in a hollow of the hills-第9部分

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repassed　the　coach；　disappearing　in　a　cloud　of　dust　before　it。　　But
Key　had　by　this　time　reached　the　〃cut…off；〃　which　the　stranger；　if
he　intended　to　follow　the　coach；　either　disdained　or　was　ignorant
of；　and　he　urged　his　horse　to　its　utmost　speed。　　Even　with　the
stranger's　advantages　it　would　be　a　close　race　to　the　station。

Nevertheless；　as　he　dashed　on；　he　was　by　no　means　insensible　to　the
somewhat　quixotic　nature　of　his　undertaking。　　If　he　was　right　in
his　suspicion　that　a　signal　had　been　given　by　the　lady　to　the
stranger；　it　was　exceedingly　probable　that　he　had　discovered　not
only　the　fair　inmate　of　the　robbers'　den；　but　one　of　the　gang
itself；　or　at　least　a　confederate　and　ally。　　Yet　far　from　deterring
him；　in　that　ingenious　sophistry　with　which　he　was　apt　to　treat　his
romance；　he　now　looked　upon　his　adventure　as　a　practical　pursuit　in
the　interests　of　law　and　justice。　　It　was　true　that　it　was　said
that　the　band　of　road　agents　had　been　dispersed；　it　was　a　fact　that
there　had　been　no　spoliation　of　coach　or　teams　for　three　weeks；　but
none　of　the　depredators　had　ever　been　caught；　and　their　booty；
which　was　considerable；　was　known　to　be　still　intact。　　It　was　to
the　interest　of　the　mine；　his　partners；　and　his　workmen　that　this
clue　to　a　danger　which　threatened　the　locality　should　be　followed
to　the　end。　　As　to　the　lady；　in　spite　of　the　disappointment　that
still　rankled　in　his　breast；　he　could　be　magnanimous！　　She　might　be
the　paramour　of　the　strange　horseman；　she　might　be　only　escaping
from　some　hateful　companionship　by　his　aid。　　And　yet　one　thing
puzzled　him：　she　was　evidently　not　acquainted　with　the　personality
of　the　active　gang；　for　she　had；　without　doubt；　at　first　mistaken
HIM　for　one　of　them；　and　after　recognizing　her　real　accomplice　had
communicated　her　mistake　to　him。

It　was　a　great　relief　to　him　when　the　rough　and　tangled　〃cut…off〃
at　last　broadened　and　lightened　into　the　turnpike　road　again；　and
he　beheld；　scarcely　a　quarter　of　a　mile　before　him；　the　dust　cloud
that　overhung　the　coach　as　it　drew　up　at　the　lonely　wayside
station。　　He　was　in　time；　for　he　knew　that　the　horses　were　changed
there；　but　a　sudden　fear　that　the　fair　unknown　might　alight；　or
take　some　other　conveyance；　made　him　still　spur　his　jaded　steed
forward。　　As　he　neared　the　station　he　glanced　eagerly　around　for
the　other　horseman；　but　he　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　　He　had
evidently　either　abandoned　the　chase　or　ridden　ahead。

It　seemed　equally　a　part　of　what　he　believed　was　a　providential
intercession；　that　on　arriving　at　the　station　he　found　there　was　a
vacant　seat　inside　the　coach。　　It　was　diagonally　opposite　that
occupied　by　the　lady；　and　he　was　thus　enabled　to　study　her　face　as
it　was　bent　over　her　book；　whose　pages；　however；　she　scarcely
turned。　　After　her　first　casual　glance　of　curiosity　at　the　new
passenger；　she　seemed　to　take　no　more　notice　of　him；　and　Key　began
to　wonder　if　he　had　not　mistaken　her　previous　interrogating　look。
Nor　was　it　his　only　disturbing　query；　he　was　conscious　of　the　same
disappointment　now　that　he　could　examine　her　face　more　attentively；
as　in　his　first　cursory　glance。　　She　was　certainly　handsome；　if
there　was　no　longer　the　freshness　of　youth；　there　was　still　the
indefinable　charm　of　the　woman　of　thirty；　and　with　it　the　delicate
curves　of　matured　muliebrity　and　repose。　　There　were　lines；
particularly　around　the　mouth　and　fringed　eyelids；　that　were
deepened　as　by　pain；　and　the　chin；　even　in　its　rounded　fullness；
had　the　angle　of　determination。　　From　what　was　visible；　below　the
brown　linen　duster　that　she　wore；　she　appeared　to　be　tastefully
although　not　richly　dressed。

