in a hollow of the hills-第2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！


the　building　that　had　once　stood　for　it　was　used　as　a　rude　hostelry
for　travelers；　which；　however；　bore　no　legend　or　invitatory　sign。
Those　who　wanted　it；　knew　it；　those　who　passed　it　by；　gave　it　no
offense。

Collinson　himself　stood　by　the　door；　smoking　a　contemplative　pipe。
As　they　rode　up；　he　disengaged　himself　from　the　doorpost
listlessly；　walked　slowly　towards　them；　said　reflectively　to　the
leader；　〃I've　been　thinking　with　you　that　a　vote　for　Thompson　is　a
vote　thrown　away；〃　and　prepared　to　lead　the　horses　towards　the
water　tank。　　He　had　parted　with　them　over　twelve　hours　before；　but
his　air　of　simply　renewing　a　recently　interrupted　conversation　was
too　common　a　circumstance　to　attract　their　notice。　　They　knew；　and
he　knew；　that　no　one　else　had　passed　that　way　since　he　had　last
spoken；　that　the　same　sun　had　swung　silently　above　him　and　the
unchanged　landscape；　and　there　had　been　no　interruption　nor
diversion　to　his　monotonous　thought。　　The　wilderness　annihilates
time　and　space　with　the　grim　pathos　of　patience。

Nevertheless　he　smiled。　　〃Ye　don't　seem　to　have　got　through　coming
down　yet；〃　he　continued；　as　a　few　small　boulders；　loosened　in　their
rapid　descent；　came　more　deliberately　rolling　and　plunging　after
the　travelers　along　the　gravelly　bottom。　　Then　he　turned　away　with
the　horses；　and；　after　they　were　watered；　he　reentered　the　house。
His　guests　had　evidently　not　waited　for　his　ministration。　　They　had
already　taken　one　or　two　bottles　from　the　shelves　behind　a　wide　bar
and　helped　themselves；　and；　glasses　in　hand；　were　now　satisfying
the　more　imminent　cravings　of　hunger　with　biscuits　from　a　barrel
and　slices　of　smoked　herring　from　a　box。　　Their　equally　singular
host；　accepting　their　conduct　as　not　unusual；　joined　the　circle
they　had　comfortably　drawn　round　the　fireplace；　and　meditatively
kicking　a　brand　back　at　the　fire；　said；　without　looking　at　them：

〃Well？〃

〃Well！〃　returned　the　leader；　leaning　back　in　his　chair　after
carefully　unloosing　the　buckle　of　his　belt；　but　with　his　eyes　also
on　the　fire；〃well！　we've　prospected　every　yard　of　outcrop　along
the　Divide；　and　there　ain't　the　ghost　of　a　silver　indication
anywhere。〃

〃Not　a　smell；〃　added　the　close…shaven　guest；　without　raising　his
eyes。

They　all　remained　silent；　looking　at　the　fire；　as　if　it　were　the
one　thing　they　had　taken　into　their　confidence。　　Collinson　also
addressed　himself　to　the　blaze　as　he　said　presently：　〃It　allus
seemed　to　me　that　thar　was　something　shiny　about　that　ledge　just
round　the　shoulder　of　the　spur；　over　the　long　canyon。〃

The　leader　ejaculated　a　short　laugh。　　〃Shiny；　eh？　shiny！　　Ye　think
THAT　a　sign？　　Why；　you　might　as　well　reckon　that　because　Key's
head；　over　thar；　is　gray　and　silvery　that　he's　got　sabe　and
experience。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　looked　towards　the　man　with　a　pleasant
voice。　　The　fire　shining　full　upon　him　revealed　the　singular　fact
that　while　his　face　was　still　young；　and　his　mustache　quite　dark；
his　hair　was　perfectly　gray。　　The　object　of　this　attention；　far
from　being　disconcerted　by　the　comparison；　added　with　a　smile：

〃Or　that　he　had　any　silver　in　his　pocket。〃

Another　lapse　of　silence　followed。　　The　wind　tore　round　the　house
and　rumbled　in　the　short；　adobe　chimney。

