第1章
Alonglevelofdullgraythatfurtherawaybecameafaintblue，withhereandtheredarkerpatchesthatlookedlikewater。Attimesanopenspace，blackenedandburntinanirregularcircle，withashredofnewspaper，anoldrag，orbrokentincanlyingintheashes。Beyondthesealwaysalowdarklinethatseemedtosinkintothegroundatnight，androseagaininthemorningwiththefirstlight，butneverotherwisechangeditsheightanddistance。
Asenseofalwaysmovingwithsomeindefinitepurpose，butofalwaysreturningatnighttothesameplace——withthesamesurroundings，thesamepeople，thesamebedclothes，andthesameawfulblackcanopydroppeddownfromabove。Achalkytasteofdustonthemouthandlips，agrittysenseofearthonthefingers，andanall-pervadingheatandsmellofcattle。
Thiswas"TheGreatPlains"astheyseemedtotwochildrenfromthehoodeddepthofanemigrantwagon，abovetheswayingheadsoftoilingoxen，inthesummerof1852。
Ithadappearedsotothemfortwoweeks，alwaysthesameandalwayswithouttheleastsensetothemofwonderormonotony。Whentheyvieweditfromtheroad，walkingbesidethewagon，therewasonlytheteamitselfaddedtotheunvaryingpicture。Oneofthewagonsboreonitscanvashoodtheinscription，inlargeblackletters，"OfftoCalifornia!"ontheother"Root，Hog，orDie，"butneitherofthemawokeinthemindsofthechildrenthefaintestideaofplayfulnessorjocularity。Perhapsitwasdifficulttoconnecttheseriousmen，whooccasionallywalkedbesidethemandseemedtogrowmoretaciturnanddepressedasthedayworeon，withthispasteffusivepleasantry。
Yettheimpressionsofthetwochildrendifferedslightly。Theeldest，aboyofeleven，wasapparentlynewtothedomestichabitsandcustomsofalifetowhichtheyounger，agirlofseven，wasevidentlynativeandfamiliar。Thefoodwascoarseandlessskillfullypreparedthanthattowhichhehadbeenaccustomed。
Therewasacertainfreedomandroughnessintheirintercourse，asimplicitythatborderedalmostonrudenessintheirdomesticarrangements，andaspeechthatwasattimesalmostuntranslatabletohim。Hesleptinhisclothes，wrappedupinblankets；hewasconsciousthatinthematterofcleanlinesshewaslefttohimselftoovercomethedifficultiesoffindingwaterandtowels。Butitisdoubtfulifinhisyouthfulnessitaffectedhimmorethananovelty。Heateandsleptwell，andfoundhislifeamusing。Onlyattimestherudenessofhiscompanions，or，worse，anindifferencethatmadehimfeelhisdependencyuponthem，awokeavaguesenseofsomewrongthathadbeendonetohimwhichwhileitwasvoicelesstoallothersandevenuneasilyputasidebyhimself，wasstillalwaysslumberinginhischildishconsciousness。
Tothepartyhewasknownasanorphanputonthetrainat"St。Jo"
bysomerelativeofhisstepmother，tobedeliveredtoanotherrelativeatSacramento。Ashisstepmotherhadnoteventakenleaveofhim，buthadentrustedhisdeparturetotherelativewithwhomhehadbeenlatelyliving，itwasconsideredasanactof"riddance，"andacceptedassuchbyherparty，andevenvaguelyacquiescedinbytheboyhimself。Whatconsiderationhadbeenofferedforhispassagehedidnotknow；heonlyrememberedthathehadbeentold"tomakehimselfhandy。"Thishehaddonecheerfully，ifattimeswiththeunskillfulnessofanovice；butitwasnotapeculiaroramenialtaskinacompanywherealltookpartinmanuallabor，andwhereexistenceseemedtohimtobearthecharmofaprolongedpicnic。NeitherwashesubjectedtoanydifferenceofaffectionortreatmentfromMrs。Silsbee，themotherofhislittlecompanion，andthewifeoftheleaderofthetrain。
