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them； and has been lying low in the brush near Bald Top；〃 returned
Skinner。 〃Anyhow； they don't stop teams nor 'packs' unless there's a
chance of their getting some fancy horseflesh by it； and I reckon thar ain't
much to tempt them thar；〃 he added； with a satirical side glance at his
customer's cattle。 But Key was already standing in the express…wagon；
giving a farewell shake to his patient companion's hand； and this
ingenuous pleasantry passed unnoticed。 Nevertheless； as the express…
wagon rolled away； his active fancy began to consider this new danger that
might threaten the hidden wealth of his claim。 But he reflected that for a
time； at least； only the crude ore would be taken out and shipped to
Marysville in a shape that offered no profit to the highwaymen。 Had it
been a gold mine！but here again was the interposition of Providence！
A week later Preble Key returned to Skinner's with a foreman and ten
men； and an unlimited credit to draw upon at Marysville！ Expeditions of
this kind created no surprise at Skinner's。 Parties had before this entered
the wilderness gayly； none knew where or what for； the sedate and silent
woods had kept their secret while there； they had evaporated； none knew
when or whereoften； alas！ with an unpaid account at Skinner's。
Consequently； there was nothing in Key's party to challenge curiosity。 In
another week a rambling； one…storied shed of pine logs occupied the site
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of the mysterious ruins； and contained the party； in two weeks excavations
had been made； and the whole face of the outcrop was exposed； in three
weeks every vestige of former tenancy which the fire had not consumed
was trampled out by the alien feet of these toilers of the 〃Sylvan Silver
Hollow Company。〃 None of Key's former companions would have
recognized the hollow in its blackened leveling and rocky foundation；
even Collinson would not have remembered this stripped and splintered
rock； with its heaps of fresh debris； as the place where he had overtaken
Key。 And Key himself had forgotten； in his triumph； everything but the
chance experiment that had led to his success。
Perhaps it was well； therefore； that one night； when the darkness had
mercifully fallen upon this scene of sylvan desolation； and its still more
incongruous and unsavory human restoration； and the low murmur of the
pines occasionally swelled up from the unscathed mountain…side； a loud
shout and the trampling of horses' feet awoke the dwellers in the shanty。
Springing to their feet； they hurriedly seized their weapons and rushed out；
only to be confronted by a dark； motionless ring of horsemen； two flaming
torches of pine knots； and a low but distinct voice of authority。 In their
excitement； half…awakened suspicion； and confusion； they were affected
by its note of calm preparation and conscious power。
〃Drop those gunshold up your hands！ We've got every man of you
covered。〃
Key was no coward； the men； though flustered； were not cravens： but
they obeyed。 〃Trot out your leader！ Let him stand out there； clear；
beside that torch！〃
One of the gleaming pine knots disengaged itself from the dark circle
and moved to the centre； as Preble Key； cool and confident； stepped beside
it。
〃That will do；〃 said the immutable voice。 〃Now； we want Jack Riggs；
Sydney Jack； French Pete； and One…eyed Charley。〃
A vivid reminiscence of the former night scene in the hollowof his
own and his companions voices raised in the darknessflashed across Key。
With an instinctive premonition that this invasion had something to do
with the former tenant； he said calmly：
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
〃Who wants them？〃
〃The State of California；〃 said the voice。
〃The State of California must look further；〃 returned Key in his old
pleasant voice； 〃there are no such names among my party。〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃The manager of the 'Sylvan Silver Hollow Company；' and these are
my workmen。
There was a hurried movement； and the sound of whispering in the
hitherto dark and silent circle； and then the voice rose again：
〃You have the papers to prove that？〃
〃Yes； in the cabin。 And you？〃
〃I've a warrant to the sheriff of Sierra。〃
There was a pause； and the voice went on less confidently：
〃How long have you been here？〃
〃Three weeks。 I came here the day of the fire and took up this
claim。〃
〃There was no other house here？〃
〃There were ruins；you can see them still。 It may have been a burnt…
up cabin。〃
The voice disengaged itself from the vague background and came
slowly forwards：
〃It was a den of thieves。 It was the hiding…place of Jack Riggs and
his gang of road agents。 I've been hunting this spot for three weeks。
And now the whole thing's up！〃
There was a laugh from Key's men； but it was checked as the owner of
the voice slowly ranged up beside the burning torch and they saw his face。
It was dark and set with the defeat of a brave man。
〃Won't you come in and take something？〃 said Key kindly。
〃No。 It's enough fool work for me to have routed ye out already。 But
I suppose it's all in my dd day's work！ Good…night！ Forward there！
Get！〃
The two torches danced forwards； with the trailing off of vague
shadows in dim procession； there was a clatter over the rocks and they
were gone。 Then； as Preble Key gazed after them； he felt that with them
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had passed the only shadow that lay upon his great fortune； and with the
last tenant of the hollow a proscribed outlaw and fugitive； he was
henceforth forever safe in his claim and his discovery。 And yet； oddly
enough； at that moment； as he turned away； for the first time in three
weeks there passed before his fancy with a stirring of reproach a vision of