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IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
IN THE CARQUINEZ
WOODS
by Bret Harte
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IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
CHAPTER I。
The sun was going down on the Carquinez Woods。 The few shafts
of sunlight that had pierced their pillared gloom were lost in unfathomable
depths； or splintered their ineffectual lances on the enormous trunks of the
redwoods。 For a time the dull red of their vast columns； and the dull red
of their cast…off bark which matted the echoless aisles； still seemed to hold
a faint glow of the dying day。 But even this soon passed。 Light and
color fled upwards。 The dark interlaced treetops； that had all day made
an impenetrable shade； broke into fire here and there； their lost spires
glittered； faded； and went utterly out。 A weird twilight that did not come
from the outer world； but seemed born of the wood itself； slowly filled and
possessed the aisles。 The straight； tall； colossal trunks rose dimly like
columns of upward smoke。 The few fallen trees stretched their huge
length into obscurity； and seemed to lie on shadowy trestles。 The strange
breath that filled these mysterious vaults had neither coldness nor moisture；
a dry； fragrant dust arose from the noiseless foot that trod their bark…
strewn floor； the aisles might have been tombs； the fallen trees enormous
mummies； the silence the solitude of a forgotten past。
And yet this silence was presently broken by a recurring sound like
breathing； interrupted occasionally by inarticulate and stertorous gasps。
It was not the quick； panting； listening breath of some stealthy feline or
canine animal； but indicated a larger； slower； and more powerful
organization； whose progress was less watchful and guarded； or as if a
fragment of one of the fallen monsters had become animate。 At times
this life seemed to take visible form； but as vaguely； as misshapenly； as the
phantom of a nightmare。 Now it was a square object moving sideways；
endways； with neither head nor tail and scarcely visible feet； then an
arched bulk rolling against the trunks of the trees and recoiling again； or
an upright cylindrical mass； but always oscillating and unsteady； and
striking the trees on either hand。 The frequent occurrence of the movement
suggested the figures of some weird rhythmic dance to music heard by the
shape alone。 Suddenly it either became motionless or faded away。
There was the frightened neighing of a horse； the sudden jingling of
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IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS
spurs； a shout and outcry； and the swift apparition of three dancing torches
in one of the dark aisles； but so intense was the obscurity that they shed no
light on surrounding objects； and seemed to advance of their own volition
without human guidance； until they disappeared suddenly behind the
interposing bulk of one of the largest trees。 Beyond its eighty feet of
circumference the light could not reach； and the gloom remained
inscrutable。 But the voices and jingling spurs were heard distinctly。
〃Blast the mare！ She's shied off that cursed trail again。〃
〃Ye ain't lost it again； hev ye？〃 growled a second voice。
〃That's jist what I hev。 And these blasted pine…knots don't give light
an inch beyond 'em。 Dd if I don't think they make this cursed hole
blacker。〃
There was a laugha woman's laughhysterical； bitter； sarcastic；
exasperating。 The second speaker； without heeding it； went on：
〃What in thunder skeert the hosses？ Did you see or hear anything？〃
〃Nothin'。 The wood is like a graveyard。〃
The woman's voice again broke into a hoarse； contemptuous laugh。
The man resumed angrily：
〃If you know anything； why in h…ll don't you say so； instead of
cackling like a dd squaw there？ P'raps you reckon you ken find the
trail too。〃
〃Take this rope off my wrist；〃 said the woman's voice； 〃untie my hands；
let me down； and I'll find it。〃 She spoke quickly and with a Spanish
accent。
It was the men's turn to laugh。 〃And give you a show to snatch that
six…shooter and blow a hole through me； as you did to the Sheriff of
Calaveras； eh？ Not if this court understands itself；〃 said the first speaker
dryly。
〃Go to the devil； then；〃 she said curtly。
〃Not before a lady；〃 responded the other。 There was another laugh
from the men； the spurs jingled again； the three torches reappeared from
behind the tree； and then passed away in the darkness。
For a time silence and immutability possessed the woods； the great
trunks loomed upwards； their fallen brothers stretched their slow length
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into obscurity。 The sound of breathing again became audible； the shape
reappeared in the aisle； and recommenced its mystic dance。 Presently it
was lost in the shadow of the largest tree； and to the sound of breathing
succeeded a grating and scratching of bark。 Suddenly； as if riven by
lightning； a flash broke from the center of the tree… trunk； lit up the woods；
and a sharp report rang through it。 After a pause the jingling of spurs and
the dancing of torches were revived from the distance。
〃Hallo？〃
No answer。
〃Who fired that shot？〃
But there was no reply。 A slight veil of smoke passed away to the
right； there was the spice of gunpowder in the air； but nothing more。
The torches came forward again； but this time it could be seen they
were held in the hands of two men and a woman。 The woman's hands
were tied at the wrist to the horse…hair reins of her mule； while a riata；
passed around her waist and under the mule's girth； was held by one of the
men； who were both armed with rifles and revolvers。 Their frightened
horses curveted； and it was with difficulty they could be made to advance。
〃Ho！ stranger； what are you shooting at？〃
The woman laughed and shrugged her shoulders。 〃Look yonder at
the roots of the tree。 You're a dd smart man for a sheriff； ain't you？〃
The man uttered an exclamation and spurred his horse forward； but the
animal reared in terror。 He then sprang to the ground and approached the
tree。 The shape lay there； a scarcely distinguishable bulk。
〃A grizzly； by the living Jingo！ Shot through the heart。〃
It was true。 The strange shape lit up by the flaring torches seemed
more vague； unearthly； and awkward in its dying throes； yet the small shut
eyes； the feeble nose； the ponderous shoulders； and half…human foot armed
with powerful claws were unmistakable。 The men turned by a common
impulse and peered into the remote recesses of the wood again。
〃Hi； Mister！ come and pick up your game。 Hallo there！〃
The challenge fell unheeded on the empty woods。
〃And yet；〃 said he whom the woman had called the sheriff； 〃he can't
be far off。 It was a close shot； and the bear hez dropped in his tracks。
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Why； wot's this sticking in his claws？〃
The two men bent over the animal。 〃Why； it's sugar； brown sugar
look！〃 There was no mistake。 The huge beast's fore paws and muzzle
were streaked with the unromantic household provision； and heightened
the absurd contrast of its incongruous members。 The woman； apparently
indifferent； had taken that opportunity to partly free one of her wrists。
〃If we hadn't been cavorting round this yer spot for the last half hour；
I'd swear there was a shanty not a hundred yards away；〃 said the sheriff。
The other man； without replyi