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They spurred forward in silence。 It was not long before the wayside
trees began to dimly show spaces between them； and the ferns to give way
to lower； thick…set shrubs； which in turn yielded to a velvety moss； with
long quiet intervals of netted and tangled grasses。 The regular fall of the
horses' feet became a mere rhythmic throbbing。 Then suddenly a single
hoof rang out sharply on stone； and the first speaker reined in slightly。
〃Thank the Lord we're on the ridge now！ and the rest is easy。 Tell
you what； though； boys； now we're all right； I don't mind saying that I
didn't take no stock in that blamed corpse light down there。 If there ever
was a will…o'…the…wisp on a square up mountain； that was one。 It wasn't
no window！ Some of ye thought ye saw a face tooeh？〃
〃Yes； and a rather pretty one；〃 said the pleasant voice meditatively。
〃That's the way they'd build that sort of thing； of course。 It's lucky ye
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had to satisfy yourself with looking。 Gosh！ I feel creepy yet； thinking of
it！ What are ye looking back for now like Lot's wife？ Blamed if I don't
think that face bewitched ye。〃
〃I was only thinking about that fire you started；〃 returned the other
quietly。 〃I don't see it now。〃
〃Wellif you did？〃
〃I was wondering whether it could reach that hollow。〃
〃I reckon that hollow could take care of any casual nat'rel fire that
came boomin' along； and go two better every time！ Why； I don't believe
there was any fire； it was all a piece of that infernal ignis fatuus
phantasmagoriana that was played upon us down there！〃
With the laugh that followed they started forward again； relapsing into
the silence of tired men at the end of a long journey。 Even their few
remarks were interjectional； or reminiscent of topics whose freshness had
been exhausted with the day。 The gaining light which seemed to come
from the ground about them rather than from the still； overcast sky above；
defined their individuality more distinctly。 The man who had first
spoken； and who seemed to be their leader； wore the virgin unshaven
beard； mustache； and flowing hair of the Californian pioneer； and might
have been the eldest； the second speaker was close shaven； thin； and
energetic； the third； with the pleasant voice； in height； litheness； and
suppleness of figure appeared to be the youngest of the party。 The trail
had now become a grayish streak along the level table…land they were
following； which also had the singular effect of appearing lighter than the
surrounding landscape； yet of plunging into utter darkness on either side of
its precipitous walls。 Nevertheless； at the end of an hour the leader rose in
his stirrups with a sigh of satisfaction。
〃There's the light in Collinson's Mill！ There's nothing gaudy and
spectacular about that； boys； eh？ No； sir！ it's a square； honest beacon that
a man can steer by。 We'll be there in twenty minutes。〃 He was pointing
into the darkness below the already descending trail。 Only a pioneer's
eye could have detected the few pin…pricks of light in the impenetrable
distance； and it was a signal proof of his leadership that the others
accepted it without seeing it。 〃It's just ten o'clock；〃 he continued； holding a
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huge silver watch to his eye； 〃we've wasted an hour on those blamed
spooks yonder！〃
〃We weren't off the trail more than ten minutes； Uncle Dick；〃 protested
the pleasant voice。
〃All right； my son； go down there if you like and fetch out your Witch
of Endor； but as for me； I'm going to throw myself the other side of
Collinson's lights。 They're good enough for me； and a blamed sight more
stationary！〃
The grade was very steep； but they took it； California fashion； at a
gallop； being genuinely good riders； and using their brains as well as their
spurs in the understanding of their horses； and of certain natural laws；
which the more artificial riders of civilization are apt to overlook。 Hence
there was no hesitation or indecision communicated to the nervous
creatures they bestrode； who swept over crumbling stones and slippery
ledges with a momentum that took away half their weight； and made a
stumble or false step； or indeed anything but an actual collision； almost
impossible。 Closing together they avoided the latter； and holding each
other well up； became one irresistible wedge…shaped mass。 At times they
yelled； not from consciousness nor bravado； but from the purely animal
instinct of warning and to combat the breathlessness of their descent； until；
reaching the level； they charged across the gravelly bed of a vanished river；
and pulled up at Collinson's Mill。 The mill itself had long since vanished
with the river； but the building that had once stood for it was used as a
rude hostelry for travelers； which； however； bore no legend or invitatory
sign。 Those who wanted it； knew it； those who passed it by； gave it no
offense。
Collinson himself stood by the door； smoking a contemplative pipe。 As
they rode up； he disengaged himself from the doorpost listlessly； walked
slowly towards them； said reflectively to the leader； 〃I've been thinking
with you that a vote for Thompson is a vote thrown away；〃 and prepared to
lead the horses towards the water tank。 He had parted with them over
twelve hours before； but his air of simply renewing a recently interrupted
conversation was too common a circumstance to attract their notice。
They knew； and he knew； that no one else had passed that way since he
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had last spoken； that the same sun had swung silently above him and the
unchanged landscape