CHAPTERI。

Itwasverydark，andthewindwasincreasing。Thelastgusthadbeenprecededbyanominousroaringdownthewholemountain-side，whichcontinuedforsometimeafterthetreesinthelittlevalleyhadlapsedintosilence。Theairwasfilledwithafaint，cool，soddenodor，asofstirredforestdepths。Inthoseintervalsofsilencethedarknessseemedtoincreaseinproportionandgrowalmostpalpable。Yetoutofthissightlessandsoundlessvoidnowcamethetinkleofaspur’srowels，thedrycracklingofsaddleleathers，andthemuffledplungeofahoofinthethickcarpetofdustanddesiccatedleaves。Thenavoice，whichinspiteofitsmatter-of-factrealitytheobscuritylentacertainmysteryto，said：——

"Ican’tmakeoutanything！Wherethedevilhavewegotto，anyway？It’sasblackasTophet，hereahead！"

"Strikealightandmakeaflarewithsomething，"returnedasecondvoice。"Lookwhereyou’reshovingto——now——keepyourhorseoff，willye。"

Therewasmoremuffledplunging，asilence，therustleofpaper，thequickspurtofamatch，andthentheupliftingofaflickeringflame。Butitrevealedonlytheheadsandshouldersofthreehorsemen，framedwithinanebulousringoflight，thatstilllefttheirhorsesandeventheirlowerfiguresinimpenetrableshadow。

Thentheflameleapedupanddiedoutwithafewzigzaggingsparksthatwerefallingtotheground，whenathirdvoice，thatwaslowbutsomewhatpleasantinitscadence，said：——

"Becarefulwhereyouthrowthat。Youwerecarelesslasttime。

Withthiswindandtheleavesliketinder，youmightsendafurnaceblastthroughthewoods。"

"Thenatleastwe’dseewherewewere。"

Nevertheless，hemovedhishorse，whosetramplinghoofsbeatoutthelastfallenspark。Completedarknessandsilenceagainfollowed。Presentlythefirstspeakercontinued：——

"Ireckonwe’llhavetowaitheretillthenextsquallclearsawaythescudfromthesky？Hello！What’sthat？"

Outoftheobscuritybeforethemappearedafaintlight，——adimbutperfectlydefinedsquareofradiance，——which，however，didnotappeartoilluminateanythingaroundit。Suddenlyitdisappeared。

"That’sahouse——it’salightinawindow，"saidthesecondvoice。

"Housebed——d！"retortedthefirstspeaker。"AhousewithawindowonGalloper’sRidge，fifteenmilesfromanywhere？You’recrazy！"

Nevertheless，fromthemuffledplungingandtinklingthatfollowed，theyseemedtobemovinginthedirectionwherethelighthadappeared。Thentherewasapause。

"There’snothingbutarockyoutcrophere，whereahousecouldn’tstand，andwe’reoffthetrailagain，"saidthefirstspeakerimpatiently。

"Stop！——thereitisagain！"

Thesamesquareoflightappearedoncemore，butthehorsemenhadevidentlydivergedinthedarkness，foritseemedtobeinadifferentdirection。Butitwasmoredistinct，andastheygazedashadowappeareduponitsradiantsurface——theprofileofahumanface。Thenthelightsuddenlywentout，andthefacevanishedwithit。

"ItISawindow，andtherewassomeonebehindit，"saidthesecondspeakeremphatically。

"Itwasawoman’sface，"saidthepleasantvoice。

"Whoeveritis，justhailthem，sothatwecangetourbearings。

Singout！Alltogether！"

Thethreevoicesroseinaprolongedshout，inwhich，however，thedistinguishingqualityofthepleasantvoicewassustained。Buttherewasnoresponsefromthedarknessbeyond。Theshoutingwasrepeatedafteranintervalwiththesameresult：thesilenceandobscurityremainedunchanged。

"Let’sgetoutofthis，"saidthefirstspeakerangrily;"houseornohouse，manorwoman，we’renotwanted，andwe’llmakenothingwaltzingroundhere！"

"Hush！"saidthesecondvoice。"Sh-h！Listen。"

Theleavesofthenearesttreesweretrillingaudibly。Thencameasuddengustthatsweptthefrondsofthetallerfernsintotheirfaces，andlaidthethin，lithewhipsofalderovertheirhorses’

flankssharply。Itwasfollowedbythedistantsea-likeroaringofthemountain-side。

"That’salittlemorelikeit！"saidthefirstspeakerjoyfully。

"Anotherblowlikethatandwe’reallright。Andlook！there’salightenin’upoverthetrailwecameby。"

Therewasindeedafaintglowinthatdirection，likethefirstsuffusionofdawn，permittingthehugeshoulderofthemountainalongwhoseflankstheyhadbeenjourneyingtobedistinctlyseen。

Thesoddenbreathofthestirredforestdepthswasslightlytaintedwithanacridfume。

"That’sthematchyouthrewawaytwohoursago，"saidthepleasantvoicedeliberately。"It’scaughtthedrybrushinthetrailroundthebend。"

"Anyhow，it’sgivenusourbearings，boys，"saidthefirstspeaker，withsatisfiedaccents。"We’reallrightnow;andthewind’sliftingtheskyaheadthere。Forwardnow，alltogether，andlet’sgetoutofthishell-holewhilewecan！"

Itwassomuchlighterthatthebulkofeachhorsemancouldbeseenastheymovedforwardtogether。Buttherewasnothinningoftheobscurityoneithersideofthem。Neverthelesstheprofileofthehorsemanwiththepleasantvoiceseemedtobeoccasionallyturnedbackward，andhesuddenlycheckedhishorse。

"There’sthewindowagain！"hesaid。"Look！There——it’sgoneagain。"

"Letitgoandbed——d！"returnedtheleader。"Comeon。"

Theyspurredforwardinsilence。Itwasnotlongbeforethewaysidetreesbegantodimlyshowspacesbetweenthem，andthefernstogivewaytolower，thick-setshrubs，whichinturnyieldedtoavelvetymoss，withlongquietintervalsofnettedandtangledgrasses。Theregularfallofthehorses’feetbecameamererhythmicthrobbing。Thensuddenlyasinglehoofrangoutsharplyonstone，andthefirstspeakerreinedinslightly。

"ThanktheLordwe’reontheridgenow！andtherestiseasy。Tellyouwhat，though，boys，nowwe’reallright，Idon’tmindsayingthatIdidn’ttakenostockinthatblamedcorpselightdownthere。

Ifthereeverwasawill-o’-the-wisponasquareupmountain，thatwasone。Itwasn’tnowindow！Someofyethoughtyesawafacetoo——eh？"

"Yes，andaratherprettyone，"saidthepleasantvoicemeditatively。

"That’sthewaythey’dbuildthatsortofthing，ofcourse。It’sluckyyehadtosatisfyyourselfwithlooking。Gosh！Ifeelcreepyyet，thinkingofit！WhatareyelookingbackfornowlikeLot’swife？BlamedifIdon’tthinkthatfacebewitchedye。"

"Iwasonlythinkingaboutthatfireyoustarted，"returnedtheotherquietly。"Idon’tseeitnow。"

"Well——ifyoudid？"

"Iwaswonderingwhetheritcouldreachthathollow。"

