第5章
AtthistheotherplayersbegantoregardClarencesingularly，oneortwoofthespectatorssmiled，andtheboy，coloring，movedawkwardlyaway。Buthissleevewascaughtbythesuccessfulplayer，who，detaininghimgently，putthreegoldpiecesintohishand。
"That"sYOURshare，sonny，"hewhispered。
"Share——forwhat?"stammeredtheastoundedClarence。
"Forbringingme"theluck，""saidtheman。
Clarencestared。"AmI——to——toplaywithit?"hesaid，glancingatthecoinsandthenatthetable，inignoranceofthestranger"smeaning。
"No，no!"saidthemanhurriedly，"don"tdothat。You"llloseit，sonny，sure!Don"tyousee，YOUBRINGTHELUCKTOOTHERS，nottoyourself。Keepit，oldman，andrunhome!"
"Idon"twantit!Iwon"thaveit!"saidClarencewithaswiftrecollectionofthemanipulationofhispursethatmorning，andasuddendistrustofallmankind。
"There!"Heturnedbacktothetableandlaidthemoneyonthefirstvacantcardhesaw。Inanothermoment，asitseemedtohim，itwasrakedawaybythedealer。Asenseofreliefcameoverhim。
"There!"saidtheman，withanawedvoiceandastrange，fatuouslookinhiseye。"WhatdidItellyou?Yousee，it"sallusso!
Now，"headdedroughly，"getupandgetouto"this，aforeyoulosethebootsandshirtoffye。"
Clarencedidnotwaitforasecondcommand。Withanotherglanceroundtheroom，hebegantomakehiswaythroughthecrowdtowardsthefront。Butinthatpartingglancehecaughtaglimpseofawomanpresidingovera"wheeloffortune"inacorner，whosefaceseemedfamiliar。Helookedagain，timidly。Inspiteofanextraordinaryhead-dressorcrownthatsheworeasthe"GoddessofFortune，"herecognized，twistedinitstinsel，acertainscarletvinewhichhehadseenbefore；inspiteofthehoarseformulawhichshewascontinuallyrepeating，herecognizedtheforeignaccent。
Itwasthewomanofthestage-coach!Withasuddendreadthatshemightrecognizehim，andlikewisedemandhisservices"forluck，"
heturnedandfled。
Oncemoreintheopenair，therecameuponhimavagueloathingandhorroroftherestlessmadnessandfeverishdistractionofthishalf-civilizedcity。Itwasthemorepowerfulthatitwasvague，andtheoutcomeofsomeinwardinstinct。Hefoundhimselflongingforthepureairandsympatheticlonelinessoftheplainsandwilderness；hebegantoyearnforthecompanionshipofhishumbleassociates——theteamster，thescoutGildersleeve，andevenJimHooker。Butaboveallandbeforeallwasthewilddesiretogetawayfromthesemaddeningstreetsandtheirbewilderingoccupants。
Heranbacktothebaker"s，gatheredhispurchasestogether，tookadvantageofafriendlydoorwaytostrapthemonhisboyishshoulders，slippedintoasidestreet，andstruckoutatoncefortheoutskirts。
Ithadbeenhisfirstintentiontotakestagetothenearestminingdistrict，butthediminutionofhissmallcapitalforbadethatoutlay，andhedecidedtowalktherebythehighroad，ofwhosegeneraldirectionhehadinformedhimself。Inhalfanhourthelightsoftheflat，strugglingcity，andtheirreflectionintheshallow，turbidriverbeforeit，hadsunkwellbehindhim。Theairwascoolandsoft；ayellowmoonswamintheslighthazethatroseabovethetules；inthedistanceafewscatteredcottonwoodsandsycamoresmarkedlikesentinelstheroad。Whenhehadwalkedsomedistancehesatdownbeneathoneofthemtomakeafrugalsupperfromthedryrationsinhispack，butintheabsenceofanyspringhewasforcedtoquenchhisthirstwithaglassofwaterinawaysidetavern。Herehewasgood-humoredlyofferedsomethingstronger，whichhedeclined，andrepliedtocertaincuriousinterrogationsbysayingthatheexpectedtoovertakehisfriendsinawagonfurtheron。Anewdistrustofmankindhadbeguntomaketheboyanadeptininnocentfalsehood，themoredeceptiveashiscareless，cheerfulmanner，theresultofhisreliefatleavingthecity，andhisperfecteaseinthelovingcompanionshipofnightandnature，certainlygavenoindicationofhishomelessnessandpoverty。
