in the carquinez woods-第23章

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the　covert　blindly　into　the　opening；　struck　against　the　blasted
trunk；　fell　half　stunned　near　her　feet；　and　then；　recovering；
fluttered　away。　　She　had　scarcely　completed　another　circuit
before　the　irruption　was　followed　by　a　whirring　bevy　of　quail；　a
flight　of　jays；　and　a　sudden　tumult　of　wings　swept　through　the
wood　like　a　tornado。　　She　turned　inquiringly　to　Dunn；　who　had
risen　to　his　feet；　but　the　next　moment　she　caught　convulsively　at
his　wrist；　a　wolf　had　just　dashed　through　the　underbrush　not　a
dozen　yards　away；　and　on　either　side　of　them　they　could　hear　the
scamper　and　rustle　of　hurrying　feet　like　the　outburst　of　a　summer
shower。　　A　cold　wind　arose　from　the　opposite　direction；　as　if　to
contest　this　wild　exodus；　but　it　was　followed　by　a　blast　of
sickening　heat。　　Teresa　sank　at　Dunn's　feet　in　an　agony　of　terror。

〃Don't　let　them　touch　me！〃　she　gasped；　〃keep　them　off！　　Tell　me；
for　God's　sake；　what　has　happened！〃

He　laid　his　hand　firmly　on　her　arm；　and　lifted　her　in　his　turn　to
her　feet　like　a　child。　　In　that　supreme　moment　of　physical
danger；　his　strength；　reason；　and　manhood　returned　in　their
plenitude　of　power。　　He　pointed　coolly　to　the　trail　she　had
quitted；　and　said；

〃The　Carquinez　Woods　are　on　fire！〃


CHAPTER　X


The　nest　of　the　tuneful　Burnhams；　although　in　the　suburbs　of
Indian　Spring；　was　not　in　ordinary　weather　and　seasons　hidden
from　the　longing　eyes　of　the　youth　of　that　settlement。　　That
night；　however；　it　was　veiled　in　the　smoke　that　encompassed　the
great　highway　leading　to　Excelsior。　　It　is　presumed　that　the
Burnham　brood　had　long　since　folded　their　wings；　for　there　was　no
sign　of　life　nor　movement　in　the　house　as　a　rapidly…driven　horse
and　buggy　pulled　up　before　it。　　Fortunately；　the　paternal　Burnham
was　an　early　bird；　in　the　habit　of　picking　up　the　first　stirring
mining　worm；　and　a　resounding　knock　brought　him　half　dressed　to
the　street　door。　　He　was　startled　at　seeing　Father　Wynn　before
him；　a　trifle　flushed　and　abstracted。

〃Ah　ha！　up　betimes；　I　see；　and　ready。　　No　sluggards　hereha；
ha！〃　he　said　heartily；　slamming　the　door　behind　him；　and　by　a
series　of　pokes　in　the　ribs　genially　backing　his　host　into　his
own　sitting…room。　　〃I'm　up；　too；　and　am　here　to　see　Nellie。
She's　here；　ehof　course？〃　he　added；　darting　a　quick　look　at
Burnham。

But　Mr。　Burnham　was　one　of　those　large；　liberal　Western　husbands
who　classified　his　household　under　the　general　title　of　〃woman
folk；〃　for　the　integers　of　which　he　was　not　responsible。　　He
hesitated；　and　then　propounded　over　the　balusters　to　the　upper
story　the　direct　query

〃You　don't　happen　to　have　Nellie　Wynn　up　there；　do　ye？〃

There　was　an　interval　of　inquiry　proceeding　from　half　a　dozen
reluctant　throats；　more　or　less　cottony　and　muffled；　in　those
various　degrees　of　grievance　and　mental　distress　which　indicate
too　early　roused　young　womanhood。　　The　eventual　reply　seemed　to
be　affirmative；　albeit　accompanied　with　a　suppressed　giggle；　as
if　the　young　lady　had　just　been　discovered　as　an　answer　to　an
amusing　conundrum。

〃All　right；〃　said　Wynn；　with　an　apparent　accession　of　boisterous
geniality。　　〃Tell　her　I　must　see　her；　and　I've　only　got　a　few
minutes　to　spare。　　Tell　her　to　slip　on　anything　and　come　down；
there's　no　one　here　but　myself；　and　I've　shut　the　front　door　on
Brother　Burnham。　　Ha；　ha！〃　and　suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　he
actually　bundled　the　admiring　Brother　Burnham　out　on　his　own
doorstep。　　There　was　a　light　pattering　on　the　staircase；　and
Nellie　Wynn；　pink　with　sleep；　very　tall；　very　slim；　hastily
draped　in　a　white　counterpane　with　a　blue　border　and　a　general
classic　suggestion；　slipped　into　the　parlor。　　At　the　same　moment
her　father　shut　the　door　behind　her；　placed　one　hand　on　the　knob；
and　with　the　other　seized　her　wrist。

〃Where　were　you　yesterday？〃　he　asked。

Nellie　looked　at　him；　shrugged　her　shoulders；　and　said；　〃Here。〃

〃You　were　in　the　Carquinez　Woods　with　Low　Dorman；　you　went　there
in　disguise；　you've　met　him　there　before。　　He　is　your　clandestine
lover；　you　have　taken　pledges　of　affection　from　him；　you　have〃

