第1章

Alonglevelofdullgraythatfurtherawaybecameafaintblue，withhereandtheredarkerpatchesthatlookedlikewater。Attimesanopenspace，blackenedandburntinanirregularcircle，withashredofnewspaper，anoldrag，orbrokentincanlyingintheashes。Beyondthesealwaysalowdarklinethatseemedtosinkintothegroundatnight，androseagaininthemorningwiththefirstlight，butneverotherwisechangeditsheightanddistance。

Asenseofalwaysmovingwithsomeindefinitepurpose，butofalwaysreturningatnighttothesameplace——withthesamesurroundings，thesamepeople，thesamebedclothes，andthesameawfulblackcanopydroppeddownfromabove。Achalkytasteofdustonthemouthandlips，agrittysenseofearthonthefingers，andanall-pervadingheatandsmellofcattle。

Thiswas"TheGreatPlains"astheyseemedtotwochildrenfromthehoodeddepthofanemigrantwagon，abovetheswayingheadsoftoilingoxen，inthesummerof1852。

Ithadappearedsotothemfortwoweeks，alwaysthesameandalwayswithouttheleastsensetothemofwonderormonotony。Whentheyvieweditfromtheroad，walkingbesidethewagon，therewasonlytheteamitselfaddedtotheunvaryingpicture。Oneofthewagonsboreonitscanvashoodtheinscription，inlargeblackletters，"OfftoCalifornia!"ontheother"Root，Hog，orDie，"butneitherofthemawokeinthemindsofthechildrenthefaintestideaofplayfulnessorjocularity。Perhapsitwasdifficulttoconnecttheseriousmen，whooccasionallywalkedbesidethemandseemedtogrowmoretaciturnanddepressedasthedayworeon，withthispasteffusivepleasantry。

Yettheimpressionsofthetwochildrendifferedslightly。Theeldest，aboyofeleven，wasapparentlynewtothedomestichabitsandcustomsofalifetowhichtheyounger，agirlofseven，wasevidentlynativeandfamiliar。Thefoodwascoarseandlessskillfullypreparedthanthattowhichhehadbeenaccustomed。

Therewasacertainfreedomandroughnessintheirintercourse，asimplicitythatborderedalmostonrudenessintheirdomesticarrangements，andaspeechthatwasattimesalmostuntranslatabletohim。Hesleptinhisclothes，wrappedupinblankets；hewasconsciousthatinthematterofcleanlinesshewaslefttohimselftoovercomethedifficultiesoffindingwaterandtowels。Butitisdoubtfulifinhisyouthfulnessitaffectedhimmorethananovelty。Heateandsleptwell，andfoundhislifeamusing。Onlyattimestherudenessofhiscompanions，or，worse，anindifferencethatmadehimfeelhisdependencyuponthem，awokeavaguesenseofsomewrongthathadbeendonetohimwhichwhileitwasvoicelesstoallothersandevenuneasilyputasidebyhimself，wasstillalwaysslumberinginhischildishconsciousness。

Tothepartyhewasknownasanorphanputonthetrainat"St。Jo"

bysomerelativeofhisstepmother，tobedeliveredtoanotherrelativeatSacramento。Ashisstepmotherhadnoteventakenleaveofhim，buthadentrustedhisdeparturetotherelativewithwhomhehadbeenlatelyliving，itwasconsideredasanactof"riddance，"andacceptedassuchbyherparty，andevenvaguelyacquiescedinbytheboyhimself。Whatconsiderationhadbeenofferedforhispassagehedidnotknow；heonlyrememberedthathehadbeentold"tomakehimselfhandy。"Thishehaddonecheerfully，ifattimeswiththeunskillfulnessofanovice；butitwasnotapeculiaroramenialtaskinacompanywherealltookpartinmanuallabor，andwhereexistenceseemedtohimtobearthecharmofaprolongedpicnic。NeitherwashesubjectedtoanydifferenceofaffectionortreatmentfromMrs。Silsbee，themotherofhislittlecompanion，andthewifeoftheleaderofthetrain。

Prematurelyold，ofill-health，andharassedwithcares，shehadnotimetowasteindiscriminatingmaternaltendernessforherdaughter，buttreatedthechildrenwithequalandunbiasedquerulousness。

