in the carquinez woods-第19章

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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　right　hand　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