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among the articles on the shelf； and she began to grope her way
towards the matches。 Suddenly she stopped。 What was that panting？
Was it her own breathing； quickened with a sudden nameless
terror？ or was there something outside？ Her heart seemed to stop
beating while she listened。 Yes！ it was a panting outsidea
panting now increased； multiplied； redoubled； mixed with the
sounds of rustling； tearing； craunching； and occasionally a
quick； impatient snarl。 She crept on her hands and knees to the
opening and looked out。 At first the ground seemed to be
undulating between her and the opposite tree。 But a second
glance showed her the black and gray； bristling； tossing backs of
tumbling beasts of prey； charging the carcass of the bear that
lay at its roots； or contesting for the prize with gluttonous；
choked breath； sidelong snarls； arched spines； and recurved
tails。 One of the boldest had leaped upon a buttressing root of
her tree within a foot of the opening。 The excitement； awe； and
terror she had undergone culminated in one wild； maddened scream；
that seemed to pierce even the cold depths of the forest； as she
dropped on her face； with her hands clasped over her eyes in an
agony of fear。
Her scream was answered； after a pause； by a sudden volley of
firebrands and sparks into the midst of the panting； crowding
pack； a few smothered howls and snaps； and a sudden dispersion of
the concourse。 In another moment the young man； with a blazing
brand in either hand； leaped upon the body of the bear。
Teresa raised her head； uttered a hysterical cry； slid down the
tree； flew wildly to his side； caught convulsively at his sleeve；
and fell on her knees beside him。
〃Save me！ save me！〃 she gasped； in a voice broken by terror。
〃Save me from those hideous creatures。 No； no！〃 she implored； as
he endeavored to lift her to her feet。 〃Nolet me stay here
close beside you。 So；〃 clutching the fringe of his leather
hunting…shirt； and dragging herself on her knees nearer him
〃sodon't leave me； for God's sake！〃
〃They are gone；〃 he replied； gazing down curiously at her； as she
wound the fringe around her hand to strengthen her hold； 〃they're
only a lot of cowardly coyotes and wolves； that dare not attack
anything that lives and can move。〃
The young woman responded with a nervous shudder。 〃Yes； that's
it；〃 she whispered； in a broken voice； 〃it's only the dead they
want。 Promise meswear to me； if I'm caught； or hung； or shot；
you won't let me be left here to be torn andah！ my God！ what's
that？〃
She had thrown her arms around his knees； completely pinioning
him to her frantic breast。 Something like a smile of disdain
passed across his face as he answered； 〃It's nothing。 They will
not return。 Get up！〃
Even in her terror she saw the change in his face。 〃I know； I
know！〃 she cried。 〃I'm frightenedbut I cannot bear it any
longer。 Hear me！ Listen！ Listenbut don't move！ I didn't
mean to kill Cursonno！ I swear to God； no！ I didn't mean to
kill the sheriffand I didn't。 I was only braggingdo you
hear？ I lied！ I lieddon't move； I swear to God I lied。 I've
made myself out worse than I was。 I have。 Only don't leave me
nowand if I dieand it's not far off； may beget me away from
hereand from THEM。 Swear it！〃
〃All right；〃 said the young man； with a scarcely concealed
movement of irritation。 〃But get up now； and go back to the
cabin。〃
〃No； not THERE alone。〃 Nevertheless； he quietly but firmly
released himself。
〃I will stay here；〃 he replied。 〃I would have been nearer to
you； but I thought it better for your safety that my camp…fire
should be further off。 But I can build it here； and that will
keep the coyotes off。〃
〃Let me stay with youbeside you；〃 she said imploringly。
She looked so broken； crushed； and spiritless； so unlike the
woman of the morning that； albeit with an ill grace； he tacitly
consented； and turned away to bring his blankets。 But in the
next moment she was at his side； following him like a dog； silent
and wistful； and even offering to carry his burden。 When he had
built the fire； for which she had collected the pine…cones and
broken branches near them； he sat down； folded his arms； and
leaned back against the tree in reserved and deliberate silence。
Humble and submissive； she did not attempt to break in upon a
reverie she could not help but feel had little kindliness to
herself。 As the fire snapped and sparkled； she pillowed her head
upon a root； and lay still to watch it。
It rose and fell； and dying away at times to a mere lurid glow；