Therearwagoncreaked，swayed，androlledonslowlyandheavily。

Thehoofsofthedraft-oxen，occasionallystrikinginthedustwithadullreport，sentlittlepuffslikesmokeoneithersideofthetrack。Within，thechildrenwereplaying"keepingstore。"Thelittlegirl，asanopulentandextravagantcustomer，waspurchasingoftheboy，whosatbehindacounterimprovisedfromanail-kegandthefrontseat，mostoftheavailablecontentsofthewagon，eitherundertheirownnamesoranimaginaryoneasthemomentsuggested，andpayingforthemintheeasyandliberalcurrencyofdriedbeansandbitsofpaper。Changewasgivenbytheexpeditiousmethodoftearingthepaperintosmallerfragments。Thediminutionofstockwasremediedbybuyingthesamearticleoveragainunderadifferentname。Nevertheless，inspiteofthesefavorablecommercialconditions，themarketseemeddull。

"Icanshowyouafinequalityofsheetingatfourcentsayard，doublewidth，"saidtheboy，risingandleaningonhisfingersonthecounterashehadseentheshopmendo。"Allwoolandwillwash，"headded，witheasygravity。

"IcanbuyitcheaperatJackson\'s，"saidthegirl，withtheintuitiveduplicityofherbargainingsex。

"Verywell，"saidtheboy。"Iwon\'tplayanymore。"

"Whocares?"saidthegirlindifferently。Theboyherepromptlyupsetthecounter；therolled-upblanketwhichhaddeceitfullyrepresentedthedesirablesheetingfallingonthewagonfloor。Itapparentlysuggestedanewideatotheformersalesman。"Isay!

let\'splay\'damagedstock。\'See，I\'lltumbleallthethingsdownhererightontopo\'theothers，andsell\'emforlessthancost。"

Thegirllookedup。Thesuggestionwasbold，bad，andmomentarilyattractive。Butsheonlysaid"No，"apparentlyfromhabit，pickedupherdoll，andtheboyclamberedtothefrontofthewagon。Theincompleteepisodeterminatedatoncewiththatperfectforgetfulness，indifference，andirresponsibilitycommontoallyounganimals。Ifeithercouldhaveflownawayorboundedofffinallyatthatmoment，theywouldhavedonesowithnomoreconcernforpreliminarydetailthanabirdorsquirrel。Thewagonrolledsteadilyon。Theboycouldseethatoneoftheteamstershadclimbeduponthetail-boardoftheprecedingvehicle。Theotherseemedtobewalkinginadustysleep。

"Kla\'uns，"saidthegirl。

Theboy，withoutturninghishead，responded，"Susy。"

"Wotareyougoingtobe?"saidthegirl。

"Goin\'tobe?"repeatedClarence。

"Whenyouisgrowed，"explainedSusy。

Clarencehesitated。Hissettleddeterminationhadbeentobecomeapirate，mercilessyetdiscriminating。Butreadinginabethumbed"GuidetothePlains"thatmorningofFortLamarieandKitCarson，hehaddecideduponthecareerofa"scout，"asbeingmoreaccessibleandrequiringlesswater。Yet，outofcompassionforSusy\'spossibleignorance，hesaidneither，andrespondedwiththeAmericanboy\'smodestconventionality，"President。"Itwassafe，requirednoembarrassingdescription，andhadbeenapprovedbybenevolentoldgentlemenwiththeirhandsonhishead。

"I\'mgoin\'tobeaparson\'swife，"saidSusy，"andkeephens，andhavethingsgiv\'tome。Babyclothes，andapples，andapplesass——

andmelasses!andmorebabyclothes!andporkwhenyoukill。"

Shehadthrownherselfatthebottomofthewagon，withherbacktowardshimandherdollinherlap。Hecouldseethecurveofhercurlyhead，andbeyond，herbaredimpledknees，whichwereraised，andoverwhichshewastryingtofoldthehemofherbriefskirt。

"Iwouldn\'tbeaPresident\'swife，"shesaidpresently。

"Youcouldn\'t!"

"CouldifIwantedto!"

