第2章
Butheisapoorjudgesometimes。IwishImighthavebegunwithhersooner。
Icannotthinksheisquiteasmercenaryasherepresentshertobe。”
Throughthewindowhesawaprettypicture。OutlinedagainstthedarkgreencedarsofthenorthanglewasProfessorBurgess，tall，slender，fairofface，faultlessindress。BesidehimwasElinorWream，alldaintyandsweetandwhite，fromthebroad-brimmedhatsetjauntilyonherdarkhairtothewhitebowsontheinstepofherneatlittlecanvasshoes。
AwaveoflonelinesssweptoverDr。Fenneben"ssoulashelooked。
"ItmusthavebeenathousandyearsagothatIwasinloveandwalkedinmyEden。Therearenoserpentshereastherewereinmine。”
Justthenhiseyesfelluponthewidestonelandingofthecampussteps。
AtthesamemomentElinorgaveascreamoffright。Abullsnake，bigandugly，hadcrawledhalfoutoftheburnedgrassesoftheslopeandstretcheditselflazilyinthesunshinealongthewarmstone。
Itrouseditselfatthescream，emittingitshoarsehiss，afterthemannerofbullsnakes。Elinorclutchedathercompanion"sarm，palewithfear。
"Killit!Killit!"shecried，tryingtoforceherslenderwhiteparasolintohishand。
Beforehecouldmove，VicBurleighleapedoutfrombehindthecedars，and，pickingupasharp-edgedbitoflimestone，tippedhishanddexterouslyandsentitcleanasaknifecutacrossthespace。
Itstruckthesnakejustbelowthehead，halfseveringitfromthebody。
AnotherleapandBurleighhadkickedthewholewrithingmass——
itwouldhavemeasuredfivefeet——offthestoneintothesunflowerstalksandlonggrassesofthesteepslope。
"Howdidyoueverdare？"Elinorasked。
"Oh，he"snotpoison；hejustdoesn"tbelonguphere。”
ThebluntnessoftimiditywasinVic"sanswer，butthestrengthandmusicaldepthofhisresonantvoicewasalmoststartling。
"ThereisnoEdenwithoutaserpent，MissElinor，"ProfessorBurgesssaidlightly。
"NoraserpentwithoutsomesortofEdenbuiltaroundit。
Thething"smatewillbealongafteritprettysoon。
Lookoutforitdownthere。Thebestplacetocatchitisrightbehinditsears，"cametheboy"squickresponse。
BurleighlookedbackdefiantlyatBurgessashedisappearedindoors。
Andtheantagonismborninthemeetingofthesetwomeninthemorningtookonatinydegreeofstrengthintheafternoon。
"Whatawonderfulvoice，Vincent。Itmakesonewanttohearitagain，"Elinorexclaimed。
"Yes，andwhatanovergrownpileofawkwardness。Itmakesonehopenevertoseeitagain，"hercompanionresponded。
"Buthekilledthatsnakeinawaythatlookedexperttome，"Elinorinsisted。
"MydearMissElinor，hewasprobablyborninsomeKansascabinandhaspracticedkillingsnakesallhislife。Notaveryelevatingfeat。
Let"sgodownandexploreLagondaLedgenowbeforetheothersnakecomesinforthecoroner"sinquest。”
Andthetwopasseddownthestonestepstotheshadylevelcampusandontothetownbeyondit。
"Youarehardonsnakes，Burleigh，"Dr。Fennebensaidashewelcomedthecountryboyintohisstudy。"Abullsnakeisaharmlesscreature，andheisthefarmer"sfriend。”
"Lethimstayonthefarmthen。Ihatehim。He"snofriendofmine，"Vicreplied。
HewasoverflowingthechairrecentlygracedbyProfessorBurgessandclutchinghisderbyasifitmightescapeandleavehimbareheadedforever。
Hisfacehadadoggedexpressionandhisglancewasstern。
