in a hollow of the hills-第1部分

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In　a　Hollow　of　the　Hills

by　Bret　Harte





CHAPTER　I。


It　was　very　dark；　and　the　wind　was　increasing。　　The　last　gust　had
been　preceded　by　an　ominous　roaring　down　the　whole　mountain…side；
which　continued　for　some　time　after　the　trees　in　the　little　valley
had　lapsed　into　silence。　　The　air　was　filled　with　a　faint；　cool；
sodden　odor；　as　of　stirred　forest　depths。　　In　those　intervals　of
silence　the　darkness　seemed　to　increase　in　proportion　and　grow
almost　palpable。　　Yet　out　of　this　sightless　and　soundless　void　now
came　the　tinkle　of　a　spur's　rowels；　the　dry　crackling　of　saddle
leathers；　and　the　muffled　plunge　of　a　hoof　in　the　thick　carpet　of
dust　and　desiccated　leaves。　　Then　a　voice；　which　in　spite　of　its
matter…of…fact　reality　the　obscurity　lent　a　certain　mystery　to；
said：

〃I　can't　make　out　anything！　　Where　the　devil　have　we　got　to；
anyway？　　It's　as　black　as　Tophet；　here　ahead！〃

〃Strike　a　light　and　make　a　flare　with　something；〃　returned　a　second
voice。　　〃Look　where　you're　shoving　tonowkeep　your　horse　off；
will　ye。〃

There　was　more　muffled　plunging；　a　silence；　the　rustle　of　paper；
the　quick　spurt　of　a　match；　and　then　the　uplifting　of　a　flickering
flame。　　But　it　revealed　only　the　heads　and　shoulders　of　three
horsemen；　framed　within　a　nebulous　ring　of　light；　that　still　left
their　horses　and　even　their　lower　figures　in　impenetrable　shadow。
Then　the　flame　leaped　up　and　died　out　with　a　few　zigzagging　sparks
that　were　falling　to　the　ground；　when　a　third　voice；　that　was　low
but　somewhat　pleasant　in　its　cadence；　said：

〃Be　careful　where　you　throw　that。　　You　were　careless　last　time。
With　this　wind　and　the　leaves　like　tinder；　you　might　send　a　furnace
blast　through　the　woods。〃

〃Then　at　least　we'd　see　where　we　were。〃

Nevertheless；　he　moved　his　horse；　whose　trampling　hoofs　beat　out
the　last　fallen　spark。　　Complete　darkness　and　silence　again
followed。　　Presently　the　first　speaker　continued：

〃I　reckon　we'll　have　to　wait　here　till　the　next　squall　clears　away
the　scud　from　the　sky？　　Hello！　　What's　that？〃

Out　of　the　obscurity　before　them　appeared　a　faint　light；a　dim　but
perfectly　defined　square　of　radiance；which；　however；　did　not
appear　to　illuminate　anything　around　it。　　Suddenly　it　disappeared。

〃That's　a　houseit's　a　light　in　a　window；〃　said　the　second　voice。

〃House　be　dd！〃　retorted　the　first　speaker。　　〃A　house　with　a
window　on　Galloper's　Ridge；　fifteen　miles　from　anywhere？　　You're
crazy！〃

Nevertheless；　from　the　muffled　plunging　and　tinkling　that　followed；
they　seemed　to　be　moving　in　the　direction　where　the　light　had
appeared。　　Then　there　was　a　pause。

〃There's　nothing　but　a　rocky　outcrop　here；　where　a　house　couldn't
stand；　and　we're　off　the　trail　again；〃　said　the　first　speaker
impatiently。

〃Stop！there　it　is　again！〃

The　same　square　of　light　appeared　once　more；　but　the　horsemen　had
evidently　diverged　in　the　darkness；　for　it　seemed　to　be　in　a
different　direction。　　But　it　was　more　distinct；　and　as　they　gazed　a
shadow　appeared　upon　its　radiant　surfacethe　profile　of　a　human
face。　　Then　the　light　suddenly　went　out；　and　the　face　vanished　with
it。

〃It　IS　a　window；　and　there　was　some　one　behind　it；〃　said　the　second
speaker　emphatically。

〃It　was　a　woman's　face；〃　said　the　pleasant　voice。

〃Whoever　it　is；　just　hail　them；　so　that　we　can　get　our　bearings。
Sing　out！　　All　together！〃

