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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2279-0.txt b/2279-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6b2854 --- /dev/null +++ b/2279-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4297 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Waif of the Plains, by Bret Harte + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Waif of the Plains + +Author: Bret Harte + +Release Date: May 13, 2006 [EBook #2279] +Last Updated: March 4, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WAIF OF THE PLAINS *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson + + + + + +A WAIF OF THE PLAINS + +by Bret Harte + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +A long level of dull gray that further away became a faint blue, with +here and there darker patches that looked like water. At times an open +space, blackened and burnt in an irregular circle, with a shred of +newspaper, an old rag, or broken tin can lying in the ashes. Beyond +these always a low dark line that seemed to sink into the ground at +night, and rose again in the morning with the first light, but never +otherwise changed its height and distance. A sense of always moving with +some indefinite purpose, but of always returning at night to the same +place--with the same surroundings, the same people, the same bedclothes, +and the same awful black canopy dropped down from above. A chalky taste +of dust on the mouth and lips, a gritty sense of earth on the fingers, +and an all-pervading heat and smell of cattle. + +This was “The Great Plains” as they seemed to two children from the +hooded depth of an emigrant wagon, above the swaying heads of toiling +oxen, in the summer of 1852. + +It had appeared so to them for two weeks, always the same and always +without the least sense to them of wonder or monotony. When they viewed +it from the road, walking beside the wagon, there was only the team +itself added to the unvarying picture. One of the wagons bore on +its canvas hood the inscription, in large black letters, “Off to +California!” on the other “Root, Hog, or Die,” but neither of them +awoke in the minds of the children the faintest idea of playfulness or +jocularity. Perhaps it was difficult to connect the serious men, who +occasionally walked beside them and seemed to grow more taciturn and +depressed as the day wore on, with this past effusive pleasantry. + +Yet the impressions of the two children differed slightly. The eldest, a +boy of eleven, was apparently new to the domestic habits and customs of +a life to which the younger, a girl of seven, was evidently native and +familiar. The food was coarse and less skillfully prepared than that to +which he had been accustomed. There was a certain freedom and roughness +in their intercourse, a simplicity that bordered almost on rudeness +in their domestic arrangements, and a speech that was at times almost +untranslatable to him. He slept in his clothes, wrapped up in blankets; +he was conscious that in the matter of cleanliness he was left to +himself to overcome the difficulties of finding water and towels. But it +is doubtful if in his youthfulness it affected him more than a novelty. +He ate and slept well, and found his life amusing. Only at times the +rudeness of his companions, or, worse, an indifference that made him +feel his dependency upon them, awoke a vague sense of some wrong that +had been done to him which while it was voiceless to all others and +even uneasily put aside by himself, was still always slumbering in his +childish consciousness. + +To the party he was known as an orphan put on the train at “St. Jo” by +some relative of his stepmother, to be delivered to another relative at +Sacramento. As his stepmother had not even taken leave of him, but had +entrusted his departure to the relative with whom he had been lately +living, it was considered as an act of “riddance,” and accepted as such +by her party, and even vaguely acquiesced in by the boy himself. What +consideration had been offered for his passage he did not know; he only +remembered that he had been told “to make himself handy.” This he had +done cheerfully, if at times with the unskillfulness of a novice; but it +was not a peculiar or a menial task in a company where all took part in +manual labor, and where existence seemed to him to bear the charm of +a prolonged picnic. Neither was he subjected to any difference of +affection or treatment from Mrs. Silsbee, the mother of his little +companion, and the wife of the leader of the train. Prematurely old, +of ill-health, and harassed with cares, she had no time to waste in +discriminating maternal tenderness for her daughter, but treated the +children with equal and unbiased querulousness. + +The rear wagon creaked, swayed, and rolled on slowly and heavily. The +hoofs of the draft-oxen, occasionally striking in the dust with a +dull report, sent little puffs like smoke on either side of the track. +Within, the children were playing “keeping store.” The little girl, as +an opulent and extravagant customer, was purchasing of the boy, who sat +behind a counter improvised from a nail-keg and the front seat, most of +the available contents of the wagon, either under their own names or an +imaginary one as the moment suggested, and paying for them in the easy +and liberal currency of dried beans and bits of paper. Change was given +by the expeditious method of tearing the paper into smaller fragments. +The diminution of stock was remedied by buying the same article over +again under a different name. Nevertheless, in spite of these favorable +commercial conditions, the market seemed dull. + +“I can show you a fine quality of sheeting at four cents a yard, double +width,” said the boy, rising and leaning on his fingers on the counter +as he had seen the shopmen do. “All wool and will wash,” he added, with +easy gravity. + +“I can buy it cheaper at Jackson's,” said the girl, with the intuitive +duplicity of her bargaining sex. + +“Very well,” said the boy. “I won't play any more.” + +“Who cares?” said the girl indifferently. The boy here promptly upset +the counter; the rolled-up blanket which had deceitfully represented the +desirable sheeting falling on the wagon floor. It apparently suggested +a new idea to the former salesman. “I say! let's play 'damaged stock.' +See, I'll tumble all the things down here right on top o' the others, +and sell 'em for less than cost.” + +The girl looked up. The suggestion was bold, bad, and momentarily +attractive. But she only said “No,” apparently from habit, picked up her +doll, and the boy clambered to the front of the wagon. The incomplete +episode terminated at once with that perfect forgetfulness, +indifference, and irresponsibility common to all young animals. If +either could have flown away or bounded off finally at that moment, they +would have done so with no more concern for preliminary detail than a +bird or squirrel. The wagon rolled steadily on. The boy could see that +one of the teamsters had climbed up on the tail-board of the preceding +vehicle. The other seemed to be walking in a dusty sleep. + +“Kla'uns,” said the girl. + +The boy, without turning his head, responded, “Susy.” + +“Wot are you going to be?” said the girl. + +“Goin' to be?” repeated Clarence. + +“When you is growed,” explained Susy. + +Clarence hesitated. His settled determination had been to become a +pirate, merciless yet discriminating. But reading in a bethumbed “Guide +to the Plains” that morning of Fort Lamarie and Kit Carson, he had +decided upon the career of a “scout,” as being more accessible and +requiring less water. Yet, out of compassion for Susy's possible +ignorance, he said neither, and responded with the American boy's modest +conventionality, “President.” It was safe, required no embarrassing +description, and had been approved by benevolent old gentlemen with +their hands on his head. + +“I'm goin' to be a parson's wife,” said Susy, “and keep hens, and +have things giv' to me. Baby clothes, and apples, and apple sass--and +melasses! and more baby clothes! and pork when you kill.” + +She had thrown herself at the bottom of the wagon, with her back towards +him and her doll in her lap. He could see the curve of her curly head, +and beyond, her bare dimpled knees, which were raised, and over which +she was trying to fold the hem of her brief skirt. + +“I wouldn't be a President's wife,” she said presently. + +“You couldn't!” + +“Could if I wanted to!” + +“Couldn't!” + +“Could now!” + +“Couldn't!” + +“Why?” + +Finding it difficult to explain his convictions of her ineligibility, +Clarence thought it equally crushing not to give any. There was a long +silence. It was very hot and dusty. The wagon scarcely seemed to move. +Clarence gazed at the vignette of the track behind them formed by +the hood of the rear. Presently he rose and walked past her to the +tail-board. “Goin' to get down,” he said, putting his legs over. + +“Maw says 'No,'” said Susy. + +Clarence did not reply, but dropped to the ground beside the slowly +turning wheels. Without quickening his pace he could easily keep his +hand on the tail-board. + +“Kla'uns.” + +He looked up. + +“Take me.” + +She had already clapped on her sun-bonnet and was standing at the edge +of the tail-board, her little arms extended in such perfect confidence +of being caught that the boy could not resist. He caught her cleverly. +They halted a moment and let the lumbering vehicle move away from them, +as it swayed from side to side as if laboring in a heavy sea. They +remained motionless until it had reached nearly a hundred yards, and +then, with a sudden half-real, half-assumed, but altogether delightful +trepidation, ran forward and caught up with it again. This they repeated +two or three times until both themselves and the excitement were +exhausted, and they again plodded on hand in hand. Presently Clarence +uttered a cry. + +“My! Susy--look there!” + +The rear wagon had once more slipped away from them a considerable +distance. Between it and them, crossing its track, a most extraordinary +creature had halted. + +At first glance it seemed a dog--a discomfited, shameless, ownerless +outcast of streets and byways, rather than an honest stray of some +drover's train. It was so gaunt, so dusty, so greasy, so slouching, +and so lazy! But as they looked at it more intently they saw that the +grayish hair of its back had a bristly ridge, and there were great +poisonous-looking dark blotches on its flanks, and that the slouch of +its haunches was a peculiarity of its figure, and not the cowering of +fear. As it lifted its suspicious head towards them they could see that +its thin lips, too short to cover its white teeth, were curled in a +perpetual sneer. + +“Here, doggie!” said Clarence excitedly. “Good dog! Come.” + +Susy burst into a triumphant laugh. “Et tain't no dog, silly; it's er +coyote.” + +Clarence blushed. It wasn't the first time the pioneer's daughter had +shown her superior knowledge. He said quickly, to hide his discomfiture, +“I'll ketch him, any way; he's nothin' mor'n a ki yi.” + +“Ye can't, tho,” said Susy, shaking her sun-bonnet. “He's faster nor a +hoss!” + +Nevertheless, Clarence ran towards him, followed by Susy. When they had +come within twenty feet of him, the lazy creature, without apparently +the least effort, took two or three limping bounds to one side, and +remained at the same distance as before. They repeated this onset three +or four times with more or less excitement and hilarity, the animal +evading them to one side, but never actually retreating before them. +Finally, it occurred to them both that although they were not catching +him they were not driving him away. The consequences of that thought +were put into shape by Susy with round-eyed significance. + +“Kla'uns, he bites.” + +Clarence picked up a hard sun-baked clod, and, running forward, threw +it at the coyote. It was a clever shot, and struck him on his slouching +haunches. He snapped and gave a short snarling yelp, and vanished. +Clarence returned with a victorious air to his companion. But she was +gazing intently in the opposite direction, and for the first time he +discovered that the coyote had been leading them half round a circle. + +“Kla'uns,” said Susy, with a hysterical little laugh. + +“Well?” + +“The wagon's gone.” + +Clarence started. It was true. Not only their wagon, but the whole train +of oxen and teamsters had utterly disappeared, vanishing as completely +as if they had been caught up in a whirlwind or engulfed in the earth! +Even the low cloud of dust that usually marked their distant course by +day was nowhere to be seen. The long level plain stretched before them +to the setting sun, without a sign or trace of moving life or animation. +That great blue crystal bowl, filled with dust and fire by day, with +stars and darkness by night, which had always seemed to drop its rim +round them everywhere and shut them in, seemed to them now to have +been lifted to let the train pass out, and then closed down upon them +forever. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Their first sensation was one of purely animal freedom. + +They looked at each other with sparkling eyes and long silent breaths. +But this spontaneous outburst of savage nature soon passed. Susy's +little hand presently reached forward and clutched Clarence's jacket. +The boy understood it, and said quickly,-- + +“They ain't gone far, and they'll stop as soon as they find us gone.” + +They trotted on a little faster; the sun they had followed every day and +the fresh wagon tracks being their unfailing guides; the keen, cool air +of the plains, taking the place of that all-pervading dust and smell of +the perspiring oxen, invigorating them with its breath. + +“We ain't skeered a bit, are we?” said Susy. + +“What's there to be afraid of?” said Clarence scornfully. He said this +none the less strongly because he suddenly remembered that they had been +often left alone in the wagon for hours without being looked after, +and that their absence might not be noticed until the train stopped to +encamp at dusk, two hours later. They were not running very fast, yet +either they were more tired than they knew, or the air was thinner, for +they both seemed to breathe quickly. Suddenly Clarence stopped. + +“There they are now.” + +He was pointing to a light cloud of dust in the far-off horizon, from +which the black hulk of a wagon emerged for a moment and was lost. But +even as they gazed the cloud seemed to sink like a fairy mirage to the +earth again, the whole train disappeared, and only the empty stretching +track returned. They did not know that this seemingly flat and level +plain was really undulatory, and that the vanished train had simply +dipped below their view on some further slope even as it had once +before. But they knew they were disappointed, and that disappointment +revealed to them the fact that they had concealed it from each other. +The girl was the first to succumb, and burst into a quick spasm of +angry tears. That single act of weakness called out the boy's pride and +strength. There was no longer an equality of suffering; he had become +her protector; he felt himself responsible for both. Considering her no +longer his equal, he was no longer frank with her. + +“There's nothin' to boo-boo for,” he said, with a half-affected +brusqueness. “So quit, now! They'll stop in a minit, and send some one +back for us. Shouldn't wonder if they're doin' it now.” + +But Susy, with feminine discrimination detecting the hollow ring in his +voice, here threw herself upon him and began to beat him violently with +her little fists. “They ain't! They ain't! They ain't. You know it! +How dare you?” Then, exhausted with her struggles, she suddenly threw +herself flat on the dry grass, shut her eyes tightly, and clutched at +the stubble. + +“Get up,” said the boy, with a pale, determined face that seemed to have +got much older. + +“You leave me be,” said Susy. + +“Do you want me to go away and leave you?” asked the boy. + +Susy opened one blue eye furtively in the secure depths of her +sun-bonnet, and gazed at his changed face. + +“Ye-e-s.” + +He pretended to turn away, but really to look at the height of the +sinking sun. + +“Kla'uns!” + +“Well?” + +“Take me.” + +She was holding up her hands. He lifted her gently in his arms, dropping +her head over his shoulder. “Now,” he said cheerfully, “you keep a good +lookout that way, and I this, and we'll soon be there.” + +The idea seemed to please her. After Clarence had stumbled on for a few +moments, she said, “Do you see anything, Kla'uns?” + +“Not yet.” + +“No more don't I.” This equality of perception apparently satisfied her. +Presently she lay more limp in his arms. She was asleep. + +The sun was sinking lower; it had already touched the edge of the +horizon, and was level with his dazzled and straining eyes. At times it +seemed to impede his eager search and task his vision. Haze and black +spots floated across the horizon, and round wafers, like duplicates of +the sun, glittered back from the dull surface of the plains. Then he +resolved to look no more until he had counted fifty, a hundred, +but always with the same result, the return of the empty, unending +plains--the disk growing redder as it neared the horizon, the fire it +seemed to kindle as it sank, but nothing more. + +Staggering under his burden, he tried to distract himself by fancying +how the discovery of their absence would be made. He heard the listless, +half-querulous discussion about the locality that regularly pervaded +the nightly camp. He heard the discontented voice of Jake Silsbee as he +halted beside the wagon, and said, “Come out o' that now, you two, and +mighty quick about it.” He heard the command harshly repeated. He saw +the look of irritation on Silsbee's dusty, bearded face, that followed +his hurried glance into the empty wagon. He heard the query, “What's +gone o' them limbs now?” handed from wagon to wagon. He heard a few +oaths; Mrs. Silsbee's high rasping voice, abuse of himself, the hurried +and discontented detachment of a search party, Silsbee and one of the +hired men, and vociferation and blame. Blame always for himself, the +elder, who might have “known better!” A little fear, perhaps, but he +could not fancy either pity or commiseration. Perhaps the thought upheld +his pride; under the prospect of sympathy he might have broken down. + +At last he stumbled, and stopped to keep himself from falling forward on +his face. He could go no further; his breath was spent; he was dripping +with perspiration; his legs were trembling under him; there was +a roaring in his ears; round red disks of the sun were scattered +everywhere around him like spots of blood. To the right of the trail +there seemed to be a slight mound where he could rest awhile, and yet +keep his watchful survey of the horizon. But on reaching it he found +that it was only a tangle of taller mesquite grass, into which he sank +with his burden. Nevertheless, if useless as a point of vantage, it +offered a soft couch for Susy, who seemed to have fallen quite naturally +into her usual afternoon siesta, and in a measure it shielded her from a +cold breeze that had sprung up from the west. Utterly exhausted himself, +but not daring to yield to the torpor that seemed to be creeping over +him, Clarence half sat, half knelt down beside her, supporting himself +with one hand, and, partly hidden in the long grass, kept his straining +eyes fixed on the lonely track. + +The red disk was sinking lower. It seemed to have already crumbled away +a part of the distance with its eating fires. As it sank still lower, +it shot out long, luminous rays, diverging fan-like across the plain, +as if, in the boy's excited fancy, it too were searching for the lost +estrays. And as one long beam seemed to linger over his hiding-place, +he even thought that it might serve as a guide to Silsbee and the other +seekers, and was constrained to stagger to his feet, erect in its +light. But it soon sank, and with it Clarence dropped back again to his +crouching watch. Yet he knew that the daylight was still good for an +hour, and with the withdrawal of that mystic sunset glory objects became +even more distinct and sharply defined than at any other time. And with +the merciful sheathing of that flaming sword which seemed to have swayed +between him and the vanished train, his eyes already felt a blessed +relief. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +With the setting of the sun an ominous silence fell. He could hear the +low breathing of Susy, and even fancied he could hear the beating of his +own heart in that oppressive hush of all nature. For the day's march had +always been accompanied by the monotonous creaking of wheels and axles, +and even the quiet of the night encampment had been always more or less +broken by the movement of unquiet sleepers on the wagon beds, or the +breathing of the cattle. But here there was neither sound nor motion. +Susy's prattle, and even the sound of his own voice, would have broken +the benumbing spell, but it was a part of his growing self-denial now +that he refrained from waking her even by a whisper. She would awaken +soon enough to thirst and hunger, perhaps, and then what was he to do? +If that looked-for help would only come now--while she still slept. For +it was part of his boyish fancy that if he could deliver her asleep and +undemonstrative of fear and suffering, he would be less blameful, and +she less mindful of her trouble. If it did not come--but he would not +think of that yet! If she was thirsty meantime--well, it might rain, and +there was always the dew which they used to brush off the morning grass; +he would take off his shirt and catch it in that, like a shipwrecked +mariner. It would be funny, and make her laugh. For himself he would not +laugh; he felt he was getting very old and grown up in this loneliness. + +It was getting darker--they should be looking into the wagons now. A new +doubt began to assail him. Ought he not, now that he was rested, make +the most of the remaining moments of daylight, and before the glow faded +from the west, when he would no longer have any bearings to guide him? +But there was always the risk of waking her!--to what? The fear of being +confronted again with HER fear and of being unable to pacify her, at +last decided him to remain. But he crept softly through the grass, and +in the dust of the track traced the four points of the compass, as he +could still determine them by the sunset light, with a large printed W +to indicate the west! This boyish contrivance particularly pleased him. +If he had only had a pole, a stick, or even a twig, on which to tie his +handkerchief and erect it above the clump of mesquite as a signal to the +searchers in case they should be overcome by fatigue or sleep, he would +have been happy. But the plain was barren of brush or timber; he did +not dream that this omission and the very unobtrusiveness of his +hiding-place would be his salvation from a greater danger. + +With the coming darkness the wind arose and swept the plain with a +long-drawn sigh. This increased to a murmur, till presently the whole +expanse--before sunk in awful silence--seemed to awake with vague +complaints, incessant sounds, and low moanings. At times he thought he +heard the halloaing of distant voices, at times it seemed as a whisper +in his own ear. In the silence that followed each blast he fancied he +could detect the creaking of the wagon, the dull thud of the oxen's +hoofs, or broken fragments of speech, blown and scattered even as he +strained his ears to listen by the next gust. This tension of the ear +began to confuse his brain, as his eyes had been previously dazzled by +the sunlight, and a strange torpor began to steal over his faculties. +Once or twice his head dropped. + +He awoke with a start. A moving figure had suddenly uplifted itself +between him and the horizon! It was not twenty yards away, so clearly +outlined against the still luminous sky that it seemed even nearer. +A human figure, but so disheveled, so fantastic, and yet so mean and +puerile in its extravagance, that it seemed the outcome of a childish +dream. It was a mounted figure, but so ludicrously disproportionate to +the pony it bestrode, whose slim legs were stiffly buried in the dust in +a breathless halt, that it might have been a straggler from some vulgar +wandering circus. A tall hat, crownless and rimless, a castaway of +civilization, surmounted by a turkey's feather, was on its head; over +its shoulders hung a dirty tattered blanket that scarcely covered the +two painted legs which seemed clothed in soiled yellow hose. In one hand +it held a gun; the other was bent above its eyes in eager scrutiny of +some distant point beyond and east of the spot where the children lay +concealed. Presently, with a dozen quick noiseless strides of the pony's +legs, the apparition moved to the right, its gaze still fixed on that +mysterious part of the horizon. There was no mistaking it now! The +painted Hebraic face, the large curved nose, the bony cheek, the broad +mouth, the shadowed eyes, the straight long matted locks! It was an +Indian! Not the picturesque creature of Clarence's imagination, but +still an Indian! The boy was uneasy, suspicious, antagonistic, but +not afraid. He looked at the heavy animal face with the superiority of +intelligence, at the half-naked figure with the conscious supremacy of +dress, at the lower individuality with the contempt of a higher race. +Yet a moment after, when the figure wheeled and disappeared towards the +undulating west, a strange chill crept over him. Yet he did not know +that in this puerile phantom and painted pigmy the awful majesty of +Death had passed him by. + +“Mamma!” + +It was Susy's voice, struggling into consciousness. Perhaps she had been +instinctively conscious of the boy's sudden fears. + +“Hush!” + +He had just turned to the objective point of the Indian's gaze. There +WAS something! A dark line was moving along with the gathering darkness. +For a moment he hardly dared to voice his thoughts even to himself. +It was a following train overtaking them from the rear! And from the +rapidity of its movements a train with horses, hurrying forward to +evening camp. He had never dreamt of help from that quarter. This +was what the Indian's keen eyes had been watching, and why he had so +precipitately fled. + +The strange train was now coming up at a round trot. It was evidently +well appointed with five or six large wagons and several outriders. In +half an hour it would be here. Yet he refrained from waking Susy, who +had fallen asleep again; his old superstition of securing her safety +first being still uppermost. He took off his jacket to cover her +shoulders, and rearranged her nest. Then he glanced again at the coming +train. But for some unaccountable reason it had changed its direction, +and instead of following the track that should have brought it to his +side it had turned off to the left! In ten minutes it would pass abreast +of him a mile and a half away! If he woke Susy now, he knew she would be +helpless in her terror, and he could not carry her half that distance. +He might rush to the train himself and return with help, but he would +never leave her alone--in the darkness. Never! If she woke she would die +of fright, perhaps, or wander blindly and aimlessly away. No! The train +would pass and with it that hope of rescue. Something was in his throat, +but he gulped it down and was quiet again albeit he shivered in the +night wind. + +The train was nearly abreast of him now. He ran out of the tall grass, +waving his straw hat above his head in the faint hope of attracting +attention. But he did not go far, for he found to his alarm that when +he turned back again the clump of mesquite was scarcely distinguishable +from the rest of the plain. This settled all question of his going. Even +if he reached the train and returned with some one, how would he ever +find her again in this desolate expanse? + +He watched the train slowly pass--still mechanically, almost hopelessly, +waving his hat as he ran up and down before the mesquite, as if he were +waving a last farewell to his departing hope. Suddenly it appeared to +him that three of the outriders who were preceding the first wagon had +changed their shape. They were no longer sharp, oblong, black blocks +against the horizon but had become at first blurred and indistinct, +then taller and narrower, until at last they stood out like exclamation +points against the sky. He continued to wave his hat, they continued to +grow taller and narrower. He understood it now--the three transformed +blocks were the outriders coming towards him. + +This is what he had seen-- + +[Drawing of three black blocks] + +This is what he saw now-- + +! ! ! + +He ran back to Susy to see if she still slept, for his foolish desire +to have her saved unconsciously was stronger than ever now that safety +seemed so near. She was still sleeping, although she had moved slightly. +He ran to the front again. + +The outriders had apparently halted. What were they doing? Why wouldn't +they come on? + +Suddenly a blinding flash of light seemed to burst from one of them. +Away over his head something whistled like a rushing bird, and sped +off invisible. They had fired a gun; they were signaling to +him--Clarence--like a grown-up man. He would have given his life at that +moment to have had a gun. But he could only wave his hat frantically. + +One of the figures here bore away and impetuously darted forward again. +He was coming nearer, powerful, gigantic, formidable, as he loomed +through the darkness. All at once he threw up his arm with a wild +gesture to the others; and his voice, manly, frank, and assuring, came +ringing before him. + +“Hold up! Good God! It's no Injun--it's a child!” + +In another moment he had reined up beside Clarence and leaned over him, +bearded, handsome, powerful and protecting. + +“Hallo! What's all this? What are you doing here?” + +“Lost from Mr. Silsbee's train,” said Clarence, pointing to the darkened +west. + +“Lost?--how long?” + +“About three hours. I thought they'd come back for us,” said Clarence +apologetically to this big, kindly man. + +“And you kalkilated to wait here for 'em?” + +“Yes, yes--I did--till I saw you.” + +“Then why in thunder didn't you light out straight for us, instead of +hanging round here and drawing us out?” + +The boy hung his head. He knew his reasons were unchanged, but all at +once they seemed very foolish and unmanly to speak out. + +“Only that we were on the keen jump for Injins,” continued the stranger, +“we wouldn't have seen you at all, and might hev shot you when we did. +What possessed you to stay here?” + +The boy was still silent. “Kla'uns,” said a faint, sleepy voice from the +mesquite, “take me.” The rifle-shot had awakened Susy. + +The stranger turned quickly towards the sound. Clarence started and +recalled himself. “There,” he said bitterly, “you've done it now, you've +wakened her! THAT'S why I stayed. I couldn't carry her over there to +you. I couldn't let her walk, for she'd be frightened. I wouldn't wake +her up, for she'd be frightened, and I mightn't find her again. There!” + He had made up his mind to be abused, but he was reckless now that she +was safe. + +The men glanced at each other. “Then,” said the spokesman quietly, “you +didn't strike out for us on account of your sister?” + +“She ain't my sister,” said Clarence quickly. “She's a little girl. +She's Mrs. Silsbee's little girl. We were in the wagon and got down. +It's my fault. I helped her down.” + +The three men reined their horses closely round him, leaning forward +from their saddles, with their hands on their knees and their heads on +one side. “Then,” said the spokesman gravely, “you just reckoned to stay +here, old man, and take your chances with her rather than run the risk +of frightening or leaving her--though it was your one chance of life!” + +“Yes,” said the boy, scornful of this feeble, grown-up repetition. + +“Come here.” + +The boy came doggedly forward. The man pushed back the well-worn straw +hat from Clarence's forehead and looked into his lowering face. With his +hand still on the boy's head he turned him round to the others, and said +quietly,-- + +“Suthin of a pup, eh?” + +“You bet,” they responded. + +The voice was not unkindly, although the speaker had thrown his lower +jaw forward as if to pronounce the word “pup” with a humorous suggestion +of a mastiff. Before Clarence could make up his mind if the epithet +was insulting or not, the man put out his stirruped foot, and, with a +gesture of invitation, said, “Jump up.” + +“But Susy,” said Clarence, drawing back. + +“Look; she's making up to Phil already.” + +Clarence looked. Susy had crawled out of the mesquite, and with her +sun-bonnet hanging down her back, her curls tossed around her face, +still flushed with sleep, and Clarence's jacket over her shoulders, was +gazing up with grave satisfaction in the laughing eyes of one of the men +who was with outstretched hands bending over her. Could he believe his +senses? The terror-stricken, willful, unmanageable Susy, whom he would +have translated unconsciously to safety without this terrible ordeal of +being awakened to the loss of her home and parents at any sacrifice +to himself--this ingenuous infant was absolutely throwing herself with +every appearance of forgetfulness into the arms of the first new-comer! +Yet his perception of this fact was accompanied by no sense of +ingratitude. For her sake he felt relieved, and with a boyish smile +of satisfaction and encouragement vaulted into the saddle before the +stranger. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +The dash forward to the train, securely held in the saddle by the arms +of their deliverers, was a secret joy to the children that seemed only +too quickly over. The resistless gallop of the fiery mustangs, the rush +of the night wind, the gathering darkness in which the distant wagons, +now halted and facing them, looked like domed huts in the horizon--all +these seemed but a delightful and fitting climax to the events of the +day. In the sublime forgetfulness of youth, all they had gone through +had left no embarrassing record behind it; they were willing to repeat +their experiences on the morrow, confident of some equally happy end. +And when Clarence, timidly reaching his hand towards the horse-hair +reins lightly held by his companion, had them playfully yielded up to +him by that hold and confident rider, the boy felt himself indeed a man. + +But a greater surprise was in store for them. As they neared the wagons, +now formed into a circle with a certain degree of military formality, +they could see that the appointments of the strange party were larger +and more liberal than their own, or indeed anything they had ever known +of the kind. Forty or fifty horses were tethered within the circle, and +the camp fires were already blazing. Before one of them a large tent +was erected, and through the parted flaps could be seen a table actually +spread with a white cloth. Was it a school feast, or was this their +ordinary household arrangement? Clarence and Susy thought of their own +dinners, usually laid on bare boards beneath the sky, or under the low +hood of the wagon in rainy weather, and marveled. And when they finally +halted, and were lifted from their horses, and passed one wagon fitted +up as a bedroom and another as a kitchen, they could only nudge each +other with silent appreciation. But here again the difference already +noted in the quality of the sensations of the two children was +observable. Both were equally and agreeably surprised. But Susy's wonder +was merely the sense of novelty and inexperience, and a slight disbelief +in the actual necessity of what she saw; while Clarence, whether from +some previous general experience or peculiar temperament, had the +conviction that what he saw here was the usual custom, and what he had +known with the Silsbees was the novelty. The feeling was attended with a +slight sense of wounded pride for Susy, as if her enthusiasm had exposed +her to ridicule. + +The man who had carried him, and seemed to be the head of the party, had +already preceded them to the tent, and presently reappeared with a lady +with whom he had exchanged a dozen hurried words. They seemed to refer +to him and Susy; but Clarence was too much preoccupied with the fact +that the lady was pretty, that her clothes were neat and thoroughly +clean, that her hair was tidy and not rumpled, and that, although she +wore an apron, it was as clean as her gown, and even had ribbons on it, +to listen to what was said. And when she ran eagerly forward, and with +a fascinating smile lifted the astonished Susy in her arms, Clarence, in +his delight for his young charge, quite forgot that she had not noticed +him. The bearded man, who seemed to be the lady's husband, evidently +pointed out the omission, with some additions that Clarence could not +catch; for after saying, with a pretty pout, “Well, why shouldn't he?” + she came forward with the same dazzling smile, and laid her small and +clean white hand upon his shoulder. + +“And so you took good care of the dear little thing? She's such an +angel, isn't she? and you must love her very much.” + +Clarence colored with delight. It was true it had never occurred to him +to look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant, and I fear he was +just then more struck with the fair complimenter than the compliment +to his companion, but he was pleased for her sake. He was not yet +old enough to be conscious of the sex's belief in its irresistible +domination over mankind at all ages, and that Johnny in his check apron +would be always a hopeless conquest of Jeannette in her pinafore, and +that he ought to have been in love with Susy. + +Howbeit, the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her own +wagon, to reappear later, washed, curled, and beribboned like a new +doll, and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another of the +party. + +“Well, my boy, you haven't told me your name yet.” + +“Clarence, sir.” + +“So Susy calls you, but what else?” + +“Clarence Brant.” + +“Any relation to Colonel Brant?” asked the second man carelessly. + +“He was my father,” said the boy, brightening under this faint prospect +of recognition in his loneliness. + +The two men glanced at each other. The leader looked at the boy +curiously, and said,-- + +“Are you the son of Colonel Brant, of Louisville?” + +“Yes, sir,” said the boy, with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his +heart. “But he's dead now,” he added finally. + +“Ah, when did he die?” said the man quickly. + +“Oh, a long time ago. I don't remember him much. I was very little,” + said the boy, half apologetically. + +“Ah, you don't remember him?” + +“No,” said Clarence shortly. He was beginning to fall back upon that +certain dogged repetition which in sensitive children arises from their +hopeless inability to express their deeper feelings. He also had an +instinctive consciousness that this want of a knowledge of his father +was part of that vague wrong that had been done him. It did not help his +uneasiness that he could see that one of the two men, who turned away +with a half-laugh, misunderstood or did not believe him. + +“How did you come with the Silsbees?” asked the first man. + +Clarence repeated mechanically, with a child's distaste of practical +details, how he had lived with an aunt at St. Jo, and how his stepmother +had procured his passage with the Silsbees to California, where he was +to meet his cousin. All this with a lack of interest and abstraction +that he was miserably conscious told against him, but he was yet +helpless to resist. + +The first man remained thoughtful, and then glanced at Clarence's +sunburnt hands. Presently his large, good-humored smile returned. + +“Well, I suppose you are hungry?” + +“Yes,” said Clarence shyly. “But--” + +“But what?” + +“I should like to wash myself a little,” he returned hesitatingly, +thinking of the clean tent, the clean lady, and Susy's ribbons. + +“Certainly,” said his friend, with a pleased look. “Come with me.” + Instead of leading Clarence to the battered tin basin and bar of yellow +soap which had formed the toilet service of the Silsbee party, he +brought the boy into one of the wagons, where there was a washstand, a +china basin, and a cake of scented soap. Standing beside Clarence, he +watched him perform his ablutions with an approving air which rather +embarrassed his protege. Presently he said, almost abruptly,-- + +“Do you remember your father's house at Louisville?” + +“Yes, sir; but it was a long time ago.” + +Clarence remembered it as being very different from his home at St. +Joseph's, but from some innate feeling of diffidence he would have +shrunk from describing it in that way. He, however, said he thought it +was a large house. Yet the modest answer only made his new friend look +at him the more keenly. + +“Your father was Colonel Hamilton Brant, of Louisville, wasn't he?” he +said, half-confidentially. + +“Yes,” said Clarence hopelessly. + +“Well,” said his friend cheerfully, as if dismissing an abstruse problem +from his mind, “Let's go to supper.” + +When they reached the tent again, Clarence noticed that the supper was +laid only for his host and wife and the second man--who was familiarly +called “Harry,” but who spoke of the former always as “Mr. and Mrs. +Peyton”--while the remainder of the party, a dozen men, were at a second +camp fire, and evidently enjoying themselves in a picturesque fashion. +Had the boy been allowed to choose, he would have joined them, partly +because it seemed more “manly,” and partly that he dreaded a renewal of +the questioning. + +But here, Susy, sitting bolt upright on an extemporized high stool, +happily diverted his attention by pointing to the empty chair beside +her. + +“Kla'uns,” she said suddenly, with her usual clear and appalling +frankness, “they is chickens, and hamanaigs, and hot biksquits, and +lasses, and Mister Peyton says I kin have 'em all.” + +Clarence, who had begun suddenly to feel that he was responsible for +Susy's deportment and was balefully conscious that she was holding her +plated fork in her chubby fist by its middle, and, from his previous +knowledge of her, was likely at any moment to plunge it into the dish +before her, said softly,-- + +“Hush!” + +“Yes, you shall, dear,” said Mrs. Peyton, with tenderly beaming +assurance to Susy and a half-reproachful glance at the boy. “Eat what +you like, darling.” + +“It's a fork,” whispered the still uneasy Clarence, as Susy now seemed +inclined to stir her bowl of milk with it. + +“'Tain't, now, Kla'uns, it's only a split spoon,” said Susy. + +But Mrs. Peyton, in her rapt admiration, took small note of these +irregularities, plying the child with food, forgetting her own meal, and +only stopping at times to lift back the forward straying curls on Susy's +shoulders. Mr. Peyton looked on gravely and contentedly. Suddenly the +eyes of husband and wife met. + +“She'd have been nearly as old as this, John,” said Mrs. Peyton, in a +faint voice. + +John Peyton nodded without speaking, and turned his eyes away into the +gathering darkness. The man “Harry” also looked abstractedly at his +plate, as if he was saying grace. Clarence wondered who “she” was, and +why two little tears dropped from Mrs. Peyton's lashes into Susy's milk, +and whether Susy might not violently object to it. He did not know until +later that the Peytons had lost their only child, and Susy comfortably +drained this mingled cup of a mother's grief and tenderness without +suspicion. + +“I suppose we'll come up with their train early tomorrow, if some of +them don't find us to-night,” said Mrs. Peyton, with a long sigh and a +regretful glance at Susy. “Perhaps we might travel together for a little +while,” she added timidly. + +Harry laughed, and Mr. Peyton replied gravely, “I am afraid we wouldn't +travel with them, even for company's sake; and,” he added, in a lower +and graver voice, “it's rather odd the search party hasn't come upon +us yet, though I'm keeping Pete and Hank patrolling the trail to meet +them.” + +“It's heartless--so it is!” said Mrs. Peyton, with sudden indignation. +“It would be all very well if it was only this boy, who can take care of +himself; but to be so careless of a mere baby like this, it's shameful!” + +For the first time Clarence tasted the cruelty of discrimination. All +the more keenly that he was beginning to worship, after his boyish +fashion, this sweet-faced, clean, and tender-hearted woman. Perhaps Mr. +Peyton noticed it, for he came quietly to his aid. + +“Maybe they knew better than we in what careful hands they had left +her,” he said, with a cheerful nod towards Clarence. “And, again, they +may have been fooled as we were by Injin signs and left the straight +road.” + +This suggestion instantly recalled to Clarence his vision in the +mesquite. Should he dare tell them? Would they believe him, or would +they laugh at him before her? He hesitated, and at last resolved to tell +it privately to the husband. When the meal was ended, and he was made +happy by Mrs. Peyton's laughing acceptance of his offer to help her +clear the table and wash the dishes, they all gathered comfortably in +front of the tent before the large camp fire. At the other fire the rest +of the party were playing cards and laughing, but Clarence no longer +cared to join them. He was quite tranquil in the maternal propinquity +of his hostess, albeit a little uneasy as to his reticence about the +Indian. + +“Kla'uns,” said Susy, relieving a momentary pause, in her highest voice, +“knows how to speak. Speak, Kla'uns!” + +It appearing from Clarence's blushing explanation that this gift was not +the ordinary faculty of speech, but a capacity to recite verse, he was +politely pressed by the company for a performance. + +“Speak 'em, Kla'uns, the boy what stood unto the burnin' deck, and said, +'The boy, oh, where was he?'” said Susy, comfortably lying down on Mrs. +Peyton's lap, and contemplating her bare knees in the air. “It's 'bout +a boy,” she added confidentially to Mrs. Peyton, “whose father wouldn't +never, never stay with him on a burnin' ship, though he said, 'Stay, +father, stay,' ever so much.” + +With this clear, lucid, and perfectly satisfactory explanation of +Mrs. Hemans's “Casabianca,” Clarence began. Unfortunately, his actual +rendering of this popular school performance was more an effort of +memory than anything else, and was illustrated by those wooden gestures +which a Western schoolmaster had taught him. He described the flames +that “roared around him,” by indicating with his hand a perfect circle, +of which he was the axis; he adjured his father, the late Admiral +Casabianca, by clasping his hands before his chin, as if wanting to +be manacled in an attitude which he was miserably conscious was unlike +anything he himself had ever felt or seen before; he described that +father “faint in death below,” and “the flag on high,” with one +single motion. Yet something that the verses had kindled in his +active imagination, perhaps, rather than an illustration of the verses +themselves, at times brightened his gray eyes, became tremulous in +his youthful voice, and I fear occasionally incoherent on his lips. At +times, when not conscious of his affected art, the plain and all upon it +seemed to him to slip away into the night, the blazing camp fire at +his feet to wrap him in a fateful glory, and a vague devotion to +something--he knew not what--so possessed him that he communicated it, +and probably some of his own youthful delight in extravagant voice, to +his hearers, until, when he ceased with a glowing face, he was surprised +to find that the card players had deserted their camp fires and gathered +round the tent. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +“You didn't say 'Stay, father, stay,' enough, Kla'uns,” said Susy +critically. Then suddenly starting upright in Mrs. Peyton's lap, she +continued rapidly, “I kin dance. And sing. I kin dance High Jambooree.” + +“What's High Jambooree, dear?” asked Mrs. Peyton. + +“You'll see. Lemme down.” And Susy slipped to the ground. + +The dance of High Jambooree, evidently of remote mystical African +origin, appeared to consist of three small skips to the right and +then to the left, accompanied by the holding up of very short skirts, +incessant “teetering” on the toes of small feet, the exhibition of +much bare knee and stocking, and a gurgling accompaniment of childish +laughter. Vehemently applauded, it left the little performer breathless, +but invincible and ready for fresh conquest. + +“I kin sing, too,” she gasped hurriedly, as if unwilling that the +applause should lapse. “I kin sing. Oh, dear! Kla'uns,” piteously, “WHAT +is it I sing?” + +“Ben Bolt,” suggested Clarence. + +“Oh, yes. Oh, don't you remember sweet Alers Ben Bolt?” began Susy, in +the same breath and the wrong key. “Sweet Alers, with hair so brown, who +wept with delight when you giv'd her a smile, and--” with knitted brows +and appealing recitative, “what's er rest of it, Kla'uns?” + +“Who trembled with fear at your frown?” prompted Clarence. + +“Who trembled with fear at my frown?” shrilled Susy. “I forget er rest. +Wait! I kin sing--” + +“Praise God,” suggested Clarence. + +“Yes.” Here Susy, a regular attendant in camp and prayer-meetings, was +on firmer ground. + +Promptly lifting her high treble, yet with a certain acquired +deliberation, she began, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.” At +the end of the second line the whispering and laughing ceased. A deep +voice to the right, that of the champion poker player, suddenly rose +on the swell of the third line. He was instantly followed by a dozen +ringing voices, and by the time the last line was reached it was given +with a full chorus, in which the dull chant of teamsters and drivers +mingled with the soprano of Mrs. Peyton and Susy's childish treble. +Again and again it was repeated, with forgetful eyes and abstracted +faces, rising and falling with the night wind and the leap and gleam of +the camp fires, and fading again like them in the immeasurable mystery +of the darkened plain. + +In the deep and embarrassing silence that followed, at last the party +hesitatingly broke up, Mrs. Peyton retiring with Susy after offering +the child to Clarence for a perfunctory “good-night” kiss, an unusual +proceeding, which somewhat astonished them both--and Clarence found +himself near Mr. Peyton. + +“I think,” said Clarence timidly, “I saw an Injin to-day.” + +Mr. Peyton bent down towards him. “An Injin--where?” he asked quickly, +with the same look of doubting interrogatory with which he had received +Clarence's name and parentage. + +The boy for a moment regretted having spoken. But with his old +doggedness he particularized his statement. Fortunately, being gifted +with a keen perception, he was able to describe the stranger accurately, +and to impart with his description that contempt for its subject +which he had felt, and which to his frontier auditor established its +truthfulness. Peyton turned abruptly away, but presently returned with +Harry and another man. + +“You are sure of this?” said Peyton, half-encouragingly. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“As sure as you are that your father is Colonel Brant and is dead?” said +Harry, with a light laugh. + +Tears sprang into the boy's lowering eyes. “I don't lie,” he said +doggedly. + +“I believe you, Clarence,” said Peyton quietly. “But why didn't you say +it before?” + +“I didn't like to say it before Susy and--her!” stammered the boy. + +“Her?” + +“Yes, sir--Mrs. Peyton,” said Clarence blushingly. + +“Oh,” said Harry sarcastically, “how blessed polite we are!” + +“That'll do. Let up on him, will you?” said Peyton, roughly, to his +subordinate. “The boy knows what he's about. But,” he continued, +addressing Clarence, “how was it the Injin didn't see you?” + +“I was very still on account of not waking Susy,” said Clarence, “and--” + He hesitated. + +“And what?” + +“He seemed more keen watching what YOU were doing,” said the boy boldly. + +“That's so,” broke in the second man, who happened to be experienced, +“and as he was to wind'ard o' the boy he was off HIS scent and bearings. +He was one of their rear scouts; the rest o' them's ahead crossing our +track to cut us off. Ye didn't see anything else?” + +“I saw a coyote first,” said Clarence, greatly encouraged. + +“Hold on!” said the expert, as Harry turned away with a sneer. “That's +a sign, too. Wolf don't go where wolf hez been, and coyote don't foller +Injins--there's no pickin's! How long afore did you see the coyote?” + +“Just after we left the wagon,” said Clarence. + +“That's it,” said the man, thoughtfully. “He was driven on ahead, or +hanging on their flanks. These Injins are betwixt us and that ar train, +or following it.” + +Peyton made a hurried gesture of warning, as if reminding the speaker +of Clarence's presence--a gesture which the boy noticed and wondered +at. Then the conversation of the three men took a lower tone, although +Clarence distinctly heard the concluding opinion of the expert. + +“It ain't no good now, Mr. Peyton, and you'd be only exposing yourself +on their ground by breakin' camp agin to-night. And you don't know +that it ain't US they're watchin'. You see, if we hadn't turned off the +straight road when we got that first scare from these yer lost children, +we might hev gone on and walked plump into some cursed trap of those +devils. To my mind, we're just in nigger luck, and with a good watch and +my patrol we're all right to be fixed where we be till daylight.” + +Mr. Peyton presently turned away, taking Clarence with him. “As we'll +be up early and on the track of your train to-morrow, my boy, you had +better turn in now. I've put you up in my wagon, and as I expect to be +in the saddle most of the night, I reckon I won't trouble you much.” He +led the way to a second wagon--drawn up beside the one where Susy and +Mrs. Peyton had retired--which Clarence was surprised to find fitted +with a writing table and desk, a chair, and even a bookshelf containing +some volumes. A long locker, fitted like a lounge, had been made up as +a couch for him, with the unwonted luxury of clean white sheets and +pillow-cases. A soft matting covered the floor of the heavy wagon bed, +which, Mr. Peyton explained, was hung on centre springs to prevent +jarring. The sides and roof of the vehicle were of lightly paneled wood, +instead of the usual hooked canvas frame of the ordinary emigrant wagon, +and fitted with a glazed door and movable window for light and air. +Clarence wondered why the big, powerful man, who seemed at home on +horseback, should ever care to sit in this office like a merchant or +a lawyer; and if this train sold things to the other trains, or took +goods, like the peddlers, to towns on the route; but there seemed to be +nothing to sell, and the other wagons were filled with only the goods +required by the party. He would have liked to ask Mr. Peyton who HE was, +and have questioned HIM as freely as he himself had been questioned. But +as the average adult man never takes into consideration the injustice +of denying to the natural and even necessary curiosity of childhood +that questioning which he himself is so apt to assume without right, and +almost always without delicacy, Clarence had no recourse. Yet the +boy, like all children, was conscious that if he had been afterwards +questioned about THIS inexplicable experience, he would have been +blamed for his ignorance concerning it. Left to himself presently, and +ensconced between the sheets, he lay for some moments staring about him. +The unwonted comfort of his couch, so different from the stuffy blanket +in the hard wagon bed which he had shared with one of the teamsters, and +the novelty, order, and cleanliness of his surroundings, while they were +grateful to his instincts, began in some vague way to depress him. +To his loyal nature it seemed a tacit infidelity to his former rough +companions to be lying here; he had a dim idea that he had lost that +independence which equal discomfort and equal pleasure among them had +given him. There seemed a sense of servitude in accepting this luxury +which was not his. This set him endeavoring to remember something of +his father's house, of the large rooms, drafty staircases, and far-off +ceilings, and the cold formality of a life that seemed made up of +strange faces; some stranger--his parents; some kinder--the servants; +particularly the black nurse who had him in charge. Why did Mr. Peyton +ask him about it? Why, if it were so important to strangers, had not +his mother told him more of it? And why was she not like this good woman +with the gentle voice who was so kind to--to Susy? And what did they +mean by making HIM so miserable? Something rose in his throat, but with +an effort he choked it back, and, creeping from the lounge, went softly +to the window, opened it to see if it “would work,” and looked out. The +shrouded camp fires, the stars that glittered but gave no light, the dim +moving bulk of a patrol beyond the circle, all seemed to intensify the +darkness, and changed the current of his thoughts. He remembered what +Mr. Peyton had said of him when they first met. “Suthin of a pup, ain't +he?” Surely that meant something that was not bad! He crept back to the +couch again. + +Lying there, still awake, he reflected that he wouldn't be a scout when +he grew up, but would be something like Mr. Peyton, and have a train +like this, and invite the Silsbees and Susy to accompany him. For this +purpose, he and Susy, early to-morrow morning, would get permission to +come in here and play at that game. This would familiarize him with the +details, so that he would be able at any time to take charge of it. He +was already an authority on the subject of Indians! He had once been +fired at--as an Indian. He would always carry a rifle like that hanging +from the hooks at the end of the wagon before him, and would eventually +slay many Indians and keep an account of them in a big book like that +on the desk. Susy would help him, having grown up a lady, and they would +both together issue provisions and rations from the door of the wagon to +the gathered crowds. He would be known as the “White Chief,” his Indian +name being “Suthin of a Pup.” He would have a circus van attached to +the train, in which he would occasionally perform. He would also have +artillery for protection. There would be a terrific engagement, and he +would rush into the wagon, heated and blackened with gunpowder; and +Susy would put down an account of it in a book, and Mrs. Peyton--for she +would be there in some vague capacity--would say, “Really, now, I don't +see but what we were very lucky in having such a boy as Clarence with +us. I begin to understand him better.” And Harry, who, for purposes of +vague poetical retaliation, would also drop in at that moment, would +mutter and say, “He is certainly the son of Colonel Brant; dear me!” and +apologize. And his mother would come in also, in her coldest and most +indifferent manner, in a white ball dress, and start and say, “Good +gracious, how that boy has grown! I am sorry I did not see more of +him when he was young.” Yet even in the midst of this came a confusing +numbness, and then the side of the wagon seemed to melt away, and he +drifted out again alone into the empty desolate plain from which even +the sleeping Susy had vanished, and he was left deserted and forgotten. +Then all was quiet in the wagon, and only the night wind moving round +it. But lo! the lashes of the sleeping White Chief--the dauntless +leader, the ruthless destroyer of Indians--were wet with glittering +tears! + +Yet it seemed only a moment afterwards that he awoke with a faint +consciousness of some arrested motion. To his utter consternation, +the sun, three hours high, was shining in the wagon, already hot and +stifling in its beams. There was the familiar smell and taste of the +dirty road in the air about him. There was a faint creaking of boards +and springs, a slight oscillation, and beyond the audible rattle of +harness, as if the train had been under way, the wagon moving, and then +there had been a sudden halt. They had probably come up with the Silsbee +train; in a few moments the change would be effected and all of his +strange experience would be over. He must get up now. Yet, with the +morning laziness of the healthy young animal, he curled up a moment +longer in his luxurious couch. + +How quiet it was! There were far-off voices, but they seemed suppressed +and hurried. Through the window he saw one of the teamsters run rapidly +past him with a strange, breathless, preoccupied face, halt a moment at +one of the following wagons, and then run back again to the front. + +Then two of the voices came nearer, with the dull beating of hoofs in +the dust. + +“Rout out the boy and ask him,” said a half-suppressed, impatient voice, +which Clarence at once recognized as the man Harry's. + +“Hold on till Peyton comes up,” said the second voice, in a low tone; +“leave it to him.” + +“Better find out what they were like, at once,” grumbled Harry. + +“Wait, stand back,” said Peyton's voice, joining the others; “I'LL ask +him.” + +Clarence looked wonderingly at the door. It opened on Mr. Peyton, dusty +and dismounted, with a strange, abstracted look in his face. + +“How many wagons are in your train, Clarence?” + +“Three, sir.” + +“Any marks on them?” + +“Yes, sir,” said Clarence, eagerly: “'Off to California' and 'Root, Hog, +or Die.'” + +Mr. Peyton's eye seemed to leap up and hold Clarence's with a sudden, +strange significance, and then looked down. + +“How many were you in all?” he continued. + +“Five, and there was Mrs. Silsbee.” + +“No other woman?” + +“No.” + +“Get up and dress yourself,” he said gravely, “and wait here till I +come back. Keep cool and have your wits about you.” He dropped his +voice slightly. “Perhaps something's happened that you'll have to show +yourself a little man again for, Clarence!” + +The door closed, and the boy heard the same muffled hoofs and voices die +away towards the front. He began to dress himself mechanically, almost +vacantly, yet conscious always of a vague undercurrent of thrilling +excitement. When he had finished he waited almost breathlessly, feeling +the same beating of his heart that he had felt when he was following the +vanished train the day before. At last he could stand the suspense no +longer, and opened the door. Everything was still in the motionless +caravan, except--it struck him oddly even then--the unconcerned +prattling voice of Susy from one of the nearer wagons. Perhaps a +sudden feeling that this was something that concerned HER, perhaps an +irresistible impulse overcame him, but the next moment he had leaped to +the ground, faced about, and was running feverishly to the front. + +The first thing that met his eyes was the helpless and desolate bulk of +one of the Silsbee wagons a hundred rods away, bereft of oxen and pole, +standing alone and motionless against the dazzling sky! Near it was the +broken frame of another wagon, its fore wheels and axles gone, pitched +forward on its knees like an ox under the butcher's sledge. Not far away +there were the burnt and blackened ruins of a third, around which the +whole party on foot and horseback seemed to be gathered. As the boy ran +violently on, the group opened to make way for two men carrying some +helpless but awful object between them. A terrible instinct made +Clarence swerve from it in his headlong course, but he was at the same +moment discovered by the others, and a cry arose of “Go back!” “Stop!” + “Keep him back!” Heeding it no more than the wind that whistled by him, +Clarence made directly for the foremost wagon--the one in which he +and Susy had played. A powerful hand caught his shoulder; it was Mr. +Peyton's. + +“Mrs. Silsbee's wagon,” said the boy, with white lips, pointing to it. +“Where is she?” + +“She's missing,” said Peyton, “and one other--the rest are dead.” + +“She must be there,” said the boy, struggling, and pointing to the +wagon; “let me go.” + +“Clarence,” said Peyton sternly, accenting his grasp upon the boy's arm, +“be a man! Look around you. Try and tell us who these are.” + +There seemed to be one or two heaps of old clothes lying on the ground, +and further on, where the men at a command from Peyton had laid down +their burden, another. In those ragged, dusty heaps of clothes, from +which all the majesty of life seemed to have been ruthlessly stamped +out, only what was ignoble and grotesque appeared to be left. There +was nothing terrible in this. The boy moved slowly towards them; and, +incredible even to himself, the overpowering fear of them that a moment +before had overcome him left him as suddenly. He walked from the one to +the other, recognizing them by certain marks and signs, and mentioning +name after name. The groups gazed at him curiously; he was conscious +that he scarcely understood himself, still less the same quiet purpose +that made him turn towards the furthest wagon. + +“There's nothing there,” said Peyton; “we've searched it.” But the boy, +without replying, continued his way, and the crowd followed him. + +The deserted wagon, more rude, disorderly, and slovenly than it had +ever seemed to him before, was now heaped and tumbled with broken bones, +cans, scattered provisions, pots, pans, blankets, and clothing in the +foul confusion of a dust-heap. But in this heterogeneous mingling the +boy's quick eye caught sight of a draggled edge of calico. + +“That's Mrs. Silsbee's dress!” he cried, and leapt into the wagon. + +At first the men stared at each other, but an instant later a dozen +hands were helping him, nervously digging and clearing away the rubbish. +Then one man uttered a sudden cry, and fell back with frantic but +furious eyes uplifted against the pitiless, smiling sky above him. + +“Great God! look here!” + +It was the yellowish, waxen face of Mrs. Silsbee that had been +uncovered. But to the fancy of the boy it had changed; the old familiar +lines of worry, care, and querulousness had given way to a look of +remote peace and statue-like repose. He had often vexed her in her +aggressive life; he was touched with remorse at her cold, passionless +apathy now, and pressed timidly forward. Even as he did so, the man, +with a quick but warning gesture, hurriedly threw his handkerchief +over the matted locks, as if to shut out something awful from his view. +Clarence felt himself drawn back; but not before the white lips of a +bystander had whispered a single word-- + +“Scalped, too! by God!” + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Then followed days and weeks that seemed to Clarence as a dream. At +first, an interval of hushed and awed restraint when he and Susy were +kept apart, a strange and artificial interest taken little note of by +him, but afterwards remembered when others had forgotten it; the burial +of Mrs. Silsbee beneath a cairn of stones, with some ceremonies that, +simple though they were, seemed to usurp the sacred rights of grief from +him and Susy, and leave them cold and frightened; days of frequent and +incoherent childish outbursts from Susy, growing fainter and rarer as +time went on, until they ceased, he knew not when; the haunting by night +of that morning vision of the three or four heaps of ragged clothes on +the ground and a half regret that he had not examined them more closely; +a recollection of the awful loneliness and desolation of the broken and +abandoned wagon left behind on its knees as if praying mutely when the +train went on and left it; the trundling behind of the fateful wagon +in which Mrs. Silsbee's body had been found, superstitiously shunned by +every one, and when at last turned over to the authorities at an outpost +garrison, seeming to drop the last link from the dragging chain of the +past. The revelation to the children of a new experience in that brief +glimpse of the frontier garrison; the handsome officer in uniform and +belted sword, an heroic, vengeful figure to be admired and imitated +hereafter; the sudden importance and respect given to Susy and himself +as “survivors”; the sympathetic questioning and kindly exaggerations +of their experiences, quickly accepted by Susy--all these, looking back +upon them afterwards, seemed to have passed in a dream. + +No less strange and visionary to them seemed the real transitions they +noted from the moving train. How one morning they missed the changeless, +motionless, low, dark line along the horizon, and before noon found +themselves among the rocks and trees and a swiftly rushing river. +How there suddenly appeared beside them a few days later a great gray +cloud-covered ridge of mountains that they were convinced was that same +dark line that they had seen so often. How the men laughed at them, and +said that for the last three days they had been CROSSING that dark line, +and that it was HIGHER than the great gray-clouded range before them, +which it had always hidden from their view! How Susy firmly believed +that these changes took place in her sleep, when she always “kinder felt +they were crawlin' up,” and how Clarence, in the happy depreciation of +extreme youth, expressed his conviction that they “weren't a bit high, +after all.” How the weather became cold, though it was already summer, +and at night the camp fire was a necessity, and there was a stove in +the tent with Susy; and yet how all this faded away, and they were again +upon a dazzling, burnt, and sun-dried plain! But always as in a dream! + +More real were the persons who composed the party--whom they seemed to +have always known--and who, in the innocent caprice of children, had +become to them more actual than the dead had even been. There was Mr. +Peyton, who they now knew owned the train, and who was so rich that he +“needn't go to California if he didn't want to, and was going to buy +a great deal of it if he liked it,” and who was also a lawyer and +“policeman”--which was Susy's rendering of “politician”--and was called +“Squire” and “Judge” at the frontier outpost, and could order anybody to +be “took up if he wanted to,” and who knew everybody by their Christian +names; and Mrs. Peyton, who had been delicate and was ordered by the +doctor to live in the open air for six months, and “never go into a +house or a town agin,” and who was going to adopt Susy as soon as her +husband could arrange with Susy's relatives, and draw up the papers! How +“Harry” was Henry Benham, Mrs. Peyton's brother, and a kind of partner +of Mr. Peyton. And how the scout's name was Gus Gildersleeve, or the +“White Crow,” and how, through his recognized intrepidity, an attack +upon their train was no doubt averted. Then there was “Bill,” the +stock herder, and “Texas Jim,” the vaquero--the latter marvelous and +unprecedented in horsemanship. Such were their companions, as +appeared through the gossip of the train and their own inexperienced +consciousness. To them, they were all astounding and important +personages. But, either from boyish curiosity or some sense of being +misunderstood, Clarence was more attracted by the two individuals of the +party who were least kind to him--namely, Mrs. Peyton and her brother +Harry. I fear that, after the fashion of most children, and some +grown-up people, he thought less of the steady kindness of Mr. Peyton +and the others than of the rare tolerance of Harry or the polite +concessions of his sister. Miserably conscious of this at times, he +quite convinced himself that if he could only win a word of approbation +from Harry, or a smile from Mrs. Peyton, he would afterwards revenge +himself by “running away.” Whether he would or not, I cannot say. I am +writing of a foolish, growing, impressionable boy of eleven, of whose +sentiments nothing could be safely predicted but uncertainty. + +It was at this time that he became fascinated by another member of the +party whose position had been too humble and unimportant to be included +in the group already noted. Of the same appearance as the other +teamsters in size, habits, and apparel, he had not at first exhibited to +Clarence any claim to sympathy. But it appeared that he was actually +a youth of only sixteen--a hopeless incorrigible of St. Joseph, whose +parents had prevailed on Peyton to allow him to join the party, by way +of removing him from evil associations and as a method of reform. Of +this Clarence was at first ignorant, not from any want of frankness on +the part of the youth, for that ingenious young gentleman later informed +him that he had killed three men in St. Louis, two in St. Jo, and that +the officers of justice were after him. But it was evident that to +precocious habits of drinking, smoking, chewing, and card-playing this +overgrown youth added a strong tendency to exaggeration of statement. +Indeed, he was known as “Lying Jim Hooker,” and his various qualities +presented a problem to Clarence that was attractive and inspiring, +doubtful, but always fascinating. With the hoarse voice of early +wickedness and a contempt for ordinary courtesy, he had a round, +perfectly good-humored face, and a disposition that when not called +upon to act up to his self-imposed role of reckless wickedness, was not +unkindly. + +It was only a few days after the massacre, and while the children were +still wrapped in the gloomy interest and frightened reticence which +followed it, that “Jim Hooker” first characteristically flashed upon +Clarence's perceptions. Hanging half on and half off the saddle of +an Indian pony, the lank Jim suddenly made his appearance, dashing +violently up and down the track, and around the wagon in which Clarence +was sitting, tugging desperately at the reins, with every indication of +being furiously run away with, and retaining his seat only with the most +dauntless courage and skill. Round and round they went, the helpless +rider at times hanging by a single stirrup near the ground, and again +recovering himself by--as it seemed to Clarence--almost superhuman +effort. Clarence sat open-mouthed with anxiety and excitement, and yet +a few of the other teamsters laughed. Then the voice of Mr. Peyton, from +the window of his car, said quietly,-- + +“There, that will do, Jim. Quit it!” + +The furious horse and rider instantly disappeared. A few moments after, +the bewildered Clarence saw the redoubted horseman trotting along +quietly in the dust of the rear, on the same fiery steed, who in that +prosaic light bore an astounding resemblance to an ordinary team horse. +Later in the day he sought an explanation from the rider. + +“You see,” answered Jim gloomily, “thar ain't a galoot in this yer crowd +ez knows jist WHAT'S in that hoss! And them ez suspecks daren't say! It +wouldn't do for to hev it let out that the Judge hez a Morgan-Mexican +plug that's killed two men afore he got him, and is bound to kill +another afore he gets through! Why, on'y the week afore we kem up to +you, that thar hoss bolted with me at camping! Bucked and throwed me, +but I kept my holt o' the stirrups with my foot--so! Dragged me a matter +of two miles, head down, and me keepin' away rocks with my hand--so!” + +“Why didn't you loose your foot and let go?” asked Clarence +breathlessly. + +“YOU might,” said Jim, with deep scorn; “that ain't MY style. I just +laid low till we kem to a steep pitched hill, and goin' down when the +hoss was, so to speak, kinder BELOW me, I just turned a hand spring, so, +and that landed me onter his back again.” + +This action, though vividly illustrated by Jim's throwing his hands down +like feet beneath him, and indicating the parabola of a spring in +the air, proving altogether too much for Clarence's mind to grasp, he +timidly turned to a less difficult detail. + +“What made the horse bolt first, Mr. Hooker?” + +“Smelt Injins!” said Jim, carelessly expectorating tobacco juice in +a curving jet from the side of his mouth--a singularly fascinating +accomplishment, peculiarly his own, “'n' likely YOUR Injins.” + +“But,” argued Clarence hesitatingly, “you said it was a week +before--and--” + +“Er Mexican plug kin smell Injins fifty, yes, a hundred miles away,” + said Jim, with scornful deliberation; “'n' if Judge Peyton had took my +advice, and hadn't been so mighty feared about the character of his hoss +gettin' out he'd hev played roots on them Injins afore they tetched ye. +But,” he added, with gloomy dejection, “there ain't no sand in this yer +crowd, thar ain't no vim, thar ain't nothin'; and thar kan't be ez long +ez thar's women and babies, and women and baby fixin's, mixed up with +it. I'd hev cut the whole blamed gang ef it weren't for one or two +things,” he added darkly. + +Clarence, impressed by Jim's mysterious manner, for the moment forgot +his contemptuous allusion to Mr. Peyton, and the evident implication of +Susy and himself, and asked hurriedly, “What things?” + +Jim, as if forgetful of the boy's presence in his fitful mood, +abstractedly half drew a glittering bowie knife from his bootleg, +and then slowly put it back again. “Thar's one or two old scores,” he +continued, in a low voice, although no one was in hearing distance of +them, “one or two private accounts,” he went on tragically, averting +his eyes as if watched by some one, “thet hev to be wiped out with blood +afore I leave. Thar's one or two men TOO MANY alive and breathin' in +this yer crowd. Mebbee it's Gus Gildersleeve; mebbee it's Harry Benham; +mebbee,” he added, with a dark yet noble disinterestedness, “it's ME.” + +“Oh, no,” said Clarence, with polite deprecation. + +Far from placating the gloomy Jim, this seemed only to awake his +suspicions. “Mebbee,” he said, dancing suddenly away from Clarence, +“mebbee you think I'm lyin'. Mebbee you think, because you're Colonel +Brant's son, yer kin run ME with this yer train. Mebbee,” he continued, +dancing violently back again, “ye kalkilate, because ye run off'n' +stampeded a baby, ye kin tote me round too, sonny. Mebbee,” he went +on, executing a double shuffle in the dust and alternately striking +his hands on the sides of his boots, “mebbee you're spyin' round and +reportin' to the Judge.” + +Firmly convinced that Jim was working himself up by an Indian war-dance +to some desperate assault on himself, but resenting the last unjust +accusation, Clarence had recourse to one of his old dogged silences. +Happily at this moment an authoritative voice called out, “Now, then, +you Jim Hooker!” and the desperate Hooker, as usual, vanished instantly. +Nevertheless, he appeared an hour or two later beside the wagon in which +Susy and Clarence were seated, with an expression of satiated vengeance +and remorseful bloodguiltiness in his face, and his hair combed Indian +fashion over his eyes. As he generously contented himself with only +passing a gloomy and disparaging criticism on the game of cards that +the children were playing, it struck Clarence for the first time that a +great deal of his real wickedness resided in his hair. This set him to +thinking that it was strange that Mr. Peyton did not try to reform him +with a pair of scissors, but not until Clarence himself had for at +least four days attempted to imitate Jim by combing his own hair in that +fashion. + +A few days later, Jim again casually favored him with a confidential +interview. Clarence had been allowed to bestride one of the team leaders +postillionwise, and was correspondingly elevated, when Jim joined him, +on the Mexican plug, which appeared--no doubt a part of its wicked +art--heavily docile, and even slightly lame. + +“How much,” said Jim, in a tone of gloomy confidence,--“how much did you +reckon to make by stealin' that gal-baby, sonny?” + +“Nothing,” replied Clarence with a smile. Perhaps it was an evidence of +the marked influence that Jim was beginning to exert over him that +he already did not attempt to resent this fascinating implication of +grownup guilt. + +“It orter bin a good job, if it warn't revenge,” continued Jim moodily. + +“No, it wasn't revenge,” said Clarence hurriedly. + +“Then ye kalkilated ter get er hundred dollars reward ef the old man and +old woman hadn't bin scelped afore yet got up to 'em?” said Jim. “That's +your blamed dodgasted luck, eh! Enyhow, you'll make Mrs. Peyton plank +down suthin' if she adopts the babby. Look yer, young feller,” he said, +starting suddenly and throwing his face forward, glaring fiendishly +through his matted side-locks, “d'ye mean ter tell me it wasn't a +plant--a skin game--the hull thing?” + +“A what?” said Clarence. + +“D'ye mean to say”--it was wonderful how gratuitously husky his voice +became at this moment--“d'ye mean ter tell me ye didn't set on them +Injins to wipe out the Silsbees, so that ye could hev an out-an'-out gal +ORFEN on hand fer Mrs. Peyton ter adopt--eh?” + +But here Clarence was forced to protest, and strongly, although Jim +contemptuously ignored it. “Don't lie ter me,” he repeated mysteriously, +“I'm fly. I'm dark, young fel. We're cahoots in this thing?” And with +this artful suggestion of being in possession of Clarence's guilty +secret he departed in time to elude the usual objurgation of his +superior, “Phil,” the head teamster. + +Nor was his baleful fascination exercised entirely on Clarence. In +spite of Mrs. Peyton's jealously affectionate care, Clarence's frequent +companionship, and the little circle of admiring courtiers that always +surrounded Susy, it became evident that this small Eve had been secretly +approached and tempted by the Satanic Jim. She was found one day to +have a few heron's feathers in her possession with which she adorned her +curls, and at another time was discovered to have rubbed her face and +arms with yellow and red ochre, confessedly the free gift of Jim Hooker. +It was to Clarence alone that she admitted the significance and purport +of these offerings. “Jim gived 'em to me,” she said, “and Jim's a kind +of Injin hisself that won't hurt me; and when bad Injins come, they'll +think I'm his Injin baby and run away. And Jim said if I'd just told the +Injins when they came to kill papa and mamma, that I b'longed to him, +they'd hev runned away.” + +“But,” said the practical Clarence, “you could not; you know you were +with Mrs. Peyton all the time.” + +“Kla'uns,” said Susy, shaking her head and fixing her round blue eyes +with calm mendacity on the boy, “don't you tell me. I WAS THERE!” + +Clarence started back, and nearly fell over the wagon in hopeless dismay +at this dreadful revelation of Susy's powers of exaggeration. “But,” he +gasped, “you know, Susy, you and me left before--” + +“Kla'uns,” said Susy calmly, making a little pleat in the skirt of her +dress with her small thumb and fingers, “don't you talk to me. I was +there. I'se a SERIVER! The men at the fort said so! The SERIVERS is +allus, allus there, and allus allus knows everythin'.” + +Clarence was too dumfounded to reply. He had a vague recollection +of having noticed before that Susy was very much fascinated by the +reputation given to her at Fort Ridge as a “survivor,” and was trying +in an infantile way to live up to it. This the wicked Jim had evidently +encouraged. For a day or two Clarence felt a little afraid of her, and +more lonely than ever. + +It was in this state, and while he was doggedly conscious that his +association with Jim did not prepossess Mrs. Peyton or her brother in +his favor, and that the former even believed him responsible for Susy's +unhallowed acquaintance with Jim, that he drifted into one of those +youthful escapades on which elders are apt to sit in severe but not +always considerate judgment. Believing, like many other children, that +nobody cared particularly for him, except to RESTRAIN him, discovering, +as children do, much sooner than we complacently imagine, that love and +preference have no logical connection with desert or character, Clarence +became boyishly reckless. But when, one day, it was rumored that a herd +of buffalo was in the vicinity, and that the train would be delayed the +next morning in order that a hunt might be organized, by Gildersleeve, +Benham, and a few others, Clarence listened willingly to Jim's +proposition that they should secretly follow it. + +To effect their unhallowed purpose required boldness and duplicity. +It was arranged that shortly after the departure of the hunting party +Clarence should ask permission to mount and exercise one of the team +horses--a favor that had been frequently granted him; that in the +outskirts of the camp he should pretend that the horse ran away with +him, and Jim would start in pursuit. The absence of the shooting party +with so large a contingent of horses and men would preclude any further +detachment from the camp to assist them. Once clear, they would follow +the track of the hunters, and, if discovered by them, would offer the +same excuse, with the addition that they had lost their way to the camp. +The plan was successful. The details were carried out with almost too +perfect effect; as it appeared that Jim, in order to give dramatic +intensity to the fractiousness of Clarence's horse, had inserted a thorn +apple under the neck of his saddle, which Clarence only discovered +in time to prevent himself from being unseated. Urged forward by +ostentatious “Whoas!” and surreptitious cuts in the rear from Jim, +pursuer and pursued presently found themselves safely beyond the +half-dry stream and fringe of alder bushes that skirted the camp. They +were not followed. Whether the teamsters suspected and winked at this +design, or believed that the boys could take care of themselves, and ran +no risk of being lost in the proximity of the hunting party, there was +no general alarm. + +Thus reassured, and having a general idea of the direction of the hunt, +the boys pushed hilariously forward. Before them opened a vast expanse +of bottom land, slightly sloping on the right to a distant half-filled +lagoon, formed by the main river overflow, on whose tributary they had +encamped. The lagoon was partly hidden by straggling timber and “brush,” + and beyond that again stretched the unlimitable plains--the pasture +of their mighty game. Hither, Jim hoarsely informed his companion, the +buffaloes came to water. A few rods further on, he started dramatically, +and, alighting, proceeded to slowly examine the ground. It seemed to +be scattered over with half-circular patches, which he pointed out +mysteriously as “buffalo chip.” To Clarence's inexperienced perception +the plain bore a singular resemblance to the surface of an ordinary +unromantic cattle pasture that somewhat chilled his heroic fancy. +However, the two companions halted and professionally examined their +arms and equipments. + +These, I grieve to say, though varied, were scarcely full or +satisfactory. The necessities of their flight had restricted Jim to an +old double-barreled fowling-piece, which he usually carried slung across +his shoulders; an old-fashioned “six-shooter,” whose barrels revolved +occasionally and unexpectedly, known as “Allen's Pepper Box” on account +of its culinary resemblance; and a bowie-knife. Clarence carried an +Indian bow and arrow with which he had been exercising, and a hatchet +which he had concealed under the flanks of his saddle. To this Jim +generously added the six-shooter, taking the hatchet in exchange--a +transfer that at first delighted Clarence, until, seeing the warlike +and picturesque effect of the hatchet in Jim's belt, he regretted the +transfer. The gun, Jim meantime explained “extry charged,” “chuck up” + to the middle with slugs and revolver bullets, could only be fired by +himself, and even then he darkly added, not without danger. This poverty +of equipment was, however, compensated by opposite statements from +Jim of the extraordinary results obtained by these simple weapons from +“fellers I knew:” how HE himself had once brought down a “bull” by a +bold shot with a revolver through its open bellowing mouth that pierced +his “innards;” how a friend of his--an intimate in fact--now in jail at +Louisville for killing a sheriff's deputy, had once found himself alone +and dismounted with a simple clasp-knife and a lariat among a herd of +buffaloes; how, leaping calmly upon the shaggy shoulders of the biggest +bull, he lashed himself with the lariat firmly to its horns, goading it +onward with his clasp-knife, and subsisting for days upon the flesh cut +from its living body, until, abandoned by its fellows and exhausted +by the loss of blood, it finally succumbed to its victor at the very +outskirts of the camp to which he had artfully driven it! It must be +confessed that this recital somewhat took away Clarence's breath, and +he would have liked to ask a few questions. But they were alone on the +prairie, and linked by a common transgression; the glorious sun was +coming up victoriously, the pure, crisp air was intoxicating their +nerves; in the bright forecast of youth everything WAS possible! + +The surface of the bottom land that they were crossing was here and +there broken up by fissures and “potholes,” and some circumspection in +their progress became necessary. In one of these halts, Clarence was +struck by a dull, monotonous jarring that sounded like the heavy regular +fall of water over a dam. Each time that they slackened their pace the +sound would become more audible, and was at last accompanied by that +slight but unmistakable tremor of the earth that betrayed the vicinity +of a waterfall. Hesitating over the phenomenon, which seemed to imply +that their topography was wrong and that they had blundered from the +track, they were presently startled by the fact that the sound was +actually APPROACHING them! With a sudden instinct they both galloped +towards the lagoon. As the timber opened before them Jim uttered a long +ecstatic shout. “Why, it's THEM!” + +At a first glance it seemed to Clarence as if the whole plain beyond +was broken up and rolling in tumbling waves or furrows towards them. A +second glance showed the tossing fronts of a vast herd of buffaloes, and +here and there, darting in and out and among them, or emerging from the +cloud of dust behind, wild figures and flashes of fire. With the idea of +water still in his mind, it seemed as if some tumultuous tidal wave were +sweeping unseen towards the lagoon, carrying everything before it. He +turned with eager eyes, in speechless expectancy, to his companion. + +Alack! that redoubtable hero and mighty hunter was, to all appearances, +equally speechless and astonished. It was true that he remained rooted +to the saddle, a lank, still heroic figure, alternately grasping his +hatchet and gun with a kind of spasmodic regularity. How long he would +have continued this would never be known, for the next moment, with a +deafening crash, the herd broke through the brush, and, swerving at the +right of the lagoon, bore down directly upon them. All further doubt or +hesitation on their part was stopped. The farseeing, sagacious Mexican +plug with a terrific snort wheeled and fled furiously with his rider. +Moved, no doubt, by touching fidelity, Clarence's humbler team-horse +instantly followed. In a few moments those devoted animals struggled +neck to neck in noble emulation. + +“What are we goin' off this way for?” gasped the simple Clarence. + +“Peyton and Gildersleeve are back there--and they'll see us,” gasped Jim +in reply. It struck Clarence that the buffaloes were much nearer them +than the hunting party, and that the trampling hoofs of a dozen bulls +were close behind them, but with another gasp he shouted, + +“When are we going to hunt 'em?” + +“Hunt THEM!” screamed Jim, with a hysterical outburst of truth; “why, +they're huntin' US--dash it!” + +Indeed, there was no doubt that their frenzied horses were flying before +the equally frenzied herd behind them. They gained a momentary advantage +by riding into one of the fissures, and out again on the other side, +while their pursuers were obliged to make a detour. But in a few minutes +they were overtaken by that part of the herd who had taken the other and +nearer side of the lagoon, and were now fairly in the midst of them. The +ground shook with their trampling hoofs; their steaming breath, mingling +with the stinging dust that filled the air, half choked and blinded +Clarence. He was dimly conscious that Jim had wildly thrown his hatchet +at a cow buffalo pressing close upon his flanks. As they swept down into +another gully he saw him raise his fateful gun with utter desperation. +Clarence crouched low on his horse's outstretched neck. There was a +blinding flash, a single stunning report of both barrels; Jim reeled in +one way half out of the saddle, while the smoking gun seemed to leap in +another over his head, and then rider and horse vanished in a choking +cloud of dust and gunpowder. A moment after Clarence's horse stopped +with a sudden check, and the boy felt himself hurled over its head into +the gully, alighting on something that seemed to be a bounding cushion +of curled and twisted hair. It was the shaggy shoulder of an enormous +buffalo! For Jim's desperate random shot and double charge had taken +effect on the near hind leg of a preceding bull, tearing away the flesh +and ham-stringing the animal, who had dropped in the gully just in front +of Clarence's horse. + +Dazed but unhurt, the boy rolled from the lifted fore quarters of the +struggling brute to the ground. When he staggered to his feet again, not +only his horse was gone but the whole herd of buffaloes seemed to have +passed too, and he could hear the shouts of unseen hunters now ahead of +him. They had evidently overlooked his fall, and the gully had concealed +him. The sides before him were too steep for his aching limbs to climb; +the slope by which he and the bull had descended when the collision +occurred was behind the wounded animal. Clarence was staggering towards +it when the bull, by a supreme effort, lifted itself on three legs, half +turned, and faced him. + +These events had passed too quickly for the inexperienced boy to +have felt any active fear, or indeed anything but wild excitement and +confusion. But the spectacle of that shaggy and enormous front, that +seemed to fill the whole gully, rising with awful deliberation between +him and escape, sent a thrill of terror through his frame. The great, +dull, bloodshot eyes glared at him with a dumb, wondering fury; the +large wet nostrils were so near that their first snort of inarticulate +rage made him reel backwards as from a blow. The gully was only a +narrow and short fissure or subsidence of the plain; a few paces more of +retreat and he would be at its end, against an almost perpendicular +bank fifteen feet high. If he attempted to climb its crumbling sides and +fell, there would be those short but terrible horns waiting to impale +him! It seemed too terrible, too cruel! He was so small beside this +overgrown monster. It wasn't fair! The tears started to his eyes, and +then, in a rage at the injustice of Fate, he stood doggedly still with +clenched fists. He fixed his gaze with half-hysterical, childish fury on +those lurid eyes; he did not know that, owing to the strange magnifying +power of the bull's convex pupils, he, Clarence, appeared much bigger +than he really was to the brute's heavy consciousness, the distance from +him most deceptive, and that it was to this fact that hunters so often +owed their escape. He only thought of some desperate means of attack. +Ah! the six-shooter. It was still in his pocket. He drew it nervously, +hopelessly--it looked so small compared with his large enemy! + +He presented it with flashing eyes, and pulled the trigger. A feeble +click followed, another, and again! Even THIS had mocked him. He +pulled the trigger once more, wildly; there was a sudden explosion, and +another. He stepped back; the balls had apparently flattened themselves +harmlessly on the bull's forehead. He pulled again, hopelessly; there +was another report, a sudden furious bellow, and the enormous brute +threw his head savagely to one side, burying his left horn deep in the +crumbling bank beside him. Again and again he charged the bank, driving +his left horn home, and bringing down the stones and earth in showers. +It was some seconds before Clarence saw in a single glimpse of that +wildly tossing crest the reason of this fury. The blood was pouring from +his left eye, penetrated by the last bullet; the bull was blinded! A +terrible revulsion of feeling, a sudden sense of remorse that was for +the moment more awful than even his previous fear, overcame him. HE +had done THAT THING! As much to fly from the dreadful spectacle as +any instinct of self-preservation, he took advantage of the next mad +paroxysms of pain and blindness, that always impelled the suffering +beast towards the left, to slip past him on the right, reach the +incline, and scramble wildly up to the plain again. Here he ran +confusedly forward, not knowing whither--only caring to escape that +agonized bellowing, to shut out forever the accusing look of that huge +blood-weltering eye. + +Suddenly he heard a distant angry shout. To his first hurried glance +the plain had seemed empty, but, looking up, he saw two horsemen rapidly +advancing with a led horse behind them--his own. With the blessed sense +of relief that overtook him now came the fevered desire for sympathy +and to tell them all. But as they came nearer he saw that they were +Gildersleeve, the scout, and Henry Benham, and that, far from sharing +any delight in his deliverance, their faces only exhibited irascible +impatience. Overcome by this new defeat, the boy stopped, again dumb and +dogged. + +“Now, then, blank it all, WILL you get up and come along, or do +you reckon to keep the train waiting another hour over your blanked +foolishness?” said Gildersleeve savagely. + +The boy hesitated, and then mounted mechanically, without a word. + +“'Twould have served 'em right to have gone and left 'em,” muttered +Benham vindictively. + +For one wild instant Clarence thought of throwing himself from his +horse and bidding them go on and leave him. But before he could put his +thought into action the two men were galloping forward, with his horse +led by a lariat fastened to the horn of Gildersleeve's saddle. + +In two hours more they had overtaken the train, already on the march, +and were in the midst of the group of outriders. Judge Peyton's face, +albeit a trifle perplexed, turned towards Clarence with a kindly, +half-tolerant look of welcome. The boy's heart instantly melted with +forgiveness. + +“Well, my boy, let's hear YOUR story. What happened?” + +Clarence cast a hurried glance around, and saw Jim, with face averted, +riding gloomily behind. Then nervously and hurriedly he told how he had +been thrown into the gully on the back of the wounded buffalo, and the +manner of his escape. An audible titter ran through the cavalcade. +Mr. Peyton regarded him gravely. “But how did the buffalo get so +conveniently into the gully?” he asked. + +“Jim Hooker lamed him with a shotgun, and he fell over,” said Clarence +timidly. + +A roar of Homeric laughter went up from the party. Clarence looked up, +stung and startled, but caught a single glimpse of Jim Hooker's face +that made him forget his own mortification. In its hopeless, heart-sick, +and utterly beaten dejection--the first and only real expression he had +seen on it--he read the dreadful truth. Jim's REPUTATION had ruined him! +The one genuine and striking episode of his life, the one trustworthy +account he had given of it, had been unanimously accepted as the biggest +and most consummate lie of his record! