in a hollow of the hills-第22部分

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even　seemed　as　if　grass　were　already　growing　ever　this　enormous
sepulchre；　but　it　was　only　the　tops　of　the　buried　pines。　　The
absolute　silence；　the　utter　absence　of　any　mark　of　convulsive
struggle；　even　the　lulling　whimper　of　falling　waters；　gave　the
scene　a　pastoral　repose。

So　profound　was　the　impression　upon　Key　and　his　human　passion　that
it　at　first　seemed　an　ironical　and　eternal　ending　of　his　quest。　　It
was　with　difficulty　that　he　reasoned　that　the　catastrophe　occurred
before　Alice's　flight；　and　that　even　Collinson　might　have　had　time
to　escape。　　He　slowly　skirted　the　edge　of　the　chasm；　and　made　his
way　back　through　the　empty　woods　behind　the　old　mill…site　towards
the　place　where　he　had　dismounted。　　His　horse　seemed　to　have
strayed　into　the　shadows　of　this　covert；　but　as　he　approached　him；
he　was　amazed　to　see　that　it　was　not　his　own；　and　that　a　woman's
scarf　was　lying　over　its　side　saddle。　　A　wild　idea　seized　him；　and
found　expression　in　an　impulsive　cry：

〃Alice！〃

The　woods　echoed　it；　there　was　an　interval　of　silence；　and　then　a
faint　response。　　But　it　was　HER　voice。　　He　ran　eagerly　forward　in
that　direction；　and　called　again；　the　response　was　nearer　this
time；　and　then　the　tall　ferns　parted；　and　her　lithe；　graceful
figure　came　running；　stumbling；　and　limping　towards　him　like　a
wounded　fawn。　　Her　face　was　pale　and　agitated；　the　tendrils　of　her
light　hair　were　straying　over　her　shoulder；　and　one　of　the　sleeves
of　her　school…gown　was　stained　with　blood　and　dust。　　He　caught　the
white　and　trembling　hands　that　were　thrust　out　to　him　eagerly。

〃It　is　YOU！〃　she　gasped。　　〃I　prayed　for　some　one　to　come；　but　I　did
not　dream　it　would　be　YOU。　　And　then　I　heard　YOUR　voiceand　I
thought　it　could　be　only　a　dream　until　you　called　a　second　time。〃

〃But　you　are　hurt；〃　he　exclaimed　passionately。　　〃You　have　met　with
some　accident！〃

〃No；　no！〃　she　said　eagerly。　　〃Not　Ibut　a　poor；　poor　man　I　found
lying　on　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　　I　could　not　help　him　much；　I　did
not　care　to　leave　him。　　No　one　WOULD　come！　　I　have　been　with　him
alone；　all　the　morning！　　Come　quick；　he　may　be　dying。〃

He　passed　his　arm　around　her　waist　unconsciously；　she　permitted　it
as　unconsciously；　as　he　half　supported　her　figure　while　they
hurried　forward。

〃He　had　been　crushed　by　something；　and　was　just　hanging　over　the
ledge；　and　could　not　move　nor　speak；〃　she　went　on　quickly。　　〃I
dragged　him　away　to　a　tree；　it　took　me　hours　to　move　him；　he　was　so
heavy；and　I　got　him　some　water　from　the　stream　and　bathed　his
face；　and　blooded　all　my　sleeve。〃

〃But　what　were　you　doing　here？〃　he　asked　quickly。

A　faint　blush　crossed　the　pallor　of　her　delicate　cheek。　　She　looked
away　quickly。　　〃Iwas　going　to　find　my　brother　at　Bald　Top；〃　she
replied　at　last　hurriedly。　　〃But　don't　ask　me　nowonly　come　quick；
do。〃

〃Is　the　wounded　man　conscious？　　Did　you　speak　with　him？　　Does　he
know　who　you　are？〃　asked　Key　uneasily。

〃No！　he　only　moaned　a　little　and　opened　his　eyes　when　I　dragged
him。　　I　don't　think　he　even　knew　what　had　happened。〃

They　hurried　on　again。　　The　wood　lightened　suddenly。　　〃Here！〃　she
said　in　a　half　whisper；　and　stepped　timidly　into　the　open　light。
Only　a　few　feet　from　the　fatal　ledge；　against　the　roots　of　a
buckeye；　with　HER　shawl　thrown　over　him；　lay　the　wounded　man。

