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buttressing root of her tree within a foot of the opening。 The excitement；
awe； and terror she had undergone culminated in one wild； maddened
scream； that seemed to pierce even the cold depths of the forest； as she
dropped on her face； with her hands clasped over her eyes in an agony of
fear。
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IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
Her scream was answered； after a pause； by a sudden volley of
firebrands and sparks into the midst of the panting； crowding pack； a few
smothered howls and snaps； and a sudden dispersion of the concourse。 In
another moment the young man； with a blazing brand in either hand；
leaped upon the body of the bear。
Teresa raised her head； uttered a hysterical cry； slid down the tree； flew
wildly to his side； caught convulsively at his sleeve； and fell on her knees
beside him。
〃Save me！ save me！〃 she gasped； in a voice broken by terror。 〃Save me
from those hideous creatures。 No； no！〃 she implored； as he endeavored
to lift her to her feet。 〃Nolet me stay here close beside you。 So；〃
clutching the fringe of his leather hunting…shirt； and dragging herself on
her knees nearer him 〃sodon't leave me； for God's sake！〃
〃They are gone；〃 he replied； gazing down curiously at her； as she
wound the fringe around her hand to strengthen her hold； 〃they're only a
lot of cowardly coyotes and wolves； that dare not attack anything that lives
and can move。〃
The young woman responded with a nervous shudder。 〃Yes； that's
it；〃 she whispered； in a broken voice； 〃it's only the dead they want。
Promise meswear to me； if I'm caught； or hung； or shot； you won't let me
be left here to be torn andah！ my God！ what's that？〃
She had thrown her arms around his knees； completely pinioning him
to her frantic breast。 Something like a smile of disdain passed across his
face as he answered； 〃It's nothing。 They will not return。 Get up！〃
Even in her terror she saw the change in his face。 〃I know； I know！〃
she cried。 〃I'm frightenedbut I cannot bear it any longer。 Hear me！
Listen！ Listenbut don't move！ I didn't mean to kill Cursonno！ I
swear to God； no！ I didn't mean to kill the sheriffand I didn't。 I was
only braggingdo you hear？ I lied！ I lieddon't move； I swear to God
I lied。 I've made myself out worse than I was。 I have。 Only don't
leave me nowand if I dieand it's not far off； may beget me away from
hereand from THEM。 Swear it！〃
〃All right；〃 said the young man； with a scarcely concealed movement
of irritation。 〃But get up now； and go back to the cabin。〃
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IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
〃No； not THERE alone。〃 Nevertheless； he quietly but firmly released
himself。
〃I will stay here；〃 he replied。 〃I would have been nearer to you； but I
thought it better for your safety that my camp…fire should be further off。
But I can build it here； and that will keep the coyotes off。〃
〃Let me stay with youbeside you；〃 she said imploringly。
She looked so broken； crushed； and spiritless； so unlike the woman of
the morning that； albeit with an ill grace； he tacitly consented； and turned
away to bring his blankets。 But in the next moment she was at his side；
following him like a dog； silent and wistful； and even offering to carry his
burden。 When he had built the fire； for which she had collected the pine…
cones and broken branches near them； he sat down； folded his arms； and
leaned back against the tree in reserved and deliberate silence。
Humble and submissive； she did not attempt to break in upon a reverie
she could not help but feel had little kindliness to herself。 As the fire
snapped and sparkled； she pillowed her head upon a root； and lay still to
watch it。
It rose and fell； and dying away at times to a mere lurid glow； and
again； agitated by some breath scarcely perceptible to them； quickening
into a roaring flame。 When only the embers remained； a dead silence
filled the wood。 Then the first breath of morning moved the tangled
canopy above； and a dozen tiny sprays and needles detached from the
interlocked boughs winged their soft way noiselessly to the earth。 A few
fell upon the prostrate woman like a gentle benediction； and she slept。
But even then； the young man； looking down； saw that the slender fingers
were still aimlessly but rigidly twisted in the leather fringe of his hunting…
shirt。
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IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
CHAPTER II。
It was a peculiarity of the Carquinez Wood that it stood apart and
distinct in its gigantic individuality。 Even where the integrity of its own
singular species was not entirely preserved； it admitted no inferior trees。
Nor was there any diminishing fringe on its outskirts； the sentinels that
guarded the few gateways of the dim trails were as monstrous as the
serried ranks drawn up in the heart of the forest。 Consequently； the red
highway that skirted the eastern angle was bare and shadeless； until it
slipped a league off into a watered valley and refreshed itself under lesser
sycamores and willows。 It was here the newly born city of Excelsior；
still in its cradle； had； like an infant Hercules； strangled the serpentine
North Fork of the American river； and turned its life current into the
ditches and flumes of the Excelsior mines。
Newest of the new houses that seemed to have accidentally formed its
single； straggling street was the residence of the Rev。 Winslow Wynn； not
unfrequently known as 〃Father Wynn；〃 pastor of the First Baptist church。
The 〃pastorage；〃 as it was cheerfully called； had the glaring distinction of
being built of brick； and was； as had been wickedly pointed out by idle
scoffers； the only 〃fireproof〃 structure in town。 This sarcasm was not；
however； supposed to be particularly distasteful to 〃Father Wynn；〃 who
enjoyed t