As　the　coach　at　last　drove　away　from　the　station；　a　grizzled；
farmer…looking　man　seated　beside　her　uttered　a　sigh　of　relief；　so
palpable　as　to　attract　the　general　attention。　　Turning　to　his　fair
neighbor　with　a　smile　of　uncouth　but　good…humored　apology；　he　said
in　explanation：

〃You'll　excuse　me；　miss！　　I　don't　know　ezactly　how　YOU'RE　feelin'；
for　judging　from　your　looks　and　gin'ral　gait；　you're　a　stranger　in
these　parts；but　ez　for　ME；　I　don't　mind　sayin'　that　I　never　feel
ezactly　safe　from　these　yer　road　agents　and　stage　robbers　ontil
arter　we　pass　Skinner's　station。　　All　along　thet　Galloper's　Ridge
it's　jest　tech　and　go　like；　the　woods　is　swarmin'　with　'em。　　But
once　past　Skinner's；　you're　all　right。　　They　never　dare　go　below
that。　　So　ef　you　don't　mind；　miss；　for　it's　bein'　in　your　presence；
I'll　jest　pull　off　my　butes　and　ease　my　feet　for　a　spell。〃

Neither　the　inconsequence　of　this　singular　request；　nor　the　smile
it　evoked　on　the　faces　of　the　other　passengers；　seemed　to　disturb
the　lady's　abstraction。　　Scarcely　lifting　her　eyes　from　her　book；
she　bowed　a　grave　assent。

〃You　see；　miss；〃　he　continued；　〃and　you　gents；〃　he　added；　taking
the　whole　coach　into　his　confidence；　〃I've　got　over　forty　ounces　of
clean　gold　dust　in　them　butes；　between　the　upper　and　lower　sole；
and　it's　mighty　tight　packing　for　my　feet。　　Ye　kin　heft　it；〃　he
said；　as　he　removed　one　boot　and　held　it　up　before　them。　　〃I　put
the　dust　there　for　safetykalkilatin'　that　while　these　road　gentry
allus　goes　for　a　man's　pockets　and　his　body　belt；　they　never　thinks
of　his　butes；　or　haven't　time　to　go　through　'em。〃　　He　looked　around
him　with　a　smile　of　self…satisfaction。

The　murmur　of　admiring　comment　was；　however；　broken　by　a　burly…
bearded　miner　who　sat　in　the　middle　seat。　　〃Thet's　pretty　fair；　as
far　as　it　goes；〃　he　said　smilingly；　〃but　I　reckon　it　wouldn't　go
far　ef　you　started　to　run。　　I've　got　a　simpler　game　than　that；
gentlemen；　and　ez　we're　all　friends　here；　and　the　danger's　over；　I
don't　mind　tellin'　ye。　　The　first　thing　these　yer　road　agents　do；
after　they've　covered　the　driver　with　their　shot　guns；　is　to　make
the　passengers　get　out　and　hold　up　their　hands。　　That；　ma'am；〃
explanatorily　to　the　lady；　who　betrayed　only　a　languid　interest；
〃is　to　keep　'em　from　drawing　their　revolvers。　　A　revolver　is　the
last　thing　a　road　agent　wants；　either　in　a　man's　hand　or　in　his
holster。　　So　I　sez　to　myself；　'Ef　a　six…shooter　ain't　of　no
account；　wet's　the　use　of　carryin'　it？'　　So　I　just　put　my　shooting…
iron　in　my　valise　when　I　travel；　and　fill　my　holster　with　my　gold
dust；　so！　　It's　a　deuced　sight　heavier　than　a　revolver；　but　they
don't　feel　its　weight；　and　don't　keer　to　come　nigh　it。　　And　I've
been　'held　up'　twice　on　t'other　side　of　the　Divide　this　year；　and　I
passed　free　every　time！〃