The　three　voices　rose　in　a　prolonged　shout；　in　which；　however；　the
distinguishing　quality　of　the　pleasant　voice　was　sustained。　　But
there　was　no　response　from　the　darkness　beyond。　　The　shouting　was
repeated　after　an　interval　with　the　same　result：　the　silence　and
obscurity　remained　unchanged。

〃Let's　get　out　of　this；〃　said　the　first　speaker　angrily；　〃house　or
no　house；　man　or　woman；　we're　not　wanted；　and　we'll　make　nothing
waltzing　round　here！〃

〃Hush！〃　said　the　second　voice。　　〃Sh…h！　　Listen。〃

The　leaves　of　the　nearest　trees　were　trilling　audibly。　　Then　came　a
sudden　gust　that　swept　the　fronds　of　the　taller　ferns　into　their
faces；　and　laid　the　thin；　lithe　whips　of　alder　over　their　horses'
flanks　sharply。　　It　was　followed　by　the　distant　sea…like　roaring　of
the　mountain…side。

〃That's　a　little　more　like　it！〃　said　the　first　speaker　joyfully。
〃Another　blow　like　that　and　we're　all　right。　　And　look！　there's　a
lightenin'　up　over　the　trail　we　came　by。〃

There　was　indeed　a　faint　glow　in　that　direction；　like　the　first
suffusion　of　dawn；　permitting　the　huge　shoulder　of　the　mountain
along　whose　flanks　they　had　been　journeying　to　be　distinctly　seen。
The　sodden　breath　of　the　stirred　forest　depths　was　slightly　tainted
with　an　acrid　fume。

〃That's　the　match　you　threw　away　two　hours　ago；〃　said　the　pleasant
voice　deliberately。　　〃It's　caught　the　dry　brush　in　the　trail　round
the　bend。〃

〃Anyhow；　it's　given　us　our　bearings；　boys；〃　said　the　first　speaker；
with　satisfied　accents。　　〃We're　all　right　now；　and　the　wind's
lifting　the　sky　ahead　there。　　Forward　now；　all　together；　and　let's
get　out　of　this　hell…hole　while　we　can！〃

It　was　so　much　lighter　that　the　bulk　of　each　horseman　could　be　seen
as　they　moved　forward　together。　　But　there　was　no　thinning　of　the
obscurity　on　either　side　of　them。　　Nevertheless　the　profile　of　the
horseman　with　the　pleasant　voice　seemed　to　be　occasionally　turned
backward；　and　he　suddenly　checked　his　horse。

〃There's　the　window　again！〃　he　said。　　〃Look！　　Thereit's　gone
again。〃

〃Let　it　go　and　be　dd！〃　returned　the　leader。　　〃Come　on。〃

They　spurred　forward　in　silence。　　It　was　not　long　before　the
wayside　trees　began　to　dimly　show　spaces　between　them；　and　the
ferns　to　give　way　to　lower；　thick…set　shrubs；　which　in　turn　yielded
to　a　velvety　moss；　with　long　quiet　intervals　of　netted　and　tangled
grasses。　　The　regular　fall　of　the　horses'　feet　became　a　mere
rhythmic　throbbing。　　Then　suddenly　a　single　hoof　rang　out　sharply
on　stone；　and　the　first　speaker　reined　in　slightly。

〃Thank　the　Lord　we're　on　the　ridge　now！　and　the　rest　is　easy。　　Tell
you　what；　though；　boys；　now　we're　all　right；　I　don't　mind　saying
that　I　didn't　take　no　stock　in　that　blamed　corpse　light　down　there。
If　there　ever　was　a　will…o'…the…wisp　on　a　square　up　mountain；　that
was　one。　　It　wasn't　no　window！　　Some　of　ye　thought　ye　saw　a　face
tooeh？〃

〃Yes；　and　a　rather　pretty　one；〃　said　the　pleasant　voice
meditatively。

〃That's　the　way　they'd　build　that　sort　of　thing；　of　course。　　It's
lucky　ye　had　to　satisfy　yourself　with　looking。　　Gosh！　I　feel　creepy
yet；　thinking　of　it！　　What　are　ye　looking　back　for　now　like　Lot's
wife？　　Blamed　if　I　don't　think　that　face　bewitched　ye。〃

〃I　was　only　thinking　about　that　fire　you　started；〃　returned　the
other　quietly。　　〃I　don't　see　it　now。〃