Yethisdirectwordsandthedeeprichnessofhisvoiceputhimoutsideoftheclassofcommonplacebeginners。
"Areyoufondofkillingthings？"theDeanasked。
TheruddycolordeepenedinVicBurleigh"sbrowncheek，butthesteadfastgazeofhiseyesandthefirmlinesofhismouthtoldtheheadofSunrisesomethingofwhathewouldfindinthesturdyyoungJayhawker。
"Sometimes，"camethebluntanswer。"I"vealwayslivedonaKansasclaim。
Unlessyouknowwhatthatmeansyoumightnotunderstand——howhardalife"——
Vicstoppedabruptlyandsqueezedtherimofhisderby。
"Nevermind。Wetakeonlyfacevaluehere。Fineviewfromthatwindow，"
andLloydFenneben"sgenialsmilebegantowintheheartofthecountryboyasmostyoungheartswerewontohim。
Burleighleanedtowardthewindow，forgetfulofthechairarmshehadstriventosubdue，thelateafternoonsunlightfallingonhisbrownfaceandglintinginhisauburnhair。
"It"sasprettyasparadise，"hesaid，simply。"There"snothinglikeourKansasprairies。”
"Youcomefromtheplainsoutwest，Ihear。Howlongdoyouplantostayhere，Burleigh？"Dr。Fennebenasked。
"FouryearsifIcanmakeitgo。I"vegotalittleschoolingandIknowhowtoherdcattle。Ineedmorethanthis，ifIamonlyacountryboy。”
"Whopaysforyourschooling，yourself，oryourfather？"Fennebenqueried。
"Ihavenofathernormothernow。”
"YouarewillingtoworkfouryearstogetadiplomafromSunrise？Itishardwork；alltheharderifyouhavenothadmuchschoolingbeforeit。”
"I"mwillingtowork，andI"dliketohavethediplomaforit，"Vicanswered。
"Burleigh，didyounoticetheletterScarvedinthestoneabovethedoor？"
"Yes，sir；IsupposeitstandsforSunrise？"
"Itdoes。Butwiththeyearsitwilltakeonnewmeaningsforyou。
Whenyouhavelearnedallthesemeaningsyouwillbereadyforyourdiploma——
andmore。YouwillbefaronyourwaytothewinningofaMaster"sDegree。”
Vic"seyeswidenedwithasortofchild-likesimplicity。
Heforgothishatandthechairarms，andDr。Fennebennotedforthefirsttimethathisgolden-browneyesmatchinghisauburnhairwereshadedbylongblacklashes，thekindartistsraveabout，andarchedoverwithblackbrows。
"Hiseyesandvoiceareallright，"wastheDean"smentalcomment。
"There"sgoodbloodinhisveins，I"llwager。”
Butbeforehecouldspeakfurthertheshrillscreamofafrightenedchildcamefromthecampusbelowtheridge。
AtthecryVicBurleighsprangtohisfeet，upsettinghischair，andwithoutstoppingtopickitup，herushedfromthebuilding。
Ashetoredownthelongflightofsteps，LloydFennebencaughtsightofachildonthelevelcampusrunningtowardhimasfastasitsfatlittlelegscouldtoddle。TwominuteslaterVicBurleighwasbackinthestudy，pantingandhot，withthelittleoneclingingtohisneck。
"Excuseme，please，"Vicsaidasheliftedthefallenchair。
"IforgotallaboutBugdownthere，andthewidowBull"——
hegaveahalf-smile——"waswrigglingaroundtryingtofindhermate，andscaredhim。He"stoolittletobeleftalone，anyhow。”
Bugwasasturdy，stubbythree-year-old，orless，dimpledandbrown，withbigdarkeyesandatangleofsoftlittlered-brownringlets。
AsVicseatedhimself，Bugperchedonthearmofthechairinsideofthebigboy"sencirclingarm。
"Whoisyourfriend？Isheyourbrother？"askedtheDean。
"No。He"snorelation。Idon"tknowanythingabouthim，exceptthathisnameisBuler。BugBuler，hesays。”
