ÓÑÇéÌáʾ£ºÈç¹û±¾ÍøÒ³´ò¿ªÌ«Âý»òÏÔʾ²»ÍêÕû£¬Çë³¢ÊÔÊó±êÓÒ¼ü¡°Ë¢Ð¡±±¾ÍøÒ³£¡ÔĶÁ¹ý³Ì·¢ÏÖÈκδíÎóÇë¸æËßÎÒÃÇ£¬Ð»Ð»£¡£¡ ±¨¸æ´íÎó
¾ÅÉ«Êé¼® ·µ»Ø±¾ÊéĿ¼ ÎÒµÄÊé¼Ü ÎÒµÄÊéÇ© TXTÈ«±¾ÏÂÔØ ½øÈëÊé°É ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©

in the carquinez woods(ÔÚ¿¨¹çÄá×ÈÉ­ÁÖ)-µÚ7ÕÂ

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡driver£»¡¡¡¡commended¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡daughter¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡care¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡name¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡21¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡22¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡CARQUINEZ¡¡WOODS¡¡



universal¡¡brotherhood¡¡of¡¡man¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡fraternity¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Carried¡¡away¡¡

by¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡heartiness£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡forgot¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡previous¡¡¡¡¡¡caution£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡confided¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

expressman¡¡Miss¡¡Nellie's¡¡regrets¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡have¡¡that¡¡gentleman's¡¡

company¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡result¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nellie¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡coach¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡

passengers¡¡¡¡¡¡awaiting¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡uplifted¡¡¡¡¡¡hats¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡wreathed¡¡¡¡¡¡smiles¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Crossing£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡box¡¡seat¡¡£¨from¡¡which¡¡an¡¡unfortunate¡¡stranger£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡

expensively¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡summarily¡¡ejected£©¡¡at¡¡her¡¡service¡¡beside¡¡

Yuba¡¡¡¡¡¡Bill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡thrown¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡cigar¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡donned¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡new¡¡¡¡¡¡pair¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

buckskin¡¡gloves¡¡to¡¡do¡¡her¡¡honor¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡a¡¡more¡¡serious¡¡result¡¡to¡¡the¡¡young¡¡

beauty¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡effect¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Rev¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Wynn's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡confidences¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

impulsive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡heart¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Jack¡¡¡¡¡¡Brace£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡expressman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡

intimated¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨day¡¡¡¡off¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡Unable¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡summarily¡¡¡¡¡¡reassume¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

usual¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡functions¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡beside¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡driver¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡practical¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡reason£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

ashamed¡¡to¡¡go¡¡so¡¡palpably¡¡as¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡passenger£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡

coach¡¡¡¡¡¡proceed¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Discomfited¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡moment£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not£»¡¡

however£»¡¡¡¡¡¡beaten¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡lost¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡blissful¡¡¡¡¡¡journey¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡side£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡

would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡professional¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡right£»¡¡¡¡butshe¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡Indian¡¡

Spring£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡anticipate¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡there£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Might¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡meet¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

most¡¡accidental¡¡¡¡¡¡manner£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡meeting¡¡

away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡prying¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡town£¿¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brace¡¡did¡¡not¡¡hesitate£»¡¡

but¡¡saddling¡¡his¡¡fleet¡¡Buckskin£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the¡¡stage¡­coach¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡

Crossing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡high¡­road¡¡he¡¡had¡¡mounted¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡and¡¡was¡¡dashing¡¡along¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨cutoff¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡direction£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡full¡¡¡¡¡¡mile¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡advance¡£¡¡¡¡Arriving¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡

Indian¡¡Spring£»¡¡he¡¡left¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡at¡¡a¡¡Mexican¡¡posada¡¡on¡¡the¡¡confines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

settlement£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡the¡¡¡¡piled¡¡debris¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡tunnel¡¡excavation¡¡¡¡¡¡awaited¡¡the¡¡

slow¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coach¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡mature¡¡reflection¡¡he¡¡could¡¡give¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡

why¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡boldly¡¡¡¡¡¡awaited¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡express¡¡¡¡¡¡office£»¡¡¡¡¡¡except¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡certain¡¡

bashful¡¡¡¡¡¡consciousness¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡folly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡belief¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡

glaringly¡¡apparent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bystanders¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡coach¡¡arrived¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡

overcome¡¡this¡¡consciousness£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡too¡¡late¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yuba¡¡Bill¡¡had¡¡discharged¡¡

his¡¡passengers¡¡for¡¡Indian¡¡Spring¡¡and¡¡driven¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡Nellie¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡

settlement£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡where£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡desperate¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

bolder¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡recklessly¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡main¡¡street£»¡¡glancing¡¡in¡¡at¡¡

the¡¡open¡¡doors¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡shops£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡windows¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡private¡¡¡¡¡¡dwellings¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡22¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡23¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡CARQUINEZ¡¡WOODS¡¡



It¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡poor¡¡¡¡¡¡compliment¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Miss¡¡¡¡¡¡Nellie£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡

evidence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡complete¡¡preoccupation£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡a¡¡female¡¡face¡¡at¡¡

a¡¡window£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was¡¡plain¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡painted£»¡¡caused¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡

bound£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡glancing¡¡of¡¡a¡¡skirt¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡quickened¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡his¡¡

pulses¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡Jack¡¡contented¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡remaining¡¡at¡¡Excelsior¡¡he¡¡might¡¡

have¡¡¡¡¡¡vaguely¡¡¡¡¡¡regretted£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡soon¡¡¡¡¡¡become¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡vaguely¡¡¡¡¡¡accustomed¡¡¡¡¡¡to£»¡¡

Miss¡¡Nellie's¡¡absence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡until¡¡his¡¡hitherto¡¡quiet¡¡and¡¡passive¡¡

love¡¡took¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡step¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡action¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡fully¡¡¡¡declared¡¡¡¡¡¡itself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡

had¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tour¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡town¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡dozen¡¡¡¡¡¡times¡¡¡¡¡¡unsuccessfully£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡had¡¡

perfectly¡¡made¡¡up¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡marriage¡¡with¡¡Nellie¡¡or¡¡the¡¡speedy¡¡death¡¡

of¡¡¡¡¡¡several¡¡¡¡¡¡people£»¡¡¡¡¡¡including¡¡¡¡¡¡possibly¡¡¡¡¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡alternative¡£¡¡

He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡regretted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡accompanied¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡regretted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡

demanded¡¡where¡¡she¡¡was¡¡going£»¡¡he¡¡contemplated¡¡a¡¡course¡¡of¡¡future¡¡action¡¡

that¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡ago¡¡would¡¡have¡¡filled¡¡him¡¡with¡¡bashful¡¡terror¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡

clearly¡¡but¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡doto¡¡declare¡¡his¡¡passion¡¡the¡¡instant¡¡he¡¡met¡¡her£»¡¡

and¡¡return¡¡with¡¡her¡¡to¡¡Excelsior¡¡an¡¡accepted¡¡suitor£»¡¡or¡¡not¡¡to¡¡return¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡vexatiously¡¡¡¡¡¡conscious¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡hearing¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡name¡¡¡¡¡¡lazily¡¡

called£»¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡up¡¡found¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡outskirts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡and¡¡

interrogated¡¡by¡¡two¡¡horsemen¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Got¡¡down¡¡to¡¡walk£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡coach¡¡got¡¡away¡¡from¡¡you£»¡¡Jack£»¡¡eh£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡ashamed¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡preoccupation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Brace¡¡¡¡¡¡stammered¡¡¡¡¡¡something¡¡

about¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨collections¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡recognize¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡men£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡

name£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡business¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡familiar¡¡to¡¡everybody¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡fifty¡¡¡¡miles¡¡¡¡¡¡along¡¡the¡¡

stage¡­road¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡settle¡¡a¡¡bet¡¡for¡¡us£»¡¡I¡¡reckon¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bill¡¡Dacre¡¡thar¡¡bet¡¡me¡¡

five¡¡¡¡¡¡dollars¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡drinks¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡gal¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡met¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡edge¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Carquinez¡¡Woods£»¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡long¡¡brown¡¡duster¡¡and¡¡half¡¡muffled¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡

hood£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Father¡¡Wynn¡¡of¡¡Excelsior¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡get¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡

look¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡stands¡¡to¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡a¡¡high¡­toned¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡like¡¡Nellie¡¡

Wynn¡¡don't¡¡go¡¡trap'sing¡¡along¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡like¡¡a¡¡Pike¡¡County¡¡tramp¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡took¡¡

the¡¡bet¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡May¡¡be¡¡you¡¡know¡¡if¡¡she's¡¡here¡¡or¡¡in¡¡Excelsior£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Brace¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡turning¡¡¡¡¡¡pale¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡eagerness¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡excitement¡£¡¡