〃Stop！〃　she　said。

He　stopped。

〃Did　he　tell　you　this？〃　she　asked；　with　an　expression　of　disdain。

〃No；　I　overheard　it。　　Dunn　and　Brace　were　at　the　house　waiting
for　you。　　When　the　coach　did　not　bring　you；　I　went　to　the　office
to　inquire。　　As　I　left　our　door　I　thought　I　saw　somebody
listening　at　the　parlor　windows。　　It　was　only　a　drunken　Mexican
muleteer　leaning　against　the　house；　but　if　HE　heard　nothing；　I
did。　　Nellie；　I　heard　Brace　tell　Dunn　that　he　had　tracked　you　in
your　disguise　to　the　woodsdo　you　hear？　that　when　you　pretended
to　be　here　with　the　girls　you　were　with　Lowalone；　that　you　wear
a　ring　that　Low　got　of　a　trader　here；　that　there　was　a　cabin　in
the　woods〃

〃Stop！〃　she　repeated。

Wynn　again　paused。

〃And　what　did　YOU　do？〃　she　asked。

〃I　heard　they　were　starting　down　there　to　surprise　you　and　him
together；　and　I　harnessed　up　and　got　ahead　of　them　in　my　buggy。〃

〃And　found　me　here；〃　she　said；　looking　full　into　his　eyes。

He　understood　her　and　returned　the　look。　　He　recognized　the　full
importance　of　the　culminating　fact　conveyed　in　her　words；　and　was
obliged　to　content　himself　with　its　logical　and　worldly
significance。　　It　was　too　late　now　to　take　her　to　task　for　mere
filial　disobedience；　they　must　become　allies。

〃Yes；〃　he　said　hurriedly；　〃but　if　you　value　your　reputation；　if
you　wish　to　silence　both　these　men；　answer　me　fully。〃

〃Go　on；〃　she　said。

〃Did　you　go　to　the　cabin　in　the　woods　yesterday？〃

〃No。〃

〃Did　you　ever　go　there　with　Low？〃

〃No；　I　do　not　know　even　where　it　is。〃

Wynn　felt　that　she　was　telling　the　truth。　　Nellie　knew　it；　but　as
she　would　have　been　equally　satisfied　with　an　equally　efficacious
falsehood；　her　face　remained　unchanged。

〃And　when　did　he　leave　you？〃

〃At　nine　o'clock；　here。　　He　went　to　the　hotel。〃

〃He　saved　his　life；　then；　for　Dunn　is　on　his　way　to　the　woods　to
kill　him。〃

The　jeopardy　of　her　lover　did　not　seem　to　affect　the　young　girl
with　alarm；　although　her　eyes　betrayed　some　interest。

〃Then　Dunn　has　gone　to　the　woods？〃　she　said　thoughtfully。

〃He　has；〃　replied　Wynn。

〃Is　that　all？〃　she　asked。

〃I　want　to　know　what　you　are　going　to　do？〃

〃I　WAS　going　back　to　bed。〃

〃This　is　no　time　for　trifling；　girl。〃

〃I　should　think　not；〃　she　said；　with　a　yawn；　〃it's　too　early；　or
too　late。〃

Wynn　grasped　her　wrist　more　tightly。　　〃Hear　me！　　Put　whatever
face　you　like　on　this　affair；　you　are　compromisedand　compromised
with　a　man　you　can't　marry。〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I　ever　wanted　to　marry　Low；　if　you　mean　him；〃
she　said　quietly。

〃And　Dunn　wouldn't　marry　you　now。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　of　that；　either。〃

〃Nellie；〃　said　Wynn　excitedly；　〃do　you　want　to　drive　me　mad？
Have　you　nothing　to　saynothing　to　suggest？〃

〃Oh；　you　want　me　to　help　you；　do　you！　　Why　didn't　you　say　that
first？　　Well；　go　and　bring　Dunn　here。〃

〃Are　you　mad？　　The　man　has　gone　already　in　pursuit　of　your　lover；
believing　you　with　him。〃

〃Then　he　will　the　more　readily　come　and　talk　with　me　without　him。
Will　you　take　the　invitationyes　or　no？〃

〃Yes；　but〃

〃Enough。　　On　your　way　there　you　will　stop　at　the　hotel　and　give
Low　a　letter　from　me。〃

〃Nellie！〃

〃You　shall　read　it；　of　course；〃　she　said　scornfully；　〃for　it　will
be　your　text　for　the　conversation　you　will　have　with　him。　　Will
you　please　take　your　hand　from　the　lock　and　open　the　door？〃

Wynn　mechanically　opened　the　door。　　The　young　girl　flew　up…
stairs。　　In　a　very　few　moments　she　returned　with　two　notes：　one
contained　a　few　lines　of　formal　invitation　to　Dunn；　the　other
read　as　follows：


〃DEAR　MR。　DORMAN；My　father　will　tell　you　how　deeply　I　regret
that　our　recent　botanical　excursions　in　the　Carquinez　Woods　have
been　a　source　of　serious　misapprehensions　to　those　who　had　a
claim　to　my　consideration；　and　that　I　shall　be　obliged　to
discontinue　them　for　the　future。　　At　the　same　time　he　wishes　me
to　express　my　gratitude　for　your　valuable　instruction　and
assistance　in　that　pleasing　study；　even　though　approaching　events
may　compel　me　to　relinquish　it　for　other　duties。　　May　I　beg　you
to　accept　the　inclosed　ring　as　a　s