among　the　articles　on　the　shelf；　and　she　began　to　grope　her　way
  towards　the　matches。　　Suddenly　she　stopped。　　What　was　that　panting？
  Was　it　her　own　breathing；　quickened　with　a　sudden　nameless
  terror？　or　was　there　something　outside？　　Her　heart　seemed　to　stop
  beating　while　she　listened。　　Yes！　it　was　a　panting　outsidea
  panting　now　increased；　multiplied；　redoubled；　mixed　with　the
  sounds　of　rustling；　tearing；　craunching；　and　occasionally　a
  quick；　impatient　snarl。　　She　crept　on　her　hands　and　knees　to　the
  opening　and　looked　out。　　At　first　the　ground　seemed　to　be
  undulating　between　her　and　the　opposite　tree。　　But　a　second
  glance　showed　her　the　black　and　gray；　bristling；　tossing　backs　of
  tumbling　beasts　of　prey；　charging　the　carcass　of　the　bear　that
  lay　at　its　roots；　or　contesting　for　the　prize　with　gluttonous；
  choked　breath；　sidelong　snarls；　arched　spines；　and　recurved
  tails。　　One　of　the　boldest　had　leaped　upon　a　buttressing　root　of
  her　tree　within　a　foot　of　the　opening。　　The　excitement；　awe；　and
  terror　she　had　undergone　culminated　in　one　wild；　maddened　scream；
  that　seemed　to　pierce　even　the　cold　depths　of　the　forest；　as　she
  dropped　on　her　face；　with　her　hands　clasped　over　her　eyes　in　an
  agony　of　fear。
  Her　scream　was　answered；　after　a　pause；　by　a　sudden　volley　of
  firebrands　and　sparks　into　the　midst　of　the　panting；　crowding
  pack；　a　few　smothered　howls　and　snaps；　and　a　sudden　dispersion　of
  the　concourse。　　In　another　moment　the　young　man；　with　a　blazing
  brand　in　either　hand；　leaped　upon　the　body　of　the　bear。
  Teresa　raised　her　head；　uttered　a　hysterical　cry；　slid　down　the
  tree；　flew　wildly　to　his　side；　caught　convulsively　at　his　sleeve；
  and　fell　on　her　knees　beside　him。
  〃Save　me！　save　me！〃　she　gasped；　in　a　voice　broken　by　terror。
  〃Save　me　from　those　hideous　creatures。　　No；　no！〃　she　implored；　as
  he　endeavored　to　lift　her　to　her　feet。　　〃Nolet　me　stay　here
  close　beside　you。　　So；〃　clutching　the　fringe　of　his　leather
  hunting…shirt；　and　dragging　herself　on　her　knees　nearer　him
  〃sodon't　leave　me；　for　God's　sake！〃
  〃They　are　gone；〃　he　replied；　gazing　down　curiously　at　her；　as　she
  wound　the　fringe　around　her　hand　to　strengthen　her　hold；　〃they're
  only　a　lot　of　cowardly　coyotes　and　wolves；　that　dare　not　attack
  anything　that　lives　and　can　move。〃
  The　young　woman　responded　with　a　nervous　shudder。　　〃Yes；　that's
  it；〃　she　whispered；　in　a　broken　voice；　〃it's　only　the　dead　they
  want。　　Promise　meswear　to　me；　if　I'm　caught；　or　hung；　or　shot；
  you　won't　let　me　be　left　here　to　be　torn　andah！　my　God！　what's
  that？〃
  She　had　thrown　her　arms　around　his　knees；　completely　pinioning
  him　to　her　frantic　breast。　　Something　like　a　smile　of　disdain
  passed　across　his　face　as　he　answered；　〃It's　nothing。　　They　will
  not　return。　　Get　up！〃
  Even　in　her　terror　she　saw　the　change　in　his　face。　　〃I　know；　I
  know！〃　she　cried。　　〃I'm　frightenedbut　I　cannot　bear　it　any
  longer。　　Hear　me！　　Listen！　　Listenbut　don't　move！　　I　didn't
  mean　to　kill　Cursonno！　I　swear　to　God；　no！　　I　didn't　mean　to
  kill　the　sheriffand　I　didn't。　　I　was　only　braggingdo　you
