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himself was going to Skinner's to plead for him； he knew that Parker had
left the draft；he had seen it lying in the bar；but a new sense of delicacy
kept him from alluding to it now。 It was better to leave Collinson with
his own peculiar ideas of the responsibilities of hospitality unchanged。
Key shook his hand warmly； and galloped up the rocky slope。 But when
he had finally reached the higher level； and fancied he could even now see
the dust raised by his departing comrades on their two diverging paths；
although he knew that they had already gone their different ways；
perhaps never to meet again；his thoughts and his eyes reverted only to
the ruined mill below him and its lonely occupant。
He could see him quite distinctly in that clear air； still standing before
his door。 And then he appeared to make a parting gesture with his hand；
and something like snow fluttered in the air above his head。 It was only
the torn fragments of Parker's draft； which this homely gentleman of the
Sierras； standing beside his empty pork barrel； had scattered to the four
winds。
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTERII。
Key's attention was presently directed to something more important
to his present purpose。 The keen wind which he had faced in mounting
the grade had changed； and was now blowing at his back。 His experience
of forest fires had already taught him that this was too often only the cold
air rushing in to fill the vacuum made by the conflagration； and it needed
not his sensation of an acrid smarting in his eyes； and an unaccountable
dryness in the air which he was now facing； to convince him that the fire
was approaching him。 It had evidently traveled faster than he had
expected； or had diverged from its course。 He was disappointed； not
because it would oblige him to take another route to Skinner's； as
Collinson had suggested； but for a very different reason。 Ever since his
vision of the preceding night； he had resolved to revisit the hollow and
discover the mystery。 He had kept his purpose a secret；partly because
he wished to avoid the jesting remarks of his companions； but particularly
because he wished to go alone； from a very singular impression that
although they had witnessed the incident he had really seen more than they
did。 To this was also added the haunting fear he had felt during the night
that this mysterious habitation and its occupants were in the track of the
conflagration。 He had not dared to dwell upon it openly on account of
Uncle Dick's evident responsibility for the origin of the fire； he appeased
his conscience with the reflection that the inmates of the dwelling no
doubt had ample warning in time to escape。 But still； he and his
companions ought to have stopped to help them； and thenbut here he
paused； conscious of another reason he could scarcely voice then； or even
now。 Preble Key had not passed the age of romance； but like other
romancists he thought he had evaded it by treating it practically。
Meantime he had reached the fork where the trail diverged to the right；
and he must take that direction if he wished to make a detour of the
burning woods to reach Skinner's。 His momentary indecision
communicated itself to his horse； who halted。 Recalled to himself； he
looked down mechanically； when his attention was attracted by an
unfamiliar object lying in the dust of the trail。 It was a small slipperso
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
small that at first he thought it must have belonged to some child。 He
dismounted and picked it up。 It was worn and shaped to the foot。 It
could not have lain there long； for it was not filled nor discolored by the
wind…blown dust of the trail； as all other adjacent objects were。 If it had
been dropped by a passing traveler； that traveler must have passed
Collinson's； going or coming； within the last twelve hours。 It was
scarcely possible that the shoe could have dropped from the foot without
the wearer's knowing it； and it must have been dropped in an urgent flight；
or it would have been recovered。 Thus practically Key treated his
romance。 And having done so； he instantly wheeled his horse and
plunged into the road in the direction of the fire。
But he was surprised after twenty minutes' riding to find that the
course of the fire had evidently changed。 It was growing clearer before
him； the dry heat seemed to come more from the right； in the direction of
the detour he should have taken to Skinner's。 This seemed almost
providential； and in keeping with his practical treatment of his romance； as
was also the fact that in all probability the fire had not yet visited the little
hollow which he intended to explore。 He knew he was nearing it now；
the locality had been strongly impressed upon him even in the darkness of
the previous evening。 He had passed the rocky ledge； his horse's hoofs
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 A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
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