"Couldn\'t!"

"Couldnow!"

"Couldn\'t!"

"Why?"

Findingitdifficulttoexplainhisconvictionsofherineligibility，Clarencethoughtitequallycrushingnottogiveany。Therewasalongsilence。Itwasveryhotanddusty。Thewagonscarcelyseemedtomove。Clarencegazedatthevignetteofthetrackbehindthemformedbythehoodoftherear。Presentlyheroseandwalkedpasthertothetail-board。"Goin\'togetdown，"

hesaid，puttinghislegsover。

"Mawsays\'No，\'"saidSusy。

Clarencedidnotreply，butdroppedtothegroundbesidetheslowlyturningwheels。Withoutquickeninghispacehecouldeasilykeephishandonthetail-board。

"Kla\'uns。"

Helookedup。

"Takeme。"

Shehadalreadyclappedonhersun-bonnetandwasstandingattheedgeofthetail-board，herlittlearmsextendedinsuchperfectconfidenceofbeingcaughtthattheboycouldnotresist。Hecaughthercleverly。Theyhaltedamomentandletthelumberingvehiclemoveawayfromthem，asitswayedfromsidetosideasiflaboringinaheavysea。Theyremainedmotionlessuntilithadreachednearlyahundredyards，andthen，withasuddenhalf-real，half-assumed，butaltogetherdelightfultrepidation，ranforwardandcaughtupwithitagain。Thistheyrepeatedtwoorthreetimesuntilboththemselvesandtheexcitementwereexhausted，andtheyagainploddedonhandinhand。PresentlyClarenceutteredacry。

"My!Susy——lookthere!"

Therearwagonhadoncemoreslippedawayfromthemaconsiderabledistance。Betweenitandthem，crossingitstrack，amostextraordinarycreaturehadhalted。

Atfirstglanceitseemedadog——adiscomfited，shameless，ownerlessoutcastofstreetsandbyways，ratherthananhoneststrayofsomedrover\'strain。Itwassogaunt，sodusty，sogreasy，soslouching，andsolazy!Butastheylookedatitmoreintentlytheysawthatthegrayishhairofitsbackhadabristlyridge，andthereweregreatpoisonous-lookingdarkblotchesonitsflanks，andthattheslouchofitshauncheswasapeculiarityofitsfigure，andnotthecoweringoffear。Asitlifteditssuspiciousheadtowardsthemtheycouldseethatitsthinlips，tooshorttocoveritswhiteteeth，werecurledinaperpetualsneer。

"Here，doggie!"saidClarenceexcitedly。"Gooddog!Come。"

Susyburstintoatriumphantlaugh。"Ettain\'tnodog，silly；it\'sercoyote。"

Clarenceblushed。Itwasn\'tthefirsttimethepioneer\'sdaughterhadshownhersuperiorknowledge。Hesaidquickly，tohidehisdiscomfiture，"I\'llketchhim，anyway；he\'snothin\'mor\'nakiyi。"

"Yecan\'t，tho，"saidSusy，shakinghersun-bonnet。"He\'sfasternorahoss!"

Nevertheless，Clarencerantowardshim，followedbySusy。Whentheyhadcomewithintwentyfeetofhim，thelazycreature，withoutapparentlytheleasteffort，tooktwoorthreelimpingboundstooneside，andremainedatthesamedistanceasbefore。Theyrepeatedthisonsetthreeorfourtimeswithmoreorlessexcitementandhilarity，theanimalevadingthemtooneside，butneveractuallyretreatingbeforethem。Finally，itoccurredtothemboththatalthoughtheywerenotcatchinghimtheywerenotdrivinghimaway。TheconsequencesofthatthoughtwereputintoshapebySusywithround-eyedsignificance。

"Kla\'uns，hebites。"

Clarencepickedupahardsun-bakedclod，and，runningforward，threwitatthecoyote。Itwasaclevershot，andstruckhimonhisslouchinghaunches。Hesnappedandgaveashortsnarlingyelp，andvanished。Clarencereturnedwithavictoriousairtohiscompanion。Butshewasgazingintentlyintheoppositedirection，andforthefirsttimehediscoveredthatthecoyotehadbeenleadingthemhalfroundacircle。

"Kla\'uns，"saidSusy，withahystericallittlelaugh。

"Well?"

