in a hollow of the hills-第18部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



She　had　stopped　at　the　corner　of　the　wall。　　He　again　held　out　his
hand。　　Her　little　fingers　slid　coldly　between　his。

〃Good…night；　Miss　Rivers。〃

〃Stop！〃　she　said　suddenly；　withdrawing　her　veil　and　lifting　her
clear　eyes　to　his　in　the　moonlight。　　〃You　must　not　say　THATit
isn't　the　truth。　　I　can't　bear　to　hear　it　from　YOUR　lips；　in　YOUR
voice。　　My　name　is　NOT　Rivers！〃

〃Not　Riverswhy？〃　said　Key；　astounded。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　why；〃　she　said　half　despairingly；　〃only　my
brother　didn't　want　me　to　use　my　name　and　his　here；　and　I　promised。
My　name　is　'Riggs'there！　　It's　a　secretyou　mustn't　tell　it；　but
I　could　not　bear　to　hear　YOU　say　a　lie。〃

〃Good…night；　Miss　Riggs；〃　said　Key　sadly。

〃No；　nor　that　either；〃　she　said　softly。　　〃Say　Alice。〃

〃Good…night；　Alice。〃

She　moved　on　before　him。　　She　reached　the　gate。　　For　a　moment　her
figure；　in　its　austere；　formless　garments；　seemed　to　him　to　even
stoop　and　bend　forward　in　the　humility　of　age　and　self…
renunciation；　and　she　vanished　within　as　into　a　living　tomb。

Forgetting　all　precaution；　he　pressed　eagerly　forward；　and　stopped
before　the　gate。　　There　was　no　sound　from　within；　there　had
evidently　been　no　challenge　nor　interruption。　　She　was　safe。


CHAPTER　VII。


The　reappearance　of　Chivers　in　the　mill　with　Collinson；　and　the
brief　announcement　that　the　prisoner　had　consented　to　a
satisfactory　compromise；　were　received　at　first　with　a　half
contemptuous　smile　by　the　party；　but　for　the　commands　of　their
leaders；　and　possibly　a　conviction　that　Collinson's　fatuous
cooperation　with　Chivers　would　be　safer　than　his　wrath；　which　might
not　expend　itself　only　on　Chivers；　but　imperil　the　safety　of　all；
it　is　probable　that　they　would　have　informed　the　unfortunate
prisoner　of　his　real　relations　to　his　captor。　　In　these
circumstances；　Chivers's　half　satirical　suggestion　that　Collinson
should　be　added　to　the　sentries　outside；　and　guard　his　own
property；　was　surlily　assented　to　by　Riggs；　and　complacently
accepted　by　the　others。　　Chivers　offered　to　post　him　himself；not
without　an　interchange　of　meaning　glances　with　Riggs；Collinson's
own　gun　was　returned　to　him；　and　the　strangely　assorted　pair　left
the　mill　amicably　together。

But　however　humanly　confident　Chivers　was　in　his　companion's
faithfulness；　he　was　not　without　a　rascal's　precaution；　and
determined　to　select　a　position　for　Collinson　where　he　could　do　the
least　damage　in　any　aberration　of　trust。　　At　the　top　of　the　grade；
above　the　mill；　was　the　only　trail　by　which　a　party　in　force　could
approach　it。　　This　was　to　Chivers　obviously　too　strategic　a
position　to　intrust　to　his　prisoner；　and　the　sentry　who　guarded　its
approach；　five　hundred　yards　away；　was　left　unchanged。　　But　there
was　another　〃blind〃　trail；　or　cut…off；　to　the　left；　through　the
thickest　undergrowth　of　the　woods；　known　only　to　his　party。　　To
place　Collinson　there　was　to　insure　him　perfect　immunity　from　the
approach　of　an　enemy；　as　well　as　from　any　confidential　advances　of
his　fellow　sentry。　　This　done；　he　drew　a　cigar　from　his　pocket；　and
handing　it　to　Collinson；　lighted　another　for　himself；　and　leaning
back　comfortably　against　a　large　boulder；　glanced　complacently　at
his　companion。

〃You　may　smoke　until　I　go；　Mr。　Collinson；　and　even　afterwards；　if
you　keep　the　bowl　of　your　pipe　behind　a　rock；　so　as　to　be　out　of
sight　of　your　fellow　sentry；　whose　advances；　by　the　way；　if　I　were
you；　I　should　not　encourage。　　Your　position　here；　you　see；　is　a
rather　peculiar　one。　　You　were　saying；　I　think；　that　a　lingering
affection　for　your　wife　impelled　you　to　keep　this　place　for　her；
although　you　were　convinced　of　her　death？〃

