in the carquinez woods-第27章

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Teresa　loving　him　had　never　occurred　to　his　simple　nature。　　He
bent　his　head　and　kissed　her。　　She　was　frightened；　and　unloosed
her　clinging　arms；　but　he　retained　her　hand；　and　said；　〃We　will
leave　this　accursed　place；　and　you　shall　go　with　me　as　you　said
you　would；　nor　need　you　ever　leave　me；　unless　you　wish　it。〃

She　could　hear　the　beating　of　her　own　heart　through　his　words；
she　longed　to　look　at　the　eyes　and　lips　that　told　her　this；　and
read　the　meaning　his　voice　alone　could　not　entirely　convey。　　For
the　first　time　she　felt　the　loss　of　her　sight。　　She　did　not　know
that　it　was；　in　this　moment　of　happiness；　the　last　blessing
vouchsafed　to　her　miserable　life。

A　few　moments　of　silence　followed；　broken　only　by　the　distant
rumor　of　the　conflagration　and　the　crash　of　falling　boughs。

〃It　may　be　an　hour　yet；〃　he　whispered；　〃before　the　fire　has　swept
a　path　for　us　to　the　road　below。　　We　are　safe　here；　unless　some
sudden　current　should　draw　the　fire　down　upon　us。　　You　are　not
frightened？〃　　She　pressed　his　hand；　she　was　thinking　of　the　pale
face　of　Dunn；　lying　in　the　secure　retreat　she　had　purchased　for
him　at　such　a　sacrifice。　　Yet　the　possibility　of　danger　to　him
now　for　a　moment　marred　her　present　happiness　and　security。　　〃You
think　the　fire　will　not　go　north　of　where　you　found　me？〃　she
asked　softly。

〃I　think　not；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　will　reconnoitre。　　Stay　where　you
are。〃

They　pressed　hands；　and　parted。　　He　leaped　upon　the　slanting
trunk　and　ascended　it　rapidly。　　She　waited　in　mute　expectation。

There　was　a　sudden　movement　of　the　root　on　which　she　sat；　a
deafening　crash；　and　she　was　thrown　forward　on　her　face。

The　vast　bulk　of　the　leaning　tree；　dislodged　from　its　aerial
support　by　the　gradual　sapping　of　the　spring　at　its　roots；　or　by
the　crumbling　of　the　bark　from　the　heat；　had　slipped；　made　a　half
revolution；　and；　falling；　overbore　the　lesser　trees　in　its　path；
and　tore；　in　its　resistless　momentum；　a　broad　opening　to　the
underbrush。

With　a　cry　to　Low；　Teresa　staggered　to　her　feet。　　There　was　an
interval　of　hideous　silence；　but　no　reply。　　She　called　again。
There　was　a　sudden　deepening　roar；　the　blast　of　a　fiery　furnace
swept　through　the　opening；　a　thousand　luminous　points　around　her
burst　into　fire；　and　in　an　instant　she　was　lost　in　a　whirlwind　of
smoke　and　flame！　　From　the　onset　of　its　fury　to　its　culmination
twenty　minutes　did　not　elapse；　but　in　that　interval　a　radius　of
two　hundred　yards　around　the　hidden　spring　was　swept　of　life　and
light　and　motion。

For　the　rest　of　that　day　and　part　of　the　night　a　pall　of　smoke
hung　above　the　scene　of　desolation。　　It　lifted　only　towards　the
morning；　when　the　moon；　rising　high；　picked　out　in　black　and
silver　the　shrunken　and　silent　columns　of　those　roofless　vaults；
shorn　of　base　and　capital。　　It　flickered　on　the　still；
overflowing　pool　of　the　hidden　spring；　and　shone　upon　the　white
face　of　Low；　who；　with　a　rootlet　of　the　fallen　tree　holding　him
down　like　an　arm　across　his　breast；　seemed　to　be　sleeping
peacefully　in　the　sleeping　water。

　　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。

Contemporaneous　history　touched　him　as　briefly；　but　not　as
gently。　　〃It　is　now　definitely　ascertained；〃　said　〃The
Slumgullion　Mirror；〃　〃that　Sheriff　Dunn　met　his　fate　in　the
Carquinez　Woods　in　the　performance　of　his　duty；　that　fearless　man
having　received　information　of　the　concealment　of　a　band　of　horse
thieves　in　their　recesses。　　The　desperadoes　are　presumed　to　have
escaped；　as　the　only　remains　found　are　those　of　two　wretched
tramps；　one　of　whom　is　said　to　have　been　a　digger；　who　supported
himself　upon　roots　and　herbs；　and　the　other　a　degraded　half…white
woman。　　It　is　not　unreasonable　to　suppose　that　the　fire
originated　through　their　carelessness；　although　Father　Wynn　of
the　First　Baptist　Church；　in　his　powerful　discourse　of　last
Sunday；　pointed　at　the　warning　and　lesson　of　such　catastrophes。
It　may　not　be　out　of　place　here　to　say　that　the　rumors　regarding
an　engagement　between　the　pastor's　accomplished　daughter　and　the
late　lamented　sheriff　are　utterly　without　foundation；　as　it　has
been　an　on　dit　for　some　time　in　all　well…informed　circles　that
the　indefatigable　Mr。　Brace；　of　Wells；　Fargo　and　Co。's　Express；
will　shortly　lead　the　lady　to　the　hymeneal　altar。〃





End