"Ireckonthathollowcouldtakecareofanycasualnat’relfirethatcameboomin’along，andgotwobettereverytime！Why，I

don’tbelievetherewasanyfire;itwasallapieceofthatinfernalignisfatuusphantasmagorianathatwasplayeduponusdownthere！"

Withthelaughthatfollowedtheystartedforwardagain，relapsingintothesilenceoftiredmenattheendofalongjourney。Eventheirfewremarkswereinterjectional，orreminiscentoftopicswhosefreshnesshadbeenexhaustedwiththeday。Thegaininglightwhichseemedtocomefromthegroundaboutthemratherthanfromthestill，overcastskyabove，definedtheirindividualitymoredistinctly。Themanwhohadfirstspoken，andwhoseemedtobetheirleader，worethevirginunshavenbeard，mustache，andflowinghairoftheCalifornianpioneer，andmighthavebeentheeldest;

thesecondspeakerwascloseshaven，thin，andenergetic;thethird，withthepleasantvoice，inheight，litheness，andsupplenessoffigureappearedtobetheyoungestoftheparty。Thetrailhadnowbecomeagrayishstreakalongtheleveltable-landtheywerefollowing，whichalsohadthesingulareffectofappearinglighterthanthesurroundinglandscape，yetofplungingintoutterdarknessoneithersideofitsprecipitouswalls。

Nevertheless，attheendofanhourtheleaderroseinhisstirrupswithasighofsatisfaction。

"There’sthelightinCollinson’sMill！There’snothinggaudyandspectacularaboutthat，boys，eh？No，sir！it’sasquare，honestbeaconthatamancansteerby。We’llbethereintwentyminutes。"

Hewaspointingintothedarknessbelowthealreadydescendingtrail。Onlyapioneer’seyecouldhavedetectedthefewpin-pricksoflightintheimpenetrabledistance，anditwasasignalproofofhisleadershipthattheothersaccepteditwithoutseeingit。

"It’sjustteno’clock，"hecontinued，holdingahugesilverwatchtohiseye;"we’vewastedanhouronthoseblamedspooksyonder！"

"Weweren’toffthetrailmorethantenminutes，UncleDick，"

protestedthepleasantvoice。

"Allright，myson;godownthereifyoulikeandfetchoutyourWitchofEndor，butasforme，I’mgoingtothrowmyselftheothersideofCollinson’slights。They’regoodenoughforme，andablamedsightmorestationary！"

Thegradewasverysteep，buttheytookit，Californiafashion，atagallop，beinggenuinelygoodriders，andusingtheirbrainsaswellastheirspursintheunderstandingoftheirhorses，andofcertainnaturallaws，whichthemoreartificialridersofcivilizationareapttooverlook。Hencetherewasnohesitationorindecisioncommunicatedtothenervouscreaturestheybestrode，whosweptovercrumblingstonesandslipperyledgeswithamomentumthattookawayhalftheirweight，andmadeastumbleorfalsestep，orindeedanythingbutanactualcollision，almostimpossible。

Closingtogethertheyavoidedthelatter，andholdingeachotherwellup，becameoneirresistiblewedge-shapedmass。Attimestheyyelled，notfromconsciousnessnorbravado，butfromthepurelyanimalinstinctofwarningandtocombatthebreathlessnessoftheirdescent，until，reachingthelevel，theychargedacrossthegravellybedofavanishedriver，andpulledupatCollinson’sMill。Themillitselfhadlongsincevanishedwiththeriver，butthebuildingthathadoncestoodforitwasusedasarudehostelryfortravelers，which，however，borenolegendorinvitatorysign。

Thosewhowantedit，knewit;thosewhopasseditby，gaveitnooffense。

Collinsonhimselfstoodbythedoor，smokingacontemplativepipe。

Astheyrodeup，hedisengagedhimselffromthedoorpostlistlessly，walkedslowlytowardsthem，saidreflectivelytotheleader，"I’vebeenthinkingwithyouthatavoteforThompsonisavotethrownaway，"andpreparedtoleadthehorsestowardsthewatertank。Hehadpartedwiththemovertwelvehoursbefore，buthisairofsimplyrenewingarecentlyinterruptedconversationwastoocommonacircumstancetoattracttheirnotice。Theyknew，andheknew，thatnooneelsehadpassedthatwaysincehehadlastspoken;thatthesamesunhadswungsilentlyabovehimandtheunchangedlandscape，andtherehadbeennointerruptionnordiversiontohismonotonousthought。Thewildernessannihilatestimeandspacewiththegrimpathosofpatience。

Neverthelesshesmiled。"Yedon’tseemtohavegotthroughcomingdownyet，"hecontinued，asafewsmallboulders，loosenedintheirrapiddescent，camemoredeliberatelyrollingandplungingafterthetravelersalongthegravellybottom。Thenheturnedawaywiththehorses，and，aftertheywerewatered，hereenteredthehouse。

Hisguestshadevidentlynotwaitedforhisministration。Theyhadalreadytakenoneortwobottlesfromtheshelvesbehindawidebarandhelpedthemselves，and，glassesinhand，werenowsatisfyingthemoreimminentcravingsofhungerwithbiscuitsfromabarrelandslicesofsmokedherringfromabox。Theirequallysingularhost，acceptingtheirconductasnotunusual，joinedthecircletheyhadcomfortablydrawnroundthefireplace，andmeditativelykickingabrandbackatthefire，said，withoutlookingatthem：——

"Well？"

"Well！"returnedtheleader，leaningbackinhischairaftercarefullyunloosingthebuckleofhisbelt，butwithhiseyesalsoonthefire，——"well！we’veprospectedeveryyardofoutcropalongtheDivide，andthereain’ttheghostofasilverindicationanywhere。"

"Notasmell，"addedtheclose-shavenguest，withoutraisinghiseyes。

Theyallremainedsilent，lookingatthefire，asifitweretheonethingtheyhadtakenintotheirconfidence。Collinsonalsoaddressedhimselftotheblazeashesaidpresently："Itallusseemedtomethattharwassomethingshinyaboutthatledgejustroundtheshoulderofthespur，overthelongcanyon。"

Theleaderejaculatedashortlaugh。"Shiny，eh？shiny！YethinkTHATasign？Why，youmightaswellreckonthatbecauseKey’shead，overthar，isgrayandsilverythathe’sgotsabeandexperience。"Ashespokehelookedtowardsthemanwithapleasantvoice。Thefireshiningfulluponhimrevealedthesingularfactthatwhilehisfacewasstillyoung，andhismustachequitedark，hishairwasperfectlygray。Theobjectofthisattention，farfrombeingdisconcertedbythecomparison，addedwithasmile：——

"Orthathehadanysilverinhispocket。"

Anotherlapseofsilencefollowed。Thewindtoreroundthehouseandrumbledintheshort，adobechimney。

"No，gentlemen，"saidtheleaderreflectively，"thissorto’thingisplayedout。Idon’ttakenomorestockinthatcock-and-bullstoryaboutthelostMexicanmine。Idon’tcatchontothatSunday-schoolyarnaboutthepious，scientificsharpwhocollectedleavesandvegetablesallovertheDivide，allthewhilehescientificallyknewthattherangewassolidsilver，onlyhewouldn’tsoilhisfingerswithGod-forsakenlucre。Iain’tsayinganythingaginthatfine-spuntheorythatKeybelievesinaboutvolcanicupheavalsthatsetuponendargentiferousrock，butI

simplysaythatIdon’tseeit——withthenakedeye。AndIreckonit’sabouttime，boys，asthegame’sup，thatwehandedinourchecks，andlefttheboard。"

