in a hollow of the hills(山涧)-第7章
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patience； or possibly in a fit of his usual uxorious abstraction； appeared to
take no notice of it。
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A sloping table…land of weather…beaten boulders now effectually
separated them from the fire on the lower ridge。 They presently began to
descend on the further side of the crest； and at last dropped upon a wagon…
road； and the first track of wheels that Key had seen for a fortnight。
Rude as it was； it seemed to him the highway to fortune； for he knew that
it passed Skinner's and then joined the great stage…road to Marysville；
now his ultimate destination。 A few rods further on they came in view of
Skinner's； lying like a dingy forgotten winter snowdrift on the mountain
shelf。
It contained a post…office； tavern； blacksmith's shop； 〃general store；〃
and express…office； scarcely a dozen buildings in all； but all differing from
Collinson's Mill in some vague suggestion of vitality； as if the daily
regular pulse of civilization still beat； albeit languidly； in that remote
extremity。 There was anticipation and accomplishment twice a day； and
as Key and Collinson rode up to the express…office； the express…wagon
was standing before the door ready to start to meet the stagecoach at the
cross…roads three miles away。 This again seemed a special providence to
Key。 He had a brief official communication with Skinner as registrar；
and duly recorded his claim； he had a hasty and confidential aside with
Skinner as general storekeeper； and such was the unconscious magnetism
developed by this embryo millionaire that Skinner extended the necessary
credit to Collinson on Key's word alone。 That done； he rejoined Collinson
in high spirits with the news； adding cheerfully； 〃And I dare say； if you
want any further advances Skinner will give them to you on Parker's
draft。〃
〃You mean that bit o' paper that chap left；〃 said Collinson gravely。
〃Yes。〃
〃I tore it up。〃
〃You tore it up？〃 ejaculated Key。
〃You hear me？ Yes！〃 said Collinson。
Key stared at him。 Surely it was again providential that he had not
intrusted his secret to this utterly ignorant and prejudiced man！ The
slight twinges of conscience that his lie about the slippers had caused him
disappeared at once。 He could not have trusted him even in that； it would
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have been like this stupid fanatic to have prevented Key's preemption of
that claim； until he； Collinson； had satisfied himself of the whereabouts of
the missing proprietor。 Was he quite sure that Collinson would not revisit
the spot when he had gone？ But he was ready for the emergency。
He had intended to leave his horse with Skinner as security for
Collinson's provisions； but Skinner's liberality had made this unnecessary；
and he now offered it to Collinson to use and keep for him until called for。
This would enable his companion to 〃pack〃 his goods on the mule； and
oblige him to return to the mill by the wagon…road and 〃outside trail；〃 as
more commodious for the two animals。
〃Ye ain't afeared o' the road agents？〃 suggested a bystander； 〃they just
swarm on galloper's Ridge； and they 'held up' the down stage only last
week。〃
〃They're not so lively since the deputy…sheriff's got a new idea about
them； and has been lying low in the brush near Bald Top；〃 returned
Skinner。 〃Anyhow； they don't stop teams nor 'packs' unless there's a
chance of their getting some fancy horseflesh by it； and I reckon thar ain't
much to tempt them thar；〃 he added； with a satirical side glance at his
customer's cattle。 But Key was already standing in the express…wagon；
giving a farewell shake to his patient companion's hand； and this
ingenuous pleasantry passed unnoticed。 Nevertheless； as the express…
wagon rolled away； his active fancy began to consider this new danger that
might threaten the hidden wealth of his claim。 But he reflected that for a
time； at least； only the crude ore would be taken out and shipped to
Marysville in a shape that offered no profit to the highwaymen。 Had it
been a gold mine！but here again was the interposition of Providence！
A week later Preble Key returned to Skinner's with a foreman and ten
men； and an unlimited credit to draw upon at Marysville！ Expeditions of
this kind created no surprise at Skinner's。 Parties had before this entered
the wilderness gayly； none knew where or what for； the sedate and silent
woods had kept their secret while there； they had evaporated； none knew
