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no longer rang out clearly； slowly and perceptibly they grew deadened in
the springy mosses； and were finally lost in the netted grasses and tangled
vines that indicated the vicinity of the densely wooded hollow。 Here
were already some of the wider spaced vanguards of that wood； but here；
too； a peculiar circumstance struck him。 He was already descending the
slight declivity； but the distance； instead of deepening in leafy shadow；
was actually growing lighter。 Here were the outskirting sentinels of the
wood but the wood itself was gone！ He spurred his horse through the
tall arch between the opened columns； and pulled up in amazement。
The wood； indeed； was gone； and the whole hollow filled with the
already black and dead stumps of the utterly consumed forest！ More than
that； from the indications before him； the catastrophe must have almost
immediately followed his retreat from the hollow on the preceding night。
It was evident that the fire had leaped the intervening shoulder of the spur
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in one of the unaccountable； but by no means rare； phenomena of this kind
of disaster。 The circling heights around were yet untouched； only the
hollow； and the ledge of rock against which they had blundered with their
horses when they were seeking the mysterious window in last evening's
darkness； were calcined and destroyed。 He dismounted and climbed the
ledge； still warm from the spent fire。 A large mass of grayish outcrop had
evidently been the focus of the furnace blast of heat which must have
raged for hours in this spot。 He was skirting its crumbling debris when
he started suddenly at a discovery which made everything else fade into
utter insignificance。 Before him； in a slight depression formed by a fault
or lapse in the upheaved strata； lay the charred and incinerated remains of
a dwelling…house leveled to the earth！ Originally half hidden by a natural
abattis of growing myrtle and ceanothus which covered this counter…scarp
of rock towards the trail； it must have stood within a hundred feet of them
during their halt！
Even in its utter and complete obliteration by the furious furnace blast
that had swept across it； there was still to be seen an unmistakable ground
plan and outline of a four…roomed house。 While everything that was
combustible had succumbed to that intense heat； there was still enough
half…fused and warped metal； fractured iron plate； and twisted and broken
bars to indicate the kitchen and tool shed。 Very little had； evidently； been
taken away； the house and its contents were consumed where they stood。
With a feeling of horror and desperation Key at last ventured to disturb
two or three of the blackened heaps that lay before him。 But they were
only vestiges of clothing； bedding； and crockerythere was no human
trace that he could detect。 Nor was there any suggestion of the original
condition and quality of the house； except its size： whether the ordinary
unsightly cabin of frontier 〃partners；〃 or some sylvan cottagethere was
nothing left but the usual ignoble and unsavory ruins of burnt…out human
habitation。
And yet its very existence was a mystery。 It had been unknown at
Collinson's； its nearest neighbor； and it was presumable that it was equally
unknown at Skinner's。 Neither he nor his companions had detected it in
their first journey by day through the hollow； and only the tell…tale window
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
at night had been a hint of what was even then so successfully concealed
that they could not discover it when they had blundered against its rock
foundation。 For concealed it certainly was； and intentionally so。 But
for what purpose？
He gave his romance full play for a few minutes with this question。
Some recluse； preferring the absolute simplicity of nature； or perhaps
wearied with the artificialities of society； had secluded himself here with
the company of his only daughter。 Proficient as a pathfinder； he had
easily discovered some other way of provisioning his house from the
settlements than by the ordinary trails past Collinson's or Skinner's； which
would have betrayed his vicinity。 But recluses are not usually
accompanied by young daughters； whose relations with the world； not
being as antagonistic； would make them uncertain companions。 Why not
a wife？ His presumption of the extreme youth of the face he had seen at
the window was after all only based upon the slipper he had found。 And
if a wife； whose absolute acceptance of such confined seclusion might be
equally uncertain； why not somebody else's wife？ Here was a reason for
concealment； and the end of an episode； not unknown even in the
wilderness。 And here was the work of the Nemesis who had overtaken
them in their guilty contentment！ The story； even to its moral； was
complete。 And yet it did not entirely satisfy him； so superior is the
absolutely unknown to the most elaborate theory。
His attention had been once or twice drawn towards the crumbling
wall of outcrop； which during the conflagration must have felt the full
force of the fiery blast that had swept through the hollow and spent its fury
upon it。 It bore evidence of the intense heat in cracked fissures and the
crumbling debris that lay at its feet。 Key picked up some of the still warm
fragments； and was not surprised that they easily broke in a gritty； grayish
powder in his hands。 In spite of his preoccupation with the human
interest； the instinct of the prospector was still strong upon him； and he
almost mechanically put some of the pieces in his pockets。 Then after
another careful survey of the locality for any further record of its vanished
tenants； he returned to his horse。 Here he took from his saddle…bags； half
listlessly； a precious phial encased in wood； and； opening it； poured into
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