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第8节

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〃Me bring Wangee girl to cache;〃 replied the Indian; pointing to

the wood。  〃Honest Injin。〃



Another bright idea struck Mr。 Fairley。  But it required some

elaboration。  Hurrying the squaw with him through the pelting rain;

he reached the shelter of the corral。  Vainly the shivering

aborigine drew her tightly bandaged papoose closer to her square;

flat breast; and looked longingly toward the cabin; the old man

backed her against the palisade。  Here he cautiously imparted his

dark intentions to employ her to keep watch and ward over the

ranch; and especially over its young mistress〃clear out all the

tramps 'ceptin' yourself; and I'll keep ye in grub and rum。〃  Many

and deliberate repetitions of this offer in various forms at last

seemed to affect the squaw; she nodded violently; and echoed the

last word 〃rum。〃  〃Now;〃 she added。  The old man hesitated; she was

in possession of his secret; he groaned; and; promising an

immediate installment of liquor; led her to the cabin。



The door was so securely fastened against the impact of the storm

that some moments elapsed before the bar was drawn; and the old man

had become impatient and profane。  When it was partly opened by

Flip he hastily slipped in; dragging the squaw after him; and cast

one single suspicious glance around the rude apartment which served

as a sitting…room。  Flip had apparently been writing。  A small

inkstand was still on the board table; but her paper had evidently

been concealed before she allowed them to enter。  The squaw

instantly squatted before the adobe hearth; warmed her bundled

baby; and left the ceremony of introduction to her companion。  Flip

regarded the two with calm preoccupation and indifference。  The

only thing that touched her interest was the old squaw's draggled

skirt and limp neckerchief。  They were Flip's own; long since

abandoned and cast off in the Gin and Ginger Woods。  〃Secrets

again;〃 whined Fairley; still eying Flip furtively。  〃Secrets

again; in coursein coursejiss so。  Secrets that must be kep

from the ole man。  Dark doin's by one's own flesh and blood。  Go

on! go on!  Don't mind me。〃  Flip did not reply。  She had even lost

the interest in her old dress。  Perhaps it had only touched some

note in unison with her revery。



〃Can't ye get the poor critter some whiskey?〃 he queried; fretfully。

〃Ye used to be peart enuff before。〃  As Flip turned to the corner to

lift the demijohn; Fairley took occasion to kick the squaw with his

foot; and indicate by extravagant pantomime that the bargain was not

to be alluded to before the girl。  Flip poured out some whiskey in a

tin cup; and; approaching the squaw; handed it to her。  〃It's like

ez not;〃 continued Fairley to his daughter; but looking at the

squaw; 〃that she'll be huntin' the woods off and on; and kinder

looking after the last pit near the Madronos; ye'll give her grub

and licker ez she likes。  Well; d'ye hear; Flip?  Are ye moonin'

agin with yer secrets?  What's gone with ye?〃



If the child were dreaming; it was a delicious dream。  Her magnetic

eyes were suffused by a strange light; as though the eye itself had

blushed; her full pulse showed itself more in the rounding outline

of her cheek than in any deepening of color; indeed; if there was

any heightening of tint; it was in her freckles; which fairly

glistened like tiny spangles。  Her eyes were downcast; her

shoulders slightly bent; but her voice was low and clear and

thoughtful as ever。



〃One o' the big pines above the Madrono pit has blown over into the

run;〃 she said。  〃It's choked up the water; and it's risin' fast。

Like ez not it's pourin' over into the pit by this time。〃



The old man rose with a fretful cry。  〃And why in blames didn't you

say so first?〃 he screamed; catching up his axe and rushing to the

door。



〃Ye didn't give me a chance;〃 said Flip; raising her eyes for the

first time。  With an impatient imprecation; Fairley darted by her

and rushed into the wood。  In an instant she had shut the door and

bolted it。  In the same instant the squaw arose; dashed the long

hair not only from her eyes; but from her head; tore away her shawl

and blanket; and revealed the square shoulders of Lance Harriott!

