第2章
mightn"tfindheragain。There!"Hehadmadeuphismindtobeabused，buthewasrecklessnowthatshewassafe。
Themenglancedateachother。"Then，"saidthespokesmanquietly，"youdidn"tstrikeoutforusonaccountofyoursister?"
"Sheain"tmysister，"saidClarencequickly。"She"salittlegirl。She"sMrs。Silsbee"slittlegirl。Wewereinthewagonandgotdown。It"smyfault。Ihelpedherdown。"
Thethreemenreinedtheirhorsescloselyroundhim，leaningforwardfromtheirsaddles，withtheirhandsontheirkneesandtheirheadsononeside。"Then，"saidthespokesmangravely，"youjustreckonedtostayhere，oldman，andtakeyourchanceswithherratherthanruntheriskoffrighteningorleavingher——thoughitwasyouronechanceoflife!"
"Yes，"saidtheboy，scornfulofthisfeeble，grown-uprepetition。
"Comehere。"
Theboycamedoggedlyforward。Themanpushedbackthewell-wornstrawhatfromClarence"sforeheadandlookedintohisloweringface。Withhishandstillontheboy"sheadheturnedhimroundtotheothers，andsaidquietly，——
"Suthinofapup，eh?"
"Youbet，"theyresponded。
Thevoicewasnotunkindly，althoughthespeakerhadthrownhislowerjawforwardasiftopronouncetheword"pup"withahumoroussuggestionofamastiff。BeforeClarencecouldmakeuphismindiftheepithetwasinsultingornot，themanputouthisstirrupedfoot，and，withagestureofinvitation，said，"Jumpup。"
"ButSusy，"saidClarence，drawingback。
"Look；she"smakinguptoPhilalready。"
Clarencelooked。Susyhadcrawledoutofthemesquite，andwithhersun-bonnethangingdownherback，hercurlstossedaroundherface，stillflushedwithsleep，andClarence"sjacketoverhershoulders，wasgazingupwithgravesatisfactioninthelaughingeyesofoneofthemenwhowaswithoutstretchedhandsbendingoverher。Couldhebelievehissenses?Theterror-stricken，willful，unmanageableSusy，whomhewouldhavetranslatedunconsciouslytosafetywithoutthisterribleordealofbeingawakenedtothelossofherhomeandparentsatanysacrificetohimself——thisingenuousinfantwasabsolutelythrowingherselfwitheveryappearanceofforgetfulnessintothearmsofthefirstnew-comer!Yethisperceptionofthisfactwasaccompaniedbynosenseofingratitude。
Forhersakehefeltrelieved，andwithaboyishsmileofsatisfactionandencouragementvaultedintothesaddlebeforethestranger。
CHAPTERIV
Thedashforwardtothetrain，securelyheldinthesaddlebythearmsoftheirdeliverers，wasasecretjoytothechildrenthatseemedonlytooquicklyover。Theresistlessgallopofthefierymustangs，therushofthenightwind，thegatheringdarknessinwhichthedistantwagons，nowhaltedandfacingthem，lookedlikedomedhutsinthehorizon——alltheseseemedbutadelightfulandfittingclimaxtotheeventsoftheday。Inthesublimeforgetfulnessofyouth，alltheyhadgonethroughhadleftnoembarrassingrecordbehindit；theywerewillingtorepeattheirexperiencesonthemorrow，confidentofsomeequallyhappyend。
AndwhenClarence，timidlyreachinghishandtowardsthehorse-hairreinslightlyheldbyhiscompanion，hadthemplayfullyyieldeduptohimbythatholdandconfidentrider，theboyfelthimselfindeedaman。
Butagreatersurprisewasinstoreforthem。Astheynearedthewagons，nowformedintoacirclewithacertaindegreeofmilitaryformality，theycouldseethattheappointmentsofthestrangepartywerelargerandmoreliberalthantheirown，orindeedanythingtheyhadeverknownofthekind。Fortyorfiftyhorsesweretetheredwithinthecircle，andthecampfireswerealreadyblazing。Beforeoneofthemalargetentwaserected，andthroughthepartedflapscouldbeseenatableactuallyspreadwithawhitecloth。Wasitaschoolfeast，orwasthistheirordinaryhouseholdarrangement?