Collinson's　unaffected　delight　in　Chivers's　kindliness　had　made　his
eyes　shine　in　the　moonlight　with　a　doglike　wistfulness。　　〃I　reckon
I　did　say　that；　Mr。　Chivers；〃　he　said　apologetically；　〃though　it
ain't　goin'　to　interfere　with　you　usin'　the　shanty　jest　now。〃

〃I　wasn't　alluding　to　that；　Collinson；〃　returned　Chivers；　with　a
large　rhetorical　wave　of　the　hand；　and　an　equal　enjoyment　in　his
companion's　evident　admiration　of　him；　〃but　it　struck　me　that　your
remark；　nevertheless；　implied　some　doubt　of　your　wife's　death；　and
I　don't　know　but　that　your　doubts　are　right。〃

〃Wot's　that？〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　dull　glow　in　his　face。

Chivers　blew　the　smoke　of　his　cigar　lazily　in　the　still　air。
〃Listen；〃　he　said。　　〃Since　your　miraculous　conversion　a　few　moments
ago；　I　have　made　some　friendly　inquiries　about　you；　and　I　find　that
you　lost　all　trace　of　your　wife　in　Texas　in　'52；　where　a　number　of
her　fellow　emigrants　died　of　yellow　fever。　　Is　that　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Collinson　quickly。

〃Well；　it　so　happens　that　a　friend　of　mine；〃　continued　Chivers
slowly；　〃was　in　a　train　which　followed　that　one；　and　picked　up　and
brought　on　some　of　the　survivors。〃

〃That　was　the　train　wot　brought　the　news；〃　said　Collinson；
relapsing　into　his　old　patience。　　〃That's　how　I　knowed　she　hadn't
come。〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　the　names　of　any　of　its　passengers？〃　said
Chivers；　with　a　keen　glance　at　his　companion。

〃Nary　one！　　I　only　got　to　know　it　was　a　small　train　of　only　two
wagons；　and　it　sorter　melted　into　Californy　through　a　southern
pass；　and　kinder　petered　out；　and　no　one　ever　heard　of　it　agin；　and
that　was　all。〃

〃That　was　NOT　all；　Collinson；〃　said　Chivers　lazily。　　〃I　saw　the
train　arrive　at　South　Pass。　　I　was　awaiting　a　friend　and　his　wife。
There　was　a　lady　with　them；　one　of　the　survivors。　　I　didn't　hear
her　name；　but　I　think　my　friend's　wife　called　her　'Sadie。'　　I
remember　her　as　a　rather　pretty　womantall；　fair；　with　a　straight
nose　and　a　full　chin；　and　small　slim　feet。　　I　saw　her　only　a
moment；　for　she　was　on　her　way　to　Los　Angeles；　and　was；　I　believe；
going　to　join　her　husband　somewhere　in　the　Sierras。〃

The　rascal　had　been　enjoying　with　intense　satisfaction　the　return
of　the　dull　glow　in　Collinson's　face；　that　even　seemed　to　animate
the　whole　length　of　his　angular　frame　as　it　turned　eagerly　towards
him。　　So　he　went　on；　experiencing　a　devilish　zest　in　this
description　of　his　mistress　to　her　husband；　apart　from　the　pleasure
of　noting　the　slow　awakening　of　this　apathetic　giant；　with　a
sensation　akin　to　having　warmed　him　into　life。　　Yet　his　triumph　was
of　short　duration。　　The　fire　dropped　suddenly　out　of　Collinson's
eyes；　the　glow　from　his　face；　and　the　dull　look　of　unwearied
patience　returned。

〃That's　all　very　kind　and　purty　of　yer；　Mr。　Chivers；〃　he　said
gravely；　〃you've　got　all　my　wife's　pints　thar　to　a　dot；　and　it
seems　to　fit　her　jest　like　a　shoe　I　picked　up　t'other　day。　　But　it
wasn't　my　Sadie；　for　ef　she's　living　or　had　lived；　she'd　bin　just
yere！〃