But¡¡the¡¡near¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡seeing¡¡her¡¡presently¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡back¡¡his¡¡caution£»¡¡

and¡¡he¡¡answered¡¡truthfully¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡her¡¡in¡¡Excelsior£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡in¡¡his¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡23¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡24¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡CARQUINEZ¡¡WOODS¡¡



two¡¡hours'¡¡sojourn¡¡in¡¡Indian¡¡Spring¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡met¡¡her¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡

added£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡Californian's¡¡reverence¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sanctity¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bet£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡reckon¡¡

you'd¡¡better¡¡make¡¡it¡¡a¡¡stand¡­off¡¡for¡¡twenty¡­four¡¡hours£»¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡find¡¡out¡¡and¡¡

let¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Which£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡only¡¡fair¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡he¡¡honestly¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡hurried¡¡¡¡¡¡nod¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡parting£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡continued¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡direction¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Woods¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡satisfied¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡the¡¡strangers¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡

settlement£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡follow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡further¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡explanation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡

quickened¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡pace¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡hour¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡between¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡

gigantic¡¡sentinels¡¡that¡¡guarded¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡to¡¡a¡¡trail¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡he¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡

collect¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Woods¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡vast¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡extent£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡trail¡¡¡¡¡¡dim¡¡¡¡and¡¡

uncertainat¡¡times¡¡apparently¡¡breaking¡¡off£»¡¡or¡¡intersecting¡¡another¡¡trail¡¡as¡¡

faint¡¡as¡¡itself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Believing¡¡that¡¡Miss¡¡Nellie¡¡had¡¡diverged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡

only¡¡as¡¡a¡¡momentary¡¡excursion¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shade£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡

to¡¡penetrate¡¡its¡¡more¡¡sombre¡¡and¡¡unknown¡¡recesses£»¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡within¡¡sight¡¡

of¡¡the¡¡skirting¡¡plain¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡degrees¡¡the¡¡sedate¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡silent¡¡vaults¡¡

seemed¡¡to¡¡depress¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡ardor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chase¡¡began¡¡to¡¡flag¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Under¡¡the¡¡

calm¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡dim¡¡¡¡roof¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡fever¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡his¡¡veins¡¡¡¡¡¡began¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡subside£»¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡pace¡¡

slackened£»¡¡he¡¡reasoned¡¡more¡¡deliberately¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡probable¡¡

that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡woman¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡brown¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡duster¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nellie£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

habitual¡¡traveling¡¡dress£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡like¡¡her¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡unattended¡¡in¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡

there¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡tastes¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡habits¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡gloomy¡¡

forest£»¡¡allowing¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡even¡¡entered¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡this¡¡absolute¡¡question¡¡

of¡¡her¡¡identity¡¡the¡¡two¡¡witnesses¡¡were¡¡divided¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡irresolutely£»¡¡

and¡¡cast¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡last£»¡¡¡¡long£»¡¡half¡­despairing¡¡look¡¡around¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hitherto¡¡he¡¡¡¡had¡¡

given¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡nearest¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡his¡¡greatest¡¡attention¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡

glance¡¡now¡¡sought¡¡its¡¡darker¡¡recesses¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡he¡¡became¡¡breathless¡£¡¡

Was¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡beam¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡sunlight¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡pierced¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡groined¡¡¡¡¡¡roof¡¡¡¡¡¡above£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

now¡¡rested¡¡against¡¡the¡¡trunk¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dimmer£»¡¡more¡¡secluded¡¡giants£¿¡¡

No£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡moving£»¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡gazed¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡slipped¡¡¡¡¡¡away£»¡¡¡¡¡¡glanced¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡

another¡¡¡¡¡¡tree£»¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡vaulted¡¡¡¡¡¡aisles£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡lost¡¡

again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Brief¡¡as¡¡was¡¡the¡¡glimpse£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡mistakenit¡¡was¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡

of¡¡a¡¡woman¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡another¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡her¡¡track£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡had¡¡the¡¡satisfaction¡¡

of¡¡seeing¡¡her¡¡reappear¡¡at¡¡a¡¡les
·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©
δÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ÎÂÜ°Ìáʾ£º ο´Ð¡ËµµÄͬʱ·¢±íÆÀÂÛ£¬Ëµ³ö×Ô¼ºµÄ¿´·¨ºÍÆäËüС»ï°éÃÇ·ÖÏíÒ²²»´íŶ£¡·¢±íÊéÆÀ»¹¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±Àø£¬ÈÏÕæдԭ´´ÊéÆÀ ±»²ÉÄÉΪ¾«ÆÀ¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ´óÁ¿½ð±Ò¡¢»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±ÀøŶ£¡