ClarenceandSusythoughtoftheirowndinners，usuallylaidonbareboardsbeneaththesky，orunderthelowhoodofthewagoninrainyweather，andmarveled。Andwhentheyfinallyhalted，andwereliftedfromtheirhorses，andpassedonewagonfittedupasabedroomandanotherasakitchen，theycouldonlynudgeeachotherwithsilentappreciation。Buthereagainthedifferencealreadynotedinthequalityofthesensationsofthetwochildrenwasobservable。Bothwereequallyandagreeablysurprised。ButSusy"swonderwasmerelythesenseofnoveltyandinexperience，andaslightdisbeliefintheactualnecessityofwhatshesaw；whileClarence，whetherfromsomepreviousgeneralexperienceorpeculiartemperament，hadtheconvictionthatwhathesawherewastheusualcustom，andwhathehadknownwiththeSilsbeeswasthenovelty。ThefeelingwasattendedwithaslightsenseofwoundedprideforSusy，asifherenthusiasmhadexposedhertoridicule。
Themanwhohadcarriedhim，andseemedtobetheheadoftheparty，hadalreadyprecededthemtothetent，andpresentlyreappearedwithaladywithwhomhehadexchangedadozenhurriedwords。TheyseemedtorefertohimandSusy；butClarencewastoomuchpreoccupiedwiththefactthattheladywaspretty，thatherclotheswereneatandthoroughlyclean，thatherhairwastidyandnotrumpled，andthat，althoughsheworeanapron，itwasascleanashergown，andevenhadribbonsonit，tolistentowhatwassaid。Andwhensheraneagerlyforward，andwithafascinatingsmileliftedtheastonishedSusyinherarms，Clarence，inhisdelightforhisyoungcharge，quiteforgotthatshehadnotnoticedhim。Thebeardedman，whoseemedtobethelady"shusband，evidentlypointedouttheomission，withsomeadditionsthatClarencecouldnotcatch；foraftersaying，withaprettypout，"Well，whyshouldn"the?"shecameforwardwiththesamedazzlingsmile，andlaidhersmallandcleanwhitehanduponhisshoulder。
"Andsoyoutookgoodcareofthedearlittlething?She"ssuchanangel，isn"tshe?andyoumustloveherverymuch。"
Clarencecoloredwithdelight。ItwastrueithadneveroccurredtohimtolookatSusyinthelightofacelestialvisitant，andI
fearhewasjustthenmorestruckwiththefaircomplimenterthanthecomplimenttohiscompanion，buthewaspleasedforhersake。
Hewasnotyetoldenoughtobeconsciousofthesex"sbeliefinitsirresistibledominationovermankindatallages，andthatJohnnyinhischeckapronwouldbealwaysahopelessconquestofJeannetteinherpinafore，andthatheoughttohavebeeninlovewithSusy。
Howbeit，theladysuddenlywhiskedherawaytotherecessesofherownwagon，toreappearlater，washed，curled，andberibbonedlikeanewdoll，andClarencewasleftalonewiththehusbandandanotheroftheparty。
"Well，myboy，youhaven"ttoldmeyournameyet。"
"Clarence，sir。"
"SoSusycallsyou，butwhatelse?"
"ClarenceBrant。"
"AnyrelationtoColonelBrant?"askedthesecondmancarelessly。
"Hewasmyfather，"saidtheboy，brighteningunderthisfaintprospectofrecognitioninhisloneliness。
Thetwomenglancedateachother。Theleaderlookedattheboycuriously，andsaid，——
"AreyouthesonofColonelBrant，ofLouisville?"
"Yes，sir，"saidtheboy，withadimstirringofuneasinessinhisheart。"Buthe"sdeadnow，"headdedfinally。
"Ah，whendidhedie?"saidthemanquickly。
"Oh，alongtimeago。Idon"trememberhimmuch。Iwasverylittle，"saidtheboy，halfapologetically。
"Ah，youdon"trememberhim?"