"Thewagon\'sgone。"

Clarencestarted。Itwastrue。Notonlytheirwagon，butthewholetrainofoxenandteamstershadutterlydisappeared，vanishingascompletelyasiftheyhadbeencaughtupinawhirlwindorengulfedintheearth!Eventhelowcloudofdustthatusuallymarkedtheirdistantcoursebydaywasnowheretobeseen。Thelonglevelplainstretchedbeforethemtothesettingsun，withoutasignortraceofmovinglifeoranimation。Thatgreatbluecrystalbowl，filledwithdustandfirebyday，withstarsanddarknessbynight，whichhadalwaysseemedtodropitsrimroundthemeverywhereandshutthemin，seemedtothemnowtohavebeenliftedtoletthetrainpassout，andthencloseddownuponthemforever。

CHAPTERII

Theirfirstsensationwasoneofpurelyanimalfreedom。

Theylookedateachotherwithsparklingeyesandlongsilentbreaths。Butthisspontaneousoutburstofsavagenaturesoonpassed。Susy\'slittlehandpresentlyreachedforwardandclutchedClarence\'sjacket。Theboyunderstoodit，andsaidquickly，——

"Theyain\'tgonefar，andthey\'llstopassoonastheyfindusgone。"

Theytrottedonalittlefaster；thesuntheyhadfollowedeverydayandthefreshwagontracksbeingtheirunfailingguides；thekeen，coolairoftheplains，takingtheplaceofthatall-

pervadingdustandsmelloftheperspiringoxen，invigoratingthemwithitsbreath。

"Weain\'tskeeredabit，arewe?"saidSusy。

"What\'stheretobeafraidof?"saidClarencescornfully。Hesaidthisnonethelessstronglybecausehesuddenlyrememberedthattheyhadbeenoftenleftaloneinthewagonforhourswithoutbeinglookedafter，andthattheirabsencemightnotbenoticeduntilthetrainstoppedtoencampatdusk，twohourslater。Theywerenotrunningveryfast，yeteithertheyweremoretiredthantheyknew，ortheairwasthinner，fortheybothseemedtobreathequickly。

SuddenlyClarencestopped。

"Theretheyarenow。"

Hewaspointingtoalightcloudofdustinthefar-offhorizon，fromwhichtheblackhulkofawagonemergedforamomentandwaslost。Butevenastheygazedthecloudseemedtosinklikeafairymiragetotheearthagain，thewholetraindisappeared，andonlytheemptystretchingtrackreturned。Theydidnotknowthatthisseeminglyflatandlevelplainwasreallyundulatory，andthatthevanishedtrainhadsimplydippedbelowtheirviewonsomefurtherslopeevenasithadoncebefore。Buttheyknewtheyweredisappointed，andthatdisappointmentrevealedtothemthefactthattheyhadconcealeditfromeachother。Thegirlwasthefirsttosuccumb，andburstintoaquickspasmofangrytears。Thatsingleactofweaknesscalledouttheboy\'sprideandstrength。

Therewasnolongeranequalityofsuffering；hehadbecomeherprotector；hefelthimselfresponsibleforboth。Consideringhernolongerhisequal，hewasnolongerfrankwithher。

"There\'snothin\'toboo-boofor，"hesaid，withahalf-affectedbrusqueness。"Soquit，now!They\'llstopinaminit，andsendsomeonebackforus。Shouldn\'twonderifthey\'redoin\'itnow。"

ButSusy，withfemininediscriminationdetectingthehollowringinhisvoice，herethrewherselfuponhimandbegantobeathimviolentlywithherlittlefists。"Theyain\'t!Theyain\'t!Theyain\'t。Youknowit!Howdareyou?"Then，exhaustedwithherstruggles，shesuddenlythrewherselfflatonthedrygrass，shuthereyestightly，andclutchedatthestubble。

"Getup，"saidtheboy，withapale，determinedfacethatseemedtohavegotmucholder。

"Youleavemebe，"saidSusy。

"Doyouwantmetogoawayandleaveyou?"askedtheboy。

Susyopenedoneblueeyefurtivelyinthesecuredepthsofhersun-

bonnet，andgazedathischangedface。

"Ye-e-s。"

Hepretendedtoturnaway，butreallytolookattheheightofthesinkingsun。

"Kla\'uns!"

