in a hollow of the hills(ɽ½§)-µÚ1ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IN¡¡A¡¡HOLLOW¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡HILLS¡¡
IN¡¡A¡¡HOLLOW¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡HILLS¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bret¡¡Bret¡¡Harte¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡1¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡2¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IN¡¡A¡¡HOLLOW¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡HILLS¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTERI¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡dark£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wind¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡increasing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡¡¡gust¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡¡¡¡¡preceded¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡ominous¡¡¡¡¡¡roaring¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡¡¡¡¡mountain¡side£»¡¡
which¡¡continued¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡¡after¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡in¡¡the¡¡little¡¡valley¡¡had¡¡lapsed¡¡
into¡¡¡¡¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡filled¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡faint£»¡¡¡¡¡¡cool£»¡¡¡¡¡¡sodden¡¡¡¡¡¡odor£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
stirred¡¡forest¡¡depths¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡those¡¡intervals¡¡of¡¡silence¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡
increase¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡and¡¡grow¡¡almost¡¡palpable¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡¡sightless¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡soundless¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡void¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡tinkle¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡spur's¡¡¡¡rowels£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dry¡¡
crackling¡¡of¡¡saddle¡¡leathers£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡muffled¡¡plunge¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hoof¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡
carpet¡¡of¡¡dust¡¡and¡¡desiccated¡¡leaves¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡a¡¡voice£»¡¡which¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡its¡¡
matter¡of¡fact¡¡reality¡¡the¡¡obscurity¡¡lent¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡mystery¡¡to£»¡¡said£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡make¡¡out¡¡anything£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Where¡¡the¡¡devil¡¡have¡¡we¡¡got¡¡to£»¡¡anyway£¿¡¡
It's¡¡as¡¡black¡¡as¡¡Tophet£»¡¡here¡¡ahead£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Strike¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡light¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡flare¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡something£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡returned¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡second¡¡
voice¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Look¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡you're¡¡¡¡¡¡shoving¡¡¡¡¡¡tonowkeep¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡horse¡¡¡¡¡¡off£»¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡
ye¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡muffled¡¡¡¡¡¡plunging£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡silence£»¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rustle¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡paper£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
quick¡¡spurt¡¡of¡¡a¡¡match£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡uplifting¡¡of¡¡a¡¡flickering¡¡flame¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡
revealed¡¡only¡¡the¡¡heads¡¡and¡¡shoulders¡¡of¡¡three¡¡horsemen£»¡¡framed¡¡within¡¡a¡¡
nebulous¡¡¡¡¡¡ring¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡light£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡horses¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡lower¡¡
figures¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡impenetrable¡¡¡¡¡¡shadow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡flame¡¡¡¡¡¡leaped¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡died¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡
with¡¡a¡¡few¡¡zigzagging¡¡sparks¡¡that¡¡were¡¡falling¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡third¡¡
voice£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡low¡¡but¡¡somewhat¡¡pleasant¡¡in¡¡its¡¡cadence£»¡¡said£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Be¡¡careful¡¡where¡¡you¡¡throw¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡were¡¡careless¡¡last¡¡time¡£¡¡With¡¡
this¡¡¡¡¡¡wind¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡leaves¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡tinder£»¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡send¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡furnace¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡blast¡¡
through¡¡the¡¡woods¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡at¡¡least¡¡we'd¡¡see¡¡where¡¡we¡¡were¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡his¡¡horse£»¡¡whose¡¡trampling¡¡hoofs¡¡beat¡¡out¡¡the¡¡
last¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fallen¡¡¡¡¡¡spark¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Complete¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡darkness¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡silence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡followed¡£¡¡
Presently¡¡the¡¡first¡¡speaker¡¡continued£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡reckon¡¡¡¡¡¡we'll¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡here¡¡till¡¡the¡¡next¡¡squall¡¡¡¡¡¡clears¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡the¡¡
scud¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sky£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hello£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What's¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡obscurity¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡appeared¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡faint¡¡¡¡¡¡light£»a¡¡¡¡¡¡dim¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡2¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡3¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IN¡¡A¡¡HOLLOW¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡HILLS¡¡
perfectly¡¡defined¡¡square¡¡of¡¡radiance£»which£»¡¡¡¡however£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
illuminate¡¡anything¡¡around¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡it¡¡disappeared¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡a¡¡houseit's¡¡a¡¡light¡¡in¡¡a¡¡window£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡second¡¡voice¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨House¡¡be¡¡dd£¡¡¨¡¡retorted¡¡the¡¡first¡¡speaker¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡house¡¡with¡¡a¡¡window¡¡
on¡¡Galloper's¡¡Ridge£»¡¡fifteen¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡anywhere£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You're¡¡crazy£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡muffled¡¡¡¡¡¡plunging¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡tinkling¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡followed£»¡¡
they¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡moving¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡where¡¡the¡¡light¡¡had¡¡appeared¡£¡¡
Then¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pause¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡rocky¡¡¡¡¡¡outcrop¡¡¡¡¡¡here£»¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡couldn't¡¡
stand£»¡¡and¡¡we're¡¡off¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡again£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡first¡¡speaker¡¡impatiently¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Stop£¡there¡¡it¡¡is¡¡again£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡same¡¡square¡¡of¡¡light¡¡appeared¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡horsemen¡¡had¡¡
evidently¡¡¡¡¡¡diverged¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡darkness£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡different¡¡
direction¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡more¡¡distinct£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡they¡¡gazed¡¡a¡¡shadow¡¡appeared¡¡
