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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