in a hollow of the hills-第8部分

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thinkin'　that　mebbee　it　might　hev　turned　her　and　those　men　from
their　evil　ways。〃

Mr。　Key　had　been　thinking　nothing　of　the　kind；　but　for　some　obscure
reason　the　skeptical　jeer　that　had　risen　to　his　lips　remained
unsaid。　　He　rose　impatiently。　　〃Well；　there　seems　to　be　no　chance
of　discovering　anything　now；　the　house　is　burnt；　the　gang
dispersed；　and　she　has　probably　gone　with　them。〃　　He　paused；　and
then　laid　three　or　four　large　gold　pieces　on　the　table。　　〃It's　for
that　old　bill　of　our　party；　Collinson；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　settle　and
collect　from　each。　　Some　time　when　you　come　over　to　the　mine；　and　I
hope　you'll　give　us　a　call；　you　can　bring　the　horse。　　Meanwhile　you
can　use　him；　you'll　find　he's　a　little　quicker　than　the　mule。　　How
is　business？〃　he　added；　with　a　perfunctory　glance　around　the　vacant
room　and　dusty　bar。

〃Thar　ain't　much　passin'　this　way；〃　said　Collinson　with　equal
carelessness；　as　he　gathered　up　the　money；　〃'cept　those　boys　from
the　valley；　and　they're　most　always　strapped　when　they　come　here。〃

Key　smiled　as　he　observed　that　Collinson　offered　him　no　receipt；
and；　moreover；　as　he　remembered　that　he　had　only　Collinson's　word
for　the　destruction　of　Parker's　draft。　　But　he　merely　glanced　at
his　unconscious　host；　and　said　nothing。　　After　a　pause　he　returned
in　a　lighter　tone：　〃I　suppose　you　are　rather　out　of　the　world　here。
Indeed；　I　had　an　idea　at　first　of　buying　out　your　mill；　Collinson；
and　putting　in　steam　power　to　get　out　timber　for　our　new　buildings；
but　you　see　you　are　so　far　away　from　the　wagon…road；　that　we
couldn't　haul　the　timber　away。　　That　was　the　trouble；　or　I'd　have
made　you　a　fair　offer。〃

〃I　don't　reckon　to　ever　sell　the　mill；〃　said　Collinson　simply。
Then　observing　the　look　of　suspicion　in　his　companion's　face；　he
added　gravely；　〃You　see；　I　rigged　up　the　whole　thing　when　I
expected　my　wife　out　from　the　States；　and　I　calkilate　to　keep　it　in
memory　of　her。〃

Key　slightly　lifted　his　brows。　　〃But　you　never　told　us；　by　the　way；
HOW　you　ever　came　to　put　up　a　mill　here　with　such　an　uncertain
water…supply。〃

〃It　wasn't　onsartin　when　I　came　here；　Mr。　Key；　it　was　a　full…fed
stream　straight　from　them　snow　peaks。　　It　was　the　earthquake　did
it。〃

〃The　earthquake！〃　repeated　Key。

〃Yes。　　Ef　the　earthquake　kin　heave　up　that　silver…bearing　rock　that
you　told　us　about　the　first　day　you　kem　here；　and　that　you　found
t'other　day；　it　could　play　roots　with　a　mere　mill…stream；　I
reckon。〃

〃But　the　convulsion　I　spoke　of　happened　ages　on　ages　ago；　when　this
whole　mountain　range　was　being　fashioned；〃　said　Key　with　a　laugh。

