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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
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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 reply。 A squirrel scampered away close to his feet。
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Brace； far in the distance； after an ineffectual attempt to distinguish his
companion through the intervening trunks； took off his coat； leaned
against a tree； and lit a cigar。
〃Come out of that cabin！〃 continued Dunn； in a clear； resonant voice。
〃Come out before I drag you out！〃
〃All right； 'Captain Scott。' Don't shoot； and I'll come down；〃 said a
voice as clear and as high as his own。 The hanging strips of bark were
dashed aside； and a woman leaped lightly to the ground。
Dunn staggered back。 〃Teresa！ by the Eternal！〃
It was Teresa！ the old Teresa！ Teresa； a hundred times more vicious；
reckless； hysterical； extravagant； and outrageous than before。 Teresa；
staring with tooth and eye； sunburnt and embrowned； her hair hanging
down her shoulders； and her shawl drawn tightly around her neck。
〃Teresa it is！ the same old gal！ Here we are again！ Return of the
favorite in her original character！ For two weeks only！ Houp la！ Tshk！〃
and； catching her yellow skirt with her fingers； she pirouetted before the
astounded man； and ended in a pose。 Recovering himself with an effort；
Dunn dashed forward and seized her by the wrist。
〃Answer me； woman！ Is that Low's cabin？〃
〃It is。〃
〃Who occupies it besides？〃
〃I do。〃
〃And who else？〃
〃Well；〃 drawled Teresa slowly； with an extravagant affectation of
modesty； 〃nobody else but us； I reckon。 Two's company； you know； and
three's none。〃
〃Stop！ Will you swear that there isn't a young girl； hishis
sweetheartconcealed there with you？〃
The fire in Teresa's eye was genuine as she answered steadily； 〃Well； it
ain't my style to put up with that sort of thing； at least； it wasn't over at
Yolo； and you know it； Jim Dunn； or I wouldn't be here。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Dunn hurriedly。 〃But I'm a dd fool； or worse； the
fool of a fool。 Tell me； Teresa； is this man Low your lover？〃
Teresa lowered her eyes as if in maidenly confusion。 〃Well； if I'd
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known that YOU had any feeling of your own about itif you'd spoken
sooner〃
〃Answer me； you devil！〃
〃He is。〃
〃And he has been with you hereyesterdayto…night？〃
〃He has。〃
〃Enough。〃 He laughed a weak； foolish laugh； and； turning pale；
suddenly lapsed against a tree。 He would have fallen； but with a quick
instinct Teresa sprang to his side； and supported him gently to a root。
The action over； they both looked astounded。
〃I reckon that wasn't much like either you or me；〃 said Dunn slowly；
〃was it？ But if you'd let me drop then you'd have stretched out the
biggest fool in the Sierras。〃 He paused； and looked at her curiously。
〃What's come over you； blessed if I seem to know you now。〃
She was very pale again； and quiet； that was all。
〃Teresa！ dn it； look here！ When I was laid up yonder in Excelsior
I said I wanted to get well for only two things。 One was to hunt you
down； the other to marry Nellie Wynn。 When I came here I thought that
last thing could never be。 I came here expecting to find her here with
Low； and kill himperhaps kill her too。 I never once thought of you； not
once。 You might have risen up before mebetween me and himand I'd
have passed you by。 And now that I find it's all a mistake； and it was you；
not her； I was looking for； why〃
〃Why；〃 she interrupted bitterly； 〃you'll just take me； of course； to save
your time and earn your salary。 I'm ready。〃
〃But I'M not； just yet；〃 he said faintly。 〃Help me up。〃
She mechanically assisted him to his feet。
〃Now stand where you are；〃 he added； 〃and don't move beyond this
tree till I return。〃
He straightened himself with an effort； clenched his fists until the nails
were nearly buried in his palms； and strode with a firm； steady step in the
direction he had come。 In a few moments he returned and stood before
her。
〃I've sent away my deputythe man who brought me here； the fool
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who thought you were Nellie。 He knows now he made a mistake。 But
who it was he mistook for Nellie he does not know； nor shall ever know；
nor shall any living being know； other than myself。 And when I leave the
wood to…day I shall know it no longer。 You are safe here as far as I am
concerned； but I cannot screen you from others prying。 Let Low take
you away from here as soon as he can。〃
〃Let him take me away？ Ah； yes。 For what？〃
〃To save you；〃 said Dunn。 〃Look here； Teresa！ Without knowing it；
you lifted me out of hell just now； and because o