on the frontier-第15章

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over；　the　rancho　lay　scarcely　two　miles　away；　she　had　achieved　the

most　important　part　of　her　task　in　the　appointed　time；　but　she

hesitated。　　What　had　she　come　for？　　She　tried　to　recall　Poindexter's

words；　even　her　own　enthusiasm；　but　in　vain。　　She　was　going　to　take

possession　of　her　husband's　property；　she　knew；　that　was　all。　　But

the　means　she　had　taken　seemed　now　so　exaggerated　and　mysterious　for

that　simple　end　that　she　began　to　dread　an　impending　something；　or

some　vague　danger　she　had　not　considered；　that　she　was　rushing

blindly　to　meet。　　Full　of　this　strange　feeling　she　almost

mechanically　stopped　her　horse　as　she　entered　the　cross　road。



From　this　momentary　hesitation　a　singular　sound　aroused　her。　　It

seemed　at　first　like　the　swift　hurrying　by　of　some　viewless　courier

of　the　air；　the　vague　alarm　of　some　invisible　flying　herald；　or

like　the　inarticulate　cry　that　precedes　a　storm。　　It　seemed　to　rise

and　fall　around　her　as　if　with　some　changing　urgency　of　purpose。

Raising　her　eyes　she　suddenly　recognized　the　two　far…stretching

lines　of　telegraph　wire　above　her　head；　and　knew　the　aeolian　cry　of

the　morning　wind　along　its　vibrating　chords。　　But　it　brought

another　and　more　practical　fear　to　her　active　brain。　　Perhaps　even

now　the　telegraph　might　be　anticipating　her！　　Had　Poindexter

thought　of　that？　　She　hesitated　no　longer；　but　laying　the　whip　on

the　back　of　her　jaded　mustang　again　hurried　forward。



As　the　level　horizon　grew　more　distinct；　her　attention　was

attracted　by　the　white　sail　of　a　small　boat　lazily　threading　the

sinuous　channel　of　the　slough。　　It　might　be　Poindexter　arriving　by

the　more　direct　route　from　the　steamboat　that　occasionally　lay　off

the　ancient　embarcadero　of　the　Los　Cuervos　Rancho。　　But　even　while

watching　it　her　quick　ear　caught　the　sound　of　galloping　hoofs

behind　her。　　She　turned　quickly　and　saw　she　was　followed　by　a

horseman。　　But　her　momentary　alarm　was　succeeded　by　a　feeling　of

relief　as　she　recognized　the　erect　figure　and　square　shoulders　of

Poindexter。　　Yet　she　could　not　help　thinking　that　he　looked　more

like　a　militant　scout；　and　less　like　a　cautious　legal　adviser；　than

ever。



With　unaffected　womanliness　she　rearranged　her　slightly　disordered

hair　as　he　drew　up　beside　her。　　〃I　thought　you　were　in　yonder

boat；〃　she　said。



〃Not　I；〃　he　laughed；　〃I　distanced　you　by　the　high　road　two　hours；

and　have　been　reconnoitring；　until　I　saw　you　hesitate　at　the　cross

roads。〃



〃But　who　is　in　the　boat？〃　asked　Mrs。　Tucker；　partly　to　hide　her

embarrassment。



〃Only　some　early　Chinese　market　gardener；　I　dare　say。　　But　you　are

safe　now。　　You　are　on　your　own　land。　　You　passed　the　boundary

monument　of　the　rancho　five　minutes　ago。　　Look！　　All　you　see　before

you　is　yours　from　the　embarcadero　to　yonder　Coast　Range。〃



The　tone　of　half…raillery　did　not；　however；　cheer　Mrs。　Tucker。　　She

shuddered　slightly　and　cast　her　eyes　over　the　monotonous　sea　of

tule　and　meadow。



〃It　doesn't　look　pretty；　perhaps；〃　continued　Poindexter；　〃but　it's

the　richest　land　in　the　State；　and　the　embarcadero　will　some　day　be

a　town。　　I　suppose　you'll　call　it　Blue　Grassville。　　But　you　seem

tired！〃　he　said；　suddenly　dropping　his　voice　to　a　tone　of　half…

humorous　sympathy。



Mrs。　Tucker　managed　to　get　rid　of　an　impending　tear　under　the

pretense　of　clearing　her　eyes。　　〃Are　we　nearly　there？〃　she　asked。



〃Nearly。　　You　know；〃　he　added　with　the　same　half…mischievous；　half…

sympathizing　gayety；　〃it's　not　exactly　a　palace　you're　coming　to。

Hardly。　　It's　the　old　casa　that　has　been　deserted　for　years；　but　I

thought　it　better　you　should　go　into　possession　there　than　take　up

your　abode　at　the　shanty　where　your　husband's　farm…hands　are。　　No

one　will　know　when　you　take　possession　of　the　casa；　while　the　very

hour　of　your　arrival　at　the　shanty　would　be　known；　and　if　they

should　make　any　trouble〃



〃If　they　should　make　any　trouble？〃　repeated　Mrs。　Tucker；　lifting