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +With this incident of the hunt closed, to Clarence, the last remembered +episode of his journey. But he did not know until long after that it had +also closed to him what might have been the opening of a new career. +For it had been Judge Peyton's intention in adopting Susy to include a +certain guardianship and protection of the boy, provided he could get +the consent of that vague relation to whom he was consigned. But it +had been pointed out by Mrs. Peyton and her brother that Clarence's +association with Jim Hooker had made him a doubtful companion for Susy, +and even the Judge himself was forced to admit that the boy's apparent +taste for evil company was inconsistent with his alleged birth and +breeding. Unfortunately, Clarence, in the conviction of being hopelessly +misunderstood, and that dogged acquiescence to fate which was one of his +characteristics, was too proud to correct the impression by any of the +hypocracies of childhood. He had also a cloudy instinct of loyalty to +Jim in his disgrace, without, however, experiencing either the sympathy +of an equal or the zeal of a partisan, but rather--if it could be said +of a boy of his years--with the patronage and protection of a superior. +So he accepted without demur the intimation that when the train reached +California he would be forwarded from Stockton with an outfit and a +letter of explanation to Sacramento, it being understood that in the +event of not finding his relative he would return to the Peytons in one +of the southern valleys, where they elected to purchase a tract of land. + +With this outlook, and the prospect of change, independence, and all +the rich possibilities that to the imagination of youth are included in +them, Clarence had found the days dragging. The halt at Salt Lake, +the transit of the dreary Alkali desert, even the wild passage of the +Sierras, were but a blurred picture in his memory. The sight of eternal +snows and the rolling of endless ranks of pines, the first glimpse of a +hillside of wild oats, the spectacle of a rushing yellow river that to +his fancy seemed tinged with gold, were momentary excitements, quickly +forgotten. But when, one morning, halting at the outskirts of a +struggling settlement, he found the entire party eagerly gathered around +a passing stranger, who had taken from his saddle-bags a small buckskin +pouch to show them a double handful of shining scales of metal, Clarence +felt the first feverish and overmastering thrill of the gold-seekers. +Breathlessly he followed the breathless questions and careless replies. +The gold had been dug out of a placer only thirty miles away. It might +be worth, say, a hundred and fifty dollars; it was only HIS share of a +week's work with two partners. It was not much; “the country was +getting played out with fresh arrivals and greenhorns.” All this falling +carelessly from the unshaven lips of a dusty, roughly dressed man, with +a long-handled shovel and pickaxe strapped on his back, and a frying-pan +depending from his saddle. But no panoplied or armed knight ever seemed +so heroic or independent a figure to Clarence. What could be finer than +the noble scorn conveyed in his critical survey of the train, with its +comfortable covered wagons and appliances of civilization? “Ye'll hev to +get rid of them ther fixin's if yer goin' in for placer diggin'!” What +a corroboration of Clarence's real thoughts! What a picture of +independence was this! The picturesque scout, the all-powerful Judge +Peyton, the daring young officer, all crumbled on their clayey pedestals +before this hero in a red flannel shirt and high-topped boots. To stroll +around in the open air all day, and pick up those shining bits of metal, +without study, without method or routine--this was really life; to some +day come upon that large nugget “you couldn't lift,” that was worth as +much as the train and horses--such a one as the stranger said was found +the other day at Sawyer's Bar--this was worth giving up everything for. +That rough man, with his smile of careless superiority, was the living +link between Clarence and the Thousand and One Nights; in him were +Aladdin and Sindbad incarnate. + +Two days later they reached Stockton. Here Clarence, whose single suit +of clothes had been reinforced by patching, odds and ends from Peyton's +stores, and an extraordinary costume of army cloth, got up by the +regimental tailor at Fort Ridge, was taken to be refitted at a general +furnishing “emporium.” But alas! in the selection of the clothing for +that adult locality scant provision seemed to have been made for a +boy of Clarence's years, and he was with difficulty fitted from an +old condemned Government stores with “a boy's” seaman suit and a +brass-buttoned pea-jacket. To this outfit Mr. Peyton added a small sum +of money for his expenses, and a letter of explanation to his cousin. +The stage-coach was to start at noon. It only remained for Clarence to +take leave of the party. The final parting with Susy had been discounted +on the two previous days with some tears, small frights and clingings, +and the expressed determination on the child's part “to go with him;” + but in the excitement of the arrival at Stockton it was still +further mitigated, and under the influence of a little present from +Clarence--his first disbursement of his small capital--had at last taken +the form and promise of merely temporary separation. Nevertheless, when +the boy's scanty pack was deposited under the stage-coach seat, and he +had been left alone, he ran rapidly back to the train for one moment +more with Susy. Panting and a little frightened, he reached Mrs. +Peyton's car. + +“Goodness! You're not gone yet,” said Mrs. Peyton sharply. “Do you want +to lose the stage?” + +An instant before, in his loneliness, he might have answered, “Yes.” + But under the cruel sting of Mrs. Peyton's evident annoyance at his +reappearance he felt his legs suddenly tremble, and his voice left him. +He did not dare to look at Susy. But her voice rose comfortably from the +depths of the wagon where she was sitting. + +“The stage will be gone away, Kla'uns.” + +She too! Shame at his foolish weakness sent the yearning blood that had +settled round his heart flying back into his face. + +“I was looking for--for--for Jim, ma'am,” he said at last, boldly. + +He saw a look of disgust pass over Mrs. Peyton's face, and felt a +malicious satisfaction as he turned and ran back to the stage. But here, +to his surprise, he actually found Jim, whom he really hadn't thought +of, darkly watching the last strapping of luggage. With a manner +calculated to convey the impression to the other passengers that he was +parting from a brother criminal, probably on his way to a state prison, +Jim shook hands gloomily with Clarence, and eyed the other passengers +furtively between his mated locks. + +“Ef ye hear o' anythin' happenin', ye'll know what's up,” he said, in a +low, hoarse, but perfectly audible whisper. “Me and them's bound to part +company afore long. Tell the fellows at Deadman's Gulch to look out for +me at any time.” + +Although Clarence was not going to Deadman's Gulch, knew nothing of it, +and had a faint suspicion that Jim was equally ignorant, yet as one or +two of the passengers glanced anxiously at the demure, gray-eyed boy +who seemed booked for such a baleful destination, he really felt the +half-delighted, half-frightened consciousness that he was starting in +life under fascinating immoral pretenses. But the forward spring of the +fine-spirited horses, the quickened motion, the glittering sunlight, and +the thought that he really was leaving behind him all the shackles of +dependence and custom, and plunging into a life of freedom, drove +all else from his mind. He turned at last from this hopeful, blissful +future, and began to examine his fellow passengers with boyish +curiosity. Wedged in between two silent men on the front seat, one of +whom seemed a farmer, and the other, by his black attire, a professional +man, Clarence was finally attracted by a black-mantled, dark-haired, +bonnetless woman on the back seat, whose attention seemed to be +monopolized by the jocular gallantries of her companions and the two +men before her in the middle seat. From her position he could see little +more than her dark eyes, which occasionally seemed to meet his frank +curiosity in an amused sort of way, but he was chiefly struck by the +pretty foreign sound of her musical voice, which was unlike anything +he had ever heard before, and--alas for the inconstancy of youth--much +finer than Mrs. Peyton's. Presently his farmer companion, casting a +patronizing glance on Clarence's pea-jacket and brass buttons, said +cheerily-- + +“Jest off a voyage, sonny?” + +“No, sir,” stammered Clarence; “I came across the plains.” + +“Then I reckon that's the rig-out for the crew of a prairie schooner, +eh?” There was a laugh at this which perplexed Clarence. Observing it, +the humorist kindly condescended to explain that “prairie schooner” was +the current slang for an emigrant wagon. + +“I couldn't,” explained Clarence, naively looking at the dark eyes on +the back seat, “get any clothes at Stockton but these; I suppose the +folks didn't think there'd ever be boys in California.” + +The simplicity of this speech evidently impressed the others, for +the two men in the middle seats turned at a whisper from the lady and +regarded him curiously. Clarence blushed slightly and became silent. +Presently the vehicle began to slacken its speed. They were ascending +a hill; on either bank grew huge cottonwoods, from which occasionally +depended a beautiful scarlet vine. + +“Ah! eet ees pretty,” said the lady, nodding her black-veiled head +towards it. “Eet is good in ze hair.” + +One of the men made an awkward attempt to clutch a spray from the +window. A brilliant inspiration flashed upon Clarence. When the stage +began the ascent of the next hill, following the example of an outside +passenger, he jumped down to walk. At the top of the hill he rejoined +the stage, flushed and panting, but carrying a small branch of the vine +in his scratched hands. Handing it to the man on the middle seat, he +said, with grave, boyish politeness--“Please--for the lady.” + +A slight smile passed over the face of Clarence's neighbors. The +bonnetless woman nodded a pleasant acknowledgment, and coquettishly +wound the vine in her glossy hair. The dark man at his side, who hadn't +spoken yet, turned to Clarence dryly. + +“If you're goin' to keep up this gait, sonny, I reckon ye won't find +much trouble gettin' a man's suit to fit you by the time you reach +Sacramento.” + +Clarence didn't quite understand him, but noticed that a singular +gravity seemed to overtake the two jocular men on the middle seat, and +the lady looked out of the window. He came to the conclusion that he had +made a mistake about alluding to his clothes and his size. He must try +and behave more manly. That opportunity seemed to be offered two hours +later, when the stage stopped at a wayside hotel or restaurant. + +Two or three passengers had got down to refresh themselves at the bar. +His right and left hand neighbors were, however, engaged in a drawling +conversation on the comparative merits of San Francisco sandhill +and water lots; the jocular occupants of the middle seat were still +engrossed with the lady. Clarence slipped out of the stage and entered +the bar-room with some ostentation. The complete ignoring of his person +by the barkeeper and his customers, however, somewhat disconcerted him. +He hesitated a moment, and then returned gravely to the stage door and +opened it. + +“Would you mind taking a drink with me, sir?” said Clarence politely, +addressing the farmer-looking passenger who had been most civil to him. +A dead silence followed. The two men on the middle seat faced entirely +around to gaze at him. + +“The Commodore asks if you'll take a drink with him,” explained one of +the men to Clarence's friend with the greatest seriousness. + +“Eh? Oh, yes, certainly,” returned that gentleman, changing his +astonished expression to one of the deepest gravity, “seeing it's the +Commodore.” + +“And perhaps you and your friend will join, too?” said Clarence timidly +to the passenger who had explained; “and you too, sir?” he added to the +dark man. + +“Really, gentlemen, I don't see how we can refuse,” said the latter, +with the greatest formality, and appealing to the others. “A compliment +of this kind from our distinguished friend is not to be taken lightly.” + +“I have observed, sir, that the Commodore's head is level,” returned the +other man with equal gravity. + +Clarence could have wished they had not treated his first hospitable +effort quite so formally, but as they stepped from the coach with +unbending faces he led them, a little frightened, into the bar-room. +Here, unfortunately, as he was barely able to reach over the counter, +the barkeeper would have again overlooked him but for a quick glance +from the dark man, which seemed to change even the barkeeper's +perfunctory smiling face into supernatural gravity. + +“The Commodore is standing treat,” said the dark man, with unbroken +seriousness, indicating Clarence, and leaning back with an air of +respectful formality. “I will take straight whiskey. The Commodore, +on account of just changing climate, will, I believe, for the present +content himself with lemon soda.” + +Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey, like the others, but +a little doubtful of the politeness of countermanding his guest's +order, and perhaps slightly embarrassed by the fact that all the other +customers seemed to have gathered round him and his party with equally +immovable faces, he said hurriedly: + +“Lemon soda for me, please.” + +“The Commodore,” said the barkeeper with impassive features, as he bent +forward and wiped the counter with professional deliberation, “is right. +No matter how much a man may be accustomed all his life to liquor, when +he is changing climate, gentlemen, he says 'Lemon soda for me' all the +time.” + +“Perhaps,” said Clarence, brightening, “you will join too?” + +“I shall be proud on this occasion, sir.” + +“I think,” said the tall man, still as ceremoniously unbending as +before, “that there can be but one toast here, gentlemen. I give you the +health of the Commodore. May his shadow never be less.” + +The health was drunk solemnly. Clarence felt his cheeks tingle and +in his excitement drank his own health with the others. Yet he was +disappointed that there was not more joviality; he wondered if men +always drank together so stiffly. And it occurred to him that it would +be expensive. Nevertheless, he had his purse all ready ostentatiously +in his hand; in fact, the paying for it out of his own money was not +the least manly and independent pleasure he had promised himself. “How +much?” he asked, with an affectation of carelessness. + +The barkeeper cast his eye professionally over the barroom. “I think you +said treats for the crowd; call it twenty dollars to make even change.” + +Clarence's heart sank. He had heard already of the exaggeration +of California prices. Twenty dollars! It was half his fortune. +Nevertheless, with an heroic effort, he controlled himself, and with +slightly nervous fingers counted out the money. It struck him, however, +as curious, not to say ungentlemanly, that the bystanders craned their +necks over his shoulder to look at the contents of his purse, although +some slight explanation was offered by the tall man. + +“The Commodore's purse, gentlemen, is really a singular one. Permit me,” + he said, taking it from Clarence's hand with great politeness. “It is +one of the new pattern, you observe, quite worthy of inspection.” He +handed it to a man behind him, who in turn handed it to another, while +a chorus of “suthin quite new,” “the latest style,” followed it in its +passage round the room, and indicated to Clarence its whereabouts. +It was presently handed back to the barkeeper, who had begged also to +inspect it, and who, with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon +placing it himself in Clarence's side pocket, as if it were an +important part of his function. The driver here called “all aboard.” + The passengers hurriedly reseated themselves, and the episode abruptly +ended. For, to Clarence's surprise, these attentive friends of a moment +ago at once became interested in the views of a new passenger concerning +the local politics of San Francisco, and he found himself utterly +forgotten. The bonnetless woman had changed her position, and her head +was no longer visible. The disillusion and depression that overcame him +suddenly were as complete as his previous expectations and hopefulness +had been extravagant. For the first time his utter unimportance in +the world and his inadequacy to this new life around him came upon him +crushingly. + +The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight +slumber and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got out +at a wayside station. They had evidently not cared to waken him to say +“Good-by.” From the conversation of the other passengers he learned that +the tall man was a well-known gambler, and the one who looked like a +farmer was a ship captain who had become a wealthy merchant. Clarence +thought he understood now why the latter had asked him if he came off a +voyage, and that the nickname of “Commodore” given to him, Clarence, was +some joke intended for the captain's understanding. He missed them, for +he wanted to talk to them about his relative at Sacramento, whom he was +now so soon to see. At last, between sleeping and waking, the end of +his journey was unexpectedly reached. It was dark, but, being “steamer +night,” the shops and business places were still open, and Mr. Peyton +had arranged that the stage-driver should deliver Clarence at the +address of his relative in “J Street,”--an address which Clarence had +luckily remembered. But the boy was somewhat discomfited to find that +it was a large office or banking-house. He, however, descended from the +stage, and with his small pack in his hand entered the building as the +stage drove off, and, addressing one of the busy clerks, asked for “Mr. +Jackson Brant.” + +There was no such person in the office. There never had been any such +person. The bank had always occupied that building. Was there not some +mistake in the number? No; the name, number, and street had been deeply +engrafted in the boy's recollection. Stop! it might be the name of a +customer who had given his address at the bank. The clerk who made this +suggestion disappeared promptly to make inquiries in the counting-room. +Clarence, with a rapidly beating heart, awaited him. The clerk returned. +There was no such name on the books. Jackson Brant was utterly unknown +to every one in the establishment. + +For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed to +yield with his weight; he was obliged to steady himself with both hands +to keep from falling. It was not his disappointment, which was terrible; +it was not a thought of his future, which seemed hopeless; it was not +his injured pride at appearing to have willfully deceived Mr. Peyton, +which was more dreadful than all else; but it was the sudden, sickening +sense that HE himself had been deceived, tricked, and fooled! For it +flashed upon him for the first time that the vague sense of wrong which +had always haunted him was this--that this was the vile culmination of +a plan to GET RID OF HIM, and that he had been deliberately lost and led +astray by his relatives as helplessly and completely as a useless cat or +dog! + +Perhaps there was something of this in his face, for the clerk, staring +at him, bade him sit down for a moment, and again vanished into the +mysterious interior. Clarence had no conception how long he was absent, +or indeed anything but his own breathless thoughts, for he was conscious +of wondering afterwards why the clerk was leading him through a door in +the counter into an inner room of many desks, and again through a glass +door into a smaller office, where a preternaturally busy-looking man +sat writing at a desk. Without looking up, but pausing only to apply a +blotting-pad to the paper before him, the man said crisply-- + +“So you've been consigned to some one who don't seem to turn up, and +can't be found, eh? Never mind that,” as Clarence laid Peyton's letter +before him. “Can't read it now. Well, I suppose you want to be shipped +back to Stockton?” + +“No!” said the boy, recovering his voice with an effort. + +“Eh, that's business, though. Know anybody here?” + +“Not a living soul; that's why they sent me,” said the boy, in sudden +reckless desperation. He was the more furious that he knew the tears +were standing in his eyes. + +The idea seemed to strike the man amusingly. “Looks a little like it, +don't it?” he said, smiling grimly at the paper before him. “Got any +money?” + +“A little.” + +“How much?” + +“About twenty dollars,” said Clarence hesitatingly. The man opened a +drawer at his side, mechanically, for he did not raise his eyes, and +took out two ten-dollar gold pieces. “I'll go twenty better,” he said, +laying them down on the desk. “That'll give you a chance to look around. +Come back here, if you don't see your way clear.” He dipped his pen into +the ink with a significant gesture as if closing the interview. + +Clarence pushed back the coin. “I'm not a beggar,” he said doggedly. + +The man this time raised his head and surveyed the boy with two keen +eyes. “You're not, hey? Well, do I look like one?” + +“No,” stammered Clarence, as he glanced into the man's haughty eyes. + +“Yet, if I were in your fix, I'd take that money and be glad to get it.” + +“If you'll let me pay you back again,” said Clarence, a little ashamed, +and considerably frightened at his implied accusation of the man before +him. + +“You can,” said the man, bending over his desk again. + +Clarence took up the money and awkwardly drew out his purse. But it was +the first time he had touched it since it was returned to him in the +bar-room, and it struck him that it was heavy and full--indeed, so +full that on opening it a few coins rolled out on to the floor. The man +looked up abruptly. + +“I thought you said you had only twenty dollars?” he remarked grimly. + +“Mr. Peyton gave me forty,” returned Clarence, stupefied and blushing. +“I spent twenty dollars for drinks at the bar--and,” he stammered, +“I--I--I don't know how the rest came here.” + +“You spent twenty dollars for DRINKS?” said the man, laying down his +pen, and leaning back in his chair to gaze at the boy. + +“Yes--that is--I treated some gentlemen of the stage, sir, at Davidson's +Crossing.” + +“Did you treat the whole stage company?” + +“No, sir, only about four or five--and the bar-keeper. But everything's +so dear in California. I know that.” + +“Evidently. But it don't seem to make much difference with YOU,” said +the man, glancing at the purse. + +“They wanted my purse to look at,” said Clarence hurriedly, “and that's +how the thing happened. Somebody put HIS OWN MONEY back into MY purse by +accident.” + +“Of course,” said the man grimly. + +“Yes, that's the reason,” said Clarence, a little relieved, but somewhat +embarrassed by the man's persistent eyes. + +“Then, of course,” said the other quietly, “you don't require my twenty +dollars now.” + +“But,” returned Clarence hesitatingly, “this isn't MY money. I must +find out who it belongs to, and give it back again. Perhaps,” he added +timidly, “I might leave it here with you, and call for it when I find +the man, or send him here.” + +With the greatest gravity he here separated the surplus from what was +left of Peyton's gift and the twenty dollars he had just received. The +balance unaccounted for was forty dollars. He laid it on the desk before +the man, who, still looking at him, rose and opened the door. + +“Mr. Reed.” + +The clerk who had shown Clarence in appeared. + +“Open an account with--” He stopped and turned interrogatively to +Clarence. + +“Clarence Brant,” said Clarence, coloring with excitement. + +“With Clarence Brant. Take that deposit”--pointing to the money--“and +give him a receipt.” He paused as the clerk retired with a wondering +gaze at the money, looked again at Clarence, said, “I think YOU'LL do,” + and reentered the private office, closing the door behind him. + +I hope it will not be deemed inconceivable that Clarence, only a few +moments before crushed with bitter disappointment and the hopeless +revelation of his abandonment by his relatives, now felt himself lifted +up suddenly into an imaginary height of independence and manhood. He was +leaving the bank, in which he stood a minute before a friendless boy, +not as a successful beggar, for this important man had disclaimed the +idea, but absolutely as a customer! a depositor! a business man like +the grown-up clients who were thronging the outer office, and before the +eyes of the clerk who had pitied him! And he, Clarence, had been spoken +to by this man, whose name he now recognized as the one that was on the +door of the building--a man of whom his fellow-passengers had spoken +with admiring envy--a banker famous in all California! Will it be deemed +incredible that this imaginative and hopeful boy, forgetting all else, +the object of his visit, and even the fact that he considered this +money was not his own, actually put his hat a little on one side as he +strolled out on his way to the streets and prospective fortune? + +Two hours later the banker had another visitor. It chanced to be the +farmer-looking man who had been Clarence's fellow-passenger. Evidently a +privileged person, he was at once ushered as “Captain Stevens” into the +presence of the banker. At the end of a familiar business interview the +captain asked carelessly-- + +“Any letters for me?” + +The busy banker pointed with his pen to the letter “S” in a row of +alphabetically labeled pigeon-holes against the wall. The captain, +having selected his correspondence, paused with a letter in his hand. + +“Look here, Carden, there are letters here for some chap called 'John +Silsbee.' They were here when I called, ten weeks ago.” + +“Well?” + +“That's the name of that Pike County man who was killed by Injins in the +plains. The 'Frisco papers had all the particulars last night; may be +it's for that fellow. It hasn't got a postmark. Who left it here?” + +Mr. Carden summoned a clerk. It appeared that the letter had been left +by a certain Brant Fauquier, to be called for. + +Captain Stevens smiled. “Brant's been too busy dealin' faro to think of +'em agin, and since that shootin' affair at Angels' I hear he's skipped +to the southern coast somewhere. Cal Johnson, his old chum, was in the +up stage from Stockton this afternoon.” + +“Did you come by the up stage from Stockton this afternoon?” said +Carden, looking up. + +“Yes, as far as Ten-mile Station--rode the rest of the way here.” + +“Did you notice a queer little old-fashioned kid--about so high--like a +runaway school-boy?” + +“Did I? By G--d, sir, he treated me to drinks.” + +Carden jumped from his chair. “Then he wasn't lying!” + +“No! We let him do it; but we made it good for the little chap +afterwards. Hello! What's up?” + +But Mr. Carden was already in the outer office beside the clerk who had +admitted Clarence. + +“You remember that boy Brant who was here?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Where did he go?” + +“Don't know, sir.” + +“Go and find him somewhere and somehow. Go to all the hotels, +restaurants, and gin-mills near here, and hunt him up. Take some one +with you, if you can't do it alone. Bring him back here, quick!” + +It was nearly midnight when the clerk fruitlessly returned. It was the +fierce high noon of “steamer nights”; light flashed brilliantly from +shops, counting-houses, drinking-saloons, and gambling-hells. The +streets were yet full of eager, hurrying feet--swift of fortune, +ambition, pleasure, or crime. But from among these deeper harsher +footfalls the echo of the homeless boy's light, innocent tread seemed to +have died out forever. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +When Clarence was once more in the busy street before the bank, it +seemed clear to his boyish mind that, being now cast adrift upon the +world and responsible to no one, there was no reason why he should not +at once proceed to the nearest gold mines! The idea of returning to +Mr. Peyton and Susy, as a disowned and abandoned outcast, was not to +be thought of. He would purchase some kind of an outfit, such as he had +seen the miners carry, and start off as soon as he had got his supper. +But although one of his most delightful anticipations had been the +unfettered freedom of ordering a meal at a restaurant, on entering the +first one he found himself the object of so much curiosity, partly +from his size and partly from his dress, which the unfortunate boy was +beginning to suspect was really preposterous, and he turned away with a +stammered excuse, and did not try another. Further on he found a baker's +shop, where he refreshed himself with some gingerbread and lemon soda. +At an adjacent grocery he purchased some herrings, smoked beef, and +biscuits, as future provisions for his “pack” or kit. Then began his +real quest for an outfit. In an hour he had secured--ostensibly for some +friend, to avoid curious inquiry--a pan, a blanket, a shovel and +pick, all of which he deposited at the baker's, his unostentatious +headquarters, with the exception of a pair of disguising high boots that +half hid his sailor trousers, which he kept to put on at the last. Even +to his inexperience the cost of these articles seemed enormous; when +his purchases were complete, of his entire capital scarcely four dollars +remained! Yet in the fond illusions of boyhood these rude appointments +seemed possessed of far more value than the gold he had given in +exchange for them, and he had enjoyed a child's delight in testing the +transforming magic of money. + +Meanwhile, the feverish contact of the crowded street had, strange +to say, increased his loneliness, while the ruder joviality of its +dissipations began to fill him with vague uneasiness. The passing +glimpse of dancing halls and gaudily whirled figures that seemed only +feminine in their apparel; the shouts and boisterous choruses from +concert rooms; the groups of drunken roisterers that congregated around +the doors of saloons or, hilariously charging down the streets, elbowed +him against the wall, or humorously insisted on his company, discomposed +and frightened him. He had known rude companionship before, but it +was serious, practical, and under control. There was something in this +vulgar degradation of intellect and power--qualities that Clarence had +always boyishly worshiped--which sickened and disillusioned him. Later +on a pistol shot in a crowd beyond, the rush of eager men past him, the +disclosure of a limp and helpless figure against the wall, the closing +of the crowd again around it, although it stirred him with a fearful +curiosity, actually shocked him less hopelessly than their brutish +enjoyments and abandonment. + +It was in one of these rushes that he had been crushed against a +swinging door, which, giving way to his pressure, disclosed to his +wondering eyes a long, glitteringly adorned, and brightly lit room, +densely filled with a silent, attentive throng in attitudes of decorous +abstraction and preoccupation, that even the shouts and tumult at its +very doors could not disturb. Men of all ranks and conditions, plainly +or elaborately clad, were grouped together under this magic spell of +silence and attention. The tables before them were covered with cards +and loose heaps of gold and silver. A clicking, the rattling of an ivory +ball, and the frequent, formal, lazy reiteration of some unintelligible +sentence was all that he heard. But by a sudden instinct he UNDERSTOOD +it all. It was a gambling saloon! + +Encouraged by the decorous stillness, and the fact that everybody +appeared too much engaged to notice him, the boy drew timidly beside +one of the tables. It was covered with a number of cards, on which were +placed certain sums of money. Looking down, Clarence saw that he was +standing before a card that as yet had nothing on it. A single player at +his side looked up, glanced at Clarence curiously, and then placed half +a dozen gold pieces on the vacant card. Absorbed in the general aspect +of the room and the players, Clarence did not notice that his neighbor +won twice, and even THRICE, upon that card. Becoming aware, however, +that the player while gathering in his gains, was smilingly regarding +him he moved in some embarrassment to the other end of the table, where +there seemed another gap in the crowd. It so chanced that there was also +another vacant card. The previous neighbor of Clarence instantly shoved +a sum of money across the table on the vacant card and won! At this the +other players began to regard Clarence singularly, one or two of the +spectators smiled, and the boy, coloring, moved awkwardly away. But his +sleeve was caught by the successful player, who, detaining him gently, +put three gold pieces into his hand. + +“That's YOUR share, sonny,” he whispered. + +“Share--for what?” stammered the astounded Clarence. + +“For bringing me 'the luck,'” said the man. + +Clarence stared. “Am I--to--to play with it?” he said, glancing at the +coins and then at the table, in ignorance of the stranger's meaning. + +“No, no!” said the man hurriedly, “don't do that. You'll lose it, sonny, +sure! Don't you see, YOU BRING THE LUCK TO OTHERS, not to yourself. Keep +it, old man, and run home!” + +“I don't want it! I won't have it!” said Clarence with a swift +recollection of the manipulation of his purse that morning, and a sudden +distrust of all mankind. + +“There!” He turned back to the table and laid the money on the first +vacant card he saw. In another moment, as it seemed to him, it was raked +away by the dealer. A sense of relief came over him. + +“There!” said the man, with an awed voice and a strange, fatuous look +in his eye. “What did I tell you? You see, it's allus so! Now,” he added +roughly, “get up and get out o' this, afore you lose the boots and shirt +off ye.” + +Clarence did not wait for a second command. With another glance round +the room, he began to make his way through the crowd towards the front. +But in that parting glance he caught a glimpse of a woman presiding over +a “wheel of fortune” in a corner, whose face seemed familiar. He looked +again, timidly. In spite of an extraordinary head-dress or crown that +she wore as the “Goddess of Fortune,” he recognized, twisted in its +tinsel, a certain scarlet vine which he had seen before; in spite of the +hoarse formula which she was continually repeating, he recognized the +foreign accent. It was the woman of the stage-coach! With a sudden dread +that she might recognize him, and likewise demand his services “for +luck,” he turned and fled. + +Once more in the open air, there came upon him a vague loathing +and horror of the restless madness and feverish distraction of this +half-civilized city. It was the more powerful that it was vague, and the +outcome of some inward instinct. He found himself longing for the pure +air and sympathetic loneliness of the plains and wilderness; he began to +yearn for the companionship of his humble associates--the teamster, the +scout Gildersleeve, and even Jim Hooker. But above all and before all +was the wild desire to get away from these maddening streets and +their bewildering occupants. He ran back to the baker's, gathered his +purchases together, took advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them +on his boyish shoulders, slipped into a side street, and struck out at +once for the outskirts. + +It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining +district, but the diminution of his small capital forbade that outlay, +and he decided to walk there by the highroad, of whose general direction +he had informed himself. In half an hour the lights of the flat, +struggling city, and their reflection in the shallow, turbid river +before it, had sunk well behind him. The air was cool and soft; a yellow +moon swam in the slight haze that rose above the tules; in the distance +a few scattered cottonwoods and sycamores marked like sentinels the +road. When he had walked some distance he sat down beneath one of them +to make a frugal supper from the dry rations in his pack, but in the +absence of any spring he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of +water in a wayside tavern. Here he was good-humoredly offered +something stronger, which he declined, and replied to certain curious +interrogations by saying that he expected to overtake his friends in a +wagon further on. A new distrust of mankind had begun to make the boy +an adept in innocent falsehood, the more deceptive as his careless, +cheerful manner, the result of his relief at leaving the city, and his +perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and nature, certainly +gave no indication of his homelessness and poverty. + +It was long past midnight, when, weary in body, but still hopeful and +happy in mind, he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling expanse +of wild oats, with the same sense of security of rest as a traveler to +his inn. Here, completely screened from view by the tall stalks of grain +that rose thickly around him to the height of a man's shoulder, he beat +down a few of them for a bed, on which he deposited his blanket. Placing +his pack for a pillow, he curled himself up in his blanket, and speedily +fell asleep. + +He awoke at sunrise, refreshed, invigorated, and hungry. But he was +forced to defer his first self-prepared breakfast until he had reached +water, and a less dangerous place than the wild-oat field to build +his first camp fire. This he found a mile further on, near some dwarf +willows on the bank of a half-dry stream. Of his various efforts to +prepare his first meal, the fire was the most successful; the coffee +was somewhat too substantially thick, and the bacon and herring lacked +definiteness of quality from having been cooked in the same vessel. +In this boyish picnic he missed Susy, and recalled, perhaps a little +bitterly, her coldness at parting. But the novelty of his situation, the +brilliant sunshine and sense of freedom, and the road already awakening +to dusty life with passing teams, dismissed everything but the future +from his mind. Readjusting his pack, he stepped on cheerily. At noon he +was overtaken by a teamster, who in return for a match to light his pipe +gave him a lift of a dozen miles. It is to be feared that Clarence's +account of himself was equally fanciful with his previous story, and +that the teamster parted from him with a genuine regret, and a hope that +he would soon be overtaken by his friends along the road. “And mind that +you ain't such a fool agin to let 'em make you tote their dod-blasted +tools fur them!” he added unsuspectingly, pointing to Clarence's mining +outfit. Thus saved the heaviest part of the day's journey, for the +road was continually rising from the plains during the last six miles, +Clarence was yet able to cover a considerable distance on foot before +he halted for supper. Here he was again fortunate. An empty lumber +team watering at the same spring, its driver offered to take Clarence's +purchases--for the boy had profited by his late friend's suggestion to +personally detach himself from his equipment--to Buckeye Mills for a +dollar, which would also include a “shakedown passage” for himself on +the floor of the wagon. “I reckon you've been foolin' away in Sacramento +the money yer parents give yer for return stage fare, eh? Don't +lie, sonny,” he added grimly, as the now artful Clarence smiled +diplomatically, “I've been thar myself!” Luckily, the excuse that he was +“tired and sleepy” prevented further dangerous questioning, and the boy +was soon really in deep slumber on the wagon floor. + +He awoke betimes to find himself already in the mountains. Buckeye +Mills was a straggling settlement, and Clarence prudently stopped any +embarrassing inquiry from his friend by dropping off the wagon with +his equipment as they entered it, and hurriedly saying “Good-by” from a +crossroad through the woods. He had learned that the nearest mining camp +was five miles away, and its direction was indicated by a long wooden +“flume,” or water-way, that alternately appeared and disappeared on the +flank of the mountain opposite. The cooler and drier air, the grateful +shadow of pine and bay, and the spicy balsamic odors that everywhere +greeted him, thrilled and exhilarated him. The trail plunging sometimes +into an undisturbed forest, he started the birds before him like a +flight of arrows through its dim recesses; at times he hung breathlessly +over the blue depths of canyons where the same forests were repeated a +thousand feet below. Towards noon he struck into a rude road--evidently +the thoroughfare of the locality--and was surprised to find that it, +as well as the adjacent soil wherever disturbed, was a deep Indian red. +Everywhere, along its sides, powdering the banks and boles of trees with +its ruddy stain, in mounds and hillocks of piled dirt on the road, or +in liquid paint-like pools, when a trickling stream had formed a gutter +across it, there was always the same deep sanguinary color. Once or +twice it became more vivid in contrast with the white teeth of quartz +that peeped through it from the hillside or crossed the road in crumbled +strata. One of those pieces Clarence picked up with a quickening pulse. +It was veined and streaked with shining mica and tiny glittering cubes +of mineral that LOOKED like gold! + +The road now began to descend towards a winding stream, shrunken by +drought and ditching, that glared dazzingly in the sunlight from its +white bars of sand, or glistened in shining sheets and channels. Along +its banks, and even encroaching upon its bed, were scattered a few mud +cabins, strange-looking wooden troughs and gutters, and here and there, +glancing through the leaves, the white canvas of tents. The stumps of +felled trees and blackened spaces, as of recent fires, marked the stream +on either side. A sudden sense of disappointment overcame Clarence. It +looked vulgar, common, and worse than all--FAMILIAR. It was like the +unlovely outskirts of a dozen other prosaic settlements he had seen in +less romantic localities. In that muddy red stream, pouring out of a +wooden gutter, in which three or four bearded, slouching, half-naked +figures were raking like chiffonniers, there was nothing to suggest +the royal metal. Yet he was so absorbed in gazing at the scene, and had +walked so rapidly during the past few minutes, that he was startled, on +turning a sharp corner of the road, to come abruptly upon an outlying +dwelling. + +It was a nondescript building, half canvas and half boards. The interior +seen through the open door was fitted up with side shelves, a +counter carelessly piled with provisions, groceries, clothing, and +hardware--with no attempt at display or even ordinary selection--and a +table, on which stood a demijohn and three or four dirty glasses. Two +roughly dressed men, whose long, matted beards and hair left only their +eyes and lips visible in the tangled hirsute wilderness below their +slouched hats, were leaning against the opposite sides of the doorway, +smoking. Almost thrown against them in the rapid momentum of his +descent, Clarence halted violently. + +“Well, sonny, you needn't capsize the shanty,” said the first man, +without taking his pipe from his lips. + +“If yer looking fur yer ma, she and yer Aunt Jane hev jest gone over to +Parson Doolittle's to take tea,” observed the second man lazily. “She +allowed that you'd wait.” + +“I'm--I'm--going to--to the mines,” explained Clarence, with some +hesitation. “I suppose this is the way.” + +The two men took their pipes from their lips, looked at each other, +completely wiped every vestige of expression from their faces with the +back of their hands, turned their eyes into the interior of the cabin, +and said, “Will yer come yer, now WILL yer?” Thus adjured, half a dozen +men, also bearded and carrying pipes in their mouths, straggled out of +the shanty, and, filing in front of it, squatted down, with their backs +against the boards, and gazed comfortably at the boy. Clarence began to +feel uneasy. + +“I'll give,” said one, taking out his pipe and grimly eying Clarence, “a +hundred dollars for him as he stands.” + +“And seein' as he's got that bran-new rig-out o' tools,” said another, +“I'll give a hundred and fifty--and the drinks. I've been,” he added +apologetically, “wantin' sunthin' like this a long time.” + +“Well, gen'lemen,” said the man who had first spoken to him, “lookin' +at him by and large; takin' in, so to speak, the gin'ral gait of him in +single harness; bearin' in mind the perfect freshness of him, and the +coolness and size of his cheek--the easy downyness, previousness, and +utter don't-care-a-damnativeness of his coming yer, I think two hundred +ain't too much for him, and we'll call it a bargain.” + +Clarence's previous experience of this grim, smileless Californian chaff +was not calculated to restore his confidence. He drew away from the +cabin, and repeated doggedly, “I asked you if this was the way to the +mines.” + +“It ARE the mines, and these yere are the miners,” said the first +speaker gravely. “Permit me to interdoose 'em. This yere's Shasta Jim, +this yere's Shotcard Billy, this is Nasty Bob, and this Slumgullion +Dick. This yere's the Dook o' Chatham Street, the Livin' Skeleton, and +me!” + +“May we ask, fair young sir,” said the Living Skeleton, who, however, +seemed in fairly robust condition, “whence came ye on the wings of the +morning, and whose Marble Halls ye hev left desolate?” + +“I came across the plains, and got into Stockton two days ago on Mr. +Peyton's train,” said Clarence, indignantly, seeing no reason now to +conceal anything. “I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, who isn't +living there any more. I don't see anything funny in THAT! I came here +to the mines to dig gold--because---because Mr. Silsbee, the man who was +to bring me here and might have found my cousin for me, was killed by +Indians.” + +“Hold up, sonny. Let me help ye,” said the first speaker, rising to his +feet. “YOU didn't get killed by Injins because you got lost out of a +train with Silsbee's infant darter. Peyton picked you up while you was +takin' care of her, and two days arter you kem up to the broken-down +Silsbee wagons, with all the folks lyin' there slartered.” + +“Yes, sir,” said Clarence, breathlessly with astonishment. + +“And,” continued the man, putting his hand gravely to his head as if +to assist his memory, “when you was all alone on the plains with that +little child you saw one of those redskins, as near to you as I be, +watchin' the train, and you didn't breathe or move while he was there?” + +“Yes, sir,” said Clarence eagerly. + +“And you was shot at by Peyton, he thinkin' you was an Injun in the +mesquite grass? And you once shot a buffalo that had been pitched with +you down a gully--all by yourself?” + +“Yes,” said Clarence, crimson with wonder and pleasure. “You know me, +then?” + +“Well, ye-e-es,” said the man gravely, parting his mustache with his +fingers. “You see, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.” + +“Before! Me?” repeated the astounded Clarence. + +“Yes, before. Last night. You was taller then, and hadn't cut your hair. +You cursed a good deal more than you do now. You drank a man's share +of whiskey, and you borrowed fifty dollars to get to Sacramento with. I +reckon you haven't got it about you now, eh?” + +Clarence's brain reeled in utter confusion and hopeless terror. + +Was he going crazy, or had these cruel men learned his story from +his faithless friends, and this was a part of the plot? He staggered +forward, but the men had risen and quickly encircled him, as if to +prevent his escape. In vague and helpless desperation he gasped-- + +“What place is this?” + +“Folks call it Deadman's Gulch.” + +Deadman's Gulch! A flash of intelligence lit up the boy's blind +confusion. Deadman's Gulch! Could it have been Jim Hooker who had really +run away, and had taken his name? He turned half-imploringly to the +first speaker. + +“Wasn't he older than me, and bigger? Didn't he have a smooth, round +face and little eyes? Didn't he talk hoarse? Didn't he--” He stopped +hopelessly. + +“Yes; oh, he wasn't a bit like you,” said the man musingly. “Ye see, +that's the h-ll of it! You're altogether TOO MANY and TOO VARIOUS fur +this camp.” + +“I don't know who's been here before, or what they have said,” said +Clarence desperately, yet even in that desperation retaining the dogged +loyalty to his old playmate, which was part of his nature. “I don't +know, and I don't care--there! I'm Clarence Brant of Kentucky; I started +in Silsbee's train from St. Jo, and I'm going to the mines, and you +can't stop me!” + +The man who had first spoken started, looked keenly at Clarence, and +then turned to the others. The gentleman known as the living skeleton +had obtruded his huge bulk in front of the boy, and, gazing at him, said +reflectively, “Darned if it don't look like one of Brant's pups--sure!” + +“Air ye any relation to Kernel Hamilton Brant of Looeyville?” asked the +first speaker. + +Again that old question! Poor Clarence hesitated, despairingly. Was +he to go through the same cross-examination he had undergone with the +Peytons? “Yes,” he said doggedly, “I am--but he's dead, and you know +it.” + +“Dead--of course.” “Sartin.” “He's dead.” “The Kernel's planted,” said +the men in chorus. + +“Well, yes,” reflected the Living Skeleton ostentatiously, as one who +spoke from experience. “Ham Brant's about as bony now as they make 'em.” + +“You bet! About the dustiest, deadest corpse you kin turn out,” + corroborated Slumgullion Dick, nodding his head gloomily to the others; +“in point o' fack, es a corpse, about the last one I should keer to go +huntin' fur.” + +“The Kernel's tech 'ud be cold and clammy,” concluded the Duke of +Chatham Street, who had not yet spoken, “sure. But what did yer mammy +say about it? Is she gettin' married agin? Did SHE send ye here?” + +It seemed to Clarence that the Duke of Chatham Street here received a +kick from his companions; but the boy repeated doggedly-- + +“I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, Jackson Brant; but he wasn't +there.” + +“Jackson Brant!” echoed the first speaker, glancing at the others. “Did +your mother say he was your cousin?” + +“Yes,” said Clarence wearily. “Good-by.” + +“Hullo, sonny, where are you going?” + +“To dig gold,” said the boy. “And you know you can't prevent me, if it +isn't on your claim. I know the law.” He had heard Mr. Peyton discuss +it at Stockton, and he fancied that the men, who were whispering among +themselves, looked kinder than before, and as if they were no longer +“acting” to him. The first speaker laid his hand on his shoulder, and +said, “All right, come with me, and I'll show you where to dig.” + +“Who are you?” said Clarence. “You called yourself only 'me.'” + +“Well, you can call me Flynn--Tom Flynn.” + +“And you'll show me where I can dig--myself?” + +“I will.” + +“Do you know,” said Clarence timidly, yet with a half-conscious smile, +“that I--I kinder bring luck?” + +The man looked down upon him, and said gravely, but, as it struck +Clarence, with a new kind of gravity, “I believe you.” + +“Yes,” said Clarence eagerly, as they walked along together, “I brought +luck to a man in Sacramento the other day.” And he related with great +earnestness his experience in the gambling saloon. Not content with +that--the sealed fountains of his childish deep being broken up by +some mysterious sympathy--he spoke of his hospitable exploit with the +passengers at the wayside bar, of the finding of his Fortunatus purse +and his deposit at the bank. Whether that characteristic old-fashioned +reticence which had been such an important factor for good or ill in +his future had suddenly deserted him, or whether some extraordinary +prepossession in his companion had affected him, he did not know; but +by the time the pair had reached the hillside Flynn was in possession +of all the boy's history. On one point only was his reserve unshaken. +Conscious although he was of Jim Hooker's duplicity, he affected to +treat it as a comrade's joke. + +They halted at last in the middle of an apparently fertile hillside. +Clarence shifted his shovel from his shoulders, unslung his pan, and +looked at Flynn. “Dig anywhere here, where you like,” said his companion +carelessly, “and you'll be sure to find the color. Fill your pan with +the dirt, go to that sluice, and let the water run in on the top of the +pan--workin' it round so,” he added, illustrating a rotary motion with +the vessel. “Keep doing that until all the soil is washed out of it, and +you have only the black sand at the bottom. Then work that the same way +until you see the color. Don't be afraid of washing the gold out of the +pan--you couldn't do it if you tried. There, I'll leave you here, and +you wait till I come back.” With another grave nod and something like a +smile in the only visible part of his bearded face--his eyes--he strode +rapidly away. + +Clarence did not lose time. Selecting a spot where the grass was less +thick, he broke through the soil and turned up two or three spadefuls of +red soil. When he had filled the pan and raised it to his shoulder, he +was astounded at its weight. He did not know that it was due to the red +precipitate of iron that gave it its color. Staggering along with his +burden to the running sluice, which looked like an open wooden gutter, +at the foot of the hill, he began to carefully carry out Flynn's +direction. The first dip of the pan in the running water carried off +half the contents of the pan in liquid paint-like ooze. For a moment he +gave way to boyish satisfaction in the sight and touch of this unctuous +solution, and dabbled his fingers in it. A few moments more of rinsing +and he came to the sediment of fine black sand that was beneath it. +Another plunge and swilling of water in the pan, and--could he believe +his eyes!--a few yellow tiny scales, scarcely larger than pins' heads, +glittered among the sand. He poured it off. But his companion was right; +the lighter sand shifted from side to side with the water, but the +glittering points remained adhering by their own tiny specific gravity +to the smooth surface of the bottom. It was “the color”--gold! + +Clarence's heart seemed to give a great leap within him. A vision of +wealth, of independence, of power, sprang before his dazzled eyes, +and--a hand lightly touched him on the shoulder. + +He started. In his complete preoccupation and excitement, he had not +heard the clatter of horse-hoofs, and to his amazement Flynn was already +beside him, mounted, and leading a second horse. + +“You kin ride?” he said shortly. + +“Yes” stammered Clarence; “but--” + +“BUT--we've only got two hours to reach Buckeye Mills in time to catch +the down stage. Drop all that, jump up, and come with me!” + +“But I've just found gold,” said the boy excitedly. + +“And I've just found your--cousin. Come!” + +He spurred his horse across Clarence's scattered implements, half +helped, half lifted, the boy into the saddle of the second horse, and, +with a cut of his riata over the animal's haunches, the next moment they +were both galloping furiously away. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Torn suddenly from his prospective future, but too much dominated by the +man beside him to protest, Clarence was silent until a rise in the road, +a few minutes later, partly abated their headlong speed, and gave him +chance to recover his breath and courage. + +“Where is my cousin?” he asked. + +“In the Southern county, two hundred miles from here.” + +“Are we going to him?” + +“Yes.” + +They rode furiously forward again. It was nearly half an hour before +they came to a longer ascent. Clarence could see that Flynn was from +time to time examining him curiously under his slouched hat. This +somewhat embarrassed him, but in his singular confidence in the man no +distrust mingled with it. + +“Ye never saw your--cousin?” he asked. + +“No,” said Clarence; “nor he me. I don't think he knew me much, any way. + +“How old mout ye be, Clarence?” + +“Eleven.” + +“Well, as you're suthin of a pup”--Clarence started, and recalled +Peyton's first criticism of him--“I reckon to tell ye suthin. Ye ain't +goin' to be skeert, or afeard, or lose yer sand, I kalkilate, for +skunkin' ain't in your breed. Well, wot ef I told ye that thish +yer--thish yer--COUSIN o' yours was the biggest devil onhung; that he'd +just killed a man, and had to lite out elsewhere, and THET'S why he +didn't show up in Sacramento--what if I told you that?” + +Clarence felt that this was somehow a little too much. He was perfectly +truthful, and lifting his frank eyes to Flynn, he said, + +“I should think you were talking a good deal like Jim Hooker!” + +His companion stared, and suddenly reined up his horse; then, bursting +into a shout of laughter, he galloped ahead, from time to time shaking +his head, slapping his legs, and making the dim woods ring with his +boisterous mirth. Then as suddenly becoming thoughtful again, he rode on +rapidly for half an hour, only speaking to Clarence to urge him forward, +and assisting his progress by lashing the haunches of his horse. +Luckily, the boy was a good rider--a fact which Flynn seemed to +thoroughly appreciate--or he would have been unseated a dozen times. + +At last the straggling sheds of Buckeye Mills came into softer purple +view on the opposite mountain. Then laying his hand on Clarence's +shoulder as he reined in at his side, Flynn broke the silence. + +“There, boy,” he said, wiping the mirthful tears from his eyes. “I was +only foolin'--only tryin' yer grit! This yer cousin I'm taking you to be +as quiet and soft-spoken and as old-fashioned ez you be. Why, he's +that wrapped up in books and study that he lives alone in a big adobe +rancherie among a lot o' Spanish, and he don't keer to see his own +countrymen! Why, he's even changed his name, and calles himself Don Juan +Robinson! But he's very rich; he owns three leagues of land and heaps of +cattle and horses, and,” glancing approvingly at Clarence's seat in the +saddle, “I reckon you'll hev plenty of fun thar.” + +“But,” hesitated Clarence, to whom this proposal seemed only a +repetition of Peyton's charitable offer, “I think I'd better stay here +and dig gold--WITH YOU.” + +“And I think you'd better not,” said the man, with a gravity that was +very like a settled determination. + +“But my cousin never came for me to Sacramento--nor sent, nor even +wrote,” persisted Clarence indignantly. + +“Not to YOU, boy; but he wrote to the man whom he reckoned would bring +you there--Jack Silsbee--and left it in the care of the bank. And +Silsbee, being dead, didn't come for the letter; and as you didn't ask +for it when you came, and didn't even mention Silsbee's name, that same +letter was sent back to your cousin through me, because the bank thought +we knew his whereabouts. It came to the gulch by an express rider, +whilst you were prospectin' on the hillside. Rememberin' your story, I +took the liberty of opening it, and found out that your cousin had told +Silsbee to bring you straight to him. So I'm only doin' now what Silsbee +would have done.” + +Any momentary doubt or suspicion that might have risen in Clarence's +mind vanished as he met his companion's steady and masterful eye. +Even his disappointment was forgotten in the charm of this new-found +friendship and protection. And as its outset had been marked by +an unusual burst of confidence on Clarence's part, the boy, in his +gratitude, now felt something of the timid shyness of a deeper feeling, +and once more became reticent. + +They were in time to snatch a hasty meal at Buckeye Mills before the +stage arrived, and Clarence noticed that his friend, despite his rough +dress and lawless aspect, provoked a marked degree of respect from those +he met--in which, perhaps, a wholesome fear was mingled. It is certain +that the two best places in the stage were given up to them without +protest, and that a careless, almost supercilious invitation to drink +from Flynn was responded to with singular alacrity by all, including +even two fastidiously dressed and previously reserved passengers. I +am afraid that Clarence enjoyed this proof of his friend's singular +dominance with a boyish pride, and, conscious of the curious eyes of the +passengers, directed occasionally to himself, was somewhat ostentatious +in his familiarity with this bearded autocrat. + +At noon the next day they left the stage at a wayside road station, and +Flynn briefly informed Clarence that they must again take horses. This +at first seemed difficult in that out-of-the-way settlement, where +they alone had stopped, but a whisper from the driver in the ear of +the station-master produced a couple of fiery mustangs, with the same +accompaniment of cautious awe and mystery. For the next two days they +traveled on horseback, resting by night at the lodgings of one or other +of Flynn's friends in the outskirts of a large town, where they arrived +in the darkness, and left before day. To any one more experienced +than the simple-minded boy it would have been evident that Flynn was +purposely avoiding the more traveled roads and conveyances; and when +they changed horses again the next day's ride was through an apparently +unbroken wilderness of scattered wood and rolling plain. Yet to +Clarence, with his pantheistic reliance and joyous sympathy with nature, +the change was filled with exhilarating pleasure. The vast seas of +tossing wild oats, the hillside still variegated with strange flowers, +the virgin freshness of untrodden woods and leafy aisles, whose floors +of moss or bark were undisturbed by human footprint, were a keen delight +and novelty. More than this, his quick eye, trained perceptions, and +frontier knowledge now stood him in good stead. His intuitive sense of +distance, instincts of woodcraft, and his unerring detection of those +signs, landmarks, and guideposts of nature, undistinguishable to aught +but birds and beasts and some children, were now of the greatest service +to his less favored companion. In this part of their strange pilgrimage +it was the boy who took the lead. Flynn, who during the past two days +seemed to have fallen into a mood of watchful reserve, nodded his +approbation. “This sort of thing's yer best holt, boy,” he said. “Men +and cities ain't your little game.” + +At the next stopping-place Clarence had a surprise. They had again +entered a town at nightfall, and lodged with another friend of Flynn's +in rooms which from vague sounds appeared to be over a gambling saloon. +Clarence woke late in the morning, and, descending into the street to +mount for the day's journey, was startled to find that Flynn was not on +the other horse, but that a well-dressed and handsome stranger had taken +his place. But a laugh, and the familiar command, “Jump up, boy,” + made him look again. It WAS Flynn, but completely shaven of beard and +mustache, closely clipped of hair, and in a fastidiously cut suit of +black! + +“Then you didn't know me?” said Flynn. + +“Not till you spoke,” replied Clarence. + +“So much the better,” said his friend sententiously, as he put spurs to +his horse. But as they cantered through the street, Clarence, who had +already become accustomed to the stranger's hirsute adornment, felt a +little more awe of him. The profile of the mouth and chin now exposed to +his sidelong glance was hard and stern, and slightly saturnine. Although +unable at the time to identify it with anybody he had ever known, it +seemed to the imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad +experience. But the eyes were thoughtful and kindly, and the boy later +believed that if he had been more familiar with the face he would have +loved it better. For it was the last and only day he was to see it, as, +late that afternoon, after a dusty ride along more traveled highways, +they reached their journey's end. + +It was a low-walled house, with red-tiled roofs showing against the dark +green of venerable pear and fig trees, and a square court-yard in the +centre, where they had dismounted. A few words in Spanish from Flynn to +one of the lounging peons admitted them to a wooden corridor, and thence +to a long, low room, which to Clarence's eyes seemed literally piled +with books and engravings. Here Flynn hurriedly bade him stay while he +sought the host in another part of the building. But Clarence did not +miss him; indeed, it may be feared, he forgot even the object of their +journey in the new sensations that suddenly thronged upon him, and the +boyish vista of the future that they seemed to open. He was dazed +and intoxicated. He had never seen so many books before; he had never +conceived of such lovely pictures. And yet in some vague way he thought +he must have dreamt of them at some time. He had mounted a chair, and +was gazing spellbound at an engraving of a sea-fight when he heard +Flynn's voice. + +His friend had quietly reentered the room, in company with an oldish, +half-foreign-looking man, evidently his relation. With no helping +recollection, with no means of comparison beyond a vague idea that his +cousin might look like himself, Clarence stood hopelessly before him. He +had already made up his mind that he would have to go through the +usual cross-questioning in regard to his father and family; he had even +forlornly thought of inventing some innocent details to fill out his +imperfect and unsatisfactory recollection. But, glancing up, he was +surprised to find that his elderly cousin was as embarrassed as he was, +Flynn, as usual, masterfully interposed. + +“Of course ye don't remember each other, and thar ain't much that either +of you knows about family matters, I reckon,” he said grimly; “and as +your cousin calls himself Don Juan Robinson,” he added to Clarence, +“it's just as well that you let 'Jackson Brant' slide. I know him better +than you, but you'll get used to him, and he to you, soon enough. At +least, you'd better,” he concluded, with his singular gravity. + +As he turned as if to leave the room with Clarence's embarrassed +relative--much to that gentleman's apparent relief--the boy looked up at +the latter and said timidly-- + +“May I look at those books?” + +His cousin stopped, and glanced at him with the first expression of +interest he had shown. + +“Ah, you read; you like books?” + +“Yes,” said Clarence. As his cousin remained still looking at him +thoughtfully, he added, “My hands are pretty clean, but I can wash them +first, if you like.” + +“You may look at them,” said Don Juan smilingly; “and as they are +old books you can wash your hands afterwards.” And, turning to Flynn +suddenly, with an air of relief, “I tell you what I'll do--I'll teach +him Spanish!” + +They left the room together, and Clarence turned eagerly to the +shelves. They were old books, some indeed very old, queerly bound, and +worm-eaten. Some were in foreign languages, but others in clear, bold +English type, with quaint wood-cuts and illustrations. One seemed to +be a chronicle of battles and sieges, with pictured representations of +combatants spitted with arrows, cleanly lopped off in limb, or toppled +over distinctly by visible cannon-shot. He was deep in its perusal when +he heard the clatter of a horse's hoofs in the court-yard and the voice +of Flynn. He ran to the window, and was astonished to see his friend +already on horseback, taking leave of his host. + +For one instant Clarence felt one of those sudden revulsions of feeling +common to his age, but which he had always timidly hidden under dogged +demeanor. Flynn, his only friend! Flynn, his only boyish confidant! +Flynn, his latest hero, was going away and forsaking him without a +word of parting! It was true that he had only agreed to take him to his +guardian, but still Flynn need not have left him without a word of hope +or encouragement! With any one else Clarence would probably have taken +refuge in his usual Indian stoicism, but the same feeling that had +impelled him to offer Flynn his boyish confidences on their first +meeting now overpowered him. He dropped his book, ran out into the +corridor, and made his way to the court-yard, just as Flynn galloped out +from the arch. + +But the boy uttered a despairing shout that reached the rider. He drew +rein, wheeled, halted, and sat facing Clarence impatiently. To add +to Clarence's embarrassment his cousin had lingered in the corridor, +attracted by the interruption, and a peon, lounging in the archway, +obsequiously approached Flynn's bridle-rein. But the rider waved him +off, and, turning sternly to Clarence, said:-- + +“What's the matter now?” + +“Nothing,” said Clarence, striving to keep back the hot tears that rose +in his eyes. “But you were going away without saying 'good-by.' You've +been very kind to me, and--and--I want to thank you!” + +A deep flush crossed Flynn's face. Then glancing suspiciously towards +the corridor, he said hurriedly,-- + +“Did HE send you?” + +“No, I came myself. I heard you going.” + +“All right. Good-by.” He leaned forward as if about to take Clarence's +outstretched hand, checked himself suddenly with a grim smile, and +taking from his pocket a gold coin handed it to the boy. + +Clarence took it, tossed it with a proud gesture to the waiting peon, +who caught it thankfully, drew back a step from Flynn, and saying, with +white cheeks, “I only wanted to say good-by,” dropped his hot eyes to +the ground. But it did not seem to be his own voice that had spoken, nor +his own self that had prompted the act. + +There was a quick interchange of glances between the departing guest and +his late host, in which Flynn's eyes flashed with an odd, admiring fire, +but when Clarence raised his head again he was gone. And as the boy +turned back with a broken heart towards the corridor, his cousin laid +his hand upon his shoulder. + +“Muy hidalgamente, Clarence,” he said pleasantly. “Yes, we shall make +something of you!” + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Then followed to Clarence three uneventful years. During that interval +he learnt that Jackson Brant, or Don Juan Robinson--for the tie of +kinship was the least factor in their relations to each other, and after +the departure of Flynn was tacitly ignored by both--was more Spanish +than American. An early residence in Lower California, marriage with a +rich Mexican widow, whose dying childless left him sole heir, and some +strange restraining idiosyncrasy of temperament had quite denationalized +him. A bookish recluse, somewhat superfastidious towards his own +countrymen, the more Clarence knew him the more singular appeared +his acquaintance with Flynn; but as he did not exhibit more +communicativeness on this point than upon their own kinship, Clarence +finally concluded that it was due to the dominant character of his +former friend, and thought no more about it. He entered upon the new +life at El Refugio with no disturbing past. Quickly adapting himself to +the lazy freedom of this hacienda existence, he spent the mornings +on horseback ranging the hills among his cousin's cattle, and the +afternoons and evenings busied among his cousin's books with equally +lawless and undisciplined independence. The easy-going Don Juan, it is +true, attempted to make good his rash promise to teach the boy Spanish, +and actually set him a few tasks; but in a few weeks the quick-witted +Clarence acquired such a colloquial proficiency from his casual +acquaintance with vaqueros and small traders that he was glad to +leave the matter in his young kinsman's hands. Again, by one of those +illogical sequences which make a lifelong reputation depend upon a +single trivial act, Clarence's social status was settled forever at El +Refugio Rancho by his picturesque diversion of Flynn's parting gift. The +grateful peon to whom the boy had scornfully tossed the coin repeated +the act, gesture, and spirit of the scene to his companion, and Don +Juan's unknown and youthful relation was at once recognized as hijo +de la familia, and undeniably a hidalgo born and bred. But in the +more vivid imagination of feminine El Refugio the incident reached its +highest poetic form. “It is true, Mother of God,” said Chucha of the +Mill; “it was Domingo who himself relates it as it were the Creed. When +the American escort had arrived with the young gentleman, this escort, +look you, being not of the same quality, he is departing again without a +word of permission. Comes to him at this moment my little hidalgo. 'You +have yourself forgotten to take from me your demission,' he said. This +escort, thinking to make his peace with a mere muchacho, gives to him a +gold piece of twenty pesos. The little hidalgo has taken it SO, and +with the words, 'Ah! you would make of me your almoner to my cousin's +people,' has given it at the moment to Domingo, and with a grace and +fire admirable.” But it is certain that Clarence's singular simplicity +and truthfulness, a faculty of being picturesquely indolent in a way +that suggested a dreamy abstraction of mind rather than any vulgar +tendency to bodily ease and comfort, and possibly the fact that he was +a good horseman, made him a popular hero at El Refugio. At the end of +three years Don Juan found that this inexperienced and apparently idle +boy of fourteen knew more of the practical ruling of the rancho than he +did himself; also that this unlettered young rustic had devoured nearly +all the books in his library with boyish recklessness of digestion. +He found, too, that in spite of his singular independence of action, +Clarence was possessed of an invincible loyalty of principle, and that, +asking no sentimental affection, and indeed yielding none, he was, +without presuming on his relationship, devoted to his cousin's interest. +It seemed that from being a glancing ray of sunshine in the house, +evasive but never obtrusive, he had become a daily necessity of comfort +and security to his benefactor. + +Clarence was, however, astonished, when, one morning, Don Juan, with the +same embarrassed manner he had shown at their first meeting, suddenly +asked him, “what business he expected to follow.” It seemed the more +singular, as the speaker, like most abstracted men, had hitherto always +studiously ignored the future, in their daily intercourse. Yet this +might have been either the habit of security or the caution of +doubt. Whatever it was, it was some sudden disturbance of Don Juan's +equanimity, as disconcerting to himself as it was to Clarence. So +conscious was the boy of this that, without replying to his cousin's +question, but striving in vain to recall some delinquency of his own, he +asked, with his usual boyish directness-- + +“Has anything happened? Have I done anything wrong?” + +“No, no,” returned Don Juan hurriedly. “But, you see, it's time that +you should think of your future--or at least prepare for it. I mean +you ought to have some more regular education. You will have to go to +school. It's too bad,” he added fretfully, with a certain impatient +forgetfulness of Clarence's presence, and as if following his own +thought. “Just as you are becoming of service to me, and justifying +your ridiculous position here--and all this d--d nonsense that's gone +before--I mean, of course, Clarence,” he interrupted himself, catching +sight of the boy's whitening cheek and darkening eye, “I mean, you +know--this ridiculousness of my keeping you from school at your age, and +trying to teach you myself--don't you see.” + +“You think it is--ridiculous,” repeated Clarence, with dogged +persistency. + +“I mean I am ridiculous,” said Don Juan hastily. “There! there! let's +say no more about it. To-morrow we'll ride over to San Jose and see the +Father Secretary at the Jesuits' College about your entering at once. +It's a good school, and you'll always be near the rancho!” And so the +interview ended. + +I am afraid that Clarence's first idea was to run away. There are +few experiences more crushing to an ingenuous nature than the sudden +revelation of the aspect in which it is regarded by others. The +unfortunate Clarence, conscious only of his loyalty to his cousin's +interest and what he believed were the duties of his position, awoke to +find that position “ridiculous.” In an afternoon's gloomy ride through +the lonely hills, and later in the sleepless solitude of his room at +night, he concluded that his cousin was right. He would go to school; +he would study hard--so hard that in a little, a very little while, he +could make a living for himself. He awoke contented. It was the blessing +of youth that this resolve and execution seemed as one and the same +thing. + +The next day found him installed as a pupil and boarder in the college. +Don Juan's position and Spanish predilections naturally made his +relation acceptable to the faculty; but Clarence could not help +perceiving that Father Sobriente, the Principal, regarded him at times +with a thoughtful curiosity that made him suspect that his cousin had +especially bespoken that attention, and that he occasionally questioned +him on his antecedents in a way that made him dread a renewal of the +old questioning about his progenitor. For the rest, he was a polished, +cultivated man; yet, in the characteristic, material criticism of youth, +I am afraid that Clarence chiefly identified him as a priest with large +hands, whose soft palms seemed to be cushioned with kindness, and whose +equally large feet, encased in extraordinary shapeless shoes of undyed +leather, seemed to tread down noiselessly--rather than to ostentatiously +crush--the obstacles that beset the path of the young student. In the +cloistered galleries of the court-yard Clarence sometimes felt himself +borne down by the protecting weight of this paternal hand; in the +midnight silence of the dormitory he fancied he was often conscious +of the soft browsing tread and snuffly muffled breathing of his +elephantine-footed mentor. + +His relations with his school-fellows were at first far from pleasant. +Whether they suspected favoritism; whether they resented that old and +unsympathetic manner which sprang from his habits of association with +his elders; or whether they rested their objections on the broader +grounds of his being a stranger, I do not know, but they presently +passed from cruel sneers to physical opposition. It was then found that +this gentle and reserved youth had retained certain objectionable, rude, +direct, rustic qualities of fist and foot, and that, violating all rules +and disdaining the pomp and circumstance of school-boy warfare, of which +he knew nothing, he simply thrashed a few of his equals out of hand, +with or without ceremony, as the occasion or the insult happened. In +this emergency one of the seniors was selected to teach this youthful +savage his proper position. A challenge was given, and accepted by +Clarence with a feverish alacrity that surprised himself as much as his +adversary. This was a youth of eighteen, his superior in size and skill. + +The first blow bathed Clarence's face in his own blood. But the +sanguinary chrism, to the alarm of the spectators, effected an +instantaneous and unhallowed change in the boy. Instantly closing with +his adversary, he sprang at his throat like an animal, and locking +his arm around his neck began to strangle him. Blind to the blows that +rained upon him, he eventually bore his staggering enemy by sheer onset +and surprise to the earth. Amidst the general alarm, the strength of +half a dozen hastily summoned teachers was necessary to unlock his hold. +Even then he struggled to renew the conflict. But his adversary +had disappeared, and from that day forward Clarence was never again +molested. + +Seated before Father Sobriente in the infirmary, with swollen and +bandaged face, and eyes that still seemed to see everything in the murky +light of his own blood, Clarence felt the soft weight of the father's +hand upon his knee. + +“My son,” said the priest gently, “you are not of our religion, or I +should claim as a right to ask a question of your own heart at this +moment. But as to a good friend, Claro, a good friend,” he continued, +patting the boy's knee, “you will tell me, old Father Sobriente, +frankly and truthfully, as is your habit, one little thing. Were you not +afraid?” + +“No,” said Clarence doggedly. “I'll lick him again to-morrow.” + +“Softly, my son! It was not of HIM I speak, but of something more +terrible and awful. Were you not afraid of--of--” he paused, and +suddenly darting his clear eyes into the very depths of Clarence's soul, +added--“of YOURSELF?” + +The boy started, shuddered, and burst into tears. + +“So, so,” said the priest gently, “we have found our real enemy. Good! +Now, by the grace of God, my little warrior, we shall fight HIM and +conquer.” + +Whether Clarence profited by this lesson, or whether this brief +exhibition of his quality prevented any repetition of the cause, the +episode was soon forgotten. As his school-fellows had never been his +associates or confidants, it mattered little to him whether they feared +or respected him, or were hypocritically obsequious, after the fashion +of the weaker. His studies, at all events, profited by this lack of +distraction. Already his two years of desultory and omnivorous reading +had given him a facile familiarity with many things, which left +him utterly free of the timidity, awkwardness, or non-interest of a +beginner. His usually reserved manner, which had been lack of expression +rather than of conviction, had deceived his tutors. The audacity of a +mind that had never been dominated by others, and owed no allegiance to +precedent, made his merely superficial progress something marvelous. + +At the end of the first year he was a phenomenal scholar, who seemed +capable of anything. Nevertheless, Father Sobriente had an interview +with Don Juan, and as a result Clarence was slightly kept back in his +studies, a little more freedom from the rules was conceded to him, and +he was even encouraged to take some diversion. Of such was the +privilege to visit the neighboring town of Santa Clara unrestricted and +unattended. He had always been liberally furnished with pocket-money, +for which, in his companionless state and Spartan habits, he had a +singular and unboyish contempt. Nevertheless, he always appeared dressed +with scrupulous neatness, and was rather distinguished-looking in his +older reserve and melancholy self-reliance. + +Lounging one afternoon along the Alameda, a leafy avenue set out by the +early Mission Fathers between the village of San Jose and the convent +of Santa Clara, he saw a double file of young girls from the convent +approaching, on their usual promenade. A view of this procession +being the fondest ambition of the San Jose collegian, and especially +interdicted and circumvented by the good Fathers attending the college +excursions, Clarence felt for it the profound indifference of a boy who, +in the intermediate temperate zone of fifteen years, thinks that he +is no longer young and romantic! He was passing them with a careless +glance, when a pair of deep violet eyes caught his own under the broad +shade of a coquettishly beribboned hat, even as it had once looked at +him from the depths of a calico sunbonnet. Susy! He started, and would +have spoken; but with a quick little gesture of caution and a meaning +glance at the two nuns who walked at the head and foot of the file, +she indicated him to follow. He did so at a respectful distance, albeit +wondering. A little further on Susy dropped her handkerchief, and was +obliged to dart out and run back to the end of the file to recover it. +But she gave another swift glance of her blue eyes as she snatched it up +and demurely ran back to her place. The procession passed on, but when +Clarence reached the spot where she had paused he saw a three-cornered +bit of paper lying in the grass. He was too discreet to pick it up while +the girls were still in sight, but continued on, returning to it later. +It contained a few words in a schoolgirl's hand, hastily scrawled in +pencil: “Come to the south wall near the big pear-tree at six.” + +Delighted as Clarence felt, he was at the same time embarrassed. He +could not understand the necessity of this mysterious rendezvous. +He knew that if she was a scholar she was under certain conventual +restraints; but with the privileges of his position and friendship with +his teachers, he believed that Father Sobriente would easily procure him +an interview with this old play-fellow, of whom he had often spoken, +and who was, with himself, the sole survivor of his tragical past. And +trusted as he was by Sobriente, there was something in this clandestine +though innocent rendezvous that went against his loyalty. Nevertheless, +he kept the appointment, and at the stated time was at the south wall +of the convent, over which the gnarled boughs of the distinguishing +pear-tree hung. Hard by in the wall was a grated wicket door that seemed +unused. + +Would she appear among the boughs or on the edge of the wall? Either +would be like the old Susy. But to his surprise he heard the sound +of the key turning in the lock. The grated door suddenly swung on its +hinges, and Susy slipped out. Grasping his hand, she said, “Let's run, +Clarence,” and before he could reply she started off with him at a rapid +pace. Down the lane they flew--very much, as it seemed to Clarence's +fancy, as they had flown from the old emigrant wagon on the prairie, +four years before. He glanced at the fluttering, fairy-like figure +beside him. She had grown taller and more graceful; she was dressed in +exquisite taste, with a minuteness of luxurious detail that bespoke +the spoilt child; but there was the same prodigal outburst of rippling, +golden hair down her back and shoulders, violet eyes, capricious little +mouth, and the same delicate hands and feet he had remembered. He would +have preferred a more deliberate survey, but with a shake of her head +and an hysteric little laugh she only said, “Run, Clarence, run,” and +again darted forward. Arriving at the cross-street, they turned the +corner, and halted breathlessly. + +“But you're not running away from school, Susy, are you?” said Clarence +anxiously. + +“Only a little bit. Just enough to get ahead of the other girls,” she +said, rearranging her brown curls and tilted hat. “You see, Clarence,” + she condescended to explain, with a sudden assumption of older +superiority, “mother's here at the hotel all this week, and I'm allowed +to go home every night, like a day scholar. Only there's three or +four other girls that go out at the same time with me, and one of the +Sisters, and to-day I got ahead of 'em just to see YOU.” + +“But” began Clarence. + +“Oh, it's all right; the other girls knew it, and helped me. They don't +start out for half an hour yet, and they'll say I've just run ahead, and +when they and the Sister get to the hotel I'll be there already--don't +you see?” + +“Yes,” said Clarence dubiously. + +“And we'll go to an ice-cream saloon now, shan't we? There's a nice one +near the hotel. I've got some money,” she added quickly, as Clarence +looked embarrassed. + +“So have I,” said Clarence, with a faint accession of color. “Let's go!” + She had relinquished his hand to smooth out her frock, and they were +walking side by side at a more moderate pace. “But,” he continued, +clinging to his first idea with masculine persistence, and anxious to +assure his companion of his power, of his position, “I'm in the college, +and Father Sobriente, who knows your lady superior, is a good friend +of mine and gives me privileges; and--and--when he knows that you and +I used to play together--why, he'll fix it that we may see each other +whenever we want.” + +“Oh, you silly!” said Susy. “WHAT!--when you're--” + +“When I'm WHAT?” + +The young girl shot a violet blue ray from under her broad hat. +“Why--when we're grown up now?” Then with a certain precision, “Why, +they're VERY particular about young gentlemen! Why, Clarence, if they +suspected that you and I were--” Another violet ray from under the hat +completed this unfinished sentence. + +Pleased and yet confused, Clarence looked straight ahead with deepening +color. “Why,” continued Susy, “Mary Rogers, that was walking with me, +thought you were ever so old--and a distinguished Spaniard! And I,” + she said abruptly--“haven't I grown? Tell me, Clarence,” with her old +appealing impatience, “haven't I grown? Do tell me!” + +“Very much,” said Clarence. + +“And isn't this frock pretty--it's only my second best--but I've a +prettier one with lace all down in front; but isn't this one pretty, +Clarence, tell me?” + +Clarence thought the frock and its fair owner perfection, and said +so. Whereat Susy, as if suddenly aware of the presence of passers-by, +assumed an air of severe propriety, dropped her hands by her side, and +with an affected conscientiousness walked on, a little further from +Clarence's side, until they reached the ice-cream saloon. + +“Get a table near the back, Clarence,” she said, in a confidential +whisper, “where they can't see us--and strawberry, you know, for the +lemon and vanilla here are just horrid!” + +They took their seats in a kind of rustic arbor in the rear of the shop, +which gave them the appearance of two youthful but somewhat over-dressed +and over-conscious shepherds. There was an interval of slight +awkwardness, which Susy endeavored to displace. “There has been,” she +remarked, with easy conversational lightness, “quite an excitement about +our French teacher being changed. The girls in our class think it most +disgraceful.” + +And this was all she could say after a separation of four years! +Clarence was desperate, but as yet idealess and voiceless. At last, with +an effort over his spoon, he gasped a floating recollection: “Do you +still like flapjacks, Susy?” + +“Oh, yes,” with a laugh, “but we don't have them now.” + +“And Mose” (a black pointer, who used to yelp when Susy sang), “does he +still sing with you?” + +“Oh, HE'S been lost ever so long,” said Susy composedly; “but I've got +a Newfoundland and a spaniel and a black pony;” and here, with a rapid +inventory of her other personal effects, she drifted into some desultory +details of the devotion of her adopted parents, whom she now +readily spoke of as “papa” and “mamma,” with evidently no disturbing +recollection of the dead. From which it appeared that the Peytons were +very rich, and, in addition to their possessions in the lower country, +owned a rancho in Santa Clara and a house in San Francisco. Like all +children, her strongest impressions were the most recent. In the vain +hope to lead her back to this material yesterday, he said-- + +“You remember Jim Hooker?” + +“Oh, HE ran away, when you left. But just think of it! The other day, +when papa and I went into a big restaurant in San Francisco, who should +be there WAITING on the table--yes, Clarence, a real waiter--but Jim +Hooker! Papa spoke to him; but of course,” with a slight elevation of +her pretty chin, “I couldn't, you know; fancy--a waiter!” + +The story of how Jim Hooker had personated him stopped short upon +Clarence's lips. He could not bring himself now to add that revelation +to the contempt of his small companion, which, in spite of its naivete, +somewhat grated on his sensibilities. + +“Clarence,” she said, suddenly turning towards him mysteriously, and +indicating the shopman and his assistants, “I really believe these +people suspect us.” + +“Of what?” said the practical Clarence. + +“Don't be silly! Don't you see how they are staring?” + +Clarence was really unable to detect the least curiosity on the part of +the shopman, or that any one exhibited the slightest concern in him or +his companion. But he felt a return of the embarrassed pleasure he was +conscious of a moment before. + +“Then you're living with your father?” said Susy, changing the subject. + +“You mean my COUSIN,” said Clarence, smiling. “You know my father died +long before I ever knew you.” + +“Yes; that's what YOU used to say, Clarence, but papa says it isn't +so.” But seeing the boy's wondering eyes fixed on her with a troubled +expression, she added quickly, “Oh, then, he IS your cousin!” + +“Well, I think I ought to know,” said Clarence, with a smile, that was, +however, far from comfortable, and a quick return of his old unpleasant +recollections of the Peytons. “Why, I was brought to him by one of his +friends.” And Clarence gave a rapid boyish summary of his journey from +Sacramento, and Flynn's discovery of the letter addressed to Silsbee. +But before he had concluded he was conscious that Susy was by no means +interested in these details, nor in the least affected by the +passing allusion to her dead father and his relation to Clarence's +misadventures. With her rounded chin in her hand, she was slowly +examining his face, with a certain mischievous yet demure abstraction. +“I tell you what, Clarence,” she said, when he had finished, “you +ought to make your cousin get you one of those sombreros, and a nice +gold-braided serape. They'd just suit you. And then--then you could ride +up and down the Alameda when we are going by.” + +“But I'm coming to see you at--at your house, and at the convent,” he +said eagerly. “Father Sobriente and my cousin will fix it all right.” + +But Susy shook her head, with superior wisdom. “No; they must never know +our secret!--neither papa nor mamma, especially mamma. And they mustn't +know that we've met again--AFTER THESE YEARS!” It is impossible to +describe the deep significance which Susy's blue eyes gave to this +expression. After a pause she went on-- + +“No! We must never meet again, Clarence, unless Mary Rogers helps. She +is my best, my ONLIEST friend, and older than I; having had trouble +herself, and being expressly forbidden to see him again. You can speak +to her about Suzette--that's my name now; I was rechristened Suzette +Alexandra Peyton by mamma. And now, Clarence,” dropping her voice and +glancing shyly around the saloon, “you may kiss me just once under my +hat, for good-by.” She adroitly slanted her broad-brimmed hat towards +the front of the shop, and in its shadow advanced her fresh young cheek +to Clarence. + +Coloring and laughing, the boy pressed his lips to it twice. Then Susy +arose, with the faintest affectation of a sigh, shook out her skirt, +drew on her gloves with the greatest gravity, and saying, “Don't follow +me further than the door--they're coming now,” walked with supercilious +dignity past the preoccupied proprietor and waiters to the entrance. +Here she said, with marked civility, “Good-afternoon, Mr. Brant,” and +tripped away towards the hotel. Clarence lingered for a moment to look +after the lithe and elegant little figure, with its shining undulations +of hair that fell over the back and shoulders of her white frock like a +golden mantle, and then turned away in the opposite direction. + +He walked home in a state, as it seemed to him, of absurd perplexity. +There were many reasons why his encounter with Susy should have been of +unmixed pleasure. She had remembered him of her own free will, and, in +spite of the change in her fortune, had made the first advances. Her +doubts about her future interviews had affected him but little; still +less, I fear, did he think of the other changes in her character and +disposition, for he was of that age when they added only a piquancy and +fascination to her--as of one who, in spite of her weakness of nature, +was still devoted to him! But he was painfully conscious that this +meeting had revived in him all the fears, vague uneasiness, and sense +of wrong that had haunted his first boyhood, and which he thought he had +buried at El Refugio four years ago. Susy's allusion to his father and +the reiteration of Peyton's skepticism awoke in his older intellect the +first feeling of suspicion that was compatible with his open nature. +Was this recurring reticence and mystery due to any act of his father's? +But, looking back upon it in after-years, he concluded that the incident +of that day was a premonition rather than a recollection. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +When he reached the college the Angelus had long since rung. In the +corridor he met one of the Fathers, who, instead of questioning him, +returned his salutation with a grave gentleness that struck him. He +had turned into Father Sobriente's quiet study with the intention of +reporting himself, when he was disturbed to find him in consultation +with three or four of the faculty, who seemed to be thrown into some +slight confusion by his entrance. Clarence was about to retire hurriedly +when Father Sobriente, breaking up the council with a significant glance +at the others, called him back. Confused and embarrassed, with a dread +of something impending, the boy tried to avert it by a hurried account +of his meeting with Susy, and his hopes of Father Sobriente's counsel +and assistance. Taking upon himself the idea of suggesting Susy's +escapade, he confessed the fault. The old man gazed into his frank eyes +with a thoughtful, half-compassionate smile. “I was just thinking +of giving you a holiday with--with Don Juan Robinson.” The unusual +substitution of this final title for the habitual “your cousin” struck +Clarence uneasily. “But we will speak of that later. Sit down, my son; +I am not busy. We shall talk a little. Father Pedro says you are +getting on fluently with your translations. That is excellent, my son, +excellent.” + +Clarence's face beamed with relief and pleasure. His vague fears began +to dissipate. + +“And you translate even from dictation! Good! We have an hour to spare, +and you shall give to me a specimen of your skill. Eh? Good! I will walk +here and dictate to you in my poor English, and you shall sit there and +render it to me in your good Spanish. Eh? So we shall amuse and instruct +ourselves.” + +Clarence smiled. These sporadic moments of instruction and admonition +were not unusual to the good Father. He cheerfully seated himself at +the Padre's table before a blank sheet of paper, with a pen in his hand. +Father Sobriente paced the apartment, with his usual heavy but noiseless +tread. To his surprise, the good priest, after an exhaustive pinch of +snuff, blew his nose, and began, in his most lugubrious style of pulpit +exhortation:-- + +“It has been written that the sins of the father shall be visited upon +the children, and the unthinking and worldly have sought refuge from +this law by declaring it harsh and cruel. Miserable and blind! For do we +not see that the wicked man, who in the pride of his power and vainglory +is willing to risk punishment to HIMSELF--and believes it to be +courage--must pause before the awful mandate that condemns an equal +suffering to those he loves, which he cannot withhold or suffer for? In +the spectacle of these innocents struggling against disgrace, perhaps +disease, poverty, or desertion, what avails his haughty, all-defying +spirit? Let us imagine, Clarence.” + +“Sir?” said the literal Clarence, pausing in his exercise. + +“I mean,” continued the priest, with a slight cough, “let the thoughtful +man picture a father: a desperate, self-willed man, who scorned the laws +of God and society--keeping only faith with a miserable subterfuge he +called 'honor,' and relying only on his own courage and his knowledge of +human weakness. Imagine him cruel and bloody--a gambler by profession, +an outlaw among men, an outcast from the Church; voluntarily abandoning +friends and family,--the wife he should have cherished, the son he +should have reared and educated--for the gratification of his deadly +passions. Yet imagine that man suddenly confronted with the thought +of that heritage of shame and disgust which he had brought upon his +innocent offspring--to whom he cannot give even his own desperate +recklessness to sustain its vicarious suffering. What must be the +feelings of a parent--” + +“Father Sobriente,” said Clarence softly. + +To the boy's surprise, scarcely had he spoken when the soft protecting +palm of the priest was already upon his shoulder, and the snuffy but +kindly upper lip, trembling with some strange emotion, close beside his +cheek. + +“What is it, Clarence?” he said hurriedly. “Speak, my son, without fear! +You would ask--” + +“I only wanted to know if 'padre' takes a masculine verb here,” replied +Clarence naively. + +Father Sobriente blew his nose violently. “Truly--though used for either +gender, by the context masculine,” he responded gravely. “Ah,” he added, +leaning over Clarence, and scanning his work hastily, “Good, very good! +And now, possibly,” he continued, passing his hand like a damp sponge +over his heated brow, “we shall reverse our exercise. I shall deliver +to you in Spanish what you shall render back in English, eh? And--let us +consider--we shall make something more familiar and narrative, eh?” + +To this Clarence, somewhat bored by these present solemn abstractions, +assented gladly, and took up his pen. Father Sobriente, resuming his +noiseless pacing, began: + +“On the fertile plains of Guadalajara lived a certain caballero, +possessed of flocks and lands, and a wife and son. But, being also +possessed of a fiery and roving nature, he did not value them as he did +perilous adventure, feats of arms, and sanguinary encounters. To this +may be added riotous excesses, gambling and drunkenness, which in time +decreased his patrimony, even as his rebellious and quarrelsome spirit +had alienated his family and neighbors. His wife, borne down by shame +and sorrow, died while her son was still an infant. In a fit of equal +remorse and recklessness the caballero married again within the year. +But the new wife was of a temper and bearing as bitter as her consort. +Violent quarrels ensued between them, ending in the husband abandoning +his wife and son, and leaving St. Louis--I should say Guadalajara--for +ever. Joining some adventurers in a foreign land, under an assumed name, +he pursued his reckless course, until, by one or two acts of outlawry, +he made his return to civilization impossible. The deserted wife and +step-mother of his child coldly accepted the situation, forbidding his +name to be spoken again in her presence, announced that he was dead, and +kept the knowledge of his existence from his own son, whom she placed +under the charge of her sister. But the sister managed to secretly +communicate with the outlawed father, and, under a pretext, arranged +between them, of sending the boy to another relation, actually +dispatched the innocent child to his unworthy parent. Perhaps stirred by +remorse, the infamous man--” + +“Stop!” said Clarence suddenly. + +He had thrown down his pen, and was standing erect and rigid before the +Father. + +“You are trying to tell me something, Father Sobriente,” he said, with +an effort. “Speak out, I implore you. I can stand anything but this +mystery. I am no longer a child. I have a right to know all. This that +you are telling me is no fable--I see it in your face, Father Sobriente; +it is the story of--of--” + +“Your father, Clarence!” said the priest, in a trembling voice. + +The boy drew back, with a white face. “My father!” he repeated. “Living, +or dead?” + +“Living, when you first left your home,” said the old man hurriedly, +seizing Clarence's hand, “for it was he who in the name of your cousin +sent for you. Living--yes, while you were here, for it was he who for +the past three years stood in the shadow of this assumed cousin, Don +Juan, and at last sent you to this school. Living, Clarence, yes; but +living under a name and reputation that would have blasted you! And +now DEAD--dead in Mexico, shot as an insurgent and in a still desperate +career! May God have mercy on his soul!” + +“Dead!” repeated Clarence, trembling, “only now?” + +“The news of the insurrection and his fate came only an hour since,” + continued the Padre quickly; “his complicity with it and his identity +were known only to Don Juan. He would have spared you any knowledge of +the truth, even as this dead man would; but I and my brothers thought +otherwise. I have broken it to you badly, my son, but forgive me?” + +An hysterical laugh broke from Clarence and the priest recoiled before +him. “Forgive YOU! What was this man to me?” he said, with boyish +vehemence. “He never LOVED me! He deserted me; he made my life a lie. +He never sought me, came near me, or stretched a hand to me that I could +take?” + +“Hush! hush!” said the priest, with a horrified look, laying his huge +hand upon the boy's shoulder and bearing him down to his seat. “You know +not what you say. Think--think, Clarence! Was there none of all those +who have befriended you--who were kind to you in your wanderings--to +whom your heart turned unconsciously? Think, Clarence! You yourself +have spoken to me of such a one. Let your heart speak again, for his +sake--for the sake of the dead.” + +A gentler light suffused the boy's eyes, and he started. Catching +convulsively at his companion's sleeve, he said in an eager, boyish +whisper, “There was one, a wicked, desperate man, whom they all +feared--Flynn, who brought me from the mines. Yes, I thought that he +was my cousin's loyal friend--more than all the rest; and I told him +everything--all, that I never told the man I thought my cousin, or +anyone, or even you; and I think, I think, Father, I liked him best +of all. I thought since it was wrong,” he continued, with a trembling +smile, “for I was foolishly fond even of the way the others feared him, +he that I feared not, and who was so kind to me. Yet he, too, left me +without a word, and when I would have followed him--” But the boy broke +down, and buried his face in his hands. + +“No, no,” said Father Sobriente, with eager persistence, “that was his +foolish pride to spare you the knowledge of your kinship with one so +feared, and part of the blind and mistaken penance he had laid upon +himself. For even at that moment of your boyish indignation, he never +was so fond of you as then. Yes, my poor boy, this man, to whom God led +your wandering feet at Deadman's Gulch; the man who brought you here, +and by some secret hold--I know not what--on Don Juan's past, persuaded +him to assume to be your relation; this man Flynn, this Jackson Brant +the gambler, this Hamilton Brant the outlaw--WAS YOUR FATHER! Ah, +yes! Weep on, my son; each tear of love and forgiveness from thee hath +vicarious power to wash away his sin.” + +With a single sweep of his protecting hand he drew Clarence towards +his breast, until the boy slowly sank upon his knees at his feet. Then, +lifting his eyes towards the ceiling, he said softly in an older tongue, +“And THOU, too, unhappy and perturbed spirit, rest!” + +* * * * * + +It was nearly dawn when the good Padre wiped the last tears from +Clarence's clearer eyes. “And now, my son,” he said, with a gentle +smile, as he rose to his feet, “let us not forget the living. Although +your step-mother has, through her own act, no legal claim upon you, far +be it from me to indicate your attitude towards her. Enough that YOU are +independent.” He turned, and, opening a drawer in his secretaire, took +out a bank-book, and placed it in the hands of the wondering boy. + +“It was HIS wish, Clarence, that even after his death you should never +have to prove your kinship to claim your rights. Taking advantage of +the boyish deposit you had left with Mr. Carden at the bank, with his +connivance and in your name he added to it, month by month and year by +year; Mr. Carden cheerfully accepting the trust and management of the +fund. The seed thus sown has produced a thousandfold, Clarence, beyond +all expectations. You are not only free, my son, but of yourself and in +whatever name you choose--your own master.” + +“I shall keep my father's name,” said the boy simply. + +“Amen!” said Father Sobriente. + + +Here closes the chronicle of Clarence Brant's boyhood. How he sustained +his name and independence in after years, and who, of those already +mentioned in these pages, helped him to make or mar it, may be a matter +for future record. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Waif of the Plains, by Bret Harte + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WAIF OF THE PLAINS *** + +***** This file should be named 2279-0.txt or 2279-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/7/2279/ + +Produced by Donald Lainson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Waif of the Plains + +Author: Bret Harte + +Release Date: May 13, 2006 [EBook #2279] +Last Updated: March 4, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WAIF OF THE PLAINS *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + A WAIF OF THE PLAINS + </h1> + <h2> + by Bret Harte + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <p> + A long level of dull gray that further away became a faint blue, with here + and there darker patches that looked like water. At times an open space, + blackened and burnt in an irregular circle, with a shred of newspaper, an + old rag, or broken tin can lying in the ashes. Beyond these always a low + dark line that seemed to sink into the ground at night, and rose again in + the morning with the first light, but never otherwise changed its height + and distance. A sense of always moving with some indefinite purpose, but + of always returning at night to the same place—with the same + surroundings, the same people, the same bedclothes, and the same awful + black canopy dropped down from above. A chalky taste of dust on the mouth + and lips, a gritty sense of earth on the fingers, and an all-pervading + heat and smell of cattle. + </p> + <p> + This was “The Great Plains” as they seemed to two children from the hooded + depth of an emigrant wagon, above the swaying heads of toiling oxen, in + the summer of 1852. + </p> + <p> + It had appeared so to them for two weeks, always the same and always + without the least sense to them of wonder or monotony. When they viewed it + from the road, walking beside the wagon, there was only the team itself + added to the unvarying picture. One of the wagons bore on its canvas hood + the inscription, in large black letters, “Off to California!” on the other + “Root, Hog, or Die,” but neither of them awoke in the minds of the + children the faintest idea of playfulness or jocularity. Perhaps it was + difficult to connect the serious men, who occasionally walked beside them + and seemed to grow more taciturn and depressed as the day wore on, with + this past effusive pleasantry. + </p> + <p> + Yet the impressions of the two children differed slightly. The eldest, a + boy of eleven, was apparently new to the domestic habits and customs of a + life to which the younger, a girl of seven, was evidently native and + familiar. The food was coarse and less skillfully prepared than that to + which he had been accustomed. There was a certain freedom and roughness in + their intercourse, a simplicity that bordered almost on rudeness in their + domestic arrangements, and a speech that was at times almost + untranslatable to him. He slept in his clothes, wrapped up in blankets; he + was conscious that in the matter of cleanliness he was left to himself to + overcome the difficulties of finding water and towels. But it is doubtful + if in his youthfulness it affected him more than a novelty. He ate and + slept well, and found his life amusing. Only at times the rudeness of his + companions, or, worse, an indifference that made him feel his dependency + upon them, awoke a vague sense of some wrong that had been done to him + which while it was voiceless to all others and even uneasily put aside by + himself, was still always slumbering in his childish consciousness. + </p> + <p> + To the party he was known as an orphan put on the train at “St. Jo” by + some relative of his stepmother, to be delivered to another relative at + Sacramento. As his stepmother had not even taken leave of him, but had + entrusted his departure to the relative with whom he had been lately + living, it was considered as an act of “riddance,” and accepted as such by + her party, and even vaguely acquiesced in by the boy himself. What + consideration had been offered for his passage he did not know; he only + remembered that he had been told “to make himself handy.” This he had done + cheerfully, if at times with the unskillfulness of a novice; but it was + not a peculiar or a menial task in a company where all took part in manual + labor, and where existence seemed to him to bear the charm of a prolonged + picnic. Neither was he subjected to any difference of affection or + treatment from Mrs. Silsbee, the mother of his little companion, and the + wife of the leader of the train. Prematurely old, of ill-health, and + harassed with cares, she had no time to waste in discriminating maternal + tenderness for her daughter, but treated the children with equal and + unbiased querulousness. + </p> + <p> + The rear wagon creaked, swayed, and rolled on slowly and heavily. The + hoofs of the draft-oxen, occasionally striking in the dust with a dull + report, sent little puffs like smoke on either side of the track. Within, + the children were playing “keeping store.” The little girl, as an opulent + and extravagant customer, was purchasing of the boy, who sat behind a + counter improvised from a nail-keg and the front seat, most of the + available contents of the wagon, either under their own names or an + imaginary one as the moment suggested, and paying for them in the easy and + liberal currency of dried beans and bits of paper. Change was given by the + expeditious method of tearing the paper into smaller fragments. The + diminution of stock was remedied by buying the same article over again + under a different name. Nevertheless, in spite of these favorable + commercial conditions, the market seemed dull. + </p> + <p> + “I can show you a fine quality of sheeting at four cents a yard, double + width,” said the boy, rising and leaning on his fingers on the counter as + he had seen the shopmen do. “All wool and will wash,” he added, with easy + gravity. + </p> + <p> + “I can buy it cheaper at Jackson's,” said the girl, with the intuitive + duplicity of her bargaining sex. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said the boy. “I won't play any more.” + </p> + <p> + “Who cares?” said the girl indifferently. The boy here promptly upset the + counter; the rolled-up blanket which had deceitfully represented the + desirable sheeting falling on the wagon floor. It apparently suggested a + new idea to the former salesman. “I say! let's play 'damaged stock.' See, + I'll tumble all the things down here right on top o' the others, and sell + 'em for less than cost.” + </p> + <p> + The girl looked up. The suggestion was bold, bad, and momentarily + attractive. But she only said “No,” apparently from habit, picked up her + doll, and the boy clambered to the front of the wagon. The incomplete + episode terminated at once with that perfect forgetfulness, indifference, + and irresponsibility common to all young animals. If either could have + flown away or bounded off finally at that moment, they would have done so + with no more concern for preliminary detail than a bird or squirrel. The + wagon rolled steadily on. The boy could see that one of the teamsters had + climbed up on the tail-board of the preceding vehicle. The other seemed to + be walking in a dusty sleep. + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns,” said the girl. + </p> + <p> + The boy, without turning his head, responded, “Susy.” + </p> + <p> + “Wot are you going to be?” said the girl. + </p> + <p> + “Goin' to be?” repeated Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “When you is growed,” explained Susy. + </p> + <p> + Clarence hesitated. His settled determination had been to become a pirate, + merciless yet discriminating. But reading in a bethumbed “Guide to the + Plains” that morning of Fort Lamarie and Kit Carson, he had decided upon + the career of a “scout,” as being more accessible and requiring less + water. Yet, out of compassion for Susy's possible ignorance, he said + neither, and responded with the American boy's modest conventionality, + “President.” It was safe, required no embarrassing description, and had + been approved by benevolent old gentlemen with their hands on his head. + </p> + <p> + “I'm goin' to be a parson's wife,” said Susy, “and keep hens, and have + things giv' to me. Baby clothes, and apples, and apple sass—and + melasses! and more baby clothes! and pork when you kill.” + </p> + <p> + She had thrown herself at the bottom of the wagon, with her back towards + him and her doll in her lap. He could see the curve of her curly head, and + beyond, her bare dimpled knees, which were raised, and over which she was + trying to fold the hem of her brief skirt. + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't be a President's wife,” she said presently. + </p> + <p> + “You couldn't!” + </p> + <p> + “Could if I wanted to!” + </p> + <p> + “Couldn't!” + </p> + <p> + “Could now!” + </p> + <p> + “Couldn't!” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” + </p> + <p> + Finding it difficult to explain his convictions of her ineligibility, + Clarence thought it equally crushing not to give any. There was a long + silence. It was very hot and dusty. The wagon scarcely seemed to move. + Clarence gazed at the vignette of the track behind them formed by the hood + of the rear. Presently he rose and walked past her to the tail-board. + “Goin' to get down,” he said, putting his legs over. + </p> + <p> + “Maw says 'No,'” said Susy. + </p> + <p> + Clarence did not reply, but dropped to the ground beside the slowly + turning wheels. Without quickening his pace he could easily keep his hand + on the tail-board. + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns.” + </p> + <p> + He looked up. + </p> + <p> + “Take me.” + </p> + <p> + She had already clapped on her sun-bonnet and was standing at the edge of + the tail-board, her little arms extended in such perfect confidence of + being caught that the boy could not resist. He caught her cleverly. They + halted a moment and let the lumbering vehicle move away from them, as it + swayed from side to side as if laboring in a heavy sea. They remained + motionless until it had reached nearly a hundred yards, and then, with a + sudden half-real, half-assumed, but altogether delightful trepidation, ran + forward and caught up with it again. This they repeated two or three times + until both themselves and the excitement were exhausted, and they again + plodded on hand in hand. Presently Clarence uttered a cry. + </p> + <p> + “My! Susy—look there!” + </p> + <p> + The rear wagon had once more slipped away from them a considerable + distance. Between it and them, crossing its track, a most extraordinary + creature had halted. + </p> + <p> + At first glance it seemed a dog—a discomfited, shameless, ownerless + outcast of streets and byways, rather than an honest stray of some + drover's train. It was so gaunt, so dusty, so greasy, so slouching, and so + lazy! But as they looked at it more intently they saw that the grayish + hair of its back had a bristly ridge, and there were great + poisonous-looking dark blotches on its flanks, and that the slouch of its + haunches was a peculiarity of its figure, and not the cowering of fear. As + it lifted its suspicious head towards them they could see that its thin + lips, too short to cover its white teeth, were curled in a perpetual + sneer. + </p> + <p> + “Here, doggie!” said Clarence excitedly. “Good dog! Come.” + </p> + <p> + Susy burst into a triumphant laugh. “Et tain't no dog, silly; it's er + coyote.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence blushed. It wasn't the first time the pioneer's daughter had + shown her superior knowledge. He said quickly, to hide his discomfiture, + “I'll ketch him, any way; he's nothin' mor'n a ki yi.” + </p> + <p> + “Ye can't, tho,” said Susy, shaking her sun-bonnet. “He's faster nor a + hoss!” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, Clarence ran towards him, followed by Susy. When they had + come within twenty feet of him, the lazy creature, without apparently the + least effort, took two or three limping bounds to one side, and remained + at the same distance as before. They repeated this onset three or four + times with more or less excitement and hilarity, the animal evading them + to one side, but never actually retreating before them. Finally, it + occurred to them both that although they were not catching him they were + not driving him away. The consequences of that thought were put into shape + by Susy with round-eyed significance. + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns, he bites.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence picked up a hard sun-baked clod, and, running forward, threw it + at the coyote. It was a clever shot, and struck him on his slouching + haunches. He snapped and gave a short snarling yelp, and vanished. + Clarence returned with a victorious air to his companion. But she was + gazing intently in the opposite direction, and for the first time he + discovered that the coyote had been leading them half round a circle. + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns,” said Susy, with a hysterical little laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” + </p> + <p> + “The wagon's gone.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence started. It was true. Not only their wagon, but the whole train + of oxen and teamsters had utterly disappeared, vanishing as completely as + if they had been caught up in a whirlwind or engulfed in the earth! Even + the low cloud of dust that usually marked their distant course by day was + nowhere to be seen. The long level plain stretched before them to the + setting sun, without a sign or trace of moving life or animation. That + great blue crystal bowl, filled with dust and fire by day, with stars and + darkness by night, which had always seemed to drop its rim round them + everywhere and shut them in, seemed to them now to have been lifted to let + the train pass out, and then closed down upon them forever. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <p> + Their first sensation was one of purely animal freedom. + </p> + <p> + They looked at each other with sparkling eyes and long silent breaths. But + this spontaneous outburst of savage nature soon passed. Susy's little hand + presently reached forward and clutched Clarence's jacket. The boy + understood it, and said quickly,— + </p> + <p> + “They ain't gone far, and they'll stop as soon as they find us gone.” + </p> + <p> + They trotted on a little faster; the sun they had followed every day and + the fresh wagon tracks being their unfailing guides; the keen, cool air of + the plains, taking the place of that all-pervading dust and smell of the + perspiring oxen, invigorating them with its breath. + </p> + <p> + “We ain't skeered a bit, are we?” said Susy. + </p> + <p> + “What's there to be afraid of?” said Clarence scornfully. He said this + none the less strongly because he suddenly remembered that they had been + often left alone in the wagon for hours without being looked after, and + that their absence might not be noticed until the train stopped to encamp + at dusk, two hours later. They were not running very fast, yet either they + were more tired than they knew, or the air was thinner, for they both + seemed to breathe quickly. Suddenly Clarence stopped. + </p> + <p> + “There they are now.” + </p> + <p> + He was pointing to a light cloud of dust in the far-off horizon, from + which the black hulk of a wagon emerged for a moment and was lost. But + even as they gazed the cloud seemed to sink like a fairy mirage to the + earth again, the whole train disappeared, and only the empty stretching + track returned. They did not know that this seemingly flat and level plain + was really undulatory, and that the vanished train had simply dipped below + their view on some further slope even as it had once before. But they knew + they were disappointed, and that disappointment revealed to them the fact + that they had concealed it from each other. The girl was the first to + succumb, and burst into a quick spasm of angry tears. That single act of + weakness called out the boy's pride and strength. There was no longer an + equality of suffering; he had become her protector; he felt himself + responsible for both. Considering her no longer his equal, he was no + longer frank with her. + </p> + <p> + “There's nothin' to boo-boo for,” he said, with a half-affected + brusqueness. “So quit, now! They'll stop in a minit, and send some one + back for us. Shouldn't wonder if they're doin' it now.” + </p> + <p> + But Susy, with feminine discrimination detecting the hollow ring in his + voice, here threw herself upon him and began to beat him violently with + her little fists. “They ain't! They ain't! They ain't. You know it! How + dare you?” Then, exhausted with her struggles, she suddenly threw herself + flat on the dry grass, shut her eyes tightly, and clutched at the stubble. + </p> + <p> + “Get up,” said the boy, with a pale, determined face that seemed to have + got much older. + </p> + <p> + “You leave me be,” said Susy. + </p> + <p> + “Do you want me to go away and leave you?” asked the boy. + </p> + <p> + Susy opened one blue eye furtively in the secure depths of her sun-bonnet, + and gazed at his changed face. + </p> + <p> + “Ye-e-s.” + </p> + <p> + He pretended to turn away, but really to look at the height of the sinking + sun. + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns!” + </p> + <p> + “Well?” + </p> + <p> + “Take me.” + </p> + <p> + She was holding up her hands. He lifted her gently in his arms, dropping + her head over his shoulder. “Now,” he said cheerfully, “you keep a good + lookout that way, and I this, and we'll soon be there.” + </p> + <p> + The idea seemed to please her. After Clarence had stumbled on for a few + moments, she said, “Do you see anything, Kla'uns?” + </p> + <p> + “Not yet.” + </p> + <p> + “No more don't I.” This equality of perception apparently satisfied her. + Presently she lay more limp in his arms. She was asleep. + </p> + <p> + The sun was sinking lower; it had already touched the edge of the horizon, + and was level with his dazzled and straining eyes. At times it seemed to + impede his eager search and task his vision. Haze and black spots floated + across the horizon, and round wafers, like duplicates of the sun, + glittered back from the dull surface of the plains. Then he resolved to + look no more until he had counted fifty, a hundred, but always with the + same result, the return of the empty, unending plains—the disk + growing redder as it neared the horizon, the fire it seemed to kindle as + it sank, but nothing more. + </p> + <p> + Staggering under his burden, he tried to distract himself by fancying how + the discovery of their absence would be made. He heard the listless, + half-querulous discussion about the locality that regularly pervaded the + nightly camp. He heard the discontented voice of Jake Silsbee as he halted + beside the wagon, and said, “Come out o' that now, you two, and mighty + quick about it.” He heard the command harshly repeated. He saw the look of + irritation on Silsbee's dusty, bearded face, that followed his hurried + glance into the empty wagon. He heard the query, “What's gone o' them + limbs now?” handed from wagon to wagon. He heard a few oaths; Mrs. + Silsbee's high rasping voice, abuse of himself, the hurried and + discontented detachment of a search party, Silsbee and one of the hired + men, and vociferation and blame. Blame always for himself, the elder, who + might have “known better!” A little fear, perhaps, but he could not fancy + either pity or commiseration. Perhaps the thought upheld his pride; under + the prospect of sympathy he might have broken down. + </p> + <p> + At last he stumbled, and stopped to keep himself from falling forward on + his face. He could go no further; his breath was spent; he was dripping + with perspiration; his legs were trembling under him; there was a roaring + in his ears; round red disks of the sun were scattered everywhere around + him like spots of blood. To the right of the trail there seemed to be a + slight mound where he could rest awhile, and yet keep his watchful survey + of the horizon. But on reaching it he found that it was only a tangle of + taller mesquite grass, into which he sank with his burden. Nevertheless, + if useless as a point of vantage, it offered a soft couch for Susy, who + seemed to have fallen quite naturally into her usual afternoon siesta, and + in a measure it shielded her from a cold breeze that had sprung up from + the west. Utterly exhausted himself, but not daring to yield to the torpor + that seemed to be creeping over him, Clarence half sat, half knelt down + beside her, supporting himself with one hand, and, partly hidden in the + long grass, kept his straining eyes fixed on the lonely track. + </p> + <p> + The red disk was sinking lower. It seemed to have already crumbled away a + part of the distance with its eating fires. As it sank still lower, it + shot out long, luminous rays, diverging fan-like across the plain, as if, + in the boy's excited fancy, it too were searching for the lost estrays. + And as one long beam seemed to linger over his hiding-place, he even + thought that it might serve as a guide to Silsbee and the other seekers, + and was constrained to stagger to his feet, erect in its light. But it + soon sank, and with it Clarence dropped back again to his crouching watch. + Yet he knew that the daylight was still good for an hour, and with the + withdrawal of that mystic sunset glory objects became even more distinct + and sharply defined than at any other time. And with the merciful + sheathing of that flaming sword which seemed to have swayed between him + and the vanished train, his eyes already felt a blessed relief. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + With the setting of the sun an ominous silence fell. He could hear the low + breathing of Susy, and even fancied he could hear the beating of his own + heart in that oppressive hush of all nature. For the day's march had + always been accompanied by the monotonous creaking of wheels and axles, + and even the quiet of the night encampment had been always more or less + broken by the movement of unquiet sleepers on the wagon beds, or the + breathing of the cattle. But here there was neither sound nor motion. + Susy's prattle, and even the sound of his own voice, would have broken the + benumbing spell, but it was a part of his growing self-denial now that he + refrained from waking her even by a whisper. She would awaken soon enough + to thirst and hunger, perhaps, and then what was he to do? If that + looked-for help would only come now—while she still slept. For it + was part of his boyish fancy that if he could deliver her asleep and + undemonstrative of fear and suffering, he would be less blameful, and she + less mindful of her trouble. If it did not come—but he would not + think of that yet! If she was thirsty meantime—well, it might rain, + and there was always the dew which they used to brush off the morning + grass; he would take off his shirt and catch it in that, like a + shipwrecked mariner. It would be funny, and make her laugh. For himself he + would not laugh; he felt he was getting very old and grown up in this + loneliness. + </p> + <p> + It was getting darker—they should be looking into the wagons now. A + new doubt began to assail him. Ought he not, now that he was rested, make + the most of the remaining moments of daylight, and before the glow faded + from the west, when he would no longer have any bearings to guide him? But + there was always the risk of waking her!—to what? The fear of being + confronted again with HER fear and of being unable to pacify her, at last + decided him to remain. But he crept softly through the grass, and in the + dust of the track traced the four points of the compass, as he could still + determine them by the sunset light, with a large printed W to indicate the + west! This boyish contrivance particularly pleased him. If he had only had + a pole, a stick, or even a twig, on which to tie his handkerchief and + erect it above the clump of mesquite as a signal to the searchers in case + they should be overcome by fatigue or sleep, he would have been happy. But + the plain was barren of brush or timber; he did not dream that this + omission and the very unobtrusiveness of his hiding-place would be his + salvation from a greater danger. + </p> + <p> + With the coming darkness the wind arose and swept the plain with a + long-drawn sigh. This increased to a murmur, till presently the whole + expanse—before sunk in awful silence—seemed to awake with + vague complaints, incessant sounds, and low moanings. At times he thought + he heard the halloaing of distant voices, at times it seemed as a whisper + in his own ear. In the silence that followed each blast he fancied he + could detect the creaking of the wagon, the dull thud of the oxen's hoofs, + or broken fragments of speech, blown and scattered even as he strained his + ears to listen by the next gust. This tension of the ear began to confuse + his brain, as his eyes had been previously dazzled by the sunlight, and a + strange torpor began to steal over his faculties. Once or twice his head + dropped. + </p> + <p> + He awoke with a start. A moving figure had suddenly uplifted itself + between him and the horizon! It was not twenty yards away, so clearly + outlined against the still luminous sky that it seemed even nearer. A + human figure, but so disheveled, so fantastic, and yet so mean and puerile + in its extravagance, that it seemed the outcome of a childish dream. It + was a mounted figure, but so ludicrously disproportionate to the pony it + bestrode, whose slim legs were stiffly buried in the dust in a breathless + halt, that it might have been a straggler from some vulgar wandering + circus. A tall hat, crownless and rimless, a castaway of civilization, + surmounted by a turkey's feather, was on its head; over its shoulders hung + a dirty tattered blanket that scarcely covered the two painted legs which + seemed clothed in soiled yellow hose. In one hand it held a gun; the other + was bent above its eyes in eager scrutiny of some distant point beyond and + east of the spot where the children lay concealed. Presently, with a dozen + quick noiseless strides of the pony's legs, the apparition moved to the + right, its gaze still fixed on that mysterious part of the horizon. There + was no mistaking it now! The painted Hebraic face, the large curved nose, + the bony cheek, the broad mouth, the shadowed eyes, the straight long + matted locks! It was an Indian! Not the picturesque creature of Clarence's + imagination, but still an Indian! The boy was uneasy, suspicious, + antagonistic, but not afraid. He looked at the heavy animal face with the + superiority of intelligence, at the half-naked figure with the conscious + supremacy of dress, at the lower individuality with the contempt of a + higher race. Yet a moment after, when the figure wheeled and disappeared + towards the undulating west, a strange chill crept over him. Yet he did + not know that in this puerile phantom and painted pigmy the awful majesty + of Death had passed him by. + </p> + <p> + “Mamma!” + </p> + <p> + It was Susy's voice, struggling into consciousness. Perhaps she had been + instinctively conscious of the boy's sudden fears. + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” + </p> + <p> + He had just turned to the objective point of the Indian's gaze. There WAS + something! A dark line was moving along with the gathering darkness. For a + moment he hardly dared to voice his thoughts even to himself. It was a + following train overtaking them from the rear! And from the rapidity of + its movements a train with horses, hurrying forward to evening camp. He + had never dreamt of help from that quarter. This was what the Indian's + keen eyes had been watching, and why he had so precipitately fled. + </p> + <p> + The strange train was now coming up at a round trot. It was evidently well + appointed with five or six large wagons and several outriders. In half an + hour it would be here. Yet he refrained from waking Susy, who had fallen + asleep again; his old superstition of securing her safety first being + still uppermost. He took off his jacket to cover her shoulders, and + rearranged her nest. Then he glanced again at the coming train. But for + some unaccountable reason it had changed its direction, and instead of + following the track that should have brought it to his side it had turned + off to the left! In ten minutes it would pass abreast of him a mile and a + half away! If he woke Susy now, he knew she would be helpless in her + terror, and he could not carry her half that distance. He might rush to + the train himself and return with help, but he would never leave her alone—in + the darkness. Never! If she woke she would die of fright, perhaps, or + wander blindly and aimlessly away. No! The train would pass and with it + that hope of rescue. Something was in his throat, but he gulped it down + and was quiet again albeit he shivered in the night wind. + </p> + <p> + The train was nearly abreast of him now. He ran out of the tall grass, + waving his straw hat above his head in the faint hope of attracting + attention. But he did not go far, for he found to his alarm that when he + turned back again the clump of mesquite was scarcely distinguishable from + the rest of the plain. This settled all question of his going. Even if he + reached the train and returned with some one, how would he ever find her + again in this desolate expanse? + </p> + <p> + He watched the train slowly pass—still mechanically, almost + hopelessly, waving his hat as he ran up and down before the mesquite, as + if he were waving a last farewell to his departing hope. Suddenly it + appeared to him that three of the outriders who were preceding the first + wagon had changed their shape. They were no longer sharp, oblong, black + blocks against the horizon but had become at first blurred and indistinct, + then taller and narrower, until at last they stood out like exclamation + points against the sky. He continued to wave his hat, they continued to + grow taller and narrower. He understood it now—the three transformed + blocks were the outriders coming towards him. + </p> + <p> + This is what he had seen— + </p> + <p> + [Drawing of three black blocks] + </p> + <p> + This is what he saw now— + </p> + <p> + ! ! ! + </p> + <p> + He ran back to Susy to see if she still slept, for his foolish desire to + have her saved unconsciously was stronger than ever now that safety seemed + so near. She was still sleeping, although she had moved slightly. He ran + to the front again. + </p> + <p> + The outriders had apparently halted. What were they doing? Why wouldn't + they come on? + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a blinding flash of light seemed to burst from one of them. Away + over his head something whistled like a rushing bird, and sped off + invisible. They had fired a gun; they were signaling to him—Clarence—like + a grown-up man. He would have given his life at that moment to have had a + gun. But he could only wave his hat frantically. + </p> + <p> + One of the figures here bore away and impetuously darted forward again. He + was coming nearer, powerful, gigantic, formidable, as he loomed through + the darkness. All at once he threw up his arm with a wild gesture to the + others; and his voice, manly, frank, and assuring, came ringing before + him. + </p> + <p> + “Hold up! Good God! It's no Injun—it's a child!” + </p> + <p> + In another moment he had reined up beside Clarence and leaned over him, + bearded, handsome, powerful and protecting. + </p> + <p> + “Hallo! What's all this? What are you doing here?” + </p> + <p> + “Lost from Mr. Silsbee's train,” said Clarence, pointing to the darkened + west. + </p> + <p> + “Lost?—how long?” + </p> + <p> + “About three hours. I thought they'd come back for us,” said Clarence + apologetically to this big, kindly man. + </p> + <p> + “And you kalkilated to wait here for 'em?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes—I did—till I saw you.” + </p> + <p> + “Then why in thunder didn't you light out straight for us, instead of + hanging round here and drawing us out?” + </p> + <p> + The boy hung his head. He knew his reasons were unchanged, but all at once + they seemed very foolish and unmanly to speak out. + </p> + <p> + “Only that we were on the keen jump for Injins,” continued the stranger, + “we wouldn't have seen you at all, and might hev shot you when we did. + What possessed you to stay here?” + </p> + <p> + The boy was still silent. “Kla'uns,” said a faint, sleepy voice from the + mesquite, “take me.” The rifle-shot had awakened Susy. + </p> + <p> + The stranger turned quickly towards the sound. Clarence started and + recalled himself. “There,” he said bitterly, “you've done it now, you've + wakened her! THAT'S why I stayed. I couldn't carry her over there to you. + I couldn't let her walk, for she'd be frightened. I wouldn't wake her up, + for she'd be frightened, and I mightn't find her again. There!” He had + made up his mind to be abused, but he was reckless now that she was safe. + </p> + <p> + The men glanced at each other. “Then,” said the spokesman quietly, “you + didn't strike out for us on account of your sister?” + </p> + <p> + “She ain't my sister,” said Clarence quickly. “She's a little girl. She's + Mrs. Silsbee's little girl. We were in the wagon and got down. It's my + fault. I helped her down.” + </p> + <p> + The three men reined their horses closely round him, leaning forward from + their saddles, with their hands on their knees and their heads on one + side. “Then,” said the spokesman gravely, “you just reckoned to stay here, + old man, and take your chances with her rather than run the risk of + frightening or leaving her—though it was your one chance of life!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the boy, scornful of this feeble, grown-up repetition. + </p> + <p> + “Come here.” + </p> + <p> + The boy came doggedly forward. The man pushed back the well-worn straw hat + from Clarence's forehead and looked into his lowering face. With his hand + still on the boy's head he turned him round to the others, and said + quietly,— + </p> + <p> + “Suthin of a pup, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “You bet,” they responded. + </p> + <p> + The voice was not unkindly, although the speaker had thrown his lower jaw + forward as if to pronounce the word “pup” with a humorous suggestion of a + mastiff. Before Clarence could make up his mind if the epithet was + insulting or not, the man put out his stirruped foot, and, with a gesture + of invitation, said, “Jump up.” + </p> + <p> + “But Susy,” said Clarence, drawing back. + </p> + <p> + “Look; she's making up to Phil already.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence looked. Susy had crawled out of the mesquite, and with her + sun-bonnet hanging down her back, her curls tossed around her face, still + flushed with sleep, and Clarence's jacket over her shoulders, was gazing + up with grave satisfaction in the laughing eyes of one of the men who was + with outstretched hands bending over her. Could he believe his senses? The + terror-stricken, willful, unmanageable Susy, whom he would have translated + unconsciously to safety without this terrible ordeal of being awakened to + the loss of her home and parents at any sacrifice to himself—this + ingenuous infant was absolutely throwing herself with every appearance of + forgetfulness into the arms of the first new-comer! Yet his perception of + this fact was accompanied by no sense of ingratitude. For her sake he felt + relieved, and with a boyish smile of satisfaction and encouragement + vaulted into the saddle before the stranger. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <p> + The dash forward to the train, securely held in the saddle by the arms of + their deliverers, was a secret joy to the children that seemed only too + quickly over. The resistless gallop of the fiery mustangs, the rush of the + night wind, the gathering darkness in which the distant wagons, now halted + and facing them, looked like domed huts in the horizon—all these + seemed but a delightful and fitting climax to the events of the day. In + the sublime forgetfulness of youth, all they had gone through had left no + embarrassing record behind it; they were willing to repeat their + experiences on the morrow, confident of some equally happy end. And when + Clarence, timidly reaching his hand towards the horse-hair reins lightly + held by his companion, had them playfully yielded up to him by that hold + and confident rider, the boy felt himself indeed a man. + </p> + <p> + But a greater surprise was in store for them. As they neared the wagons, + now formed into a circle with a certain degree of military formality, they + could see that the appointments of the strange party were larger and more + liberal than their own, or indeed anything they had ever known of the + kind. Forty or fifty horses were tethered within the circle, and the camp + fires were already blazing. Before one of them a large tent was erected, + and through the parted flaps could be seen a table actually spread with a + white cloth. Was it a school feast, or was this their ordinary household + arrangement? Clarence and Susy thought of their own dinners, usually laid + on bare boards beneath the sky, or under the low hood of the wagon in + rainy weather, and marveled. And when they finally halted, and were lifted + from their horses, and passed one wagon fitted up as a bedroom and another + as a kitchen, they could only nudge each other with silent appreciation. + But here again the difference already noted in the quality of the + sensations of the two children was observable. Both were equally and + agreeably surprised. But Susy's wonder was merely the sense of novelty and + inexperience, and a slight disbelief in the actual necessity of what she + saw; while Clarence, whether from some previous general experience or + peculiar temperament, had the conviction that what he saw here was the + usual custom, and what he had known with the Silsbees was the novelty. The + feeling was attended with a slight sense of wounded pride for Susy, as if + her enthusiasm had exposed her to ridicule. + </p> + <p> + The man who had carried him, and seemed to be the head of the party, had + already preceded them to the tent, and presently reappeared with a lady + with whom he had exchanged a dozen hurried words. They seemed to refer to + him and Susy; but Clarence was too much preoccupied with the fact that the + lady was pretty, that her clothes were neat and thoroughly clean, that her + hair was tidy and not rumpled, and that, although she wore an apron, it + was as clean as her gown, and even had ribbons on it, to listen to what + was said. And when she ran eagerly forward, and with a fascinating smile + lifted the astonished Susy in her arms, Clarence, in his delight for his + young charge, quite forgot that she had not noticed him. The bearded man, + who seemed to be the lady's husband, evidently pointed out the omission, + with some additions that Clarence could not catch; for after saying, with + a pretty pout, “Well, why shouldn't he?” she came forward with the same + dazzling smile, and laid her small and clean white hand upon his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “And so you took good care of the dear little thing? She's such an angel, + isn't she? and you must love her very much.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence colored with delight. It was true it had never occurred to him to + look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant, and I fear he was just + then more struck with the fair complimenter than the compliment to his + companion, but he was pleased for her sake. He was not yet old enough to + be conscious of the sex's belief in its irresistible domination over + mankind at all ages, and that Johnny in his check apron would be always a + hopeless conquest of Jeannette in her pinafore, and that he ought to have + been in love with Susy. + </p> + <p> + Howbeit, the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her own + wagon, to reappear later, washed, curled, and beribboned like a new doll, + and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another of the party. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my boy, you haven't told me your name yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Clarence, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “So Susy calls you, but what else?” + </p> + <p> + “Clarence Brant.” + </p> + <p> + “Any relation to Colonel Brant?” asked the second man carelessly. + </p> + <p> + “He was my father,” said the boy, brightening under this faint prospect of + recognition in his loneliness. + </p> + <p> + The two men glanced at each other. The leader looked at the boy curiously, + and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Are you the son of Colonel Brant, of Louisville?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said the boy, with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his heart. + “But he's dead now,” he added finally. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, when did he die?” said the man quickly. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a long time ago. I don't remember him much. I was very little,” said + the boy, half apologetically. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you don't remember him?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Clarence shortly. He was beginning to fall back upon that + certain dogged repetition which in sensitive children arises from their + hopeless inability to express their deeper feelings. He also had an + instinctive consciousness that this want of a knowledge of his father was + part of that vague wrong that had been done him. It did not help his + uneasiness that he could see that one of the two men, who turned away with + a half-laugh, misunderstood or did not believe him. + </p> + <p> + “How did you come with the Silsbees?” asked the first man. + </p> + <p> + Clarence repeated mechanically, with a child's distaste of practical + details, how he had lived with an aunt at St. Jo, and how his stepmother + had procured his passage with the Silsbees to California, where he was to + meet his cousin. All this with a lack of interest and abstraction that he + was miserably conscious told against him, but he was yet helpless to + resist. + </p> + <p> + The first man remained thoughtful, and then glanced at Clarence's sunburnt + hands. Presently his large, good-humored smile returned. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I suppose you are hungry?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Clarence shyly. “But—” + </p> + <p> + “But what?” + </p> + <p> + “I should like to wash myself a little,” he returned hesitatingly, + thinking of the clean tent, the clean lady, and Susy's ribbons. + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said his friend, with a pleased look. “Come with me.” Instead + of leading Clarence to the battered tin basin and bar of yellow soap which + had formed the toilet service of the Silsbee party, he brought the boy + into one of the wagons, where there was a washstand, a china basin, and a + cake of scented soap. Standing beside Clarence, he watched him perform his + ablutions with an approving air which rather embarrassed his protege. + Presently he said, almost abruptly,— + </p> + <p> + “Do you remember your father's house at Louisville?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir; but it was a long time ago.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence remembered it as being very different from his home at St. + Joseph's, but from some innate feeling of diffidence he would have shrunk + from describing it in that way. He, however, said he thought it was a + large house. Yet the modest answer only made his new friend look at him + the more keenly. + </p> + <p> + “Your father was Colonel Hamilton Brant, of Louisville, wasn't he?” he + said, half-confidentially. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Clarence hopelessly. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said his friend cheerfully, as if dismissing an abstruse problem + from his mind, “Let's go to supper.” + </p> + <p> + When they reached the tent again, Clarence noticed that the supper was + laid only for his host and wife and the second man—who was + familiarly called “Harry,” but who spoke of the former always as “Mr. and + Mrs. Peyton”—while the remainder of the party, a dozen men, were at + a second camp fire, and evidently enjoying themselves in a picturesque + fashion. Had the boy been allowed to choose, he would have joined them, + partly because it seemed more “manly,” and partly that he dreaded a + renewal of the questioning. + </p> + <p> + But here, Susy, sitting bolt upright on an extemporized high stool, + happily diverted his attention by pointing to the empty chair beside her. + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns,” she said suddenly, with her usual clear and appalling + frankness, “they is chickens, and hamanaigs, and hot biksquits, and + lasses, and Mister Peyton says I kin have 'em all.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence, who had begun suddenly to feel that he was responsible for + Susy's deportment and was balefully conscious that she was holding her + plated fork in her chubby fist by its middle, and, from his previous + knowledge of her, was likely at any moment to plunge it into the dish + before her, said softly,— + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, you shall, dear,” said Mrs. Peyton, with tenderly beaming assurance + to Susy and a half-reproachful glance at the boy. “Eat what you like, + darling.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a fork,” whispered the still uneasy Clarence, as Susy now seemed + inclined to stir her bowl of milk with it. + </p> + <p> + “'Tain't, now, Kla'uns, it's only a split spoon,” said Susy. + </p> + <p> + But Mrs. Peyton, in her rapt admiration, took small note of these + irregularities, plying the child with food, forgetting her own meal, and + only stopping at times to lift back the forward straying curls on Susy's + shoulders. Mr. Peyton looked on gravely and contentedly. Suddenly the eyes + of husband and wife met. + </p> + <p> + “She'd have been nearly as old as this, John,” said Mrs. Peyton, in a + faint voice. + </p> + <p> + John Peyton nodded without speaking, and turned his eyes away into the + gathering darkness. The man “Harry” also looked abstractedly at his plate, + as if he was saying grace. Clarence wondered who “she” was, and why two + little tears dropped from Mrs. Peyton's lashes into Susy's milk, and + whether Susy might not violently object to it. He did not know until later + that the Peytons had lost their only child, and Susy comfortably drained + this mingled cup of a mother's grief and tenderness without suspicion. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose we'll come up with their train early tomorrow, if some of them + don't find us to-night,” said Mrs. Peyton, with a long sigh and a + regretful glance at Susy. “Perhaps we might travel together for a little + while,” she added timidly. + </p> + <p> + Harry laughed, and Mr. Peyton replied gravely, “I am afraid we wouldn't + travel with them, even for company's sake; and,” he added, in a lower and + graver voice, “it's rather odd the search party hasn't come upon us yet, + though I'm keeping Pete and Hank patrolling the trail to meet them.” + </p> + <p> + “It's heartless—so it is!” said Mrs. Peyton, with sudden + indignation. “It would be all very well if it was only this boy, who can + take care of himself; but to be so careless of a mere baby like this, it's + shameful!” + </p> + <p> + For the first time Clarence tasted the cruelty of discrimination. All the + more keenly that he was beginning to worship, after his boyish fashion, + this sweet-faced, clean, and tender-hearted woman. Perhaps Mr. Peyton + noticed it, for he came quietly to his aid. + </p> + <p> + “Maybe they knew better than we in what careful hands they had left her,” + he said, with a cheerful nod towards Clarence. “And, again, they may have + been fooled as we were by Injin signs and left the straight road.” + </p> + <p> + This suggestion instantly recalled to Clarence his vision in the mesquite. + Should he dare tell them? Would they believe him, or would they laugh at + him before her? He hesitated, and at last resolved to tell it privately to + the husband. When the meal was ended, and he was made happy by Mrs. + Peyton's laughing acceptance of his offer to help her clear the table and + wash the dishes, they all gathered comfortably in front of the tent before + the large camp fire. At the other fire the rest of the party were playing + cards and laughing, but Clarence no longer cared to join them. He was + quite tranquil in the maternal propinquity of his hostess, albeit a little + uneasy as to his reticence about the Indian. + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns,” said Susy, relieving a momentary pause, in her highest voice, + “knows how to speak. Speak, Kla'uns!” + </p> + <p> + It appearing from Clarence's blushing explanation that this gift was not + the ordinary faculty of speech, but a capacity to recite verse, he was + politely pressed by the company for a performance. + </p> + <p> + “Speak 'em, Kla'uns, the boy what stood unto the burnin' deck, and said, + 'The boy, oh, where was he?'” said Susy, comfortably lying down on Mrs. + Peyton's lap, and contemplating her bare knees in the air. “It's 'bout a + boy,” she added confidentially to Mrs. Peyton, “whose father wouldn't + never, never stay with him on a burnin' ship, though he said, 'Stay, + father, stay,' ever so much.” + </p> + <p> + With this clear, lucid, and perfectly satisfactory explanation of Mrs. + Hemans's “Casabianca,” Clarence began. Unfortunately, his actual rendering + of this popular school performance was more an effort of memory than + anything else, and was illustrated by those wooden gestures which a + Western schoolmaster had taught him. He described the flames that “roared + around him,” by indicating with his hand a perfect circle, of which he was + the axis; he adjured his father, the late Admiral Casabianca, by clasping + his hands before his chin, as if wanting to be manacled in an attitude + which he was miserably conscious was unlike anything he himself had ever + felt or seen before; he described that father “faint in death below,” and + “the flag on high,” with one single motion. Yet something that the verses + had kindled in his active imagination, perhaps, rather than an + illustration of the verses themselves, at times brightened his gray eyes, + became tremulous in his youthful voice, and I fear occasionally incoherent + on his lips. At times, when not conscious of his affected art, the plain + and all upon it seemed to him to slip away into the night, the blazing + camp fire at his feet to wrap him in a fateful glory, and a vague devotion + to something—he knew not what—so possessed him that he + communicated it, and probably some of his own youthful delight in + extravagant voice, to his hearers, until, when he ceased with a glowing + face, he was surprised to find that the card players had deserted their + camp fires and gathered round the tent. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <p> + “You didn't say 'Stay, father, stay,' enough, Kla'uns,” said Susy + critically. Then suddenly starting upright in Mrs. Peyton's lap, she + continued rapidly, “I kin dance. And sing. I kin dance High Jambooree.” + </p> + <p> + “What's High Jambooree, dear?” asked Mrs. Peyton. + </p> + <p> + “You'll see. Lemme down.” And Susy slipped to the ground. + </p> + <p> + The dance of High Jambooree, evidently of remote mystical African origin, + appeared to consist of three small skips to the right and then to the + left, accompanied by the holding up of very short skirts, incessant + “teetering” on the toes of small feet, the exhibition of much bare knee + and stocking, and a gurgling accompaniment of childish laughter. + Vehemently applauded, it left the little performer breathless, but + invincible and ready for fresh conquest. + </p> + <p> + “I kin sing, too,” she gasped hurriedly, as if unwilling that the applause + should lapse. “I kin sing. Oh, dear! Kla'uns,” piteously, “WHAT is it I + sing?” + </p> + <p> + “Ben Bolt,” suggested Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes. Oh, don't you remember sweet Alers Ben Bolt?” began Susy, in the + same breath and the wrong key. “Sweet Alers, with hair so brown, who wept + with delight when you giv'd her a smile, and—” with knitted brows + and appealing recitative, “what's er rest of it, Kla'uns?” + </p> + <p> + “Who trembled with fear at your frown?” prompted Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Who trembled with fear at my frown?” shrilled Susy. “I forget er rest. + Wait! I kin sing—” + </p> + <p> + “Praise God,” suggested Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” Here Susy, a regular attendant in camp and prayer-meetings, was on + firmer ground. + </p> + <p> + Promptly lifting her high treble, yet with a certain acquired + deliberation, she began, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.” At + the end of the second line the whispering and laughing ceased. A deep + voice to the right, that of the champion poker player, suddenly rose on + the swell of the third line. He was instantly followed by a dozen ringing + voices, and by the time the last line was reached it was given with a full + chorus, in which the dull chant of teamsters and drivers mingled with the + soprano of Mrs. Peyton and Susy's childish treble. Again and again it was + repeated, with forgetful eyes and abstracted faces, rising and falling + with the night wind and the leap and gleam of the camp fires, and fading + again like them in the immeasurable mystery of the darkened plain. + </p> + <p> + In the deep and embarrassing silence that followed, at last the party + hesitatingly broke up, Mrs. Peyton retiring with Susy after offering the + child to Clarence for a perfunctory “good-night” kiss, an unusual + proceeding, which somewhat astonished them both—and Clarence found + himself near Mr. Peyton. + </p> + <p> + “I think,” said Clarence timidly, “I saw an Injin to-day.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Peyton bent down towards him. “An Injin—where?” he asked + quickly, with the same look of doubting interrogatory with which he had + received Clarence's name and parentage. + </p> + <p> + The boy for a moment regretted having spoken. But with his old doggedness + he particularized his statement. Fortunately, being gifted with a keen + perception, he was able to describe the stranger accurately, and to impart + with his description that contempt for its subject which he had felt, and + which to his frontier auditor established its truthfulness. Peyton turned + abruptly away, but presently returned with Harry and another man. + </p> + <p> + “You are sure of this?” said Peyton, half-encouragingly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “As sure as you are that your father is Colonel Brant and is dead?” said + Harry, with a light laugh. + </p> + <p> + Tears sprang into the boy's lowering eyes. “I don't lie,” he said + doggedly. + </p> + <p> + “I believe you, Clarence,” said Peyton quietly. “But why didn't you say it + before?” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't like to say it before Susy and—her!” stammered the boy. + </p> + <p> + “Her?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir—Mrs. Peyton,” said Clarence blushingly. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said Harry sarcastically, “how blessed polite we are!” + </p> + <p> + “That'll do. Let up on him, will you?” said Peyton, roughly, to his + subordinate. “The boy knows what he's about. But,” he continued, + addressing Clarence, “how was it the Injin didn't see you?” + </p> + <p> + “I was very still on account of not waking Susy,” said Clarence, “and—” + He hesitated. + </p> + <p> + “And what?” + </p> + <p> + “He seemed more keen watching what YOU were doing,” said the boy boldly. + </p> + <p> + “That's so,” broke in the second man, who happened to be experienced, “and + as he was to wind'ard o' the boy he was off HIS scent and bearings. He was + one of their rear scouts; the rest o' them's ahead crossing our track to + cut us off. Ye didn't see anything else?” + </p> + <p> + “I saw a coyote first,” said Clarence, greatly encouraged. + </p> + <p> + “Hold on!” said the expert, as Harry turned away with a sneer. “That's a + sign, too. Wolf don't go where wolf hez been, and coyote don't foller + Injins—there's no pickin's! How long afore did you see the coyote?” + </p> + <p> + “Just after we left the wagon,” said Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “That's it,” said the man, thoughtfully. “He was driven on ahead, or + hanging on their flanks. These Injins are betwixt us and that ar train, or + following it.” + </p> + <p> + Peyton made a hurried gesture of warning, as if reminding the speaker of + Clarence's presence—a gesture which the boy noticed and wondered at. + Then the conversation of the three men took a lower tone, although + Clarence distinctly heard the concluding opinion of the expert. + </p> + <p> + “It ain't no good now, Mr. Peyton, and you'd be only exposing yourself on + their ground by breakin' camp agin to-night. And you don't know that it + ain't US they're watchin'. You see, if we hadn't turned off the straight + road when we got that first scare from these yer lost children, we might + hev gone on and walked plump into some cursed trap of those devils. To my + mind, we're just in nigger luck, and with a good watch and my patrol we're + all right to be fixed where we be till daylight.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Peyton presently turned away, taking Clarence with him. “As we'll be + up early and on the track of your train to-morrow, my boy, you had better + turn in now. I've put you up in my wagon, and as I expect to be in the + saddle most of the night, I reckon I won't trouble you much.” He led the + way to a second wagon—drawn up beside the one where Susy and Mrs. + Peyton had retired—which Clarence was surprised to find fitted with + a writing table and desk, a chair, and even a bookshelf containing some + volumes. A long locker, fitted like a lounge, had been made up as a couch + for him, with the unwonted luxury of clean white sheets and pillow-cases. + A soft matting covered the floor of the heavy wagon bed, which, Mr. Peyton + explained, was hung on centre springs to prevent jarring. The sides and + roof of the vehicle were of lightly paneled wood, instead of the usual + hooked canvas frame of the ordinary emigrant wagon, and fitted with a + glazed door and movable window for light and air. Clarence wondered why + the big, powerful man, who seemed at home on horseback, should ever care + to sit in this office like a merchant or a lawyer; and if this train sold + things to the other trains, or took goods, like the peddlers, to towns on + the route; but there seemed to be nothing to sell, and the other wagons + were filled with only the goods required by the party. He would have liked + to ask Mr. Peyton who HE was, and have questioned HIM as freely as he + himself had been questioned. But as the average adult man never takes into + consideration the injustice of denying to the natural and even necessary + curiosity of childhood that questioning which he himself is so apt to + assume without right, and almost always without delicacy, Clarence had no + recourse. Yet the boy, like all children, was conscious that if he had + been afterwards questioned about THIS inexplicable experience, he would + have been blamed for his ignorance concerning it. Left to himself + presently, and ensconced between the sheets, he lay for some moments + staring about him. The unwonted comfort of his couch, so different from + the stuffy blanket in the hard wagon bed which he had shared with one of + the teamsters, and the novelty, order, and cleanliness of his + surroundings, while they were grateful to his instincts, began in some + vague way to depress him. To his loyal nature it seemed a tacit infidelity + to his former rough companions to be lying here; he had a dim idea that he + had lost that independence which equal discomfort and equal pleasure among + them had given him. There seemed a sense of servitude in accepting this + luxury which was not his. This set him endeavoring to remember something + of his father's house, of the large rooms, drafty staircases, and far-off + ceilings, and the cold formality of a life that seemed made up of strange + faces; some stranger—his parents; some kinder—the servants; + particularly the black nurse who had him in charge. Why did Mr. Peyton ask + him about it? Why, if it were so important to strangers, had not his + mother told him more of it? And why was she not like this good woman with + the gentle voice who was so kind to—to Susy? And what did they mean + by making HIM so miserable? Something rose in his throat, but with an + effort he choked it back, and, creeping from the lounge, went softly to + the window, opened it to see if it “would work,” and looked out. The + shrouded camp fires, the stars that glittered but gave no light, the dim + moving bulk of a patrol beyond the circle, all seemed to intensify the + darkness, and changed the current of his thoughts. He remembered what Mr. + Peyton had said of him when they first met. “Suthin of a pup, ain't he?” + Surely that meant something that was not bad! He crept back to the couch + again. + </p> + <p> + Lying there, still awake, he reflected that he wouldn't be a scout when he + grew up, but would be something like Mr. Peyton, and have a train like + this, and invite the Silsbees and Susy to accompany him. For this purpose, + he and Susy, early to-morrow morning, would get permission to come in here + and play at that game. This would familiarize him with the details, so + that he would be able at any time to take charge of it. He was already an + authority on the subject of Indians! He had once been fired at—as an + Indian. He would always carry a rifle like that hanging from the hooks at + the end of the wagon before him, and would eventually slay many Indians + and keep an account of them in a big book like that on the desk. Susy + would help him, having grown up a lady, and they would both together issue + provisions and rations from the door of the wagon to the gathered crowds. + He would be known as the “White Chief,” his Indian name being “Suthin of a + Pup.” He would have a circus van attached to the train, in which he would + occasionally perform. He would also have artillery for protection. There + would be a terrific engagement, and he would rush into the wagon, heated + and blackened with gunpowder; and Susy would put down an account of it in + a book, and Mrs. Peyton—for she would be there in some vague + capacity—would say, “Really, now, I don't see but what we were very + lucky in having such a boy as Clarence with us. I begin to understand him + better.” And Harry, who, for purposes of vague poetical retaliation, would + also drop in at that moment, would mutter and say, “He is certainly the + son of Colonel Brant; dear me!” and apologize. And his mother would come + in also, in her coldest and most indifferent manner, in a white ball + dress, and start and say, “Good gracious, how that boy has grown! I am + sorry I did not see more of him when he was young.” Yet even in the midst + of this came a confusing numbness, and then the side of the wagon seemed + to melt away, and he drifted out again alone into the empty desolate plain + from which even the sleeping Susy had vanished, and he was left deserted + and forgotten. Then all was quiet in the wagon, and only the night wind + moving round it. But lo! the lashes of the sleeping White Chief—the + dauntless leader, the ruthless destroyer of Indians—were wet with + glittering tears! + </p> + <p> + Yet it seemed only a moment afterwards that he awoke with a faint + consciousness of some arrested motion. To his utter consternation, the + sun, three hours high, was shining in the wagon, already hot and stifling + in its beams. There was the familiar smell and taste of the dirty road in + the air about him. There was a faint creaking of boards and springs, a + slight oscillation, and beyond the audible rattle of harness, as if the + train had been under way, the wagon moving, and then there had been a + sudden halt. They had probably come up with the Silsbee train; in a few + moments the change would be effected and all of his strange experience + would be over. He must get up now. Yet, with the morning laziness of the + healthy young animal, he curled up a moment longer in his luxurious couch. + </p> + <p> + How quiet it was! There were far-off voices, but they seemed suppressed + and hurried. Through the window he saw one of the teamsters run rapidly + past him with a strange, breathless, preoccupied face, halt a moment at + one of the following wagons, and then run back again to the front. + </p> + <p> + Then two of the voices came nearer, with the dull beating of hoofs in the + dust. + </p> + <p> + “Rout out the boy and ask him,” said a half-suppressed, impatient voice, + which Clarence at once recognized as the man Harry's. + </p> + <p> + “Hold on till Peyton comes up,” said the second voice, in a low tone; + “leave it to him.” + </p> + <p> + “Better find out what they were like, at once,” grumbled Harry. + </p> + <p> + “Wait, stand back,” said Peyton's voice, joining the others; “I'LL ask + him.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence looked wonderingly at the door. It opened on Mr. Peyton, dusty + and dismounted, with a strange, abstracted look in his face. + </p> + <p> + “How many wagons are in your train, Clarence?” + </p> + <p> + “Three, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Any marks on them?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said Clarence, eagerly: “'Off to California' and 'Root, Hog, + or Die.'” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Peyton's eye seemed to leap up and hold Clarence's with a sudden, + strange significance, and then looked down. + </p> + <p> + “How many were you in all?” he continued. + </p> + <p> + “Five, and there was Mrs. Silsbee.” + </p> + <p> + “No other woman?” + </p> + <p> + “No.” + </p> + <p> + “Get up and dress yourself,” he said gravely, “and wait here till I come + back. Keep cool and have your wits about you.” He dropped his voice + slightly. “Perhaps something's happened that you'll have to show yourself + a little man again for, Clarence!” + </p> + <p> + The door closed, and the boy heard the same muffled hoofs and voices die + away towards the front. He began to dress himself mechanically, almost + vacantly, yet conscious always of a vague undercurrent of thrilling + excitement. When he had finished he waited almost breathlessly, feeling + the same beating of his heart that he had felt when he was following the + vanished train the day before. At last he could stand the suspense no + longer, and opened the door. Everything was still in the motionless + caravan, except—it struck him oddly even then—the unconcerned + prattling voice of Susy from one of the nearer wagons. Perhaps a sudden + feeling that this was something that concerned HER, perhaps an + irresistible impulse overcame him, but the next moment he had leaped to + the ground, faced about, and was running feverishly to the front. + </p> + <p> + The first thing that met his eyes was the helpless and desolate bulk of + one of the Silsbee wagons a hundred rods away, bereft of oxen and pole, + standing alone and motionless against the dazzling sky! Near it was the + broken frame of another wagon, its fore wheels and axles gone, pitched + forward on its knees like an ox under the butcher's sledge. Not far away + there were the burnt and blackened ruins of a third, around which the + whole party on foot and horseback seemed to be gathered. As the boy ran + violently on, the group opened to make way for two men carrying some + helpless but awful object between them. A terrible instinct made Clarence + swerve from it in his headlong course, but he was at the same moment + discovered by the others, and a cry arose of “Go back!” “Stop!” “Keep him + back!” Heeding it no more than the wind that whistled by him, Clarence + made directly for the foremost wagon—the one in which he and Susy + had played. A powerful hand caught his shoulder; it was Mr. Peyton's. + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Silsbee's wagon,” said the boy, with white lips, pointing to it. + “Where is she?” + </p> + <p> + “She's missing,” said Peyton, “and one other—the rest are dead.” + </p> + <p> + “She must be there,” said the boy, struggling, and pointing to the wagon; + “let me go.” + </p> + <p> + “Clarence,” said Peyton sternly, accenting his grasp upon the boy's arm, + “be a man! Look around you. Try and tell us who these are.” + </p> + <p> + There seemed to be one or two heaps of old clothes lying on the ground, + and further on, where the men at a command from Peyton had laid down their + burden, another. In those ragged, dusty heaps of clothes, from which all + the majesty of life seemed to have been ruthlessly stamped out, only what + was ignoble and grotesque appeared to be left. There was nothing terrible + in this. The boy moved slowly towards them; and, incredible even to + himself, the overpowering fear of them that a moment before had overcome + him left him as suddenly. He walked from the one to the other, recognizing + them by certain marks and signs, and mentioning name after name. The + groups gazed at him curiously; he was conscious that he scarcely + understood himself, still less the same quiet purpose that made him turn + towards the furthest wagon. + </p> + <p> + “There's nothing there,” said Peyton; “we've searched it.” But the boy, + without replying, continued his way, and the crowd followed him. + </p> + <p> + The deserted wagon, more rude, disorderly, and slovenly than it had ever + seemed to him before, was now heaped and tumbled with broken bones, cans, + scattered provisions, pots, pans, blankets, and clothing in the foul + confusion of a dust-heap. But in this heterogeneous mingling the boy's + quick eye caught sight of a draggled edge of calico. + </p> + <p> + “That's Mrs. Silsbee's dress!” he cried, and leapt into the wagon. + </p> + <p> + At first the men stared at each other, but an instant later a dozen hands + were helping him, nervously digging and clearing away the rubbish. Then + one man uttered a sudden cry, and fell back with frantic but furious eyes + uplifted against the pitiless, smiling sky above him. + </p> + <p> + “Great God! look here!” + </p> + <p> + It was the yellowish, waxen face of Mrs. Silsbee that had been uncovered. + But to the fancy of the boy it had changed; the old familiar lines of + worry, care, and querulousness had given way to a look of remote peace and + statue-like repose. He had often vexed her in her aggressive life; he was + touched with remorse at her cold, passionless apathy now, and pressed + timidly forward. Even as he did so, the man, with a quick but warning + gesture, hurriedly threw his handkerchief over the matted locks, as if to + shut out something awful from his view. Clarence felt himself drawn back; + but not before the white lips of a bystander had whispered a single word— + </p> + <p> + “Scalped, too! by God!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> + <p> + Then followed days and weeks that seemed to Clarence as a dream. At first, + an interval of hushed and awed restraint when he and Susy were kept apart, + a strange and artificial interest taken little note of by him, but + afterwards remembered when others had forgotten it; the burial of Mrs. + Silsbee beneath a cairn of stones, with some ceremonies that, simple + though they were, seemed to usurp the sacred rights of grief from him and + Susy, and leave them cold and frightened; days of frequent and incoherent + childish outbursts from Susy, growing fainter and rarer as time went on, + until they ceased, he knew not when; the haunting by night of that morning + vision of the three or four heaps of ragged clothes on the ground and a + half regret that he had not examined them more closely; a recollection of + the awful loneliness and desolation of the broken and abandoned wagon left + behind on its knees as if praying mutely when the train went on and left + it; the trundling behind of the fateful wagon in which Mrs. Silsbee's body + had been found, superstitiously shunned by every one, and when at last + turned over to the authorities at an outpost garrison, seeming to drop the + last link from the dragging chain of the past. The revelation to the + children of a new experience in that brief glimpse of the frontier + garrison; the handsome officer in uniform and belted sword, an heroic, + vengeful figure to be admired and imitated hereafter; the sudden + importance and respect given to Susy and himself as “survivors”; the + sympathetic questioning and kindly exaggerations of their experiences, + quickly accepted by Susy—all these, looking back upon them + afterwards, seemed to have passed in a dream. + </p> + <p> + No less strange and visionary to them seemed the real transitions they + noted from the moving train. How one morning they missed the changeless, + motionless, low, dark line along the horizon, and before noon found + themselves among the rocks and trees and a swiftly rushing river. How + there suddenly appeared beside them a few days later a great gray + cloud-covered ridge of mountains that they were convinced was that same + dark line that they had seen so often. How the men laughed at them, and + said that for the last three days they had been CROSSING that dark line, + and that it was HIGHER than the great gray-clouded range before them, + which it had always hidden from their view! How Susy firmly believed that + these changes took place in her sleep, when she always “kinder felt they + were crawlin' up,” and how Clarence, in the happy depreciation of extreme + youth, expressed his conviction that they “weren't a bit high, after all.” + How the weather became cold, though it was already summer, and at night + the camp fire was a necessity, and there was a stove in the tent with + Susy; and yet how all this faded away, and they were again upon a + dazzling, burnt, and sun-dried plain! But always as in a dream! + </p> + <p> + More real were the persons who composed the party—whom they seemed + to have always known—and who, in the innocent caprice of children, + had become to them more actual than the dead had even been. There was Mr. + Peyton, who they now knew owned the train, and who was so rich that he + “needn't go to California if he didn't want to, and was going to buy a + great deal of it if he liked it,” and who was also a lawyer and + “policeman”—which was Susy's rendering of “politician”—and was + called “Squire” and “Judge” at the frontier outpost, and could order + anybody to be “took up if he wanted to,” and who knew everybody by their + Christian names; and Mrs. Peyton, who had been delicate and was ordered by + the doctor to live in the open air for six months, and “never go into a + house or a town agin,” and who was going to adopt Susy as soon as her + husband could arrange with Susy's relatives, and draw up the papers! How + “Harry” was Henry Benham, Mrs. Peyton's brother, and a kind of partner of + Mr. Peyton. And how the scout's name was Gus Gildersleeve, or the “White + Crow,” and how, through his recognized intrepidity, an attack upon their + train was no doubt averted. Then there was “Bill,” the stock herder, and + “Texas Jim,” the vaquero—the latter marvelous and unprecedented in + horsemanship. Such were their companions, as appeared through the gossip + of the train and their own inexperienced consciousness. To them, they were + all astounding and important personages. But, either from boyish curiosity + or some sense of being misunderstood, Clarence was more attracted by the + two individuals of the party who were least kind to him—namely, Mrs. + Peyton and her brother Harry. I fear that, after the fashion of most + children, and some grown-up people, he thought less of the steady kindness + of Mr. Peyton and the others than of the rare tolerance of Harry or the + polite concessions of his sister. Miserably conscious of this at times, he + quite convinced himself that if he could only win a word of approbation + from Harry, or a smile from Mrs. Peyton, he would afterwards revenge + himself by “running away.” Whether he would or not, I cannot say. I am + writing of a foolish, growing, impressionable boy of eleven, of whose + sentiments nothing could be safely predicted but uncertainty. + </p> + <p> + It was at this time that he became fascinated by another member of the + party whose position had been too humble and unimportant to be included in + the group already noted. Of the same appearance as the other teamsters in + size, habits, and apparel, he had not at first exhibited to Clarence any + claim to sympathy. But it appeared that he was actually a youth of only + sixteen—a hopeless incorrigible of St. Joseph, whose parents had + prevailed on Peyton to allow him to join the party, by way of removing him + from evil associations and as a method of reform. Of this Clarence was at + first ignorant, not from any want of frankness on the part of the youth, + for that ingenious young gentleman later informed him that he had killed + three men in St. Louis, two in St. Jo, and that the officers of justice + were after him. But it was evident that to precocious habits of drinking, + smoking, chewing, and card-playing this overgrown youth added a strong + tendency to exaggeration of statement. Indeed, he was known as “Lying Jim + Hooker,” and his various qualities presented a problem to Clarence that + was attractive and inspiring, doubtful, but always fascinating. With the + hoarse voice of early wickedness and a contempt for ordinary courtesy, he + had a round, perfectly good-humored face, and a disposition that when not + called upon to act up to his self-imposed role of reckless wickedness, was + not unkindly. + </p> + <p> + It was only a few days after the massacre, and while the children were + still wrapped in the gloomy interest and frightened reticence which + followed it, that “Jim Hooker” first characteristically flashed upon + Clarence's perceptions. Hanging half on and half off the saddle of an + Indian pony, the lank Jim suddenly made his appearance, dashing violently + up and down the track, and around the wagon in which Clarence was sitting, + tugging desperately at the reins, with every indication of being furiously + run away with, and retaining his seat only with the most dauntless courage + and skill. Round and round they went, the helpless rider at times hanging + by a single stirrup near the ground, and again recovering himself by—as + it seemed to Clarence—almost superhuman effort. Clarence sat + open-mouthed with anxiety and excitement, and yet a few of the other + teamsters laughed. Then the voice of Mr. Peyton, from the window of his + car, said quietly,— + </p> + <p> + “There, that will do, Jim. Quit it!” + </p> + <p> + The furious horse and rider instantly disappeared. A few moments after, + the bewildered Clarence saw the redoubted horseman trotting along quietly + in the dust of the rear, on the same fiery steed, who in that prosaic + light bore an astounding resemblance to an ordinary team horse. Later in + the day he sought an explanation from the rider. + </p> + <p> + “You see,” answered Jim gloomily, “thar ain't a galoot in this yer crowd + ez knows jist WHAT'S in that hoss! And them ez suspecks daren't say! It + wouldn't do for to hev it let out that the Judge hez a Morgan-Mexican plug + that's killed two men afore he got him, and is bound to kill another afore + he gets through! Why, on'y the week afore we kem up to you, that thar hoss + bolted with me at camping! Bucked and throwed me, but I kept my holt o' + the stirrups with my foot—so! Dragged me a matter of two miles, head + down, and me keepin' away rocks with my hand—so!” + </p> + <p> + “Why didn't you loose your foot and let go?” asked Clarence breathlessly. + </p> + <p> + “YOU might,” said Jim, with deep scorn; “that ain't MY style. I just laid + low till we kem to a steep pitched hill, and goin' down when the hoss was, + so to speak, kinder BELOW me, I just turned a hand spring, so, and that + landed me onter his back again.” + </p> + <p> + This action, though vividly illustrated by Jim's throwing his hands down + like feet beneath him, and indicating the parabola of a spring in the air, + proving altogether too much for Clarence's mind to grasp, he timidly + turned to a less difficult detail. + </p> + <p> + “What made the horse bolt first, Mr. Hooker?” + </p> + <p> + “Smelt Injins!” said Jim, carelessly expectorating tobacco juice in a + curving jet from the side of his mouth—a singularly fascinating + accomplishment, peculiarly his own, “'n' likely YOUR Injins.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” argued Clarence hesitatingly, “you said it was a week before—and—” + </p> + <p> + “Er Mexican plug kin smell Injins fifty, yes, a hundred miles away,” said + Jim, with scornful deliberation; “'n' if Judge Peyton had took my advice, + and hadn't been so mighty feared about the character of his hoss gettin' + out he'd hev played roots on them Injins afore they tetched ye. But,” he + added, with gloomy dejection, “there ain't no sand in this yer crowd, thar + ain't no vim, thar ain't nothin'; and thar kan't be ez long ez thar's + women and babies, and women and baby fixin's, mixed up with it. I'd hev + cut the whole blamed gang ef it weren't for one or two things,” he added + darkly. + </p> + <p> + Clarence, impressed by Jim's mysterious manner, for the moment forgot his + contemptuous allusion to Mr. Peyton, and the evident implication of Susy + and himself, and asked hurriedly, “What things?” + </p> + <p> + Jim, as if forgetful of the boy's presence in his fitful mood, + abstractedly half drew a glittering bowie knife from his bootleg, and then + slowly put it back again. “Thar's one or two old scores,” he continued, in + a low voice, although no one was in hearing distance of them, “one or two + private accounts,” he went on tragically, averting his eyes as if watched + by some one, “thet hev to be wiped out with blood afore I leave. Thar's + one or two men TOO MANY alive and breathin' in this yer crowd. Mebbee it's + Gus Gildersleeve; mebbee it's Harry Benham; mebbee,” he added, with a dark + yet noble disinterestedness, “it's ME.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no,” said Clarence, with polite deprecation. + </p> + <p> + Far from placating the gloomy Jim, this seemed only to awake his + suspicions. “Mebbee,” he said, dancing suddenly away from Clarence, + “mebbee you think I'm lyin'. Mebbee you think, because you're Colonel + Brant's son, yer kin run ME with this yer train. Mebbee,” he continued, + dancing violently back again, “ye kalkilate, because ye run off'n' + stampeded a baby, ye kin tote me round too, sonny. Mebbee,” he went on, + executing a double shuffle in the dust and alternately striking his hands + on the sides of his boots, “mebbee you're spyin' round and reportin' to + the Judge.” + </p> + <p> + Firmly convinced that Jim was working himself up by an Indian war-dance to + some desperate assault on himself, but resenting the last unjust + accusation, Clarence had recourse to one of his old dogged silences. + Happily at this moment an authoritative voice called out, “Now, then, you + Jim Hooker!” and the desperate Hooker, as usual, vanished instantly. + Nevertheless, he appeared an hour or two later beside the wagon in which + Susy and Clarence were seated, with an expression of satiated vengeance + and remorseful bloodguiltiness in his face, and his hair combed Indian + fashion over his eyes. As he generously contented himself with only + passing a gloomy and disparaging criticism on the game of cards that the + children were playing, it struck Clarence for the first time that a great + deal of his real wickedness resided in his hair. This set him to thinking + that it was strange that Mr. Peyton did not try to reform him with a pair + of scissors, but not until Clarence himself had for at least four days + attempted to imitate Jim by combing his own hair in that fashion. + </p> + <p> + A few days later, Jim again casually favored him with a confidential + interview. Clarence had been allowed to bestride one of the team leaders + postillionwise, and was correspondingly elevated, when Jim joined him, on + the Mexican plug, which appeared—no doubt a part of its wicked art—heavily + docile, and even slightly lame. + </p> + <p> + “How much,” said Jim, in a tone of gloomy confidence,—“how much did + you reckon to make by stealin' that gal-baby, sonny?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing,” replied Clarence with a smile. Perhaps it was an evidence of + the marked influence that Jim was beginning to exert over him that he + already did not attempt to resent this fascinating implication of grownup + guilt. + </p> + <p> + “It orter bin a good job, if it warn't revenge,” continued Jim moodily. + </p> + <p> + “No, it wasn't revenge,” said Clarence hurriedly. + </p> + <p> + “Then ye kalkilated ter get er hundred dollars reward ef the old man and + old woman hadn't bin scelped afore yet got up to 'em?” said Jim. “That's + your blamed dodgasted luck, eh! Enyhow, you'll make Mrs. Peyton plank down + suthin' if she adopts the babby. Look yer, young feller,” he said, + starting suddenly and throwing his face forward, glaring fiendishly + through his matted side-locks, “d'ye mean ter tell me it wasn't a plant—a + skin game—the hull thing?” + </p> + <p> + “A what?” said Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “D'ye mean to say”—it was wonderful how gratuitously husky his voice + became at this moment—“d'ye mean ter tell me ye didn't set on them + Injins to wipe out the Silsbees, so that ye could hev an out-an'-out gal + ORFEN on hand fer Mrs. Peyton ter adopt—eh?” + </p> + <p> + But here Clarence was forced to protest, and strongly, although Jim + contemptuously ignored it. “Don't lie ter me,” he repeated mysteriously, + “I'm fly. I'm dark, young fel. We're cahoots in this thing?” And with this + artful suggestion of being in possession of Clarence's guilty secret he + departed in time to elude the usual objurgation of his superior, “Phil,” + the head teamster. + </p> + <p> + Nor was his baleful fascination exercised entirely on Clarence. In spite + of Mrs. Peyton's jealously affectionate care, Clarence's frequent + companionship, and the little circle of admiring courtiers that always + surrounded Susy, it became evident that this small Eve had been secretly + approached and tempted by the Satanic Jim. She was found one day to have a + few heron's feathers in her possession with which she adorned her curls, + and at another time was discovered to have rubbed her face and arms with + yellow and red ochre, confessedly the free gift of Jim Hooker. It was to + Clarence alone that she admitted the significance and purport of these + offerings. “Jim gived 'em to me,” she said, “and Jim's a kind of Injin + hisself that won't hurt me; and when bad Injins come, they'll think I'm + his Injin baby and run away. And Jim said if I'd just told the Injins when + they came to kill papa and mamma, that I b'longed to him, they'd hev + runned away.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said the practical Clarence, “you could not; you know you were with + Mrs. Peyton all the time.” + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns,” said Susy, shaking her head and fixing her round blue eyes with + calm mendacity on the boy, “don't you tell me. I WAS THERE!” + </p> + <p> + Clarence started back, and nearly fell over the wagon in hopeless dismay + at this dreadful revelation of Susy's powers of exaggeration. “But,” he + gasped, “you know, Susy, you and me left before—” + </p> + <p> + “Kla'uns,” said Susy calmly, making a little pleat in the skirt of her + dress with her small thumb and fingers, “don't you talk to me. I was + there. I'se a SERIVER! The men at the fort said so! The SERIVERS is allus, + allus there, and allus allus knows everythin'.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence was too dumfounded to reply. He had a vague recollection of + having noticed before that Susy was very much fascinated by the reputation + given to her at Fort Ridge as a “survivor,” and was trying in an infantile + way to live up to it. This the wicked Jim had evidently encouraged. For a + day or two Clarence felt a little afraid of her, and more lonely than + ever. + </p> + <p> + It was in this state, and while he was doggedly conscious that his + association with Jim did not prepossess Mrs. Peyton or her brother in his + favor, and that the former even believed him responsible for Susy's + unhallowed acquaintance with Jim, that he drifted into one of those + youthful escapades on which elders are apt to sit in severe but not always + considerate judgment. Believing, like many other children, that nobody + cared particularly for him, except to RESTRAIN him, discovering, as + children do, much sooner than we complacently imagine, that love and + preference have no logical connection with desert or character, Clarence + became boyishly reckless. But when, one day, it was rumored that a herd of + buffalo was in the vicinity, and that the train would be delayed the next + morning in order that a hunt might be organized, by Gildersleeve, Benham, + and a few others, Clarence listened willingly to Jim's proposition that + they should secretly follow it. + </p> + <p> + To effect their unhallowed purpose required boldness and duplicity. It was + arranged that shortly after the departure of the hunting party Clarence + should ask permission to mount and exercise one of the team horses—a + favor that had been frequently granted him; that in the outskirts of the + camp he should pretend that the horse ran away with him, and Jim would + start in pursuit. The absence of the shooting party with so large a + contingent of horses and men would preclude any further detachment from + the camp to assist them. Once clear, they would follow the track of the + hunters, and, if discovered by them, would offer the same excuse, with the + addition that they had lost their way to the camp. The plan was + successful. The details were carried out with almost too perfect effect; + as it appeared that Jim, in order to give dramatic intensity to the + fractiousness of Clarence's horse, had inserted a thorn apple under the + neck of his saddle, which Clarence only discovered in time to prevent + himself from being unseated. Urged forward by ostentatious “Whoas!” and + surreptitious cuts in the rear from Jim, pursuer and pursued presently + found themselves safely beyond the half-dry stream and fringe of alder + bushes that skirted the camp. They were not followed. Whether the + teamsters suspected and winked at this design, or believed that the boys + could take care of themselves, and ran no risk of being lost in the + proximity of the hunting party, there was no general alarm. + </p> + <p> + Thus reassured, and having a general idea of the direction of the hunt, + the boys pushed hilariously forward. Before them opened a vast expanse of + bottom land, slightly sloping on the right to a distant half-filled + lagoon, formed by the main river overflow, on whose tributary they had + encamped. The lagoon was partly hidden by straggling timber and “brush,” + and beyond that again stretched the unlimitable plains—the pasture + of their mighty game. Hither, Jim hoarsely informed his companion, the + buffaloes came to water. A few rods further on, he started dramatically, + and, alighting, proceeded to slowly examine the ground. It seemed to be + scattered over with half-circular patches, which he pointed out + mysteriously as “buffalo chip.” To Clarence's inexperienced perception the + plain bore a singular resemblance to the surface of an ordinary unromantic + cattle pasture that somewhat chilled his heroic fancy. However, the two + companions halted and professionally examined their arms and equipments. + </p> + <p> + These, I grieve to say, though varied, were scarcely full or satisfactory. + The necessities of their flight had restricted Jim to an old + double-barreled fowling-piece, which he usually carried slung across his + shoulders; an old-fashioned “six-shooter,” whose barrels revolved + occasionally and unexpectedly, known as “Allen's Pepper Box” on account of + its culinary resemblance; and a bowie-knife. Clarence carried an Indian + bow and arrow with which he had been exercising, and a hatchet which he + had concealed under the flanks of his saddle. To this Jim generously added + the six-shooter, taking the hatchet in exchange—a transfer that at + first delighted Clarence, until, seeing the warlike and picturesque effect + of the hatchet in Jim's belt, he regretted the transfer. The gun, Jim + meantime explained “extry charged,” “chuck up” to the middle with slugs + and revolver bullets, could only be fired by himself, and even then he + darkly added, not without danger. This poverty of equipment was, however, + compensated by opposite statements from Jim of the extraordinary results + obtained by these simple weapons from “fellers I knew:” how HE himself had + once brought down a “bull” by a bold shot with a revolver through its open + bellowing mouth that pierced his “innards;” how a friend of his—an + intimate in fact—now in jail at Louisville for killing a sheriff's + deputy, had once found himself alone and dismounted with a simple + clasp-knife and a lariat among a herd of buffaloes; how, leaping calmly + upon the shaggy shoulders of the biggest bull, he lashed himself with the + lariat firmly to its horns, goading it onward with his clasp-knife, and + subsisting for days upon the flesh cut from its living body, until, + abandoned by its fellows and exhausted by the loss of blood, it finally + succumbed to its victor at the very outskirts of the camp to which he had + artfully driven it! It must be confessed that this recital somewhat took + away Clarence's breath, and he would have liked to ask a few questions. + But they were alone on the prairie, and linked by a common transgression; + the glorious sun was coming up victoriously, the pure, crisp air was + intoxicating their nerves; in the bright forecast of youth everything WAS + possible! + </p> + <p> + The surface of the bottom land that they were crossing was here and there + broken up by fissures and “potholes,” and some circumspection in their + progress became necessary. In one of these halts, Clarence was struck by a + dull, monotonous jarring that sounded like the heavy regular fall of water + over a dam. Each time that they slackened their pace the sound would + become more audible, and was at last accompanied by that slight but + unmistakable tremor of the earth that betrayed the vicinity of a + waterfall. Hesitating over the phenomenon, which seemed to imply that + their topography was wrong and that they had blundered from the track, + they were presently startled by the fact that the sound was actually + APPROACHING them! With a sudden instinct they both galloped towards the + lagoon. As the timber opened before them Jim uttered a long ecstatic + shout. “Why, it's THEM!” + </p> + <p> + At a first glance it seemed to Clarence as if the whole plain beyond was + broken up and rolling in tumbling waves or furrows towards them. A second + glance showed the tossing fronts of a vast herd of buffaloes, and here and + there, darting in and out and among them, or emerging from the cloud of + dust behind, wild figures and flashes of fire. With the idea of water + still in his mind, it seemed as if some tumultuous tidal wave were + sweeping unseen towards the lagoon, carrying everything before it. He + turned with eager eyes, in speechless expectancy, to his companion. + </p> + <p> + Alack! that redoubtable hero and mighty hunter was, to all appearances, + equally speechless and astonished. It was true that he remained rooted to + the saddle, a lank, still heroic figure, alternately grasping his hatchet + and gun with a kind of spasmodic regularity. How long he would have + continued this would never be known, for the next moment, with a deafening + crash, the herd broke through the brush, and, swerving at the right of the + lagoon, bore down directly upon them. All further doubt or hesitation on + their part was stopped. The farseeing, sagacious Mexican plug with a + terrific snort wheeled and fled furiously with his rider. Moved, no doubt, + by touching fidelity, Clarence's humbler team-horse instantly followed. In + a few moments those devoted animals struggled neck to neck in noble + emulation. + </p> + <p> + “What are we goin' off this way for?” gasped the simple Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Peyton and Gildersleeve are back there—and they'll see us,” gasped + Jim in reply. It struck Clarence that the buffaloes were much nearer them + than the hunting party, and that the trampling hoofs of a dozen bulls were + close behind them, but with another gasp he shouted, + </p> + <p> + “When are we going to hunt 'em?” + </p> + <p> + “Hunt THEM!” screamed Jim, with a hysterical outburst of truth; “why, + they're huntin' US—dash it!” + </p> + <p> + Indeed, there was no doubt that their frenzied horses were flying before + the equally frenzied herd behind them. They gained a momentary advantage + by riding into one of the fissures, and out again on the other side, while + their pursuers were obliged to make a detour. But in a few minutes they + were overtaken by that part of the herd who had taken the other and nearer + side of the lagoon, and were now fairly in the midst of them. The ground + shook with their trampling hoofs; their steaming breath, mingling with the + stinging dust that filled the air, half choked and blinded Clarence. He + was dimly conscious that Jim had wildly thrown his hatchet at a cow + buffalo pressing close upon his flanks. As they swept down into another + gully he saw him raise his fateful gun with utter desperation. Clarence + crouched low on his horse's outstretched neck. There was a blinding flash, + a single stunning report of both barrels; Jim reeled in one way half out + of the saddle, while the smoking gun seemed to leap in another over his + head, and then rider and horse vanished in a choking cloud of dust and + gunpowder. A moment after Clarence's horse stopped with a sudden check, + and the boy felt himself hurled over its head into the gully, alighting on + something that seemed to be a bounding cushion of curled and twisted hair. + It was the shaggy shoulder of an enormous buffalo! For Jim's desperate + random shot and double charge had taken effect on the near hind leg of a + preceding bull, tearing away the flesh and ham-stringing the animal, who + had dropped in the gully just in front of Clarence's horse. + </p> + <p> + Dazed but unhurt, the boy rolled from the lifted fore quarters of the + struggling brute to the ground. When he staggered to his feet again, not + only his horse was gone but the whole herd of buffaloes seemed to have + passed too, and he could hear the shouts of unseen hunters now ahead of + him. They had evidently overlooked his fall, and the gully had concealed + him. The sides before him were too steep for his aching limbs to climb; + the slope by which he and the bull had descended when the collision + occurred was behind the wounded animal. Clarence was staggering towards it + when the bull, by a supreme effort, lifted itself on three legs, half + turned, and faced him. + </p> + <p> + These events had passed too quickly for the inexperienced boy to have felt + any active fear, or indeed anything but wild excitement and confusion. But + the spectacle of that shaggy and enormous front, that seemed to fill the + whole gully, rising with awful deliberation between him and escape, sent a + thrill of terror through his frame. The great, dull, bloodshot eyes glared + at him with a dumb, wondering fury; the large wet nostrils were so near + that their first snort of inarticulate rage made him reel backwards as + from a blow. The gully was only a narrow and short fissure or subsidence + of the plain; a few paces more of retreat and he would be at its end, + against an almost perpendicular bank fifteen feet high. If he attempted to + climb its crumbling sides and fell, there would be those short but + terrible horns waiting to impale him! It seemed too terrible, too cruel! + He was so small beside this overgrown monster. It wasn't fair! The tears + started to his eyes, and then, in a rage at the injustice of Fate, he + stood doggedly still with clenched fists. He fixed his gaze with + half-hysterical, childish fury on those lurid eyes; he did not know that, + owing to the strange magnifying power of the bull's convex pupils, he, + Clarence, appeared much bigger than he really was to the brute's heavy + consciousness, the distance from him most deceptive, and that it was to + this fact that hunters so often owed their escape. He only thought of some + desperate means of attack. Ah! the six-shooter. It was still in his + pocket. He drew it nervously, hopelessly—it looked so small compared + with his large enemy! + </p> + <p> + He presented it with flashing eyes, and pulled the trigger. A feeble click + followed, another, and again! Even THIS had mocked him. He pulled the + trigger once more, wildly; there was a sudden explosion, and another. He + stepped back; the balls had apparently flattened themselves harmlessly on + the bull's forehead. He pulled again, hopelessly; there was another + report, a sudden furious bellow, and the enormous brute threw his head + savagely to one side, burying his left horn deep in the crumbling bank + beside him. Again and again he charged the bank, driving his left horn + home, and bringing down the stones and earth in showers. It was some + seconds before Clarence saw in a single glimpse of that wildly tossing + crest the reason of this fury. The blood was pouring from his left eye, + penetrated by the last bullet; the bull was blinded! A terrible revulsion + of feeling, a sudden sense of remorse that was for the moment more awful + than even his previous fear, overcame him. HE had done THAT THING! As much + to fly from the dreadful spectacle as any instinct of self-preservation, + he took advantage of the next mad paroxysms of pain and blindness, that + always impelled the suffering beast towards the left, to slip past him on + the right, reach the incline, and scramble wildly up to the plain again. + Here he ran confusedly forward, not knowing whither—only caring to + escape that agonized bellowing, to shut out forever the accusing look of + that huge blood-weltering eye. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly he heard a distant angry shout. To his first hurried glance the + plain had seemed empty, but, looking up, he saw two horsemen rapidly + advancing with a led horse behind them—his own. With the blessed + sense of relief that overtook him now came the fevered desire for sympathy + and to tell them all. But as they came nearer he saw that they were + Gildersleeve, the scout, and Henry Benham, and that, far from sharing any + delight in his deliverance, their faces only exhibited irascible + impatience. Overcome by this new defeat, the boy stopped, again dumb and + dogged. + </p> + <p> + “Now, then, blank it all, WILL you get up and come along, or do you reckon + to keep the train waiting another hour over your blanked foolishness?” + said Gildersleeve savagely. + </p> + <p> + The boy hesitated, and then mounted mechanically, without a word. + </p> + <p> + “'Twould have served 'em right to have gone and left 'em,” muttered Benham + vindictively. + </p> + <p> + For one wild instant Clarence thought of throwing himself from his horse + and bidding them go on and leave him. But before he could put his thought + into action the two men were galloping forward, with his horse led by a + lariat fastened to the horn of Gildersleeve's saddle. + </p> + <p> + In two hours more they had overtaken the train, already on the march, and + were in the midst of the group of outriders. Judge Peyton's face, albeit a + trifle perplexed, turned towards Clarence with a kindly, half-tolerant + look of welcome. The boy's heart instantly melted with forgiveness. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my boy, let's hear YOUR story. What happened?” + </p> + <p> + Clarence cast a hurried glance around, and saw Jim, with face averted, + riding gloomily behind. Then nervously and hurriedly he told how he had + been thrown into the gully on the back of the wounded buffalo, and the + manner of his escape. An audible titter ran through the cavalcade. Mr. + Peyton regarded him gravely. “But how did the buffalo get so conveniently + into the gully?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Jim Hooker lamed him with a shotgun, and he fell over,” said Clarence + timidly. + </p> + <p> + A roar of Homeric laughter went up from the party. Clarence looked up, + stung and startled, but caught a single glimpse of Jim Hooker's face that + made him forget his own mortification. In its hopeless, heart-sick, and + utterly beaten dejection—the first and only real expression he had + seen on it—he read the dreadful truth. Jim's REPUTATION had ruined + him! The one genuine and striking episode of his life, the one trustworthy + account he had given of it, had been unanimously accepted as the biggest + and most consummate lie of his record! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> + <p> + With this incident of the hunt closed, to Clarence, the last remembered + episode of his journey. But he did not know until long after that it had + also closed to him what might have been the opening of a new career. For + it had been Judge Peyton's intention in adopting Susy to include a certain + guardianship and protection of the boy, provided he could get the consent + of that vague relation to whom he was consigned. But it had been pointed + out by Mrs. Peyton and her brother that Clarence's association with Jim + Hooker had made him a doubtful companion for Susy, and even the Judge + himself was forced to admit that the boy's apparent taste for evil company + was inconsistent with his alleged birth and breeding. Unfortunately, + Clarence, in the conviction of being hopelessly misunderstood, and that + dogged acquiescence to fate which was one of his characteristics, was too + proud to correct the impression by any of the hypocracies of childhood. He + had also a cloudy instinct of loyalty to Jim in his disgrace, without, + however, experiencing either the sympathy of an equal or the zeal of a + partisan, but rather—if it could be said of a boy of his years—with + the patronage and protection of a superior. So he accepted without demur + the intimation that when the train reached California he would be + forwarded from Stockton with an outfit and a letter of explanation to + Sacramento, it being understood that in the event of not finding his + relative he would return to the Peytons in one of the southern valleys, + where they elected to purchase a tract of land. + </p> + <p> + With this outlook, and the prospect of change, independence, and all the + rich possibilities that to the imagination of youth are included in them, + Clarence had found the days dragging. The halt at Salt Lake, the transit + of the dreary Alkali desert, even the wild passage of the Sierras, were + but a blurred picture in his memory. The sight of eternal snows and the + rolling of endless ranks of pines, the first glimpse of a hillside of wild + oats, the spectacle of a rushing yellow river that to his fancy seemed + tinged with gold, were momentary excitements, quickly forgotten. But when, + one morning, halting at the outskirts of a struggling settlement, he found + the entire party eagerly gathered around a passing stranger, who had taken + from his saddle-bags a small buckskin pouch to show them a double handful + of shining scales of metal, Clarence felt the first feverish and + overmastering thrill of the gold-seekers. Breathlessly he followed the + breathless questions and careless replies. The gold had been dug out of a + placer only thirty miles away. It might be worth, say, a hundred and fifty + dollars; it was only HIS share of a week's work with two partners. It was + not much; “the country was getting played out with fresh arrivals and + greenhorns.” All this falling carelessly from the unshaven lips of a + dusty, roughly dressed man, with a long-handled shovel and pickaxe + strapped on his back, and a frying-pan depending from his saddle. But no + panoplied or armed knight ever seemed so heroic or independent a figure to + Clarence. What could be finer than the noble scorn conveyed in his + critical survey of the train, with its comfortable covered wagons and + appliances of civilization? “Ye'll hev to get rid of them ther fixin's if + yer goin' in for placer diggin'!” What a corroboration of Clarence's real + thoughts! What a picture of independence was this! The picturesque scout, + the all-powerful Judge Peyton, the daring young officer, all crumbled on + their clayey pedestals before this hero in a red flannel shirt and + high-topped boots. To stroll around in the open air all day, and pick up + those shining bits of metal, without study, without method or routine—this + was really life; to some day come upon that large nugget “you couldn't + lift,” that was worth as much as the train and horses—such a one as + the stranger said was found the other day at Sawyer's Bar—this was + worth giving up everything for. That rough man, with his smile of careless + superiority, was the living link between Clarence and the Thousand and One + Nights; in him were Aladdin and Sindbad incarnate. + </p> + <p> + Two days later they reached Stockton. Here Clarence, whose single suit of + clothes had been reinforced by patching, odds and ends from Peyton's + stores, and an extraordinary costume of army cloth, got up by the + regimental tailor at Fort Ridge, was taken to be refitted at a general + furnishing “emporium.” But alas! in the selection of the clothing for that + adult locality scant provision seemed to have been made for a boy of + Clarence's years, and he was with difficulty fitted from an old condemned + Government stores with “a boy's” seaman suit and a brass-buttoned + pea-jacket. To this outfit Mr. Peyton added a small sum of money for his + expenses, and a letter of explanation to his cousin. The stage-coach was + to start at noon. It only remained for Clarence to take leave of the + party. The final parting with Susy had been discounted on the two previous + days with some tears, small frights and clingings, and the expressed + determination on the child's part “to go with him;” but in the excitement + of the arrival at Stockton it was still further mitigated, and under the + influence of a little present from Clarence—his first disbursement + of his small capital—had at last taken the form and promise of + merely temporary separation. Nevertheless, when the boy's scanty pack was + deposited under the stage-coach seat, and he had been left alone, he ran + rapidly back to the train for one moment more with Susy. Panting and a + little frightened, he reached Mrs. Peyton's car. + </p> + <p> + “Goodness! You're not gone yet,” said Mrs. Peyton sharply. “Do you want to + lose the stage?” + </p> + <p> + An instant before, in his loneliness, he might have answered, “Yes.” But + under the cruel sting of Mrs. Peyton's evident annoyance at his + reappearance he felt his legs suddenly tremble, and his voice left him. He + did not dare to look at Susy. But her voice rose comfortably from the + depths of the wagon where she was sitting. + </p> + <p> + “The stage will be gone away, Kla'uns.” + </p> + <p> + She too! Shame at his foolish weakness sent the yearning blood that had + settled round his heart flying back into his face. + </p> + <p> + “I was looking for—for—for Jim, ma'am,” he said at last, + boldly. + </p> + <p> + He saw a look of disgust pass over Mrs. Peyton's face, and felt a + malicious satisfaction as he turned and ran back to the stage. But here, + to his surprise, he actually found Jim, whom he really hadn't thought of, + darkly watching the last strapping of luggage. With a manner calculated to + convey the impression to the other passengers that he was parting from a + brother criminal, probably on his way to a state prison, Jim shook hands + gloomily with Clarence, and eyed the other passengers furtively between + his mated locks. + </p> + <p> + “Ef ye hear o' anythin' happenin', ye'll know what's up,” he said, in a + low, hoarse, but perfectly audible whisper. “Me and them's bound to part + company afore long. Tell the fellows at Deadman's Gulch to look out for me + at any time.” + </p> + <p> + Although Clarence was not going to Deadman's Gulch, knew nothing of it, + and had a faint suspicion that Jim was equally ignorant, yet as one or two + of the passengers glanced anxiously at the demure, gray-eyed boy who + seemed booked for such a baleful destination, he really felt the + half-delighted, half-frightened consciousness that he was starting in life + under fascinating immoral pretenses. But the forward spring of the + fine-spirited horses, the quickened motion, the glittering sunlight, and + the thought that he really was leaving behind him all the shackles of + dependence and custom, and plunging into a life of freedom, drove all else + from his mind. He turned at last from this hopeful, blissful future, and + began to examine his fellow passengers with boyish curiosity. Wedged in + between two silent men on the front seat, one of whom seemed a farmer, and + the other, by his black attire, a professional man, Clarence was finally + attracted by a black-mantled, dark-haired, bonnetless woman on the back + seat, whose attention seemed to be monopolized by the jocular gallantries + of her companions and the two men before her in the middle seat. From her + position he could see little more than her dark eyes, which occasionally + seemed to meet his frank curiosity in an amused sort of way, but he was + chiefly struck by the pretty foreign sound of her musical voice, which was + unlike anything he had ever heard before, and—alas for the + inconstancy of youth—much finer than Mrs. Peyton's. Presently his + farmer companion, casting a patronizing glance on Clarence's pea-jacket + and brass buttons, said cheerily— + </p> + <p> + “Jest off a voyage, sonny?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” stammered Clarence; “I came across the plains.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I reckon that's the rig-out for the crew of a prairie schooner, eh?” + There was a laugh at this which perplexed Clarence. Observing it, the + humorist kindly condescended to explain that “prairie schooner” was the + current slang for an emigrant wagon. + </p> + <p> + “I couldn't,” explained Clarence, naively looking at the dark eyes on the + back seat, “get any clothes at Stockton but these; I suppose the folks + didn't think there'd ever be boys in California.” + </p> + <p> + The simplicity of this speech evidently impressed the others, for the two + men in the middle seats turned at a whisper from the lady and regarded him + curiously. Clarence blushed slightly and became silent. Presently the + vehicle began to slacken its speed. They were ascending a hill; on either + bank grew huge cottonwoods, from which occasionally depended a beautiful + scarlet vine. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! eet ees pretty,” said the lady, nodding her black-veiled head towards + it. “Eet is good in ze hair.” + </p> + <p> + One of the men made an awkward attempt to clutch a spray from the window. + A brilliant inspiration flashed upon Clarence. When the stage began the + ascent of the next hill, following the example of an outside passenger, he + jumped down to walk. At the top of the hill he rejoined the stage, flushed + and panting, but carrying a small branch of the vine in his scratched + hands. Handing it to the man on the middle seat, he said, with grave, + boyish politeness—“Please—for the lady.” + </p> + <p> + A slight smile passed over the face of Clarence's neighbors. The + bonnetless woman nodded a pleasant acknowledgment, and coquettishly wound + the vine in her glossy hair. The dark man at his side, who hadn't spoken + yet, turned to Clarence dryly. + </p> + <p> + “If you're goin' to keep up this gait, sonny, I reckon ye won't find much + trouble gettin' a man's suit to fit you by the time you reach Sacramento.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence didn't quite understand him, but noticed that a singular gravity + seemed to overtake the two jocular men on the middle seat, and the lady + looked out of the window. He came to the conclusion that he had made a + mistake about alluding to his clothes and his size. He must try and behave + more manly. That opportunity seemed to be offered two hours later, when + the stage stopped at a wayside hotel or restaurant. + </p> + <p> + Two or three passengers had got down to refresh themselves at the bar. His + right and left hand neighbors were, however, engaged in a drawling + conversation on the comparative merits of San Francisco sandhill and water + lots; the jocular occupants of the middle seat were still engrossed with + the lady. Clarence slipped out of the stage and entered the bar-room with + some ostentation. The complete ignoring of his person by the barkeeper and + his customers, however, somewhat disconcerted him. He hesitated a moment, + and then returned gravely to the stage door and opened it. + </p> + <p> + “Would you mind taking a drink with me, sir?” said Clarence politely, + addressing the farmer-looking passenger who had been most civil to him. A + dead silence followed. The two men on the middle seat faced entirely + around to gaze at him. + </p> + <p> + “The Commodore asks if you'll take a drink with him,” explained one of the + men to Clarence's friend with the greatest seriousness. + </p> + <p> + “Eh? Oh, yes, certainly,” returned that gentleman, changing his astonished + expression to one of the deepest gravity, “seeing it's the Commodore.” + </p> + <p> + “And perhaps you and your friend will join, too?” said Clarence timidly to + the passenger who had explained; “and you too, sir?” he added to the dark + man. + </p> + <p> + “Really, gentlemen, I don't see how we can refuse,” said the latter, with + the greatest formality, and appealing to the others. “A compliment of this + kind from our distinguished friend is not to be taken lightly.” + </p> + <p> + “I have observed, sir, that the Commodore's head is level,” returned the + other man with equal gravity. + </p> + <p> + Clarence could have wished they had not treated his first hospitable + effort quite so formally, but as they stepped from the coach with + unbending faces he led them, a little frightened, into the bar-room. Here, + unfortunately, as he was barely able to reach over the counter, the + barkeeper would have again overlooked him but for a quick glance from the + dark man, which seemed to change even the barkeeper's perfunctory smiling + face into supernatural gravity. + </p> + <p> + “The Commodore is standing treat,” said the dark man, with unbroken + seriousness, indicating Clarence, and leaning back with an air of + respectful formality. “I will take straight whiskey. The Commodore, on + account of just changing climate, will, I believe, for the present content + himself with lemon soda.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey, like the others, but a + little doubtful of the politeness of countermanding his guest's order, and + perhaps slightly embarrassed by the fact that all the other customers + seemed to have gathered round him and his party with equally immovable + faces, he said hurriedly: + </p> + <p> + “Lemon soda for me, please.” + </p> + <p> + “The Commodore,” said the barkeeper with impassive features, as he bent + forward and wiped the counter with professional deliberation, “is right. + No matter how much a man may be accustomed all his life to liquor, when he + is changing climate, gentlemen, he says 'Lemon soda for me' all the time.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps,” said Clarence, brightening, “you will join too?” + </p> + <p> + “I shall be proud on this occasion, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “I think,” said the tall man, still as ceremoniously unbending as before, + “that there can be but one toast here, gentlemen. I give you the health of + the Commodore. May his shadow never be less.” + </p> + <p> + The health was drunk solemnly. Clarence felt his cheeks tingle and in his + excitement drank his own health with the others. Yet he was disappointed + that there was not more joviality; he wondered if men always drank + together so stiffly. And it occurred to him that it would be expensive. + Nevertheless, he had his purse all ready ostentatiously in his hand; in + fact, the paying for it out of his own money was not the least manly and + independent pleasure he had promised himself. “How much?” he asked, with + an affectation of carelessness. + </p> + <p> + The barkeeper cast his eye professionally over the barroom. “I think you + said treats for the crowd; call it twenty dollars to make even change.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence's heart sank. He had heard already of the exaggeration of + California prices. Twenty dollars! It was half his fortune. Nevertheless, + with an heroic effort, he controlled himself, and with slightly nervous + fingers counted out the money. It struck him, however, as curious, not to + say ungentlemanly, that the bystanders craned their necks over his + shoulder to look at the contents of his purse, although some slight + explanation was offered by the tall man. + </p> + <p> + “The Commodore's purse, gentlemen, is really a singular one. Permit me,” + he said, taking it from Clarence's hand with great politeness. “It is one + of the new pattern, you observe, quite worthy of inspection.” He handed it + to a man behind him, who in turn handed it to another, while a chorus of + “suthin quite new,” “the latest style,” followed it in its passage round + the room, and indicated to Clarence its whereabouts. It was presently + handed back to the barkeeper, who had begged also to inspect it, and who, + with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon placing it himself in + Clarence's side pocket, as if it were an important part of his function. + The driver here called “all aboard.” The passengers hurriedly reseated + themselves, and the episode abruptly ended. For, to Clarence's surprise, + these attentive friends of a moment ago at once became interested in the + views of a new passenger concerning the local politics of San Francisco, + and he found himself utterly forgotten. The bonnetless woman had changed + her position, and her head was no longer visible. The disillusion and + depression that overcame him suddenly were as complete as his previous + expectations and hopefulness had been extravagant. For the first time his + utter unimportance in the world and his inadequacy to this new life around + him came upon him crushingly. + </p> + <p> + The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight slumber + and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got out at a wayside + station. They had evidently not cared to waken him to say “Good-by.” From + the conversation of the other passengers he learned that the tall man was + a well-known gambler, and the one who looked like a farmer was a ship + captain who had become a wealthy merchant. Clarence thought he understood + now why the latter had asked him if he came off a voyage, and that the + nickname of “Commodore” given to him, Clarence, was some joke intended for + the captain's understanding. He missed them, for he wanted to talk to them + about his relative at Sacramento, whom he was now so soon to see. At last, + between sleeping and waking, the end of his journey was unexpectedly + reached. It was dark, but, being “steamer night,” the shops and business + places were still open, and Mr. Peyton had arranged that the stage-driver + should deliver Clarence at the address of his relative in “J Street,”—an + address which Clarence had luckily remembered. But the boy was somewhat + discomfited to find that it was a large office or banking-house. He, + however, descended from the stage, and with his small pack in his hand + entered the building as the stage drove off, and, addressing one of the + busy clerks, asked for “Mr. Jackson Brant.” + </p> + <p> + There was no such person in the office. There never had been any such + person. The bank had always occupied that building. Was there not some + mistake in the number? No; the name, number, and street had been deeply + engrafted in the boy's recollection. Stop! it might be the name of a + customer who had given his address at the bank. The clerk who made this + suggestion disappeared promptly to make inquiries in the counting-room. + Clarence, with a rapidly beating heart, awaited him. The clerk returned. + There was no such name on the books. Jackson Brant was utterly unknown to + every one in the establishment. + </p> + <p> + For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed to + yield with his weight; he was obliged to steady himself with both hands to + keep from falling. It was not his disappointment, which was terrible; it + was not a thought of his future, which seemed hopeless; it was not his + injured pride at appearing to have willfully deceived Mr. Peyton, which + was more dreadful than all else; but it was the sudden, sickening sense + that HE himself had been deceived, tricked, and fooled! For it flashed + upon him for the first time that the vague sense of wrong which had always + haunted him was this—that this was the vile culmination of a plan to + GET RID OF HIM, and that he had been deliberately lost and led astray by + his relatives as helplessly and completely as a useless cat or dog! + </p> + <p> + Perhaps there was something of this in his face, for the clerk, staring at + him, bade him sit down for a moment, and again vanished into the + mysterious interior. Clarence had no conception how long he was absent, or + indeed anything but his own breathless thoughts, for he was conscious of + wondering afterwards why the clerk was leading him through a door in the + counter into an inner room of many desks, and again through a glass door + into a smaller office, where a preternaturally busy-looking man sat + writing at a desk. Without looking up, but pausing only to apply a + blotting-pad to the paper before him, the man said crisply— + </p> + <p> + “So you've been consigned to some one who don't seem to turn up, and can't + be found, eh? Never mind that,” as Clarence laid Peyton's letter before + him. “Can't read it now. Well, I suppose you want to be shipped back to + Stockton?” + </p> + <p> + “No!” said the boy, recovering his voice with an effort. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, that's business, though. Know anybody here?” + </p> + <p> + “Not a living soul; that's why they sent me,” said the boy, in sudden + reckless desperation. He was the more furious that he knew the tears were + standing in his eyes. + </p> + <p> + The idea seemed to strike the man amusingly. “Looks a little like it, + don't it?” he said, smiling grimly at the paper before him. “Got any + money?” + </p> + <p> + “A little.” + </p> + <p> + “How much?” + </p> + <p> + “About twenty dollars,” said Clarence hesitatingly. The man opened a + drawer at his side, mechanically, for he did not raise his eyes, and took + out two ten-dollar gold pieces. “I'll go twenty better,” he said, laying + them down on the desk. “That'll give you a chance to look around. Come + back here, if you don't see your way clear.” He dipped his pen into the + ink with a significant gesture as if closing the interview. + </p> + <p> + Clarence pushed back the coin. “I'm not a beggar,” he said doggedly. + </p> + <p> + The man this time raised his head and surveyed the boy with two keen eyes. + “You're not, hey? Well, do I look like one?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” stammered Clarence, as he glanced into the man's haughty eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Yet, if I were in your fix, I'd take that money and be glad to get it.” + </p> + <p> + “If you'll let me pay you back again,” said Clarence, a little ashamed, + and considerably frightened at his implied accusation of the man before + him. + </p> + <p> + “You can,” said the man, bending over his desk again. + </p> + <p> + Clarence took up the money and awkwardly drew out his purse. But it was + the first time he had touched it since it was returned to him in the + bar-room, and it struck him that it was heavy and full—indeed, so + full that on opening it a few coins rolled out on to the floor. The man + looked up abruptly. + </p> + <p> + “I thought you said you had only twenty dollars?” he remarked grimly. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Peyton gave me forty,” returned Clarence, stupefied and blushing. “I + spent twenty dollars for drinks at the bar—and,” he stammered, “I—I—I + don't know how the rest came here.” + </p> + <p> + “You spent twenty dollars for DRINKS?” said the man, laying down his pen, + and leaning back in his chair to gaze at the boy. + </p> + <p> + “Yes—that is—I treated some gentlemen of the stage, sir, at + Davidson's Crossing.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you treat the whole stage company?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, only about four or five—and the bar-keeper. But + everything's so dear in California. I know that.” + </p> + <p> + “Evidently. But it don't seem to make much difference with YOU,” said the + man, glancing at the purse. + </p> + <p> + “They wanted my purse to look at,” said Clarence hurriedly, “and that's + how the thing happened. Somebody put HIS OWN MONEY back into MY purse by + accident.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course,” said the man grimly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that's the reason,” said Clarence, a little relieved, but somewhat + embarrassed by the man's persistent eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Then, of course,” said the other quietly, “you don't require my twenty + dollars now.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” returned Clarence hesitatingly, “this isn't MY money. I must find + out who it belongs to, and give it back again. Perhaps,” he added timidly, + “I might leave it here with you, and call for it when I find the man, or + send him here.” + </p> + <p> + With the greatest gravity he here separated the surplus from what was left + of Peyton's gift and the twenty dollars he had just received. The balance + unaccounted for was forty dollars. He laid it on the desk before the man, + who, still looking at him, rose and opened the door. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Reed.” + </p> + <p> + The clerk who had shown Clarence in appeared. + </p> + <p> + “Open an account with—” He stopped and turned interrogatively to + Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Clarence Brant,” said Clarence, coloring with excitement. + </p> + <p> + “With Clarence Brant. Take that deposit”—pointing to the money—“and + give him a receipt.” He paused as the clerk retired with a wondering gaze + at the money, looked again at Clarence, said, “I think YOU'LL do,” and + reentered the private office, closing the door behind him. + </p> + <p> + I hope it will not be deemed inconceivable that Clarence, only a few + moments before crushed with bitter disappointment and the hopeless + revelation of his abandonment by his relatives, now felt himself lifted up + suddenly into an imaginary height of independence and manhood. He was + leaving the bank, in which he stood a minute before a friendless boy, not + as a successful beggar, for this important man had disclaimed the idea, + but absolutely as a customer! a depositor! a business man like the + grown-up clients who were thronging the outer office, and before the eyes + of the clerk who had pitied him! And he, Clarence, had been spoken to by + this man, whose name he now recognized as the one that was on the door of + the building—a man of whom his fellow-passengers had spoken with + admiring envy—a banker famous in all California! Will it be deemed + incredible that this imaginative and hopeful boy, forgetting all else, the + object of his visit, and even the fact that he considered this money was + not his own, actually put his hat a little on one side as he strolled out + on his way to the streets and prospective fortune? + </p> + <p> + Two hours later the banker had another visitor. It chanced to be the + farmer-looking man who had been Clarence's fellow-passenger. Evidently a + privileged person, he was at once ushered as “Captain Stevens” into the + presence of the banker. At the end of a familiar business interview the + captain asked carelessly— + </p> + <p> + “Any letters for me?” + </p> + <p> + The busy banker pointed with his pen to the letter “S” in a row of + alphabetically labeled pigeon-holes against the wall. The captain, having + selected his correspondence, paused with a letter in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Look here, Carden, there are letters here for some chap called 'John + Silsbee.' They were here when I called, ten weeks ago.” + </p> + <p> + “Well?” + </p> + <p> + “That's the name of that Pike County man who was killed by Injins in the + plains. The 'Frisco papers had all the particulars last night; may be it's + for that fellow. It hasn't got a postmark. Who left it here?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Carden summoned a clerk. It appeared that the letter had been left by + a certain Brant Fauquier, to be called for. + </p> + <p> + Captain Stevens smiled. “Brant's been too busy dealin' faro to think of + 'em agin, and since that shootin' affair at Angels' I hear he's skipped to + the southern coast somewhere. Cal Johnson, his old chum, was in the up + stage from Stockton this afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you come by the up stage from Stockton this afternoon?” said Carden, + looking up. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, as far as Ten-mile Station—rode the rest of the way here.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you notice a queer little old-fashioned kid—about so high—like + a runaway school-boy?” + </p> + <p> + “Did I? By G—d, sir, he treated me to drinks.” + </p> + <p> + Carden jumped from his chair. “Then he wasn't lying!” + </p> + <p> + “No! We let him do it; but we made it good for the little chap afterwards. + Hello! What's up?” + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Carden was already in the outer office beside the clerk who had + admitted Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “You remember that boy Brant who was here?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Where did he go?” + </p> + <p> + “Don't know, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Go and find him somewhere and somehow. Go to all the hotels, restaurants, + and gin-mills near here, and hunt him up. Take some one with you, if you + can't do it alone. Bring him back here, quick!” + </p> + <p> + It was nearly midnight when the clerk fruitlessly returned. It was the + fierce high noon of “steamer nights”; light flashed brilliantly from + shops, counting-houses, drinking-saloons, and gambling-hells. The streets + were yet full of eager, hurrying feet—swift of fortune, ambition, + pleasure, or crime. But from among these deeper harsher footfalls the echo + of the homeless boy's light, innocent tread seemed to have died out + forever. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> + <p> + When Clarence was once more in the busy street before the bank, it seemed + clear to his boyish mind that, being now cast adrift upon the world and + responsible to no one, there was no reason why he should not at once + proceed to the nearest gold mines! The idea of returning to Mr. Peyton and + Susy, as a disowned and abandoned outcast, was not to be thought of. He + would purchase some kind of an outfit, such as he had seen the miners + carry, and start off as soon as he had got his supper. But although one of + his most delightful anticipations had been the unfettered freedom of + ordering a meal at a restaurant, on entering the first one he found + himself the object of so much curiosity, partly from his size and partly + from his dress, which the unfortunate boy was beginning to suspect was + really preposterous, and he turned away with a stammered excuse, and did + not try another. Further on he found a baker's shop, where he refreshed + himself with some gingerbread and lemon soda. At an adjacent grocery he + purchased some herrings, smoked beef, and biscuits, as future provisions + for his “pack” or kit. Then began his real quest for an outfit. In an hour + he had secured—ostensibly for some friend, to avoid curious inquiry—a + pan, a blanket, a shovel and pick, all of which he deposited at the + baker's, his unostentatious headquarters, with the exception of a pair of + disguising high boots that half hid his sailor trousers, which he kept to + put on at the last. Even to his inexperience the cost of these articles + seemed enormous; when his purchases were complete, of his entire capital + scarcely four dollars remained! Yet in the fond illusions of boyhood these + rude appointments seemed possessed of far more value than the gold he had + given in exchange for them, and he had enjoyed a child's delight in + testing the transforming magic of money. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, the feverish contact of the crowded street had, strange to say, + increased his loneliness, while the ruder joviality of its dissipations + began to fill him with vague uneasiness. The passing glimpse of dancing + halls and gaudily whirled figures that seemed only feminine in their + apparel; the shouts and boisterous choruses from concert rooms; the groups + of drunken roisterers that congregated around the doors of saloons or, + hilariously charging down the streets, elbowed him against the wall, or + humorously insisted on his company, discomposed and frightened him. He had + known rude companionship before, but it was serious, practical, and under + control. There was something in this vulgar degradation of intellect and + power—qualities that Clarence had always boyishly worshiped—which + sickened and disillusioned him. Later on a pistol shot in a crowd beyond, + the rush of eager men past him, the disclosure of a limp and helpless + figure against the wall, the closing of the crowd again around it, + although it stirred him with a fearful curiosity, actually shocked him + less hopelessly than their brutish enjoyments and abandonment. + </p> + <p> + It was in one of these rushes that he had been crushed against a swinging + door, which, giving way to his pressure, disclosed to his wondering eyes a + long, glitteringly adorned, and brightly lit room, densely filled with a + silent, attentive throng in attitudes of decorous abstraction and + preoccupation, that even the shouts and tumult at its very doors could not + disturb. Men of all ranks and conditions, plainly or elaborately clad, + were grouped together under this magic spell of silence and attention. The + tables before them were covered with cards and loose heaps of gold and + silver. A clicking, the rattling of an ivory ball, and the frequent, + formal, lazy reiteration of some unintelligible sentence was all that he + heard. But by a sudden instinct he UNDERSTOOD it all. It was a gambling + saloon! + </p> + <p> + Encouraged by the decorous stillness, and the fact that everybody appeared + too much engaged to notice him, the boy drew timidly beside one of the + tables. It was covered with a number of cards, on which were placed + certain sums of money. Looking down, Clarence saw that he was standing + before a card that as yet had nothing on it. A single player at his side + looked up, glanced at Clarence curiously, and then placed half a dozen + gold pieces on the vacant card. Absorbed in the general aspect of the room + and the players, Clarence did not notice that his neighbor won twice, and + even THRICE, upon that card. Becoming aware, however, that the player + while gathering in his gains, was smilingly regarding him he moved in some + embarrassment to the other end of the table, where there seemed another + gap in the crowd. It so chanced that there was also another vacant card. + The previous neighbor of Clarence instantly shoved a sum of money across + the table on the vacant card and won! At this the other players began to + regard Clarence singularly, one or two of the spectators smiled, and the + boy, coloring, moved awkwardly away. But his sleeve was caught by the + successful player, who, detaining him gently, put three gold pieces into + his hand. + </p> + <p> + “That's YOUR share, sonny,” he whispered. + </p> + <p> + “Share—for what?” stammered the astounded Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “For bringing me 'the luck,'” said the man. + </p> + <p> + Clarence stared. “Am I—to—to play with it?” he said, glancing + at the coins and then at the table, in ignorance of the stranger's + meaning. + </p> + <p> + “No, no!” said the man hurriedly, “don't do that. You'll lose it, sonny, + sure! Don't you see, YOU BRING THE LUCK TO OTHERS, not to yourself. Keep + it, old man, and run home!” + </p> + <p> + “I don't want it! I won't have it!” said Clarence with a swift + recollection of the manipulation of his purse that morning, and a sudden + distrust of all mankind. + </p> + <p> + “There!” He turned back to the table and laid the money on the first + vacant card he saw. In another moment, as it seemed to him, it was raked + away by the dealer. A sense of relief came over him. + </p> + <p> + “There!” said the man, with an awed voice and a strange, fatuous look in + his eye. “What did I tell you? You see, it's allus so! Now,” he added + roughly, “get up and get out o' this, afore you lose the boots and shirt + off ye.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence did not wait for a second command. With another glance round the + room, he began to make his way through the crowd towards the front. But in + that parting glance he caught a glimpse of a woman presiding over a “wheel + of fortune” in a corner, whose face seemed familiar. He looked again, + timidly. In spite of an extraordinary head-dress or crown that she wore as + the “Goddess of Fortune,” he recognized, twisted in its tinsel, a certain + scarlet vine which he had seen before; in spite of the hoarse formula + which she was continually repeating, he recognized the foreign accent. It + was the woman of the stage-coach! With a sudden dread that she might + recognize him, and likewise demand his services “for luck,” he turned and + fled. + </p> + <p> + Once more in the open air, there came upon him a vague loathing and horror + of the restless madness and feverish distraction of this half-civilized + city. It was the more powerful that it was vague, and the outcome of some + inward instinct. He found himself longing for the pure air and sympathetic + loneliness of the plains and wilderness; he began to yearn for the + companionship of his humble associates—the teamster, the scout + Gildersleeve, and even Jim Hooker. But above all and before all was the + wild desire to get away from these maddening streets and their bewildering + occupants. He ran back to the baker's, gathered his purchases together, + took advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them on his boyish + shoulders, slipped into a side street, and struck out at once for the + outskirts. + </p> + <p> + It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining + district, but the diminution of his small capital forbade that outlay, and + he decided to walk there by the highroad, of whose general direction he + had informed himself. In half an hour the lights of the flat, struggling + city, and their reflection in the shallow, turbid river before it, had + sunk well behind him. The air was cool and soft; a yellow moon swam in the + slight haze that rose above the tules; in the distance a few scattered + cottonwoods and sycamores marked like sentinels the road. When he had + walked some distance he sat down beneath one of them to make a frugal + supper from the dry rations in his pack, but in the absence of any spring + he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of water in a wayside + tavern. Here he was good-humoredly offered something stronger, which he + declined, and replied to certain curious interrogations by saying that he + expected to overtake his friends in a wagon further on. A new distrust of + mankind had begun to make the boy an adept in innocent falsehood, the more + deceptive as his careless, cheerful manner, the result of his relief at + leaving the city, and his perfect ease in the loving companionship of + night and nature, certainly gave no indication of his homelessness and + poverty. + </p> + <p> + It was long past midnight, when, weary in body, but still hopeful and + happy in mind, he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling expanse of + wild oats, with the same sense of security of rest as a traveler to his + inn. Here, completely screened from view by the tall stalks of grain that + rose thickly around him to the height of a man's shoulder, he beat down a + few of them for a bed, on which he deposited his blanket. Placing his pack + for a pillow, he curled himself up in his blanket, and speedily fell + asleep. + </p> + <p> + He awoke at sunrise, refreshed, invigorated, and hungry. But he was forced + to defer his first self-prepared breakfast until he had reached water, and + a less dangerous place than the wild-oat field to build his first camp + fire. This he found a mile further on, near some dwarf willows on the bank + of a half-dry stream. Of his various efforts to prepare his first meal, + the fire was the most successful; the coffee was somewhat too + substantially thick, and the bacon and herring lacked definiteness of + quality from having been cooked in the same vessel. In this boyish picnic + he missed Susy, and recalled, perhaps a little bitterly, her coldness at + parting. But the novelty of his situation, the brilliant sunshine and + sense of freedom, and the road already awakening to dusty life with + passing teams, dismissed everything but the future from his mind. + Readjusting his pack, he stepped on cheerily. At noon he was overtaken by + a teamster, who in return for a match to light his pipe gave him a lift of + a dozen miles. It is to be feared that Clarence's account of himself was + equally fanciful with his previous story, and that the teamster parted + from him with a genuine regret, and a hope that he would soon be overtaken + by his friends along the road. “And mind that you ain't such a fool agin + to let 'em make you tote their dod-blasted tools fur them!” he added + unsuspectingly, pointing to Clarence's mining outfit. Thus saved the + heaviest part of the day's journey, for the road was continually rising + from the plains during the last six miles, Clarence was yet able to cover + a considerable distance on foot before he halted for supper. Here he was + again fortunate. An empty lumber team watering at the same spring, its + driver offered to take Clarence's purchases—for the boy had profited + by his late friend's suggestion to personally detach himself from his + equipment—to Buckeye Mills for a dollar, which would also include a + “shakedown passage” for himself on the floor of the wagon. “I reckon + you've been foolin' away in Sacramento the money yer parents give yer for + return stage fare, eh? Don't lie, sonny,” he added grimly, as the now + artful Clarence smiled diplomatically, “I've been thar myself!” Luckily, + the excuse that he was “tired and sleepy” prevented further dangerous + questioning, and the boy was soon really in deep slumber on the wagon + floor. + </p> + <p> + He awoke betimes to find himself already in the mountains. Buckeye Mills + was a straggling settlement, and Clarence prudently stopped any + embarrassing inquiry from his friend by dropping off the wagon with his + equipment as they entered it, and hurriedly saying “Good-by” from a + crossroad through the woods. He had learned that the nearest mining camp + was five miles away, and its direction was indicated by a long wooden + “flume,” or water-way, that alternately appeared and disappeared on the + flank of the mountain opposite. The cooler and drier air, the grateful + shadow of pine and bay, and the spicy balsamic odors that everywhere + greeted him, thrilled and exhilarated him. The trail plunging sometimes + into an undisturbed forest, he started the birds before him like a flight + of arrows through its dim recesses; at times he hung breathlessly over the + blue depths of canyons where the same forests were repeated a thousand + feet below. Towards noon he struck into a rude road—evidently the + thoroughfare of the locality—and was surprised to find that it, as + well as the adjacent soil wherever disturbed, was a deep Indian red. + Everywhere, along its sides, powdering the banks and boles of trees with + its ruddy stain, in mounds and hillocks of piled dirt on the road, or in + liquid paint-like pools, when a trickling stream had formed a gutter + across it, there was always the same deep sanguinary color. Once or twice + it became more vivid in contrast with the white teeth of quartz that + peeped through it from the hillside or crossed the road in crumbled + strata. One of those pieces Clarence picked up with a quickening pulse. It + was veined and streaked with shining mica and tiny glittering cubes of + mineral that LOOKED like gold! + </p> + <p> + The road now began to descend towards a winding stream, shrunken by + drought and ditching, that glared dazzingly in the sunlight from its white + bars of sand, or glistened in shining sheets and channels. Along its + banks, and even encroaching upon its bed, were scattered a few mud cabins, + strange-looking wooden troughs and gutters, and here and there, glancing + through the leaves, the white canvas of tents. The stumps of felled trees + and blackened spaces, as of recent fires, marked the stream on either + side. A sudden sense of disappointment overcame Clarence. It looked + vulgar, common, and worse than all—FAMILIAR. It was like the + unlovely outskirts of a dozen other prosaic settlements he had seen in + less romantic localities. In that muddy red stream, pouring out of a + wooden gutter, in which three or four bearded, slouching, half-naked + figures were raking like chiffonniers, there was nothing to suggest the + royal metal. Yet he was so absorbed in gazing at the scene, and had walked + so rapidly during the past few minutes, that he was startled, on turning a + sharp corner of the road, to come abruptly upon an outlying dwelling. + </p> + <p> + It was a nondescript building, half canvas and half boards. The interior + seen through the open door was fitted up with side shelves, a counter + carelessly piled with provisions, groceries, clothing, and hardware—with + no attempt at display or even ordinary selection—and a table, on + which stood a demijohn and three or four dirty glasses. Two roughly + dressed men, whose long, matted beards and hair left only their eyes and + lips visible in the tangled hirsute wilderness below their slouched hats, + were leaning against the opposite sides of the doorway, smoking. Almost + thrown against them in the rapid momentum of his descent, Clarence halted + violently. + </p> + <p> + “Well, sonny, you needn't capsize the shanty,” said the first man, without + taking his pipe from his lips. + </p> + <p> + “If yer looking fur yer ma, she and yer Aunt Jane hev jest gone over to + Parson Doolittle's to take tea,” observed the second man lazily. “She + allowed that you'd wait.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm—I'm—going to—to the mines,” explained Clarence, + with some hesitation. “I suppose this is the way.” + </p> + <p> + The two men took their pipes from their lips, looked at each other, + completely wiped every vestige of expression from their faces with the + back of their hands, turned their eyes into the interior of the cabin, and + said, “Will yer come yer, now WILL yer?” Thus adjured, half a dozen men, + also bearded and carrying pipes in their mouths, straggled out of the + shanty, and, filing in front of it, squatted down, with their backs + against the boards, and gazed comfortably at the boy. Clarence began to + feel uneasy. + </p> + <p> + “I'll give,” said one, taking out his pipe and grimly eying Clarence, “a + hundred dollars for him as he stands.” + </p> + <p> + “And seein' as he's got that bran-new rig-out o' tools,” said another, + “I'll give a hundred and fifty—and the drinks. I've been,” he added + apologetically, “wantin' sunthin' like this a long time.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, gen'lemen,” said the man who had first spoken to him, “lookin' at + him by and large; takin' in, so to speak, the gin'ral gait of him in + single harness; bearin' in mind the perfect freshness of him, and the + coolness and size of his cheek—the easy downyness, previousness, and + utter don't-care-a-damnativeness of his coming yer, I think two hundred + ain't too much for him, and we'll call it a bargain.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence's previous experience of this grim, smileless Californian chaff + was not calculated to restore his confidence. He drew away from the cabin, + and repeated doggedly, “I asked you if this was the way to the mines.” + </p> + <p> + “It ARE the mines, and these yere are the miners,” said the first speaker + gravely. “Permit me to interdoose 'em. This yere's Shasta Jim, this yere's + Shotcard Billy, this is Nasty Bob, and this Slumgullion Dick. This yere's + the Dook o' Chatham Street, the Livin' Skeleton, and me!” + </p> + <p> + “May we ask, fair young sir,” said the Living Skeleton, who, however, + seemed in fairly robust condition, “whence came ye on the wings of the + morning, and whose Marble Halls ye hev left desolate?” + </p> + <p> + “I came across the plains, and got into Stockton two days ago on Mr. + Peyton's train,” said Clarence, indignantly, seeing no reason now to + conceal anything. “I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, who isn't + living there any more. I don't see anything funny in THAT! I came here to + the mines to dig gold—because—-because Mr. Silsbee, the man + who was to bring me here and might have found my cousin for me, was killed + by Indians.” + </p> + <p> + “Hold up, sonny. Let me help ye,” said the first speaker, rising to his + feet. “YOU didn't get killed by Injins because you got lost out of a train + with Silsbee's infant darter. Peyton picked you up while you was takin' + care of her, and two days arter you kem up to the broken-down Silsbee + wagons, with all the folks lyin' there slartered.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said Clarence, breathlessly with astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “And,” continued the man, putting his hand gravely to his head as if to + assist his memory, “when you was all alone on the plains with that little + child you saw one of those redskins, as near to you as I be, watchin' the + train, and you didn't breathe or move while he was there?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said Clarence eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “And you was shot at by Peyton, he thinkin' you was an Injun in the + mesquite grass? And you once shot a buffalo that had been pitched with you + down a gully—all by yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Clarence, crimson with wonder and pleasure. “You know me, + then?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, ye-e-es,” said the man gravely, parting his mustache with his + fingers. “You see, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.” + </p> + <p> + “Before! Me?” repeated the astounded Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, before. Last night. You was taller then, and hadn't cut your hair. + You cursed a good deal more than you do now. You drank a man's share of + whiskey, and you borrowed fifty dollars to get to Sacramento with. I + reckon you haven't got it about you now, eh?” + </p> + <p> + Clarence's brain reeled in utter confusion and hopeless terror. + </p> + <p> + Was he going crazy, or had these cruel men learned his story from his + faithless friends, and this was a part of the plot? He staggered forward, + but the men had risen and quickly encircled him, as if to prevent his + escape. In vague and helpless desperation he gasped— + </p> + <p> + “What place is this?” + </p> + <p> + “Folks call it Deadman's Gulch.” + </p> + <p> + Deadman's Gulch! A flash of intelligence lit up the boy's blind confusion. + Deadman's Gulch! Could it have been Jim Hooker who had really run away, + and had taken his name? He turned half-imploringly to the first speaker. + </p> + <p> + “Wasn't he older than me, and bigger? Didn't he have a smooth, round face + and little eyes? Didn't he talk hoarse? Didn't he—” He stopped + hopelessly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; oh, he wasn't a bit like you,” said the man musingly. “Ye see, + that's the h-ll of it! You're altogether TOO MANY and TOO VARIOUS fur this + camp.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know who's been here before, or what they have said,” said + Clarence desperately, yet even in that desperation retaining the dogged + loyalty to his old playmate, which was part of his nature. “I don't know, + and I don't care—there! I'm Clarence Brant of Kentucky; I started in + Silsbee's train from St. Jo, and I'm going to the mines, and you can't + stop me!” + </p> + <p> + The man who had first spoken started, looked keenly at Clarence, and then + turned to the others. The gentleman known as the living skeleton had + obtruded his huge bulk in front of the boy, and, gazing at him, said + reflectively, “Darned if it don't look like one of Brant's pups—sure!” + </p> + <p> + “Air ye any relation to Kernel Hamilton Brant of Looeyville?” asked the + first speaker. + </p> + <p> + Again that old question! Poor Clarence hesitated, despairingly. Was he to + go through the same cross-examination he had undergone with the Peytons? + “Yes,” he said doggedly, “I am—but he's dead, and you know it.” + </p> + <p> + “Dead—of course.” “Sartin.” “He's dead.” “The Kernel's planted,” + said the men in chorus. + </p> + <p> + “Well, yes,” reflected the Living Skeleton ostentatiously, as one who + spoke from experience. “Ham Brant's about as bony now as they make 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “You bet! About the dustiest, deadest corpse you kin turn out,” + corroborated Slumgullion Dick, nodding his head gloomily to the others; + “in point o' fack, es a corpse, about the last one I should keer to go + huntin' fur.” + </p> + <p> + “The Kernel's tech 'ud be cold and clammy,” concluded the Duke of Chatham + Street, who had not yet spoken, “sure. But what did yer mammy say about + it? Is she gettin' married agin? Did SHE send ye here?” + </p> + <p> + It seemed to Clarence that the Duke of Chatham Street here received a kick + from his companions; but the boy repeated doggedly— + </p> + <p> + “I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, Jackson Brant; but he wasn't + there.” + </p> + <p> + “Jackson Brant!” echoed the first speaker, glancing at the others. “Did + your mother say he was your cousin?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Clarence wearily. “Good-by.” + </p> + <p> + “Hullo, sonny, where are you going?” + </p> + <p> + “To dig gold,” said the boy. “And you know you can't prevent me, if it + isn't on your claim. I know the law.” He had heard Mr. Peyton discuss it + at Stockton, and he fancied that the men, who were whispering among + themselves, looked kinder than before, and as if they were no longer + “acting” to him. The first speaker laid his hand on his shoulder, and + said, “All right, come with me, and I'll show you where to dig.” + </p> + <p> + “Who are you?” said Clarence. “You called yourself only 'me.'” + </p> + <p> + “Well, you can call me Flynn—Tom Flynn.” + </p> + <p> + “And you'll show me where I can dig—myself?” + </p> + <p> + “I will.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know,” said Clarence timidly, yet with a half-conscious smile, + “that I—I kinder bring luck?” + </p> + <p> + The man looked down upon him, and said gravely, but, as it struck + Clarence, with a new kind of gravity, “I believe you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Clarence eagerly, as they walked along together, “I brought + luck to a man in Sacramento the other day.” And he related with great + earnestness his experience in the gambling saloon. Not content with that—the + sealed fountains of his childish deep being broken up by some mysterious + sympathy—he spoke of his hospitable exploit with the passengers at + the wayside bar, of the finding of his Fortunatus purse and his deposit at + the bank. Whether that characteristic old-fashioned reticence which had + been such an important factor for good or ill in his future had suddenly + deserted him, or whether some extraordinary prepossession in his companion + had affected him, he did not know; but by the time the pair had reached + the hillside Flynn was in possession of all the boy's history. On one + point only was his reserve unshaken. Conscious although he was of Jim + Hooker's duplicity, he affected to treat it as a comrade's joke. + </p> + <p> + They halted at last in the middle of an apparently fertile hillside. + Clarence shifted his shovel from his shoulders, unslung his pan, and + looked at Flynn. “Dig anywhere here, where you like,” said his companion + carelessly, “and you'll be sure to find the color. Fill your pan with the + dirt, go to that sluice, and let the water run in on the top of the pan—workin' + it round so,” he added, illustrating a rotary motion with the vessel. + “Keep doing that until all the soil is washed out of it, and you have only + the black sand at the bottom. Then work that the same way until you see + the color. Don't be afraid of washing the gold out of the pan—you + couldn't do it if you tried. There, I'll leave you here, and you wait till + I come back.” With another grave nod and something like a smile in the + only visible part of his bearded face—his eyes—he strode + rapidly away. + </p> + <p> + Clarence did not lose time. Selecting a spot where the grass was less + thick, he broke through the soil and turned up two or three spadefuls of + red soil. When he had filled the pan and raised it to his shoulder, he was + astounded at its weight. He did not know that it was due to the red + precipitate of iron that gave it its color. Staggering along with his + burden to the running sluice, which looked like an open wooden gutter, at + the foot of the hill, he began to carefully carry out Flynn's direction. + The first dip of the pan in the running water carried off half the + contents of the pan in liquid paint-like ooze. For a moment he gave way to + boyish satisfaction in the sight and touch of this unctuous solution, and + dabbled his fingers in it. A few moments more of rinsing and he came to + the sediment of fine black sand that was beneath it. Another plunge and + swilling of water in the pan, and—could he believe his eyes!—a + few yellow tiny scales, scarcely larger than pins' heads, glittered among + the sand. He poured it off. But his companion was right; the lighter sand + shifted from side to side with the water, but the glittering points + remained adhering by their own tiny specific gravity to the smooth surface + of the bottom. It was “the color”—gold! + </p> + <p> + Clarence's heart seemed to give a great leap within him. A vision of + wealth, of independence, of power, sprang before his dazzled eyes, and—a + hand lightly touched him on the shoulder. + </p> + <p> + He started. In his complete preoccupation and excitement, he had not heard + the clatter of horse-hoofs, and to his amazement Flynn was already beside + him, mounted, and leading a second horse. + </p> + <p> + “You kin ride?” he said shortly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes” stammered Clarence; “but—” + </p> + <p> + “BUT—we've only got two hours to reach Buckeye Mills in time to + catch the down stage. Drop all that, jump up, and come with me!” + </p> + <p> + “But I've just found gold,” said the boy excitedly. + </p> + <p> + “And I've just found your—cousin. Come!” + </p> + <p> + He spurred his horse across Clarence's scattered implements, half helped, + half lifted, the boy into the saddle of the second horse, and, with a cut + of his riata over the animal's haunches, the next moment they were both + galloping furiously away. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> + <p> + Torn suddenly from his prospective future, but too much dominated by the + man beside him to protest, Clarence was silent until a rise in the road, a + few minutes later, partly abated their headlong speed, and gave him chance + to recover his breath and courage. + </p> + <p> + “Where is my cousin?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “In the Southern county, two hundred miles from here.” + </p> + <p> + “Are we going to him?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + They rode furiously forward again. It was nearly half an hour before they + came to a longer ascent. Clarence could see that Flynn was from time to + time examining him curiously under his slouched hat. This somewhat + embarrassed him, but in his singular confidence in the man no distrust + mingled with it. + </p> + <p> + “Ye never saw your—cousin?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Clarence; “nor he me. I don't think he knew me much, any way. + </p> + <p> + “How old mout ye be, Clarence?” + </p> + <p> + “Eleven.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, as you're suthin of a pup”—Clarence started, and recalled + Peyton's first criticism of him—“I reckon to tell ye suthin. Ye + ain't goin' to be skeert, or afeard, or lose yer sand, I kalkilate, for + skunkin' ain't in your breed. Well, wot ef I told ye that thish yer—thish + yer—COUSIN o' yours was the biggest devil onhung; that he'd just + killed a man, and had to lite out elsewhere, and THET'S why he didn't show + up in Sacramento—what if I told you that?” + </p> + <p> + Clarence felt that this was somehow a little too much. He was perfectly + truthful, and lifting his frank eyes to Flynn, he said, + </p> + <p> + “I should think you were talking a good deal like Jim Hooker!” + </p> + <p> + His companion stared, and suddenly reined up his horse; then, bursting + into a shout of laughter, he galloped ahead, from time to time shaking his + head, slapping his legs, and making the dim woods ring with his boisterous + mirth. Then as suddenly becoming thoughtful again, he rode on rapidly for + half an hour, only speaking to Clarence to urge him forward, and assisting + his progress by lashing the haunches of his horse. Luckily, the boy was a + good rider—a fact which Flynn seemed to thoroughly appreciate—or + he would have been unseated a dozen times. + </p> + <p> + At last the straggling sheds of Buckeye Mills came into softer purple view + on the opposite mountain. Then laying his hand on Clarence's shoulder as + he reined in at his side, Flynn broke the silence. + </p> + <p> + “There, boy,” he said, wiping the mirthful tears from his eyes. “I was + only foolin'—only tryin' yer grit! This yer cousin I'm taking you to + be as quiet and soft-spoken and as old-fashioned ez you be. Why, he's that + wrapped up in books and study that he lives alone in a big adobe rancherie + among a lot o' Spanish, and he don't keer to see his own countrymen! Why, + he's even changed his name, and calles himself Don Juan Robinson! But he's + very rich; he owns three leagues of land and heaps of cattle and horses, + and,” glancing approvingly at Clarence's seat in the saddle, “I reckon + you'll hev plenty of fun thar.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” hesitated Clarence, to whom this proposal seemed only a repetition + of Peyton's charitable offer, “I think I'd better stay here and dig gold—WITH + YOU.” + </p> + <p> + “And I think you'd better not,” said the man, with a gravity that was very + like a settled determination. + </p> + <p> + “But my cousin never came for me to Sacramento—nor sent, nor even + wrote,” persisted Clarence indignantly. + </p> + <p> + “Not to YOU, boy; but he wrote to the man whom he reckoned would bring you + there—Jack Silsbee—and left it in the care of the bank. And + Silsbee, being dead, didn't come for the letter; and as you didn't ask for + it when you came, and didn't even mention Silsbee's name, that same letter + was sent back to your cousin through me, because the bank thought we knew + his whereabouts. It came to the gulch by an express rider, whilst you were + prospectin' on the hillside. Rememberin' your story, I took the liberty of + opening it, and found out that your cousin had told Silsbee to bring you + straight to him. So I'm only doin' now what Silsbee would have done.” + </p> + <p> + Any momentary doubt or suspicion that might have risen in Clarence's mind + vanished as he met his companion's steady and masterful eye. Even his + disappointment was forgotten in the charm of this new-found friendship and + protection. And as its outset had been marked by an unusual burst of + confidence on Clarence's part, the boy, in his gratitude, now felt + something of the timid shyness of a deeper feeling, and once more became + reticent. + </p> + <p> + They were in time to snatch a hasty meal at Buckeye Mills before the stage + arrived, and Clarence noticed that his friend, despite his rough dress and + lawless aspect, provoked a marked degree of respect from those he met—in + which, perhaps, a wholesome fear was mingled. It is certain that the two + best places in the stage were given up to them without protest, and that a + careless, almost supercilious invitation to drink from Flynn was responded + to with singular alacrity by all, including even two fastidiously dressed + and previously reserved passengers. I am afraid that Clarence enjoyed this + proof of his friend's singular dominance with a boyish pride, and, + conscious of the curious eyes of the passengers, directed occasionally to + himself, was somewhat ostentatious in his familiarity with this bearded + autocrat. + </p> + <p> + At noon the next day they left the stage at a wayside road station, and + Flynn briefly informed Clarence that they must again take horses. This at + first seemed difficult in that out-of-the-way settlement, where they alone + had stopped, but a whisper from the driver in the ear of the + station-master produced a couple of fiery mustangs, with the same + accompaniment of cautious awe and mystery. For the next two days they + traveled on horseback, resting by night at the lodgings of one or other of + Flynn's friends in the outskirts of a large town, where they arrived in + the darkness, and left before day. To any one more experienced than the + simple-minded boy it would have been evident that Flynn was purposely + avoiding the more traveled roads and conveyances; and when they changed + horses again the next day's ride was through an apparently unbroken + wilderness of scattered wood and rolling plain. Yet to Clarence, with his + pantheistic reliance and joyous sympathy with nature, the change was + filled with exhilarating pleasure. The vast seas of tossing wild oats, the + hillside still variegated with strange flowers, the virgin freshness of + untrodden woods and leafy aisles, whose floors of moss or bark were + undisturbed by human footprint, were a keen delight and novelty. More than + this, his quick eye, trained perceptions, and frontier knowledge now stood + him in good stead. His intuitive sense of distance, instincts of + woodcraft, and his unerring detection of those signs, landmarks, and + guideposts of nature, undistinguishable to aught but birds and beasts and + some children, were now of the greatest service to his less favored + companion. In this part of their strange pilgrimage it was the boy who + took the lead. Flynn, who during the past two days seemed to have fallen + into a mood of watchful reserve, nodded his approbation. “This sort of + thing's yer best holt, boy,” he said. “Men and cities ain't your little + game.” + </p> + <p> + At the next stopping-place Clarence had a surprise. They had again entered + a town at nightfall, and lodged with another friend of Flynn's in rooms + which from vague sounds appeared to be over a gambling saloon. Clarence + woke late in the morning, and, descending into the street to mount for the + day's journey, was startled to find that Flynn was not on the other horse, + but that a well-dressed and handsome stranger had taken his place. But a + laugh, and the familiar command, “Jump up, boy,” made him look again. It + WAS Flynn, but completely shaven of beard and mustache, closely clipped of + hair, and in a fastidiously cut suit of black! + </p> + <p> + “Then you didn't know me?” said Flynn. + </p> + <p> + “Not till you spoke,” replied Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “So much the better,” said his friend sententiously, as he put spurs to + his horse. But as they cantered through the street, Clarence, who had + already become accustomed to the stranger's hirsute adornment, felt a + little more awe of him. The profile of the mouth and chin now exposed to + his sidelong glance was hard and stern, and slightly saturnine. Although + unable at the time to identify it with anybody he had ever known, it + seemed to the imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad + experience. But the eyes were thoughtful and kindly, and the boy later + believed that if he had been more familiar with the face he would have + loved it better. For it was the last and only day he was to see it, as, + late that afternoon, after a dusty ride along more traveled highways, they + reached their journey's end. + </p> + <p> + It was a low-walled house, with red-tiled roofs showing against the dark + green of venerable pear and fig trees, and a square court-yard in the + centre, where they had dismounted. A few words in Spanish from Flynn to + one of the lounging peons admitted them to a wooden corridor, and thence + to a long, low room, which to Clarence's eyes seemed literally piled with + books and engravings. Here Flynn hurriedly bade him stay while he sought + the host in another part of the building. But Clarence did not miss him; + indeed, it may be feared, he forgot even the object of their journey in + the new sensations that suddenly thronged upon him, and the boyish vista + of the future that they seemed to open. He was dazed and intoxicated. He + had never seen so many books before; he had never conceived of such lovely + pictures. And yet in some vague way he thought he must have dreamt of them + at some time. He had mounted a chair, and was gazing spellbound at an + engraving of a sea-fight when he heard Flynn's voice. + </p> + <p> + His friend had quietly reentered the room, in company with an oldish, + half-foreign-looking man, evidently his relation. With no helping + recollection, with no means of comparison beyond a vague idea that his + cousin might look like himself, Clarence stood hopelessly before him. He + had already made up his mind that he would have to go through the usual + cross-questioning in regard to his father and family; he had even + forlornly thought of inventing some innocent details to fill out his + imperfect and unsatisfactory recollection. But, glancing up, he was + surprised to find that his elderly cousin was as embarrassed as he was, + Flynn, as usual, masterfully interposed. + </p> + <p> + “Of course ye don't remember each other, and thar ain't much that either + of you knows about family matters, I reckon,” he said grimly; “and as your + cousin calls himself Don Juan Robinson,” he added to Clarence, “it's just + as well that you let 'Jackson Brant' slide. I know him better than you, + but you'll get used to him, and he to you, soon enough. At least, you'd + better,” he concluded, with his singular gravity. + </p> + <p> + As he turned as if to leave the room with Clarence's embarrassed relative—much + to that gentleman's apparent relief—the boy looked up at the latter + and said timidly— + </p> + <p> + “May I look at those books?” + </p> + <p> + His cousin stopped, and glanced at him with the first expression of + interest he had shown. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you read; you like books?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Clarence. As his cousin remained still looking at him + thoughtfully, he added, “My hands are pretty clean, but I can wash them + first, if you like.” + </p> + <p> + “You may look at them,” said Don Juan smilingly; “and as they are old + books you can wash your hands afterwards.” And, turning to Flynn suddenly, + with an air of relief, “I tell you what I'll do—I'll teach him + Spanish!” + </p> + <p> + They left the room together, and Clarence turned eagerly to the shelves. + They were old books, some indeed very old, queerly bound, and worm-eaten. + Some were in foreign languages, but others in clear, bold English type, + with quaint wood-cuts and illustrations. One seemed to be a chronicle of + battles and sieges, with pictured representations of combatants spitted + with arrows, cleanly lopped off in limb, or toppled over distinctly by + visible cannon-shot. He was deep in its perusal when he heard the clatter + of a horse's hoofs in the court-yard and the voice of Flynn. He ran to the + window, and was astonished to see his friend already on horseback, taking + leave of his host. + </p> + <p> + For one instant Clarence felt one of those sudden revulsions of feeling + common to his age, but which he had always timidly hidden under dogged + demeanor. Flynn, his only friend! Flynn, his only boyish confidant! Flynn, + his latest hero, was going away and forsaking him without a word of + parting! It was true that he had only agreed to take him to his guardian, + but still Flynn need not have left him without a word of hope or + encouragement! With any one else Clarence would probably have taken refuge + in his usual Indian stoicism, but the same feeling that had impelled him + to offer Flynn his boyish confidences on their first meeting now + overpowered him. He dropped his book, ran out into the corridor, and made + his way to the court-yard, just as Flynn galloped out from the arch. + </p> + <p> + But the boy uttered a despairing shout that reached the rider. He drew + rein, wheeled, halted, and sat facing Clarence impatiently. To add to + Clarence's embarrassment his cousin had lingered in the corridor, + attracted by the interruption, and a peon, lounging in the archway, + obsequiously approached Flynn's bridle-rein. But the rider waved him off, + and, turning sternly to Clarence, said:— + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter now?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing,” said Clarence, striving to keep back the hot tears that rose in + his eyes. “But you were going away without saying 'good-by.' You've been + very kind to me, and—and—I want to thank you!” + </p> + <p> + A deep flush crossed Flynn's face. Then glancing suspiciously towards the + corridor, he said hurriedly,— + </p> + <p> + “Did HE send you?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I came myself. I heard you going.” + </p> + <p> + “All right. Good-by.” He leaned forward as if about to take Clarence's + outstretched hand, checked himself suddenly with a grim smile, and taking + from his pocket a gold coin handed it to the boy. + </p> + <p> + Clarence took it, tossed it with a proud gesture to the waiting peon, who + caught it thankfully, drew back a step from Flynn, and saying, with white + cheeks, “I only wanted to say good-by,” dropped his hot eyes to the + ground. But it did not seem to be his own voice that had spoken, nor his + own self that had prompted the act. + </p> + <p> + There was a quick interchange of glances between the departing guest and + his late host, in which Flynn's eyes flashed with an odd, admiring fire, + but when Clarence raised his head again he was gone. And as the boy turned + back with a broken heart towards the corridor, his cousin laid his hand + upon his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “Muy hidalgamente, Clarence,” he said pleasantly. “Yes, we shall make + something of you!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X + </h2> + <p> + Then followed to Clarence three uneventful years. During that interval he + learnt that Jackson Brant, or Don Juan Robinson—for the tie of + kinship was the least factor in their relations to each other, and after + the departure of Flynn was tacitly ignored by both—was more Spanish + than American. An early residence in Lower California, marriage with a + rich Mexican widow, whose dying childless left him sole heir, and some + strange restraining idiosyncrasy of temperament had quite denationalized + him. A bookish recluse, somewhat superfastidious towards his own + countrymen, the more Clarence knew him the more singular appeared his + acquaintance with Flynn; but as he did not exhibit more communicativeness + on this point than upon their own kinship, Clarence finally concluded that + it was due to the dominant character of his former friend, and thought no + more about it. He entered upon the new life at El Refugio with no + disturbing past. Quickly adapting himself to the lazy freedom of this + hacienda existence, he spent the mornings on horseback ranging the hills + among his cousin's cattle, and the afternoons and evenings busied among + his cousin's books with equally lawless and undisciplined independence. + The easy-going Don Juan, it is true, attempted to make good his rash + promise to teach the boy Spanish, and actually set him a few tasks; but in + a few weeks the quick-witted Clarence acquired such a colloquial + proficiency from his casual acquaintance with vaqueros and small traders + that he was glad to leave the matter in his young kinsman's hands. Again, + by one of those illogical sequences which make a lifelong reputation + depend upon a single trivial act, Clarence's social status was settled + forever at El Refugio Rancho by his picturesque diversion of Flynn's + parting gift. The grateful peon to whom the boy had scornfully tossed the + coin repeated the act, gesture, and spirit of the scene to his companion, + and Don Juan's unknown and youthful relation was at once recognized as + hijo de la familia, and undeniably a hidalgo born and bred. But in the + more vivid imagination of feminine El Refugio the incident reached its + highest poetic form. “It is true, Mother of God,” said Chucha of the Mill; + “it was Domingo who himself relates it as it were the Creed. When the + American escort had arrived with the young gentleman, this escort, look + you, being not of the same quality, he is departing again without a word + of permission. Comes to him at this moment my little hidalgo. 'You have + yourself forgotten to take from me your demission,' he said. This escort, + thinking to make his peace with a mere muchacho, gives to him a gold piece + of twenty pesos. The little hidalgo has taken it SO, and with the words, + 'Ah! you would make of me your almoner to my cousin's people,' has given + it at the moment to Domingo, and with a grace and fire admirable.” But it + is certain that Clarence's singular simplicity and truthfulness, a faculty + of being picturesquely indolent in a way that suggested a dreamy + abstraction of mind rather than any vulgar tendency to bodily ease and + comfort, and possibly the fact that he was a good horseman, made him a + popular hero at El Refugio. At the end of three years Don Juan found that + this inexperienced and apparently idle boy of fourteen knew more of the + practical ruling of the rancho than he did himself; also that this + unlettered young rustic had devoured nearly all the books in his library + with boyish recklessness of digestion. He found, too, that in spite of his + singular independence of action, Clarence was possessed of an invincible + loyalty of principle, and that, asking no sentimental affection, and + indeed yielding none, he was, without presuming on his relationship, + devoted to his cousin's interest. It seemed that from being a glancing ray + of sunshine in the house, evasive but never obtrusive, he had become a + daily necessity of comfort and security to his benefactor. + </p> + <p> + Clarence was, however, astonished, when, one morning, Don Juan, with the + same embarrassed manner he had shown at their first meeting, suddenly + asked him, “what business he expected to follow.” It seemed the more + singular, as the speaker, like most abstracted men, had hitherto always + studiously ignored the future, in their daily intercourse. Yet this might + have been either the habit of security or the caution of doubt. Whatever + it was, it was some sudden disturbance of Don Juan's equanimity, as + disconcerting to himself as it was to Clarence. So conscious was the boy + of this that, without replying to his cousin's question, but striving in + vain to recall some delinquency of his own, he asked, with his usual + boyish directness— + </p> + <p> + “Has anything happened? Have I done anything wrong?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” returned Don Juan hurriedly. “But, you see, it's time that you + should think of your future—or at least prepare for it. I mean you + ought to have some more regular education. You will have to go to school. + It's too bad,” he added fretfully, with a certain impatient forgetfulness + of Clarence's presence, and as if following his own thought. “Just as you + are becoming of service to me, and justifying your ridiculous position + here—and all this d—d nonsense that's gone before—I + mean, of course, Clarence,” he interrupted himself, catching sight of the + boy's whitening cheek and darkening eye, “I mean, you know—this + ridiculousness of my keeping you from school at your age, and trying to + teach you myself—don't you see.” + </p> + <p> + “You think it is—ridiculous,” repeated Clarence, with dogged + persistency. + </p> + <p> + “I mean I am ridiculous,” said Don Juan hastily. “There! there! let's say + no more about it. To-morrow we'll ride over to San Jose and see the Father + Secretary at the Jesuits' College about your entering at once. It's a good + school, and you'll always be near the rancho!” And so the interview ended. + </p> + <p> + I am afraid that Clarence's first idea was to run away. There are few + experiences more crushing to an ingenuous nature than the sudden + revelation of the aspect in which it is regarded by others. The + unfortunate Clarence, conscious only of his loyalty to his cousin's + interest and what he believed were the duties of his position, awoke to + find that position “ridiculous.” In an afternoon's gloomy ride through the + lonely hills, and later in the sleepless solitude of his room at night, he + concluded that his cousin was right. He would go to school; he would study + hard—so hard that in a little, a very little while, he could make a + living for himself. He awoke contented. It was the blessing of youth that + this resolve and execution seemed as one and the same thing. + </p> + <p> + The next day found him installed as a pupil and boarder in the college. + Don Juan's position and Spanish predilections naturally made his relation + acceptable to the faculty; but Clarence could not help perceiving that + Father Sobriente, the Principal, regarded him at times with a thoughtful + curiosity that made him suspect that his cousin had especially bespoken + that attention, and that he occasionally questioned him on his antecedents + in a way that made him dread a renewal of the old questioning about his + progenitor. For the rest, he was a polished, cultivated man; yet, in the + characteristic, material criticism of youth, I am afraid that Clarence + chiefly identified him as a priest with large hands, whose soft palms + seemed to be cushioned with kindness, and whose equally large feet, + encased in extraordinary shapeless shoes of undyed leather, seemed to + tread down noiselessly—rather than to ostentatiously crush—the + obstacles that beset the path of the young student. In the cloistered + galleries of the court-yard Clarence sometimes felt himself borne down by + the protecting weight of this paternal hand; in the midnight silence of + the dormitory he fancied he was often conscious of the soft browsing tread + and snuffly muffled breathing of his elephantine-footed mentor. + </p> + <p> + His relations with his school-fellows were at first far from pleasant. + Whether they suspected favoritism; whether they resented that old and + unsympathetic manner which sprang from his habits of association with his + elders; or whether they rested their objections on the broader grounds of + his being a stranger, I do not know, but they presently passed from cruel + sneers to physical opposition. It was then found that this gentle and + reserved youth had retained certain objectionable, rude, direct, rustic + qualities of fist and foot, and that, violating all rules and disdaining + the pomp and circumstance of school-boy warfare, of which he knew nothing, + he simply thrashed a few of his equals out of hand, with or without + ceremony, as the occasion or the insult happened. In this emergency one of + the seniors was selected to teach this youthful savage his proper + position. A challenge was given, and accepted by Clarence with a feverish + alacrity that surprised himself as much as his adversary. This was a youth + of eighteen, his superior in size and skill. + </p> + <p> + The first blow bathed Clarence's face in his own blood. But the sanguinary + chrism, to the alarm of the spectators, effected an instantaneous and + unhallowed change in the boy. Instantly closing with his adversary, he + sprang at his throat like an animal, and locking his arm around his neck + began to strangle him. Blind to the blows that rained upon him, he + eventually bore his staggering enemy by sheer onset and surprise to the + earth. Amidst the general alarm, the strength of half a dozen hastily + summoned teachers was necessary to unlock his hold. Even then he struggled + to renew the conflict. But his adversary had disappeared, and from that + day forward Clarence was never again molested. + </p> + <p> + Seated before Father Sobriente in the infirmary, with swollen and bandaged + face, and eyes that still seemed to see everything in the murky light of + his own blood, Clarence felt the soft weight of the father's hand upon his + knee. + </p> + <p> + “My son,” said the priest gently, “you are not of our religion, or I + should claim as a right to ask a question of your own heart at this + moment. But as to a good friend, Claro, a good friend,” he continued, + patting the boy's knee, “you will tell me, old Father Sobriente, frankly + and truthfully, as is your habit, one little thing. Were you not afraid?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Clarence doggedly. “I'll lick him again to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Softly, my son! It was not of HIM I speak, but of something more terrible + and awful. Were you not afraid of—of—” he paused, and suddenly + darting his clear eyes into the very depths of Clarence's soul, added—“of + YOURSELF?” + </p> + <p> + The boy started, shuddered, and burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + “So, so,” said the priest gently, “we have found our real enemy. Good! + Now, by the grace of God, my little warrior, we shall fight HIM and + conquer.” + </p> + <p> + Whether Clarence profited by this lesson, or whether this brief exhibition + of his quality prevented any repetition of the cause, the episode was soon + forgotten. As his school-fellows had never been his associates or + confidants, it mattered little to him whether they feared or respected + him, or were hypocritically obsequious, after the fashion of the weaker. + His studies, at all events, profited by this lack of distraction. Already + his two years of desultory and omnivorous reading had given him a facile + familiarity with many things, which left him utterly free of the timidity, + awkwardness, or non-interest of a beginner. His usually reserved manner, + which had been lack of expression rather than of conviction, had deceived + his tutors. The audacity of a mind that had never been dominated by + others, and owed no allegiance to precedent, made his merely superficial + progress something marvelous. + </p> + <p> + At the end of the first year he was a phenomenal scholar, who seemed + capable of anything. Nevertheless, Father Sobriente had an interview with + Don Juan, and as a result Clarence was slightly kept back in his studies, + a little more freedom from the rules was conceded to him, and he was even + encouraged to take some diversion. Of such was the privilege to visit the + neighboring town of Santa Clara unrestricted and unattended. He had always + been liberally furnished with pocket-money, for which, in his + companionless state and Spartan habits, he had a singular and unboyish + contempt. Nevertheless, he always appeared dressed with scrupulous + neatness, and was rather distinguished-looking in his older reserve and + melancholy self-reliance. + </p> + <p> + Lounging one afternoon along the Alameda, a leafy avenue set out by the + early Mission Fathers between the village of San Jose and the convent of + Santa Clara, he saw a double file of young girls from the convent + approaching, on their usual promenade. A view of this procession being the + fondest ambition of the San Jose collegian, and especially interdicted and + circumvented by the good Fathers attending the college excursions, + Clarence felt for it the profound indifference of a boy who, in the + intermediate temperate zone of fifteen years, thinks that he is no longer + young and romantic! He was passing them with a careless glance, when a + pair of deep violet eyes caught his own under the broad shade of a + coquettishly beribboned hat, even as it had once looked at him from the + depths of a calico sunbonnet. Susy! He started, and would have spoken; but + with a quick little gesture of caution and a meaning glance at the two + nuns who walked at the head and foot of the file, she indicated him to + follow. He did so at a respectful distance, albeit wondering. A little + further on Susy dropped her handkerchief, and was obliged to dart out and + run back to the end of the file to recover it. But she gave another swift + glance of her blue eyes as she snatched it up and demurely ran back to her + place. The procession passed on, but when Clarence reached the spot where + she had paused he saw a three-cornered bit of paper lying in the grass. He + was too discreet to pick it up while the girls were still in sight, but + continued on, returning to it later. It contained a few words in a + schoolgirl's hand, hastily scrawled in pencil: “Come to the south wall + near the big pear-tree at six.” + </p> + <p> + Delighted as Clarence felt, he was at the same time embarrassed. He could + not understand the necessity of this mysterious rendezvous. He knew that + if she was a scholar she was under certain conventual restraints; but with + the privileges of his position and friendship with his teachers, he + believed that Father Sobriente would easily procure him an interview with + this old play-fellow, of whom he had often spoken, and who was, with + himself, the sole survivor of his tragical past. And trusted as he was by + Sobriente, there was something in this clandestine though innocent + rendezvous that went against his loyalty. Nevertheless, he kept the + appointment, and at the stated time was at the south wall of the convent, + over which the gnarled boughs of the distinguishing pear-tree hung. Hard + by in the wall was a grated wicket door that seemed unused. + </p> + <p> + Would she appear among the boughs or on the edge of the wall? Either would + be like the old Susy. But to his surprise he heard the sound of the key + turning in the lock. The grated door suddenly swung on its hinges, and + Susy slipped out. Grasping his hand, she said, “Let's run, Clarence,” and + before he could reply she started off with him at a rapid pace. Down the + lane they flew—very much, as it seemed to Clarence's fancy, as they + had flown from the old emigrant wagon on the prairie, four years before. + He glanced at the fluttering, fairy-like figure beside him. She had grown + taller and more graceful; she was dressed in exquisite taste, with a + minuteness of luxurious detail that bespoke the spoilt child; but there + was the same prodigal outburst of rippling, golden hair down her back and + shoulders, violet eyes, capricious little mouth, and the same delicate + hands and feet he had remembered. He would have preferred a more + deliberate survey, but with a shake of her head and an hysteric little + laugh she only said, “Run, Clarence, run,” and again darted forward. + Arriving at the cross-street, they turned the corner, and halted + breathlessly. + </p> + <p> + “But you're not running away from school, Susy, are you?” said Clarence + anxiously. + </p> + <p> + “Only a little bit. Just enough to get ahead of the other girls,” she + said, rearranging her brown curls and tilted hat. “You see, Clarence,” she + condescended to explain, with a sudden assumption of older superiority, + “mother's here at the hotel all this week, and I'm allowed to go home + every night, like a day scholar. Only there's three or four other girls + that go out at the same time with me, and one of the Sisters, and to-day I + got ahead of 'em just to see YOU.” + </p> + <p> + “But” began Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it's all right; the other girls knew it, and helped me. They don't + start out for half an hour yet, and they'll say I've just run ahead, and + when they and the Sister get to the hotel I'll be there already—don't + you see?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Clarence dubiously. + </p> + <p> + “And we'll go to an ice-cream saloon now, shan't we? There's a nice one + near the hotel. I've got some money,” she added quickly, as Clarence + looked embarrassed. + </p> + <p> + “So have I,” said Clarence, with a faint accession of color. “Let's go!” + She had relinquished his hand to smooth out her frock, and they were + walking side by side at a more moderate pace. “But,” he continued, + clinging to his first idea with masculine persistence, and anxious to + assure his companion of his power, of his position, “I'm in the college, + and Father Sobriente, who knows your lady superior, is a good friend of + mine and gives me privileges; and—and—when he knows that you + and I used to play together—why, he'll fix it that we may see each + other whenever we want.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you silly!” said Susy. “WHAT!—when you're—” + </p> + <p> + “When I'm WHAT?” + </p> + <p> + The young girl shot a violet blue ray from under her broad hat. “Why—when + we're grown up now?” Then with a certain precision, “Why, they're VERY + particular about young gentlemen! Why, Clarence, if they suspected that + you and I were—” Another violet ray from under the hat completed + this unfinished sentence. + </p> + <p> + Pleased and yet confused, Clarence looked straight ahead with deepening + color. “Why,” continued Susy, “Mary Rogers, that was walking with me, + thought you were ever so old—and a distinguished Spaniard! And I,” + she said abruptly—“haven't I grown? Tell me, Clarence,” with her old + appealing impatience, “haven't I grown? Do tell me!” + </p> + <p> + “Very much,” said Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “And isn't this frock pretty—it's only my second best—but I've + a prettier one with lace all down in front; but isn't this one pretty, + Clarence, tell me?” + </p> + <p> + Clarence thought the frock and its fair owner perfection, and said so. + Whereat Susy, as if suddenly aware of the presence of passers-by, assumed + an air of severe propriety, dropped her hands by her side, and with an + affected conscientiousness walked on, a little further from Clarence's + side, until they reached the ice-cream saloon. + </p> + <p> + “Get a table near the back, Clarence,” she said, in a confidential + whisper, “where they can't see us—and strawberry, you know, for the + lemon and vanilla here are just horrid!” + </p> + <p> + They took their seats in a kind of rustic arbor in the rear of the shop, + which gave them the appearance of two youthful but somewhat over-dressed + and over-conscious shepherds. There was an interval of slight awkwardness, + which Susy endeavored to displace. “There has been,” she remarked, with + easy conversational lightness, “quite an excitement about our French + teacher being changed. The girls in our class think it most disgraceful.” + </p> + <p> + And this was all she could say after a separation of four years! Clarence + was desperate, but as yet idealess and voiceless. At last, with an effort + over his spoon, he gasped a floating recollection: “Do you still like + flapjacks, Susy?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes,” with a laugh, “but we don't have them now.” + </p> + <p> + “And Mose” (a black pointer, who used to yelp when Susy sang), “does he + still sing with you?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, HE'S been lost ever so long,” said Susy composedly; “but I've got a + Newfoundland and a spaniel and a black pony;” and here, with a rapid + inventory of her other personal effects, she drifted into some desultory + details of the devotion of her adopted parents, whom she now readily spoke + of as “papa” and “mamma,” with evidently no disturbing recollection of the + dead. From which it appeared that the Peytons were very rich, and, in + addition to their possessions in the lower country, owned a rancho in + Santa Clara and a house in San Francisco. Like all children, her strongest + impressions were the most recent. In the vain hope to lead her back to + this material yesterday, he said— + </p> + <p> + “You remember Jim Hooker?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, HE ran away, when you left. But just think of it! The other day, when + papa and I went into a big restaurant in San Francisco, who should be + there WAITING on the table—yes, Clarence, a real waiter—but + Jim Hooker! Papa spoke to him; but of course,” with a slight elevation of + her pretty chin, “I couldn't, you know; fancy—a waiter!” + </p> + <p> + The story of how Jim Hooker had personated him stopped short upon + Clarence's lips. He could not bring himself now to add that revelation to + the contempt of his small companion, which, in spite of its naivete, + somewhat grated on his sensibilities. + </p> + <p> + “Clarence,” she said, suddenly turning towards him mysteriously, and + indicating the shopman and his assistants, “I really believe these people + suspect us.” + </p> + <p> + “Of what?” said the practical Clarence. + </p> + <p> + “Don't be silly! Don't you see how they are staring?” + </p> + <p> + Clarence was really unable to detect the least curiosity on the part of + the shopman, or that any one exhibited the slightest concern in him or his + companion. But he felt a return of the embarrassed pleasure he was + conscious of a moment before. + </p> + <p> + “Then you're living with your father?” said Susy, changing the subject. + </p> + <p> + “You mean my COUSIN,” said Clarence, smiling. “You know my father died + long before I ever knew you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; that's what YOU used to say, Clarence, but papa says it isn't so.” + But seeing the boy's wondering eyes fixed on her with a troubled + expression, she added quickly, “Oh, then, he IS your cousin!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I think I ought to know,” said Clarence, with a smile, that was, + however, far from comfortable, and a quick return of his old unpleasant + recollections of the Peytons. “Why, I was brought to him by one of his + friends.” And Clarence gave a rapid boyish summary of his journey from + Sacramento, and Flynn's discovery of the letter addressed to Silsbee. But + before he had concluded he was conscious that Susy was by no means + interested in these details, nor in the least affected by the passing + allusion to her dead father and his relation to Clarence's misadventures. + With her rounded chin in her hand, she was slowly examining his face, with + a certain mischievous yet demure abstraction. “I tell you what, Clarence,” + she said, when he had finished, “you ought to make your cousin get you one + of those sombreros, and a nice gold-braided serape. They'd just suit you. + And then—then you could ride up and down the Alameda when we are + going by.” + </p> + <p> + “But I'm coming to see you at—at your house, and at the convent,” he + said eagerly. “Father Sobriente and my cousin will fix it all right.” + </p> + <p> + But Susy shook her head, with superior wisdom. “No; they must never know + our secret!—neither papa nor mamma, especially mamma. And they + mustn't know that we've met again—AFTER THESE YEARS!” It is + impossible to describe the deep significance which Susy's blue eyes gave + to this expression. After a pause she went on— + </p> + <p> + “No! We must never meet again, Clarence, unless Mary Rogers helps. She is + my best, my ONLIEST friend, and older than I; having had trouble herself, + and being expressly forbidden to see him again. You can speak to her about + Suzette—that's my name now; I was rechristened Suzette Alexandra + Peyton by mamma. And now, Clarence,” dropping her voice and glancing shyly + around the saloon, “you may kiss me just once under my hat, for good-by.” + She adroitly slanted her broad-brimmed hat towards the front of the shop, + and in its shadow advanced her fresh young cheek to Clarence. + </p> + <p> + Coloring and laughing, the boy pressed his lips to it twice. Then Susy + arose, with the faintest affectation of a sigh, shook out her skirt, drew + on her gloves with the greatest gravity, and saying, “Don't follow me + further than the door—they're coming now,” walked with supercilious + dignity past the preoccupied proprietor and waiters to the entrance. Here + she said, with marked civility, “Good-afternoon, Mr. Brant,” and tripped + away towards the hotel. Clarence lingered for a moment to look after the + lithe and elegant little figure, with its shining undulations of hair that + fell over the back and shoulders of her white frock like a golden mantle, + and then turned away in the opposite direction. + </p> + <p> + He walked home in a state, as it seemed to him, of absurd perplexity. + There were many reasons why his encounter with Susy should have been of + unmixed pleasure. She had remembered him of her own free will, and, in + spite of the change in her fortune, had made the first advances. Her + doubts about her future interviews had affected him but little; still + less, I fear, did he think of the other changes in her character and + disposition, for he was of that age when they added only a piquancy and + fascination to her—as of one who, in spite of her weakness of + nature, was still devoted to him! But he was painfully conscious that this + meeting had revived in him all the fears, vague uneasiness, and sense of + wrong that had haunted his first boyhood, and which he thought he had + buried at El Refugio four years ago. Susy's allusion to his father and the + reiteration of Peyton's skepticism awoke in his older intellect the first + feeling of suspicion that was compatible with his open nature. Was this + recurring reticence and mystery due to any act of his father's? But, + looking back upon it in after-years, he concluded that the incident of + that day was a premonition rather than a recollection. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI + </h2> + <p> + When he reached the college the Angelus had long since rung. In the + corridor he met one of the Fathers, who, instead of questioning him, + returned his salutation with a grave gentleness that struck him. He had + turned into Father Sobriente's quiet study with the intention of reporting + himself, when he was disturbed to find him in consultation with three or + four of the faculty, who seemed to be thrown into some slight confusion by + his entrance. Clarence was about to retire hurriedly when Father + Sobriente, breaking up the council with a significant glance at the + others, called him back. Confused and embarrassed, with a dread of + something impending, the boy tried to avert it by a hurried account of his + meeting with Susy, and his hopes of Father Sobriente's counsel and + assistance. Taking upon himself the idea of suggesting Susy's escapade, he + confessed the fault. The old man gazed into his frank eyes with a + thoughtful, half-compassionate smile. “I was just thinking of giving you a + holiday with—with Don Juan Robinson.” The unusual substitution of + this final title for the habitual “your cousin” struck Clarence uneasily. + “But we will speak of that later. Sit down, my son; I am not busy. We + shall talk a little. Father Pedro says you are getting on fluently with + your translations. That is excellent, my son, excellent.