in the carquinez woods(在卡圭尼兹森林)-第32章
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rifle in plathe of that muthle loader you carry； or thomething thenthible。
But； I thay！ what'th up？ You look ath if you had been running all night。〃
Low grasped his hand。 〃Thank you；〃 he said hurriedly； 〃but it's
nothing。 Only I must be back to the woods early。 Good…by。〃
But Curson retained Low's hand in his own powerful grip。
〃I'll go with you a bit further；〃 he said。 〃In fact； I've got thomething
to thay to you； only don't be in thuch a hurry； the woodth can wait till you
get there。〃 Quietly compelling Low to alter his own characteristic Indian
stride to keep pace with his； he went on： 〃I don't mind thaying I rather
cottoned to you from the time you acted like a white manno offentheto
Teretha。 She thayth you were left when a child lying round； jutht ath
promithcuouthly ath she wath； and if I can do anything towardth putting
you on the trail of your people； I'll do it。 I know thome of the voyageurth
who traded with the Cherokeeth； and your father wath one…wathn't he？〃
He glanced at Low's utterly abstracted and immobile face。 〃I thay； you
don't theem to take a hand in thith game； pardner。 What'th the row？ Ith
anything wrong over there？〃 and he pointed to the Carquinez Woods；
which were just looming out of the morning horizon in the distance。
Low stopped。 The last words of his companion seemed to recall him
to himself。 He raised his eyes automatically to the woods and started。
〃There IS something wrong over there；〃 he said breathlessly。 〃Look！〃
〃I thee nothing；〃 said Curson； beginning to doubt Low's sanity；
〃nothing more than I thaw an hour ago。〃
〃Look again。 Don't you see that smoke rising straight up？ It isn't
blown over there from the Divide； it's new smoke！ The fire is in the
woods！〃
〃I reckon that'th so；〃 muttered Curson； shading his eyes with his hand。
〃But； hullo！ wait a minute！ We'll get hortheth。 I say！〃 he shouted；
forgetting his lisp in his excitement〃stop！〃 But Low had already
lowered his head and darted forward like an arrow。
In a few moments he had left not only his companion but the last
straggling houses of the outskirts far behind him； and had struck out in a
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long； swinging trot for the disused 〃cut…off。〃 Already he fancied he heard
the note of clamor in Indian Spring； and thought he distinguished the
sound of hurrying hoofs on the great highway。 But the sunken trail hid it
from his view。 From the column of smoke now plainly visible in the
growing morning light he tried to locate the scene of the conflagration。 It
was evidently not a fire advancing regularly from the outer skirt of the
wood； communicated to it from the Divide； it was a local outburst near its
centre。 It was not in the direction of his cabin in the tree。 There was no
immediate danger to Teresa； unless fear drove her beyond the confines of
the wood into the hands of those who might recognize her。 The
screaming of jays and ravens above his head quickened his speed； as it
heralded the rapid advance of the flames； and the unexpected apparition of
a bounding body； flattened and flying over the yellow plain； told him that
even the secure retreat of the mountain wild…cat had been invaded。 A
sudden recollection of Teresa's uncontrollable terror that first night smote
him with remorse and redoubled his efforts。 Alone in the track of these
frantic and bewildered beasts； to what madness might she not be driven！
The sharp crack of a rifle from the high road turned his course
momentarily in that direction。 The smoke was curling lazily over the
heads of the party of men in the road； while the huge hulk of a grizzly was
disappearing in the distance。 A battue of the escaping animals had
commenced！ In the bitterness of his heart he caught at the horrible
suggestion； and resolved to save her from them or die with her there。
How fast he ran； or the time it took him to reach the woods； has never
been known。 Their outlines were already hidden when he entered them。
To a sense less keen； a courage less desperate； and a purpose less unaltered
than Low's； the wood would have been impenetrable。 The central fire
was still confined to the lofty tree tops； but the downward rush of wind
from time to time drove the smoke into the aisles in blinding and
suffocating volumes。 To simulate the creeping animals； and fall to the
ground on hands and knees； feel his way through the underbrush when the
smoke was densest； or take advantage of its momentary lifting； and
without uncertainty； mistake； or hesitation glide from tree to tree in one
undeviating course； was possible only to an experienced woodsman。 To
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keep his reason and insight so clear as to be able in the midst of this
bewildering confusion to shape that course so as to intersect the wild and
unknown tract of an inexperienced； frightened wanderer belonged to Low；
and Low alone。 He was making his way against the wind towards the
fire。 He had reasoned that she was either in comparative safety to
windward of it； or he should meet her being driven towards him by it； or
find her succumbed and fainting at its feet。 To do this he must penetrate
the burning belt； and then pass under the blazing dome。 He was already
upon it； he could see the falling fire dropping like rain or blown like
gorgeous blossoms of the conflagration across his path。 The space was
lit up brilliantly。 The vast shafts of dull copper cast no shadow below；
but there was no sign nor token of any human being。 For a moment the
young man was at fault。 It was true this hidden heart of the forest bore
no undergrowth； the cool matted carpet of the aisles seemed to quench the
glowing fragments as they fell。 Escape might be difficult； but not
impossible； yet every moment was precious。 He leaned against a tree；
and sent his voice like a clarion before him： 〃Teresa！〃 There was no
reply。 He called again。 A faint cry at his back from the trail he had just
traversed made him turn。 Only a few paces behind him； blinded and
staggering； but following like a beaten and wounded animal； Teresa； halted；
knelt； clasped her hands； and dumbly held them out before her。 〃Teresa！〃
he cried again； and sprang to her side。
She caught him by the knees； and lifted her face imploringly to his。
〃Say that again！〃 she cried； passionately。 〃Tell me it was Teresa you
called； and no other！ You have come back for me！ You would not let
me die here alone！〃
He lifted her tenderly in his arms； and cast a rapid glance around him。
