in a hollow of the hills-第3部分

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satisfy　everybody；　and　the　close…shaven　man　smiled。

〃And　I'll　secure　it；〃　he　said；　〃and　give　Collinson　a　sight　draft　on
myself　at　San　Francisco。〃

〃What's　that　for？〃　said　Collinson；　with　a　sudden　suffusion　on　each
cheek。

〃In　case　of　accident。〃

〃Wot　accident？〃　persisted　Collinson；　with　a　dark　look　of　suspicion
on　his　usually　placid　face。

〃In　case　we　should　forget　it；〃　said　the　close…shaven　man；　with　a
laugh。

〃And　do　you　suppose　that　if　you　boys　went　and　forgot　it　that　I'd
have　anything　to　do　with　your　dd　paper？〃　said　Collinson；　a　murky
cloud　coming　into　his　eyes。

〃Why；　that's　only　business；　Colly；〃　interposed　Uncle　Dick　quickly；
〃that's　all　Jim　Parker　means；　he's　a　business　man；　don't　you　see。
Suppose　we　got　killed！　　You've　that　draft　to　show。〃

〃Show　who？〃　growled　Collinson。

〃Why；hang　it！our　friends；　our　heirs；　our　relationsto　get　your
money；　hesitated　Uncle　Dick。

〃And　do　you　kalkilate；〃　said　Collinson；　with　deeply　laboring
breath；　〃that　if　you　got　killed；　that　I'd　be　coming　on　your　folks
for　the　worth　of　the　dd　truck　I　giv　ye？　　Go　'way！　　Lemme　git　out
o'　this。　　You're　makin'　me　tired。〃　　He　stalked　to　the　door；　lit　his
pipe；　and　began　to　walk　up　and　down　the　gravelly　river…bed。　　Uncle
Dick　followed　him。　　From　time　to　time　the　two　other　guests　heard
the　sounds　of　alternate　protest　and　explanation　as　they　passed　and
repassed　the　windows。　　Preble　Key　smiled；　Parker　shrugged　his
shoulders。

〃He'll　be　thinkin'　you've　begrudged　him　your　grub　if　you　don't
that's　the　way　with　these　business　men；〃　said　Uncle　Dick's　voice　in
one　of　these　intervals。　　Presently　they　reentered　the　house；　Uncle
Dick　saying　casually　to　Parker；　〃You　can　leave　that　draft　on　the
bar　when　you're　ready　to　go　to…morrow；〃　and　the　incident　was
presumed　to　have　ended。　　But　Collinson　did　not　glance　in　the
direction　of　Parker　for　the　rest　of　the　evening；　and；　indeed；
standing　with　his　back　to　the　chimney；　more　than　once　fell　into
that　stolid　abstraction　which　was　supposed　to　be　the　contemplation
of　his　absent　wife。

From　this　silence；　which　became　infectious；　the　three　guests　were
suddenly　aroused　by　a　furious　clattering　down　the　steep　descent　of
the　mountain；　along　the　trail　they　had　just　ridden！　　It　came　near；
increasing　in　sound；　until　it　even　seemed　to　scatter　the　fine
gravel　of　the　river…bed　against　the　sides　of　the　house；　and　then
passed　in　a　gust　of　wind　that　shook　the　roof　and　roared　in　the
chimney。　　With　one　common　impulse　the　three　travelers　rose　and　went
to　the　door。　　They　opened　it　to　a　blackness　that　seemed　to　stand　as
another　and　an　iron　door　before　them；　but　to　nothing　else。

〃Somebody　went　by　then；〃　said　Uncle　Dick；　turning　to　Collinson。
〃Didn't　you　hear　it？〃

〃Nary；〃　said　Collinson　patiently；　without　moving　from　the　chimney。

〃What　in　God's　name　was　it；　then？〃

〃Only　some　of　them　boulders　you　loosed　coming　down。　　It's　touch　and
go　with　them　for　days　after。　　When　I　first　came　here　I　used　to
start　up　and　rush　out　into　the　roadlike　as　you　wouldyellin'　and
screechin'　after　folks　that　never　was　there　and　never　went　by。
Then　it　got　kinder　monotonous；　and　I'd　lie　still　and　let　'em　slide。
Why；　one　night　I'd　a'sworn　that　some　one　pulled　up　with　a　yell　and
shook　the　door。　　But　I　sort　of　allowed　to　myself　that　whatever　it
was；　it　wasn't　wantin'　to　eat；　drink；　sleep；　or　it　would　come　in；
and　I　hadn't　any　call　to　interfere。　　And　in　the　mornin'　I　found　a
rock　as　big　as　that　box；　lying　chock…a…block　agin　the　door。　　Then　I
knowed　I　was　right。〃

