The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-01
fcopyrisht sscursdl
BRET HARTTS NEW ROMANCE.
IN zHE CAR0UIxks wOoDs-A TALE
or CALIFORNIA.
CHATTER L


woods. Tho f0v shaits Of sunlight that had
pierced their pilsred gloom werc lost In un-
fa&homabie deptbs or splnt~red their ineffec-
tusl lances on the enormous trunks Of tho red
woods. For . time tho dull rod Of their vast
oolwmna and tho duh red OF their cast-oR bark
which matted tho echoiess aisiss stili seemed
to hold . faiAt glow OF the dying day But
even this soon passed. Light and color fed
upward The dark interlaced treetops that
had all day made an impcnetrabie shade broke
into fire here and there; their lost spires gilt
tered. faded and went utterly out. A weird
tvilighE that did not como from the outer
world. but seomsd born Of. the wood
itself. i slowly filled and possessed the
aisies.. Tho straight. tall. colossal trunks
ross dimlv like columns OF upward
smoke. Tho few fallen trees stretched their
huge length into obsourlty. and seemed to lie
on shadoWy troetles The strange breath that
Allied these mysterious vaults had neither cold
moss nor moisture; a dry fragrant dust arose
from tho noiseless foot that trod their bark
strown floor; the aisles might have been tombs;
tho fallen trees. enormous mummies; the
silence. the solitude Of . forgotten past
And yet this silence was presently broken by
Q recurring SQUAD like breathing. interrupted
occasionally nv inartioulsto and stertorous
Gasps. It was not the quick. painting. listoning
nal. but indicated q larger. slower. and more
powerful organisation. whose progress was less
watchful and guarded. or As II q fragment Of
ono OF tho fallcn monsters had become ami
mate. Al times this life seemed to take visible
form. but rs vaguely. as MISTAKENLY. as the
phantom OF n nightmare. Now II was square
object moving sideways. endways. with neither
head nor tail and scarcely visible feet; then an
arched bulk rolling against the trunks OF
the trees and recoiling again. or an upright
cylindrical mass. out always oscillating and
unsteady. and striking the trees on either
hand The frequent occurrence OF the move
ment suggested the figures OF some weird
rhythmic dance to music heard by the shape
alone. Suddenly 1t either became motioness
or faded away.
There WAS the frightened nei9hinR OF horse.
tho sudden jin2liny Of spurs. n shout and out
cry. and the swift appsrition Of three dancing
torches In one Of the dark aisles but so intense
was the obscurity that they shed no light on
surrounding objects and seemed to advance
OF their own voition without human guild
nnce. until they disappeared suddenly behind
the interposing bulk Of one Of the largest trees.
Beyond Its eighty feet OF circumference the
light could not reach. and the gloom remained
inscrutable. But the voicos and jingling spurs
we're heard distinctly.
biaSt the narel sue Snieu OH that curSeu
trail again."
"Ye amt lost 1t agln. hsv yer" growled
second voice.
That's list what hev. And these blasted
pine knots don't give light an inch byond 'em.
ID II don't think they mako this cursed
hole blacker."
There was a laugh-a woman's laugh-hys-
torlcal. bitter. sarcastic. exasperating. The
second sneaker. without needing 1t. went on.
what in thunder skeert the horses? Did
you zee or hear anythingP"
"Nothin'. The wood ia like graveyard"
The woman's voice again broke into hoarse.
sontemptuous laugh. The man resumed ang
riiy:
IT you know anything. why In hill don't
you say 40. instead OF cackliny like id
sQuaw thcre. Praps you reckon you ken find
the trail too"
"Take this rope of my waist" said the
womsn's voice. unite my hands. let me down.
and I'll ind It." She spoke quickly and with .
Spanish accent.
1t MAS the mems turn to laugh. And give
you q show to snatch that six-shootar and blow
. hole through mo a. you did to the Sheriff Of
Calayeras. eh3 Not II this Court understands
ITSELF" said tho first speaker. dryly.
Go to the devil then" she said curtly
MOT before n lady" responded the other.
There was another laugh from the men. the
spurs jinglsd again. the three torches reap
peared from behind the tree and then passed
away In the darkness.
Fora tIme silence and immutability possessed
the woods: tho groat trunks doomed upward.
their fallen brothers stretched tn sir slow length
Into obscurity. Tho sound OF breathing again
became audible: tho shape raappeared in the
aisle. and recommended it's mystic dance.
Presently 1t was iost In the shadow OF the larg-
est tree. and to the sound OF breathing sue
. oseded grating and scratching OF bark. Sud
denly. as II riven by lightning. u flash broke
from tho centre Of the tree trunk. lit up the
wools, AMI sharp report rang through it. Al
= tor a pause the jinging OF spurs and the dan
cling OF torches were revived from the distance.
'Hailo1"
No reply.
Who fred that shotw
But there was no reply. A slight veil OF smoke
passed away to tho right. thore was tho spice
Of gunpow,lor in tho air. but nothing more.
The torches camo forward again. but this
time II could be- ssen they wero held In the
hands OF two mon and 4 woman. The woman's
hands were tied ut tho wrist To the horss-hai
= reins OF hormule. while riata. passed around
aer waist and under the mules girth was held
oy one OF the mon. who were both armed with
rifles and rsvolvsrs. Their frightened horse.
surveted aud it was with difficulty they coult
90 male to advance.
"HoI stranger. what at you shooting ntT
The woman laughed and shrugged hel
= shoulders. Look yondsr at the roots OF the
.-s~se. You're id smart man for Sheriff
amt you?"
Tho man uttered m exclamation and spurret
his horse forward but tho animal reared In
terror. Ho then sprang to tho ground and ap
preached tbs tree Tho shape lay there. q
Searcsiy distinguishable bulk.
"A grizzly. by the living Jingol shotthrougs
the heart"
It was true. The strange shape. lit mp b.
the aaring torches seemed moro vague. un
earthly. and awkward in its dying throes. ye
the small shut eyes. the feeble noss. the pom
5erous shoulders and half-human foot arme
with powerful claws were unmistakabls. Tn
men turned by common Impulse and peere
into the remote recesses OF tho wood again.
HI. misteri come and pick up your gam'
Halo there"
The challenge fell UNDECIDED on the smpt
woods.
And yet" said he whom tho woman ha
called the Sheriff. The can't bo far on. 1t VI