in a hollow of the hills-第14部分

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gathered　as　MY　mistress；　just　as　you　were　willing　to　profit　by　the
superior　address　of　her　paramouryour　humble　servantwhen　your
own　face　was　known　to　the　sheriff；　and　your　old　methods　pronounced
brutal　and　vulgar。　　Excuse　me；　but　I　must　insist　upon　THIS；　and
that　you　dropped　down　upon　me　and　Sadie　Collinson　exactly　as　you
have　dropped　down　here　upon　her　husband。〃

〃Enough　of　this！〃　said　Riggs　angrily。　　〃I　admit　the　woman　is　part
and　parcel　of　the　gang；　and　gets　her　share；or　you　get　it　for
her；〃　he　added　sneeringly；　〃but　that　doesn't　permit　her　to　mix
herself　with　my　family　affairs。〃

〃Pardon　me　again；〃　interrupted　Chivers　softly。　　〃Your　memory；　my
dear　Riggs；　is　absurdly　defective。　　We　knew　that　you　had　a　young
sister　in　the　mountains；　from　whom　you　discreetly　wished　to　conceal
your　real　position。　　We　respected；　and　I　trust　shall　always
respect；　your　noble　reticence。　　But　do　you　remember　the　night　you
were　taking　her　to　school　at　Santa　Clara；two　nights　before　the
fire；when　you　were　recognized　on　the　road　near　Skinner's；　and　had
to　fly　with　her　for　your　life；　and　brought　her　to　us；your　two
dear　old　friends；　'Mr。　and　Mrs。　Barker　of　Chicago；'　who　had　a
pastoral　home　in　the　forest？　　You　remember　how　we　took　her　in；
yes；　doubly　took　her　in；and　kept　your　secret　from　her？　　And　do
you　remember　how　this　woman　（this　mistress　of　MINE　and　OUR
confederate）；　while　we　were　away；　saved　her　from　the　fire　on　our
only　horse；　caught　the　stage…coach；　and　brought　her　to　the
convent？〃

Riggs　walked　towards　the　window；　turned；　and　coming　back；　held　out
his　hand。　　〃Yes；　she　did　it；　and　I　thanked　her；　as　I　thank　you。〃
He　stopped　and　hesitated；　as　the　other　took　his　hand。　　〃But；　blank
it　all；　Chivers；　don't　you　see　that　Alice　is　a　young　girl；　and　this
woman　isyou　know　what　I　mean。　　Somebody　might　recognize　HER；　and
that　would　be　worse　for　Alice　than　even　if　it　were　known　what
Alice's　BROTHER　was。　　Gd！　if　these　two　things　were　put　together；
the　girl　would　be　ruined　forever。〃

〃Jack；〃　said　Chivers　suddenly；　〃you　want　this　woman　out　of　the　way。
Welldash　it　all！she　nearly　separated　us；　and　I'll　be　frank　with
you　as　between　man　and　man。　　I'll　give　her　up！　　There　are　women
enough　in　the　world；　and　hang　it；　we're　partners；　after　all！〃

〃Then　you　abandon　her？〃　said　Riggs　slowly；　his　eyes　fixed　on　his
companion。

〃Yes。　　She's　getting　a　little　too　maundering　lately。　　It　will　be　a
ticklish　job　to　manage；　for　she　knows　too　much；　but　it　will　be
done。　　There's　my　hand　on　it。〃

Riggs　not　only　took　no　notice　of　the　proffered　hand；　but　his　former
look　of　discontent　came　back　with　an　ill…concealed　addition　of
loathing　and　contempt。

〃We'll　drop　that　now；〃　he　said　shortly；　〃we've　talked　here　alone
long　enough　already。　　The　men　are　waiting　for　us。〃　　He　turned　on
his　heel　into　the　inner　room。　　Chivers　remained　standing　by　the
chimney　until　his　stiffened　smile　gave　way　under　the　working　of　his
writhing　lips；　then　he　turned　to　the　bar；　poured　out　and　swallowed
another　glass　of　whiskey　at　a　single　gulp；　and　followed　his　partner
with　half…closed　lids　that　scarcely　veiled　his　ominous　eyes。

