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forever！
He stopped for an instant； not in indecision this time； but in a grim
resolution to let no chance escape him now。 The car was going slowly； it
was easy to board it now； but again the tinkle of the bell indicated that it
was stopping at the corner of a road beyond。 He checked his pace；a lady
alighted；it was she！ She turned into the cross…street； darkened with the
shadows of some low suburban tenement houses； and he boldly followed。
He was fully determined to find out her secret； and even； if necessary； to
accost her for that purpose。 He was perfectly aware what he was doing；
and all its risks and penalties； he knew the audacity of such an
introduction； but he felt in his left…hand pocket for the sprig of fern which
was an excuse for it； he knew the danger of following a possible
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confidante of desperadoes； but he felt in his right…hand pocket for the
derringer that was equal to it。 They were both there； he was ready。
He was nearing the convent and the oldest and most ruinous part of the
town。 He did not disguise from himself the gloomy significance of this；
even in the old days the crumbling adobe buildings that abutted on the old
garden wall of the convent were the haunts of lawless Mexicans and
vagabond peons。 As the roadway began to be rough and uneven； and the
gaunt outlines of the sagging roofs of tiles stood out against the sky above
the lurking shadows of ruined doorways； he was prepared for the worst。
As the crumbling but still massive walls of the convent garden loomed
ahead； the tall； graceful； black…gowned figure he was following presently
turned into the shadow of the wall itself。 He quickened his pace； lest it
should again escape him。 Suddenly it stopped； and remained motionless。
He stopped； too。 At the same moment it vanished！
He ran quickly forward to where it had stood； and found himself
before a large iron gate； with a smaller one in the centre； that had just
clanged to on its rusty hinges。 He rubbed his eyes！the place； the gate；
the wall； were all strangely familiar！ Then he stepped back into the
roadway； and looked at it again。 He was not mistaken。
He was standing before the porter's lodge of the Convent of the Sacred
Heart。
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTER V。
The day following the great stagecoach robbery found the patient
proprietor of Collinson's Mill calm and untroubled in his usual seclusion。
The news that had thrilled the length and breadth of Galloper's Ridge had
not touched the leafy banks of the dried…up river； the hue and cry had
followed the stage…road； and no courier had deemed it worth his while to
diverge as far as the rocky ridge which formed the only pathway to the
mill。 That day Collinson's solitude had been unbroken even by the
haggard emigrant from the valley； with his old monotonous story of
hardship and privation。 The birds had flown nearer to the old mill； as if
emboldened by the unwonted quiet。 That morning there had been the
half human imprint of a bear's foot in the ooze beside the mill…wheel； and
coming home with his scant stock from the woodland pasture； he had
found a golden squirrela beautiful； airy embodiment of the brown woods
itselfcalmly seated on his bar…counter； with a biscuit between its baby
hands。 He was full of his characteristic reveries and abstractions that
afternoon； falling into them even at his wood… pile； leaning on his axeso
still that an emerald…throated lizard； who had slid upon the log； went to
sleep under the forgotten stroke。
But at nightfall the wind arose；at first as a distant murmur along the
hillside； that died away before it reached the rocky ledge； then it rocked
the tops of the tall redwoods behind the mill； but left the mill and the dried
leaves that lay in the river… bed undisturbed。 Then the murmur was
prolonged； until it became the continuous trouble of some far…off sea； and
at last the wind possessed the ledge itself； driving the smoke down the
stumpy chimney of the mill； rattling the sun…warped shingles on the roof；
stirring the inside rafters with cool breaths； and singing over the rough
projections of the outside eaves。 At nine o'clock he rolled himself up in
his blankets before the fire； as was his wont； and fell asleep。
It was past midnight when he was awakened by the familiar clatter of
boulders down the grade； the usual simulation of a wild rush from without
that encompassed the whole mill； even to that heavy impact against the
door； which he had heard once before。 In this he recognized merely the
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
ordinary phenomena of his experience； and only turned over to sleep again。
But this time the door rudely fell in upon him； and a figure strode over his
prostrate body； with a gun leveled at his head。
He sprang sideways for his own weapon； which stood by the hearth。 In
another second that action would have been his last； and the solitude of
Seth Collinson might have remained henceforward unbroken by any
mortal。 But the gun of the first figure was knocked sharply upward by a
second man； and the one and only shot fired that night sped harmlessly to
the roof。 With the report he felt his arms gripped tightly behind him；
through the smoke he saw dimly that the room was filled with masked and
armed men； and in another moment he was pinioned and thrust into his
empty armchair。 At a signal three of the men left the room； and he could
hear them exploring the other rooms and outhouses。 Then the two men
who had been standing beside him fell back with a certain disciplined
precision； as a smooth…chinned man advanced from the open door。 Going
to the bar； he poured out a glass of whiskey； tossed it off deliberately； and；
standing in front of Collinson； with his shoulder against the chimney and
his hand resting lightly on his hip； cleared his throat。 Had Collinson been
an observant man； he would have noticed that the two men dropped their
eyes and moved their feet with a half impatient； perfunctory air of waiting。
Had he witnessed the stage…robbery； he would have recognized in the
smooth…faced man the presence of 〃the orator。〃 But he only gazed at him
with his dull； imperturbable patience。
〃We regret exceedingly to have to use force to a gentleman in his own
house；〃 began the orator blandly； 〃but we feel it our duty to prevent a
repetition of the unhappy incident which occurred as we entered。 We
desire that you should answer a few questions； and are deeply grateful that
you are still able to do so；which seemed extremely improbable a moment
or two ago。〃 He paused； coughed； and leaned back against the chimney。
〃How many men have you here besides yourself？〃
〃Nary one；〃 said Collinson。
The interrogator glanced at the other men； who had reentered。 They
nodded significantly。
〃Good！〃 he resumed。 〃You have told the truthan excellent habit；
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and one that expedites business。 Now； is there a room in this house with
a door that locks？ Your front door DOESN'T。〃 〃No。〃
〃No cellar nor outhouse？〃
〃No。〃
〃We regret that； for it will compel us； much against our wishes； to keep
you bound as you are for the present。 The matter is simply this：
circumstances of a very pressing nature oblige us to occupy this house for
a few days；possibly for an indefinite period。 We respect the sacred rites
of hospitality too muc