LittleBugputupachubbybrownhandloving-wisetoVicBurleigh"sbrowncheek，and，lookingstraightatDr。Fennebenwithwideseriouseyes，heasked，"IsyoudoodtoVic？"
"Yes，indeed，"repliedtheDean。
"Nen，Ilikeyoufornever，"Bugdeclared，shuttinghislipssotightlythathischeckspuffed。
"Howdoyouhappentohavethischildhere，Burleigh？"questionedFenneben。
"Becausehe"sgotnobodyelsetolookafterhim，"answeredVic。
"Howaboutanorphanasylum？
Viclookeddownatthelittlefellowcuddledagainsthisarm，andeveryfeatureofhissternfacesoftened。
"WillitmakeanydifferenceabouthimifIgetmylessons，sir？Ican"tletBuggonow。Wearethelimitforeachother——neitherofusgotanybodyelse。
Itakecareofhim，buthekeepsmefromgettingtoocoarseandrough。
Everyfellowneedssomethinginnocentandgoodabouthimsometimes。”
"Oh，no!Keephimifyouwanthim。Butwouldyoumindtellingmeabouthim？"
"I"drathernotnow，"Burleighsaid，quietly，andLloydFennebenknewwhentodropasubject。
"ThenI"mthroughwithyoufortoday，Burleigh。ImustletMissSaxonhavemyroomnow。Comeherewheneveryoulike，andbringBugifyoucareto。”
SunrisestudentsalwaysleftDr。Fenneben"sstudywithalittlemoreofself-respectthanwhentheyenteredit；richer，notsomuchfromthewordasfromthespiritoftheheadofSunrise。VictorBurleighwithlittleBugBuler"sfatfistclaspedinhisbig，hardhandwalkedoutofthecollegedoorthatafternoonwiththeunconsciousbaptismofthestudentuponhim，thedimsenseofafellowshipwithascholarlymasterofbooksandofmen。
BackinhisstudyLloydFennebensatlookingoutoncemoreattheEmpirethatmeantnothingbutdrearydistancestothescholarlyprofessorofGreek，andseemedaparadisetotheuntrainedyoungfellowfromtheprairies。
"Iseemystintofclothfortheday，"hemurmured。
"Acollegeprofessorinthemakingwhohasmuchtounlearn；
acrudeyounggiantwhoisfondofkillingthings，andcaresforhelplesschildren；andabeautiful，wilful，characterlessgirltobeshownintoherwomanlyheritage。
Theclayisready。Itisthepotterwhosehandsneedskill。
VictorBurleigh!VictorBurleigh!There"smygreatestproblemofallthree。HehasthestrengthofaTitaninthosearms，andthepassionofatigerbehindthoseinnocentyelloweyes。
Godkeepmeonthehilltopnorletmyfeetoncegetintothedarkanddangerousways!"
Helookedlongatthelandscaperadiantunderthelevelraysofsplendorstreamingfromthelowafternoonsun。
"Iwonderwhobuiltthatfire，andwhatthatpillarofsmokemeantthisafternoon。Themysteryofourliveshangssometokenineachday。”
TheshadowsweregatheringintheWalnutValley，thepigeonsaboutthecottageuptheriver，wereintheircotesnow，theheatofthedaywasover，andwithonemorelookatthefarpeacefulprairiesDr。LloydFennebenclosedhisstudydoorandpassedoutintothecoolSeptemberair。
CHAPTERIII
PIGEONPLACE
_Strangeisthewindandthetide，Theheavenseternallywide；
Lessfathomed，thislifeatmyside_——
W。H。SIMPSON
THESunriserotundawasringingwithachorusfromthreehundredthroatsasthreehundredstudentspouredoutofdoors，andover-flowedtheridgeandspilleddownthebroadsteps，makingababelofmusicaltongues；
whilefittingitselftoeverycatchycollegeairknowntoSunrisecamethenoisyrefrain:
RahforFunnybone!
RahforFunnybone!
RahforFunnybone!
_Rah!_RAH!RAH!!!