Therewasanothersilencearoundthefire，anotherwhirlandturmoilwithout。Therewasnoattempttocombattheopinionsoftheirleader;possiblythesamesenseofdisappointedhopeswasfeltbyall，onlytheypreferredtoletthemanofgreaterexperiencevoiceit。Hewenton：——

"We’vehadourlittlegame，boys，eversinceweleftRawlin’saweekago;we’vehadourupsanddowns;we’vebeenstarvedandparched，snowedupandhalfdrowned，shotatbyroad-agentsandhorse-thieves，kickedbymulesandplayedwithbygrizzlies。We’vehadaheapo’fun，boys，forourmoney，butIreckonthepicnicisaboutover。Sowe’llshakehandsto-morrowallroundandcallitsquare，andgoonourwaysseparately。"

"Andwhatdoyouthinkyou’lldo，UncleDick？"saidhisclose-

shavencompanionlistlessly。

"I’llmaketracksforasquaremeal，abedthatamancancomfortablytakeoffhisbootsanddiein，andsomeviolet-scentedsoap。Civilization’sgoodenoughforme！IevenreckonIwouldn’tmind’thesoundofthechurch-goingbell’eftherewasatheatrehandy，astherelikelywouldbe。Butthewildernessisplayedout。"

"You’llbebacktoitagaininsixmonths，UncleDick，"retortedtheotherquickly。

UncleDickdidnotreply。Itwasapeculiarityofthepartythatintheirisolatedcompanionshiptheyhadalreadyexhausteddiscussionandargument。Asilencefollowed，inwhichtheyalllookedatthefireasifitwasitsturntomakeasuggestion。

"Collinson，"saidthepleasantvoiceabruptly，"wholivesinthehollowthissideoftheDivide，abouttwomilesfromthefirstspurabovethebigcanyon？"

"Narysoul！"

"Areyousure？"

"Sartin！Tharain’tnoonebutmebetwixtBaldTopandSkinner’s——

twenty-fivemiles。"

"Ofcourse，YOU’Dknowifanyonehadcometherelately？"persistedthepleasantvoice。

"Ireckon。Itain’taweekagothatItrampedthewholedistancethatyoufellersjustrodeover。"

"Thereain’t，"saidtheleaderdeliberately，"anyenchantedcastleorcabinthatgoeswaltzingroundtheroadwithrevolvingwindowsandfairyprincesseslookingoutof’em？"

ButCollinson，recognizingthisaspurelyirrelevanthumor，withpossiblyatraporpitfallinit，movedawayfromthefireplacewithoutaword，andretiredtotheadjoiningkitchentopreparesupper。Presentlyhereappeared。

"Theporkbar’l’sempty，boys，soI’llhevtofixyeupwithjerkedbeef，potatoes，andflapjacks。Yesee，tharain’tanybodybenoverfromSkinner’sstoreforaweek。"

"Allright;onlyhurryup！"saidUncleDickcheerfully，settlinghimselfbackinhischair，"IreckontoturninassoonasI’verastledwithyourhash，forI’vegottoturnoutaginandbeoffatsun-up。"

Theywereallveryquietagain，——soquietthattheycouldnothelpnoticingthatthesoundofCollinson’spreparationsfortheirsupperhadceasedtoo。UncleDickarosesoftlyandwalkedtothekitchendoor。Collinsonwassittingbeforeasmallkitchenstove，withaforkinhishand，gazingabstractedlybeforehim。Atthesoundofhisguest’sfootstepshestarted，andthenoiseofpreparationrecommenced。UncleDickreturnedtohischairbythefire。Leaningtowardsthechairoftheclose-shavenman，hesaidinalowervoice：——

"Hewasoffagin！"

"What？"

"Thinkin’ofthatwifeofhis。"

"Whatabouthiswife？"askedKey，loweringhisvoicealso。

Thethreemen’sheadswereclosetogether。

"WhenCollinsonfixedupthismillhesentforhiswifeintheStates，"saidUncleDick，inahalfwhisper，"waitedayearforher，hangingroundandboardingeveryemigrantwagonthatcamethroughthePass。Shedidn’tcome——onlythenewsthatshewasdead。"Hepausedandnudgedhischairstillcloser——theheadswerealmosttouching。"Theysay，overintheBar"——hisvoicehadsunktoacompletewhisper——"thatitwasalie！Thatsheranawaywiththemanthatwasfetchin’herout。Threethousandmilesandthreeweekswithanothermanupsetssomewomen。ButHEknowsnothingaboutit，onlyhesometimeskindergoesofflooney-like，thinkingofher。"Hestopped，theheadsseparated;Collinsonhadappearedatthedoorway，hismelancholypatienceapparentlyunchanged。

"Grub’son，gentlemen;sitbyandeat。"

Thehumblemealwasdispatchedwithzestandsilence。Afewinterjectionalremarksabouttheuncertaintiesofprospectingonlyaccentedtheotherpauses。Intenminutestheywereoutagainbythefireplacewiththeirlitpipes。Astherewereonlythreechairs，Collinsonstoodbesidethechimney。

"Collinson，"saidUncleDick，aftertheusualpause，takinghispipefromhislips，"aswe’vegottogetupandgetatsun-up，wemightaswelltellyounowthatwe’redeadbroke。We’vebeenlivingforthelastfewweeksonPrebleKey’sloosechange——andthat’sgone。You’llhavetoletthislittleaccountanddamagestandover。"

Collinson’sbrowslightlycontracted，without，however，alteringhisgeneralexpressionofresignedpatience。

"I’msorryforyou，boys，"hesaidslowly，"and"（diffidently）

"kindersorryformyself，too。Yousee，Ireckonedongoin’overtoSkinner’sto-morrow，tofilluptheporkbar’landvoteforMesickandthewagon-road。ButSkinnercan’tletmehaveanythingmoreuntilI’vepaidsuthin’onaccount，ashecallsit。"

"D’yemeantosaythar’sanymountainmanaslowflungandmeanasthat？"saidUncleDickindignantly。

"Butitisn’tHISfault，"saidCollinsongently;"yousee，theywon’tsendhimgoodsfromSacramentoifhedon’tpayup，andheCAN’TifIDON’T。Sabe？"

"Ah！that’sanotherthing。TheyAREmean——inSacramento，"saidUncleDick，somewhatmollified。

Theotherguestsmurmuredanassenttothisgeneralproposition。

SuddenlyUncleDick’sfacebrightened。

"Lookhere！IknowSkinner，andI’llstopthere——No，blankitall！Ican’t，forit’soffmyroute！Well，then，we’llfixitthisway。KeywillgothereandtellSkinnerthatIsaythatI’LLsendthemoneytothatSacramentohound。That’llfixit！"

Collinson’sbrowcleared;thesolutionofthedifficultyseemedtosatisfyeverybody，andtheclose-shavenmansmiled。

"AndI’llsecureit，"hesaid，"andgiveCollinsonasightdraftonmyselfatSanFrancisco。"

"What’sthatfor？"saidCollinson，withasuddensuffusiononeachcheek。

"Incaseofaccident。"

"Wotaccident？"persistedCollinson，withadarklookofsuspiciononhisusuallyplacidface。

"Incaseweshouldforgetit，"saidtheclose-shavenman，withalaugh。

"AnddoyousupposethatifyouboyswentandforgotitthatI’dhaveanythingtodowithyourd——dpaper？"saidCollinson，amurkycloudcomingintohiseyes。