"No，"saidClarenceshortly。Hewasbeginningtofallbackuponthatcertaindoggedrepetitionwhichinsensitivechildrenarisesfromtheirhopelessinabilitytoexpresstheirdeeperfeelings。Healsohadaninstinctiveconsciousnessthatthiswantofaknowledgeofhisfatherwaspartofthatvaguewrongthathadbeendonehim。
Itdidnothelphisuneasinessthathecouldseethatoneofthetwomen，whoturnedawaywithahalf-laugh，misunderstoodordidnotbelievehim。
"HowdidyoucomewiththeSilsbees?"askedthefirstman。
Clarencerepeatedmechanically，withachild"sdistasteofpracticaldetails，howhehadlivedwithanauntatSt。Jo，andhowhisstepmotherhadprocuredhispassagewiththeSilsbeestoCalifornia，wherehewastomeethiscousin。Allthiswithalackofinterestandabstractionthathewasmiserablyconscioustoldagainsthim，buthewasyethelplesstoresist。
Thefirstmanremainedthoughtful，andthenglancedatClarence"ssunburnthands。Presentlyhislarge，good-humoredsmilereturned。
"Well，Isupposeyouarehungry?"
"Yes，"saidClarenceshyly。"But——"
"Butwhat?"
"Ishouldliketowashmyselfalittle，"hereturnedhesitatingly，thinkingofthecleantent，thecleanlady，andSusy"sribbons。
"Certainly，"saidhisfriend，withapleasedlook。"Comewithme。"
InsteadofleadingClarencetothebatteredtinbasinandbarofyellowsoapwhichhadformedthetoiletserviceoftheSilsbeeparty，hebroughttheboyintooneofthewagons，wheretherewasawashstand，achinabasin，andacakeofscentedsoap。StandingbesideClarence，hewatchedhimperformhisablutionswithanapprovingairwhichratherembarrassedhisprotege。Presentlyhesaid，almostabruptly，——
"Doyourememberyourfather"shouseatLouisville?"
"Yes，sir；butitwasalongtimeago。"
ClarenceremembereditasbeingverydifferentfromhishomeatSt。
Joseph"s，butfromsomeinnatefeelingofdiffidencehewouldhaveshrunkfromdescribingitinthatway。He，however，saidhethoughtitwasalargehouse。Yetthemodestansweronlymadehisnewfriendlookathimthemorekeenly。
"YourfatherwasColonelHamiltonBrant，ofLouisville，wasn"the?"
hesaid，half-confidentially。
"Yes，"saidClarencehopelessly。
"Well，"saidhisfriendcheerfully，asifdismissinganabstruseproblemfromhismind，"Let"sgotosupper。"
Whentheyreachedthetentagain，Clarencenoticedthatthesupperwaslaidonlyforhishostandwifeandthesecondman——whowasfamiliarlycalled"Harry，"butwhospokeoftheformeralwaysas"Mr。andMrs。Peyton"——whiletheremainderoftheparty，adozenmen，wereatasecondcampfire，andevidentlyenjoyingthemselvesinapicturesquefashion。Hadtheboybeenallowedtochoose，hewouldhavejoinedthem，partlybecauseitseemedmore"manly，"andpartlythathedreadedarenewalofthequestioning。
Buthere，Susy，sittingboltuprightonanextemporizedhighstool，happilydivertedhisattentionbypointingtotheemptychairbesideher。
"Kla"uns，"shesaidsuddenly，withherusualclearandappallingfrankness，"theyischickens，andhamanaigs，andhotbiksquits，andlasses，andMisterPeytonsaysIkinhave"emall。"
Clarence，whohadbegunsuddenlytofeelthathewasresponsibleforSusy"sdeportmentandwasbalefullyconsciousthatshewasholdingherplatedforkinherchubbyfistbyitsmiddle，and，fromhispreviousknowledgeofher，waslikelyatanymomenttoplungeitintothedishbeforeher，saidsoftly，——
"Hush!"