Itwaslongpastmidnight，when，wearyinbody，butstillhopefulandhappyinmind，heturnedoffthedustyroadintoavastrollingexpanseofwildoats，withthesamesenseofsecurityofrestasatravelertohisinn。Here，completelyscreenedfromviewbythetallstalksofgrainthatrosethicklyaroundhimtotheheightofaman"sshoulder，hebeatdownafewofthemforabed，onwhichhedepositedhisblanket。Placinghispackforapillow，hecurledhimselfupinhisblanket，andspeedilyfellasleep。
Heawokeatsunrise，refreshed，invigorated，andhungry。Buthewasforcedtodeferhisfirstself-preparedbreakfastuntilhehadreachedwater，andalessdangerousplacethanthewild-oatfieldtobuildhisfirstcampfire。Thishefoundamilefurtheron，nearsomedwarfwillowsonthebankofahalf-drystream。Ofhisvariouseffortstopreparehisfirstmeal，thefirewasthemostsuccessful；thecoffeewassomewhattoosubstantiallythick，andthebaconandherringlackeddefinitenessofqualityfromhavingbeencookedinthesamevessel。InthisboyishpicnichemissedSusy，andrecalled，perhapsalittlebitterly，hercoldnessatparting。Butthenoveltyofhissituation，thebrilliantsunshineandsenseoffreedom，andtheroadalreadyawakeningtodustylifewithpassingteams，dismissedeverythingbutthefuturefromhismind。Readjustinghispack，hesteppedoncheerily。Atnoonhewasovertakenbyateamster，whoinreturnforamatchtolighthispipegavehimaliftofadozenmiles。ItistobefearedthatClarence"saccountofhimselfwasequallyfancifulwithhispreviousstory，andthattheteamsterpartedfromhimwithagenuineregret，andahopethathewouldsoonbeovertakenbyhisfriendsalongtheroad。"Andmindthatyouain"tsuchafoolagintolet"emmakeyoutotetheirdod-blastedtoolsfurthem!"headdedunsuspectingly，pointingtoClarence"sminingoutfit。Thussavedtheheaviestpartoftheday"sjourney，fortheroadwascontinuallyrisingfromtheplainsduringthelastsixmiles，Clarencewasyetabletocoveraconsiderabledistanceonfootbeforehehaltedforsupper。Herehewasagainfortunate。Anemptylumberteamwateringatthesamespring，itsdriverofferedtotakeClarence"spurchases——fortheboyhadprofitedbyhislatefriend"ssuggestiontopersonallydetachhimselffromhisequipment——toBuckeyeMillsforadollar，whichwouldalsoincludea"shakedownpassage"forhimselfonthefloorofthewagon。"I
reckonyou"vebeenfoolin"awayinSacramentothemoneyyerparentsgiveyerforreturnstagefare，eh?Don"tlie，sonny，"headdedgrimly，asthenowartfulClarencesmileddiplomatically，"I"vebeentharmyself!"Luckily，theexcusethathewas"tiredandsleepy"preventedfurtherdangerousquestioning，andtheboywassoonreallyindeepslumberonthewagonfloor。
Heawokebetimestofindhimselfalreadyinthemountains。BuckeyeMillswasastragglingsettlement，andClarenceprudentlystoppedanyembarrassinginquiryfromhisfriendbydroppingoffthewagonwithhisequipmentastheyenteredit，andhurriedlysaying"Good-
by"fromacrossroadthroughthewoods。Hehadlearnedthatthenearestminingcampwasfivemilesaway，anditsdirectionwasindicatedbyalongwooden"flume，"orwater-way，thatalternatelyappearedanddisappearedontheflankofthemountainopposite。
Thecooleranddrierair，thegratefulshadowofpineandbay，andthespicybalsamicodorsthateverywheregreetedhim，thrilledandexhilaratedhim。Thetrailplungingsometimesintoanundisturbedforest，hestartedthebirdsbeforehimlikeaflightofarrowsthroughitsdimrecesses；attimeshehungbreathlesslyoverthebluedepthsofcanyonswherethesameforestswererepeatedathousandfeetbelow。Towardsnoonhestruckintoaruderoad——
evidentlythethoroughfareofthelocality——andwassurprisedtofindthatit，aswellastheadjacentsoilwhereverdisturbed，wasadeepIndianred。Everywhere，alongitssides，powderingthebanksandbolesoftreeswithitsruddystain，inmoundsandhillocksofpileddirtontheroad，orinliquidpaint-likepools，whenatricklingstreamhadformedagutteracrossit，therewasalwaysthesamedeepsanguinarycolor。Onceortwiceitbecamemorevividincontrastwiththewhiteteethofquartzthatpeepedthroughitfromthehillsideorcrossedtheroadincrumbledstrata。OneofthosepiecesClarencepickedupwithaquickeningpulse。ItwasveinedandstreakedwithshiningmicaandtinyglitteringcubesofmineralthatLOOKEDlikegold!
