第3章
"Three，sir。"
"Anymarksonthem?"
"Yes，sir，"saidClarence，eagerly:""OfftoCalifornia"and"Root，Hog，orDie。""
Mr。Peyton"seyeseemedtoleapupandholdClarence"swithasudden，strangesignificance，andthenlookeddown。
"Howmanywereyouinall?"hecontinued。
"Five，andtherewasMrs。Silsbee。"
"Nootherwoman?"
"No。"
"Getupanddressyourself，"hesaidgravely，"andwaitheretillI
comeback。Keepcoolandhaveyourwitsaboutyou。"Hedroppedhisvoiceslightly。"Perhapssomething"shappenedthatyou"llhavetoshowyourselfalittlemanagainfor，Clarence!"
Thedoorclosed，andtheboyheardthesamemuffledhoofsandvoicesdieawaytowardsthefront。Hebegantodresshimselfmechanically，almostvacantly，yetconsciousalwaysofavagueundercurrentofthrillingexcitement。Whenhehadfinishedhewaitedalmostbreathlessly，feelingthesamebeatingofhisheartthathehadfeltwhenhewasfollowingthevanishedtrainthedaybefore。Atlasthecouldstandthesuspensenolonger，andopenedthedoor。Everythingwasstillinthemotionlesscaravan，except——
itstruckhimoddlyeventhen——theunconcernedprattlingvoiceofSusyfromoneofthenearerwagons。PerhapsasuddenfeelingthatthiswassomethingthatconcernedHER，perhapsanirresistibleimpulseovercamehim，butthenextmomenthehadleapedtotheground，facedabout，andwasrunningfeverishlytothefront。
ThefirstthingthatmethiseyeswasthehelplessanddesolatebulkofoneoftheSilsbeewagonsahundredrodsaway，bereftofoxenandpole，standingaloneandmotionlessagainstthedazzlingsky!Nearitwasthebrokenframeofanotherwagon，itsforewheelsandaxlesgone，pitchedforwardonitskneeslikeanoxunderthebutcher"ssledge。Notfarawaythereweretheburntandblackenedruinsofathird，aroundwhichthewholepartyonfootandhorsebackseemedtobegathered。Astheboyranviolentlyon，thegroupopenedtomakewayfortwomencarryingsomehelplessbutawfulobjectbetweenthem。AterribleinstinctmadeClarenceswervefromitinhisheadlongcourse，buthewasatthesamemomentdiscoveredbytheothers，andacryaroseof"Goback!"
"Stop!""Keephimback!"Heedingitnomorethanthewindthatwhistledbyhim，Clarencemadedirectlyfortheforemostwagon——theoneinwhichheandSusyhadplayed。Apowerfulhandcaughthisshoulder；itwasMr。Peyton"s。
"Mrs。Silsbee"swagon，"saidtheboy，withwhitelips，pointingtoit。"Whereisshe?"
"She"smissing，"saidPeyton，"andoneother——therestaredead。"
"Shemustbethere，"saidtheboy，struggling，andpointingtothewagon；"letmego。"
"Clarence，"saidPeytonsternly，accentinghisgraspupontheboy"sarm，"beaman!Lookaroundyou。Tryandtelluswhotheseare。"
Thereseemedtobeoneortwoheapsofoldclotheslyingontheground，andfurtheron，wherethemenatacommandfromPeytonhadlaiddowntheirburden，another。Inthoseragged，dustyheapsofclothes，fromwhichallthemajestyoflifeseemedtohavebeenruthlesslystampedout，onlywhatwasignobleandgrotesqueappearedtobeleft。Therewasnothingterribleinthis。Theboymovedslowlytowardsthem；and，incredibleeventohimself，theoverpoweringfearofthemthatamomentbeforehadovercomehimlefthimassuddenly。Hewalkedfromtheonetotheother，recognizingthembycertainmarksandsigns，andmentioningnameaftername。Thegroupsgazedathimcuriously；hewasconsciousthathescarcelyunderstoodhimself，stilllessthesamequietpurposethatmadehimturntowardsthefurthestwagon。
"There"snothingthere，"saidPeyton；"we"vesearchedit。"Buttheboy，withoutreplying，continuedhisway，andthecrowdfollowedhim。
Thedesertedwagon，morerude，disorderly，andslovenlythanithadeverseemedtohimbefore，wasnowheapedandtumbledwithbrokenbones，cans，scatteredprovisions，pots，pans，blankets，andclothinginthefoulconfusionofadust-heap。Butinthisheterogeneousminglingtheboy"squickeyecaughtsightofadragglededgeofcalico。
"That"sMrs。Silsbee"sdress!"hecried，andleaptintothewagon。
Atfirstthemenstaredateachother，butaninstantlateradozenhandswerehelpinghim，nervouslydiggingandclearingawaytherubbish。Thenonemanutteredasuddencry，andfellbackwithfranticbutfuriouseyesupliftedagainstthepitiless，smilingskyabovehim。
"GreatGod!lookhere!"
