第2章

mightn\'tfindheragain。There!"Hehadmadeuphismindtobeabused，buthewasrecklessnowthatshewassafe。

Themenglancedateachother。"Then，"saidthespokesmanquietly，"youdidn\'tstrikeoutforusonaccountofyoursister?"

"Sheain\'tmysister，"saidClarencequickly。"She\'salittlegirl。She\'sMrs。Silsbee\'slittlegirl。Wewereinthewagonandgotdown。It\'smyfault。Ihelpedherdown。"

Thethreemenreinedtheirhorsescloselyroundhim，leaningforwardfromtheirsaddles，withtheirhandsontheirkneesandtheirheadsononeside。"Then，"saidthespokesmangravely，"youjustreckonedtostayhere，oldman，andtakeyourchanceswithherratherthanruntheriskoffrighteningorleavingher——thoughitwasyouronechanceoflife!"

"Yes，"saidtheboy，scornfulofthisfeeble，grown-uprepetition。

"Comehere。"

Theboycamedoggedlyforward。Themanpushedbackthewell-wornstrawhatfromClarence\'sforeheadandlookedintohisloweringface。Withhishandstillontheboy\'sheadheturnedhimroundtotheothers，andsaidquietly，——

"Suthinofapup，eh?"

"Youbet，"theyresponded。

Thevoicewasnotunkindly，althoughthespeakerhadthrownhislowerjawforwardasiftopronouncetheword"pup"withahumoroussuggestionofamastiff。BeforeClarencecouldmakeuphismindiftheepithetwasinsultingornot，themanputouthisstirrupedfoot，and，withagestureofinvitation，said，"Jumpup。"

"ButSusy，"saidClarence，drawingback。

"Look；she\'smakinguptoPhilalready。"

Clarencelooked。Susyhadcrawledoutofthemesquite，andwithhersun-bonnethangingdownherback，hercurlstossedaroundherface，stillflushedwithsleep，andClarence\'sjacketoverhershoulders，wasgazingupwithgravesatisfactioninthelaughingeyesofoneofthemenwhowaswithoutstretchedhandsbendingoverher。Couldhebelievehissenses?Theterror-stricken，willful，unmanageableSusy，whomhewouldhavetranslatedunconsciouslytosafetywithoutthisterribleordealofbeingawakenedtothelossofherhomeandparentsatanysacrificetohimself——thisingenuousinfantwasabsolutelythrowingherselfwitheveryappearanceofforgetfulnessintothearmsofthefirstnew-comer!Yethisperceptionofthisfactwasaccompaniedbynosenseofingratitude。

Forhersakehefeltrelieved，andwithaboyishsmileofsatisfactionandencouragementvaultedintothesaddlebeforethestranger。

CHAPTERIV

Thedashforwardtothetrain，securelyheldinthesaddlebythearmsoftheirdeliverers，wasasecretjoytothechildrenthatseemedonlytooquicklyover。Theresistlessgallopofthefierymustangs，therushofthenightwind，thegatheringdarknessinwhichthedistantwagons，nowhaltedandfacingthem，lookedlikedomedhutsinthehorizon——alltheseseemedbutadelightfulandfittingclimaxtotheeventsoftheday。Inthesublimeforgetfulnessofyouth，alltheyhadgonethroughhadleftnoembarrassingrecordbehindit；theywerewillingtorepeattheirexperiencesonthemorrow，confidentofsomeequallyhappyend。

AndwhenClarence，timidlyreachinghishandtowardsthehorse-hairreinslightlyheldbyhiscompanion，hadthemplayfullyyieldeduptohimbythatholdandconfidentrider，theboyfelthimselfindeedaman。

Butagreatersurprisewasinstoreforthem。Astheynearedthewagons，nowformedintoacirclewithacertaindegreeofmilitaryformality，theycouldseethattheappointmentsofthestrangepartywerelargerandmoreliberalthantheirown，orindeedanythingtheyhadeverknownofthekind。Fortyorfiftyhorsesweretetheredwithinthecircle，andthecampfireswerealreadyblazing。Beforeoneofthemalargetentwaserected，andthroughthepartedflapscouldbeseenatableactuallyspreadwithawhitecloth。Wasitaschoolfeast，orwasthistheirordinaryhouseholdarrangement?