Theroadnowbegantodescendtowardsawindingstream，shrunkenbydroughtandditching，thatglareddazzinglyinthesunlightfromitswhitebarsofsand，orglistenedinshiningsheetsandchannels。Alongitsbanks，andevenencroachinguponitsbed，werescatteredafewmudcabins，strange-lookingwoodentroughsandgutters，andhereandthere，glancingthroughtheleaves，thewhitecanvasoftents。Thestumpsoffelledtreesandblackenedspaces，asofrecentfires，markedthestreamoneitherside。AsuddensenseofdisappointmentovercameClarence。Itlookedvulgar，common，andworsethanall——FAMILIAR。Itwasliketheunlovelyoutskirtsofadozenotherprosaicsettlementshehadseeninlessromanticlocalities。Inthatmuddyredstream，pouringoutofawoodengutter，inwhichthreeorfourbearded，slouching，half-
nakedfigureswererakinglikechiffonniers，therewasnothingtosuggesttheroyalmetal。Yethewassoabsorbedingazingatthescene，andhadwalkedsorapidlyduringthepastfewminutes，thathewasstartled，onturningasharpcorneroftheroad，tocomeabruptlyuponanoutlyingdwelling。
Itwasanondescriptbuilding，halfcanvasandhalfboards。Theinteriorseenthroughtheopendoorwasfittedupwithsideshelves，acountercarelesslypiledwithprovisions，groceries，clothing，andhardware——withnoattemptatdisplayorevenordinaryselection——andatable，onwhichstoodademijohnandthreeorfourdirtyglasses。Tworoughlydressedmen，whoselong，mattedbeardsandhairleftonlytheireyesandlipsvisibleinthetangledhirsutewildernessbelowtheirslouchedhats，wereleaningagainsttheoppositesidesofthedoorway，smoking。Almostthrownagainstthemintherapidmomentumofhisdescent，Clarencehaltedviolently。
"Well，sonny，youneedn"tcapsizetheshanty，"saidthefirstman，withouttakinghispipefromhislips。
"Ifyerlookingfuryerma，sheandyerAuntJanehevjestgoneovertoParsonDoolittle"stotaketea，"observedthesecondmanlazily。"Sheallowedthatyou"dwait。"
"I"m——I"m——goingto——tothemines，"explainedClarence，withsomehesitation。"Isupposethisistheway。"
Thetwomentooktheirpipesfromtheirlips，lookedateachother，completelywipedeveryvestigeofexpressionfromtheirfaceswiththebackoftheirhands，turnedtheireyesintotheinteriorofthecabin，andsaid，"Willyercomeyer，nowWILLyer?"Thusadjured，halfadozenmen，alsobeardedandcarryingpipesintheirmouths，straggledoutoftheshanty，and，filinginfrontofit，squatteddown，withtheirbacksagainsttheboards，andgazedcomfortablyattheboy。Clarencebegantofeeluneasy。
"I"llgive，"saidone，takingouthispipeandgrimlyeyingClarence，"ahundreddollarsforhimashestands。"
"Andseein"ashe"sgotthatbran-newrig-outo"tools，"saidanother，"I"llgiveahundredandfifty——andthedrinks。I"vebeen，"headdedapologetically，"wantin"sunthin"likethisalongtime。"
"Well，gen"lemen，"saidthemanwhohadfirstspokentohim，"lookin"athimbyandlarge；takin"in，sotospeak，thegin"ralgaitofhiminsingleharness；bearin"inmindtheperfectfreshnessofhim，andthecoolnessandsizeofhischeek——theeasydownyness，previousness，andutterdon"t-care-a-damnativenessofhiscomingyer，Ithinktwohundredain"ttoomuchforhim，andwe"llcallitabargain。"
Clarence"spreviousexperienceofthisgrim，smilelessCalifornianchaffwasnotcalculatedtorestorehisconfidence。Hedrewawayfromthecabin，andrepeateddoggedly，"Iaskedyouifthiswasthewaytothemines。"
"ItAREthemines，andtheseyerearetheminers，"saidthefirstspeakergravely。"Permitmetointerdoose"em。Thisyere"sShastaJim，thisyere"sShotcardBilly，thisisNastyBob，andthisSlumgullionDick。Thisyere"stheDooko"ChathamStreet，theLivin"Skeleton，andme!"
"Mayweask，fairyoungsir，"saidtheLivingSkeleton，who，however，seemedinfairlyrobustcondition，"whencecameyeonthewingsofthemorning，andwhoseMarbleHallsyehevleftdesolate?"
"Icameacrosstheplains，andgotintoStocktontwodaysagoonMr。Peyton"strain，"saidClarence，indignantly，seeingnoreasonnowtoconcealanything。"IcametoSacramentotofindmycousin，whoisn"tlivingthereanymore。Idon"tseeanythingfunnyinTHAT!Icameheretotheminestodiggold——because——becauseMr。
Silsbee，themanwhowastobringmehereandmighthavefoundmycousinforme，waskilledbyIndians。"
"Holdup，sonny。Letmehelpye，"saidthefirstspeaker，risingtohisfeet。"YOUdidn"tgetkilledbyInjinsbecauseyougotlostoutofatrainwithSilsbee"sinfantdarter。Peytonpickedyouupwhileyouwastakin"careofher，andtwodaysarteryoukemuptothebroken-downSilsbeewagons，withallthefolkslyin"thereslartered。"
"Yes，sir，"saidClarence，breathlesslywithastonishment。
"And，"continuedtheman，puttinghishandgravelytohisheadasiftoassisthismemory，"whenyouwasallaloneontheplainswiththatlittlechildyousawoneofthoseredskins，asneartoyouasIbe，watchin"thetrain，andyoudidn"tbreatheormovewhilehewasthere?"
"Yes，sir，"saidClarenceeagerly。
"AndyouwasshotatbyPeyton，hethinkin"youwasanInjuninthemesquitegrass?Andyouonceshotabuffalothathadbeenpitchedwithyoudownagully——allbyyourself?"
