Low　had　already　lowered　his　head　and　darted　forward　like　an　arrow。
  In　a　few　moments　he　had　left　not　only　his　companion　but　the　last
  straggling　houses　of　the　outskirts　far　behind　him；　and　had　struck
  out　in　a　long；　swinging　trot　for　the　disused　〃cut…off。〃　　Already
  he　fancied　he　heard　the　note　of　clamor　in　Indian　Spring；　and
  thought　he　distinguished　the　sound　of　hurrying　hoofs　on　the　great
  highway。　　But　the　sunken　trail　hid　it　from　his　view。　　From　the
  column　of　smoke　now　plainly　visible　in　the　growing　morning　light
  he　tried　to　locate　the　scene　of　the　conflagration。　　It　was
  evidently　not　a　fire　advancing　regularly　from　the　outer　skirt　of
  the　wood；　communicated　to　it　from　the　Divide；　it　was　a　local
  outburst　near　its　centre。　　It　was　not　in　the　direction　of　his
  cabin　in　the　tree。　　There　was　no　immediate　danger　to　Teresa；
  unless　fear　drove　her　beyond　the　confines　of　the　wood　into　the
  hands　of　those　who　might　recognize　her。　　The　screaming　of　jays
  and　ravens　above　his　head　quickened　his　speed；　as　it　heralded　the
  rapid　advance　of　the　flames；　and　the　unexpected　apparition　of　a
  bounding　body；　flattened　and　flying　over　the　yellow　plain；　told
  him　that　even　the　secure　retreat　of　the　mountain　wild…cat　had
  been　invaded。　　A　sudden　recollection　of　Teresa's　uncontrollable
  terror　that　first　night　smote　him　with　remorse　and　redoubled　his
  efforts。　　Alone　in　the　track　of　these　frantic　and　bewildered
  beasts；　to　what　madness　might　she　not　be　driven！
  The　sharp　crack　of　a　rifle　from　the　high　road　turned　his　course
  momentarily　in　that　direction。　　The　smoke　was　curling　lazily　over
  the　heads　of　the　party　of　men　in　the　road；　while　the　huge　hulk　of
  a　grizzly　was　disappearing　in　the　distance。　　A　battue　of　the
  escaping　animals　had　commenced！　　In　the　bitterness　of　his　heart
  he　caught　at　the　horrible　suggestion；　and　resolved　to　save　her
  from　them　or　die　with　her　there。
  How　fast　he　ran；　or　the　time　it　took　him　to　reach　the　woods；　has
  never　been　known。　　Their　outlines　were　already　hidden　when　he
  entered　them。　　To　a　sense　less　keen；　a　courage　less　desperate；
  and　a　purpose　less　unaltered　than　Low's；　the　wood　would　have　been
  impenetrable。　　The　central　fire　was　still　confined　to　the　lofty
  tree　tops；　but　the　downward　rush　of　wind　from　time　to　time　drove
  the　smoke　into　the　aisles　in　blinding　and　suffocating　volumes。
  To　simulate　the　creeping　animals；　and　fall　to　the　ground　on　hands
  and　knees；　feel　his　way　through　the　underbrush　when　the　smoke　was
  densest；　or　take　advantage　of　its　momentary　lifting；　and　without
  uncertainty；　mistake；　or　hesitation　glide　from　tree　to　tree　in
  one　undeviating　course；　was　possible　only　to　an　experienced
  woodsman。　　To　keep　his　reason　and　insight　so　clear　as　to　be　able
  in　the　midst　of　this　bewildering　confusion　to　shape　that　course
  so　as　to　intersect　the　wild　and　unknown　tract　of　an　inexperienced；
  frightened　wanderer　belonged　to　Low；　and　Low　alone。　　He　was　making
  his　way　against　the　wind　towards　the　fire。　　He　had　reasoned　that
  she　was　either　in　comparative　safety　to　windward　of　it；　or　he
  should　meet　her　being　driven　towards　him　by　it；　or　find　her
