flip-a california romance-第9节

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exceedingly　sponged　out　as　to　color；　and　exceedingly　profane。　　It

appeared　that　there　was；　indeed；　a　tree　that　had　fallen　in　the

〃run；〃　but　that；　far　from　diverting　the　overflow　into　the　pit；　it

had　established　〃back　water；〃　which　had　forced　another　outlet。　　All

this　might　have　been　detected　at　once　by　any　human　intellect　not

distracted　by　correspondence　with　strangers；　and　enfeebled　by

habitually　scorning　the　intellect　of　its　own　progenitor。　　This

reckless　selfishness　had　further　only　resulted　in　giving

〃rheumatics〃　to　that　progenitor；　who　now　required　the　external

administration　of　opodeldoc　to　his　limbs；　and　the　internal

administration　of　whiskey。　　Having　thus　spoken；　Mr。　Fairley；　with

great　promptitude　and　infantine　simplicity；　at　once　bared　two　legs

of　entirely　different　colors　and　mutely　waited　for　his　daughter　to

rub　them。　　If　Flip　did　this　all　unconsciously；　and　with　the

mechanical　dexterity　of　previous　habit；　it　was　because　she　did　not

quite　understand　the　savage　eyes　and　impatient　gestures　of　Lance　in

his　encompassing　wig　and　blanket；　and　because　it　helped　her　to

voice　her　thought。



〃Ye'll　never　be　able　to　take　yer　watch　at　the　diamond　pit　to…night；

Dad；〃　she　said；　〃and　I've　been　reck'nin'　you　might　set　the　squaw

there　instead。　　I　can　show　her　what　to　do。〃



But　to　Flip's　momentary　discomfiture；　her　father　promptly　objected。

〃Mebbee　I've　got　suthin'　else　for　her　to　do。　　Mebbee　I　may　have　my

secrets；　tooeh？〃　he　said；　with　dark　significance；　at　the　same

time　administering　a　significant　nudge　to　Lance；　which　kept　up　the

young　man's　exasperation。　　〃No；　she'll　rest　yer　a　bit　just　now。

I'll　set　her　to　watchin'　suthin'　else；　like　as　not；　when　I　want

her。〃　　Flip　fell　into　one　of　her　suggestive　silences。　　Lance

watched　her　earnestly；　mollified　by　a　single　furtive　glance　from

her　significant　eyes；　the　rain　dashed　against　the　windows；　and

occasionally　spattered　and　hissed　in　the　hearth　of　the　broad

chimney；　and　Mr。　David　Fairley；　somewhat　assuaged　by　the　internal

administration　of　whiskey；　grew　more　loquacious。　　The　genius　of

incongruity　and　inconsistency　which　generally　ruled　his　conduct

came　out　with　freshened　vigor　under　the　gentle　stimulation　of

spirit。　　〃On　an　evening　like　this；〃　he　began；　comfortably　settling

himself　on　the　floor　beside　the　chimney；　〃ye　might　rig　yerself　out

