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the brush；〃 and he pointed to some cleverly scattered boughs and strips of
bark which completely effaced the traces of last night's bivouac。 〃We
can't afford to call the attention of any packer or hunter who might
straggle this way to this particular spot and this particular tree； the more
naturally；〃 he added； 〃as they always prefer to camp over an old fire。〃
Accepting this explanation meekly； as partly a reproach for her caprice of
the previous night； Teresa hung her head。
〃I'm very sorry；〃 she said； 〃but wouldn't that；〃 pointing to the carcass
of the bear； 〃have made them curious？〃
But Low's logic was relentless。
〃By this time there would have been little left to excite curiosity； if you
had been willing to leave those beasts to their work。〃
〃I'm very sorry；〃 repeated the woman； her lips quivering。
〃They are the scavengers of the wood；〃 he continued in a lighter tone；
〃if you stay here you must try to use them to keep your house clean。〃
Teresa smiled nervously。
〃I mean that they shall finish their work to…night；〃 he added； 〃and I
shall build another camp…fire for us a mile from here until they do。〃
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But Teresa caught his sleeve。
〃No；〃 she said hurriedly； 〃don't； please； for me。 You must not take
the trouble； nor the risk。 Hear me； do； please。 I can bear it； I WILL
bear itto…night。 I would have borne it last night； but it was so strange
and〃she passed her hands over her forehead〃I think I must have been
half mad。 But I am not so foolish now。〃
She seemed so broken and despondent that he replied reassuringly：
〃Perhaps it would be better that I should find another hiding… place for you；
until I can dispose of that carcass so that it will not draw dogs after the
wolves； and men after THEM。 Besides； your friend the sheriff will
probably remember the bear when he remembers anything； and try to get
on its track again。〃
〃He's a conceited fool；〃 broke in Teresa in a high voice； with a slight
return of her old fury； 〃or he'd have guessed where that shot came from；
and；〃 she added in a lower tone； looking down at her limp and nerveless
fingers； 〃he wouldn't have let a poor； weak； nervous wretch like me get
away。〃
〃But his deputy may put two and two together； and connect your
escape with it。〃
Teresa's eyes flashed。 〃It would be like the dog； just to save his pride；
to swear it was an ambush of my friends； and that he was overpowered by
numbers。 Oh yes！ I see it all！〃 she almost screamed； lashing herself into
a rage at the bare contemplation of this diminution of her glory。 〃That's
the dirty lie he tells everywhere； and is telling now。〃
She stamped her feet and glanced savagely around； as if at any risk to
proclaim the falsehood。 Low turned his impassive； truthful face towards
her。
〃Sheriff Dunn；〃 he began gravely； 〃is a politician； and a fool when he
takes to the trail as a hunter of man or beast。 But he is not a coward nor a
liar。 Your chances would be better if he wereif he laid your escape to
an ambush of your friends； than if his pride held you alone responsible。〃
〃If he's such a good man； why do you hesitate？〃 she replied bitterly。
〃Why don't you give me up at once； and do a service to one of your
friends？〃
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〃I do not even know him；〃 returned Low opening his clear eyes upon
her。 〃I've promised to hide you here； and I shall hide you as well from
him as from anybody。〃
Teresa did not reply； but suddenly dropping down upon the ground
buried her face in her hands and began to sob convulsively。 Low turned
impassively away； and putting aside the bark curtain climbed into the
hollow tree。 In a few moments he reappeared； laden with provisions and
a few simple cooking utensils； and touched her lightly on the shoulder。
She looked up timidly； the paroxysm had passed； but her lashes yet
glittered。
〃Come；〃 he said； 〃come and get some breakfast。 I find you have
eaten nothing since you have been heretwenty…four hours。〃
〃I didn't know it；〃 she said； with a faint smile。 Then seeing his
burden； and possessed by a new and strange desire for some menial
employment； she said hurriedly； 〃Let me carry something do； please；〃
and even tried to disencumber him。
Half annoyed； Low at last yielded； and handing his rifle said； 〃There；
then； take that； but be carefulit's loaded！〃
A cruel blush burnt the woman's face to the roots of her hair as she
took the weapon hesitatingly in her hand。
〃No！〃 she stammered； hurriedly lifting her shame…suffused eyes to his；
〃no！ no！〃
He turned away with an impatience which showed her how completely
gratuitous had been her agitation and its significance； and said； 〃Well； then；
give it back if you are afraid of it。〃 But she as suddenly declined to
return it； and shouldering it deftly； took her place by his side。 Silently
they moved from the hollow tree together。
During their walk she did not attempt to invade his taciturnity。
Nevertheless she was as keenly alive and watchful of his every movement
and gesture as if she had hung enchanted on his lips。 The unerring way
with which he pursued a viewless； undeviating path through those
trackless woods； his quick reconnaissance of certain trees or openings； his
mute inspection of some almost imperceptible footprint of bird or beast；
his critical examination of certain plants which he plucked and deposited
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in his deerskin haversack； were not lost on the quick…witted woman。 As
they gradually changed the clear； unencumbered aisles of the central
woods for a more tangled undergrowth； Teresa felt that subtle admiration
which culminates in imitation； and simulating perfectly the step； tread； and
easy swing of her companion； followed so accurately his lead that she won
a gratified exclamation from him when their goal was reacheda broken；
blackened shaft； splintered by long…forgotten lightning； in the centre of a
tangled carpet of wood…clover。
〃I don't wonder you distanced the deputy；〃 he said cheerfully； throwing
down his burden； 〃if you can take the hunting…path like that。 In a few
days； if you stay here； I can venture to trust you alone for a little pasear
when you are tired of the tree。〃
Teresa looked pleased； but busied herself with arrangements for the
breakfast； while he gathered the fuel for the roaring fire which soon blazed
beside the shattered tree。
Teresa's breakfast was a success。 It was a revelation to the young
nomad； whose ascetic habits and simple tastes were usually content with
the most primitive forms of frontier cookery。 It was at least a surprise to
him to know that without extra trouble kneaded flour； water； and saleratus
need not be essentially heavy； that coffee need not be boiled with sugar to
the consistency of syrup； that even that rarest delicacy； small shreds of
venison covered with ashes and broiled upon the end of a ramrod boldly
thrust into the flames； would be better and even more expeditiously
cooked upon burning coals。 Moved in his practical nature； he was
surprised to find this curious creature of disorganized nerves and useless
impulses informed with an intelligence that did not preclude the welfare of
humanity or the existence of a soul。 He respected her for some minutes；
until in the midst of a culinary triumph a big tear dropped and spluttered in
the saucepan。 But he forgave the irrelevancy by taking no notice of it；
and by doing full justice to that particular dish。
Nevertheless； he asked several questions based upon these recently
discovered qualities。 It appeared that in the old