第3章

"Three，sir。"

"Anymarksonthem?"

"Yes，sir，"saidClarence，eagerly:"\'OfftoCalifornia\'and\'Root，Hog，orDie。\'"

Mr。Peyton\'seyeseemedtoleapupandholdClarence\'swithasudden，strangesignificance，andthenlookeddown。

"Howmanywereyouinall?"hecontinued。

"Five，andtherewasMrs。Silsbee。"

"Nootherwoman?"

"No。"

"Getupanddressyourself，"hesaidgravely，"andwaitheretillI

comeback。Keepcoolandhaveyourwitsaboutyou。"Hedroppedhisvoiceslightly。"Perhapssomething\'shappenedthatyou\'llhavetoshowyourselfalittlemanagainfor，Clarence!"

Thedoorclosed，andtheboyheardthesamemuffledhoofsandvoicesdieawaytowardsthefront。Hebegantodresshimselfmechanically，almostvacantly，yetconsciousalwaysofavagueundercurrentofthrillingexcitement。Whenhehadfinishedhewaitedalmostbreathlessly，feelingthesamebeatingofhisheartthathehadfeltwhenhewasfollowingthevanishedtrainthedaybefore。Atlasthecouldstandthesuspensenolonger，andopenedthedoor。Everythingwasstillinthemotionlesscaravan，except——

itstruckhimoddlyeventhen——theunconcernedprattlingvoiceofSusyfromoneofthenearerwagons。PerhapsasuddenfeelingthatthiswassomethingthatconcernedHER，perhapsanirresistibleimpulseovercamehim，butthenextmomenthehadleapedtotheground，facedabout，andwasrunningfeverishlytothefront。

ThefirstthingthatmethiseyeswasthehelplessanddesolatebulkofoneoftheSilsbeewagonsahundredrodsaway，bereftofoxenandpole，standingaloneandmotionlessagainstthedazzlingsky!Nearitwasthebrokenframeofanotherwagon，itsforewheelsandaxlesgone，pitchedforwardonitskneeslikeanoxunderthebutcher\'ssledge。Notfarawaythereweretheburntandblackenedruinsofathird，aroundwhichthewholepartyonfootandhorsebackseemedtobegathered。Astheboyranviolentlyon，thegroupopenedtomakewayfortwomencarryingsomehelplessbutawfulobjectbetweenthem。AterribleinstinctmadeClarenceswervefromitinhisheadlongcourse，buthewasatthesamemomentdiscoveredbytheothers，andacryaroseof"Goback!"

"Stop!""Keephimback!"Heedingitnomorethanthewindthatwhistledbyhim，Clarencemadedirectlyfortheforemostwagon——theoneinwhichheandSusyhadplayed。Apowerfulhandcaughthisshoulder；itwasMr。Peyton\'s。

"Mrs。Silsbee\'swagon，"saidtheboy，withwhitelips，pointingtoit。"Whereisshe?"

"She\'smissing，"saidPeyton，"andoneother——therestaredead。"

"Shemustbethere，"saidtheboy，struggling，andpointingtothewagon；"letmego。"

"Clarence，"saidPeytonsternly，accentinghisgraspupontheboy\'sarm，"beaman!Lookaroundyou。Tryandtelluswhotheseare。"

Thereseemedtobeoneortwoheapsofoldclotheslyingontheground，andfurtheron，wherethemenatacommandfromPeytonhadlaiddowntheirburden，another。Inthoseragged，dustyheapsofclothes，fromwhichallthemajestyoflifeseemedtohavebeenruthlesslystampedout，onlywhatwasignobleandgrotesqueappearedtobeleft。Therewasnothingterribleinthis。Theboymovedslowlytowardsthem；and，incredibleeventohimself，theoverpoweringfearofthemthatamomentbeforehadovercomehimlefthimassuddenly。Hewalkedfromtheonetotheother，recognizingthembycertainmarksandsigns，andmentioningnameaftername。Thegroupsgazedathimcuriously；hewasconsciousthathescarcelyunderstoodhimself，stilllessthesamequietpurposethatmadehimturntowardsthefurthestwagon。

"There\'snothingthere，"saidPeyton；"we\'vesearchedit。"Buttheboy，withoutreplying，continuedhisway，andthecrowdfollowedhim。

Thedesertedwagon，morerude，disorderly，andslovenlythanithadeverseemedtohimbefore，wasnowheapedandtumbledwithbrokenbones，cans，scatteredprovisions，pots，pans，blankets，andclothinginthefoulconfusionofadust-heap。Butinthisheterogeneousminglingtheboy\'squickeyecaughtsightofadragglededgeofcalico。

"That\'sMrs。Silsbee\'sdress!"hecried，andleaptintothewagon。

Atfirstthemenstaredateachother，butaninstantlateradozenhandswerehelpinghim，nervouslydiggingandclearingawaytherubbish。Thenonemanutteredasuddencry，andfellbackwithfranticbutfuriouseyesupliftedagainstthepitiless，smilingskyabovehim。

"GreatGod!lookhere!"

