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horses curveted； and it was with difficulty they could be made to advance。
〃Ho！ stranger； what are you shooting at？〃
The woman laughed and shrugged her shoulders。 〃Look yonder at
the roots of the tree。 You're a dd smart man for a sheriff； ain't you？〃
The man uttered an exclamation and spurred his horse forward； but the
animal reared in terror。 He then sprang to the ground and approached the
tree。 The shape lay there； a scarcely distinguishable bulk。
〃A grizzly； by the living Jingo！ Shot through the heart。〃
It was true。 The strange shape lit up by the flaring torches seemed
more vague； unearthly； and awkward in its dying throes； yet the small shut
eyes； the feeble nose； the ponderous shoulders； and half…human foot armed
with powerful claws were unmistakable。 The men turned by a common
impulse and peered into the remote recesses of the wood again。
〃Hi； Mister！ come and pick up your game。 Hallo there！〃
The challenge fell unheeded on the empty woods。
〃And yet；〃 said he whom the woman had called the sheriff； 〃he can't
be far off。 It was a close shot； and the bear hez dropped in his tracks。
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Why； wot's this sticking in his claws？〃
The two men bent over the animal。 〃Why； it's sugar； brown sugar
look！〃 There was no mistake。 The huge beast's fore paws and muzzle
were streaked with the unromantic household provision； and heightened
the absurd contrast of its incongruous members。 The woman； apparently
indifferent； had taken that opportunity to partly free one of her wrists。
〃If we hadn't been cavorting round this yer spot for the last half hour；
I'd swear there was a shanty not a hundred yards away；〃 said the sheriff。
The other man； without replying； remounted his horse instantly。
〃If there is； and it's inhabited by a gentleman that kin make centre
shots like that in the dark； and don't care to explain how； I reckon I won't
disturb him。〃
The sheriff was apparently of the same opinion； for he followed his
companion's example； and once more led the way。 The spurs tinkled； the
torches danced； and the cavalcade slowly reentered the gloom。 In
another moment it had disappeared。
The wood sank again into repose； this time disturbed by neither shape
nor sound。 What lower forms of life might have crept close to its roots
were hidden in the ferns； or passed with deadened tread over the bark…
strewn floor。 Towards morning a coolness like dew fell from above； with
here and there a dropping twig or nut； or the crepitant awakening and
stretching…out of cramped and weary branches。 Later a dull； lurid dawn；
not unlike the last evening's sunset； filled the aisles。 This faded again；
and a clear gray light； in which every object stood out in sharp distinctness；
took its place。 Morning was waiting outside in all its brilliant； youthful
coloring； but only entered as the matured and sobered day。
Seen in that stronger light； the monstrous tree near which the dead bear
lay revealed its age in its denuded and scarred trunk； and showed in its
base a deep cavity； a foot or two from the ground； partly hidden by
hanging strips of bark which had fallen across it。 Suddenly one of these
strips was pushed aside； and a young man leaped lightly down。
But for the rifle he carried and some modern peculiarities of dress； he
was of a grace so unusual and unconventional that he might have passed
for a faun who was quitting his ancestral home。 He stepped to the side of
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the bear with a light elastic movement that was as unlike customary
progression as his face and figure were unlike the ordinary types of
humanity。 Even as he leaned upon his rifle； looking down at the prostrate
animal； he unconsciously fell into an attitude that in any other mortal
would have been a pose； but with him was the picturesque and unstudied
relaxation of perfect symmetry。
〃Hallo； Mister！〃
He raised his head so carelessly and listlessly that he did not otherwise
change his attitude。 Stepping from behind the tree； the woman of the
preceding night stood before him。 Her hands were free except for a
thong of the riata； which was still knotted around one wrist； the end of the
thong having been torn or burnt away。 Her eyes were bloodshot； and her
hair hung over her shoulders in one long black braid。
〃I reckoned all along it was YOU who shot the bear；〃 she said； 〃at
least some one hiding yer；〃 and she indicated the hollow tree with her
hand。 〃It wasn't no chance shot。〃 Observing that the young man； either
from misconception or indifference； did not seem to comprehend her； she
added； 〃We came by here； last night； a minute after you fired。〃
〃Oh； that was YOU kicked up such a row； was it？〃 said the young man；
with a shade of interest。
〃I reckon；〃 said the woman； nodding her head； 〃and them that was
with me。〃
〃And who are they？〃
〃Sheriff Dunn； of Yolo； and his deputy。〃
〃And where are they now？〃
〃The deputyin h…ll； I reckon； I don't know about the sheriff。〃
〃I see；〃 said the young man quietly； 〃and you？〃
〃Igot away；〃 she said savagely。 But she was taken with a sudden
nervous shiver； which she at once repressed by tightly dragging her shawl
over her shoulders and elbows； and folding her arms defiantly。
〃And you're going？〃
〃To follow the deputy； may be；〃 she said gloomily。 〃But come； I say；
ain't you going to treat？ It's cursed cold here。〃
〃Wait a moment。〃 The young man was looking at her； with his
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arched brows slightly knit and a half smile of curiosity。 〃Ain't you
Teresa？〃
She was prepared for the question； but evidently was not certain
whether she would reply defiantly or confidently。 After an exhaustive
scrutiny of his face she chose the latter； and said； 〃You can bet