Preble　Key　remained　looking　from　the　door。

〃There's　a　glow　in　the　sky　over　Big　Canyon；〃　he　said；　with　a
meaning　glance　at　Uncle　Dick。

〃Saw　it　an　hour　ago；〃　said　Collinson。　　〃It　must　be　the　woods　afire
just　round　the　bend　above　the　canyon。　　Whoever　goes　to　Skinner's
had　better　give　it　a　wide　berth。〃

Key　turned　towards　Collinson　as　if　to　speak；　but　apparently　changed
his　mind；　and　presently　joined　his　companions；　who　were　already
rolling　themselves　in　their　blankets；　in　a　series　of　wooden　bunks
or　berths；　ranged　as　in　a　ship's　cabin；　around　the　walls　of　a
resinous；　sawdusty　apartment　that　had　been　the　measuring　room　of
the　mill。　　Collinson　disappeared；no　one　knew　or　seemed　to　care
where；and；　in　less　than　ten　minutes　from　the　time　that　they　had
returned　from　the　door；　the　hush　of　sleep　and　rest　seemed　to
possess　the　whole　house。　　There　was　no　light　but　that　of　the　fire
in　the　front　room；　which　threw　flickering　and　gigantic　shadows　on
the　walls　of　the　three　empty　chairs　before　it。　　An　hour　later　it
seemed　as　if　one　of　the　chairs　were　occupied；　and　a　grotesque
profile　of　Collinson's　slumberingor　meditatingface　and　figure
was　projected　grimly　on　the　rafters　as　though　it　were　the　hovering
guardian　spirit　of　the　house。　　But　even　that　passed　presently　and
faded　out；　and　the　beleaguering　darkness　that　had　encompassed　the
house　all　the　evening　began　to　slowly　creep　in　through　every　chink
and　cranny　of　the　rambling；　ill…jointed　structure；　until　it　at　last
obliterated　even　the　faint　embers　on　the　hearth。　　The　cool
fragrance　of　the　woodland　depths　crept　in　with　it　until　the　steep
of　human　warmth；　the　reek　of　human　clothing；　and　the　lingering
odors　of　stale　human　victual　were　swept　away　in　that　incorruptible
and　omnipotent　breath。　　An　hour　laterand　the　wilderness　had
repossessed　itself　of　all。

Key；　the　lightest　sleeper；　awoke　early；so　early　that　the　dawn
announced　itself　only　in　two　dim　squares　of　light　that　seemed　to
grow　out　of　the　darkness　at　the　end　of　the　room　where　the　windows
looked　out　upon　the　valley。　　This　reminded　him　of　his　woodland
vision　of　the　night　before；　and　he　lay　and　watched　them　until　they
brightened　and　began　to　outline　the　figures　of　his　still　sleeping
companions。　　But　there　were　faint　stirrings　elsewhere；the　soft
brushing　of　a　squirrel　across　the　shingled　roof；　the　tiny　flutter
of　invisible　wings　in　the　rafters；　the　〃peep〃　and　〃squeak〃　of　baby
life　below　the　floor。　　And　then　he　fell　into　a　deeper　sleep；　and
awoke　only　when　it　was　broad　day。

The　sun　was　shining　upon　the　empty　bunks；　his　companions　were
already　up　and　gone。　　They　had　separated　as　they　had　come
together；with　the　light…hearted　irresponsibility　of　animals；
without　regret；　and　scarcely　reminiscence；　bearing；　with　cheerful
philosophy　and　the　hopefulness　of　a　future　unfettered　by　their
past；　the　final　disappointment　of　their　quest。　　If　they　ever　met
again；　they　would　laugh　and　remember；　if　they　did　not；　they　would
forget　without　a　sigh。　　He　hurriedly　dressed　himself；　and　went
outside　to　dip　his　face　and　hands　in　the　bucket　that　stood　beside
the　door；　but　the　clear　air；　the　dazzling　sunshine；　and　the
unexpected　prospect　half　intoxicated　him。