Prematurelyold，ofill-health，andharassedwithcares，shehadnotimetowasteindiscriminatingmaternaltendernessforherdaughter，buttreatedthechildrenwithequalandunbiasedquerulousness。
Therearwagoncreaked，swayed，androlledonslowlyandheavily。
Thehoofsofthedraft-oxen，occasionallystrikinginthedustwithadullreport，sentlittlepuffslikesmokeoneithersideofthetrack。Within，thechildrenwereplaying"keepingstore。"Thelittlegirl，asanopulentandextravagantcustomer，waspurchasingoftheboy，whosatbehindacounterimprovisedfromanail-kegandthefrontseat，mostoftheavailablecontentsofthewagon，eitherundertheirownnamesoranimaginaryoneasthemomentsuggested，andpayingforthemintheeasyandliberalcurrencyofdriedbeansandbitsofpaper。Changewasgivenbytheexpeditiousmethodoftearingthepaperintosmallerfragments。Thediminutionofstockwasremediedbybuyingthesamearticleoveragainunderadifferentname。Nevertheless，inspiteofthesefavorablecommercialconditions，themarketseemeddull。
"Icanshowyouafinequalityofsheetingatfourcentsayard，doublewidth，"saidtheboy，risingandleaningonhisfingersonthecounterashehadseentheshopmendo。"Allwoolandwillwash，"headded，witheasygravity。
"IcanbuyitcheaperatJackson"s，"saidthegirl，withtheintuitiveduplicityofherbargainingsex。
"Verywell，"saidtheboy。"Iwon"tplayanymore。"
"Whocares?"saidthegirlindifferently。Theboyherepromptlyupsetthecounter；therolled-upblanketwhichhaddeceitfullyrepresentedthedesirablesheetingfallingonthewagonfloor。Itapparentlysuggestedanewideatotheformersalesman。"Isay!
let"splay"damagedstock。"See，I"lltumbleallthethingsdownhererightontopo"theothers，andsell"emforlessthancost。"
Thegirllookedup。Thesuggestionwasbold，bad，andmomentarilyattractive。Butsheonlysaid"No，"apparentlyfromhabit，pickedupherdoll，andtheboyclamberedtothefrontofthewagon。Theincompleteepisodeterminatedatoncewiththatperfectforgetfulness，indifference，andirresponsibilitycommontoallyounganimals。Ifeithercouldhaveflownawayorboundedofffinallyatthatmoment，theywouldhavedonesowithnomoreconcernforpreliminarydetailthanabirdorsquirrel。Thewagonrolledsteadilyon。Theboycouldseethatoneoftheteamstershadclimbeduponthetail-boardoftheprecedingvehicle。Theotherseemedtobewalkinginadustysleep。
"Kla"uns，"saidthegirl。
Theboy，withoutturninghishead，responded，"Susy。"
"Wotareyougoingtobe?"saidthegirl。
"Goin"tobe?"repeatedClarence。
"Whenyouisgrowed，"explainedSusy。
Clarencehesitated。Hissettleddeterminationhadbeentobecomeapirate，mercilessyetdiscriminating。Butreadinginabethumbed"GuidetothePlains"thatmorningofFortLamarieandKitCarson，hehaddecideduponthecareerofa"scout，"asbeingmoreaccessibleandrequiringlesswater。Yet，outofcompassionforSusy"spossibleignorance，hesaidneither，andrespondedwiththeAmericanboy"smodestconventionality，"President。"Itwassafe，requirednoembarrassingdescription，andhadbeenapprovedbybenevolentoldgentlemenwiththeirhandsonhishead。
"I"mgoin"tobeaparson"swife，"saidSusy，"andkeephens，andhavethingsgiv"tome。Babyclothes，andapples，andapplesass——
andmelasses!andmorebabyclothes!andporkwhenyoukill。"
Shehadthrownherselfatthebottomofthewagon，withherbacktowardshimandherdollinherlap。Hecouldseethecurveofhercurlyhead，andbeyond，herbaredimpledknees，whichwereraised，andoverwhichshewastryingtofoldthehemofherbriefskirt。
"Iwouldn"tbeaPresident"swife，"shesaidpresently。
"Youcouldn"t!"