The　men；　with　the　exception　of　the　sentinels　stationed　on　the　rocky
ledge　and　the　one　who　was　guarding　the　unfortunate　Collinson；　were
drinking　and　gambling　away　their　perspective　gains　around　a　small
pile　of　portmanteaus　and　saddle…bags；　heaped　in　the　centre　of　the
room。　　They　contained　the　results　of　their　last　successes；　but　one
pair　of　saddle…bags　bore　the　mildewed　appearance　of　having　been
cached；　or　buried；　some　time　before。　　Most　of　their　treasure　was　in
packages　of　gold　dust；　and　from　the　conversation　that　ensued；　it
appeared　that；　owing　to　the　difficulties　of　disposing　of　it　in　the
mountain　towns；　the　plan　was　to　convey　it　by　ordinary　pack　mule　to
the　unfrequented　valley；　and　thence　by　an　emigrant　wagon；　on　the
old　emigrant　trail；　to　the　southern　counties；　where　it　could　be　no
longer　traced。　　Since　the　recent　robberies；　the　local　express
companies　and　bankers　had　refused　to　receive　it；　except　the　owners
were　known　and　identified。　　There　had　been　but　one　box　of　coin；
which　had　already　been　speedily　divided　up　among　the　band。　　Drafts；
bills；　bonds；　and　valuable　papers　had　been　usually　intrusted　to　one
〃Charley；〃　who　acted　as　a　flying　messenger　to　a　corrupt　broker　in
Sacramento；　who　played　the　role　of　the　band's　〃fence。〃　　It　had　been
the　duty　of　Chivers　to　control　this　delicate　business；　even　as　it
had　been　his　peculiar　function　to　open　all　the　letters　and
documents。　　This　he　had　always　lightened　by　characteristic　levity
and　sarcastic　comments　on　the　private　revelations　of　the　contents。
The　rough；　ill…spelt　letter　of　the　miner　to　his　wife；　inclosing　a
draft；　or　the　more　sentimental　effusion　of　an　emigrant　swain　to　his
sweetheart；　with　the　gift　of　a　〃specimen；〃　had　always　received　due
attention　at　the　hands　of　this　elegant　humorist。　　But　the　operation
was　conducted　to…night　with　business　severity　and　silence。　　The　two
leaders　sat　opposite　to　each　other；　in　what　might　have　appeared　to
the　rest　of　the　band　a　scarcely　veiled　surveillance　of　each　other's
actions。　　When　the　examination　was　concluded；　and；　the　more
valuable　inclosures　put　aside；　the　despoiled　letters　were　carried
to　the　fire　and　heaped　upon　the　coals。　　Presently　the　chimney　added
its　roar　to　the　moaning　of　the　distant　hillside；　a　few　sparks
leaped　up　and　died　out　in　the　midnight　air；　as　if　the　pathos　and
sentiment　of　the　unconscious　correspondents　had　exhaled　with　them。

〃That's　a　dd　foolish　thing　to　do；〃　growled　French　Pete　over　his
cards。

〃Why？〃　demanded　Chivers　sharply。

〃Why？why；　it　makes　a　flare　in　the　sky　that　any　scout　can　see；　and
a　scent　for　him　to　follow。〃

〃We're　four　miles　from　any　traveled　road；〃　returned　Chivers
contemptuously；　〃and　the　man　who　could　see　that　glare　and　smell
that　smoke　would　be　on　his　way　here　already。〃

〃That　reminds　me　that　that　chap　you've　tied　upthat　Collinson
allows　he　wants　to　see　you；〃　continued　French　Pete。

〃To　see　ME！〃　repeated　Chivers。　　〃You　mean　the　Captain？〃

〃I　reckon　he　means　YOU；〃　returned　French　Pete；　〃he　said　the　man　who
talked　so　purty。〃

The　men　looked　at　each　other　with　a　smile　of　anticipation；　and　put
down　their　cards。　　Chivers　walked　towards　the　door；　one　or　two　rose
to　their　feet　as　if　to　follow；　but　Riggs　stopped　them　peremptorily。
〃Sit　down；〃　he　said　roughly；　then；　as　Chivers　passed　him；　he　added
to　him　in　a　lower　tone；　〃Remember。〃

Slightly　squaring　his　shoulders　and　opening　his　coat；　to　permit　a
rhetorical　freedom；　which　did　not；　however；　prevent　him　from
keeping　touch　with　the　butt　of　his　revolver；　Chivers　stepped　into
the　open　air。　　Collinson　had　been　moved　to　the　shelter　of　an
overhang　of　the　roof；　probably　more　for　the　comfort　of　the　guard；
who　sat　cross…legged　on　the　ground　near　him；　than　for　his　own。
Dismissing　the　man　with　a　gesture；　Chivers　straightened　himself
before　his　captive。

