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。