"Why，that’sonlybusiness，Colly，"interposedUncleDickquickly;

"that’sallJimParkermeans;he’sabusinessman，don’tyousee。

Supposewegotkilled！You’vethatdrafttoshow。"

"Showwho？"growledCollinson。

"Why，——hangit！——ourfriends，ourheirs，ourrelations——togetyourmoney，hesitatedUncleDick。

"Anddoyoukalkilate，"saidCollinson，withdeeplylaboringbreath，"thatifyougotkilled，thatI’dbecomingonyourfolksfortheworthofthed——dtruckIgivye？Go’way！Lemmegitouto’this。You’remakin’metired。"Hestalkedtothedoor，lithispipe，andbegantowalkupanddownthegravellyriver-bed。UncleDickfollowedhim。Fromtimetotimethetwootherguestsheardthesoundsofalternateprotestandexplanationastheypassedandrepassedthewindows。PrebleKeysmiled，Parkershruggedhisshoulders。

"He’llbethinkin’you’vebegrudgedhimyourgrubifyoudon’t——

that’sthewaywiththesebusinessmen，"saidUncleDick’svoiceinoneoftheseintervals。Presentlytheyreenteredthehouse，UncleDicksayingcasuallytoParker，"Youcanleavethatdraftonthebarwhenyou’rereadytogoto-morrow;"andtheincidentwaspresumedtohaveended。ButCollinsondidnotglanceinthedirectionofParkerfortherestoftheevening;and，indeed，standingwithhisbacktothechimney，morethanoncefellintothatstolidabstractionwhichwassupposedtobethecontemplationofhisabsentwife。

Fromthissilence，whichbecameinfectious，thethreeguestsweresuddenlyarousedbyafuriousclatteringdownthesteepdescentofthemountain，alongthetrailtheyhadjustridden！Itcamenear，increasinginsound，untilitevenseemedtoscatterthefinegraveloftheriver-bedagainstthesidesofthehouse，andthenpassedinagustofwindthatshooktheroofandroaredinthechimney。Withonecommonimpulsethethreetravelersroseandwenttothedoor。Theyopenedittoablacknessthatseemedtostandasanotherandanirondoorbeforethem，buttonothingelse。

"Somebodywentbythen，"saidUncleDick，turningtoCollinson。

"Didn’tyouhearit？"

"Nary，"saidCollinsonpatiently，withoutmovingfromthechimney。

"WhatinGod’snamewasit，then？"

"Onlysomeofthembouldersyouloosedcomingdown。It’stouchandgowiththemfordaysafter。WhenIfirstcamehereIusedtostartupandrushoutintotheroad——likeasyouwould——yellin’andscreechin’afterfolksthatneverwasthereandneverwentby。

Thenitgotkindermonotonous，andI’dliestillandlet’emslide。

Why，onenightI’da’swornthatsomeonepulledupwithayellandshookthedoor。ButIsortofallowedtomyselfthatwhateveritwas，itwasn’twantin’toeat，drink，sleep，oritwouldcomein，andIhadn’tanycalltointerfere。Andinthemornin’Ifoundarockasbigasthatbox，lyingchock-a-blockaginthedoor。ThenI

knowedIwasright。"

PrebleKeyremainedlookingfromthedoor。

"There’saglowintheskyoverBigCanyon，"hesaid，withameaningglanceatUncleDick。

"Sawitanhourago，"saidCollinson。"Itmustbethewoodsafirejustroundthebendabovethecanyon。WhoevergoestoSkinner’shadbettergiveitawideberth。"

KeyturnedtowardsCollinsonasiftospeak，butapparentlychangedhismind，andpresentlyjoinedhiscompanions，whowerealreadyrollingthemselvesintheirblankets，inaseriesofwoodenbunksorberths，rangedasinaship’scabin，aroundthewallsofaresinous，sawdustyapartmentthathadbeenthemeasuringroomofthemill。Collinsondisappeared，——noonekneworseemedtocarewhere，——and，inlessthantenminutesfromthetimethattheyhadreturnedfromthedoor，thehushofsleepandrestseemedtopossessthewholehouse。Therewasnolightbutthatofthefireinthefrontroom，whichthrewflickeringandgiganticshadowsonthewallsofthethreeemptychairsbeforeit。Anhourlateritseemedasifoneofthechairswereoccupied，andagrotesqueprofileofCollinson’sslumbering——ormeditating——faceandfigurewasprojectedgrimlyontheraftersasthoughitwerethehoveringguardianspiritofthehouse。Buteventhatpassedpresentlyandfadedout，andthebeleagueringdarknessthathadencompassedthehousealltheeveningbegantoslowlycreepinthrougheverychinkandcrannyoftherambling，ill-jointedstructure，untilitatlastobliteratedeventhefaintembersonthehearth。Thecoolfragranceofthewoodlanddepthscreptinwithituntilthesteepofhumanwarmth，thereekofhumanclothing，andthelingeringodorsofstalehumanvictualweresweptawayinthatincorruptibleandomnipotentbreath。Anhourlater——andthewildernesshadrepossesseditselfofall。

Key，thelightestsleeper，awokeearly，——soearlythatthedawnannounceditselfonlyintwodimsquaresoflightthatseemedtogrowoutofthedarknessattheendoftheroomwherethewindowslookedoutuponthevalley。Thisremindedhimofhiswoodlandvisionofthenightbefore，andhelayandwatchedthemuntiltheybrightenedandbegantooutlinethefiguresofhisstillsleepingcompanions。Buttherewerefaintstirringselsewhere，——thesoftbrushingofasquirrelacrosstheshingledroof，thetinyflutterofinvisiblewingsintherafters，the"peep"and"squeak"ofbabylifebelowthefloor。Andthenhefellintoadeepersleep，andawokeonlywhenitwasbroadday。

Thesunwasshiningupontheemptybunks;hiscompanionswerealreadyupandgone。Theyhadseparatedastheyhadcometogether，——withthelight-heartedirresponsibilityofanimals，——

withoutregret，andscarcelyreminiscence;bearing，withcheerfulphilosophyandthehopefulnessofafutureunfetteredbytheirpast，thefinaldisappointmentoftheirquest。Iftheyevermetagain，theywouldlaughandremember;iftheydidnot，theywouldforgetwithoutasigh。Hehurriedlydressedhimself，andwentoutsidetodiphisfaceandhandsinthebucketthatstoodbesidethedoor;buttheclearair，thedazzlingsunshine，andtheunexpectedprospecthalfintoxicatedhim。

Theabandonedmillstretchedbesidehiminallthepathosofitsprematuredecay。Theribsofthewater-wheelappearedamidatangleofshrubsanddriftwood，andweretwinedwithlonggrassesandstragglingvines;moundsofsawdustandheapsof"brush"hadtakenuponthemselvesavelvetymosswherethetricklingslimeofthevanishedriverlostitselfinsluggishpools，discoloredwiththedyesofredwood。Butontheothersideoftherockyledgedroppedthewholelengthofthevalley，alternatelybathedinsunshineorhiddenindriftsofwhiteandclingingsmoke。Theupperendofthelongcanyon，andthecrestsoftheridgeabovehim，werelostinthisfleecycloud，whichattimesseemedtooverflowthesummitsandfallinslowleapslikelazycataractsdownthemountain-side。Onlytherangebeforetheledgewasclear;

therethegreenpinesseemedtoswellonwardandupwardinlongmountingbillows，untilatlasttheybrokeagainstthesky。