Itwastheyellowish，waxenfaceofMrs。Silsbeethathadbeenuncovered。Buttothefancyoftheboyithadchanged；theoldfamiliarlinesofworry，care，andquerulousnesshadgivenwaytoalookofremotepeaceandstatue-likerepose。Hehadoftenvexedherinheraggressivelife；hewastouchedwithremorseathercold，passionlessapathynow，andpressedtimidlyforward。Evenashedidso，theman，withaquickbutwarninggesture，hurriedlythrewhishandkerchiefoverthemattedlocks，asiftoshutoutsomethingawfulfromhisview。Clarencefelthimselfdrawnback；
butnotbeforethewhitelipsofabystanderhadwhisperedasingleword——
"Scalped，too!byGod!"
CHAPTERVI
ThenfolloweddaysandweeksthatseemedtoClarenceasadream。
Atfirst，anintervalofhushedandawedrestraintwhenheandSusywerekeptapart，astrangeandartificialinteresttakenlittlenoteofbyhim，butafterwardsrememberedwhenothershadforgottenit；theburialofMrs。Silsbeebeneathacairnofstones，withsomeceremoniesthat，simplethoughtheywere，seemedtousurpthesacredrightsofgrieffromhimandSusy，andleavethemcoldandfrightened；daysoffrequentandincoherentchildishoutburstsfromSusy，growingfainterandrarerastimewenton，untiltheyceased，heknewnotwhen；thehauntingbynightofthatmorningvisionofthethreeorfourheapsofraggedclothesonthegroundandahalfregretthathehadnotexaminedthemmoreclosely；arecollectionoftheawfullonelinessanddesolationofthebrokenandabandonedwagonleftbehindonitskneesasifprayingmutelywhenthetrainwentonandleftit；thetrundlingbehindofthefatefulwagoninwhichMrs。Silsbee"sbodyhadbeenfound，superstitiouslyshunnedbyeveryone，andwhenatlastturnedovertotheauthoritiesatanoutpostgarrison，seemingtodropthelastlinkfromthedraggingchainofthepast。Therevelationtothechildrenofanewexperienceinthatbriefglimpseofthefrontiergarrison；thehandsomeofficerinuniformandbeltedsword，anheroic，vengefulfiguretobeadmiredandimitatedhereafter；thesuddenimportanceandrespectgiventoSusyandhimselfas"survivors"；thesympatheticquestioningandkindlyexaggerationsoftheirexperiences，quicklyacceptedbySusy——allthese，lookingbackuponthemafterwards，seemedtohavepassedinadream。
Nolessstrangeandvisionarytothemseemedtherealtransitionstheynotedfromthemovingtrain。Howonemorningtheymissedthechangeless，motionless，low，darklinealongthehorizon，andbeforenoonfoundthemselvesamongtherocksandtreesandaswiftlyrushingriver。Howtheresuddenlyappearedbesidethemafewdayslateragreatgraycloud-coveredridgeofmountainsthattheywereconvincedwasthatsamedarklinethattheyhadseensooften。Howthemenlaughedatthem，andsaidthatforthelastthreedaystheyhadbeenCROSSINGthatdarkline，andthatitwasHIGHERthanthegreatgray-cloudedrangebeforethem，whichithadalwayshiddenfromtheirview!HowSusyfirmlybelievedthatthesechangestookplaceinhersleep，whenshealways"kinderfelttheywerecrawlin"up，"andhowClarence，inthehappydepreciationofextremeyouth，expressedhisconvictionthatthey"weren"tabithigh，afterall。"Howtheweatherbecamecold，thoughitwasalreadysummer，andatnightthecampfirewasanecessity，andtherewasastoveinthetentwithSusy；andyethowallthisfadedaway，andtheywereagainuponadazzling，burnt，andsun-driedplain!Butalwaysasinadream!