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence's face beamed with relief and pleasure. His vague fears began to + dissipate. + </p> + <p> + “And you translate even from dictation! Good! We have an hour to spare, + and you shall give to me a specimen of your skill. Eh? Good! I will walk + here and dictate to you in my poor English, and you shall sit there and + render it to me in your good Spanish. Eh? So we shall amuse and instruct + ourselves.” + </p> + <p> + Clarence smiled. These sporadic moments of instruction and admonition were + not unusual to the good Father. He cheerfully seated himself at the + Padre's table before a blank sheet of paper, with a pen in his hand. + Father Sobriente paced the apartment, with his usual heavy but noiseless + tread. To his surprise, the good priest, after an exhaustive pinch of + snuff, blew his nose, and began, in his most lugubrious style of pulpit + exhortation:— + </p> + <p> + “It has been written that the sins of the father shall be visited upon the + children, and the unthinking and worldly have sought refuge from this law + by declaring it harsh and cruel. Miserable and blind! For do we not see + that the wicked man, who in the pride of his power and vainglory is + willing to risk punishment to HIMSELF—and believes it to be courage—must + pause before the awful mandate that condemns an equal suffering to those + he loves, which he cannot withhold or suffer for? In the spectacle of + these innocents struggling against disgrace, perhaps disease, poverty, or + desertion, what avails his haughty, all-defying spirit? Let us imagine, + Clarence.” + </p> + <p> + “Sir?” said the literal Clarence, pausing in his exercise. + </p> + <p> + “I mean,” continued the priest, with a slight cough, “let the thoughtful + man picture a father: a desperate, self-willed man, who scorned the laws + of God and society—keeping only faith with a miserable subterfuge he + called 'honor,' and relying only on his own courage and his knowledge of + human weakness. Imagine him cruel and bloody—a gambler by + profession, an outlaw among men, an outcast from the Church; voluntarily + abandoning friends and family,—the wife he should have cherished, + the son he should have reared and educated—for the gratification of + his deadly passions. Yet imagine that man suddenly confronted with the + thought of that heritage of shame and disgust which he had brought upon + his innocent offspring—to whom he cannot give even his own desperate + recklessness to sustain its vicarious suffering. What must be the feelings + of a parent—” + </p> + <p> + “Father Sobriente,” said Clarence softly. + </p> + <p> + To the boy's surprise, scarcely had he spoken when the soft protecting + palm of the priest was already upon his shoulder, and the snuffy but + kindly upper lip, trembling with some strange emotion, close beside his + cheek. + </p> + <p> + “What is it, Clarence?” he said hurriedly. “Speak, my son, without fear! + You would ask—” + </p> + <p> + “I only wanted to know if 'padre' takes a masculine verb here,” replied + Clarence naively. + </p> + <p> + Father Sobriente blew his nose violently. “Truly—though used for + either gender, by the context masculine,” he responded gravely. “Ah,” he + added, leaning over Clarence, and scanning his work hastily, “Good, very + good! And now, possibly,” he continued, passing his hand like a damp + sponge over his heated brow, “we shall reverse our exercise. I shall + deliver to you in Spanish what you shall render back in English, eh? And—let + us consider—we shall make something more familiar and narrative, + eh?” + </p> + <p> + To this Clarence, somewhat bored by these present solemn abstractions, + assented gladly, and took up his pen. Father Sobriente, resuming his + noiseless pacing, began: + </p> + <p> + “On the fertile plains of Guadalajara lived a certain caballero, possessed + of flocks and lands, and a wife and son. But, being also possessed of a + fiery and roving nature, he did not value them as he did perilous + adventure, feats of arms, and sanguinary encounters. To this may be added + riotous excesses, gambling and drunkenness, which in time decreased his + patrimony, even as his rebellious and quarrelsome spirit had alienated his + family and neighbors. His wife, borne down by shame and sorrow, died while + her son was still an infant. In a fit of equal remorse and recklessness + the caballero married again within the year. But the new wife was of a + temper and bearing as bitter as her consort. Violent quarrels ensued + between them, ending in the husband abandoning his wife and son, and + leaving St. Louis—I should say Guadalajara—for ever. Joining + some adventurers in a foreign land, under an assumed name, he pursued his + reckless course, until, by one or two acts of outlawry, he made his return + to civilization impossible. The deserted wife and step-mother of his child + coldly accepted the situation, forbidding his name to be spoken again in + her presence, announced that he was dead, and kept the knowledge of his + existence from his own son, whom she placed under the charge of her + sister. But the sister managed to secretly communicate with the outlawed + father, and, under a pretext, arranged between them, of sending the boy to + another relation, actually dispatched the innocent child to his unworthy + parent. Perhaps stirred by remorse, the infamous man—” + </p> + <p> + “Stop!” said Clarence suddenly. + </p> + <p> + He had thrown down his pen, and was standing erect and rigid before the + Father. + </p> + <p> + “You are trying to tell me something, Father Sobriente,” he said, with an + effort. “Speak out, I implore you. I can stand anything but this mystery. + I am no longer a child. I have a right to know all. This that you are + telling me is no fable—I see it in your face, Father Sobriente; it + is the story of—of—” + </p> + <p> + “Your father, Clarence!” said the priest, in a trembling voice. + </p> + <p> + The boy drew back, with a white face. “My father!” he repeated. “Living, + or dead?” + </p> + <p> + “Living, when you first left your home,” said the old man hurriedly, + seizing Clarence's hand, “for it was he who in the name of your cousin + sent for you. Living—yes, while you were here, for it was he who for + the past three years stood in the shadow of this assumed cousin, Don Juan, + and at last sent you to this school. Living, Clarence, yes; but living + under a name and reputation that would have blasted you! And now DEAD—dead + in Mexico, shot as an insurgent and in a still desperate career! May God + have mercy on his soul!” + </p> + <p> + “Dead!” repeated Clarence, trembling, “only now?” + </p> + <p> + “The news of the insurrection and his fate came only an hour since,” + continued the Padre quickly; “his complicity with it and his identity were + known only to Don Juan. He would have spared you any knowledge of the + truth, even as this dead man would; but I and my brothers thought + otherwise. I have broken it to you badly, my son, but forgive me?” + </p> + <p> + An hysterical laugh broke from Clarence and the priest recoiled before + him. “Forgive YOU! What was this man to me?” he said, with boyish + vehemence. “He never LOVED me! He deserted me; he made my life a lie. He + never sought me, came near me, or stretched a hand to me that I could + take?” + </p> + <p> + “Hush! hush!” said the priest, with a horrified look, laying his huge hand + upon the boy's shoulder and bearing him down to his seat. “You know not + what you say. Think—think, Clarence! Was there none of all those who + have befriended you—who were kind to you in your wanderings—to + whom your heart turned unconsciously? Think, Clarence! You yourself have + spoken to me of such a one. Let your heart speak again, for his sake—for + the sake of the dead.” + </p> + <p> + A gentler light suffused the boy's eyes, and he started. Catching + convulsively at his companion's sleeve, he said in an eager, boyish + whisper, “There was one, a wicked, desperate man, whom they all feared—Flynn, + who brought me from the mines. Yes, I thought that he was my cousin's + loyal friend—more than all the rest; and I told him everything—all, + that I never told the man I thought my cousin, or anyone, or even you; and + I think, I think, Father, I liked him best of all. I thought since it was + wrong,” he continued, with a trembling smile, “for I was foolishly fond + even of the way the others feared him, he that I feared not, and who was + so kind to me. Yet he, too, left me without a word, and when I would have + followed him—” But the boy broke down, and buried his face in his + hands. + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” said Father Sobriente, with eager persistence, “that was his + foolish pride to spare you the knowledge of your kinship with one so + feared, and part of the blind and mistaken penance he had laid upon + himself. For even at that moment of your boyish indignation, he never was + so fond of you as then. Yes, my poor boy, this man, to whom God led your + wandering feet at Deadman's Gulch; the man who brought you here, and by + some secret hold—I know not what—on Don Juan's past, persuaded + him to assume to be your relation; this man Flynn, this Jackson Brant the + gambler, this Hamilton Brant the outlaw—WAS YOUR FATHER! Ah, yes! + Weep on, my son; each tear of love and forgiveness from thee hath + vicarious power to wash away his sin.” + </p> + <p> + With a single sweep of his protecting hand he drew Clarence towards his + breast, until the boy slowly sank upon his knees at his feet. Then, + lifting his eyes towards the ceiling, he said softly in an older tongue, + “And THOU, too, unhappy and perturbed spirit, rest!” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + It was nearly dawn when the good Padre wiped the last tears from + Clarence's clearer eyes. “And now, my son,” he said, with a gentle smile, + as he rose to his feet, “let us not forget the living. Although your + step-mother has, through her own act, no legal claim upon you, far be it + from me to indicate your attitude towards her. Enough that YOU are + independent.” He turned, and, opening a drawer in his secretaire, took out + a bank-book, and placed it in the hands of the wondering boy. + </p> + <p> + “It was HIS wish, Clarence, that even after his death you should never + have to prove your kinship to claim your rights. Taking advantage of the + boyish deposit you had left with Mr. Carden at the bank, with his + connivance and in your name he added to it, month by month and year by + year; Mr. Carden cheerfully accepting the trust and management of the + fund. The seed thus sown has produced a thousandfold, Clarence, beyond all + expectations. You are not only free, my son, but of yourself and in + whatever name you choose—your own master.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall keep my father's name,” said the boy simply. + </p> + <p> + “Amen!” said Father Sobriente. + </p> + <p> + Here closes the chronicle of Clarence Brant's boyhood. How he sustained + his name and independence in after years, and who, of those already + mentioned in these pages, helped him to make or mar it, may be a matter + for future record. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Waif of the Plains, by Bret Harte + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WAIF OF THE PLAINS *** + +***** This file should be named 2279-h.htm or 2279-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/7/2279/ + +Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Waif of the Plains + +Author: Bret Harte + +Release Date: May 13, 2006 [EBook #2279] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WAIF OF THE PLAINS *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson + + + + + +A WAIF OF THE PLAINS + +by Bret Harte + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +A long level of dull gray that further away became a faint blue, with +here and there darker patches that looked like water. At times an open +space, blackened and burnt in an irregular circle, with a shred of +newspaper, an old rag, or broken tin can lying in the ashes. Beyond +these always a low dark line that seemed to sink into the ground at +night, and rose again in the morning with the first light, but never +otherwise changed its height and distance. A sense of always moving with +some indefinite purpose, but of always returning at night to the same +place--with the same surroundings, the same people, the same bedclothes, +and the same awful black canopy dropped down from above. A chalky taste +of dust on the mouth and lips, a gritty sense of earth on the fingers, +and an all-pervading heat and smell of cattle. + +This was "The Great Plains" as they seemed to two children from the +hooded depth of an emigrant wagon, above the swaying heads of toiling +oxen, in the summer of 1852. + +It had appeared so to them for two weeks, always the same and always +without the least sense to them of wonder or monotony. When they viewed +it from the road, walking beside the wagon, there was only the team +itself added to the unvarying picture. One of the wagons bore on +its canvas hood the inscription, in large black letters, "Off to +California!" on the other "Root, Hog, or Die," but neither of them +awoke in the minds of the children the faintest idea of playfulness or +jocularity. Perhaps it was difficult to connect the serious men, who +occasionally walked beside them and seemed to grow more taciturn and +depressed as the day wore on, with this past effusive pleasantry. + +Yet the impressions of the two children differed slightly. The eldest, a +boy of eleven, was apparently new to the domestic habits and customs of +a life to which the younger, a girl of seven, was evidently native and +familiar. The food was coarse and less skillfully prepared than that to +which he had been accustomed. There was a certain freedom and roughness +in their intercourse, a simplicity that bordered almost on rudeness +in their domestic arrangements, and a speech that was at times almost +untranslatable to him. He slept in his clothes, wrapped up in blankets; +he was conscious that in the matter of cleanliness he was left to +himself to overcome the difficulties of finding water and towels. But it +is doubtful if in his youthfulness it affected him more than a novelty. +He ate and slept well, and found his life amusing. Only at times the +rudeness of his companions, or, worse, an indifference that made him +feel his dependency upon them, awoke a vague sense of some wrong that +had been done to him which while it was voiceless to all others and +even uneasily put aside by himself, was still always slumbering in his +childish consciousness. + +To the party he was known as an orphan put on the train at "St. Jo" by +some relative of his stepmother, to be delivered to another relative at +Sacramento. As his stepmother had not even taken leave of him, but had +entrusted his departure to the relative with whom he had been lately +living, it was considered as an act of "riddance," and accepted as such +by her party, and even vaguely acquiesced in by the boy himself. What +consideration had been offered for his passage he did not know; he only +remembered that he had been told "to make himself handy." This he had +done cheerfully, if at times with the unskillfulness of a novice; but it +was not a peculiar or a menial task in a company where all took part in +manual labor, and where existence seemed to him to bear the charm of +a prolonged picnic. Neither was he subjected to any difference of +affection or treatment from Mrs. Silsbee, the mother of his little +companion, and the wife of the leader of the train. Prematurely old, +of ill-health, and harassed with cares, she had no time to waste in +discriminating maternal tenderness for her daughter, but treated the +children with equal and unbiased querulousness. + +The rear wagon creaked, swayed, and rolled on slowly and heavily. The +hoofs of the draft-oxen, occasionally striking in the dust with a +dull report, sent little puffs like smoke on either side of the track. +Within, the children were playing "keeping store." The little girl, as +an opulent and extravagant customer, was purchasing of the boy, who sat +behind a counter improvised from a nail-keg and the front seat, most of +the available contents of the wagon, either under their own names or an +imaginary one as the moment suggested, and paying for them in the easy +and liberal currency of dried beans and bits of paper. Change was given +by the expeditious method of tearing the paper into smaller fragments. +The diminution of stock was remedied by buying the same article over +again under a different name. Nevertheless, in spite of these favorable +commercial conditions, the market seemed dull. + +"I can show you a fine quality of sheeting at four cents a yard, double +width," said the boy, rising and leaning on his fingers on the counter +as he had seen the shopmen do. "All wool and will wash," he added, with +easy gravity. + +"I can buy it cheaper at Jackson's," said the girl, with the intuitive +duplicity of her bargaining sex. + +"Very well," said the boy. "I won't play any more." + +"Who cares?" said the girl indifferently. The boy here promptly upset +the counter; the rolled-up blanket which had deceitfully represented the +desirable sheeting falling on the wagon floor. It apparently suggested +a new idea to the former salesman. "I say! let's play 'damaged stock.' +See, I'll tumble all the things down here right on top o' the others, +and sell 'em for less than cost." + +The girl looked up. The suggestion was bold, bad, and momentarily +attractive. But she only said "No," apparently from habit, picked up her +doll, and the boy clambered to the front of the wagon. The incomplete +episode terminated at once with that perfect forgetfulness, +indifference, and irresponsibility common to all young animals. If +either could have flown away or bounded off finally at that moment, they +would have done so with no more concern for preliminary detail than a +bird or squirrel. The wagon rolled steadily on. The boy could see that +one of the teamsters had climbed up on the tail-board of the preceding +vehicle. The other seemed to be walking in a dusty sleep. + +"Kla'uns," said the girl. + +The boy, without turning his head, responded, "Susy." + +"Wot are you going to be?" said the girl. + +"Goin' to be?" repeated Clarence. + +"When you is growed," explained Susy. + +Clarence hesitated. His settled determination had been to become a +pirate, merciless yet discriminating. But reading in a bethumbed "Guide +to the Plains" that morning of Fort Lamarie and Kit Carson, he had +decided upon the career of a "scout," as being more accessible and +requiring less water. Yet, out of compassion for Susy's possible +ignorance, he said neither, and responded with the American boy's modest +conventionality, "President." It was safe, required no embarrassing +description, and had been approved by benevolent old gentlemen with +their hands on his head. + +"I'm goin' to be a parson's wife," said Susy, "and keep hens, and +have things giv' to me. Baby clothes, and apples, and apple sass--and +melasses! and more baby clothes! and pork when you kill." + +She had thrown herself at the bottom of the wagon, with her back towards +him and her doll in her lap. He could see the curve of her curly head, +and beyond, her bare dimpled knees, which were raised, and over which +she was trying to fold the hem of her brief skirt. + +"I wouldn't be a President's wife," she said presently. + +"You couldn't!" + +"Could if I wanted to!" + +"Couldn't!" + +"Could now!" + +"Couldn't!" + +"Why?" + +Finding it difficult to explain his convictions of her ineligibility, +Clarence thought it equally crushing not to give any. There was a long +silence. It was very hot and dusty. The wagon scarcely seemed to move. +Clarence gazed at the vignette of the track behind them formed by +the hood of the rear. Presently he rose and walked past her to the +tail-board. "Goin' to get down," he said, putting his legs over. + +"Maw says 'No,'" said Susy. + +Clarence did not reply, but dropped to the ground beside the slowly +turning wheels. Without quickening his pace he could easily keep his +hand on the tail-board. + +"Kla'uns." + +He looked up. + +"Take me." + +She had already clapped on her sun-bonnet and was standing at the edge +of the tail-board, her little arms extended in such perfect confidence +of being caught that the boy could not resist. He caught her cleverly. +They halted a moment and let the lumbering vehicle move away from them, +as it swayed from side to side as if laboring in a heavy sea. They +remained motionless until it had reached nearly a hundred yards, and +then, with a sudden half-real, half-assumed, but altogether delightful +trepidation, ran forward and caught up with it again. This they repeated +two or three times until both themselves and the excitement were +exhausted, and they again plodded on hand in hand. Presently Clarence +uttered a cry. + +"My! Susy--look there!" + +The rear wagon had once more slipped away from them a considerable +distance. Between it and them, crossing its track, a most extraordinary +creature had halted. + +At first glance it seemed a dog--a discomfited, shameless, ownerless +outcast of streets and byways, rather than an honest stray of some +drover's train. It was so gaunt, so dusty, so greasy, so slouching, +and so lazy! But as they looked at it more intently they saw that the +grayish hair of its back had a bristly ridge, and there were great +poisonous-looking dark blotches on its flanks, and that the slouch of +its haunches was a peculiarity of its figure, and not the cowering of +fear. As it lifted its suspicious head towards them they could see that +its thin lips, too short to cover its white teeth, were curled in a +perpetual sneer. + +"Here, doggie!" said Clarence excitedly. "Good dog! Come." + +Susy burst into a triumphant laugh. "Et tain't no dog, silly; it's er +coyote." + +Clarence blushed. It wasn't the first time the pioneer's daughter had +shown her superior knowledge. He said quickly, to hide his discomfiture, +"I'll ketch him, any way; he's nothin' mor'n a ki yi." + +"Ye can't, tho," said Susy, shaking her sun-bonnet. "He's faster nor a +hoss!" + +Nevertheless, Clarence ran towards him, followed by Susy. When they had +come within twenty feet of him, the lazy creature, without apparently +the least effort, took two or three limping bounds to one side, and +remained at the same distance as before. They repeated this onset three +or four times with more or less excitement and hilarity, the animal +evading them to one side, but never actually retreating before them. +Finally, it occurred to them both that although they were not catching +him they were not driving him away. The consequences of that thought +were put into shape by Susy with round-eyed significance. + +"Kla'uns, he bites." + +Clarence picked up a hard sun-baked clod, and, running forward, threw +it at the coyote. It was a clever shot, and struck him on his slouching +haunches. He snapped and gave a short snarling yelp, and vanished. +Clarence returned with a victorious air to his companion. But she was +gazing intently in the opposite direction, and for the first time he +discovered that the coyote had been leading them half round a circle. + +"Kla'uns," said Susy, with a hysterical little laugh. + +"Well?" + +"The wagon's gone." + +Clarence started. It was true. Not only their wagon, but the whole train +of oxen and teamsters had utterly disappeared, vanishing as completely +as if they had been caught up in a whirlwind or engulfed in the earth! +Even the low cloud of dust that usually marked their distant course by +day was nowhere to be seen. The long level plain stretched before them +to the setting sun, without a sign or trace of moving life or animation. +That great blue crystal bowl, filled with dust and fire by day, with +stars and darkness by night, which had always seemed to drop its rim +round them everywhere and shut them in, seemed to them now to have +been lifted to let the train pass out, and then closed down upon them +forever. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Their first sensation was one of purely animal freedom. + +They looked at each other with sparkling eyes and long silent breaths. +But this spontaneous outburst of savage nature soon passed. Susy's +little hand presently reached forward and clutched Clarence's jacket. +The boy understood it, and said quickly,-- + +"They ain't gone far, and they'll stop as soon as they find us gone." + +They trotted on a little faster; the sun they had followed every day and +the fresh wagon tracks being their unfailing guides; the keen, cool air +of the plains, taking the place of that all-pervading dust and smell of +the perspiring oxen, invigorating them with its breath. + +"We ain't skeered a bit, are we?" said Susy. + +"What's there to be afraid of?" said Clarence scornfully. He said this +none the less strongly because he suddenly remembered that they had been +often left alone in the wagon for hours without being looked after, +and that their absence might not be noticed until the train stopped to +encamp at dusk, two hours later. They were not running very fast, yet +either they were more tired than they knew, or the air was thinner, for +they both seemed to breathe quickly. Suddenly Clarence stopped. + +"There they are now." + +He was pointing to a light cloud of dust in the far-off horizon, from +which the black hulk of a wagon emerged for a moment and was lost. But +even as they gazed the cloud seemed to sink like a fairy mirage to the +earth again, the whole train disappeared, and only the empty stretching +track returned. They did not know that this seemingly flat and level +plain was really undulatory, and that the vanished train had simply +dipped below their view on some further slope even as it had once +before. But they knew they were disappointed, and that disappointment +revealed to them the fact that they had concealed it from each other. +The girl was the first to succumb, and burst into a quick spasm of +angry tears. That single act of weakness called out the boy's pride and +strength. There was no longer an equality of suffering; he had become +her protector; he felt himself responsible for both. Considering her no +longer his equal, he was no longer frank with her. + +"There's nothin' to boo-boo for," he said, with a half-affected +brusqueness. "So quit, now! They'll stop in a minit, and send some one +back for us. Shouldn't wonder if they're doin' it now." + +But Susy, with feminine discrimination detecting the hollow ring in his +voice, here threw herself upon him and began to beat him violently with +her little fists. "They ain't! They ain't! They ain't. You know it! +How dare you?" Then, exhausted with her struggles, she suddenly threw +herself flat on the dry grass, shut her eyes tightly, and clutched at +the stubble. + +"Get up," said the boy, with a pale, determined face that seemed to have +got much older. + +"You leave me be," said Susy. + +"Do you want me to go away and leave you?" asked the boy. + +Susy opened one blue eye furtively in the secure depths of her +sun-bonnet, and gazed at his changed face. + +"Ye-e-s." + +He pretended to turn away, but really to look at the height of the +sinking sun. + +"Kla'uns!" + +"Well?" + +"Take me." + +She was holding up her hands. He lifted her gently in his arms, dropping +her head over his shoulder. "Now," he said cheerfully, "you keep a good +lookout that way, and I this, and we'll soon be there." + +The idea seemed to please her. After Clarence had stumbled on for a few +moments, she said, "Do you see anything, Kla'uns?" + +"Not yet." + +"No more don't I." This equality of perception apparently satisfied her. +Presently she lay more limp in his arms. She was asleep. + +The sun was sinking lower; it had already touched the edge of the +horizon, and was level with his dazzled and straining eyes. At times it +seemed to impede his eager search and task his vision. Haze and black +spots floated across the horizon, and round wafers, like duplicates of +the sun, glittered back from the dull surface of the plains. Then he +resolved to look no more until he had counted fifty, a hundred, +but always with the same result, the return of the empty, unending +plains--the disk growing redder as it neared the horizon, the fire it +seemed to kindle as it sank, but nothing more. + +Staggering under his burden, he tried to distract himself by fancying +how the discovery of their absence would be made. He heard the listless, +half-querulous discussion about the locality that regularly pervaded +the nightly camp. He heard the discontented voice of Jake Silsbee as he +halted beside the wagon, and said, "Come out o' that now, you two, and +mighty quick about it." He heard the command harshly repeated. He saw +the look of irritation on Silsbee's dusty, bearded face, that followed +his hurried glance into the empty wagon. He heard the query, "What's +gone o' them limbs now?" handed from wagon to wagon. He heard a few +oaths; Mrs. Silsbee's high rasping voice, abuse of himself, the hurried +and discontented detachment of a search party, Silsbee and one of the +hired men, and vociferation and blame. Blame always for himself, the +elder, who might have "known better!" A little fear, perhaps, but he +could not fancy either pity or commiseration. Perhaps the thought upheld +his pride; under the prospect of sympathy he might have broken down. + +At last he stumbled, and stopped to keep himself from falling forward on +his face. He could go no further; his breath was spent; he was dripping +with perspiration; his legs were trembling under him; there was +a roaring in his ears; round red disks of the sun were scattered +everywhere around him like spots of blood. To the right of the trail +there seemed to be a slight mound where he could rest awhile, and yet +keep his watchful survey of the horizon. But on reaching it he found +that it was only a tangle of taller mesquite grass, into which he sank +with his burden. Nevertheless, if useless as a point of vantage, it +offered a soft couch for Susy, who seemed to have fallen quite naturally +into her usual afternoon siesta, and in a measure it shielded her from a +cold breeze that had sprung up from the west. Utterly exhausted himself, +but not daring to yield to the torpor that seemed to be creeping over +him, Clarence half sat, half knelt down beside her, supporting himself +with one hand, and, partly hidden in the long grass, kept his straining +eyes fixed on the lonely track. + +The red disk was sinking lower. It seemed to have already crumbled away +a part of the distance with its eating fires. As it sank still lower, +it shot out long, luminous rays, diverging fan-like across the plain, +as if, in the boy's excited fancy, it too were searching for the lost +estrays. And as one long beam seemed to linger over his hiding-place, +he even thought that it might serve as a guide to Silsbee and the other +seekers, and was constrained to stagger to his feet, erect in its +light. But it soon sank, and with it Clarence dropped back again to his +crouching watch. Yet he knew that the daylight was still good for an +hour, and with the withdrawal of that mystic sunset glory objects became +even more distinct and sharply defined than at any other time. And with +the merciful sheathing of that flaming sword which seemed to have swayed +between him and the vanished train, his eyes already felt a blessed +relief. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +With the setting of the sun an ominous silence fell. He could hear the +low breathing of Susy, and even fancied he could hear the beating of his +own heart in that oppressive hush of all nature. For the day's march had +always been accompanied by the monotonous creaking of wheels and axles, +and even the quiet of the night encampment had been always more or less +broken by the movement of unquiet sleepers on the wagon beds, or the +breathing of the cattle. But here there was neither sound nor motion. +Susy's prattle, and even the sound of his own voice, would have broken +the benumbing spell, but it was a part of his growing self-denial now +that he refrained from waking her even by a whisper. She would awaken +soon enough to thirst and hunger, perhaps, and then what was he to do? +If that looked-for help would only come now--while she still slept. For +it was part of his boyish fancy that if he could deliver her asleep and +undemonstrative of fear and suffering, he would be less blameful, and +she less mindful of her trouble. If it did not come--but he would not +think of that yet! If she was thirsty meantime--well, it might rain, and +there was always the dew which they used to brush off the morning grass; +he would take off his shirt and catch it in that, like a shipwrecked +mariner. It would be funny, and make her laugh. For himself he would not +laugh; he felt he was getting very old and grown up in this loneliness. + +It was getting darker--they should be looking into the wagons now. A new +doubt began to assail him. Ought he not, now that he was rested, make +the most of the remaining moments of daylight, and before the glow faded +from the west, when he would no longer have any bearings to guide him? +But there was always the risk of waking her!--to what? The fear of being +confronted again with HER fear and of being unable to pacify her, at +last decided him to remain. But he crept softly through the grass, and +in the dust of the track traced the four points of the compass, as he +could still determine them by the sunset light, with a large printed W +to indicate the west! This boyish contrivance particularly pleased him. +If he had only had a pole, a stick, or even a twig, on which to tie his +handkerchief and erect it above the clump of mesquite as a signal to the +searchers in case they should be overcome by fatigue or sleep, he would +have been happy. But the plain was barren of brush or timber; he did +not dream that this omission and the very unobtrusiveness of his +hiding-place would be his salvation from a greater danger. + +With the coming darkness the wind arose and swept the plain with a +long-drawn sigh. This increased to a murmur, till presently the whole +expanse--before sunk in awful silence--seemed to awake with vague +complaints, incessant sounds, and low moanings. At times he thought he +heard the halloaing of distant voices, at times it seemed as a whisper +in his own ear. In the silence that followed each blast he fancied he +could detect the creaking of the wagon, the dull thud of the oxen's +hoofs, or broken fragments of speech, blown and scattered even as he +strained his ears to listen by the next gust. This tension of the ear +began to confuse his brain, as his eyes had been previously dazzled by +the sunlight, and a strange torpor began to steal over his faculties. +Once or twice his head dropped. + +He awoke with a start. A moving figure had suddenly uplifted itself +between him and the horizon! It was not twenty yards away, so clearly +outlined against the still luminous sky that it seemed even nearer. +A human figure, but so disheveled, so fantastic, and yet so mean and +puerile in its extravagance, that it seemed the outcome of a childish +dream. It was a mounted figure, but so ludicrously disproportionate to +the pony it bestrode, whose slim legs were stiffly buried in the dust in +a breathless halt, that it might have been a straggler from some vulgar +wandering circus. A tall hat, crownless and rimless, a castaway of +civilization, surmounted by a turkey's feather, was on its head; over +its shoulders hung a dirty tattered blanket that scarcely covered the +two painted legs which seemed clothed in soiled yellow hose. In one hand +it held a gun; the other was bent above its eyes in eager scrutiny of +some distant point beyond and east of the spot where the children lay +concealed. Presently, with a dozen quick noiseless strides of the pony's +legs, the apparition moved to the right, its gaze still fixed on that +mysterious part of the horizon. There was no mistaking it now! The +painted Hebraic face, the large curved nose, the bony cheek, the broad +mouth, the shadowed eyes, the straight long matted locks! It was an +Indian! Not the picturesque creature of Clarence's imagination, but +still an Indian! The boy was uneasy, suspicious, antagonistic, but +not afraid. He looked at the heavy animal face with the superiority of +intelligence, at the half-naked figure with the conscious supremacy of +dress, at the lower individuality with the contempt of a higher race. +Yet a moment after, when the figure wheeled and disappeared towards the +undulating west, a strange chill crept over him. Yet he did not know +that in this puerile phantom and painted pigmy the awful majesty of +Death had passed him by. + +"Mamma!" + +It was Susy's voice, struggling into consciousness. Perhaps she had been +instinctively conscious of the boy's sudden fears. + +"Hush!" + +He had just turned to the objective point of the Indian's gaze. There +WAS something! A dark line was moving along with the gathering darkness. +For a moment he hardly dared to voice his thoughts even to himself. +It was a following train overtaking them from the rear! And from the +rapidity of its movements a train with horses, hurrying forward to +evening camp. He had never dreamt of help from that quarter. This +was what the Indian's keen eyes had been watching, and why he had so +precipitately fled. + +The strange train was now coming up at a round trot. It was evidently +well appointed with five or six large wagons and several outriders. In +half an hour it would be here. Yet he refrained from waking Susy, who +had fallen asleep again; his old superstition of securing her safety +first being still uppermost. He took off his jacket to cover her +shoulders, and rearranged her nest. Then he glanced again at the coming +train. But for some unaccountable reason it had changed its direction, +and instead of following the track that should have brought it to his +side it had turned off to the left! In ten minutes it would pass abreast +of him a mile and a half away! If he woke Susy now, he knew she would be +helpless in her terror, and he could not carry her half that distance. +He might rush to the train himself and return with help, but he would +never leave her alone--in the darkness. Never! If she woke she would die +of fright, perhaps, or wander blindly and aimlessly away. No! The train +would pass and with it that hope of rescue. Something was in his throat, +but he gulped it down and was quiet again albeit he shivered in the +night wind. + +The train was nearly abreast of him now. He ran out of the tall grass, +waving his straw hat above his head in the faint hope of attracting +attention. But he did not go far, for he found to his alarm that when +he turned back again the clump of mesquite was scarcely distinguishable +from the rest of the plain. This settled all question of his going. Even +if he reached the train and returned with some one, how would he ever +find her again in this desolate expanse? + +He watched the train slowly pass--still mechanically, almost hopelessly, +waving his hat as he ran up and down before the mesquite, as if he were +waving a last farewell to his departing hope. Suddenly it appeared to +him that three of the outriders who were preceding the first wagon had +changed their shape. They were no longer sharp, oblong, black blocks +against the horizon but had become at first blurred and indistinct, +then taller and narrower, until at last they stood out like exclamation +points against the sky. He continued to wave his hat, they continued to +grow taller and narrower. He understood it now--the three transformed +blocks were the outriders coming towards him. + +This is what he had seen-- + +[Drawing of three black blocks] + +This is what he saw now-- + +! ! ! + +He ran back to Susy to see if she still slept, for his foolish desire +to have her saved unconsciously was stronger than ever now that safety +seemed so near. She was still sleeping, although she had moved slightly. +He ran to the front again. + +The outriders had apparently halted. What were they doing? Why wouldn't +they come on? + +Suddenly a blinding flash of light seemed to burst from one of them. +Away over his head something whistled like a rushing bird, and sped +off invisible. They had fired a gun; they were signaling to +him--Clarence--like a grown-up man. He would have given his life at that +moment to have had a gun. But he could only wave his hat frantically. + +One of the figures here bore away and impetuously darted forward again. +He was coming nearer, powerful, gigantic, formidable, as he loomed +through the darkness. All at once he threw up his arm with a wild +gesture to the others; and his voice, manly, frank, and assuring, came +ringing before him. + +"Hold up! Good God! It's no Injun--it's a child!" + +In another moment he had reined up beside Clarence and leaned over him, +bearded, handsome, powerful and protecting. + +"Hallo! What's all this? What are you doing here?" + +"Lost from Mr. Silsbee's train," said Clarence, pointing to the darkened +west. + +"Lost?--how long?" + +"About three hours. I thought they'd come back for us," said Clarence +apologetically to this big, kindly man. + +"And you kalkilated to wait here for 'em?" + +"Yes, yes--I did--till I saw you." + +"Then why in thunder didn't you light out straight for us, instead of +hanging round here and drawing us out?" + +The boy hung his head. He knew his reasons were unchanged, but all at +once they seemed very foolish and unmanly to speak out. + +"Only that we were on the keen jump for Injins," continued the stranger, +"we wouldn't have seen you at all, and might hev shot you when we did. +What possessed you to stay here?" + +The boy was still silent. "Kla'uns," said a faint, sleepy voice from the +mesquite, "take me." The rifle-shot had awakened Susy. + +The stranger turned quickly towards the sound. Clarence started and +recalled himself. "There," he said bitterly, "you've done it now, you've +wakened her! THAT'S why I stayed. I couldn't carry her over there to +you. I couldn't let her walk, for she'd be frightened. I wouldn't wake +her up, for she'd be frightened, and I mightn't find her again. There!" +He had made up his mind to be abused, but he was reckless now that she +was safe. + +The men glanced at each other. "Then," said the spokesman quietly, "you +didn't strike out for us on account of your sister?" + +"She ain't my sister," said Clarence quickly. "She's a little girl. +She's Mrs. Silsbee's little girl. We were in the wagon and got down. +It's my fault. I helped her down." + +The three men reined their horses closely round him, leaning forward +from their saddles, with their hands on their knees and their heads on +one side. "Then," said the spokesman gravely, "you just reckoned to stay +here, old man, and take your chances with her rather than run the risk +of frightening or leaving her--though it was your one chance of life!" + +"Yes," said the boy, scornful of this feeble, grown-up repetition. + +"Come here." + +The boy came doggedly forward. The man pushed back the well-worn straw +hat from Clarence's forehead and looked into his lowering face. With his +hand still on the boy's head he turned him round to the others, and said +quietly,-- + +"Suthin of a pup, eh?" + +"You bet," they responded. + +The voice was not unkindly, although the speaker had thrown his lower +jaw forward as if to pronounce the word "pup" with a humorous suggestion +of a mastiff. Before Clarence could make up his mind if the epithet +was insulting or not, the man put out his stirruped foot, and, with a +gesture of invitation, said, "Jump up." + +"But Susy," said Clarence, drawing back. + +"Look; she's making up to Phil already." + +Clarence looked. Susy had crawled out of the mesquite, and with her +sun-bonnet hanging down her back, her curls tossed around her face, +still flushed with sleep, and Clarence's jacket over her shoulders, was +gazing up with grave satisfaction in the laughing eyes of one of the men +who was with outstretched hands bending over her. Could he believe his +senses? The terror-stricken, willful, unmanageable Susy, whom he would +have translated unconsciously to safety without this terrible ordeal of +being awakened to the loss of her home and parents at any sacrifice +to himself--this ingenuous infant was absolutely throwing herself with +every appearance of forgetfulness into the arms of the first new-comer! +Yet his perception of this fact was accompanied by no sense of +ingratitude. For her sake he felt relieved, and with a boyish smile +of satisfaction and encouragement vaulted into the saddle before the +stranger. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +The dash forward to the train, securely held in the saddle by the arms +of their deliverers, was a secret joy to the children that seemed only +too quickly over. The resistless gallop of the fiery mustangs, the rush +of the night wind, the gathering darkness in which the distant wagons, +now halted and facing them, looked like domed huts in the horizon--all +these seemed but a delightful and fitting climax to the events of the +day. In the sublime forgetfulness of youth, all they had gone through +had left no embarrassing record behind it; they were willing to repeat +their experiences on the morrow, confident of some equally happy end. +And when Clarence, timidly reaching his hand towards the horse-hair +reins lightly held by his companion, had them playfully yielded up to +him by that hold and confident rider, the boy felt himself indeed a man. + +But a greater surprise was in store for them. As they neared the wagons, +now formed into a circle with a certain degree of military formality, +they could see that the appointments of the strange party were larger +and more liberal than their own, or indeed anything they had ever known +of the kind. Forty or fifty horses were tethered within the circle, and +the camp fires were already blazing. Before one of them a large tent +was erected, and through the parted flaps could be seen a table actually +spread with a white cloth. Was it a school feast, or was this their +ordinary household arrangement? Clarence and Susy thought of their own +dinners, usually laid on bare boards beneath the sky, or under the low +hood of the wagon in rainy weather, and marveled. And when they finally +halted, and were lifted from their horses, and passed one wagon fitted +up as a bedroom and another as a kitchen, they could only nudge each +other with silent appreciation. But here again the difference already +noted in the quality of the sensations of the two children was +observable. Both were equally and agreeably surprised. But Susy's wonder +was merely the sense of novelty and inexperience, and a slight disbelief +in the actual necessity of what she saw; while Clarence, whether from +some previous general experience or peculiar temperament, had the +conviction that what he saw here was the usual custom, and what he had +known with the Silsbees was the novelty. The feeling was attended with a +slight sense of wounded pride for Susy, as if her enthusiasm had exposed +her to ridicule. + +The man who had carried him, and seemed to be the head of the party, had +already preceded them to the tent, and presently reappeared with a lady +with whom he had exchanged a dozen hurried words. They seemed to refer +to him and Susy; but Clarence was too much preoccupied with the fact +that the lady was pretty, that her clothes were neat and thoroughly +clean, that her hair was tidy and not rumpled, and that, although she +wore an apron, it was as clean as her gown, and even had ribbons on it, +to listen to what was said. And when she ran eagerly forward, and with +a fascinating smile lifted the astonished Susy in her arms, Clarence, in +his delight for his young charge, quite forgot that she had not noticed +him. The bearded man, who seemed to be the lady's husband, evidently +pointed out the omission, with some additions that Clarence could not +catch; for after saying, with a pretty pout, "Well, why shouldn't he?" +she came forward with the same dazzling smile, and laid her small and +clean white hand upon his shoulder. + +"And so you took good care of the dear little thing? She's such an +angel, isn't she? and you must love her very much." + +Clarence colored with delight. It was true it had never occurred to him +to look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant, and I fear he was +just then more struck with the fair complimenter than the compliment +to his companion, but he was pleased for her sake. He was not yet +old enough to be conscious of the sex's belief in its irresistible +domination over mankind at all ages, and that Johnny in his check apron +would be always a hopeless conquest of Jeannette in her pinafore, and +that he ought to have been in love with Susy. + +Howbeit, the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her own +wagon, to reappear later, washed, curled, and beribboned like a new +doll, and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another of the +party. + +"Well, my boy, you haven't told me your name yet." + +"Clarence, sir." + +"So Susy calls you, but what else?" + +"Clarence Brant." + +"Any relation to Colonel Brant?" asked the second man carelessly. + +"He was my father," said the boy, brightening under this faint prospect +of recognition in his loneliness. + +The two men glanced at each other. The leader looked at the boy +curiously, and said,-- + +"Are you the son of Colonel Brant, of Louisville?" + +"Yes, sir," said the boy, with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his +heart. "But he's dead now," he added finally. + +"Ah, when did he die?" said the man quickly. + +"Oh, a long time ago. I don't remember him much. I was very little," +said the boy, half apologetically. + +"Ah, you don't remember him?" + +"No," said Clarence shortly. He was beginning to fall back upon that +certain dogged repetition which in sensitive children arises from their +hopeless inability to express their deeper feelings. He also had an +instinctive consciousness that this want of a knowledge of his father +was part of that vague wrong that had been done him. It did not help his +uneasiness that he could see that one of the two men, who turned away +with a half-laugh, misunderstood or did not believe him. + +"How did you come with the Silsbees?" asked the first man. + +Clarence repeated mechanically, with a child's distaste of practical +details, how he had lived with an aunt at St. Jo, and how his stepmother +had procured his passage with the Silsbees to California, where he was +to meet his cousin. All this with a lack of interest and abstraction +that he was miserably conscious told against him, but he was yet +helpless to resist. + +The first man remained thoughtful, and then glanced at Clarence's +sunburnt hands. Presently his large, good-humored smile returned. + +"Well, I suppose you are hungry?" + +"Yes," said Clarence shyly. "But--" + +"But what?" + +"I should like to wash myself a little," he returned hesitatingly, +thinking of the clean tent, the clean lady, and Susy's ribbons. + +"Certainly," said his friend, with a pleased look. "Come with me." +Instead of leading Clarence to the battered tin basin and bar of yellow +soap which had formed the toilet service of the Silsbee party, he +brought the boy into one of the wagons, where there was a washstand, a +china basin, and a cake of scented soap. Standing beside Clarence, he +watched him perform his ablutions with an approving air which rather +embarrassed his protege. Presently he said, almost abruptly,-- + +"Do you remember your father's house at Louisville?" + +"Yes, sir; but it was a long time ago." + +Clarence remembered it as being very different from his home at St. +Joseph's, but from some innate feeling of diffidence he would have +shrunk from describing it in that way. He, however, said he thought it +was a large house. Yet the modest answer only made his new friend look +at him the more keenly. + +"Your father was Colonel Hamilton Brant, of Louisville, wasn't he?" he +said, half-confidentially. + +"Yes," said Clarence hopelessly. + +"Well," said his friend cheerfully, as if dismissing an abstruse problem +from his mind, "Let's go to supper." + +When they reached the tent again, Clarence noticed that the supper was +laid only for his host and wife and the second man--who was familiarly +called "Harry," but who spoke of the former always as "Mr. and Mrs. +Peyton"--while the remainder of the party, a dozen men, were at a second +camp fire, and evidently enjoying themselves in a picturesque fashion. +Had the boy been allowed to choose, he would have joined them, partly +because it seemed more "manly," and partly that he dreaded a renewal of +the questioning. + +But here, Susy, sitting bolt upright on an extemporized high stool, +happily diverted his attention by pointing to the empty chair beside +her. + +"Kla'uns," she said suddenly, with her usual clear and appalling +frankness, "they is chickens, and hamanaigs, and hot biksquits, and +lasses, and Mister Peyton says I kin have 'em all." + +Clarence, who had begun suddenly to feel that he was responsible for +Susy's deportment and was balefully conscious that she was holding her +plated fork in her chubby fist by its middle, and, from his previous +knowledge of her, was likely at any moment to plunge it into the dish +before her, said softly,-- + +"Hush!" + +"Yes, you shall, dear," said Mrs. Peyton, with tenderly beaming +assurance to Susy and a half-reproachful glance at the boy. "Eat what +you like, darling." + +"It's a fork," whispered the still uneasy Clarence, as Susy now seemed +inclined to stir her bowl of milk with it. + +"'Tain't, now, Kla'uns, it's only a split spoon," said Susy. + +But Mrs. Peyton, in her rapt admiration, took small note of these +irregularities, plying the child with food, forgetting her own meal, and +only stopping at times to lift back the forward straying curls on Susy's +shoulders. Mr. Peyton looked on gravely and contentedly. Suddenly the +eyes of husband and wife met. + +"She'd have been nearly as old as this, John," said Mrs. Peyton, in a +faint voice. + +John Peyton nodded without speaking, and turned his eyes away into the +gathering darkness. The man "Harry" also looked abstractedly at his +plate, as if he was saying grace. Clarence wondered who "she" was, and +why two little tears dropped from Mrs. Peyton's lashes into Susy's milk, +and whether Susy might not violently object to it. He did not know until +later that the Peytons had lost their only child, and Susy comfortably +drained this mingled cup of a mother's grief and tenderness without +suspicion. + +"I suppose we'll come up with their train early tomorrow, if some of +them don't find us to-night," said Mrs. Peyton, with a long sigh and a +regretful glance at Susy. "Perhaps we might travel together for a little +while," she added timidly. + +Harry laughed, and Mr. Peyton replied gravely, "I am afraid we wouldn't +travel with them, even for company's sake; and," he added, in a lower +and graver voice, "it's rather odd the search party hasn't come upon +us yet, though I'm keeping Pete and Hank patrolling the trail to meet +them." + +"It's heartless--so it is!" said Mrs. Peyton, with sudden indignation. +"It would be all very well if it was only this boy, who can take care of +himself; but to be so careless of a mere baby like this, it's shameful!" + +For the first time Clarence tasted the cruelty of discrimination. All +the more keenly that he was beginning to worship, after his boyish +fashion, this sweet-faced, clean, and tender-hearted woman. Perhaps Mr. +Peyton noticed it, for he came quietly to his aid. + +"Maybe they knew better than we in what careful hands they had left +her," he said, with a cheerful nod towards Clarence. "And, again, they +may have been fooled as we were by Injin signs and left the straight +road." + +This suggestion instantly recalled to Clarence his vision in the +mesquite. Should he dare tell them? Would they believe him, or would +they laugh at him before her? He hesitated, and at last resolved to tell +it privately to the husband. When the meal was ended, and he was made +happy by Mrs. Peyton's laughing acceptance of his offer to help her +clear the table and wash the dishes, they all gathered comfortably in +front of the tent before the large camp fire. At the other fire the rest +of the party were playing cards and laughing, but Clarence no longer +cared to join them. He was quite tranquil in the maternal propinquity +of his hostess, albeit a little uneasy as to his reticence about the +Indian. + +"Kla'uns," said Susy, relieving a momentary pause, in her highest voice, +"knows how to speak. Speak, Kla'uns!" + +It appearing from Clarence's blushing explanation that this gift was not +the ordinary faculty of speech, but a capacity to recite verse, he was +politely pressed by the company for a performance. + +"Speak 'em, Kla'uns, the boy what stood unto the burnin' deck, and said, +'The boy, oh, where was he?'" said Susy, comfortably lying down on Mrs. +Peyton's lap, and contemplating her bare knees in the air. "It's 'bout +a boy," she added confidentially to Mrs. Peyton, "whose father wouldn't +never, never stay with him on a burnin' ship, though he said, 'Stay, +father, stay,' ever so much." + +With this clear, lucid, and perfectly satisfactory explanation of +Mrs. Hemans's "Casabianca," Clarence began. Unfortunately, his actual +rendering of this popular school performance was more an effort of +memory than anything else, and was illustrated by those wooden gestures +which a Western schoolmaster had taught him. He described the flames +that "roared around him," by indicating with his hand a perfect circle, +of which he was the axis; he adjured his father, the late Admiral +Casabianca, by clasping his hands before his chin, as if wanting to +be manacled in an attitude which he was miserably conscious was unlike +anything he himself had ever felt or seen before; he described that +father "faint in death below," and "the flag on high," with one +single motion. Yet something that the verses had kindled in his +active imagination, perhaps, rather than an illustration of the verses +themselves, at times brightened his gray eyes, became tremulous in +his youthful voice, and I fear occasionally incoherent on his lips. At +times, when not conscious of his affected art, the plain and all upon it +seemed to him to slip away into the night, the blazing camp fire at +his feet to wrap him in a fateful glory, and a vague devotion to +something--he knew not what--so possessed him that he communicated it, +and probably some of his own youthful delight in extravagant voice, to +his hearers, until, when he ceased with a glowing face, he was surprised +to find that the card players had deserted their camp fires and gathered +round the tent. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +"You didn't say 'Stay, father, stay,' enough, Kla'uns," said Susy +critically. Then suddenly starting upright in Mrs. Peyton's lap, she +continued rapidly, "I kin dance. And sing. I kin dance High Jambooree." + +"What's High Jambooree, dear?" asked Mrs. Peyton. + +"You'll see. Lemme down." And Susy slipped to the ground. + +The dance of High Jambooree, evidently of remote mystical African +origin, appeared to consist of three small skips to the right and +then to the left, accompanied by the holding up of very short skirts, +incessant "teetering" on the toes of small feet, the exhibition of +much bare knee and stocking, and a gurgling accompaniment of childish +laughter. Vehemently applauded, it left the little performer breathless, +but invincible and ready for fresh conquest. + +"I kin sing, too," she gasped hurriedly, as if unwilling that the +applause should lapse. "I kin sing. Oh, dear! Kla'uns," piteously, "WHAT +is it I sing?" + +"Ben Bolt," suggested Clarence. + +"Oh, yes. Oh, don't you remember sweet Alers Ben Bolt?" began Susy, in +the same breath and the wrong key. "Sweet Alers, with hair so brown, who +wept with delight when you giv'd her a smile, and--" with knitted brows +and appealing recitative, "what's er rest of it, Kla'uns?" + +"Who trembled with fear at your frown?" prompted Clarence. + +"Who trembled with fear at my frown?" shrilled Susy. "I forget er rest. +Wait! I kin sing--" + +"Praise God," suggested Clarence. + +"Yes." Here Susy, a regular attendant in camp and prayer-meetings, was +on firmer ground. + +Promptly lifting her high treble, yet with a certain acquired +deliberation, she began, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." At +the end of the second line the whispering and laughing ceased. A deep +voice to the right, that of the champion poker player, suddenly rose +on the swell of the third line. He was instantly followed by a dozen +ringing voices, and by the time the last line was reached it was given +with a full chorus, in which the dull chant of teamsters and drivers +mingled with the soprano of Mrs. Peyton and Susy's childish treble. +Again and again it was repeated, with forgetful eyes and abstracted +faces, rising and falling with the night wind and the leap and gleam of +the camp fires, and fading again like them in the immeasurable mystery +of the darkened plain. + +In the deep and embarrassing silence that followed, at last the party +hesitatingly broke up, Mrs. Peyton retiring with Susy after offering +the child to Clarence for a perfunctory "good-night" kiss, an unusual +proceeding, which somewhat astonished them both--and Clarence found +himself near Mr. Peyton. + +"I think," said Clarence timidly, "I saw an Injin to-day." + +Mr. Peyton bent down towards him. "An Injin--where?" he asked quickly, +with the same look of doubting interrogatory with which he had received +Clarence's name and parentage. + +The boy for a moment regretted having spoken. But with his old +doggedness he particularized his statement. Fortunately, being gifted +with a keen perception, he was able to describe the stranger accurately, +and to impart with his description that contempt for its subject +which he had felt, and which to his frontier auditor established its +truthfulness. Peyton turned abruptly away, but presently returned with +Harry and another man. + +"You are sure of this?" said Peyton, half-encouragingly. + +"Yes, sir." + +"As sure as you are that your father is Colonel Brant and is dead?" said +Harry, with a light laugh. + +Tears sprang into the boy's lowering eyes. "I don't lie," he said +doggedly. + +"I believe you, Clarence," said Peyton quietly. "But why didn't you say +it before?" + +"I didn't like to say it before Susy and--her!" stammered the boy. + +"Her?" + +"Yes, sir--Mrs. Peyton," said Clarence blushingly. + +"Oh," said Harry sarcastically, "how blessed polite we are!" + +"That'll do. Let up on him, will you?" said Peyton, roughly, to his +subordinate. "The boy knows what he's about. But," he continued, +addressing Clarence, "how was it the Injin didn't see you?" + +"I was very still on account of not waking Susy," said Clarence, "and--" +He hesitated. + +"And what?" + +"He seemed more keen watching what YOU were doing," said the boy boldly. + +"That's so," broke in the second man, who happened to be experienced, +"and as he was to wind'ard o' the boy he was off HIS scent and bearings. +He was one of their rear scouts; the rest o' them's ahead crossing our +track to cut us off. Ye didn't see anything else?" + +"I saw a coyote first," said Clarence, greatly encouraged. + +"Hold on!" said the expert, as Harry turned away with a sneer. "That's +a sign, too. Wolf don't go where wolf hez been, and coyote don't foller +Injins--there's no pickin's! How long afore did you see the coyote?" + +"Just after we left the wagon," said Clarence. + +"That's it," said the man, thoughtfully. "He was driven on ahead, or +hanging on their flanks. These Injins are betwixt us and that ar train, +or following it." + +Peyton made a hurried gesture of warning, as if reminding the speaker +of Clarence's presence--a gesture which the boy noticed and wondered +at. Then the conversation of the three men took a lower tone, although +Clarence distinctly heard the concluding opinion of the expert. + +"It ain't no good now, Mr. Peyton, and you'd be only exposing yourself +on their ground by breakin' camp agin to-night. And you don't know +that it ain't US they're watchin'. You see, if we hadn't turned off the +straight road when we got that first scare from these yer lost children, +we might hev gone on and walked plump into some cursed trap of those +devils. To my mind, we're just in nigger luck, and with a good watch and +my patrol we're all right to be fixed where we be till daylight." + +Mr. Peyton presently turned away, taking Clarence with him. "As we'll +be up early and on the track of your train to-morrow, my boy, you had +better turn in now. I've put you up in my wagon, and as I expect to be +in the saddle most of the night, I reckon I won't trouble you much." He +led the way to a second wagon--drawn up beside the one where Susy and +Mrs. Peyton had retired--which Clarence was surprised to find fitted +with a writing table and desk, a chair, and even a bookshelf containing +some volumes. A long locker, fitted like a lounge, had been made up as +a couch for him, with the unwonted luxury of clean white sheets and +pillow-cases. A soft matting covered the floor of the heavy wagon bed, +which, Mr. Peyton explained, was hung on centre springs to prevent +jarring. The sides and roof of the vehicle were of lightly paneled wood, +instead of the usual hooked canvas frame of the ordinary emigrant wagon, +and fitted with a glazed door and movable window for light and air. +Clarence wondered why the big, powerful man, who seemed at home on +horseback, should ever care to sit in this office like a merchant or +a lawyer; and if this train sold things to the other trains, or took +goods, like the peddlers, to towns on the route; but there seemed to be +nothing to sell, and the other wagons were filled with only the goods +required by the party. He would have liked to ask Mr. Peyton who HE was, +and have questioned HIM as freely as he himself had been questioned. But +as the average adult man never takes into consideration the injustice +of denying to the natural and even necessary curiosity of childhood +that questioning which he himself is so apt to assume without right, and +almost always without delicacy, Clarence had no recourse. Yet the +boy, like all children, was conscious that if he had been afterwards +questioned about THIS inexplicable experience, he would have been +blamed for his ignorance concerning it. Left to himself presently, and +ensconced between the sheets, he lay for some moments staring about him. +The unwonted comfort of his couch, so different from the stuffy blanket +in the hard wagon bed which he had shared with one of the teamsters, and +the novelty, order, and cleanliness of his surroundings, while they were +grateful to his instincts, began in some vague way to depress him. +To his loyal nature it seemed a tacit infidelity to his former rough +companions to be lying here; he had a dim idea that he had lost that +independence which equal discomfort and equal pleasure among them had +given him. There seemed a sense of servitude in accepting this luxury +which was not his. This set him endeavoring to remember something of +his father's house, of the large rooms, drafty staircases, and far-off +ceilings, and the cold formality of a life that seemed made up of +strange faces; some stranger--his parents; some kinder--the servants; +particularly the black nurse who had him in charge. Why did Mr. Peyton +ask him about it? Why, if it were so important to strangers, had not +his mother told him more of it? And why was she not like this good woman +with the gentle voice who was so kind to--to Susy? And what did they +mean by making HIM so miserable? Something rose in his throat, but with +an effort he choked it back, and, creeping from the lounge, went softly +to the window, opened it to see if it "would work," and looked out. The +shrouded camp fires, the stars that glittered but gave no light, the dim +moving bulk of a patrol beyond the circle, all seemed to intensify the +darkness, and changed the current of his thoughts. He remembered what +Mr. Peyton had said of him when they first met. "Suthin of a pup, ain't +he?" Surely that meant something that was not bad! He crept back to the +couch again. + +Lying there, still awake, he reflected that he wouldn't be a scout when +he grew up, but would be something like Mr. Peyton, and have a train +like this, and invite the Silsbees and Susy to accompany him. For this +purpose, he and Susy, early to-morrow morning, would get permission to +come in here and play at that game. This would familiarize him with the +details, so that he would be able at any time to take charge of it. He +was already an authority on the subject of Indians! He had once been +fired at--as an Indian. He would always carry a rifle like that hanging +from the hooks at the end of the wagon before him, and would eventually +slay many Indians and keep an account of them in a big book like that +on the desk. Susy would help him, having grown up a lady, and they would +both together issue provisions and rations from the door of the wagon to +the gathered crowds. He would be known as the "White Chief," his Indian +name being "Suthin of a Pup." He would have a circus van attached to +the train, in which he would occasionally perform. He would also have +artillery for protection. There would be a terrific engagement, and he +would rush into the wagon, heated and blackened with gunpowder; and +Susy would put down an account of it in a book, and Mrs. Peyton--for she +would be there in some vague capacity--would say, "Really, now, I don't +see but what we were very lucky in having such a boy as Clarence with +us. I begin to understand him better." And Harry, who, for purposes of +vague poetical retaliation, would also drop in at that moment, would +mutter and say, "He is certainly the son of Colonel Brant; dear me!" and +apologize. And his mother would come in also, in her coldest and most +indifferent manner, in a white ball dress, and start and say, "Good +gracious, how that boy has grown! I am sorry I did not see more of +him when he was young." Yet even in the midst of this came a confusing +numbness, and then the side of the wagon seemed to melt away, and he +drifted out again alone into the empty desolate plain from which even +the sleeping Susy had vanished, and he was left deserted and forgotten. +Then all was quiet in the wagon, and only the night wind moving round +it. But lo! the lashes of the sleeping White Chief--the dauntless +leader, the ruthless destroyer of Indians--were wet with glittering +tears! + +Yet it seemed only a moment afterwards that he awoke with a faint +consciousness of some arrested motion. To his utter consternation, +the sun, three hours high, was shining in the wagon, already hot and +stifling in its beams. There was the familiar smell and taste of the +dirty road in the air about him. There was a faint creaking of boards +and springs, a slight oscillation, and beyond the audible rattle of +harness, as if the train had been under way, the wagon moving, and then +there had been a sudden halt. They had probably come up with the Silsbee +train; in a few moments the change would be effected and all of his +strange experience would be over. He must get up now. Yet, with the +morning laziness of the healthy young animal, he curled up a moment +longer in his luxurious couch. + +How quiet it was! There were far-off voices, but they seemed suppressed +and hurried. Through the window he saw one of the teamsters run rapidly +past him with a strange, breathless, preoccupied face, halt a moment at +one of the following wagons, and then run back again to the front. + +Then two of the voices came nearer, with the dull beating of hoofs in +the dust. + +"Rout out the boy and ask him," said a half-suppressed, impatient voice, +which Clarence at once recognized as the man Harry's. + +"Hold on till Peyton comes up," said the second voice, in a low tone; +"leave it to him." + +"Better find out what they were like, at once," grumbled Harry. + +"Wait, stand back," said Peyton's voice, joining the others; "I'LL ask +him." + +Clarence looked wonderingly at the door. It opened on Mr. Peyton, dusty +and dismounted, with a strange, abstracted look in his face. + +"How many wagons are in your train, Clarence?" + +"Three, sir." + +"Any marks on them?" + +"Yes, sir," said Clarence, eagerly: "'Off to California' and 'Root, Hog, +or Die.'" + +Mr. Peyton's eye seemed to leap up and hold Clarence's with a sudden, +strange significance, and then looked down. + +"How many were you in all?" he continued. + +"Five, and there was Mrs. Silsbee." + +"No other woman?" + +"No." + +"Get up and dress yourself," he said gravely, "and wait here till I +come back. Keep cool and have your wits about you." He dropped his +voice slightly. "Perhaps something's happened that you'll have to show +yourself a little man again for, Clarence!" + +The door closed, and the boy heard the same muffled hoofs and voices die +away towards the front. He began to dress himself mechanically, almost +vacantly, yet conscious always of a vague undercurrent of thrilling +excitement. When he had finished he waited almost breathlessly, feeling +the same beating of his heart that he had felt when he was following the +vanished train the day before. At last he could stand the suspense no +longer, and opened the door. Everything was still in the motionless +caravan, except--it struck him oddly even then--the unconcerned +prattling voice of Susy from one of the nearer wagons. Perhaps a +sudden feeling that this was something that concerned HER, perhaps an +irresistible impulse overcame him, but the next moment he had leaped to +the ground, faced about, and was running feverishly to the front. + +The first thing that met his eyes was the helpless and desolate bulk of +one of the Silsbee wagons a hundred rods away, bereft of oxen and pole, +standing alone and motionless against the dazzling sky! Near it was the +broken frame of another wagon, its fore wheels and axles gone, pitched +forward on its knees like an ox under the butcher's sledge. Not far away +there were the burnt and blackened ruins of a third, around which the +whole party on foot and horseback seemed to be gathered. As the boy ran +violently on, the group opened to make way for two men carrying some +helpless but awful object between them. A terrible instinct made +Clarence swerve from it in his headlong course, but he was at the same +moment discovered by the others, and a cry arose of "Go back!" "Stop!" +"Keep him back!" Heeding it no more than the wind that whistled by him, +Clarence made directly for the foremost wagon--the one in which he +and Susy had played. A powerful hand caught his shoulder; it was Mr. +Peyton's. + +"Mrs. Silsbee's wagon," said the boy, with white lips, pointing to it. +"Where is she?" + +"She's missing," said Peyton, "and one other--the rest are dead." + +"She must be there," said the boy, struggling, and pointing to the +wagon; "let me go." + +"Clarence," said Peyton sternly, accenting his grasp upon the boy's arm, +"be a man! Look around you. Try and tell us who these are." + +There seemed to be one or two heaps of old clothes lying on the ground, +and further on, where the men at a command from Peyton had laid down +their burden, another. In those ragged, dusty heaps of clothes, from +which all the majesty of life seemed to have been ruthlessly stamped +out, only what was ignoble and grotesque appeared to be left. There +was nothing terrible in this. The boy moved slowly towards them; and, +incredible even to himself, the overpowering fear of them that a moment +before had overcome him left him as suddenly. He walked from the one to +the other, recognizing them by certain marks and signs, and mentioning +name after name. The groups gazed at him curiously; he was conscious +that he scarcely understood himself, still less the same quiet purpose +that made him turn towards the furthest wagon. + +"There's nothing there," said Peyton; "we've searched it." But the boy, +without replying, continued his way, and the crowd followed him. + +The deserted wagon, more rude, disorderly, and slovenly than it had +ever seemed to him before, was now heaped and tumbled with broken bones, +cans, scattered provisions, pots, pans, blankets, and clothing in the +foul confusion of a dust-heap. But in this heterogeneous mingling the +boy's quick eye caught sight of a draggled edge of calico. + +"That's Mrs. Silsbee's dress!" he cried, and leapt into the wagon. + +At first the men stared at each other, but an instant later a dozen +hands were helping him, nervously digging and clearing away the rubbish. +Then one man uttered a sudden cry, and fell back with frantic but +furious eyes uplifted against the pitiless, smiling sky above him. + +"Great God! look here!" + +It was the yellowish, waxen face of Mrs. Silsbee that had been +uncovered. But to the fancy of the boy it had changed; the old familiar +lines of worry, care, and querulousness had given way to a look of +remote peace and statue-like repose. He had often vexed her in her +aggressive life; he was touched with remorse at her cold, passionless +apathy now, and pressed timidly forward. Even as he did so, the man, +with a quick but warning gesture, hurriedly threw his handkerchief +over the matted locks, as if to shut out something awful from his view. +Clarence felt himself drawn back; but not before the white lips of a +bystander had whispered a single word-- + +"Scalped, too! by God!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Then followed days and weeks that seemed to Clarence as a dream. At +first, an interval of hushed and awed restraint when he and Susy were +kept apart, a strange and artificial interest taken little note of by +him, but afterwards remembered when others had forgotten it; the burial +of Mrs. Silsbee beneath a cairn of stones, with some ceremonies that, +simple though they were, seemed to usurp the sacred rights of grief from +him and Susy, and leave them cold and frightened; days of frequent and +incoherent childish outbursts from Susy, growing fainter and rarer as +time went on, until they ceased, he knew not when; the haunting by night +of that morning vision of the three or four heaps of ragged clothes on +the ground and a half regret that he had not examined them more closely; +a recollection of the awful loneliness and desolation of the broken and +abandoned wagon left behind on its knees as if praying mutely when the +train went on and left it; the trundling behind of the fateful wagon +in which Mrs. Silsbee's body had been found, superstitiously shunned by +every one, and when at last turned over to the authorities at an outpost +garrison, seeming to drop the last link from the dragging chain of the +past. The revelation to the children of a new experience in that brief +glimpse of the frontier garrison; the handsome officer in uniform and +belted sword, an heroic, vengeful figure to be admired and imitated +hereafter; the sudden importance and respect given to Susy and himself +as "survivors"; the sympathetic questioning and kindly exaggerations +of their experiences, quickly accepted by Susy--all these, looking back +upon them afterwards, seemed to have passed in a dream. + +No less strange and visionary to them seemed the real transitions they +noted from the moving train. How one morning they missed the changeless, +motionless, low, dark line along the horizon, and before noon found +themselves among the rocks and trees and a swiftly rushing river. +How there suddenly appeared beside them a few days later a great gray +cloud-covered ridge of mountains that they were convinced was that same +dark line that they had seen so often. How the men laughed at them, and +said that for the last three days they had been CROSSING that dark line, +and that it was HIGHER than the great gray-clouded range before them, +which it had always hidden from their view! How Susy firmly believed +that these changes took place in her sleep, when she always "kinder felt +they were crawlin' up," and how Clarence, in the happy depreciation of +extreme youth, expressed his conviction that they "weren't a bit high, +after all." How the weather became cold, though it was already summer, +and at night the camp fire was a necessity, and there was a stove in +the tent with Susy; and yet how all this faded away, and they were again +upon a dazzling, burnt, and sun-dried plain! But always as in a dream! + +More real were the persons who composed the party--whom they seemed to +have always known--and who, in the innocent caprice of children, had +become to them more actual than the dead had even been. There was Mr. +Peyton, who they now knew owned the train, and who was so rich that he +"needn't go to California if he didn't want to, and was going to buy +a great deal of it if he liked it," and who was also a lawyer and +"policeman"--which was Susy's rendering of "politician"--and was called +"Squire" and "Judge" at the frontier outpost, and could order anybody to +be "took up if he wanted to," and who knew everybody by their Christian +names; and Mrs. Peyton, who had been delicate and was ordered by the +doctor to live in the open air for six months, and "never go into a +house or a town agin," and who was going to adopt Susy as soon as her +husband could arrange with Susy's relatives, and draw up the papers! How +"Harry" was Henry Benham, Mrs. Peyton's brother, and a kind of partner +of Mr. Peyton. And how the scout's name was Gus Gildersleeve, or the +"White Crow," and how, through his recognized intrepidity, an attack +upon their train was no doubt averted. Then there was "Bill," the +stock herder, and "Texas Jim," the vaquero--the latter marvelous and +unprecedented in horsemanship. Such were their companions, as +appeared through the gossip of the train and their own inexperienced +consciousness. To them, they were all astounding and important +personages. But, either from boyish curiosity or some sense of being +misunderstood, Clarence was more attracted by the two individuals of the +party who were least kind to him--namely, Mrs. Peyton and her brother +Harry. I fear that, after the fashion of most children, and some +grown-up people, he thought less of the steady kindness of Mr. Peyton +and the others than of the rare tolerance of Harry or the polite +concessions of his sister. Miserably conscious of this at times, he +quite convinced himself that if he could only win a word of approbation +from Harry, or a smile from Mrs. Peyton, he would afterwards revenge +himself by "running away." Whether he would or not, I cannot say. I am +writing of a foolish, growing, impressionable boy of eleven, of whose +sentiments nothing could be safely predicted but uncertainty. + +It was at this time that he became fascinated by another member of the +party whose position had been too humble and unimportant to be included +in the group already noted. Of the same appearance as the other +teamsters in size, habits, and apparel, he had not at first exhibited to +Clarence any claim to sympathy. But it appeared that he was actually +a youth of only sixteen--a hopeless incorrigible of St. Joseph, whose +parents had prevailed on Peyton to allow him to join the party, by way +of removing him from evil associations and as a method of reform. Of +this Clarence was at first ignorant, not from any want of frankness on +the part of the youth, for that ingenious young gentleman later informed +him that he had killed three men in St. Louis, two in St. Jo, and that +the officers of justice were after him. But it was evident that to +precocious habits of drinking, smoking, chewing, and card-playing this +overgrown youth added a strong tendency to exaggeration of statement. +Indeed, he was known as "Lying Jim Hooker," and his various qualities +presented a problem to Clarence that was attractive and inspiring, +doubtful, but always fascinating. With the hoarse voice of early +wickedness and a contempt for ordinary courtesy, he had a round, +perfectly good-humored face, and a disposition that when not called +upon to act up to his self-imposed role of reckless wickedness, was not +unkindly. + +It was only a few days after the massacre, and while the children were +still wrapped in the gloomy interest and frightened reticence which +followed it, that "Jim Hooker" first characteristically flashed upon +Clarence's perceptions. Hanging half on and half off the saddle of +an Indian pony, the lank Jim suddenly made his appearance, dashing +violently up and down the track, and around the wagon in which Clarence +was sitting, tugging desperately at the reins, with every indication of +being furiously run away with, and retaining his seat only with the most +dauntless courage and skill. Round and round they went, the helpless +rider at times hanging by a single stirrup near the ground, and again +recovering himself by--as it seemed to Clarence--almost superhuman +effort. Clarence sat open-mouthed with anxiety and excitement, and yet +a few of the other teamsters laughed. Then the voice of Mr. Peyton, from +the window of his car, said quietly,-- + +"There, that will do, Jim. Quit it!" + +The furious horse and rider instantly disappeared. A few moments after, +the bewildered Clarence saw the redoubted horseman trotting along +quietly in the dust of the rear, on the same fiery steed, who in that +prosaic light bore an astounding resemblance to an ordinary team horse. +Later in the day he sought an explanation from the rider. + +"You see," answered Jim gloomily, "thar ain't a galoot in this yer crowd +ez knows jist WHAT'S in that hoss! And them ez suspecks daren't say! It +wouldn't do for to hev it let out that the Judge hez a Morgan-Mexican +plug that's killed two men afore he got him, and is bound to kill +another afore he gets through! Why, on'y the week afore we kem up to +you, that thar hoss bolted with me at camping! Bucked and throwed me, +but I kept my holt o' the stirrups with my foot--so! Dragged me a matter +of two miles, head down, and me keepin' away rocks with my hand--so!" + +"Why didn't you loose your foot and let go?" asked Clarence +breathlessly. + +"YOU might," said Jim, with deep scorn; "that ain't MY style. I just +laid low till we kem to a steep pitched hill, and goin' down when the +hoss was, so to speak, kinder BELOW me, I just turned a hand spring, so, +and that landed me onter his back again." + +This action, though vividly illustrated by Jim's throwing his hands down +like feet beneath him, and indicating the parabola of a spring in +the air, proving altogether too much for Clarence's mind to grasp, he +timidly turned to a less difficult detail. + +"What made the horse bolt first, Mr. Hooker?" + +"Smelt Injins!" said Jim, carelessly expectorating tobacco juice in +a curving jet from the side of his mouth--a singularly fascinating +accomplishment, peculiarly his own, "'n' likely YOUR Injins." + +"But," argued Clarence hesitatingly, "you said it was a week +before--and--" + +"Er Mexican plug kin smell Injins fifty, yes, a hundred miles away," +said Jim, with scornful deliberation; "'n' if Judge Peyton had took my +advice, and hadn't been so mighty feared about the character of his hoss +gettin' out he'd hev played roots on them Injins afore they tetched ye. +But," he added, with gloomy dejection, "there ain't no sand in this yer +crowd, thar ain't no vim, thar ain't nothin'; and thar kan't be ez long +ez thar's women and babies, and women and baby fixin's, mixed up with +it. I'd hev cut the whole blamed gang ef it weren't for one or two +things," he added darkly. + +Clarence, impressed by Jim's mysterious manner, for the moment forgot +his contemptuous allusion to Mr. Peyton, and the evident implication of +Susy and himself, and asked hurriedly, "What things?" + +Jim, as if forgetful of the boy's presence in his fitful mood, +abstractedly half drew a glittering bowie knife from his bootleg, +and then slowly put it back again. "Thar's one or two old scores," he +continued, in a low voice, although no one was in hearing distance of +them, "one or two private accounts," he went on tragically, averting +his eyes as if watched by some one, "thet hev to be wiped out with blood +afore I leave. Thar's one or two men TOO MANY alive and breathin' in +this yer crowd. Mebbee it's Gus Gildersleeve; mebbee it's Harry Benham; +mebbee," he added, with a dark yet noble disinterestedness, "it's ME." + +"Oh, no," said Clarence, with polite deprecation. + +Far from placating the gloomy Jim, this seemed only to awake his +suspicions. "Mebbee," he said, dancing suddenly away from Clarence, +"mebbee you think I'm lyin'. Mebbee you think, because you're Colonel +Brant's son, yer kin run ME with this yer train. Mebbee," he continued, +dancing violently back again, "ye kalkilate, because ye run off'n' +stampeded a baby, ye kin tote me round too, sonny. Mebbee," he went +on, executing a double shuffle in the dust and alternately striking +his hands on the sides of his boots, "mebbee you're spyin' round and +reportin' to the Judge." + +Firmly convinced that Jim was working himself up by an Indian war-dance +to some desperate assault on himself, but resenting the last unjust +accusation, Clarence had recourse to one of his old dogged silences. +Happily at this moment an authoritative voice called out, "Now, then, +you Jim Hooker!" and the desperate Hooker, as usual, vanished instantly. +Nevertheless, he appeared an hour or two later beside the wagon in which +Susy and Clarence were seated, with an expression of satiated vengeance +and remorseful bloodguiltiness in his face, and his hair combed Indian +fashion over his eyes. As he generously contented himself with only +passing a gloomy and disparaging criticism on the game of cards that +the children were playing, it struck Clarence for the first time that a +great deal of his real wickedness resided in his hair. This set him to +thinking that it was strange that Mr. Peyton did not try to reform him +with a pair of scissors, but not until Clarence himself had for at +least four days attempted to imitate Jim by combing his own hair in that +fashion. + +A few days later, Jim again casually favored him with a confidential +interview. Clarence had been allowed to bestride one of the team leaders +postillionwise, and was correspondingly elevated, when Jim joined him, +on the Mexican plug, which appeared--no doubt a part of its wicked +art--heavily docile, and even slightly lame. + +"How much," said Jim, in a tone of gloomy confidence,--"how much did you +reckon to make by stealin' that gal-baby, sonny?" + +"Nothing," replied Clarence with a smile. Perhaps it was an evidence of +the marked influence that Jim was beginning to exert over him that +he already did not attempt to resent this fascinating implication of +grownup guilt. + +"It orter bin a good job, if it warn't revenge," continued Jim moodily. + +"No, it wasn't revenge," said Clarence hurriedly. + +"Then ye kalkilated ter get er hundred dollars reward ef the old man and +old woman hadn't bin scelped afore yet got up to 'em?" said Jim. "That's +your blamed dodgasted luck, eh! Enyhow, you'll make Mrs. Peyton plank +down suthin' if she adopts the babby. Look yer, young feller," he said, +starting suddenly and throwing his face forward, glaring fiendishly +through his matted side-locks, "d'ye mean ter tell me it wasn't a +plant--a skin game--the hull thing?" + +"A what?" said Clarence. + +"D'ye mean to say"--it was wonderful how gratuitously husky his voice +became at this moment--"d'ye mean ter tell me ye didn't set on them +Injins to wipe out the Silsbees, so that ye could hev an out-an'-out gal +ORFEN on hand fer Mrs. Peyton ter adopt--eh?" + +But here Clarence was forced to protest, and strongly, although Jim +contemptuously ignored it. "Don't lie ter me," he repeated mysteriously, +"I'm fly. I'm dark, young fel. We're cahoots in this thing?" And with +this artful suggestion of being in possession of Clarence's guilty +secret he departed in time to elude the usual objurgation of his +superior, "Phil," the head teamster. + +Nor was his baleful fascination exercised entirely on Clarence. In +spite of Mrs. Peyton's jealously affectionate care, Clarence's frequent +companionship, and the little circle of admiring courtiers that always +surrounded Susy, it became evident that this small Eve had been secretly +approached and tempted by the Satanic Jim. She was found one day to +have a few heron's feathers in her possession with which she adorned her +curls, and at another time was discovered to have rubbed her face and +arms with yellow and red ochre, confessedly the free gift of Jim Hooker. +It was to Clarence alone that she admitted the significance and purport +of these offerings. "Jim gived 'em to me," she said, "and Jim's a kind +of Injin hisself that won't hurt me; and when bad Injins come, they'll +think I'm his Injin baby and run away. And Jim said if I'd just told the +Injins when they came to kill papa and mamma, that I b'longed to him, +they'd hev runned away." + +"But," said the practical Clarence, "you could not; you know you were +with Mrs. Peyton all the time." + +"Kla'uns," said Susy, shaking her head and fixing her round blue eyes +with calm mendacity on the boy, "don't you tell me. I WAS THERE!" + +Clarence started back, and nearly fell over the wagon in hopeless dismay +at this dreadful revelation of Susy's powers of exaggeration. "But," he +gasped, "you know, Susy, you and me left before--" + +"Kla'uns," said Susy calmly, making a little pleat in the skirt of her +dress with her small thumb and fingers, "don't you talk to me. I was +there. I'se a SERIVER! The men at the fort said so! The SERIVERS is +allus, allus there, and allus allus knows everythin'." + +Clarence was too dumfounded to reply. He had a vague recollection +of having noticed before that Susy was very much fascinated by the +reputation given to her at Fort Ridge as a "survivor," and was trying +in an infantile way to live up to it. This the wicked Jim had evidently +encouraged. For a day or two Clarence felt a little afraid of her, and +more lonely than ever. + +It was in this state, and while he was doggedly conscious that his +association with Jim did not prepossess Mrs. Peyton or her brother in +his favor, and that the former even believed him responsible for Susy's +unhallowed acquaintance with Jim, that he drifted into one of those +youthful escapades on which elders are apt to sit in severe but not +always considerate judgment. Believing, like many other children, that +nobody cared particularly for him, except to RESTRAIN him, discovering, +as children do, much sooner than we complacently imagine, that love and +preference have no logical connection with desert or character, Clarence +became boyishly reckless. But when, one day, it was rumored that a herd +of buffalo was in the vicinity, and that the train would be delayed the +next morning in order that a hunt might be organized, by Gildersleeve, +Benham, and a few others, Clarence listened willingly to Jim's +proposition that they should secretly follow it. + +To effect their unhallowed purpose required boldness and duplicity. +It was arranged that shortly after the departure of the hunting party +Clarence should ask permission to mount and exercise one of the team +horses--a favor that had been frequently granted him; that in the +outskirts of the camp he should pretend that the horse ran away with +him, and Jim would start in pursuit. The absence of the shooting party +with so large a contingent of horses and men would preclude any further +detachment from the camp to assist them. Once clear, they would follow +the track of the hunters, and, if discovered by them, would offer the +same excuse, with the addition that they had lost their way to the camp. +The plan was successful. The details were carried out with almost too +perfect effect; as it appeared that Jim, in order to give dramatic +intensity to the fractiousness of Clarence's horse, had inserted a thorn +apple under the neck of his saddle, which Clarence only discovered +in time to prevent himself from being unseated. Urged forward by +ostentatious "Whoas!" and surreptitious cuts in the rear from Jim, +pursuer and pursued presently found themselves safely beyond the +half-dry stream and fringe of alder bushes that skirted the camp. They +were not followed. Whether the teamsters suspected and winked at this +design, or believed that the boys could take care of themselves, and ran +no risk of being lost in the proximity of the hunting party, there was +no general alarm. + +Thus reassured, and having a general idea of the direction of the hunt, +the boys pushed hilariously forward. Before them opened a vast expanse +of bottom land, slightly sloping on the right to a distant half-filled +lagoon, formed by the main river overflow, on whose tributary they had +encamped. The lagoon was partly hidden by straggling timber and "brush," +and beyond that again stretched the unlimitable plains--the pasture +of their mighty game. Hither, Jim hoarsely informed his companion, the +buffaloes came to water. A few rods further on, he started dramatically, +and, alighting, proceeded to slowly examine the ground. It seemed to +be scattered over with half-circular patches, which he pointed out +mysteriously as "buffalo chip." To Clarence's inexperienced perception +the plain bore a singular resemblance to the surface of an ordinary +unromantic cattle pasture that somewhat chilled his heroic fancy. +However, the two companions halted and professionally examined their +arms and equipments. + +These, I grieve to say, though varied, were scarcely full or +satisfactory. The necessities of their flight had restricted Jim to an +old double-barreled fowling-piece, which he usually carried slung across +his shoulders; an old-fashioned "six-shooter," whose barrels revolved +occasionally and unexpectedly, known as "Allen's Pepper Box" on account +of its culinary resemblance; and a bowie-knife. Clarence carried an +Indian bow and arrow with which he had been exercising, and a hatchet +which he had concealed under the flanks of his saddle. To this Jim +generously added the six-shooter, taking the hatchet in exchange--a +transfer that at first delighted Clarence, until, seeing the warlike +and picturesque effect of the hatchet in Jim's belt, he regretted the +transfer. The gun, Jim meantime explained "extry charged," "chuck up" +to the middle with slugs and revolver bullets, could only be fired by +himself, and even then he darkly added, not without danger. This poverty +of equipment was, however, compensated by opposite statements from +Jim of the extraordinary results obtained by these simple weapons from +"fellers I knew:" how HE himself had once brought down a "bull" by a +bold shot with a revolver through its open bellowing mouth that pierced +his "innards;" how a friend of his--an intimate in fact--now in jail at +Louisville for killing a sheriff's deputy, had once found himself alone +and dismounted with a simple clasp-knife and a lariat among a herd of +buffaloes; how, leaping calmly upon the shaggy shoulders of the biggest +bull, he lashed himself with the lariat firmly to its horns, goading it +onward with his clasp-knife, and subsisting for days upon the flesh cut +from its living body, until, abandoned by its fellows and exhausted +by the loss of blood, it finally succumbed to its victor at the very +outskirts of the camp to which he had artfully driven it! It must be +confessed that this recital somewhat took away Clarence's breath, and +he would have liked to ask a few questions. But they were alone on the +prairie, and linked by a common transgression; the glorious sun was +coming up victoriously, the pure, crisp air was intoxicating their +nerves; in the bright forecast of youth everything WAS possible! + +The surface of the bottom land that they were crossing was here and +there broken up by fissures and "potholes," and some circumspection in +their progress became necessary. In one of these halts, Clarence was +struck by a dull, monotonous jarring that sounded like the heavy regular +fall of water over a dam. Each time that they slackened their pace the +sound would become more audible, and was at last accompanied by that +slight but unmistakable tremor of the earth that betrayed the vicinity +of a waterfall. Hesitating over the phenomenon, which seemed to imply +that their topography was wrong and that they had blundered from the +track, they were presently startled by the fact that the sound was +actually APPROACHING them! With a sudden instinct they both galloped +towards the lagoon. As the timber opened before them Jim uttered a long +ecstatic shout. "Why, it's THEM!" + +At a first glance it seemed to Clarence as if the whole plain beyond +was broken up and rolling in tumbling waves or furrows towards them. A +second glance showed the tossing fronts of a vast herd of buffaloes, and +here and there, darting in and out and among them, or emerging from the +cloud of dust behind, wild figures and flashes of fire. With the idea of +water still in his mind, it seemed as if some tumultuous tidal wave were +sweeping unseen towards the lagoon, carrying everything before it. He +turned with eager eyes, in speechless expectancy, to his companion. + +Alack! that redoubtable hero and mighty hunter was, to all appearances, +equally speechless and astonished. It was true that he remained rooted +to the saddle, a lank, still heroic figure, alternately grasping his +hatchet and gun with a kind of spasmodic regularity. How long he would +have continued this would never be known, for the next moment, with a +deafening crash, the herd broke through the brush, and, swerving at the +right of the lagoon, bore down directly upon them. All further doubt or +hesitation on their part was stopped. The farseeing, sagacious Mexican +plug with a terrific snort wheeled and fled furiously with his rider. +Moved, no doubt, by touching fidelity, Clarence's humbler team-horse +instantly followed. In a few moments those devoted animals struggled +neck to neck in noble emulation. + +"What are we goin' off this way for?" gasped the simple Clarence. + +"Peyton and Gildersleeve are back there--and they'll see us," gasped Jim +in reply. It struck Clarence that the buffaloes were much nearer them +than the hunting party, and that the trampling hoofs of a dozen bulls +were close behind them, but with another gasp he shouted, + +"When are we going to hunt 'em?" + +"Hunt THEM!" screamed Jim, with a hysterical outburst of truth; "why, +they're huntin' US--dash it!" + +Indeed, there was no doubt that their frenzied horses were flying before +the equally frenzied herd behind them. They gained a momentary advantage +by riding into one of the fissures, and out again on the other side, +while their pursuers were obliged to make a detour. But in a few minutes +they were overtaken by that part of the herd who had taken the other and +nearer side of the lagoon, and were now fairly in the midst of them. The +ground shook with their trampling hoofs; their steaming breath, mingling +with the stinging dust that filled the air, half choked and blinded +Clarence. He was dimly conscious that Jim had wildly thrown his hatchet +at a cow buffalo pressing close upon his flanks. As they swept down into +another gully he saw him raise his fateful gun with utter desperation. +Clarence crouched low on his horse's outstretched neck. There was a +blinding flash, a single stunning report of both barrels; Jim reeled in +one way half out of the saddle, while the smoking gun seemed to leap in +another over his head, and then rider and horse vanished in a choking +cloud of dust and gunpowder. A moment after Clarence's horse stopped +with a sudden check, and the boy felt himself hurled over its head into +the gully, alighting on something that seemed to be a bounding cushion +of curled and twisted hair. It was the shaggy shoulder of an enormous +buffalo! For Jim's desperate random shot and double charge had taken +effect on the near hind leg of a preceding bull, tearing away the flesh +and ham-stringing the animal, who had dropped in the gully just in front +of Clarence's horse. + +Dazed but unhurt, the boy rolled from the lifted fore quarters of the +struggling brute to the ground. When he staggered to his feet again, not +only his horse was gone but the whole herd of buffaloes seemed to have +passed too, and he could hear the shouts of unseen hunters now ahead of +him. They had evidently overlooked his fall, and the gully had concealed +him. The sides before him were too steep for his aching limbs to climb; +the slope by which he and the bull had descended when the collision +occurred was behind the wounded animal. Clarence was staggering towards +it when the bull, by a supreme effort, lifted itself on three legs, half +turned, and faced him. + +These events had passed too quickly for the inexperienced boy to +have felt any active fear, or indeed anything but wild excitement and +confusion. But the spectacle of that shaggy and enormous front, that +seemed to fill the whole gully, rising with awful deliberation between +him and escape, sent a thrill of terror through his frame. The great, +dull, bloodshot eyes glared at him with a dumb, wondering fury; the +large wet nostrils were so near that their first snort of inarticulate +rage made him reel backwards as from a blow. The gully was only a +narrow and short fissure or subsidence of the plain; a few paces more of +retreat and he would be at its end, against an almost perpendicular +bank fifteen feet high. If he attempted to climb its crumbling sides and +fell, there would be those short but terrible horns waiting to impale +him! It seemed too terrible, too cruel! He was so small beside this +overgrown monster. It wasn't fair! The tears started to his eyes, and +then, in a rage at the injustice of Fate, he stood doggedly still with +clenched fists. He fixed his gaze with half-hysterical, childish fury on +those lurid eyes; he did not know that, owing to the strange magnifying +power of the bull's convex pupils, he, Clarence, appeared much bigger +than he really was to the brute's heavy consciousness, the distance from +him most deceptive, and that it was to this fact that hunters so often +owed their escape. He only thought of some desperate means of attack. +Ah! the six-shooter. It was still in his pocket. He drew it nervously, +hopelessly--it looked so small compared with his large enemy! + +He presented it with flashing eyes, and pulled the trigger. A feeble +click followed, another, and again! Even THIS had mocked him. He +pulled the trigger once more, wildly; there was a sudden explosion, and +another. He stepped back; the balls had apparently flattened themselves +harmlessly on the bull's forehead. He pulled again, hopelessly; there +was another report, a sudden furious bellow, and the enormous brute +threw his head savagely to one side, burying his left horn deep in the +crumbling bank beside him. Again and again he charged the bank, driving +his left horn home, and bringing down the stones and earth in showers. +It was some seconds before Clarence saw in a single glimpse of that +wildly tossing crest the reason of this fury. The blood was pouring from +his left eye, penetrated by the last bullet; the bull was blinded! A +terrible revulsion of feeling, a sudden sense of remorse that was for +the moment more awful than even his previous fear, overcame him. HE +had done THAT THING! As much to fly from the dreadful spectacle as +any instinct of self-preservation, he took advantage of the next mad +paroxysms of pain and blindness, that always impelled the suffering +beast towards the left, to slip past him on the right, reach the +incline, and scramble wildly up to the plain again. Here he ran +confusedly forward, not knowing whither--only caring to escape that +agonized bellowing, to shut out forever the accusing look of that huge +blood-weltering eye. + +Suddenly he heard a distant angry shout. To his first hurried glance +the plain had seemed empty, but, looking up, he saw two horsemen rapidly +advancing with a led horse behind them--his own. With the blessed sense +of relief that overtook him now came the fevered desire for sympathy +and to tell them all. But as they came nearer he saw that they were +Gildersleeve, the scout, and Henry Benham, and that, far from sharing +any delight in his deliverance, their faces only exhibited irascible +impatience. Overcome by this new defeat, the boy stopped, again dumb and +dogged. + +"Now, then, blank it all, WILL you get up and come along, or do +you reckon to keep the train waiting another hour over your blanked +foolishness?" said Gildersleeve savagely. + +The boy hesitated, and then mounted mechanically, without a word. + +"'Twould have served 'em right to have gone and left 'em," muttered +Benham vindictively. + +For one wild instant Clarence thought of throwing himself from his +horse and bidding them go on and leave him. But before he could put his +thought into action the two men were galloping forward, with his horse +led by a lariat fastened to the horn of Gildersleeve's saddle. + +In two hours more they had overtaken the train, already on the march, +and were in the midst of the group of outriders. Judge Peyton's face, +albeit a trifle perplexed, turned towards Clarence with a kindly, +half-tolerant look of welcome. The boy's heart instantly melted with +forgiveness. + +"Well, my boy, let's hear YOUR story. What happened?" + +Clarence cast a hurried glance around, and saw Jim, with face averted, +riding gloomily behind. Then nervously and hurriedly he told how he had +been thrown into the gully on the back of the wounded buffalo, and the +manner of his escape. An audible titter ran through the cavalcade. +Mr. Peyton regarded him gravely. "But how did the buffalo get so +conveniently into the gully?" he asked. + +"Jim Hooker lamed him with a shotgun, and he fell over," said Clarence +timidly. + +A roar of Homeric laughter went up from the party. Clarence looked up, +stung and startled, but caught a single glimpse of Jim Hooker's face +that made him forget his own mortification. In its hopeless, heart-sick, +and utterly beaten dejection--the first and only real expression he had +seen on it--he read the dreadful truth. Jim's REPUTATION had ruined him! +The one genuine and striking episode of his life, the one trustworthy +account he had given of it, had been unanimously accepted as the biggest +and most consummate lie of his record! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +With this incident of the hunt closed, to Clarence, the last remembered +episode of his journey. But he did not know until long after that it had +also closed to him what might have been the opening of a new career. +For it had been Judge Peyton's intention in adopting Susy to include a +certain guardianship and protection of the boy, provided he could get +the consent of that vague relation to whom he was consigned. But it +had been pointed out by Mrs. Peyton and her brother that Clarence's +association with Jim Hooker had made him a doubtful companion for Susy, +and even the Judge himself was forced to admit that the boy's apparent +taste for evil company was inconsistent with his alleged birth and +breeding. Unfortunately, Clarence, in the conviction of being hopelessly +misunderstood, and that dogged acquiescence to fate which was one of his +characteristics, was too proud to correct the impression by any of the +hypocracies of childhood. He had also a cloudy instinct of loyalty to +Jim in his disgrace, without, however, experiencing either the sympathy +of an equal or the zeal of a partisan, but rather--if it could be said +of a boy of his years--with the patronage and protection of a superior. +So he accepted without demur the intimation that when the train reached +California he would be forwarded from Stockton with an outfit and a +letter of explanation to Sacramento, it being understood that in the +event of not finding his relative he would return to the Peytons in one +of the southern valleys, where they elected to purchase a tract of land. + +With this outlook, and the prospect of change, independence, and all +the rich possibilities that to the imagination of youth are included in +them, Clarence had found the days dragging. The halt at Salt Lake, +the transit of the dreary Alkali desert, even the wild passage of the +Sierras, were but a blurred picture in his memory. The sight of eternal +snows and the rolling of endless ranks of pines, the first glimpse of a +hillside of wild oats, the spectacle of a rushing yellow river that to +his fancy seemed tinged with gold, were momentary excitements, quickly +forgotten. But when, one morning, halting at the outskirts of a +struggling settlement, he found the entire party eagerly gathered around +a passing stranger, who had taken from his saddle-bags a small buckskin +pouch to show them a double handful of shining scales of metal, Clarence +felt the first feverish and overmastering thrill of the gold-seekers. +Breathlessly he followed the breathless questions and careless replies. +The gold had been dug out of a placer only thirty miles away. It might +be worth, say, a hundred and fifty dollars; it was only HIS share of a +week's work with two partners. It was not much; "the country was +getting played out with fresh arrivals and greenhorns." All this falling +carelessly from the unshaven lips of a dusty, roughly dressed man, with +a long-handled shovel and pickaxe strapped on his back, and a frying-pan +depending from his saddle. But no panoplied or armed knight ever seemed +so heroic or independent a figure to Clarence. What could be finer than +the noble scorn conveyed in his critical survey of the train, with its +comfortable covered wagons and appliances of civilization? "Ye'll hev to +get rid of them ther fixin's if yer goin' in for placer diggin'!" What +a corroboration of Clarence's real thoughts! What a picture of +independence was this! The picturesque scout, the all-powerful Judge +Peyton, the daring young officer, all crumbled on their clayey pedestals +before this hero in a red flannel shirt and high-topped boots. To stroll +around in the open air all day, and pick up those shining bits of metal, +without study, without method or routine--this was really life; to some +day come upon that large nugget "you couldn't lift," that was worth as +much as the train and horses--such a one as the stranger said was found +the other day at Sawyer's Bar--this was worth giving up everything for. +That rough man, with his smile of careless superiority, was the living +link between Clarence and the Thousand and One Nights; in him were +Aladdin and Sindbad incarnate. + +Two days later they reached Stockton. Here Clarence, whose single suit +of clothes had been reinforced by patching, odds and ends from Peyton's +stores, and an extraordinary costume of army cloth, got up by the +regimental tailor at Fort Ridge, was taken to be refitted at a general +furnishing "emporium." But alas! in the selection of the clothing for +that adult locality scant provision seemed to have been made for a +boy of Clarence's years, and he was with difficulty fitted from an +old condemned Government stores with "a boy's" seaman suit and a +brass-buttoned pea-jacket. To this outfit Mr. Peyton added a small sum +of money for his expenses, and a letter of explanation to his cousin. +The stage-coach was to start at noon. It only remained for Clarence to +take leave of the party. The final parting with Susy had been discounted +on the two previous days with some tears, small frights and clingings, +and the expressed determination on the child's part "to go with him;" +but in the excitement of the arrival at Stockton it was still +further mitigated, and under the influence of a little present from +Clarence--his first disbursement of his small capital--had at last taken +the form and promise of merely temporary separation. Nevertheless, when +the boy's scanty pack was deposited under the stage-coach seat, and he +had been left alone, he ran rapidly back to the train for one moment +more with Susy. Panting and a little frightened, he reached Mrs. +Peyton's car. + +"Goodness! You're not gone yet," said Mrs. Peyton sharply. "Do you want +to lose the stage?" + +An instant before, in his loneliness, he might have answered, "Yes." +But under the cruel sting of Mrs. Peyton's evident annoyance at his +reappearance he felt his legs suddenly tremble, and his voice left him. +He did not dare to look at Susy. But her voice rose comfortably from the +depths of the wagon where she was sitting. + +"The stage will be gone away, Kla'uns." + +She too! Shame at his foolish weakness sent the yearning blood that had +settled round his heart flying back into his face. + +"I was looking for--for--for Jim, ma'am," he said at last, boldly. + +He saw a look of disgust pass over Mrs. Peyton's face, and felt a +malicious satisfaction as he turned and ran back to the stage. But here, +to his surprise, he actually found Jim, whom he really hadn't thought +of, darkly watching the last strapping of luggage. With a manner +calculated to convey the impression to the other passengers that he was +parting from a brother criminal, probably on his way to a state prison, +Jim shook hands gloomily with Clarence, and eyed the other passengers +furtively between his mated locks. + +"Ef ye hear o' anythin' happenin', ye'll know what's up," he said, in a +low, hoarse, but perfectly audible whisper. "Me and them's bound to part +company afore long. Tell the fellows at Deadman's Gulch to look out for +me at any time." + +Although Clarence was not going to Deadman's Gulch, knew nothing of it, +and had a faint suspicion that Jim was equally ignorant, yet as one or +two of the passengers glanced anxiously at the demure, gray-eyed boy +who seemed booked for such a baleful destination, he really felt the +half-delighted, half-frightened consciousness that he was starting in +life under fascinating immoral pretenses. But the forward spring of the +fine-spirited horses, the quickened motion, the glittering sunlight, and +the thought that he really was leaving behind him all the shackles of +dependence and custom, and plunging into a life of freedom, drove +all else from his mind. He turned at last from this hopeful, blissful +future, and began to examine his fellow passengers with boyish +curiosity. Wedged in between two silent men on the front seat, one of +whom seemed a farmer, and the other, by his black attire, a professional +man, Clarence was finally attracted by a black-mantled, dark-haired, +bonnetless woman on the back seat, whose attention seemed to be +monopolized by the jocular gallantries of her companions and the two +men before her in the middle seat. From her position he could see little +more than her dark eyes, which occasionally seemed to meet his frank +curiosity in an amused sort of way, but he was chiefly struck by the +pretty foreign sound of her musical voice, which was unlike anything +he had ever heard before, and--alas for the inconstancy of youth--much +finer than Mrs. Peyton's. Presently his farmer companion, casting a +patronizing glance on Clarence's pea-jacket and brass buttons, said +cheerily-- + +"Jest off a voyage, sonny?" + +"No, sir," stammered Clarence; "I came across the plains." + +"Then I reckon that's the rig-out for the crew of a prairie schooner, +eh?" There was a laugh at this which perplexed Clarence. Observing it, +the humorist kindly condescended to explain that "prairie schooner" was +the current slang for an emigrant wagon. + +"I couldn't," explained Clarence, naively looking at the dark eyes on +the back seat, "get any clothes at Stockton but these; I suppose the +folks didn't think there'd ever be boys in California." + +The simplicity of this speech evidently impressed the others, for +the two men in the middle seats turned at a whisper from the lady and +regarded him curiously. Clarence blushed slightly and became silent. +Presently the vehicle began to slacken its speed. They were ascending +a hill; on either bank grew huge cottonwoods, from which occasionally +depended a beautiful scarlet vine. + +"Ah! eet ees pretty," said the lady, nodding her black-veiled head +towards it. "Eet is good in ze hair." + +One of the men made an awkward attempt to clutch a spray from the +window. A brilliant inspiration flashed upon Clarence. When the stage +began the ascent of the next hill, following the example of an outside +passenger, he jumped down to walk. At the top of the hill he rejoined +the stage, flushed and panting, but carrying a small branch of the vine +in his scratched hands. Handing it to the man on the middle seat, he +said, with grave, boyish politeness--"Please--for the lady." + +A slight smile passed over the face of Clarence's neighbors. The +bonnetless woman nodded a pleasant acknowledgment, and coquettishly +wound the vine in her glossy hair. The dark man at his side, who hadn't +spoken yet, turned to Clarence dryly. + +"If you're goin' to keep up this gait, sonny, I reckon ye won't find +much trouble gettin' a man's suit to fit you by the time you reach +Sacramento." + +Clarence didn't quite understand him, but noticed that a singular +gravity seemed to overtake the two jocular men on the middle seat, and +the lady looked out of the window. He came to the conclusion that he had +made a mistake about alluding to his clothes and his size. He must try +and behave more manly. That opportunity seemed to be offered two hours +later, when the stage stopped at a wayside hotel or restaurant. + +Two or three passengers had got down to refresh themselves at the bar. +His right and left hand neighbors were, however, engaged in a drawling +conversation on the comparative merits of San Francisco sandhill +and water lots; the jocular occupants of the middle seat were still +engrossed with the lady. Clarence slipped out of the stage and entered +the bar-room with some ostentation. The complete ignoring of his person +by the barkeeper and his customers, however, somewhat disconcerted him. +He hesitated a moment, and then returned gravely to the stage door and +opened it. + +"Would you mind taking a drink with me, sir?" said Clarence politely, +addressing the farmer-looking passenger who had been most civil to him. +A dead silence followed. The two men on the middle seat faced entirely +around to gaze at him. + +"The Commodore asks if you'll take a drink with him," explained one of +the men to Clarence's friend with the greatest seriousness. + +"Eh? Oh, yes, certainly," returned that gentleman, changing his +astonished expression to one of the deepest gravity, "seeing it's the +Commodore." + +"And perhaps you and your friend will join, too?" said Clarence timidly +to the passenger who had explained; "and you too, sir?" he added to the +dark man. + +"Really, gentlemen, I don't see how we can refuse," said the latter, +with the greatest formality, and appealing to the others. "A compliment +of this kind from our distinguished friend is not to be taken lightly." + +"I have observed, sir, that the Commodore's head is level," returned the +other man with equal gravity. + +Clarence could have wished they had not treated his first hospitable +effort quite so formally, but as they stepped from the coach with +unbending faces he led them, a little frightened, into the bar-room. +Here, unfortunately, as he was barely able to reach over the counter, +the barkeeper would have again overlooked him but for a quick glance +from the dark man, which seemed to change even the barkeeper's +perfunctory smiling face into supernatural gravity. + +"The Commodore is standing treat," said the dark man, with unbroken +seriousness, indicating Clarence, and leaning back with an air of +respectful formality. "I will take straight whiskey. The Commodore, +on account of just changing climate, will, I believe, for the present +content himself with lemon soda." + +Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey, like the others, but +a little doubtful of the politeness of countermanding his guest's +order, and perhaps slightly embarrassed by the fact that all the other +customers seemed to have gathered round him and his party with equally +immovable faces, he said hurriedly: + +"Lemon soda for me, please." + +"The Commodore," said the barkeeper with impassive features, as he bent +forward and wiped the counter with professional deliberation, "is right. +No matter how much a man may be accustomed all his life to liquor, when +he is changing climate, gentlemen, he says 'Lemon soda for me' all the +time." + +"Perhaps," said Clarence, brightening, "you will join too?" + +"I shall be proud on this occasion, sir." + +"I think," said the tall man, still as ceremoniously unbending as +before, "that there can be but one toast here, gentlemen. I give you the +health of the Commodore. May his shadow never be less." + +The health was drunk solemnly. Clarence felt his cheeks tingle and +in his excitement drank his own health with the others. Yet he was +disappointed that there was not more joviality; he wondered if men +always drank together so stiffly. And it occurred to him that it would +be expensive. Nevertheless, he had his purse all ready ostentatiously +in his hand; in fact, the paying for it out of his own money was not +the least manly and independent pleasure he had promised himself. "How +much?" he asked, with an affectation of carelessness. + +The barkeeper cast his eye professionally over the barroom. "I think you +said treats for the crowd; call it twenty dollars to make even change." + +Clarence's heart sank. He had heard already of the exaggeration +of California prices. Twenty dollars! It was half his fortune. +Nevertheless, with an heroic effort, he controlled himself, and with +slightly nervous fingers counted out the money. It struck him, however, +as curious, not to say ungentlemanly, that the bystanders craned their +necks over his shoulder to look at the contents of his purse, although +some slight explanation was offered by the tall man. + +"The Commodore's purse, gentlemen, is really a singular one. Permit me," +he said, taking it from Clarence's hand with great politeness. "It is +one of the new pattern, you observe, quite worthy of inspection." He +handed it to a man behind him, who in turn handed it to another, while +a chorus of "suthin quite new," "the latest style," followed it in its +passage round the room, and indicated to Clarence its whereabouts. +It was presently handed back to the barkeeper, who had begged also to +inspect it, and who, with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon +placing it himself in Clarence's side pocket, as if it were an +important part of his function. The driver here called "all aboard." +The passengers hurriedly reseated themselves, and the episode abruptly +ended. For, to Clarence's surprise, these attentive friends of a moment +ago at once became interested in the views of a new passenger concerning +the local politics of San Francisco, and he found himself utterly +forgotten. The bonnetless woman had changed her position, and her head +was no longer visible. The disillusion and depression that overcame him +suddenly were as complete as his previous expectations and hopefulness +had been extravagant. For the first time his utter unimportance in +the world and his inadequacy to this new life around him came upon him +crushingly. + +The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight +slumber and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got out +at a wayside station. They had evidently not cared to waken him to say +"Good-by." From the conversation of the other passengers he learned that +the tall man was a well-known gambler, and the one who looked like a +farmer was a ship captain who had become a wealthy merchant. Clarence +thought he understood now why the latter had asked him if he came off a +voyage, and that the nickname of "Commodore" given to him, Clarence, was +some joke intended for the captain's understanding. He missed them, for +he wanted to talk to them about his relative at Sacramento, whom he was +now so soon to see. At last, between sleeping and waking, the end of +his journey was unexpectedly reached. It was dark, but, being "steamer +night," the shops and business places were still open, and Mr. Peyton +had arranged that the stage-driver should deliver Clarence at the +address of his relative in "J Street,"--an address which Clarence had +luckily remembered. But the boy was somewhat discomfited to find that +it was a large office or banking-house. He, however, descended from the +stage, and with his small pack in his hand entered the building as the +stage drove off, and, addressing one of the busy clerks, asked for "Mr. +Jackson Brant." + +There was no such person in the office. There never had been any such +person. The bank had always occupied that building. Was there not some +mistake in the number? No; the name, number, and street had been deeply +engrafted in the boy's recollection. Stop! it might be the name of a +customer who had given his address at the bank. The clerk who made this +suggestion disappeared promptly to make inquiries in the counting-room. +Clarence, with a rapidly beating heart, awaited him. The clerk returned. +There was no such name on the books. Jackson Brant was utterly unknown +to every one in the establishment. + +For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed to +yield with his weight; he was obliged to steady himself with both hands +to keep from falling. It was not his disappointment, which was terrible; +it was not a thought of his future, which seemed hopeless; it was not +his injured pride at appearing to have willfully deceived Mr. Peyton, +which was more dreadful than all else; but it was the sudden, sickening +sense that HE himself had been deceived, tricked, and fooled! For it +flashed upon him for the first time that the vague sense of wrong which +had always haunted him was this--that this was the vile culmination of +a plan to GET RID OF HIM, and that he had been deliberately lost and led +astray by his relatives as helplessly and completely as a useless cat or +dog! + +Perhaps there was something of this in his face, for the clerk, staring +at him, bade him sit down for a moment, and again vanished into the +mysterious interior. Clarence had no conception how long he was absent, +or indeed anything but his own breathless thoughts, for he was conscious +of wondering afterwards why the clerk was leading him through a door in +the counter into an inner room of many desks, and again through a glass +door into a smaller office, where a preternaturally busy-looking man +sat writing at a desk. Without looking up, but pausing only to apply a +blotting-pad to the paper before him, the man said crisply-- + +"So you've been consigned to some one who don't seem to turn up, and +can't be found, eh? Never mind that," as Clarence laid Peyton's letter +before him. "Can't read it now. Well, I suppose you want to be shipped +back to Stockton?" + +"No!" said the boy, recovering his voice with an effort. + +"Eh, that's business, though. Know anybody here?" + +"Not a living soul; that's why they sent me," said the boy, in sudden +reckless desperation. He was the more furious that he knew the tears +were standing in his eyes. + +The idea seemed to strike the man amusingly. "Looks a little like it, +don't it?" he said, smiling grimly at the paper before him. "Got any +money?" + +"A little." + +"How much?" + +"About twenty dollars," said Clarence hesitatingly. The man opened a +drawer at his side, mechanically, for he did not raise his eyes, and +took out two ten-dollar gold pieces. "I'll go twenty better," he said, +laying them down on the desk. "That'll give you a chance to look around. +Come back here, if you don't see your way clear." He dipped his pen into +the ink with a significant gesture as if closing the interview. + +Clarence pushed back the coin. "I'm not a beggar," he said doggedly. + +The man this time raised his head and surveyed the boy with two keen +eyes. "You're not, hey? Well, do I look like one?" + +"No," stammered Clarence, as he glanced into the man's haughty eyes. + +"Yet, if I were in your fix, I'd take that money and be glad to get it." + +"If you'll let me pay you back again," said Clarence, a little ashamed, +and considerably frightened at his implied accusation of the man before +him. + +"You can," said the man, bending over his desk again. + +Clarence took up the money and awkwardly drew out his purse. But it was +the first time he had touched it since it was returned to him in the +bar-room, and it struck him that it was heavy and full--indeed, so +full that on opening it a few coins rolled out on to the floor. The man +looked up abruptly. + +"I thought you said you had only twenty dollars?" he remarked grimly. + +"Mr. Peyton gave me forty," returned Clarence, stupefied and blushing. +"I spent twenty dollars for drinks at the bar--and," he stammered, +"I--I--I don't know how the rest came here." + +"You spent twenty dollars for DRINKS?" said the man, laying down his +pen, and leaning back in his chair to gaze at the boy. + +"Yes--that is--I treated some gentlemen of the stage, sir, at Davidson's +Crossing." + +"Did you treat the whole stage company?" + +"No, sir, only about four or five--and the bar-keeper. But everything's +so dear in California. I know that." + +"Evidently. But it don't seem to make much difference with YOU," said +the man, glancing at the purse. + +"They wanted my purse to look at," said Clarence hurriedly, "and that's +how the thing happened. Somebody put HIS OWN MONEY back into MY purse by +accident." + +"Of course," said the man grimly. + +"Yes, that's the reason," said Clarence, a little relieved, but somewhat +embarrassed by the man's persistent eyes. + +"Then, of course," said the other quietly, "you don't require my twenty +dollars now." + +"But," returned Clarence hesitatingly, "this isn't MY money. I must +find out who it belongs to, and give it back again. Perhaps," he added +timidly, "I might leave it here with you, and call for it when I find +the man, or send him here." + +With the greatest gravity he here separated the surplus from what was +left of Peyton's gift and the twenty dollars he had just received. The +balance unaccounted for was forty dollars. He laid it on the desk before +the man, who, still looking at him, rose and opened the door. + +"Mr. Reed." + +The clerk who had shown Clarence in appeared. + +"Open an account with--" He stopped and turned interrogatively to +Clarence. + +"Clarence Brant," said Clarence, coloring with excitement. + +"With Clarence Brant. Take that deposit"--pointing to the money--"and +give him a receipt." He paused as the clerk retired with a wondering +gaze at the money, looked again at Clarence, said, "I think YOU'LL do," +and reentered the private office, closing the door behind him. + +I hope it will not be deemed inconceivable that Clarence, only a few +moments before crushed with bitter disappointment and the hopeless +revelation of his abandonment by his relatives, now felt himself lifted +up suddenly into an imaginary height of independence and manhood. He was +leaving the bank, in which he stood a minute before a friendless boy, +not as a successful beggar, for this important man had disclaimed the +idea, but absolutely as a customer! a depositor! a business man like +the grown-up clients who were thronging the outer office, and before the +eyes of the clerk who had pitied him! And he, Clarence, had been spoken +to by this man, whose name he now recognized as the one that was on the +door of the building--a man of whom his fellow-passengers had spoken +with admiring envy--a banker famous in all California! Will it be deemed +incredible that this imaginative and hopeful boy, forgetting all else, +the object of his visit, and even the fact that he considered this +money was not his own, actually put his hat a little on one side as he +strolled out on his way to the streets and prospective fortune? + +Two hours later the banker had another visitor. It chanced to be the +farmer-looking man who had been Clarence's fellow-passenger. Evidently a +privileged person, he was at once ushered as "Captain Stevens" into the +presence of the banker. At the end of a familiar business interview the +captain asked carelessly-- + +"Any letters for me?" + +The busy banker pointed with his pen to the letter "S" in a row of +alphabetically labeled pigeon-holes against the wall. The captain, +having selected his correspondence, paused with a letter in his hand. + +"Look here, Carden, there are letters here for some chap called 'John +Silsbee.' They were here when I called, ten weeks ago." + +"Well?" + +"That's the name of that Pike County man who was killed by Injins in the +plains. The 'Frisco papers had all the particulars last night; may be +it's for that fellow. It hasn't got a postmark. Who left it here?" + +Mr. Carden summoned a clerk. It appeared that the letter had been left +by a certain Brant Fauquier, to be called for. + +Captain Stevens smiled. "Brant's been too busy dealin' faro to think of +'em agin, and since that shootin' affair at Angels' I hear he's skipped +to the southern coast somewhere. Cal Johnson, his old chum, was in the +up stage from Stockton this afternoon." + +"Did you come by the up stage from Stockton this afternoon?" said +Carden, looking up. + +"Yes, as far as Ten-mile Station--rode the rest of the way here." + +"Did you notice a queer little old-fashioned kid--about so high--like a +runaway school-boy?" + +"Did I? By G--d, sir, he treated me to drinks." + +Carden jumped from his chair. "Then he wasn't lying!" + +"No! We let him do it; but we made it good for the little chap +afterwards. Hello! What's up?" + +But Mr. Carden was already in the outer office beside the clerk who had +admitted Clarence. + +"You remember that boy Brant who was here?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where did he go?" + +"Don't know, sir." + +"Go and find him somewhere and somehow. Go to all the hotels, +restaurants, and gin-mills near here, and hunt him up. Take some one +with you, if you can't do it alone. Bring him back here, quick!" + +It was nearly midnight when the clerk fruitlessly returned. It was the +fierce high noon of "steamer nights"; light flashed brilliantly from +shops, counting-houses, drinking-saloons, and gambling-hells. The +streets were yet full of eager, hurrying feet--swift of fortune, +ambition, pleasure, or crime. But from among these deeper harsher +footfalls the echo of the homeless boy's light, innocent tread seemed to +have died out forever. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +When Clarence was once more in the busy street before the bank, it +seemed clear to his boyish mind that, being now cast adrift upon the +world and responsible to no one, there was no reason why he should not +at once proceed to the nearest gold mines! The idea of returning to +Mr. Peyton and Susy, as a disowned and abandoned outcast, was not to +be thought of. He would purchase some kind of an outfit, such as he had +seen the miners carry, and start off as soon as he had got his supper. +But although one of his most delightful anticipations had been the +unfettered freedom of ordering a meal at a restaurant, on entering the +first one he found himself the object of so much curiosity, partly +from his size and partly from his dress, which the unfortunate boy was +beginning to suspect was really preposterous, and he turned away with a +stammered excuse, and did not try another. Further on he found a baker's +shop, where he refreshed himself with some gingerbread and lemon soda. +At an adjacent grocery he purchased some herrings, smoked beef, and +biscuits, as future provisions for his "pack" or kit. Then began his +real quest for an outfit. In an hour he had secured--ostensibly for some +friend, to avoid curious inquiry--a pan, a blanket, a shovel and +pick, all of which he deposited at the baker's, his unostentatious +headquarters, with the exception of a pair of disguising high boots that +half hid his sailor trousers, which he kept to put on at the last. Even +to his inexperience the cost of these articles seemed enormous; when +his purchases were complete, of his entire capital scarcely four dollars +remained! Yet in the fond illusions of boyhood these rude appointments +seemed possessed of far more value than the gold he had given in +exchange for them, and he had enjoyed a child's delight in testing the +transforming magic of money. + +Meanwhile, the feverish contact of the crowded street had, strange +to say, increased his loneliness, while the ruder joviality of its +dissipations began to fill him with vague uneasiness. The passing +glimpse of dancing halls and gaudily whirled figures that seemed only +feminine in their apparel; the shouts and boisterous choruses from +concert rooms; the groups of drunken roisterers that congregated around +the doors of saloons or, hilariously charging down the streets, elbowed +him against the wall, or humorously insisted on his company, discomposed +and frightened him. He had known rude companionship before, but it +was serious, practical, and under control. There was something in this +vulgar degradation of intellect and power--qualities that Clarence had +always boyishly worshiped--which sickened and disillusioned him. Later +on a pistol shot in a crowd beyond, the rush of eager men past him, the +disclosure of a limp and helpless figure against the wall, the closing +of the crowd again around it, although it stirred him with a fearful +curiosity, actually shocked him less hopelessly than their brutish +enjoyments and abandonment. + +It was in one of these rushes that he had been crushed against a +swinging door, which, giving way to his pressure, disclosed to his +wondering eyes a long, glitteringly adorned, and brightly lit room, +densely filled with a silent, attentive throng in attitudes of decorous +abstraction and preoccupation, that even the shouts and tumult at its +very doors could not disturb. Men of all ranks and conditions, plainly +or elaborately clad, were grouped together under this magic spell of +silence and attention. The tables before them were covered with cards +and loose heaps of gold and silver. A clicking, the rattling of an ivory +ball, and the frequent, formal, lazy reiteration of some unintelligible +sentence was all that he heard. But by a sudden instinct he UNDERSTOOD +it all. It was a gambling saloon! + +Encouraged by the decorous stillness, and the fact that everybody +appeared too much engaged to notice him, the boy drew timidly beside +one of the tables. It was covered with a number of cards, on which were +placed certain sums of money. Looking down, Clarence saw that he was +standing before a card that as yet had nothing on it. A single player at +his side looked up, glanced at Clarence curiously, and then placed half +a dozen gold pieces on the vacant card. Absorbed in the general aspect +of the room and the players, Clarence did not notice that his neighbor +won twice, and even THRICE, upon that card. Becoming aware, however, +that the player while gathering in his gains, was smilingly regarding +him he moved in some embarrassment to the other end of the table, where +there seemed another gap in the crowd. It so chanced that there was also +another vacant card. The previous neighbor of Clarence instantly shoved +a sum of money across the table on the vacant card and won! At this the +other players began to regard Clarence singularly, one or two of the +spectators smiled, and the boy, coloring, moved awkwardly away. But his +sleeve was caught by the successful player, who, detaining him gently, +put three gold pieces into his hand. + +"That's YOUR share, sonny," he whispered. + +"Share--for what?" stammered the astounded Clarence. + +"For bringing me 'the luck,'" said the man. + +Clarence stared. "Am I--to--to play with it?" he said, glancing at the +coins and then at the table, in ignorance of the stranger's meaning. + +"No, no!" said the man hurriedly, "don't do that. You'll lose it, sonny, +sure! Don't you see, YOU BRING THE LUCK TO OTHERS, not to yourself. Keep +it, old man, and run home!" + +"I don't want it! I won't have it!" said Clarence with a swift +recollection of the manipulation of his purse that morning, and a sudden +distrust of all mankind. + +"There!" He turned back to the table and laid the money on the first +vacant card he saw. In another moment, as it seemed to him, it was raked +away by the dealer. A sense of relief came over him. + +"There!" said the man, with an awed voice and a strange, fatuous look +in his eye. "What did I tell you? You see, it's allus so! Now," he added +roughly, "get up and get out o' this, afore you lose the boots and shirt +off ye." + +Clarence did not wait for a second command. With another glance round +the room, he began to make his way through the crowd towards the front. +But in that parting glance he caught a glimpse of a woman presiding over +a "wheel of fortune" in a corner, whose face seemed familiar. He looked +again, timidly. In spite of an extraordinary head-dress or crown that +she wore as the "Goddess of Fortune," he recognized, twisted in its +tinsel, a certain scarlet vine which he had seen before; in spite of the +hoarse formula which she was continually repeating, he recognized the +foreign accent. It was the woman of the stage-coach! With a sudden dread +that she might recognize him, and likewise demand his services "for +luck," he turned and fled. + +Once more in the open air, there came upon him a vague loathing +and horror of the restless madness and feverish distraction of this +half-civilized city. It was the more powerful that it was vague, and the +outcome of some inward instinct. He found himself longing for the pure +air and sympathetic loneliness of the plains and wilderness; he began to +yearn for the companionship of his humble associates--the teamster, the +scout Gildersleeve, and even Jim Hooker. But above all and before all +was the wild desire to get away from these maddening streets and +their bewildering occupants. He ran back to the baker's, gathered his +purchases together, took advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them +on his boyish shoulders, slipped into a side street, and struck out at +once for the outskirts. + +It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining +district, but the diminution of his small capital forbade that outlay, +and he decided to walk there by the highroad, of whose general direction +he had informed himself. In half an hour the lights of the flat, +struggling city, and their reflection in the shallow, turbid river +before it, had sunk well behind him. The air was cool and soft; a yellow +moon swam in the slight haze that rose above the tules; in the distance +a few scattered cottonwoods and sycamores marked like sentinels the +road. When he had walked some distance he sat down beneath one of them +to make a frugal supper from the dry rations in his pack, but in the +absence of any spring he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of +water in a wayside tavern. Here he was good-humoredly offered +something stronger, which he declined, and replied to certain curious +interrogations by saying that he expected to overtake his friends in a +wagon further on. A new distrust of mankind had begun to make the boy +an adept in innocent falsehood, the more deceptive as his careless, +cheerful manner, the result of his relief at leaving the city, and his +perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and nature, certainly +gave no indication of his homelessness and poverty. + +It was long past midnight, when, weary in body, but still hopeful and +happy in mind, he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling expanse +of wild oats, with the same sense of security of rest as a traveler to +his inn. Here, completely screened from view by the tall stalks of grain +that rose thickly around him to the height of a man's shoulder, he beat +down a few of them for a bed, on which he deposited his blanket. Placing +his pack for a pillow, he curled himself up in his blanket, and speedily +fell asleep. + +He awoke at sunrise, refreshed, invigorated, and hungry. But he was +forced to defer his first self-prepared breakfast until he had reached +water, and a less dangerous place than the wild-oat field to build +his first camp fire. This he found a mile further on, near some dwarf +willows on the bank of a half-dry stream. Of his various efforts to +prepare his first meal, the fire was the most successful; the coffee +was somewhat too substantially thick, and the bacon and herring lacked +definiteness of quality from having been cooked in the same vessel. +In this boyish picnic he missed Susy, and recalled, perhaps a little +bitterly, her coldness at parting. But the novelty of his situation, the +brilliant sunshine and sense of freedom, and the road already awakening +to dusty life with passing teams, dismissed everything but the future +from his mind. Readjusting his pack, he stepped on cheerily. At noon he +was overtaken by a teamster, who in return for a match to light his pipe +gave him a lift of a dozen miles. It is to be feared that Clarence's +account of himself was equally fanciful with his previous story, and +that the teamster parted from him with a genuine regret, and a hope that +he would soon be overtaken by his friends along the road. "And mind that +you ain't such a fool agin to let 'em make you tote their dod-blasted +tools fur them!" he added unsuspectingly, pointing to Clarence's mining +outfit. Thus saved the heaviest part of the day's journey, for the +road was continually rising from the plains during the last six miles, +Clarence was yet able to cover a considerable distance on foot before +he halted for supper. Here he was again fortunate. An empty lumber +team watering at the same spring, its driver offered to take Clarence's +purchases--for the boy had profited by his late friend's suggestion to +personally detach himself from his equipment--to Buckeye Mills for a +dollar, which would also include a "shakedown passage" for himself on +the floor of the wagon. "I reckon you've been foolin' away in Sacramento +the money yer parents give yer for return stage fare, eh? Don't +lie, sonny," he added grimly, as the now artful Clarence smiled +diplomatically, "I've been thar myself!" Luckily, the excuse that he was +"tired and sleepy" prevented further dangerous questioning, and the boy +was soon really in deep slumber on the wagon floor. + +He awoke betimes to find himself already in the mountains. Buckeye +Mills was a straggling settlement, and Clarence prudently stopped any +embarrassing inquiry from his friend by dropping off the wagon with +his equipment as they entered it, and hurriedly saying "Good-by" from a +crossroad through the woods. He had learned that the nearest mining camp +was five miles away, and its direction was indicated by a long wooden +"flume," or water-way, that alternately appeared and disappeared on the +flank of the mountain opposite. The cooler and drier air, the grateful +shadow of pine and bay, and the spicy balsamic odors that everywhere +greeted him, thrilled and exhilarated him. The trail plunging sometimes +into an undisturbed forest, he started the birds before him like a +flight of arrows through its dim recesses; at times he hung breathlessly +over the blue depths of canyons where the same forests were repeated a +thousand feet below. Towards noon he struck into a rude road--evidently +the thoroughfare of the locality--and was surprised to find that it, +as well as the adjacent soil wherever disturbed, was a deep Indian red. +Everywhere, along its sides, powdering the banks and boles of trees with +its ruddy stain, in mounds and hillocks of piled dirt on the road, or +in liquid paint-like pools, when a trickling stream had formed a gutter +across it, there was always the same deep sanguinary color. Once or +twice it became more vivid in contrast with the white teeth of quartz +that peeped through it from the hillside or crossed the road in crumbled +strata. One of those pieces Clarence picked up with a quickening pulse. +It was veined and streaked with shining mica and tiny glittering cubes +of mineral that LOOKED like gold! + +The road now began to descend towards a winding stream, shrunken by +drought and ditching, that glared dazzingly in the sunlight from its +white bars of sand, or glistened in shining sheets and channels. Along +its banks, and even encroaching upon its bed, were scattered a few mud +cabins, strange-looking wooden troughs and gutters, and here and there, +glancing through the leaves, the white canvas of tents. The stumps of +felled trees and blackened spaces, as of recent fires, marked the stream +on either side. A sudden sense of disappointment overcame Clarence. It +looked vulgar, common, and worse than all--FAMILIAR. It was like the +unlovely outskirts of a dozen other prosaic settlements he had seen in +less romantic localities. In that muddy red stream, pouring out of a +wooden gutter, in which three or four bearded, slouching, half-naked +figures were raking like chiffonniers, there was nothing to suggest +the royal metal. Yet he was so absorbed in gazing at the scene, and had +walked so rapidly during the past few minutes, that he was startled, on +turning a sharp corner of the road, to come abruptly upon an outlying +dwelling. + +It was a nondescript building, half canvas and half boards. The interior +seen through the open door was fitted up with side shelves, a +counter carelessly piled with provisions, groceries, clothing, and +hardware--with no attempt at display or even ordinary selection--and a +table, on which stood a demijohn and three or four dirty glasses. Two +roughly dressed men, whose long, matted beards and hair left only their +eyes and lips visible in the tangled hirsute wilderness below their +slouched hats, were leaning against the opposite sides of the doorway, +smoking. Almost thrown against them in the rapid momentum of his +descent, Clarence halted violently. + +"Well, sonny, you needn't capsize the shanty," said the first man, +without taking his pipe from his lips. + +"If yer looking fur yer ma, she and yer Aunt Jane hev jest gone over to +Parson Doolittle's to take tea," observed the second man lazily. "She +allowed that you'd wait." + +"I'm--I'm--going to--to the mines," explained Clarence, with some +hesitation. "I suppose this is the way." + +The two men took their pipes from their lips, looked at each other, +completely wiped every vestige of expression from their faces with the +back of their hands, turned their eyes into the interior of the cabin, +and said, "Will yer come yer, now WILL yer?" Thus adjured, half a dozen +men, also bearded and carrying pipes in their mouths, straggled out of +the shanty, and, filing in front of it, squatted down, with their backs +against the boards, and gazed comfortably at the boy. Clarence began to +feel uneasy. + +"I'll give," said one, taking out his pipe and grimly eying Clarence, "a +hundred dollars for him as he stands." + +"And seein' as he's got that bran-new rig-out o' tools," said another, +"I'll give a hundred and fifty--and the drinks. I've been," he added +apologetically, "wantin' sunthin' like this a long time." + +"Well, gen'lemen," said the man who had first spoken to him, "lookin' +at him by and large; takin' in, so to speak, the gin'ral gait of him in +single harness; bearin' in mind the perfect freshness of him, and the +coolness and size of his cheek--the easy downyness, previousness, and +utter don't-care-a-damnativeness of his coming yer, I think two hundred +ain't too much for him, and we'll call it a bargain." + +Clarence's previous experience of this grim, smileless Californian chaff +was not calculated to restore his confidence. He drew away from the +cabin, and repeated doggedly, "I asked you if this was the way to the +mines." + +"It ARE the mines, and these yere are the miners," said the first +speaker gravely. "Permit me to interdoose 'em. This yere's Shasta Jim, +this yere's Shotcard Billy, this is Nasty Bob, and this Slumgullion +Dick. This yere's the Dook o' Chatham Street, the Livin' Skeleton, and +me!" + +"May we ask, fair young sir," said the Living Skeleton, who, however, +seemed in fairly robust condition, "whence came ye on the wings of the +morning, and whose Marble Halls ye hev left desolate?" + +"I came across the plains, and got into Stockton two days ago on Mr. +Peyton's train," said Clarence, indignantly, seeing no reason now to +conceal anything. "I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, who isn't +living there any more. I don't see anything funny in THAT! I came here +to the mines to dig gold--because---because Mr. Silsbee, the man who was +to bring me here and might have found my cousin for me, was killed by +Indians." + +"Hold up, sonny. Let me help ye," said the first speaker, rising to his +feet. "YOU didn't get killed by Injins because you got lost out of a +train with Silsbee's infant darter. Peyton picked you up while you was +takin' care of her, and two days arter you kem up to the broken-down +Silsbee wagons, with all the folks lyin' there slartered." + +"Yes, sir," said Clarence, breathlessly with astonishment. + +"And," continued the man, putting his hand gravely to his head as if +to assist his memory, "when you was all alone on the plains with that +little child you saw one of those redskins, as near to you as I be, +watchin' the train, and you didn't breathe or move while he was there?" + +"Yes, sir," said Clarence eagerly. + +"And you was shot at by Peyton, he thinkin' you was an Injun in the +mesquite grass? And you once shot a buffalo that had been pitched with +you down a gully--all by yourself?" + +"Yes," said Clarence, crimson with wonder and pleasure. "You know me, +then?" + +"Well, ye-e-es," said the man gravely, parting his mustache with his +fingers. "You see, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE." + +"Before! Me?" repeated the astounded Clarence. + +"Yes, before. Last night. You was taller then, and hadn't cut your hair. +You cursed a good deal more than you do now. You drank a man's share +of whiskey, and you borrowed fifty dollars to get to Sacramento with. I +reckon you haven't got it about you now, eh?" + +Clarence's brain reeled in utter confusion and hopeless terror. + +Was he going crazy, or had these cruel men learned his story from +his faithless friends, and this was a part of the plot? He staggered +forward, but the men had risen and quickly encircled him, as if to +prevent his escape. In vague and helpless desperation he gasped-- + +"What place is this?" + +"Folks call it Deadman's Gulch." + +Deadman's Gulch! A flash of intelligence lit up the boy's blind +confusion. Deadman's Gulch! Could it have been Jim Hooker who had really +run away, and had taken his name? He turned half-imploringly to the +first speaker. + +"Wasn't he older than me, and bigger? Didn't he have a smooth, round +face and little eyes? Didn't he talk hoarse? Didn't he--" He stopped +hopelessly. + +"Yes; oh, he wasn't a bit like you," said the man musingly. "Ye see, +that's the h-ll of it! You're altogether TOO MANY and TOO VARIOUS fur +this camp." + +"I don't know who's been here before, or what they have said," said +Clarence desperately, yet even in that desperation retaining the dogged +loyalty to his old playmate, which was part of his nature. "I don't +know, and I don't care--there! I'm Clarence Brant of Kentucky; I started +in Silsbee's train from St. Jo, and I'm going to the mines, and you +can't stop me!" + +The man who had first spoken started, looked keenly at Clarence, and +then turned to the others. The gentleman known as the living skeleton +had obtruded his huge bulk in front of the boy, and, gazing at him, said +reflectively, "Darned if it don't look like one of Brant's pups--sure!" + +"Air ye any relation to Kernel Hamilton Brant of Looeyville?" asked the +first speaker. + +Again that old question! Poor Clarence hesitated, despairingly. Was +he to go through the same cross-examination he had undergone with the +Peytons? "Yes," he said doggedly, "I am--but he's dead, and you know +it." + +"Dead--of course." "Sartin." "He's dead." "The Kernel's planted," said +the men in chorus. + +"Well, yes," reflected the Living Skeleton ostentatiously, as one who +spoke from experience. "Ham Brant's about as bony now as they make 'em." + +"You bet! About the dustiest, deadest corpse you kin turn out," +corroborated Slumgullion Dick, nodding his head gloomily to the others; +"in point o' fack, es a corpse, about the last one I should keer to go +huntin' fur." + +"The Kernel's tech 'ud be cold and clammy," concluded the Duke of +Chatham Street, who had not yet spoken, "sure. But what did yer mammy +say about it? Is she gettin' married agin? Did SHE send ye here?" + +It seemed to Clarence that the Duke of Chatham Street here received a +kick from his companions; but the boy repeated doggedly-- + +"I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, Jackson Brant; but he wasn't +there." + +"Jackson Brant!" echoed the first speaker, glancing at the others. "Did +your mother say he was your cousin?" + +"Yes," said Clarence wearily. "Good-by." + +"Hullo, sonny, where are you going?" + +"To dig gold," said the boy. "And you know you can't prevent me, if it +isn't on your claim. I know the law." He had heard Mr. Peyton discuss +it at Stockton, and he fancied that the men, who were whispering among +themselves, looked kinder than before, and as if they were no longer +"acting" to him. The first speaker laid his hand on his shoulder, and +said, "All right, come with me, and I'll show you where to dig." + +"Who are you?" said Clarence. "You called yourself only 'me.'" + +"Well, you can call me Flynn--Tom Flynn." + +"And you'll show me where I can dig--myself?" + +"I will." + +"Do you know," said Clarence timidly, yet with a half-conscious smile, +"that I--I kinder bring luck?" + +The man looked down upon him, and said gravely, but, as it struck +Clarence, with a new kind of gravity, "I believe you." + +"Yes," said Clarence eagerly, as they walked along together, "I brought +luck to a man in Sacramento the other day." And he related with great +earnestness his experience in the gambling saloon. Not content with +that--the sealed fountains of his childish deep being broken up by +some mysterious sympathy--he spoke of his hospitable exploit with the +passengers at the wayside bar, of the finding of his Fortunatus purse +and his deposit at the bank. Whether that characteristic old-fashioned +reticence which had been such an important factor for good or ill in +his future had suddenly deserted him, or whether some extraordinary +prepossession in his companion had affected him, he did not know; but +by the time the pair had reached the hillside Flynn was in possession +of all the boy's history. On one point only was his reserve unshaken. +Conscious although he was of Jim Hooker's duplicity, he affected to +treat it as a comrade's joke. + +They halted at last in the middle of an apparently fertile hillside. +Clarence shifted his shovel from his shoulders, unslung his pan, and +looked at Flynn. "Dig anywhere here, where you like," said his companion +carelessly, "and you'll be sure to find the color. Fill your pan with +the dirt, go to that sluice, and let the water run in on the top of the +pan--workin' it round so," he added, illustrating a rotary motion with +the vessel. "Keep doing that until all the soil is washed out of it, and +you have only the black sand at the bottom. Then work that the same way +until you see the color. Don't be afraid of washing the gold out of the +pan--you couldn't do it if you tried. There, I'll leave you here, and +you wait till I come back." With another grave nod and something like a +smile in the only visible part of his bearded face--his eyes--he strode +rapidly away. + +Clarence did not lose time. Selecting a spot where the grass was less +thick, he broke through the soil and turned up two or three spadefuls of +red soil. When he had filled the pan and raised it to his shoulder, he +was astounded at its weight. He did not know that it was due to the red +precipitate of iron that gave it its color. Staggering along with his +burden to the running sluice, which looked like an open wooden gutter, +at the foot of the hill, he began to carefully carry out Flynn's +direction. The first dip of the pan in the running water carried off +half the contents of the pan in liquid paint-like ooze. For a moment he +gave way to boyish satisfaction in the sight and touch of this unctuous +solution, and dabbled his fingers in it. A few moments more of rinsing +and he came to the sediment of fine black sand that was beneath it. +Another plunge and swilling of water in the pan, and--could he believe +his eyes!--a few yellow tiny scales, scarcely larger than pins' heads, +glittered among the sand. He poured it off. But his companion was right; +the lighter sand shifted from side to side with the water, but the +glittering points remained adhering by their own tiny specific gravity +to the smooth surface of the bottom. It was "the color"--gold! + +Clarence's heart seemed to give a great leap within him. A vision of +wealth, of independence, of power, sprang before his dazzled eyes, +and--a hand lightly touched him on the shoulder. + +He started. In his complete preoccupation and excitement, he had not +heard the clatter of horse-hoofs, and to his amazement Flynn was already +beside him, mounted, and leading a second horse. + +"You kin ride?" he said shortly. + +"Yes" stammered Clarence; "but--" + +"BUT--we've only got two hours to reach Buckeye Mills in time to catch +the down stage. Drop all that, jump up, and come with me!" + +"But I've just found gold," said the boy excitedly. + +"And I've just found your--cousin. Come!" + +He spurred his horse across Clarence's scattered implements, half +helped, half lifted, the boy into the saddle of the second horse, and, +with a cut of his riata over the animal's haunches, the next moment they +were both galloping furiously away. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Torn suddenly from his prospective future, but too much dominated by the +man beside him to protest, Clarence was silent until a rise in the road, +a few minutes later, partly abated their headlong speed, and gave him +chance to recover his breath and courage. + +"Where is my cousin?" he asked. + +"In the Southern county, two hundred miles from here." + +"Are we going to him?" + +"Yes." + +They rode furiously forward again. It was nearly half an hour before +they came to a longer ascent. Clarence could see that Flynn was from +time to time examining him curiously under his slouched hat. This +somewhat embarrassed him, but in his singular confidence in the man no +distrust mingled with it. + +"Ye never saw your--cousin?" he asked. + +"No," said Clarence; "nor he me. I don't think he knew me much, any way. + +"How old mout ye be, Clarence?" + +"Eleven." + +"Well, as you're suthin of a pup"--Clarence started, and recalled +Peyton's first criticism of him--"I reckon to tell ye suthin. Ye ain't +goin' to be skeert, or afeard, or lose yer sand, I kalkilate, for +skunkin' ain't in your breed. Well, wot ef I told ye that thish +yer--thish yer--COUSIN o' yours was the biggest devil onhung; that he'd +just killed a man, and had to lite out elsewhere, and THET'S why he +didn't show up in Sacramento--what if I told you that?" + +Clarence felt that this was somehow a little too much. He was perfectly +truthful, and lifting his frank eyes to Flynn, he said, + +"I should think you were talking a good deal like Jim Hooker!" + +His companion stared, and suddenly reined up his horse; then, bursting +into a shout of laughter, he galloped ahead, from time to time shaking +his head, slapping his legs, and making the dim woods ring with his +boisterous mirth. Then as suddenly becoming thoughtful again, he rode on +rapidly for half an hour, only speaking to Clarence to urge him forward, +and assisting his progress by lashing the haunches of his horse. +Luckily, the boy was a good rider--a fact which Flynn seemed to +thoroughly appreciate--or he would have been unseated a dozen times. + +At last the straggling sheds of Buckeye Mills came into softer purple +view on the opposite mountain. Then laying his hand on Clarence's +shoulder as he reined in at his side, Flynn broke the silence. + +"There, boy," he said, wiping the mirthful tears from his eyes. "I was +only foolin'--only tryin' yer grit! This yer cousin I'm taking you to be +as quiet and soft-spoken and as old-fashioned ez you be. Why, he's +that wrapped up in books and study that he lives alone in a big adobe +rancherie among a lot o' Spanish, and he don't keer to see his own +countrymen! Why, he's even changed his name, and calles himself Don Juan +Robinson! But he's very rich; he owns three leagues of land and heaps of +cattle and horses, and," glancing approvingly at Clarence's seat in the +saddle, "I reckon you'll hev plenty of fun thar." + +"But," hesitated Clarence, to whom this proposal seemed only a +repetition of Peyton's charitable offer, "I think I'd better stay here +and dig gold--WITH YOU." + +"And I think you'd better not," said the man, with a gravity that was +very like a settled determination. + +"But my cousin never came for me to Sacramento--nor sent, nor even +wrote," persisted Clarence indignantly. + +"Not to YOU, boy; but he wrote to the man whom he reckoned would bring +you there--Jack Silsbee--and left it in the care of the bank. And +Silsbee, being dead, didn't come for the letter; and as you didn't ask +for it when you came, and didn't even mention Silsbee's name, that same +letter was sent back to your cousin through me, because the bank thought +we knew his whereabouts. It came to the gulch by an express rider, +whilst you were prospectin' on the hillside. Rememberin' your story, I +took the liberty of opening it, and found out that your cousin had told +Silsbee to bring you straight to him. So I'm only doin' now what Silsbee +would have done." + +Any momentary doubt or suspicion that might have risen in Clarence's +mind vanished as he met his companion's steady and masterful eye. +Even his disappointment was forgotten in the charm of this new-found +friendship and protection. And as its outset had been marked by +an unusual burst of confidence on Clarence's part, the boy, in his +gratitude, now felt something of the timid shyness of a deeper feeling, +and once more became reticent. + +They were in time to snatch a hasty meal at Buckeye Mills before the +stage arrived, and Clarence noticed that his friend, despite his rough +dress and lawless aspect, provoked a marked degree of respect from those +he met--in which, perhaps, a wholesome fear was mingled. It is certain +that the two best places in the stage were given up to them without +protest, and that a careless, almost supercilious invitation to drink +from Flynn was responded to with singular alacrity by all, including +even two fastidiously dressed and previously reserved passengers. I +am afraid that Clarence enjoyed this proof of his friend's singular +dominance with a boyish pride, and, conscious of the curious eyes of the +passengers, directed occasionally to himself, was somewhat ostentatious +in his familiarity with this bearded autocrat. + +At noon the next day they left the stage at a wayside road station, and +Flynn briefly informed Clarence that they must again take horses. This +at first seemed difficult in that out-of-the-way settlement, where +they alone had stopped, but a whisper from the driver in the ear of +the station-master produced a couple of fiery mustangs, with the same +accompaniment of cautious awe and mystery. For the next two days they +traveled on horseback, resting by night at the lodgings of one or other +of Flynn's friends in the outskirts of a large town, where they arrived +in the darkness, and left before day. To any one more experienced +than the simple-minded boy it would have been evident that Flynn was +purposely avoiding the more traveled roads and conveyances; and when +they changed horses again the next day's ride was through an apparently +unbroken wilderness of scattered wood and rolling plain. Yet to +Clarence, with his pantheistic reliance and joyous sympathy with nature, +the change was filled with exhilarating pleasure. The vast seas of +tossing wild oats, the hillside still variegated with strange flowers, +the virgin freshness of untrodden woods and leafy aisles, whose floors +of moss or bark were undisturbed by human footprint, were a keen delight +and novelty. More than this, his quick eye, trained perceptions, and +frontier knowledge now stood him in good stead. His intuitive sense of +distance, instincts of woodcraft, and his unerring detection of those +signs, landmarks, and guideposts of nature, undistinguishable to aught +but birds and beasts and some children, were now of the greatest service +to his less favored companion. In this part of their strange pilgrimage +it was the boy who took the lead. Flynn, who during the past two days +seemed to have fallen into a mood of watchful reserve, nodded his +approbation. "This sort of thing's yer best holt, boy," he said. "Men +and cities ain't your little game." + +At the next stopping-place Clarence had a surprise. They had again +entered a town at nightfall, and lodged with another friend of Flynn's +in rooms which from vague sounds appeared to be over a gambling saloon. +Clarence woke late in the morning, and, descending into the street to +mount for the day's journey, was startled to find that Flynn was not on +the other horse, but that a well-dressed and handsome stranger had taken +his place. But a laugh, and the familiar command, "Jump up, boy," +made him look again. It WAS Flynn, but completely shaven of beard and +mustache, closely clipped of hair, and in a fastidiously cut suit of +black! + +"Then you didn't know me?" said Flynn. + +"Not till you spoke," replied Clarence. + +"So much the better," said his friend sententiously, as he put spurs to +his horse. But as they cantered through the street, Clarence, who had +already become accustomed to the stranger's hirsute adornment, felt a +little more awe of him. The profile of the mouth and chin now exposed to +his sidelong glance was hard and stern, and slightly saturnine. Although +unable at the time to identify it with anybody he had ever known, it +seemed to the imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad +experience. But the eyes were thoughtful and kindly, and the boy later +believed that if he had been more familiar with the face he would have +loved it better. For it was the last and only day he was to see it, as, +late that afternoon, after a dusty ride along more traveled highways, +they reached their journey's end. + +It was a low-walled house, with red-tiled roofs showing against the dark +green of venerable pear and fig trees, and a square court-yard in the +centre, where they had dismounted. A few words in Spanish from Flynn to +one of the lounging peons admitted them to a wooden corridor, and thence +to a long, low room, which to Clarence's eyes seemed literally piled +with books and engravings. Here Flynn hurriedly bade him stay while he +sought the host in another part of the building. But Clarence did not +miss him; indeed, it may be feared, he forgot even the object of their +journey in the new sensations that suddenly thronged upon him, and the +boyish vista of the future that they seemed to open. He was dazed +and intoxicated. He had never seen so many books before; he had never +conceived of such lovely pictures. And yet in some vague way he thought +he must have dreamt of them at some time. He had mounted a chair, and +was gazing spellbound at an engraving of a sea-fight when he heard +Flynn's voice. + +His friend had quietly reentered the room, in company with an oldish, +half-foreign-looking man, evidently his relation. With no helping +recollection, with no means of comparison beyond a vague idea that his +cousin might look like himself, Clarence stood hopelessly before him. He +had already made up his mind that he would have to go through the +usual cross-questioning in regard to his father and family; he had even +forlornly thought of inventing some innocent details to fill out his +imperfect and unsatisfactory recollection. But, glancing up, he was +surprised to find that his elderly cousin was as embarrassed as he was, +Flynn, as usual, masterfully interposed. + +"Of course ye don't remember each other, and thar ain't much that either +of you knows about family matters, I reckon," he said grimly; "and as +your cousin calls himself Don Juan Robinson," he added to Clarence, +"it's just as well that you let 'Jackson Brant' slide. I know him better +than you, but you'll get used to him, and he to you, soon enough. At +least, you'd better," he concluded, with his singular gravity. + +As he turned as if to leave the room with Clarence's embarrassed +relative--much to that gentleman's apparent relief--the boy looked up at +the latter and said timidly-- + +"May I look at those books?" + +His cousin stopped, and glanced at him with the first expression of +interest he had shown. + +"Ah, you read; you like books?" + +"Yes," said Clarence. As his cousin remained still looking at him +thoughtfully, he added, "My hands are pretty clean, but I can wash them +first, if you like." + +"You may look at them," said Don Juan smilingly; "and as they are +old books you can wash your hands afterwards." And, turning to Flynn +suddenly, with an air of relief, "I tell you what I'll do--I'll teach +him Spanish!" + +They left the room together, and Clarence turned eagerly to the +shelves. They were old books, some indeed very old, queerly bound, and +worm-eaten. Some were in foreign languages, but others in clear, bold +English type, with quaint wood-cuts and illustrations. One seemed to +be a chronicle of battles and sieges, with pictured representations of +combatants spitted with arrows, cleanly lopped off in limb, or toppled +over distinctly by visible cannon-shot. He was deep in its perusal when +he heard the clatter of a horse's hoofs in the court-yard and the voice +of Flynn. He ran to the window, and was astonished to see his friend +already on horseback, taking leave of his host. + +For one instant Clarence felt one of those sudden revulsions of feeling +common to his age, but which he had always timidly hidden under dogged +demeanor. Flynn, his only friend! Flynn, his only boyish confidant! +Flynn, his latest hero, was going away and forsaking him without a +word of parting! It was true that he had only agreed to take him to his +guardian, but still Flynn need not have left him without a word of hope +or encouragement! With any one else Clarence would probably have taken +refuge in his usual Indian stoicism, but the same feeling that had +impelled him to offer Flynn his boyish confidences on their first +meeting now overpowered him. He dropped his book, ran out into the +corridor, and made his way to the court-yard, just as Flynn galloped out +from the arch. + +But the boy uttered a despairing shout that reached the rider. He drew +rein, wheeled, halted, and sat facing Clarence impatiently. To add +to Clarence's embarrassment his cousin had lingered in the corridor, +attracted by the interruption, and a peon, lounging in the archway, +obsequiously approached Flynn's bridle-rein. But the rider waved him +off, and, turning sternly to Clarence, said:-- + +"What's the matter now?" + +"Nothing," said Clarence, striving to keep back the hot tears that rose +in his eyes. "But you were going away without saying 'good-by.' You've +been very kind to me, and--and--I want to thank you!" + +A deep flush crossed Flynn's face. Then glancing suspiciously towards +the corridor, he said hurriedly,-- + +"Did HE send you?" + +"No, I came myself. I heard you going." + +"All right. Good-by." He leaned forward as if about to take Clarence's +outstretched hand, checked himself suddenly with a grim smile, and +taking from his pocket a gold coin handed it to the boy. + +Clarence took it, tossed it with a proud gesture to the waiting peon, +who caught it thankfully, drew back a step from Flynn, and saying, with +white cheeks, "I only wanted to say good-by," dropped his hot eyes to +the ground. But it did not seem to be his own voice that had spoken, nor +his own self that had prompted the act. + +There was a quick interchange of glances between the departing guest and +his late host, in which Flynn's eyes flashed with an odd, admiring fire, +but when Clarence raised his head again he was gone. And as the boy +turned back with a broken heart towards the corridor, his cousin laid +his hand upon his shoulder. + +"Muy hidalgamente, Clarence," he said pleasantly. "Yes, we shall make +something of you!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Then followed to Clarence three uneventful years. During that interval +he learnt that Jackson Brant, or Don Juan Robinson--for the tie of +kinship was the least factor in their relations to each other, and after +the departure of Flynn was tacitly ignored by both--was more Spanish +than American. An early residence in Lower California, marriage with a +rich Mexican widow, whose dying childless left him sole heir, and some +strange restraining idiosyncrasy of temperament had quite denationalized +him. A bookish recluse, somewhat superfastidious towards his own +countrymen, the more Clarence knew him the more singular appeared +his acquaintance with Flynn; but as he did not exhibit more +communicativeness on this point than upon their own kinship, Clarence +finally concluded that it was due to the dominant character of his +former friend, and thought no more about it. He entered upon the new +life at El Refugio with no disturbing past. Quickly adapting himself to +the lazy freedom of this hacienda existence, he spent the mornings +on horseback ranging the hills among his cousin's cattle, and the +afternoons and evenings busied among his cousin's books with equally +lawless and undisciplined independence. The easy-going Don Juan, it is +true, attempted to make good his rash promise to teach the boy Spanish, +and actually set him a few tasks; but in a few weeks the quick-witted +Clarence acquired such a colloquial proficiency from his casual +acquaintance with vaqueros and small traders that he was glad to +leave the matter in his young kinsman's hands. Again, by one of those +illogical sequences which make a lifelong reputation depend upon a +single trivial act, Clarence's social status was settled forever at El +Refugio Rancho by his picturesque diversion of Flynn's parting gift. The +grateful peon to whom the boy had scornfully tossed the coin repeated +the act, gesture, and spirit of the scene to his companion, and Don +Juan's unknown and youthful relation was at once recognized as hijo +de la familia, and undeniably a hidalgo born and bred. But in the +more vivid imagination of feminine El Refugio the incident reached its +highest poetic form. "It is true, Mother of God," said Chucha of the +Mill; "it was Domingo who himself relates it as it were the Creed. When +the American escort had arrived with the young gentleman, this escort, +look you, being not of the same quality, he is departing again without a +word of permission. Comes to him at this moment my little hidalgo. 'You +have yourself forgotten to take from me your demission,' he said. This +escort, thinking to make his peace with a mere muchacho, gives to him a +gold piece of twenty pesos. The little hidalgo has taken it SO, and +with the words, 'Ah! you would make of me your almoner to my cousin's +people,' has given it at the moment to Domingo, and with a grace and +fire admirable." But it is certain that Clarence's singular simplicity +and truthfulness, a faculty of being picturesquely indolent in a way +that suggested a dreamy abstraction of mind rather than any vulgar +tendency to bodily ease and comfort, and possibly the fact that he was +a good horseman, made him a popular hero at El Refugio. At the end of +three years Don Juan found that this inexperienced and apparently idle +boy of fourteen knew more of the practical ruling of the rancho than he +did himself; also that this unlettered young rustic had devoured nearly +all the books in his library with boyish recklessness of digestion. +He found, too, that in spite of his singular independence of action, +Clarence was possessed of an invincible loyalty of principle, and that, +asking no sentimental affection, and indeed yielding none, he was, +without presuming on his relationship, devoted to his cousin's interest. +It seemed that from being a glancing ray of sunshine in the house, +evasive but never obtrusive, he had become a daily necessity of comfort +and security to his benefactor. + +Clarence was, however, astonished, when, one morning, Don Juan, with the +same embarrassed manner he had shown at their first meeting, suddenly +asked him, "what business he expected to follow." It seemed the more +singular, as the speaker, like most abstracted men, had hitherto always +studiously ignored the future, in their daily intercourse. Yet this +might have been either the habit of security or the caution of +doubt. Whatever it was, it was some sudden disturbance of Don Juan's +equanimity, as disconcerting to himself as it was to Clarence. So +conscious was the boy of this that, without replying to his cousin's +question, but striving in vain to recall some delinquency of his own, he +asked, with his usual boyish directness-- + +"Has anything happened? Have I done anything wrong?" + +"No, no," returned Don Juan hurriedly. "But, you see, it's time that +you should think of your future--or at least prepare for it. I mean +you ought to have some more regular education. You will have to go to +school. It's too bad," he added fretfully, with a certain impatient +forgetfulness of Clarence's presence, and as if following his own +thought. "Just as you are becoming of service to me, and justifying +your ridiculous position here--and all this d--d nonsense that's gone +before--I mean, of course, Clarence," he interrupted himself, catching +sight of the boy's whitening cheek and darkening eye, "I mean, you +know--this ridiculousness of my keeping you from school at your age, and +trying to teach you myself--don't you see." + +"You think it is--ridiculous," repeated Clarence, with dogged +persistency. + +"I mean I am ridiculous," said Don Juan hastily. "There! there! let's +say no more about it. To-morrow we'll ride over to San Jose and see the +Father Secretary at the Jesuits' College about your entering at once. +It's a good school, and you'll always be near the rancho!" And so the +interview ended. + +I am afraid that Clarence's first idea was to run away. There are +few experiences more crushing to an ingenuous nature than the sudden +revelation of the aspect in which it is regarded by others. The +unfortunate Clarence, conscious only of his loyalty to his cousin's +interest and what he believed were the duties of his position, awoke to +find that position "ridiculous." In an afternoon's gloomy ride through +the lonely hills, and later in the sleepless solitude of his room at +night, he concluded that his cousin was right. He would go to school; +he would study hard--so hard that in a little, a very little while, he +could make a living for himself. He awoke contented. It was the blessing +of youth that this resolve and execution seemed as one and the same +thing. + +The next day found him installed as a pupil and boarder in the college. +Don Juan's position and Spanish predilections naturally made his +relation acceptable to the faculty; but Clarence could not help +perceiving that Father Sobriente, the Principal, regarded him at times +with a thoughtful curiosity that made him suspect that his cousin had +especially bespoken that attention, and that he occasionally questioned +him on his antecedents in a way that made him dread a renewal of the +old questioning about his progenitor. For the rest, he was a polished, +cultivated man; yet, in the characteristic, material criticism of youth, +I am afraid that Clarence chiefly identified him as a priest with large +hands, whose soft palms seemed to be cushioned with kindness, and whose +equally large feet, encased in extraordinary shapeless shoes of undyed +leather, seemed to tread down noiselessly--rather than to ostentatiously +crush--the obstacles that beset the path of the young student. In the +cloistered galleries of the court-yard Clarence sometimes felt himself +borne down by the protecting weight of this paternal hand; in the +midnight silence of the dormitory he fancied he was often conscious +of the soft browsing tread and snuffly muffled breathing of his +elephantine-footed mentor. + +His relations with his school-fellows were at first far from pleasant. +Whether they suspected favoritism; whether they resented that old and +unsympathetic manner which sprang from his habits of association with +his elders; or whether they rested their objections on the broader +grounds of his being a stranger, I do not know, but they presently +passed from cruel sneers to physical opposition. It was then found that +this gentle and reserved youth had retained certain objectionable, rude, +direct, rustic qualities of fist and foot, and that, violating all rules +and disdaining the pomp and circumstance of school-boy warfare, of which +he knew nothing, he simply thrashed a few of his equals out of hand, +with or without ceremony, as the occasion or the insult happened. In +this emergency one of the seniors was selected to teach this youthful +savage his proper position. A challenge was given, and accepted by +Clarence with a feverish alacrity that surprised himself as much as his +adversary. This was a youth of eighteen, his superior in size and skill. + +The first blow bathed Clarence's face in his own blood. But the +sanguinary chrism, to the alarm of the spectators, effected an +instantaneous and unhallowed change in the boy. Instantly closing with +his adversary, he sprang at his throat like an animal, and locking +his arm around his neck began to strangle him. Blind to the blows that +rained upon him, he eventually bore his staggering enemy by sheer onset +and surprise to the earth. Amidst the general alarm, the strength of +half a dozen hastily summoned teachers was necessary to unlock his hold. +Even then he struggled to renew the conflict. But his adversary +had disappeared, and from that day forward Clarence was never again +molested. + +Seated before Father Sobriente in the infirmary, with swollen and +bandaged face, and eyes that still seemed to see everything in the murky +light of his own blood, Clarence felt the soft weight of the father's +hand upon his knee. + +"My son," said the priest gently, "you are not of our religion, or I +should claim as a right to ask a question of your own heart at this +moment. But as to a good friend, Claro, a good friend," he continued, +patting the boy's knee, "you will tell me, old Father Sobriente, +frankly and truthfully, as is your habit, one little thing. Were you not +afraid?" + +"No," said Clarence doggedly. "I'll lick him again to-morrow." + +"Softly, my son! It was not of HIM I speak, but of something more +terrible and awful. Were you not afraid of--of--" he paused, and +suddenly darting his clear eyes into the very depths of Clarence's soul, +added--"of YOURSELF?" + +The boy started, shuddered, and burst into tears. + +"So, so," said the priest gently, "we have found our real enemy. Good! +Now, by the grace of God, my little warrior, we shall fight HIM and +conquer." + +Whether Clarence profited by this lesson, or whether this brief +exhibition of his quality prevented any repetition of the cause, the +episode was soon forgotten. As his school-fellows had never been his +associates or confidants, it mattered little to him whether they feared +or respected him, or were hypocritically obsequious, after the fashion +of the weaker. His studies, at all events, profited by this lack of +distraction. Already his two years of desultory and omnivorous reading +had given him a facile familiarity with many things, which left +him utterly free of the timidity, awkwardness, or non-interest of a +beginner. His usually reserved manner, which had been lack of expression +rather than of conviction, had deceived his tutors. The audacity of a +mind that had never been dominated by others, and owed no allegiance to +precedent, made his merely superficial progress something marvelous. + +At the end of the first year he was a phenomenal scholar, who seemed +capable of anything. Nevertheless, Father Sobriente had an interview +with Don Juan, and as a result Clarence was slightly kept back in his +studies, a little more freedom from the rules was conceded to him, and +he was even encouraged to take some diversion. Of such was the +privilege to visit the neighboring town of Santa Clara unrestricted and +unattended. He had always been liberally furnished with pocket-money, +for which, in his companionless state and Spartan habits, he had a +singular and unboyish contempt. Nevertheless, he always appeared dressed +with scrupulous neatness, and was rather distinguished-looking in his +older reserve and melancholy self-reliance. + +Lounging one afternoon along the Alameda, a leafy avenue set out by the +early Mission Fathers between the village of San Jose and the convent +of Santa Clara, he saw a double file of young girls from the convent +approaching, on their usual promenade. A view of this procession +being the fondest ambition of the San Jose collegian, and especially +interdicted and circumvented by the good Fathers attending the college +excursions, Clarence felt for it the profound indifference of a boy who, +in the intermediate temperate zone of fifteen years, thinks that he +is no longer young and romantic! He was passing them with a careless +glance, when a pair of deep violet eyes caught his own under the broad +shade of a coquettishly beribboned hat, even as it had once looked at +him from the depths of a calico sunbonnet. Susy! He started, and would +have spoken; but with a quick little gesture of caution and a meaning +glance at the two nuns who walked at the head and foot of the file, +she indicated him to follow. He did so at a respectful distance, albeit +wondering. A little further on Susy dropped her handkerchief, and was +obliged to dart out and run back to the end of the file to recover it. +But she gave another swift glance of her blue eyes as she snatched it up +and demurely ran back to her place. The procession passed on, but when +Clarence reached the spot where she had paused he saw a three-cornered +bit of paper lying in the grass. He was too discreet to pick it up while +the girls were still in sight, but continued on, returning to it later. +It contained a few words in a schoolgirl's hand, hastily scrawled in +pencil: "Come to the south wall near the big pear-tree at six." + +Delighted as Clarence felt, he was at the same time embarrassed. He +could not understand the necessity of this mysterious rendezvous. +He knew that if she was a scholar she was under certain conventual +restraints; but with the privileges of his position and friendship with +his teachers, he believed that Father Sobriente would easily procure him +an interview with this old play-fellow, of whom he had often spoken, +and who was, with himself, the sole survivor of his tragical past. And +trusted as he was by Sobriente, there was something in this clandestine +though innocent rendezvous that went against his loyalty. Nevertheless, +he kept the appointment, and at the stated time was at the south wall +of the convent, over which the gnarled boughs of the distinguishing +pear-tree hung. Hard by in the wall was a grated wicket door that seemed +unused. + +Would she appear among the boughs or on the edge of the wall? Either +would be like the old Susy. But to his surprise he heard the sound +of the key turning in the lock. The grated door suddenly swung on its +hinges, and Susy slipped out. Grasping his hand, she said, "Let's run, +Clarence," and before he could reply she started off with him at a rapid +pace. Down the lane they flew--very much, as it seemed to Clarence's +fancy, as they had flown from the old emigrant wagon on the prairie, +four years before. He glanced at the fluttering, fairy-like figure +beside him. She had grown taller and more graceful; she was dressed in +exquisite taste, with a minuteness of luxurious detail that bespoke +the spoilt child; but there was the same prodigal outburst of rippling, +golden hair down her back and shoulders, violet eyes, capricious little +mouth, and the same delicate hands and feet he had remembered. He would +have preferred a more deliberate survey, but with a shake of her head +and an hysteric little laugh she only said, "Run, Clarence, run," and +again darted forward. Arriving at the cross-street, they turned the +corner, and halted breathlessly. + +"But you're not running away from school, Susy, are you?" said Clarence +anxiously. + +"Only a little bit. Just enough to get ahead of the other girls," she +said, rearranging her brown curls and tilted hat. "You see, Clarence," +she condescended to explain, with a sudden assumption of older +superiority, "mother's here at the hotel all this week, and I'm allowed +to go home every night, like a day scholar. Only there's three or +four other girls that go out at the same time with me, and one of the +Sisters, and to-day I got ahead of 'em just to see YOU." + +"But" began Clarence. + +"Oh, it's all right; the other girls knew it, and helped me. They don't +start out for half an hour yet, and they'll say I've just run ahead, and +when they and the Sister get to the hotel I'll be there already--don't +you see?" + +"Yes," said Clarence dubiously. + +"And we'll go to an ice-cream saloon now, shan't we? There's a nice one +near the hotel. I've got some money," she added quickly, as Clarence +looked embarrassed. + +"So have I," said Clarence, with a faint accession of color. "Let's go!" +She had relinquished his hand to smooth out her frock, and they were +walking side by side at a more moderate pace. "But," he continued, +clinging to his first idea with masculine persistence, and anxious to +assure his companion of his power, of his position, "I'm in the college, +and Father Sobriente, who knows your lady superior, is a good friend +of mine and gives me privileges; and--and--when he knows that you and +I used to play together--why, he'll fix it that we may see each other +whenever we want." + +"Oh, you silly!" said Susy. "WHAT!--when you're--" + +"When I'm WHAT?" + +The young girl shot a violet blue ray from under her broad hat. +"Why--when we're grown up now?" Then with a certain precision, "Why, +they're VERY particular about young gentlemen! Why, Clarence, if they +suspected that you and I were--" Another violet ray from under the hat +completed this unfinished sentence. + +Pleased and yet confused, Clarence looked straight ahead with deepening +color. "Why," continued Susy, "Mary Rogers, that was walking with me, +thought you were ever so old--and a distinguished Spaniard! And I," +she said abruptly--"haven't I grown? Tell me, Clarence," with her old +appealing impatience, "haven't I grown? Do tell me!" + +"Very much," said Clarence. + +"And isn't this frock pretty--it's only my second best--but I've a +prettier one with lace all down in front; but isn't this one pretty, +Clarence, tell me?" + +Clarence thought the frock and its fair owner perfection, and said +so. Whereat Susy, as if suddenly aware of the presence of passers-by, +assumed an air of severe propriety, dropped her hands by her side, and +with an affected conscientiousness walked on, a little further from +Clarence's side, until they reached the ice-cream saloon. + +"Get a table near the back, Clarence," she said, in a confidential +whisper, "where they can't see us--and strawberry, you know, for the +lemon and vanilla here are just horrid!" + +They took their seats in a kind of rustic arbor in the rear of the shop, +which gave them the appearance of two youthful but somewhat over-dressed +and over-conscious shepherds. There was an interval of slight +awkwardness, which Susy endeavored to displace. "There has been," she +remarked, with easy conversational lightness, "quite an excitement about +our French teacher being changed. The girls in our class think it most +disgraceful." + +And this was all she could say after a separation of four years! +Clarence was desperate, but as yet idealess and voiceless. At last, with +an effort over his spoon, he gasped a floating recollection: "Do you +still like flapjacks, Susy?" + +"Oh, yes," with a laugh, "but we don't have them now." + +"And Mose" (a black pointer, who used to yelp when Susy sang), "does he +still sing with you?" + +"Oh, HE'S been lost ever so long," said Susy composedly; "but I've got +a Newfoundland and a spaniel and a black pony;" and here, with a rapid +inventory of her other personal effects, she drifted into some desultory +details of the devotion of her adopted parents, whom she now +readily spoke of as "papa" and "mamma," with evidently no disturbing +recollection of the dead. From which it appeared that the Peytons were +very rich, and, in addition to their possessions in the lower country, +owned a rancho in Santa Clara and a house in San Francisco. Like all +children, her strongest impressions were the most recent. In the vain +hope to lead her back to this material yesterday, he said-- + +"You remember Jim Hooker?" + +"Oh, HE ran away, when you left. But just think of it! The other day, +when papa and I went into a big restaurant in San Francisco, who should +be there WAITING on the table--yes, Clarence, a real waiter--but Jim +Hooker! Papa spoke to him; but of course," with a slight elevation of +her pretty chin, "I couldn't, you know; fancy--a waiter!" + +The story of how Jim Hooker had personated him stopped short upon +Clarence's lips. He could not bring himself now to add that revelation +to the contempt of his small companion, which, in spite of its naivete, +somewhat grated on his sensibilities. + +"Clarence," she said, suddenly turning towards him mysteriously, and +indicating the shopman and his assistants, "I really believe these +people suspect us." + +"Of what?" said the practical Clarence. + +"Don't be silly! Don't you see how they are staring?" + +Clarence was really unable to detect the least curiosity on the part of +the shopman, or that any one exhibited the slightest concern in him or +his companion. But he felt a return of the embarrassed pleasure he was +conscious of a moment before. + +"Then you're living with your father?" said Susy, changing the subject. + +"You mean my COUSIN," said Clarence, smiling. "You know my father died +long before I ever knew you." + +"Yes; that's what YOU used to say, Clarence, but papa says it isn't +so." But seeing the boy's wondering eyes fixed on her with a troubled +expression, she added quickly, "Oh, then, he IS your cousin!" + +"Well, I think I ought to know," said Clarence, with a smile, that was, +however, far from comfortable, and a quick return of his old unpleasant +recollections of the Peytons. "Why, I was brought to him by one of his +friends." And Clarence gave a rapid boyish summary of his journey from +Sacramento, and Flynn's discovery of the letter addressed to Silsbee. +But before he had concluded he was conscious that Susy was by no means +interested in these details, nor in the least affected by the +passing allusion to her dead father and his relation to Clarence's +misadventures. With her rounded chin in her hand, she was slowly +examining his face, with a certain mischievous yet demure abstraction. +"I tell you what, Clarence," she said, when he had finished, "you +ought to make your cousin get you one of those sombreros, and a nice +gold-braided serape. They'd just suit you. And then--then you could ride +up and down the Alameda when we are going by." + +"But I'm coming to see you at--at your house, and at the convent," he +said eagerly. "Father Sobriente and my cousin will fix it all right." + +But Susy shook her head, with superior wisdom. "No; they must never know +our secret!--neither papa nor mamma, especially mamma. And they mustn't +know that we've met again--AFTER THESE YEARS!" It is impossible to +describe the deep significance which Susy's blue eyes gave to this +expression. After a pause she went on-- + +"No! We must never meet again, Clarence, unless Mary Rogers helps. She +is my best, my ONLIEST friend, and older than I; having had trouble +herself, and being expressly forbidden to see him again. You can speak +to her about Suzette--that's my name now; I was rechristened Suzette +Alexandra Peyton by mamma. And now, Clarence," dropping her voice and +glancing shyly around the saloon, "you may kiss me just once under my +hat, for good-by." She adroitly slanted her broad-brimmed hat towards +the front of the shop, and in its shadow advanced her fresh young cheek +to Clarence. + +Coloring and laughing, the boy pressed his lips to it twice. Then Susy +arose, with the faintest affectation of a sigh, shook out her skirt, +drew on her gloves with the greatest gravity, and saying, "Don't follow +me further than the door--they're coming now," walked with supercilious +dignity past the preoccupied proprietor and waiters to the entrance. +Here she said, with marked civility, "Good-afternoon, Mr. Brant," and +tripped away towards the hotel. Clarence lingered for a moment to look +after the lithe and elegant little figure, with its shining undulations +of hair that fell over the back and shoulders of her white frock like a +golden mantle, and then turned away in the opposite direction. + +He walked home in a state, as it seemed to him, of absurd perplexity. +There were many reasons why his encounter with Susy should have been of +unmixed pleasure. She had remembered him of her own free will, and, in +spite of the change in her fortune, had made the first advances. Her +doubts about her future interviews had affected him but little; still +less, I fear, did he think of the other changes in her character and +disposition, for he was of that age when they added only a piquancy and +fascination to her--as of one who, in spite of her weakness of nature, +was still devoted to him! But he was painfully conscious that this +meeting had revived in him all the fears, vague uneasiness, and sense +of wrong that had haunted his first boyhood, and which he thought he had +buried at El Refugio four years ago. Susy's allusion to his father and +the reiteration of Peyton's skepticism awoke in his older intellect the +first feeling of suspicion that was compatible with his open nature. +Was this recurring reticence and mystery due to any act of his father's? +But, looking back upon it in after-years, he concluded that the incident +of that day was a premonition rather than a recollection. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +When he reached the college the Angelus had long since rung. In the +corridor he met one of the Fathers, who, instead of questioning him, +returned his salutation with a grave gentleness that struck him. He +had turned into Father Sobriente's quiet study with the intention of +reporting himself, when he was disturbed to find him in consultation +with three or four of the faculty, who seemed to be thrown into some +slight confusion by his entrance. Clarence was about to retire hurriedly +when Father Sobriente, breaking up the council with a significant glance +at the others, called him back. Confused and embarrassed, with a dread +of something impending, the boy tried to avert it by a hurried account +of his meeting with Susy, and his hopes of Father Sobriente's counsel +and assistance. Taking upon himself the idea of suggesting Susy's +escapade, he confessed the fault. The old man gazed into his frank eyes +with a thoughtful, half-compassionate smile. "I was just thinking +of giving you a holiday with--with Don Juan Robinson." The unusual +substitution of this final title for the habitual "your cousin" struck +Clarence uneasily. "But we will speak of that later. Sit down, my son; +I am not busy. We shall talk a little. Father Pedro says you are +getting on fluently with your translations. That is excellent, my son, +excellent." + +Clarence's face beamed with relief and pleasure. His vague fears began +to dissipate. + +"And you translate even from dictation! Good! We have an hour to spare, +and you shall give to me a specimen of your skill. Eh? Good! I will walk +here and dictate to you in my poor English, and you shall sit there and +render it to me in your good Spanish. Eh? So we shall amuse and instruct +ourselves." + +Clarence smiled. These sporadic moments of instruction and admonition +were not unusual to the good Father. He cheerfully seated himself at +the Padre's table before a blank sheet of paper, with a pen in his hand. +Father Sobriente paced the apartment, with his usual heavy but noiseless +tread. To his surprise, the good priest, after an exhaustive pinch of +snuff, blew his nose, and began, in his most lugubrious style of pulpit +exhortation:-- + +"It has been written that the sins of the father shall be visited upon +the children, and the unthinking and worldly have sought refuge from +this law by declaring it harsh and cruel. Miserable and blind! For do we +not see that the wicked man, who in the pride of his power and vainglory +is willing to risk punishment to HIMSELF--and believes it to be +courage--must pause before the awful mandate that condemns an equal +suffering to those he loves, which he cannot withhold or suffer for? In +the spectacle of these innocents struggling against disgrace, perhaps +disease, poverty, or desertion, what avails his haughty, all-defying +spirit? Let us imagine, Clarence." + +"Sir?" said the literal Clarence, pausing in his exercise. + +"I mean," continued the priest, with a slight cough, "let the thoughtful +man picture a father: a desperate, self-willed man, who scorned the laws +of God and society--keeping only faith with a miserable subterfuge he +called 'honor,' and relying only on his own courage and his knowledge of +human weakness. Imagine him cruel and bloody--a gambler by profession, +an outlaw among men, an outcast from the Church; voluntarily abandoning +friends and family,--the wife he should have cherished, the son he +should have reared and educated--for the gratification of his deadly +passions. Yet imagine that man suddenly confronted with the thought +of that heritage of shame and disgust which he had brought upon his +innocent offspring--to whom he cannot give even his own desperate +recklessness to sustain its vicarious suffering. What must be the +feelings of a parent--" + +"Father Sobriente," said Clarence softly. + +To the boy's surprise, scarcely had he spoken when the soft protecting +palm of the priest was already upon his shoulder, and the snuffy but +kindly upper lip, trembling with some strange emotion, close beside his +cheek. + +"What is it, Clarence?" he said hurriedly. "Speak, my son, without fear! +You would ask--" + +"I only wanted to know if 'padre' takes a masculine verb here," replied +Clarence naively. + +Father Sobriente blew his nose violently. "Truly--though used for either +gender, by the context masculine," he responded gravely. "Ah," he added, +leaning over Clarence, and scanning his work hastily, "Good, very good! +And now, possibly," he continued, passing his hand like a damp sponge +over his heated brow, "we shall reverse our exercise. I shall deliver +to you in Spanish what you shall render back in English, eh? And--let us +consider--we shall make something more familiar and narrative, eh?" + +To this Clarence, somewhat bored by these present solemn abstractions, +assented gladly, and took up his pen. Father Sobriente, resuming his +noiseless pacing, began: + +"On the fertile plains of Guadalajara lived a certain caballero, +possessed of flocks and lands, and a wife and son. But, being also +possessed of a fiery and roving nature, he did not value them as he did +perilous adventure, feats of arms, and sanguinary encounters. To this +may be added riotous excesses, gambling and drunkenness, which in time +decreased his patrimony, even as his rebellious and quarrelsome spirit +had alienated his family and neighbors. His wife, borne down by shame +and sorrow, died while her son was still an infant. In a fit of equal +remorse and recklessness the caballero married again within the year. +But the new wife was of a temper and bearing as bitter as her consort. +Violent quarrels ensued between them, ending in the husband abandoning +his wife and son, and leaving St. Louis--I should say Guadalajara--for +ever. Joining some adventurers in a foreign land, under an assumed name, +he pursued his reckless course, until, by one or two acts of outlawry, +he made his return to civilization impossible. The deserted wife and +step-mother of his child coldly accepted the situation, forbidding his +name to be spoken again in her presence, announced that he was dead, and +kept the knowledge of his existence from his own son, whom she placed +under the charge of her sister. But the sister managed to secretly +communicate with the outlawed father, and, under a pretext, arranged +between them, of sending the boy to another relation, actually +dispatched the innocent child to his unworthy parent. Perhaps stirred by +remorse, the infamous man--" + +"Stop!" said Clarence suddenly. + +He had thrown down his pen, and was standing erect and rigid before the +Father. + +"You are trying to tell me something, Father Sobriente," he said, with +an effort. "Speak out, I implore you. I can stand anything but this +mystery. I am no longer a child. I have a right to know all. This that +you are telling me is no fable--I see it in your face, Father Sobriente; +it is the story of--of--" + +"Your father, Clarence!" said the priest, in a trembling voice. + +The boy drew back, with a white face. "My father!" he repeated. "Living, +or dead?" + +"Living, when you first left your home," said the old man hurriedly, +seizing Clarence's hand, "for it was he who in the name of your cousin +sent for you. Living--yes, while you were here, for it was he who for +the past three years stood in the shadow of this assumed cousin, Don +Juan, and at last sent you to this school. Living, Clarence, yes; but +living under a name and reputation that would have blasted you! And +now DEAD--dead in Mexico, shot as an insurgent and in a still desperate +career! May God have mercy on his soul!" + +"Dead!" repeated Clarence, trembling, "only now?" + +"The news of the insurrection and his fate came only an hour since," +continued the Padre quickly; "his complicity with it and his identity +were known only to Don Juan. He would have spared you any knowledge of +the truth, even as this dead man would; but I and my brothers thought +otherwise. I have broken it to you badly, my son, but forgive me?" + +An hysterical laugh broke from Clarence and the priest recoiled before +him. "Forgive YOU! What was this man to me?" he said, with boyish +vehemence. "He never LOVED me! He deserted me; he made my life a lie. +He never sought me, came near me, or stretched a hand to me that I could +take?" + +"Hush! hush!" said the priest, with a horrified look, laying his huge +hand upon the boy's shoulder and bearing him down to his seat. "You know +not what you say. Think--think, Clarence! Was there none of all those +who have befriended you--who were kind to you in your wanderings--to +whom your heart turned unconsciously? Think, Clarence! You yourself +have spoken to me of such a one. Let your heart speak again, for his +sake--for the sake of the dead." + +A gentler light suffused the boy's eyes, and he started. Catching +convulsively at his companion's sleeve, he said in an eager, boyish +whisper, "There was one, a wicked, desperate man, whom they all +feared--Flynn, who brought me from the mines. Yes, I thought that he +was my cousin's loyal friend--more than all the rest; and I told him +everything--all, that I never told the man I thought my cousin, or +anyone, or even you; and I think, I think, Father, I liked him best +of all. I thought since it was wrong," he continued, with a trembling +smile, "for I was foolishly fond even of the way the others feared him, +he that I feared not, and who was so kind to me. Yet he, too, left me +without a word, and when I would have followed him--" But the boy broke +down, and buried his face in his hands. + +"No, no," said Father Sobriente, with eager persistence, "that was his +foolish pride to spare you the knowledge of your kinship with one so +feared, and part of the blind and mistaken penance he had laid upon +himself. For even at that moment of your boyish indignation, he never +was so fond of you as then. Yes, my poor boy, this man, to whom God led +your wandering feet at Deadman's Gulch; the man who brought you here, +and by some secret hold--I know not what--on Don Juan's past, persuaded +him to assume to be your relation; this man Flynn, this Jackson Brant +the gambler, this Hamilton Brant the outlaw--WAS YOUR FATHER! Ah, +yes! Weep on, my son; each tear of love and forgiveness from thee hath +vicarious power to wash away his sin." + +With a single sweep of his protecting hand he drew Clarence towards +his breast, until the boy slowly sank upon his knees at his feet. Then, +lifting his eyes towards the ceiling, he said softly in an older tongue, +"And THOU, too, unhappy and perturbed spirit, rest!" + +* * * * * + +It was nearly dawn when the good Padre wiped the last tears from +Clarence's clearer eyes. "And now, my son," he said, with a gentle +smile, as he rose to his feet, "let us not forget the living. Although +your step-mother has, through her own act, no legal claim upon you, far +be it from me to indicate your attitude towards her. Enough that YOU are +independent." He turned, and, opening a drawer in his secretaire, took +out a bank-book, and placed it in the hands of the wondering boy. + +"It was HIS wish, Clarence, that even after his death you should never +have to prove your kinship to claim your rights. Taking advantage of +the boyish deposit you had left with Mr. Carden at the bank, with his +connivance and in your name he added to it, month by month and year by +year; Mr. Carden cheerfully accepting the trust and management of the +fund. The seed thus sown has produced a thousandfold, Clarence, beyond +all expectations. You are not only free, my son, but of yourself and in +whatever name you choose--your own master." + +"I shall keep my father's name," said the boy simply. + +"Amen!" said Father Sobriente. + + +Here closes the chronicle of Clarence Brant's boyhood. How he sustained +his name and independence in after years, and who, of those already +mentioned in these pages, helped him to make or mar it, may be a matter +for future record. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Waif of the Plains, by Bret Harte + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WAIF OF THE PLAINS *** + +***** This file should be named 2279.txt or 2279.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/7/2279/ + +Produced by Donald Lainson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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At +times an open space, blackened and burnt in an irregular circle, +with a shred of newspaper, an old rag, or broken tin can lying in +the ashes. Beyond these always a low dark line that seemed to sink +into the ground at night, and rose again in the morning with the +first light, but never otherwise changed its height and distance. +A sense of always moving with some indefinite purpose, but of +always returning at night to the same place--with the same +surroundings, the same people, the same bedclothes, and the same +awful black canopy dropped down from above. A chalky taste of dust +on the mouth and lips, a gritty sense of earth on the fingers, and +an all-pervading heat and smell of cattle. + +This was "The Great Plains" as they seemed to two children from the +hooded depth of an emigrant wagon, above the swaying heads of +toiling oxen, in the summer of 1852. + +It had appeared so to them for two weeks, always the same and +always without the least sense to them of wonder or monotony. When +they viewed it from the road, walking beside the wagon, there was +only the team itself added to the unvarying picture. One of the +wagons bore on its canvas hood the inscription, in large black +letters, "Off to California!" on the other "Root, Hog, or Die," but +neither of them awoke in the minds of the children the faintest +idea of playfulness or jocularity. Perhaps it was difficult to +connect the serious men, who occasionally walked beside them and +seemed to grow more taciturn and depressed as the day wore on, with +this past effusive pleasantry. + +Yet the impressions of the two children differed slightly. The +eldest, a boy of eleven, was apparently new to the domestic habits +and customs of a life to which the younger, a girl of seven, was +evidently native and familiar. The food was coarse and less +skillfully prepared than that to which he had been accustomed. +There was a certain freedom and roughness in their intercourse, a +simplicity that bordered almost on rudeness in their domestic +arrangements, and a speech that was at times almost untranslatable +to him. He slept in his clothes, wrapped up in blankets; he was +conscious that in the matter of cleanliness he was left to himself +to overcome the difficulties of finding water and towels. But it +is doubtful if in his youthfulness it affected him more than a +novelty. He ate and slept well, and found his life amusing. Only +at times the rudeness of his companions, or, worse, an indifference +that made him feel his dependency upon them, awoke a vague sense of +some wrong that had been done to him which while it was voiceless +to all others and even uneasily put aside by himself, was still +always slumbering in his childish consciousness. + +To the party he was known as an orphan put on the train at "St. Jo" +by some relative of his stepmother, to be delivered to another +relative at Sacramento. As his stepmother had not even taken leave +of him, but had entrusted his departure to the relative with whom +he had been lately living, it was considered as an act of +"riddance," and accepted as such by her party, and even vaguely +acquiesced in by the boy himself. What consideration had been +offered for his passage he did not know; he only remembered that he +had been told "to make himself handy." This he had done +cheerfully, if at times with the unskillfulness of a novice; but it +was not a peculiar or a menial task in a company where all took +part in manual labor, and where existence seemed to him to bear the +charm of a prolonged picnic. Neither was he subjected to any +difference of affection or treatment from Mrs. Silsbee, the mother +of his little companion, and the wife of the leader of the train. +Prematurely old, of ill-health, and harassed with cares, she had no +time to waste in discriminating maternal tenderness for her +daughter, but treated the children with equal and unbiased +querulousness. + +The rear wagon creaked, swayed, and rolled on slowly and heavily. +The hoofs of the draft-oxen, occasionally striking in the dust with +a dull report, sent little puffs like smoke on either side of the +track. Within, the children were playing "keeping store." The +little girl, as an opulent and extravagant customer, was purchasing +of the boy, who sat behind a counter improvised from a nail-keg and +the front seat, most of the available contents of the wagon, either +under their own names or an imaginary one as the moment suggested, +and paying for them in the easy and liberal currency of dried beans +and bits of paper. Change was given by the expeditious method of +tearing the paper into smaller fragments. The diminution of stock +was remedied by buying the same article over again under a +different name. Nevertheless, in spite of these favorable +commercial conditions, the market seemed dull. + +"I can show you a fine quality of sheeting at four cents a yard, +double width," said the boy, rising and leaning on his fingers on +the counter as he had seen the shopmen do. "All wool and will +wash," he added, with easy gravity. + +"I can buy it cheaper at Jackson's," said the girl, with the +intuitive duplicity of her bargaining sex. + +"Very well," said the boy. "I won't play any more." + +"Who cares?" said the girl indifferently. The boy here promptly +upset the counter; the rolled-up blanket which had deceitfully +represented the desirable sheeting falling on the wagon floor. It +apparently suggested a new idea to the former salesman. "I say! +let's play 'damaged stock.' See, I'll tumble all the things down +here right on top o' the others, and sell 'em for less than cost." + +The girl looked up. The suggestion was bold, bad, and momentarily +attractive. But she only said "No," apparently from habit, picked +up her doll, and the boy clambered to the front of the wagon. The +incomplete episode terminated at once with that perfect +forgetfulness, indifference, and irresponsibility common to all +young animals. If either could have flown away or bounded off +finally at that moment, they would have done so with no more +concern for preliminary detail than a bird or squirrel. The wagon +rolled steadily on. The boy could see that one of the teamsters +had climbed up on the tail-board of the preceding vehicle. The +other seemed to be walking in a dusty sleep. + +"Kla'uns," said the girl. + +The boy, without turning his head, responded, "Susy." + +"Wot are you going to be?" said the girl. + +"Goin' to be?" repeated Clarence. + +"When you is growed," explained Susy. + +Clarence hesitated. His settled determination had been to become a +pirate, merciless yet discriminating. But reading in a bethumbed +"Guide to the Plains" that morning of Fort Lamarie and Kit Carson, +he had decided upon the career of a "scout," as being more +accessible and requiring less water. Yet, out of compassion for +Susy's possible ignorance, he said neither, and responded with the +American boy's modest conventionality, "President." It was safe, +required no embarrassing description, and had been approved by +benevolent old gentlemen with their hands on his head. + +"I'm goin' to be a parson's wife," said Susy, "and keep hens, and +have things giv' to me. Baby clothes, and apples, and apple sass-- +and melasses! and more baby clothes! and pork when you kill." + +She had thrown herself at the bottom of the wagon, with her back +towards him and her doll in her lap. He could see the curve of her +curly head, and beyond, her bare dimpled knees, which were raised, +and over which she was trying to fold the hem of her brief skirt. + +"I wouldn't be a President's wife," she said presently. + +"You couldn't!" + +"Could if I wanted to!" + +"Couldn't!" + +"Could now!" + +"Couldn't!" + +"Why?" + +Finding it difficult to explain his convictions of her +ineligibility, Clarence thought it equally crushing not to give +any. There was a long silence. It was very hot and dusty. The +wagon scarcely seemed to move. Clarence gazed at the vignette of +the track behind them formed by the hood of the rear. Presently he +rose and walked past her to the tail-board. "Goin' to get down," +he said, putting his legs over. + +"Maw says 'No,'" said Susy. + +Clarence did not reply, but dropped to the ground beside the slowly +turning wheels. Without quickening his pace he could easily keep +his hand on the tail-board. + +"Kla'uns." + +He looked up. + +"Take me." + +She had already clapped on her sun-bonnet and was standing at the +edge of the tail-board, her little arms extended in such perfect +confidence of being caught that the boy could not resist. He +caught her cleverly. They halted a moment and let the lumbering +vehicle move away from them, as it swayed from side to side as if +laboring in a heavy sea. They remained motionless until it had +reached nearly a hundred yards, and then, with a sudden half-real, +half-assumed, but altogether delightful trepidation, ran forward +and caught up with it again. This they repeated two or three times +until both themselves and the excitement were exhausted, and they +again plodded on hand in hand. Presently Clarence uttered a cry. + +"My! Susy--look there!" + +The rear wagon had once more slipped away from them a considerable +distance. Between it and them, crossing its track, a most +extraordinary creature had halted. + +At first glance it seemed a dog--a discomfited, shameless, +ownerless outcast of streets and byways, rather than an honest +stray of some drover's train. It was so gaunt, so dusty, so +greasy, so slouching, and so lazy! But as they looked at it more +intently they saw that the grayish hair of its back had a bristly +ridge, and there were great poisonous-looking dark blotches on its +flanks, and that the slouch of its haunches was a peculiarity of +its figure, and not the cowering of fear. As it lifted its +suspicious head towards them they could see that its thin lips, too +short to cover its white teeth, were curled in a perpetual sneer. + +"Here, doggie!" said Clarence excitedly. "Good dog! Come." + +Susy burst into a triumphant laugh. "Et tain't no dog, silly; it's +er coyote." + +Clarence blushed. It wasn't the first time the pioneer's daughter +had shown her superior knowledge. He said quickly, to hide his +discomfiture, "I'll ketch him, any way; he's nothin' mor'n a ki yi." + +"Ye can't, tho," said Susy, shaking her sun-bonnet. "He's faster +nor a hoss!" + +Nevertheless, Clarence ran towards him, followed by Susy. When +they had come within twenty feet of him, the lazy creature, without +apparently the least effort, took two or three limping bounds to +one side, and remained at the same distance as before. They +repeated this onset three or four times with more or less +excitement and hilarity, the animal evading them to one side, but +never actually retreating before them. Finally, it occurred to +them both that although they were not catching him they were not +driving him away. The consequences of that thought were put into +shape by Susy with round-eyed significance. + +"Kla'uns, he bites." + +Clarence picked up a hard sun-baked clod, and, running forward, +threw it at the coyote. It was a clever shot, and struck him on +his slouching haunches. He snapped and gave a short snarling yelp, +and vanished. Clarence returned with a victorious air to his +companion. But she was gazing intently in the opposite direction, +and for the first time he discovered that the coyote had been +leading them half round a circle. + +"Kla'uns," said Susy, with a hysterical little laugh. + +"Well?" + +"The wagon's gone." + +Clarence started. It was true. Not only their wagon, but the +whole train of oxen and teamsters had utterly disappeared, +vanishing as completely as if they had been caught up in a +whirlwind or engulfed in the earth! Even the low cloud of dust +that usually marked their distant course by day was nowhere to be +seen. The long level plain stretched before them to the setting +sun, without a sign or trace of moving life or animation. That +great blue crystal bowl, filled with dust and fire by day, with +stars and darkness by night, which had always seemed to drop its +rim round them everywhere and shut them in, seemed to them now to +have been lifted to let the train pass out, and then closed down +upon them forever. + + +CHAPTER II + + +Their first sensation was one of purely animal freedom. + +They looked at each other with sparkling eyes and long silent +breaths. But this spontaneous outburst of savage nature soon +passed. Susy's little hand presently reached forward and clutched +Clarence's jacket. The boy understood it, and said quickly,-- + +"They ain't gone far, and they'll stop as soon as they find us +gone." + +They trotted on a little faster; the sun they had followed every +day and the fresh wagon tracks being their unfailing guides; the +keen, cool air of the plains, taking the place of that all- +pervading dust and smell of the perspiring oxen, invigorating them +with its breath. + +"We ain't skeered a bit, are we?" said Susy. + +"What's there to be afraid of?" said Clarence scornfully. He said +this none the less strongly because he suddenly remembered that +they had been often left alone in the wagon for hours without being +looked after, and that their absence might not be noticed until the +train stopped to encamp at dusk, two hours later. They were not +running very fast, yet either they were more tired than they knew, +or the air was thinner, for they both seemed to breathe quickly. +Suddenly Clarence stopped. + +"There they are now." + +He was pointing to a light cloud of dust in the far-off horizon, +from which the black hulk of a wagon emerged for a moment and was +lost. But even as they gazed the cloud seemed to sink like a fairy +mirage to the earth again, the whole train disappeared, and only +the empty stretching track returned. They did not know that this +seemingly flat and level plain was really undulatory, and that the +vanished train had simply dipped below their view on some further +slope even as it had once before. But they knew they were +disappointed, and that disappointment revealed to them the fact +that they had concealed it from each other. The girl was the first +to succumb, and burst into a quick spasm of angry tears. That +single act of weakness called out the boy's pride and strength. +There was no longer an equality of suffering; he had become her +protector; he felt himself responsible for both. Considering her +no longer his equal, he was no longer frank with her. + +"There's nothin' to boo-boo for," he said, with a half-affected +brusqueness. "So quit, now! They'll stop in a minit, and send +some one back for us. Shouldn't wonder if they're doin' it now." + +But Susy, with feminine discrimination detecting the hollow ring in +his voice, here threw herself upon him and began to beat him +violently with her little fists. "They ain't! They ain't! They +ain't. You know it! How dare you?" Then, exhausted with her +struggles, she suddenly threw herself flat on the dry grass, shut +her eyes tightly, and clutched at the stubble. + +"Get up," said the boy, with a pale, determined face that seemed to +have got much older. + +"You leave me be," said Susy. + +"Do you want me to go away and leave you?" asked the boy. + +Susy opened one blue eye furtively in the secure depths of her sun- +bonnet, and gazed at his changed face. + +"Ye-e-s." + +He pretended to turn away, but really to look at the height of the +sinking sun. + +"Kla'uns!" + +"Well?" + +"Take me." + +She was holding up her hands. He lifted her gently in his arms, +dropping her head over his shoulder. "Now," he said cheerfully, +"you keep a good lookout that way, and I this, and we'll soon be +there." + +The idea seemed to please her. After Clarence had stumbled on for +a few moments, she said, "Do you see anything, Kla'uns?" + +"Not yet." + +"No more don't I." This equality of perception apparently +satisfied her. Presently she lay more limp in his arms. She was +asleep. + +The sun was sinking lower; it had already touched the edge of the +horizon, and was level with his dazzled and straining eyes. At +times it seemed to impede his eager search and task his vision. +Haze and black spots floated across the horizon, and round wafers, +like duplicates of the sun, glittered back from the dull surface of +the plains. Then he resolved to look no more until he had counted +fifty, a hundred, but always with the same result, the return of +the empty, unending plains--the disk growing redder as it neared +the horizon, the fire it seemed to kindle as it sank, but nothing +more. + +Staggering under his burden, he tried to distract himself by +fancying how the discovery of their absence would be made. He +heard the listless, half-querulous discussion about the locality +that regularly pervaded the nightly camp. He heard the +discontented voice of Jake Silsbee as he halted beside the wagon, +and said, "Come out o' that now, you two, and mighty quick about +it." He heard the command harshly repeated. He saw the look of +irritation on Silsbee's dusty, bearded face, that followed his +hurried glance into the empty wagon. He heard the query, "What's +gone o' them limbs now?" handed from wagon to wagon. He heard a +few oaths; Mrs. Silsbee's high rasping voice, abuse of himself, the +hurried and discontented detachment of a search party, Silsbee and +one of the hired men, and vociferation and blame. Blame always for +himself, the elder, who might have "known better!" A little fear, +perhaps, but he could not fancy either pity or commiseration. +Perhaps the thought upheld his pride; under the prospect of +sympathy he might have broken down. + +At last he stumbled, and stopped to keep himself from falling +forward on his face. He could go no further; his breath was spent; +he was dripping with perspiration; his legs were trembling under +him; there was a roaring in his ears; round red disks of the sun +were scattered everywhere around him like spots of blood. To the +right of the trail there seemed to be a slight mound where he could +rest awhile, and yet keep his watchful survey of the horizon. But +on reaching it he found that it was only a tangle of taller +mesquite grass, into which he sank with his burden. Nevertheless, +if useless as a point of vantage, it offered a soft couch for Susy, +who seemed to have fallen quite naturally into her usual afternoon +siesta, and in a measure it shielded her from a cold breeze that +had sprung up from the west. Utterly exhausted himself, but not +daring to yield to the torpor that seemed to be creeping over him, +Clarence half sat, half knelt down beside her, supporting himself +with one hand, and, partly hidden in the long grass, kept his +straining eyes fixed on the lonely track. + +The red disk was sinking lower. It seemed to have already crumbled +away a part of the distance with its eating fires. As it sank +still lower, it shot out long, luminous rays, diverging fan-like +across the plain, as if, in the boy's excited fancy, it too were +searching for the lost estrays. And as one long beam seemed to +linger over his hiding-place, he even thought that it might serve +as a guide to Silsbee and the other seekers, and was constrained to +stagger to his feet, erect in its light. But it soon sank, and +with it Clarence dropped back again to his crouching watch. Yet he +knew that the daylight was still good for an hour, and with the +withdrawal of that mystic sunset glory objects became even more +distinct and sharply defined than at any other time. And with the +merciful sheathing of that flaming sword which seemed to have +swayed between him and the vanished train, his eyes already felt a +blessed relief. + + +CHAPTER III + + +With the setting of the sun an ominous silence fell. He could hear +the low breathing of Susy, and even fancied he could hear the +beating of his own heart in that oppressive hush of all nature. +For the day's march had always been accompanied by the monotonous +creaking of wheels and axles, and even the quiet of the night +encampment had been always more or less broken by the movement of +unquiet sleepers on the wagon beds, or the breathing of the cattle. +But here there was neither sound nor motion. Susy's prattle, and +even the sound of his own voice, would have broken the benumbing +spell, but it was a part of his growing self-denial now that he +refrained from waking her even by a whisper. She would awaken soon +enough to thirst and hunger, perhaps, and then what was he to do? +If that looked-for help would only come now--while she still slept. +For it was part of his boyish fancy that if he could deliver her +asleep and undemonstrative of fear and suffering, he would be less +blameful, and she less mindful of her trouble. If it did not come-- +but he would not think of that yet! If she was thirsty meantime-- +well, it might rain, and there was always the dew which they used +to brush off the morning grass; he would take off his shirt and +catch it in that, like a shipwrecked mariner. It would be funny, +and make her laugh. For himself he would not laugh; he felt he was +getting very old and grown up in this loneliness. + +It was getting darker--they should be looking into the wagons now. +A new doubt began to assail him. Ought he not, now that he was +rested, make the most of the remaining moments of daylight, and +before the glow faded from the west, when he would no longer have +any bearings to guide him? But there was always the risk of waking +her!--to what? The fear of being confronted again with HER fear +and of being unable to pacify her, at last decided him to remain. +But he crept softly through the grass, and in the dust of the track +traced the four points of the compass, as he could still determine +them by the sunset light, with a large printed W to indicate the +west! This boyish contrivance particularly pleased him. If he had +only had a pole, a stick, or even a twig, on which to tie his +handkerchief and erect it above the clump of mesquite as a signal +to the searchers in case they should be overcome by fatigue or +sleep, he would have been happy. But the plain was barren of brush +or timber; he did not dream that this omission and the very +unobtrusiveness of his hiding-place would be his salvation from a +greater danger. + +With the coming darkness the wind arose and swept the plain with a +long-drawn sigh. This increased to a murmur, till presently the +whole expanse--before sunk in awful silence--seemed to awake with +vague complaints, incessant sounds, and low moanings. At times he +thought he heard the halloaing of distant voices, at times it +seemed as a whisper in his own ear. In the silence that followed +each blast he fancied he could detect the creaking of the wagon, +the dull thud of the oxen's hoofs, or broken fragments of speech, +blown and scattered even as he strained his ears to listen by the +next gust. This tension of the ear began to confuse his brain, as +his eyes had been previously dazzled by the sunlight, and a strange +torpor began to steal over his faculties. Once or twice his head +dropped. + +He awoke with a start. A moving figure had suddenly uplifted +itself between him and the horizon! It was not twenty yards away, +so clearly outlined against the still luminous sky that it seemed +even nearer. A human figure, but so disheveled, so fantastic, and +yet so mean and puerile in its extravagance, that it seemed the +outcome of a childish dream. It was a mounted figure, but so +ludicrously disproportionate to the pony it bestrode, whose slim +legs were stiffly buried in the dust in a breathless halt, that it +might have been a straggler from some vulgar wandering circus. A +tall hat, crownless and rimless, a castaway of civilization, +surmounted by a turkey's feather, was on its head; over its +shoulders hung a dirty tattered blanket that scarcely covered the +two painted legs which seemed clothed in soiled yellow hose. In +one hand it held a gun; the other was bent above its eyes in eager +scrutiny of some distant point beyond and east of the spot where +the children lay concealed. Presently, with a dozen quick +noiseless strides of the pony's legs, the apparition moved to the +right, its gaze still fixed on that mysterious part of the horizon. +There was no mistaking it now! The painted Hebraic face, the large +curved nose, the bony cheek, the broad mouth, the shadowed eyes, +the straight long matted locks! It was an Indian! Not the +picturesque creature of Clarence's imagination, but still an +Indian! The boy was uneasy, suspicious, antagonistic, but not +afraid. He looked at the heavy animal face with the superiority of +intelligence, at the half-naked figure with the conscious supremacy +of dress, at the lower individuality with the contempt of a higher +race. Yet a moment after, when the figure wheeled and disappeared +towards the undulating west, a strange chill crept over him. Yet +he did not know that in this puerile phantom and painted pigmy the +awful majesty of Death had passed him by. + +"Mamma!" + +It was Susy's voice, struggling into consciousness. Perhaps she +had been instinctively conscious of the boy's sudden fears. + +"Hush!" + +He had just turned to the objective point of the Indian's gaze. +There WAS something! A dark line was moving along with the +gathering darkness. For a moment he hardly dared to voice his +thoughts even to himself. It was a following train overtaking them +from the rear! And from the rapidity of its movements a train with +horses, hurrying forward to evening camp. He had never dreamt of +help from that quarter. This was what the Indian's keen eyes had +been watching, and why he had so precipitately fled. + +The strange train was now coming up at a round trot. It was +evidently well appointed with five or six large wagons and several +outriders. In half an hour it would be here. Yet he refrained +from waking Susy, who had fallen asleep again; his old superstition +of securing her safety first being still uppermost. He took off +his jacket to cover her shoulders, and rearranged her nest. Then +he glanced again at the coming train. But for some unaccountable +reason it had changed its direction, and instead of following the +track that should have brought it to his side it had turned off to +the left! In ten minutes it would pass abreast of him a mile and a +half away! If he woke Susy now, he knew she would be helpless in +her terror, and he could not carry her half that distance. He +might rush to the train himself and return with help, but he would +never leave her alone--in the darkness. Never! If she woke she +would die of fright, perhaps, or wander blindly and aimlessly away. +No! The train would pass and with it that hope of rescue. +Something was in his throat, but he gulped it down and was quiet +again albeit he shivered in the night wind. + +The train was nearly abreast of him now. He ran out of the tall +grass, waving his straw hat above his head in the faint hope of +attracting attention. But he did not go far, for he found to his +alarm that when he turned back again the clump of mesquite was +scarcely distinguishable from the rest of the plain. This settled +all question of his going. Even if he reached the train and +returned with some one, how would he ever find her again in this +desolate expanse? + +He watched the train slowly pass--still mechanically, almost +hopelessly, waving his hat as he ran up and down before the +mesquite, as if he were waving a last farewell to his departing +hope. Suddenly it appeared to him that three of the outriders who +were preceding the first wagon had changed their shape. They were +no longer sharp, oblong, black blocks against the horizon but had +become at first blurred and indistinct, then taller and narrower, +until at last they stood out like exclamation points against the +sky. He continued to wave his hat, they continued to grow taller +and narrower. He understood it now--the three transformed blocks +were the outriders coming towards him. + +This is what he had seen-- + +[Drawing of three black blocks] + +This is what he saw now-- + +! ! ! + +He ran back to Susy to see if she still slept, for his foolish +desire to have her saved unconsciously was stronger than ever now +that safety seemed so near. She was still sleeping, although she +had moved slightly. He ran to the front again. + +The outriders had apparently halted. What were they doing? Why +wouldn't they come on? + +Suddenly a blinding flash of light seemed to burst from one of +them. Away over his head something whistled like a rushing bird, +and sped off invisible. They had fired a gun; they were signaling +to him--Clarence--like a grown-up man. He would have given his +life at that moment to have had a gun. But he could only wave his +hat frantically. + +One of the figures here bore away and impetuously darted forward +again. He was coming nearer, powerful, gigantic, formidable, as he +loomed through the darkness. All at once he threw up his arm with +a wild gesture to the others; and his voice, manly, frank, and +assuring, came ringing before him. + +"Hold up! Good God! It's no Injun--it's a child!" + +In another moment he had reined up beside Clarence and leaned over +him, bearded, handsome, powerful and protecting. + +"Hallo! What's all this? What are you doing here?" + +"Lost from Mr. Silsbee's train," said Clarence, pointing to the +darkened west. + +"Lost?--how long?" + +"About three hours. I thought they'd come back for us," said +Clarence apologetically to this big, kindly man. + +"And you kalkilated to wait here for 'em?" + +"Yes, yes--I did--till I saw you." + +"Then why in thunder didn't you light out straight for us, instead +of hanging round here and drawing us out?" + +The boy hung his head. He knew his reasons were unchanged, but all +at once they seemed very foolish and unmanly to speak out. + +"Only that we were on the keen jump for Injins," continued the +stranger, "we wouldn't have seen you at all, and might hev shot you +when we did. What possessed you to stay here?" + +The boy was still silent. "Kla'uns," said a faint, sleepy voice +from the mesquite, "take me." The rifle-shot had awakened Susy. + +The stranger turned quickly towards the sound. Clarence started +and recalled himself. "There," he said bitterly, "you've done it +now, you've wakened her! THAT'S why I stayed. I couldn't carry +her over there to you. I couldn't let her walk, for she'd be +frightened. I wouldn't wake her up, for she'd be frightened, and I +mightn't find her again. There!" He had made up his mind to be +abused, but he was reckless now that she was safe. + +The men glanced at each other. "Then," said the spokesman quietly, +"you didn't strike out for us on account of your sister?" + +"She ain't my sister," said Clarence quickly. "She's a little +girl. She's Mrs. Silsbee's little girl. We were in the wagon and +got down. It's my fault. I helped her down." + +The three men reined their horses closely round him, leaning +forward from their saddles, with their hands on their knees and +their heads on one side. "Then," said the spokesman gravely, "you +just reckoned to stay here, old man, and take your chances with her +rather than run the risk of frightening or leaving her--though it +was your one chance of life!" + +"Yes," said the boy, scornful of this feeble, grown-up repetition. + +"Come here." + +The boy came doggedly forward. The man pushed back the well-worn +straw hat from Clarence's forehead and looked into his lowering +face. With his hand still on the boy's head he turned him round to +the others, and said quietly,-- + +"Suthin of a pup, eh?" + +"You bet," they responded. + +The voice was not unkindly, although the speaker had thrown his +lower jaw forward as if to pronounce the word "pup" with a humorous +suggestion of a mastiff. Before Clarence could make up his mind if +the epithet was insulting or not, the man put out his stirruped +foot, and, with a gesture of invitation, said, "Jump up." + +"But Susy," said Clarence, drawing back. + +"Look; she's making up to Phil already." + +Clarence looked. Susy had crawled out of the mesquite, and with +her sun-bonnet hanging down her back, her curls tossed around her +face, still flushed with sleep, and Clarence's jacket over her +shoulders, was gazing up with grave satisfaction in the laughing +eyes of one of the men who was with outstretched hands bending over +her. Could he believe his senses? The terror-stricken, willful, +unmanageable Susy, whom he would have translated unconsciously to +safety without this terrible ordeal of being awakened to the loss +of her home and parents at any sacrifice to himself--this ingenuous +infant was absolutely throwing herself with every appearance of +forgetfulness into the arms of the first new-comer! Yet his +perception of this fact was accompanied by no sense of ingratitude. +For her sake he felt relieved, and with a boyish smile of +satisfaction and encouragement vaulted into the saddle before the +stranger. + + +CHAPTER IV + + +The dash forward to the train, securely held in the saddle by the +arms of their deliverers, was a secret joy to the children that +seemed only too quickly over. The resistless gallop of the fiery +mustangs, the rush of the night wind, the gathering darkness in +which the distant wagons, now halted and facing them, looked like +domed huts in the horizon--all these seemed but a delightful and +fitting climax to the events of the day. In the sublime +forgetfulness of youth, all they had gone through had left no +embarrassing record behind it; they were willing to repeat their +experiences on the morrow, confident of some equally happy end. +And when Clarence, timidly reaching his hand towards the horse-hair +reins lightly held by his companion, had them playfully yielded up +to him by that hold and confident rider, the boy felt himself +indeed a man. + +But a greater surprise was in store for them. As they neared the +wagons, now formed into a circle with a certain degree of military +formality, they could see that the appointments of the strange +party were larger and more liberal than their own, or indeed +anything they had ever known of the kind. Forty or fifty horses +were tethered within the circle, and the camp fires were already +blazing. Before one of them a large tent was erected, and through +the parted flaps could be seen a table actually spread with a white +cloth. Was it a school feast, or was this their ordinary household +arrangement? Clarence and Susy thought of their own dinners, +usually laid on bare boards beneath the sky, or under the low hood +of the wagon in rainy weather, and marveled. And when they finally +halted, and were lifted from their horses, and passed one wagon +fitted up as a bedroom and another as a kitchen, they could only +nudge each other with silent appreciation. But here again the +difference already noted in the quality of the sensations of the +two children was observable. Both were equally and agreeably +surprised. But Susy's wonder was merely the sense of novelty and +inexperience, and a slight disbelief in the actual necessity of +what she saw; while Clarence, whether from some previous general +experience or peculiar temperament, had the conviction that what he +saw here was the usual custom, and what he had known with the +Silsbees was the novelty. The feeling was attended with a slight +sense of wounded pride for Susy, as if her enthusiasm had exposed +her to ridicule. + +The man who had carried him, and seemed to be the head of the +party, had already preceded them to the tent, and presently +reappeared with a lady with whom he had exchanged a dozen hurried +words. They seemed to refer to him and Susy; but Clarence was too +much preoccupied with the fact that the lady was pretty, that her +clothes were neat and thoroughly clean, that her hair was tidy and +not rumpled, and that, although she wore an apron, it was as clean +as her gown, and even had ribbons on it, to listen to what was +said. And when she ran eagerly forward, and with a fascinating +smile lifted the astonished Susy in her arms, Clarence, in his +delight for his young charge, quite forgot that she had not noticed +him. The bearded man, who seemed to be the lady's husband, +evidently pointed out the omission, with some additions that +Clarence could not catch; for after saying, with a pretty pout, +"Well, why shouldn't he?" she came forward with the same dazzling +smile, and laid her small and clean white hand upon his shoulder. + +"And so you took good care of the dear little thing? She's such an +angel, isn't she? and you must love her very much." + +Clarence colored with delight. It was true it had never occurred +to him to look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant, and I +fear he was just then more struck with the fair complimenter than +the compliment to his companion, but he was pleased for her sake. +He was not yet old enough to be conscious of the sex's belief in +its irresistible domination over mankind at all ages, and that +Johnny in his check apron would be always a hopeless conquest of +Jeannette in her pinafore, and that he ought to have been in love +with Susy. + +Howbeit, the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her +own wagon, to reappear later, washed, curled, and beribboned like a +new doll, and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another +of the party. + +"Well, my boy, you haven't told me your name yet." + +"Clarence, sir." + +"So Susy calls you, but what else?" + +"Clarence Brant." + +"Any relation to Colonel Brant?" asked the second man carelessly. + +"He was my father," said the boy, brightening under this faint +prospect of recognition in his loneliness. + +The two men glanced at each other. The leader looked at the boy +curiously, and said,-- + +"Are you the son of Colonel Brant, of Louisville?" + +"Yes, sir," said the boy, with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his +heart. "But he's dead now," he added finally. + +"Ah, when did he die?" said the man quickly. + +"Oh, a long time ago. I don't remember him much. I was very +little," said the boy, half apologetically. + +"Ah, you don't remember him?" + +"No," said Clarence shortly. He was beginning to fall back upon +that certain dogged repetition which in sensitive children arises +from their hopeless inability to express their deeper feelings. He +also had an instinctive consciousness that this want of a knowledge +of his father was part of that vague wrong that had been done him. +It did not help his uneasiness that he could see that one of the +two men, who turned away with a half-laugh, misunderstood or did +not believe him. + +"How did you come with the Silsbees?" asked the first man. + +Clarence repeated mechanically, with a child's distaste of +practical details, how he had lived with an aunt at St. Jo, and how +his stepmother had procured his passage with the Silsbees to +California, where he was to meet his cousin. All this with a lack +of interest and abstraction that he was miserably conscious told +against him, but he was yet helpless to resist. + +The first man remained thoughtful, and then glanced at Clarence's +sunburnt hands. Presently his large, good-humored smile returned. + +"Well, I suppose you are hungry?" + +"Yes," said Clarence shyly. "But--" + +"But what?" + +"I should like to wash myself a little," he returned hesitatingly, +thinking of the clean tent, the clean lady, and Susy's ribbons. + +"Certainly," said his friend, with a pleased look. "Come with me." +Instead of leading Clarence to the battered tin basin and bar of +yellow soap which had formed the toilet service of the Silsbee +party, he brought the boy into one of the wagons, where there was a +washstand, a china basin, and a cake of scented soap. Standing +beside Clarence, he watched him perform his ablutions with an +approving air which rather embarrassed his protege. Presently he +said, almost abruptly,-- + +"Do you remember your father's house at Louisville?" + +"Yes, sir; but it was a long time ago." + +Clarence remembered it as being very different from his home at St. +Joseph's, but from some innate feeling of diffidence he would have +shrunk from describing it in that way. He, however, said he +thought it was a large house. Yet the modest answer only made his +new friend look at him the more keenly. + +"Your father was Colonel Hamilton Brant, of Louisville, wasn't he?" +he said, half-confidentially. + +"Yes," said Clarence hopelessly. + +"Well," said his friend cheerfully, as if dismissing an abstruse +problem from his mind, "Let's go to supper." + +When they reached the tent again, Clarence noticed that the supper +was laid only for his host and wife and the second man--who was +familiarly called "Harry," but who spoke of the former always as +"Mr. and Mrs. Peyton"--while the remainder of the party, a dozen +men, were at a second camp fire, and evidently enjoying themselves +in a picturesque fashion. Had the boy been allowed to choose, he +would have joined them, partly because it seemed more "manly," and +partly that he dreaded a renewal of the questioning. + +But here, Susy, sitting bolt upright on an extemporized high stool, +happily diverted his attention by pointing to the empty chair +beside her. + +"Kla'uns," she said suddenly, with her usual clear and appalling +frankness, "they is chickens, and hamanaigs, and hot biksquits, and +lasses, and Mister Peyton says I kin have 'em all." + +Clarence, who had begun suddenly to feel that he was responsible +for Susy's deportment and was balefully conscious that she was +holding her plated fork in her chubby fist by its middle, and, from +his previous knowledge of her, was likely at any moment to plunge +it into the dish before her, said softly,-- + +"Hush!" + +"Yes, you shall, dear," said Mrs. Peyton, with tenderly beaming +assurance to Susy and a half-reproachful glance at the boy. "Eat +what you like, darling." + +"It's a fork," whispered the still uneasy Clarence, as Susy now +seemed inclined to stir her bowl of milk with it. + +"'Tain't, now, Kla'uns, it's only a split spoon," said Susy. + +But Mrs. Peyton, in her rapt admiration, took small note of these +irregularities, plying the child with food, forgetting her own +meal, and only stopping at times to lift back the forward straying +curls on Susy's shoulders. Mr. Peyton looked on gravely and +contentedly. Suddenly the eyes of husband and wife met. + +"She'd have been nearly as old as this, John," said Mrs. Peyton, in +a faint voice. + +John Peyton nodded without speaking, and turned his eyes away into +the gathering darkness. The man "Harry" also looked abstractedly +at his plate, as if he was saying grace. Clarence wondered who +"she" was, and why two little tears dropped from Mrs. Peyton's +lashes into Susy's milk, and whether Susy might not violently +object to it. He did not know until later that the Peytons had +lost their only child, and Susy comfortably drained this mingled +cup of a mother's grief and tenderness without suspicion. + +"I suppose we'll come up with their train early tomorrow, if some +of them don't find us to-night," said Mrs. Peyton, with a long sigh +and a regretful glance at Susy. "Perhaps we might travel together +for a little while," she added timidly. + +Harry laughed, and Mr. Peyton replied gravely, "I am afraid we +wouldn't travel with them, even for company's sake; and," he added, +in a lower and graver voice, "it's rather odd the search party +hasn't come upon us yet, though I'm keeping Pete and Hank +patrolling the trail to meet them." + +"It's heartless--so it is!" said Mrs. Peyton, with sudden +indignation. "It would be all very well if it was only this boy, +who can take care of himself; but to be so careless of a mere baby +like this, it's shameful!" + +For the first time Clarence tasted the cruelty of discrimination. +All the more keenly that he was beginning to worship, after his +boyish fashion, this sweet-faced, clean, and tender-hearted woman. +Perhaps Mr. Peyton noticed it, for he came quietly to his aid. + +"Maybe they knew better than we in what careful hands they had left +her," he said, with a cheerful nod towards Clarence. "And, again, +they may have been fooled as we were by Injin signs and left the +straight road." + +This suggestion instantly recalled to Clarence his vision in the +mesquite. Should he dare tell them? Would they believe him, or +would they laugh at him before her? He hesitated, and at last +resolved to tell it privately to the husband. When the meal was +ended, and he was made happy by Mrs. Peyton's laughing acceptance +of his offer to help her clear the table and wash the dishes, they +all gathered comfortably in front of the tent before the large camp +fire. At the other fire the rest of the party were playing cards +and laughing, but Clarence no longer cared to join them. He was +quite tranquil in the maternal propinquity of his hostess, albeit a +little uneasy as to his reticence about the Indian. + +"Kla'uns," said Susy, relieving a momentary pause, in her highest +voice, "knows how to speak. Speak, Kla'uns!" + +It appearing from Clarence's blushing explanation that this gift +was not the ordinary faculty of speech, but a capacity to recite +verse, he was politely pressed by the company for a performance. + +"Speak 'em, Kla'uns, the boy what stood unto the burnin' deck, and +said, 'The boy, oh, where was he?'" said Susy, comfortably lying +down on Mrs. Peyton's lap, and contemplating her bare knees in the +air. "It's 'bout a boy," she added confidentially to Mrs. Peyton, +"whose father wouldn't never, never stay with him on a burnin' +ship, though he said, 'Stay, father, stay,' ever so much." + +With this clear, lucid, and perfectly satisfactory explanation of +Mrs. Hemans's "Casabianca," Clarence began. Unfortunately, his +actual rendering of this popular school performance was more an +effort of memory than anything else, and was illustrated by those +wooden gestures which a Western schoolmaster had taught him. He +described the flames that "roared around him," by indicating with +his hand a perfect circle, of which he was the axis; he adjured his +father, the late Admiral Casabianca, by clasping his hands before +his chin, as if wanting to be manacled in an attitude which he was +miserably conscious was unlike anything he himself had ever felt or +seen before; he described that father "faint in death below," and +"the flag on high," with one single motion. Yet something that the +verses had kindled in his active imagination, perhaps, rather than +an illustration of the verses themselves, at times brightened his +gray eyes, became tremulous in his youthful voice, and I fear +occasionally incoherent on his lips. At times, when not conscious +of his affected art, the plain and all upon it seemed to him to +slip away into the night, the blazing camp fire at his feet to wrap +him in a fateful glory, and a vague devotion to something--he knew +not what--so possessed him that he communicated it, and probably +some of his own youthful delight in extravagant voice, to his +hearers, until, when he ceased with a glowing face, he was +surprised to find that the card players had deserted their camp +fires and gathered round the tent. + + +CHAPTER V + + +"You didn't say 'Stay, father, stay,' enough, Kla'uns," said Susy +critically. Then suddenly starting upright in Mrs. Peyton's lap, +she continued rapidly, "I kin dance. And sing. I kin dance High +Jambooree." + +"What's High Jambooree, dear?" asked Mrs. Peyton. + +"You'll see. Lemme down." And Susy slipped to the ground. + +The dance of High Jambooree, evidently of remote mystical African +origin, appeared to consist of three small skips to the right and +then to the left, accompanied by the holding up of very short +skirts, incessant "teetering" on the toes of small feet, the +exhibition of much bare knee and stocking, and a gurgling +accompaniment of childish laughter. Vehemently applauded, it left +the little performer breathless, but invincible and ready for fresh +conquest. + +"I kin sing, too," she gasped hurriedly, as if unwilling that the +applause should lapse. "I kin sing. Oh, dear! Kla'uns," +piteously, "WHAT is it I sing?" + +"Ben Bolt," suggested Clarence. + +"Oh, yes. Oh, don't you remember sweet Alers Ben Bolt?" began +Susy, in the same breath and the wrong key. "Sweet Alers, with +hair so brown, who wept with delight when you giv'd her a smile, +and--" with knitted brows and appealing recitative, "what's er rest +of it, Kla'uns?" + +"Who trembled with fear at your frown?" prompted Clarence. + +"Who trembled with fear at my frown?" shrilled Susy. "I forget er +rest. Wait! I kin sing--" + +"Praise God," suggested Clarence. + +"Yes." Here Susy, a regular attendant in camp and prayer-meetings, +was on firmer ground. + +Promptly lifting her high treble, yet with a certain acquired +deliberation, she began, "Praise God, from whom all blessings +flow." At the end of the second line the whispering and laughing +ceased. A deep voice to the right, that of the champion poker +player, suddenly rose on the swell of the third line. He was +instantly followed by a dozen ringing voices, and by the time the +last line was reached it was given with a full chorus, in which the +dull chant of teamsters and drivers mingled with the soprano of +Mrs. Peyton and Susy's childish treble. Again and again it was +repeated, with forgetful eyes and abstracted faces, rising and +falling with the night wind and the leap and gleam of the camp +fires, and fading again like them in the immeasurable mystery of +the darkened plain. + +In the deep and embarrassing silence that followed, at last the +party hesitatingly broke up, Mrs. Peyton retiring with Susy after +offering the child to Clarence for a perfunctory "good-night" kiss, +an unusual proceeding, which somewhat astonished them both--and +Clarence found himself near Mr. Peyton. + +"I think," said Clarence timidly, "I saw an Injin to-day." + +Mr. Peyton bent down towards him. "An Injin--where?" he asked +quickly, with the same look of doubting interrogatory with which he +had received Clarence's name and parentage. + +The boy for a moment regretted having spoken. But with his old +doggedness he particularized his statement. Fortunately, being +gifted with a keen perception, he was able to describe the stranger +accurately, and to impart with his description that contempt for +its subject which he had felt, and which to his frontier auditor +established its truthfulness. Peyton turned abruptly away, but +presently returned with Harry and another man. + +"You are sure of this?" said Peyton, half-encouragingly. + +"Yes, sir." + +"As sure as you are that your father is Colonel Brant and is dead?" +said Harry, with a light laugh. + +Tears sprang into the boy's lowering eyes. "I don't lie," he said +doggedly. + +"I believe you, Clarence," said Peyton quietly. "But why didn't +you say it before?" + +"I didn't like to say it before Susy and--her!" stammered the boy. + +"Her?" + +"Yes, sir--Mrs. Peyton," said Clarence blushingly. + +"Oh," said Harry sarcastically, "how blessed polite we are!" + +"That'll do. Let up on him, will you?" said Peyton, roughly, to +his subordinate. "The boy knows what he's about. But," he +continued, addressing Clarence, "how was it the Injin didn't see +you?" + +"I was very still on account of not waking Susy," said Clarence, +"and--" He hesitated. + +"And what?" + +"He seemed more keen watching what YOU were doing," said the boy +boldly. + +"That's so," broke in the second man, who happened to be +experienced, "and as he was to wind'ard o' the boy he was off HIS +scent and bearings. He was one of their rear scouts; the rest o' +them's ahead crossing our track to cut us off. Ye didn't see +anything else?" + +"I saw a coyote first," said Clarence, greatly encouraged. + +"Hold on!" said the expert, as Harry turned away with a sneer. +"That's a sign, too. Wolf don't go where wolf hez been, and coyote +don't foller Injins--there's no pickin's! How long afore did you +see the coyote?" + +"Just after we left the wagon," said Clarence. + +"That's it," said the man, thoughtfully. "He was driven on ahead, +or hanging on their flanks. These Injins are betwixt us and that +ar train, or following it." + +Peyton made a hurried gesture of warning, as if reminding the +speaker of Clarence's presence--a gesture which the boy noticed and +wondered at. Then the conversation of the three men took a lower +tone, although Clarence distinctly heard the concluding opinion of +the expert. + +"It ain't no good now, Mr. Peyton, and you'd be only exposing +yourself on their ground by breakin' camp agin to-night. And you +don't know that it ain't US they're watchin'. You see, if we +hadn't turned off the straight road when we got that first scare +from these yer lost children, we might hev gone on and walked plump +into some cursed trap of those devils. To my mind, we're just in +nigger luck, and with a good watch and my patrol we're all right to +be fixed where we be till daylight." + +Mr. Peyton presently turned away, taking Clarence with him. "As +we'll be up early and on the track of your train to-morrow, my boy, +you had better turn in now. I've put you up in my wagon, and as I +expect to be in the saddle most of the night, I reckon I won't +trouble you much." He led the way to a second wagon--drawn up +beside the one where Susy and Mrs. Peyton had retired--which +Clarence was surprised to find fitted with a writing table and +desk, a chair, and even a bookshelf containing some volumes. A +long locker, fitted like a lounge, had been made up as a couch for +him, with the unwonted luxury of clean white sheets and pillow- +cases. A soft matting covered the floor of the heavy wagon bed, +which, Mr. Peyton explained, was hung on centre springs to prevent +jarring. The sides and roof of the vehicle were of lightly paneled +wood, instead of the usual hooked canvas frame of the ordinary +emigrant wagon, and fitted with a glazed door and movable window +for light and air. Clarence wondered why the big, powerful man, +who seemed at home on horseback, should ever care to sit in this +office like a merchant or a lawyer; and if this train sold things +to the other trains, or took goods, like the peddlers, to towns on +the route; but there seemed to be nothing to sell, and the other +wagons were filled with only the goods required by the party. He +would have liked to ask Mr. Peyton who HE was, and have questioned +HIM as freely as he himself had been questioned. But as the +average adult man never takes into consideration the injustice of +denying to the natural and even necessary curiosity of childhood +that questioning which he himself is so apt to assume without +right, and almost always without delicacy, Clarence had no +recourse. Yet the boy, like all children, was conscious that if he +had been afterwards questioned about THIS inexplicable experience, +he would have been blamed for his ignorance concerning it. Left to +himself presently, and ensconced between the sheets, he lay for +some moments staring about him. The unwonted comfort of his couch, +so different from the stuffy blanket in the hard wagon bed which he +had shared with one of the teamsters, and the novelty, order, and +cleanliness of his surroundings, while they were grateful to his +instincts, began in some vague way to depress him. To his loyal +nature it seemed a tacit infidelity to his former rough companions +to be lying here; he had a dim idea that he had lost that +independence which equal discomfort and equal pleasure among them +had given him. There seemed a sense of servitude in accepting this +luxury which was not his. This set him endeavoring to remember +something of his father's house, of the large rooms, drafty +staircases, and far-off ceilings, and the cold formality of a life +that seemed made up of strange faces; some stranger--his parents; +some kinder--the servants; particularly the black nurse who had him +in charge. Why did Mr. Peyton ask him about it? Why, if it were +so important to strangers, had not his mother told him more of it? +And why was she not like this good woman with the gentle voice who +was so kind to--to Susy? And what did they mean by making HIM so +miserable? Something rose in his throat, but with an effort he +choked it back, and, creeping from the lounge, went softly to the +window, opened it to see if it "would work," and looked out. The +shrouded camp fires, the stars that glittered but gave no light, +the dim moving bulk of a patrol beyond the circle, all seemed to +intensify the darkness, and changed the current of his thoughts. +He remembered what Mr. Peyton had said of him when they first met. +"Suthin of a pup, ain't he?" Surely that meant something that was +not bad! He crept back to the couch again. + +Lying there, still awake, he reflected that he wouldn't be a scout +when he grew up, but would be something like Mr. Peyton, and have a +train like this, and invite the Silsbees and Susy to accompany him. +For this purpose, he and Susy, early to-morrow morning, would get +permission to come in here and play at that game. This would +familiarize him with the details, so that he would be able at any +time to take charge of it. He was already an authority on the +subject of Indians! He had once been fired at--as an Indian. He +would always carry a rifle like that hanging from the hooks at the +end of the wagon before him, and would eventually slay many Indians +and keep an account of them in a big book like that on the desk. +Susy would help him, having grown up a lady, and they would both +together issue provisions and rations from the door of the wagon to +the gathered crowds. He would be known as the "White Chief," his +Indian name being "Suthin of a Pup." He would have a circus van +attached to the train, in which he would occasionally perform. He +would also have artillery for protection. There would be a +terrific engagement, and he would rush into the wagon, heated and +blackened with gunpowder; and Susy would put down an account of it +in a book, and Mrs. Peyton--for she would be there in some vague +capacity--would say, "Really, now, I don't see but what we were +very lucky in having such a boy as Clarence with us. I begin to +understand him better." And Harry, who, for purposes of vague +poetical retaliation, would also drop in at that moment, would +mutter and say, "He is certainly the son of Colonel Brant; dear +me!" and apologize. And his mother would come in also, in her +coldest and most indifferent manner, in a white ball dress, and +start and say, "Good gracious, how that boy has grown! I am sorry +I did not see more of him when he was young." Yet even in the +midst of this came a confusing numbness, and then the side of the +wagon seemed to melt away, and he drifted out again alone into the +empty desolate plain from which even the sleeping Susy had +vanished, and he was left deserted and forgotten. Then all was +quiet in the wagon, and only the night wind moving round it. But +lo! the lashes of the sleeping White Chief--the dauntless leader, +the ruthless destroyer of Indians--were wet with glittering tears! + +Yet it seemed only a moment afterwards that he awoke with a faint +consciousness of some arrested motion. To his utter consternation, +the sun, three hours high, was shining in the wagon, already hot +and stifling in its beams. There was the familiar smell and taste +of the dirty road in the air about him. There was a faint creaking +of boards and springs, a slight oscillation, and beyond the audible +rattle of harness, as if the train had been under way, the wagon +moving, and then there had been a sudden halt. They had probably +come up with the Silsbee train; in a few moments the change would +be effected and all of his strange experience would be over. He +must get up now. Yet, with the morning laziness of the healthy +young animal, he curled up a moment longer in his luxurious couch. + +How quiet it was! There were far-off voices, but they seemed +suppressed and hurried. Through the window he saw one of the +teamsters run rapidly past him with a strange, breathless, +preoccupied face, halt a moment at one of the following wagons, and +then run back again to the front. + +Then two of the voices came nearer, with the dull beating of hoofs +in the dust. + +"Rout out the boy and ask him," said a half-suppressed, impatient +voice, which Clarence at once recognized as the man Harry's. + +"Hold on till Peyton comes up," said the second voice, in a low +tone; "leave it to him." + +"Better find out what they were like, at once," grumbled Harry. + +"Wait, stand back," said Peyton's voice, joining the others; "I'LL +ask him." + +Clarence looked wonderingly at the door. It opened on Mr. Peyton, +dusty and dismounted, with a strange, abstracted look in his face. + +"How many wagons are in your train, Clarence?" + +"Three, sir." + +"Any marks on them?" + +"Yes, sir," said Clarence, eagerly: "'Off to California' and 'Root, +Hog, or Die.'" + +Mr. Peyton's eye seemed to leap up and hold Clarence's with a +sudden, strange significance, and then looked down. + +"How many were you in all?" he continued. + +"Five, and there was Mrs. Silsbee." + +"No other woman?" + +"No." + +"Get up and dress yourself," he said gravely, "and wait here till I +come back. Keep cool and have your wits about you." He dropped +his voice slightly. "Perhaps something's happened that you'll have +to show yourself a little man again for, Clarence!" + +The door closed, and the boy heard the same muffled hoofs and +voices die away towards the front. He began to dress himself +mechanically, almost vacantly, yet conscious always of a vague +undercurrent of thrilling excitement. When he had finished he +waited almost breathlessly, feeling the same beating of his heart +that he had felt when he was following the vanished train the day +before. At last he could stand the suspense no longer, and opened +the door. Everything was still in the motionless caravan, except-- +it struck him oddly even then--the unconcerned prattling voice of +Susy from one of the nearer wagons. Perhaps a sudden feeling that +this was something that concerned HER, perhaps an irresistible +impulse overcame him, but the next moment he had leaped to the +ground, faced about, and was running feverishly to the front. + +The first thing that met his eyes was the helpless and desolate +bulk of one of the Silsbee wagons a hundred rods away, bereft of +oxen and pole, standing alone and motionless against the dazzling +sky! Near it was the broken frame of another wagon, its fore +wheels and axles gone, pitched forward on its knees like an ox +under the butcher's sledge. Not far away there were the burnt and +blackened ruins of a third, around which the whole party on foot +and horseback seemed to be gathered. As the boy ran violently on, +the group opened to make way for two men carrying some helpless but +awful object between them. A terrible instinct made Clarence +swerve from it in his headlong course, but he was at the same +moment discovered by the others, and a cry arose of "Go back!" +"Stop!" "Keep him back!" Heeding it no more than the wind that +whistled by him, Clarence made directly for the foremost wagon--the +one in which he and Susy had played. A powerful hand caught his +shoulder; it was Mr. Peyton's. + +"Mrs. Silsbee's wagon," said the boy, with white lips, pointing to +it. "Where is she?" + +"She's missing," said Peyton, "and one other--the rest are dead." + +"She must be there," said the boy, struggling, and pointing to the +wagon; "let me go." + +"Clarence," said Peyton sternly, accenting his grasp upon the boy's +arm, "be a man! Look around you. Try and tell us who these are." + +There seemed to be one or two heaps of old clothes lying on the +ground, and further on, where the men at a command from Peyton had +laid down their burden, another. In those ragged, dusty heaps of +clothes, from which all the majesty of life seemed to have been +ruthlessly stamped out, only what was ignoble and grotesque +appeared to be left. There was nothing terrible in this. The boy +moved slowly towards them; and, incredible even to himself, the +overpowering fear of them that a moment before had overcome him +left him as suddenly. He walked from the one to the other, +recognizing them by certain marks and signs, and mentioning name +after name. The groups gazed at him curiously; he was conscious +that he scarcely understood himself, still less the same quiet +purpose that made him turn towards the furthest wagon. + +"There's nothing there," said Peyton; "we've searched it." But the +boy, without replying, continued his way, and the crowd followed +him. + +The deserted wagon, more rude, disorderly, and slovenly than it had +ever seemed to him before, was now heaped and tumbled with broken +bones, cans, scattered provisions, pots, pans, blankets, and +clothing in the foul confusion of a dust-heap. But in this +heterogeneous mingling the boy's quick eye caught sight of a +draggled edge of calico. + +"That's Mrs. Silsbee's dress!" he cried, and leapt into the wagon. + +At first the men stared at each other, but an instant later a dozen +hands were helping him, nervously digging and clearing away the +rubbish. Then one man uttered a sudden cry, and fell back with +frantic but furious eyes uplifted against the pitiless, smiling sky +above him. + +"Great God! look here!" + +It was the yellowish, waxen face of Mrs. Silsbee that had been +uncovered. But to the fancy of the boy it had changed; the old +familiar lines of worry, care, and querulousness had given way to a +look of remote peace and statue-like repose. He had often vexed +her in her aggressive life; he was touched with remorse at her +cold, passionless apathy now, and pressed timidly forward. Even as +he did so, the man, with a quick but warning gesture, hurriedly +threw his handkerchief over the matted locks, as if to shut out +something awful from his view. Clarence felt himself drawn back; +but not before the white lips of a bystander had whispered a single +word-- + +"Scalped, too! by God!" + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Then followed days and weeks that seemed to Clarence as a dream. +At first, an interval of hushed and awed restraint when he and Susy +were kept apart, a strange and artificial interest taken little +note of by him, but afterwards remembered when others had forgotten +it; the burial of Mrs. Silsbee beneath a cairn of stones, with some +ceremonies that, simple though they were, seemed to usurp the +sacred rights of grief from him and Susy, and leave them cold and +frightened; days of frequent and incoherent childish outbursts from +Susy, growing fainter and rarer as time went on, until they ceased, +he knew not when; the haunting by night of that morning vision of +the three or four heaps of ragged clothes on the ground and a half +regret that he had not examined them more closely; a recollection +of the awful loneliness and desolation of the broken and abandoned +wagon left behind on its knees as if praying mutely when the train +went on and left it; the trundling behind of the fateful wagon in +which Mrs. Silsbee's body had been found, superstitiously shunned +by every one, and when at last turned over to the authorities at an +outpost garrison, seeming to drop the last link from the dragging +chain of the past. The revelation to the children of a new +experience in that brief glimpse of the frontier garrison; the +handsome officer in uniform and belted sword, an heroic, vengeful +figure to be admired and imitated hereafter; the sudden importance +and respect given to Susy and himself as "survivors"; the +sympathetic questioning and kindly exaggerations of their +experiences, quickly accepted by Susy--all these, looking back upon +them afterwards, seemed to have passed in a dream. + +No less strange and visionary to them seemed the real transitions +they noted from the moving train. How one morning they missed the +changeless, motionless, low, dark line along the horizon, and +before noon found themselves among the rocks and trees and a +swiftly rushing river. How there suddenly appeared beside them a +few days later a great gray cloud-covered ridge of mountains that +they were convinced was that same dark line that they had seen so +often. How the men laughed at them, and said that for the last +three days they had been CROSSING that dark line, and that it was +HIGHER than the great gray-clouded range before them, which it had +always hidden from their view! How Susy firmly believed that these +changes took place in her sleep, when she always "kinder felt they +were crawlin' up," and how Clarence, in the happy depreciation of +extreme youth, expressed his conviction that they "weren't a bit +high, after all." How the weather became cold, though it was +already summer, and at night the camp fire was a necessity, and +there was a stove in the tent with Susy; and yet how all this faded +away, and they were again upon a dazzling, burnt, and sun-dried +plain! But always as in a dream! + +More real were the persons who composed the party--whom they seemed +to have always known--and who, in the innocent caprice of children, +had become to them more actual than the dead had even been. There +was Mr. Peyton, who they now knew owned the train, and who was so +rich that he "needn't go to California if he didn't want to, and +was going to buy a great deal of it if he liked it," and who was +also a lawyer and "policeman"--which was Susy's rendering of +"politician"--and was called "Squire" and "Judge" at the frontier +outpost, and could order anybody to be "took up if he wanted to," +and who knew everybody by their Christian names; and Mrs. Peyton, +who had been delicate and was ordered by the doctor to live in the +open air for six months, and "never go into a house or a town +agin," and who was going to adopt Susy as soon as her husband could +arrange with Susy's relatives, and draw up the papers! How "Harry" +was Henry Benham, Mrs. Peyton's brother, and a kind of partner of +Mr. Peyton. And how the scout's name was Gus Gildersleeve, or the +"White Crow," and how, through his recognized intrepidity, an +attack upon their train was no doubt averted. Then there was +"Bill," the stock herder, and "Texas Jim," the vaquero--the latter +marvelous and unprecedented in horsemanship. Such were their +companions, as appeared through the gossip of the train and their +own inexperienced consciousness. To them, they were all astounding +and important personages. But, either from boyish curiosity or +some sense of being misunderstood, Clarence was more attracted by +the two individuals of the party who were least kind to him-- +namely, Mrs. Peyton and her brother Harry. I fear that, after the +fashion of most children, and some grown-up people, he thought less +of the steady kindness of Mr. Peyton and the others than of the +rare tolerance of Harry or the polite concessions of his sister. +Miserably conscious of this at times, he quite convinced himself +that if he could only win a word of approbation from Harry, or a +smile from Mrs. Peyton, he would afterwards revenge himself by +"running away." Whether he would or not, I cannot say. I am +writing of a foolish, growing, impressionable boy of eleven, of +whose sentiments nothing could be safely predicted but uncertainty. + +It was at this time that he became fascinated by another member of +the party whose position had been too humble and unimportant to be +included in the group already noted. Of the same appearance as the +other teamsters in size, habits, and apparel, he had not at first +exhibited to Clarence any claim to sympathy. But it appeared that +he was actually a youth of only sixteen--a hopeless incorrigible of +St. Joseph, whose parents had prevailed on Peyton to allow him to +join the party, by way of removing him from evil associations and +as a method of reform. Of this Clarence was at first ignorant, not +from any want of frankness on the part of the youth, for that +ingenious young gentleman later informed him that he had killed +three men in St. Louis, two in St. Jo, and that the officers of +justice were after him. But it was evident that to precocious +habits of drinking, smoking, chewing, and card-playing this +overgrown youth added a strong tendency to exaggeration of +statement. Indeed, he was known as "Lying Jim Hooker," and his +various qualities presented a problem to Clarence that was +attractive and inspiring, doubtful, but always fascinating. With +the hoarse voice of early wickedness and a contempt for ordinary +courtesy, he had a round, perfectly good-humored face, and a +disposition that when not called upon to act up to his self-imposed +role of reckless wickedness, was not unkindly. + +It was only a few days after the massacre, and while the children +were still wrapped in the gloomy interest and frightened reticence +which followed it, that "Jim Hooker" first characteristically +flashed upon Clarence's perceptions. Hanging half on and half off +the saddle of an Indian pony, the lank Jim suddenly made his +appearance, dashing violently up and down the track, and around the +wagon in which Clarence was sitting, tugging desperately at the +reins, with every indication of being furiously run away with, and +retaining his seat only with the most dauntless courage and skill. +Round and round they went, the helpless rider at times hanging by a +single stirrup near the ground, and again recovering himself by--as +it seemed to Clarence--almost superhuman effort. Clarence sat +open-mouthed with anxiety and excitement, and yet a few of the +other teamsters laughed. Then the voice of Mr. Peyton, from the +window of his car, said quietly,-- + +"There, that will do, Jim. Quit it!" + +The furious horse and rider instantly disappeared. A few moments +after, the bewildered Clarence saw the redoubted horseman trotting +along quietly in the dust of the rear, on the same fiery steed, who +in that prosaic light bore an astounding resemblance to an ordinary +team horse. Later in the day he sought an explanation from the +rider. + +"You see," answered Jim gloomily, "thar ain't a galoot in this yer +crowd ez knows jist WHAT'S in that hoss! And them ez suspecks +daren't say! It wouldn't do for to hev it let out that the Judge +hez a Morgan-Mexican plug that's killed two men afore he got him, +and is bound to kill another afore he gets through! Why, on'y the +week afore we kem up to you, that thar hoss bolted with me at +camping! Bucked and throwed me, but I kept my holt o' the stirrups +with my foot--so! Dragged me a matter of two miles, head down, and +me keepin' away rocks with my hand--so!" + +"Why didn't you loose your foot and let go?" asked Clarence +breathlessly. + +"YOU might," said Jim, with deep scorn; "that ain't MY style. I +just laid low till we kem to a steep pitched hill, and goin' down +when the hoss was, so to speak, kinder BELOW me, I just turned a +hand spring, so, and that landed me onter his back again." + +This action, though vividly illustrated by Jim's throwing his hands +down like feet beneath him, and indicating the parabola of a spring +in the air, proving altogether too much for Clarence's mind to +grasp, he timidly turned to a less difficult detail. + +"What made the horse bolt first, Mr. Hooker?" + +"Smelt Injins!" said Jim, carelessly expectorating tobacco juice in +a curving jet from the side of his mouth--a singularly fascinating +accomplishment, peculiarly his own, "'n' likely YOUR Injins." + +"But," argued Clarence hesitatingly, "you said it was a week +before--and--" + +"Er Mexican plug kin smell Injins fifty, yes, a hundred miles +away," said Jim, with scornful deliberation; "'n' if Judge Peyton +had took my advice, and hadn't been so mighty feared about the +character of his hoss gettin' out he'd hev played roots on them +Injins afore they tetched ye. But," he added, with gloomy +dejection, "there ain't no sand in this yer crowd, thar ain't no +vim, thar ain't nothin'; and thar kan't be ez long ez thar's women +and babies, and women and baby fixin's, mixed up with it. I'd hev +cut the whole blamed gang ef it weren't for one or two things," he +added darkly. + +Clarence, impressed by Jim's mysterious manner, for the moment +forgot his contemptuous allusion to Mr. Peyton, and the evident +implication of Susy and himself, and asked hurriedly, "What +things?" + +Jim, as if forgetful of the boy's presence in his fitful mood, +abstractedly half drew a glittering bowie knife from his bootleg, +and then slowly put it back again. "Thar's one or two old scores," +he continued, in a low voice, although no one was in hearing +distance of them, "one or two private accounts," he went on +tragically, averting his eyes as if watched by some one, "thet hev +to be wiped out with blood afore I leave. Thar's one or two men +TOO MANY alive and breathin' in this yer crowd. Mebbee it's Gus +Gildersleeve; mebbee it's Harry Benham; mebbee," he added, with a +dark yet noble disinterestedness, "it's ME." + +"Oh, no," said Clarence, with polite deprecation. + +Far from placating the gloomy Jim, this seemed only to awake his +suspicions. "Mebbee," he said, dancing suddenly away from +Clarence, "mebbee you think I'm lyin'. Mebbee you think, because +you're Colonel Brant's son, yer kin run ME with this yer train. +Mebbee," he continued, dancing violently back again, "ye kalkilate, +because ye run off'n' stampeded a baby, ye kin tote me round too, +sonny. Mebbee," he went on, executing a double shuffle in the dust +and alternately striking his hands on the sides of his boots, +"mebbee you're spyin' round and reportin' to the Judge." + +Firmly convinced that Jim was working himself up by an Indian war- +dance to some desperate assault on himself, but resenting the last +unjust accusation, Clarence had recourse to one of his old dogged +silences. Happily at this moment an authoritative voice called +out, "Now, then, you Jim Hooker!" and the desperate Hooker, as +usual, vanished instantly. Nevertheless, he appeared an hour or +two later beside the wagon in which Susy and Clarence were seated, +with an expression of satiated vengeance and remorseful +bloodguiltiness in his face, and his hair combed Indian fashion +over his eyes. As he generously contented himself with only +passing a gloomy and disparaging criticism on the game of cards +that the children were playing, it struck Clarence for the first +time that a great deal of his real wickedness resided in his hair. +This set him to thinking that it was strange that Mr. Peyton did +not try to reform him with a pair of scissors, but not until +Clarence himself had for at least four days attempted to imitate +Jim by combing his own hair in that fashion. + +A few days later, Jim again casually favored him with a +confidential interview. Clarence had been allowed to bestride one +of the team leaders postillionwise, and was correspondingly +elevated, when Jim joined him, on the Mexican plug, which appeared-- +no doubt a part of its wicked art--heavily docile, and even +slightly lame. + +"How much," said Jim, in a tone of gloomy confidence,--"how much +did you reckon to make by stealin' that gal-baby, sonny?" + +"Nothing," replied Clarence with a smile. Perhaps it was an +evidence of the marked influence that Jim was beginning to exert +over him that he already did not attempt to resent this fascinating +implication of grownup guilt. + +"It orter bin a good job, if it warn't revenge," continued Jim +moodily. + +"No, it wasn't revenge," said Clarence hurriedly. + +"Then ye kalkilated ter get er hundred dollars reward ef the old +man and old woman hadn't bin scelped afore yet got up to 'em?" said +Jim. "That's your blamed dodgasted luck, eh! Enyhow, you'll make +Mrs. Peyton plank down suthin' if she adopts the babby. Look yer, +young feller," he said, starting suddenly and throwing his face +forward, glaring fiendishly through his matted side-locks, "d'ye +mean ter tell me it wasn't a plant--a skin game--the hull thing?" + +"A what?" said Clarence. + +"D'ye mean to say"--it was wonderful how gratuitously husky his +voice became at this moment--"d'ye mean ter tell me ye didn't set +on them Injins to wipe out the Silsbees, so that ye could hev an +out-an'-out gal ORFEN on hand fer Mrs. Peyton ter adopt--eh?" + +But here Clarence was forced to protest, and strongly, although Jim +contemptuously ignored it. "Don't lie ter me," he repeated +mysteriously, "I'm fly. I'm dark, young fel. We're cahoots in +this thing?" And with this artful suggestion of being in +possession of Clarence's guilty secret he departed in time to elude +the usual objurgation of his superior, "Phil," the head teamster. + +Nor was his baleful fascination exercised entirely on Clarence. In +spite of Mrs. Peyton's jealously affectionate care, Clarence's +frequent companionship, and the little circle of admiring courtiers +that always surrounded Susy, it became evident that this small Eve +had been secretly approached and tempted by the Satanic Jim. She +was found one day to have a few heron's feathers in her possession +with which she adorned her curls, and at another time was +discovered to have rubbed her face and arms with yellow and red +ochre, confessedly the free gift of Jim Hooker. It was to Clarence +alone that she admitted the significance and purport of these +offerings. "Jim gived 'em to me," she said, "and Jim's a kind of +Injin hisself that won't hurt me; and when bad Injins come, they'll +think I'm his Injin baby and run away. And Jim said if I'd just +told the Injins when they came to kill papa and mamma, that I +b'longed to him, they'd hev runned away." + +"But," said the practical Clarence, "you could not; you know you +were with Mrs. Peyton all the time." + +"Kla'uns," said Susy, shaking her head and fixing her round blue +eyes with calm mendacity on the boy, "don't you tell me. I WAS +THERE!" + +Clarence started back, and nearly fell over the wagon in hopeless +dismay at this dreadful revelation of Susy's powers of +exaggeration. "But," he gasped, "you know, Susy, you and me left +before--" + +"Kla'uns," said Susy calmly, making a little pleat in the skirt of +her dress with her small thumb and fingers, "don't you talk to me. +I was there. I'se a SERIVER! The men at the fort said so! The +SERIVERS is allus, allus there, and allus allus knows everythin'." + +Clarence was too dumfounded to reply. He had a vague recollection +of having noticed before that Susy was very much fascinated by the +reputation given to her at Fort Ridge as a "survivor," and was +trying in an infantile way to live up to it. This the wicked Jim +had evidently encouraged. For a day or two Clarence felt a little +afraid of her, and more lonely than ever. + +It was in this state, and while he was doggedly conscious that his +association with Jim did not prepossess Mrs. Peyton or her brother +in his favor, and that the former even believed him responsible for +Susy's unhallowed acquaintance with Jim, that he drifted into one +of those youthful escapades on which elders are apt to sit in +severe but not always considerate judgment. Believing, like many +other children, that nobody cared particularly for him, except to +RESTRAIN him, discovering, as children do, much sooner than we +complacently imagine, that love and preference have no logical +connection with desert or character, Clarence became boyishly +reckless. But when, one day, it was rumored that a herd of buffalo +was in the vicinity, and that the train would be delayed the next +morning in order that a hunt might be organized, by Gildersleeve, +Benham, and a few others, Clarence listened willingly to Jim's +proposition that they should secretly follow it. + +To effect their unhallowed purpose required boldness and duplicity. +It was arranged that shortly after the departure of the hunting +party Clarence should ask permission to mount and exercise one of +the team horses--a favor that had been frequently granted him; that +in the outskirts of the camp he should pretend that the horse ran +away with him, and Jim would start in pursuit. The absence of the +shooting party with so large a contingent of horses and men would +preclude any further detachment from the camp to assist them. Once +clear, they would follow the track of the hunters, and, if +discovered by them, would offer the same excuse, with the addition +that they had lost their way to the camp. The plan was successful. +The details were carried out with almost too perfect effect; as it +appeared that Jim, in order to give dramatic intensity to the +fractiousness of Clarence's horse, had inserted a thorn apple under +the neck of his saddle, which Clarence only discovered in time to +prevent himself from being unseated. Urged forward by ostentatious +"Whoas!" and surreptitious cuts in the rear from Jim, pursuer and +pursued presently found themselves safely beyond the half-dry +stream and fringe of alder bushes that skirted the camp. They were +not followed. Whether the teamsters suspected and winked at this +design, or believed that the boys could take care of themselves, +and ran no risk of being lost in the proximity of the hunting +party, there was no general alarm. + +Thus reassured, and having a general idea of the direction of the +hunt, the boys pushed hilariously forward. Before them opened a +vast expanse of bottom land, slightly sloping on the right to a +distant half-filled lagoon, formed by the main river overflow, on +whose tributary they had encamped. The lagoon was partly hidden by +straggling timber and "brush," and beyond that again stretched the +unlimitable plains--the pasture of their mighty game. Hither, Jim +hoarsely informed his companion, the buffaloes came to water. A +few rods further on, he started dramatically, and, alighting, +proceeded to slowly examine the ground. It seemed to be scattered +over with half-circular patches, which he pointed out mysteriously +as "buffalo chip." To Clarence's inexperienced perception the +plain bore a singular resemblance to the surface of an ordinary +unromantic cattle pasture that somewhat chilled his heroic fancy. +However, the two companions halted and professionally examined +their arms and equipments. + +These, I grieve to say, though varied, were scarcely full or +satisfactory. The necessities of their flight had restricted Jim +to an old double-barreled fowling-piece, which he usually carried +slung across his shoulders; an old-fashioned "six-shooter," whose +barrels revolved occasionally and unexpectedly, known as "Allen's +Pepper Box" on account of its culinary resemblance; and a bowie- +knife. Clarence carried an Indian bow and arrow with which he had +been exercising, and a hatchet which he had concealed under the +flanks of his saddle. To this Jim generously added the six- +shooter, taking the hatchet in exchange--a transfer that at first +delighted Clarence, until, seeing the warlike and picturesque +effect of the hatchet in Jim's belt, he regretted the transfer. +The gun, Jim meantime explained "extry charged," "chuck up" to the +middle with slugs and revolver bullets, could only be fired by +himself, and even then he darkly added, not without danger. This +poverty of equipment was, however, compensated by opposite +statements from Jim of the extraordinary results obtained by these +simple weapons from "fellers I knew:" how HE himself had once +brought down a "bull" by a bold shot with a revolver through its +open bellowing mouth that pierced his "innards;" how a friend of +his--an intimate in fact--now in jail at Louisville for killing a +sheriff's deputy, had once found himself alone and dismounted with +a simple clasp-knife and a lariat among a herd of buffaloes; how, +leaping calmly upon the shaggy shoulders of the biggest bull, he +lashed himself with the lariat firmly to its horns, goading it +onward with his clasp-knife, and subsisting for days upon the flesh +cut from its living body, until, abandoned by its fellows and +exhausted by the loss of blood, it finally succumbed to its victor +at the very outskirts of the camp to which he had artfully driven +it! It must be confessed that this recital somewhat took away +Clarence's breath, and he would have liked to ask a few questions. +But they were alone on the prairie, and linked by a common +transgression; the glorious sun was coming up victoriously, the +pure, crisp air was intoxicating their nerves; in the bright +forecast of youth everything WAS possible! + +The surface of the bottom land that they were crossing was here and +there broken up by fissures and "potholes," and some circumspection +in their progress became necessary. In one of these halts, +Clarence was struck by a dull, monotonous jarring that sounded like +the heavy regular fall of water over a dam. Each time that they +slackened their pace the sound would become more audible, and was +at last accompanied by that slight but unmistakable tremor of the +earth that betrayed the vicinity of a waterfall. Hesitating over +the phenomenon, which seemed to imply that their topography was +wrong and that they had blundered from the track, they were +presently startled by the fact that the sound was actually +APPROACHING them! With a sudden instinct they both galloped +towards the lagoon. As the timber opened before them Jim uttered a +long ecstatic shout. "Why, it's THEM!" + +At a first glance it seemed to Clarence as if the whole plain +beyond was broken up and rolling in tumbling waves or furrows +towards them. A second glance showed the tossing fronts of a vast +herd of buffaloes, and here and there, darting in and out and among +them, or emerging from the cloud of dust behind, wild figures and +flashes of fire. With the idea of water still in his mind, it +seemed as if some tumultuous tidal wave were sweeping unseen +towards the lagoon, carrying everything before it. He turned with +eager eyes, in speechless expectancy, to his companion. + +Alack! that redoubtable hero and mighty hunter was, to all +appearances, equally speechless and astonished. It was true that +he remained rooted to the saddle, a lank, still heroic figure, +alternately grasping his hatchet and gun with a kind of spasmodic +regularity. How long he would have continued this would never be +known, for the next moment, with a deafening crash, the herd broke +through the brush, and, swerving at the right of the lagoon, bore +down directly upon them. All further doubt or hesitation on their +part was stopped. The farseeing, sagacious Mexican plug with a +terrific snort wheeled and fled furiously with his rider. Moved, +no doubt, by touching fidelity, Clarence's humbler team-horse +instantly followed. In a few moments those devoted animals +struggled neck to neck in noble emulation. + +"What are we goin' off this way for?" gasped the simple Clarence. + +"Peyton and Gildersleeve are back there--and they'll see us," +gasped Jim in reply. It struck Clarence that the buffaloes were +much nearer them than the hunting party, and that the trampling +hoofs of a dozen bulls were close behind them, but with another +gasp he shouted, + +"When are we going to hunt 'em?" + +"Hunt THEM!" screamed Jim, with a hysterical outburst of truth; +"why, they're huntin' US--dash it!" + +Indeed, there was no doubt that their frenzied horses were flying +before the equally frenzied herd behind them. They gained a +momentary advantage by riding into one of the fissures, and out +again on the other side, while their pursuers were obliged to make +a detour. But in a few minutes they were overtaken by that part of +the herd who had taken the other and nearer side of the lagoon, and +were now fairly in the midst of them. The ground shook with their +trampling hoofs; their steaming breath, mingling with the stinging +dust that filled the air, half choked and blinded Clarence. He was +dimly conscious that Jim had wildly thrown his hatchet at a cow +buffalo pressing close upon his flanks. As they swept down into +another gully he saw him raise his fateful gun with utter +desperation. Clarence crouched low on his horse's outstretched +neck. There was a blinding flash, a single stunning report of both +barrels; Jim reeled in one way half out of the saddle, while the +smoking gun seemed to leap in another over his head, and then rider +and horse vanished in a choking cloud of dust and gunpowder. A +moment after Clarence's horse stopped with a sudden check, and the +boy felt himself hurled over its head into the gully, alighting on +something that seemed to be a bounding cushion of curled and +twisted hair. It was the shaggy shoulder of an enormous buffalo! +For Jim's desperate random shot and double charge had taken effect +on the near hind leg of a preceding bull, tearing away the flesh +and ham-stringing the animal, who had dropped in the gully just in +front of Clarence's horse. + +Dazed but unhurt, the boy rolled from the lifted fore quarters of +the struggling brute to the ground. When he staggered to his feet +again, not only his horse was gone but the whole herd of buffaloes +seemed to have passed too, and he could hear the shouts of unseen +hunters now ahead of him. They had evidently overlooked his fall, +and the gully had concealed him. The sides before him were too +steep for his aching limbs to climb; the slope by which he and the +bull had descended when the collision occurred was behind the +wounded animal. Clarence was staggering towards it when the bull, +by a supreme effort, lifted itself on three legs, half turned, and +faced him. + +These events had passed too quickly for the inexperienced boy to +have felt any active fear, or indeed anything but wild excitement +and confusion. But the spectacle of that shaggy and enormous +front, that seemed to fill the whole gully, rising with awful +deliberation between him and escape, sent a thrill of terror +through his frame. The great, dull, bloodshot eyes glared at him +with a dumb, wondering fury; the large wet nostrils were so near +that their first snort of inarticulate rage made him reel backwards +as from a blow. The gully was only a narrow and short fissure or +subsidence of the plain; a few paces more of retreat and he would +be at its end, against an almost perpendicular bank fifteen feet +high. If he attempted to climb its crumbling sides and fell, there +would be those short but terrible horns waiting to impale him! It +seemed too terrible, too cruel! He was so small beside this +overgrown monster. It wasn't fair! The tears started to his eyes, +and then, in a rage at the injustice of Fate, he stood doggedly +still with clenched fists. He fixed his gaze with half-hysterical, +childish fury on those lurid eyes; he did not know that, owing to +the strange magnifying power of the bull's convex pupils, he, +Clarence, appeared much bigger than he really was to the brute's +heavy consciousness, the distance from him most deceptive, and that +it was to this fact that hunters so often owed their escape. He +only thought of some desperate means of attack. Ah! the six- +shooter. It was still in his pocket. He drew it nervously, +hopelessly--it looked so small compared with his large enemy! + +He presented it with flashing eyes, and pulled the trigger. A +feeble click followed, another, and again! Even THIS had mocked +him. He pulled the trigger once more, wildly; there was a sudden +explosion, and another. He stepped back; the balls had apparently +flattened themselves harmlessly on the bull's forehead. He pulled +again, hopelessly; there was another report, a sudden furious +bellow, and the enormous brute threw his head savagely to one side, +burying his left horn deep in the crumbling bank beside him. Again +and again he charged the bank, driving his left horn home, and +bringing down the stones and earth in showers. It was some seconds +before Clarence saw in a single glimpse of that wildly tossing +crest the reason of this fury. The blood was pouring from his left +eye, penetrated by the last bullet; the bull was blinded! A +terrible revulsion of feeling, a sudden sense of remorse that was +for the moment more awful than even his previous fear, overcame +him. HE had done THAT THING! As much to fly from the dreadful +spectacle as any instinct of self-preservation, he took advantage +of the next mad paroxysms of pain and blindness, that always +impelled the suffering beast towards the left, to slip past him on +the right, reach the incline, and scramble wildly up to the plain +again. Here he ran confusedly forward, not knowing whither--only +caring to escape that agonized bellowing, to shut out forever the +accusing look of that huge blood-weltering eye. + +Suddenly he heard a distant angry shout. To his first hurried +glance the plain had seemed empty, but, looking up, he saw two +horsemen rapidly advancing with a led horse behind them--his own. +With the blessed sense of relief that overtook him now came the +fevered desire for sympathy and to tell them all. But as they came +nearer he saw that they were Gildersleeve, the scout, and Henry +Benham, and that, far from sharing any delight in his deliverance, +their faces only exhibited irascible impatience. Overcome by this +new defeat, the boy stopped, again dumb and dogged. + +"Now, then, blank it all, WILL you get up and come along, or do you +reckon to keep the train waiting another hour over your blanked +foolishness?" said Gildersleeve savagely. + +The boy hesitated, and then mounted mechanically, without a word. + +"'Twould have served 'em right to have gone and left 'em," muttered +Benham vindictively. + +For one wild instant Clarence thought of throwing himself from his +horse and bidding them go on and leave him. But before he could +put his thought into action the two men were galloping forward, +with his horse led by a lariat fastened to the horn of +Gildersleeve's saddle. + +In two hours more they had overtaken the train, already on the +march, and were in the midst of the group of outriders. Judge +Peyton's face, albeit a trifle perplexed, turned towards Clarence +with a kindly, half-tolerant look of welcome. The boy's heart +instantly melted with forgiveness. + +"Well, my boy, let's hear YOUR story. What happened?" + +Clarence cast a hurried glance around, and saw Jim, with face +averted, riding gloomily behind. Then nervously and hurriedly he +told how he had been thrown into the gully on the back of the +wounded buffalo, and the manner of his escape. An audible titter +ran through the cavalcade. Mr. Peyton regarded him gravely. "But +how did the buffalo get so conveniently into the gully?" he asked. + +"Jim Hooker lamed him with a shotgun, and he fell over," said +Clarence timidly. + +A roar of Homeric laughter went up from the party. Clarence looked +up, stung and startled, but caught a single glimpse of Jim Hooker's +face that made him forget his own mortification. In its hopeless, +heart-sick, and utterly beaten dejection--the first and only real +expression he had seen on it--he read the dreadful truth. Jim's +REPUTATION had ruined him! The one genuine and striking episode of +his life, the one trustworthy account he had given of it, had been +unanimously accepted as the biggest and most consummate lie of his +record! + + +CHAPTER VII + + +With this incident of the hunt closed, to Clarence, the last +remembered episode of his journey. But he did not know until long +after that it had also closed to him what might have been the +opening of a new career. For it had been Judge Peyton's intention +in adopting Susy to include a certain guardianship and protection +of the boy, provided he could get the consent of that vague +relation to whom he was consigned. But it had been pointed out by +Mrs. Peyton and her brother that Clarence's association with Jim +Hooker had made him a doubtful companion for Susy, and even the +Judge himself was forced to admit that the boy's apparent taste for +evil company was inconsistent with his alleged birth and breeding. +Unfortunately, Clarence, in the conviction of being hopelessly +misunderstood, and that dogged acquiescence to fate which was one +of his characteristics, was too proud to correct the impression by +any of the hypocracies of childhood. He had also a cloudy instinct +of loyalty to Jim in his disgrace, without, however, experiencing +either the sympathy of an equal or the zeal of a partisan, but +rather--if it could be said of a boy of his years--with the +patronage and protection of a superior. So he accepted without +demur the intimation that when the train reached California he +would be forwarded from Stockton with an outfit and a letter of +explanation to Sacramento, it being understood that in the event of +not finding his relative he would return to the Peytons in one of +the southern valleys, where they elected to purchase a tract of +land. + +With this outlook, and the prospect of change, independence, and +all the rich possibilities that to the imagination of youth are +included in them, Clarence had found the days dragging. The halt +at Salt Lake, the transit of the dreary Alkali desert, even the +wild passage of the Sierras, were but a blurred picture in his +memory. The sight of eternal snows and the rolling of endless +ranks of pines, the first glimpse of a hillside of wild oats, the +spectacle of a rushing yellow river that to his fancy seemed tinged +with gold, were momentary excitements, quickly forgotten. But +when, one morning, halting at the outskirts of a struggling +settlement, he found the entire party eagerly gathered around a +passing stranger, who had taken from his saddle-bags a small +buckskin pouch to show them a double handful of shining scales of +metal, Clarence felt the first feverish and overmastering thrill of +the gold-seekers. Breathlessly he followed the breathless +questions and careless replies. The gold had been dug out of a +placer only thirty miles away. It might be worth, say, a hundred +and fifty dollars; it was only HIS share of a week's work with two +partners. It was not much; "the country was getting played out +with fresh arrivals and greenhorns." All this falling carelessly +from the unshaven lips of a dusty, roughly dressed man, with a +long-handled shovel and pickaxe strapped on his back, and a frying- +pan depending from his saddle. But no panoplied