"Yes，"saidClarence，crimsonwithwonderandpleasure。"Youknowme，then?"
"Well，ye-e-es，"saidthemangravely，partinghismustachewithhisfingers。"Yousee，YOU"VEBEENHEREBEFORE。"
"Before!Me?"repeatedtheastoundedClarence。
"Yes，before。Lastnight。Youwastallerthen，andhadn"tcutyourhair。Youcursedagooddealmorethanyoudonow。Youdrankaman"sshareofwhiskey，andyouborrowedfiftydollarstogettoSacramentowith。Ireckonyouhaven"tgotitaboutyounow，eh?"
Clarence"sbrainreeledinutterconfusionandhopelessterror。
Washegoingcrazy，orhadthesecruelmenlearnedhisstoryfromhisfaithlessfriends，andthiswasapartoftheplot?Hestaggeredforward，butthemenhadrisenandquicklyencircledhim，asiftopreventhisescape。Invagueandhelplessdesperationhegasped——
"Whatplaceisthis?"
"FolkscallitDeadman"sGulch。"
Deadman"sGulch!Aflashofintelligencelituptheboy"sblindconfusion。Deadman"sGulch!CouldithavebeenJimHookerwhohadreallyrunaway，andhadtakenhisname?Heturnedhalf-
imploringlytothefirstspeaker。
"Wasn"theolderthanme，andbigger?Didn"thehaveasmooth，roundfaceandlittleeyes?Didn"thetalkhoarse?Didn"the——"
Hestoppedhopelessly。
"Yes；oh，hewasn"tabitlikeyou，"saidthemanmusingly。"Yesee，that"stheh-llofit!You"realtogetherTOOMANYandTOO
VARIOUSfurthiscamp。"
"Idon"tknowwho"sbeenherebefore，orwhattheyhavesaid，"saidClarencedesperately，yeteveninthatdesperationretainingthedoggedloyaltytohisoldplaymate，whichwaspartofhisnature。
"Idon"tknow，andIdon"tcare——there!I"mClarenceBrantofKentucky；IstartedinSilsbee"strainfromSt。Jo，andI"mgoingtothemines，andyoucan"tstopme!"
Themanwhohadfirstspokenstarted，lookedkeenlyatClarence，andthenturnedtotheothers。Thegentlemanknownasthelivingskeletonhadobtrudedhishugebulkinfrontoftheboy，and，gazingathim，saidreflectively，"Darnedifitdon"tlooklikeoneofBrant"spups——sure!"
"AiryeanyrelationtoKernelHamiltonBrantofLooeyville?"askedthefirstspeaker。
Againthatoldquestion!PoorClarencehesitated，despairingly。
Washetogothroughthesamecross-examinationhehadundergonewiththePeytons?"Yes，"hesaiddoggedly，"Iam——buthe"sdead，andyouknowit。"
"Dead——ofcourse。""Sartin。""He"sdead。""TheKernel"splanted，"saidthemeninchorus。
"Well，yes，"reflectedtheLivingSkeletonostentatiously，asonewhospokefromexperience。"HamBrant"saboutasbonynowastheymake"em。"
"Youbet!Aboutthedustiest，deadestcorpseyoukinturnout，"
corroboratedSlumgullionDick，noddinghisheadgloomilytotheothers；"inpointo"fack，esacorpse，aboutthelastoneIshouldkeertogohuntin"fur。"
"TheKernel"stech"udbecoldandclammy，"concludedtheDukeofChathamStreet，whohadnotyetspoken，"sure。Butwhatdidyermammysayaboutit?Isshegettin"marriedagin?DidSHEsendyehere?"
ItseemedtoClarencethattheDukeofChathamStreetherereceivedakickfromhiscompanions；buttheboyrepeateddoggedly——
"IcametoSacramentotofindmycousin，JacksonBrant；buthewasn"tthere。"
"JacksonBrant!"echoedthefirstspeaker，glancingattheothers。
"Didyourmothersayhewasyourcousin?"
"Yes，"saidClarencewearily。"Good-by。"
"Hullo，sonny，whereareyougoing?"
"Todiggold，"saidtheboy。"Andyouknowyoucan"tpreventme，ifitisn"tonyourclaim。Iknowthelaw。"HehadheardMr。
PeytondiscussitatStockton，andhefanciedthatthemen，whowerewhisperingamongthemselves，lookedkinderthanbefore，andasiftheywerenolonger"acting"tohim。Thefirstspeakerlaidhishandonhisshoulder，andsaid，"Allright，comewithme，andI"llshowyouwheretodig。"
"Whoareyou?"saidClarence。"Youcalledyourselfonly"me。""
"Well，youcancallmeFlynn——TomFlynn。"
"Andyou"llshowmewhereIcandig——myself?"
"Iwill。"
"Doyouknow，"saidClarencetimidly，yetwithahalf-conscioussmile，"thatI——Ikinderbringluck?"