Key　started　back。　　It　was　Collinson！

His　head　and　shoulders　seemed　uninjured；　but　as　Key　lifted　the
shawl；　he　saw　that　the　long；　lank　figure　appeared　to　melt　away
below　the　waist　into　a　mass　of　shapeless　and　dirty　rags。　　Key
hurriedly　replaced　the　shawl；　and；　bending　over　him；　listened　to
his　hurried　respiration　and　the　beating　of　his　heart。　　Then　he
pressed　a　drinking…flask　to　his　lips。　　The　spirit　seemed　to　revive
him；　he　slowly　opened　his　eyes。　　They　fell　upon　Key　with　quick
recognition。　　But　the　look　changed；　one　could　see　that　he　was
trying　to　rise；　but　that　no　movement　of　the　limbs　accompanied　that
effort　of　will；　and　his　old　patient；　resigned　look　returned。　　Key
shuddered。　　There　was　some　injury　to　the　spine。　　The　man　was
paralyzed。

〃I　can't　get　up；　Mr。　Key；〃　he　said　in　a　faint　but　untroubled　voice；
〃nor　seem　to　move　my　arms；　but　you'll　just　allow　that　I've　shook
hands　with　yeall　the　same。〃

〃How　did　this　happen？〃　said　Key　anxiously。

〃Thet's　wot　gets　me！　　Sometimes　I　reckon　I　know；　and　sometimes　I
don't。　　Lyin'　thar　on　thet　ledge　all　last　night；　and　only　jest　able
to　look　down　into　the　old　valley；　sometimes　it　seemed　to　me　ez　if　I
fell　over　and　got　caught　in　the　rocks　trying　to　save　my　wife；　but
then　when　I　kem　to　think　sensible；　and　know　my　wife　wasn't　there　at
all；　I　get　mystified。　　Sometimes　I　think　I　got　ter　thinkin'　of　my
wife　only　when　this　yer　young　gal　thet's　bin　like　an　angel　to　me
kem　here　and　dragged　me　off　the　ledge；　for　you　see　she　don't　belong
here；　and　hez　dropped　on　to　me　like　a　sperrit。〃

〃Then　you　were　not　in　the　house　when　the　shock　came？〃　said　Key。

〃No。　　You　see　the　mill　was　filled　with　them　fellers　as　the　sheriff
was　arter；　and　it　went　over　with　'emand　I〃

〃Alice；〃　said　Key；　with　a　white　face；　〃would　you　mind　going　to　my
horse；　which　you　will　find　somewhere　near　yours；　and　bringing　me　a
medicine　case　from　my　saddle…bags？〃

The　innocent　girl　glanced　quickly　at　her　companion；　saw　the　change
in　his　face；　and；　attributing　it　to　the　imminent　danger　of　the
injured　man；　at　once　glided　away。　　When　she　was　out　of　hearing；　Key
leaned　gravely　over　him：

〃Collinson；　I　must　trust　you　with　a　secret。　　I　am　afraid　that　this
poor　girl　who　helped　you　is　the　sister　of　the　leader　of　that　gang
the　sheriff　was　in　pursuit　of。　　She　has　been　kept　in　perfect
ignorance　of　her　brother's　crimes。　　She　must　NEVER　know　themnor
even　know　his　fate！　　If　he　perished　utterly　in　this　catastrophe；　as
it　would　seemit　was　God's　will　to　spare　her　that　knowledge。　　I
tell　you　this；　to　warn　you　in　anything　you　say　before　her。　　She
MUST　believe；　as　I　shall　try　to　make　her　believe；　that　he　has　gone
back　to　the　Stateswhere　she　will　perhaps；　hereafter；　believe　that
he　died。　　Better　that　she　should　know　nothingand　keep　her　thought
of　him　unchanged。〃

〃I　seeI　seeI　see；　Mr。　Key；〃　murmured　the　injured　man。　　〃Thet's
wot　I've　been　sayin'　to　myself　lyin'　here　all　night。　　Thet's　wot　I
bin　sayin'　o'　my　wife　Sadie；her　that　I　actooally　got　to　think　kem
back　to　me　last　night。　　You　see　I'd　heerd　from　one　o'　those　fellars
that　a　woman　like　unto　her　had　been　picked　up　in　Texas　and　brought
on　yere；　and　that　mebbe　she　was　somewhar　in　Californy。　　I　was　that
foolishand　that　ontrue　to　her；　all　the　while　knowin'；　as　I　once
told　you；　Mr。　Key；　that　ef　she'd　been　alive　she'd　bin　yerethat　I
believed　it　true　for　a　minit！　　And　that　was　why；　afore　this
happened；　I　had　a　dream；　right　out　yer；　and　dreamed　she　kem　to　me；
all　white　and　troubled；　through　the　woods。　　At　first　I　thought　it
war　my　Sadie；　but　when　I　see　she　warn't　like　her　old　self；　and　her
voice　was　strange　and　her　laugh　was　strangethen　I　knowed　it
wasn't　her；　and　I　was　dreamin'。　　You're　right；　Mr。　Key；　in　wot　you
got　off　just　nowwot　was　it？　　Better　to　know　nothin'and　keep　the
old　thoughts　unchanged。〃

