a waif of the plains-第13章
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reckon to keep the train waiting another hour over your blanked
foolishness？〃 said Gildersleeve savagely。
The boy hesitated； and then mounted mechanically； without a word。
〃'Twould have served 'em right to have gone and left 'em；〃 muttered
Benham vindictively。
For one wild instant Clarence thought of throwing himself from his
horse and bidding them go on and leave him。 But before he could
put his thought into action the two men were galloping forward；
with his horse led by a lariat fastened to the horn of
Gildersleeve's saddle。
In two hours more they had overtaken the train； already on the
march； and were in the midst of the group of outriders。 Judge
Peyton's face； albeit a trifle perplexed； turned towards Clarence
with a kindly； half…tolerant look of welcome。 The boy's heart
instantly melted with forgiveness。
〃Well； my boy； let's hear YOUR story。 What happened？〃
Clarence cast a hurried glance around； and saw Jim； with face
averted； riding gloomily behind。 Then nervously and hurriedly he
told how he had been thrown into the gully on the back of the
wounded buffalo； and the manner of his escape。 An audible titter
ran through the cavalcade。 Mr。 Peyton regarded him gravely。 〃But
how did the buffalo get so conveniently into the gully？〃 he asked。
〃Jim Hooker lamed him with a shotgun； and he fell over；〃 said
Clarence timidly。
A roar of Homeric laughter went up from the party。 Clarence looked
up； stung and startled； but caught a single glimpse of Jim Hooker's
face that made him forget his own mortification。 In its hopeless；
heart…sick； and utterly beaten dejectionthe first and only real
expression he had seen on ithe read the dreadful truth。 Jim's
REPUTATION had ruined him！ The one genuine and striking episode of
his life； the one trustworthy account he had given of it； had been
unanimously accepted as the biggest and most consummate lie of his
record！
CHAPTER VII
With this incident of the hunt closed； to Clarence； the last
remembered episode of his journey。 But he did not know until long
after that it had also closed to him what might have been the
opening of a new career。 For it had been Judge Peyton's intention
in adopting Susy to include a certain guardianship and protection
of the boy； provided he could get the consent of that vague
relation to whom he was consigned。 But it had been pointed out by
Mrs。 Peyton and her brother that Clarence's association with Jim
Hooker had made him a doubtful companion for Susy； and even the
Judge himself was forced to admit that the boy's apparent taste for
evil company was inconsistent with his alleged birth and breeding。
Unfortunately； Clarence； in the conviction of being hopelessly
misunderstood； and that dogged acquiescence to fate which was one
of his characteristics； was too proud to correct the impression by
any of the hypocracies of childhood。 He had also a cloudy instinct
of loyalty to Jim in his disgrace； without； however； experiencing
either the sympathy of an equal or the zeal of a partisan； but
ratherif it could be said of a boy of his yearswith the
patronage and protection of a superior。 So he accepted without
demur the intimation that when the train reached California he
would be forwarded from Stockton with an outfit and a letter of
explanation to Sacramento； it being understood that in the event of
not finding his relative he would return to the Peytons in one of
the southern valleys； where they elected to purchase a tract of
land。
With this outlook； and the prospect of change； independence； and
all the rich possibilities that to the imagination of youth are
included in them； Clarence had found the days dragging。 The halt
at Salt Lake； the transit of the dreary Alkali desert； even the
wild passage of the Sierras； were but a blurred picture in his
memory。 The sight of eternal snows and the rolling of endless
ranks of pines； the first glimpse of a hillside of wild oats； the
spectacle of a rushing yellow river that to his fancy seemed tinged
with gold； were momentary excitements； quickly forgotten。 But
when； one morning； halting at the outskirts of a struggling
settlement； he found the entire party eagerly gathered around a
passing stranger； who had taken from his saddle…bags a small
buckskin pouch to show them a double handful of shining scales of
metal； Clarence felt the first feverish and overmastering thrill of
the gold…seekers。 Breathlessly he followed the breathless
questions and careless replies。 The gold had been dug out of a
placer only thirty miles away。 It might be worth； say； a hundred
and fifty dollars； it was only HIS share of a week's work with two
partners。 It was not much； 〃the country was getting played out
with fresh arrivals and greenhorns。〃 All this falling carelessly
from the unshaven lips of a dusty； roughly dressed man； with a
long…handled shovel and pickaxe strapped on his back； and a frying…
pan depending from his saddle。 But no panoplied or armed knight
ever seemed so heroic or independent a figure to Clarence。 What
could be finer than the noble scorn conveyed in his critical survey
of the train； with its comfortable covered wagons and appliances of
civilization？ 〃Ye'll hev to get rid of them ther fixin's if yer
goin' in for placer diggin'！〃 What a corroboration of Clarence's
real thoughts！ What a picture of independence was this！ The
picturesque scout； the all…powerful Judge Peyton； the daring young
officer； all crumbled on their clayey pedestals before this hero in
a red flannel shirt and high…topped boots。 To stroll around in the
open air all day； and pick up those shining bits of metal； without
study； without method or routinethis was really life； to some day
come upon that large nugget 〃you couldn't lift；〃 that was worth as
much as the train and horsessuch a one as the stranger said was
found the other day at Sawyer's Barthis was worth giving up
everything for。 That rough man； with his smile of careless
superiority； was the living link between Clarence and the Thousand
and One Nights； in him were Aladdin and Sindbad incarnate。
Two days later they reached Stockton。 Here Clarence； whose single
suit of clothes had been reinforced by patching； odds and ends from
Peyton's stores； and an extraordinary costume of army cloth； got up
by the regimental tailor at Fort Ridge； was taken to be refitted at
a general furnishing 〃emporium。〃 But alas！ in the selection of the
clothing for that adult locality scant provision seemed to have
been made for a boy of Clarence's years； and he was with difficulty
fitted from an old condemned Government stores with 〃a boy's〃
seaman suit and a brass…buttoned pea…jacket。 To this outfit Mr。
Peyton added a small sum of money for his expenses； and a letter of
explanation to his cousin。 The stage…coach was to start at noon。
It only remained for Clarence to take leave of the party。 The
final parting with Susy had been discounted on the two previous
days with some tears； small frights and clingings； and the
expressed determination on the child's part 〃to go with him；〃 but
in the excitement of the arrival at Stockton it was still further
mitigated； and under the influence of a little present from
Clarencehis first disbursement of his small capitalhad at last
taken the form and promise of merely temporary separation。
Nevertheless； when the boy's scanty pack was deposited under the
stage…coach seat； and he had been left alone； he ran rapidly back
to the train for one moment more with Susy。 Panting and a little
frightened； he reached Mrs。 Peyton's car。
〃Goodness！ You're not gone yet；〃 said Mrs。 Peyton sharply。 〃Do
you want to lose the stage？〃
An instant before； in his loneliness； he might have answered；
〃Yes。〃 But under the cruel sting of Mrs。 Peyton's evident
annoyance at his reappearance he felt his legs suddenly tremble；
and his voice left him。 He did not dare to look at Susy。 But her
voice rose comfortably from the depths of the wagon where she was
sitting。
〃The stage will be gone away； Kla'uns。〃
She too！ Shame at his foolish weakness sent the yearning blood
that had settled round his heart flying back into his face。
〃I was looking