InthekeenstimulusofthehourandtheairKeyfeltthemountaineer’slongingforaction，andscarcelynoticedthatCollinsonhadpatheticallybroughtouthisporkbarreltoscrapetogetherafewremnantsforhislastmeal。Itwasnotuntilhehadfinishedhiscoffee，andCollinsonhadbroughtuphishorse，thataslightsenseofshameathisownandhiscomrades’selfishnessembarrassedhispartingwithhispatienthost。HehimselfwasgoingtoSkinner’stopleadforhim;heknewthatParkerhadleftthedraft，——hehadseenitlyinginthebar，——butanewsenseofdelicacykepthimfromalludingtoitnow。ItwasbettertoleaveCollinsonwithhisownpeculiarideasoftheresponsibilitiesofhospitalityunchanged。Keyshookhishandwarmly，andgallopeduptherockyslope。Butwhenhehadfinallyreachedthehigherlevel，andfanciedhecouldevennowseethedustraisedbyhisdepartingcomradesontheirtwodivergingpaths，althoughheknewthattheyhadalreadygonetheirdifferentways，——perhapsnevertomeetagain，——histhoughtsandhiseyesrevertedonlytotheruinedmillbelowhimanditslonelyoccupant。

Hecouldseehimquitedistinctlyinthatclearair，stillstandingbeforehisdoor。Andthenheappearedtomakeapartinggesturewithhishand，andsomethinglikesnowflutteredintheairabovehishead。ItwasonlythetornfragmentsofParker’sdraft，whichthishomelygentlemanoftheSierras，standingbesidehisemptyporkbarrel，hadscatteredtothefourwinds。

CHAPTERII。

Key’sattentionwaspresentlydirectedtosomethingmoreimportanttohispresentpurpose。Thekeenwindwhichhehadfacedinmountingthegradehadchanged，andwasnowblowingathisback。

Hisexperienceofforestfireshadalreadytaughthimthatthiswastoooftenonlythecoldairrushingintofillthevacuummadebytheconflagration，anditneedednothissensationofanacridsmartinginhiseyes，andanunaccountabledrynessintheairwhichhewasnowfacing，toconvincehimthatthefirewasapproachinghim。Ithadevidentlytraveledfasterthanhehadexpected，orhaddivergedfromitscourse。Hewasdisappointed，notbecauseitwouldobligehimtotakeanotherroutetoSkinner’s，asCollinsonhadsuggested，butforaverydifferentreason。Eversincehisvisionoftheprecedingnight，hehadresolvedtorevisitthehollowanddiscoverthemystery。Hehadkepthispurposeasecret，——partlybecausehewishedtoavoidthejestingremarksofhiscompanions，butparticularlybecausehewishedtogoalone，fromaverysingularimpressionthatalthoughtheyhadwitnessedtheincidenthehadreallyseenmorethantheydid。Tothiswasalsoaddedthehauntingfearhehadfeltduringthenightthatthismysterioushabitationanditsoccupantswereinthetrackoftheconflagration。HehadnotdaredtodwelluponitopenlyonaccountofUncleDick’sevidentresponsibilityfortheoriginofthefire;

heappeasedhisconsciencewiththereflectionthattheinmatesofthedwellingnodoubthadamplewarningintimetoescape。Butstill，heandhiscompanionsoughttohavestoppedtohelpthem，andthen——butherehepaused，consciousofanotherreasonhecouldscarcelyvoicethen，orevennow。PrebleKeyhadnotpassedtheageofromance，butlikeotherromancistshethoughthehadevadeditbytreatingitpractically。

Meantimehehadreachedtheforkwherethetraildivergedtotheright，andhemusttakethatdirectionifhewishedtomakeadetouroftheburningwoodstoreachSkinner’s。Hismomentaryindecisioncommunicateditselftohishorse，whohalted。Recalledtohimself，helookeddownmechanically，whenhisattentionwasattractedbyanunfamiliarobjectlyinginthedustofthetrail。

Itwasasmallslipper——sosmallthatatfirsthethoughtitmusthavebelongedtosomechild。Hedismountedandpickeditup。Itwaswornandshapedtothefoot。Itcouldnothavelaintherelong，foritwasnotfillednordiscoloredbythewind-blowndustofthetrail，asallotheradjacentobjectswere。Ifithadbeendroppedbyapassingtraveler，thattravelermusthavepassedCollinson’s，goingorcoming，withinthelasttwelvehours。Itwasscarcelypossiblethattheshoecouldhavedroppedfromthefootwithoutthewearer’sknowingit，anditmusthavebeendroppedinanurgentflight，oritwouldhavebeenrecovered。ThuspracticallyKeytreatedhisromance。Andhavingdoneso，heinstantlywheeledhishorseandplungedintotheroadinthedirectionofthefire。

Buthewassurprisedaftertwentyminutes’ridingtofindthatthecourseofthefirehadevidentlychanged。Itwasgrowingclearerbeforehim;thedryheatseemedtocomemorefromtheright，inthedirectionofthedetourheshouldhavetakentoSkinner’s。Thisseemedalmostprovidential，andinkeepingwithhispracticaltreatmentofhisromance，aswasalsothefactthatinallprobabilitythefirehadnotyetvisitedthelittlehollowwhichheintendedtoexplore。Heknewhewasnearingitnow;thelocalityhadbeenstronglyimpresseduponhimeveninthedarknessofthepreviousevening。Hehadpassedtherockyledge;hishorse’shoofsnolongerrangoutclearly;slowlyandperceptiblytheygrewdeadenedinthespringymosses，andwerefinallylostinthenettedgrassesandtangledvinesthatindicatedthevicinityofthedenselywoodedhollow。Herewerealreadysomeofthewiderspacedvanguardsofthatwood;buthere，too，apeculiarcircumstancestruckhim。Hewasalreadydescendingtheslightdeclivity;butthedistance，insteadofdeepeninginleafyshadow，wasactuallygrowinglighter。Hereweretheoutskirtingsentinelsofthewood——

butthewooditselfwasgone！Hespurredhishorsethroughthetallarchbetweentheopenedcolumns，andpulledupinamazement。

Thewood，indeed，wasgone，andthewholehollowfilledwiththealreadyblackanddeadstumpsoftheutterlyconsumedforest！Morethanthat，fromtheindicationsbeforehim，thecatastrophemusthavealmostimmediatelyfollowedhisretreatfromthehollowontheprecedingnight。Itwasevidentthatthefirehadleapedtheinterveningshoulderofthespurinoneoftheunaccountable，butbynomeansrare，phenomenaofthiskindofdisaster。Thecirclingheightsaroundwereyetuntouched;onlythehollow，andtheledgeofrockagainstwhichtheyhadblunderedwiththeirhorseswhentheywereseekingthemysteriouswindowinlastevening’sdarkness，werecalcinedanddestroyed。Hedismountedandclimbedtheledge，stillwarmfromthespentfire。Alargemassofgrayishoutcrophadevidentlybeenthefocusofthefurnaceblastofheatwhichmusthaveragedforhoursinthisspot。Hewasskirtingitscrumblingdebriswhenhestartedsuddenlyatadiscoverywhichmadeeverythingelsefadeintoutterinsignificance。Beforehim，inaslightdepressionformedbyafaultorlapseintheupheavedstrata，laythecharredandincineratedremainsofadwelling-houseleveledtotheearth！Originallyhalfhiddenbyanaturalabattisofgrowingmyrtleandceanothuswhichcoveredthiscounter-scarpofrocktowardsthetrail，itmusthavestoodwithinahundredfeetofthemduringtheirhalt！