Themanlookeddownuponhim，andsaidgravely，but，asitstruckClarence，withanewkindofgravity，"Ibelieveyou。"
"Yes，"saidClarenceeagerly，astheywalkedalongtogether，"I
broughtlucktoamaninSacramentotheotherday。"Andherelatedwithgreatearnestnesshisexperienceinthegamblingsaloon。Notcontentwiththat——thesealedfountainsofhischildishdeepbeingbrokenupbysomemysterioussympathy——hespokeofhishospitableexploitwiththepassengersatthewaysidebar，ofthefindingofhisFortunatuspurseandhisdepositatthebank。Whetherthatcharacteristicold-fashionedreticencewhichhadbeensuchanimportantfactorforgoodorillinhisfuturehadsuddenlydesertedhim，orwhethersomeextraordinaryprepossessioninhiscompanionhadaffectedhim，hedidnotknow；butbythetimethepairhadreachedthehillsideFlynnwasinpossessionofalltheboy"shistory。Ononepointonlywashisreserveunshaken。
ConsciousalthoughhewasofJimHooker"sduplicity，heaffectedtotreatitasacomrade"sjoke。
Theyhaltedatlastinthemiddleofanapparentlyfertilehillside。Clarenceshiftedhisshovelfromhisshoulders，unslunghispan，andlookedatFlynn。"Diganywherehere，whereyoulike，"
saidhiscompanioncarelessly，"andyou"llbesuretofindthecolor。Fillyourpanwiththedirt，gotothatsluice，andletthewaterruninonthetopofthepan——workin"itroundso，"headded，illustratingarotarymotionwiththevessel。"Keepdoingthatuntilallthesoiliswashedoutofit，andyouhaveonlytheblacksandatthebottom。Thenworkthatthesamewayuntilyouseethecolor。Don"tbeafraidofwashingthegoldoutofthepan——youcouldn"tdoitifyoutried。There，I"llleaveyouhere，andyouwaittillIcomeback。"Withanothergravenodandsomethinglikeasmileintheonlyvisiblepartofhisbeardedface——hiseyes——hestroderapidlyaway。
Clarencedidnotlosetime。Selectingaspotwherethegrasswaslessthick，hebrokethroughthesoilandturneduptwoorthreespadefulsofredsoil。Whenhehadfilledthepanandraisedittohisshoulder，hewasastoundedatitsweight。Hedidnotknowthatitwasduetotheredprecipitateofironthatgaveititscolor。
Staggeringalongwithhisburdentotherunningsluice，whichlookedlikeanopenwoodengutter，atthefootofthehill，hebegantocarefullycarryoutFlynn"sdirection。Thefirstdipofthepanintherunningwatercarriedoffhalfthecontentsofthepaninliquidpaint-likeooze。Foramomenthegavewaytoboyishsatisfactioninthesightandtouchofthisunctuoussolution，anddabbledhisfingersinit。Afewmomentsmoreofrinsingandhecametothesedimentoffineblacksandthatwasbeneathit。
Anotherplungeandswillingofwaterinthepan，and——couldhebelievehiseyes!——afewyellowtinyscales，scarcelylargerthanpins"heads，glitteredamongthesand。Hepoureditoff。Buthiscompanionwasright；thelightersandshiftedfromsidetosidewiththewater，buttheglitteringpointsremainedadheringbytheirowntinyspecificgravitytothesmoothsurfaceofthebottom。Itwas"thecolor"——gold!
Clarence"sheartseemedtogiveagreatleapwithinhim。Avisionofwealth，ofindependence，ofpower，sprangbeforehisdazzledeyes，and——ahandlightlytouchedhimontheshoulder。
Hestarted。Inhiscompletepreoccupationandexcitement，hehadnotheardtheclatterofhorse-hoofs，andtohisamazementFlynnwasalreadybesidehim，mounted，andleadingasecondhorse。
"Youkinride?"hesaidshortly。
"Yes"stammeredClarence；"but——"
"BUT——we"veonlygottwohourstoreachBuckeyeMillsintimetocatchthedownstage。Dropallthat，jumpup，andcomewithme!"
"ButI"vejustfoundgold，"saidtheboyexcitedly。
"AndI"vejustfoundyour——cousin。Come!"
HespurredhishorseacrossClarence"sscatteredimplements，halfhelped，halflifted，theboyintothesaddleofthesecondhorse，and，withacutofhisriataovertheanimal"shaunches，thenextmomenttheywerebothgallopingfuriouslyaway。
CHAPTERIX
Tornsuddenlyfromhisprospectivefuture，buttoomuchdominatedbythemanbesidehimtoprotest，Clarencewassilentuntilariseintheroad，afewminuteslater，partlyabatedtheirheadlongspeed，andgavehimchancetorecoverhisbreathandcourage。
"Whereismycousin?"heasked。
"IntheSoutherncounty，twohundredmilesfromhere。"
"Arewegoingtohim?"
"Yes。"
Theyrodefuriouslyforwardagain。Itwasnearlyhalfanhourbeforetheycametoalongerascent。ClarencecouldseethatFlynnwasfromtimetotimeexamininghimcuriouslyunderhisslouchedhat。Thissomewhatembarrassedhim，butinhissingularconfidenceinthemannodistrustmingledwithit。
"Yeneversawyour——cousin?"heasked。
"No，"saidClarence；"norheme。Idon"tthinkheknewmemuch，anyway。
"Howoldmoutyebe，Clarence?"