"Well?"

"Takeme。"

Shewasholdingupherhands。Heliftedhergentlyinhisarms，droppingherheadoverhisshoulder。"Now，"hesaidcheerfully，"youkeepagoodlookoutthatway，andIthis，andwe\'llsoonbethere。"

Theideaseemedtopleaseher。AfterClarencehadstumbledonforafewmoments，shesaid，"Doyouseeanything，Kla\'uns?"

"Notyet。"

"Nomoredon\'tI。"Thisequalityofperceptionapparentlysatisfiedher。Presentlyshelaymorelimpinhisarms。Shewasasleep。

Thesunwassinkinglower；ithadalreadytouchedtheedgeofthehorizon，andwaslevelwithhisdazzledandstrainingeyes。Attimesitseemedtoimpedehiseagersearchandtaskhisvision。

Hazeandblackspotsfloatedacrossthehorizon，androundwafers，likeduplicatesofthesun，glitteredbackfromthedullsurfaceoftheplains。Thenheresolvedtolooknomoreuntilhehadcountedfifty，ahundred，butalwayswiththesameresult，thereturnoftheempty，unendingplains——thediskgrowingredderasitnearedthehorizon，thefireitseemedtokindleasitsank，butnothingmore。

Staggeringunderhisburden，hetriedtodistracthimselfbyfancyinghowthediscoveryoftheirabsencewouldbemade。Heheardthelistless，half-querulousdiscussionaboutthelocalitythatregularlypervadedthenightlycamp。HeheardthediscontentedvoiceofJakeSilsbeeashehaltedbesidethewagon，andsaid，"Comeouto\'thatnow，youtwo，andmightyquickaboutit。"Heheardthecommandharshlyrepeated。HesawthelookofirritationonSilsbee\'sdusty，beardedface，thatfollowedhishurriedglanceintotheemptywagon。Heheardthequery，"What\'sgoneo\'themlimbsnow?"handedfromwagontowagon。Heheardafewoaths；Mrs。Silsbee\'shighraspingvoice，abuseofhimself，thehurriedanddiscontenteddetachmentofasearchparty，Silsbeeandoneofthehiredmen，andvociferationandblame。Blamealwaysforhimself，theelder，whomighthave"knownbetter!"Alittlefear，perhaps，buthecouldnotfancyeitherpityorcommiseration。

Perhapsthethoughtupheldhispride；undertheprospectofsympathyhemighthavebrokendown。

Atlasthestumbled，andstoppedtokeephimselffromfallingforwardonhisface。Hecouldgonofurther；hisbreathwasspent；

hewasdrippingwithperspiration；hislegsweretremblingunderhim；therewasaroaringinhisears；roundreddisksofthesunwerescatteredeverywherearoundhimlikespotsofblood。Totherightofthetrailthereseemedtobeaslightmoundwherehecouldrestawhile，andyetkeephiswatchfulsurveyofthehorizon。Butonreachingithefoundthatitwasonlyatangleoftallermesquitegrass，intowhichhesankwithhisburden。Nevertheless，ifuselessasapointofvantage，itofferedasoftcouchforSusy，whoseemedtohavefallenquitenaturallyintoherusualafternoonsiesta，andinameasureitshieldedherfromacoldbreezethathadsprungupfromthewest。Utterlyexhaustedhimself，butnotdaringtoyieldtothetorporthatseemedtobecreepingoverhim，Clarencehalfsat，halfkneltdownbesideher，supportinghimselfwithonehand，and，partlyhiddeninthelonggrass，kepthisstrainingeyesfixedonthelonelytrack。