"Yes，youshall，dear，"saidMrs。Peyton，withtenderlybeamingassurancetoSusyandahalf-reproachfulglanceattheboy。"Eatwhatyoulike，darling。"
"It"safork，"whisperedthestilluneasyClarence，asSusynowseemedinclinedtostirherbowlofmilkwithit。
""Tain"t，now，Kla"uns，it"sonlyasplitspoon，"saidSusy。
ButMrs。Peyton，inherraptadmiration，tooksmallnoteoftheseirregularities，plyingthechildwithfood，forgettingherownmeal，andonlystoppingattimestoliftbacktheforwardstrayingcurlsonSusy"sshoulders。Mr。Peytonlookedongravelyandcontentedly。Suddenlytheeyesofhusbandandwifemet。
"She"dhavebeennearlyasoldasthis，John，"saidMrs。Peyton，inafaintvoice。
JohnPeytonnoddedwithoutspeaking，andturnedhiseyesawayintothegatheringdarkness。Theman"Harry"alsolookedabstractedlyathisplate，asifhewassayinggrace。Clarencewonderedwho"she"was，andwhytwolittletearsdroppedfromMrs。Peyton"slashesintoSusy"smilk，andwhetherSusymightnotviolentlyobjecttoit。HedidnotknowuntillaterthatthePeytonshadlosttheironlychild，andSusycomfortablydrainedthismingledcupofamother"sgriefandtendernesswithoutsuspicion。
"Isupposewe"llcomeupwiththeirtrainearlytomorrow，ifsomeofthemdon"tfindusto-night，"saidMrs。Peyton，withalongsighandaregretfulglanceatSusy。"Perhapswemighttraveltogetherforalittlewhile，"sheaddedtimidly。
Harrylaughed，andMr。Peytonrepliedgravely，"Iamafraidwewouldn"ttravelwiththem，evenforcompany"ssake；and，"headded，inalowerandgravervoice，"it"sratheroddthesearchpartyhasn"tcomeuponusyet，thoughI"mkeepingPeteandHankpatrollingthetrailtomeetthem。"
"It"sheartless——soitis!"saidMrs。Peyton，withsuddenindignation。"Itwouldbeallverywellifitwasonlythisboy，whocantakecareofhimself；buttobesocarelessofamerebabylikethis，it"sshameful!"
ForthefirsttimeClarencetastedthecrueltyofdiscrimination。
Allthemorekeenlythathewasbeginningtoworship，afterhisboyishfashion，thissweet-faced，clean，andtender-heartedwoman。
PerhapsMr。Peytonnoticedit，forhecamequietlytohisaid。
"Maybetheyknewbetterthanweinwhatcarefulhandstheyhadlefther，"hesaid，withacheerfulnodtowardsClarence。"And，again，theymayhavebeenfooledaswewerebyInjinsignsandleftthestraightroad。"
ThissuggestioninstantlyrecalledtoClarencehisvisioninthemesquite。Shouldhedaretellthem?Wouldtheybelievehim，orwouldtheylaughathimbeforeher?Hehesitated，andatlastresolvedtotellitprivatelytothehusband。Whenthemealwasended，andhewasmadehappybyMrs。Peyton"slaughingacceptanceofhisoffertohelpherclearthetableandwashthedishes，theyallgatheredcomfortablyinfrontofthetentbeforethelargecampfire。Attheotherfiretherestofthepartywereplayingcardsandlaughing，butClarencenolongercaredtojointhem。Hewasquitetranquilinthematernalpropinquityofhishostess，albeitalittleuneasyastohisreticenceabouttheIndian。
"Kla"uns，"saidSusy，relievingamomentarypause，inherhighestvoice，"knowshowtospeak。Speak，Kla"uns!"
