in the carquinez woods-第4章
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Even then the influence of the wood was still upon her。 She
picked up the novel she had contemptuously thrown aside； only to
let it fall again in utter weariness。 For a moment her feminine
curiosity was excited by the discovery of an old book； in whose
blank leaves were pressed a variety of flowers and woodland
grasses。 As she could not conceive that these had been kept for
any but a sentimental purpose； she was disappointed to find that
underneath each was a sentence in an unknown tongue； that even to
her untutored eye did not appear to be the language of passion。
Finally she rearranged the couch of skins and blankets； and；
imparting to it in three clever shakes an entirely different
character； lay down to pursue her reveries。 But nature asserted
herself； and ere she knew it she was asleep。
So intense and prolonged had been her previous excitement that；
the tension once relieved； she passed into a slumber of
exhaustion so deep that she seemed scarce to breathe。 High noon
succeeded morning； the central shaft received a single ray of
upper sunlight； the afternoon came and went； the shadows gathered
below； the sunset fires began to eat their way through the
groined roof； and she still slept。 She slept even when the bark
hangings of the chamber were put aside； and the young man
reentered。
He laid down a bundle he was carrying and softly approached the
sleeper。 For a moment he was startled from his indifference； she
lay so still and motionless。 But this was not all that struck
him； the face before him was no longer the passionate； haggard
visage that confronted him that morning； the feverish air； the
burning color； the strained muscles of mouth and brow； and the
staring eyes were gone； wiped away； perhaps； by the tears that
still left their traces on cheek and dark eyelash。 It was the
face of a handsome woman of thirty； with even a suggestion of
softness in the contour of the cheek and arching of her upper
lip； no longer rigidly drawn down in anger； but relaxed by sleep
on her white teeth。
With the lithe； soft tread that was habitual to him； the young
man moved about； examining the condition of the little chamber
and its stock of provisions and necessaries； and withdrew
presently； to reappear as noiselessly with a tin bucket of water。
This done； he replenished the little pile of fuel with an armful
of bark and pine cones； cast an approving glance about him； which
included the sleeper； and silently departed。
It was night when she awoke。 She was surrounded by a profound
darkness； except where the shaft…like opening made a nebulous
mist in the corner of her wooden cavern。 Providentially she
struggled back to consciousness slowly； so that the solitude and
silence came upon her gradually； with a growing realization of
the events of the past twenty…four hours； but without a shock。
She was alone here； but safe still； and every hour added to her
chances of ultimate escape。 She remembered to have seen a candle
among the articles on the shelf； and she began to grope her way
towards the matches。 Suddenly she stopped。 What was that panting？
Was it her own breathing； quickened with a sudden nameless
terror？ or was there something outside？ Her heart seemed to stop
beating while she listened。 Yes！ it was a panting outsidea
panting now increased； multiplied； redoubled； mixed with the
sounds of rustling； tearing； craunching； and occasionally a
quick； impatient snarl。 She crept on her hands and knees to the
opening and looked out。 At first the ground seemed to be
undulating between her and the opposite tree。 But a second
glance showed her the black and gray； bristling； tossing backs of
tumbling beasts of prey； charging the carcass of the bear that
lay at its roots； or contesting for the prize with gluttonous；
choked breath； sidelong snarls； arched spines； and recurved
tails。 One of the boldest had leaped upon a buttressing root of
her tree within a foot of the opening。 The excitement； awe； and
terror she had undergone culminated in one wild； maddened scream；
that seemed to pierce even the cold depths of the forest； as she
dropped on her face； with her hands clasped over her eyes in an
agony of fear。
Her scream was answered； after a pause； by a sudden volley of
firebrands and sparks into the midst of the panting； crowding
pack； a few smothered howls and snaps； and a sudden dispersion of
the concourse。 In another moment the young man； with a blazing
brand in either hand； leaped upon the body of the bear。
Teresa raised her head； uttered a hysterical cry； slid down the
tree； flew wildly to his side； caught convulsively at his sleeve；
and fell on her knees beside him。
〃Save me！ save me！〃 she gasped； in a voice broken by terror。
〃Save me from those hideous creatures。 No； no！〃 she implored； as
he endeavored to lift her to her feet。 〃Nolet me stay here
close beside you。 So；〃 clutching the fringe of his leather
hunting…shirt； and dragging herself on her knees nearer him
〃sodon't leave me； for God's sake！〃
〃They are gone；〃 he replied； gazing down curiously at her； as she
wound the fringe around her hand to strengthen her hold； 〃they're
only a lot of cowardly coyotes and wolves； that dare not attack
anything that lives and can move。〃
The young woman responded with a nervous shudder。 〃Yes； that's
it；〃 she whispered； in a broken voice； 〃it's only the dead they
want。 Promise meswear to me； if I'm caught； or hung； or shot；
you won't let me be left here to be torn andah！ my God！ what's
that？〃
She had thrown her arms around his knees； completely pinioning
him to her frantic breast。 Something like a smile of disdain
passed across his face as he answered； 〃It's nothing。 They will
not return。 Get up！〃
Even in her terror she saw the change in his face。 〃I know； I
know！〃 she cried。 〃I'm frightenedbut I cannot bear it any
longer。 Hear me！ Listen！ Listenbut don't move！ I didn't
mean to kill Cursonno！ I swear to God； no！ I didn't mean to
kill the sheriffand I didn't。 I was only braggingdo you
hear？ I lied！ I lieddon't move； I swear to God I lied。 I've
made myself out worse than I was。 I have。 Only don't leave me
nowand if I dieand it's not far off； may beget me away from
hereand from THEM。 Swear it！〃
〃All right；〃 said the young man； with a scarcely concealed
movement of irritation。 〃But get up now； and go back to the
cabin。〃
〃No； not THERE alone。〃 Nevertheless； he quietly but firmly
released himself。
〃I will stay here；〃 he replied。 〃I would have been nearer to
you； but I thought it better for your safety that my camp…fire
should be further off。 But I can build it here； and that will
keep the coyotes off。〃
〃Let me stay with youbeside you；〃 she said imploringly。
She looked so broken； crushed； and spiritless； so unlike the
woman of the morning that； albeit with an ill grace； he tacitly
consented； and turned away to bring his blankets。 But in the
next moment she was at his side； following him like a dog； silent
and wistful； and even offering to carry his burden。 When he had
built the fire； for which she had collected the pine…cones and
broken branches near them； he sat down； folded his arms； and
leaned back against the tree in reserved and deliberate silence。
Humble and submissive； she did not attempt to break in upon a
reverie she could not help but feel had little kindliness to
herself。 As the fire snapped and sparkled； she pillowed her head
upon a root； and lay still to watch it。
It rose and fell； and dying away at times to a mere lurid glow；
and again； agitated by some breath scarcely perceptible to them；
quickening into a roaring flame。 When only the embers remained；
a dead silence filled the wood。 Then the first breath of morning
moved the tangled canopy above； and a dozen tiny sprays and
needles detached from the interlocked boughs winged their soft
way noiselessly to the earth。 A few fell upon the prostrate
woman like a gentle benediction； and she slept。 But even then；
the young man； looking down； saw that the slender fingers were
still aimlessly but rigidly twisted in the leather fringe of his
hunting…shirt。
CHAPTER II。
It was a peculiari
