in a hollow of the hills-第13部分

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leaned　back　against　the　chimney。　　〃How　many　men　have　you　here
besides　yourself？〃

〃Nary　one；〃　said　Collinson。

The　interrogator　glanced　at　the　other　men；　who　had　reentered。　　They
nodded　significantly。

〃Good！〃　he　resumed。　　〃You　have　told　the　truthan　excellent　habit；
and　one　that　expedites　business。　　Now；　is　there　a　room　in　this
house　with　a　door　that　locks？　　Your　front　door　DOESN'T。〃

〃No。〃

〃No　cellar　nor　outhouse？〃

〃No。〃

〃We　regret　that；　for　it　will　compel　us；　much　against　our　wishes；　to
keep　you　bound　as　you　are　for　the　present。　　The　matter　is　simply
this：　circumstances　of　a　very　pressing　nature　oblige　us　to　occupy
this　house　for　a　few　days；possibly　for　an　indefinite　period。　　We
respect　the　sacred　rites　of　hospitality　too　much　to　turn　you　out　of
it；　indeed；　nothing　could　be　more　distasteful　to　our　feelings　than
to　have　you；　in　your　own　person；　spread　such　a　disgraceful　report
through　the　chivalrous　Sierras。　　We　must　therefore　keep　you　a　close
prisoner；open；　however；　to　an　offer。　　It　is　this：　we　propose　to
give　you　five　hundred　dollars　for　this　property　as　it　stands；
provided　that　you　leave　it；　and　accompany　a　pack…train　which　will
start　to…morrow　morning　for　the　lower　valley　as　far　as　Thompson's
Pass；　binding　yourself　to　quit　the　State　for　three　months　and　keep
this　matter　a　secret。　　Three　of　these　gentlemen　will　go　with　you。
They　will　point　out　to　you　your　duty；　their　shotguns　will　apprise
you　of　any　dereliction　from　it。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃Who　yer　talking　to？〃　said　Collinson　in　a　dull　voice。

〃You　remind　us；〃　said　the　orator　suavely；　〃that　we　have　not　yet　the
pleasure　of　knowing。〃

〃My　name's　Seth　Collinson。〃

There　was　a　dead　silence　in　the　room；　and　every　eye　was　fixed　upon
the　two　men。　　The　orator's　smile　slightly　stiffened。

〃Where　from？〃　he　continued　blandly。

〃Mizzouri。〃

〃A　very　good　place　to　go　back　to；through　Thompson's　Pass。　　But
you　haven't　answered　our　proposal。〃

〃I　reckon　I　don't　intend　to　sell　this　house；　or　leave　it；〃　said
Collinson　simply。

〃I　trust　you　will　not　make　us　regret　the　fortunate　termination　of
your　little　accident；　Mr。　Collinson；〃　said　the　orator　with　a
singular　smile。　　〃May　I　ask　why　you　object　to　selling　out？　　Is　it
the　figure？〃

〃The　house　isn't　mine；〃　said　Collinson　deliberately。　　〃I　built　this
yer　house　for　my　wife　wot　I　left　in　Mizzouri。　　It's　hers。　　I
kalkilate　to　keep　it；　and　live　in　it　ontil　she　comes　fur　it！　　And
when　I　tell　ye　that　she　is　dead；　ye　kin　reckon　just　what　chance　ye
have　of　ever　gettin'　it。〃

There　was　an　unmistakable　start　of　sensation　in　the　room；　followed
by　a　silence　so　profound　that　the　moaning　of　the　wind　on　the
mountain…side　was　distinctly　heard。　　A　well…built　man；　with　a　mask
that　scarcely　concealed　his　heavy　mustachios；　who　had　been　standing
with　his　back　to　the　orator　in　half　contemptuous　patience；　faced
around　suddenly　and　made　a　step　forward　as　if　to　come　between　the
questioner　and　questioned。　　A　voice　from　the　corner　ejaculated；　〃By
Gd！〃

〃Silence；〃　said　the　orator　sharply。　　Then　still　more　harshly　he
turned　to　the　others　〃Pick　him　up；　and　stand　him　outside　with　a
guard；　and　then　clear　out；　all　of　you！〃

