dd fool; or worse; the 

fool of a fool。     Tell me; Teresa; is this man Low your lover?〃 

     Teresa   lowered   her   eyes   as   if   in   maidenly   confusion。   〃Well;   if   I'd 



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known that YOU  had   any feeling of   your   own about itif  you'd   spoken 

sooner〃 

     〃Answer me; you devil!〃 

     〃He is。〃 

     〃And he has been with you hereyesterdayto…night?〃 

     〃He has。〃 

     〃Enough。〃       He    laughed     a  weak;    foolish   laugh;   and;   turning    pale; 

suddenly lapsed against a tree。           He would have fallen; but with a quick 

instinct   Teresa   sprang   to   his   side;   and   supported   him   gently   to   a   root。 

The action over; they both looked astounded。 

     〃I reckon that wasn't much like either you or me;〃 said Dunn slowly; 

〃was   it?    But   if   you'd   let   me   drop   then   you'd   have   stretched   out   the 

biggest   fool   in   the   Sierras。〃   He   paused;   and   looked   at   her   curiously。 

〃What's come over you; blessed if I seem to know you now。〃 

     She was very pale again; and quiet; that was all。 

     〃Teresa!     dn it; look here!       When I was laid up yonder in Excelsior 

I   said   I   wanted   to   get   well   for   only   two   things。 One   was   to   hunt   you 

down; the other to marry Nellie Wynn。               When I came here I thought that 

last   thing   could   never   be。  I   came   here   expecting   to   find   her   here   with 

Low; and kill himperhaps kill her too。            I never once thought of you; not 

once。     You might have risen up before mebetween me and himand I'd 

have passed you by。         And now that I find it's all a mistake; and it was you; 

not her; I was looking for; why〃 

     〃Why;〃 she interrupted bitterly; 〃you'll just take me; of course; to save 

your time and earn your salary。           I'm ready。〃 

     〃But I'M not; just yet;〃 he said faintly。         〃Help me up。〃 

     She mechanically assisted him to his feet。 

     〃Now  stand   where   you   are;〃 he   added;  〃and   don't   move   beyond   this 

tree till I return。〃 

     He straightened himself with an effort; clenched his fists until the nails 

were nearly buried in his palms; and strode with a firm; steady step in the 

direction he had come。          In a few moments he returned and stood before 

her。 

     〃I've   sent   away   my   deputythe   man   who   brought   me   here;   the   fool 



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who   thought   you   were   Nellie。      He   knows   now he   made   a   mistake。   But 

who it was he mistook for Nellie he does not know; nor shall ever know; 

nor shall any living being know; other than myself。 And when I leave the 

wood to…day I shall know it no longer。              You are safe here as far as I am 

concerned;   but   I   cannot   screen   you   from   others   prying。     Let   Low   take 

you away from here as soon as he can。〃 

     〃Let him take me away?           Ah; yes。     For what?〃 

     〃To save you;〃 said Dunn。          〃Look here; Teresa!         Without knowing it; 

you lifted me out of hell just now; and because o
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