Morerealwerethepersonswhocomposedtheparty——whomtheyseemedtohavealwaysknown——andwho，intheinnocentcapriceofchildren，hadbecometothemmoreactualthanthedeadhadevenbeen。TherewasMr。Peyton，whotheynowknewownedthetrain，andwhowassorichthathe"needn"tgotoCaliforniaifhedidn"twantto，andwasgoingtobuyagreatdealofitifhelikedit，"andwhowasalsoalawyerand"policeman"——whichwasSusy"srenderingof"politician"——andwascalled"Squire"and"Judge"atthefrontieroutpost，andcouldorderanybodytobe"tookupifhewantedto，"
andwhokneweverybodybytheirChristiannames；andMrs。Peyton，whohadbeendelicateandwasorderedbythedoctortoliveintheopenairforsixmonths，and"nevergointoahouseoratownagin，"andwhowasgoingtoadoptSusyassoonasherhusbandcouldarrangewithSusy"srelatives，anddrawupthepapers!How"Harry"
wasHenryBenham，Mrs。Peyton"sbrother，andakindofpartnerofMr。Peyton。Andhowthescout"snamewasGusGildersleeve，orthe"WhiteCrow，"andhow，throughhisrecognizedintrepidity，anattackupontheirtrainwasnodoubtaverted。Thentherewas"Bill，"thestockherder，and"TexasJim，"thevaquero——thelattermarvelousandunprecedentedinhorsemanship。Suchweretheircompanions，asappearedthroughthegossipofthetrainandtheirowninexperiencedconsciousness。Tothem，theywereallastoundingandimportantpersonages。But，eitherfromboyishcuriosityorsomesenseofbeingmisunderstood，Clarencewasmoreattractedbythetwoindividualsofthepartywhowereleastkindtohim——
namely，Mrs。PeytonandherbrotherHarry。Ifearthat，afterthefashionofmostchildren，andsomegrown-uppeople，hethoughtlessofthesteadykindnessofMr。PeytonandtheothersthanoftheraretoleranceofHarryorthepoliteconcessionsofhissister。
Miserablyconsciousofthisattimes，hequiteconvincedhimselfthatifhecouldonlywinawordofapprobationfromHarry，orasmilefromMrs。Peyton，hewouldafterwardsrevengehimselfby"runningaway。"Whetherhewouldornot，Icannotsay。Iamwritingofafoolish，growing，impressionableboyofeleven，ofwhosesentimentsnothingcouldbesafelypredictedbutuncertainty。
Itwasatthistimethathebecamefascinatedbyanothermemberofthepartywhosepositionhadbeentoohumbleandunimportanttobeincludedinthegroupalreadynoted。Ofthesameappearanceastheotherteamstersinsize，habits，andapparel，hehadnotatfirstexhibitedtoClarenceanyclaimtosympathy。Butitappearedthathewasactuallyayouthofonlysixteen——ahopelessincorrigibleofSt。Joseph，whoseparentshadprevailedonPeytontoallowhimtojointheparty，bywayofremovinghimfromevilassociationsandasamethodofreform。OfthisClarencewasatfirstignorant，notfromanywantoffranknessonthepartoftheyouth，forthatingeniousyounggentlemanlaterinformedhimthathehadkilledthreemeninSt。Louis，twoinSt。Jo，andthattheofficersofjusticewereafterhim。Butitwasevidentthattoprecocioushabitsofdrinking，smoking，chewing，andcard-playingthisovergrownyouthaddedastrongtendencytoexaggerationofstatement。Indeed，hewasknownas"LyingJimHooker，"andhisvariousqualitiespresentedaproblemtoClarencethatwasattractiveandinspiring，doubtful，butalwaysfascinating。Withthehoarsevoiceofearlywickednessandacontemptforordinarycourtesy，hehadaround，perfectlygood-humoredface，andadispositionthatwhennotcalledupontoactuptohisself-imposedroleofrecklesswickedness，wasnotunkindly。
Itwasonlyafewdaysafterthemassacre，andwhilethechildrenwerestillwrappedinthegloomyinterestandfrightenedreticencewhichfollowedit，that"JimHooker"firstcharacteristicallyflasheduponClarence"sperceptions。HanginghalfonandhalfoffthesaddleofanIndianpony，thelankJimsuddenlymadehisappearance，dashingviolentlyupanddownthetrack，andaroundthewagoninwhichClarencewassitting，tuggingdesperatelyatthereins，witheveryindicationofbeingfuriouslyrunawaywith，andretaininghisseatonlywiththemostdauntlesscourageandskill。
Roundandroundtheywent，thehelplessriderattimeshangingbyasinglestirrupneartheground，andagainrecoveringhimselfby——asitseemedtoClarence——almostsuperhumaneffort。Clarencesatopen-mouthedwithanxietyandexcitement，andyetafewoftheotherteamsterslaughed。ThenthevoiceofMr。Peyton，fromthewindowofhiscar，saidquietly，——
"There，thatwilldo，Jim。Quitit!"
Thefurioushorseandriderinstantlydisappeared。Afewmomentsafter，thebewilderedClarencesawtheredoubtedhorsemantrottingalongquietlyinthedustoftherear，onthesamefierysteed，whointhatprosaiclightboreanastoundingresemblancetoanordinaryteamhorse。Laterinthedayhesoughtanexplanationfromtherider。
"Yousee，"answeredJimgloomily，"tharain"tagalootinthisyercrowdezknowsjistWHAT"Sinthathoss!Andthemezsuspecksdaren"tsay!Itwouldn"tdofortohevitletoutthattheJudgehezaMorgan-Mexicanplugthat"skilledtwomenaforehegothim，andisboundtokillanotheraforehegetsthrough!Why，on"ytheweekaforewekemuptoyou，thattharhossboltedwithmeatcamping!Buckedandthrowedme，butIkeptmyholto"thestirrupswithmyfoot——so!Draggedmeamatteroftwomiles，headdown，andmekeepin"awayrockswithmyhand——so!"
