in a hollow of the hills(山涧)-第8章
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weeks there passed before his fancy with a stirring of reproach a vision of
the face that he had seen at the window。
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTER III。
Of the great discovery in Sylvan Silver Hollow it would seem that
Collinson as yet knew nothing。 In spite of Key's fears that he might stray
there on his return from Skinner's； he did not； nor did he afterwards revisit
the locality。 Neither the news of the registry of the claim nor the arrival
of Key's workmen ever reached him。 The few travelers who passed his
mill came from the valley to cross the Divide on their way to Skinner's；
and returned by the longer but easier detour of the stage…road over
Galloper's Ridge。 He had no chance to participate in the prosperity that
flowed from the opening of the mine； which plentifully besprinkled
Skinner's settlement； he was too far away to profit even by the chance
custom of Key's Sabbath wandering workmen。 His isolation from
civilization （for those who came to him from the valley were rude Western
emigrants like himself） remained undisturbed。 The return of the
prospecting party to his humble hospitality that night had been an
exceptional case； in his characteristic simplicity he did not dream that it
was because they had nowhere else to go in their penniless condition。 It
was an incident to be pleasantly remembered； but whose nonrecurrence
did not disturb his infinite patience。 His pork barrel and flour sack had
been replenished for other travelers； his own wants were few。
It was a day or two after the midnight visit of the sheriff to Silver
Hollow that Key galloped down the steep grade to Collinson's。 He was
amused； albeit； in his new importance； a little aggrieved also； to find that
Collinson had as usual confounded his descent with that of the generally
detached boulder； and that he was obliged to add his voice to the general
uproar。 This brought Collinson to his door。
〃I've had your hoss hobbled out among the chickweed and clover in
the green pasture back o' the mill； and he's picked up that much that he's
lookin' fat and sassy；〃 he said quietly； beginning to mechanically unstrap
Key's bridle； even while his guest was in the act of dismounting。 〃His
back's quite healed up。〃
Key could not restrain a shrug of impatience。 It was three weeks
since they had met；three weeks crammed with excitement； energy；
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
achievement； and fortune to Key； and yet this place and this man were as
stupidly unchanged as when he had left them。 A momentary fancy that
this was the reality； that he himself was only awakening from some
delusive dream； came over him。 But Collinson's next words were
practical。
〃I reckoned that maybe you'd write from Marysville to Skinner to send
for the hoss； and forward him to ye； for I never kalkilated you'd come
back。〃
It was quite plain from this that Collinson had heard nothing。 But it
was also awkward； as Key would now have to tell the whole story； and
reveal the fact that he had been really experimenting when Collinson
overtook him in the hollow。 He evaded this by post… dating his discovery
of the richness of the ore until he had reached Marysville。 But he found
some difficulty in recounting his good fortune： he was naturally no boaster；
he had no desire to impress Collinson with his penetration； nor the
undaunted energy he had displayed in getting up his company and opening
the mine； so that he was actually embarrassed by his own understatement；
and under the grave； patient eyes of his companion； told his story at best
lamely。 Collinson's face betrayed neither profound interest nor the
slightest resentment。 When Key had ended his awkward recital；
Collinson said slowly：
〃Then Uncle Dick and that other Parker feller ain't got no show in this
yer find。〃
〃No；〃 said Key quickly。 〃Don't you remember we broke up our
partnership that morning and went off our own ways。 You don't
suppose；〃 he added with a forced half…laugh； 〃that if Uncle Dick or Parker
had struck a lead after they left me； they'd have put me in it？〃
〃Wouldn't they？〃 asked Collinson gravely。
〃Of course not。〃 He laughed a little more naturally； but presently
added； with an uneasy smile； 〃What makes you think they would？〃
〃Nuthin'！〃 said Collinson promptly。
Nevertheless； when they were seated before the fire； with glasses in
their hands； Collinson returned patiently to the subject：
〃You wuz saying they went their way； and you went yours。 But your
