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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
with me when you kem here。 It ain't every man as could walk into
another man's house arter the owner of it had grabbed a gun； ez soft…
speakin'； ez overlookin'； and ez perlite ez you。 I've acted mighty rough
and low…down； and I know it。 And I sent for you to say that you and your
folks kin use this house and all that's in it ez long ez you're in trouble。
I've told you why I couldn't sell the house to ye； and why I couldn't leave
it。 But ye kin use it； and while ye're here； and when you go； Collinson
don't tell nobody。 I don't know what ye mean by 'binding myself' to keep
your secret； when Collinson says a thing he sticks to it； and when he
passes his word with a man； or a man passes his word with him； it don't
need no bit of paper。〃
There was no doubt of its truth。 In the grave； upraised eyes of his
prisoner； Chivers saw the certainty that he could trust him； even far more
than he could trust any one within the house he had just quitted。 But this
very certainty； for all its assurance of safety to himself； filled him； not with
remorse； which might have been an evanescent emotion； but with a sudden
alarming and terrible consciousness of being in the presence of a hitherto
unknown and immeasurable power！ He had no pity for man who trusted
him； he had no sense of shame in taking advantage of it； he even felt an
intellectual superiority in this want of sagacity in his dupe； but he still felt
in some way defeated； insulted； shocked； and frightened。 At first； like all
scoundrels； he had measured the man by himself； was suspicious and
prepared for rivalry； but the grave truthfulness of Collinson's eyes left him
helpless。 He was terrified by this unknown factor。 The right that
contends and fights often stimulates its adversary； the right that yields
leaves the victor vanquished。 Chivers could even have killed Collinson
in his vague discomfiture； but he had a terrible consciousness that there
was something behind him that he could not make way with。 That was
why this accomplished rascal felt his flaccid cheeks grow purple and his
glib tongue trip before his captive。
But Collinson； more occupied with his own shortcomings； took no
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note of this； and Chivers quickly recovered his wits； if not his former
artificiality。 〃All right；〃 he said quickly； with a hurried glance at the door
behind him。 〃Now that you think better of it； I'll be frank with you； and
tell you I'm your friend。 You understand；your friend。 Don't talk much
to those mendon't give yourself away to them；〃 he laughed this time in
absolute natural embarrassment。 〃Don't talk about your wife； and this
house； but just say you've made the thing up with me；with ME； you
know； and I'll see you through。〃 An idea； as yet vague； that he could turn
Collinson's unexpected docility to his own purposes； possessed him even
in his embarrassment； and he was still more strangely conscious of his
inordinate vanity gathering a fearful joy from Collinson's evident
admiration。 It was heightened by his captive's next words。
〃Ef I wasn't tied I'd shake hands with ye on that。 You're the kind o'
man； Mr。 Chivers； that I cottoned to from the first。 Ef this house wasn't
HERS； I'd a' bin tempted to cotton to yer offer； too； and mebbee made yer
one myself； for it seems to me your style and mine would sorter jibe
together。 But I see you sabe what's in my mind； and make allowance。
WE don't want no bit o' paper to shake hands on that。 Your secret and
your folk's secret is mine； and I don't blab that any more than I'd blab to
them wot you've just told me。〃
Under a sudden impulse； Chivers leaned forward； and； albeit with
somewhat unsteady hands and an embarrassed will； untied the cords that
held Collinson in his chair。 As the freed man stretched himself to his full
height； he looked gravely down into the bleared eyes of his captor； and
held out his strong right hand。 Chivers took it。 Whether there was
some occult power in Collinson's honest grasp； I know not； but there
sprang u