"Whydidn"tyoulooseyourfootandletgo?"askedClarencebreathlessly。
"YOUmight，"saidJim，withdeepscorn；"thatain"tMYstyle。I
justlaidlowtillwekemtoasteeppitchedhill，andgoin"downwhenthehosswas，sotospeak，kinderBELOWme，Ijustturnedahandspring，so，andthatlandedmeonterhisbackagain。"
Thisaction，thoughvividlyillustratedbyJim"sthrowinghishandsdownlikefeetbeneathhim，andindicatingtheparabolaofaspringintheair，provingaltogethertoomuchforClarence"smindtograsp，hetimidlyturnedtoalessdifficultdetail。
"Whatmadethehorseboltfirst，Mr。Hooker?"
"SmeltInjins!"saidJim，carelesslyexpectoratingtobaccojuiceinacurvingjetfromthesideofhismouth——asingularlyfascinatingaccomplishment，peculiarlyhisown，""n"likelyYOURInjins。"
"But，"arguedClarencehesitatingly，"yousaiditwasaweekbefore——and——"
"ErMexicanplugkinsmellInjinsfifty，yes，ahundredmilesaway，"saidJim，withscornfuldeliberation；""n"ifJudgePeytonhadtookmyadvice，andhadn"tbeensomightyfearedaboutthecharacterofhishossgettin"outhe"dhevplayedrootsonthemInjinsaforetheytetchedye。But，"headded，withgloomydejection，"thereain"tnosandinthisyercrowd，tharain"tnovim，tharain"tnothin"；andtharkan"tbeezlongezthar"swomenandbabies，andwomenandbabyfixin"s，mixedupwithit。I"dhevcutthewholeblamedgangefitweren"tforoneortwothings，"headdeddarkly。
Clarence，impressedbyJim"smysteriousmanner，forthemomentforgothiscontemptuousallusiontoMr。Peyton，andtheevidentimplicationofSusyandhimself，andaskedhurriedly，"Whatthings?"
Jim，asifforgetfuloftheboy"spresenceinhisfitfulmood，abstractedlyhalfdrewaglitteringbowieknifefromhisbootleg，andthenslowlyputitbackagain。"Thar"soneortwooldscores，"
hecontinued，inalowvoice，althoughnoonewasinhearingdistanceofthem，"oneortwoprivateaccounts，"hewentontragically，avertinghiseyesasifwatchedbysomeone，"thethevtobewipedoutwithbloodaforeIleave。Thar"soneortwomenTOOMANYaliveandbreathin"inthisyercrowd。Mebbeeit"sGusGildersleeve；mebbeeit"sHarryBenham；mebbee，"headded，withadarkyetnobledisinterestedness，"it"sME。"
"Oh，no，"saidClarence，withpolitedeprecation。
FarfromplacatingthegloomyJim，thisseemedonlytoawakehissuspicions。"Mebbee，"hesaid，dancingsuddenlyawayfromClarence，"mebbeeyouthinkI"mlyin"。Mebbeeyouthink，becauseyou"reColonelBrant"sson，yerkinrunMEwiththisyertrain。
Mebbee，"hecontinued，dancingviolentlybackagain，"yekalkilate，becauseyerunoff"n"stampededababy，yekintotemeroundtoo，sonny。Mebbee，"hewenton，executingadoubleshuffleinthedustandalternatelystrikinghishandsonthesidesofhisboots，"mebbeeyou"respyin"roundandreportin"totheJudge。"
FirmlyconvincedthatJimwasworkinghimselfupbyanIndianwar-
dancetosomedesperateassaultonhimself，butresentingthelastunjustaccusation，Clarencehadrecoursetooneofhisolddoggedsilences。Happilyatthismomentanauthoritativevoicecalledout，"Now，then，youJimHooker!"andthedesperateHooker，asusual，vanishedinstantly。Nevertheless，heappearedanhourortwolaterbesidethewagoninwhichSusyandClarencewereseated，withanexpressionofsatiatedvengeanceandremorsefulbloodguiltinessinhisface，andhishaircombedIndianfashionoverhiseyes。Ashegenerouslycontentedhimselfwithonlypassingagloomyanddisparagingcriticismonthegameofcardsthatthechildrenwereplaying，itstruckClarenceforthefirsttimethatagreatdealofhisrealwickednessresidedinhishair。
ThissethimtothinkingthatitwasstrangethatMr。Peytondidnottrytoreformhimwithapairofscissors，butnotuntilClarencehimselfhadforatleastfourdaysattemptedtoimitateJimbycombinghisownhairinthatfashion。
Afewdayslater，Jimagaincasuallyfavoredhimwithaconfidentialinterview。Clarencehadbeenallowedtobestrideoneoftheteamleaderspostillionwise，andwascorrespondinglyelevated，whenJimjoinedhim，ontheMexicanplug，whichappeared——
nodoubtapartofitswickedart——heavilydocile，andevenslightlylame。
"Howmuch，"saidJim，inatoneofgloomyconfidence，——"howmuchdidyoureckontomakebystealin"thatgal-baby，sonny?"