"CouldifIwantedto!"
"Couldn"t!"
"Couldnow!"
"Couldn"t!"
"Why?"
Findingitdifficulttoexplainhisconvictionsofherineligibility，Clarencethoughtitequallycrushingnottogiveany。Therewasalongsilence。Itwasveryhotanddusty。Thewagonscarcelyseemedtomove。Clarencegazedatthevignetteofthetrackbehindthemformedbythehoodoftherear。Presentlyheroseandwalkedpasthertothetail-board。"Goin"togetdown，"
hesaid，puttinghislegsover。
"Mawsays"No，""saidSusy。
Clarencedidnotreply，butdroppedtothegroundbesidetheslowlyturningwheels。Withoutquickeninghispacehecouldeasilykeephishandonthetail-board。
"Kla"uns。"
Helookedup。
"Takeme。"
Shehadalreadyclappedonhersun-bonnetandwasstandingattheedgeofthetail-board，herlittlearmsextendedinsuchperfectconfidenceofbeingcaughtthattheboycouldnotresist。Hecaughthercleverly。Theyhaltedamomentandletthelumberingvehiclemoveawayfromthem，asitswayedfromsidetosideasiflaboringinaheavysea。Theyremainedmotionlessuntilithadreachednearlyahundredyards，andthen，withasuddenhalf-real，half-assumed，butaltogetherdelightfultrepidation，ranforwardandcaughtupwithitagain。Thistheyrepeatedtwoorthreetimesuntilboththemselvesandtheexcitementwereexhausted，andtheyagainploddedonhandinhand。PresentlyClarenceutteredacry。
"My!Susy——lookthere!"
Therearwagonhadoncemoreslippedawayfromthemaconsiderabledistance。Betweenitandthem，crossingitstrack，amostextraordinarycreaturehadhalted。
Atfirstglanceitseemedadog——adiscomfited，shameless，ownerlessoutcastofstreetsandbyways，ratherthananhoneststrayofsomedrover"strain。Itwassogaunt，sodusty，sogreasy，soslouching，andsolazy!Butastheylookedatitmoreintentlytheysawthatthegrayishhairofitsbackhadabristlyridge，andthereweregreatpoisonous-lookingdarkblotchesonitsflanks，andthattheslouchofitshauncheswasapeculiarityofitsfigure，andnotthecoweringoffear。Asitlifteditssuspiciousheadtowardsthemtheycouldseethatitsthinlips，tooshorttocoveritswhiteteeth，werecurledinaperpetualsneer。
"Here，doggie!"saidClarenceexcitedly。"Gooddog!Come。"
Susyburstintoatriumphantlaugh。"Ettain"tnodog，silly；it"sercoyote。"
Clarenceblushed。Itwasn"tthefirsttimethepioneer"sdaughterhadshownhersuperiorknowledge。Hesaidquickly，tohidehisdiscomfiture，"I"llketchhim，anyway；he"snothin"mor"nakiyi。"
"Yecan"t，tho，"saidSusy，shakinghersun-bonnet。"He"sfasternorahoss!"
Nevertheless，Clarencerantowardshim，followedbySusy。Whentheyhadcomewithintwentyfeetofhim，thelazycreature，withoutapparentlytheleasteffort，tooktwoorthreelimpingboundstooneside，andremainedatthesamedistanceasbefore。Theyrepeatedthisonsetthreeorfourtimeswithmoreorlessexcitementandhilarity，theanimalevadingthemtooneside，butneveractuallyretreatingbeforethem。Finally，itoccurredtothemboththatalthoughtheywerenotcatchinghimtheywerenotdrivinghimaway。TheconsequencesofthatthoughtwereputintoshapebySusywithround-eyedsignificance。
"Kla"uns，hebites。"
Clarencepickedupahardsun-bakedclod，and，runningforward，threwitatthecoyote。Itwasaclevershot，andstruckhimonhisslouchinghaunches。Hesnappedandgaveashortsnarlingyelp，andvanished。Clarencereturnedwithavictoriousairtohiscompanion。Butshewasgazingintentlyintheoppositedirection，andforthefirsttimehediscoveredthatthecoyotehadbeenleadingthemhalfroundacircle。
"Kla"uns，"saidSusy，withahystericallittlelaugh。
"Well?"
