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unconsciously fell into an attitude that in any other mortal
would have been a pose； but with him was the picturesque and
unstudied relaxation of perfect symmetry。
〃Hallo； Mister！〃
He raised his head so carelessly and listlessly that he did not
otherwise change his attitude。 Stepping from behind the tree；
the woman of the preceding night stood before him。 Her hands
were free except for a thong of the riata； which was still
knotted around one wrist； the end of the thong having been torn
or burnt away。 Her eyes were bloodshot； and her hair hung over
her shoulders in one long black braid。
〃I reckoned all along it was YOU who shot the bear；〃 she said；
〃at least some one hiding yer；〃 and she indicated the hollow tree
with her hand。 〃It wasn't no chance shot。〃 Observing that the
young man； either from misconception or indifference； did not
seem to comprehend her； she added； 〃We came by here； last night；
a minute after you fired。〃
〃Oh； that was YOU kicked up such a row； was it？〃 said the young
man； with a shade of interest。
〃I reckon；〃 said the woman； nodding her head； 〃and them that was
with me。〃
〃And who are they？〃
〃Sheriff Dunn； of Yolo； and his deputy。〃
〃And where are they now？〃
〃The deputyin h…ll； I reckon； I don't know about the sheriff。〃
〃I see；〃 said the young man quietly； 〃and you？〃
〃Igot away；〃 she said savagely。 But she was taken with a
sudden nervous shiver； which she at once repressed by tightly
dragging her shawl over her shoulders and elbows； and folding her
arms defiantly。
〃And you're going？〃
〃To follow the deputy； may be；〃 she said gloomily。 〃But come； I
say； ain't you going to treat？ It's cursed cold here。〃
〃Wait a moment。〃 The young man was looking at her； with his
arched brows slightly knit and a half smile of curiosity。 〃Ain't
you Teresa？〃
She was prepared for the question； but evidently was not certain
whether she would reply defiantly or confidently。 After an
exhaustive scrutiny of his face she chose the latter； and said；
〃You can bet your life on it； Johnny。〃
〃I don't bet； and my name isn't Johnny。 Then you're the woman
who stabbed Dick Curson over at Lagrange's？〃
She became defiant again。
〃That's me； all the time。 What are you going to do about it？〃
〃Nothing。 And you used to dance at the Alhambra？〃 She whisked
the shawl from her shoulders； held it up like a scarf； and made
one or two steps of the sembicuacua。 There was not the least
gayety； recklessness； or spontaneity in the action； it was simply
mechanical bravado。 It was so ineffective； even upon her own
feelings； that her arms presently dropped to her side； and she
coughed embarrassedly。 〃Where's that whiskey； pardner？〃 she
asked。
The young man turned toward the tree he had just quitted； and
without further words assisted her to mount to the cavity。 It
was an irregular…shaped vaulted chamber； pierced fifty feet above
by a shaft or cylindrical opening in the decayed trunk； which was
blackened by smoke； as if it had served the purpose of a chimney。
In one corner lay a bearskin and blanket； at the side were two
alcoves or indentations； one of which was evidently used as a
table； and the other as a cupboard。 In another hollow； near the
entrance； lay a few small sacks of flour； coffee； and sugar； the
sticky contents of the latter still strewing the floor。 From
this storehouse the young man drew a wicker flask of whiskey； and
handed it； with a tin cup of water； to the woman。 She waved the
cup aside； placed the flask to her lips； and drank the undiluted
spirit。 Yet even this was evidently bravado； for the water
started to her eyes； and she could not restrain the paroxysm of
coughing that followed。
〃I reckon that's the kind that kills at forty rods；〃 she said；
with a hysterical laugh。 〃But I say； pardner； you look as if you
were fixed here to stay；〃 and she stared ostentatiously around
the chamber。 But she had already taken in its minutest details；
even to observing that the hanging strips of bark could be
disposed so as to completely hide the entrance。
〃Well； yes；〃 he replied； 〃it wouldn't be very easy to pull up the
stakes and move the shanty further on。〃
Seeing that either from indifference or caution he had not
accepted her meaning； she looked at him fixedly； and said；
〃What is your little game？〃
〃Eh？〃
〃What are you hiding forhere； in this tree？〃
〃But I'm not hiding。〃
〃Then why didn't you come out when they hailed you last night？〃
〃Because I didn't care to。〃
Teresa whistled incredulously。 〃All rightthen if you're not