The　abandoned　mill　stretched　beside　him　in　all　the　pathos　of　its
premature　decay。　　The　ribs　of　the　water…wheel　appeared　amid　a
tangle　of　shrubs　and　driftwood；　and　were　twined　with　long　grasses
and　straggling　vines；　mounds　of　sawdust　and　heaps　of　〃brush〃　had
taken　upon　themselves　a　velvety　moss　where　the　trickling　slime　of
the　vanished　river　lost　itself　in　sluggish　pools；　discolored　with
the　dyes　of　redwood。　　But　on　the　other　side　of　the　rocky　ledge
dropped　the　whole　length　of　the　valley；　alternately　bathed　in
sunshine　or　hidden　in　drifts　of　white　and　clinging　smoke。　　The
upper　end　of　the　long　canyon；　and　the　crests　of　the　ridge　above
him；　were　lost　in　this　fleecy　cloud；　which　at　times　seemed　to
overflow　the　summits　and　fall　in　slow　leaps　like　lazy　cataracts
down　the　mountain…side。　　Only　the　range　before　the　ledge　was　clear；
there　the　green　pines　seemed　to　swell　onward　and　upward　in　long
mounting　billows；　until　at　last　they　broke　against　the　sky。

In　the　keen　stimulus　of　the　hour　and　the　air　Key　felt　the
mountaineer's　longing　for　action；　and　scarcely　noticed　that
Collinson　had　pathetically　brought　out　his　pork　barrel　to　scrape
together　a　few　remnants　for　his　last　meal。　　It　was　not　until　he　had
finished　his　coffee；　and　Collinson　had　brought　up　his　horse；　that　a
slight　sense　of　shame　at　his　own　and　his　comrades'　selfishness
embarrassed　his　parting　with　his　patient　host。　　He　himself　was
going　to　Skinner's　to　plead　for　him；　he　knew　that　Parker　had　left
the　draft；he　had　seen　it　lying　in　the　bar；but　a　new　sense　of
delicacy　kept　him　from　alluding　to　it　now。　　It　was　better　to　leave
Collinson　with　his　own　peculiar　ideas　of　the　responsibilities　of
hospitality　unchanged。　　Key　shook　his　hand　warmly；　and　galloped　up
the　rocky　slope。　　But　when　he　had　finally　reached　the　higher　level；
and　fancied　he　could　even　now　see　the　dust　raised　by　his　departing
comrades　on　their　two　diverging　paths；　although　he　knew　that　they
had　already　gone　their　different　ways；perhaps　never　to　meet
again；his　thoughts　and　his　eyes　reverted　only　to　the　ruined　mill
below　him　and　its　lonely　occupant。

He　could　see　him　quite　distinctly　in　that　clear　air；　still　standing
before　his　door。　　And　then　he　appeared　to　make　a　parting　gesture
with　his　hand；　and　something　like　snow　fluttered　in　the　air　above
his　head。　　It　was　only　the　torn　fragments　of　Parker's　draft；　which
this　homely　gentleman　of　the　Sierras；　standing　beside　his　empty
pork　barrel；　had　scattered　to　the　four　winds。


CHAPTER　II。


Key's　attention　was　presently　directed　to　something　more　important
to　his　present　purpose。　　The　keen　wind　which　he　had　faced　in
mounting　the　grade　had　changed；　and　was　now　blowing　at　his　back。
His　experience　of　forest　fires　had　already　taught　him　that　this　was
too　often　only　the　cold　air　rushing　in　to　fill　the　vacuum　made　by
the　conflagration；　and　it　needed　not　his　sensation　of　an　acrid
smarting　in　his　eyes；　and　an　unaccountable　dryness　in　the　air　which
he　was　now　facing；　to　convince　him　that　the　fire　was　approaching
him。　　It　had　evidently　traveled　faster　than　he　had　expected；　or　had
diverged　from　its　course。　　He　was　disappointed；　not　because　it
would　oblige　him　to　take　another　route　to　Skinner's；　as　Collinson
had　suggested；　but　for　a　very　different　reason。　　Ever　since　his
vision　of　the　preceding　night；　he　had　resolved　to　revisit　the
hollow　and　discover　the　mystery。　　He　had　kept　his　purpose　a
secret；partly　because　he　wished　to　avoid　the　jesting　remarks　of
his　companions；　but　particularly　becaus