her　frank；　inquiring　eyes　to　Poindexter。



His　horse　suddenly　rearing　from　an　apparently　accidental　prick　of

the　spur；　it　was　a　minute　or　two　before　he　was　able　to　explain。　　〃I

mean　if　this　ever　comes　up　as　a　matter　of　evidence；　you　know。　　But

here　we　are！〃



What　had　seemed　to　be　an　overgrown　mound　rising　like　an　island　out

of　the　dead　level　of　the　grassy　sea　now　resolved　itself　into　a

collection　of　adobe　walls；　eaten　and　incrusted　with　shrubs　and

vines；　that　bore　some　resemblance　to　the　usual　uninhabited…looking

exterior　of　a　Spanish…American　dwelling。　　Apertures　that　might　have

been　lance…shaped　windows　or　only　cracks　and　fissures　in　the　walls

were　choked　up　with　weeds　and　grass；　and　gave　no　passing　glimpse　of

the　interior。　　Entering　a　ruinous　corral　they　came　to　a　second

entrance；　which　proved　to　be　the　patio　or　courtyard。　　The　deserted

wooden　corridor；　with　beams；　rafters；　and　floors　whitened　by　the

eternal　sun　and　wind；　contained　a　few　withered　leaves；　dryly

rotting　skins；　and　thongs　of　leather；　as　if　undisturbed　by　human

care。　　But　among　these　scattered　debris　of　former　life　and

habitation　there　was　no　noisome　or　unclean　suggestion　of　decay。　　A

faint；　spiced　odor　of　desiccation　filled　the　bare　walls。　　There　was

no　slime　on　stone　or　sun…dried　brick。　　In　place　of　fungus　or

discolored　moisture　the　dust　of　efflorescence　whitened　in　the

obscured　corners。　　The　elements　had　picked　clean　the　bones　of　the

crumbling　tenement　ere　they　should　finally　absorb　it。



A　withered　old　peon　woman；　who　in　dress；　complexion；　and　fibrous

hair　might　have　been　an　animated　fragment　of　the　debris；　rustled

out　of　a　low　vaulted　passage　and　welcomed　them　with　a　feeble

crepitation。　　Following　her　into　the　dim　interior　Mrs。　Tucker　was

surprised　to　find　some　slight　attempt　at　comfort　and　even　adornment

in　the　two　or　three　habitable　apartments。　　They　were　scrupulously

clean　and　dry；　two　qualities　which　in　her　feminine　eyes　atoned　for

poverty　of　material。



〃I　could　not　send　anything　from　San　Bruno；　the　nearest　village；

without　attracting　attention；〃　explained　Poindexter；　〃but　if　you

can　manage　to　picnic　here　for　a　day　longer；　I'll　get　one　of　our

Chinese　friends　here；〃　he　pointed　to　the　slough；　〃to　bring　over；

for　his　return　cargo　from　across　the　bay；　any　necessaries　you　may

want。　　There　is　no　danger　of　his　betraying　you；〃　he　added；　with　an

ironical　smile；　〃Chinamen　and　Indians　are；　by　an　ingenious

provision　of　the　statute　of　California；　incapable　of　giving

evidence　against　a　white　person。　　You　can　trust　your　handmaiden

perfectlyeven　if　she　can't　trust　YOU。　　That　is　your　sacred

privilege　under　the　constitution。　　And　now；　as　I　expect　to　catch

the　up　boat　ten　miles　from　hence；　I　must　say　'good…by'　until　to…

morrow　night。　　I　hope　to　bring　you　then　some　more　definite　plans

for　the　future。　　The　worst　is　over。〃　　He　held　her　hand　for　a

moment；　and　with　a　graver　voice　continued；　〃You　have　done　it　very

welldo　you　knowvery　well！〃



In　the　slight　embarrassment　produced　by　his　sudden　change　of　manner

she　felt　that　her　thanks　seemed　awkward　and　restrained。　　〃Don't

thank　me；〃　he　laughed；　with　a　prompt　return　of　his　former　levity；

〃that's　my　trade。　　I　only　advised。　　You　have　saved　yourself　like　a

plucky　womanshall　I　say　like　Blue　Grass？　　Good…by！〃　　He　mounted

his　horse；　but；　as　if　struck　by　an　after…thought；　wheeled　and　drew

up　by　her　side　again。　　〃If　I　were　you　I　wouldn't　see　many　strangers

for　a　day　or　two；　and　listen　to　as　little　news　as　a　woman　possibly

can。〃　　He　laughed　again；　waved　her　a　half…gallant；　half…military

salute；　and　was　gone。　　The　question　she　had　been　trying　to　frame；

regarding　the　probability　of　communication　with　her　husband；

remained　unasked。　　At　least　she　had　saved　her　pride　before　him。



Addressing　herself　to　the　care　of　her　narrow　household；　she

mechanically　put　away　the　few　things　she　had　brought　with　her；　and

began　to　readjust　the　scant　furniture。　　She　was　a　little

discomposed　at　first　at　the　absence　of　bolts；　locks；