The　prisoner　was　lifted　up　and　carried　out；　the　room　was　instantly
cleared；　only　the　orator　and　the　man　who　had　stepped　forward
remained。　　Simultaneously　they　drew　the　masks　from　their　faces；　and
stood　looking　at　each　other。　　The　orator's　face　was　smooth　and
corrupt；　the　full；　sensual　lips　wrinkled　at　the　corners　with　a
sardonic　humor；　the　man　who　confronted　him　appeared　to　be
physically　and　even　morally　his　superior；　albeit　gloomy　and
discontented　in　expression。　　He　cast　a　rapid　glance　around　the
room；　to　assure　himself　that　they　were　alone；　and　then；
straightening　his　eyebrows　as　he　backed　against　the　chimney；　said：

〃Dd　if　I　like　this；　Chivers！　　It's　your　affair；　but　it's　mighty
low…down　work　for　a　man！〃

〃You　might　have　made　it　easier　if　you　hadn't　knocked　up　Bryce's
gun。　　That　would　have　settled　it；　though　no　one　guessed　that　the
cur　was　her　husband；〃　said　Chivers　hotly。

〃If　you　want　it　settled　THAT　WAY；　there's　still　time；〃　returned　the
other　with　a　slight　sneer。　　〃You've　only　to　tell　him　that　you're
the　man　that　ran　away　with　his　wife；　and　you'll　have　it　out
together；　right　on　the　ledge　at　twelve　paces。　　The　boys　will　see
you　through。　　In　fact；〃　he　added；　his　sneer　deepening；　〃I　rather
think　it's　what　they're　expecting。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Jack　Riggs；〃　said　Chivers　sardonically。　　〃I　dare
say　it　would　be　more　convenient　to　some　people；　just　before　our
booty　is　divided；　if　I　were　drilled　through　by　a　blundering　shot
from　that　hayseed；　or　it　would　seem　right　to　your　high…toned
chivalry　if　a　dead…shot　as　I　am　knocked　over　a　man　who　may　have
never　fired　a　revolver　before；　but　I　don't　exactly　see　it　in　that
light；　either　as　a　man　or　as　your　equal　partner。　　I　don't　think　you
quite　understand　me；　my　dear　Jack。　　If　you　don't　value　the　only　man
who　is　identified　in　all　California　as　the　leader　of　this　gang　（the
man　whose　style　and　address　has　made　it　popularyes；　POPULAR；　by
Gd！to　every　man；　woman；　and　child　who　has　heard　of　him；　whose
sayings　and　doings　are　quoted　by　the　newspapers；　whom　people　run
risks　to　see；　who　has　got　the　sympathy　of　the　crowd；　so　that　judges
hesitate　to　issue　warrants　and　constables　to　serve　them）；if　YOU
don't　see　the　use　of　such　a　man；　I　do。　　Why；　there's　a　column　and　a
half　in　the　'Sacramento　Union'　about　our　last　job；　calling　me　the
'Claude　Duval'　of　the　Sierras；　and　speaking　of　my　courtesy　to　a
lady！　　A　LADY！HIS　wife；　by　Gd！　our　confederate！　　My　dear　Jack；
you　not　only　don't　know　business　values；　but；　'pon　my　soul；　you
don't　seem　to　understand　humor！　　Ha；　ha！〃

For　all　his　cynical　levity；　for　all　his　affected　exaggeration；
there　was　the　ring　of　an　unmistakable　and　even　pitiable　vanity　in
his　voice；　and　a　self…consciousness　that　suffused　his　broad　cheeks
and　writhed　his　full　mouth；　but　seemed　to　deepen　the　frown　on
Riggs's　face。

〃You　know　the　woman　hates　it；　and　would　bolt　if　she　could；even
from　you；〃　said　Riggs　gloomily。　　〃Think　what　she　might　do　if　she
knew　her　husband　were　here。　　I　tell　you　she　holds　our　lives　in　the
hollow　of　her　hand。〃

〃That's　your　fault；　Mr。　Jack　Riggs；　you　would　bring　your　sister
with　her　infernal　convent　innocence　and　simplicity　into　our　hut　in
the　hollow。　　She　was　meek　enough　before　that。　　But　this　is　sheer
nonsense。　　I　have　no　fear　of　her。　　The　woman　don't　live　who　would
go　back　on　Godfrey　Chiversfor　a　husband！　　Besides；　she　went　off
to　see　your　sister　at　the　convent　at　Santa　Clara　as　soon　as　she
passed　those　bonds　off　on　Charley　to　get　rid　of！　　Think　of　her
traveling　with　that　dd　fool　lawyer　all　the　way　to　Stockton；　and
his　bonds　（which　we　had　put　back　in　her　bag）　alongside　of　them　all
the　time；　and　he　telling　her　he　was　going　to　stop　their　payment；
and　giving　her　the　letter　to　mail　for　him！eh？　　Well；　we'll　have
time　to　get　rid　of　her　husband　before　she　gets　back。　　If　he　don't
go　easywell〃