Againitwasrepeated，swellingalongtheridgeandfloatingwideawayovertheWalnutValley。NorwasthereaclimaxofexuberanceuntiltheappearanceofDr。LloydFennebenhimself，withhistallfigureandstrikingpresenceoutlinedagainstthegraystonecolumnsoftheveranda。
Allthisbecauseitwasmid-October，aheaven-madeautumndayinKansas，withitsgraciouswarmthandbracingbreath；withtheIndiansummerhazeinshimmeringamethystandgoldoverhangingtheland；
andtheWalnutValley，gorgeousintheglowoftheOctoberfrost-fires，windingdownbetweenbroadseasofrainbow-radiantprairies。
Andallthisgladnessandgrandeur，bythedecreeofDr。Fenneben，wasgiveninfeesimpletothesethreehundredyoungpeopleforthehoursofoneperfectday——theirannualautumnholiday。
Nowondertheyfilledtheairwithshouts。Andbeforethesinginghadceasedthecrowdbrokeintogroupsbynaturalselection，andtheholidaywasbegun。
WhateverboundsoftimeNaturemaygivetotheseedinwhichtobecomeaplant，ortothegrubtobecomeabutterfly，thereisnosetlimitwhereinthecountry-bredboymaybloomintoafull-fledgedcollegestudent。
SevenweeksafterVicBurleighhadcomealongsidetheGreekProfessorintoSunrise，foundthequickmarvelouschangefromthetimid，untrained，overgrownyounggiantintoaleaderofhisclan，theprideoftheFreshman，theterroroftheSophomores，thedramaticinterestoftheclassroom，andthehopeofSunriseonthefootballgridiron。Hisstore-madeclotheshadajauntycarelessnessoffit。Thetanhadlefthischeek。
Hisauburnhairhadlostitssun-burn。Hispowerfulphysique，thecharmofhisdeepvoice，thesingularbeautyofhiswideopengolden-browneyes，withtheirlongblacklasheslightinguphisruggedface，gavetohimanattractivepersonality。
YettoLloydFenneben，whosawbelowthesurface，VictorBurleighwasonlyatthebeginningofthings。Somethingofthetigerlightinthebrowneyes，theprideinbrutestrength，thebluntjusticelackingthefinersenseofmercy，showedhowwideyetwasthedistancebetweenthemanandthegentleman。
WhenDr。FennebenreturnedtohisstudyafterthehilariousdemonstrationhefoundDennieSaxonbusywiththelittlefilmofdustthatcomesinovernight。OldBondSaxon，Dennie"sfather，hadbeenoneoftheimprovidentofLagondaLedgewhotookanewleaseonalivelihoodwiththeadventofSunrise。Frombeingadissipatedoldfellowdriftingtowardpauperism，hebecametheproprietorofarespectableboardinghouseforstudents，doingaveragewell。
Atrareintervals，however，helapsedintohisoldways。
Duringsuchoccasionshekepttotheriversideofthetown。
Sober，hewasgood-naturedandobliging；drunken，hewassullen，withadispositiontoskulkoutofsightandbealone。
HisdaughterDenniehadherfather"sgood-naturecombinedwithawillpowerallherown。
AsDr。Fennebenwatchedheraboutherworkthismorning，henotedhowcomfortablyshetookholdofit。Henoted，too，thatherheavyyellow-brownhairwasfullofripplesjustwhererippleshelped，thatherarmswereplump，thatshewasshortandnothingwillowy，andthatshehadamischievoustwinkleinhereyes。
"Whydon"tyoutakeaholiday，MissDennie？"heasked，presently。
"IwantedthisdonesoIwouldn"tbeseeingdustybooksinmydaydreams，"Dennieanswered。
"Wheredoyoudoyourdreamingtoday？"
"AcrowdofusaregoingdowntherivertotheKickapooCorral。Imustmakethecakesyetthismorning，"sheanswered。
"GoodenoughCan"tIdosomethingforyou？Doyouneedachaperon？"
theDeanqueried，smilingly。
"ProfessorBurgessistobeourchaperon。Heisallwecanlookafter。”
Dennie"sgrayeyesdanced。butshewasseriousamomentlater。