ItappearingfromClarence"sblushingexplanationthatthisgiftwasnottheordinaryfacultyofspeech，butacapacitytoreciteverse，hewaspolitelypressedbythecompanyforaperformance。
"Speak"em，Kla"uns，theboywhatstooduntotheburnin"deck，andsaid，"Theboy，oh，wherewashe?""saidSusy，comfortablylyingdownonMrs。Peyton"slap，andcontemplatingherbarekneesintheair。"It"s"boutaboy，"sheaddedconfidentiallytoMrs。Peyton，"whosefatherwouldn"tnever，neverstaywithhimonaburnin"
ship，thoughhesaid，"Stay，father，stay，"eversomuch。"
Withthisclear，lucid，andperfectlysatisfactoryexplanationofMrs。Hemans"s"Casabianca，"Clarencebegan。Unfortunately，hisactualrenderingofthispopularschoolperformancewasmoreaneffortofmemorythananythingelse，andwasillustratedbythosewoodengestureswhichaWesternschoolmasterhadtaughthim。Hedescribedtheflamesthat"roaredaroundhim，"byindicatingwithhishandaperfectcircle，ofwhichhewastheaxis；headjuredhisfather，thelateAdmiralCasabianca，byclaspinghishandsbeforehischin，asifwantingtobemanacledinanattitudewhichhewasmiserablyconsciouswasunlikeanythinghehimselfhadeverfeltorseenbefore；hedescribedthatfather"faintindeathbelow，"and"theflagonhigh，"withonesinglemotion。Yetsomethingthattheverseshadkindledinhisactiveimagination，perhaps，ratherthananillustrationoftheversesthemselves，attimesbrightenedhisgrayeyes，becametremulousinhisyouthfulvoice，andIfearoccasionallyincoherentonhislips。Attimes，whennotconsciousofhisaffectedart，theplainandalluponitseemedtohimtoslipawayintothenight，theblazingcampfireathisfeettowraphiminafatefulglory，andavaguedevotiontosomething——heknewnotwhat——sopossessedhimthathecommunicatedit，andprobablysomeofhisownyouthfuldelightinextravagantvoice，tohishearers，until，whenheceasedwithaglowingface，hewassurprisedtofindthatthecardplayershaddesertedtheircampfiresandgatheredroundthetent。
CHAPTERV
"Youdidn"tsay"Stay，father，stay，"enough，Kla"uns，"saidSusycritically。ThensuddenlystartinguprightinMrs。Peyton"slap，shecontinuedrapidly，"Ikindance。Andsing。IkindanceHighJambooree。"
"What"sHighJambooree，dear?"askedMrs。Peyton。
"You"llsee。Lemmedown。"AndSusyslippedtotheground。
ThedanceofHighJambooree，evidentlyofremotemysticalAfricanorigin，appearedtoconsistofthreesmallskipstotherightandthentotheleft，accompaniedbytheholdingupofveryshortskirts，incessant"teetering"onthetoesofsmallfeet，theexhibitionofmuchbarekneeandstocking，andagurglingaccompanimentofchildishlaughter。Vehementlyapplauded，itleftthelittleperformerbreathless，butinvincibleandreadyforfreshconquest。
"Ikinsing，too，"shegaspedhurriedly，asifunwillingthattheapplauseshouldlapse。"Ikinsing。Oh，dear!Kla"uns，"
piteously，"WHATisitIsing?"
"BenBolt，"suggestedClarence。
"Oh，yes。Oh，don"tyouremembersweetAlersBenBolt?"beganSusy，inthesamebreathandthewrongkey。"SweetAlers，withhairsobrown，whoweptwithdelightwhenyougiv"dherasmile，and——"withknittedbrowsandappealingrecitative，"what"serrestofit，Kla"uns?"