The　applause　that　followed　this　revelation　and　the　exhibition　of
the　holster　not　only　threw　the　farmer's　exploits　into　the　shade；
but　seemed　to　excite　an　emulation　among　the　passengers。　　Other
methods　of　securing　their　property　were　freely　discussed；　but　the
excitement　culminated　in　the　leaning　forward　of　a　passenger　who
had；　up　to　that　moment；　maintained　a　reserve　almost　equal　to　the
fair　unknown。　　His　dress　and　general　appearance　were　those　of　a
professional　man；　his　voice　and　manner　corroborated　the
presumption。

〃I　don't　think；　gentlemen；〃　he　began　with　a　pleasant　smile；　〃that
any　man　of　us　here　would　like　to　be　called　a　coward；　but　in
fighting　with　an　enemy　who　never　attacks；　or　even　appears；　except
with　a　deliberately　prepared　advantage　on　his　side；　it　is　my
opinion　that　a　man　is　not　only　justified　in　avoiding　an　unequal
encounter　with　him；　but　in　circumventing　by　every　means　the　object
of　his　attack。　　You　have　all　been　frank　in　telling　your　methods。　　I
will　be　equally　so　in　telling　mine；　even　if　I　have　perhaps　to
confess　to　a　little　more　than　you　have；　for　I　have　not　only　availed
myself　of　a　well…known　rule　of　the　robbers　who　infest　these
mountains；　to　exempt　all　women　and　children　from　their　spoliation；
a　rule　which；　of　course；　they　perfectly　understand　gives　them　a
sentimental　consideration　with　all　Californians；but　I　have；　I
confess；　also　availed　myself　of　the　innocent　kindness　of　one　of
that　charming　and　justly　exempted　sex。〃　　He　paused　and　bowed
courteously　to　the　fair　unknown。　　〃When　I　entered　this　coach　I　had
with　me　a　bulky　parcel　which　was　manifestly　too　large　for　my
pockets；　yet　as　evidently　too　small　and　too　valuable　to　be
intrusted　to　the　ordinary　luggage。　　Seeing　my　difficulty；　our
charming　companion　opposite；　out　of　the　very　kindness　and　innocence
of　her　heart；　offered　to　make　a　place　for　it　in　her　satchel；　which
was　not　full。　　I　accepted　the　offer　joyfully。　　When　I　state　to　you；
gentlemen；　that　that　package　contained　valuable　government　bonds　to
a　considerable　amount；　I　do　so；　not　to　claim　your　praise　for　any
originality　of　my　own；　but　to　make　this　public　avowal　to　our　fair
fellow　passenger　for　securing　to　me　this　most　perfect　security　and
immunity　from　the　road　agent　that　has　been　yet　recorded。〃

With　his　eyes　riveted　on　the　lady's　face；　Key　saw　a　faint　color
rise　to　her　otherwise　impassive　face；　which　might　have　been　called
out　by　the　enthusiastic　praise　that　followed　the　lawyer's
confession。　　But　he　was　painfully　conscious　of　what　now　seemed　to
him　a　monstrous　situation！　　Here　was；　he　believed；　the　actual
accomplice　of　the　road　agents　calmly　receiving　the　complacent　and
puerile　confessions　of　the　men　who　were　seeking　to　outwit　them。
Could　he；　in　ordinary　justice　to　them；　to　himself；　or　the　mission
he　conceived　he　was　pursuing；　refrain　from　exposing　her；　or　warning
them　privately？　　But　was　he　certain？　　Was　a　vague　remembrance　of　a
profile　momentarily　seenand；　as　he　must　even　now　admit；
inconsistent　with　the　full　face　he　was　gazing　atsufficient　for
such　an　accusation？　　More　than　that；　was　the　protection　she　had
apparently　afforded　the　lawyer　consistent　with　the　function　of　an
accomplice！

〃Then　if　the　danger's　over；〃　said　the　lady　gently；　reaching　down　to
draw　her　satchel　from　under　the　seat；　〃I　suppose　I　may　return　it　to
you。〃

〃By　no　means！　　Don't　trouble　yourself！　　Pray　allow　me　to　still
remain　your　debtor；at　least　as　far　as　the　next　station；〃　said　the
lawyer　gallantly。

The　lady　uttered　a　languid　sigh；　sank　back　in　her　seat；　and　calmly
settled　herself　to　the　perusal　of　her　book。　　Key　felt　his　cheeks
beginning　to　burn　with　the　embarrassment　and　shame　of　his　evident
misconception。　　And　here　he　was　on　his　way　to　Marysville；　to　follow
a　woman