  hear？　　I　lied！　　I　lieddon't　move；　I　swear　to　God　I　lied。　　I've
  made　myself　out　worse　than　I　was。　　I　have。　　Only　don't　leave　me
  nowand　if　I　dieand　it's　not　far　off；　may　beget　me　away　from
  hereand　from　THEM。　　Swear　it！〃
  〃All　right；〃　said　the　young　man；　with　a　scarcely　concealed
  movement　of　irritation。　　〃But　get　up　now；　and　go　back　to　the
  cabin。〃
  〃No；　not　THERE　alone。〃　　Nevertheless；　he　quietly　but　firmly
  released　himself。
  〃I　will　stay　here；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　would　have　been　nearer　to
  you；　but　I　thought　it　better　for　your　safety　that　my　camp…fire
  should　be　further　off。　　But　I　can　build　it　here；　and　that　will
  keep　the　coyotes　off。〃
  〃Let　me　stay　with　youbeside　you；〃　she　said　imploringly。
  She　looked　so　broken；　crushed；　and　spiritless；　so　unlike　the
  woman　of　the　morning　that；　albeit　with　an　ill　grace；　he　tacitly
  consented；　and　turned　away　to　bring　his　blankets。　　But　in　the
  next　moment　she　was　at　his　side；　following　him　like　a　dog；　silent
  and　wistful；　and　even　offering　to　carry　his　burden。　　When　he　had
  built　the　fire；　for　which　she　had　collected　the　pine…cones　and
  broken　branches　near　them；　he　sat　down；　folded　his　arms；　and
  leaned　back　against　the　tree　in　reserved　and　deliberate　silence。
  Humble　and　submissive；　she　did　not　attempt　to　break　in　upon　a
  reverie　she　could　not　help　but　feel　had　little　kindliness　to
  herself。　　As　the　fire　snapped　and　sparkled；　she　pillowed　her　head
  upon　a　root；　and　lay　still　to　watch　it。
  It　rose　and　fell；　and　dying　away　at　times　to　a　mere　lurid　glow；
  and　again；　agitated　by　some　breath　scarcely　perceptible　to　them；
  quickening　into　a　roaring　flame。　　When　only　the　embers　remained；
  a　dead　silence　filled　the　wood。　　Then　the　first　breath　of　morning
  moved　the　tangled　canopy　above；　and　a　dozen　tiny　sprays　and
  needles　detached　from　the　interlocked　boughs　winged　their　soft
  way　noiselessly　to　the　earth。　　A　few　fell　upon　the　prostrate
  woman　like　a　gentle　benediction；　and　she　slept。　　But　even　then；
  the　young　man；　looking　down；　saw　that　the　slender　fingers　were
  still　aimlessly　but　rigidly　twisted　in　the　leather　fringe　of　his
  hunting…shirt。
  CHAPTER　II。
  It　was　a　peculiarity　of　the　Carquinez　Wood　that　it　stood　apart
  and　distinct　in　its　gigantic　individuality。　　Even　where　the
  integrity　of　its　own　singular　species　was　not　entirely　preserved；
  it　admitted　no　inferior　trees。　　Nor　was　there　any　diminishing
  fringe　on　its　outskirts；　the　sentinels　that　guarded　the　few
  gateways　of　the　dim　trails　were　as　monstrous　as　the　serried　ranks
  drawn　up　in　the　heart　of　the　forest。　　Consequently；　the　red
  highway　that　skirted　the　eastern　angle　was　bare　and　shadeless；
  until　it　slipped　a　league　off　into　a　watered　valley　and　refreshed
  itself　under　lesser　sycamores　and　willows。　　It　was　here　the　newly
  born　city　of　Excelsior；　still　in　its　cradle；　had；　like　an　infant
  Hercules；　strangled　the　serpentine　North　Fork　of　the　American
  river；　and　turned　its　life　current　into　the　ditches　and　flumes　of
  the　Excelsior　mines。
  Newest　of　the　new　houses　that　seemed　to　have　accidentally　formed
