letter　more　or　less　blotted　with　her　tears。　　When　it　was
  finished；　she　begged　him　to　post　it　at　Indian　Spring；　where　in
  two　days　an　answer　would　be　returned；　under　cover；　to　him。
  〃I　hope　you　will　be　satisfied　then；〃　she　added。
  〃Satisfied　with　what？〃　queried　the　young　man。
  〃You'll　see；〃　she　replied；　giving　him　her　cold　hand。　　〃Good…night。〃
  〃But　can't　you　tell　me　now？〃　he　remonstrated；　retaining　her　hand。
  〃Wait　two　days　longerit　isn't　much；〃　was　all　she　vouchsafed　to
  answer。
  The　two　days　passed。　　Their　former　confidence　and　good　fellowship
  were　fully　restored　when　the　morning　came　on　which　he　was　to
  bring　the　answer　from　the　post…office　at　Indian　Spring。　　He　had
  talked　again　of　his　future；　and　had　recorded　his　ambition　to
  procure　the　appointment　of　naturalist　to　a　Government　Surveying
  Expedition。　　She　had　even　jocularly　proposed　to　dress　herself　in
  man's　attire　and　〃enlist〃　as　his　assistant。
  〃But　you　will　be　safe　with　your　friends；　I　hope；　by　that　time；〃
  responded　Low。
  〃Safe　with　my　friends；〃　she　repeated　in　a　lower　voice。　　〃Safe
  with　my　friendsyes！〃　　An　awkward　silence　followed；　Teresa　broke
  it　gayly：　〃But　your　girl；　your　sweetheart；　my　benefactorwill
  SHE　let　you　go？〃
  〃I　haven't　told　her　yet；〃　said　Low；　gravely；　〃but　I　don't　see　why
  she　should　object。〃
  〃Object；　indeed！〃　interrupted　Teresa　in　a　high　voice　and　a　sudden
  and　utterly　gratuitous　indignation；　〃how　should　she？　　I'd　like　to
  see　her　do　it！〃
  She　accompanied　him　some　distance　to　the　intersection　of　the
  trail；　where　they　parted　in　good　spirits。　　On　the　dusty　plain
  without　a　gale　was　blowing　that　rocked　the　high　tree…tops　above
  her；　but；　tempered　and　subdued；　entered　the　low　aisles　with　a
  fluttering　breath　of　morning　and　a　sound　like　the　cooing　of
  doves。　　Never　had　the　wood　before　shown　so　sweet　a　sense　of
  security　from　the　turmoil　and　tempest　of　the　world　beyond；　never
  before　had　an　intrusion　from　the　outer　lifeeven　in　the　shape　of
  a　letterseemed　so　wicked　a　desecration。　　Tempted　by　the
  solicitation　of　air　and　shade；　she　lingered；　with　Low's　herbarium
  slung　on　her　shoulder。
  A　strange　sensation；　like　a　shiver；　suddenly　passed　across　her
  nerves；　and　left　them　in　a　state　of　rigid　tension。　　With　every
  sense　morbidly　acute；　with　every　faculty　strained　to　its　utmost；
  the　subtle　instincts　of　Low's　woodcraft　transformed　and　possessed
  her。　　She　knew　it　now！　　A　new　element　was　in　the　wooda　strange
  beinganother　lifeanother　man　approaching！　　She　did　not　even
  raise　her　head　to　look　about　her；　but　darted　with　the　precision
  and　fleetness　of　an　arrow　in　the　direction　of　her　tree。　　But　her
  feet　were　arrested；　her　limbs　paralzyed；　her　very　existence
  suspended；　by　the　sound　of　a　voice：
  〃Teresa！〃
  It　was　a　voice　that　had　rung　in　her　ears　for　the　last　two　years
  in　all　phases　of　intensity；　passion；　tenderness；　and　anger；　a
  voice　upon　whose　modulations；　rude　and　unmusical　though　they
  were；　her　heart　and　soul　had　hung　in　transport　or　anguish。　　But
  it　was　a　chime　that　had　rung　its　last　peal　to　her　senses　as　she
  entered　the　Carquinez　Woods；　and　for　the　last　week　had　been　as
