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disgustedly； 〃that's jist the conceit of them folks in the bay； that can't allow
that ANYTHIN' happens in the mountains！〃
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The urgent telegrams of his foreman now flashed across Key's
preoccupied mind。 Possibly Skinner saw his concern； 〃I reckon your
mine is all right； Mr。 Key。 One of your men was over yere last night； and
didn't say nothin'。〃
But this did not satisfy Key； and in a few minutes he had mounted his
horse and was speeding towards the Hollow； with a remorseful
consciousness of having neglected his colleagues' interests。 For himself；
in the utter prepossession of his passion for Alice； he cared nothing。 As
he dashed down the slope to the Hollow； he thought only of the two
momentous days that she had passed there； and the fate that had brought
them so nearly together。 There was nothing to recall its sylvan beauty in
the hideous works that now possessed it； or the substantial dwelling…house
that had taken the place of the old cabin。 A few hurried questions to the
foreman satisfied him of the integrity of the property。 There had been
some alarm in the shaft； but there was no subsidence of the 〃seam；〃 nor
any difficulty in the working。 〃What I telegraphed you for； Mr。 Key； was
about something that has cropped up way back o' the earthquake。 We
were served here the other day with a legal notice of a claim to the mine；
on account of previous work done on the ledge by the last occupant。〃
〃But the cabin was built by a gang of thieves； who used it as a hoard
for their booty；〃 returned Key hotly； 〃and every one of them are outlaws；
and have no standing before the law。〃 He stopped with a pang as he
thought of Alice。 And the blood rushed to his cheeks as the foreman
quietly continued：
〃But the claim ain't in any o' their names。 It's allowed to be the gift
of their leader to his young sister； afore the outlawry； and it's in HER
nameAlice Riggs or something。〃
Of the half…dozen tumultuous thoughts that passed through Key's mind；
only one remained。 It was purely an act of the brother's to secure some
possible future benefit for his sister。 And of this she was perfectly
ignorant！ He recovered himself quickly； and said with a smile：
〃But I discovered the ledge and its auriferous character myself。 There
was no trace or sign of previous discovery or mining occupation。〃
〃So I jedged； and so I said； and thet puts ye all right。 But I thought
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I'd tell ye； for mining laws is mining laws； and it's the one thing ye can't
get over；〃 he added； with the peculiar superstitious reverence of the
Californian miner for that vested authority。
But Key scarcely listened。 All that he had heard seemed only to link
him more fatefully and indissolubly with the young girl。 He was already
impatient of even this slight delay in his quest。 In his perplexity his
thoughts had reverted to Collinson's： the mill was a good point to begin his
search from； its good…natured； stupid proprietor might be his guide； his
ally； and even his confidant。
When his horse was baited； he was again in the saddle。 〃If yer going
Collinson's way； yer might ask him if he's lost a horse；〃 said the foreman。
〃The morning after the shake； some of the boys picked up a mustang； with
a make…up lady's saddle on。〃 Key started！ While it was impossible that
it could have been ridden by Alice； it might have been by the woman who
had preceded her。
〃Did you make any search？〃 he inquired eagerly； 〃there may have
been an accident。〃
〃I reckon it wasn't no accident；〃 returned the foreman coolly； 〃for the
riata was loose and trailing； as if it had been staked out； and broken away。〃
Without another word； Key put spurs to his horse and galloped away；
leaving his companion staring after him。 Here was a clue： the horse
could not have strayed far； the broken tether indicated a camp； the gang
had been gathered somewhere in the vicinity where Mrs。 Barker had
warned them；perhaps in the wood beyond Collinson's。 He would
penetrate it alone。 He knew his danger； but as a SINGLE unarmed man
he might be admitted to the presence of the leader； and the alleged claim
was a sufficient excuse。 What he would say or do afterwards depended
upon chance。 It was a wild schemebut he was reckless。 Yet he would
go to Collinson's first。
At the end of two hours he reached the thick…set wood that gave upon
the shelf at the top of the grade which descended to the mill。 As he
emerged from the wood into the bursting sunlight of the valley below； he
sharply reined in his horse and stopped。 Another bound would have been
his last。 For the shelf； the rocky grade itself； the ledge below； and the
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mill upon it； were all gone！ The crumbling outer wall of the rocky grade
had slipped away into immeasurable depths below； leaving only the sharp
edge of a cliff； which incurved towards the woods that had once stood
behind the mill； but which now bristled on the very edge of a precipice。
A mist was hanging over its brink and rising from the valley； it was a full…
fed stream that was coursing through the former dry bed of the river and
falling down the face of the bluff。 He rubbed his eyes； dismounted； crept
along the edge of the precipice； and looked below： whatever had subsided
and melted down into its thousand feet of depth； there was no trace left
upon its smooth face。 Scarcely an angle of drift or debris marred the
perpendicular； the burial of all ruin was deep and compact； the erasure had
been swift and sure the obliteration complete。 It might have been the
precipitation of ages； and not of a single night。 At that remote distance it
even seemed as if grass were already growing ever this enormous
sepulchre； but it was only the tops of the buried