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?\"