"Eleven。"
"Well，asyou"resuthinofapup"——Clarencestarted，andrecalledPeyton"sfirstcriticismofhim——"Ireckontotellyesuthin。Yeain"tgoin"tobeskeert，orafeard，orloseyersand，Ikalkilate，forskunkin"ain"tinyourbreed。Well，wotefItoldyethatthishyer——thishyer——COUSINo"yourswasthebiggestdevilonhung；
thathe"djustkilledaman，andhadtoliteoutelsewhere，andTHET"Swhyhedidn"tshowupinSacramento——whatifItoldyouthat?"
Clarencefeltthatthiswassomehowalittletoomuch。Hewasperfectlytruthful，andliftinghisfrankeyestoFlynn，hesaid，"IshouldthinkyouweretalkingagooddeallikeJimHooker!"
Hiscompanionstared，andsuddenlyreineduphishorse；then，burstingintoashoutoflaughter，hegallopedahead，fromtimetotimeshakinghishead，slappinghislegs，andmakingthedimwoodsringwithhisboisterousmirth。Thenassuddenlybecomingthoughtfulagain，herodeonrapidlyforhalfanhour，onlyspeakingtoClarencetourgehimforward，andassistinghisprogressbylashingthehaunchesofhishorse。Luckily，theboywasagoodrider——afactwhichFlynnseemedtothoroughlyappreciate——orhewouldhavebeenunseatedadozentimes。
AtlastthestragglingshedsofBuckeyeMillscameintosofterpurpleviewontheoppositemountain。ThenlayinghishandonClarence"sshoulderashereinedinathisside，Flynnbrokethesilence。
"There，boy，"hesaid，wipingthemirthfultearsfromhiseyes。"I
wasonlyfoolin"——onlytryin"yergrit!ThisyercousinI"mtakingyoutobeasquietandsoft-spokenandasold-fashionedezyoube。
Why，he"sthatwrappedupinbooksandstudythathelivesaloneinabigadoberancherieamongaloto"Spanish，andhedon"tkeertoseehisowncountrymen!Why，he"sevenchangedhisname，andcalleshimselfDonJuanRobinson!Buthe"sveryrich；heownsthreeleaguesoflandandheapsofcattleandhorses，and，"
glancingapprovinglyatClarence"sseatinthesaddle，"Ireckonyou"llhevplentyoffunthar。"
"But，"hesitatedClarence，towhomthisproposalseemedonlyarepetitionofPeyton"scharitableoffer，"IthinkI"dbetterstayhereanddiggold——WITHYOU。"
"AndIthinkyou"dbetternot，"saidtheman，withagravitythatwasverylikeasettleddetermination。
"ButmycousinnevercameformetoSacramento——norsent，norevenwrote，"persistedClarenceindignantly。
"NottoYOU，boy；buthewrotetothemanwhomhereckonedwouldbringyouthere——JackSilsbee——andleftitinthecareofthebank。
AndSilsbee，beingdead，didn"tcomefortheletter；andasyoudidn"taskforitwhenyoucame，anddidn"tevenmentionSilsbee"sname，thatsameletterwassentbacktoyourcousinthroughme，becausethebankthoughtweknewhiswhereabouts。Itcametothegulchbyanexpressrider，whilstyouwereprospectin"onthehillside。Rememberin"yourstory，Itookthelibertyofopeningit，andfoundoutthatyourcousinhadtoldSilsbeetobringyoustraighttohim。SoI"monlydoin"nowwhatSilsbeewouldhavedone。"
AnymomentarydoubtorsuspicionthatmighthaveriseninClarence"smindvanishedashemethiscompanion"ssteadyandmasterfuleye。Evenhisdisappointmentwasforgotteninthecharmofthisnew-foundfriendshipandprotection。AndasitsoutsethadbeenmarkedbyanunusualburstofconfidenceonClarence"spart，theboy，inhisgratitude，nowfeltsomethingofthetimidshynessofadeeperfeeling，andoncemorebecamereticent。
TheywereintimetosnatchahastymealatBuckeyeMillsbeforethestagearrived，andClarencenoticedthathisfriend，despitehisroughdressandlawlessaspect，provokedamarkeddegreeofrespectfromthosehemet——inwhich，perhaps，awholesomefearwasmingled。Itiscertainthatthetwobestplacesinthestageweregivenuptothemwithoutprotest，andthatacareless，almostsuperciliousinvitationtodrinkfromFlynnwasrespondedtowithsingularalacritybyall，includingeventwofastidiouslydressedandpreviouslyreservedpassengers。IamafraidthatClarenceenjoyedthisproofofhisfriend"ssingulardominancewithaboyishpride，and，consciousofthecuriouseyesofthepassengers，directedoccasionallytohimself，wassomewhatostentatiousinhisfamiliaritywiththisbeardedautocrat。
Atnoonthenextdaytheyleftthestageatawaysideroadstation，andFlynnbrieflyinformedClarencethattheymustagaintakehorses。Thisatfirstseemeddifficultinthatout-of-the-waysettlement，wheretheyalonehadstopped，butawhisperfromthedriverintheearofthestation-masterproducedacoupleoffierymustangs，withthesameaccompanimentofcautiousaweandmystery。