Flip remained leaning against the door; but the young man in rising

dropped the bandaged papoose; which rolled from his lap into the

fire。  Flip; with a cry; sprang toward it; but Lance caught her by

the waist with one arm; as with the other he dragged the bundle

from the flames。



〃Don't be alarmed;〃 he said; gayly; 〃it's only〃



〃What?〃 said Flip; trying to disengage herself。



〃My coat and trousers。〃



Flip laughed; which encouraged Lance to another attempt to kiss

her。  She evaded it by diving her head into his waistcoat; and

saying; 〃There's father。〃



〃But he's gone to clear away that tree?〃 suggested Lance。



One of Flip's significant silences followed。



〃Oh; I see;〃 he laughed。  〃That was a plan to get him away!  Ah!〃

She had released herself。



〃Why did you come like that?〃 she said; pointing to his wig and

blanket。



〃To see if you'd know me;〃 he responded。



〃No;〃 said Flip; dropping her eyes。  〃It's to keep other people

from knowing you。  You're hidin' agin。〃



〃I am;〃 returned Lance; 〃but;〃 he interrupted; 〃it's only the same

old thing。〃



〃But you wrote from Monterey that it was all over;〃 she persisted。



〃So it would have been;〃 he said gloomily; 〃but for some dog down

here who is hunting up an old scent。  I'll spot him yet; and〃  He

stopped suddenly; with such utter abstraction of hatred in his

fixed and glittering eyes that she almost feared him。  She laid her

hand quite unconsciously on his arm。  He grasped it; his face

changed。



〃I couldn't wait any longer to see you; Flip; so I came here

anyway;〃 he went on。  〃I thought to hang round and get a chance to

speak to you first; when I fell afoul of the old man。  He didn't

know me; and tumbled right in my little game。  Why; do you believe

he wants to hire me for my grub and liquor; to act as a sort of

sentry over you and the ranch?〃  And here he related with great

gusto the substance of his interview。  〃I reckon as he's that

suspicious;〃 he concluded; 〃I'd better play it out now as I've

begun; only it's mighty hard I can't see you here before the fire

in your fancy toggery; Flip; but must dodge in and out of the wet

underbrush in these yer duds of yours that I picked up in the old

place in the Gin and Ginger Woods。〃



〃Then you came here just to see me?〃 asked Flip。



〃I did。〃



〃For only that?〃



〃Only that。〃



Flip dropped her eyes。  Lance had got his other arm around her

waist; but her resisting little hand was still potent。



〃Listen;〃 she said at last without looking up; but apparently

talking to the intruding arm; 〃when Dad comes I'll get him to send

you to watch the diamond pit。  It isn't far; it's warm; and〃



〃What?〃



〃I'll come; after a bit; and see you。  Quit foolin' now。  If you'd

only have come here like yourselflikelikea white man。〃



〃The old man;〃 interrupted Lance; 〃would have just passed me on to

the summit。  I couldn't have played the lost fisherman on him at

this time of year。〃



〃Ye could have been stopped at the Crossing by high water; you

silly;〃 said the girl。  〃It was。〃  This grammatical obscurity

referred to the stage coach。



〃Yes; but I might have been tracked to this cabin。  And look here;

Flip;〃 he said; suddenly straightening himself; and lifting the

girl's face to a level with his own; 〃I don't want you to lie any

more for me。  It ain't right。〃



〃All right。  Ye needn't go to the pit; then; and I won't come。〃



〃Flip!〃



〃And here's Dad coming。  Quick!〃



Lance chose to put his own interpretation on this last adjuration。

The resisting little hand was now lying quite limp on his shoulder;

He drew her brown; bright face near his own; felt her spiced breath

on his lips; his cheeks; his hot eyelids; his swimming eyes; kissed

her; hurriedly replaced his wig and blanket; and dropped beside the

fire with the tremulous laugh of youth and innocent first passion。

Flip had withdrawn to the window; and was looking out upon the

rocking pines。



〃He don't seem to be coming;〃 said Lance; with a half…shy laugh。



〃No;〃 responded Flip demurely; pressing her hot oval cheek against

the wet panes; 〃I reckon I was mistaken。  You're sure;〃 she added;

looking resolutely another way; but still trembling like a magnetic

needle toward Lance; as he moved slightly before the fire; 〃you're

SURE you'd like me to come to you?〃



〃Sure; Flip?〃



〃Hush!〃 said Flip; as this reassuring query of reproachful

astonishment appeared about to be emphasized by a forward amatory

dash of Lance's; 〃hush! he's coming this time; sure。〃



It was; indeed; Fairley; exceedingly wet; exceedingly bedraggled;

exceedingly sponged out as to color; and exceedingly profane。

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