Itwastheyellowish，waxenfaceofMrs。Silsbeethathadbeenuncovered。Buttothefancyoftheboyithadchanged；theoldfamiliarlinesofworry，care，andquerulousnesshadgivenwaytoalookofremotepeaceandstatue-likerepose。Hehadoftenvexedherinheraggressivelife；hewastouchedwithremorseathercold，passionlessapathynow，andpressedtimidlyforward。Evenashedidso，theman，withaquickbutwarninggesture，hurriedlythrewhishandkerchiefoverthemattedlocks，asiftoshutoutsomethingawfulfromhisview。Clarencefelthimselfdrawnback；

butnotbeforethewhitelipsofabystanderhadwhisperedasingleword——

"Scalped，too!byGod!"

CHAPTERVI

ThenfolloweddaysandweeksthatseemedtoClarenceasadream。

Atfirst，anintervalofhushedandawedrestraintwhenheandSusywerekeptapart，astrangeandartificialinteresttakenlittlenoteofbyhim，butafterwardsrememberedwhenothershadforgottenit；theburialofMrs。Silsbeebeneathacairnofstones，withsomeceremoniesthat，simplethoughtheywere，seemedtousurpthesacredrightsofgrieffromhimandSusy，andleavethemcoldandfrightened；daysoffrequentandincoherentchildishoutburstsfromSusy，growingfainterandrarerastimewenton，untiltheyceased，heknewnotwhen；thehauntingbynightofthatmorningvisionofthethreeorfourheapsofraggedclothesonthegroundandahalfregretthathehadnotexaminedthemmoreclosely；arecollectionoftheawfullonelinessanddesolationofthebrokenandabandonedwagonleftbehindonitskneesasifprayingmutelywhenthetrainwentonandleftit；thetrundlingbehindofthefatefulwagoninwhichMrs。Silsbee\'sbodyhadbeenfound，superstitiouslyshunnedbyeveryone，andwhenatlastturnedovertotheauthoritiesatanoutpostgarrison，seemingtodropthelastlinkfromthedraggingchainofthepast。Therevelationtothechildrenofanewexperienceinthatbriefglimpseofthefrontiergarrison；thehandsomeofficerinuniformandbeltedsword，anheroic，vengefulfiguretobeadmiredandimitatedhereafter；thesuddenimportanceandrespectgiventoSusyandhimselfas"survivors"；thesympatheticquestioningandkindlyexaggerationsoftheirexperiences，quicklyacceptedbySusy——allthese，lookingbackuponthemafterwards，seemedtohavepassedinadream。

Nolessstrangeandvisionarytothemseemedtherealtransitionstheynotedfromthemovingtrain。Howonemorningtheymissedthechangeless，motionless，low，darklinealongthehorizon，andbeforenoonfoundthemselvesamongtherocksandtreesandaswiftlyrushingriver。Howtheresuddenlyappearedbesidethemafewdayslateragreatgraycloud-coveredridgeofmountainsthattheywereconvincedwasthatsamedarklinethattheyhadseensooften。Howthemenlaughedatthem，andsaidthatforthelastthreedaystheyhadbeenCROSSINGthatdarkline，andthatitwasHIGHERthanthegreatgray-cloudedrangebeforethem，whichithadalwayshiddenfromtheirview!HowSusyfirmlybelievedthatthesechangestookplaceinhersleep，whenshealways"kinderfelttheywerecrawlin\'up，"andhowClarence，inthehappydepreciationofextremeyouth，expressedhisconvictionthatthey"weren\'tabithigh，afterall。"Howtheweatherbecamecold，thoughitwasalreadysummer，andatnightthecampfirewasanecessity，andtherewasastoveinthetentwithSusy；andyethowallthisfadedaway，andtheywereagainuponadazzling，burnt，andsun-driedplain!Butalwaysasinadream!

Morerealwerethepersonswhocomposedtheparty——whomtheyseemedtohavealwaysknown——andwho，intheinnocentcapriceofchildren，hadbecometothemmoreactualthanthedeadhadevenbeen。TherewasMr。Peyton，whotheynowknewownedthetrain，andwhowassorichthathe"needn\'tgotoCaliforniaifhedidn\'twantto，andwasgoingtobuyagreatdealofitifhelikedit，"andwhowasalsoalawyerand"policeman"——whichwasSusy\'srenderingof"politician"——andwascalled"Squire"and"Judge"atthefrontieroutpost，andcouldorderanybodytobe"tookupifhewantedto，"

andwhokneweverybodybytheirChristiannames；andMrs。Peyton，whohadbeendelicateandwasorderedbythedoctortoliveintheopenairforsixmonths，and"nevergointoahouseoratownagin，"andwhowasgoingtoadoptSusyassoonasherhusbandcouldarrangewithSusy\'srelatives，anddrawupthepapers!How"Harry"

