in a hollow of the hills-第6部分

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some　'un；　but　that　some　'unher　as　mought　hev　stood　up　in　that
shoeain't　o'　that　kind　as　would　ever　stand　in　the　shoes　of　her　as
YOU　know　at　all。〃　　The　rebuke；　if　such　were　intended；　lay　quite　as
much　in　the　utter　ignoring　of　Key's　airy　gallantry　and　levity　as　in
any　conscious　slur　upon　the　fair　fame　of　his　invented　Dulcinea。
Yet　Key　oddly　felt　a　strong　inclination　to　resent　the　aspersion　as
well　as　Collinson's　gratuitous　morality；　and　with　a　mean
recollection　of　Uncle　Dick's　last　evening's　scandalous　gossip；　he
said　sarcastically；　〃And；　of　course；　that　some　one　YOU　were
thinking　of　was　your　lawful　wife。〃

〃It　war！〃　said　Collinson　gravely。

Perhaps　it　was　something　in　Collinson's　manner；　or　his　own
preoccupation；　but　he　did　not　pursue　the　subject；　and　the
conversation　lagged。　　They　were　nearing；　too；　the　outer　edge　of　the
present　conflagration；　and　the　smoke；　lying　low　in　the　unburnt
woods；　or　creeping　like　an　actual　exhalation　of　the　soil；　blinded
them　so　that　at　times　they　lost　the　trail　completely。　　At　other
times；　from　the　intense　heat；　it　seemed　as　if　they　were　momentarily
impinging　upon　the　burning　area；　or　were　being　caught　in　a　closing
circle。　　It　was　remarkable　that　with　his　sudden　accession　of
fortune　Key　seemed　to　lose　his　usual　frank　and　careless
fearlessness；　and　impatiently　questioned　his　companion's　woodcraft。
There　were　intervals　when　he　regretted　his　haste　to　reach　Skinner's
by　this　shorter　cut；　and　began　to　bitterly　attribute　it　to　his
desire　to　serve　Collinson。　　Ah；　yes！　it　would　be　fine　indeed；　if
just　as　he　were　about　to　clutch　the　prize　he　should　be　sacrificed
through　the　ignorance　and　stupidity　of　this　heavy…handed　moralist
at　his　side！　　But　it　was　not　until；　through　that　moralist's
guidance；　they　climbed　a　steep　acclivity　to　a　second　ridge；　and
were　comparatively　safe；　that　he　began　to　feel　ashamed　of　his　surly
silence　or　surlier　interruptions。　　And　Collinson；　either　through
his　unconquerable　patience；　or　possibly　in　a　fit　of　his　usual
uxorious　abstraction；　appeared　to　take　no　notice　of　it。

A　sloping　table…land　of　weather…beaten　boulders　now　effectually
separated　them　from　the　fire　on　the　lower　ridge。　　They　presently
began　to　descend　on　the　further　side　of　the　crest；　and　at　last
dropped　upon　a　wagon…road；　and　the　first　track　of　wheels　that　Key
had　seen　for　a　fortnight。　　Rude　as　it　was；　it　seemed　to　him　the
highway　to　fortune；　for　he　knew　that　it　passed　Skinner's　and　then
joined　the　great　stage…road　to　Marysville；now　his　ultimate
destination。　　A　few　rods　further　on　they　came　in　view　of　Skinner's；
lying　like　a　dingy　forgotten　winter　snowdrift　on　the　mountain
shelf。

It　contained　a　post…office；　tavern；　blacksmith's　shop；　〃general
store；〃　and　express…office；　scarcely　a　dozen　buildings　in　all；　but
all　differing　from　Collinson's　Mill　in　some　vague　suggestion　of
vitality；　as　if　the　daily　regular　pulse　of　civilization　still　beat；
albeit　languidly；　in　that　remote　extremity。　　There　was　anticipation
and　accomplishment　twice　a　day；　and　as　Key　and　Collinson　rode　up　to
the　express…office；　the　express…wagon　was　standing　before　the　door
ready　to　start　to　meet　the　stagecoach　at　the　cross…roads　three
miles　away。　　This　again　seemed　a　special　providence　to　Key。　　He　had
a　brief　official　communication　with　Skinner　as　registrar；　and　duly
recorded　his　claim；　he　had　a　hasty　and　confidential　aside　with
Skinner　as　general　storekeeper；　and　such　was　the　unconscious
magnetism　developed　by　this　embryo　millionaire　that　Skinner
extended　the　necessary　credit　to　Collinson　on　Key's　word　alone。
That　done；　he　rejoined　Collinson　in　high　spirits　with　the　news；
adding　cheerfully；　〃And　I　dare　say；　if　you　want　any　further
advances　Skinner　will　give　them　to　you　on　Parker's　draft。〃

