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〃maybe I was huntin' a hole myself to die inand spotted it by instinct。〃
There was something in this suggestion of a hunted animal that； unlike
anything she had previously said or suggested； was not exaggerated； and
caused the young man to look at her again。 She was standing under the
chimney…like opening； and the light from above illuminated her head and
shoulders。 The pupils of her eyes had lost their feverish prominence； and
were slightly suffused and softened as she gazed abstractedly before her。
The only vestige of her previous excitement was in her left…hand fingers；
which were incessantly twisting and turning a diamond ring upon her right
hand； but without imparting the least animation to her rigid attitude。
Suddenly； as if conscious of his scrutiny； she stepped aside out of the
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revealing light and by a swift feminine instinct raised her hand to her head
as if to adjust her straggling hair。 It was only for a moment； however； for；
as if aware of the weakness； she struggled to resume her aggressive pose。
〃Well；〃 she said。 〃Speak up。 Am I goin' to stop here； or have I got
to get up and get？〃
〃You can stay；〃 said the young man quietly； 〃but as I've got my
provisions and ammunition here； and haven't any other place to go to just
now； I suppose we'll have to share it together。〃
She glanced at him under her eyelids； and a half…bitter； half…
contemptuous smile passed across her face。 〃All right； old man；〃 she
said； holding out her hand； 〃it's a go。 We'll start in housekeeping at once；
if you like。〃
〃I'll have to come here once or twice a day；〃 he said； quite composedly；
〃to look after my things； and get something to eat； but I'll be away most of
the time； and what with camping out under the trees every night I reckon
my share won't incommode you。〃
She opened her black eyes upon him； at this original proposition。 Then
she looked down at her torn dress。 〃I suppose this style of thing ain't
very fancy； is it？〃 she said； with a forced laugh。
〃I think I know where to beg or borrow a change for you； if you can't
get any；〃 he replied simply。
She stared at him again。 〃Are you a family man？〃
〃No。〃
She was silent for a moment。 〃Well；〃 she said； 〃you can tell your girl
I'm not particular about its being in the latest fashion。〃
There was a slight flush on his forehead as he turned toward the little
cupboard； but no tremor in his voice as he went on： 〃You'll find tea and
coffee here； and； if you're bored； there's a book or two。 You read； don't
youI mean English？〃
She nodded； but cast a look of undisguised contempt upon the two
worn； coverless novels he held out to her。 〃You haven't got last week's
'Sacramento Union；' have you？ I hear they have my case all in； only
them lying reporters made it out against me all the time。〃
〃I don't see the papers；〃 he replied curtly。
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〃They say there's a picture of me in the 'Police Gazette；' taken in the
act；〃 and she laughed。
He looked a little abstracted； and turned as if to go。 〃I think you'll do
well to rest a while just now； and keep as close hid as possible until
afternoon。 The trail is a mile away at the nearest point； but some one
might miss it and stray over here。 You're quite safe if you're careful； and
stand by the tree。 You can build a fire here；〃 he stepped under the
chimney…like opening； 〃without its being noticed。 Even the smoke is lost
and cannot be seen so high。〃
The light from above was falling on his head and shoulders； as it had
on hers。 She looked at him intently。
〃You travel a good deal on your figure； pardner； don't you？〃 she said；
with a certain admiration that was quite sexless in its quality； 〃but I don't
see how you pick up a living by it in the Carquinez Woods。 So you're
going； are you？ You might be more sociable。 Good…by。〃
〃Good…by！〃 He leaped from the opening。
〃I say pardner！〃
He turned a little impatiently。 She had knelt down at the entrance； so
as to be nearer his level； and was holding out her hand。 But he did not
notice it； and she quietly withdrew it。
〃If anybody dropped in and asked for you； what name will they say？〃
He smiled。 〃Don't wait to hear。〃
〃But suppose I wanted to sing out for you； what will I call you？〃
He hesitated。 〃Call meLo。〃
〃Lo； the poor Indian？〃*
〃Exactly。〃
* The first word of Pope's familiar apostrophe is humorously used in
the Far West as a distinguishing title for the Indian。
It suddenly occurred to the woman； Teresa； that in the young man's
height； supple； yet erect carriage； color； and singular gravity of demeanor
there was a refined； aboriginal suggestion。 He did not look like any Indian
she had ever seen； but rather as a youthful chief might have looked。
There was a further suggestion in his fringed buckskin shirt and moccasins；
but before she could utter the half…sarcastic comment that rose to her lips
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he had glided noiselessly away； even as an Indian might have done。
She readjusted the slips of hanging bark with feminine ingenuity；
dispersing them so as to completely hide the entrance。 Yet this did not
darken the chamber； which seemed to draw a purer and more vigorous
light through the soaring shaft that pierced the roof than that which came
from the dim woodland aisles below。 Nevertheless； she shivered； and
drawing her shawl closely around her began to collect some half…burnt
fragments of wood in the chimney to make a fire。 But the preoccupation
of her thoughts rendered this a tedious process； as she would from time to
time stop in the middle of an action and fall into an attitude of rapt
abstraction； with far…off eyes and rigid mouth。 When she had at last
succeeded in kindling a fire and raising a film of pale blue smoke； that
seemed to fade and dissipate entirely before it reached the top of the
chimney shaft； she crouched beside it； fixed her eyes on the darkest corner
of the cavern； and became motionless。
What did she see through that shadow？
Nothing at first but a confused medley of figures and incidents of the
preceding night； things to be put away and forgotten； things that would not
have happened but for another thingthe thing before which everything
faded！ A ball…room； the sounds of music； the one man she had cared for
insulting her with the flaunting ostentation of his unfaithfulness； herself
despised； put aside； laughed at； or worse； jilted。 And then the moment of
delirium； when the light danced； the one wild act that lifted her； the
despised one； above them allmade her the supreme figure； to be glanced
at by frightened women； stared at by half… startled； half…admiring men！
〃Yes；〃 she laughed； but struck by the sound of her own voice； moved
twice round the cavern nervously； and then dropped again into her old
position。
As they carried him away he had laughed at herlike a hound that he
was； he who had praised her for her spirit； and incited her revenge against
others； he who had taught her to strike when she was insulted； and it was
only fit he should reap what he had sown。 She was what he； what other
men； had made her。 And what was she now？ What had she been once？
She tried to recall her childhood： the man and woman who might have
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been her father and mother； who fought and wrangled over her precocious
little life； abused or caressed her as she sided with either； and then left her
with a circus tr