ClarenceandSusythoughtoftheirowndinners，usuallylaidonbareboardsbeneaththesky，orunderthelowhoodofthewagoninrainyweather，andmarveled。Andwhentheyfinallyhalted，andwereliftedfromtheirhorses，andpassedonewagonfittedupasabedroomandanotherasakitchen，theycouldonlynudgeeachotherwithsilentappreciation。Buthereagainthedifferencealreadynotedinthequalityofthesensationsofthetwochildrenwasobservable。Bothwereequallyandagreeablysurprised。ButSusy\'swonderwasmerelythesenseofnoveltyandinexperience，andaslightdisbeliefintheactualnecessityofwhatshesaw；whileClarence，whetherfromsomepreviousgeneralexperienceorpeculiartemperament，hadtheconvictionthatwhathesawherewastheusualcustom，andwhathehadknownwiththeSilsbeeswasthenovelty。ThefeelingwasattendedwithaslightsenseofwoundedprideforSusy，asifherenthusiasmhadexposedhertoridicule。

Themanwhohadcarriedhim，andseemedtobetheheadoftheparty，hadalreadyprecededthemtothetent，andpresentlyreappearedwithaladywithwhomhehadexchangedadozenhurriedwords。TheyseemedtorefertohimandSusy；butClarencewastoomuchpreoccupiedwiththefactthattheladywaspretty，thatherclotheswereneatandthoroughlyclean，thatherhairwastidyandnotrumpled，andthat，althoughsheworeanapron，itwasascleanashergown，andevenhadribbonsonit，tolistentowhatwassaid。Andwhensheraneagerlyforward，andwithafascinatingsmileliftedtheastonishedSusyinherarms，Clarence，inhisdelightforhisyoungcharge，quiteforgotthatshehadnotnoticedhim。Thebeardedman，whoseemedtobethelady\'shusband，evidentlypointedouttheomission，withsomeadditionsthatClarencecouldnotcatch；foraftersaying，withaprettypout，"Well，whyshouldn\'the?"shecameforwardwiththesamedazzlingsmile，andlaidhersmallandcleanwhitehanduponhisshoulder。

"Andsoyoutookgoodcareofthedearlittlething?She\'ssuchanangel，isn\'tshe?andyoumustloveherverymuch。"

Clarencecoloredwithdelight。ItwastrueithadneveroccurredtohimtolookatSusyinthelightofacelestialvisitant，andI

fearhewasjustthenmorestruckwiththefaircomplimenterthanthecomplimenttohiscompanion，buthewaspleasedforhersake。

Hewasnotyetoldenoughtobeconsciousofthesex\'sbeliefinitsirresistibledominationovermankindatallages，andthatJohnnyinhischeckapronwouldbealwaysahopelessconquestofJeannetteinherpinafore，andthatheoughttohavebeeninlovewithSusy。

Howbeit，theladysuddenlywhiskedherawaytotherecessesofherownwagon，toreappearlater，washed，curled，andberibbonedlikeanewdoll，andClarencewasleftalonewiththehusbandandanotheroftheparty。

"Well，myboy，youhaven\'ttoldmeyournameyet。"

"Clarence，sir。"

"SoSusycallsyou，butwhatelse?"

"ClarenceBrant。"

"AnyrelationtoColonelBrant?"askedthesecondmancarelessly。

"Hewasmyfather，"saidtheboy，brighteningunderthisfaintprospectofrecognitioninhisloneliness。

Thetwomenglancedateachother。Theleaderlookedattheboycuriously，andsaid，——

"AreyouthesonofColonelBrant，ofLouisville?"

"Yes，sir，"saidtheboy，withadimstirringofuneasinessinhisheart。"Buthe\'sdeadnow，"headdedfinally。

"Ah，whendidhedie?"saidthemanquickly。

"Oh，alongtimeago。Idon\'trememberhimmuch。Iwasverylittle，"saidtheboy，halfapologetically。

"Ah，youdon\'trememberhim?"