"Thewagon"sgone。"
Clarencestarted。Itwastrue。Notonlytheirwagon，butthewholetrainofoxenandteamstershadutterlydisappeared，vanishingascompletelyasiftheyhadbeencaughtupinawhirlwindorengulfedintheearth!Eventhelowcloudofdustthatusuallymarkedtheirdistantcoursebydaywasnowheretobeseen。Thelonglevelplainstretchedbeforethemtothesettingsun，withoutasignortraceofmovinglifeoranimation。Thatgreatbluecrystalbowl，filledwithdustandfirebyday，withstarsanddarknessbynight，whichhadalwaysseemedtodropitsrimroundthemeverywhereandshutthemin，seemedtothemnowtohavebeenliftedtoletthetrainpassout，andthencloseddownuponthemforever。
CHAPTERII
Theirfirstsensationwasoneofpurelyanimalfreedom。
Theylookedateachotherwithsparklingeyesandlongsilentbreaths。Butthisspontaneousoutburstofsavagenaturesoonpassed。Susy"slittlehandpresentlyreachedforwardandclutchedClarence"sjacket。Theboyunderstoodit，andsaidquickly，——
"Theyain"tgonefar，andthey"llstopassoonastheyfindusgone。"
Theytrottedonalittlefaster；thesuntheyhadfollowedeverydayandthefreshwagontracksbeingtheirunfailingguides；thekeen，coolairoftheplains，takingtheplaceofthatall-
pervadingdustandsmelloftheperspiringoxen，invigoratingthemwithitsbreath。
"Weain"tskeeredabit，arewe?"saidSusy。
"What"stheretobeafraidof?"saidClarencescornfully。Hesaidthisnonethelessstronglybecausehesuddenlyrememberedthattheyhadbeenoftenleftaloneinthewagonforhourswithoutbeinglookedafter，andthattheirabsencemightnotbenoticeduntilthetrainstoppedtoencampatdusk，twohourslater。Theywerenotrunningveryfast，yeteithertheyweremoretiredthantheyknew，ortheairwasthinner，fortheybothseemedtobreathequickly。
SuddenlyClarencestopped。
"Theretheyarenow。"
Hewaspointingtoalightcloudofdustinthefar-offhorizon，fromwhichtheblackhulkofawagonemergedforamomentandwaslost。Butevenastheygazedthecloudseemedtosinklikeafairymiragetotheearthagain，thewholetraindisappeared，andonlytheemptystretchingtrackreturned。Theydidnotknowthatthisseeminglyflatandlevelplainwasreallyundulatory，andthatthevanishedtrainhadsimplydippedbelowtheirviewonsomefurtherslopeevenasithadoncebefore。Buttheyknewtheyweredisappointed，andthatdisappointmentrevealedtothemthefactthattheyhadconcealeditfromeachother。Thegirlwasthefirsttosuccumb，andburstintoaquickspasmofangrytears。Thatsingleactofweaknesscalledouttheboy"sprideandstrength。
Therewasnolongeranequalityofsuffering；hehadbecomeherprotector；hefelthimselfresponsibleforboth。Consideringhernolongerhisequal，hewasnolongerfrankwithher。
"There"snothin"toboo-boofor，"hesaid，withahalf-affectedbrusqueness。"Soquit，now!They"llstopinaminit，andsendsomeonebackforus。Shouldn"twonderifthey"redoin"itnow。"
ButSusy，withfemininediscriminationdetectingthehollowringinhisvoice，herethrewherselfuponhimandbegantobeathimviolentlywithherlittlefists。"Theyain"t!Theyain"t!Theyain"t。Youknowit!Howdareyou?"Then，exhaustedwithherstruggles，shesuddenlythrewherselfflatonthedrygrass，shuthereyestightly，andclutchedatthestubble。
"Getup，"saidtheboy，withapale，determinedfacethatseemedtohavegotmucholder。
"Youleavemebe，"saidSusy。
"Doyouwantmetogoawayandleaveyou?"askedtheboy。
Susyopenedoneblueeyefurtivelyinthesecuredepthsofhersun-
bonnet，andgazedathischangedface。
"Ye-e-s。"
Hepretendedtoturnaway，butreallytolookattheheightofthesinkingsun。
"Kla"uns!"
