第5章

AtthistheotherplayersbegantoregardClarencesingularly，oneortwoofthespectatorssmiled，andtheboy，coloring，movedawkwardlyaway。Buthissleevewascaughtbythesuccessfulplayer，who，detaininghimgently，putthreegoldpiecesintohishand。

"That\'sYOURshare，sonny，"hewhispered。

"Share——forwhat?"stammeredtheastoundedClarence。

"Forbringingme\'theluck，\'"saidtheman。

Clarencestared。"AmI——to——toplaywithit?"hesaid，glancingatthecoinsandthenatthetable，inignoranceofthestranger\'smeaning。

"No，no!"saidthemanhurriedly，"don\'tdothat。You\'llloseit，sonny，sure!Don\'tyousee，YOUBRINGTHELUCKTOOTHERS，nottoyourself。Keepit，oldman，andrunhome!"

"Idon\'twantit!Iwon\'thaveit!"saidClarencewithaswiftrecollectionofthemanipulationofhispursethatmorning，andasuddendistrustofallmankind。

"There!"Heturnedbacktothetableandlaidthemoneyonthefirstvacantcardhesaw。Inanothermoment，asitseemedtohim，itwasrakedawaybythedealer。Asenseofreliefcameoverhim。

"There!"saidtheman，withanawedvoiceandastrange，fatuouslookinhiseye。"WhatdidItellyou?Yousee，it\'sallusso!

Now，"headdedroughly，"getupandgetouto\'this，aforeyoulosethebootsandshirtoffye。"

Clarencedidnotwaitforasecondcommand。Withanotherglanceroundtheroom，hebegantomakehiswaythroughthecrowdtowardsthefront。Butinthatpartingglancehecaughtaglimpseofawomanpresidingovera"wheeloffortune"inacorner，whosefaceseemedfamiliar。Helookedagain，timidly。Inspiteofanextraordinaryhead-dressorcrownthatsheworeasthe"GoddessofFortune，"herecognized，twistedinitstinsel，acertainscarletvinewhichhehadseenbefore；inspiteofthehoarseformulawhichshewascontinuallyrepeating，herecognizedtheforeignaccent。

Itwasthewomanofthestage-coach!Withasuddendreadthatshemightrecognizehim，andlikewisedemandhisservices"forluck，"

heturnedandfled。

Oncemoreintheopenair，therecameuponhimavagueloathingandhorroroftherestlessmadnessandfeverishdistractionofthishalf-civilizedcity。Itwasthemorepowerfulthatitwasvague，andtheoutcomeofsomeinwardinstinct。Hefoundhimselflongingforthepureairandsympatheticlonelinessoftheplainsandwilderness；hebegantoyearnforthecompanionshipofhishumbleassociates——theteamster，thescoutGildersleeve，andevenJimHooker。Butaboveallandbeforeallwasthewilddesiretogetawayfromthesemaddeningstreetsandtheirbewilderingoccupants。

Heranbacktothebaker\'s，gatheredhispurchasestogether，tookadvantageofafriendlydoorwaytostrapthemonhisboyishshoulders，slippedintoasidestreet，andstruckoutatoncefortheoutskirts。

Ithadbeenhisfirstintentiontotakestagetothenearestminingdistrict，butthediminutionofhissmallcapitalforbadethatoutlay，andhedecidedtowalktherebythehighroad，ofwhosegeneraldirectionhehadinformedhimself。Inhalfanhourthelightsoftheflat，strugglingcity，andtheirreflectionintheshallow，turbidriverbeforeit，hadsunkwellbehindhim。Theairwascoolandsoft；ayellowmoonswamintheslighthazethatroseabovethetules；inthedistanceafewscatteredcottonwoodsandsycamoresmarkedlikesentinelstheroad。Whenhehadwalkedsomedistancehesatdownbeneathoneofthemtomakeafrugalsupperfromthedryrationsinhispack，butintheabsenceofanyspringhewasforcedtoquenchhisthirstwithaglassofwaterinawaysidetavern。Herehewasgood-humoredlyofferedsomethingstronger，whichhedeclined，andrepliedtocertaincuriousinterrogationsbysayingthatheexpectedtoovertakehisfriendsinawagonfurtheron。Anewdistrustofmankindhadbeguntomaketheboyanadeptininnocentfalsehood，themoredeceptiveashiscareless，cheerfulmanner，theresultofhisreliefatleavingthecity，andhisperfecteaseinthelovingcompanionshipofnightandnature，certainlygavenoindicationofhishomelessnessandpoverty。

Itwaslongpastmidnight，when，wearyinbody，butstillhopefulandhappyinmind，heturnedoffthedustyroadintoavastrollingexpanseofwildoats，withthesamesenseofsecurityofrestasatravelertohisinn。Here，completelyscreenedfromviewbythetallstalksofgrainthatrosethicklyaroundhimtotheheightofaman\'sshoulder，hebeatdownafewofthemforabed，onwhichhedepositedhisblanket。Placinghispackforapillow，hecurledhimselfupinhisblanket，andspeedilyfellasleep。