Thereddiskwassinkinglower。Itseemedtohavealreadycrumbledawayapartofthedistancewithitseatingfires。Asitsankstilllower，itshotoutlong，luminousrays，divergingfan-likeacrosstheplain，asif，intheboy\'sexcitedfancy，ittooweresearchingforthelostestrays。Andasonelongbeamseemedtolingeroverhishiding-place，heeventhoughtthatitmightserveasaguidetoSilsbeeandtheotherseekers，andwasconstrainedtostaggertohisfeet，erectinitslight。Butitsoonsank，andwithitClarencedroppedbackagaintohiscrouchingwatch。Yetheknewthatthedaylightwasstillgoodforanhour，andwiththewithdrawalofthatmysticsunsetgloryobjectsbecameevenmoredistinctandsharplydefinedthanatanyothertime。Andwiththemercifulsheathingofthatflamingswordwhichseemedtohaveswayedbetweenhimandthevanishedtrain，hiseyesalreadyfeltablessedrelief。

CHAPTERIII

Withthesettingofthesunanominoussilencefell。HecouldhearthelowbreathingofSusy，andevenfanciedhecouldhearthebeatingofhisownheartinthatoppressivehushofallnature。

Fortheday\'smarchhadalwaysbeenaccompaniedbythemonotonouscreakingofwheelsandaxles，andeventhequietofthenightencampmenthadbeenalwaysmoreorlessbrokenbythemovementofunquietsleepersonthewagonbeds，orthebreathingofthecattle。

Butheretherewasneithersoundnormotion。Susy\'sprattle，andeventhesoundofhisownvoice，wouldhavebrokenthebenumbingspell，butitwasapartofhisgrowingself-denialnowthatherefrainedfromwakingherevenbyawhisper。Shewouldawakensoonenoughtothirstandhunger，perhaps，andthenwhatwashetodo?

Ifthatlooked-forhelpwouldonlycomenow——whileshestillslept。

Foritwaspartofhisboyishfancythatifhecoulddeliverherasleepandundemonstrativeoffearandsuffering，hewouldbelessblameful，andshelessmindfulofhertrouble。Ifitdidnotcome——

buthewouldnotthinkofthatyet!Ifshewasthirstymeantime——

well，itmightrain，andtherewasalwaysthedewwhichtheyusedtobrushoffthemorninggrass；hewouldtakeoffhisshirtandcatchitinthat，likeashipwreckedmariner。Itwouldbefunny，andmakeherlaugh。Forhimselfhewouldnotlaugh；hefelthewasgettingveryoldandgrownupinthisloneliness。

Itwasgettingdarker——theyshouldbelookingintothewagonsnow。

Anewdoubtbegantoassailhim。Oughthenot，nowthathewasrested，makethemostoftheremainingmomentsofdaylight，andbeforetheglowfadedfromthewest，whenhewouldnolongerhaveanybearingstoguidehim?Buttherewasalwaystheriskofwakingher!——towhat?ThefearofbeingconfrontedagainwithHERfearandofbeingunabletopacifyher，atlastdecidedhimtoremain。

Buthecreptsoftlythroughthegrass，andinthedustofthetracktracedthefourpointsofthecompass，ashecouldstilldeterminethembythesunsetlight，withalargeprintedWtoindicatethewest!Thisboyishcontrivanceparticularlypleasedhim。Ifhehadonlyhadapole，astick，orevenatwig，onwhichtotiehishandkerchiefanderectitabovetheclumpofmesquiteasasignaltothesearchersincasetheyshouldbeovercomebyfatigueorsleep，hewouldhavebeenhappy。Buttheplainwasbarrenofbrushortimber；hedidnotdreamthatthisomissionandtheveryunobtrusivenessofhishiding-placewouldbehissalvationfromagreaterdanger。

Withthecomingdarknessthewindaroseandswepttheplainwithalong-drawnsigh。Thisincreasedtoamurmur，tillpresentlythewholeexpanse——beforesunkinawfulsilence——seemedtoawakewithvaguecomplaints，incessantsounds，andlowmoanings。Attimeshethoughtheheardthehalloaingofdistantvoices，attimesitseemedasawhisperinhisownear。Inthesilencethatfollowedeachblasthefanciedhecoulddetectthecreakingofthewagon，thedullthudoftheoxen\'shoofs，orbrokenfragmentsofspeech，blownandscatteredevenashestrainedhisearstolistenbythenextgust。Thistensionoftheearbegantoconfusehisbrain，ashiseyeshadbeenpreviouslydazzledbythesunlight，andastrangetorporbegantostealoverhisfaculties。Onceortwicehisheaddropped。

