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and levity as in any conscious slur upon the fair fame of his invented
Dulcinea。 Yet Key oddly felt a strong inclination to resent the aspersion as
well as Collinson's gratuitous morality； and with a mean recollection of
Uncle Dick's last evening's scandalous gossip； he said sarcastically； 〃And；
of course； that some one YOU were thinking of was your lawful wife。〃
〃It war！〃 said Collinson gravely。
Perhaps it was something in Collinson's manner； or his own
preoccupation； but he did not pursue the subject； and the conversation
lagged。 They were nearing； too； the outer edge of the present
conflagration； and the smoke； lying low in the unburnt woods； or creeping
like an actual exhalation of the soil； blinded them so that at times they lost
the trail completely。 At other times； from the intense heat； it seemed as if
they were momentarily impinging upon the burning area； or were being
caught in a closing circle。 It was remarkable that with his sudden
accession of fortune Key seemed to lose his usual frank and careless
fearlessness； and impatiently questioned his companion's woodcraft。 There
were intervals when he regretted his haste to reach Skinner's by this
shorter cut； and began to bitterly attribute it to his desire to serve Collinson。
Ah； yes！ it would be fine indeed； if just as he were about to clutch the
prize he should be sacrificed through the ignorance and stupidity of this
heavy…handed moralist at his side！ But it was not until； through that
moralist's guidance； they climbed a steep acclivity to a second ridge； and
were comparatively safe； that he began to feel ashamed of his surly silence
or surlier interruptions。 And Collinson； either through his unconquerable
patience； or possibly in a fit of his usual uxorious abstraction； appeared to
take no notice of it。
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A sloping table…land of weather…beaten boulders now effectually
separated them from the fire on the lower ridge。 They presently began to
descend on the further side of the crest； and at last dropped upon a wagon…
road； and the first track of wheels that Key had seen for a fortnight。
Rude as it was； it seemed to him the highway to fortune； for he knew that
it passed Skinner's and then joined the great stage…road to Marysville；
now his ultimate destination。 A few rods further on they came in view of
Skinner's； lying like a dingy forgotten winter snowdrift on the mountain
shelf。
It contained a post…office； tavern； blacksmith's shop； 〃general store；〃
and express…office； scarcely a dozen buildings in all； but all differing from
Collinson's Mill in some vague suggestion of vitality； as if the daily
regular pulse of civilization still beat； albeit languidly； in that remote
extremity。 There was anticipation and accomplishment twice a day； and
as Key and Collinson rode up to the express…office； the express…wagon
was standing before the door ready to start to meet the stagecoach at the
cross…roads three miles away。 This again seemed a special providence to
Key。 He had a brief official communication with Skinner as registrar；
and duly recorded his claim； he had a hasty and confidential aside with
Skinner as general storekeeper； and such was the unconscious magnetism
developed by this embryo millionaire that Skinner extended the necessary
credit to Collinson on Key's word alone。 That done； he rejoined Collinson
in high spirits with the news； adding cheerfully； 〃And I dare say； if you
want any further advances Skinner will give them to you on Parker's
draft。〃
〃You mean that bit o' paper that chap left；〃 said Collinson gravely。
〃Yes。〃
〃I tore it up。〃
〃You tore it up？〃 ejaculated Key。
〃You hear me？ Yes！〃 said Collinson。
Key stared at him。 Surely it was again providential that he had not
intrusted his secret to this utterly ignorant and prejudiced man！ The
slight twinges of conscience that his lie about the slippers had caused him
disappeared at once。 He could not have trusted him even in that； it would
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have been like this stupid fanatic to have prevented Key's preemption of
that claim； until he； Collinson； had satisfied himself of the whereabouts of
the missing proprietor。 Was he quite sure that Collinson would not revisit
the spot when he had gone？ But he was ready for the emergency。
He had intended to leave his horse with Skinner as security for
Collinson's provisions； but Skinner's liberality had made this unnecessary；
and he now offered it to Collinson to use and keep for him until called for。
This would enable his companion to 〃pack〃 his goods on the mule； and
oblige him to return to the mill by the wagon…road and 〃outside trail；〃 as
more commodious for the two animals。
〃Ye ain't afeared o' the road agents？〃 suggested a bystander； 〃they just
swarm on galloper's Ridge； and they 'held up' the down stage only last
week。〃
〃They're not so lively since the deputy…sheriff's got a new idea about
them； and has been lying low in the brush near Bald Top；〃 returned
Skinner。 〃Anyhow； they don't stop teams nor 'packs' unless there's a
chance of their getting some fancy horseflesh by it； and I reckon thar ain't
much to tempt them thar；〃 he added； with a satirical side glance at his
customer's cattle。 But Key was already standing in the express…wagon；
giving a farewell shake to his patient companion's hand； and this
ingenuous pleasantry passed unnoticed。 Nevertheless； as the express…
wagon rolled away； his active fancy began to consider this new danger that
might threaten the hidden wealth of his claim。 But he reflected that for a
time； at least； only the crude ore would be taken out and shipped to
Marysville in a shape that offered no profit to the highwaymen。 Had it
been a gold mine！but here again was the interposition of Providence！
A week later Preble Key returned to Skinner's with a foreman and ten
men； and an unlimited credit to draw upon at Marysville！ Expeditions of
this kind created no surprise at Skinner's。 Parties had before this entered
the wilderness gayly； none knew where or what for； the sedate and silent
woods had kept their secret while there； they had evaporated； none knew
when or whereoften； alas！ with an unpaid account at Skinner's。
Consequently； there was nothing in Key's party to challenge curiosity。 In
another week a rambling； one…storied shed of pine logs occupied the site
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of the mysterious ruins； and contained the party； in two weeks excavations
had been made； and the whole face of the outcrop was exposed； in three
weeks every vestige of former tenancy