"Nothing，"repliedClarencewithasmile。PerhapsitwasanevidenceofthemarkedinfluencethatJimwasbeginningtoexertoverhimthathealreadydidnotattempttoresentthisfascinatingimplicationofgrownupguilt。
"Itorterbinagoodjob，ifitwarn"trevenge，"continuedJimmoodily。
"No，itwasn"trevenge，"saidClarencehurriedly。
"Thenyekalkilatedtergeterhundreddollarsrewardeftheoldmanandoldwomanhadn"tbinscelpedaforeyetgotupto"em?"saidJim。"That"syourblameddodgastedluck，eh!Enyhow，you"llmakeMrs。Peytonplankdownsuthin"ifsheadoptsthebabby。Lookyer，youngfeller，"hesaid，startingsuddenlyandthrowinghisfaceforward，glaringfiendishlythroughhismattedside-locks，"d"yemeantertellmeitwasn"taplant——askingame——thehullthing?"
"Awhat?"saidClarence。
"D"yemeantosay"——itwaswonderfulhowgratuitouslyhuskyhisvoicebecameatthismoment——"d"yemeantertellmeyedidn"tsetonthemInjinstowipeouttheSilsbees，sothatyecouldhevanout-an"-outgalORFENonhandferMrs。Peytonteradopt——eh?"
ButhereClarencewasforcedtoprotest，andstrongly，althoughJimcontemptuouslyignoredit。"Don"tlieterme，"herepeatedmysteriously，"I"mfly。I"mdark，youngfel。We"recahootsinthisthing?"AndwiththisartfulsuggestionofbeinginpossessionofClarence"sguiltysecrethedepartedintimetoeludetheusualobjurgationofhissuperior，"Phil，"theheadteamster。
NorwashisbalefulfascinationexercisedentirelyonClarence。InspiteofMrs。Peyton"sjealouslyaffectionatecare，Clarence"sfrequentcompanionship，andthelittlecircleofadmiringcourtiersthatalwayssurroundedSusy，itbecameevidentthatthissmallEvehadbeensecretlyapproachedandtemptedbytheSatanicJim。Shewasfoundonedaytohaveafewheron"sfeathersinherpossessionwithwhichsheadornedhercurls，andatanothertimewasdiscoveredtohaverubbedherfaceandarmswithyellowandredochre，confessedlythefreegiftofJimHooker。ItwastoClarencealonethatsheadmittedthesignificanceandpurportoftheseofferings。"Jimgived"emtome，"shesaid，"andJim"sakindofInjinhisselfthatwon"thurtme；andwhenbadInjinscome，they"llthinkI"mhisInjinbabyandrunaway。AndJimsaidifI"djusttoldtheInjinswhentheycametokillpapaandmamma，thatI
b"longedtohim，they"dhevrunnedaway。"
"But，"saidthepracticalClarence，"youcouldnot；youknowyouwerewithMrs。Peytonallthetime。"
"Kla"uns，"saidSusy，shakingherheadandfixingherroundblueeyeswithcalmmendacityontheboy，"don"tyoutellme。IWAS
THERE!"
Clarencestartedback，andnearlyfelloverthewagoninhopelessdismayatthisdreadfulrevelationofSusy"spowersofexaggeration。"But，"hegasped，"youknow，Susy，youandmeleftbefore——"
"Kla"uns，"saidSusycalmly，makingalittlepleatintheskirtofherdresswithhersmallthumbandfingers，"don"tyoutalktome。
Iwasthere。I"seaSERIVER!Themenatthefortsaidso!TheSERIVERSisallus，allusthere，andallusallusknowseverythin"。"
Clarencewastoodumfoundedtoreply。HehadavaguerecollectionofhavingnoticedbeforethatSusywasverymuchfascinatedbythereputationgiventoheratFortRidgeasa"survivor，"andwastryinginaninfantilewaytoliveuptoit。ThisthewickedJimhadevidentlyencouraged。ForadayortwoClarencefeltalittleafraidofher，andmorelonelythanever。
Itwasinthisstate，andwhilehewasdoggedlyconsciousthathisassociationwithJimdidnotprepossessMrs。Peytonorherbrotherinhisfavor，andthattheformerevenbelievedhimresponsibleforSusy"sunhallowedacquaintancewithJim，thathedriftedintooneofthoseyouthfulescapadesonwhicheldersareapttositinseverebutnotalwaysconsideratejudgment。Believing，likemanyotherchildren，thatnobodycaredparticularlyforhim，excepttoRESTRAINhim，discovering，aschildrendo，muchsoonerthanwecomplacentlyimagine，thatloveandpreferencehavenologicalconnectionwithdesertorcharacter，Clarencebecameboyishlyreckless。Butwhen，oneday，itwasrumoredthataherdofbuffalowasinthevicinity，andthatthetrainwouldbedelayedthenextmorninginorderthatahuntmightbeorganized，byGildersleeve，Benham，andafewothers，ClarencelistenedwillinglytoJim"spropositionthattheyshouldsecretlyfollowit。
Toeffecttheirunhallowedpurposerequiredboldnessandduplicity。