Heawokeatsunrise，refreshed，invigorated，andhungry。Buthewasforcedtodeferhisfirstself-preparedbreakfastuntilhehadreachedwater，andalessdangerousplacethanthewild-oatfieldtobuildhisfirstcampfire。Thishefoundamilefurtheron，nearsomedwarfwillowsonthebankofahalf-drystream。Ofhisvariouseffortstopreparehisfirstmeal，thefirewasthemostsuccessful；thecoffeewassomewhattoosubstantiallythick，andthebaconandherringlackeddefinitenessofqualityfromhavingbeencookedinthesamevessel。InthisboyishpicnichemissedSusy，andrecalled，perhapsalittlebitterly，hercoldnessatparting。Butthenoveltyofhissituation，thebrilliantsunshineandsenseoffreedom，andtheroadalreadyawakeningtodustylifewithpassingteams，dismissedeverythingbutthefuturefromhismind。Readjustinghispack，hesteppedoncheerily。Atnoonhewasovertakenbyateamster，whoinreturnforamatchtolighthispipegavehimaliftofadozenmiles。ItistobefearedthatClarence\'saccountofhimselfwasequallyfancifulwithhispreviousstory，andthattheteamsterpartedfromhimwithagenuineregret，andahopethathewouldsoonbeovertakenbyhisfriendsalongtheroad。"Andmindthatyouain\'tsuchafoolagintolet\'emmakeyoutotetheirdod-blastedtoolsfurthem!"headdedunsuspectingly，pointingtoClarence\'sminingoutfit。Thussavedtheheaviestpartoftheday\'sjourney，fortheroadwascontinuallyrisingfromtheplainsduringthelastsixmiles，Clarencewasyetabletocoveraconsiderabledistanceonfootbeforehehaltedforsupper。Herehewasagainfortunate。Anemptylumberteamwateringatthesamespring，itsdriverofferedtotakeClarence\'spurchases——fortheboyhadprofitedbyhislatefriend\'ssuggestiontopersonallydetachhimselffromhisequipment——toBuckeyeMillsforadollar，whichwouldalsoincludea"shakedownpassage"forhimselfonthefloorofthewagon。"I

reckonyou\'vebeenfoolin\'awayinSacramentothemoneyyerparentsgiveyerforreturnstagefare，eh?Don\'tlie，sonny，"headdedgrimly，asthenowartfulClarencesmileddiplomatically，"I\'vebeentharmyself!"Luckily，theexcusethathewas"tiredandsleepy"preventedfurtherdangerousquestioning，andtheboywassoonreallyindeepslumberonthewagonfloor。

Heawokebetimestofindhimselfalreadyinthemountains。BuckeyeMillswasastragglingsettlement，andClarenceprudentlystoppedanyembarrassinginquiryfromhisfriendbydroppingoffthewagonwithhisequipmentastheyenteredit，andhurriedlysaying"Good-

by"fromacrossroadthroughthewoods。Hehadlearnedthatthenearestminingcampwasfivemilesaway，anditsdirectionwasindicatedbyalongwooden"flume，"orwater-way，thatalternatelyappearedanddisappearedontheflankofthemountainopposite。

Thecooleranddrierair，thegratefulshadowofpineandbay，andthespicybalsamicodorsthateverywheregreetedhim，thrilledandexhilaratedhim。Thetrailplungingsometimesintoanundisturbedforest，hestartedthebirdsbeforehimlikeaflightofarrowsthroughitsdimrecesses；attimeshehungbreathlesslyoverthebluedepthsofcanyonswherethesameforestswererepeatedathousandfeetbelow。Towardsnoonhestruckintoaruderoad——

evidentlythethoroughfareofthelocality——andwassurprisedtofindthatit，aswellastheadjacentsoilwhereverdisturbed，wasadeepIndianred。Everywhere，alongitssides，powderingthebanksandbolesoftreeswithitsruddystain，inmoundsandhillocksofpileddirtontheroad，orinliquidpaint-likepools，whenatricklingstreamhadformedagutteracrossit，therewasalwaysthesamedeepsanguinarycolor。Onceortwiceitbecamemorevividincontrastwiththewhiteteethofquartzthatpeepedthroughitfromthehillsideorcrossedtheroadincrumbledstrata。OneofthosepiecesClarencepickedupwithaquickeningpulse。ItwasveinedandstreakedwithshiningmicaandtinyglitteringcubesofmineralthatLOOKEDlikegold!

Theroadnowbegantodescendtowardsawindingstream，shrunkenbydroughtandditching，thatglareddazzinglyinthesunlightfromitswhitebarsofsand，orglistenedinshiningsheetsandchannels。Alongitsbanks，andevenencroachinguponitsbed，werescatteredafewmudcabins，strange-lookingwoodentroughsandgutters，andhereandthere，glancingthroughtheleaves，thewhitecanvasoftents。Thestumpsoffelledtreesandblackenedspaces，asofrecentfires，markedthestreamoneitherside。AsuddensenseofdisappointmentovercameClarence。Itlookedvulgar，common，andworsethanall——FAMILIAR。Itwasliketheunlovelyoutskirtsofadozenotherprosaicsettlementshehadseeninlessromanticlocalities。Inthatmuddyredstream，pouringoutofawoodengutter，inwhichthreeorfourbearded，slouching，half-

nakedfigureswererakinglikechiffonniers，therewasnothingtosuggesttheroyalmetal。Yethewassoabsorbedingazingatthescene，andhadwalkedsorapidlyduringthepastfewminutes，thathewasstartled，onturningasharpcorneroftheroad，tocomeabruptlyuponanoutlyingdwelling。