"Whotrembledwithfearatyourfrown?"promptedClarence。
"Whotrembledwithfearatmyfrown?"shrilledSusy。"Iforgeterrest。Wait!Ikinsing——"
"PraiseGod，"suggestedClarence。
"Yes。"HereSusy，aregularattendantincampandprayer-meetings，wasonfirmerground。
Promptlyliftingherhightreble，yetwithacertainacquireddeliberation，shebegan，"PraiseGod，fromwhomallblessingsflow。"Attheendofthesecondlinethewhisperingandlaughingceased。Adeepvoicetotheright，thatofthechampionpokerplayer，suddenlyroseontheswellofthethirdline。Hewasinstantlyfollowedbyadozenringingvoices，andbythetimethelastlinewasreacheditwasgivenwithafullchorus，inwhichthedullchantofteamstersanddriversmingledwiththesopranoofMrs。PeytonandSusy"schildishtreble。Againandagainitwasrepeated，withforgetfuleyesandabstractedfaces，risingandfallingwiththenightwindandtheleapandgleamofthecampfires，andfadingagainlikethemintheimmeasurablemysteryofthedarkenedplain。
Inthedeepandembarrassingsilencethatfollowed，atlastthepartyhesitatinglybrokeup，Mrs。PeytonretiringwithSusyafterofferingthechildtoClarenceforaperfunctory"good-night"kiss，anunusualproceeding，whichsomewhatastonishedthemboth——andClarencefoundhimselfnearMr。Peyton。
"Ithink，"saidClarencetimidly，"IsawanInjinto-day。"
Mr。Peytonbentdowntowardshim。"AnInjin——where?"heaskedquickly，withthesamelookofdoubtinginterrogatorywithwhichhehadreceivedClarence"snameandparentage。
Theboyforamomentregrettedhavingspoken。Butwithhisolddoggednessheparticularizedhisstatement。Fortunately，beinggiftedwithakeenperception，hewasabletodescribethestrangeraccurately，andtoimpartwithhisdescriptionthatcontemptforitssubjectwhichhehadfelt，andwhichtohisfrontierauditorestablisheditstruthfulness。Peytonturnedabruptlyaway，butpresentlyreturnedwithHarryandanotherman。
"Youaresureofthis?"saidPeyton，half-encouragingly。
"Yes，sir。"
"AssureasyouarethatyourfatherisColonelBrantandisdead?"
saidHarry，withalightlaugh。
Tearssprangintotheboy"sloweringeyes。"Idon"tlie，"hesaiddoggedly。
"Ibelieveyou，Clarence，"saidPeytonquietly。"Butwhydidn"tyousayitbefore?"
"Ididn"tliketosayitbeforeSusyand——her!"stammeredtheboy。
"Her?"
"Yes，sir——Mrs。Peyton，"saidClarenceblushingly。
"Oh，"saidHarrysarcastically，"howblessedpoliteweare!"
"That"lldo。Letuponhim，willyou?"saidPeyton，roughly，tohissubordinate。"Theboyknowswhathe"sabout。But，"hecontinued，addressingClarence，"howwasittheInjindidn"tseeyou?"
"IwasverystillonaccountofnotwakingSusy，"saidClarence，"and——"Hehesitated。
"Andwhat?"
"HeseemedmorekeenwatchingwhatYOUweredoing，"saidtheboyboldly。
"That"sso，"brokeinthesecondman，whohappenedtobeexperienced，"andashewastowind"ardo"theboyhewasoffHIS
scentandbearings。Hewasoneoftheirrearscouts；theresto"
them"saheadcrossingourtracktocutusoff。Yedidn"tseeanythingelse?"
"Isawacoyotefirst，"saidClarence，greatlyencouraged。
"Holdon!"saidtheexpert，asHarryturnedawaywithasneer。
"That"sasign，too。Wolfdon"tgowherewolfhezbeen，andcoyotedon"tfollerInjins——there"snopickin"s!Howlongaforedidyouseethecoyote?"
"Justafterweleftthewagon，"saidClarence。
"That"sit，"saidtheman，thoughtfully。"Hewasdrivenonahead，orhangingontheirflanks。TheseInjinsarebetwixtusandthatartrain，orfollowingit。"
