"In a Hollow of the Hills" by Bret Harte is a classic adventure story. The setting and the ambiance created by the author is highly emphatic, for the supporting narration and the accompanying dialogue add to the realism. Harte is an enthralling storyteller ― crisply observant, rich in ironic humor, and offering an engaging mix of sentiment and wit. Harte's wiritng style exercised a deep influence on the American short story genre.