wasHenryBenham，Mrs。Peyton\'sbrother，andakindofpartnerofMr。Peyton。Andhowthescout\'snamewasGusGildersleeve，orthe"WhiteCrow，"andhow，throughhisrecognizedintrepidity，anattackupontheirtrainwasnodoubtaverted。Thentherewas"Bill，"thestockherder，and"TexasJim，"thevaquero——thelattermarvelousandunprecedentedinhorsemanship。Suchweretheircompanions，asappearedthroughthegossipofthetrainandtheirowninexperiencedconsciousness。Tothem，theywereallastoundingandimportantpersonages。But，eitherfromboyishcuriosityorsomesenseofbeingmisunderstood，Clarencewasmoreattractedbythetwoindividualsofthepartywhowereleastkindtohim——

namely，Mrs。PeytonandherbrotherHarry。Ifearthat，afterthefashionofmostchildren，andsomegrown-uppeople，hethoughtlessofthesteadykindnessofMr。PeytonandtheothersthanoftheraretoleranceofHarryorthepoliteconcessionsofhissister。

Miserablyconsciousofthisattimes，hequiteconvincedhimselfthatifhecouldonlywinawordofapprobationfromHarry，orasmilefromMrs。Peyton，hewouldafterwardsrevengehimselfby"runningaway。"Whetherhewouldornot，Icannotsay。Iamwritingofafoolish，growing，impressionableboyofeleven，ofwhosesentimentsnothingcouldbesafelypredictedbutuncertainty。

Itwasatthistimethathebecamefascinatedbyanothermemberofthepartywhosepositionhadbeentoohumbleandunimportanttobeincludedinthegroupalreadynoted。Ofthesameappearanceastheotherteamstersinsize，habits，andapparel，hehadnotatfirstexhibitedtoClarenceanyclaimtosympathy。Butitappearedthathewasactuallyayouthofonlysixteen——ahopelessincorrigibleofSt。Joseph，whoseparentshadprevailedonPeytontoallowhimtojointheparty，bywayofremovinghimfromevilassociationsandasamethodofreform。OfthisClarencewasatfirstignorant，notfromanywantoffranknessonthepartoftheyouth，forthatingeniousyounggentlemanlaterinformedhimthathehadkilledthreemeninSt。Louis，twoinSt。Jo，andthattheofficersofjusticewereafterhim。Butitwasevidentthattoprecocioushabitsofdrinking，smoking，chewing，andcard-playingthisovergrownyouthaddedastrongtendencytoexaggerationofstatement。Indeed，hewasknownas"LyingJimHooker，"andhisvariousqualitiespresentedaproblemtoClarencethatwasattractiveandinspiring，doubtful，butalwaysfascinating。Withthehoarsevoiceofearlywickednessandacontemptforordinarycourtesy，hehadaround，perfectlygood-humoredface，andadispositionthatwhennotcalledupontoactuptohisself-imposedroleofrecklesswickedness，wasnotunkindly。

Itwasonlyafewdaysafterthemassacre，andwhilethechildrenwerestillwrappedinthegloomyinterestandfrightenedreticencewhichfollowedit，that"JimHooker"firstcharacteristicallyflasheduponClarence\'sperceptions。HanginghalfonandhalfoffthesaddleofanIndianpony，thelankJimsuddenlymadehisappearance，dashingviolentlyupanddownthetrack，andaroundthewagoninwhichClarencewassitting，tuggingdesperatelyatthereins，witheveryindicationofbeingfuriouslyrunawaywith，andretaininghisseatonlywiththemostdauntlesscourageandskill。

Roundandroundtheywent，thehelplessriderattimeshangingbyasinglestirrupneartheground，andagainrecoveringhimselfby——asitseemedtoClarence——almostsuperhumaneffort。Clarencesatopen-mouthedwithanxietyandexcitement，andyetafewoftheotherteamsterslaughed。ThenthevoiceofMr。Peyton，fromthewindowofhiscar，saidquietly，——

"There，thatwilldo，Jim。Quitit!"

Thefurioushorseandriderinstantlydisappeared。Afewmomentsafter，thebewilderedClarencesawtheredoubtedhorsemantrottingalongquietlyinthedustoftherear，onthesamefierysteed，whointhatprosaiclightboreanastoundingresemblancetoanordinaryteamhorse。Laterinthedayhesoughtanexplanationfromtherider。

"Yousee，"answeredJimgloomily，"tharain\'tagalootinthisyercrowdezknowsjistWHAT\'Sinthathoss!Andthemezsuspecksdaren\'tsay!Itwouldn\'tdofortohevitletoutthattheJudgehezaMorgan-Mexicanplugthat\'skilledtwomenaforehegothim，andisboundtokillanotheraforehegetsthrough!Why，on\'ytheweekaforewekemuptoyou，thattharhossboltedwithmeatcamping!Buckedandthrowedme，butIkeptmyholto\'thestirrupswithmyfoot——so!Draggedmeamatteroftwomiles，headdown，andmekeepin\'awayrockswithmyhand——so!"