"No，"saidClarenceshortly。Hewasbeginningtofallbackuponthatcertaindoggedrepetitionwhichinsensitivechildrenarisesfromtheirhopelessinabilitytoexpresstheirdeeperfeelings。Healsohadaninstinctiveconsciousnessthatthiswantofaknowledgeofhisfatherwaspartofthatvaguewrongthathadbeendonehim。

Itdidnothelphisuneasinessthathecouldseethatoneofthetwomen，whoturnedawaywithahalf-laugh，misunderstoodordidnotbelievehim。

"HowdidyoucomewiththeSilsbees?"askedthefirstman。

Clarencerepeatedmechanically，withachild\'sdistasteofpracticaldetails，howhehadlivedwithanauntatSt。Jo，andhowhisstepmotherhadprocuredhispassagewiththeSilsbeestoCalifornia，wherehewastomeethiscousin。Allthiswithalackofinterestandabstractionthathewasmiserablyconscioustoldagainsthim，buthewasyethelplesstoresist。

Thefirstmanremainedthoughtful，andthenglancedatClarence\'ssunburnthands。Presentlyhislarge，good-humoredsmilereturned。

"Well，Isupposeyouarehungry?"

"Yes，"saidClarenceshyly。"But——"

"Butwhat?"

"Ishouldliketowashmyselfalittle，"hereturnedhesitatingly，thinkingofthecleantent，thecleanlady，andSusy\'sribbons。

"Certainly，"saidhisfriend，withapleasedlook。"Comewithme。"

InsteadofleadingClarencetothebatteredtinbasinandbarofyellowsoapwhichhadformedthetoiletserviceoftheSilsbeeparty，hebroughttheboyintooneofthewagons，wheretherewasawashstand，achinabasin，andacakeofscentedsoap。StandingbesideClarence，hewatchedhimperformhisablutionswithanapprovingairwhichratherembarrassedhisprotege。Presentlyhesaid，almostabruptly，——

"Doyourememberyourfather\'shouseatLouisville?"

"Yes，sir；butitwasalongtimeago。"

ClarenceremembereditasbeingverydifferentfromhishomeatSt。

Joseph\'s，butfromsomeinnatefeelingofdiffidencehewouldhaveshrunkfromdescribingitinthatway。He，however，saidhethoughtitwasalargehouse。Yetthemodestansweronlymadehisnewfriendlookathimthemorekeenly。

"YourfatherwasColonelHamiltonBrant，ofLouisville，wasn\'the?"

hesaid，half-confidentially。

"Yes，"saidClarencehopelessly。

"Well，"saidhisfriendcheerfully，asifdismissinganabstruseproblemfromhismind，"Let\'sgotosupper。"

Whentheyreachedthetentagain，Clarencenoticedthatthesupperwaslaidonlyforhishostandwifeandthesecondman——whowasfamiliarlycalled"Harry，"butwhospokeoftheformeralwaysas"Mr。andMrs。Peyton"——whiletheremainderoftheparty，adozenmen，wereatasecondcampfire，andevidentlyenjoyingthemselvesinapicturesquefashion。Hadtheboybeenallowedtochoose，hewouldhavejoinedthem，partlybecauseitseemedmore"manly，"andpartlythathedreadedarenewalofthequestioning。

Buthere，Susy，sittingboltuprightonanextemporizedhighstool，happilydivertedhisattentionbypointingtotheemptychairbesideher。

"Kla\'uns，"shesaidsuddenly，withherusualclearandappallingfrankness，"theyischickens，andhamanaigs，andhotbiksquits，andlasses，andMisterPeytonsaysIkinhave\'emall。"

Clarence，whohadbegunsuddenlytofeelthathewasresponsibleforSusy\'sdeportmentandwasbalefullyconsciousthatshewasholdingherplatedforkinherchubbyfistbyitsmiddle，and，fromhispreviousknowledgeofher，waslikelyatanymomenttoplungeitintothedishbeforeher，saidsoftly，——

"Hush!"