〃No；　gentlemen；〃　said　the　leader　reflectively；　〃this　sort　o'　thing
is　played　out。　　I　don't　take　no　more　stock　in　that　cock…and…bull
story　about　the　lost　Mexican　mine。　　I　don't　catch　on　to　that
Sunday…school　yarn　about　the　pious；　scientific　sharp　who　collected
leaves　and　vegetables　all　over　the　Divide；　all　the　while　he
scientifically　knew　that　the　range　was　solid　silver；　only　he
wouldn't　soil　his　fingers　with　God…forsaken　lucre。　　I　ain't　saying
anything　agin　that　fine…spun　theory　that　Key　believes　in　about
volcanic　upheavals　that　set　up　on　end　argentiferous　rock；　but　I
simply　say　that　I　don't　see　itwith　the　naked　eye。　　And　I　reckon
it's　about　time；　boys；　as　the　game's　up；　that　we　handed　in　our
checks；　and　left　the　board。〃

There　was　another　silence　around　the　fire；　another　whirl　and
turmoil　without。　　There　was　no　attempt　to　combat　the　opinions　of
their　leader；　possibly　the　same　sense　of　disappointed　hopes　was
felt　by　all；　only　they　preferred　to　let　the　man　of　greater
experience　voice　it。　　He　went　on：

〃We've　had　our　little　game；　boys；　ever　since　we　left　Rawlin's　a
week　ago；　we've　had　our　ups　and　downs；　we've　been　starved　and
parched；　snowed　up　and　half　drowned；　shot　at　by　road…agents　and
horse…thieves；　kicked　by　mules　and　played　with　by　grizzlies。　　We've
had　a　heap　o'　fun；　boys；　for　our　money；　but　I　reckon　the　picnic　is
about　over。　　So　we'll　shake　hands　to…morrow　all　round　and　call　it
square；　and　go　on　our　ways　separately。〃

〃And　what　do　you　think　you'll　do；　Uncle　Dick？〃　said　his　close…
shaven　companion　listlessly。

〃I'll　make　tracks　for　a　square　meal；　a　bed　that　a　man　can
comfortably　take　off　his　boots　and　die　in；　and　some　violet…scented
soap。　　Civilization's　good　enough　for　me！　　I　even　reckon　I　wouldn't
mind　'the　sound　of　the　church…going　bell'　ef　there　was　a　theatre
handy；　as　there　likely　would　be。　　But　the　wilderness　is　played
out。〃

〃You'll　be　back　to　it　again　in　six　months；　Uncle　Dick；〃　retorted
the　other　quickly。

Uncle　Dick　did　not　reply。　　It　was　a　peculiarity　of　the　party　that
in　their　isolated　companionship　they　had　already　exhausted
discussion　and　argument。　　A　silence　followed；　in　which　they　all
looked　at　the　fire　as　if　it　was　its　turn　to　make　a　suggestion。

〃Collinson；〃　said　the　pleasant　voice　abruptly；　〃who　lives　in　the
hollow　this　side　of　the　Divide；　about　two　miles　from　the　first　spur
above　the　big　canyon？〃

〃Nary　soul！〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃Sartin！　　Thar　ain't　no　one　but　me　betwixt　Bald　Top　and　Skinner's
twenty…five　miles。〃

〃Of　course；　YOU'D　know　if　any　one　had　come　there　lately？〃　persisted
the　pleasant　voice。

〃I　reckon。　　It　ain't　a　week　ago　that　I　tramped　the　whole　distance
that　you　fellers　just　rode　over。〃

〃There　ain't；〃　said　the　leader　deliberately；　〃any　enchanted　castle
or　cabin　that　goes　waltzing　round　the　road　with　revolving　windows
and　fairy　princesses　looking　out　of　'em？〃

But　Collinson；　recognizing　this　as　purely　irrelevant　humor；　with
possibly　a　trap　or　pitfall　in　it；　moved　away　from　the　fireplace
without　a　word；　and　retired　to　the　adjoining　kitchen　to　prepare
supper。　　Presently　he　reappeared。

〃The　pork　bar'l's　empty；　boys；　so　I'll　hev　to　fix　ye　up　with　jerked
beef；　potatoes；　and　flapjacks。　　Ye　see；　thar　ain't　anybody　ben　over
from　Skinner's　store　for　a　week。〃

〃All　right；　only　hurry　up！〃　said　Uncle　Dick　cheerfully；　settling
himself　back　in　his　chair；　〃I　reckon　to　turn　in　as　soon　as　I've
rastled　with　your　hash；　for　I've　got　to　turn　out　agin　and　be　off　at
sun…up。〃