Itwasanondescriptbuilding，halfcanvasandhalfboards。Theinteriorseenthroughtheopendoorwasfittedupwithsideshelves，acountercarelesslypiledwithprovisions，groceries，clothing，andhardware——withnoattemptatdisplayorevenordinaryselection——andatable，onwhichstoodademijohnandthreeorfourdirtyglasses。Tworoughlydressedmen，whoselong，mattedbeardsandhairleftonlytheireyesandlipsvisibleinthetangledhirsutewildernessbelowtheirslouchedhats，wereleaningagainsttheoppositesidesofthedoorway，smoking。Almostthrownagainstthemintherapidmomentumofhisdescent，Clarencehaltedviolently。

"Well，sonny，youneedn\'tcapsizetheshanty，"saidthefirstman，withouttakinghispipefromhislips。

"Ifyerlookingfuryerma，sheandyerAuntJanehevjestgoneovertoParsonDoolittle\'stotaketea，"observedthesecondmanlazily。"Sheallowedthatyou\'dwait。"

"I\'m——I\'m——goingto——tothemines，"explainedClarence，withsomehesitation。"Isupposethisistheway。"

Thetwomentooktheirpipesfromtheirlips，lookedateachother，completelywipedeveryvestigeofexpressionfromtheirfaceswiththebackoftheirhands，turnedtheireyesintotheinteriorofthecabin，andsaid，"Willyercomeyer，nowWILLyer?"Thusadjured，halfadozenmen，alsobeardedandcarryingpipesintheirmouths，straggledoutoftheshanty，and，filinginfrontofit，squatteddown，withtheirbacksagainsttheboards，andgazedcomfortablyattheboy。Clarencebegantofeeluneasy。

"I\'llgive，"saidone，takingouthispipeandgrimlyeyingClarence，"ahundreddollarsforhimashestands。"

"Andseein\'ashe\'sgotthatbran-newrig-outo\'tools，"saidanother，"I\'llgiveahundredandfifty——andthedrinks。I\'vebeen，"headdedapologetically，"wantin\'sunthin\'likethisalongtime。"

"Well，gen\'lemen，"saidthemanwhohadfirstspokentohim，"lookin\'athimbyandlarge；takin\'in，sotospeak，thegin\'ralgaitofhiminsingleharness；bearin\'inmindtheperfectfreshnessofhim，andthecoolnessandsizeofhischeek——theeasydownyness，previousness，andutterdon\'t-care-a-damnativenessofhiscomingyer，Ithinktwohundredain\'ttoomuchforhim，andwe\'llcallitabargain。"

Clarence\'spreviousexperienceofthisgrim，smilelessCalifornianchaffwasnotcalculatedtorestorehisconfidence。Hedrewawayfromthecabin，andrepeateddoggedly，"Iaskedyouifthiswasthewaytothemines。"

"ItAREthemines，andtheseyerearetheminers，"saidthefirstspeakergravely。"Permitmetointerdoose\'em。Thisyere\'sShastaJim，thisyere\'sShotcardBilly，thisisNastyBob，andthisSlumgullionDick。Thisyere\'stheDooko\'ChathamStreet，theLivin\'Skeleton，andme!"

"Mayweask，fairyoungsir，"saidtheLivingSkeleton，who，however，seemedinfairlyrobustcondition，"whencecameyeonthewingsofthemorning，andwhoseMarbleHallsyehevleftdesolate?"

"Icameacrosstheplains，andgotintoStocktontwodaysagoonMr。Peyton\'strain，"saidClarence，indignantly，seeingnoreasonnowtoconcealanything。"IcametoSacramentotofindmycousin，whoisn\'tlivingthereanymore。Idon\'tseeanythingfunnyinTHAT!Icameheretotheminestodiggold——because——becauseMr。

Silsbee，themanwhowastobringmehereandmighthavefoundmycousinforme，waskilledbyIndians。"

"Holdup，sonny。Letmehelpye，"saidthefirstspeaker，risingtohisfeet。"YOUdidn\'tgetkilledbyInjinsbecauseyougotlostoutofatrainwithSilsbee\'sinfantdarter。Peytonpickedyouupwhileyouwastakin\'careofher，andtwodaysarteryoukemuptothebroken-downSilsbeewagons，withallthefolkslyin\'thereslartered。"

"Yes，sir，"saidClarence，breathlesslywithastonishment。

"And，"continuedtheman，puttinghishandgravelytohisheadasiftoassisthismemory，"whenyouwasallaloneontheplainswiththatlittlechildyousawoneofthoseredskins，asneartoyouasIbe，watchin\'thetrain，andyoudidn\'tbreatheormovewhilehewasthere?"

"Yes，sir，"saidClarenceeagerly。

"AndyouwasshotatbyPeyton，hethinkin\'youwasanInjuninthemesquitegrass?Andyouonceshotabuffalothathadbeenpitchedwithyoudownagully——allbyyourself?"