or armed knight +ever seemed so heroic or independent a figure to Clarence. What +could be finer than the noble scorn conveyed in his critical survey +of the train, with its comfortable covered wagons and appliances of +civilization? "Ye'll hev to get rid of them ther fixin's if yer +goin' in for placer diggin'!" What a corroboration of Clarence's +real thoughts! What a picture of independence was this! The +picturesque scout, the all-powerful Judge Peyton, the daring young +officer, all crumbled on their clayey pedestals before this hero in +a red flannel shirt and high-topped boots. To stroll around in the +open air all day, and pick up those shining bits of metal, without +study, without method or routine--this was really life; to some day +come upon that large nugget "you couldn't lift," that was worth as +much as the train and horses--such a one as the stranger said was +found the other day at Sawyer's Bar--this was worth giving up +everything for. That rough man, with his smile of careless +superiority, was the living link between Clarence and the Thousand +and One Nights; in him were Aladdin and Sindbad incarnate. + +Two days later they reached Stockton. Here Clarence, whose single +suit of clothes had been reinforced by patching, odds and ends from +Peyton's stores, and an extraordinary costume of army cloth, got up +by the regimental tailor at Fort Ridge, was taken to be refitted at +a general furnishing "emporium." But alas! in the selection of the +clothing for that adult locality scant provision seemed to have +been made for a boy of Clarence's years, and he was with difficulty +fitted from an old condemned Government stores with "a boy's" +seaman suit and a brass-buttoned pea-jacket. To this outfit Mr. +Peyton added a small sum of money for his expenses, and a letter of +explanation to his cousin. The stage-coach was to start at noon. +It only remained for Clarence to take leave of the party. The +final parting with Susy had been discounted on the two previous +days with some tears, small frights and clingings, and the +expressed determination on the child's part "to go with him;" but +in the excitement of the arrival at Stockton it was still further +mitigated, and under the influence of a little present from +Clarence--his first disbursement of his small capital--had at last +taken the form and promise of merely temporary separation. +Nevertheless, when the boy's scanty pack was deposited under the +stage-coach seat, and he had been left alone, he ran rapidly back +to the train for one moment more with Susy. Panting and a little +frightened, he reached Mrs. Peyton's car. + +"Goodness! You're not gone yet," said Mrs. Peyton sharply. "Do +you want to lose the stage?" + +An instant before, in his loneliness, he might have answered, +"Yes." But under the cruel sting of Mrs. Peyton's evident +annoyance at his reappearance he felt his legs suddenly tremble, +and his voice left him. He did not dare to look at Susy. But her +voice rose comfortably from the depths of the wagon where she was +sitting. + +"The stage will be gone away, Kla'uns." + +She too! Shame at his foolish weakness sent the yearning blood +that had settled round his heart flying back into his face. + +"I was looking for--for--for Jim, ma'am," he said at last, boldly. + +He saw a look of disgust pass over Mrs. Peyton's face, and felt a +malicious satisfaction as he turned and ran back to the stage. But +here, to his surprise, he actually found Jim, whom he really hadn't +thought of, darkly watching the last strapping of luggage. With a +manner calculated to convey the impression to the other passengers +that he was parting from a brother criminal, probably on his way to +a state prison, Jim shook hands gloomily with Clarence, and eyed +the other passengers furtively between his mated locks. + +"Ef ye hear o' anythin' happenin', ye'll know what's up," he said, +in a low, hoarse, but perfectly audible whisper. "Me and them's +bound to part company afore long. Tell the fellows at Deadman's +Gulch to look out for me at any time." + +Although Clarence was not going to Deadman's Gulch, knew nothing of +it, and had a faint suspicion that Jim was equally ignorant, yet as +one or two of the passengers glanced anxiously at the demure, gray- +eyed boy who seemed booked for such a baleful destination, he +really felt the half-delighted, half-frightened consciousness that +he was starting in life under fascinating immoral pretenses. But +the forward spring of the fine-spirited horses, the quickened +motion, the glittering sunlight, and the thought that he really was +leaving behind him all the shackles of dependence and custom, and +plunging into a life of freedom, drove all else from his mind. He +turned at last from this hopeful, blissful future, and began to +examine his fellow passengers with boyish curiosity. Wedged in +between two silent men on the front seat, one of whom seemed a +farmer, and the other, by his black attire, a professional man, +Clarence was finally attracted by a black-mantled, dark-haired, +bonnetless woman on the back seat, whose attention seemed to be +monopolized by the jocular gallantries of her companions and the +two men before her in the middle seat. From her position he could +see little more than her dark eyes, which occasionally seemed to +meet his frank curiosity in an amused sort of way, but he was +chiefly struck by the pretty foreign sound of her musical voice, +which was unlike anything he had ever heard before, and--alas for +the inconstancy of youth--much finer than Mrs. Peyton's. Presently +his farmer companion, casting a patronizing glance on Clarence's +pea-jacket and brass buttons, said cheerily-- + +"Jest off a voyage, sonny?" + +"No, sir," stammered Clarence; "I came across the plains." + +"Then I reckon that's the rig-out for the crew of a prairie +schooner, eh?" There was a laugh at this which perplexed Clarence. +Observing it, the humorist kindly condescended to explain that +"prairie schooner" was the current slang for an emigrant wagon. + +"I couldn't," explained Clarence, naively looking at the dark eyes +on the back seat, "get any clothes at Stockton but these; I suppose +the folks didn't think there'd ever be boys in California." + +The simplicity of this speech evidently impressed the others, for +the two men in the middle seats turned at a whisper from the lady +and regarded him curiously. Clarence blushed slightly and became +silent. Presently the vehicle began to slacken its speed. They +were ascending a hill; on either bank grew huge cottonwoods, from +which occasionally depended a beautiful scarlet vine. + +"Ah! eet ees pretty," said the lady, nodding her black-veiled head +towards it. "Eet is good in ze hair." + +One of the men made an awkward attempt to clutch a spray from the +window. A brilliant inspiration flashed upon Clarence. When the +stage began the ascent of the next hill, following the example of +an outside passenger, he jumped down to walk. At the top of the +hill he rejoined the stage, flushed and panting, but carrying a +small branch of the vine in his scratched hands. Handing it to the +man on the middle seat, he said, with grave, boyish politeness-- +"Please--for the lady." + +A slight smile passed over the face of Clarence's neighbors. The +bonnetless woman nodded a pleasant acknowledgment, and coquettishly +wound the vine in her glossy hair. The dark man at his side, who +hadn't spoken yet, turned to Clarence dryly. + +"If you're goin' to keep up this gait, sonny, I reckon ye won't +find much trouble gettin' a man's suit to fit you by the time you +reach Sacramento." + +Clarence didn't quite understand him, but noticed that a singular +gravity seemed to overtake the two jocular men on the middle seat, +and the lady looked out of the window. He came to the conclusion +that he had made a mistake about alluding to his clothes and his +size. He must try and behave more manly. That opportunity seemed +to be offered two hours later, when the stage stopped at a wayside +hotel or restaurant. + +Two or three passengers had got down to refresh themselves at the +bar. His right and left hand neighbors were, however, engaged in a +drawling conversation on the comparative merits of San Francisco +sandhill and water lots; the jocular occupants of the middle seat +were still engrossed with the lady. Clarence slipped out of the +stage and entered the bar-room with some ostentation. The complete +ignoring of his person by the barkeeper and his customers, however, +somewhat disconcerted him. He hesitated a moment, and then +returned gravely to the stage door and opened it. + +"Would you mind taking a drink with me, sir?" said Clarence +politely, addressing the farmer-looking passenger who had been most +civil to him. A dead silence followed. The two men on the middle +seat faced entirely around to gaze at him. + +"The Commodore asks if you'll take a drink with him," explained one +of the men to Clarence's friend with the greatest seriousness. + +"Eh? Oh, yes, certainly," returned that gentleman, changing his +astonished expression to one of the deepest gravity, "seeing it's +the Commodore." + +"And perhaps you and your friend will join, too?" said Clarence +timidly to the passenger who had explained; "and you too, sir?" he +added to the dark man. + +"Really, gentlemen, I don't see how we can refuse," said the +latter, with the greatest formality, and appealing to the others. +"A compliment of this kind from our distinguished friend is not to +be taken lightly." + +"I have observed, sir, that the Commodore's head is level," +returned the other man with equal gravity. + +Clarence could have wished they had not treated his first +hospitable effort quite so formally, but as they stepped from the +coach with unbending faces he led them, a little frightened, into +the bar-room. Here, unfortunately, as he was barely able to reach +over the counter, the barkeeper would have again overlooked him but +for a quick glance from the dark man, which seemed to change even +the barkeeper's perfunctory smiling face into supernatural gravity. + +"The Commodore is standing treat," said the dark man, with unbroken +seriousness, indicating Clarence, and leaning back with an air of +respectful formality. "I will take straight whiskey. The +Commodore, on account of just changing climate, will, I believe, +for the present content himself with lemon soda." + +Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey, like the others, +but a little doubtful of the politeness of countermanding his +guest's order, and perhaps slightly embarrassed by the fact that +all the other customers seemed to have gathered round him and his +party with equally immovable faces, he said hurriedly: + +"Lemon soda for me, please." + +"The Commodore," said the barkeeper with impassive features, as he +bent forward and wiped the counter with professional deliberation, +"is right. No matter how much a man may be accustomed all his life +to liquor, when he is changing climate, gentlemen, he says 'Lemon +soda for me' all the time." + +"Perhaps," said Clarence, brightening, "you will join too?" + +"I shall be proud on this occasion, sir." + +"I think," said the tall man, still as ceremoniously unbending as +before, "that there can be but one toast here, gentlemen. I give +you the health of the Commodore. May his shadow never be less." + +The health was drunk solemnly. Clarence felt his cheeks tingle and +in his excitement drank his own health with the others. Yet he was +disappointed that there was not more joviality; he wondered if men +always drank together so stiffly. And it occurred to him that it +would be expensive. Nevertheless, he had his purse all ready +ostentatiously in his hand; in fact, the paying for it out of his +own money was not the least manly and independent pleasure he had +promised himself. "How much?" he asked, with an affectation of +carelessness. + +The barkeeper cast his eye professionally over the barroom. "I +think you said treats for the crowd; call it twenty dollars to make +even change." + +Clarence's heart sank. He had heard already of the exaggeration of +California prices. Twenty dollars! It was half his fortune. +Nevertheless, with an heroic effort, he controlled himself, and +with slightly nervous fingers counted out the money. It struck +him, however, as curious, not to say ungentlemanly, that the +bystanders craned their necks over his shoulder to look at the +contents of his purse, although some slight explanation was offered +by the tall man. + +"The Commodore's purse, gentlemen, is really a singular one. +Permit me," he said, taking it from Clarence's hand with great +politeness. "It is one of the new pattern, you observe, quite +worthy of inspection." He handed it to a man behind him, who in +turn handed it to another, while a chorus of "suthin quite new," +"the latest style," followed it in its passage round the room, and +indicated to Clarence its whereabouts. It was presently handed +back to the barkeeper, who had begged also to inspect it, and who, +with an air of scrupulous ceremony insisted upon placing it himself +in Clarence's side pocket, as if it were an important part of his +function. The driver here called "all aboard." The passengers +hurriedly reseated themselves, and the episode abruptly ended. +For, to Clarence's surprise, these attentive friends of a moment +ago at once became interested in the views of a new passenger +concerning the local politics of San Francisco, and he found +himself utterly forgotten. The bonnetless woman had changed her +position, and her head was no longer visible. The disillusion and +depression that overcame him suddenly were as complete as his +previous expectations and hopefulness had been extravagant. For +the first time his utter unimportance in the world and his +inadequacy to this new life around him came upon him crushingly. + +The heat and jolting of the stage caused him to fall into a slight +slumber and when he awoke he found his two neighbors had just got +out at a wayside station. They had evidently not cared to waken +him to say "Good-by." From the conversation of the other +passengers he learned that the tall man was a well-known gambler, +and the one who looked like a farmer was a ship captain who had +become a wealthy merchant. Clarence thought he understood now why +the latter had asked him if he came off a voyage, and that the +nickname of "Commodore" given to him, Clarence, was some joke +intended for the captain's understanding. He missed them, for he +wanted to talk to them about his relative at Sacramento, whom he +was now so soon to see. At last, between sleeping and waking, the +end of his journey was unexpectedly reached. It was dark, but, +being "steamer night," the shops and business places were still +open, and Mr. Peyton had arranged that the stage-driver should +deliver Clarence at the address of his relative in "J Street,"--an +address which Clarence had luckily remembered. But the boy was +somewhat discomfited to find that it was a large office or banking- +house. He, however, descended from the stage, and with his small +pack in his hand entered the building as the stage drove off, and, +addressing one of the busy clerks, asked for "Mr. Jackson Brant." + +There was no such person in the office. There never had been any +such person. The bank had always occupied that building. Was +there not some mistake in the number? No; the name, number, and +street had been deeply engrafted in the boy's recollection. Stop! +it might be the name of a customer who had given his address at the +bank. The clerk who made this suggestion disappeared promptly to +make inquiries in the counting-room. Clarence, with a rapidly +beating heart, awaited him. The clerk returned. There was no such +name on the books. Jackson Brant was utterly unknown to every one +in the establishment. + +For an instant the counter against which the boy was leaning seemed +to yield with his weight; he was obliged to steady himself with +both hands to keep from falling. It was not his disappointment, +which was terrible; it was not a thought of his future, which +seemed hopeless; it was not his injured pride at appearing to have +willfully deceived Mr. Peyton, which was more dreadful than all +else; but it was the sudden, sickening sense that HE himself had +been deceived, tricked, and fooled! For it flashed upon him for +the first time that the vague sense of wrong which had always +haunted him was this--that this was the vile culmination of a plan +to GET RID OF HIM, and that he had been deliberately lost and led +astray by his relatives as helplessly and completely as a useless +cat or dog! + +Perhaps there was something of this in his face, for the clerk, +staring at him, bade him sit down for a moment, and again vanished +into the mysterious interior. Clarence had no conception how long +he was absent, or indeed anything but his own breathless thoughts, +for he was conscious of wondering afterwards why the clerk was +leading him through a door in the counter into an inner room of +many desks, and again through a glass door into a smaller office, +where a preternaturally busy-looking man sat writing at a desk. +Without looking up, but pausing only to apply a blotting-pad to the +paper before him, the man said crisply-- + +"So you've been consigned to some one who don't seem to turn up, +and can't be found, eh? Never mind that," as Clarence laid +Peyton's letter before him. "Can't read it now. Well, I suppose +you want to be shipped back to Stockton?" + +"No!" said the boy, recovering his voice with an effort. + +"Eh, that's business, though. Know anybody here?" + +"Not a living soul; that's why they sent me," said the boy, in +sudden reckless desperation. He was the more furious that he knew +the tears were standing in his eyes. + +The idea seemed to strike the man amusingly. "Looks a little like +it, don't it?" he said, smiling grimly at the paper before him. +"Got any money?" + +"A little." + +"How much?" + +"About twenty dollars," said Clarence hesitatingly. The man opened +a drawer at his side, mechanically, for he did not raise his eyes, +and took out two ten-dollar gold pieces. "I'll go twenty better," +he said, laying them down on the desk. "That'll give you a chance +to look around. Come back here, if you don't see your way clear." +He dipped his pen into the ink with a significant gesture as if +closing the interview. + +Clarence pushed back the coin. "I'm not a beggar," he said +doggedly. + +The man this time raised his head and surveyed the boy with two +keen eyes. "You're not, hey? Well, do I look like one?" + +"No," stammered Clarence, as he glanced into the man's haughty +eyes. + +"Yet, if I were in your fix, I'd take that money and be glad to get +it." + +"If you'll let me pay you back again," said Clarence, a little +ashamed, and considerably frightened at his implied accusation of +the man before him. + +"You can," said the man, bending over his desk again. + +Clarence took up the money and awkwardly drew out his purse. But it +was the first time he had touched it since it was returned to him +in the bar-room, and it struck him that it was heavy and full-- +indeed, so full that on opening it a few coins rolled out on to the +floor. The man looked up abruptly. + +"I thought you said you had only twenty dollars?" he remarked +grimly. + +"Mr. Peyton gave me forty," returned Clarence, stupefied and +blushing. "I spent twenty dollars for drinks at the bar--and," he +stammered, "I--I--I don't know how the rest came here." + +"You spent twenty dollars for DRINKS?" said the man, laying down +his pen, and leaning back in his chair to gaze at the boy. + +"Yes--that is--I treated some gentlemen of the stage, sir, at +Davidson's Crossing." + +"Did you treat the whole stage company?" + +"No, sir, only about four or five--and the bar-keeper. But +everything's so dear in California. I know that." + +"Evidently. But it don't seem to make much difference with YOU," +said the man, glancing at the purse. + +"They wanted my purse to look at," said Clarence hurriedly, "and +that's how the thing happened. Somebody put HIS OWN MONEY back +into MY purse by accident." + +"Of course," said the man grimly. + +"Yes, that's the reason," said Clarence, a little relieved, but +somewhat embarrassed by the man's persistent eyes. + +"Then, of course," said the other quietly, "you don't require my +twenty dollars now." + +"But," returned Clarence hesitatingly, "this isn't MY money. I +must find out who it belongs to, and give it back again. Perhaps," +he added timidly, "I might leave it here with you, and call for it +when I find the man, or send him here." + +With the greatest gravity he here separated the surplus from what +was left of Peyton's gift and the twenty dollars he had just +received. The balance unaccounted for was forty dollars. He laid +it on the desk before the man, who, still looking at him, rose and +opened the door. + +"Mr. Reed." + +The clerk who had shown Clarence in appeared. + +"Open an account with--" He stopped and turned interrogatively to +Clarence. + +"Clarence Brant," said Clarence, coloring with excitement. + +"With Clarence Brant. Take that deposit"--pointing to the money-- +"and give him a receipt." He paused as the clerk retired with a +wondering gaze at the money, looked again at Clarence, said, "I +think YOU'LL do," and reentered the private office, closing the +door behind him. + +I hope it will not be deemed inconceivable that Clarence, only a +few moments before crushed with bitter disappointment and the +hopeless revelation of his abandonment by his relatives, now felt +himself lifted up suddenly into an imaginary height of independence +and manhood. He was leaving the bank, in which he stood a minute +before a friendless boy, not as a successful beggar, for this +important man had disclaimed the idea, but absolutely as a +customer! a depositor! a business man like the grown-up clients who +were thronging the outer office, and before the eyes of the clerk +who had pitied him! And he, Clarence, had been spoken to by this +man, whose name he now recognized as the one that was on the door +of the building--a man of whom his fellow-passengers had spoken +with admiring envy--a banker famous in all California! Will it be +deemed incredible that this imaginative and hopeful boy, forgetting +all else, the object of his visit, and even the fact that he +considered this money was not his own, actually put his hat a +little on one side as he strolled out on his way to the streets and +prospective fortune? + +Two hours later the banker had another visitor. It chanced to be +the farmer-looking man who had been Clarence's fellow-passenger. +Evidently a privileged person, he was at once ushered as "Captain +Stevens" into the presence of the banker. At the end of a familiar +business interview the captain asked carelessly-- + +"Any letters for me?" + +The busy banker pointed with his pen to the letter "S" in a row of +alphabetically labeled pigeon-holes against the wall. The captain, +having selected his correspondence, paused with a letter in his +hand. + +"Look here, Carden, there are letters here for some chap called +'John Silsbee.' They were here when I called, ten weeks ago." + +"Well?" + +"That's the name of that Pike County man who was killed by Injins +in the plains. The 'Frisco papers had all the particulars last +night; may be it's for that fellow. It hasn't got a postmark. Who +left it here?" + +Mr. Carden summoned a clerk. It appeared that the letter had been +left by a certain Brant Fauquier, to be called for. + +Captain Stevens smiled. "Brant's been too busy dealin' faro to +think of 'em agin, and since that shootin' affair at Angels' I hear +he's skipped to the southern coast somewhere. Cal Johnson, his old +chum, was in the up stage from Stockton this afternoon." + +"Did you come by the up stage from Stockton this afternoon?" said +Carden, looking up. + +"Yes, as far as Ten-mile Station--rode the rest of the way here." + +"Did you notice a queer little old-fashioned kid--about so high-- +like a runaway school-boy?" + +"Did I? By G--d, sir, he treated me to drinks." + +Carden jumped from his chair. "Then he wasn't lying!" + +"No! We let him do it; but we made it good for the little chap +afterwards. Hello! What's up?" + +But Mr. Carden was already in the outer office beside the clerk who +had admitted Clarence. + +"You remember that boy Brant who was here?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where did he go?" + +"Don't know, sir." + +"Go and find him somewhere and somehow. Go to all the hotels, +restaurants, and gin-mills near here, and hunt him up. Take some +one with you, if you can't do it alone. Bring him back here, +quick!" + +It was nearly midnight when the clerk fruitlessly returned. It was +the fierce high noon of "steamer nights"; light flashed brilliantly +from shops, counting-houses, drinking-saloons, and gambling-hells. +The streets were yet full of eager, hurrying feet--swift of +fortune, ambition, pleasure, or crime. But from among these deeper +harsher footfalls the echo of the homeless boy's light, innocent +tread seemed to have died out forever. + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +When Clarence was once more in the busy street before the bank, it +seemed clear to his boyish mind that, being now cast adrift upon +the world and responsible to no one, there was no reason why he +should not at once proceed to the nearest gold mines! The idea of +returning to Mr. Peyton and Susy, as a disowned and abandoned +outcast, was not to be thought of. He would purchase some kind of +an outfit, such as he had seen the miners carry, and start off as +soon as he had got his supper. But although one of his most +delightful anticipations had been the unfettered freedom of +ordering a meal at a restaurant, on entering the first one he found +himself the object of so much curiosity, partly from his size and +partly from his dress, which the unfortunate boy was beginning to +suspect was really preposterous, and he turned away with a +stammered excuse, and did not try another. Further on he found a +baker's shop, where he refreshed himself with some gingerbread and +lemon soda. At an adjacent grocery he purchased some herrings, +smoked beef, and biscuits, as future provisions for his "pack" or +kit. Then began his real quest for an outfit. In an hour he had +secured--ostensibly for some friend, to avoid curious inquiry--a +pan, a blanket, a shovel and pick, all of which he deposited at the +baker's, his unostentatious headquarters, with the exception of a +pair of disguising high boots that half hid his sailor trousers, +which he kept to put on at the last. Even to his inexperience the +cost of these articles seemed enormous; when his purchases were +complete, of his entire capital scarcely four dollars remained! +Yet in the fond illusions of boyhood these rude appointments seemed +possessed of far more value than the gold he had given in exchange +for them, and he had enjoyed a child's delight in testing the +transforming magic of money. + +Meanwhile, the feverish contact of the crowded street had, strange +to say, increased his loneliness, while the ruder joviality of its +dissipations began to fill him with vague uneasiness. The passing +glimpse of dancing halls and gaudily whirled figures that seemed +only feminine in their apparel; the shouts and boisterous choruses +from concert rooms; the groups of drunken roisterers that +congregated around the doors of saloons or, hilariously charging +down the streets, elbowed him against the wall, or humorously +insisted on his company, discomposed and frightened him. He had +known rude companionship before, but it was serious, practical, and +under control. There was something in this vulgar degradation of +intellect and power--qualities that Clarence had always boyishly +worshiped--which sickened and disillusioned him. Later on a pistol +shot in a crowd beyond, the rush of eager men past him, the +disclosure of a limp and helpless figure against the wall, the +closing of the crowd again around it, although it stirred him with +a fearful curiosity, actually shocked him less hopelessly than +their brutish enjoyments and abandonment. + +It was in one of these rushes that he had been crushed against a +swinging door, which, giving way to his pressure, disclosed to his +wondering eyes a long, glitteringly adorned, and brightly lit room, +densely filled with a silent, attentive throng in attitudes of +decorous abstraction and preoccupation, that even the shouts and +tumult at its very doors could not disturb. Men of all ranks and +conditions, plainly or elaborately clad, were grouped together +under this magic spell of silence and attention. The tables before +them were covered with cards and loose heaps of gold and silver. A +clicking, the rattling of an ivory ball, and the frequent, formal, +lazy reiteration of some unintelligible sentence was all that he +heard. But by a sudden instinct he UNDERSTOOD it all. It was a +gambling saloon! + +Encouraged by the decorous stillness, and the fact that everybody +appeared too much engaged to notice him, the boy drew timidly +beside one of the tables. It was covered with a number of cards, +on which were placed certain sums of money. Looking down, Clarence +saw that he was standing before a card that as yet had nothing on +it. A single player at his side looked up, glanced at Clarence +curiously, and then placed half a dozen gold pieces on the vacant +card. Absorbed in the general aspect of the room and the players, +Clarence did not notice that his neighbor won twice, and even +THRICE, upon that card. Becoming aware, however, that the player +while gathering in his gains, was smilingly regarding him he moved +in some embarrassment to the other end of the table, where there +seemed another gap in the crowd. It so chanced that there was also +another vacant card. The previous neighbor of Clarence instantly +shoved a sum of money across the table on the vacant card and won! +At this the other players began to regard Clarence singularly, one +or two of the spectators smiled, and the boy, coloring, moved +awkwardly away. But his sleeve was caught by the successful +player, who, detaining him gently, put three gold pieces into his +hand. + +"That's YOUR share, sonny," he whispered. + +"Share--for what?" stammered the astounded Clarence. + +"For bringing me 'the luck,'" said the man. + +Clarence stared. "Am I--to--to play with it?" he said, glancing at +the coins and then at the table, in ignorance of the stranger's +meaning. + +"No, no!" said the man hurriedly, "don't do that. You'll lose it, +sonny, sure! Don't you see, YOU BRING THE LUCK TO OTHERS, not to +yourself. Keep it, old man, and run home!" + +"I don't want it! I won't have it!" said Clarence with a swift +recollection of the manipulation of his purse that morning, and a +sudden distrust of all mankind. + +"There!" He turned back to the table and laid the money on the +first vacant card he saw. In another moment, as it seemed to him, +it was raked away by the dealer. A sense of relief came over him. + +"There!" said the man, with an awed voice and a strange, fatuous +look in his eye. "What did I tell you? You see, it's allus so! +Now," he added roughly, "get up and get out o' this, afore you lose +the boots and shirt off ye." + +Clarence did not wait for a second command. With another glance +round the room, he began to make his way through the crowd towards +the front. But in that parting glance he caught a glimpse of a +woman presiding over a "wheel of fortune" in a corner, whose face +seemed familiar. He looked again, timidly. In spite of an +extraordinary head-dress or crown that she wore as the "Goddess of +Fortune," he recognized, twisted in its tinsel, a certain scarlet +vine which he had seen before; in spite of the hoarse formula which +she was continually repeating, he recognized the foreign accent. +It was the woman of the stage-coach! With a sudden dread that she +might recognize him, and likewise demand his services "for luck," +he turned and fled. + +Once more in the open air, there came upon him a vague loathing and +horror of the restless madness and feverish distraction of this +half-civilized city. It was the more powerful that it was vague, +and the outcome of some inward instinct. He found himself longing +for the pure air and sympathetic loneliness of the plains and +wilderness; he began to yearn for the companionship of his humble +associates--the teamster, the scout Gildersleeve, and even Jim +Hooker. But above all and before all was the wild desire to get +away from these maddening streets and their bewildering occupants. +He ran back to the baker's, gathered his purchases together, took +advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them on his boyish +shoulders, slipped into a side street, and struck out at once for +the outskirts. + +It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining +district, but the diminution of his small capital forbade that +outlay, and he decided to walk there by the highroad, of whose +general direction he had informed himself. In half an hour the +lights of the flat, struggling city, and their reflection in the +shallow, turbid river before it, had sunk well behind him. The air +was cool and soft; a yellow moon swam in the slight haze that rose +above the tules; in the distance a few scattered cottonwoods and +sycamores marked like sentinels the road. When he had walked some +distance he sat down beneath one of them to make a frugal supper +from the dry rations in his pack, but in the absence of any spring +he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of water in a +wayside tavern. Here he was good-humoredly offered something +stronger, which he declined, and replied to certain curious +interrogations by saying that he expected to overtake his friends +in a wagon further on. A new distrust of mankind had begun to make +the boy an adept in innocent falsehood, the more deceptive as his +careless, cheerful manner, the result of his relief at leaving the +city, and his perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and +nature, certainly gave no indication of his homelessness and +poverty. + +It was long past midnight, when, weary in body, but still hopeful +and happy in mind, he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling +expanse of wild oats, with the same sense of security of rest as a +traveler to his inn. Here, completely screened from view by the +tall stalks of grain that rose thickly around him to the height of +a man's shoulder, he beat down a few of them for a bed, on which he +deposited his blanket. Placing his pack for a pillow, he curled +himself up in his blanket, and speedily fell asleep. + +He awoke at sunrise, refreshed, invigorated, and hungry. But he +was forced to defer his first self-prepared breakfast until he had +reached water, and a less dangerous place than the wild-oat field +to build his first camp fire. This he found a mile further on, +near some dwarf willows on the bank of a half-dry stream. Of his +various efforts to prepare his first meal, the fire was the most +successful; the coffee was somewhat too substantially thick, and +the bacon and herring lacked definiteness of quality from having +been cooked in the same vessel. In this boyish picnic he missed +Susy, and recalled, perhaps a little bitterly, her coldness at +parting. But the novelty of his situation, the brilliant sunshine +and sense of freedom, and the road already awakening to dusty life +with passing teams, dismissed everything but the future from his +mind. Readjusting his pack, he stepped on cheerily. At noon he +was overtaken by a teamster, who in return for a match to light his +pipe gave him a lift of a dozen miles. It is to be feared that +Clarence's account of himself was equally fanciful with his +previous story, and that the teamster parted from him with a +genuine regret, and a hope that he would soon be overtaken by his +friends along the road. "And mind that you ain't such a fool agin +to let 'em make you tote their dod-blasted tools fur them!" he +added unsuspectingly, pointing to Clarence's mining outfit. Thus +saved the heaviest part of the day's journey, for the road was +continually rising from the plains during the last six miles, +Clarence was yet able to cover a considerable distance on foot +before he halted for supper. Here he was again fortunate. An +empty lumber team watering at the same spring, its driver offered +to take Clarence's purchases--for the boy had profited by his late +friend's suggestion to personally detach himself from his +equipment--to Buckeye Mills for a dollar, which would also include +a "shakedown passage" for himself on the floor of the wagon. "I +reckon you've been foolin' away in Sacramento the money yer parents +give yer for return stage fare, eh? Don't lie, sonny," he added +grimly, as the now artful Clarence smiled diplomatically, "I've +been thar myself!" Luckily, the excuse that he was "tired and +sleepy" prevented further dangerous questioning, and the boy was +soon really in deep slumber on the wagon floor. + +He awoke betimes to find himself already in the mountains. Buckeye +Mills was a straggling settlement, and Clarence prudently stopped +any embarrassing inquiry from his friend by dropping off the wagon +with his equipment as they entered it, and hurriedly saying "Good- +by" from a crossroad through the woods. He had learned that the +nearest mining camp was five miles away, and its direction was +indicated by a long wooden "flume," or water-way, that alternately +appeared and disappeared on the flank of the mountain opposite. +The cooler and drier air, the grateful shadow of pine and bay, and +the spicy balsamic odors that everywhere greeted him, thrilled and +exhilarated him. The trail plunging sometimes into an undisturbed +forest, he started the birds before him like a flight of arrows +through its dim recesses; at times he hung breathlessly over the +blue depths of canyons where the same forests were repeated a +thousand feet below. Towards noon he struck into a rude road-- +evidently the thoroughfare of the locality--and was surprised to +find that it, as well as the adjacent soil wherever disturbed, was +a deep Indian red. Everywhere, along its sides, powdering the +banks and boles of trees with its ruddy stain, in mounds and +hillocks of piled dirt on the road, or in liquid paint-like pools, +when a trickling stream had formed a gutter across it, there was +always the same deep sanguinary color. Once or twice it became +more vivid in contrast with the white teeth of quartz that peeped +through it from the hillside or crossed the road in crumbled +strata. One of those pieces Clarence picked up with a quickening +pulse. It was veined and streaked with shining mica and tiny +glittering cubes of mineral that LOOKED like gold! + +The road now began to descend towards a winding stream, shrunken by +drought and ditching, that glared dazzingly in the sunlight from +its white bars of sand, or glistened in shining sheets and +channels. Along its banks, and even encroaching upon its bed, were +scattered a few mud cabins, strange-looking wooden troughs and +gutters, and here and there, glancing through the leaves, the white +canvas of tents. The stumps of felled trees and blackened spaces, +as of recent fires, marked the stream on either side. A sudden +sense of disappointment overcame Clarence. It looked vulgar, +common, and worse than all--FAMILIAR. It was like the unlovely +outskirts of a dozen other prosaic settlements he had seen in less +romantic localities. In that muddy red stream, pouring out of a +wooden gutter, in which three or four bearded, slouching, half- +naked figures were raking like chiffonniers, there was nothing to +suggest the royal metal. Yet he was so absorbed in gazing at the +scene, and had walked so rapidly during the past few minutes, that +he was startled, on turning a sharp corner of the road, to come +abruptly upon an outlying dwelling. + +It was a nondescript building, half canvas and half boards. The +interior seen through the open door was fitted up with side +shelves, a counter carelessly piled with provisions, groceries, +clothing, and hardware--with no attempt at display or even ordinary +selection--and a table, on which stood a demijohn and three or four +dirty glasses. Two roughly dressed men, whose long, matted beards +and hair left only their eyes and lips visible in the tangled +hirsute wilderness below their slouched hats, were leaning against +the opposite sides of the doorway, smoking. Almost thrown against +them in the rapid momentum of his descent, Clarence halted +violently. + +"Well, sonny, you needn't capsize the shanty," said the first man, +without taking his pipe from his lips. + +"If yer looking fur yer ma, she and yer Aunt Jane hev jest gone +over to Parson Doolittle's to take tea," observed the second man +lazily. "She allowed that you'd wait." + +"I'm--I'm--going to--to the mines," explained Clarence, with some +hesitation. "I suppose this is the way." + +The two men took their pipes from their lips, looked at each other, +completely wiped every vestige of expression from their faces with +the back of their hands, turned their eyes into the interior of the +cabin, and said, "Will yer come yer, now WILL yer?" Thus adjured, +half a dozen men, also bearded and carrying pipes in their mouths, +straggled out of the shanty, and, filing in front of it, squatted +down, with their backs against the boards, and gazed comfortably at +the boy. Clarence began to feel uneasy. + +"I'll give," said one, taking out his pipe and grimly eying +Clarence, "a hundred dollars for him as he stands." + +"And seein' as he's got that bran-new rig-out o' tools," said +another, "I'll give a hundred and fifty--and the drinks. I've +been," he added apologetically, "wantin' sunthin' like this a long +time." + +"Well, gen'lemen," said the man who had first spoken to him, +"lookin' at him by and large; takin' in, so to speak, the gin'ral +gait of him in single harness; bearin' in mind the perfect +freshness of him, and the coolness and size of his cheek--the easy +downyness, previousness, and utter don't-care-a-damnativeness of +his coming yer, I think two hundred ain't too much for him, and +we'll call it a bargain." + +Clarence's previous experience of this grim, smileless Californian +chaff was not calculated to restore his confidence. He drew away +from the cabin, and repeated doggedly, "I asked you if this was the +way to the mines." + +"It ARE the mines, and these yere are the miners," said the first +speaker gravely. "Permit me to interdoose 'em. This yere's Shasta +Jim, this yere's Shotcard Billy, this is Nasty Bob, and this +Slumgullion Dick. This yere's the Dook o' Chatham Street, the +Livin' Skeleton, and me!" + +"May we ask, fair young sir," said the Living Skeleton, who, +however, seemed in fairly robust condition, "whence came ye on the +wings of the morning, and whose Marble Halls ye hev left desolate?" + +"I came across the plains, and got into Stockton two days ago on +Mr. Peyton's train," said Clarence, indignantly, seeing no reason +now to conceal anything. "I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, +who isn't living there any more. I don't see anything funny in +THAT! I came here to the mines to dig gold--because---because Mr. +Silsbee, the man who was to bring me here and might have found my +cousin for me, was killed by Indians." + +"Hold up, sonny. Let me help ye," said the first speaker, rising +to his feet. "YOU didn't get killed by Injins because you got lost +out of a train with Silsbee's infant darter. Peyton picked you up +while you was takin' care of her, and two days arter you kem up to +the broken-down Silsbee wagons, with all the folks lyin' there +slartered." + +"Yes, sir," said Clarence, breathlessly with astonishment. + +"And," continued the man, putting his hand gravely to his head as +if to assist his memory, "when you was all alone on the plains with +that little child you saw one of those redskins, as near to you as +I be, watchin' the train, and you didn't breathe or move while he +was there?" + +"Yes, sir," said Clarence eagerly. + +"And you was shot at by Peyton, he thinkin' you was an Injun in the +mesquite grass? And you once shot a buffalo that had been pitched +with you down a gully--all by yourself?" + +"Yes," said Clarence, crimson with wonder and pleasure. "You know +me, then?" + +"Well, ye-e-es," said the man gravely, parting his mustache with +his fingers. "You see, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE." + +"Before! Me?" repeated the astounded Clarence. + +"Yes, before. Last night. You was taller then, and hadn't cut +your hair. You cursed a good deal more than you do now. You drank +a man's share of whiskey, and you borrowed fifty dollars to get to +Sacramento with. I reckon you haven't got it about you now, eh?" + +Clarence's brain reeled in utter confusion and hopeless terror. + +Was he going crazy, or had these cruel men learned his story from +his faithless friends, and this was a part of the plot? He +staggered forward, but the men had risen and quickly encircled him, +as if to prevent his escape. In vague and helpless desperation he +gasped-- + +"What place is this?" + +"Folks call it Deadman's Gulch." + +Deadman's Gulch! A flash of intelligence lit up the boy's blind +confusion. Deadman's Gulch! Could it have been Jim Hooker who had +really run away, and had taken his name? He turned half- +imploringly to the first speaker. + +"Wasn't he older than me, and bigger? Didn't he have a smooth, +round face and little eyes? Didn't he talk hoarse? Didn't he--" +He stopped hopelessly. + +"Yes; oh, he wasn't a bit like you," said the man musingly. "Ye +see, that's the h-ll of it! You're altogether TOO MANY and TOO +VARIOUS fur this camp." + +"I don't know who's been here before, or what they have said," said +Clarence desperately, yet even in that desperation retaining the +dogged loyalty to his old playmate, which was part of his nature. +"I don't know, and I don't care--there! I'm Clarence Brant of +Kentucky; I started in Silsbee's train from St. Jo, and I'm going +to the mines, and you can't stop me!" + +The man who had first spoken started, looked keenly at Clarence, +and then turned to the others. The gentleman known as the living +skeleton had obtruded his huge bulk in front of the boy, and, +gazing at him, said reflectively, "Darned if it don't look like one +of Brant's pups--sure!" + +"Air ye any relation to Kernel Hamilton Brant of Looeyville?" asked +the first speaker. + +Again that old question! Poor Clarence hesitated, despairingly. +Was he to go through the same cross-examination he had undergone +with the Peytons? "Yes," he said doggedly, "I am--but he's dead, +and you know it." + +"Dead--of course." "Sartin." "He's dead." "The Kernel's +planted," said the men in chorus. + +"Well, yes," reflected the Living Skeleton ostentatiously, as one +who spoke from experience. "Ham Brant's about as bony now as they +make 'em." + +"You bet! About the dustiest, deadest corpse you kin turn out," +corroborated Slumgullion Dick, nodding his head gloomily to the +others; "in point o' fack, es a corpse, about the last one I should +keer to go huntin' fur." + +"The Kernel's tech 'ud be cold and clammy," concluded the Duke of +Chatham Street, who had not yet spoken, "sure. But what did yer +mammy say about it? Is she gettin' married agin? Did SHE send ye +here?" + +It seemed to Clarence that the Duke of Chatham Street here received +a kick from his companions; but the boy repeated doggedly-- + +"I came to Sacramento to find my cousin, Jackson Brant; but he +wasn't there." + +"Jackson Brant!" echoed the first speaker, glancing at the others. +"Did your mother say he was your cousin?" + +"Yes," said Clarence wearily. "Good-by." + +"Hullo, sonny, where are you going?" + +"To dig gold," said the boy. "And you know you can't prevent me, +if it isn't on your claim. I know the law." He had heard Mr. +Peyton discuss it at Stockton, and he fancied that the men, who +were whispering among themselves, looked kinder than before, and as +if they were no longer "acting" to him. The first speaker laid his +hand on his shoulder, and said, "All right, come with me, and I'll +show you where to dig." + +"Who are you?" said Clarence. "You called yourself only 'me.'" + +"Well, you can call me Flynn--Tom Flynn." + +"And you'll show me where I can dig--myself?" + +"I will." + +"Do you know," said Clarence timidly, yet with a half-conscious +smile, "that I--I kinder bring luck?" + +The man looked down upon him, and said gravely, but, as it struck +Clarence, with a new kind of gravity, "I believe you." + +"Yes," said Clarence eagerly, as they walked along together, "I +brought luck to a man in Sacramento the other day." And he related +with great earnestness his experience in the gambling saloon. Not +content with that--the sealed fountains of his childish deep being +broken up by some mysterious sympathy--he spoke of his hospitable +exploit with the passengers at the wayside bar, of the finding of +his Fortunatus purse and his deposit at the bank. Whether that +characteristic old-fashioned reticence which had been such an +important factor for good or ill in his future had suddenly +deserted him, or whether some extraordinary prepossession in his +companion had affected him, he did not know; but by the time the +pair had reached the hillside Flynn was in possession of all the +boy's history. On one point only was his reserve unshaken. +Conscious although he was of Jim Hooker's duplicity, he affected to +treat it as a comrade's joke. + +They halted at last in the middle of an apparently fertile +hillside. Clarence shifted his shovel from his shoulders, unslung +his pan, and looked at Flynn. "Dig anywhere here, where you like," +said his companion carelessly, "and you'll be sure to find the +color. Fill your pan with the dirt, go to that sluice, and let the +water run in on the top of the pan--workin' it round so," he added, +illustrating a rotary motion with the vessel. "Keep doing that +until all the soil is washed out of it, and you have only the black +sand at the bottom. Then work that the same way until you see the +color. Don't be afraid of washing the gold out of the pan--you +couldn't do it if you tried. There, I'll leave you here, and you +wait till I come back." With another grave nod and something like +a smile in the only visible part of his bearded face--his eyes--he +strode rapidly away. + +Clarence did not lose time. Selecting a spot where the grass was +less thick, he broke through the soil and turned up two or three +spadefuls of red soil. When he had filled the pan and raised it to +his shoulder, he was astounded at its weight. He did not know that +it was due to the red precipitate of iron that gave it its color. +Staggering along with his burden to the running sluice, which +looked like an open wooden gutter, at the foot of the hill, he +began to carefully carry out Flynn's direction. The first dip of +the pan in the running water carried off half the contents of the +pan in liquid paint-like ooze. For a moment he gave way to boyish +satisfaction in the sight and touch of this unctuous solution, and +dabbled his fingers in it. A few moments more of rinsing and he +came to the sediment of fine black sand that was beneath it. +Another plunge and swilling of water in the pan, and--could he +believe his eyes!--a few yellow tiny scales, scarcely larger than +pins' heads, glittered among the sand. He poured it off. But his +companion was right; the lighter sand shifted from side to side +with the water, but the glittering points remained adhering by +their own tiny specific gravity to the smooth surface of the +bottom. It was "the color"--gold! + +Clarence's heart seemed to give a great leap within him. A vision +of wealth, of independence, of power, sprang before his dazzled +eyes, and--a hand lightly touched him on the shoulder. + +He started. In his complete preoccupation and excitement, he had +not heard the clatter of horse-hoofs, and to his amazement Flynn +was already beside him, mounted, and leading a second horse. + +"You kin ride?" he said shortly. + +"Yes" stammered Clarence; "but--" + +"BUT--we've only got two hours to reach Buckeye Mills in time to +catch the down stage. Drop all that, jump up, and come with me!" + +"But I've just found gold," said the boy excitedly. + +"And I've just found your--cousin. Come!" + +He spurred his horse across Clarence's scattered implements, half +helped, half lifted, the boy into the saddle of the second horse, +and, with a cut of his riata over the animal's haunches, the next +moment they were both galloping furiously away. + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Torn suddenly from his prospective future, but too much dominated +by the man beside him to protest, Clarence was silent until a rise +in the road, a few minutes later, partly abated their headlong +speed, and gave him chance to recover his breath and courage. + +"Where is my cousin?" he asked. + +"In the Southern county, two hundred miles from here." + +"Are we going to him?" + +"Yes." + +They rode furiously forward again. It was nearly half an hour +before they came to a longer ascent. Clarence could see that Flynn +was from time to time examining him curiously under his slouched +hat. This somewhat embarrassed him, but in his singular confidence +in the man no distrust mingled with it. + +"Ye never saw your--cousin?" he asked. + +"No," said Clarence; "nor he me. I don't think he knew me much, +any way. + +"How old mout ye be, Clarence?" + +"Eleven." + +"Well, as you're suthin of a pup"--Clarence started, and recalled +Peyton's first criticism of him--"I reckon to tell ye suthin. Ye +ain't goin' to be skeert, or afeard, or lose yer sand, I kalkilate, +for skunkin' ain't in your breed. Well, wot ef I told ye that +thish yer--thish yer--COUSIN o' yours was the biggest devil onhung; +that he'd just killed a man, and had to lite out elsewhere, and +THET'S why he didn't show up in Sacramento--what if I told you +that?" + +Clarence felt that this was somehow a little too much. He was +perfectly truthful, and lifting his frank eyes to Flynn, he said, + +"I should think you were talking a good deal like Jim Hooker!" + +His companion stared, and suddenly reined up his horse; then, +bursting into a shout of laughter, he galloped ahead, from time to +time shaking his head, slapping his legs, and making the dim woods +ring with his boisterous mirth. Then as suddenly becoming +thoughtful again, he rode on rapidly for half an hour, only +speaking to Clarence to urge him forward, and assisting his +progress by lashing the haunches of his horse. Luckily, the boy +was a good rider--a fact which Flynn seemed to thoroughly +appreciate--or he would have been unseated a dozen times. + +At last the straggling sheds of Buckeye Mills came into softer +purple view on the opposite mountain. Then laying his hand on +Clarence's shoulder as he reined in at his side, Flynn broke the +silence. + +"There, boy," he said, wiping the mirthful tears from his eyes. "I +was only foolin'--only tryin' yer grit! This yer cousin I'm taking +you to be as quiet and soft-spoken and as old-fashioned ez you be. +Why, he's that wrapped up in books and study that he lives alone in +a big adobe rancherie among a lot o' Spanish, and he don't keer to +see his own countrymen! Why, he's even changed his name, and +calles himself Don Juan Robinson! But he's very rich; he owns +three leagues of land and heaps of cattle and horses, and," +glancing approvingly at Clarence's seat in the saddle, "I reckon +you'll hev plenty of fun thar." + +"But," hesitated Clarence, to whom this proposal seemed only a +repetition of Peyton's charitable offer, "I think I'd better stay +here and dig gold--WITH YOU." + +"And I think you'd better not," said the man, with a gravity that +was very like a settled determination. + +"But my cousin never came for me to Sacramento--nor sent, nor even +wrote," persisted Clarence indignantly. + +"Not to YOU, boy; but he wrote to the man whom he reckoned would +bring you there--Jack Silsbee--and left it in the care of the bank. +And Silsbee, being dead, didn't come for the letter; and as you +didn't ask for it when you came, and didn't even mention Silsbee's +name, that same letter was sent back to your cousin through me, +because the bank thought we knew his whereabouts. It came to the +gulch by an express rider, whilst you were prospectin' on the +hillside. Rememberin' your story, I took the liberty of opening +it, and found out that your cousin had told Silsbee to bring you +straight to him. So I'm only doin' now what Silsbee would have +done." + +Any momentary doubt or suspicion that might have risen in +Clarence's mind vanished as he met his companion's steady and +masterful eye. Even his disappointment was forgotten in the charm +of this new-found friendship and protection. And as its outset had +been marked by an unusual burst of confidence on Clarence's part, +the boy, in his gratitude, now felt something of the timid shyness +of a deeper feeling, and once more became reticent. + +They were in time to snatch a hasty meal at Buckeye Mills before +the stage arrived, and Clarence noticed that his friend, despite +his rough dress and lawless aspect, provoked a marked degree of +respect from those he met--in which, perhaps, a wholesome fear was +mingled. It is certain that the two best places in the stage were +given up to them without protest, and that a careless, almost +supercilious invitation to drink from Flynn was responded to with +singular alacrity by all, including even two fastidiously dressed +and previously reserved passengers. I am afraid that Clarence +enjoyed this proof of his friend's singular dominance with a boyish +pride, and, conscious of the curious eyes of the passengers, +directed occasionally to himself, was somewhat ostentatious in his +familiarity with this bearded autocrat. + +At noon the next day they left the stage at a wayside road station, +and Flynn briefly informed Clarence that they must again take +horses. This at first seemed difficult in that out-of-the-way +settlement, where they alone had stopped, but a whisper from the +driver in the ear of the station-master produced a couple of fiery +mustangs, with the same accompaniment of cautious awe and mystery. +For the next two days they traveled on horseback, resting by night +at the lodgings of one or other of Flynn's friends in the outskirts +of a large town, where they arrived in the darkness, and left +before day. To any one more experienced than the simple-minded boy +it would have been evident that Flynn was purposely avoiding the +more traveled roads and conveyances; and when they changed horses +again the next day's ride was through an apparently unbroken +wilderness of scattered wood and rolling plain. Yet to Clarence, +with his pantheistic reliance and joyous sympathy with nature, the +change was filled with exhilarating pleasure. The vast seas of +tossing wild oats, the hillside still variegated with strange +flowers, the virgin freshness of untrodden woods and leafy aisles, +whose floors of moss or bark were undisturbed by human footprint, +were a keen delight and novelty. More than this, his quick eye, +trained perceptions, and frontier knowledge now stood him in good +stead. His intuitive sense of distance, instincts of woodcraft, +and his unerring detection of those signs, landmarks, and +guideposts of nature, undistinguishable to aught but birds and +beasts and some children, were now of the greatest service to his +less favored companion. In this part of their strange pilgrimage +it was the boy who took the lead. Flynn, who during the past two +days seemed to have fallen into a mood of watchful reserve, nodded +his approbation. "This sort of thing's yer best holt, boy," he +said. "Men and cities ain't your little game." + +At the next stopping-place Clarence had a surprise. They had again +entered a town at nightfall, and lodged with another friend of +Flynn's in rooms which from vague sounds appeared to be over a +gambling saloon. Clarence woke late in the morning, and, +descending into the street to mount for the day's journey, was +startled to find that Flynn was not on the other horse, but that a +well-dressed and handsome stranger had taken his place. But a +laugh, and the familiar command, "Jump up, boy," made him look +again. It WAS Flynn, but completely shaven of beard and mustache, +closely clipped of hair, and in a fastidiously cut suit of black! + +"Then you didn't know me?" said Flynn. + +"Not till you spoke," replied Clarence. + +"So much the better," said his friend sententiously, as he put +spurs to his horse. But as they cantered through the street, +Clarence, who had already become accustomed to the stranger's +hirsute adornment, felt a little more awe of him. The profile of +the mouth and chin now exposed to his sidelong glance was hard and +stern, and slightly saturnine. Although unable at the time to +identify it with anybody he had ever known, it seemed to the +imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad experience. +But the eyes were thoughtful and kindly, and the boy later believed +that if he had been more familiar with the face he would have loved +it better. For it was the last and only day he was to see it, as, +late that afternoon, after a dusty ride along more traveled +highways, they reached their journey's end. + +It was a low-walled house, with red-tiled roofs showing against the +dark green of venerable pear and fig trees, and a square court-yard +in the centre, where they had dismounted. A few words in Spanish +from Flynn to one of the lounging peons admitted them to a wooden +corridor, and thence to a long, low room, which to Clarence's eyes +seemed literally piled with books and engravings. Here Flynn +hurriedly bade him stay while he sought the host in another part of +the building. But Clarence did not miss him; indeed, it may be +feared, he forgot even the object of their journey in the new +sensations that suddenly thronged upon him, and the boyish vista of +the future that they seemed to open. He was dazed and intoxicated. +He had never seen so many books before; he had never conceived of +such lovely pictures. And yet in some vague way he thought he must +have dreamt of them at some time. He had mounted a chair, and was +gazing spellbound at an engraving of a sea-fight when he heard +Flynn's voice. + +His friend had quietly reentered the room, in company with an +oldish, half-foreign-looking man, evidently his relation. With no +helping recollection, with no means of comparison beyond a vague +idea that his cousin might look like himself, Clarence stood +hopelessly before him. He had already made up his mind that he +would have to go through the usual cross-questioning in regard to +his father and family; he had even forlornly thought of inventing +some innocent details to fill out his imperfect and unsatisfactory +recollection. But, glancing up, he was surprised to find that his +elderly cousin was as embarrassed as he was, Flynn, as usual, +masterfully interposed. + +"Of course ye don't remember each other, and thar ain't much that +either of you knows about family matters, I reckon," he said +grimly; "and as your cousin calls himself Don Juan Robinson," he +added to Clarence, "it's just as well that you let 'Jackson Brant' +slide. I know him better than you, but you'll get used to him, and +he to you, soon enough. At least, you'd better," he concluded, +with his singular gravity. + +As he turned as if to leave the room with Clarence's embarrassed +relative--much to that gentleman's apparent relief--the boy looked +up at the latter and said timidly-- + +"May I look at those books?" + +His cousin stopped, and glanced at him with the first expression of +interest he had shown. + +"Ah, you read; you like books?" + +"Yes," said Clarence. As his cousin remained still looking at him +thoughtfully, he added, "My hands are pretty clean, but I can wash +them first, if you like." + +"You may look at them," said Don Juan smilingly; "and as they are +old books you can wash your hands afterwards." And, turning to +Flynn suddenly, with an air of relief, "I tell you what I'll do-- +I'll teach him Spanish!" + +They left the room together, and Clarence turned eagerly to the +shelves. They were old books, some indeed very old, queerly bound, +and worm-eaten. Some were in foreign languages, but others in +clear, bold English type, with quaint wood-cuts and illustrations. +One seemed to be a chronicle of battles and sieges, with pictured +representations of combatants spitted with arrows, cleanly lopped +off in limb, or toppled over distinctly by visible cannon-shot. He +was deep in its perusal when he heard the clatter of a horse's +hoofs in the court-yard and the voice of Flynn. He ran to the +window, and was astonished to see his friend already on horseback, +taking leave of his host. + +For one instant Clarence felt one of those sudden revulsions of +feeling common to his age, but which he had always timidly hidden +under dogged demeanor. Flynn, his only friend! Flynn, his only +boyish confidant! Flynn, his latest hero, was going away and +forsaking him without a word of parting! It was true that he had +only agreed to take him to his guardian, but still Flynn need not +have left him without a word of hope or encouragement! With any +one else Clarence would probably have taken refuge in his usual +Indian stoicism, but the same feeling that had impelled him to +offer Flynn his boyish confidences on their first meeting now +overpowered him. He dropped his book, ran out into the corridor, +and made his way to the court-yard, just as Flynn galloped out from +the arch. + +But the boy uttered a despairing shout that reached the rider. He +drew rein, wheeled, halted, and sat facing Clarence impatiently. +To add to Clarence's embarrassment his cousin had lingered in the +corridor, attracted by the interruption, and a peon, lounging in +the archway, obsequiously approached Flynn's bridle-rein. But the +rider waved him off, and, turning sternly to Clarence, said:-- + +"What's the matter now?" + +"Nothing," said Clarence, striving to keep back the hot tears that +rose in his eyes. "But you were going away without saying 'good- +by.' You've been very kind to me, and--and--I want to thank you!" + +A deep flush crossed Flynn's face. Then glancing suspiciously +towards the corridor, he said hurriedly,-- + +"Did HE send you?" + +"No, I came myself. I heard you going." + +"All right. Good-by." He leaned forward as if about to take +Clarence's outstretched hand, checked himself suddenly with a grim +smile, and taking from his pocket a gold coin handed it to the boy. + +Clarence took it, tossed it with a proud gesture to the waiting +peon, who caught it thankfully, drew back a step from Flynn, and +saying, with white cheeks, "I only wanted to say good-by," dropped +his hot eyes to the ground. But it did not seem to be his own +voice that had spoken, nor his own self that had prompted the act. + +There was a quick interchange of glances between the departing +guest and his late host, in which Flynn's eyes flashed with an odd, +admiring fire, but when Clarence raised his head again he was gone. +And as the boy turned back with a broken heart towards the +corridor, his cousin laid his hand upon his shoulder. + +"Muy hidalgamente, Clarence," he said pleasantly. "Yes, we shall +make something of you!" + + +CHAPTER X + + +Then followed to Clarence three uneventful years. During that +interval he learnt that Jackson Brant, or Don Juan Robinson--for +the tie of kinship was the least factor in their relations to each +other, and after the departure of Flynn was tacitly ignored by +both--was more Spanish than American. An early residence in Lower +California, marriage with a rich Mexican widow, whose dying +childless left him sole heir, and some strange restraining +idiosyncrasy of temperament had quite denationalized him. A +bookish recluse, somewhat superfastidious towards his own +countrymen, the more Clarence knew him the more singular appeared +his acquaintance with Flynn; but as he did not exhibit more +communicativeness on this point than upon their own kinship, +Clarence finally concluded that it was due to the dominant +character of his former friend, and thought no more about it. He +entered upon the new life at El Refugio with no disturbing past. +Quickly adapting himself to the lazy freedom of this hacienda +existence, he spent the mornings on horseback ranging the hills +among his cousin's cattle, and the afternoons and evenings busied +among his cousin's books with equally lawless and undisciplined +independence. The easy-going Don Juan, it is true, attempted to +make good his rash promise to teach the boy Spanish, and actually +set him a few tasks; but in a few weeks the quick-witted Clarence +acquired such a colloquial proficiency from his casual acquaintance +with vaqueros and small traders that he was glad to leave the +matter in his young kinsman's hands. Again, by one of those +illogical sequences which make a lifelong reputation depend upon a +single trivial act, Clarence's social status was settled forever at +El Refugio Rancho by his picturesque diversion of Flynn's parting +gift. The grateful peon to whom the boy had scornfully tossed the +coin repeated the act, gesture, and spirit of the scene to his +companion, and Don Juan's unknown and youthful relation was at once +recognized as hijo de la familia, and undeniably a hidalgo born and +bred. But in the more vivid imagination of feminine El Refugio the +incident reached its highest poetic form. "It is true, Mother of +God," said Chucha of the Mill; "it was Domingo who himself relates +it as it were the Creed. When the American escort had arrived with +the young gentleman, this escort, look you, being not of the same +quality, he is departing again without a word of permission. Comes +to him at this moment my little hidalgo. 'You have yourself +forgotten to take from me your demission,' he said. This escort, +thinking to make his peace with a mere muchacho, gives to him a +gold piece of twenty pesos. The little hidalgo has taken it SO, +and with the words, 'Ah! you would make of me your almoner to my +cousin's people,' has given it at the moment to Domingo, and with a +grace and fire admirable." But it is certain that Clarence's +singular simplicity and truthfulness, a faculty of being +picturesquely indolent in a way that suggested a dreamy abstraction +of mind rather than any vulgar tendency to bodily ease and comfort, +and possibly the fact that he was a good horseman, made him a +popular hero at El Refugio. At the end of three years Don Juan +found that this inexperienced and apparently idle boy of fourteen +knew more of the practical ruling of the rancho than he did +himself; also that this unlettered young rustic had devoured nearly +all the books in his library with boyish recklessness of digestion. +He found, too, that in spite of his singular independence of +action, Clarence was possessed of an invincible loyalty of +principle, and that, asking no sentimental affection, and indeed +yielding none, he was, without presuming on his relationship, +devoted to his cousin's interest. It seemed that from being a +glancing ray of sunshine in the house, evasive but never obtrusive, +he had become a daily necessity of comfort and security to his +benefactor. + +Clarence was, however, astonished, when, one morning, Don Juan, +with the same embarrassed manner he had shown at their first +meeting, suddenly asked him, "what business he expected to follow." +It seemed the more singular, as the speaker, like most abstracted +men, had hitherto always studiously ignored the future, in their +daily intercourse. Yet this might have been either the habit of +security or the caution of doubt. Whatever it was, it was some +sudden disturbance of Don Juan's equanimity, as disconcerting to +himself as it was to Clarence. So conscious was the boy of this +that, without replying to his cousin's question, but striving in +vain to recall some delinquency of his own, he asked, with his +usual boyish directness-- + +"Has anything happened? Have I done anything wrong?" + +"No, no," returned Don Juan hurriedly. "But, you see, it's time +that you should think of your future--or at least prepare for it. +I mean you ought to have some more regular education. You will +have to go to school. It's too bad," he added fretfully, with a +certain impatient forgetfulness of Clarence's presence, and as if +following his own thought. "Just as you are becoming of service to +me, and justifying your ridiculous position here--and all this d--d +nonsense that's gone before--I mean, of course, Clarence," he +interrupted himself, catching sight of the boy's whitening cheek +and darkening eye, "I mean, you know--this ridiculousness of my +keeping you from school at your age, and trying to teach you +myself--don't you see." + +"You think it is--ridiculous," repeated Clarence, with dogged +persistency. + +"I mean I am ridiculous," said Don Juan hastily. "There! there! +let's say no more about it. To-morrow we'll ride over to San Jose +and see the Father Secretary at the Jesuits' College about your +entering at once. It's a good school, and you'll always be near +the rancho!" And so the interview ended. + +I am afraid that Clarence's first idea was to run away. There are +few experiences more crushing to an ingenuous nature than the +sudden revelation of the aspect in which it is regarded by others. +The unfortunate Clarence, conscious only of his loyalty to his +cousin's interest and what he believed were the duties of his +position, awoke to find that position "ridiculous." In an +afternoon's gloomy ride through the lonely hills, and later in the +sleepless solitude of his room at night, he concluded that his +cousin was right. He would go to school; he would study hard--so +hard that in a little, a very little while, he could make a living +for himself. He awoke contented. It was the blessing of youth +that this resolve and execution seemed as one and the same thing. + +The next day found him installed as a pupil and boarder in the +college. Don Juan's position and Spanish predilections naturally +made his relation acceptable to the faculty; but Clarence could not +help perceiving that Father Sobriente, the Principal, regarded him +at times with a thoughtful curiosity that made him suspect that his +cousin had especially bespoken that attention, and that he +occasionally questioned him on his antecedents in a way that made +him dread a renewal of the old questioning about his progenitor. +For the rest, he was a polished, cultivated man; yet, in the +characteristic, material criticism of youth, I am afraid that +Clarence chiefly identified him as a priest with large hands, whose +soft palms seemed to be cushioned with kindness, and whose equally +large feet, encased in extraordinary shapeless shoes of undyed +leather, seemed to tread down noiselessly--rather than to +ostentatiously crush--the obstacles that beset the path of the +young student. In the cloistered galleries of the court-yard +Clarence sometimes felt himself borne down by the protecting weight +of this paternal hand; in the midnight silence of the dormitory he +fancied he was often conscious of the soft browsing tread and +snuffly muffled breathing of his elephantine-footed mentor. + +His relations with his school-fellows were at first far from +pleasant. Whether they suspected favoritism; whether they resented +that old and unsympathetic manner which sprang from his habits of +association with his elders; or whether they rested their +objections on the broader grounds of his being a stranger, I do not +know, but they presently passed from cruel sneers to physical +opposition. It was then found that this gentle and reserved youth +had retained certain objectionable, rude, direct, rustic qualities +of fist and foot, and that, violating all rules and disdaining the +pomp and circumstance of school-boy warfare, of which he knew +nothing, he simply thrashed a few of his equals out of hand, with +or without ceremony, as the occasion or the insult happened. In +this emergency one of the seniors was selected to teach this +youthful savage his proper position. A challenge was given, and +accepted by Clarence with a feverish alacrity that surprised +himself as much as his adversary. This was a youth of eighteen, +his superior in size and skill. + +The first blow bathed Clarence's face in his own blood. But the +sanguinary chrism, to the alarm of the spectators, effected an +instantaneous and unhallowed change in the boy. Instantly closing +with his adversary, he sprang at his throat like an animal, and +locking his arm around his neck began to strangle him. Blind to +the blows that rained upon him, he eventually bore his staggering +enemy by sheer onset and surprise to the earth. Amidst the general +alarm, the strength of half a dozen hastily summoned teachers was +necessary to unlock his hold. Even then he struggled to renew the +conflict. But his adversary had disappeared, and from that day +forward Clarence was never again molested. + +Seated before Father Sobriente in the infirmary, with swollen and +bandaged face, and eyes that still seemed to see everything in the +murky light of his own blood, Clarence felt the soft weight of the +father's hand upon his knee. + +"My son," said the priest gently, "you are not of our religion, or +I should claim as a right to ask a question of your own heart at +this moment. But as to a good friend, Claro, a good friend," he +continued, patting the boy's knee, "you will tell me, old Father +Sobriente, frankly and truthfully, as is your habit, one little +thing. Were you not afraid?" + +"No," said Clarence doggedly. "I'll lick him again to-morrow." + +"Softly, my son! It was not of HIM I speak, but of something more +terrible and awful. Were you not afraid of--of--" he paused, and +suddenly darting his clear eyes into the very depths of Clarence's +soul, added--"of YOURSELF?" + +The boy started, shuddered, and burst into tears. + +"So, so," said the priest gently, "we have found our real enemy. +Good! Now, by the grace of God, my little warrior, we shall fight +HIM and conquer." + +Whether Clarence profited by this lesson, or whether this brief +exhibition of his quality prevented any repetition of the cause, +the episode was soon forgotten. As his school-fellows had never +been his associates or confidants, it mattered little to him +whether they feared or respected him, or were hypocritically +obsequious, after the fashion of the weaker. His studies, at all +events, profited by this lack of distraction. Already his two +years of desultory and omnivorous reading had given him a facile +familiarity with many things, which left him utterly free of the +timidity, awkwardness, or non-interest of a beginner. His usually +reserved manner, which had been lack of expression rather than of +conviction, had deceived his tutors. The audacity of a mind that +had never been dominated by others, and owed no allegiance to +precedent, made his merely superficial progress something +marvelous. + +At the end of the first year he was a phenomenal scholar, who +seemed capable of anything. Nevertheless, Father Sobriente had an +interview with Don Juan, and as a result Clarence was slightly kept +back in his studies, a little more freedom from the rules was +conceded to him, and he was even encouraged to take some diversion. +Of such was the privilege to visit the neighboring town of Santa +Clara unrestricted and unattended. He had always been liberally +furnished with pocket-money, for which, in his companionless state +and Spartan habits, he had a singular and unboyish contempt. +Nevertheless, he always appeared dressed with scrupulous neatness, +and was rather distinguished-looking in his older reserve and +melancholy self-reliance. + +Lounging one afternoon along the Alameda, a leafy avenue set out by +the early Mission Fathers between the village of San Jose and the +convent of Santa Clara, he saw a double file of young girls from +the convent approaching, on their usual promenade. A view of this +procession being the fondest ambition of the San Jose collegian, +and especially interdicted and circumvented by the good Fathers +attending the college excursions, Clarence felt for it the profound +indifference of a boy who, in the intermediate temperate zone of +fifteen years, thinks that he is no longer young and romantic! He +was passing them with a careless glance, when a pair of deep violet +eyes caught his own under the broad shade of a coquettishly +beribboned hat, even as it had once looked at him from the depths +of a calico sunbonnet. Susy! He started, and would have spoken; +but with a quick little gesture of caution and a meaning glance at +the two nuns who walked at the head and foot of the file, she +indicated him to follow. He did so at a respectful distance, +albeit wondering. A little further on Susy dropped her +handkerchief, and was obliged to dart out and run back to the end +of the file to recover it. But she gave another swift glance of +her blue eyes as she snatched it up and demurely ran back to her +place. The procession passed on, but when Clarence reached the +spot where she had paused he saw a three-cornered bit of paper +lying in the grass. He was too discreet to pick it up while the +girls were still in sight, but continued on, returning to it later. +It contained a few words in a schoolgirl's hand, hastily scrawled +in pencil: "Come to the south wall near the big pear-tree at six." + +Delighted as Clarence felt, he was at the same time embarrassed. +He could not understand the necessity of this mysterious +rendezvous. He knew that if she was a scholar she was under +certain conventual restraints; but with the privileges of his +position and friendship with his teachers, he believed that Father +Sobriente would easily procure him an interview with this old play- +fellow, of whom he had often spoken, and who was, with himself, the +sole survivor of his tragical past. And trusted as he was by +Sobriente, there was something in this clandestine though innocent +rendezvous that went against his loyalty. Nevertheless, he kept +the appointment, and at the stated time was at the south wall of +the convent, over which the gnarled boughs of the distinguishing +pear-tree hung. Hard by in the wall was a grated wicket door that +seemed unused. + +Would she appear among the boughs or on the edge of the wall? +Either would be like the old Susy. But to his surprise he heard +the sound of the key turning in the lock. The grated door suddenly +swung on its hinges, and Susy slipped out. Grasping his hand, she +said, "Let's run, Clarence," and before he could reply she started +off with him at a rapid pace. Down the lane they flew--very much, +as it seemed to Clarence's fancy, as they had flown from the old +emigrant wagon on the prairie, four years before. He glanced at +the fluttering, fairy-like figure beside him. She had grown taller +and more graceful; she was dressed in exquisite taste, with a +minuteness of luxurious detail that bespoke the spoilt child; but +there was the same prodigal outburst of rippling, golden hair down +her back and shoulders, violet eyes, capricious little mouth, and +the same delicate hands and feet he had remembered. He would have +preferred a more deliberate survey, but with a shake of her head +and an hysteric little laugh she only said, "Run, Clarence, run," +and again darted forward. Arriving at the cross-street, they +turned the corner, and halted breathlessly. + +"But you're not running away from school, Susy, are you?" said +Clarence anxiously. + +"Only a little bit. Just enough to get ahead of the other girls," +she said, rearranging her brown curls and tilted hat. "You see, +Clarence," she condescended to explain, with a sudden assumption of +older superiority, "mother's here at the hotel all this week, and +I'm allowed to go home every night, like a day scholar. Only +there's three or four other girls that go out at the same time with +me, and one of the Sisters, and to-day I got ahead of 'em just to +see YOU." + +"But" began Clarence. + +"Oh, it's all right; the other girls knew it, and helped me. They +don't start out for half an hour yet, and they'll say I've just run +ahead, and when they and the Sister get to the hotel I'll be there +already--don't you see?" + +"Yes," said Clarence dubiously. + +"And we'll go to an ice-cream saloon now, shan't we? There's a +nice one near the hotel. I've got some money," she added quickly, +as Clarence looked embarrassed. + +"So have I," said Clarence, with a faint accession of color. +"Let's go!" She had relinquished his hand to smooth out her frock, +and they were walking side by side at a more moderate pace. "But," +he continued, clinging to his first idea with masculine +persistence, and anxious to assure his companion of his power, of +his position, "I'm in the college, and Father Sobriente, who knows +your lady superior, is a good friend of mine and gives me +privileges; and--and--when he knows that you and I used to play +together--why, he'll fix it that we may see each other whenever we +want." + +"Oh, you silly!" said Susy. "WHAT!--when you're--" + +"When I'm WHAT?" + +The young girl shot a violet blue ray from under her broad hat. +"Why--when we're grown up now?" Then with a certain precision, +"Why, they're VERY particular about young gentlemen! Why, +Clarence, if they suspected that you and I were--" Another violet +ray from under the hat completed this unfinished sentence. + +Pleased and yet confused, Clarence looked straight ahead with +deepening color. "Why," continued Susy, "Mary Rogers, that was +walking with me, thought you were ever so old--and a distinguished +Spaniard! And I," she said abruptly--"haven't I grown? Tell me, +Clarence," with her old appealing impatience, "haven't I grown? Do +tell me!" + +"Very much," said Clarence. + +"And isn't this frock pretty--it's only my second best--but I've a +prettier one with lace all down in front; but isn't this one +pretty, Clarence, tell me?" + +Clarence thought the frock and its fair owner perfection, and said +so. Whereat Susy, as if suddenly aware of the presence of passers- +by, assumed an air of severe propriety, dropped her hands by her +side, and with an affected conscientiousness walked on, a little +further from Clarence's side, until they reached the ice-cream +saloon. + +"Get a table near the back, Clarence," she said, in a confidential +whisper, "where they can't see us--and strawberry, you know, for +the lemon and vanilla here are just horrid!" + +They took their seats in a kind of rustic arbor in the rear of the +shop, which gave them the appearance of two youthful but somewhat +over-dressed and over-conscious shepherds. There was an interval +of slight awkwardness, which Susy endeavored to displace. "There +has been," she remarked, with easy conversational lightness, "quite +an excitement about our French teacher being changed. The girls in +our class think it most disgraceful." + +And this was all she could say after a separation of four years! +Clarence was desperate, but as yet idealess and voiceless. At +last, with an effort over his spoon, he gasped a floating +recollection: "Do you still like flapjacks, Susy?" + +"Oh, yes," with a laugh, "but we don't have them now." + +"And Mose" (a black pointer, who used to yelp when Susy sang), +"does he still sing with you?" + +"Oh, HE'S been lost ever so long," said Susy composedly; "but I've +got a Newfoundland and a spaniel and a black pony;" and here, with +a rapid inventory of her other personal effects, she drifted into +some desultory details of the devotion of her adopted parents, whom +she now readily spoke of as "papa" and "mamma," with evidently no +disturbing recollection of the dead. From which it appeared that +the Peytons were very rich, and, in addition to their possessions +in the lower country, owned a rancho in Santa Clara and a house in +San Francisco. Like all children, her strongest impressions were +the most recent. In the vain hope to lead her back to this +material yesterday, he said-- + +"You remember Jim Hooker?" + +"Oh, HE ran away, when you left. But just think of it! The other +day, when papa and I went into a big restaurant in San Francisco, +who should be there WAITING on the table--yes, Clarence, a real +waiter--but Jim Hooker! Papa spoke to him; but of course," with a +slight elevation of her pretty chin, "I couldn't, you know; fancy-- +a waiter!" + +The story of how Jim Hooker had personated him stopped short upon +Clarence's lips. He could not bring himself now to add that +revelation to the contempt of his small companion, which, in spite +of its naivete, somewhat grated on his sensibilities. + +"Clarence," she said, suddenly turning towards him mysteriously, +and indicating the shopman and his assistants, "I really believe +these people suspect us." + +"Of what?" said the practical Clarence. + +"Don't be silly! Don't you see how they are staring?" + +Clarence was really unable to detect the least curiosity on the +part of the shopman, or that any one exhibited the slightest +concern in him or his companion. But he felt a return of the +embarrassed pleasure he was conscious of a moment before. + +"Then you're living with your father?" said Susy, changing the +subject. + +"You mean my COUSIN," said Clarence, smiling. "You know my father +died long before I ever knew you." + +"Yes; that's what YOU used to say, Clarence, but papa says it isn't +so." But seeing the boy's wondering eyes fixed on her with a +troubled expression, she added quickly, "Oh, then, he IS your +cousin!" + +"Well, I think I ought to know," said Clarence, with a smile, that +was, however, far from comfortable, and a quick return of his old +unpleasant recollections of the Peytons. "Why, I was brought to +him by one of his friends." And Clarence gave a rapid boyish +summary of his journey from Sacramento, and Flynn's discovery of +the letter addressed to Silsbee. But before he had concluded he +was conscious that Susy was by no means interested in these +details, nor in the least affected by the passing allusion to her +dead father and his relation to Clarence's misadventures. With her +rounded chin in her hand, she was slowly examining his face, with a +certain mischievous yet demure abstraction. "I tell you what, +Clarence," she said, when he had finished, "you ought to make your +cousin get you one of those sombreros, and a nice gold-braided +serape. They'd just suit you. And then--then you could ride up +and down the Alameda when we are going by." + +"But I'm coming to see you at--at your house, and at the convent," +he said eagerly. "Father Sobriente and my cousin will fix it all +right." + +But Susy shook her head, with superior wisdom. "No; they must +never know our secret!--neither papa nor mamma, especially mamma. +And they mustn't know that we've met again--AFTER THESE YEARS!" It +is impossible to describe the deep significance which Susy's blue +eyes gave to this expression. After a pause she went on-- + +"No! We must never meet again, Clarence, unless Mary Rogers helps. +She is my best, my ONLIEST friend, and older than I; having had +trouble herself, and being expressly forbidden to see him again. +You can speak to her about Suzette--that's my name now; I was +rechristened Suzette Alexandra Peyton by mamma. And now, +Clarence," dropping her voice and glancing shyly around the saloon, +"you may kiss me just once under my hat, for good-by." She +adroitly slanted her broad-brimmed hat towards the front of the +shop, and in its shadow advanced her fresh young cheek to Clarence. + +Coloring and laughing, the boy pressed his lips to it twice. Then +Susy arose, with the faintest affectation of a sigh, shook out her +skirt, drew on her gloves with the greatest gravity, and saying, +"Don't follow me further than the door--they're coming now," walked +with supercilious dignity past the preoccupied proprietor and +waiters to the entrance. Here she said, with marked civility, +"Good-afternoon, Mr. Brant," and tripped away towards the hotel. +Clarence lingered for a moment to look after the lithe and elegant +little figure, with its shining undulations of hair that fell over +the back and shoulders of her white frock like a golden mantle, and +then turned away in the opposite direction. + +He walked home in a state, as it seemed to him, of absurd +perplexity. There were many reasons why his encounter with Susy +should have been of unmixed pleasure. She had remembered him of +her own free will, and, in spite of the change in her fortune, had +made the first advances. Her doubts about her future interviews +had affected him but little; still less, I fear, did he think of +the other changes in her character and disposition, for he was of +that age when they added only a piquancy and fascination to her--as +of one who, in spite of her weakness of nature, was still devoted +to him! But he was painfully conscious that this meeting had +revived in him all the fears, vague uneasiness, and sense of wrong +that had haunted his first boyhood, and which he thought he had +buried at El Refugio four years ago. Susy's allusion to his father +and the reiteration of Peyton's skepticism awoke in his older +intellect the first feeling of suspicion that was compatible with +his open nature. Was this recurring reticence and mystery due to +any act of his father's? But, looking back upon it in after-years, +he concluded that the incident of that day was a premonition rather +than a recollection. + + +CHAPTER XI + + +When he reached the college the Angelus had long since rung. In +the corridor he met one of the Fathers, who, instead of questioning +him, returned his salutation with a grave gentleness that struck +him. He had turned into Father Sobriente's quiet study with the +intention of reporting himself, when he was disturbed to find him +in consultation with three or four of the faculty, who seemed to be +thrown into some slight confusion by his entrance. Clarence was +about to retire hurriedly when Father Sobriente, breaking up the +council with a significant glance at the others, called him back. +Confused and embarrassed, with a dread of something impending, the +boy tried to avert it by a hurried account of his meeting with +Susy, and his hopes of Father Sobriente's counsel and assistance. +Taking upon himself the idea of suggesting Susy's escapade, he +confessed the fault. The old man gazed into his frank eyes with a +thoughtful, half-compassionate smile. "I was just thinking of +giving you a holiday with--with Don Juan Robinson." The unusual +substitution of this final title for the habitual "your cousin" +struck Clarence uneasily. "But we will speak of that later. Sit +down, my son; I am not busy. We shall talk a little. Father Pedro +says you are getting on fluently with your translations. That is +excellent, my son, excellent." + +Clarence's face beamed with relief and pleasure. His vague fears +began to dissipate. + +"And you translate even from dictation! Good! We have an hour to +spare, and you shall give to me a specimen of your skill. Eh? +Good! I will walk here and dictate to you in my poor English, and +you shall sit there and render it to me in your good Spanish. Eh? +So we shall amuse and instruct ourselves." + +Clarence smiled. These sporadic moments of instruction and +admonition were not unusual to the good Father. He cheerfully +seated himself at the Padre's table before a blank sheet of paper, +with a pen in his hand. Father Sobriente paced the apartment, with +his usual heavy but noiseless tread. To his surprise, the good +priest, after an exhaustive pinch of snuff, blew his nose, and +began, in his most lugubrious style of pulpit exhortation:-- + +"It has been written that the sins of the father shall be visited +upon the children, and the unthinking and worldly have sought +refuge from this law by declaring it harsh and cruel. Miserable +and blind! For do we not see that the wicked man, who in the pride +of his power and vainglory is willing to risk punishment to +HIMSELF--and believes it to be courage--must pause before the awful +mandate that condemns an equal suffering to those he loves, which +he cannot withhold or suffer for? In the spectacle of these +innocents struggling against disgrace, perhaps disease, poverty, or +desertion, what avails his haughty, all-defying spirit? Let us +imagine, Clarence." + +"Sir?" said the literal Clarence, pausing in his exercise. + +"I mean," continued the priest, with a slight cough, "let the +thoughtful man picture a father: a desperate, self-willed man, who +scorned the laws of God and society--keeping only faith with a +miserable subterfuge he called 'honor,' and relying only on his own +courage and his knowledge of human weakness. Imagine him cruel and +bloody--a gambler by profession, an outlaw among men, an outcast +from the Church; voluntarily abandoning friends and family,--the +wife he should have cherished, the son he should have reared and +educated--for the gratification of his deadly passions. Yet +imagine that man suddenly confronted with the thought of that +heritage of shame and disgust which he had brought upon his +innocent offspring--to whom he cannot give even his own desperate +recklessness to sustain its vicarious suffering. What must be the +feelings of a parent--" + +"Father Sobriente," said Clarence softly. + +To the boy's surprise, scarcely had he spoken when the soft +protecting palm of the priest was already upon his shoulder, and +the snuffy but kindly upper lip, trembling with some strange +emotion, close beside his cheek. + +"What is it, Clarence?" he said hurriedly. "Speak, my son, without +fear! You would ask--" + +"I only wanted to know if 'padre' takes a masculine verb here," +replied Clarence naively. + +Father Sobriente blew his nose violently. "Truly--though used for +either gender, by the context masculine," he responded gravely. +"Ah," he added, leaning over Clarence, and scanning his work +hastily, "Good, very good! And now, possibly," he continued, +passing his hand like a damp sponge over his heated brow, "we shall +reverse our exercise. I shall deliver to you in Spanish what you +shall render back in English, eh? And--let us consider--we shall +make something more familiar and narrative, eh?" + +To this Clarence, somewhat bored by these present solemn +abstractions, assented gladly, and took up his pen. Father +Sobriente, resuming his noiseless pacing, began: + +"On the fertile plains of Guadalajara lived a certain caballero, +possessed of flocks and lands, and a wife and son. But, being also +possessed of a fiery and roving nature, he did not value them as he +did perilous adventure, feats of arms, and sanguinary encounters. +To this may be added riotous excesses, gambling and drunkenness, +which in time decreased his patrimony, even as his rebellious and +quarrelsome spirit had alienated his family and neighbors. His +wife, borne down by shame and sorrow, died while her son was still +an infant. In a fit of equal remorse and recklessness the +caballero married again within the year. But the new wife was of a +temper and bearing as bitter as her consort. Violent quarrels +ensued between them, ending in the husband abandoning his wife and +son, and leaving St. Louis--I should say Guadalajara--for ever. +Joining some adventurers in a foreign land, under an assumed name, +he pursued his reckless course, until, by one or two acts of +outlawry, he made his return to civilization impossible. The +deserted wife and step-mother of his child coldly accepted the +situation, forbidding his name to be spoken again in her presence, +announced that he was dead, and kept the knowledge of his existence +from his own son, whom she placed under the charge of her sister. +But the sister managed to secretly communicate with the outlawed +father, and, under a pretext, arranged between them, of sending the +boy to another relation, actually dispatched the innocent child to +his unworthy parent. Perhaps stirred by remorse, the infamous man--" + +"Stop!" said Clarence suddenly. + +He had thrown down his pen, and was standing erect and rigid before +the Father. + +"You are trying to tell me something, Father Sobriente," he said, +with an effort. "Speak out, I implore you. I can stand anything +but this mystery. I am no longer a child. I have a right to know +all. This that you are telling me is no fable--I see it in your +face, Father Sobriente; it is the story of--of--" + +"Your father, Clarence!" said the priest, in a trembling voice. + +The boy drew back, with a white face. "My father!" he repeated. +"Living, or dead?" + +"Living, when you first left your home," said the old man +hurriedly, seizing Clarence's hand, "for it was he who in the name +of your cousin sent for you. Living--yes, while you were here, for +it was he who for the past three years stood in the shadow of this +assumed cousin, Don Juan, and at last sent you to this school. +Living, Clarence, yes; but living under a name and reputation that +would have blasted you! And now DEAD--dead in Mexico, shot as an +insurgent and in a still desperate career! May God have mercy on +his soul!" + +"Dead!" repeated Clarence, trembling, "only now?" + +"The news of the insurrection and his fate came only an hour +since," continued the Padre quickly; "his complicity with it and +his identity were known only to Don Juan. He would have spared you +any knowledge of the truth, even as this dead man would; but I and +my brothers thought otherwise. I have broken it to you badly, my +son, but forgive me?" + +An hysterical laugh broke from Clarence and the priest recoiled +before him. "Forgive YOU! What was this man to me?" he said, with +boyish vehemence. "He never LOVED me! He deserted me; he made my +life a lie. He never sought me, came near me, or stretched a hand +to me that I could take?" + +"Hush! hush!" said the priest, with a horrified look, laying his +huge hand upon the boy's shoulder and bearing him down to his seat. +"You know not what you say. Think--think, Clarence! Was there +none of all those who have befriended you--who were kind to you in +your wanderings--to whom your heart turned unconsciously? Think, +Clarence! You yourself have spoken to me of such a one. Let your +heart speak again, for his sake--for the sake of the dead." + +A gentler light suffused the boy's eyes, and he started. Catching +convulsively at his companion's sleeve, he said in an eager, boyish +whisper, "There was one, a wicked, desperate man, whom they all +feared--Flynn, who brought me from the mines. Yes, I thought that +he was my cousin's loyal friend--more than all the rest; and I told +him everything--all, that I never told the man I thought my cousin, +or anyone, or even you; and I think, I think, Father, I liked him +best of all. I thought since it was wrong," he continued, with a +trembling smile, "for I was foolishly fond even of the way the +others feared him, he that I feared not, and who was so kind to me. +Yet he, too, left me without a word, and when I would have followed +him--" But the boy broke down, and buried his face in his hands. + +"No, no," said Father Sobriente, with eager persistence, "that was +his foolish pride to spare you the knowledge of your kinship with +one so feared, and part of the blind and mistaken penance he had +laid upon himself. For even at that moment of your boyish +indignation, he never was so fond of you as then. Yes, my poor +boy, this man, to whom God led your wandering feet at Deadman's +Gulch; the man who brought you here, and by some secret hold--I +know not what--on Don Juan's past, persuaded him to assume to be +your relation; this man Flynn, this Jackson Brant the gambler, this +Hamilton Brant the outlaw--WAS YOUR FATHER! Ah, yes! Weep on, my +son; each tear of love and forgiveness from thee hath vicarious +power to wash away his sin." + +With a single sweep of his protecting hand he drew Clarence towards +his breast, until the boy slowly sank upon his knees at his feet. +Then, lifting his eyes towards the ceiling, he said softly in an +older tongue, "And THOU, too, unhappy and perturbed spirit, rest!" + + . . . . . . . + +It was nearly dawn when the good Padre wiped the last tears from +Clarence's clearer eyes. "And now, my son," he said, with a gentle +smile, as he rose to his feet, "let us not forget the living. +Although your step-mother has, through her own act, no legal claim +upon you, far be it from me to indicate your attitude towards her. +Enough that YOU are independent." He turned, and, opening a drawer +in his secretaire, took out a bank-book, and placed it in the hands +of the wondering boy. + +"It was HIS wish, Clarence, that even after his death you should +never have to prove your kinship to claim your rights. Taking +advantage of the boyish deposit you had left with Mr. Carden at the +bank, with his connivance and in your name he added to it, month by +month and year by year; Mr. Carden cheerfully accepting the trust +and management of the fund. The seed thus sown has produced a +thousandfold, Clarence, beyond all expectations. You are not only +free, my son, but of yourself and in whatever name you choose--your +own master." + +"I shall keep my father's name," said the boy simply. + +"Amen!" said Father Sobriente. + + +Here closes the chronicle of Clarence Brant's boyhood. How he +sustained his name and independence in after years, and who, of +those already mentioned in these pages, helped him to make or mar it, +may be a matter for future record. + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext A Waif of the Plains, by Bret Harte + diff --git a/old/awotp10.zip b/old/awotp10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..919d5e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/awotp10.zip |