"Whydidn\'tyoulooseyourfootandletgo?"askedClarencebreathlessly。

"YOUmight，"saidJim，withdeepscorn；"thatain\'tMYstyle。I

justlaidlowtillwekemtoasteeppitchedhill，andgoin\'downwhenthehosswas，sotospeak，kinderBELOWme，Ijustturnedahandspring，so，andthatlandedmeonterhisbackagain。"

Thisaction，thoughvividlyillustratedbyJim\'sthrowinghishandsdownlikefeetbeneathhim，andindicatingtheparabolaofaspringintheair，provingaltogethertoomuchforClarence\'smindtograsp，hetimidlyturnedtoalessdifficultdetail。

"Whatmadethehorseboltfirst，Mr。Hooker?"

"SmeltInjins!"saidJim，carelesslyexpectoratingtobaccojuiceinacurvingjetfromthesideofhismouth——asingularlyfascinatingaccomplishment，peculiarlyhisown，"\'n\'likelyYOURInjins。"

"But，"arguedClarencehesitatingly，"yousaiditwasaweekbefore——and——"

"ErMexicanplugkinsmellInjinsfifty，yes，ahundredmilesaway，"saidJim，withscornfuldeliberation；"\'n\'ifJudgePeytonhadtookmyadvice，andhadn\'tbeensomightyfearedaboutthecharacterofhishossgettin\'outhe\'dhevplayedrootsonthemInjinsaforetheytetchedye。But，"headded，withgloomydejection，"thereain\'tnosandinthisyercrowd，tharain\'tnovim，tharain\'tnothin\'；andtharkan\'tbeezlongezthar\'swomenandbabies，andwomenandbabyfixin\'s，mixedupwithit。I\'dhevcutthewholeblamedgangefitweren\'tforoneortwothings，"headdeddarkly。

Clarence，impressedbyJim\'smysteriousmanner，forthemomentforgothiscontemptuousallusiontoMr。Peyton，andtheevidentimplicationofSusyandhimself，andaskedhurriedly，"Whatthings?"

Jim，asifforgetfuloftheboy\'spresenceinhisfitfulmood，abstractedlyhalfdrewaglitteringbowieknifefromhisbootleg，andthenslowlyputitbackagain。"Thar\'soneortwooldscores，"

hecontinued，inalowvoice，althoughnoonewasinhearingdistanceofthem，"oneortwoprivateaccounts，"hewentontragically，avertinghiseyesasifwatchedbysomeone，"thethevtobewipedoutwithbloodaforeIleave。Thar\'soneortwomenTOOMANYaliveandbreathin\'inthisyercrowd。Mebbeeit\'sGusGildersleeve；mebbeeit\'sHarryBenham；mebbee，"headded，withadarkyetnobledisinterestedness，"it\'sME。"

"Oh，no，"saidClarence，withpolitedeprecation。

FarfromplacatingthegloomyJim，thisseemedonlytoawakehissuspicions。"Mebbee，"hesaid，dancingsuddenlyawayfromClarence，"mebbeeyouthinkI\'mlyin\'。Mebbeeyouthink，becauseyou\'reColonelBrant\'sson，yerkinrunMEwiththisyertrain。

Mebbee，"hecontinued，dancingviolentlybackagain，"yekalkilate，becauseyerunoff\'n\'stampededababy，yekintotemeroundtoo，sonny。Mebbee，"hewenton，executingadoubleshuffleinthedustandalternatelystrikinghishandsonthesidesofhisboots，"mebbeeyou\'respyin\'roundandreportin\'totheJudge。"

FirmlyconvincedthatJimwasworkinghimselfupbyanIndianwar-

dancetosomedesperateassaultonhimself，butresentingthelastunjustaccusation，Clarencehadrecoursetooneofhisolddoggedsilences。Happilyatthismomentanauthoritativevoicecalledout，"Now，then，youJimHooker!"andthedesperateHooker，asusual，vanishedinstantly。Nevertheless，heappearedanhourortwolaterbesidethewagoninwhichSusyandClarencewereseated，withanexpressionofsatiatedvengeanceandremorsefulbloodguiltinessinhisface，andhishaircombedIndianfashionoverhiseyes。Ashegenerouslycontentedhimselfwithonlypassingagloomyanddisparagingcriticismonthegameofcardsthatthechildrenwereplaying，itstruckClarenceforthefirsttimethatagreatdealofhisrealwickednessresidedinhishair。

ThissethimtothinkingthatitwasstrangethatMr。Peytondidnottrytoreformhimwithapairofscissors，butnotuntilClarencehimselfhadforatleastfourdaysattemptedtoimitateJimbycombinghisownhairinthatfashion。

Afewdayslater，Jimagaincasuallyfavoredhimwithaconfidentialinterview。Clarencehadbeenallowedtobestrideoneoftheteamleaderspostillionwise，andwascorrespondinglyelevated，whenJimjoinedhim，ontheMexicanplug，whichappeared——

nodoubtapartofitswickedart——heavilydocile，andevenslightlylame。

"Howmuch，"saidJim，inatoneofgloomyconfidence，——"howmuchdidyoureckontomakebystealin\'thatgal-baby，sonny?"