ItwasarrangedthatshortlyafterthedepartureofthehuntingpartyClarenceshouldaskpermissiontomountandexerciseoneoftheteamhorses——afavorthathadbeenfrequentlygrantedhim；thatintheoutskirtsofthecampheshouldpretendthatthehorseranawaywithhim，andJimwouldstartinpursuit。Theabsenceoftheshootingpartywithsolargeacontingentofhorsesandmenwouldprecludeanyfurtherdetachmentfromthecamptoassistthem。Onceclear，theywouldfollowthetrackofthehunters，and，ifdiscoveredbythem，wouldofferthesameexcuse，withtheadditionthattheyhadlosttheirwaytothecamp。Theplanwassuccessful。
Thedetailswerecarriedoutwithalmosttooperfecteffect；asitappearedthatJim，inordertogivedramaticintensitytothefractiousnessofClarence"shorse，hadinsertedathornappleundertheneckofhissaddle，whichClarenceonlydiscoveredintimetopreventhimselffrombeingunseated。Urgedforwardbyostentatious"Whoas!"andsurreptitiouscutsintherearfromJim，pursuerandpursuedpresentlyfoundthemselvessafelybeyondthehalf-drystreamandfringeofalderbushesthatskirtedthecamp。Theywerenotfollowed。Whethertheteamsterssuspectedandwinkedatthisdesign，orbelievedthattheboyscouldtakecareofthemselves，andrannoriskofbeinglostintheproximityofthehuntingparty，therewasnogeneralalarm。
Thusreassured，andhavingageneralideaofthedirectionofthehunt，theboyspushedhilariouslyforward。Beforethemopenedavastexpanseofbottomland，slightlyslopingontherighttoadistanthalf-filledlagoon，formedbythemainriveroverflow，onwhosetributarytheyhadencamped。Thelagoonwaspartlyhiddenbystragglingtimberand"brush，"andbeyondthatagainstretchedtheunlimitableplains——thepastureoftheirmightygame。Hither，Jimhoarselyinformedhiscompanion，thebuffaloescametowater。A
fewrodsfurtheron，hestarteddramatically，and，alighting，proceededtoslowlyexaminetheground。Itseemedtobescatteredoverwithhalf-circularpatches，whichhepointedoutmysteriouslyas"buffalochip。"ToClarence"sinexperiencedperceptiontheplainboreasingularresemblancetothesurfaceofanordinaryunromanticcattlepasturethatsomewhatchilledhisheroicfancy。
However，thetwocompanionshaltedandprofessionallyexaminedtheirarmsandequipments。
These，Igrievetosay，thoughvaried，werescarcelyfullorsatisfactory。ThenecessitiesoftheirflighthadrestrictedJimtoanolddouble-barreledfowling-piece，whichheusuallycarriedslungacrosshisshoulders；anold-fashioned"six-shooter，"whosebarrelsrevolvedoccasionallyandunexpectedly，knownas"Allen"sPepperBox"onaccountofitsculinaryresemblance；andabowie-
knife。ClarencecarriedanIndianbowandarrowwithwhichhehadbeenexercising，andahatchetwhichhehadconcealedundertheflanksofhissaddle。TothisJimgenerouslyaddedthesix-
shooter，takingthehatchetinexchange——atransferthatatfirstdelightedClarence，until，seeingthewarlikeandpicturesqueeffectofthehatchetinJim"sbelt，heregrettedthetransfer。
Thegun，Jimmeantimeexplained"extrycharged，""chuckup"tothemiddlewithslugsandrevolverbullets，couldonlybefiredbyhimself，andeventhenhedarklyadded，notwithoutdanger。Thispovertyofequipmentwas，however，compensatedbyoppositestatementsfromJimoftheextraordinaryresultsobtainedbythesesimpleweaponsfrom"fellersIknew:"howHEhimselfhadoncebroughtdowna"bull"byaboldshotwitharevolverthroughitsopenbellowingmouththatpiercedhis"innards；"howafriendofhis——anintimateinfact——nowinjailatLouisvilleforkillingasheriff"sdeputy，hadoncefoundhimselfaloneanddismountedwithasimpleclasp-knifeandalariatamongaherdofbuffaloes；how，leapingcalmlyupontheshaggyshouldersofthebiggestbull，helashedhimselfwiththelariatfirmlytoitshorns，goadingitonwardwithhisclasp-knife，andsubsistingfordaysuponthefleshcutfromitslivingbody，until，abandonedbyitsfellowsandexhaustedbythelossofblood，itfinallysuccumbedtoitsvictorattheveryoutskirtsofthecamptowhichhehadartfullydrivenit!ItmustbeconfessedthatthisrecitalsomewhattookawayClarence"sbreath，andhewouldhavelikedtoaskafewquestions。
Buttheywerealoneontheprairie，andlinkedbyacommontransgression；theglorioussunwascomingupvictoriously，thepure，crispairwasintoxicatingtheirnerves；inthebrightforecastofyoutheverythingWASpossible!