"Yes，"saidClarence，crimsonwithwonderandpleasure。"Youknowme，then?"

"Well，ye-e-es，"saidthemangravely，partinghismustachewithhisfingers。"Yousee，YOU\'VEBEENHEREBEFORE。"

"Before!Me?"repeatedtheastoundedClarence。

"Yes，before。Lastnight。Youwastallerthen，andhadn\'tcutyourhair。Youcursedagooddealmorethanyoudonow。Youdrankaman\'sshareofwhiskey，andyouborrowedfiftydollarstogettoSacramentowith。Ireckonyouhaven\'tgotitaboutyounow，eh?"

Clarence\'sbrainreeledinutterconfusionandhopelessterror。

Washegoingcrazy，orhadthesecruelmenlearnedhisstoryfromhisfaithlessfriends，andthiswasapartoftheplot?Hestaggeredforward，butthemenhadrisenandquicklyencircledhim，asiftopreventhisescape。Invagueandhelplessdesperationhegasped——

"Whatplaceisthis?"

"FolkscallitDeadman\'sGulch。"

Deadman\'sGulch!Aflashofintelligencelituptheboy\'sblindconfusion。Deadman\'sGulch!CouldithavebeenJimHookerwhohadreallyrunaway，andhadtakenhisname?Heturnedhalf-

imploringlytothefirstspeaker。

"Wasn\'theolderthanme，andbigger?Didn\'thehaveasmooth，roundfaceandlittleeyes?Didn\'thetalkhoarse?Didn\'the——"

Hestoppedhopelessly。

"Yes；oh，hewasn\'tabitlikeyou，"saidthemanmusingly。"Yesee，that\'stheh-llofit!You\'realtogetherTOOMANYandTOO

VARIOUSfurthiscamp。"

"Idon\'tknowwho\'sbeenherebefore，orwhattheyhavesaid，"saidClarencedesperately，yeteveninthatdesperationretainingthedoggedloyaltytohisoldplaymate，whichwaspartofhisnature。

"Idon\'tknow，andIdon\'tcare——there!I\'mClarenceBrantofKentucky；IstartedinSilsbee\'strainfromSt。Jo，andI\'mgoingtothemines，andyoucan\'tstopme!"

Themanwhohadfirstspokenstarted，lookedkeenlyatClarence，andthenturnedtotheothers。Thegentlemanknownasthelivingskeletonhadobtrudedhishugebulkinfrontoftheboy，and，gazingathim，saidreflectively，"Darnedifitdon\'tlooklikeoneofBrant\'spups——sure!"

"AiryeanyrelationtoKernelHamiltonBrantofLooeyville?"askedthefirstspeaker。

Againthatoldquestion!PoorClarencehesitated，despairingly。

Washetogothroughthesamecross-examinationhehadundergonewiththePeytons?"Yes，"hesaiddoggedly，"Iam——buthe\'sdead，andyouknowit。"

"Dead——ofcourse。""Sartin。""He\'sdead。""TheKernel\'splanted，"saidthemeninchorus。

"Well，yes，"reflectedtheLivingSkeletonostentatiously，asonewhospokefromexperience。"HamBrant\'saboutasbonynowastheymake\'em。"

"Youbet!Aboutthedustiest，deadestcorpseyoukinturnout，"

corroboratedSlumgullionDick，noddinghisheadgloomilytotheothers；"inpointo\'fack，esacorpse，aboutthelastoneIshouldkeertogohuntin\'fur。"

"TheKernel\'stech\'udbecoldandclammy，"concludedtheDukeofChathamStreet，whohadnotyetspoken，"sure。Butwhatdidyermammysayaboutit?Isshegettin\'marriedagin?DidSHEsendyehere?"

ItseemedtoClarencethattheDukeofChathamStreetherereceivedakickfromhiscompanions；buttheboyrepeateddoggedly——

"IcametoSacramentotofindmycousin，JacksonBrant；buthewasn\'tthere。"

"JacksonBrant!"echoedthefirstspeaker，glancingattheothers。

"Didyourmothersayhewasyourcousin?"

"Yes，"saidClarencewearily。"Good-by。"

"Hullo，sonny，whereareyougoing?"

"Todiggold，"saidtheboy。"Andyouknowyoucan\'tpreventme，ifitisn\'tonyourclaim。Iknowthelaw。"HehadheardMr。

PeytondiscussitatStockton，andhefanciedthatthemen，whowerewhisperingamongthemselves，lookedkinderthanbefore，andasiftheywerenolonger"acting"tohim。Thefirstspeakerlaidhishandonhisshoulder，andsaid，"Allright，comewithme，andI\'llshowyouwheretodig。"

"Whoareyou?"saidClarence。"Youcalledyourselfonly\'me。\'"

"Well，youcancallmeFlynn——TomFlynn。"

"Andyou\'llshowmewhereIcandig——myself?"

"Iwill。"

"Doyouknow，"saidClarencetimidly，yetwithahalf-conscioussmile，"thatI——Ikinderbringluck?"