"Nothing，"repliedClarencewithasmile。PerhapsitwasanevidenceofthemarkedinfluencethatJimwasbeginningtoexertoverhimthathealreadydidnotattempttoresentthisfascinatingimplicationofgrownupguilt。

"Itorterbinagoodjob，ifitwarn\'trevenge，"continuedJimmoodily。

"No，itwasn\'trevenge，"saidClarencehurriedly。

"Thenyekalkilatedtergeterhundreddollarsrewardeftheoldmanandoldwomanhadn\'tbinscelpedaforeyetgotupto\'em?"saidJim。"That\'syourblameddodgastedluck，eh!Enyhow，you\'llmakeMrs。Peytonplankdownsuthin\'ifsheadoptsthebabby。Lookyer，youngfeller，"hesaid，startingsuddenlyandthrowinghisfaceforward，glaringfiendishlythroughhismattedside-locks，"d\'yemeantertellmeitwasn\'taplant——askingame——thehullthing?"

"Awhat?"saidClarence。

"D\'yemeantosay"——itwaswonderfulhowgratuitouslyhuskyhisvoicebecameatthismoment——"d\'yemeantertellmeyedidn\'tsetonthemInjinstowipeouttheSilsbees，sothatyecouldhevanout-an\'-outgalORFENonhandferMrs。Peytonteradopt——eh?"

ButhereClarencewasforcedtoprotest，andstrongly，althoughJimcontemptuouslyignoredit。"Don\'tlieterme，"herepeatedmysteriously，"I\'mfly。I\'mdark，youngfel。We\'recahootsinthisthing?"AndwiththisartfulsuggestionofbeinginpossessionofClarence\'sguiltysecrethedepartedintimetoeludetheusualobjurgationofhissuperior，"Phil，"theheadteamster。

NorwashisbalefulfascinationexercisedentirelyonClarence。InspiteofMrs。Peyton\'sjealouslyaffectionatecare，Clarence\'sfrequentcompanionship，andthelittlecircleofadmiringcourtiersthatalwayssurroundedSusy，itbecameevidentthatthissmallEvehadbeensecretlyapproachedandtemptedbytheSatanicJim。Shewasfoundonedaytohaveafewheron\'sfeathersinherpossessionwithwhichsheadornedhercurls，andatanothertimewasdiscoveredtohaverubbedherfaceandarmswithyellowandredochre，confessedlythefreegiftofJimHooker。ItwastoClarencealonethatsheadmittedthesignificanceandpurportoftheseofferings。"Jimgived\'emtome，"shesaid，"andJim\'sakindofInjinhisselfthatwon\'thurtme；andwhenbadInjinscome，they\'llthinkI\'mhisInjinbabyandrunaway。AndJimsaidifI\'djusttoldtheInjinswhentheycametokillpapaandmamma，thatI

b\'longedtohim，they\'dhevrunnedaway。"

"But，"saidthepracticalClarence，"youcouldnot；youknowyouwerewithMrs。Peytonallthetime。"

"Kla\'uns，"saidSusy，shakingherheadandfixingherroundblueeyeswithcalmmendacityontheboy，"don\'tyoutellme。IWAS

THERE!"

Clarencestartedback，andnearlyfelloverthewagoninhopelessdismayatthisdreadfulrevelationofSusy\'spowersofexaggeration。"But，"hegasped，"youknow，Susy，youandmeleftbefore——"

"Kla\'uns，"saidSusycalmly，makingalittlepleatintheskirtofherdresswithhersmallthumbandfingers，"don\'tyoutalktome。

Iwasthere。I\'seaSERIVER!Themenatthefortsaidso!TheSERIVERSisallus，allusthere，andallusallusknowseverythin\'。"

Clarencewastoodumfoundedtoreply。HehadavaguerecollectionofhavingnoticedbeforethatSusywasverymuchfascinatedbythereputationgiventoheratFortRidgeasa"survivor，"andwastryinginaninfantilewaytoliveuptoit。ThisthewickedJimhadevidentlyencouraged。ForadayortwoClarencefeltalittleafraidofher，andmorelonelythanever。

Itwasinthisstate，andwhilehewasdoggedlyconsciousthathisassociationwithJimdidnotprepossessMrs。Peytonorherbrotherinhisfavor，andthattheformerevenbelievedhimresponsibleforSusy\'sunhallowedacquaintancewithJim，thathedriftedintooneofthoseyouthfulescapadesonwhicheldersareapttositinseverebutnotalwaysconsideratejudgment。Believing，likemanyotherchildren，thatnobodycaredparticularlyforhim，excepttoRESTRAINhim，discovering，aschildrendo，muchsoonerthanwecomplacentlyimagine，thatloveandpreferencehavenologicalconnectionwithdesertorcharacter，Clarencebecameboyishlyreckless。Butwhen，oneday，itwasrumoredthataherdofbuffalowasinthevicinity，andthatthetrainwouldbedelayedthenextmorninginorderthatahuntmightbeorganized，byGildersleeve，Benham，andafewothers，ClarencelistenedwillinglytoJim\'spropositionthattheyshouldsecretlyfollowit。