"Yes，youshall，dear，"saidMrs。Peyton，withtenderlybeamingassurancetoSusyandahalf-reproachfulglanceattheboy。"Eatwhatyoulike，darling。"

"It\'safork，"whisperedthestilluneasyClarence，asSusynowseemedinclinedtostirherbowlofmilkwithit。

"\'Tain\'t，now，Kla\'uns，it\'sonlyasplitspoon，"saidSusy。

ButMrs。Peyton，inherraptadmiration，tooksmallnoteoftheseirregularities，plyingthechildwithfood，forgettingherownmeal，andonlystoppingattimestoliftbacktheforwardstrayingcurlsonSusy\'sshoulders。Mr。Peytonlookedongravelyandcontentedly。Suddenlytheeyesofhusbandandwifemet。

"She\'dhavebeennearlyasoldasthis，John，"saidMrs。Peyton，inafaintvoice。

JohnPeytonnoddedwithoutspeaking，andturnedhiseyesawayintothegatheringdarkness。Theman"Harry"alsolookedabstractedlyathisplate，asifhewassayinggrace。Clarencewonderedwho"she"was，andwhytwolittletearsdroppedfromMrs。Peyton\'slashesintoSusy\'smilk，andwhetherSusymightnotviolentlyobjecttoit。HedidnotknowuntillaterthatthePeytonshadlosttheironlychild，andSusycomfortablydrainedthismingledcupofamother\'sgriefandtendernesswithoutsuspicion。

"Isupposewe\'llcomeupwiththeirtrainearlytomorrow，ifsomeofthemdon\'tfindusto-night，"saidMrs。Peyton，withalongsighandaregretfulglanceatSusy。"Perhapswemighttraveltogetherforalittlewhile，"sheaddedtimidly。

Harrylaughed，andMr。Peytonrepliedgravely，"Iamafraidwewouldn\'ttravelwiththem，evenforcompany\'ssake；and，"headded，inalowerandgravervoice，"it\'sratheroddthesearchpartyhasn\'tcomeuponusyet，thoughI\'mkeepingPeteandHankpatrollingthetrailtomeetthem。"

"It\'sheartless——soitis!"saidMrs。Peyton，withsuddenindignation。"Itwouldbeallverywellifitwasonlythisboy，whocantakecareofhimself；buttobesocarelessofamerebabylikethis，it\'sshameful!"

ForthefirsttimeClarencetastedthecrueltyofdiscrimination。

Allthemorekeenlythathewasbeginningtoworship，afterhisboyishfashion，thissweet-faced，clean，andtender-heartedwoman。

PerhapsMr。Peytonnoticedit，forhecamequietlytohisaid。

"Maybetheyknewbetterthanweinwhatcarefulhandstheyhadlefther，"hesaid，withacheerfulnodtowardsClarence。"And，again，theymayhavebeenfooledaswewerebyInjinsignsandleftthestraightroad。"

ThissuggestioninstantlyrecalledtoClarencehisvisioninthemesquite。Shouldhedaretellthem?Wouldtheybelievehim，orwouldtheylaughathimbeforeher?Hehesitated，andatlastresolvedtotellitprivatelytothehusband。Whenthemealwasended，andhewasmadehappybyMrs。Peyton\'slaughingacceptanceofhisoffertohelpherclearthetableandwashthedishes，theyallgatheredcomfortablyinfrontofthetentbeforethelargecampfire。Attheotherfiretherestofthepartywereplayingcardsandlaughing，butClarencenolongercaredtojointhem。Hewasquitetranquilinthematernalpropinquityofhishostess，albeitalittleuneasyastohisreticenceabouttheIndian。

"Kla\'uns，"saidSusy，relievingamomentarypause，inherhighestvoice，"knowshowtospeak。Speak，Kla\'uns!"

ItappearingfromClarence\'sblushingexplanationthatthisgiftwasnottheordinaryfacultyofspeech，butacapacitytoreciteverse，hewaspolitelypressedbythecompanyforaperformance。

"Speak\'em，Kla\'uns，theboywhatstooduntotheburnin\'deck，andsaid，\'Theboy，oh，wherewashe?\'"saidSusy，comfortablylyingdownonMrs。Peyton\'slap，andcontemplatingherbarekneesintheair。"It\'s\'boutaboy，"sheaddedconfidentiallytoMrs。Peyton，"whosefatherwouldn\'tnever，neverstaywithhimonaburnin\'

ship，thoughhesaid，\'Stay，father，stay，\'eversomuch。"