when or whereoften； alas！ with an unpaid account at Skinner's。
Consequently； there was nothing in Key's party to challenge curiosity。 In
another week a rambling； one…storied shed of pine logs occupied the site
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of the mysterious ruins； and contained the party； in two weeks excavations
had been made； and the whole face of the outcrop was exposed； in three
weeks every vestige of former tenancy which the fire had not consumed
was trampled out by the alien feet of these toilers of the 〃Sylvan Silver
Hollow Company。〃 None of Key's former companions would have
recognized the hollow in its blackened leveling and rocky foundation；
even Collinson would not have remembered this stripped and splintered
rock； with its heaps of fresh debris； as the place where he had overtaken
Key。 And Key himself had forgotten； in his triumph； everything but the
chance experiment that had led to his success。
Perhaps it was well； therefore； that one night； when the darkness had
mercifully fallen upon this scene of sylvan desolation； and its still more
incongruous and unsavory human restoration； and the low murmur of the
pines occasionally swelled up from the unscathed mountain…side； a loud
shout and the trampling of horses' feet awoke the dwellers in the shanty。
Springing to their feet； they hurriedly seized their weapons and rushed out；
only to be confronted by a dark； motionless ring of horsemen； two flaming
torches of pine knots； and a low but distinct voice of authority。 In their
excitement； half…awakened suspicion； and confusion； they were affected
by its note of calm preparation and conscious power。
〃Drop those gunshold up your hands！ We've got every man of you
covered。〃
Key was no coward； the men； though flustered； were not cravens： but
they obeyed。 〃Trot out your leader！ Let him stand out there； clear；
beside that torch！〃
One of the gleaming pine knots disengaged itself from the dark circle
and moved to the centre； as Preble Key； cool and confident； stepped beside
it。
〃That will do；〃 said the immutable voice。 〃Now； we want Jack Riggs；
Sydney Jack； French Pete； and One…eyed Charley。〃
A vivid reminiscence of the former night scene in the hollowof his
own and his companions voices raised in the darknessflashed across Key。
With an instinctive premonition that this invasion had something to do
with the former tenant； he said calmly：
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〃Who wants them？〃
〃The State of California；〃 said the voice。
〃The State of California must look further；〃 returned Key in his old
pleasant voice； 〃there are no such names among my party。〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃The manager of the 'Sylvan Silver Hollow Company；' and these are
my workmen。
There was a hurried movement； and the sound of whispering in the
hitherto dark and silent circle； and then the voice rose again：
〃You have the papers to prove that？〃
〃Yes； in the cabin。 And you？〃
〃I've a warrant to the sheriff of Sierra。〃
There was a pause； and the voice went on less confidently：
〃How long have you been here？〃
〃Three weeks。 I came here the day of the fire and took up this
claim。〃
〃There was no other house here？〃
〃There were ruins；you can see them still。 It may have been a burnt…
up cabin。〃
The voice disengaged itself from the vague background and came
slowly forwards：
〃It was a den of thieves。 It was the hiding…place of Jack Riggs and
his gang of road agents。 I've been hunting this spot for three weeks。
And now the whole thing's up！〃
There was a laugh from Key's men； but it was checked as the owner of
the voice slowly ranged up beside the burning torch and they saw his face。
It was dark and set with the defeat of a brave man。
〃Won't you come in and take something？〃 said Key kindly。
〃No。 It's enough fool work for me to have routed ye out already。 But
I suppose it's all in my dd day's work！ Good…night！ Forward there！
Get！〃
The two torches danced forwards； with the trailing off of vague
shadows in dim procession； there was a clatter over the rocks and they
were gone。 Then； as Preble Key gazed after them； he felt that with them
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had passed the only shadow that lay upon his great fortune； and with the
last tenant of the hollow a proscribed outlaw and fugitive； he was
henceforth forever safe in his claim and his discovery。 And yet； oddly
enough； at that moment； as he turned away； for the first time in three
weeks there passed before his fancy with a stirring of reproach a vision of
the fac
