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and contempt。
〃We'll drop that now；〃 he said shortly； 〃we've talked here alone long
enough already。 The men are waiting for us。〃 He turned on his heel
into the inner room。 Chivers remained standing by the chimney until his
stiffened smile gave way under the working of his writhing lips； then he
turned to the bar； poured out and swallowed another glass of whiskey at a
single gulp； and followed his partner with half…closed lids that scarcely
veiled his ominous eyes。
The men； with the exception of the sentinels stationed on the rocky
ledge and the one who was guarding the unfortunate Collinson； were
drinking and gambling away their perspective gains around a small pile of
portmanteaus and saddle…bags； heaped in the centre of the room。 They
contained the results of their last successes； but one pair of saddle…bags
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bore the mildewed appearance of having been cached； or buried； some
time before。 Most of their treasure was in packages of gold dust； and
from the conversation that ensued； it appeared that； owing to the
difficulties of disposing of it in the mountain towns； the plan was to
convey it by ordinary pack mule to the unfrequented valley； and thence by
an emigrant wagon； on the old emigrant trail； to the southern counties；
where it could be no longer traced。 Since the recent robberies； the local
express companies and bankers had refused to receive it； except the
owners were known and identified。 There had been but one box of coin；
which had already been speedily divided up among the band。 Drafts；
bills； bonds； and valuable papers had been usually intrusted to one
〃Charley；〃 who acted as a flying messenger to a corrupt broker in
Sacramento； who played the role of the band's 〃fence。〃 It had been the
duty of Chivers to control this delicate business； even as it had been his
peculiar function to open all the letters and documents。 This he had
always lightened by characteristic levity and sarcastic comments on the
private revelations of the contents。 The rough； ill…spelt letter of the miner
to his wife； inclosing a draft； or the more sentimental effusion of an
emigrant swain to his sweetheart； with the gift of a 〃specimen；〃 had
always received due attention at the hands of this elegant humorist。 But
the operation was conducted to…night with business severity and silence。
The two leaders sat opposite to each other； in what might have appeared to
the rest of the band a scarcely veiled surveillance of each other's actions。
When the examination was concluded； and； the more valuable inclosures
put aside； the despoiled letters were carried to the fire and heaped upon the
coals。 Presently the chimney added its roar to the moaning of the distant
hillside； a few sparks leaped up and died out in the midnight air； as if the
pathos and sentiment of the unconscious correspondents had exhaled with
them。
〃That's a dd foolish thing to do；〃 growled French Pete over his cards。
〃Why？〃 demanded Chivers sharply。
〃Why？why； it makes a flare in the sky that any scout can see； and a
scent for him to follow。〃
〃We're four miles from any traveled road；〃 returned Chivers
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contemptuously； 〃and the man who could see that glare and smell that
smoke would be on his way here already。〃
〃That reminds me that that chap you've tied upthat Collinson
allows he wants to see you；〃 continued French Pete。
〃To see ME！〃 repeated Chivers。 〃You mean the Captain？〃
〃I reckon he means YOU；〃 returned French Pete； 〃he said the man
who talked so purty。〃
The men looked at each other with a smile of anticipation； and put
down their cards。 Chivers walked towards the door； one or two rose to
their feet as if to follow； but Riggs stopped them peremptorily。 〃Sit down；〃
he said roughly； then； as Chivers passed him； he added to him in a lower
tone； 〃Remember。〃
Slightly squaring his shoulders and opening his coat； to permit a
rhetorical freedom； which did not； however； prevent him from keeping
touch with the butt of his revolver； Chivers stepped into the open air。
Collinson had been moved to the shelter of an overhang of the roof；
probably more for the comfort of the guard； who sat cross…legged on the
ground near him； than for his own。 Dismissing the man with a gesture；
Chivers straightened himself before his captive。
〃We deeply regret that your unfortunate determination； my dear sir；
has been the means of depriving US of the pleasure of your company； and
YOU of your absolute freedom； but may we cherish the hope that your
desire to see me may indicate some change in your opinion？〃
By the light of the sentry's lantern left upon the ground； Chivers could
see that Collinson's face wore a slightly troubled and even apologetic
expression。
〃I've bin thinkin'；〃 said Collinson； raising his eyes to his captor with a
singularly new and shy admiration in them； 〃mebbee not so much of WOT
you said； ez HOW you said it； and it's kinder bothered me； sittin' here； that
I ain't bin actin' to you boys quite on the square。 I've said to myself；
'Collinson； thar ain't another house betwixt Bald Top and Skinner's whar
them fellows kin get a bite or a drink to help themselves； and you ain't
offered 'em neither。 It ain't no matter who they are or how they came：
whether they came crawling along the road from the valley； or dropped
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down upon you like them rocks from the grade； yere they are； and it's your
duty； ez long ez you keep this yer house for your wife in trust； so to speak；
for wanderers。' And I ain't forgettin' yer ginerel soft style and easy gait
wit