  dead　to　her　as　a　voice　from　the　grave。　　It　was　the　voice　of　her
  loverDick　Curson！
  CHAPTER　V
  The　wind　was　blowing　towards　the　stranger；　so　that　he　was　nearly
  upon　her　when　Teresa　first　took　the　alarm。　　He　was　a　man　over　six
  feet　in　height；　strongly　built；　with　a　slight　tendency　to　a
  roundness　of　bulk　which　suggested　reserved　rather　than　impeded
  energy。　　His　thick　beard　and　mustache　were　closely　cropped　around
  a　small　and　handsome　mouth　that　lisped　except　when　he　was
  excited；　but　always　kept　fellowship　with　his　blue　eyes　in　a
  perpetual　smile　of　half…cynical　good…humor。　　His　dress　was
  superior　to　that　of　the　locality；　his　general　expression　that　of
  a　man　of　the　world；　albeit　a　world　of　San　Francisco；　Sacramento；
  and　Murderer's　Bar。　　He　advanced　towards　her　with　a　laugh　and　an
  outstretched　hand。
  〃YOU　here！〃　she　gasped；　drawing　back。
  Apparently　neither　surprised　nor　mortified　at　this　reception；　he
  answered　frankly；　〃Yeth。　　You　didn't　expect　me；　I　know。　　But
  Doloreth　showed　me　the　letter　you　wrote　her；　andwellhere　I
  am；　ready　to　help　you；　with　two　men　and　a　thpare　horthe　waiting
  outside　the　woodth　on　the　blind　trail。〃
  〃YouYOUhere？〃　she　only　repeated。
  Curson　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Yeth。〃　　Of　courth　you　never
  expected　to　thee　me　again；　and　leatht　of　all　HERE。　　I'll　admit
  that；　I'll　thay　I　wouldn't　if　I'd　been　in　your　plathe。　　I'll　go
  further；　and　thay　you　didn't　want　to　thee　me　againanywhere。
  But　it　all　cometh　to　the　thame　thing；　here　I　am。　　I　read　the
  letter　you　wrote　Doloreth。　　I　read　how　you　were　hiding　here；
  under　Dunn'th　very　nothe；　with　his　whole　pothe　out；　cavorting
  round　and　barkin'　up　the　wrong　tree。　　I　made　up　my　mind　to　come
  down　here　with　a　few　nathty　friends　of　mine　and　cut　you　out　under
  Dunn'th　nothe；　and　run　you　over　into　Yubathat'th　all。〃
  〃How　dared　she　show　you　my　letterYOU　of　all　men？　　How　dared　she
  ask　YOUR　help？〃　continued　Teresa；　fiercely。
  〃But　she　didn't　athk　my　help；〃　he　responded　coolly。　　〃Dd　if　I
  don't　think　she　jutht　calculated　I'd　be　glad　to　know　you　were
  being　hunted　down　and　thtarving；　that　I　might　put　Dunn　on　your
  track。〃
  〃You　lie！〃　said　Teresa；　furiously；　〃she　was　my　friend。　　A　better
  friend　than　those　who　professedmore；〃　she　added；　with　a
  contemptuous　drawing　away　of　her　skirt　as　if　she　feared　Curson's
  contamination。
  〃All　right。　　Thettle　that　with　her　when　you　go　back；〃　continued
  Curson　philosophically。　　〃We　can　talk　of　that　on　the　way。　　The
  thing　now　ith　to　get　up　and　get　out　of　thethe　woods。　　Come！〃
  Teresa's　only　reply　was　a　gesture　of　scorn。
  〃I　know　all　that；〃　continued　Curson　half　soothingly；　〃but　they're
  waiting。〃
  〃Let　them　wait。　　I　shall　not　go。〃
  〃What　will　you　do？〃
  〃Stay　heretill　the　wolves　eat　me。〃
  〃Teresa；　listen。　　D…　it　allTeresaTita！　see　here；〃　he　said
  with　sudden　energy。　　〃I　swear　to　God　it's　all　right。　　I'm　willing
  to　let　by…gones　be　by…gones　and　take　a　new　deal。　　You　shall　come
  back　as　if　nothing　had　happened；　and　take　your　old　place　as
  before。　　I　don't　mind　doing　the　square　thing；　all　round。　　If