in　them　new　duds　and　fancy　fixin's　that　that　Sacramento　shrimp　sent

ye；　and　let　your　own　flesh　and　blood　see　ye。　　If　that's　too　much　to

do　for　your　old　dad；　ye　might　do　it　to　please　that　digger　squaw　as

a　Christian　act。〃　　Whether　in　the　hidden　depths　of　the　old　man's

consciousness　there　was　a　feeling　of　paternal　vanity　in　showing

this　wretched　aborigine　the　value　and　importance　of　the　treasure

she　was　about　to　guard；　I　cannot　say。　　Flip　darted　an　interrogatory

look　at　Lance；　who　nodded　a　quiet　assent；　and　she　flew　into　the

inner　room。　　She　did　not　linger　on　the　details　of　her　toilet；　but

reappeared　almost　the　next　moment　in　her　new　finery；　buttoning　the

neck　of　her　gown　as　she　entered　the　room；　and　chastely　stopping　at

the　window　to　characteristically　pull　up　her　stocking。　　The

peculiarity　of　her　situation　increased　her　usual　shyness；　she

played　with　the　black　and　gold　beads　of　a　handsome　necklace；

Lance's　last　gift；as　the　merest　child　might；　her　unbuckled　shoe

gave　the　squaw　a　natural　opportunity　of　showing　her　admiration　and

devotion　by　insisting　upon　buckling　it；　and　gave　Lance；　under　that

disguise；　an　opportunity　of　covertly　kissing　the　little　foot　and

ankle　in　the　shadow　of　the　chimney；　an　event　which　provoked　slight

hysterical　symptoms　in　Flip；　and　caused　her　to　sit　suddenly　down　in

spite　of　the　remonstrances　of　her　parent。　　〃Ef　you　can't　quit

gigglin'　and　squirmin'　like　an　Injin　baby　yourself；　ye'd　better　git

rid　o'　them　duds；〃　he　ejaculated　with　peevish　scorn。



Yet；　under　this　perfunctory　rebuke；　his　weak　vanity　could　not　be

hidden；　and　he　enjoyed　the　evident　admiration　of　a　creature　whom　he

believed　to　be　half…witted　and　degraded　all　the　more　keenly　because

it　did　not　make　him　jealous。　　She　could　not　take　Flip　from　him。

Rendered　garrulous　by　liquor；　he　went　to　voice　his　contempt　for

those　who　might　attempt　it。　　Taking　advantage　of　his　daughter's

absence　to　resume　her　homely　garments；　he　whispered　confidentially

to　Lance；



〃Ye　see　these　yer　fine　dresses；　ye　might　think　is　presents。　　Pr'aps

Flip　lets　on　they　are？　　Pr'aps　she　don't　know　any　better。　　But　they

ain't　presents。　　They're　only　samples　o'　dressmaking　and　jewelry

that　a　vain；　conceited　shrimp　of　a　feller　up　in　Sacramento　sends

down　here　to　get　customers　for。　　In　course　I'm　to　pay　for　'em。　　In

course　he　reckons　I'm　to　do　it。　　In　course　I　calkilate　to　do　it；

but　he　needn't　try　to　play　'em　off　as　presents。　　He　talks　suthin'

