in a hollow of the hills-第10部分

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misconception。　　And　here　he　was　on　his　way　to　Marysville；　to　follow
a　woman　for　whom　he　felt　he　no　longer　cared；　and　for　whose　pursuit
he　had　no　longer　the　excuse　of　justice。

〃Then　I　understand　that　you　have　twice　seen　these　road　agents；〃
said　the　professional　man；　turning　to　the　miner。　　〃Of　course；　you
could　be　able　to　identify　them？〃

〃Nary　a　man！　　You　see　they're　all　masked；　and　only　one　of　'em　ever
speaks。〃

〃The　leader　or　chief？〃

〃No；　the　orator。〃

〃The　orator？〃　repeated　the　professional　man　in　amazement。

〃Well；　you　see；　I　call　him　the　orator；　for　he's　mighty　glib　with
his　tongue；　and　reels　off　all　he　has　to　say　like　as　if　he　had　it　by
heart。　　He's　mighty　rough　on　you；　too；　sometimes；　for　all　his　high…
toned　style。　　Ef　he　thinks　a　man　is　hidin'　anything　he　jest　scalps
him　with　his　tongue；　and　blamed　if　I　don't　think　he　likes　the
chance　of　doin'　it。　　He's　got　a　regular　set　speech；　and　he's　bound
to　go　through　it　all；　even　if　he　makes　everything　wait；　and　runs
the　risk　of　capture。　　Yet　he　ain't　the　chief；and　even　I've　heard
folks　say　ain't　got　any　responsibility　if　he　is　took；　for　he　don't
tech　anybody　or　anybody's　money；　and　couldn't　be　prosecuted。　　I
reckon　he's　some　sort　of　a　broken…down　lawyerd'ye　see？〃

〃Not　much　of　a　lawyer；　I　imagine；〃　said　the　professional　man；
smiling；　〃for　he'll　find　himself　quite　mistaken　as　to　his　share　of
responsibility。　　But　it's　a　rather　clever　way　of　concealing　the
identity　of　the　real　leader。〃

〃It's　the　smartest　gang　that　was　ever　started　in　the　Sierras。　　They
fooled　the　sheriff　of　Sierra　the　other　day。　　They　gave　him　a　sort
of　idea　that　they　had　a　kind　of　hidin'…place　in　the　woods　whar　they
met　and　kept　their　booty；　and；　by　jinks！　he　goes　down　thar　with　his
hull　posse；just　spilin'　for　a　fight；and　only　lights　upon　a　gang
of　innocent　greenhorns；　who　were　boring　for　silver　on　the　very　spot
where　he　allowed　the　robbers　had　their　den！　　He　ain't　held　up　his
head　since。〃

Key　cast　a　quick　glance　at　the　lady　to　see　the　effect　of　this
revelation。　　But　her　faceif　the　same　profile　he　had　seen　at　the
windowbetrayed　neither　concern　nor　curiosity。　　He　let　his　eyes
drop　to　the　smart　boot　that　peeped　from　below　her　gown；　and　the
thought　of　his　trying　to　identify　it　with　the　slipper　he　had　picked
up　seemed　to　him　as　ridiculous　as　his　other　misconceptions。　　He
sank　back　gloomily　in　his　seat；　by　degrees　the　fatigue　and
excitement　of　the　day　began　to　mercifully　benumb　his　senses；
twilight　had　fallen　and　the　talk　had　ceased。　　The　lady　had　allowed
her　book　to　drop　in　her　lap　as　the　darkness　gathered；　and　had
closed　her　eyes；　he　closed　his　own；　and　slipped　away　presently　into
a　dream；　in　which　he　saw　the　profile　again　as　he　had　seen　it　in　the
darkness　of　the　hollow；　only　that　this　time　it　changed　to　a　full
face；　unlike　the　lady's　or　any　one　he　had　ever　seen。　　Then　the
window　seemed　to　open　with　a　rattle；　and　he　again　felt　the　cool
odors　of　the　forest；　but　he　awoke　to　find　that　the　lady　had　only
opened　her　window　for　a　breath　of　fresh　air。　　It　was　nearly　eight
o'　clock；　it　would　be　an　hour　yet　before　the　coach　stopped　at　the
next　station　for　supper；　the　passengers　were　drowsily　nodding；　he
closed　his　eyes　and　fell　into　a　deeper　sleep；　from　which　he　awoke
with　a　start。

