a waif of the plains-第17章
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down the streets； elbowed him against the wall； or humorously
insisted on his company； discomposed and frightened him。 He had
known rude companionship before； but it was serious； practical； and
under control。 There was something in this vulgar degradation of
intellect and powerqualities that Clarence had always boyishly
worshipedwhich sickened and disillusioned him。 Later on a pistol
shot in a crowd beyond； the rush of eager men past him； the
disclosure of a limp and helpless figure against the wall； the
closing of the crowd again around it； although it stirred him with
a fearful curiosity； actually shocked him less hopelessly than
their brutish enjoyments and abandonment。
It was in one of these rushes that he had been crushed against a
swinging door； which； giving way to his pressure； disclosed to his
wondering eyes a long； glitteringly adorned； and brightly lit room；
densely filled with a silent； attentive throng in attitudes of
decorous abstraction and preoccupation； that even the shouts and
tumult at its very doors could not disturb。 Men of all ranks and
conditions； plainly or elaborately clad； were grouped together
under this magic spell of silence and attention。 The tables before
them were covered with cards and loose heaps of gold and silver。 A
clicking； the rattling of an ivory ball； and the frequent； formal；
lazy reiteration of some unintelligible sentence was all that he
heard。 But by a sudden instinct he UNDERSTOOD it all。 It was a
gambling saloon！
Encouraged by the decorous stillness； and the fact that everybody
appeared too much engaged to notice him； the boy drew timidly
beside one of the tables。 It was covered with a number of cards；
on which were placed certain sums of money。 Looking down； Clarence
saw that he was standing before a card that as yet had nothing on
it。 A single player at his side looked up； glanced at Clarence
curiously； and then placed half a dozen gold pieces on the vacant
card。 Absorbed in the general aspect of the room and the players；
Clarence did not notice that his neighbor won twice； and even
THRICE； upon that card。 Becoming aware； however； that the player
while gathering in his gains； was smilingly regarding him he moved
in some embarrassment to the other end of the table； where there
seemed another gap in the crowd。 It so chanced that there was also
another vacant card。 The previous neighbor of Clarence instantly
shoved a sum of money across the table on the vacant card and won！
At this the other players began to regard Clarence singularly； one
or two of the spectators smiled； and the boy； coloring； moved
awkwardly away。 But his sleeve was caught by the successful
player； who； detaining him gently； put three gold pieces into his
hand。
〃That's YOUR share； sonny；〃 he whispered。
〃Sharefor what？〃 stammered the astounded Clarence。
〃For bringing me 'the luck；'〃 said the man。
Clarence stared。 〃Am Itoto play with it？〃 he said； glancing at
the coins and then at the table； in ignorance of the stranger's
meaning。
〃No； no！〃 said the man hurriedly； 〃don't do that。 You'll lose it；
sonny； sure！ Don't you see； YOU BRING THE LUCK TO OTHERS； not to
yourself。 Keep it； old man； and run home！〃
〃I don't want it！ I won't have it！〃 said Clarence with a swift
recollection of the manipulation of his purse that morning； and a
sudden distrust of all mankind。
〃There！〃 He turned back to the table and laid the money on the
first vacant card he saw。 In another moment； as it seemed to him；
it was raked away by the dealer。 A sense of relief came over him。
〃There！〃 said the man； with an awed voice and a strange； fatuous
look in his eye。 〃What did I tell you？ You see； it's allus so！
Now；〃 he added roughly； 〃get up and get out o' this； afore you lose
the boots and shirt off ye。〃
Clarence did not wait for a second command。 With another glance
round the room； he began to make his way through the crowd towards
the front。 But in that parting glance he caught a glimpse of a
woman presiding over a 〃wheel of fortune〃 in a corner； whose face
seemed familiar。 He looked again； timidly。 In spite of an
extraordinary head…dress or crown that she wore as the 〃Goddess of
Fortune；〃 he recognized； twisted in its tinsel； a certain scarlet
vine which he had seen before； in spite of the hoarse formula which
she was continually repeating； he recognized the foreign accent。
It was the woman of the stage…coach！ With a sudden dread that she
might recognize him； and likewise demand his services 〃for luck；〃
he turned and fled。
Once more in the open air； there came upon him a vague loathing and
horror of the restless madness and feverish distraction of this
half…civilized city。 It was the more powerful that it was vague；
and the outcome of some inward instinct。 He found himself longing
for the pure air and sympathetic loneliness of the plains and
wilderness； he began to yearn for the companionship of his humble
associatesthe teamster； the scout Gildersleeve； and even Jim
Hooker。 But above all and before all was the wild desire to get
away from these maddening streets and their bewildering occupants。
He ran back to the baker's； gathered his purchases together； took
advantage of a friendly doorway to strap them on his boyish
shoulders； slipped into a side street； and struck out at once for
the outskirts。
It had been his first intention to take stage to the nearest mining
district； but the diminution of his small capital forbade that
outlay； and he decided to walk there by the highroad； of whose
general direction he had informed himself。 In half an hour the
lights of the flat； struggling city； and their reflection in the
shallow； turbid river before it； had sunk well behind him。 The air
was cool and soft； a yellow moon swam in the slight haze that rose
above the tules； in the distance a few scattered cottonwoods and
sycamores marked like sentinels the road。 When he had walked some
distance he sat down beneath one of them to make a frugal supper
from the dry rations in his pack； but in the absence of any spring
he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of water in a
wayside tavern。 Here he was good…humoredly offered something
stronger； which he declined； and replied to certain curious
interrogations by saying that he expected to overtake his friends
in a wagon further on。 A new distrust of mankind had begun to make
the boy an adept in innocent falsehood； the more deceptive as his
careless； cheerful manner； the result of his relief at leaving the
city； and his perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and
nature； certainly gave no indication of his homelessness and
poverty。
It was long past midnight； when； weary in body； but still hopeful
and happy in mind； he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling
expanse of wild oats； with the same sense of security of rest as a
traveler to his inn。 Here； completely screened from view by the
tall stalks of grain that rose thickly around him to the height of
a man's shoulder； he beat down a few of them for a bed； on which he
deposited his blanket。 Placing his pack for a pillow； he curled
himself up in his blanket； and speedily fell asleep。
He awoke at sunrise； refreshed； invigorated； and hungry。 But he
was forced to defer his first self…prepared breakfast until he had
reached water； and a less dangerous place than the wild…oat field
to build his first camp fire。 This he found a mile further on；
near some dwarf willows on the bank of a half…dry stream。 Of his
various efforts to prepare his first meal； the fire was the most
successful； the coffee was somewhat too substantially thick； and
the bacon and herring lacked definiteness of quality from having
been cooked in the same vessel。 In this boyish picnic he missed
Susy； and recalled； perhaps a little bitterly； her coldness at
parting。 But the novelty of his situation； the brilliant sunshine
and sense of freedom； and the road already awakening to dusty life
with passing teams； dismissed everything but the future from his
mind。 Readjusting his pack； he stepped on cheerily。 At noon he
was overtaken by a teamster； who in return for a match to light his
pipe
