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〃Of courthe。 It wathn't mine； my boy。 I'd have thent you a
Tharp'th rifle in plathe of that muthle loader you carry； or
thomething thenthible。 But； I thay！ what'th up？ You look ath if
you had been running all night。〃
Low grasped his hand。 〃Thank you；〃 he said hurriedly； 〃but it's
nothing。 Only I must be back to the woods early。 Good…by。〃
But Curson retained Low's hand in his own powerful grip。
〃I'll go with you a bit further；〃 he said。 〃In fact； I've got
thomething to thay to you； only don't be in thuch a hurry； the
woodth can wait till you get there。〃 Quietly compelling Low to
alter his own characteristic Indian stride to keep pace with his；
he went on： 〃I don't mind thaying I rather cottoned to you from
the time you acted like a white manno offentheto Teretha。
She thayth you were left when a child lying round； jutht ath
promithcuouthly ath she wath； and if I can do anything towardth
putting you on the trail of your people； I'll do it。 I know
thome of the voyageurth who traded with the Cherokeeth； and your
father wath one…wathn't he？〃 He glanced at Low's utterly
abstracted and immobile face。 〃I thay； you don't theem to take a
hand in thith game； pardner。 What'th the row？ Ith anything
wrong over there？〃 and he pointed to the Carquinez Woods； which
were just looming out of the morning horizon in the distance。
Low stopped。 The last words of his companion seemed to recall
him to himself。 He raised his eyes automatically to the woods
and started。
〃There IS something wrong over there；〃 he said breathlessly。
〃Look！〃
〃I thee nothing；〃 said Curson； beginning to doubt Low's sanity；
〃nothing more than I thaw an hour ago。〃
〃Look again。 Don't you see that smoke rising straight up？ It
isn't blown over there from the Divide； it's new smoke！ The fire
is in the woods！〃
〃I reckon that'th so；〃 muttered Curson； shading his eyes with his
hand。 〃But； hullo！ wait a minute！ We'll get hortheth。 I say！〃
he shouted； forgetting his lisp in his excitement〃stop！〃 But
Low had already lowered his head and darted forward like an arrow。
In a few moments he had left not only his companion but the last
straggling houses of the outskirts far behind him； and had struck
out in a long； swinging trot for the disused 〃cut…off。〃 Already
he fancied he heard the note of clamor in Indian Spring； and
thought he distinguished the sound of hurrying hoofs on the great
highway。 But the sunken trail hid it from his view。 From the
column of smoke now plainly visible in the growing morning light
he tried to locate the scene of the conflagration。 It was
evidently not a fire advancing regularly from the outer skirt of
the wood； communicated to it from the Divide； it was a local
outburst near its centre。 It was not in the direction of his
cabin in the tree。 There was no immediate danger to Teresa；
unless fear drove her beyond the confines of the wood into the
hands of those who might recognize her。 The screaming of jays
and ravens above his head quickened his speed； as it heralded the
rapid advance of the flames； and the unexpected apparition of a
bounding body； flattened and flying over the yellow plain； told
him that even the secure retreat of the mountain wild…cat had
been invaded。 A sudden recollection of Teresa's uncontrollable
terror that first night smote him with remorse and redoubled his
efforts。 Alone in the track of these frantic and bewildered
beasts； to what madness might she not be driven！
The sharp crack of a rifle from the high road turned his course
momentarily in that direction。 The smoke was curling lazily over
the heads of the party of men in the road； while the huge hulk of
a grizzly was disappearing in the distance。 A battue of the
escaping animals had commenced！ In the bitterness of his heart
he caught at the horrible suggestion； and resolved to save her
from them or die with her there。
How fast he ran； or the time it took him to reach the woods； has
never been known。 Their outlines were already hidden when he
entered them。 To a sense less keen； a courage less desperate；
and a purpose less unaltered than Low's； the wood would have been
impenetrable。 The central fire was still confined to the lofty
tree tops； but the downward rush of wind from time to time drove
the smoke into the aisles in blinding and suffocating volumes。
To simulate the creeping animals； and fall to the ground on hands
and knees； feel his way through the underbrush when the smoke was
densest； or take advantage of its momentary lifting； and without
uncertainty； mistake； or hesitation glide from tree to tree in
one undeviating course； was possible only to an experienced
woodsman。 To keep his reason and insight so clear as to be able
in the midst of this bewildering confusion to shape that course
so as to intersect the wild and unknown tract of an inexperienced；
frightened wanderer belonged to Low； and Low alone。 He was making
his way against the wind towards the fire。 He had reasoned that
she was either in comparative safety to windward of it； or he
should meet her being driven towards him by it； or find her
succumbed and fainting at its feet。 To do this he must penetrate
the burning belt； and then pass under the blazing dome。 He was
already upon it； he could see the falling fire dropping like rain
or blown like gorgeous blossoms of the conflagration across his
path。 The space was lit up brilliantly。 The vast shafts of dull
copper cast no shadow below； but there was no sign nor token of any
human being。 For a moment the young man was at fault。 It was true
this hidden heart of the forest bore no undergrowth； the cool matted
carpet of the aisles seemed to quench the glowing fragments as they
fell。 Escape might be difficult； but not impossible； yet every
moment was precious。 He leaned against a tree； and sent his voice
like a clarion before him： 〃Teresa！〃 There was no reply。 He called
again。 A faint cry at his back from the trail he had just traversed
made him turn。 Only a few paces behind him； blinded and staggering；
but following like a beaten and wounded animal； Teresa； halted；
knelt； clasped her hands； and dumbly held them out before her。
〃Teresa！〃 he cried again； and sprang to her side。
She caught him by the knees； and lifted her face imploringly to his。
〃Say that again！〃 she cried； passionately。 〃Tell me it was
Teresa you called； and no other！ You have come back for me！ You
would not let me die here alone！〃
He lifted her tenderly in his arms； and cast a rapid glance
around him。 It might have been his fancy； but there seemed a
dull glow in the direction he had come。
〃You do not speak！〃 she said。 〃Tell me！ You did not come here
to seek her？〃
〃Whom？〃 he said quickly。
〃Nellie！〃
With a sharp cry he let her slip to the ground。 All the pent…up
agony； rage； and mortification of the last hour broke from him in
that inarticulate outburst。 Then； catching her hands again； he
dragged her to his level。
〃Hear me！〃 he cried； disregarding the whirling smoke and the
fiery baptism that sprinkled them〃hear me！ If you value your
life； if you value your soul； and if you do not want me to cast
you t