in the carquinez woods(在卡圭尼兹森林)-第4部分
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little life； abused or caressed her as she sided with either； and then left her
with a circus troupe； where she first tasted the power of her courage； her
beauty； and her recklessness。 She remembered those flashes of triumph
that left a fever in her veinsa fever that when it failed must be stimulated
by dissipation； by anything； by everything that would keep her name a
wonder in men's mouths； an envious fear to women。 She recalled her
transfer to the strolling players； her cheap pleasures； and cheaper rivalries
and hatredbut always Teresa！ the daring Teresa！ the reckless Teresa！
audacious as a woman； invincible as a boy； dancing； flirting； fencing；
shooting； swearing； drinking； smoking； fighting Teresa！ 〃Oh； yes； she
had been loved； perhapswho knows？but always feared。 Why should
she change now？ Ha； he should see。〃
She had lashed herself in a frenzy； as was her wont； with gestures；
ejaculations； oaths； adjurations； and passionate apostrophes； but with this
strange and unexpected result。 Heretofore she had always been sustained
and kept up by an audience of some kind or quality； if only perhaps a
humble companion； there had always been some one she could fascinate
or horrify； and she could read her power mirrored in their eyes。 Even the
half…abstracted indifference of her strange host had been something。 But
she was alone now。 Her words fell on apathetic solitude； she was acting
to viewless space。 She rushed to the opening； dashed the hanging bark
aside； and leaped to the ground。
She ran forward wildly a few steps； and stopped。
〃Hallo！〃 she cried。 〃Look； 'tis I； Teresa！〃
The profound silence remained unbroken。 Her shrillest tones were
lost in an echoless space； even as the smoke of her fire had faded into pure
ether。 She stretched out her clenched fists as if to defy the pillared
austerities of the vaults around her。
〃Come and take me if you dare！〃
The challenge was unheeded。 If she had thrown herself violently
against the nearest tree…trunk； she could not have been stricken more
breathless than she was by the compact； embattled solitude that
encompassed her。 The hopelessness of impressing these cold and passive
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vaults with her selfish passion filled her with a vague fear。 In her rage of
the previous night she had not seen the wood in its profound immobility。
Left alone with the majesty of those enormous columns； she trembled and
turned faint。 The silence of the hollow tree she had just quitted seemed
to her less awful than the crushing presence of these mute and monstrous
witnesses of her weakness。 Like a wounded quail with lowered crest and
trailing wing； she crept back to her hiding place。
Even then the influence of the wood was still upon her。 She picked
up the novel she had contemptuously thrown aside； only to let it fall again
in utter weariness。 For a moment her feminine curiosity was excited by
the discovery of an old book； in whose blank leaves were pressed a variety
of flowers and woodland grasses。 As she could not conceive that these
had been kept for any but a sentimental purpose； she was disappointed to
find that underneath each was a sentence in an unknown tongue； that even
to her untutored eye did not appear to be the language of passion。 Finally
she rearranged the couch of skins and blankets； and； imparting to it in
three clever shakes an entirely different character； lay down to pursue her
reveries。 But nature asserted herself； and ere she knew it she was asleep。
So intense and prolonged had been her previous excitement that； the
tension once relieved； she passed into a slumber of exhaustion so deep that
she seemed scarce to breathe。 High noon succeeded morning； the central
shaft received a single ray of upper sunlight； the afternoon came and went；
the shadows gathered below； the sunset fires began to eat their way
through the groined roof； and she still slept。 She slept even when the
bark hangings of the chamber were put aside； and the young man
reentered。
He laid down a bundle he was carrying and softly approached the
sleeper。 For a moment he was startled from his indifference； she lay so
still and motionless。 But this was not all that struck him； the face before
him was no longer the passionate； haggard visage that confronted him that
morning； the feverish air； the burning color； the strained muscles of mouth
and brow； and the staring eyes were gone； wiped away； perhaps； by the
tears that still left their traces on cheek and dark eyelash。 It was the face
of a handsome woman of thirty； with even a suggestion of softness in the
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contour of the cheek and arching of her upper lip； no longer rigidly drawn
down in anger； but relaxed by sleep on her white teeth。
With the lithe； soft tread that was habitual to him； the young man
moved about； examining the condition of the little chamber and its stock
of provisions and necessaries； and withdrew presently； to reappear as
noiselessly with a tin bucket of water。 This done； he replenished the little
pile of fuel with an armful of bark and pine cones； cast an approving
glance about him； which included the sleeper； and silently departed。
It was night when she awoke。 She was surrounded by a profound
darkness； except where the shaft…like opening made a nebulous mist in the
corner of her wooden cavern。 Providentially she struggled back to
consciousness slowly； so that the solitude and silence came upon her
gradually； with a growing realization of the events of the past twenty…four
hours； but without a shock。 She was alone here； but safe still； and every
hour added to her chances of ultimate escape。 She remembered to have
seen a candle 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。
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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。
〃