Peytonmadeahurriedgestureofwarning，asifremindingthespeakerofClarence"spresence——agesturewhichtheboynoticedandwonderedat。Thentheconversationofthethreementookalowertone，althoughClarencedistinctlyheardtheconcludingopinionoftheexpert。
"Itain"tnogoodnow，Mr。Peyton，andyou"dbeonlyexposingyourselfontheirgroundbybreakin"campaginto-night。Andyoudon"tknowthatitain"tUSthey"rewatchin"。Yousee，ifwehadn"tturnedoffthestraightroadwhenwegotthatfirstscarefromtheseyerlostchildren，wemighthevgoneonandwalkedplumpintosomecursedtrapofthosedevils。Tomymind，we"rejustinniggerluck，andwithagoodwatchandmypatrolwe"reallrighttobefixedwherewebetilldaylight。"
Mr。Peytonpresentlyturnedaway，takingClarencewithhim。"Aswe"llbeupearlyandonthetrackofyourtrainto-morrow，myboy，youhadbetterturninnow。I"veputyouupinmywagon，andasI
expecttobeinthesaddlemostofthenight，IreckonIwon"ttroubleyoumuch。"Heledthewaytoasecondwagon——drawnupbesidetheonewhereSusyandMrs。Peytonhadretired——whichClarencewassurprisedtofindfittedwithawritingtableanddesk，achair，andevenabookshelfcontainingsomevolumes。A
longlocker，fittedlikealounge，hadbeenmadeupasacouchforhim，withtheunwontedluxuryofcleanwhitesheetsandpillow-
cases。Asoftmattingcoveredtheflooroftheheavywagonbed，which，Mr。Peytonexplained，washungoncentrespringstopreventjarring。Thesidesandroofofthevehiclewereoflightlypaneledwood，insteadoftheusualhookedcanvasframeoftheordinaryemigrantwagon，andfittedwithaglazeddoorandmovablewindowforlightandair。Clarencewonderedwhythebig，powerfulman，whoseemedathomeonhorseback，shouldevercaretositinthisofficelikeamerchantoralawyer；andifthistrainsoldthingstotheothertrains，ortookgoods，likethepeddlers，totownsontheroute；butthereseemedtobenothingtosell，andtheotherwagonswerefilledwithonlythegoodsrequiredbytheparty。HewouldhavelikedtoaskMr。PeytonwhoHEwas，andhavequestionedHIMasfreelyashehimselfhadbeenquestioned。Butastheaverageadultmannevertakesintoconsiderationtheinjusticeofdenyingtothenaturalandevennecessarycuriosityofchildhood
thatquestioningwhichhehimselfissoapttoassumewithoutright，andalmostalwayswithoutdelicacy，Clarencehadnorecourse。Yettheboy，likeallchildren，wasconsciousthatifhehadbeenafterwardsquestionedaboutTHISinexplicableexperience，hewouldhavebeenblamedforhisignoranceconcerningit。Lefttohimselfpresently，andensconcedbetweenthesheets，helayforsomemomentsstaringabouthim。Theunwontedcomfortofhiscouch，sodifferentfromthestuffyblanketinthehardwagonbedwhichhehadsharedwithoneoftheteamsters，andthenovelty，order，andcleanlinessofhissurroundings，whiletheyweregratefultohisinstincts，beganinsomevaguewaytodepresshim。Tohisloyalnatureitseemedatacitinfidelitytohisformerroughcompanionstobelyinghere；hehadadimideathathehadlostthatindependencewhichequaldiscomfortandequalpleasureamongthemhadgivenhim。Thereseemedasenseofservitudeinacceptingthisluxurywhichwasnothis。Thissethimendeavoringtoremembersomethingofhisfather"shouse，ofthelargerooms，draftystaircases，andfar-offceilings，andthecoldformalityofalifethatseemedmadeupofstrangefaces；somestranger——hisparents；
somekinder——theservants；particularlytheblacknursewhohadhimincharge。WhydidMr。Peytonaskhimaboutit?Why，ifitweresoimportanttostrangers，hadnothismothertoldhimmoreofit?