Themanlookeddownuponhim，andsaidgravely，but，asitstruckClarence，withanewkindofgravity，"Ibelieveyou。"

"Yes，"saidClarenceeagerly，astheywalkedalongtogether，"I

broughtlucktoamaninSacramentotheotherday。"Andherelatedwithgreatearnestnesshisexperienceinthegamblingsaloon。Notcontentwiththat——thesealedfountainsofhischildishdeepbeingbrokenupbysomemysterioussympathy——hespokeofhishospitableexploitwiththepassengersatthewaysidebar，ofthefindingofhisFortunatuspurseandhisdepositatthebank。Whetherthatcharacteristicold-fashionedreticencewhichhadbeensuchanimportantfactorforgoodorillinhisfuturehadsuddenlydesertedhim，orwhethersomeextraordinaryprepossessioninhiscompanionhadaffectedhim，hedidnotknow；butbythetimethepairhadreachedthehillsideFlynnwasinpossessionofalltheboy\'shistory。Ononepointonlywashisreserveunshaken。

ConsciousalthoughhewasofJimHooker\'sduplicity，heaffectedtotreatitasacomrade\'sjoke。

Theyhaltedatlastinthemiddleofanapparentlyfertilehillside。Clarenceshiftedhisshovelfromhisshoulders，unslunghispan，andlookedatFlynn。"Diganywherehere，whereyoulike，"

saidhiscompanioncarelessly，"andyou\'llbesuretofindthecolor。Fillyourpanwiththedirt，gotothatsluice，andletthewaterruninonthetopofthepan——workin\'itroundso，"headded，illustratingarotarymotionwiththevessel。"Keepdoingthatuntilallthesoiliswashedoutofit，andyouhaveonlytheblacksandatthebottom。Thenworkthatthesamewayuntilyouseethecolor。Don\'tbeafraidofwashingthegoldoutofthepan——youcouldn\'tdoitifyoutried。There，I\'llleaveyouhere，andyouwaittillIcomeback。"Withanothergravenodandsomethinglikeasmileintheonlyvisiblepartofhisbeardedface——hiseyes——hestroderapidlyaway。

Clarencedidnotlosetime。Selectingaspotwherethegrasswaslessthick，hebrokethroughthesoilandturneduptwoorthreespadefulsofredsoil。Whenhehadfilledthepanandraisedittohisshoulder，hewasastoundedatitsweight。Hedidnotknowthatitwasduetotheredprecipitateofironthatgaveititscolor。

Staggeringalongwithhisburdentotherunningsluice，whichlookedlikeanopenwoodengutter，atthefootofthehill，hebegantocarefullycarryoutFlynn\'sdirection。Thefirstdipofthepanintherunningwatercarriedoffhalfthecontentsofthepaninliquidpaint-likeooze。Foramomenthegavewaytoboyishsatisfactioninthesightandtouchofthisunctuoussolution，anddabbledhisfingersinit。Afewmomentsmoreofrinsingandhecametothesedimentoffineblacksandthatwasbeneathit。

Anotherplungeandswillingofwaterinthepan，and——couldhebelievehiseyes!——afewyellowtinyscales，scarcelylargerthanpins\'heads，glitteredamongthesand。Hepoureditoff。Buthiscompanionwasright；thelightersandshiftedfromsidetosidewiththewater，buttheglitteringpointsremainedadheringbytheirowntinyspecificgravitytothesmoothsurfaceofthebottom。Itwas"thecolor"——gold!

Clarence\'sheartseemedtogiveagreatleapwithinhim。Avisionofwealth，ofindependence，ofpower，sprangbeforehisdazzledeyes，and——ahandlightlytouchedhimontheshoulder。

Hestarted。Inhiscompletepreoccupationandexcitement，hehadnotheardtheclatterofhorse-hoofs，andtohisamazementFlynnwasalreadybesidehim，mounted，andleadingasecondhorse。

"Youkinride?"hesaidshortly。

"Yes"stammeredClarence；"but——"

"BUT——we\'veonlygottwohourstoreachBuckeyeMillsintimetocatchthedownstage。Dropallthat，jumpup，andcomewithme!"

"ButI\'vejustfoundgold，"saidtheboyexcitedly。

"AndI\'vejustfoundyour——cousin。Come!"

HespurredhishorseacrossClarence\'sscatteredimplements，halfhelped，halflifted，theboyintothesaddleofthesecondhorse，and，withacutofhisriataovertheanimal\'shaunches，thenextmomenttheywerebothgallopingfuriouslyaway。

CHAPTERIX

Tornsuddenlyfromhisprospectivefuture，buttoomuchdominatedbythemanbesidehimtoprotest，Clarencewassilentuntilariseintheroad，afewminuteslater，partlyabatedtheirheadlongspeed，andgavehimchancetorecoverhisbreathandcourage。

"Whereismycousin?"heasked。

"IntheSoutherncounty，twohundredmilesfromhere。"

"Arewegoingtohim?"

"Yes。"

Theyrodefuriouslyforwardagain。Itwasnearlyhalfanhourbeforetheycametoalongerascent。ClarencecouldseethatFlynnwasfromtimetotimeexamininghimcuriouslyunderhisslouchedhat。Thissomewhatembarrassedhim，butinhissingularconfidenceinthemannodistrustmingledwithit。

"Yeneversawyour——cousin?"heasked。

"No，"saidClarence；"norheme。Idon\'tthinkheknewmemuch，anyway。

"Howoldmoutyebe，Clarence?"