〃Well；　this　yer　earthquake　was　ten　years　ago；　just　after　I　came。　　I
reckon　I　oughter　remember　it。　　It　was　a　queer　sort　o'　day　in　the
fall；　dry　and　hot　as　if　thar　might　hev　bin　a　fire　in　the　woods；
only　thar　wasn't　no　wind。　　Not　a　breath　of　air　anywhar。　　The　leaves
of　them　alders　hung　straight　as　a　plumb…line。　　Except　for　that　thar
stream　and　that　thar　wheel；　nuthin'　moved。　　Thar　wasn't　a　bird　on
the　wing　over　that　canyon；　thar　wasn't　a　squirrel　skirmishin'　in
the　hull　wood；　even　the　lizards　in　the　rocks　stiffened　like　stone
Chinese　idols。　　It　kept　gettin'　quieter　and　quieter；　ontil　I　walked
out　on　that　ledge　and　felt　as　if　I'd　have　to　give　a　yell　just　to
hear　my　own　voice。　　Thar　was　a　thin　veil　over　everything；　and
betwixt　and　between　everything；　and　the　sun　was　rooted　in　the
middle　of　it　as　if　it　couldn't　move　neither。　　Everythin'　seemed　to
be　waitin'；　waitin'；　waitin'。　　Then　all　of　a　suddin　suthin'　seemed
to　give　somewhar！　　Suthin'　fetched　away　with　a　queer　sort　of
rumblin'；　as　if　the　peg　had　slipped　outer　creation。　　I　looked　up
and　kalkilated　to　see　half　a　dozen　of　them　boulders　come；　lickity
switch；　down　the　grade。　　But；　darn　my　skin；　if　one　of　'em　stirred！
and　yet　while　I　was　looking；　the　whole　face　o'　that　bluff　bowed
over　softly；　as　if　saying　'Good…by；'　and　got　clean　away　somewhar
before　I　knowed　it。　　Why；　you　see　that　pile　agin　the　side　o'　the
canyon！　　Well；　a　thousand　feet　under　that　there's　trees；　three
hundred　feet　high；　still　upright　and　standin'。　　You　know　how　them
pines　over　on　that　far　mountain…side　always　seem　to　be　climbin'　up；
up；　up；　over　each　other's　heads　to　the　very　top？　　Well；　Mr。　Key；　I
SAW　'EM　climbin'！　　And　when　I　pulled　myself　together　and　got　back
to　the　mill；　everything　was　quiet；　and；　by　Gd；　so　was　the　mill…
wheel；　and　there　wasn't　two　inches　of　water　in　the　river！〃

〃And　what　did　you　think　of　it？〃　said　Key；　interested　in　spite　of
his　impatience。

〃I　thought；　Mr。　Key　　No！　I　mustn't　say　I　thought；　for　I　knowed
it。　　I　knowed　that　suthin'　had　happened　to　my　wife！〃

Key　did　not　smile；　but　even　felt　a　faint　superstitious　thrill　as　he
gazed　at　him。　　After　a　pause　Collinson　resumed：　〃I　heard　a　month
after　that　she　had　died　about　that　time　o'　yaller　fever　in　Texas
with　the　party　she　was　comin'　with。　　Her　folks　wrote　that　they　died
like　flies；　and　wuz　all　buried　together；　unbeknownst　and
promiscuous；　and　thar　wasn't　no　remains。　　She　slipped　away　from　me
like　that　bluff　over　that　canyon；　and　that　was　the　end　of　it。〃

〃But　she　might　have　escaped；〃　said　Key　quickly；　forgetting　himself
in　his　eagerness。

But　Collinson　only　shook　his　head。　　〃Then　she'd　have　been　here；〃　he
said　gravely。

Key　moved　towards　the　door　still　abstractedly；　held　out　his　hand；
shook　that　of　his　companion　warmly；　and　then；　saddling　his　horse
himself；　departed。　　A　sense　of　disappointmentin　which　a　vague
dissatisfaction　with　himself　was　mingledwas　all　that　had　come　of
his　interview。　　He　took　himself　severely　to　task　for　following　his
romantic　quest　so　far。　　It　was　unworthy　of　the　president　of　the
Sylvan　Silver　Hollow　Company；　and　he　was　not　quite　sure　but　that
his　confidences　with　Collinson　might　have　imperiled　even　the
interests　of　the　company。　　To　atone　for　this　momentary　aberration；
and　correct　his　dismal　fancies；　he　resolved　to　attend　to　some
business　at　Skinner's　before　returning；　and　branched　off　on　a　long
detour　that　would　intersect　the　traveled　stage…road。　　But　here　a
singular　incident　overtook　him。　　As　he　wheeled　into　the　turnpike；
he　heard　the　trampling　hoof…beats　and　jingling　harness　of　the
oncoming　coach　behind　him。　　He　had　barely　time　to　draw　up　against
the　bank　before　the　six　galloping　horses　and　swinging　vehicle　swept
heavily　by。　　He　had　a　quick　impression　of　the　heat　and　steam　of
sweating　horse…hide；　the　reek　of　varnish　and　leather；　and　the
momentary　vision　of　a　female　face　silhouetted　against　the　glass
window　of　the　coach！　　But　even　in　that　flash　of　perception　he
recognized　the　profile　that　he　had　seen　at　the　window　of　the
mysterious　hut！