"Well?"
"Takeme。"
Shewasholdingupherhands。Heliftedhergentlyinhisarms，droppingherheadoverhisshoulder。"Now，"hesaidcheerfully，"youkeepagoodlookoutthatway，andIthis，andwe"llsoonbethere。"
Theideaseemedtopleaseher。AfterClarencehadstumbledonforafewmoments，shesaid，"Doyouseeanything，Kla"uns?"
"Notyet。"
"Nomoredon"tI。"Thisequalityofperceptionapparentlysatisfiedher。Presentlyshelaymorelimpinhisarms。Shewasasleep。
Thesunwassinkinglower；ithadalreadytouchedtheedgeofthehorizon，andwaslevelwithhisdazzledandstrainingeyes。Attimesitseemedtoimpedehiseagersearchandtaskhisvision。
Hazeandblackspotsfloatedacrossthehorizon，androundwafers，likeduplicatesofthesun，glitteredbackfromthedullsurfaceoftheplains。Thenheresolvedtolooknomoreuntilhehadcountedfifty，ahundred，butalwayswiththesameresult，thereturnoftheempty，unendingplains——thediskgrowingredderasitnearedthehorizon，thefireitseemedtokindleasitsank，butnothingmore。
Staggeringunderhisburden，hetriedtodistracthimselfbyfancyinghowthediscoveryoftheirabsencewouldbemade。Heheardthelistless，half-querulousdiscussionaboutthelocalitythatregularlypervadedthenightlycamp。HeheardthediscontentedvoiceofJakeSilsbeeashehaltedbesidethewagon，andsaid，"Comeouto"thatnow，youtwo，andmightyquickaboutit。"Heheardthecommandharshlyrepeated。HesawthelookofirritationonSilsbee"sdusty，beardedface，thatfollowedhishurriedglanceintotheemptywagon。Heheardthequery，"What"sgoneo"themlimbsnow?"handedfromwagontowagon。Heheardafewoaths；Mrs。Silsbee"shighraspingvoice，abuseofhimself，thehurriedanddiscontenteddetachmentofasearchparty，Silsbeeandoneofthehiredmen，andvociferationandblame。Blamealwaysforhimself，theelder，whomighthave"knownbetter!"Alittlefear，perhaps，buthecouldnotfancyeitherpityorcommiseration。
Perhapsthethoughtupheldhispride；undertheprospectofsympathyhemighthavebrokendown。
Atlasthestumbled，andstoppedtokeephimselffromfallingforwardonhisface。Hecouldgonofurther；hisbreathwasspent；
hewasdrippingwithperspiration；hislegsweretremblingunderhim；therewasaroaringinhisears；roundreddisksofthesunwerescatteredeverywherearoundhimlikespotsofblood。Totherightofthetrailthereseemedtobeaslightmoundwherehecouldrestawhile，andyetkeephiswatchfulsurveyofthehorizon。Butonreachingithefoundthatitwasonlyatangleoftallermesquitegrass，intowhichhesankwithhisburden。Nevertheless，ifuselessasapointofvantage，itofferedasoftcouchforSusy，whoseemedtohavefallenquitenaturallyintoherusualafternoonsiesta，andinameasureitshieldedherfromacoldbreezethathadsprungupfromthewest。Utterlyexhaustedhimself，butnotdaringtoyieldtothetorporthatseemedtobecreepingoverhim，Clarencehalfsat，halfkneltdownbesideher，supportinghimselfwithonehand，and，partlyhiddeninthelonggrass，kepthisstrainingeyesfixedonthelonelytrack。
Thereddiskwassinkinglower。Itseemedtohavealreadycrumbledawayapartofthedistancewithitseatingfires。Asitsankstilllower，itshotoutlong，luminousrays，divergingfan-likeacrosstheplain，asif，intheboy"sexcitedfancy，ittooweresearchingforthelostestrays。Andasonelongbeamseemedtolingeroverhishiding-place，heeventhoughtthatitmightserveasaguidetoSilsbeeandtheotherseekers，andwasconstrainedtostaggertohisfeet，erectinitslight。Butitsoonsank，andwithitClarencedroppedbackagaintohiscrouchingwatch。Yetheknewthatthedaylightwasstillgoodforanhour，andwiththewithdrawalofthatmysticsunsetgloryobjectsbecameevenmoredistinctandsharplydefinedthanatanyothertime。Andwiththemercifulsheathingofthatflamingswordwhichseemedtohaveswayedbetweenhimandthevanishedtrain，hiseyesalreadyfeltablessedrelief。
