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outlined against the paling sky； in full view of the highway；
parting carelessly； as if they had been chance met travelers。
But Nellie could not restrain a parting backward glance as she
left the ridge。 Low had descended to the deserted trail； and was
running swiftly in the direction of the Carquinez Woods。
CHAPTER IV
Teresa awoke with a start。 It was day already； but how far
advanced the even； unchanging； soft twilight of the woods gave no
indication。 Her companion had vanished； and to her bewildered
senses so had the camp…fire； even to its embers and ashes。 Was
she awake； or had she wandered away unconsciously in the night？
One glance at the tree above her dissipated the fancy。 There was
the opening of her quaint retreat and the hanging strips of bark；
and at the foot of the opposite tree lay the carcass of the bear。
It had been skinned； and； as Teresa thought with an inward
shiver； already looked half its former size。
Not yet accustomed to the fact that a few steps in either
direction around the circumference of those great trunks produced
the sudden appearance or disappearance of any figure； Teresa
uttered a slight scream as her young companion unexpectedly
stepped to her side。 〃You see a change here；〃 he said； 〃the
stamped…out ashes of the camp…fire lie under the brush；〃 and he
pointed to some cleverly scattered boughs and strips of bark
which completely effaced the traces of last night's bivouac。 〃We
can't afford to call the attention of any packer or hunter who
might straggle this way to this particular spot and this
particular tree； the more naturally；〃 he added； 〃as they always
prefer to camp over an old fire。〃 Accepting this explanation
meekly； as partly a reproach for her caprice of the previous
night； Teresa hung her head。
〃I'm very sorry；〃 she said； 〃but wouldn't that；〃 pointing to the
carcass of the bear； 〃have made them curious？〃
But Low's logic was relentless。
〃By this time there would have been little left to excite curiosity；
if you had been willing to leave those beasts to their work。〃
〃I'm very sorry；〃 repeated the woman； her lips quivering。
〃They are the scavengers of the wood；〃 he continued in a lighter
tone； 〃if you stay here you must try to use them to keep your
house clean。〃
Teresa smiled nervously。
〃I mean that they shall finish their work to…night；〃 he added；
〃and I shall build another camp…fire for us a mile from here
until they do。〃
But Teresa caught his sleeve。
〃No；〃 she said hurriedly； 〃don't； please； for me。 You must not
take the trouble； nor the risk。 Hear me； do； please。 I can bear
it； I WILL bear itto…night。 I would have borne it last night；
but it was so strangeand〃she passed her hands over her
forehead〃I think I must have been half mad。 But I am not so
foolish now。〃
She seemed so broken and despondent that he replied reassuringly：
〃Perhaps it would be better that I should find another hiding…
place for you； until I can dispose of that carcass so that it
will not draw dogs after the wolves； and men after THEM。
Besides； your friend the sheriff will probably remember the bear
when he remembers anything； and try to get on its track again。〃
〃He's a conceited fool；〃 broke in Teresa in a high voice； with a
slight return of her old fury； 〃or he'd have guessed where that
shot came from； and；〃 she added in a lower tone； looking down at
her limp and nerveless fingers； 〃he wouldn't have let a poor；
weak； nervous wretch like me get away。〃
〃But his deputy may put two and two together； and connect your
escape with it。〃
Teresa's eyes flashed。 〃It would be like the dog； just to save
his pride； to swear it was an ambush of my friends； and that he
was overpowered by numbers。 Oh yes！ I see it all！〃 she almost
screamed； lashing herself into a rage at the bare contemplation
of this diminution of her glory。 〃That's the dirty lie he tells
everywhere； and is telling now。〃
She stamped her feet and glanced savagely around； as if at any
risk to proclaim the falsehood。 Low turned his impassive；
truthful face towards her。
〃Sheriff Dunn；〃 he began gravely； 〃is a politician； and a fool
when he takes to the trail as a hunter of man or beast。 But he
is not a coward nor a liar。 Your chances would be better if he
wereif he laid your escape to an ambush of your friends； than
if his pride held you alone responsible。〃
〃If he's such a good man； why do you hesitate？〃 she replied
bitterly。 〃Why don't you give me up at once； and do a service to
one of your friends？〃
〃I do not even know him；〃 returned Low opening his clear eyes
upon her。 〃I've promised to hide you here； and I shall hide you
as well from him as from anybody。〃
Teresa did not reply； but suddenly dropping down upon the ground
buried her face in her hands and began to sob convulsively。 Low
turned impassively away； and putting aside the bark curtain
climbed into the hollow tree。 In a few moments he reappeared；
laden with provisions and a few simple cooking utensils； and
touched her lightly on the shoulder。 She looked up timidly； the
paroxysm had passed； but her lashes yet glittered。
〃Come；〃 he said； 〃come and get some breakfast。 I find you have
eaten nothing since you have been heretwenty…four hours。〃
〃I didn't know it；〃 she said； with a faint smile。 Then seeing
his burden； and possessed by a new and strange desire for some
menial employment； she said hurriedly； 〃Let me carry something
do； please；〃 and even tried to disencumber him。
Half annoyed； Low at last yielded； and handing his rifle said；
〃There； then； take that； but be carefulit's loaded！〃
A cruel blush burnt the woman's face to the roots of her hair as
she took the weapon hesitatingly in her hand。
〃No！〃 she stammered； hurriedly lifting her shame…suffused eyes to
his； 〃no！ no！〃
He turned away with an impatience which showed her how completely
gratuitous had been her agitation and its significance； and said；
〃Well； then； give it back if you are afraid of it。〃 But she as
suddenly declined to return it； and shouldering it deftly； took
her place by his side。 Silently they moved from the hollow tree
together。
During their walk she did not attempt to invade his taciturnity。
Nevertheless she was as keenly alive and watchful of his every
movement and gesture as if she had hung enchanted on his lips。
The unerring way with which he pursued a viewless； undeviating
path through those trackless woods； his quick reconnaissance of
certain trees or openings； his mute inspection of some almost
imperceptible footprint of bird or beast； his critical
examination of certain plants which he plucked and deposited in
his deerskin haversack； were not lost on the quick…witted woman。
As they gradually changed the clear； unencumbered aisles of the
central woods for a more tangled undergrowth； Teresa felt that
subtle admiration which culminates in imitation； and simulating
perfectly the step； tread； and easy swing of her companion；
followed so accurately his lead that she won a gratified
exclamation from him when their goal was reacheda broken；
blackened shaft； splintered by long…forgotten lightning； in the
centre of a tangled carpet of woo