Thesurfaceofthebottomlandthattheywerecrossingwashereandtherebrokenupbyfissuresand"potholes，"andsomecircumspectionintheirprogressbecamenecessary。Inoneofthesehalts，Clarencewasstruckbyadull，monotonousjarringthatsoundedliketheheavyregularfallofwateroveradam。Eachtimethattheyslackenedtheirpacethesoundwouldbecomemoreaudible，andwasatlastaccompaniedbythatslightbutunmistakabletremoroftheearththatbetrayedthevicinityofawaterfall。Hesitatingoverthephenomenon，whichseemedtoimplythattheirtopographywaswrongandthattheyhadblunderedfromthetrack，theywerepresentlystartledbythefactthatthesoundwasactuallyAPPROACHINGthem!Withasuddeninstincttheybothgallopedtowardsthelagoon。AsthetimberopenedbeforethemJimutteredalongecstaticshout。"Why，it"sTHEM!"
AtafirstglanceitseemedtoClarenceasifthewholeplainbeyondwasbrokenupandrollingintumblingwavesorfurrowstowardsthem。Asecondglanceshowedthetossingfrontsofavastherdofbuffaloes，andhereandthere，dartinginandoutandamongthem，oremergingfromthecloudofdustbehind，wildfiguresandflashesoffire。Withtheideaofwaterstillinhismind，itseemedasifsometumultuoustidalwaveweresweepingunseentowardsthelagoon，carryingeverythingbeforeit。Heturnedwitheagereyes，inspeechlessexpectancy，tohiscompanion。
Alack!thatredoubtableheroandmightyhunterwas，toallappearances，equallyspeechlessandastonished。Itwastruethatheremainedrootedtothesaddle，alank，stillheroicfigure，alternatelygraspinghishatchetandgunwithakindofspasmodicregularity。Howlonghewouldhavecontinuedthiswouldneverbeknown，forthenextmoment，withadeafeningcrash，theherdbrokethroughthebrush，and，swervingattherightofthelagoon，boredowndirectlyuponthem。Allfurtherdoubtorhesitationontheirpartwasstopped。Thefarseeing，sagaciousMexicanplugwithaterrificsnortwheeledandfledfuriouslywithhisrider。Moved，nodoubt，bytouchingfidelity，Clarence"shumblerteam-horseinstantlyfollowed。Inafewmomentsthosedevotedanimalsstrugglednecktoneckinnobleemulation。
"Whatarewegoin"offthiswayfor?"gaspedthesimpleClarence。
"PeytonandGildersleevearebackthere——andthey"llseeus，"
gaspedJiminreply。ItstruckClarencethatthebuffaloesweremuchnearerthemthanthehuntingparty，andthatthetramplinghoofsofadozenbullswereclosebehindthem，butwithanothergaspheshouted，"Whenarewegoingtohunt"em?"
"HuntTHEM!"screamedJim，withahystericaloutburstoftruth；
"why，they"rehuntin"US——dashit!"
Indeed，therewasnodoubtthattheirfrenziedhorseswereflyingbeforetheequallyfrenziedherdbehindthem。Theygainedamomentaryadvantagebyridingintooneofthefissures，andoutagainontheotherside，whiletheirpursuerswereobligedtomakeadetour。Butinafewminutestheywereovertakenbythatpartoftheherdwhohadtakentheotherandnearersideofthelagoon，andwerenowfairlyinthemidstofthem。Thegroundshookwiththeirtramplinghoofs；theirsteamingbreath，minglingwiththestingingdustthatfilledtheair，halfchokedandblindedClarence。HewasdimlyconsciousthatJimhadwildlythrownhishatchetatacowbuffalopressingcloseuponhisflanks。Astheysweptdownintoanothergullyhesawhimraisehisfatefulgunwithutterdesperation。Clarencecrouchedlowonhishorse"soutstretchedneck。Therewasablindingflash，asinglestunningreportofbothbarrels；Jimreeledinonewayhalfoutofthesaddle，whilethesmokinggunseemedtoleapinanotheroverhishead，andthenriderandhorsevanishedinachokingcloudofdustandgunpowder。A
momentafterClarence"shorsestoppedwithasuddencheck，andtheboyfelthimselfhurledoveritsheadintothegully，alightingonsomethingthatseemedtobeaboundingcushionofcurledandtwistedhair。Itwastheshaggyshoulderofanenormousbuffalo!