〃You　mean　that　bit　o'　paper　that　chap　left；〃　said　Collinson
gravely。

〃Yes。〃

〃I　tore　it　up。〃

〃You　tore　it　up？〃　ejaculated　Key。

〃You　hear　me？　　Yes！〃　said　Collinson。

Key　stared　at　him。　　Surely　it　was　again　providential　that　he　had
not　intrusted　his　secret　to　this　utterly　ignorant　and　prejudiced
man！　　The　slight　twinges　of　conscience　that　his　lie　about　the
slippers　had　caused　him　disappeared　at　once。　　He　could　not　have
trusted　him　even　in　that；　it　would　have　been　like　this　stupid
fanatic　to　have　prevented　Key's　preemption　of　that　claim；　until　he；
Collinson；　had　satisfied　himself　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　missing
proprietor。　　Was　he　quite　sure　that　Collinson　would　not　revisit　the
spot　when　he　had　gone？　　But　he　was　ready　for　the　emergency。

He　had　intended　to　leave　his　horse　with　Skinner　as　security　for
Collinson's　provisions；　but　Skinner's　liberality　had　made　this
unnecessary；　and　he　now　offered　it　to　Collinson　to　use　and　keep　for
him　until　called　for。　　This　would　enable　his　companion　to　〃pack〃
his　goods　on　the　mule；　and　oblige　him　to　return　to　the　mill　by　the
wagon…road　and　〃outside　trail；〃　as　more　commodious　for　the　two
animals。

〃Ye　ain't　afeared　o'　the　road　agents？〃　suggested　a　bystander；　〃they
just　swarm　on　galloper's　Ridge；　and　they　'held　up'　the　down　stage
only　last　week。〃

〃They're　not　so　lively　since　the　deputy…sheriff's　got　a　new　idea
about　them；　and　has　been　lying　low　in　the　brush　near　Bald　Top；〃
returned　Skinner。　　〃Anyhow；　they　don't　stop　teams　nor　'packs'
unless　there's　a　chance　of　their　getting　some　fancy　horseflesh　by
it；　and　I　reckon　thar　ain't　much　to　tempt　them　thar；〃　he　added；
with　a　satirical　side　glance　at　his　customer's　cattle。　　But　Key　was
already　standing　in　the　express…wagon；　giving　a　farewell　shake　to
his　patient　companion's　hand；　and　this　ingenuous　pleasantry　passed
unnoticed。　　Nevertheless；　as　the　express…wagon　rolled　away；　his
active　fancy　began　to　consider　this　new　danger　that　might　threaten
the　hidden　wealth　of　his　claim。　　But　he　reflected　that　for　a　time；
at　least；　only　the　crude　ore　would　be　taken　out　and　shipped　to
Marysville　in　a　shape　that　offered　no　profit　to　the　highwaymen。
Had　it　been　a　gold　mine！but　here　again　was　the　interposition　of
Providence！

A　week　later　Preble　Key　returned　to　Skinner's　with　a　foreman　and
ten　men；　and　an　unlimited　credit　to　draw　upon　at　Marysville！
Expeditions　of　this　kind　created　no　surprise　at　Skinner's。　　Parties
had　before　this　entered　the　wilderness　gayly；　none　knew　where　or
what　for；　the　sedate　and　silent　woods　had　kept　their　secret　while
there；　they　had　evaporated；　none　knew　when　or　whereoften；　alas！
with　an　unpaid　account　at　Skinner's。　　Consequently；　there　was
nothing　in　Key's　party　to　challenge　curiosity。　　In　another　week　a
rambling；　one…storied　shed　of　pine　logs　occupied　the　site　of　the
mysterious　ruins；　and　contained　the　party；　in　two　weeks　excavations
had　been　made；　and　the　whole　face　of　the　outcrop　was　exposed；　in
three　weeks　every　vestige　of　former　tenancy　which　the　fire　had　not
consumed　was　trampled　out　by　the　alien　feet　of　these　toilers　of　the
〃Sylvan　Silver　Hollow　Company。〃　　None　of　Key's　former　companions
would　have　recognized　the　hollow　in　its　blackened　leveling　and
rocky　foundation；　even　Collinson　would　not　have　remembered　this
stripped　and　splintered　rock；　with　its　heaps　of　fresh　debris；　as
the　place　where　he　had　overtaken　Key。　　And　Key　himself　had
forgotten；　in　his　triumph；　everything　but　the　chance　experiment
that　had　led　to　his　success。