"Dr。Fenneben，youcandosomething，maybe，that"snoneofyourbusiness，normine。”Denniewonderedafterwardhowshecouldhavehadthecouragetospeakthesewords。
"That"sgenerallytheeasything。Whatisit？"theDeansmiled。
Thegirlhungherfeatherbrushinitsplaceandsatdownoppositetohim。
"DoyouknowanythingaboutPigeonPlace？"shebegan。
"Thelittleplaceuptheriverwhereaqueer，half-crazywomanlivesalonewithafiercedog？"heasked。
"Yes，youneverheardanythingmore？"Denniequeried。
"Onlythatthehouseishiddenfromtheroadandhasmanypigeonsaboutit，andthatthewomanseesfewcallers。I"veneverlocatedtheplace。
Tellmeaboutit，"hereplied。
"BugBulerandIwereupthereaftereggsthismorning。
BugisVictorBurleigh"slittleboy。Theyboardatourhouse，"
Dennieexplained。"PigeonPlaceisalittlecottageallcoveredwithvinesandwithflowerseverywhere。
It"shiddenawayfromtheroadjustoutsideoftown。
Mrs。Marianisn"tcrazynorqueer，onlysheseldomleaveshome，nevergoestochurch，norvisitsanywhere。Shedoesn"tcareforanybody，nortakeanyinterestinLagondaLedge，andshekeepsaGreatDanedog，asbigasacalf，thatisfriendlytowomenandchildren，butwon"tletamancomenear，unlessMrs。Mariansaysso。”Denniepaused。
"Veryinteresting，MissDennie，butwhatcanIdo？"Fennebenasked。
"ShallIkillthedogandcarryoffthewomanliketheregulationgrimogreofthefairytales？"
Denniehesitated。Fewgirlswouldhavecometoacollegepresidentonsuchamissionashers。ButthenfewcollegepresidentsarelikeLloydFenneben。
"OfcoursenobodylikesMrs。Marian，andmyfather——whenhe"snotquitehimself——saysdreadfulthingsifImentionhername。”
Dennie"scheckswerecrimsonasshethoughtofherfather。
"It"snoneofmybusiness，butI"vefeltsorryforMrs。Marianeversinceshecamehere。Sheseemslikeaninnocentoutcast。”
"Thatisverypitiful。”LloydFenneben"svoicewassympathetic。
"Thismorning，"continuedDennie，"Bugwasplayingwiththedogoutside，andIwentintothehouseforthefirsttime。Mrs。Marianisverypleasant。
SheaskedmeaboutmyworkhereandItoldheraboutSunriseandyou，andyourniece，MissElinor，beinghere。”
"Alltheinterestingfeatures。DidyoumentionProfessorBurgess？"Thequerywasinnocentlymeant，butitbroughtthecolortoDennieSaxon"scheek。
"No，Ididn"tthinkhewasinthatclass，"shereplied，quickly。
"Butwhatsurprisedmewasherinterestinthings。Sheisapretty，refined，young-lookingwoman，withgrayhair。WhenIwasleavingI
turnedbacktoaskaboutsomeeggsforSaturday。ShethoughtIwasgone，andshehaddroppedherheadonthetableandwascrying，soIslippedoutwithoutherknowing。”Dennie"sgrayeyeswerefulloftearsnow。
"Dr。Fenneben，iftalkingaboutSunrisemadeherdothat，maybeyoumightdosomethingforher。Ipityherso。Nobodyseemstocareabouther。
Myfatherissetagainstherwhenheisnotresponsible，andhemight——"
Shestoppedabruptlyanddidnotfinishthesentence。
TheDeanlookedoutofthewindowatthepurplemistmeltingalongthehorizonline。DowninthevalleypigeonswerecirclingaboveawoodedspotatabendintheWalnutRiver。Fennebenrememberednowthathehadseenthemtheremanytimes。Hehadaboyhoodmemoryofacountryhomewithpigeonsflyingaboutit。
"Iwish，too，thatImightdosomething，"hesaidatlast。
"Yousayshewillnotletmeninsidehergatenow。
I"llkeepherinmind，though。Thegatemayopensometime。”
Itwasmid-afternoonwhenLloydFennebenlefthisstudyforastroll。
AsheapproachedtheSaxonHouse，hesawoldBondSaxonslippingoutofthesidegateandwithuncertainstepsskulkdownthealley。
"Pooroldsinner!Whataslaveandafoolwhiskycanmakeofaman!"