Forthenexttwodaystheytraveledonhorseback，restingbynightatthelodgingsofoneorotherofFlynn"sfriendsintheoutskirtsofalargetown，wheretheyarrivedinthedarkness，andleftbeforeday。Toanyonemoreexperiencedthanthesimple-mindedboyitwouldhavebeenevidentthatFlynnwaspurposelyavoidingthemoretraveledroadsandconveyances；andwhentheychangedhorsesagainthenextday"sridewasthroughanapparentlyunbrokenwildernessofscatteredwoodandrollingplain。YettoClarence，withhispantheisticrelianceandjoyoussympathywithnature，thechangewasfilledwithexhilaratingpleasure。Thevastseasoftossingwildoats，thehillsidestillvariegatedwithstrangeflowers，thevirginfreshnessofuntroddenwoodsandleafyaisles，whosefloorsofmossorbarkwereundisturbedbyhumanfootprint，wereakeendelightandnovelty。Morethanthis，hisquickeye，trainedperceptions，andfrontierknowledgenowstoodhimingoodstead。Hisintuitivesenseofdistance，instinctsofwoodcraft，andhisunerringdetectionofthosesigns，landmarks，andguidepostsofnature，undistinguishabletoaughtbutbirdsandbeastsandsomechildren，werenowofthegreatestservicetohislessfavoredcompanion。Inthispartoftheirstrangepilgrimageitwastheboywhotookthelead。Flynn，whoduringthepasttwodaysseemedtohavefallenintoamoodofwatchfulreserve，noddedhisapprobation。"Thissortofthing"syerbestholt，boy，"hesaid。"Menandcitiesain"tyourlittlegame。"
Atthenextstopping-placeClarencehadasurprise。Theyhadagainenteredatownatnightfall，andlodgedwithanotherfriendofFlynn"sinroomswhichfromvaguesoundsappearedtobeoveragamblingsaloon。Clarencewokelateinthemorning，and，descendingintothestreettomountfortheday"sjourney，wasstartledtofindthatFlynnwasnotontheotherhorse，butthatawell-dressedandhandsomestrangerhadtakenhisplace。Butalaugh，andthefamiliarcommand，"Jumpup，boy，"madehimlookagain。ItWASFlynn，butcompletelyshavenofbeardandmustache，closelyclippedofhair，andinafastidiouslycutsuitofblack!
"Thenyoudidn"tknowme?"saidFlynn。
"Nottillyouspoke，"repliedClarence。
"Somuchthebetter，"saidhisfriendsententiously，asheputspurstohishorse。Butastheycanteredthroughthestreet，Clarence，whohadalreadybecomeaccustomedtothestranger"shirsuteadornment，feltalittlemoreaweofhim。Theprofileofthemouthandchinnowexposedtohissidelongglancewashardandstern，andslightlysaturnine。Althoughunableatthetimetoidentifyitwithanybodyhehadeverknown，itseemedtotheimaginativeboytobevaguelyconnectedwithsomesadexperience。
Buttheeyeswerethoughtfulandkindly，andtheboylaterbelievedthatifhehadbeenmorefamiliarwiththefacehewouldhaveloveditbetter。Foritwasthelastandonlydayhewastoseeit，as，latethatafternoon，afteradustyridealongmoretraveledhighways，theyreachedtheirjourney"send。
Itwasalow-walledhouse，withred-tiledroofsshowingagainstthedarkgreenofvenerablepearandfigtrees，andasquarecourt-yardinthecentre，wheretheyhaddismounted。AfewwordsinSpanishfromFlynntooneoftheloungingpeonsadmittedthemtoawoodencorridor，andthencetoalong，lowroom，whichtoClarence"seyesseemedliterallypiledwithbooksandengravings。HereFlynnhurriedlybadehimstaywhilehesoughtthehostinanotherpartofthebuilding。ButClarencedidnotmisshim；indeed，itmaybefeared，heforgoteventheobjectoftheirjourneyinthenewsensationsthatsuddenlythrongeduponhim，andtheboyishvistaofthefuturethattheyseemedtoopen。Hewasdazedandintoxicated。
Hehadneverseensomanybooksbefore；hehadneverconceivedofsuchlovelypictures。Andyetinsomevaguewayhethoughthemusthavedreamtofthematsometime。Hehadmountedachair，andwasgazingspellboundatanengravingofasea-fightwhenheheardFlynn"svoice。
Hisfriendhadquietlyreenteredtheroom，incompanywithanoldish，half-foreign-lookingman，evidentlyhisrelation。Withnohelpingrecollection，withnomeansofcomparisonbeyondavagueideathathiscousinmightlooklikehimself，Clarencestoodhopelesslybeforehim。Hehadalreadymadeuphismindthathewouldhavetogothroughtheusualcross-questioninginregardtohisfatherandfamily；hehadevenforlornlythoughtofinventingsomeinnocentdetailstofillouthisimperfectandunsatisfactoryrecollection。But，glancingup，hewassurprisedtofindthathiselderlycousinwasasembarrassedashewas，Flynn，asusual，masterfullyinterposed。
"Ofcourseyedon"tremembereachother，andtharain"tmuchthateitherofyouknowsaboutfamilymatters，Ireckon，"hesaidgrimly；"andasyourcousincallshimselfDonJuanRobinson，"headdedtoClarence，"it"sjustaswellthatyoulet"JacksonBrant"
slide。Iknowhimbetterthanyou，butyou"llgetusedtohim，andhetoyou，soonenough。Atleast，you"dbetter，"heconcluded，withhissingulargravity。
AsheturnedasiftoleavetheroomwithClarence"sembarrassedrelative——muchtothatgentleman"sapparentrelief——theboylookedupatthelatterandsaidtimidly——
"MayIlookatthosebooks?"