〃None　of　that；　Chivers；　you　understand；　once　for　all！〃　interrupted
Riggs　peremptorily。　　〃If　you　cannot　see　that　your　making　away　with
that　woman's　husband　would　damn　that　boasted　reputation　you　make　so
much　of　and　set　every　man's　hand　against　us；　I　do；　and　I　won't
permit　it。　　It's　a　rotten　business　enough；our　coming　on　him　as　we
have；　and　if　this　wasn't　the　only　God…forsaken　place　where　we　could
divide　our　stuff　without　danger　and　get　it　away　off　the　highroads；
I'd　pull　up　stakes　at　once。〃

〃Let　her　stay　at　the　convent；　then；　and　be　dd　to　her；〃　said
Chivers　roughly。　　〃She'll　be　glad　enough　to　be　with　your　sister
again；　and　there's　no　fear　of　her　being　touched　there。〃

〃But　I　want　to　put　an　end　to　that；　too；〃　returned　Riggs　sharply。
〃I　do　not　choose　to　have　my　sister　any　longer　implicated　with　OUR
confederate　or　YOUR　mistress。　　No　more　of　thatyou　understand　me？〃

The　two　men　had　been　standing　side　by　side；　leaning　against　the
chimney。　　Chivers　now　faced　his　companion；　his　full　lips　wreathed
into　an　evil　smile。

〃I　think　I　understand　you；　Mr。　Jack　Riggs；　orI　beg　your　pardon
Rivers；　or　whatever　your　real　name　may　be；〃　he　began　slowly。
〃Sadie　Collinson；　the　mistress　of　Judge　Godfrey　Chivers；　formerly
of　Kentucky；　was　good　enough　company　for　you　the　day　you　dropped
down　upon　us　in　our　little　house　in　the　hollow　of　Galloper's　Ridge。
We　were　living　quite　an　idyllic；　pastoral　life　there；　weren't　we？
she　and　me；　hidden　from　the　censorious　eye　of　society　and
Collinson；　obeying　only　the　voice　of　Nature　and　the　little　birds。
It　was　a　happy　time；〃　he　went　on　with　a　grimly　affected　sigh；
disregarding　his　companion's　impatient　gesture。　　〃You　were　young
then；　waging　YOUR　fight　against　society；　and　freshuncommonly
fresh；　I　may　sayfrom　your　first　exploit。　　And　a　very　stupid；
clumsy；　awkward　exploit；　too；　Mr。　Riggs；　if　you　will　pardon　my
freedom。　　You　wanted　money；　and　you　had　an　ugly　temper；　and　you　had
lost　both　to　a　gambler；　so　you　stopped　the　coach　to　rob　him；　and
had　to　kill　two　men　to　get　back　your　paltry　thousand　dollars；　after
frightening　a　whole　coach…load　of　passengers；　and　letting　Wells；
Fargo；　and　Co。's　treasure…box　with　fifty　thousand　dollars　in　it
slide。　　It　was　a　stupid；　a　blundering；　a　CRUEL　act；　Mr。　Riggs；　and
I　think　I　told　you　so　at　the　time。　　It　was　a　waste　of　energy　and
material；　and　made　you；　not　a　hero；　but　a　stupid　outcast！　　I　think
I　proved　this　to　you；　and　showed　you　how　it　might　have　been　done。〃

〃Dry　up　on　that；〃　interrupted　Riggs　impatiently。　　〃You　offered　to
become　my　partner；　and　you　did。〃

〃Pardon　me。　　Observe；　my　impetuous　friend；　that　my　contention　is
that　youYOUpoisoned　our　blameless　Eden　in　the　hollow；　that　YOU
were　our　serpent；　and　that　this　Sadie　Collinson；　over　whom　you　have
become　so　fastidious；　whom　you　knew　as　my　mistress；　was　obliged　to
become　our　confederate。　　You　did　not　object　to　her　when　we　formed
our　gang；　and　her　house　became　our　hiding…place　and　refuge。　　You
took　advantage　of　her　woman's　wit　and　fine　address　in　disposing　of
our　booty；　you　availed　yourself；　with　the　rest；　of　the　secrets　she
gathered　as　MY　mistress；　just　as　you　were　willing　to　profit　by　the
superior　address　of　her　paramouryour　humble　s