upon¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡radiant¡¡¡¡¡¡surfacethe¡¡¡¡¡¡profile¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡human¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡light¡¡
suddenly¡¡went¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡face¡¡vanished¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡IS¡¡a¡¡window£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡some¡¡one¡¡behind¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡second¡¡
speaker¡¡emphatically¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡woman's¡¡face£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡pleasant¡¡voice¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Whoever¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡just¡¡hail¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡we¡¡can¡¡get¡¡our¡¡bearings¡£¡¡Sing¡¡
out£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡together£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡voices¡¡¡¡¡¡rose¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡prolonged¡¡¡¡¡¡shout£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡which£»¡¡¡¡¡¡however£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
distinguishing¡¡quality¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pleasant¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡sustained¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡
no¡¡response¡¡from¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡beyond¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡shouting¡¡was¡¡repeated¡¡after¡¡
an¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡interval¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡result£º¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡silence¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡obscurity¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡remained¡¡
unchanged¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Let's¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡speaker¡¡¡¡¡¡angrily£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨house¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡
house£»¡¡man¡¡or¡¡woman£»¡¡we're¡¡not¡¡wanted£»¡¡and¡¡we'll¡¡make¡¡nothing¡¡waltzing¡¡
round¡¡here£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Hush£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡second¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Sh¡h£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Listen¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡leaves¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡nearest¡¡¡¡¡¡trees¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡trilling¡¡¡¡¡¡audibly¡£¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
sudden¡¡gust¡¡that¡¡swept¡¡the¡¡fronds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡taller¡¡ferns¡¡into¡¡their¡¡faces£»¡¡and¡¡
laid¡¡the¡¡thin£»¡¡lithe¡¡whips¡¡of¡¡alder¡¡over¡¡their¡¡horses'¡¡flanks¡¡sharply¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡
followed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡sea¡like¡¡roaring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡side¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡3¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡4¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡IN¡¡A¡¡HOLLOW¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡HILLS¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡like¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡first¡¡speaker¡¡joyfully¡£¡¡¡¨Another¡¡
blow¡¡like¡¡that¡¡and¡¡we're¡¡all¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡look£¡¡¡there's¡¡a¡¡lightenin'¡¡up¡¡over¡¡
the¡¡trail¡¡we¡¡came¡¡by¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡glow¡¡in¡¡that¡¡direction£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡first¡¡suffusion¡¡
of¡¡dawn£»¡¡permitting¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡along¡¡whose¡¡flanks¡¡
they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡journeying¡¡to¡¡be¡¡distinctly¡¡seen¡£¡¡The¡¡sodden¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
stirred¡¡forest¡¡depths¡¡was¡¡slightly¡¡tainted¡¡with¡¡an¡¡acrid¡¡fume¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡the¡¡¡¡match¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡threw¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡hours¡¡¡¡¡¡ago£»¡¨¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡pleasant¡¡
voice¡¡deliberately¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡dry¡¡brush¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡round¡¡the¡¡bend¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Anyhow£»¡¡it's¡¡given¡¡us¡¡our¡¡bearings£»¡¡boys£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡first¡¡speaker£»¡¡with¡¡
satisfied¡¡¡¡¡¡accents¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We're¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wind's¡¡¡¡¡¡lifting¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sky¡¡
ahead¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Forward¡¡now£»¡¡all¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡let's¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡¡hell¡hole¡¡
while¡¡we¡¡can£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡so¡¡much¡¡lighter¡¡that¡¡the¡¡bulk¡¡of¡¡each¡¡horseman¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡as¡¡
they¡¡moved¡¡forward¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡thinning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡obscurity¡¡
on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nevertheless¡¡the¡¡profile¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horseman¡¡with¡¡the¡¡
pleasant¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡occasionally¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡backward£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
suddenly¡¡checked¡¡his¡¡horse¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡window¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡again£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Look£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thereit's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡¡
again¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Let¡¡it¡¡go¡¡and¡¡be¡¡dd£¡¡¨¡¡returned¡¡the¡¡leader¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Come¡¡on¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡spurred¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡long¡¡before¡¡the¡¡wayside¡¡
trees¡¡began¡¡to¡¡dimly¡¡show¡¡spaces¡¡between¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ferns¡¡to¡¡give¡¡way¡¡
to¡¡lower£»¡¡thick¡set¡¡shrubs£»¡¡which¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡yielded¡¡to¡¡a¡¡velvety¡¡moss£»¡¡with¡¡
long¡¡quiet¡¡intervals¡¡of¡¡netted¡¡and¡¡tangled¡¡grasses¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡regular¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
horses'¡¡feet¡¡became¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡rhythmic¡¡throbbing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡suddenly¡¡a¡¡single¡¡
hoof¡¡rang¡¡out¡¡sharply¡¡on¡¡stone£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡first¡¡speaker¡¡reined¡¡in¡¡slightly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Lord¡¡we're¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡ridge¡¡now£¡¡¡and¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rest¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡easy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡
you¡¡¡¡¡¡what£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though£»¡¡¡¡¡¡boys£»¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡we're¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡right£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡don't¡¡¡¡¡¡mind¡¡¡¡¡¡saying¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
didn't¡¡take¡¡no¡¡stock¡¡in¡¡that¡¡blamed¡¡corpse¡¡light¡¡down¡¡there¡£¡¡If¡¡there¡¡ever¡¡
was¡¡a¡¡will¡o'¡the¡wisp¡¡on¡¡a¡¡square¡¡up¡¡mountain£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡wasn't¡¡
no¡¡window£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡ye¡¡thought¡¡ye¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡face¡¡tooeh£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡rather¡¡pretty¡¡one£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡pleasant¡¡voice¡¡meditatively¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡the¡¡way¡¡they'd¡¡build¡¡that¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing£»¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It's¡¡lucky¡¡ye¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