o'　coming　down　here；　sportin'　hisself　off　on　Flip　as　a　fancy　buck！

Not　ez　long　ez　the　old　man's　here；　you　bet。〃　　Thoroughly　carried

away　by　his　fancied　wrongs；　it　was　perhaps　fortunate　that　he　did

not　observe　the　flashing　eyes　of　Lance　behind　his　lank　and

lustreless　wig；　but　seeing　only　the　figure　of　Lance；　as　he　had

conjured　him；　he　went　on：　〃That's　why　I　want　you　to　hang　around

her。　　Hang　around　her　ontil　my　boy；him　that's　comin'　home　on　a

visit；gets　here；　and　I　reckon　he'll　clear　out　that　yar　Sacramento

counter…jumper。　　Only　let　me　get　a　sight　o'　him　afore　Flip　does。

eh？　　D'ye　hear？　　Dog　my　skin　if　I　don't　believe　the　dd　Injin's

drunk。〃　　It　was　fortunate　that　at　that　moment　Flip　reappeared；　and；

dropping　on　the　hearth　between　her　father　and　the　infuriated　Lance；

let　her　hand　slip　in　his　with　a　warning　pressure。　　The　light　touch

momentarily　recalled　him　to　himself　and　her；　but　not　until　the

quick…witted　girl　had　had　revealed　to　her　in　one　startled　wave　of

consciousness　the　full　extent　of　Lance's　infirmity　of　temper。　　With

the　instinct　of　awakened　tenderness　came　a　sense　of　responsibility；

and　a　vague　premonition　of　danger。　　The　coy　blossom　of　her　heart

was　scarce　unfolded　before　it　was　chilled　by　approaching　shadows。

Fearful　of；　she　knew　not　what；　she　hesitated。　　Every　moment　of

Lance's　stay　was　imperiled　by　a　single　word　that　might　spring　from

his　suppressed　white　lips；　beyond　and　above　the　suspicions　his

sudden　withdrawal　might　awaken　in　her　father's　breast；　she　was

dimly　conscious　of　some　mysterious　terror　without　that　awaited　him。

She　listened　to　the　furious　onslaught　of　the　wind　upon　the

sycamores　beside　their　cabin；　and　thought　she　heard　it　there；　she

listened　to　the　sharp　fusillade　of　rain　upon　roof　and　pane；　and　the

turbulent　roar　and　rush　of　leaping　mountain　torrents　at　their　very

feet；　and　fancied　it　was　there。　　She　suddenly　sprang　to　the　window；

and；　pressing　her　eyes　to　the　pane；　saw　through　the　misty　turmoil

of　tossing　boughs　and　swaying　branches　the　scintillating

intermittent　flames　of　torches　moving　on　the　trail　above；　and　KNEW

it　was　there！



In　an　instant　she　was　collected　and　calm。　　〃Dad；〃　she　said；　in　her

ordinary　indifferent　tone；　〃there's　torches　movin'　up　toward　the

diamond　pit。　　Likely　it's　tramps。　　I'll　take　the　squaw　and　see。〃

And　before　the　old　man　could　stagger　to　his　feet　she　had　dragged

Lance　with　her　into　the　road。





CHAPTER　VI。





The　wind　charged　down　upon　them；　slamming　the　door　at　their　backs；

extinguishing　the　broad　shaft　of　light　that　had　momentarily　shot

out　into　the　darkness；　and　swept　them　a　dozen　yards　away。　　Gaining

the　lee　of　a　madrono　tree；　Lance　opened　his　blanketed　arms；

enfolded　the　girl；　and　felt　her　for　one　brief　moment　tremble　and

nestle　in　his　bosom　like　some　frightened　animal。　　〃Well；〃　he　said；

gayly；　〃what　next？〃　　Flip　recovered　herself。　　〃You're　safe　now

anywhere　outside　the　house。　　But　did　you　expect　them　tonight？〃

Lance　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Why　not？〃　　〃Hush！〃　returned　the

girl；　〃they're　coming　this　way。〃



The　four　flickering；　scattered　lights　presently　dropped　into　line。

The　trail　had　been　found；　they　were　coming　nearer。　　Flip　breathed

quickly；　the　spiced　aroma　of　her　presence　filled　the　blanket　as　he

drew　her　tightly　beside　him。　　He　had　forgotten　the　storm　that　raged

around　them；　the　mysterious　foe　that　was　approaching；　until　Flip

caught　his　sleeve　with　a　slight　laugh。　　〃Why；　it's　Kennedy　and

Bijah？〃



〃Who's　Kennedy　and　Bijah？〃　asked　Lance；　curtly。



〃Kennedy's　the　Postmaster　and　Bijah's　the　Butcher。〃



〃What　do　they　want？〃　continued　Lance。



〃Me；〃　said　Flip；　coyly。



〃You？〃



〃Yes；　let's　run　away。〃



Half　leading；　half　dragging　her　friend；　Flip　made　her　way　with

unerring　woodcraft　down　the　ravine。　　The　sound　of　voices　and　even

the　tumult　of　the　storm　became　fainter；　an　acrid　smell　of　burning

green　wood　smarted　Lance's　lips　and　eyes；　in　the　midst　of　the

darkness　beneath　him　gradually　a　faint；　gigantic　nimbus　like　a

lurid　eye　glowed　and　sank；　quivered　and　faded　with　the　spent　breath

of　the　gale　as　it　penetrated　their　retreat。　　〃The　pit；〃　whispered

Flip；