Heawokewithastart。Amovingfigurehadsuddenlyuplifteditselfbetweenhimandthehorizon!Itwasnottwentyyardsaway，soclearlyoutlinedagainstthestillluminousskythatitseemedevennearer。Ahumanfigure，butsodisheveled，sofantastic，andyetsomeanandpuerileinitsextravagance，thatitseemedtheoutcomeofachildishdream。Itwasamountedfigure，butsoludicrouslydisproportionatetotheponyitbestrode，whoseslimlegswerestifflyburiedinthedustinabreathlesshalt，thatitmighthavebeenastragglerfromsomevulgarwanderingcircus。A

tallhat，crownlessandrimless，acastawayofcivilization，surmountedbyaturkey\'sfeather，wasonitshead；overitsshouldershungadirtytatteredblanketthatscarcelycoveredthetwopaintedlegswhichseemedclothedinsoiledyellowhose。Inonehanditheldagun；theotherwasbentaboveitseyesineagerscrutinyofsomedistantpointbeyondandeastofthespotwherethechildrenlayconcealed。Presently，withadozenquicknoiselessstridesofthepony\'slegs，theapparitionmovedtotheright，itsgazestillfixedonthatmysteriouspartofthehorizon。

Therewasnomistakingitnow!ThepaintedHebraicface，thelargecurvednose，thebonycheek，thebroadmouth，theshadowedeyes，thestraightlongmattedlocks!ItwasanIndian!NotthepicturesquecreatureofClarence\'simagination，butstillanIndian!Theboywasuneasy，suspicious，antagonistic，butnotafraid。Helookedattheheavyanimalfacewiththesuperiorityofintelligence，atthehalf-nakedfigurewiththeconscioussupremacyofdress，atthelowerindividualitywiththecontemptofahigherrace。Yetamomentafter，whenthefigurewheeledanddisappearedtowardstheundulatingwest，astrangechillcreptoverhim。YethedidnotknowthatinthispuerilephantomandpaintedpigmytheawfulmajestyofDeathhadpassedhimby。

"Mamma!"

ItwasSusy\'svoice，strugglingintoconsciousness。Perhapsshehadbeeninstinctivelyconsciousoftheboy\'ssuddenfears。

"Hush!"

HehadjustturnedtotheobjectivepointoftheIndian\'sgaze。

ThereWASsomething!Adarklinewasmovingalongwiththegatheringdarkness。Foramomenthehardlydaredtovoicehisthoughtseventohimself。Itwasafollowingtrainovertakingthemfromtherear!Andfromtherapidityofitsmovementsatrainwithhorses，hurryingforwardtoeveningcamp。Hehadneverdreamtofhelpfromthatquarter。ThiswaswhattheIndian\'skeeneyeshadbeenwatching，andwhyhehadsoprecipitatelyfled。

Thestrangetrainwasnowcomingupataroundtrot。Itwasevidentlywellappointedwithfiveorsixlargewagonsandseveraloutriders。Inhalfanhouritwouldbehere。YetherefrainedfromwakingSusy，whohadfallenasleepagain；hisoldsuperstitionofsecuringhersafetyfirstbeingstilluppermost。Hetookoffhisjackettocoverhershoulders，andrearrangedhernest。Thenheglancedagainatthecomingtrain。Butforsomeunaccountablereasonithadchangeditsdirection，andinsteadoffollowingthetrackthatshouldhavebroughtittohissideithadturnedofftotheleft!Intenminutesitwouldpassabreastofhimamileandahalfaway!IfhewokeSusynow，heknewshewouldbehelplessinherterror，andhecouldnotcarryherhalfthatdistance。Hemightrushtothetrainhimselfandreturnwithhelp，buthewouldneverleaveheralone——inthedarkness。Never!Ifshewokeshewoulddieoffright，perhaps，orwanderblindlyandaimlesslyaway。

No!Thetrainwouldpassandwithitthathopeofrescue。

Somethingwasinhisthroat，buthegulpeditdownandwasquietagainalbeitheshiveredinthenightwind。

Thetrainwasnearlyabreastofhimnow。Heranoutofthetallgrass，wavinghisstrawhatabovehisheadinthefainthopeofattractingattention。Buthedidnotgofar，forhefoundtohisalarmthatwhenheturnedbackagaintheclumpofmesquitewasscarcelydistinguishablefromtherestoftheplain。Thissettledallquestionofhisgoing。Evenifhereachedthetrainandreturnedwithsomeone，howwouldheeverfindheragaininthisdesolateexpanse?

