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possibly the same sense of disappointed hopes was felt by all； only they
preferred to let the man of greater experience voice it。 He went on：
〃We've had our little game； boys； ever since we left Rawlin's a week
ago； we've had our ups and downs； we've been starved and parched；
snowed up and half drowned； shot at by road…agents and horse…thieves；
kicked by mules and played with by grizzlies。 We've had a heap o' fun；
boys； for our money； but I reckon the picnic is about over。 So we'll shake
hands to…morrow all round and call it square； and go on our ways
separately。〃
〃And what do you think you'll do； Uncle Dick？〃 said his close… shaven
companion listlessly。
〃I'll make tracks for a square meal； a bed that a man can comfortably
take off his boots and die in； and some violet…scented soap。 Civilization's
good enough for me！ I even reckon I wouldn't mind 'the sound of the
church…going bell' ef there was a theatre handy； as there likely would be。
But the wilderness is played out。〃
〃You'll be back to it again in six months； Uncle Dick；〃 retorted the
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other quickly。
Uncle Dick did not reply。 It was a peculiarity of the party that in
their isolated companionship they had already exhausted discussion and
argument。 A silence followed； in which they all looked at the fire as if it
was its turn to make a suggestion。
〃Collinson；〃 said the pleasant voice abruptly； 〃who lives in the hollow
this side of the Divide； about two miles from the first spur above the big
canyon？〃
〃Nary soul！〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Sartin！ Thar ain't no one but me betwixt Bald Top and Skinner's
twenty…five miles。〃
〃Of course； YOU'D know if any one had come there lately？〃 persisted
the pleasant voice。
〃I reckon。 It ain't a week ago that I tramped the whole distance that
you fellers just rode over。〃
〃There ain't；〃 said the leader deliberately； 〃any enchanted castle or
cabin that goes waltzing round the road with revolving windows and fairy
princesses looking out of 'em？〃
But Collinson； recognizing this as purely irrelevant humor； with
possibly a trap or pitfall in it； moved away from the fireplace without a
word； and retired to the adjoining kitchen to prepare supper。 Presently he
reappeared。
〃The pork bar'l's empty； boys； so I'll hev to fix ye up with jerked beef；
potatoes； and flapjacks。 Ye see； thar ain't anybody ben over from
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
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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
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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。
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〃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