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peeped from below her gown； and the thought of his trying to identify it
with the slipper he had picked up seemed to him as ridiculous as his other
misconceptions。 He sank back gloomily in his seat； by degrees the
fatigue and excitement of the day began to mercifully benumb his senses；
twilight had fallen and the talk had ceased。 The lady had allowed her
book to drop in her lap as the darkness gathered； and had closed her eyes；
he closed his own； and slipped away presently into a dream； in which he
saw the profile again as he had seen it in the darkness of the hollow； only
that this time it changed to a full face； unlike the lady's or any one he had
ever seen。 Then the window seemed to open with a rattle； and he again
felt the cool odors of the forest； but he awoke to find that the lady had only
opened her window for a breath of fresh air。 It was nearly eight o' clock；
it would be an hour yet before the coach stopped at the next station for
supper； the passengers were drowsily nodding； he closed his eyes and fell
into a deeper sleep； from which he awoke with a start。
The coach had stopped！
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTER IV。
〃It can't be Three Pines yet；〃 said a passenger's voice； in which the
laziness of sleep still lingered； 〃or else we've snoozed over five mile。 I
don't see no lights； wot are we stoppin' for？〃 The other passengers
struggled to an upright position。 One nearest the window opened it； its
place was instantly occupied by the double muzzle of a shot…gun！ No
one moved。 In the awestricken silence the voice of the driver rose in
drawling protestation。
〃It ain't no business o' mine； but it sorter strikes me that you chaps are
a…playin' it just a little too fine this time！ It ain't three miles from Three
Pine Station and forty men。 Of course； that's your lookout；not mine！〃
The audacity of the thing had evidently struck even the usually taciturn
and phlegmatic driver into his first expostulation on record。
〃Your thoughtful consideration does you great credit；〃 said a voice
from the darkness； 〃and shall be properly presented to our manager； but at
the same time we wish it understood that we do not hesitate to take any
risks in strict attention to our business and our clients。 In the mean time
you will expedite matters； and give your passengers a chance to get an
early tea at Three Pines； by handing down that treasure…box and mail…
pouch。 Be careful in handling that blunderbuss you keep beside it； the
last time it unfortunately went off； and I regret to say slightly wounded
one of your passengers。 Accidents of this kind； interfering； as they do； with
the harmony and pleasure of our chance meetings； cannot be too highly
deplored。〃
〃By gosh！〃 ejaculated an outside passenger in an audible whisper。
〃Thank you； sir；〃 said the voice quietly； 〃but as I overlooked you； I
will trouble you now to descend with the others。〃
The voice moved nearer； and； by the light of a flaming bull's…eye cast
upon the coach； it could be seen to come from a stout； medium… sized man
with a black mask； which； however； showed half of a smooth； beardless
face； and an affable yet satirical mouth。 The speaker cleared his throat
with the slight preparatory cough of the practiced orator； and； approaching
the window； to Key's intense surprise； actually began in the identical
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
professional and rhetorical style previously indicated by the miner。
〃Circumstances over which we have no control； gentlemen； compel us
to oblige you to alight； stand in a row on one side； and hold up your hands。
You will find the attitude not unpleasant after your cramped position in the
coach； while the change from its confined air to the wholesome night…
breeze of the Sierras cannot but prove salutary and refreshing。 It will
also enable us to relieve you of such so…called valuables and treasures in
the way of gold dust and coin； which I regret to say too often are
misapplied in careless hands； and which the teachings of the highest
morality distinctly denominate as the root of all evil！ I need not inform
you； gentlemen； as business men； that promptitude and celerity of
compliance will insure dispatch； and shorten an interview which has been
sometimes needlessly； and； I regret to say； painfully protracted。〃
He drew back deliberately with the same monotonous precision of
habit； and disclosed the muzzles of his confederates' weapons still leveled
at the passengers。 In spite of their astonishment； indignation； and
discomfiture； his practiced effrontery and deliberate display appeared in
some way to touch their humorous sense； and one or two smiled
hysterically； as they rose and hesitatingly filed out of the vehicle。 It is
possible； however； that the leveled shot…guns contributed more or less
directly to this result。
Two masks began to search the passengers under the combined focus
of the bull's…eyes； the shining gun…barrels； and a running but still carefully
prepared commentary from the spokesman。 〃It is to be regretted that
business men； instead of intrusting their property to the custody of the
regularly constituted express agent； still continue to secrete it on their
persons； a custom that； without enhancing its security； is not only an
injustice to the express company； but a great detriment to dispatch。 We
also wish to point out that while we do not as a rule interfere with the
possession of articles of ordinary personal use or adornment； such as
simple jewelry or watches； we reserve our right to restrict by confiscation
the vulgarity and unmanliness of diamonds and enormous fob chains。〃
The act of spoliation was apparently complete； yet it was evident that
the orator was restraining himself for a more effective climax。 Clearing
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his throat again and stepping before the impatient but still mystified file of
passengers； he reviewed them gravely。 Then in a perfectly pitched tone
of mingled pain and apology； he said slowly：
〃It would seem that； from no wish of our own； we are obliged on this
present occasion to suspend one or two of our usual rules。 We are not in
the habit of interfering with the wearing apparel of our esteemed clients；
but in the interests of ordinary humanity we are obliged to remove the
boots of the gentleman on the extreme left； which evidently give him great
pain and impede his locomotion。 We also seldom deviate from our rule
of obliging our clients to hold up their hands during this examination； but
we gladly make an exception in favor of the gentleman next to him； and
permit him to hand us the altogether too heavily weighted holster which
presses upon his hip。 Gentlemen；〃 said the orator； slightly raising his
voice； with a deprecating gesture； 〃you need not be alarmed！ The
indignant movement of our friend； just now； was not to draw his revolver；…
…for it isn't there！〃 He paused while his companions speedily removed
the farmer's boots and the miner's holster； and with a still more apologetic
air approached the coach； where only the lady remained erect and rigid in
her corner。 〃And now；〃 he said with simulated hesitation； 〃we come to
the last and to us the most painful suspension of our rules。 On these very
rare occasions； when we have been honored with the presence of the fair
sex； it has been our invar