按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Skinner's store for a week。〃
〃All right； only hurry up！〃 said Uncle Dick cheerfully； settling himself
back in his chair； 〃I reckon to turn in as soon as I've rastled with your hash；
for I've got to turn out agin and be off at sun…up。〃
They were all very quiet again；so quiet that they could not help
noticing that the sound of Collinson's preparations for their supper had
ceased too。 Uncle Dick arose softly and walked to the kitchen door。
Collinson was sitting before a small kitchen stove； with a fork in his hand；
gazing abstractedly before him。 At the sound of his guest's footsteps he
9
… Page 10…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
started； and the noise of preparation recommenced。 Uncle Dick returned
to his chair by the fire。 Leaning towards the chair of the close…shaven
man； he said in a lower voice：
〃He was off agin！〃
〃What？〃
〃Thinkin' of that wife of his。〃
〃What about his wife？〃 asked Key； lowering his voice also。
The three men's heads were close together。
〃When Collinson fixed up this mill he sent for his wife in the States；〃
said Uncle Dick； in a half whisper； 〃waited a year for her； hanging round
and boarding every emigrant wagon that came through the Pass。 She
didn't comeonly the news that she was dead。〃 He paused and nudged
his chair still closerthe heads were almost touching。 〃They say； over in
the Bar〃his voice had sunk to a complete whisper〃that it was a lie！
That she ran away with the man that was fetchin' her out。 Three
thousand miles and three weeks with another man upsets some women。
But HE knows nothing about it； only he sometimes kinder goes off
looney…like； thinking of her。〃 He stopped； the heads separated； Collinson
had appeared at the doorway； his melancholy patience apparently
unchanged。
〃Grub's on； gentlemen； sit by and eat。〃
The humble meal was dispatched with zest and silence。 A few
interjectional remarks about the uncertainties of prospecting only accented
the other pauses。 In ten minutes they were out again by the fireplace
with their lit pipes。 As there were only three chairs； Collinson stood
beside the chimney。
〃Collinson；〃 said Uncle Dick； after the usual pause； taking his pipe
from his lips； 〃as we've got to get up and get at sun…up； we might as well
tell you now that we're dead broke。 We've been living for the last few
weeks on Preble Key's loose changeand that's gone。 You'll have to let
this little account and damage stand over。〃
Collinson's brow slightly contracted； without； however； altering his
general expression of resigned patience。
〃I'm sorry for you； boys；〃 he said slowly； 〃and〃 （diffidently） 〃kinder
10
… Page 11…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
sorry for myself； too。 You see； I reckoned on goin' over to Skinner's to…
morrow； to fill up the pork bar'l and vote for Mesick and the wagon…road。
But Skinner can't let me have anything more until I've paid suthin' on
account； as he calls it。〃
〃D'ye mean to say thar's any mountain man as low flung and mean as
that？〃 said Uncle Dick indignantly。
〃But it isn't HIS fault；〃 said Collinson gently； 〃you see； they won't
send him goods from Sacramento if he don't pay up； and he CAN'T if I
DON'T。 Sabe？〃
〃Ah！ that's another thing。 They ARE meanin Sacramento；〃 said
Uncle Dick； somewhat mollified。
The other guests murmured an assent to this general proposition。
Suddenly Uncle Dick's face brightened。
〃Look here！ I know Skinner； and I'll stop there No； blank it all！ I
can't； for it's off my route！ Well； then； we'll fix it this way。 Key will go
there and tell Skinner that I say that I'LL send the money to that
Sacramento hound。 That'll fix it！〃
Collinson's brow cleared； the solution of the difficulty seemed to
satisfy everybody； and the close…shaven man smiled。
〃And I'll secure it；〃 he said； 〃and give Collinson a sight draft on
myself at San Francisco。〃
〃What's that for？〃 said Collinson； with a sudden suffusion on each
cheek。
〃In case of accident。〃
〃Wot accident？〃 persisted Collinson； with a dark look of suspicion on
his usually placid face。
〃In case we should forget it；〃 said the close…shaven man； with a laugh。
〃And do you suppose that if you boys went and forgot it that I'd have
anything to do with your dd paper？〃 said Collinson； a murky cloud
coming into his eyes。
〃Why； that's only business； Colly；〃 interposed Uncle Dick quickly；
〃that's all Jim Parker means； he's a business man； don't you see。 Suppose
we got killed！ You've that draft to show。〃
〃Show who？〃 growled Collinson。
11
… Page 12…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
〃Why；hang it！our friends； our heirs； our relationsto get your
money； hesitated Uncle Dick。
〃And do you kalkilate；〃 said Collinson； with deeply laboring breath；
〃that if you got killed； that I'd be coming on your folks for the worth of the
dd truck I giv ye？ Go 'way！ Lemme git out o' this。 You're makin'
me tired。〃 He stalked to the door； lit his pipe； and began to walk up and
down the gravelly river…bed。 Uncle Dick followed him。 From time to
time the two other guests heard the sounds of alternate protest and
explanation as they passed and repassed the windows。 Preble Key smiled；
Parker shrugged his shoulders。
〃He'll be thinkin' you've begrudged him your grub if you don't that's
the way with these business men；〃 said Uncle Dick's voice in one of these
intervals。 Presently they reentered the house； Uncle Dick saying casually
to Parker； 〃You can leave that draft on the bar when you're ready to go to…
morrow；〃 and the incident was presumed to have ended。 But Collinson
did not glance in the direction of Parker for the rest of the evening； and；
indeed； standing with his back to the chim