Toeffecttheirunhallowedpurposerequiredboldnessandduplicity。

ItwasarrangedthatshortlyafterthedepartureofthehuntingpartyClarenceshouldaskpermissiontomountandexerciseoneoftheteamhorses——afavorthathadbeenfrequentlygrantedhim；thatintheoutskirtsofthecampheshouldpretendthatthehorseranawaywithhim，andJimwouldstartinpursuit。Theabsenceoftheshootingpartywithsolargeacontingentofhorsesandmenwouldprecludeanyfurtherdetachmentfromthecamptoassistthem。Onceclear，theywouldfollowthetrackofthehunters，and，ifdiscoveredbythem，wouldofferthesameexcuse，withtheadditionthattheyhadlosttheirwaytothecamp。Theplanwassuccessful。

Thedetailswerecarriedoutwithalmosttooperfecteffect；asitappearedthatJim，inordertogivedramaticintensitytothefractiousnessofClarence\'shorse，hadinsertedathornappleundertheneckofhissaddle，whichClarenceonlydiscoveredintimetopreventhimselffrombeingunseated。Urgedforwardbyostentatious"Whoas!"andsurreptitiouscutsintherearfromJim，pursuerandpursuedpresentlyfoundthemselvessafelybeyondthehalf-drystreamandfringeofalderbushesthatskirtedthecamp。Theywerenotfollowed。Whethertheteamsterssuspectedandwinkedatthisdesign，orbelievedthattheboyscouldtakecareofthemselves，andrannoriskofbeinglostintheproximityofthehuntingparty，therewasnogeneralalarm。

Thusreassured，andhavingageneralideaofthedirectionofthehunt，theboyspushedhilariouslyforward。Beforethemopenedavastexpanseofbottomland，slightlyslopingontherighttoadistanthalf-filledlagoon，formedbythemainriveroverflow，onwhosetributarytheyhadencamped。Thelagoonwaspartlyhiddenbystragglingtimberand"brush，"andbeyondthatagainstretchedtheunlimitableplains——thepastureoftheirmightygame。Hither，Jimhoarselyinformedhiscompanion，thebuffaloescametowater。A

fewrodsfurtheron，hestarteddramatically，and，alighting，proceededtoslowlyexaminetheground。Itseemedtobescatteredoverwithhalf-circularpatches，whichhepointedoutmysteriouslyas"buffalochip。"ToClarence\'sinexperiencedperceptiontheplainboreasingularresemblancetothesurfaceofanordinaryunromanticcattlepasturethatsomewhatchilledhisheroicfancy。

However，thetwocompanionshaltedandprofessionallyexaminedtheirarmsandequipments。

These，Igrievetosay，thoughvaried，werescarcelyfullorsatisfactory。ThenecessitiesoftheirflighthadrestrictedJimtoanolddouble-barreledfowling-piece，whichheusuallycarriedslungacrosshisshoulders；anold-fashioned"six-shooter，"whosebarrelsrevolvedoccasionallyandunexpectedly，knownas"Allen\'sPepperBox"onaccountofitsculinaryresemblance；andabowie-

knife。ClarencecarriedanIndianbowandarrowwithwhichhehadbeenexercising，andahatchetwhichhehadconcealedundertheflanksofhissaddle。TothisJimgenerouslyaddedthesix-

shooter，takingthehatchetinexchange——atransferthatatfirstdelightedClarence，until，seeingthewarlikeandpicturesqueeffectofthehatchetinJim\'sbelt，heregrettedthetransfer。

Thegun，Jimmeantimeexplained"extrycharged，""chuckup"tothemiddlewithslugsandrevolverbullets，couldonlybefiredbyhimself，andeventhenhedarklyadded，notwithoutdanger。Thispovertyofequipmentwas，however，compensatedbyoppositestatementsfromJimoftheextraordinaryresultsobtainedbythesesimpleweaponsfrom"fellersIknew:"howHEhimselfhadoncebroughtdowna"bull"byaboldshotwitharevolverthroughitsopenbellowingmouththatpiercedhis"innards；"howafriendofhis——anintimateinfact——nowinjailatLouisvilleforkillingasheriff\'sdeputy，hadoncefoundhimselfaloneanddismountedwithasimpleclasp-knifeandalariatamongaherdofbuffaloes；how，leapingcalmlyupontheshaggyshouldersofthebiggestbull，helashedhimselfwiththelariatfirmlytoitshorns，goadingitonwardwithhisclasp-knife，andsubsistingfordaysuponthefleshcutfromitslivingbody，until，abandonedbyitsfellowsandexhaustedbythelossofblood，itfinallysuccumbedtoitsvictorattheveryoutskirtsofthecamptowhichhehadartfullydrivenit!ItmustbeconfessedthatthisrecitalsomewhattookawayClarence\'sbreath，andhewouldhavelikedtoaskafewquestions。

Buttheywerealoneontheprairie，andlinkedbyacommontransgression；theglorioussunwascomingupvictoriously，thepure，crispairwasintoxicatingtheirnerves；inthebrightforecastofyoutheverythingWASpossible!