The　coach　had　stopped！


CHAPTER　IV。


〃It　can't　be　Three　Pines　yet；〃　said　a　passenger's　voice；　in　which
the　laziness　of　sleep　still　lingered；　〃or　else　we've　snoozed　over
five　mile。　　I　don't　see　no　lights；　wot　are　we　stoppin'　for？〃　　The
other　passengers　struggled　to　an　upright　position。　　One　nearest　the
window　opened　it；　its　place　was　instantly　occupied　by　the　double
muzzle　of　a　shot…gun！　　No　one　moved。　　In　the　awestricken　silence
the　voice　of　the　driver　rose　in　drawling　protestation。

〃It　ain't　no　business　o'　mine；　but　it　sorter　strikes　me　that　you
chaps　are　a…playin'　it　just　a　little　too　fine　this　time！　　It　ain't
three　miles　from　Three　Pine　Station　and　forty　men。　　Of　course；
that's　your　lookout；not　mine！〃

The　audacity　of　the　thing　had　evidently　struck　even　the　usually
taciturn　and　phlegmatic　driver　into　his　first　expostulation　on
record。

〃Your　thoughtful　consideration　does　you　great　credit；〃　said　a　voice
from　the　darkness；　〃and　shall　be　properly　presented　to　our　manager；
but　at　the　same　time　we　wish　it　understood　that　we　do　not　hesitate
to　take　any　risks　in　strict　attention　to　our　business　and　our
clients。　　In　the　mean　time　you　will　expedite　matters；　and　give　your
passengers　a　chance　to　get　an　early　tea　at　Three　Pines；　by　handing
down　that　treasure…box　and　mail…pouch。　　Be　careful　in　handling　that
blunderbuss　you　keep　beside　it；　the　last　time　it　unfortunately　went
off；　and　I　regret　to　say　slightly　wounded　one　of　your　passengers。
Accidents　of　this　kind；　interfering；　as　they　do；　with　the　harmony
and　pleasure　of　our　chance　meetings；　cannot　be　too　highly
deplored。〃

〃By　gosh！〃　ejaculated　an　outside　passenger　in　an　audible　whisper。

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　the　voice　quietly；　〃but　as　I　overlooked　you；
I　will　trouble　you　now　to　descend　with　the　others。〃

The　voice　moved　nearer；　and；　by　the　light　of　a　flaming　bull's…eye
cast　upon　the　coach；　it　could　be　seen　to　come　from　a　stout；　medium…
sized　man　with　a　black　mask；　which；　however；　showed　half　of　a
smooth；　beardless　face；　and　an　affable　yet　satirical　mouth。　　The
speaker　cleared　his　throat　with　the　slight　preparatory　cough　of　the
practiced　orator；　and；　approaching　the　window；　to　Key's　intense
surprise；　actually　began　in　the　identical　professional　and
rhetorical　style　previously　indicated　by　the　miner。

〃Circumstances　over　which　we　have　no　control；　gentlemen；　compel　us
to　oblige　you　to　alight；　stand　in　a　row　on　one　side；　and　hold　up
your　hands。　　You　will　find　the　attitude　not　unpleasant　after　your
cramped　position　in　the　coach；　while　the　change　from　its　confined
air　to　the　wholesome　night…breeze　of　the　Sierras　cannot　but　prove
salutary　and　refreshing。　　It　will　also　enable　us　to　relieve　you　of
such　so…called　valuables　and　treasures　in　the　way　of　gold　dust　and
coin；　which　I　regret　to　say　too　often　are　misapplied　in　careless
hands；　and　which　the　teachings　of　the　highest　morality　distinctly
denominate　as　the　root　of　all　evil！　　I　need　not　inform　you；
gentlemen；　as　business　men；　that　promptitude　and　celerity　of
compliance　will　insure　dispatch；　and　shorten　an　interview　which　has
been　sometimes　needlessly；　and；　I　regret　to　say；　painfully
protracted。〃