The　same　fear　and　recognition　of　some　unknown　reserve　in　this
trustful　man　came　over　Chivers　as　before。　　In　his　angry　resentment
of　it　he　would　have　liked　to　blurt　out　the　infidelity　of　the　wife
before　her　husband；　but　he　knew　Collinson　would　not　believe　him；
and　he　had　another　purpose　now。　　His　full　lips　twisted　into　a　suave
smile。

〃While　I　would　not　give　you　false　hopes；　Mr。　Collinson；〃　he　said；
with　a　bland　smile；　〃my　interest　in　you　compels　me　to　say　that　you
may　be　over　confident　and　wrong。　　There　are　a　thousand　things　that
may　have　prevented　your　wife　from　coming　to　you；illness；　possibly
the　result　of　her　exposure；　poverty；　misapprehension　of　your　place
of　meeting；　and；　above　all；　perhaps　some　false　report　of　your　own
death。　　Has　it　ever　occurred　to　you　that　it　is　as　possible　for　her
to　have　been　deceived　in　that　way　as　for　you？〃

〃Wot　yer　say？〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　vague　suspicion。

〃What　I　mean。　　You　think　yourself　justified　in　believing　your　wife
dead；　because　she　did　not　seek　you　here；　may　she　not　feel　herself
equally　justified　in　believing　the　same　of　you；　because　you　had　not
sought　her　elsewhere？〃

〃But　it　was　writ　that　she　was　comin'　yere；　andI　boarded　every
train　that　come　in　that　fall；〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　new
irritation；　unlike　his　usual　calm。

〃Except　one；　my　dear　Collinson；except　one；〃　returned　Chivers；
holding　up　a　fat　forefinger　smilingly。　　〃And　that　may　be　the　clue。
Now；　listen！　　There　is　still　a　chance　of　following　it；　if　you　will。
The　name　of　my　friends　were　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Barker。　　I　regret；〃　he
added；　with　a　perfunctory　cough；　〃that　poor　Barker　is　dead。　　He　was
not　such　an　exemplary　husband　as　you　are；　my　dear　Collinson；　and　I
fear　was　not　all　that　Mrs。　Barker　could　have　wished；　enough　that　he
succumbed　from　various　excesses；　and　did　not　leave　me　Mrs。　Barker's
present　address。　　But　she　has　a　young　friend；　a　ward；　living　at　the
convent　of　Santa　Luisa；　whose　name　is　Miss　Rivers；　who　can　put　you
in　communication　with　her。　　Now；　one　thing　more：　I　can　understand
your　feelings；　and　that　you　would　wish　at　once　to　satisfy　your
mind。　　It　is　not；　perhaps；　to　my　interest　nor　the　interest　of　my
party　to　advise　you；　but；〃　he　continued；　glancing　around　him；　〃you
have　an　admirably　secluded　position　here；　on　the　edge　of　the　trail；
and　if　you　are　missing　from　your　post　to…morrow　morning；　I　shall
respect　your　feelings；　trust　to　your　honor　to　keep　this　secret；
andconsider　it　useless　to　pursue　you！〃

There　was　neither　shame　nor　pity　in　his　heart；　as　the　deceived　man
turned　towards　him　with　tremulous　eagerness；　and　grasped　his　hand
in　silent　gratitude。　　But　the　old　rage　and　fear　returned；　as
Collinson　said　gravely：

〃You　kinder　put　a　new　life　inter　me；　Mr。　Chivers；　and　I　wish　I　had
yer　gift　o'　speech　to　tell　ye　so。　　But　I've　passed　my　word　to　the
Capting　thar　and　to　the　rest　o'　you　folks　that　I'd　stand　guard　out
yere；　and　I　don't　go　back　o'　my　word。　　I　mout；　and　I　moutn't　find
my　Sadie；　but　she　wouldn't　think　the　less　o'　me；　arter　these　years
o'　waitin'；　ef　I　stayed　here　another　night；　to　guard　the　house　I
keep　in　trust　for　her；　and　the　strangers　I've　took　in　on　her
account。〃

〃As　you　like；　then；〃　said　Chivers；　contracting　his　lips；　〃but　keep
your　own　counsel　to…night。　　There　may　be　those　who　would　like　to
deter　you　from　your　search。　　And　now　I　will　leave　you　alone　in　this
delightful　moonlight。　　I　quite　envy　you　your　unrestricted　communion
with　Nature。　　Adios；　amigo；　adios！〃

He　leaped　lightly　on　a　large　rock　that　overhung　the　edge　of　the
grade；　and　waved　his　hand。