  succumbed　and　fainting　at　its　feet。　　To　do　this　he　must　penetrate
  the　burning　belt；　and　then　pass　under　the　blazing　dome。　　He　was
  already　upon　it；　he　could　see　the　falling　fire　dropping　like　rain
  or　blown　like　gorgeous　blossoms　of　the　conflagration　across　his
  path。　　The　space　was　lit　up　brilliantly。　　The　vast　shafts　of　dull
  copper　cast　no　shadow　below；　but　there　was　no　sign　nor　token　of　any
  human　being。　　For　a　moment　the　young　man　was　at　fault。　　It　was　true
  this　hidden　heart　of　the　forest　bore　no　undergrowth；　the　cool　matted
  carpet　of　the　aisles　seemed　to　quench　the　glowing　fragments　as　they
  fell。　　Escape　might　be　difficult；　but　not　impossible；　yet　every
  moment　was　precious。　　He　leaned　against　a　tree；　and　sent　his　voice
  like　a　clarion　before　him：　〃Teresa！〃　　There　was　no　reply。　　He　called
  again。　　A　faint　cry　at　his　back　from　the　trail　he　had　just　traversed
  made　him　turn。　　Only　a　few　paces　behind　him；　blinded　and　staggering；
  but　following　like　a　beaten　and　wounded　animal；　Teresa；　halted；
  knelt；　clasped　her　hands；　and　dumbly　held　them　out　before　her。
  〃Teresa！〃　he　cried　again；　and　sprang　to　her　side。
  She　caught　him　by　the　knees；　and　lifted　her　face　imploringly　to　his。
  〃Say　that　again！〃　she　cried；　passionately。　　〃Tell　me　it　was
  Teresa　you　called；　and　no　other！　　You　have　come　back　for　me！　　You
  would　not　let　me　die　here　alone！〃
  He　lifted　her　tenderly　in　his　arms；　and　cast　a　rapid　glance
  around　him。　　It　might　have　been　his　fancy；　but　there　seemed　a
  dull　glow　in　the　direction　he　had　come。
  〃You　do　not　speak！〃　she　said。　　〃Tell　me！　　You　did　not　come　here
  to　seek　her？〃
  〃Whom？〃　he　said　quickly。
  〃Nellie！〃
  With　a　sharp　cry　he　let　her　slip　to　the　ground。　　All　the　pent…up
  agony；　rage；　and　mortification　of　the　last　hour　broke　from　him　in
  that　inarticulate　outburst。　　Then；　catching　her　hands　again；　he
  dragged　her　to　his　level。
  〃Hear　me！〃　he　cried；　disregarding　the　whirling　smoke　and　the
  fiery　baptism　that　sprinkled　them〃hear　me！　　If　you　value　your
  life；　if　you　value　your　soul；　and　if　you　do　not　want　me　to　cast
  you　to　the　beasts　like　Jezebel　of　old；　nevernever　take　that
  accursed　name　again　upon　your　lips。　　Seek　herHER？　　Yes！　　Seek
  her　to　tie　her　like　a　witch's　daughter　of　hell　to　that　blazing
  tree！〃　　He　stopped。　　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said　in　a　changed　voice。
  〃I'm　mad；　and　forgetting　myself　and　you。　　Come。〃
  Without　noticing　the　expression　of　half…savage　delight　that　had
  passed　across　her　face；　he　lifted　her　in　his　arms。
  〃Which　way　are　you　going？〃　she　asked；　passing　her　hands　vaguely
  across　his　breast；　as　if　to　reassure　herself　of　his　identity。
  〃To　our　camp　by　the　scarred　tree；〃　he　replied。
  〃Not　there；　not　there；〃　she　said；　hurriedly。　　〃I　was　driven　from
  there　just　now。　　I　thought　the　fire　began　there　until　I　came　here。〃
  Then　it　was　as　he　feared。　　Obeying　the　same　mysterious　law　that
  had　launched　this　fatal　fire　like　a　thunderbolt　from　the　burning
  mountain　crest　five　miles　away　into　the　heart　of　the　Carquinez
  Woods；　it　had　again　leaped　a　mile　beyond；　and　was　hemming　them