hethought。ThenherememberedDennie"sanxietyofthemorning。
"Theremustbesomecauseforhisprejudiceagainstthisstrangehermitwomanwhenheisdrunk。BondSaxonisnotamantohateanybodywhenheissober。”
"IsyouDonFonnybone？"BugBuler"slittlepipingvoicefromthedoorstephaledtheDean。"IfinkedVicwouldturn，andhedon"tturn，andI"shungryforsomebody。MayIgowisyou，DonFonnybone？"Thebabylipsquivered。
LloydFennebenheldouthishandandBugputhislittlefistintoit。
"Whereshallwego，Bug？I"mhungryforsomebody，too。”
"Let"sdofindthebunnythebiddodistscaredawaythismorning。
Turnon!"
LloydFennebenwashardlyconsciousthatBugwaschoosingtheirpathasthetwostrolledawaytogether。Everywheretherewasthepathosofawaningautumnday，andasofthazecreepingoutofthewestwasmakingablood-redcarbuncleofthesun，setasajewelontheamber-veiledbosomofthesky。
Theairwassoft，wooingthespirittoastill，sweetpeace。
ThetwowereattheoutskirtsofLagondaLedgenow。
Thelastboardwalkwasthreeblocksback，andthecinder-madewayhaddwindledtoabarehardpathbytheroadside。
AbendintherivercuttingclosetotheroadshowsalongvistaoftheWalnutborderedbyvine-drapedshrubberyandoverhungwithtrees。Aslaboflimestonebesideahugeelmtreehadbeenplacedatthisbendtopreventthebankfrombreaking，orachancemisdrivingintothewater。
"I"spittytired，"Bugsaidasthetworeachedthestone。
"Willwetumtothebunny"shousepittysoon？"
"We"llresthereawhileandmaybethebunnywillcomeouttomeetus，"
Dr。Fennebensaid，andtheysatdownonthebroadstone。
"Itwassomewhereherethebunnyrunned。”LittleBugstudiedtheroadsidewithaquaintpuzzledface。"Isyou"faidofsnakes？"
"Notverymuch。”TheDean"seyeswereonthegracefulflightofpigeonscirclingaboutthetreesbeyondthebend。
"Vicisn"t"faid。Hekilledbidone，two，five，freewattle，wattlesnakes——"
Bugcaughthisbreathsuddenly——"Hetoldmenottotellthat。Ifordot。
Idon"t"member。Hedidn"tdoit——hedidn"tkillednosnakesfornever。”
Dr。Fennebengavelittleheedtothisprattle。Hiseyeswereonthepigeonscleavingtheairwithshort，gracefulflights。
Presentlyhefeltthesofttouchofbabycurlsagainsthishand，andlittleBughadfallenasleepwithhisdroopingheadonFenneben"slap。
TheDeangentlyplacedthetiredlittleoneinaneasyposition，andrestedhisshoulderagainstthetree。
"ThatmustbePigeonPlace，"hemused。"Everytownhasitsoddcharacters。ThisisoneofLagondaLedge"slittlemysteries。
Denniefindsitapatheticone。Howgracefulthosepigeonsare!"
