按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shafts。 Steadying himself by one hand on the low rail； Dunn drew
his revolver with the other。 〃Sing out to him to pull up； or
we'll fire。 My voice is clean gone；〃 he added； in a husky whisper。
They were so near that they could distinguish the bulk of a
vehicle careering from side to side in the blackness ahead。 Dunn
deliberately raised his weapon。 〃Sing out！〃 he repeated
impatiently。 But Brace； who was still keeping in the shadow；
suddenly grasped his companion's arm。
〃Hush！ It's NOT Buckskin；〃 he whispered hurriedly。
〃Are you sure？〃
〃DON'T YOU SEE WE'RE GAINING ON HIM？〃 replied the other
contemptuously。 Dunn grasped his companion's hand and pressed it
silently。 Even in that supreme moment this horseman's tribute to
the fugitive Buckskin forestalled all baser considerations of
pursuit and capture！
In twenty seconds they were abreast of the stranger； crowding his
horse and buggy nearly into the ditch； Brace keenly watchful；
Dunn suppressed and pale。 In half a minute they were leading him
a length； and when their horse again settled down to his steady
work； the stranger was already lost in the circling dust that
followed them。 But the victors seemed disappointed。 The
obscurity had completely hidden all but the vague outlines of the
mysterious driver。
〃He's not our game； anyway；〃 whispered Dunn。 〃Drive on。〃
〃But if it was some friend of his；〃 suggested Brace uneasily；
〃what would you do？〃
〃What I SAID I'd do；〃 responded Dunn savagely。 〃I don't want
five minutes to do it in； either； we'll be half an hour ahead of
that dd fool； whoever he is。 Look here； all you've got to do
is to put me in the trail to that cabin。 Stand back of me； out
of gun…shot； alone； if you like； as my deputy； or with any number
you can pick up as my posse。 If he gets by me as Nellie's lover；
you may shoot him or take him as a horse thief； if you like。〃
〃Then you won't shoot him on sight？〃
〃Not till I've had a word with him。〃
〃But〃
〃I've chirped；〃 said the sheriff gravely。 〃Drive on。〃
For a few moments only the plunging hoofs and rattling wheels
were heard。 A dull； lurid glow began to define the horizon。
They were silent until an abatement of the smoke； the vanishing
of the gloomy horizon line； and a certain impenetrability in the
darkness ahead showed them they were nearing the Carquinez Woods。
But they were surprised on entering them to find the dim aisles
alight with a faint mystic Aurora。 The tops of the towering
spires above them had caught the gleam of the distant forest
fires； and reflected it as from a gilded dome。
〃It would be hot work if the Carquinez Woods should conclude to
take a hand in this yer little game that's going on over on the
Divide yonder；〃 said Brace； securing his horse and glancing at
the spires overhead。 〃I reckon I'd rather take a back seat at
Injin Spring when the show commences。〃
Dunn did not reply； but； buttoning his coat； placed one hand on
his companion's shoulder； and sullenly bade him 〃lead the way。〃
Advancing slowly and with difficulty the desperate man might have
been taken for a peaceful invalid returning from an early morning
stroll。 His right hand was buried thoughtfully in the side
pocket of his coat。 Only Brace knew that it rested on the handle
of his pistol。
From time to time the latter stopped and consulted the faint
trail with a minuteness that showed recent careful study。
Suddenly he paused。 〃I made a blaze hereabouts to show where to
leave the trail。 There it is；〃 he added； pointing to a slight
notch cut in the trunk of an adjoining tree。
〃But we've just passed one；〃 said Dunn； 〃if that's what you are
looking after； a hundred yards back。〃
Brace uttered an oath； and ran back in the direction signified by
his companion。 Presently he returned with a smile of triumph。
〃They've suspected something。 It's a clever trick； but it won't
hold water。 That blaze which was done to muddle you was cut with
an axe； this which I made was done with a bowie…knife。 It's the
real one。 We're not far off now。 Come on。〃
They proceeded cautiously； at right angles with the 〃blazed〃
tree； for ten minutes more。 The heat was oppressive； drops of
perspiration rolled from the forehead of the sheriff； and at
times； when he attempted to steady his uncertain limbs； his hands
shrank from the heated； blistering bark he touched with ungloved
palms。
〃Here we are；〃 said Brace； pausing at last。 〃Do you see that
biggest tree； with the root stretching out halfway across to the
opposite one？〃
〃No； it's further to the right and abreast of the dead brush；〃
interrupted Dunn quickly； with a sudden revelation that this was
the spot where he had found the dead bear in the night Teresa
escaped。
〃That's so；〃 responded Brace； in astonishment。
〃And the opening is on the other side； opposite the dead brush；〃
said Dunn。
〃Then you know it？〃 said Brace suspiciously。
〃I reckon！〃 responded Dunn； grimly。 〃That's enough！ Fall back！〃
To the surprise of his companion； he lifted his head erect； and
with a strong； firm step walked directly to the tree。 Reaching
it； he planted himself squarely before the opening。
〃Halloo！〃 he said。
There was no reply。 A squirrel scampered away close to his feet。
Brace； far in the distance； after an ineffectual attempt to
distinguish his companion through the intervening trunks； took
off his coat； leaned against a tree； and lit a cigar。
〃Come out of that cabin！〃 continued Dunn； in a clear； resonant
voice。 〃Come out before I drag you out！〃
〃All right； 'Captain Scott。' Don't shoot； and I'll come down；〃
said a voice as clear and as high as his own。 The hanging strips
of bark were dashed aside； and a woman leaped lightly to the
ground。
Dunn staggered back。 〃Teresa！ by the Eternal！〃
It was Teresa！ the old Teresa！ Teresa； a hundred times more
vicious； reckless； hysterical； extravagant； and outrageous than
before。 Teresa； staring with tooth and eye； sunburnt and
embrowned； her hair hanging down her shoulders； and her shawl
drawn tightly around her neck。
〃Teresa it is！ the same old gal！ Here we are again！ Return of
the favorite in her original character！ For two weeks only！
Houp la！ Tshk！〃 and； catching her yellow skirt with her fingers；
she pirouetted before the astounded man； and ended in a pose。
Recovering himself with an effort； Dunn dashed forward and seized
her by the wrist。
〃Answer me； woman！ Is that Low's cabin？〃
〃It is。〃
〃Who occupies it besides？〃
〃I do。〃
〃And who else？〃
〃Well；〃 drawled Teresa slowly； with an extravagant affectation of
modesty； 〃nobody else but us； I reckon。 Two's company； you know；
and three's none。〃
〃Stop！ Will you swear that there isn't a young girl； hishis
sweetheartconcealed there with you？〃
The fire in Teresa's eye was genuine as she answered steadily；
〃Well； it ain't my style to put up with that sort of thing； at
least； it wasn't over at Yolo； and you know it； Jim Dunn； or I
wouldn't be here。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Dunn hurriedly。 〃But I'm a dd fool； or worse；
the fool of a fool。 Tell me； Teresa； is this man Low your lover？〃
Teresa lowered her eyes as if in maidenly