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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
IN A HOLLOW OF THE
HILLS
Bret Bret Harte
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTERI。
It was very dark； and the wind was increasing。 The last gust had
been preceded by an ominous roaring down the whole mountain…side；
which continued for some time after the trees in the little valley had lapsed
into silence。 The air was filled with a faint； cool； sodden odor； as of
stirred forest depths。 In those intervals of silence the darkness seemed to
increase in proportion and grow almost palpable。 Yet out of this sightless
and soundless void now came the tinkle of a spur's rowels； the dry
crackling of saddle leathers； and the muffled plunge of a hoof in the thick
carpet of dust and desiccated leaves。 Then a voice； which in spite of its
matter…of…fact reality the obscurity lent a certain mystery to； said：
〃I can't make out anything！ Where the devil have we got to； anyway？
It's as black as Tophet； here ahead！〃
〃Strike a light and make a flare with something；〃 returned a second
voice。 〃Look where you're shoving tonowkeep your horse off； will
ye。〃
There was more muffled plunging； a silence； the rustle of paper； the
quick spurt of a match； and then the uplifting of a flickering flame。 But it
revealed only the heads and shoulders of three horsemen； framed within a
nebulous ring of light； that still left their horses and even their lower
figures in impenetrable shadow。 Then the flame leaped up and died out
with a few zigzagging sparks that were falling to the ground； when a third
voice； that was low but somewhat pleasant in its cadence； said：
〃Be careful where you throw that。 You were careless last time。 With
this wind and the leaves like tinder； you might send a furnace blast
through the woods。〃
〃Then at least we'd see where we were。〃
Nevertheless； he moved his horse； whose trampling hoofs beat out the
last fallen spark。 Complete darkness and silence again followed。
Presently the first speaker continued：
〃I reckon we'll have to wait here till the next squall clears away the
scud from the sky？ Hello！ What's that？〃
Out of the obscurity before them appeared a faint light；a dim but
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
perfectly defined square of radiance；which； however； did not appear to
illuminate anything around it。 Suddenly it disappeared。
〃That's a houseit's a light in a window；〃 said the second voice。
〃House be dd！〃 retorted the first speaker。 〃A house with a window
on Galloper's Ridge； fifteen miles from anywhere？ You're crazy！〃
Nevertheless； from the muffled plunging and tinkling that followed；
they seemed to be moving in the direction where the light had appeared。
Then there was a pause。
〃There's nothing but a rocky outcrop here； where a house couldn't
stand； and we're off the trail again；〃 said the first speaker impatiently。
〃Stop！there it is again！〃
The same square of light appeared once more； but the horsemen had
evidently diverged in the darkness； for it seemed to be in a different
direction。 But it was more distinct； and as they gazed a shadow appeared
upon its radiant surfacethe profile of a human face。 Then the light
suddenly went out； and the face vanished with it。
〃It IS a window； and there was some one behind it；〃 said the second
speaker emphatically。
〃It was a woman's face；〃 said the pleasant voice。
〃Whoever it is； just hail them； so that we can get our bearings。 Sing
out！ All together！〃
The three voices rose in a prolonged shout； in which； however； the
distinguishing quality of the pleasant voice was sustained。 But there was
no response from the darkness beyond。 The shouting was repeated after
an interval with the same result： the silence and obscurity remained
unchanged。
〃Let's get out of this；〃 said the first speaker angrily； 〃house or no
house； man or woman； we're not wanted； and we'll make nothing waltzing
round here！〃
〃Hush！〃 said the second voice。 〃Sh…h！ Listen。〃
The leaves of the nearest trees were trilling audibly。 Then came a
sudden gust that swept the fronds of the taller ferns into their faces； and
laid the thin； lithe whips of alder over their horses' flanks sharply。 It was
followed by the distant sea…like roaring of the mountain…side。
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
〃That's a little more like it！〃 said the first speaker joyfully。 〃Another
blow like that and we're all right。 And look！ there's a lightenin' up over
the trail we came by。〃
There was indeed a faint glow in that direction； like the first suffusion
of dawn； permitting the huge shoulder of the mountain along whose flanks
they had been journeying to be distinctly seen。 The sodden breath of the
stirred forest depths was slightly tainted with an acrid fume。
〃That's the match you threw away two hours ago；〃 said the pleasant
voice deliberately。 〃It's caught the dry brush in the trail round the bend。〃
〃Anyhow； it's given us our bearings； boys；〃 said the first speaker； with
satisfied accents。 〃We're all right now； and the wind's lifting the sky
ahead there。 Forward now； all together； and let's get out of this hell…hole
while we can！〃
It was so much lighter that the bulk of each horseman could be seen as
they moved forward together。 But there was no thinning of the obscurity
on either side of them。 Nevertheless the profile of the horseman with the
pleasant voice seemed to be occasionally turned backward； and he
suddenly checked his horse。
〃There's the window again！〃 he said。 〃Look！ Thereit's gone
again。〃
〃Let it go and be dd！〃 returned the leader。 〃Come on。〃
They spurred forward in silence。 It was not long before the wayside
trees began to dimly show spaces between them； and the ferns to give way
to lower； thick…set shrubs； which in turn yielded to a velvety moss； with
long quiet intervals of netted and tangled grasses。 The regular fall of the
horses' feet became a mere rhythmic throbbing。 Then suddenly a single
hoof rang out sharply on stone； and the first speaker reined in slightly。
〃Thank the Lord we're on the ridge now！ and the rest is easy。 Tell
you what； though； boys； now we're all right； I don't mind saying that I
didn't take no stock in that blamed corpse light down there。 If there ever
was a will…o'…the…wisp on a square up mountain； that was one。 It wasn't
no window！ Some of ye thought ye saw a face tooeh？〃
〃Yes； and a rather pretty one；〃 said the pleasant voice meditatively。
〃That's the way they'd build that sort of thing； of course。 It's lucky ye
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had to satisfy yourself with looking。 Gosh！ I feel creepy yet； thinking of
it！ What are ye looking back for now like Lot's wife？ Blamed if I don't
think that face bewitched ye。〃
〃I was only thinking about that fire you started；〃 returned the other
quietly。 〃I don't see it now。〃
〃Wellif you did？〃
〃I was wondering whether it could reach that hollow。〃
〃I reckon that hollow could take care of any casual nat'rel fire that
came boomin' along； and go two better every time！ Why； I don't believe
there was any fire； it was all a piece of that infernal ignis fatuus
phantasmagoriana that was played upon us down there！〃
With the laugh that followed they started forward again； relapsing into
the