"Eleven。"

"Well，asyou\'resuthinofapup"——Clarencestarted，andrecalledPeyton\'sfirstcriticismofhim——"Ireckontotellyesuthin。Yeain\'tgoin\'tobeskeert，orafeard，orloseyersand，Ikalkilate，forskunkin\'ain\'tinyourbreed。Well，wotefItoldyethatthishyer——thishyer——COUSINo\'yourswasthebiggestdevilonhung；

thathe\'djustkilledaman，andhadtoliteoutelsewhere，andTHET\'Swhyhedidn\'tshowupinSacramento——whatifItoldyouthat?"

Clarencefeltthatthiswassomehowalittletoomuch。Hewasperfectlytruthful，andliftinghisfrankeyestoFlynn，hesaid，"IshouldthinkyouweretalkingagooddeallikeJimHooker!"

Hiscompanionstared，andsuddenlyreineduphishorse；then，burstingintoashoutoflaughter，hegallopedahead，fromtimetotimeshakinghishead，slappinghislegs，andmakingthedimwoodsringwithhisboisterousmirth。Thenassuddenlybecomingthoughtfulagain，herodeonrapidlyforhalfanhour，onlyspeakingtoClarencetourgehimforward，andassistinghisprogressbylashingthehaunchesofhishorse。Luckily，theboywasagoodrider——afactwhichFlynnseemedtothoroughlyappreciate——orhewouldhavebeenunseatedadozentimes。

AtlastthestragglingshedsofBuckeyeMillscameintosofterpurpleviewontheoppositemountain。ThenlayinghishandonClarence\'sshoulderashereinedinathisside，Flynnbrokethesilence。

"There，boy，"hesaid，wipingthemirthfultearsfromhiseyes。"I

wasonlyfoolin\'——onlytryin\'yergrit!ThisyercousinI\'mtakingyoutobeasquietandsoft-spokenandasold-fashionedezyoube。

Why，he\'sthatwrappedupinbooksandstudythathelivesaloneinabigadoberancherieamongaloto\'Spanish，andhedon\'tkeertoseehisowncountrymen!Why，he\'sevenchangedhisname，andcalleshimselfDonJuanRobinson!Buthe\'sveryrich；heownsthreeleaguesoflandandheapsofcattleandhorses，and，"

glancingapprovinglyatClarence\'sseatinthesaddle，"Ireckonyou\'llhevplentyoffunthar。"

"But，"hesitatedClarence，towhomthisproposalseemedonlyarepetitionofPeyton\'scharitableoffer，"IthinkI\'dbetterstayhereanddiggold——WITHYOU。"

"AndIthinkyou\'dbetternot，"saidtheman，withagravitythatwasverylikeasettleddetermination。

"ButmycousinnevercameformetoSacramento——norsent，norevenwrote，"persistedClarenceindignantly。

"NottoYOU，boy；buthewrotetothemanwhomhereckonedwouldbringyouthere——JackSilsbee——andleftitinthecareofthebank。

AndSilsbee，beingdead，didn\'tcomefortheletter；andasyoudidn\'taskforitwhenyoucame，anddidn\'tevenmentionSilsbee\'sname，thatsameletterwassentbacktoyourcousinthroughme，becausethebankthoughtweknewhiswhereabouts。Itcametothegulchbyanexpressrider，whilstyouwereprospectin\'onthehillside。Rememberin\'yourstory，Itookthelibertyofopeningit，andfoundoutthatyourcousinhadtoldSilsbeetobringyoustraighttohim。SoI\'monlydoin\'nowwhatSilsbeewouldhavedone。"

AnymomentarydoubtorsuspicionthatmighthaveriseninClarence\'smindvanishedashemethiscompanion\'ssteadyandmasterfuleye。Evenhisdisappointmentwasforgotteninthecharmofthisnew-foundfriendshipandprotection。AndasitsoutsethadbeenmarkedbyanunusualburstofconfidenceonClarence\'spart，theboy，inhisgratitude，nowfeltsomethingofthetimidshynessofadeeperfeeling，andoncemorebecamereticent。

TheywereintimetosnatchahastymealatBuckeyeMillsbeforethestagearrived，andClarencenoticedthathisfriend，despitehisroughdressandlawlessaspect，provokedamarkeddegreeofrespectfromthosehemet——inwhich，perhaps，awholesomefearwasmingled。Itiscertainthatthetwobestplacesinthestageweregivenuptothemwithoutprotest，andthatacareless，almostsuperciliousinvitationtodrinkfromFlynnwasrespondedtowithsingularalacritybyall，includingeventwofastidiouslydressedandpreviouslyreservedpassengers。IamafraidthatClarenceenjoyedthisproofofhisfriend\'ssingulardominancewithaboyishpride，and，consciousofthecuriouseyesofthepassengers，directedoccasionallytohimself，wassomewhatostentatiousinhisfamiliaritywiththisbeardedautocrat。