Eveninitsutterandcompleteobliterationbythefuriousfurnaceblastthathadsweptacrossit，therewasstilltobeseenanunmistakablegroundplanandoutlineofafour-roomedhouse。Whileeverythingthatwascombustiblehadsuccumbedtothatintenseheat，therewasstillenoughhalf-fusedandwarpedmetal，fracturedironplate，andtwistedandbrokenbarstoindicatethekitchenandtoolshed。Verylittlehad，evidently，beentakenaway;thehouseanditscontentswereconsumedwheretheystood。WithafeelingofhorroranddesperationKeyatlastventuredtodisturbtwoorthreeoftheblackenedheapsthatlaybeforehim。Buttheywereonlyvestigesofclothing，bedding，andcrockery——therewasnohumantracethathecoulddetect。Norwasthereanysuggestionoftheoriginalconditionandqualityofthehouse，exceptitssize：

whethertheordinaryunsightlycabinoffrontier"partners，"orsomesylvancottage——therewasnothingleftbuttheusualignobleandunsavoryruinsofburnt-outhumanhabitation。

Andyetitsveryexistencewasamystery。IthadbeenunknownatCollinson’s，itsnearestneighbor，anditwaspresumablethatitwasequallyunknownatSkinner’s。Neitherhenorhiscompanionshaddetecteditintheirfirstjourneybydaythroughthehollow，andonlythetell-talewindowatnighthadbeenahintofwhatwaseventhensosuccessfullyconcealedthattheycouldnotdiscoveritwhentheyhadblunderedagainstitsrockfoundation。Forconcealeditcertainlywas，andintentionallyso。Butforwhatpurpose？

Hegavehisromancefullplayforafewminuteswiththisquestion。

Somerecluse，preferringtheabsolutesimplicityofnature，orperhapsweariedwiththeartificialitiesofsociety，hadsecludedhimselfherewiththecompanyofhisonlydaughter。Proficientasapathfinder，hehadeasilydiscoveredsomeotherwayofprovisioninghishousefromthesettlementsthanbytheordinarytrailspastCollinson’sorSkinner’s，whichwouldhavebetrayedhisvicinity。Butreclusesarenotusuallyaccompaniedbyyoungdaughters，whoserelationswiththeworld，notbeingasantagonistic，wouldmakethemuncertaincompanions。Whynotawife？Hispresumptionoftheextremeyouthofthefacehehadseenatthewindowwasafterallonlybasedupontheslipperhehadfound。Andifawife，whoseabsoluteacceptanceofsuchconfinedseclusionmightbeequallyuncertain，whynotsomebodyelse’swife？

Herewasareasonforconcealment，andtheendofanepisode，notunknowneveninthewilderness。AndherewastheworkoftheNemesiswhohadovertakenthemintheirguiltycontentment！Thestory，eventoitsmoral，wascomplete。Andyetitdidnotentirelysatisfyhim，sosuperioristheabsolutelyunknowntothemostelaboratetheory。

Hisattentionhadbeenonceortwicedrawntowardsthecrumblingwallofoutcrop，whichduringtheconflagrationmusthavefeltthefullforceofthefieryblastthathadsweptthroughthehollowandspentitsfuryuponit。Itboreevidenceoftheintenseheatincrackedfissuresandthecrumblingdebristhatlayatitsfeet。

Keypickedupsomeofthestillwarmfragments，andwasnotsurprisedthattheyeasilybrokeinagritty，grayishpowderinhishands。Inspiteofhispreoccupationwiththehumaninterest，theinstinctoftheprospectorwasstillstronguponhim，andhealmostmechanicallyputsomeofthepiecesinhispockets。Thenafteranothercarefulsurveyofthelocalityforanyfurtherrecordofitsvanishedtenants，hereturnedtohishorse。Herehetookfromhissaddle-bags，halflistlessly，apreciousphialencasedinwood，and，openingit，pouredintoanotherthickglassvesselpartofasmokingfluid;hethencrumbledsomeofthecalcinedfragmentsintotheglass，andwatchedtheebullitionthatfollowedwithmechanicalgravity。Whenithadalmostceasedhedrainedoffthecontentsintoanotherglass，whichhesetdown，andthenproceededtopoursomewaterfromhisdrinking-flaskintotheordinarytincupwhichformedpartofhisculinarytraveling-kit。Intothisheputthreeorfourpinchesofsaltfromhisprovisionstore。Thendippinghisfingersintothesaltandwater，heallowedadroptofallintotheglass。Awhitecloudinstantlygatheredinthecolorlessfluid，andthenfellinafinefilmtothebottomoftheglass。Key’seyesconcentratedsuddenly，thelistlesslooklefthisface。Hisfingerstrembledlightlyasheagainletthesaltwaterfallintothesolution，withexactlythesameresult！Againandagainherepeatedit，untilthebottomoftheglasswasquitegraywiththefallenprecipitate。Andhisownfacegrewasgray。

Hishandtremblednolongerashecarefullypouredoffthesolutionsoasnottodisturbtheprecipitateatthebottom。Thenhedrewouthisknife，scoopedalittleofthegraysedimentuponitspoint，andemptyinghistincup，turneditupsidedownuponhisknee，placedthesedimentuponit，andbegantospreaditoverthedullsurfaceofitsbottomwithhisknife。Hehadintendedtorubitbrisklywithhisknifeblade。Butintheveryactionofspreadingit，thefirststrokeofhisknifeleftuponthesedimentandthecuptheluminousstreakofburnishedsilver！

Hestoodupanddrewalongbreathtostillthebeatingsofhisheart。Thenherapidlyre-climbedtherock，andpassedovertheruinsagain，thistimeplunginghurriedlythrough，andkickingasidethecharredheapswithoutathoughtofwhattheyhadcontained。Keywasnotanunfeelingman，hewasnotanunrefinedone：hewasagentlemanbyinstinct，andhadanintuitivesympathyforothers;butinthatinstanthiswholemindwasconcentrateduponthecalcinedoutcrop！Andhisfirstimpulsewastoseeifitboreanyevidenceofpreviousexamination，prospecting，orworkingbyitssuddenlyevictedneighborsandowners。Therewasnone：theyhadevidentlynotknownit。Norwasthereanyreasontosupposethattheywouldeverreturntotheirhiddenhome，nowdevastatedandlaidbaretotheopensunlightandopentrail。Theywerealreadyfaraway;theirguiltypersonalsecretwouldkeepthemfromrevisitingit。Animmensefeelingofreliefcameoverthesoulofthismoralromancer;amomentaryrecognitionoftheMostHighinthisperfectpoeticalretribution。Heranbackquicklytohissaddle-bags，drewoutoneortwocarefullywritten，formalnoticesofpreemptionandclaim，whichheandhisformercompanionshadcarriedintheirbriefpartnership，erasedtheirsignaturesandleftonlyhisownname，withanothergratefulsenseofDivineinterference，ashethoughtofthemspeedingfarawayinthedistance，andreturnedtotheruins。Withunconsciousirony，heselectedacharredpostfromtheembers，stuckitinthegroundafewfeetfromthedebrisofoutcrop，andfinallyaffixedhis"Notice。"Then，withaconscientiousnessbornpossiblyofhisnewreligiousconvictions，hedislodgedwithhispickaxeenoughofthebrittleoutcroptoconstitutethatpresumptionof"actualwork"

upontheclaimwhichwaslegallyrequiredforitsmaintenance，andreturnedtohishorse。Inreplacinghisthingsinhissaddle-bagshecameupontheslipper，andforaninstantsocompletewashispreoccupationinhislaterdiscovery，thathewasabouttothrowitawayasuselessimpedimenta，untilitoccurredtohim，albeitvaguely，thatitmightbeofservicetohiminitsconnectionwiththatdiscovery，inthewayofrefutingpossiblefalseclaimants。

