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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 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
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 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 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