in a hollow of the hills-第19部分

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with　Nature。　　Adios；　amigo；　adios！〃

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

〃I　wouldn't　do　that；　Mr。　Chivers；〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　concerned
face；　〃them　rocks　are　mighty　ticklish；　and　that　one　in　partiklar。
A　tech　sometimes　sends　'em　scooting。〃

Mr。　Chivers　leaped　quickly　to　the　ground；　turned；　waved　his　hand
again；　and　disappeared　down　the　grade。

But　Collinson　was　no　longer　alone。　　Hitherto　his　characteristic
reveries　had　been　of　the　past；reminiscences　in　which　there　was
only　recollection；　no　imagination；　and　very　little　hope。　　Under　the
spell　of　Chivers's　words　his　fancy　seemed　to　expand；　he　began　to
think　of　his　wife　as　she　might　be　now；perhaps　ill；　despairing；
wandering　hopelessly；　even　ragged　and　footsore；　orbelieving　HIM
deadrelapsing　into　the　resigned　patience　that　had　been　his　own；
but　always　a　new　Sadie；　whom　he　had　never　seen　or　known　before。　　A
faint　dread；　the　lightest　of　misgivings　（perhaps　coming　from　his
very　ignorance）；　for　the　first　time　touched　his　steadfast　heart；
and　sent　a　chill　through　it。　　He　shouldered　his　weapon；　and　walked
briskly　towards　the　edge　of　the　thick…set　woods。　　There　were　the
fragrant　essences　of　the　laurel　and　sprucebaked　in　the　long…day
sunshine　that　had　encompassed　their　recessesstill　coming　warm　to
his　face；　there　were　the　strange　shiftings　of　temperature
throughout　the　openings；　that　alternately　warmed　and　chilled　him　as
he　walked。　　It　seemed　so　odd　that　he　should　now　have　to　seek　her
instead　of　her　coming　to　him；　it　would　never　be　the　same　meeting　to
him；　away　from　the　house　that　he　had　built　for　her！　　He　strolled
back；　and　looked　down　upon　it；　nestling　on　the　ledge。　　The　white
moonlight　that　lay　upon　it　dulled　the　glitter　of　lights　in　its
windows；　but　the　sounds　of　laughter　and　singing　came　to　even　his
unfastidious　ears　with　a　sense　of　vague　discord。　　He　walked　back
again；　and　began　to　pace　before　the　thick…set　wood。　　Suddenly　he
stopped　and　listened。

To　any　other　ears　but　those　accustomed　to　mountain　solitude　it
would　have　seemed　nothing。　　But；　familiar　as　he　was　with　all　the
infinite　disturbances　of　the　woodland；　and　even　the　simulation　of
intrusion　caused　by　a　falling　branch　or　lapsing　pine…cone；　he　was
arrested　now　by　a　recurring　sound；　unlike　any　other。　　It　was　an
occasional　muffled　beatinterrupted　at　uncertain　intervals；　but
always　returning　in　regular　rhythm；　whenever　it　was　audible。　　He
knew　it　was　made　by　a　cantering　horse；　that　the　intervals　were　due
to　the　patches　of　dead　leaves　in　its　course；　and　that　the　varying
movement　was　the　effect　of　its　progress　through　obstacles　and
underbrush。　　It　was　therefore　coming　through　some　〃blind〃　cutoff　in
the　thick…set　wood。　　The　shifting　of　the　sound　also　showed　that　the
rider　was　unfamiliar　with　the　locality；　and　sometimes　wandered　from
the　direct　course；　but　the　unfailing　and　accelerating　persistency
of　the　sound；　in　spite　of　these　difficulties；　indicated　haste　and
determination。

He　swung　his　gun　from　his　shoulder；　and　examined　its　caps。　　As　the
sound　came　nearer；　he　drew　up　beside　a　young　spruce　at　the　entrance
of　the　thicket。　　There　was　no　necessity　to　alarm　the　house；　or　call
the　other　sentry。　　It　was　a　single　horse　and　rider；　and　he　was
equal　to　that。　　He　waited　quietly；　and　with　his　usual　fateful
patience。　　Even　then　his　thoughts　still　reverted　to　his　wife；　and
it　was　with　a　singular　feeling　that　he；　at　last；　saw　the　thick
underbrush　give　way　before　a　woman；　mounted　on　a　sweating　but　still
spirited　horse；　who　swept　out　into　the　open。　　Nevertheless；　he
stopped　in　front　of　her；　and　called：