Hewasnotawareofanyfaithlessnesstohismomentaryromance，anymorethanhewasconsciousofanydisloyaltytohisoldcompanions，inhisgratificationthathisgoodfortunehadcometohimalone。

Thissingularselectionwasacommonexperienceofprospecting。

Andtherewassomethingaboutthemagnitudeofhisdiscoverythatseemedtopointtoanindividualachievement。Hehadmadearoughcalculationoftherichnessofthelodefromthequantityofprecipitateinhisrudeexperiment;hehadestimateditslength，breadth，andthicknessfromhisslightknowledgeofgeologyandthetheoriesthenripe;andtheyieldwouldbecolossal！Ofcourse，hewouldrequirecapitaltoworkit，hewouldhaveto"letin"otherstohisschemeandhisprosperity;butthecontrolofitwouldalwaysbeHISOWN。

Thenhesuddenlystartedashehadneverinhislifebeforestartedatthefootofman！Fortherewasafootfallinthecharredbrush;

andnottwentyyardsfromhimstoodCollinson，whohadjustdismountedfromamule。ThebloodrushedtoKey’spaleface。

"Prospectin’agin？"saidtheproprietorofthemill，withhiswearysmile。

"No，"saidKeyquickly，"onlystraighteningmypack。"Theblooddeepenedinhischeekathisinstinctivelie。Hadhecarefullythoughtitoutbefore，hewouldhavewelcomedCollinson，andtoldhimall。Butnowaquick，uneasysuspicionflasheduponhim。

Perhapshislatehosthadlied，andknewoftheexistenceofthehiddenhouse。Perhaps——hehadspokenofsome"silveryrock"thenightbefore——heevenknewsomethingofthelodeitself。Heturneduponhimwithanaggressiveface。ButCollinson’snextwordsdissipatedthethought。

"I’mgladIfoundye，anyhow，"hesaid。"Yesee，arteryouleft，I

sawyeturnoffthetrailandmakefortheburningwoodsinsteado’

goin’round。Iseztomyself，’ThatfellowismakingstraightforSkinner’s。He’ssorterworriedaboutmeandthatemptyporkbar’l，’——Ihadn’toughterspokethatawayaforeyouboys，anyhow，——

’andhe’stakin’riskstohelpme。’SoIreckonedI’dthrowmylegoverJennyhere，andlookarterye——andgoovertoSkinner’smyself——andvote。"

"Certainly，"saidKeywithcheerfulalacrity，andtheonethoughtofgettingCollinsonaway;"we’llgotogether，andwe’llseethatthatporkbarrelisfilled！"HeglowedquitehonestlywiththissuddenideaofrememberingCollinsonthroughhisgoodfortune。

"Let’sgetonquickly，forwemayfindthefirebetweenusontheoutertrail。"Hehastilymountedhishorse。

"Thenyoudidn’ttakethisasashortcut，"saidCollinson，withdullperseveranceinhisidea。"Whynot？Itlooksallclearahead。"

"Yes，"saidKeyhurriedly，"butit’sbeenonlyaleapofthefire，it’sstillragingroundthebend。Wemustgobacktothecross-

trail。"Hisfacewasstillflushingwithhisveryequivocating，andhisanxietytogethiscompanionaway。OnlyafewstepsfurthermightbringCollinsonbeforetheruinsandthe"Notice，"

andthatdiscoverymustnotbemadebyhimuntilKey’splanswereperfected。Asuddenaversiontothemanhehadamomentbeforewishedtorewardbegantotakepossessionofhim。"Comeon，"headdedalmostroughly。

Buttohissurprise，Collinsonyieldedwithhisusualgrimpatience，andevenaslightlookofsympathywithhisfriend’sannoyance。"Ireckonyou’reright，andmebbeeyou’reinahurrytogettoSkinner’sallalongo’MYbusiness，Ioughtn’thevtoldyouboyswhatIdid。"Astheyroderapidlyawayhetookoccasiontoadd，whenKeyhadreinedinslightly，withafeelingofreliefatbeingoutofthehollow，"Iwasthinkin’，too，ofwhatyou’daskedaboutanyonelivin’hereunbeknownsttome。"

"Well，"saidKey，withanewnervousness。

"Well;Ionlyhadanideao’proposin’thatyouandmejusttookalookaroundthathollerwharyouthoughtyousawsuthin’！"saidCollinsontentatively。

"Nonsense，"saidKeyhurriedly。"Wereallysawnothing——itwasallafancy;andUncleDickwasjokingmebecauseIsaidIthoughtI

sawawoman’sface，"headdedwithaforcedlaugh。

Collinsonglancedathim，halfsadly。"Oh！Youwereonlyfunnin’，then。Ioughterguessedthat。IoughterhaveknoweditfromUncleDick’stalk！"Theyrodeforsomemomentsinsilence;Keypreoccupiedandfeverish，andeageronlytoreachSkinner’s。

Skinnerwasnotonlypostmasterbut"registrar"ofthedistrict，andthenewdiscovererdidnotfeelentirelysafeuntilhehadputhisformalnotificationandclaims"onrecord。"Thiswasnopublicationofhisactualsecret，noranyindicationofsuccess，butwasonlyarecordthatwouldinallprobabilityremainunnoticedandunchallengedamidstthemanyotherhopefuldreamsofsanguineprospectors。Buthewassuddenlystartledfromhispreoccupation。

"Yesaidyewarstraightenin’upyerpackjustnow，"saidCollinsonslowly。

"Yes！"saidKeyalmostangrily，"andIwas。"

"Yedidn’tstoptostraightenitupdownattheforksofthetrail，didye？"

"Imayhave，"saidKeynervously。"Butwhy？"

"Yewon’tmindmyaxin’yeanotherquestion，willye？Yeain’tcarryin’roundwithyenowoman’sshoe？"

Keyfelttheblooddropfromhischeeks。"Whatdoyoumean？"hestammered，scarcelydaringtolifthisconsciouseyelidstohiscompanion’sglance。ButwhenhedidsohewasamazedtofindthatCollinson’sfacewasalmostasmuchdisturbedashisown。

