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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 I knew there was no shanty here。 And； besides；〃 she
added in a low voice； 〃maybe I was huntin' a hole myself to die
inand spotted it by instinct。〃
There was something in this suggestion of a hunted animal that；
unlike anything she had previously said or suggested； was not
exaggerated； and caused the young man to look at her again。 She
was standing under the chimney…like opening； and the light from
above illuminated her head and shoulders。 The pupils of her eyes
had lost their feverish prominence； and were slightly suffused
and softened as she gazed abstractedly before her。 The only
vestige of her previous excitement was in her left…hand fingers；
which were incessantly twisting and turning a diamond ring upon
her right hand； but without imparting the least animation to her
rigid attitude。 Suddenly； as if conscious of his scrutiny； she
stepped aside out of the revealing light and by a swift feminine
instinct raised her hand to her head as if to adjust her straggling
hair。 It was only for a moment； however； for； as if aware of the
weakness； she struggled to resume her aggressive pose。
〃Well；〃 she said。 〃Speak up。 Am I goin' to stop here； or have I
got to get up and get？〃
〃You can stay；〃 said the young man quietly； 〃but as I've got my
provisions and ammunition here； and haven't any other place to go
to just now； I suppose we'll have to share it together。〃
She glanced at him under her eyelids； and a half…bitter； half…
contemptuous smile passed across her face。 〃All right； old man；〃
she said； holding out her hand； 〃it's a go。 We'll start in
housekeeping at once； if you like。〃
〃I'll have to come here once or twice a day；〃 he said； quite
composedly； 〃to look after my things； and get something to eat；
but I'll be away most of the time； and what with camping out
under the trees every night I reckon my share won't incommode
you。〃
She opened her black eyes upon him； at this original proposition。
Then she looked down at her torn dress。 〃I suppose this style of
thing ain't very fancy； is it？〃 she said； with a forced laugh。
〃I think I know where to beg or borrow a change for you； if you
can't get any；〃 he replied simply。
She stared at him again。 〃Are you a family man？〃
〃No。〃
She was silent for a moment。 〃Well；〃 she said； 〃you can tell
your girl I'm not particular about its being in the latest
fashion。〃
There was a slight flush on his forehead as he turned toward the
little cupboard； but no tremor in his voice as he went on：
〃You'll find tea and coffee here； and； if you're bored； there's a
book or two。 You read； don't youI mean English？〃
She nodded； but cast a look of undisguised contempt upon the two
worn； coverless novels he held out to her。 〃You haven't got last
week's 'Sacramento Union；' have you？ I hear they have my case
all in； only them lying reporters made it out against me all the
time。〃
〃I don't see the papers；〃 he replied curtly。
〃They say there's a picture of me in the 'Police Gazette；' taken
in the act；〃 and she laughed。
He looked a little abstracted； and turned as if to go。 〃I think
you'll do well to rest a while just now； and keep as close hid as
possible until afternoon。 The trail is a mile away at the
nearest point； but some one might miss it and stray over here。
You're quite safe if you're careful； and stand by the tree。 You
can build a fire here；〃 he stepped under the chimney…like
opening； 〃without its being noticed。 Even the smoke is lost and
cannot be seen so high。〃
The light from above was falling on his head and shoulders； as it
had on hers。 She looked at him intently。
〃You travel a good deal on your figure； pardner； don't you？〃 she
said； with a certain admiration that was quite sexless in its
quality； 〃but I don't see how you pick up a living by it in the
Carquinez Woods。 So you're going； are you？ You might be more
sociable。 Good…by。〃
〃Good…by！〃 He leaped from the opening。
〃I say pardner！〃
He turned a little impatiently。 She had knelt down at the
entrance； so as to be nearer his level； and was holding out her
hand。 But he did not notice it； and she quietly withdrew it。
〃If anybody dropped in and asked for you； what name will they say？〃
He smiled。 〃Don't wait to hear。〃
〃But suppose I wanted to sing out for you； what will I call you？〃
He hesitated。 〃Call meLo。〃
〃Lo； the poor Indian？〃*
〃Exactly。〃
* The first word of Pope's familiar apostrophe is humorously used
in the Far West as a distinguishing title for the Indian。
It suddenly occurred to the woman； Teresa； that in the young
man's height； supple； yet erect carriage； color； and singular
gravity of demeanor there was a refined； aboriginal suggestion。
He did not look like any Indian she had ever seen； but rather as
a youthful chief might have looked。 There was a further
suggestion in his fringed buckskin shirt and moccasins； but
before she could utter the half…sarcastic comment that rose to
her lips he had glided noiselessly away； even as an Indian might
have done。
She readjusted the slips of hanging bark with feminine ingenuity；
dispersing them so as to completely hide the entrance。 Yet this
did not darken the chamber； which seemed to draw a purer and more
vigorous light through the soaring shaft that pierced the roof
than that which came from the dim woodland aisles below。
Nevertheless； she shivered； and drawing her shawl closely around
her began to collect some half…burnt fragments of wood in the
chimney to make a fire。 But the preoccupation of her thoughts
rendered this a tedious process； as she would from time to time
stop in the middle of an action and fall into an attitude of rapt
abstraction； with far…off eyes and rigid mouth。 When she had at
last succeeded in kindling a fire and raising a film of pale blue
smoke； that seemed to fade and dissipate entirely before it
reached the top of the chimney shaft； she crouched beside it；
fixed her eyes on the darkest corner of the cavern； and became
motionless。
What did she see through that shadow？
Nothing at first but a confused medley of figures and incidents
of the preceding night； things to be put away and forgotten；
things that would not have happened but for another thingthe
thing before which everything faded！ A ball…room； the sounds of
music； the one man she had cared for insulting her with the
flaunting ostentation of his unfaithfulness； herself despised；
put aside； laughed at； or worse； jilted。 And then the moment of
delirium； when the light danced； the one wild act that lifted
her； the despised one； above them allmade her the supreme
figure； to be glanced at by frightened women； stared at by half…
startled； half…admiring men！ 〃Yes；〃 she laughed； but struck by
the sound of her own voice； moved twice round the cavern
nervously； and then dropped again into her old position。
As they carried him away he had laughed at herlike a hound that
he was； he who had praised her for her spirit； and incited her
revenge against others； he who had taught her to strike when she