  its　single；　straggling　street　was　the　residence　of　the　Rev。
  Winslow　Wynn；　not　unfrequently　known　as　〃Father　Wynn；〃　pastor　of
  the　First　Baptist　church。　　The　〃pastorage；〃　as　it　was　cheerfully
  called；　had　the　glaring　distinction　of　being　built　of　brick；　and
  was；　as　had　been　wickedly　pointed　out　by　idle　scoffers；　the　only
  〃fireproof〃　structure　in　town。　　This　sarcasm　was　not；　however；
  supposed　to　be　particularly　distasteful　to　〃Father　Wynn；〃　who
  enjoyed　the　reputation　of　being　〃hail　fellow；　well　met〃　with　the
  rough　mining　element；　who　called　them　by　their　Christian　names；
  had　been　known　to　drink　at　the　bar　of　the　Polka　Saloon　while
  engaged　in　the　conversion　of　a　prominent　citizen；　and　was
  popularly　said　to　have　no　〃gospel　starch〃　about　him。　　Certain
  conscious　outcasts　and　transgressors　were　touched　at　this
  apparent　unbending　of　the　spiritual　authority。　　The　rigid　tenets
  of　Father　Wynn's　faith　were　lost　in　the　supposed　catholicity　of
  his　humanity。　　〃A　preacher　that　can　jine　a　man　when　he's　histin'
  liquor　into　him；　without　jawin'　about　it；　ought　to　be　allowed　to
  wrestle　with　sinners　and　splash　about　in　as　much　cold　water　as　he
  likes；〃　was　the　criticism　of　one　of　his　converts。　　Nevertheless；
  it　was　true　that　Father　Wynn　was　somewhat　loud　and　intolerant　in
  his　tolerance。　　It　was　true　that　he　was　a　little　more　rough；　a
  little　more　frank；　a　little　more　hearty；　a　little　more　impulsive
  than　his　disciples。　　It　was　true　that　often　the　proclamation　of
  his　extreme　liberality　and　brotherly　equality　partook　somewhat　of
  an　apology。　　It　is　true　that　a　few　who　might　have　been　most
  benefited　by　this　kind　of　gospel　regarded　him　with　a　singular
  disdain。　　It　is　true　that　his　liberality　was　of　an　ornamental；
  insinuating　quality；　accompanied　with　but　little　sacrifice；　his
  acceptance　of　a　collection　taken　up　in　a　gambling　saloon　for　the
  rebuilding　of　his　church；　destroyed　by　fire；　gave　him　a
  popularity　large　enough；　it　must　be　confessed；　to　cover　the　sins
  of　the　gamblers　themselves；　but　it　was　not　proven　that　HE　had
  ever　organized　any　form　of　relief。　　But　it　was　true　that　local
  history　somehow　accepted　him　as　an　exponent　of　mining
  Christianity；　without　the　least　reference　to　the　opinions　of　the
  Christian　miners　themselves。
  The　Rev。　Mr。　Wynn's　liberal　habits　and　opinions　were　not；
  however；　shared　by　his　only　daughter；　a　motherless　young　lady　of
  eighteen。　　Nellie　Wynn　was　in　the　eye　of　Excelsior　an
  unapproachable　divinity；　as　inaccessible　and　cold　as　her　father
  was　impulsive　and　familiar。　　An　atmosphere　of　chaste　and　proud
  virginity　made　itself　felt　even　in　the　starched　integrity　of　her
  spotless　skirts；　in　her　neatly　gloved　finger…tips；　in　her　clear
  amber　eyes；　in　her　imperious　red　lips；　in　her　sensitive　nostrils。
  Need　it　be　said　that　the　youth　and　middle　age　of　Excelsior　were
  madly；　because　apparently　hopelessly；　in　love　with　her？　　For　the
  rest；　she　had　been　expensively　educated；　was　profoundly　ignorant
  in　two　languages；　with　a　trained　misunderstanding　of　music　and
  painting；　and　a　natural　and　faultless　taste　in　dress。
  The　Rev。　Mr。　Wynn　was　engaged　in　a　char