CHAPTERIII
Withthesettingofthesunanominoussilencefell。HecouldhearthelowbreathingofSusy，andevenfanciedhecouldhearthebeatingofhisownheartinthatoppressivehushofallnature。
Fortheday"smarchhadalwaysbeenaccompaniedbythemonotonouscreakingofwheelsandaxles，andeventhequietofthenightencampmenthadbeenalwaysmoreorlessbrokenbythemovementofunquietsleepersonthewagonbeds，orthebreathingofthecattle。
Butheretherewasneithersoundnormotion。Susy"sprattle，andeventhesoundofhisownvoice，wouldhavebrokenthebenumbingspell，butitwasapartofhisgrowingself-denialnowthatherefrainedfromwakingherevenbyawhisper。Shewouldawakensoonenoughtothirstandhunger，perhaps，andthenwhatwashetodo?
Ifthatlooked-forhelpwouldonlycomenow——whileshestillslept。
Foritwaspartofhisboyishfancythatifhecoulddeliverherasleepandundemonstrativeoffearandsuffering，hewouldbelessblameful，andshelessmindfulofhertrouble。Ifitdidnotcome——
buthewouldnotthinkofthatyet!Ifshewasthirstymeantime——
well，itmightrain，andtherewasalwaysthedewwhichtheyusedtobrushoffthemorninggrass；hewouldtakeoffhisshirtandcatchitinthat，likeashipwreckedmariner。Itwouldbefunny，andmakeherlaugh。Forhimselfhewouldnotlaugh；hefelthewasgettingveryoldandgrownupinthisloneliness。
Itwasgettingdarker——theyshouldbelookingintothewagonsnow。
Anewdoubtbegantoassailhim。Oughthenot，nowthathewasrested，makethemostoftheremainingmomentsofdaylight，andbeforetheglowfadedfromthewest，whenhewouldnolongerhaveanybearingstoguidehim?Buttherewasalwaystheriskofwakingher!——towhat?ThefearofbeingconfrontedagainwithHERfearandofbeingunabletopacifyher，atlastdecidedhimtoremain。
Buthecreptsoftlythroughthegrass，andinthedustofthetracktracedthefourpointsofthecompass，ashecouldstilldeterminethembythesunsetlight，withalargeprintedWtoindicatethewest!Thisboyishcontrivanceparticularlypleasedhim。Ifhehadonlyhadapole，astick，orevenatwig，onwhichtotiehishandkerchiefanderectitabovetheclumpofmesquiteasasignaltothesearchersincasetheyshouldbeovercomebyfatigueorsleep，hewouldhavebeenhappy。Buttheplainwasbarrenofbrushortimber；hedidnotdreamthatthisomissionandtheveryunobtrusivenessofhishiding-placewouldbehissalvationfromagreaterdanger。
Withthecomingdarknessthewindaroseandswepttheplainwithalong-drawnsigh。Thisincreasedtoamurmur，tillpresentlythewholeexpanse——beforesunkinawfulsilence——seemedtoawakewithvaguecomplaints，incessantsounds，andlowmoanings。Attimeshethoughtheheardthehalloaingofdistantvoices，attimesitseemedasawhisperinhisownear。Inthesilencethatfollowedeachblasthefanciedhecoulddetectthecreakingofthewagon，thedullthudoftheoxen"shoofs，orbrokenfragmentsofspeech，blownandscatteredevenashestrainedhisearstolistenbythenextgust。Thistensionoftheearbegantoconfusehisbrain，ashiseyeshadbeenpreviouslydazzledbythesunlight，andastrangetorporbegantostealoverhisfaculties。Onceortwicehisheaddropped。