Thesurfaceofthebottomlandthattheywerecrossingwashereandtherebrokenupbyfissuresand"potholes，"andsomecircumspectionintheirprogressbecamenecessary。Inoneofthesehalts，Clarencewasstruckbyadull，monotonousjarringthatsoundedliketheheavyregularfallofwateroveradam。Eachtimethattheyslackenedtheirpacethesoundwouldbecomemoreaudible，andwasatlastaccompaniedbythatslightbutunmistakabletremoroftheearththatbetrayedthevicinityofawaterfall。Hesitatingoverthephenomenon，whichseemedtoimplythattheirtopographywaswrongandthattheyhadblunderedfromthetrack，theywerepresentlystartledbythefactthatthesoundwasactuallyAPPROACHINGthem!Withasuddeninstincttheybothgallopedtowardsthelagoon。AsthetimberopenedbeforethemJimutteredalongecstaticshout。"Why，it\'sTHEM!"

AtafirstglanceitseemedtoClarenceasifthewholeplainbeyondwasbrokenupandrollingintumblingwavesorfurrowstowardsthem。Asecondglanceshowedthetossingfrontsofavastherdofbuffaloes，andhereandthere，dartinginandoutandamongthem，oremergingfromthecloudofdustbehind，wildfiguresandflashesoffire。Withtheideaofwaterstillinhismind，itseemedasifsometumultuoustidalwaveweresweepingunseentowardsthelagoon，carryingeverythingbeforeit。Heturnedwitheagereyes，inspeechlessexpectancy，tohiscompanion。

Alack!thatredoubtableheroandmightyhunterwas，toallappearances，equallyspeechlessandastonished。Itwastruethatheremainedrootedtothesaddle，alank，stillheroicfigure，alternatelygraspinghishatchetandgunwithakindofspasmodicregularity。Howlonghewouldhavecontinuedthiswouldneverbeknown，forthenextmoment，withadeafeningcrash，theherdbrokethroughthebrush，and，swervingattherightofthelagoon，boredowndirectlyuponthem。Allfurtherdoubtorhesitationontheirpartwasstopped。Thefarseeing，sagaciousMexicanplugwithaterrificsnortwheeledandfledfuriouslywithhisrider。Moved，nodoubt，bytouchingfidelity，Clarence\'shumblerteam-horseinstantlyfollowed。Inafewmomentsthosedevotedanimalsstrugglednecktoneckinnobleemulation。

"Whatarewegoin\'offthiswayfor?"gaspedthesimpleClarence。

"PeytonandGildersleevearebackthere——andthey\'llseeus，"

gaspedJiminreply。ItstruckClarencethatthebuffaloesweremuchnearerthemthanthehuntingparty，andthatthetramplinghoofsofadozenbullswereclosebehindthem，butwithanothergaspheshouted，"Whenarewegoingtohunt\'em?"

"HuntTHEM!"screamedJim，withahystericaloutburstoftruth；

"why，they\'rehuntin\'US——dashit!"

Indeed，therewasnodoubtthattheirfrenziedhorseswereflyingbeforetheequallyfrenziedherdbehindthem。Theygainedamomentaryadvantagebyridingintooneofthefissures，andoutagainontheotherside，whiletheirpursuerswereobligedtomakeadetour。Butinafewminutestheywereovertakenbythatpartoftheherdwhohadtakentheotherandnearersideofthelagoon，andwerenowfairlyinthemidstofthem。Thegroundshookwiththeirtramplinghoofs；theirsteamingbreath，minglingwiththestingingdustthatfilledtheair，halfchokedandblindedClarence。HewasdimlyconsciousthatJimhadwildlythrownhishatchetatacowbuffalopressingcloseuponhisflanks。Astheysweptdownintoanothergullyhesawhimraisehisfatefulgunwithutterdesperation。Clarencecrouchedlowonhishorse\'soutstretchedneck。Therewasablindingflash，asinglestunningreportofbothbarrels；Jimreeledinonewayhalfoutofthesaddle，whilethesmokinggunseemedtoleapinanotheroverhishead，andthenriderandhorsevanishedinachokingcloudofdustandgunpowder。A

momentafterClarence\'shorsestoppedwithasuddencheck，andtheboyfelthimselfhurledoveritsheadintothegully，alightingonsomethingthatseemedtobeaboundingcushionofcurledandtwistedhair。Itwastheshaggyshoulderofanenormousbuffalo!