He　halted　for　an　instant　dazed　and　bewildered　in　the　dust　of　the
departing　wheels。　　Then；　as　the　bulk　of　the　vehicle　reappeared；
already　narrowing　in　the　distance；　without　a　second　thought　he
dashed　after　it。　　His　disappointment；　his　self…criticism；　his
practical　resolutions　were　forgotten。　　He　had　but　one　idea　nowthe
vision　was　providential！　　The　clue　to　the　mystery　was　before　him
he　MUST　follow　it！

Yet　he　had　sense　enough　to　realize　that　the　coach　would　not　stop　to
take　up　a　passenger　between　stations；　and　that　the　next　station　was
the　one　three　miles　below　Skinner's。　　It　would　not　be　difficult　to
reach　this　by　a　cut…off　in　time；　and　although　the　vehicle　had
appeared　to　be　crowded；　he　could　no　doubt　obtain　a　seat　on　top。

His　eager　curiosity；　however；　led　him　to　put　spurs　to　his　horse；
and　range　up　alongside　of　the　coach　as　if　passing　it；　while　he
examined　the　stranger　more　closely。　　Her　face　was　bent　listlessly
over　a　book；　there　was　unmistakably　the　same　profile　that　he　had
seen；　but　the　full　face　was　different　in　outline　and　expression。　　A
strange　sense　of　disappointment　that　was　almost　a　revulsion　of
feeling　came　over　him；　he　lingered；　he　glanced　again；　she　was
certainly　a　very　pretty　woman：　there　was　the　beautifully　rounded
chin；　the　short　straight　nose；　and　delicately　curved　upper　lip；
that　he　had　seen　in　the　profile；and　yetyet　it　was　not　the　same
face　he　had　dreamt　of。　　With　an　odd；　provoking　sense　of
disillusion；　he　swept　ahead　of　the　coach；　and　again　slackened　his
speed　to　let　it　pass。　　This　time　the　fair　unknown　raised　her　long
lashes　and　gazed　suddenly　at　this　persistent　horseman　at　her　side；
and　an　odd　expression；　it　seemed　to　him　almost　a　glance　of
recognition　and　expectation；　came　into　her　dark；　languid　eyes。　　The
pupils　concentrated　upon　him　with　a　singular　significance；　that　was
almost；　he　even　thought；　a　reply　to　his　glance；　and　yet　it　was　as
utterly　unintelligible。　　A　moment　later；　however；　it　was　explained。
He　had　fallen　slightly　behind　in　a　new　confusion　of　hesitation；
wonder；　and　embarrassment；　when　from　a　wooded　trail　to　the　right；
another　horseman　suddenly　swept　into　the　road　before　him。　　He　was　a
powerfully　built　man；　mounted　on　a　thoroughbred　horse　of　a　quality
far　superior　to　the　ordinary　roadster。　　Without　looking　at　Key　he
easily　ranged　up　beside　the　coach　as　if　to　pass　it；　but　Key；　with　a
sudden　resolution；　put　spurs　to　his　own　horse　and　ranged　also
abreast　of　him；　in　time　to　see　his　fair　unknown　start　at　the
apparition　of　this　second　horseman　and　unmistakably　convey　some
signal　to　him；a　signal　that　to　Key's　fancy　now　betrayed　some
warning　of　himself。　　He　was　the　more　convinced　as　the　stranger；
after　continuing　a　few　paces　ahead　of　the　coach；　allowed　it　to　pass
him　at　a　curve　of　the　road；　and　slackened　his　pace　to　permit　Key　to
do　the　same。　　Instinctively　conscious　that　the　stranger's　object
was　to　scrutinize　or　identify　him；　he　determined　to　take　the
initiative；　and　fixed　his　eyes　upon　him　as　they　approached。　　But
the　stranger；　who　wore　a　loose　brown　linen　duster　over　clothes　that
appeared　to　be　superior　in　fashion　and　material；　also　had　part　of
his　face　and　head　draped　by　a　white　silk　handkerchief　worn　under
his　hat；　ostensibly　to　keep　the　sun　and　dust　from　his　head　and
neck；and　had　the　advantage　of　him。　　He　only　caught　the　flash　of　a
pair　of　steel…gray　eyes；　as　the　newcomer；　apparently　having
satisfied　himself；　gave　rein　to　his　spirited　steed　and　easily
repassed　the　coach；　disappearing　in　a　cloud　of　dust　before　it。　　But
Key　had　by　this　time　reached　the　〃cut…off；〃　which