〃Wellif　you　did？〃

〃I　was　wondering　whether　it　could　reach　that　hollow。〃

〃I　reckon　that　hollow　could　take　care　of　any　casual　nat'rel　fire
that　came　boomin'　along；　and　go　two　better　every　time！　　Why；　I
don't　believe　there　was　any　fire；　it　was　all　a　piece　of　that
infernal　ignis　fatuus　phantasmagoriana　that　was　played　upon　us　down
there！〃

With　the　laugh　that　followed　they　started　forward　again；　relapsing
into　the　silence　of　tired　men　at　the　end　of　a　long　journey。　　Even
their　few　remarks　were　interjectional；　or　reminiscent　of　topics
whose　freshness　had　been　exhausted　with　the　day。　　The　gaining　light
which　seemed　to　come　from　the　ground　about　them　rather　than　from
the　still；　overcast　sky　above；　defined　their　individuality　more
distinctly。　　The　man　who　had　first　spoken；　and　who　seemed　to　be
their　leader；　wore　the　virgin　unshaven　beard；　mustache；　and　flowing
hair　of　the　Californian　pioneer；　and　might　have　been　the　eldest；
the　second　speaker　was　close　shaven；　thin；　and　energetic；　the
third；　with　the　pleasant　voice；　in　height；　litheness；　and
suppleness　of　figure　appeared　to　be　the　youngest　of　the　party。　　The
trail　had　now　become　a　grayish　streak　along　the　level　table…land
they　were　following；　which　also　had　the　singular　effect　of
appearing　lighter　than　the　surrounding　landscape；　yet　of　plunging
into　utter　darkness　on　either　side　of　its　precipitous　walls。
Nevertheless；　at　the　end　of　an　hour　the　leader　rose　in　his　stirrups
with　a　sigh　of　satisfaction。

〃There's　the　light　in　Collinson's　Mill！　　There's　nothing　gaudy　and
spectacular　about　that；　boys；　eh？　　No；　sir！　it's　a　square；　honest
beacon　that　a　man　can　steer　by。　　We'll　be　there　in　twenty　minutes。〃
He　was　pointing　into　the　darkness　below　the　already　descending
trail。　　Only　a　pioneer's　eye　could　have　detected　the　few　pin…pricks
of　light　in　the　impenetrable　distance；　and　it　was　a　signal　proof　of
his　leadership　that　the　others　accepted　it　without　seeing　it。
〃It's　just　ten　o'clock；〃　he　continued；　holding　a　huge　silver　watch
to　his　eye；　〃we've　wasted　an　hour　on　those　blamed　spooks　yonder！〃

〃We　weren't　off　the　trail　more　than　ten　minutes；　Uncle　Dick；〃
protested　the　pleasant　voice。

〃All　right；　my　son；　go　down　there　if　you　like　and　fetch　out　your
Witch　of　Endor；　but　as　for　me；　I'm　going　to　throw　myself　the　other
side　of　Collinson's　lights。　　They're　good　enough　for　me；　and　a
blamed　sight　more　stationary！〃

The　grade　was　very　steep；　but　they　took　it；　California　fashion；　at
a　gallop；　being　genuinely　good　riders；　and　using　their　brains　as
well　as　their　spurs　in　the　understanding　of　their　horses；　and　of
certain　natural　laws；　which　the　more　artificial　riders　of
civilization　are　apt　to　overlook。　　Hence　there　was　no　hesitation　or
indecision　communicated　to　the　nervous　creatures　they　bestrode；　who
swept　over　crumbling　stones　and　slippery　ledges　with　a　momentum
that　took　away　half　their　weight；　and　made　a　stumble　or　false　step；
or　indeed　anything　but　an　actual　collision；　almost　impossible。
Closing　together　they　avoided　the　latter；　and　holding　each　other
well　up；　became　one　irresistible　wedge…shaped　mass。　　At　times　they
yelled；　not　from　consciousness　nor　bravado；　but　from　the　purely
animal　instinct　of　warning　and　to　combat　the　breathlessness　of
their　descent；　until；　reaching　the　level；　they　charged　across　the
gravelly　bed　of　a　vanished　river；　and　pulled　up　at　Collinson's
Mill。　　The　mill　itself　had　long　since　vanished　with　the　river；　but
the　building　that　had　once　stood　for　it　was　used　as　a　rude　hostelry
for　travelers；