ForJim\'sdesperaterandomshotanddoublechargehadtakeneffectonthenearhindlegofaprecedingbull，tearingawaythefleshandham-stringingtheanimal，whohaddroppedinthegullyjustinfrontofClarence\'shorse。

Dazedbutunhurt，theboyrolledfromtheliftedforequartersofthestrugglingbrutetotheground。Whenhestaggeredtohisfeetagain，notonlyhishorsewasgonebutthewholeherdofbuffaloesseemedtohavepassedtoo，andhecouldheartheshoutsofunseenhuntersnowaheadofhim。Theyhadevidentlyoverlookedhisfall，andthegullyhadconcealedhim。Thesidesbeforehimweretoosteepforhisachinglimbstoclimb；theslopebywhichheandthebullhaddescendedwhenthecollisionoccurredwasbehindthewoundedanimal。Clarencewasstaggeringtowardsitwhenthebull，byasupremeeffort，lifteditselfonthreelegs，halfturned，andfacedhim。

Theseeventshadpassedtooquicklyfortheinexperiencedboytohavefeltanyactivefear，orindeedanythingbutwildexcitementandconfusion。Butthespectacleofthatshaggyandenormousfront，thatseemedtofillthewholegully，risingwithawfuldeliberationbetweenhimandescape，sentathrillofterrorthroughhisframe。Thegreat，dull，bloodshoteyesglaredathimwithadumb，wonderingfury；thelargewetnostrilsweresonearthattheirfirstsnortofinarticulateragemadehimreelbackwardsasfromablow。Thegullywasonlyanarrowandshortfissureorsubsidenceoftheplain；afewpacesmoreofretreatandhewouldbeatitsend，againstanalmostperpendicularbankfifteenfeethigh。Ifheattemptedtoclimbitscrumblingsidesandfell，therewouldbethoseshortbutterriblehornswaitingtoimpalehim!Itseemedtooterrible，toocruel!Hewassosmallbesidethisovergrownmonster。Itwasn\'tfair!Thetearsstartedtohiseyes，andthen，inarageattheinjusticeofFate，hestooddoggedlystillwithclenchedfists。Hefixedhisgazewithhalf-hysterical，childishfuryonthoselurideyes；hedidnotknowthat，owingtothestrangemagnifyingpowerofthebull\'sconvexpupils，he，Clarence，appearedmuchbiggerthanhereallywastothebrute\'sheavyconsciousness，thedistancefromhimmostdeceptive，andthatitwastothisfactthathunterssooftenowedtheirescape。Heonlythoughtofsomedesperatemeansofattack。Ah!thesix-

shooter。Itwasstillinhispocket。Hedrewitnervously，hopelessly——itlookedsosmallcomparedwithhislargeenemy!

Hepresenteditwithflashingeyes，andpulledthetrigger。A

feebleclickfollowed，another，andagain!EvenTHIShadmockedhim。Hepulledthetriggeroncemore，wildly；therewasasuddenexplosion，andanother。Hesteppedback；theballshadapparentlyflattenedthemselvesharmlesslyonthebull\'sforehead。Hepulledagain，hopelessly；therewasanotherreport，asuddenfuriousbellow，andtheenormousbrutethrewhisheadsavagelytooneside，buryinghislefthorndeepinthecrumblingbankbesidehim。Againandagainhechargedthebank，drivinghislefthornhome，andbringingdownthestonesandearthinshowers。ItwassomesecondsbeforeClarencesawinasingleglimpseofthatwildlytossingcrestthereasonofthisfury。Thebloodwaspouringfromhislefteye，penetratedbythelastbullet；thebullwasblinded!A

terriblerevulsionoffeeling，asuddensenseofremorsethatwasforthemomentmoreawfulthanevenhispreviousfear，overcamehim。HEhaddoneTHATTHING!Asmuchtoflyfromthedreadfulspectacleasanyinstinctofself-preservation，hetookadvantageofthenextmadparoxysmsofpainandblindness，thatalwaysimpelledthesufferingbeasttowardstheleft，toslippasthimontheright，reachtheincline，andscramblewildlyuptotheplainagain。Hereheranconfusedlyforward，notknowingwhither——onlycaringtoescapethatagonizedbellowing，toshutoutforevertheaccusinglookofthathugeblood-welteringeye。

Suddenlyheheardadistantangryshout。Tohisfirsthurriedglancetheplainhadseemedempty，but，lookingup，hesawtwohorsemenrapidlyadvancingwithaledhorsebehindthem——hisown。

Withtheblessedsenseofreliefthatovertookhimnowcamethefevereddesireforsympathyandtotellthemall。ButastheycamenearerhesawthattheywereGildersleeve，thescout，andHenryBenham，andthat，farfromsharinganydelightinhisdeliverance，theirfacesonlyexhibitedirascibleimpatience。Overcomebythisnewdefeat，theboystopped，againdumbanddogged。

"Now，then，blankitall，WILLyougetupandcomealong，ordoyoureckontokeepthetrainwaitinganotherhouroveryourblankedfoolishness?"saidGildersleevesavagely。

Theboyhesitated，andthenmountedmechanically，withoutaword。

"\'Twouldhaveserved\'emrighttohavegoneandleft\'em，"mutteredBenhamvindictively。

ForonewildinstantClarencethoughtofthrowinghimselffromhishorseandbiddingthemgoonandleavehim。Butbeforehecouldputhisthoughtintoactionthetwomenweregallopingforward，withhishorseledbyalariatfastenedtothehornofGildersleeve\'ssaddle。