Andwhywasshenotlikethisgoodwomanwiththegentlevoicewhowassokindto——toSusy?AndwhatdidtheymeanbymakingHIMsomiserable?Somethingroseinhisthroat，butwithanefforthechokeditback，and，creepingfromthelounge，wentsoftlytothewindow，openedittoseeifit"wouldwork，"andlookedout。Theshroudedcampfires，thestarsthatglitteredbutgavenolight，thedimmovingbulkofapatrolbeyondthecircle，allseemedtointensifythedarkness，andchangedthecurrentofhisthoughts。
HerememberedwhatMr。Peytonhadsaidofhimwhentheyfirstmet。
"Suthinofapup，ain"the?"Surelythatmeantsomethingthatwasnotbad!Hecreptbacktothecouchagain。
Lyingthere，stillawake，hereflectedthathewouldn"tbeascoutwhenhegrewup，butwouldbesomethinglikeMr。Peyton，andhaveatrainlikethis，andinvitetheSilsbeesandSusytoaccompanyhim。
Forthispurpose，heandSusy，earlyto-morrowmorning，wouldgetpermissiontocomeinhereandplayatthatgame。Thiswouldfamiliarizehimwiththedetails，sothathewouldbeableatanytimetotakechargeofit。HewasalreadyanauthorityonthesubjectofIndians!Hehadoncebeenfiredat——asanIndian。Hewouldalwayscarryariflelikethathangingfromthehooksattheendofthewagonbeforehim，andwouldeventuallyslaymanyIndiansandkeepanaccountoftheminabigbooklikethatonthedesk。
Susywouldhelphim，havinggrownupalady，andtheywouldbothtogetherissueprovisionsandrationsfromthedoorofthewagontothegatheredcrowds。Hewouldbeknownasthe"WhiteChief，"hisIndiannamebeing"SuthinofaPup。"Hewouldhaveacircusvanattachedtothetrain，inwhichhewouldoccasionallyperform。Hewouldalsohaveartilleryforprotection。Therewouldbeaterrificengagement，andhewouldrushintothewagon，heatedandblackenedwithgunpowder；andSusywouldputdownanaccountofitinabook，andMrs。Peyton——forshewouldbethereinsomevaguecapacity——wouldsay，"Really，now，Idon"tseebutwhatwewereveryluckyinhavingsuchaboyasClarencewithus。Ibegintounderstandhimbetter。"AndHarry，who，forpurposesofvaguepoeticalretaliation，wouldalsodropinatthatmoment，wouldmutterandsay，"HeiscertainlythesonofColonelBrant；dearme!"andapologize。Andhismotherwouldcomeinalso，inhercoldestandmostindifferentmanner，inawhiteballdress，andstartandsay，"Goodgracious，howthatboyhasgrown!
IamsorryIdidnotseemoreofhimwhenhewasyoung。"Yeteveninthemidstofthiscameaconfusingnumbness，andthenthesideofthewagonseemedtomeltaway，andhedriftedoutagainaloneintotheemptydesolateplainfromwhicheventhesleepingSusyhadvanished，andhewasleftdesertedandforgotten。Thenallwasquietinthewagon，andonlythenightwindmovingroundit。Butlo!thelashesofthesleepingWhiteChief——thedauntlessleader，theruthlessdestroyerofIndians——werewetwithglitteringtears!
Yetitseemedonlyamomentafterwardsthatheawokewithafaintconsciousnessofsomearrestedmotion。Tohisutterconsternation，thesun，threehourshigh，wasshininginthewagon，alreadyhotandstiflinginitsbeams。Therewasthefamiliarsmellandtasteofthedirtyroadintheairabouthim。Therewasafaintcreakingofboardsandsprings，aslightoscillation，andbeyondtheaudiblerattleofharness，asifthetrainhadbeenunderway，thewagonmoving，andthentherehadbeenasuddenhalt。TheyhadprobablycomeupwiththeSilsbeetrain；inafewmomentsthechangewouldbeeffectedandallofhisstrangeexperiencewouldbeover。Hemustgetupnow。Yet，withthemorninglazinessofthehealthyyounganimal，hecurledupamomentlongerinhisluxuriouscouch。
Howquietitwas!Therewerefar-offvoices，buttheyseemedsuppressedandhurried。Throughthewindowhesawoneoftheteamstersrunrapidlypasthimwithastrange，breathless，preoccupiedface，haltamomentatoneofthefollowingwagons，andthenrunbackagaintothefront。
Thentwoofthevoicescamenearer，withthedullbeatingofhoofsinthedust。
"Routouttheboyandaskhim，"saidahalf-suppressed，impatientvoice，whichClarenceatoncerecognizedasthemanHarry"s。
"HoldontillPeytoncomesup，"saidthesecondvoice，inalowtone；"leaveittohim。"
"Betterfindoutwhattheywerelike，atonce，"grumbledHarry。
"Wait，standback，"saidPeyton"svoice，joiningtheothers；"I"LL
askhim。"
Clarencelookedwonderinglyatthedoor。ItopenedonMr。Peyton，dustyanddismounted，withastrange，abstractedlookinhisface。
"Howmanywagonsareinyourtrain，Clarence?"