"Iknowitain’tthesquarethingtoaskye，butthisishowitis，"saidCollinsonhesitatingly。"YeseejustdownbytheforkofthetrailwhereyoucameIpickedupawoman’sshoe。Itsortergotme！ForIseztomyself，’Tharain’tnoonebinbymyshanty，comin’orgoin’，forweeksbutyouboys，andthatshoe，fromthelooksofit，ain’tbinthereasmanyhours。’Iknewtherewasn’tanywiminhereabouts。Ireckoneditcouldn’thevbindroppedbyUncleDickorthatotherman，foryouwouldhaveseenitontheroad。SoIalloweditmighthavebinYOU。Andyeritis。"Heslowlydrewfromhispocket——whatKeywasfullypreparedtosee——

themateoftheslipperKeyhadinhissaddle-bags！Thefairfugitivehadevidentlylostthemboth。

ButKeywasbetterpreparednow（perhapsthiskindofdissimulationisprogressive），andquicklyalivetothenecessityofthrowingCollinsonoffthisunexpectedscent。Andhiscompanion’sownsuggestionwasrighttohishand，and，asitseemed，againquiteprovidential！Helaughed，withaquickcolor，which，however，appearedtohelphislie，asherepliedhalfhysterically，"You’reright，oldman，Iownup，it’smine！It’sd——dsilly，Iknow——butthen，we’reallfoolswherewomenareconcerned——andIwouldn’thavelostthatslipperforamintofmoney。"

Heheldouthishandgayly，butCollinsonretainedtheslipperwhilehegravelyexaminedit。

"Youwouldn’tmindtellingmewhereyoumoughthevgotthat？"hesaidmeditatively。

"OfcourseIshouldmind，"saidKeywithawell-affectedminglingofmirthandindignation。"Whatareyouthinkingof，youoldrascal？Whatdoyoutakemefor？"

ButCollinsondidnotlaugh。"Youwouldn’tmindgivin’methesizeandshapeandgeneralheftofherasworethatshoe？"

"MostdecidedlyIshoulddonothingofthekind！"saidKeyhalfimpatiently。"Enough，thatitwasgiventomebyaveryprettygirl。There！that’sallyouwillknow。"

"GIVENtoyou？"saidCollinson，liftinghiseyes。

"Yes，"returnedKeysharply。

Collinsonhandedhimtheslippergravely。"Ionlyaskedyou，"hesaidslowly，butwithacertainquietdignitywhichKeyhadneverbeforeseeninhisface，"becausetharwassuthin’aboutthesize，andshape，andfillin’outo’thatshoethatkinderremindedmeofsome’un;butthatsome’un——herasmoughthevstoodupinthatshoe——ain’to’thatkindaswouldeverstandintheshoesofherasYOUknowatall。"Therebuke，ifsuchwereintended，layquiteasmuchintheutterignoringofKey’sairygallantryandlevityasinanyconscioussluruponthefairfameofhisinventedDulcinea。

YetKeyoddlyfeltastronginclinationtoresenttheaspersionaswellasCollinson’sgratuitousmorality;andwithameanrecollectionofUncleDick’slastevening’sscandalousgossip，hesaidsarcastically，"And，ofcourse，thatsomeoneYOUwerethinkingofwasyourlawfulwife。"

"Itwar！"saidCollinsongravely。

PerhapsitwassomethinginCollinson’smanner，orhisownpreoccupation，buthedidnotpursuethesubject，andtheconversationlagged。Theywerenearing，too，theouteredgeofthepresentconflagration，andthesmoke，lyinglowintheunburntwoods，orcreepinglikeanactualexhalationofthesoil，blindedthemsothatattimestheylostthetrailcompletely。Atothertimes，fromtheintenseheat，itseemedasiftheyweremomentarilyimpingingupontheburningarea，orwerebeingcaughtinaclosingcircle。ItwasremarkablethatwithhissuddenaccessionoffortuneKeyseemedtolosehisusualfrankandcarelessfearlessness，andimpatientlyquestionedhiscompanion’swoodcraft。

TherewereintervalswhenheregrettedhishastetoreachSkinner’sbythisshortercut，andbegantobitterlyattributeittohisdesiretoserveCollinson。Ah，yes！itwouldbefineindeed，ifjustashewereabouttoclutchtheprizeheshouldbesacrificedthroughtheignoranceandstupidityofthisheavy-handedmoralistathisside！Butitwasnotuntil，throughthatmoralist’sguidance，theyclimbedasteepacclivitytoasecondridge，andwerecomparativelysafe，thathebegantofeelashamedofhissurlysilenceorsurlierinterruptions。AndCollinson，eitherthroughhisunconquerablepatience，orpossiblyinafitofhisusualuxoriousabstraction，appearedtotakenonoticeofit。

Aslopingtable-landofweather-beatenbouldersnoweffectuallyseparatedthemfromthefireonthelowerridge。Theypresentlybegantodescendonthefurthersideofthecrest，andatlastdroppeduponawagon-road，andthefirsttrackofwheelsthatKeyhadseenforafortnight。Rudeasitwas，itseemedtohimthehighwaytofortune，forheknewthatitpassedSkinner’sandthenjoinedthegreatstage-roadtoMarysville，——nowhisultimatedestination。AfewrodsfurtherontheycameinviewofSkinner’s，lyinglikeadingyforgottenwintersnowdriftonthemountainshelf。

Itcontainedapost-office，tavern，blacksmith’sshop，"generalstore，"andexpress-office，scarcelyadozenbuildingsinall，butalldifferingfromCollinson’sMillinsomevaguesuggestionofvitality，asifthedailyregularpulseofcivilizationstillbeat，albeitlanguidly，inthatremoteextremity。Therewasanticipationandaccomplishmenttwiceaday;andasKeyandCollinsonrodeuptotheexpress-office，theexpress-wagonwasstandingbeforethedoorreadytostarttomeetthestagecoachatthecross-roadsthreemilesaway。ThisagainseemedaspecialprovidencetoKey。HehadabriefofficialcommunicationwithSkinnerasregistrar，anddulyrecordedhisclaim;hehadahastyandconfidentialasidewithSkinnerasgeneralstorekeeper，andsuchwastheunconsciousmagnetismdevelopedbythisembryomillionairethatSkinnerextendedthenecessarycredittoCollinsononKey’swordalone。

Thatdone，herejoinedCollinsoninhighspiritswiththenews，addingcheerfully，"AndIdaresay，ifyouwantanyfurtheradvancesSkinnerwillgivethemtoyouonParker’sdraft。"

"Youmeanthatbito’paperthatchapleft，"saidCollinsongravely。

"Yes。"

"Itoreitup。"

"Youtoreitup？"ejaculatedKey。

"Youhearme？Yes！"saidCollinson。

Keystaredathim。Surelyitwasagainprovidentialthathehadnotintrustedhissecrettothisutterlyignorantandprejudicedman！Theslighttwingesofconsciencethathislieabouttheslippershadcausedhimdisappearedatonce。Hecouldnothavetrustedhimeveninthat;itwouldhavebeenlikethisstupidfanatictohavepreventedKey’spreemptionofthatclaim，untilhe，Collinson，hadsatisfiedhimselfofthewhereaboutsofthemissingproprietor。WashequitesurethatCollinsonwouldnotrevisitthespotwhenhehadgone？Buthewasreadyfortheemergency。

HehadintendedtoleavehishorsewithSkinnerassecurityforCollinson’sprovisions，butSkinner’sliberalityhadmadethisunnecessary，andhenowofferedittoCollinsontouseandkeepforhimuntilcalledfor。Thiswouldenablehiscompanionto"pack"

hisgoodsonthemule，andobligehimtoreturntothemillbythewagon-roadand"outsidetrail，"asmorecommodiousforthetwoanimals。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读