Withthisclear，lucid，andperfectlysatisfactoryexplanationofMrs。Hemans\'s"Casabianca，"Clarencebegan。Unfortunately，hisactualrenderingofthispopularschoolperformancewasmoreaneffortofmemorythananythingelse，andwasillustratedbythosewoodengestureswhichaWesternschoolmasterhadtaughthim。Hedescribedtheflamesthat"roaredaroundhim，"byindicatingwithhishandaperfectcircle，ofwhichhewastheaxis；headjuredhisfather，thelateAdmiralCasabianca，byclaspinghishandsbeforehischin，asifwantingtobemanacledinanattitudewhichhewasmiserablyconsciouswasunlikeanythinghehimselfhadeverfeltorseenbefore；hedescribedthatfather"faintindeathbelow，"and"theflagonhigh，"withonesinglemotion。Yetsomethingthattheverseshadkindledinhisactiveimagination，perhaps，ratherthananillustrationoftheversesthemselves，attimesbrightenedhisgrayeyes，becametremulousinhisyouthfulvoice，andIfearoccasionallyincoherentonhislips。Attimes，whennotconsciousofhisaffectedart，theplainandalluponitseemedtohimtoslipawayintothenight，theblazingcampfireathisfeettowraphiminafatefulglory，andavaguedevotiontosomething——heknewnotwhat——sopossessedhimthathecommunicatedit，andprobablysomeofhisownyouthfuldelightinextravagantvoice，tohishearers，until，whenheceasedwithaglowingface，hewassurprisedtofindthatthecardplayershaddesertedtheircampfiresandgatheredroundthetent。

CHAPTERV

"Youdidn\'tsay\'Stay，father，stay，\'enough，Kla\'uns，"saidSusycritically。ThensuddenlystartinguprightinMrs。Peyton\'slap，shecontinuedrapidly，"Ikindance。Andsing。IkindanceHighJambooree。"

"What\'sHighJambooree，dear?"askedMrs。Peyton。

"You\'llsee。Lemmedown。"AndSusyslippedtotheground。

ThedanceofHighJambooree，evidentlyofremotemysticalAfricanorigin，appearedtoconsistofthreesmallskipstotherightandthentotheleft，accompaniedbytheholdingupofveryshortskirts，incessant"teetering"onthetoesofsmallfeet，theexhibitionofmuchbarekneeandstocking，andagurglingaccompanimentofchildishlaughter。Vehementlyapplauded，itleftthelittleperformerbreathless，butinvincibleandreadyforfreshconquest。

"Ikinsing，too，"shegaspedhurriedly，asifunwillingthattheapplauseshouldlapse。"Ikinsing。Oh，dear!Kla\'uns，"

piteously，"WHATisitIsing?"

"BenBolt，"suggestedClarence。

"Oh，yes。Oh，don\'tyouremembersweetAlersBenBolt?"beganSusy，inthesamebreathandthewrongkey。"SweetAlers，withhairsobrown，whoweptwithdelightwhenyougiv\'dherasmile，and——"withknittedbrowsandappealingrecitative，"what\'serrestofit，Kla\'uns?"

"Whotrembledwithfearatyourfrown?"promptedClarence。

"Whotrembledwithfearatmyfrown?"shrilledSusy。"Iforgeterrest。Wait!Ikinsing——"

"PraiseGod，"suggestedClarence。

"Yes。"HereSusy，aregularattendantincampandprayer-meetings，wasonfirmerground。

Promptlyliftingherhightreble，yetwithacertainacquireddeliberation，shebegan，"PraiseGod，fromwhomallblessingsflow。"Attheendofthesecondlinethewhisperingandlaughingceased。Adeepvoicetotheright，thatofthechampionpokerplayer，suddenlyroseontheswellofthethirdline。Hewasinstantlyfollowedbyadozenringingvoices，andbythetimethelastlinewasreacheditwasgivenwithafullchorus，inwhichthedullchantofteamstersanddriversmingledwiththesopranoofMrs。PeytonandSusy\'schildishtreble。Againandagainitwasrepeated，withforgetfuleyesandabstractedfaces，risingandfallingwiththenightwindandtheleapandgleamofthecampfires，andfadingagainlikethemintheimmeasurablemysteryofthedarkenedplain。