Atnoonthenextdaytheyleftthestageatawaysideroadstation，andFlynnbrieflyinformedClarencethattheymustagaintakehorses。Thisatfirstseemeddifficultinthatout-of-the-waysettlement，wheretheyalonehadstopped，butawhisperfromthedriverintheearofthestation-masterproducedacoupleoffierymustangs，withthesameaccompanimentofcautiousaweandmystery。

Forthenexttwodaystheytraveledonhorseback，restingbynightatthelodgingsofoneorotherofFlynn\'sfriendsintheoutskirtsofalargetown，wheretheyarrivedinthedarkness，andleftbeforeday。Toanyonemoreexperiencedthanthesimple-mindedboyitwouldhavebeenevidentthatFlynnwaspurposelyavoidingthemoretraveledroadsandconveyances；andwhentheychangedhorsesagainthenextday\'sridewasthroughanapparentlyunbrokenwildernessofscatteredwoodandrollingplain。YettoClarence，withhispantheisticrelianceandjoyoussympathywithnature，thechangewasfilledwithexhilaratingpleasure。Thevastseasoftossingwildoats，thehillsidestillvariegatedwithstrangeflowers，thevirginfreshnessofuntroddenwoodsandleafyaisles，whosefloorsofmossorbarkwereundisturbedbyhumanfootprint，wereakeendelightandnovelty。Morethanthis，hisquickeye，trainedperceptions，andfrontierknowledgenowstoodhimingoodstead。Hisintuitivesenseofdistance，instinctsofwoodcraft，andhisunerringdetectionofthosesigns，landmarks，andguidepostsofnature，undistinguishabletoaughtbutbirdsandbeastsandsomechildren，werenowofthegreatestservicetohislessfavoredcompanion。Inthispartoftheirstrangepilgrimageitwastheboywhotookthelead。Flynn，whoduringthepasttwodaysseemedtohavefallenintoamoodofwatchfulreserve，noddedhisapprobation。"Thissortofthing\'syerbestholt，boy，"hesaid。"Menandcitiesain\'tyourlittlegame。"

Atthenextstopping-placeClarencehadasurprise。Theyhadagainenteredatownatnightfall，andlodgedwithanotherfriendofFlynn\'sinroomswhichfromvaguesoundsappearedtobeoveragamblingsaloon。Clarencewokelateinthemorning，and，descendingintothestreettomountfortheday\'sjourney，wasstartledtofindthatFlynnwasnotontheotherhorse，butthatawell-dressedandhandsomestrangerhadtakenhisplace。Butalaugh，andthefamiliarcommand，"Jumpup，boy，"madehimlookagain。ItWASFlynn，butcompletelyshavenofbeardandmustache，closelyclippedofhair，andinafastidiouslycutsuitofblack!

"Thenyoudidn\'tknowme?"saidFlynn。

"Nottillyouspoke，"repliedClarence。

"Somuchthebetter，"saidhisfriendsententiously，asheputspurstohishorse。Butastheycanteredthroughthestreet，Clarence，whohadalreadybecomeaccustomedtothestranger\'shirsuteadornment，feltalittlemoreaweofhim。Theprofileofthemouthandchinnowexposedtohissidelongglancewashardandstern，andslightlysaturnine。Althoughunableatthetimetoidentifyitwithanybodyhehadeverknown，itseemedtotheimaginativeboytobevaguelyconnectedwithsomesadexperience。

Buttheeyeswerethoughtfulandkindly，andtheboylaterbelievedthatifhehadbeenmorefamiliarwiththefacehewouldhaveloveditbetter。Foritwasthelastandonlydayhewastoseeit，as，latethatafternoon，afteradustyridealongmoretraveledhighways，theyreachedtheirjourney\'send。

Itwasalow-walledhouse，withred-tiledroofsshowingagainstthedarkgreenofvenerablepearandfigtrees，andasquarecourt-yardinthecentre，wheretheyhaddismounted。AfewwordsinSpanishfromFlynntooneoftheloungingpeonsadmittedthemtoawoodencorridor，andthencetoalong，lowroom，whichtoClarence\'seyesseemedliterallypiledwithbooksandengravings。HereFlynnhurriedlybadehimstaywhilehesoughtthehostinanotherpartofthebuilding。ButClarencedidnotmisshim；indeed，itmaybefeared，heforgoteventheobjectoftheirjourneyinthenewsensationsthatsuddenlythrongeduponhim，andtheboyishvistaofthefuturethattheyseemedtoopen。Hewasdazedandintoxicated。

Hehadneverseensomanybooksbefore；hehadneverconceivedofsuchlovelypictures。Andyetinsomevaguewayhethoughthemusthavedreamtofthematsometime。Hehadmountedachair，andwasgazingspellboundatanengravingofasea-fightwhenheheardFlynn\'svoice。

Hisfriendhadquietlyreenteredtheroom，incompanywithanoldish，half-foreign-lookingman，evidentlyhisrelation。Withnohelpingrecollection，withnomeansofcomparisonbeyondavagueideathathiscousinmightlooklikehimself，Clarencestoodhopelesslybeforehim。Hehadalreadymadeuphismindthathewouldhavetogothroughtheusualcross-questioninginregardtohisfatherandfamily；hehadevenforlornlythoughtofinventingsomeinnocentdetailstofillouthisimperfectandunsatisfactoryrecollection。But，glancingup，hewassurprisedtofindthathiselderlycousinwasasembarrassedashewas，Flynn，asusual，masterfullyinterposed。