AndhisthoughtsdriftedtoafarNewEnglandhomesteadwherepigeonsusedtosweepaboutanoldbarnroof。
Afuzzygrayrabbitflashedacrosstheroad，followedbyaGreatDanedoginhotchase。
"Bug"sbunny!Ihopethebigmurdererwillmissit，"Fennebenthought。
Theroadsidebusheshalfhidhim。Asthecrashingsoundofthehugedogthroughtheunderbrushceasedhenoticedawomancomingleisurelytowardhim。
Herarmswerefullofbitter-sweetberriesandflamingautumnleaves。
SheworenohatandFennebensawthathergrayhairwaswoundlikeacoronalaboutherhead。Beforehecouldcatchsightofherfaceaheavystaggeringstepwasbesidehim，andoldBondSaxon，mutteringandshakinghisclenchedfists，passedbeyondhimtowardthewoman。
LloydFenneben"sownfistsclenched，buthesatstonestill。
Thewomanseemedtomeltintothebushesandobliterateherselfentirely，whilethedrunkenmanstalkedunsteadilyontowardwhereshehadbeen。
Thenshakinghisfistsvehementlyatthepigeons，heskulkedaroundthebendintheroad。
Assoonashewasoutofsightthewomanemergedfromthebushes，withautumnleaveshidinghercrownofhair。Shehastenedafewrodstowardthemanwatchingher，thendisappearedthroughavine-coveredgatewayintoawildernessofshrubbery，beyondwhichthepigeonswerecooingabouttheircotes。
Assheclosedthegate，shecaughtsightofLloydFenneben，leaningmotionlessagainstthegrayboleoftheelmtree。
Butshewaslookingthroughatangleofpurpleoakleavesandtwiningbitter-sweetbranches，andFennebenwasunconsciousofbeingdiscovered。
"Awomannevercouldwhistle，"hesmiled，ashelistened，"butthatcallseemstodoforthedog，allright。”
TheGreatDanewastearingacrosslotsinanswertothetrillofawoman"svoice。
"Sheissafenow。Butwhatdoesitallmean？Isthereawaysidetragedyherethatcallsformyunraveling？"
Attractedbysomesubtleforcebeyondhispowertocheck，heturnedtowardtheriverandlookedsteadilyatthestilloverhangingshrubbery。Justbelowhim，wherethecurrentturns，thequietwaterswerelappingaboutaledgeofrock。
Betweenthatledgeandhimselfatangleofbushesclutchedthesteepbank。Helookedstraightintothetangle。
justplaintwigandbrownleaf，givingplaceashestared，fortwostillblackhumaneyeslookingbalefullyathimasasnakeatitsprey。LloydFennebencouldnotwithdrawhisgaze。
Thetwoeyes——nootherhumantokenvisible——justtwocruelhumaneyesfullofhumanhatewerefixedonhim。
Andthefascinationofthethingwasparalyzing，horrible。Hecouldnotmovenorutterasound。BugBulerwokewithalittlecry。
Thebushesbytheriversidejustrippled——onequiverofmotion——
andtheeyeswerenotthere。ThenFennebenknewthathisheart，whichhadbeenstillforanage，hadbeguntobeatagain。
Bugstaredupintohisface，dazedfromsleep。
"Where"smyVic？Who"sdotme？"hecried。
"Wecametohuntthebunny。He"sgoneawayagain。Shallwegobackhome？"
Thegentlevoiceandstronghandsoothedthelittleone。
"It"sdettin"told。Let"swunhome。”BugcuddledagainstFenneben"ssideandhuggedhishand。"Iloveyoulots，"
hesaid，lookingupwitheyesofinnocenttrust。
"Yes，let"srunhome。Thereisastormintheairandthesunishiddenfromthevalley。”Hestoopedandkissedthelittleupturnedface。
"Thankheavenforchildren!"hemurmured。"Amidskulking，drunkenmenandstrange，lonelywomen，andcrueleyesofunknownbeings，theyleadusloving-wisebackhomeagain。”
Behindthevine-coveredgateagray-haired，fair-facedwomanwatchedthetwoastheydisappeareddowntheroad。
Andtheblood-redsunoutonthewestprairiesankswiftlyintoabluecloudbank，presagingthecomingofastorm。
CHAPTERIV
THEKICKAPOOCORRAL
_Andevennow，asthenightcomes，andtheshadowsgatherround，Andyoutelltheold-timestory，IcanalmosthearthesoundOfthehorses"hoofsinthesilence，andthevoicesofstrugglingmen；
Forthenightisthesameforever，andthetimecomesbackagain_。