Inthedeepandembarrassingsilencethatfollowed，atlastthepartyhesitatinglybrokeup，Mrs。PeytonretiringwithSusyafterofferingthechildtoClarenceforaperfunctory"good-night"kiss，anunusualproceeding，whichsomewhatastonishedthemboth——andClarencefoundhimselfnearMr。Peyton。

"Ithink，"saidClarencetimidly，"IsawanInjinto-day。"

Mr。Peytonbentdowntowardshim。"AnInjin——where?"heaskedquickly，withthesamelookofdoubtinginterrogatorywithwhichhehadreceivedClarence\'snameandparentage。

Theboyforamomentregrettedhavingspoken。Butwithhisolddoggednessheparticularizedhisstatement。Fortunately，beinggiftedwithakeenperception，hewasabletodescribethestrangeraccurately，andtoimpartwithhisdescriptionthatcontemptforitssubjectwhichhehadfelt，andwhichtohisfrontierauditorestablisheditstruthfulness。Peytonturnedabruptlyaway，butpresentlyreturnedwithHarryandanotherman。

"Youaresureofthis?"saidPeyton，half-encouragingly。

"Yes，sir。"

"AssureasyouarethatyourfatherisColonelBrantandisdead?"

saidHarry，withalightlaugh。

Tearssprangintotheboy\'sloweringeyes。"Idon\'tlie，"hesaiddoggedly。

"Ibelieveyou，Clarence，"saidPeytonquietly。"Butwhydidn\'tyousayitbefore?"

"Ididn\'tliketosayitbeforeSusyand——her!"stammeredtheboy。

"Her?"

"Yes，sir——Mrs。Peyton，"saidClarenceblushingly。

"Oh，"saidHarrysarcastically，"howblessedpoliteweare!"

"That\'lldo。Letuponhim，willyou?"saidPeyton，roughly，tohissubordinate。"Theboyknowswhathe\'sabout。But，"hecontinued，addressingClarence，"howwasittheInjindidn\'tseeyou?"

"IwasverystillonaccountofnotwakingSusy，"saidClarence，"and——"Hehesitated。

"Andwhat?"

"HeseemedmorekeenwatchingwhatYOUweredoing，"saidtheboyboldly。

"That\'sso，"brokeinthesecondman，whohappenedtobeexperienced，"andashewastowind\'ardo\'theboyhewasoffHIS

scentandbearings。Hewasoneoftheirrearscouts；theresto\'

them\'saheadcrossingourtracktocutusoff。Yedidn\'tseeanythingelse?"

"Isawacoyotefirst，"saidClarence，greatlyencouraged。

"Holdon!"saidtheexpert，asHarryturnedawaywithasneer。

"That\'sasign，too。Wolfdon\'tgowherewolfhezbeen，andcoyotedon\'tfollerInjins——there\'snopickin\'s!Howlongaforedidyouseethecoyote?"

"Justafterweleftthewagon，"saidClarence。

"That\'sit，"saidtheman，thoughtfully。"Hewasdrivenonahead，orhangingontheirflanks。TheseInjinsarebetwixtusandthatartrain，orfollowingit。"

Peytonmadeahurriedgestureofwarning，asifremindingthespeakerofClarence\'spresence——agesturewhichtheboynoticedandwonderedat。Thentheconversationofthethreementookalowertone，althoughClarencedistinctlyheardtheconcludingopinionoftheexpert。

"Itain\'tnogoodnow，Mr。Peyton，andyou\'dbeonlyexposingyourselfontheirgroundbybreakin\'campaginto-night。Andyoudon\'tknowthatitain\'tUSthey\'rewatchin\'。Yousee，ifwehadn\'tturnedoffthestraightroadwhenwegotthatfirstscarefromtheseyerlostchildren，wemighthevgoneonandwalkedplumpintosomecursedtrapofthosedevils。Tomymind，we\'rejustinniggerluck，andwithagoodwatchandmypatrolwe\'reallrighttobefixedwherewebetilldaylight。"