  that's　what　you　mean；　if　that's　all　that　stands　in　the　way；　why；
  look　upon　the　thing　as　settled。　　There；　Tita；　old　girl；　come。〃
  Careless　or　oblivious　of　her　stony　silence　and　starting　eyes；　he
  attempted　to　take　her　hand。　　But　she　disengaged　herself　with　a
  quick　movement；　drew　back；　and　suddenly　crouched　like　a　wild
  animal　about　to　spring。　　Curson　folded　his　arms　as　she　leaped　to
  her　feet；　the　little　dagger　she　had　drawn　from　her　garter　flashed
  menacingly　in　the　air；　but　she　stopped。
  The　man　before　her　remained　erect；　impassive；　and　silent；　the
  great　trees　around　and　beyond　her　remained　erect；　impassive；　and
  silent；　there　was　no　sound　in　the　dim　aisles　but　the　quick
  panting　of　her　mad　passion；　no　movement　in　the　calm；　motionless
  shadow　but　the　trembling　of　her　uplifted　steel。　　Her　arm　bent　and
  slowly　sank；　her　fingers　relaxed；　the　knife　fell　from　her　hand。
  〃That'th　quite　enough　for　a　thow；〃　he　said；　with　a　return　to　his
  former　cynical　ease　and　a　perceptible　tone　of　relief　in　his
  voice。　　〃It'th　the　thame　old　Theretha。　　Well；　then；　if　you　won't
  go　with　me；　go　without　me；　take　the　led　horthe　and　cut　away。
  Dick　Athley　and　Petereth　will　follow　you　over　the　county　line。
  If　you　want　thome　money；　there　it　ith。〃　　He　took　a　buckskin　purse
  from　his　pocket。　　〃If　you　won't　take　it　from　mehe　hesitated　as
  she　made　no　reply〃Athley'th　flush　and　ready　to　lend　you　thome。〃
  She　had　not　seemed　to　hear　him；　but　had　stooped　in　some
  embarrassment；　picked　up　the　knife　and　hastily　hid　it；　then　with
  averted　face　and　nervous　fingers　was　beginning　to　tear　strips　of
  loose　bark　from　the　nearest　trunk。
  〃Well；　what　do　you　thay？〃
  〃I　don't　want　any　money；　and　I　shall　stay　here。〃　　She　hesitated；
  looked　around　her；　and　then　added；　with　an　effort；　〃I　suppose　you
  meant　well。　　Be　it　so！　　Let　by…gones　be　by…gones。　　You　said　just
  now；　'It's　the　same　old　Teresa。'　　So　she　is；　and　seeing　she's　the
  same　she's　better　here　than　anywhere　else。〃
  There　was　enough　bitterness　in　her　tone　to　call　for　Curson's
  half…perfunctory　sympathy。
  〃That　be　dd；〃　he　responded　quickly。　　〃Jutht　thay　you'll　come；
  Tita；　and〃
  She　stopped　his　half…spoken　sentence　with　a　negative　gesture。
  〃You　don't　understand。　　I　shall　stay　here。〃
  〃But　even　if　they　don't　theek　you　here；　you　can't　live　here
  forever。　　The　friend　that　you　wrote　about　who　wath　tho　good　to
  you；　you　know；　can't　keep　you　here　alwayth；　and　are　you　thure　you
  can　alwayth　trutht　her？〃
  〃It　isn't　a　woman；　it's　a　man。〃　　She　stopped　short；　and　colored
  to　the　line　of　her　forehead。　　〃Who　said　it　was　a　woman？〃　she
  continued　fiercely；　as　if　to　cover　her　confusion　with　a　burst　of
  gratuitous　anger。　　〃Is　that　another　of　your　lies？〃
  Curson's　lips；　which　for　a　moment　had　completely　lost　their
  smile；　were　now　drawn　together　in　a　prolonged　whistle。　　He　gazed
  curiously　at　her　gown；　at　her　hat；　at　the　bow　of　bright　ribbon
  that　tied　her　black　hair；　and　said；　〃Ah！〃
  〃A　poor　man　who　has　kept　my　secret；〃　she　went　on　hurriedly〃a
  man　as　friendless　and　lonely　as　myself。　　Yes；〃　disregarding
  Curson's　cynica