Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-03-20
A SEQUOIA DRYAD
BY ETHEL WATTS MUMFoRD.


in earshot.
Men," she said in her clear, mu-
steal Castillian, you are in danger
90 your ways and do not tempt your
betters to destroy you. For centuries
they have lived. Do you dare to
threaten their eXistence?- if so, be-
ware! i know them, and l know
their will"
She waited for no response, but
turned, with the slow, strong, grace
full motion that characterized her,
and disappeared in the direction OF
her tree. The halt-breeds looked aft
er her in surprise, took fresh drink
all around and returned to their talk.
But Derringer could not. He had eX-
perienced for the second time that
unVovernable fear, that creeping OF
the flesh that unnerves a man. He
swung himself from the platform TO
the ground and followed the retreat
ing figure. He saw her enter the
gaping cavern in the heart of the
seauoia, and a few moments later
noticed the same thread of blue
smoke proceeding from an opening
in the bark. where. doubtless, she had
improyised a chimney. He longed to
cross the narrow barrier of the
stream and enter this unusual dwell
ing, but a sense Of improperly held
him back. After all she was wom-
an, this forest giant was her boudoir,
and the habit OF his youthful training
was still strong upon him.
That was the beginning. From
that day forward he knew no peace
Every day at the noon hour the Dry
ad came, calm aud unmoved as the
speaking statue, TO deliver her warn
/ ing. and daily the men lost their IN
difference and grew more troubled at
her coming. When the dinner hour
approached they scattered instead OF
climbing" on the seatfoldings. Ihey
Hooked over their shoulders hurried
nv as they went, and gave the smok-
/ inc seouoia a wide berth. In addition
70 the superstitious terrors 10 which
he now. found himself victim, there
was added the more definite anticipa-
tion OF desertion among his wood
men. He tried TO drown their whis-
pered councils by CHEEKY banter, but
his own heart misgave him.
A week passed and nothing hap
peped save the daily visits of the
Drvad. and the completion of the dis
section of the redwood. The wire
ropes had been staked and drawn
taut, the winders were set up az a
safe distance TO avoid the possible
spring of branches. and another day
would see the fall of the first cut
redwood of his claim. Derringer
breathed more freely, for the Dryad
aid not come at midday. Perhaps she
had given up the fruitless bluff But
AT twilight when the canyon was al
ready full of the blue-black mystery
lof NIGHT. and the rush of the little
stream sounded loud and unceasing'
she stood suddenly before him.
framed in the door of his little shack
"senor." she said, this is the last
warning-gol"
She disappeared as if by magic, and
lDerringer's heart lay cold IN ms
lhrsast. He shivered, rose, looked out
AZ the blackness of the shadows, hs-
tened 10 the magnifed roar of the
little river, and tried to shake on
the oppression Of impeding evil-bu'
Ianyhow the warnings of mad WON
an. That night there were strange
creakings in the forest and sounds al
times of stretched cables and sinister
cracklings. But the lumbermeI
Thought of the doomed redwood ano
turned to more solid slumbers on
their primitive beds.
Suddenly out of the night came
scream as of ten thousand demons,
rending and tearing as of an earth
make. a blow that shook the hills
and echoed down the stony mountain
walls. Then the silence grew auC
swallowed the vain tumult. DawI
showed the cleft redwood still stand
ing in its cables, ringed by its planl
platform. but the men who planned
Its destruction were not there Il
complete the work. They lay crushed
in their frail plank shanties, undel
. the great sequoia.
Only the Dryad was there to SCI
how its heart had been eaten out b.
he devouring fire, until the chamhe
al its base had become but ring o
: bark. There was no one to tell of tn
: natient vengeance of the half-witte'
, lnriestess of the trees. But she
: 5raped in her tattered Spanish finery
t damp with the nights dews, onl.
: shook her head wisely at the ruiz
! about her, and calmly took her sol
= tary way through the unbrokei
, silence of the canyon in search OF
: new hometown and Country, New
I York. -