Mr。Peytonpresentlyturnedaway，takingClarencewithhim。"Aswe\'llbeupearlyandonthetrackofyourtrainto-morrow，myboy，youhadbetterturninnow。I\'veputyouupinmywagon，andasI

expecttobeinthesaddlemostofthenight，IreckonIwon\'ttroubleyoumuch。"Heledthewaytoasecondwagon——drawnupbesidetheonewhereSusyandMrs。Peytonhadretired——whichClarencewassurprisedtofindfittedwithawritingtableanddesk，achair，andevenabookshelfcontainingsomevolumes。A

longlocker，fittedlikealounge，hadbeenmadeupasacouchforhim，withtheunwontedluxuryofcleanwhitesheetsandpillow-

cases。Asoftmattingcoveredtheflooroftheheavywagonbed，which，Mr。Peytonexplained，washungoncentrespringstopreventjarring。Thesidesandroofofthevehiclewereoflightlypaneledwood，insteadoftheusualhookedcanvasframeoftheordinaryemigrantwagon，andfittedwithaglazeddoorandmovablewindowforlightandair。Clarencewonderedwhythebig，powerfulman，whoseemedathomeonhorseback，shouldevercaretositinthisofficelikeamerchantoralawyer；andifthistrainsoldthingstotheothertrains，ortookgoods，likethepeddlers，totownsontheroute；butthereseemedtobenothingtosell，andtheotherwagonswerefilledwithonlythegoodsrequiredbytheparty。HewouldhavelikedtoaskMr。PeytonwhoHEwas，andhavequestionedHIMasfreelyashehimselfhadbeenquestioned。Butastheaverageadultmannevertakesintoconsiderationtheinjusticeofdenyingtothenaturalandevennecessarycuriosityofchildhood

thatquestioningwhichhehimselfissoapttoassumewithoutright，andalmostalwayswithoutdelicacy，Clarencehadnorecourse。Yettheboy，likeallchildren，wasconsciousthatifhehadbeenafterwardsquestionedaboutTHISinexplicableexperience，hewouldhavebeenblamedforhisignoranceconcerningit。Lefttohimselfpresently，andensconcedbetweenthesheets，helayforsomemomentsstaringabouthim。Theunwontedcomfortofhiscouch，sodifferentfromthestuffyblanketinthehardwagonbedwhichhehadsharedwithoneoftheteamsters，andthenovelty，order，andcleanlinessofhissurroundings，whiletheyweregratefultohisinstincts，beganinsomevaguewaytodepresshim。Tohisloyalnatureitseemedatacitinfidelitytohisformerroughcompanionstobelyinghere；hehadadimideathathehadlostthatindependencewhichequaldiscomfortandequalpleasureamongthemhadgivenhim。Thereseemedasenseofservitudeinacceptingthisluxurywhichwasnothis。Thissethimendeavoringtoremembersomethingofhisfather\'shouse，ofthelargerooms，draftystaircases，andfar-offceilings，andthecoldformalityofalifethatseemedmadeupofstrangefaces；somestranger——hisparents；

somekinder——theservants；particularlytheblacknursewhohadhimincharge。WhydidMr。Peytonaskhimaboutit?Why，ifitweresoimportanttostrangers，hadnothismothertoldhimmoreofit?

Andwhywasshenotlikethisgoodwomanwiththegentlevoicewhowassokindto——toSusy?AndwhatdidtheymeanbymakingHIMsomiserable?Somethingroseinhisthroat，butwithanefforthechokeditback，and，creepingfromthelounge，wentsoftlytothewindow，openedittoseeifit"wouldwork，"andlookedout。Theshroudedcampfires，thestarsthatglitteredbutgavenolight，thedimmovingbulkofapatrolbeyondthecircle，allseemedtointensifythedarkness，andchangedthecurrentofhisthoughts。

HerememberedwhatMr。Peytonhadsaidofhimwhentheyfirstmet。

"Suthinofapup，ain\'the?"Surelythatmeantsomethingthatwasnotbad!Hecreptbacktothecouchagain。

Lyingthere，stillawake，hereflectedthathewouldn\'tbeascoutwhenhegrewup，butwouldbesomethinglikeMr。Peyton，andhaveatrainlikethis，andinvitetheSilsbeesandSusytoaccompanyhim。

