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not without a sense of remorse that he witnessed the sacrilegious
transformation。 The two women were nearly the same height and size；
and although Teresa's maturer figure accented the outlines more strongly；
it was still becoming enough to increase his irritation。
Of this becomingness she was doubtless unaware at the moment that
he surprised her。 She was conscious of having 〃a change；〃 and this had
emboldened her to 〃do her hair〃 and otherwise compose herself。 After
their greeting she was the first to allude to the dress； regretting that it was
not more of a rough disguise； and that； as she must now discard the
national habit of wearing her shawl 〃manta〃 fashion over her head； she
wanted a hat。 〃But you must not；〃 she said； 〃borrow any more dresses
for me from your young woman。 Buy them for me at some shop。 They
left me enough money for that。〃 Low gently put aside the few pieces of
gold she had drawn from her pocket； and briefly reminded her of the
suspicion such a purchase by him would produce。 〃That's so；〃 she said；
with a laugh。 〃Caramba！ what a mule I'm becoming！ Ah！ wait a
moment。 I have it！ Buy me a common felt hata man's hatas if for
yourself； as a change to that animal；〃 pointing to the fox…tailed cap he
wore summer and winter； 〃and I'll show you a trick。 I haven't run a
theatrical wardrobe for nothing。〃 Nor had she； for the hat thus procured；
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a few days later； became； by the aid of a silk handkerchief and a bluejay's
feather； a fascinating 〃pork pie。〃
Whatever cause of annoyance to Low still lingered in Teresa's dress； it
was soon forgotten in a palpable evidence of Teresa's value as a botanical
assistant。 It appeared that during the afternoon she had not only
duplicated his specimens； but had discoverd one or two rare plants as yet
unclassified in the flora of the Carquinez Woods。 He was delighted； and
in turn； over the campfire； yielded up some details of his present life and
some of his earlier recollections。
〃You don't remember anything of your father？〃 she asked。 〃Did he
ever try to seek you out？〃
〃No！ Why should he？〃 replied the imperturbable Low； 〃he was not a
Cherokee。〃
〃No； he was a beast；〃 responded Teresa promptly。 〃And your mother…
…do you remember her？〃
〃No； I think she died。〃
〃You THINK she died？ Don't you know？〃
〃No！〃
〃Then you're another！〃 said Teresa。 Notwithstanding this frankness；
they shook hands for the night： Teresa nestling like a rabbit in a hollow by
the side of the campfire； Low with his feet towards it； Indian…wise； and his
head and shoulders pillowed on his haversack； only half distinguishable in
the darkness beyond。
With such trivial details three uneventful days slipped by。 Their retreat
was undisturbed； nor could Low detect； by the least evidence to his acute
perceptive faculties； that any intruding feet had since crossed the belt of
shade。 The echoes of passing events at Indian Spring had recorded the
escape of Teresa as occurring at a remote and purely imaginative distance；
and her probable direction the county of Yolo。
〃Can you remember；〃 he one day asked her； 〃what time it was when
you cut the riata and got away？〃
Teresa pressed her hands upon her eyes and temples。
〃About three； I reckon。〃
〃And you were here at seven； you could have covered some ground in
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four hours？〃
〃PerhapsI don't know；〃 she said； her voice taking up its old quality
again。 〃Don't ask meI ran all the way。〃
Her face was quite pale as she removed her hands from her eyes； and
her breath came as quickly as if she had just finished that race for life。
〃Then you think I am safe here？〃 she added； after a pause。
〃Perfectlyuntil they find you are NOT in Yolo。 Then they'll look
here。 And THAT'S the time for you to go THERE。〃 Teresa smiled
timidly。
〃It will take them some time to search Yolounless；〃 she added；
〃you're tired of me here。〃 The charming non sequitur did not； however；
seem to strike the young man。 〃I've got time yet to find a few more
plants for you；〃 she suggested。
〃Oh； certainly！〃
〃And give you a few more lessons in cooking。〃
〃Perhaps。〃
The conscientious and literal Low was beginning to doubt if she were
really practical。 How otherwise could she trifle with such a situation？
It must be confessed that that day and the next she did trifle with it。
She gave herself up to a grave and delicious languor that seemed to flow
from shadow and silence and permeate her entire being。 She passed
hours in a thoughtful repose of mind and spirit that seemed to fall like
balm from those steadfast guardians； and distill their gentle ether in her
soul； or breathed into her listening ear immunity from the forgotten past；
and security for the present。 If there was no dream of the future in this
calm； even recurrence of placid existence； so much the better。 The
simple details of each succeeding day； the quaint housekeeping； the brief
companionship and coming and going of her young hosthimself at best a
crystallized personification of the sedate and hospitable woodssatisfied
her feeble cravings。 She no longer regretted the inferior position that her
fears had obliged her to take the first night she came； she began to look up
to this young manso much younger than herself without knowing what
it meant； it was not until she found that this attitude did not detract from
his picturesqueness that she discovered herself seeking for reasons to
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degrade him from this seductive eminence。
A week had elapsed with little change。 On two days he had been
absent all day； returning only in time to sup in the hollow tree； which；
thanks to the final removal of the dead bear from its vicinity； was now
considered a safer retreat than the exposed camp…fire。 On the first of
these occasions she received him with some preoccupation； paying but
little heed to the scant gossip he brought from Indian Spring； and retiring
early under the plea of fatigue； that he might seek his own distant camp…
fire； which； thanks to her stronger nerves and regained courage； she no
longer required so near。 On the second occasion； he found her writing a
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