ForJim"sdesperaterandomshotanddoublechargehadtakeneffectonthenearhindlegofaprecedingbull，tearingawaythefleshandham-stringingtheanimal，whohaddroppedinthegullyjustinfrontofClarence"shorse。
Dazedbutunhurt，theboyrolledfromtheliftedforequartersofthestrugglingbrutetotheground。Whenhestaggeredtohisfeetagain，notonlyhishorsewasgonebutthewholeherdofbuffaloesseemedtohavepassedtoo，andhecouldheartheshoutsofunseenhuntersnowaheadofhim。Theyhadevidentlyoverlookedhisfall，andthegullyhadconcealedhim。Thesidesbeforehimweretoosteepforhisachinglimbstoclimb；theslopebywhichheandthebullhaddescendedwhenthecollisionoccurredwasbehindthewoundedanimal。Clarencewasstaggeringtowardsitwhenthebull，byasupremeeffort，lifteditselfonthreelegs，halfturned，andfacedhim。
Theseeventshadpassedtooquicklyfortheinexperiencedboytohavefeltanyactivefear，orindeedanythingbutwildexcitementandconfusion。Butthespectacleofthatshaggyandenormousfront，thatseemedtofillthewholegully，risingwithawfuldeliberationbetweenhimandescape，sentathrillofterrorthroughhisframe。Thegreat，dull，bloodshoteyesglaredathimwithadumb，wonderingfury；thelargewetnostrilsweresonearthattheirfirstsnortofinarticulateragemadehimreelbackwardsasfromablow。Thegullywasonlyanarrowandshortfissureorsubsidenceoftheplain；afewpacesmoreofretreatandhewouldbeatitsend，againstanalmostperpendicularbankfifteenfeethigh。Ifheattemptedtoclimbitscrumblingsidesandfell，therewouldbethoseshortbutterriblehornswaitingtoimpalehim!Itseemedtooterrible，toocruel!Hewassosmallbesidethisovergrownmonster。Itwasn"tfair!Thetearsstartedtohiseyes，andthen，inarageattheinjusticeofFate，hestooddoggedlystillwithclenchedfists。Hefixedhisgazewithhalf-hysterical，childishfuryonthoselurideyes；hedidnotknowthat，owingtothestrangemagnifyingpowerofthebull"sconvexpupils，he，Clarence，appearedmuchbiggerthanhereallywastothebrute"sheavyconsciousness，thedistancefromhimmostdeceptive，andthatitwastothisfactthathunterssooftenowedtheirescape。Heonlythoughtofsomedesperatemeansofattack。Ah!thesix-
shooter。Itwasstillinhispocket。Hedrewitnervously，hopelessly——itlookedsosmallcomparedwithhislargeenemy!
Hepresenteditwithflashingeyes，andpulledthetrigger。A
feebleclickfollowed，another，andagain!EvenTHIShadmockedhim。Hepulledthetriggeroncemore，wildly；therewasasuddenexplosion，andanother。Hesteppedback；theballshadapparentlyflattenedthemselvesharmlesslyonthebull"sforehead。Hepulledagain，hopelessly；therewasanotherreport，asuddenfuriousbellow，andtheenormousbrutethrewhisheadsavagelytooneside，buryinghislefthorndeepinthecrumblingbankbesidehim。Againandagainhechargedthebank，drivinghislefthornhome，andbringingdownthestonesandearthinshowers。ItwassomesecondsbeforeClarencesawinasingleglimpseofthatwildlytossingcrestthereasonofthisfury。Thebloodwaspouringfromhislefteye，penetratedbythelastbullet；thebullwasblinded!A
terriblerevulsionoffeeling，asuddensenseofremorsethatwasforthemomentmoreawfulthanevenhispreviousfear，overcamehim。HEhaddoneTHATTHING!Asmuchtoflyfromthedreadfulspectacleasanyinstinctofself-preservation，hetookadvantageofthenextmadparoxysmsofpainandblindness，thatalwaysimpelledthesufferingbeasttowardstheleft，toslippasthimontheright，reachtheincline，andscramblewildlyuptotheplainagain。Hereheranconfusedlyforward，notknowingwhither——onlycaringtoescapethatagonizedbellowing，toshutoutforevertheaccusinglookofthathugeblood-welteringeye。
Suddenlyheheardadistantangryshout。Tohisfirsthurriedglancetheplainhadseemedempty，but，lookingup，hesawtwohorsemenrapidlyadvancingwithaledhorsebehindthem——hisown。
Withtheblessedsenseofreliefthatovertookhimnowcamethefevereddesireforsympathyandtotellthemall。ButastheycamenearerhesawthattheywereGildersleeve，thescout，andHenryBenham，andthat，farfromsharinganydelightinhisdeliverance，theirfacesonlyexhibitedirascibleimpatience。Overcomebythisnewdefeat，theboystopped，againdumbanddogged。
"Now，then，blankitall，WILLyougetupandcomealong，ordoyoureckontokeepthetrainwaitinganotherhouroveryourblankedfoolishness?"saidGildersleevesavagely。
Theboyhesitated，andthenmountedmechanically，withoutaword。
""Twouldhaveserved"emrighttohavegoneandleft"em，"mutteredBenhamvindictively。
ForonewildinstantClarencethoughtofthrowinghimselffromhishorseandbiddingthemgoonandleavehim。Butbeforehecouldputhisthoughtintoactionthetwomenweregallopingforward，withhishorseledbyalariatfastenedtothehornofGildersleeve"ssaddle。