Forthispurpose，heandSusy，earlyto-morrowmorning，wouldgetpermissiontocomeinhereandplayatthatgame。Thiswouldfamiliarizehimwiththedetails，sothathewouldbeableatanytimetotakechargeofit。HewasalreadyanauthorityonthesubjectofIndians!Hehadoncebeenfiredat——asanIndian。Hewouldalwayscarryariflelikethathangingfromthehooksattheendofthewagonbeforehim，andwouldeventuallyslaymanyIndiansandkeepanaccountoftheminabigbooklikethatonthedesk。

Susywouldhelphim，havinggrownupalady，andtheywouldbothtogetherissueprovisionsandrationsfromthedoorofthewagontothegatheredcrowds。Hewouldbeknownasthe"WhiteChief，"hisIndiannamebeing"SuthinofaPup。"Hewouldhaveacircusvanattachedtothetrain，inwhichhewouldoccasionallyperform。Hewouldalsohaveartilleryforprotection。Therewouldbeaterrificengagement，andhewouldrushintothewagon，heatedandblackenedwithgunpowder；andSusywouldputdownanaccountofitinabook，andMrs。Peyton——forshewouldbethereinsomevaguecapacity——wouldsay，"Really，now，Idon\'tseebutwhatwewereveryluckyinhavingsuchaboyasClarencewithus。Ibegintounderstandhimbetter。"AndHarry，who，forpurposesofvaguepoeticalretaliation，wouldalsodropinatthatmoment，wouldmutterandsay，"HeiscertainlythesonofColonelBrant；dearme!"andapologize。Andhismotherwouldcomeinalso，inhercoldestandmostindifferentmanner，inawhiteballdress，andstartandsay，"Goodgracious，howthatboyhasgrown!

IamsorryIdidnotseemoreofhimwhenhewasyoung。"Yeteveninthemidstofthiscameaconfusingnumbness，andthenthesideofthewagonseemedtomeltaway，andhedriftedoutagainaloneintotheemptydesolateplainfromwhicheventhesleepingSusyhadvanished，andhewasleftdesertedandforgotten。Thenallwasquietinthewagon，andonlythenightwindmovingroundit。Butlo!thelashesofthesleepingWhiteChief——thedauntlessleader，theruthlessdestroyerofIndians——werewetwithglitteringtears!

Yetitseemedonlyamomentafterwardsthatheawokewithafaintconsciousnessofsomearrestedmotion。Tohisutterconsternation，thesun，threehourshigh，wasshininginthewagon，alreadyhotandstiflinginitsbeams。Therewasthefamiliarsmellandtasteofthedirtyroadintheairabouthim。Therewasafaintcreakingofboardsandsprings，aslightoscillation，andbeyondtheaudiblerattleofharness，asifthetrainhadbeenunderway，thewagonmoving，andthentherehadbeenasuddenhalt。TheyhadprobablycomeupwiththeSilsbeetrain；inafewmomentsthechangewouldbeeffectedandallofhisstrangeexperiencewouldbeover。Hemustgetupnow。Yet，withthemorninglazinessofthehealthyyounganimal，hecurledupamomentlongerinhisluxuriouscouch。

Howquietitwas!Therewerefar-offvoices，buttheyseemedsuppressedandhurried。Throughthewindowhesawoneoftheteamstersrunrapidlypasthimwithastrange，breathless，preoccupiedface，haltamomentatoneofthefollowingwagons，andthenrunbackagaintothefront。

Thentwoofthevoicescamenearer，withthedullbeatingofhoofsinthedust。

"Routouttheboyandaskhim，"saidahalf-suppressed，impatientvoice，whichClarenceatoncerecognizedasthemanHarry\'s。

"HoldontillPeytoncomesup，"saidthesecondvoice，inalowtone；"leaveittohim。"

"Betterfindoutwhattheywerelike，atonce，"grumbledHarry。

"Wait，standback，"saidPeyton\'svoice，joiningtheothers；"I\'LL

askhim。"

Clarencelookedwonderinglyatthedoor。ItopenedonMr。Peyton，dustyanddismounted，withastrange，abstractedlookinhisface。

"Howmanywagonsareinyourtrain，Clarence?"