They　were　all　very　quiet　again；so　quiet　that　they　could　not　help
noticing　that　the　sound　of　Collinson's　preparations　for　their
supper　had　ceased　too。　　Uncle　Dick　arose　softly　and　walked　to　the
kitchen　door。　　Collinson　was　sitting　before　a　small　kitchen　stove；
with　a　fork　in　his　hand；　gazing　abstractedly　before　him。　　At　the
sound　of　his　guest's　footsteps　he　started；　and　the　noise　of
preparation　recommenced。　　Uncle　Dick　returned　to　his　chair　by　the
fire。　　Leaning　towards　the　chair　of　the　close…shaven　man；　he　said
in　a　lower　voice：

〃He　was　off　agin！〃

〃What？〃

〃Thinkin'　of　that　wife　of　his。〃

〃What　about　his　wife？〃　asked　Key；　lowering　his　voice　also。

The　three　men's　heads　were　close　together。

〃When　Collinson　fixed　up　this　mill　he　sent　for　his　wife　in　the
States；〃　said　Uncle　Dick；　in　a　half　whisper；　〃waited　a　year　for
her；　hanging　round　and　boarding　every　emigrant　wagon　that　came
through　the　Pass。　　She　didn't　comeonly　the　news　that　she　was
dead。〃　　He　paused　and　nudged　his　chair　still　closerthe　heads　were
almost　touching。　　〃They　say；　over　in　the　Bar〃his　voice　had　sunk
to　a　complete　whisper〃that　it　was　a　lie！　　That　she　ran　away　with
the　man　that　was　fetchin'　her　out。　　Three　thousand　miles　and　three
weeks　with　another　man　upsets　some　women。　　But　HE　knows　nothing
about　it；　only　he　sometimes　kinder　goes　off　looney…like；　thinking
of　her。〃　　He　stopped；　the　heads　separated；　Collinson　had　appeared
at　the　doorway；　his　melancholy　patience　apparently　unchanged。

〃Grub's　on；　gentlemen；　sit　by　and　eat。〃

The　humble　meal　was　dispatched　with　zest　and　silence。　　A　few
interjectional　remarks　about　the　uncertainties　of　prospecting　only
accented　the　other　pauses。　　In　ten　minutes　they　were　out　again　by
the　fireplace　with　their　lit　pipes。　　As　there　were　only　three
chairs；　Collinson　stood　beside　the　chimney。

〃Collinson；〃　said　Uncle　Dick；　after　the　usual　pause；　taking　his
pipe　from　his　lips；　〃as　we've　got　to　get　up　and　get　at　sun…up；　we
might　as　well　tell　you　now　that　we're　dead　broke。　　We've　been
living　for　the　last　few　weeks　on　Preble　Key's　loose　changeand
that's　gone。　　You'll　have　to　let　this　little　account　and　damage
stand　over。〃

Collinson's　brow　slightly　contracted；　without；　however；　altering
his　general　expression　of　resigned　patience。

〃I'm　sorry　for　you；　boys；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃and〃　（diffidently）
〃kinder　sorry　for　myself；　too。　　You　see；　I　reckoned　on　goin'　over
to　Skinner's　to…morrow；　to　fill　up　the　pork　bar'l　and　vote　for
Mesick　and　the　wagon…road。　　But　Skinner　can't　let　me　have　anything
more　until　I've　paid　suthin'　on　account；　as　he　calls　it。〃

〃D'ye　mean　to　say　thar's　any　mountain　man　as　low　flung　and　mean　as
that？〃　said　Uncle　Dick　indignantly。

〃But　it　isn't　HIS　fault；〃　said　Collinson　gently；　〃you　see；　they
won't　send　him　goods　from　Sacramento　if　he　don't　pay　up；　and　he
CAN'T　if　I　DON'T。　　Sabe？〃

〃Ah！　that's　another　thing。　　They　ARE　meanin　Sacramento；〃　said
Uncle　Dick；　somewhat　mollified。

The　other　guests　murmured　an　assent　to　this　general　proposition。
Suddenly　Uncle　Dick's　face　brightened。

〃Look　here！　　I　know　Skinner；　and　I'll　stop　there　　No；　blank　it
all！　I　can't；　for　it's　off　my　route！　　Well；　then；　we'll　fix　it　this
way。　　Key　will　go　there　and　tell　Skinner　that　I　say　that　I'LL　send
the　money　to　that　Sacramento　hound。　　That'll　fix　it！〃

Collinson's　brow　cleared；　the　solution　of　the　difficulty　seemed　to
satisfy　everybody；　and　the　close…shaven　man　smiled。

〃And　I'll　secure　it；〃　he　said；　〃and