〃Hold　up　thar！〃

The　horse　recoiled；　nearly　unseating　her。　　Collinson　caught　the
reins。　　She　lifted　her　whip　mechanically；　yet　remained　holding　it
in　the　air；　trembling；　until　she　slipped；　half　struggling；　half
helplessly；　from　the　saddle　to　the　ground。　　Here　she　would　have
again　fallen；　but　Collinson　caught　her　sharply　by　the　waist。　　At
his　touch　she　started　and　uttered　a　frightened　〃No！〃　　At　her　voice
Collinson　started。

〃Sadie！〃　he　gasped。

〃Seth！〃　she　half　whispered。

They　stood　looking　at　each　other。　　But　Collinson　was　already
himself　again。　　The　man　of　simple　directness　and　no　imagination　saw
only　his　wife　before　hima　little　breathless；　a　little　flurried；　a
little　disheveled　from　rapid　riding；　as　he　had　sometimes　seen　her
before；　but　otherwise　unchanged。　　Nor　had　HE　changed；　he　took　her
up　where　he　had　left　her　years　ago。　　His　grave　face　only　broadened
into　a　smile；　as　he　held　both　her　hands　in　his。

〃Yes；　it's　meLordy！　　Why；　I　was　comin'　only　to…morrow　to　find　ye；
Sade！〃

She　glanced　hurriedly　around　her；　〃Toto　find　me；〃　she　said
incredulously。

〃Sartain！　　That　ez；　I　was　goin'　to　ask　about　ye；goin'　to　ask
about　ye　at　the　convent。〃

〃At　the　convent？〃　she　echoed　with　a　frightened　amazement。

〃Yes；　why；　Lordy　Sadedon't　you　see？　　You　thought　I　was　dead；　and
I　thought　you　was　dead；that's　what's　the　matter。　　But　I　never
reckoned　that　you'd　think　me　dead　until　Chivers　allowed　that　it
must　be　so。〃

Her　face　whitened　in　the　moonlight　〃Chivers？〃　she　said　blankly。

〃In　course；　but　nat'rally　you　don't　know　him；　honey。　　He　only　saw
you　onc't。　　But　it　was　along　o'　that；　Sade；　that　he　told　me　he
reckoned　you　wasn't　dead；　and　told　me　how　to　find　you。　　He　was
mighty　kind　and　consarned　about　it；　and　he　even　allowed　I'd　better
slip　off　to　you　this　very　night。〃

〃Chivers；〃　she　repeated；　gazing　at　her　husband　with　bloodless　lips。

〃Yes；　an　awful　purty…spoken　man。　　Ye'll　have　to　get　to　know　him
Sade。　　He's　here　with　some　of　his　folks　az　hez　got　inter　trouble
I'm　forgettin'　to　tell　ye。　　You　see〃

〃Yes；　yes；　yes！〃　she　interrupted　hysterically；　〃and　this　is　the
Mill？〃

〃Yes；　lovey；　the　Millmy　millYOUR　millthe　house　I　built　for
you；　dear。　　I'd　show　it　to　you　now；　but　you　see；　Sade；　I'm　out　here
standin'　guard。〃

〃Are　YOU　one　of　them？〃　she　said；　clutching　his　hand　desperately。

〃No；　dear；〃　he　said　soothingly；〃no；　only；　you　see；　I　giv'　my　word
to　'em　as　I　giv'　my　house　to…night；　and　I'm　bound　to　protect　them
and　see　'em　through。　　Why；　Lordy！　Sade；　you'd　have　done　the　same
for　Chivers。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　said；　beating　her　hands　together　strangely；　〃of
course。　　He　was　so　kind　to　bring　me　back　to　you。　　And　you　might
have　never　found　me　but　for　him。〃

She　burst　into　an　hysterical　laugh；　which　the　simple…minded　man
might　have　overlooked　but　for　the　tears　that　coursed　down　her
bloodless　face。

〃What's　gone　o'　ye；　Sadie；〃　he　said　in　a　sudden　fear；　grasping　her
hands；　〃that　laugh　ain't　your'nthat　voice　ain't　your'n。　　You're
the　old　Sadie；　ain't　ye？〃　　He　stopped。　　For　a　moment　his　face
blanched　as　he　glanced　towards　the　mill；　from　which　the　faint　sound
of　bacchanalian　voices　came　to　his　quick　ear。　　〃Sadie；　dear；　ye
ain't　thinkin'　anything　agin'　me？　　Ye　ain't　allowin'　I'm　keeping
anythin'　back　from　ye？〃