Heawokewithastart。Amovingfigurehadsuddenlyuplifteditselfbetweenhimandthehorizon!Itwasnottwentyyardsaway，soclearlyoutlinedagainstthestillluminousskythatitseemedevennearer。Ahumanfigure，butsodisheveled，sofantastic，andyetsomeanandpuerileinitsextravagance，thatitseemedtheoutcomeofachildishdream。Itwasamountedfigure，butsoludicrouslydisproportionatetotheponyitbestrode，whoseslimlegswerestifflyburiedinthedustinabreathlesshalt，thatitmighthavebeenastragglerfromsomevulgarwanderingcircus。A
tallhat，crownlessandrimless，acastawayofcivilization，surmountedbyaturkey"sfeather，wasonitshead；overitsshouldershungadirtytatteredblanketthatscarcelycoveredthetwopaintedlegswhichseemedclothedinsoiledyellowhose。Inonehanditheldagun；theotherwasbentaboveitseyesineagerscrutinyofsomedistantpointbeyondandeastofthespotwherethechildrenlayconcealed。Presently，withadozenquicknoiselessstridesofthepony"slegs，theapparitionmovedtotheright，itsgazestillfixedonthatmysteriouspartofthehorizon。
Therewasnomistakingitnow!ThepaintedHebraicface，thelargecurvednose，thebonycheek，thebroadmouth，theshadowedeyes，thestraightlongmattedlocks!ItwasanIndian!NotthepicturesquecreatureofClarence"simagination，butstillanIndian!Theboywasuneasy，suspicious，antagonistic，butnotafraid。Helookedattheheavyanimalfacewiththesuperiorityofintelligence，atthehalf-nakedfigurewiththeconscioussupremacyofdress，atthelowerindividualitywiththecontemptofahigherrace。Yetamomentafter，whenthefigurewheeledanddisappearedtowardstheundulatingwest，astrangechillcreptoverhim。YethedidnotknowthatinthispuerilephantomandpaintedpigmytheawfulmajestyofDeathhadpassedhimby。
"Mamma!"
ItwasSusy"svoice，strugglingintoconsciousness。Perhapsshehadbeeninstinctivelyconsciousoftheboy"ssuddenfears。
"Hush!"
HehadjustturnedtotheobjectivepointoftheIndian"sgaze。
ThereWASsomething!Adarklinewasmovingalongwiththegatheringdarkness。Foramomenthehardlydaredtovoicehisthoughtseventohimself。Itwasafollowingtrainovertakingthemfromtherear!Andfromtherapidityofitsmovementsatrainwithhorses，hurryingforwardtoeveningcamp。Hehadneverdreamtofhelpfromthatquarter。ThiswaswhattheIndian"skeeneyeshadbeenwatching，andwhyhehadsoprecipitatelyfled。
Thestrangetrainwasnowcomingupataroundtrot。Itwasevidentlywellappointedwithfiveorsixlargewagonsandseveraloutriders。Inhalfanhouritwouldbehere。YetherefrainedfromwakingSusy，whohadfallenasleepagain；hisoldsuperstitionofsecuringhersafetyfirstbeingstilluppermost。Hetookoffhisjackettocoverhershoulders，andrearrangedhernest。Thenheglancedagainatthecomingtrain。Butforsomeunaccountablereasonithadchangeditsdirection，andinsteadoffollowingthetrackthatshouldhavebroughtittohissideithadturnedofftotheleft!Intenminutesitwouldpassabreastofhimamileandahalfaway!IfhewokeSusynow，heknewshewouldbehelplessinherterror，andhecouldnotcarryherhalfthatdistance。Hemightrushtothetrainhimselfandreturnwithhelp，buthewouldneverleaveheralone——inthedarkness。Never!Ifshewokeshewoulddieoffright，perhaps，orwanderblindlyandaimlesslyaway。
No!Thetrainwouldpassandwithitthathopeofrescue。
Somethingwasinhisthroat，buthegulpeditdownandwasquietagainalbeitheshiveredinthenightwind。
Thetrainwasnearlyabreastofhimnow。Heranoutofthetallgrass，wavinghisstrawhatabovehisheadinthefainthopeofattractingattention。Buthedidnotgofar，forhefoundtohisalarmthatwhenheturnedbackagaintheclumpofmesquitewasscarcelydistinguishablefromtherestoftheplain。Thissettledallquestionofhisgoing。Evenifhereachedthetrainandreturnedwithsomeone，howwouldheeverfindheragaininthisdesolateexpanse?