〃We　deeply　regret　that　your　unfortunate　determination；　my　dear　sir；
has　been　the　means　of　depriving　US　of　the　pleasure　of　your　company；
and　YOU　of　your　absolute　freedom；　but　may　we　cherish　the　hope　that
your　desire　to　see　me　may　indicate　some　change　in　your　opinion？〃

By　the　light　of　the　sentry's　lantern　left　upon　the　ground；　Chivers
could　see　that　Collinson's　face　wore　a　slightly　troubled　and　even
apologetic　expression。

〃I've　bin　thinkin'；〃　said　Collinson；　raising　his　eyes　to　his　captor
with　a　singularly　new　and　shy　admiration　in　them；　〃mebbee　not　so
much　of　WOT　you　said；　ez　HOW　you　said　it；　and　it's　kinder　bothered
me；　sittin'　here；　that　I　ain't　bin　actin'　to　you　boys　quite　on　the
square。　　I've　said　to　myself；　'Collinson；　thar　ain't　another　house
betwixt　Bald　Top　and　Skinner's　whar　them　fellows　kin　get　a　bite　or
a　drink　to　help　themselves；　and　you　ain't　offered　'em　neither。　　It
ain't　no　matter　who　they　are　or　how　they　came：　whether　they　came
crawling　along　the　road　from　the　valley；　or　dropped　down　upon　you
like　them　rocks　from　the　grade；　yere　they　are；　and　it's　your　duty；
ez　long　ez　you　keep　this　yer　house　for　your　wife　in　trust；　so　to
speak；　for　wanderers。'　　And　I　ain't　forgettin'　yer　ginerel　soft
style　and　easy　gait　with　me　when　you　kem　here。　　It　ain't　every　man
as　could　walk　into　another　man's　house　arter　the　owner　of　it　had
grabbed　a　gun；　ez　soft…speakin'；　ez　overlookin'；　and　ez　perlite　ez
you。　　I've　acted　mighty　rough　and　low…down；　and　I　know　it。　　And　I
sent　for　you　to　say　that　you　and　your　folks　kin　use　this　house　and
all　that's　in　it　ez　long　ez　you're　in　trouble。　　I've　told　you　why　I
couldn't　sell　the　house　to　ye；　and　why　I　couldn't　leave　it。　　But　ye
kin　use　it；　and　while　ye're　here；　and　when　you　go；　Collinson　don't
tell　nobody。　　I　don't　know　what　ye　mean　by　'binding　myself'　to　keep
your　secret；　when　Collinson　says　a　thing　he　sticks　to　it；　and　when
he　passes　his　word　with　a　man；　or　a　man　passes　his　word　with　him；
it　don't　need　no　bit　of　paper。〃

There　was　no　doubt　of　its　truth。　　In　the　grave；　upraised　eyes　of
his　prisoner；　Chivers　saw　the　certainty　that　he　could　trust　him；
even　far　more　than　he　could　trust　any　one　within　the　house　he　had
just　quitted。　　But　this　very　certainty；　for　all　its　assurance　of
safety　to　himself；　filled　him；　not　with　remorse；　which　might　have
been　an　evanescent　emotion；　but　with　a　sudden　alarming　and　terrible
consciousness　of　being　in　the　presence　of　a　hitherto　unknown　and
immeasurable　power！　　He　had　no　pity　for　man　who　trusted　him；　he　had
no　sense　of　shame　in　taking　advantage　of　it；　he　even　felt　an
intellectual　superiority　in　this　want　of　sagacity　in　his　dupe；　but
he　still　felt　in　some　way　defeated；　insulted；　shocked；　and
frightened。　　At　first；　like　all　scoundrels；　he　had　measured　the　man
by　himself；　was　suspicious　and　prepared　for　rivalry；　but　the　grave
truthfulness　of　Collinson's　eyes　left　him　helpless。　　He　was
terrified　by　this　unknown　factor。　　The　right　that　contends　and
fights　often　stimulates　its　adversary；　the　right　that　yields　leaves
the　victor　vanquished。　　Chivers　could　even　have　killed　Collinson　in
his　vague　discomfiture；　but　he　had　a　terrible　consciousness　that
there　was　something　behind　him　that　he　could　not　make　way　with。
That　was　why　this　accomplished　rascal　felt　his