how　she　had　stolen　their　conveyance　to　warn　him　in　time。　　But
  here　she　stopped；　dreading　to　say　a　word　that　would　shatter　the
  hope　she　was　building　upon　his　sudden　revulsion　of　feeling　for
  Nellie。　　She　could　not　bring　herself　to　repeat　their　interview
  that　would　come　later；　when　they　were　safe　and　out　of　danger；　now
  not　even　the　secret　of　his　birth　must　come　between　them　with　its
  distraction；　to　mar　their　perfect　communion。　　She　faltered　that
  Dunn　had　fainted　from　weakness；　and　that　she　had　dragged　him　out
  of　danger。　　〃He　will　never　interfere　with　usI　mean；〃　she　said
  softly；　〃with　ME　again。　　I　can　promise　you　that　as　well　as　if　he
  had　sworn　it。〃
  〃Let　him　pass；　now；〃　said　Low；　〃that　will　come　later　on；〃　he
  added；　unconsciously　repeating　her　thought　in　a　tone　that　made
  her　heart　sick。　　〃But　tell　me；　Teresa；　why　did　you　go　to
  Excelsior？〃
  She　buried　her　head　still　deeper；　as　if　to　hide　it。　　He　felt　her
  broken　heart　beat　against　his　own；　he　was　conscious　of　a　depth　of
  feeling　her　rival　had　never　awakened　in　him。　　The　possibility　of
  Teresa　loving　him　had　never　occurred　to　his　simple　nature。　　He
  bent　his　head　and　kissed　her。　　She　was　frightened；　and　unloosed
  her　clinging　arms；　but　he　retained　her　hand；　and　said；　〃We　will
  leave　this　accursed　place；　and　you　shall　go　with　me　as　you　said
  you　would；　nor　need　you　ever　leave　me；　unless　you　wish　it。〃
  She　could　hear　the　beating　of　her　own　heart　through　his　words；
  she　longed　to　look　at　the　eyes　and　lips　that　told　her　this；　and
  read　the　meaning　his　voice　alone　could　not　entirely　convey。　　For
  the　first　time　she　felt　the　loss　of　her　sight。　　She　did　not　know
  that　it　was；　in　this　moment　of　happiness；　the　last　blessing
  vouchsafed　to　her　miserable　life。
  A　few　moments　of　silence　followed；　broken　only　by　the　distant
  rumor　of　the　conflagration　and　the　crash　of　falling　boughs。
  〃It　may　be　an　hour　yet；〃　he　whispered；　〃before　the　fire　has　swept
  a　path　for　us　to　the　road　below。　　We　are　safe　here；　unless　some
  sudden　current　should　draw　the　fire　down　upon　us。　　You　are　not
  frightened？〃　　She　pressed　his　hand；　she　was　thinking　of　the　pale
  face　of　Dunn；　lying　in　the　secure　retreat　she　had　purchased　for
  him　at　such　a　sacrifice。　　Yet　the　possibility　of　danger　to　him
  now　for　a　moment　marred　her　present　happiness　and　security。　　〃You
  think　the　fire　will　not　go　north　of　where　you　found　me？〃　she
  asked　softly。
  〃I　think　not；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　will　reconnoitre。　　Stay　where　you
  are。〃
  They　pressed　hands；　and　parted。　　He　leaped　upon　the　slanting
  trunk　and　ascended　it　rapidly。　　She　waited　in　mute　expectation。
  There　was　a　sudden　movement　of　the　root　on　which　she　sat；　a
  deafening　crash；　and　she　was　thrown　forward　on　her　face。
  The　vast　bulk　of　the　leaning　tree；　dislodged　from　its　aerial
  support　by　the　gradual　sapping　of　the　spring　at　its　roots；　or　by
  the　crumbling　of　the　bark　from　the　heat；　had　slipped；　made　a　half
  revolution；　and；　falling；　overbore　the　lesser　trees　in　its　path；
  and　tore；　in　its　resistless　momentum；　a　broad　opening　to　the
  underbrush。
  With　a　cry　to　Low；　Teresa　staggered　to　her　feet。　　There　was　an
  interval　of　hideous　silence；　but　no　reply。　　She　called　again。
  There　was　a　sudden　deepening　roar；　the　blast　of　a　fiery　furnace
  swept　through　the　opening；　a　thousand　luminous　points　around　her
  burst　into　fire；　and　in　an　instant　she　was　lost　in　a　whirlwind　of
  smoke　and　flame！　　From　the　onset　of　its　fury　to　its　culmination
  twenty　minutes　did　not　elapse；　but　in　that　interval　a　radius　of
  two　hundred　yards　around　the　hidden　spring　was　swept　of　life　and
  light　and　motion。
  For　the　rest　of　that　day　and　part　of　the　night　a　pall　of　smoke
  hung　above　the　scene　of　desolation。　　It　lifted　only　towards　the
  morning；　when　the　moon；　rising　high；　picked　out　in　black　and
  silver　the　shrunken　and　silent　columns　of　those　roofless　vaults；
  shorn　of　base　and　capital。　　It　flickered　on　the　still；
  overflowing　pool　of　the　hidden　spring；　and　shone　upon　the　white
  face　of　Low；　who；　with　a　rootlet　of　the　fallen　tree　holding　him
  down　like　an　arm　across　his　breast；　seemed　to　be　sleeping
  peacefully　in　the　sleeping　water。
  。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。
  Contemporaneous　history　touched　him　as　briefly；　but　not　as
  gently。　　〃It　is　now　definitely　ascertained；〃　said　〃The
  Slumgullion　Mirror；〃　〃that　Sheriff　Dunn　met　his　fate　in　the
  Carquinez　Woods　in　the　performance　of　his　duty；　that　fearless　man
  having　received　information　of　the　concealment　of　a　band　of　horse
  thieves　in　their　recesses。　　The　desperadoes　are　presumed　to　have
  escaped；　as　the　only　remains　found　are　those　of　two　wretched
  tramps；　one　of　whom　is　said　to　have　been　a　digger；　who　supported
  himself　upon　roots　and　herbs；　and　the　other　a　degraded　half…white
  woman。　　It　is　not　unreasonable　to　suppose　that　the　fire
  originated　through　their　carelessness；　although　Father　Wynn　of
  the　First　Baptist　Church；　in　his　powerful　discourse　of　last
  Sunday；　pointed　at　the　warning　and　lesson　of　such　catastrophes。
  It　may　not　be　out　of　place　here　to　say　that　the　rumors　regarding
  an　engagement　between　the　pastor's　accomplished　daughter　and　the
  late　lamented　sheriff　are　utterly　without　foundation；　as　it　has
  been　an　on　dit　for　some　time　in　all　well…informed　circles　that
  the　indefatigable　Mr。　Brace；　of　Wells；　Fargo　and　Co。's　Express；
  will　shortly　lead　the　lady　to　the　hymeneal　altar。〃
  End