Her　face　stiffened　into　rigidity；　she　dashed　the　tears　from　her
eyes。　　〃No；〃　she　said　quickly。　　Then　after　a　moment　she　added；　with
a　faint　laugh；　〃You　see　we　haven't　seen　each　other　for　so　long
it's　all　so　suddenso　unexpected。〃

〃But　you　kem　here；　just　now；　calkilatin'　to　find　me？〃　said
Collinson　gravely。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　said　quickly；　still　grasping　both　his　hands；　but
with　her　head　slightly　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　mill。

〃But　who　told　ye　where　to　find　the　mill？〃　he　said；　with　gentle
patience。

〃A　friend；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　　〃Perhaps；〃　she　added；　with　a
singular　smile；　〃a　friend　of　the　friend　who　told　you。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　relieved　face　and　a　broadening
smile；　〃it's　a　sort　of　fairy　story。　　I'll　bet；　now；　it　was　that　old
Barker　woman　that　Chivers　knows。〃

Her　teeth　gleamed　rigidly　together　in　the　moonlight；　like　a
death's…head。　　〃Yes；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃it　was　that　old　Barker
woman。　　Say；　Seth；〃　she　continued；　moistening　her　lips　slowly；
〃you're　guarding　this　place　alone？〃

〃Thar's　another　feller　up　the　trail；a　sentry；but　don't　you　be
afeard；　he　can't　hear　us；　Sade。〃

〃On　this　side　of　the　mill？〃

〃Yes！　　Why；　Lord　love　ye；　Sadie！　t'other　side　o'　the　mill　it　drops
down　straight　to　the　valley；　nobody　comes　yer　that　way　but　poor
low…down　emigrants。　　And　it's　miles　round　to　come　by　the　valley
from　the　summit。〃

〃You　didn't　hear　your　friend　Chivers　say　that　the　sheriff　was　out
with　his　posse　to…night　hunting　them？〃

〃No。　　Did　you？〃

〃I　think　I　heard　something　of　that　kind　at　Skinner's；　but　it　may
have　been　only　a　warning　to　me；　traveling　alone。〃

〃Thet's　so；〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　tender　solicitude；　〃but　none　o'
these　yer　road…agents　would　have　teched　a　woman。　　And　this　yer
Chivers　ain't　the　man　to　insult　one；　either。〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　with　a　return　of　her　hysteric　laugh。　　But　it　was
overlooked　by　Collinson；　who　was　taking　his　gun　from　beside　the
tree　where　he　had　placed　it；　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　said
suddenly。

〃I　reckon　them　fellers　ought　to　be　warned　o'　what　you　heard。　　I'll
be　back　in　a　minit。〃

〃And　you're　going　to　leave　me　nowwhenwhen　we've　only　just　met
after　these　years；〃　she　said；　with　a　faint　attempt　at　a　smile；
which；　however；　did　not　reach　the　cold　glitter　of　her　eyes。

〃Just　for　a　little；　honey。　　Besides；　don't　you　see；　I've　got　to　get
excused；　for　we'll　have　to　go　off　to　Skinner's　or　somewhere；　Sadie；
for　we　can't　stay　in　thar　along　o'　them。〃

〃So　you　and　your　wife　are　turned　out　of　your　home　to　please
Chivers；〃　she　said；　still　smiling。

〃That's　whar　you　slip　up；　Sadie；〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　troubled
face；　〃for　he's　that　kind　of　a　man　thet　if　I　jest　as　much　as　hinted
you　was　here；　he'd　turn　'em　all　out　o'　the　house　for　a　lady。
Thet's　why　I　don't　propose　to　let　on　anything　about　you　till　to…
morrow。〃

〃To…morrow　will　do；〃　she　said；　still　smiling；　but　with　a　singular
abstraction　in　her　face。　　〃Pray　don't　disturb　them　now。　　You　say
there　is　another　sentinel　beyond。　　He　is　enough　to　warn　them　of　any
approach　from　the　trail。　　I'm　tired　and　illvery　ill！　　Sit　by　me
here；　Seth；　and　wait！　　We　can　wait　here　togetherwe　have　waited　so
long；　Seth；and　the　end　has　come　now。〃

She　suddenly　lapsed　against　the　tree；　and　slipped　in　a　sitting
posture　to　the　ground。　　Collinson　cast　himsel