Hiscousinstopped，andglancedathimwiththefirstexpressionofinteresthehadshown。
"Ah，youread；youlikebooks?"
"Yes，"saidClarence。Ashiscousinremainedstilllookingathimthoughtfully，headded，"Myhandsareprettyclean，butIcanwashthemfirst，ifyoulike。"
"Youmaylookatthem，"saidDonJuansmilingly；"andastheyareoldbooksyoucanwashyourhandsafterwards。"And，turningtoFlynnsuddenly，withanairofrelief，"ItellyouwhatI"lldo——
I"llteachhimSpanish!"
Theylefttheroomtogether，andClarenceturnedeagerlytotheshelves。Theywereoldbooks，someindeedveryold，queerlybound，andworm-eaten。Somewereinforeignlanguages，butothersinclear，boldEnglishtype，withquaintwood-cutsandillustrations。
Oneseemedtobeachronicleofbattlesandsieges，withpicturedrepresentationsofcombatantsspittedwitharrows，cleanlyloppedoffinlimb，ortoppledoverdistinctlybyvisiblecannon-shot。Hewasdeepinitsperusalwhenheheardtheclatterofahorse"shoofsinthecourt-yardandthevoiceofFlynn。Herantothewindow，andwasastonishedtoseehisfriendalreadyonhorseback，takingleaveofhishost。
ForoneinstantClarencefeltoneofthosesuddenrevulsionsoffeelingcommontohisage，butwhichhehadalwaystimidlyhiddenunderdoggeddemeanor。Flynn，hisonlyfriend!Flynn，hisonlyboyishconfidant!Flynn，hislatesthero，wasgoingawayandforsakinghimwithoutawordofparting!Itwastruethathehadonlyagreedtotakehimtohisguardian，butstillFlynnneednothavelefthimwithoutawordofhopeorencouragement!WithanyoneelseClarencewouldprobablyhavetakenrefugeinhisusualIndianstoicism，butthesamefeelingthathadimpelledhimtoofferFlynnhisboyishconfidencesontheirfirstmeetingnowoverpoweredhim。Hedroppedhisbook，ranoutintothecorridor，andmadehiswaytothecourt-yard，justasFlynngallopedoutfromthearch。
Buttheboyutteredadespairingshoutthatreachedtherider。Hedrewrein，wheeled，halted，andsatfacingClarenceimpatiently。
ToaddtoClarence"sembarrassmenthiscousinhadlingeredinthecorridor，attractedbytheinterruption，andapeon，lounginginthearchway，obsequiouslyapproachedFlynn"sbridle-rein。Buttheriderwavedhimoff，and，turningsternlytoClarence，said:——
"What"sthematternow?"
"Nothing，"saidClarence，strivingtokeepbackthehottearsthatroseinhiseyes。"Butyouweregoingawaywithoutsaying"good-
by。"You"vebeenverykindtome，and——and——Iwanttothankyou!"
AdeepflushcrossedFlynn"sface。Thenglancingsuspiciouslytowardsthecorridor，hesaidhurriedly，——
"DidHEsendyou?"
"No，Icamemyself。Iheardyougoing。"
"Allright。Good-by。"HeleanedforwardasifabouttotakeClarence"soutstretchedhand，checkedhimselfsuddenlywithagrimsmile，andtakingfromhispocketagoldcoinhandedittotheboy。
Clarencetookit，tosseditwithaproudgesturetothewaitingpeon，whocaughtitthankfully，drewbackastepfromFlynn，andsaying，withwhitecheeks，"Ionlywantedtosaygood-by，"droppedhishoteyestotheground。Butitdidnotseemtobehisownvoicethathadspoken，norhisownselfthathadpromptedtheact。
Therewasaquickinterchangeofglancesbetweenthedepartingguestandhislatehost，inwhichFlynn"seyesflashedwithanodd，admiringfire，butwhenClarenceraisedhisheadagainhewasgone。
Andastheboyturnedbackwithabrokenhearttowardsthecorridor，hiscousinlaidhishanduponhisshoulder。
"Muyhidalgamente，Clarence，"hesaidpleasantly。"Yes，weshallmakesomethingofyou!"
CHAPTERX