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way was back on the old way that you'd all gone together。〃
But Key felt himself on firmer ground here； and answered deliberately
and truthfully； 〃Yes； but I only went back to the hollow to satisfy myself if
there really was any house there； and if there was； to warn the occupants
of the approaching fire。〃
〃And there was a house there；〃 said Collinson thoughtfully。
〃Only the ruins。〃 He stopped and flushed quickly； for he
remembered that he had denied its existence at their former meeting。
〃That is；〃 he went on hurriedly； 〃I found out from the sheriff； you know；
that there had been a house there。 But；〃 he added； reverting to his
stronger position； 〃my going back there was an accident； and my picking
up the outcrop was an accident； and had no more to do with our
partnership prospecting than you had。 In fact；〃 he said； with a reassuring
laugh； 〃you'd have had a better right to share in my claim； coming there as
you did at that moment； than they。 Why； if I'd have known what the thing
was worth； I might have put you inonly it wanted capital and some
experience。〃 He was glad that he had pitched upon that excuse （it had only
just occurred to him）； and glanced affably at Collinson。 But that
gentleman said soberly：
〃No； you wouldn't nuther。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Key half angrily。
Collinson paused。 After a moment he said； 〃'Cos I wouldn't hev took
anything outer thet place。〃
Key felt relieved。 From what he knew of Collinson's vagaries he
believed him。 He was wise in not admitting him to his confidences at the
beginning； he might have thought it his duty to tell others。
〃I'm not so particular；〃 he returned laughingly； 〃but the silver in that
hole was never touched； nor I dare say even imagined by mortal man
before。 However； there is something else about the hollow that I want to
tell you。 You remember the slipper that you picked up？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I lied to you about that； I never dropped it。 On the contrary； I
had picked up the mate of it very near where you found yours； and I
wanted to know to whom it belonged。 For I don't mind telling you now；
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Collinson； that I believe there WAS a woman in that house； and the same
woman whose face I saw at the window。 You remember how the boys
joked me about itwell； perhaps I didn't care that you should laugh at me
too； but I've had a sore conscience over my lie； for I remembered that you
seemed to have some interest in the matter too； and I thought that maybe I
might have thrown you off the scent。 It seemed to me that if you had any
idea who it was； we might now talk the matter over and compare notes。 I
think you saidat least； I gathered the idea from a remark of yours；〃 he
added hastily； as he remembered that the suggestion was his own； and a
satirical one〃that it reminded you of your wife's slipper。 Of course； as
your wife is dead； that would offer no clue； and can only be a chance
resemblance； unless〃 He stopped。
〃Have you got 'em yet？〃
〃Yes； both。〃 He took them from the pocket of his riding…jacket。
As Collinson received them； his face took upon itself an even graver
expression。 〃It's mighty cur'ous；〃 he said reflectively； 〃but looking at the
two of 'em the likeness is more fetchin'。 Ye see； my wife had a
STRAIGHT foot； and never wore reg'lar rights and lefts like other women；
but kinder changed about； ye see； these shoes is reg'lar rights and lefts； but
never was worn as sich！〃
〃There may be other women as peculiar；〃 suggested Key。
〃There MUST be；〃 said Collinson quietly。
For an instant Key was touched with the manly security of the reply；
for； remembering Uncle Dick's scandal； it had occurred to him that the
unknown tenant of the robbers' den might be Collinson's wife。 He was
glad to be relieved on that point； and went on more confidently：
〃So； you see； this woman was undoubtedly in that house on the night
of the fire。 She escaped； and in a mighty hurry too； for she had not time
to change her slippers for shoes； she escaped on horseback； for that is how
she lost them。 Now what was she doing there with those rascals； for the
face I saw looked as innocent as a saint's。〃
〃Seemed to ye sort o' contrairy； jist as I reckoned my wife's foot would
have looked in a slipper that you said was GIV to ye；〃 suggested Collinson
pointedly； but with no implication of reproach in his voice。
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〃Yes；