Perhaps　it　was　well；　therefore；　that　one　night；　when　the　darkness
had　mercifully　fallen　upon　this　scene　of　sylvan　desolation；　and　its
still　more　incongruous　and　unsavory　human　restoration；　and　the　low
murmur　of　the　pines　occasionally　swelled　up　from　the　unscathed
mountain…side；　a　loud　shout　and　the　trampling　of　horses'　feet　awoke
the　dwellers　in　the　shanty。　　Springing　to　their　feet；　they
hurriedly　seized　their　weapons　and　rushed　out；　only　to　be
confronted　by　a　dark；　motionless　ring　of　horsemen；　two　flaming
torches　of　pine　knots；　and　a　low　but　distinct　voice　of　authority。
In　their　excitement；　half…awakened　suspicion；　and　confusion；　they
were　affected　by　its　note　of　calm　preparation　and　conscious　power。

〃Drop　those　gunshold　up　your　hands！　　We've　got　every　man　of　you
covered。〃

Key　was　no　coward；　the　men；　though　flustered；　were　not　cravens：　but
they　obeyed。　　〃Trot　out　your　leader！　　Let　him　stand　out　there；
clear；　beside　that　torch！〃

One　of　the　gleaming　pine　knots　disengaged　itself　from　the　dark
circle　and　moved　to　the　centre；　as　Preble　Key；　cool　and　confident；
stepped　beside　it。

〃That　will　do；〃　said　the　immutable　voice。　　〃Now；　we　want　Jack
Riggs；　Sydney　Jack；　French　Pete；　and　One…eyed　Charley。〃

A　vivid　reminiscence　of　the　former　night　scene　in　the　hollowof
his　own　and　his　companions　voices　raised　in　the　darknessflashed
across　Key。　　With　an　instinctive　premonition　that　this　invasion　had
something　to　do　with　the　former　tenant；　he　said　calmly：

〃Who　wants　them？〃

〃The　State　of　California；〃　said　the　voice。

〃The　State　of　California　must　look　further；〃　returned　Key　in　his
old　pleasant　voice；　〃there　are　no　such　names　among　my　party。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃

〃The　manager　of　the　'Sylvan　Silver　Hollow　Company；'　and　these　are
my　workmen。

There　was　a　hurried　movement；　and　the　sound　of　whispering　in　the
hitherto　dark　and　silent　circle；　and　then　the　voice　rose　again：

〃You　have　the　papers　to　prove　that？〃

〃Yes；　in　the　cabin。　　And　you？〃

〃I've　a　warrant　to　the　sheriff　of　Sierra。〃

There　was　a　pause；　and　the　voice　went　on　less　confidently：

〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃

〃Three　weeks。　　I　came　here　the　day　of　the　fire　and　took　up　this
claim。〃

〃There　was　no　other　house　here？〃

〃There　were　ruins；you　can　see　them　still。　　It　may　have　been　a
burnt…up　cabin。〃

The　voice　disengaged　itself　from　the　vague　background　and　came
slowly　forwards：

〃It　was　a　den　of　thieves。　　It　was　the　hiding…place　of　Jack　Riggs
and　his　gang　of　road　agents。　　I've　been　hunting　this　spot　for　three
weeks。　　And　now　the　whole　thing's　up！〃

There　was　a　laugh　from　Key's　men；　but　it　was　checked　as　the　owner
of　the　voice　slowly　ranged　up　beside　the　burning　torch　and　they　saw
his　face。　　It　was　dark　and　set　with　the　defeat　of　a　brave　man。

〃Won't　you　come　in　and　take　something？〃　said　Key　kindly。

〃No。　　It's　enough　fool　work　for　me　to　have　routed　ye　out　already。
But　I　suppose　it's　all　in　my　dd　day's　work！　　Good…night！