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indeed； standing with his back to the chimney； more than once fell into
that stolid abstraction which was supposed to be the contemplation of his
absent wife。
From this silence； which became infectious； the three guests were
suddenly aroused by a furious clattering down the steep descent of the
mountain； along the trail they had just ridden！ It came near； increasing in
sound； until it even seemed to scatter the fine gravel of the river…bed
against the sides of the house； and then passed in a gust of wind that shook
the roof and roared in the chimney。 With one common impulse the three
travelers rose and went to the door。 They opened it to a blackness that
seemed to stand as another and an iron door before them； but to nothing
else。
〃Somebody went by then；〃 said Uncle Dick； turning to Collinson。
〃Didn't you hear it？〃
〃Nary；〃 said Collinson patiently； without moving from the chimney。
〃What in God's name was it； then？〃
〃Only some of them boulders you loosed coming down。 It's touch
and go with them for days after。 When I first came here I used to start up
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
and rush out into the roadlike as you wouldyellin' and screechin' after
folks that never was there and never went by。 Then it got kinder
monotonous； and I'd lie still and let 'em slide。 Why； one night I'd a'sworn
that some one pulled up with a yell and shook the door。 But I sort of
allowed to myself that whatever it was； it wasn't wantin' to eat； drink；
sleep； or it would come in； and I hadn't any call to interfere。 And in the
mornin' I found a rock as big as that box； lying chock…a…block agin the
door。 Then I knowed I was right。〃
Preble Key remained looking from the door。
〃There's a glow in the sky over Big Canyon；〃 he said； with a meaning
glance at Uncle Dick。
〃Saw it an hour ago；〃 said Collinson。 〃It must be the woods afire just
round the bend above the canyon。 Whoever goes to Skinner's had better
give it a wide berth。〃
Key turned towards Collinson as if to speak； but apparently changed
his mind； and presently joined his companions； who were already rolling
themselves in their blankets； in a series of wooden bunks or berths； ranged
as in a ship's cabin； around the walls of a resinous； sawdusty apartment
that had been the measuring room of the mill。 Collinson disappeared；
no one knew or seemed to care where；and； in less than ten minutes from
the time that they had returned from the door； the hush of sleep and rest
seemed to possess the whole house。 There was no light but that of the
fire in the front room； which threw flickering and gigantic shadows on the
walls of the three empty chairs before it。 An hour later it seemed as if
one of the chairs were occupied； and a grotesque profile of Collinson's
slumberingor meditatingface and figure was projected grimly on the
rafters as though it were the hovering guardian spirit of the house。 But
even that passed presently and faded out； and the beleaguering darkness
that had encompassed the house all the evening began to slowly creep in
through every chink and cranny of the rambling； ill…jointed structure； until
it at last obliterated even the faint embers on the hearth。 The cool
fragrance of the woodland depths crept in with it until the steep of human
warmth； the reek of human clothing； and the lingering odors of stale
human victual were swept away in that incorruptible and omnipotent
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
breath。 An hour laterand the wilderness had repossessed itself of all。
Key； the lightest sleeper； awoke early；so early that the dawn
announced itself only in two dim squares of light that seemed to grow out
of the darkness at the end of the room where the windows looked out upon
the valley。 This reminded him of his woodland vision of the night before；
and he lay and watched them until they brightened and began to outline
the figures of his still sleeping companions。 But there were faint stirrings
elsewhere；the soft brushing of a squirrel across the shingled roof； the
tiny flutter of invisible wings in the rafters； the 〃peep〃 and 〃squeak〃 of
baby life below the floor。 And then he fell into a deeper sleep； and
awoke only when it was broad day。
The sun was shining upon the empty bunks； his companions were
already up and gone。 They had separated as they had come together；
with the light…hearted irresponsibility of animals； without regret； and
scarcely reminiscence； bearing； with cheerful philosophy and the
hopefulness of a future unfettered by their past； the final disappointment of
their quest。 If they ever met again； they would laugh and remember； if
they did not； they would forget without a sigh。 He hurriedly dressed
himself； and went outside to dip his face and hands in the bucket that
stood beside the door； but the clear air； the dazzling sunshine； and the
unexpected prospect half intoxicated him。
The abandoned mill stretched beside him in all the pathos of its
premature decay。 The ribs of the water…wheel appeared amid a tangle of
shrubs and driftwood； and were twined with long grasses and straggling
vines； mounds of sawdust and heaps of 〃brush〃 had taken upon
themselves a velvety moss where the trickling slime of the vanished river
lost itself in sluggish pools； discolored with the dyes of redwood。 But on
the other side of the rocky ledge dropped the whole length of the valley；
alternately bathed in sunshine or hidden in drifts of white and clinging
smoke。 The upper end of the long canyon； and the crests of the ridge
above him； were lost in this fleecy cloud； which at times seemed to
overflow the summits and fall in slow leaps like lazy cataracts down the
mountain…side。 Only the range before the l