hiding； I'm going to。〃 As he did not reply； she went on： 〃If I
can keep out of sight for a couple of weeks； this thing will blow
over here； and I can get across into Yolo。 I could get a fair
show there； where the boys know me。 Just now the trails are all
watched； but no one would think of lookin' here。〃
〃Then how did you come to think of it？〃 he asked carelessly。
〃Because I knew that bear hadn't gone far for that sugar； because
I know he hadn't stole it from a cacheit was too fresh； and
we'd have seen the torn…up earth； because we had passed no camp；
and because I knew there was no shanty here。 And； besides；〃 she
added in a low voice； 〃maybe I was huntin' a hole myself to die
inand spotted it by instinct。〃
There was something in this suggestion of a hunted animal that；
unlike anything she had previously said or suggested； was not
exaggerated； and caused the young man to look at her again。 She
was standing under the chimney…like opening； and the light from
above illuminated her head and shoulders。 The pupils of her eyes
had lost their feverish prominence； and were slightly suffused
and softened as she gazed abstractedly before her。 The only
vestige of her previous excitement was in her left…hand fingers；
which were incessantly twisting and turning a diamond ring upon
her right hand； but without imparting the least animation to her
rigid attitude。 Suddenly； as if conscious of his scrutiny； she
stepped aside out of the revealing light and by a swift feminine
instinct raised her hand to her head as if to adjust her straggling
hair。 It was only for a moment； however； for； as if aware of the
weakness； she struggled to resume her aggressive pose。
〃Well；〃 she said。 〃Speak up。 Am I goin' to stop here； or have I
got to get up and get？〃
〃You can stay；〃 said the young man quietly； 〃but as I've got my
provisions and ammunition here； and haven't any other place to go
to just now； I suppose we'll have to share it together。〃
She glanced at him under her eyelids； and a half…bitter； half…
contemptuous smile passed across her face。 〃All right； old man；〃
she said； holding out her hand； 〃it's a go。 We'll start in
housekeeping at once； if you like。〃
〃I'll have to come here once or twice a day；〃 he said； quite
composedly； 〃to look after my things； and get something to eat；
but I'll be away most of the time； and what with camping out
under the trees every night I reckon my share won't incommode
you。〃
She opened her black eyes upon him； at this original proposition。
Then she looked down at her torn dress。 〃I suppose this style of
thing ain't very fancy； is it？〃 she said； with a forced laugh。
〃I think I know where to beg or borrow a change for you； if you
can't get any；〃 he replied simply。
She stared at him again。 〃Are you a family man？〃
〃No。〃
She was silent for a moment。 〃Well；〃 she said； 〃you can tell
your girl I'm not particular about its being in the latest
fashion。〃
There was a slight flush on his forehead as he turned toward the
little cupboard； but no tremor in his voice as he went on：
〃You'll find tea and coffee here； and； if you're bored； there's a
book or two。 You read； don't youI mean English？〃
She nodded； but cast a look of undisguised contempt upon the two
worn； coverless novels he held out to her。 〃You haven't got last
week's 'Sacramento Union；' have you？ I hear they have my case
all in； only them lying reporters made it out against me all the
time。〃
〃I don't see the papers；〃 he replied curtly。
〃They say there's a picture of me in the 'Police Gazette；' taken
in the act；〃 and she laughed。
He looked a little abstracted； and turned as if to go。 〃I think
you'll do well to rest a while just now； and keep as close hid as
possible until afternoon。 The trail is a mile away at the
nearest point； but some one might miss it and stray over here。
You're quite safe if you're careful； and stand by the tree。 You
can build a fire here；〃 he stepped under the chimney…like
opening； 〃without its being noticed。 Even the smoke is lost and
cannot be seen so high。〃
The light from above was falling on his head and shoulders； as it
had on hers。 She looked at him intently。
〃You travel a good deal on your figure； pardner； don't you？〃 she
said； with a certain admiration that was quite sexless in its
quality； 〃but I don't see how you pick up a living by it in the
Carquinez Woods。 So you're going； are you？ You might be more
sociable。 Good…by。〃
〃Good…by！〃 He leaped from the opening。
〃I say pardner！〃
He turned a little impatiently。 She had knelt down at the
entrance； so as to be neare