and again； agitated by some breath scarcely perceptible to them；
quickening into a roaring flame。 When only the embers remained；
a dead silence filled the wood。 Then the first breath of morning
moved the tangled canopy above； and a dozen tiny sprays and
needles detached from the interlocked boughs winged their soft
way noiselessly to the earth。 A few fell upon the prostrate
woman like a gentle benediction； and she slept。 But even then；
the young man； looking down； saw that the slender fingers were
still aimlessly but rigidly twisted in the leather fringe of his
hunting…shirt。
CHAPTER II。
It was a peculiarity of the Carquinez Wood that it stood apart
and distinct in its gigantic individuality。 Even where the
integrity of its own singular species was not entirely preserved；
it admitted no inferior trees。 Nor was there any diminishing
fringe on its outskirts； the sentinels that guarded the few
gateways of the dim trails were as monstrous as the serried ranks
drawn up in the heart of the forest。 Consequently； the red
highway that skirted the eastern angle was bare and shadeless；
until it slipped a league off into a watered valley and refreshed
itself under lesser sycamores and willows。 It was here the newly
born city of Excelsior； still in its cradle； had； like an infant
Hercules； strangled the serpentine North Fork of the American
river； and turned its life current into the ditches and flumes of
the Excelsior mines。
Newest of the new houses that seemed to have accidentally formed
its single； straggling street was the residence of the Rev。
Winslow Wynn； not unfrequently known as 〃Father Wynn；〃 pastor of
the First Baptist church。 The 〃pastorage；〃 as it was cheerfully
called； had the glaring distinction of being built of brick； and
was； as had been wickedly pointed out by idle scoffers； the only
〃fireproof〃 structure in town。 This sarcasm was not； however；
supposed to be particularly distasteful to 〃Father Wynn；〃 who
enjoyed the reputation of being 〃hail fellow； well met〃 with the
rough mining element； who called them by their Christian names；
had been known to drink at the bar of the Polka Saloon while
engaged in the conversion of a prominent citizen； and was
popularly said to have no 〃gospel starch〃 about him。 Certain
conscious outcasts and transgressors were touched at this
apparent unbending of the spiritual authority。 The rigid tenets
of Father Wynn's faith were lost in the supposed catholicity of
his humanity。 〃A preacher that can jine a man when he's histin'
liquor into him； without jawin' about it； ought to be allowed to
wrestle with sinners and splash about in as much cold water as he
likes；〃 was the criticism of one of his converts。 Nevertheless；
it was true that Father Wynn was somewhat loud and intolerant in
his tolerance。 It was true that he was a little more rough； a
little more frank； a little more hearty； a little more impulsive
than his disciples。 It was true that often the proclamation of
his extreme liberality and brotherly equality partook somewhat of
an apology。 It is true that a few who might have been most
benefited by this kind of gospel regarded him with a singular
disdain。 It is true that his liberality was of an ornamental；
insinuating quality； accompanied with but little sacrifice； his
acceptance of a collection taken up in a gambling saloon for the
rebuilding of his church； destroyed by fire； gave him a
popularity large enough； it must be confessed； to cover the sins
of the gamblers themselves； but it was not proven that HE had
ever organized any form of relief。 But it was true that local
history somehow accepted him as an exponent of mining
Christianity； without the least reference to the opinions of the
Christian miners themselves。
The Rev。 Mr。 Wynn's liberal habits and opinions were not；
however； shared by his only daughter； a motherless young lady of
eighteen。 Nellie Wynn was in the eye of Excelsior an
unapproachable divinity； as inaccessible and cold as her father
was impulsive and familiar。 An atmosphere of chaste and proud
virginity made itself felt even in the starched integrity of her
spotless skirts； in her neatly gloved finger…tips； in her clear
amber eyes； in her imperious red lips； in her sensitive nostrils。
Need it be said that the youth and middle age of Excelsior were
madly； because apparently hopelessly； in love with her？ For the
rest； she had been expensively educated； was profoundly ignorant
in two languages； with a trained misunderstanding of music and
painting； and a natural and faultless taste in dress。
The Rev。 Mr。 Wynn was engaged in a char