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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
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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
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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
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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 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
anythin