in a hollow of the hills(山涧)-第13章
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find that the fair unknown appeared to participate in their feelings； and his
first civility to her met with a chilling response。 Even then； in the general
disillusion of his romance regarding her； this would have been only a
momentary annoyance； but it strangely revived all his previous suspicions；
and set him to thinking。 Was the singular sagacity displayed by the
orator in his search purely intuitive？ Could any one have disclosed to him
the secret of the passengers' hoards？ Was it possible for HER while
sitting alone in the coach to have communicated with the band？
Suddenly the remembrance flashed across him of her opening the window
for fresh air！ She could have easily then dropped some signal。 If this
were so； and she really was the culprit； it was quite natural for her own
safety that she should encourage the passengers in the absurd suspicion of
himself！ His dying interest revived； a few moments ago he had half
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resolved to abandon his quest and turn back at Three Pines。 Now he
determined to follow her to the end。 But he did not indulge in any further
sophistry regarding his duty； yet； in a new sense of honor； he did not
dream of retaliating upon her by communicating his suspicions to his
fellow passengers。 When the coach started again； he took his seat on the
top； and remained there until they reached Jamestown in the early evening。
Here a number of his despoiled companions were obliged to wait； to
communicate with their friends。 Happily； the exemption that had made
them indignant enabled him to continue his journey with a full purse。
But he was content with a modest surveillance of the lady from the top of
the coach。
On arriving at Stockton this surveillance became less easy。 It was the
terminus of the stage…route； and the divergence of others by boat and rail。
If he were lucky enough to discover which one the lady took； his presence
now would be more marked； and might excite her suspicion。 But here a
circumstance； which he also believed to be providential； determined him。
As the luggage was being removed from the top of the coach； he
overheard the agent tell the expressman to check the 〃lady's〃 trunk to San
Luis。 Key was seized with an idea which seemed to solve the difficulty；
although it involved a risk of losing the clue entirely。 There were two
routes to San Luis； one was by stage； and direct； though slower； the other
by steamboat and rail； via San Francisco。 If he took the boat； there was
less danger of her discovering him； even if she chose the same conveyance；
if she took the direct stage；and he trusted to a woman's avoidance of the
hurry of change and transshipment for that choice；he would still arrive at
San Luis； via San Francisco； an hour before her。 He resolved to take the
boat； a careful scrutiny from a stateroom window of the arriving
passengers on the gangplank satisfied him that she had preferred the stage。
There was still the chance that in losing sight of her she might escape him；
but the risk seemed small。 And a trifling circumstance had almost
unconsciously influenced himafter his romantic and superstitious
fashionas to this final step。
He had been singularly moved when he heard that San Luis was the
lady's probable destination。 It did not seem to bear any relation to the
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mountain wilderness and the wild life she had just quitted； it was
apparently the most antipathic； incongruous； and inconsistent refuge she
could have taken。 It offered no opportunity for the disposal of booty； or
for communication with the gang。 It was less secure than a crowded
town。 An old Spanish mission and monastery college in a sleepy pastoral
plain；it had even retained its old…world flavor amidst American
improvements and social revolution。 He knew it well。 From the quaint
college cloisters； where the only reposeful years of his adventurous youth
had been spent； to the long Alameda； or double avenues of ancient trees；
which connected it with the convent of Santa Luisa； and some of his
youthful 〃devotions；〃it had been the nursery of his romance。 He was
amused at what seemed to be the irony of fate； in now linking it with this
folly of his maturer manhood； and yet he was uneasily conscious of being
more seriously affected by it。 And it was with a greater anxiety than this
adventure had ever yet cost him that he at last arrived at the San Jose hotel；
and from a balcony corner awaited the coming of the coach。 His heart
beat rapidly as it approached。 She was there！ But at her side； as she
descended from the coach； was the mysterious horseman of the Sierra road。
Key could not mistake the well…built figure； whatever doubt there had
been about the features； which had been so carefully concealed。 With the
astonishment of this rediscovery； there flashed across him again the
fatefulness of the inspiration which had decided him not to go in the coach。
His presence there would have no doubt warned the stranger； and so
estopped this convincing denouement。 It was quite possible that her
companion； by relays of horses and the advantage of bridle cut…offs； could
have easily followed the Three Pine coach and joined her at Stockton。
But for what purpose？ The lady's trunk； which had not been disturbed
during the first part of the journey； and had been forwarded at Stockton
untouched before Key's eyes； could not have contained booty to be
disposed of in this forgotten old town。
The register of the hotel bore simply the name of 〃Mrs。 Barker；〃 of
Stockton； but no record of her companion； who seemed to have
disappeared as mysteriously as he came。 That she occupied a sitting…
room on the same floor as his ownin which she was apparently secluded
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during the rest of the daywas all he knew。 Nobody else seemed to know
her。 Key felt an odd hesitation； that might have been the result of some
vague fear of implicating her prematurely； in making any marked inquiry；
or imperiling his secret by the bribed espionage of servants。 Once when
he was passing her door he heard the sounds of laughter；albeit innocent
and heart… free；which seemed so inconsistent with the gravity of the
situation and his own thoughts that he was strangely shocked。 But he
was still more disturbed by a later occurrence。 In his watchfulness of the
movements of his neighbor he had been equally careful of his own； and
had not only refrained from registering his name； but had enjoined secrecy
upon the landlord； whom he knew。 Yet the next morning after his arrival；
the porter not answering his bell promptly enough； he so far forgot himself
as to walk to the staircase； which was near the lady's room； and call to the
employee over the balustrade。 As he was still leaning over the railing；
the faint creak of a door； and a singular magnetic consciousness of being
overlooked； caused him to turn slowly； but only in time to hear the rustle
of a withdrawing skirt as the door was quickly closed。 In an instant he
felt the full force of his foolish heedlessness； but it was too late。 Had the
mysterious fugitive recognized him？ Perhaps not； their eyes had not met；
and his face had been turned away。
He varied his espionage by subterfuges； which his knowledge of the
old town made easy。 He watched the door of the hotel； himself unseen；
from the windows of a billiard saloon opposite； which he had frequented
in former days。 Yet he was surprised the same afternoon to see her； from
his coigne of vantage； reentering the hotel； where he was sure he had left
her a few moments ago。 Had she gone out by some other exit；or had
she been disguised？ But on entering his room that evening he was
confounded by an incident that seemed to him as convincing of her
identity as it was audacious。 Lying on his pillow were a few dead leaves
of an odorous mountain fern； known only to the Sierras。 They were tied
together by a narrow blue ribbon； and had evidently been intended to
attract his attention。 As he took them in his hand； the distinguishing
subtle aroma of the little sylvan hollow in the hills came to him like a
memory and a revelation！ He summoned the chambermaid； she knew
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nothing of them； or indeed of any one who had entered his room。 He
walked cautiously into the hall； the lady's sitting…room door was open； the
room was empty。 〃The occupant；〃 said the chambermaid； 〃had left that
afternoon。〃 He held the proof of her identity in his hand； but she herself
had vanished！ That she had recognized him there was now no doubt： had
she divined the real object of his quest； or had she accepted it as a mere
sentimental gallantry at the moment when she knew it was hopeless； and
she herself was perfectly safe from pursuit？ In either event he had been
duped。 He did not know whether to be piqued； angry； or relieved of his
irresolute quest。
Nevertheless； he spent the rest of the twilight and the early evening in
fruitlessly wandering throug