Hewatchedthetrainslowlypass——stillmechanically，almosthopelessly，wavinghishatasheranupanddownbeforethemesquite，asifhewerewavingalastfarewelltohisdepartinghope。Suddenlyitappearedtohimthatthreeoftheoutriderswhowereprecedingthefirstwagonhadchangedtheirshape。Theywerenolongersharp，oblong，blackblocksagainstthehorizonbuthadbecomeatfirstblurredandindistinct，thentallerandnarrower，untilatlasttheystoodoutlikeexclamationpointsagainstthesky。Hecontinuedtowavehishat，theycontinuedtogrowtallerandnarrower。Heunderstooditnow——thethreetransformedblocksweretheoutriderscomingtowardshim。
Thisiswhathehadseen——
[Drawingofthreeblackblocks]
Thisiswhathesawnow——
!!!
HeranbacktoSusytoseeifshestillslept，forhisfoolishdesiretohavehersavedunconsciouslywasstrongerthanevernowthatsafetyseemedsonear。Shewasstillsleeping，althoughshehadmovedslightly。Herantothefrontagain。
Theoutridershadapparentlyhalted。Whatweretheydoing?Whywouldn"ttheycomeon?
Suddenlyablindingflashoflightseemedtoburstfromoneofthem。Awayoverhisheadsomethingwhistledlikearushingbird，andspedoffinvisible。Theyhadfiredagun；theyweresignalingtohim——Clarence——likeagrown-upman。Hewouldhavegivenhislifeatthatmomenttohavehadagun。Buthecouldonlywavehishatfrantically。
Oneofthefigureshereboreawayandimpetuouslydartedforwardagain。Hewascomingnearer，powerful，gigantic，formidable，asheloomedthroughthedarkness。Allatoncehethrewuphisarmwithawildgesturetotheothers；andhisvoice，manly，frank，andassuring，cameringingbeforehim。
"Holdup!GoodGod!It"snoInjun——it"sachild!"
InanothermomenthehadreinedupbesideClarenceandleanedoverhim，bearded，handsome，powerfulandprotecting。
"Hallo!What"sallthis?Whatareyoudoinghere?"
"LostfromMr。Silsbee"strain，"saidClarence，pointingtothedarkenedwest。
"Lost?——howlong?"
"Aboutthreehours。Ithoughtthey"dcomebackforus，"saidClarenceapologeticallytothisbig，kindlyman。
"Andyoukalkilatedtowaitherefor"em?"
"Yes，yes——Idid——tillIsawyou。"
"Thenwhyinthunderdidn"tyoulightoutstraightforus，insteadofhangingroundhereanddrawingusout?"
Theboyhunghishead。Heknewhisreasonswereunchanged，butallatoncetheyseemedveryfoolishandunmanlytospeakout。
"OnlythatwewereonthekeenjumpforInjins，"continuedthestranger，"wewouldn"thaveseenyouatall，andmighthevshotyouwhenwedid。Whatpossessedyoutostayhere?"
Theboywasstillsilent。"Kla"uns，"saidafaint，sleepyvoicefromthemesquite，"takeme。"Therifle-shothadawakenedSusy。
Thestrangerturnedquicklytowardsthesound。Clarencestartedandrecalledhimself。"There，"hesaidbitterly，"you"vedoneitnow，you"vewakenedher!THAT"SwhyIstayed。Icouldn"tcarryherovertheretoyou。Icouldn"tletherwalk，forshe"dbefrightened。Iwouldn"twakeherup，forshe"dbefrightened，andI