〃Have　you　any　pain？〃　asked　Key　after　a　pause。

〃No；　I　kinder　feel　easier　now。〃

Key　looked　at　his　changing　face。　　〃Tell　me；〃　he　said　gently；　〃if　it
does　not　tax　your　strength；　all　that　has　happened　here；　all　you
know。　　It　is　for　HER　sake。〃

Thus　adjured；　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　Key；　Collinson　narrated　his
story　from　the　irruption　of　the　outlaws　to　the　final　catastrophe。
Even　then　he　palliated　their　outrage　with　his　characteristic
patience；　keeping　still　his　strange　fascination　for　Chivers；　and
his　blind　belief　in　his　miserable　wife。　　The　story　was　at　times
broken　by　lapses　of　faintness；　by　a　singular　return　of　his　old
abstraction　and　forgetfulness　in　the　midst　of　a　sentence；　and　at
last　by　a　fit　of　coughing　that　left　a　few　crimson　bubbles　on　the
corners　of　his　month。　　Key　lifted　his　eyes　anxiously；　there　was
some　grave　internal　injury；　which　the　dying　man's　resolute　patience
had　suppressed。　　Yet；　at　the　sound　of　Alice's　returning　step；
Collinson's　eyes　brightened；　apparently　as　much　at　her　coming　as
from　the　effect　of　the　powerful　stimulant　Key　had　taken　from　his
medicine　case。

〃I　thank　ye；　Mr。　Key；〃　he　said　faintly；　〃for　I've　got　an　idea　I
ain't　got　no　great　time　before　me；　and　I've　got　suthin'　to　say　to
you；　afore　witnesses〃his　eyes　sought　Alice's　in　half　apology
〃afore　witnesses；　you　understand。　　Would　you　mind　standin'　out
thar；　afore　me；　in　the　light；　so　I　kin　see　you　both；　and　you；　miss；
rememberin'；　ez　a　witness；　suthin'　I　got　to　tell　to　him？　　You　might
take　his　hand；　miss；　to　make　it　more　regular　and　lawlike。〃

The　two　did　as　he　bade　them；　standing　side　by　side；　painfully
humoring　what　seemed　to　them　to　be　wanderings　of　a　dying　man。

〃Thar　was　a　young　fellow；〃　said　Collinson　in　a　steady　voice；　〃ez
kem　to　my　shanty　a　night　ago　on　his　way　to　thethevalley。　　He
was　a　sprightly　young　fellow；　gay　and　chipper…like；　and　he　sez　to
me；　confidential…like；　'Collinson；'　sez　he；　'I'm　off　to　the　States
this　very　night　on　business　of　importance；　mebbe　I'll　be　away　a
long　timefor　years！　　You　know；'　sez　he；　'Mr。　Key；　in　the　Hollow！
Go　to　him；'　sez　he；　'and　tell　him　ez　how　I　hadn't　time　to　get　to
see　him；　tell　him；'　sez　he；　'that　RIVERS'you've　got　the　name；　Mr。
Key？you've　got　the　name；　miss？'that　RIVERS　wants　him　to　say
this　to　his　little　sister　from　her　lovin'　brother。　　And　tell　him；'
sez　he；　this　yer　RIVERS；　'to　look　arter　her；　being　alone。'　　You
remember　that；　Mr。　Key？　you　remember　it；　miss？　　You　see；　I
remembered　it；　too；　being；　so　to　speak；　alone　myself〃he　paused；
and　added　in　a　faint　whisper〃till　now。〃

Then　he　was　silent。　　That　innocent　lie　was　the　first　and　last　upon
his　honest　lips；　for　as　they　stood　there；　hand　in　hand；　they　saw
his　plain；　hard　face　take　upon　itself；　at　first；　the　gray；　ashen
hues　of　the　rocks　around　him；　and　then　and　thereafter　something　of
the　infinite　tranquillity　and　peace　of　that　wilderness　in　which　he
had　lived　and　died；　and　of　which　he　was　a　part。

Contemporaneous　history　was　less　kindly。　　The　〃Bald　Top　Sentinel〃
congratulated　its　readers　that　the　late　seismic　disturbance　was
accompanied　with　very