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scrutiny of his face she chose the latter； and said； 〃You can bet your life on
it； Johnny。〃
〃I don't bet； and my name isn't Johnny。 Then you're the woman who
stabbed Dick Curson over at Lagrange's？〃
She became defiant again。
〃That's me； all the time。 What are you going to do about it？〃
〃Nothing。 And you used to dance at the Alhambra？〃 She whisked
the shawl from her shoulders； held it up like a scarf； and made one or two
steps of the sembicuacua。 There was not the least gayety； recklessness；
or spontaneity in the action； it was simply mechanical bravado。 It was so
ineffective； even upon her own feelings； that her arms presently dropped
to her side； and she coughed embarrassedly。 〃Where's that whiskey；
pardner？〃 she asked。
The young man turned toward the tree he had just quitted； and without
further words assisted her to mount to the cavity。 It was an irregular…
shaped vaulted chamber； pierced fifty feet above by a shaft or cylindrical
opening in the decayed trunk； which was blackened by smoke； as if it had
served the purpose of a chimney。 In one corner lay a bearskin and blanket；
at the side were two alcoves or indentations； one of which was evidently
used as a table； and the other as a cupboard。 In another hollow； near the
entrance； lay a few small sacks of flour； coffee； and sugar； the sticky
contents of the latter still strewing the floor。 From this storehouse the
young man drew a wicker flask of whiskey； and handed it； with a tin cup
of water； to the woman。 She waved the cup aside； placed the flask to her
lips； and drank the undiluted spirit。 Yet even this was evidently bravado；
for the water started to her eyes； and she could not restrain the paroxysm
of coughing that followed。
〃I reckon that's the kind that kills at forty rods；〃 she said； with a
hysterical laugh。 〃But I say； pardner； you look as if you were fixed here
to stay；〃 and she stared ostentatiously around the chamber。 But she had
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already taken in its minutest details； even to observing that the hanging
strips of bark could be disposed so as to completely hide the entrance。
〃Well； yes；〃 he replied； 〃it wouldn't be very easy to pull up the stakes
and move the shanty further on。〃
Seeing that either from indifference or caution he had not accepted her
meaning； she looked at him fixedly； and said；
〃What is your little game？〃
〃Eh？〃
〃What are you hiding forhere； in this tree？〃
〃But I'm not hiding。〃
〃Then why didn't you come out when they hailed you last night？〃
〃Because I didn't care to。〃
Teresa whistled incredulously。 〃All rightthen if you're not hiding；
I'm going to。〃 As he did not reply； she went on： 〃If I can keep out of
sight for a couple of weeks； this thing will blow over here； and I can get
across into Yolo。 I could get a fair show there； where the boys know me。
Just now the trails are all watched； but no one would think of lookin'
here。〃
〃Then how did you come to think of it？〃 he asked carelessly。
〃Because I knew that bear hadn't gone far for that sugar； because I
know he hadn't stole it from a cacheit was too fresh； and we'd have seen
the torn…up earth； because we had passed no camp； and because I knew
there was no shanty here。 And； besides；〃 she added in a low voice；
〃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