  between　two　narrowing　lines　of　fire。　　But　Low　was　not　daunted。
  Retracing　his　steps　through　the　blinding　smoke；　he　strode　off　at
  right　angles　to　the　trail　near　the　point　where　he　had　entered　the
  wood。　　It　was　the　spot　where　he　had　first　lifted　Nellie　in　his
  arms　to　carry　her　to　the　hidden　spring。　　If　any　recollection　of
  it　crossed　his　mind　at　that　moment；　it　was　only　shown　in　his
  redoubled　energy。　　He　did　not　glide　through　the　thick　underbrush；
  as　on　that　day；　but　seemed　to　take　a　savage　pleasure　in　breaking
  through　it　with　sheer　brute　force。　　Once　Teresa　insisted　upon
  relieving　him　of　the　burden　of　her　weight；　but　after　a　few　steps
  she　staggered　blindly　against　him；　and　would　fain　have　recourse
  once　more　to　his　strong　arms。　　And　so；　alternately　staggering；
  bending；　crouching；　or　bounding　and　crashing　on；　but　always　in
  one　direction；　they　burst　through　the　jealous　rampart；　and　came
  upon　the　sylvan　haunt　of　the　hidden　spring。　　The　great　angle　of
  the　half…fallen　tree　acted　as　a　harrier　to　the　wind　and　drifting
  smoke；　and　the　cool　spring　sparkled　and　bubbled　in　the　almost
  translucent　air。　　He　laid　her　down　beside　the　water；　and　bathed
  her　face　and　hands。　　As　he　did　so　his　quick　eye　caught　sight　of　a
  woman's　handkerchief　lying　at　the　foot　of　the　disrupted　root。
  Dropping　Teresa's　hand；　he　walked　towards　it；　and　with　the　toe　of
  his　moccasin　gave　it　one　vigorous　kick　into　the　ooze　at　the
  overflow　of　the　spring。　　He　turned　to　Teresa；　but　she　evidently
  had　not　noticed　the　act。
  〃Where　are　you？〃　she　asked；　with　a　smile。
  Something　in　her　movement　struck　him！　　He　came　towards　her；　and
  bending　down　looked　into　her　face。　　〃Teresa！　　Good　God！look　at
  me！　　What　has　happened？〃
  She　raised　her　eyes　to　his。　　There　was　a　slight　film　across　them；
  the　lids　were　blackened；　the　beautiful　lashes　gone　forever！
  〃I　see　you　a　little　now；　I　think；〃　she　said；　with　a　smile；
  passing　her　hands　vaguely　over　his　face。　　〃It　must　have　happened
  when　he　fainted；　and　I　had　to　drag　him　through　the　blazing　brush；
  both　my　hands　were　full；　and　I　could　not　cover　my　eyes。〃
  〃Drag　whom？〃　said　Low；　quickly。
  〃Why；　Dunn。〃
  〃Dunn！　　He　here？〃　said　Low；　hoarsely。
  〃Yes；　didn't　you　read　the　note　I　left　on　the　herbarium？　　Didn't
  you　come　to　the　camp…fire？〃　she　asked　hurriedly；　clasping　his
  hands。　　〃Tell　me　quickly！〃
  〃No！〃
  〃Then　you　were　not　therethen　you　didn't　leave　me　to　die？〃
  〃No！　　I　swear　it；　Teresa！〃　the　stoicism　that　had　upheld　his　own
  agony　breaking　down　before　her　strong　emotion。
  〃Thank　God！〃　　She　threw　her　arms　around　him；　and　hid　her　aching
  eyes　in　his　troubled　breast。
  〃Tell　me　all；　Teresa；〃　he　whispered　in　her　listening　ear。　　〃Don't
  move；　stay　there；　and　tell　me　all。〃
  With　her　face　buried　in　his　bosom；　as　if　speaking　to　his　heart
  alone；　she　told　him　part；　but　not　all。　　With　her　eyes　filled　with
  tears；　but　a　smile　on　her　lips；　radiant　with　new…found　happiness；
  she　told　him　how　she　had　overheard　the　plans　of　Dunn　and　Brace；
  how　she　had　stolen　their　conveyance　to　warn　him　in　time。　　But
  here　she　stopped；　dreading　to　say　a