He　drew　back　deliberately　with　the　same　monotonous　precision　of
habit；　and　disclosed　the　muzzles　of　his　confederates'　weapons　still
leveled　at　the　passengers。　　In　spite　of　their　astonishment；
indignation；　and　discomfiture；　his　practiced　effrontery　and
deliberate　display　appeared　in　some　way　to　touch　their　humorous
sense；　and　one　or　two　smiled　hysterically；　as　they　rose　and
hesitatingly　filed　out　of　the　vehicle。　　It　is　possible；　however；
that　the　leveled　shot…guns　contributed　more　or　less　directly　to
this　result。

Two　masks　began　to　search　the　passengers　under　the　combined　focus
of　the　bull's…eyes；　the　shining　gun…barrels；　and　a　running　but
still　carefully　prepared　commentary　from　the　spokesman。　　〃It　is　to
be　regretted　that　business　men；　instead　of　intrusting　their
property　to　the　custody　of　the　regularly　constituted　express　agent；
still　continue　to　secrete　it　on　their　persons；　a　custom　that；
without　enhancing　its　security；　is　not　only　an　injustice　to　the
express　company；　but　a　great　detriment　to　dispatch。　　We　also　wish
to　point　out　that　while　we　do　not　as　a　rule　interfere　with　the
possession　of　articles　of　ordinary　personal　use　or　adornment；　such
as　simple　jewelry　or　watches；　we　reserve　our　right　to　restrict　by
confiscation　the　vulgarity　and　unmanliness　of　diamonds　and　enormous
fob　chains。〃

The　act　of　spoliation　was　apparently　complete；　yet　it　was　evident
that　the　orator　was　restraining　himself　for　a　more　effective
climax。　　Clearing　his　throat　again　and　stepping　before　the
impatient　but　still　mystified　file　of　passengers；　he　reviewed　them
gravely。　　Then　in　a　perfectly　pitched　tone　of　mingled　pain　and
apology；　he　said　slowly：

〃It　would　seem　that；　from　no　wish　of　our　own；　we　are　obliged　on
this　present　occasion　to　suspend　one　or　two　of　our　usual　rules。　　We
are　not　in　the　habit　of　interfering　with　the　wearing　apparel　of　our
esteemed　clients；　but　in　the　interests　of　ordinary　humanity　we　are
obliged　to　remove　the　boots　of　the　gentleman　on　the　extreme　left；
which　evidently　give　him　great　pain　and　impede　his　locomotion。　　We
also　seldom　deviate　from　our　rule　of　obliging　our　clients　to　hold
up　their　hands　during　this　examination；　but　we　gladly　make　an
exception　in　favor　of　the　gentleman　next　to　him；　and　permit　him　to
hand　us　the　altogether　too　heavily　weighted　holster　which　presses
upon　his　hip。　　Gentlemen；〃　said　the　orator；　slightly　raising　his
voice；　with　a　deprecating　gesture；　〃you　need　not　be　alarmed！　　The
indignant　movement　of　our　friend；　just　now；　was　not　to　draw　his
revolver；for　it　isn't　there！〃　　He　paused　while　his　companions
speedily　removed　the　farmer's　boots　and　the　miner's　holster；　and
with　a　still　more　apologetic　air　approached　the　coach；　where　only
the　lady　remained　erect　and　rigid　in　her　corner。　　〃And　now；〃　he
said　with　simulated　hesitation；　〃we　come　to　the　last　and　to　us　the
most　painful　suspension　of　our　rules。　　On　these　very　rare
occasions；　when　we　have　been　honored　with　the　presence　of　the　fair
sex；　it　has　been　our　invariable　custom　not　only　to　leave　them　in
the　undisturbed　possession　of　their　property；　but　even　of　their
privacy　as　well。　　It　is　with　deep　regret　that　on　this　occasion　we
are　obliged　to　make　an　exception。　　For　in　the　present　instance；　the
lady；　out　of　the　gentleness　of　her　heart　and　the　politeness　of　her
sex；　has　burdened　herself　not　only　with　the　weight　but　the
responsibility　of　a　package　forced　upon　her　by　one　of　the
passengers。　　We　feel；　and　we　believe；　gentlemen；　that　most　of　you
will　agree　with　us；　that　so　scandalous　and　unmanly　an　attempt　to
evade　our　rules　and　violate　the　sanctity　of　the　lady's　immunity
will　never　be　permitted。　　For　your　own　sake；　madam；　we　are
compelled　to　ask　you　for　the　satchel　under　your　seat。　　It　will　be
returned　to　you　when　the　package