Hewatchedthetrainslowlypass——stillmechanically，almosthopelessly，wavinghishatasheranupanddownbeforethemesquite，asifhewerewavingalastfarewelltohisdepartinghope。Suddenlyitappearedtohimthatthreeoftheoutriderswhowereprecedingthefirstwagonhadchangedtheirshape。Theywerenolongersharp，oblong，blackblocksagainstthehorizonbuthadbecomeatfirstblurredandindistinct，thentallerandnarrower，untilatlasttheystoodoutlikeexclamationpointsagainstthesky。Hecontinuedtowavehishat，theycontinuedtogrowtallerandnarrower。Heunderstooditnow——thethreetransformedblocksweretheoutriderscomingtowardshim。

Thisiswhathehadseen——

[Drawingofthreeblackblocks]

Thisiswhathesawnow——

!!!

HeranbacktoSusytoseeifshestillslept，forhisfoolishdesiretohavehersavedunconsciouslywasstrongerthanevernowthatsafetyseemedsonear。Shewasstillsleeping，althoughshehadmovedslightly。Herantothefrontagain。

Theoutridershadapparentlyhalted。Whatweretheydoing?Whywouldn\'ttheycomeon?

Suddenlyablindingflashoflightseemedtoburstfromoneofthem。Awayoverhisheadsomethingwhistledlikearushingbird，andspedoffinvisible。Theyhadfiredagun；theyweresignalingtohim——Clarence——likeagrown-upman。Hewouldhavegivenhislifeatthatmomenttohavehadagun。Buthecouldonlywavehishatfrantically。

Oneofthefigureshereboreawayandimpetuouslydartedforwardagain。Hewascomingnearer，powerful，gigantic，formidable，asheloomedthroughthedarkness。Allatoncehethrewuphisarmwithawildgesturetotheothers；andhisvoice，manly，frank，andassuring，cameringingbeforehim。

"Holdup!GoodGod!It\'snoInjun——it\'sachild!"

InanothermomenthehadreinedupbesideClarenceandleanedoverhim，bearded，handsome，powerfulandprotecting。

"Hallo!What\'sallthis?Whatareyoudoinghere?"

"LostfromMr。Silsbee\'strain，"saidClarence，pointingtothedarkenedwest。

"Lost?——howlong?"

"Aboutthreehours。Ithoughtthey\'dcomebackforus，"saidClarenceapologeticallytothisbig，kindlyman。

"Andyoukalkilatedtowaitherefor\'em?"

"Yes，yes——Idid——tillIsawyou。"

"Thenwhyinthunderdidn\'tyoulightoutstraightforus，insteadofhangingroundhereanddrawingusout?"

Theboyhunghishead。Heknewhisreasonswereunchanged，butallatoncetheyseemedveryfoolishandunmanlytospeakout。

"OnlythatwewereonthekeenjumpforInjins，"continuedthestranger，"wewouldn\'thaveseenyouatall，andmighthevshotyouwhenwedid。Whatpossessedyoutostayhere?"

Theboywasstillsilent。"Kla\'uns，"saidafaint，sleepyvoicefromthemesquite，"takeme。"Therifle-shothadawakenedSusy。

Thestrangerturnedquicklytowardsthesound。Clarencestartedandrecalledhimself。"There，"hesaidbitterly，"you\'vedoneitnow，you\'vewakenedher!THAT\'SwhyIstayed。Icouldn\'tcarryherovertheretoyou。Icouldn\'tletherwalk，forshe\'dbefrightened。Iwouldn\'twakeherup，forshe\'dbefrightened，andI