"Ofcourseyedon\'tremembereachother，andtharain\'tmuchthateitherofyouknowsaboutfamilymatters，Ireckon，"hesaidgrimly；"andasyourcousincallshimselfDonJuanRobinson，"headdedtoClarence，"it\'sjustaswellthatyoulet\'JacksonBrant\'

slide。Iknowhimbetterthanyou，butyou\'llgetusedtohim，andhetoyou，soonenough。Atleast，you\'dbetter，"heconcluded，withhissingulargravity。

AsheturnedasiftoleavetheroomwithClarence\'sembarrassedrelative——muchtothatgentleman\'sapparentrelief——theboylookedupatthelatterandsaidtimidly——

"MayIlookatthosebooks?"

Hiscousinstopped，andglancedathimwiththefirstexpressionofinteresthehadshown。

"Ah，youread；youlikebooks?"

"Yes，"saidClarence。Ashiscousinremainedstilllookingathimthoughtfully，headded，"Myhandsareprettyclean，butIcanwashthemfirst，ifyoulike。"

"Youmaylookatthem，"saidDonJuansmilingly；"andastheyareoldbooksyoucanwashyourhandsafterwards。"And，turningtoFlynnsuddenly，withanairofrelief，"ItellyouwhatI\'lldo——

I\'llteachhimSpanish!"

Theylefttheroomtogether，andClarenceturnedeagerlytotheshelves。Theywereoldbooks，someindeedveryold，queerlybound，andworm-eaten。Somewereinforeignlanguages，butothersinclear，boldEnglishtype，withquaintwood-cutsandillustrations。

Oneseemedtobeachronicleofbattlesandsieges，withpicturedrepresentationsofcombatantsspittedwitharrows，cleanlyloppedoffinlimb，ortoppledoverdistinctlybyvisiblecannon-shot。Hewasdeepinitsperusalwhenheheardtheclatterofahorse\'shoofsinthecourt-yardandthevoiceofFlynn。Herantothewindow，andwasastonishedtoseehisfriendalreadyonhorseback，takingleaveofhishost。

ForoneinstantClarencefeltoneofthosesuddenrevulsionsoffeelingcommontohisage，butwhichhehadalwaystimidlyhiddenunderdoggeddemeanor。Flynn，hisonlyfriend!Flynn，hisonlyboyishconfidant!Flynn，hislatesthero，wasgoingawayandforsakinghimwithoutawordofparting!Itwastruethathehadonlyagreedtotakehimtohisguardian，butstillFlynnneednothavelefthimwithoutawordofhopeorencouragement!WithanyoneelseClarencewouldprobablyhavetakenrefugeinhisusualIndianstoicism，butthesamefeelingthathadimpelledhimtoofferFlynnhisboyishconfidencesontheirfirstmeetingnowoverpoweredhim。Hedroppedhisbook，ranoutintothecorridor，andmadehiswaytothecourt-yard，justasFlynngallopedoutfromthearch。

Buttheboyutteredadespairingshoutthatreachedtherider。Hedrewrein，wheeled，halted，andsatfacingClarenceimpatiently。

ToaddtoClarence\'sembarrassmenthiscousinhadlingeredinthecorridor，attractedbytheinterruption，andapeon，lounginginthearchway，obsequiouslyapproachedFlynn\'sbridle-rein。Buttheriderwavedhimoff，and，turningsternlytoClarence，said:——

"What\'sthematternow?"

"Nothing，"saidClarence，strivingtokeepbackthehottearsthatroseinhiseyes。"Butyouweregoingawaywithoutsaying\'good-

by。\'You\'vebeenverykindtome，and——and——Iwanttothankyou!"

AdeepflushcrossedFlynn\'sface。Thenglancingsuspiciouslytowardsthecorridor，hesaidhurriedly，——

"DidHEsendyou?"

"No，Icamemyself。Iheardyougoing。"

"Allright。Good-by。"HeleanedforwardasifabouttotakeClarence\'soutstretchedhand，checkedhimselfsuddenlywithagrimsmile，andtakingfromhispocketagoldcoinhandedittotheboy。

Clarencetookit，tosseditwithaproudgesturetothewaitingpeon，whocaughtitthankfully，drewbackastepfromFlynn，andsaying，withwhitecheeks，"Ionlywantedtosaygood-by，"droppedhishoteyestotheground。Butitdidnotseemtobehisownvoicethathadspoken，norhisownselfthathadpromptedtheact。

Therewasaquickinterchangeofglancesbetweenthedepartingguestandhislatehost，inwhichFlynn\'seyesflashedwithanodd，admiringfire，butwhenClarenceraisedhisheadagainhewasgone。

Andastheboyturnedbackwithabrokenhearttowardsthecorridor，hiscousinlaidhishanduponhisshoulder。

"Muyhidalgamente，Clarence，"hesaidpleasantly。"Yes，weshallmakesomethingofyou!"

CHAPTERX