a waif of the plains-第14章

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Jim；　this　yere's　Shotcard　Billy；　this　is　Nasty　Bob；　and　this
Slumgullion　Dick。　　This　yere's　the　Dook　o'　Chatham　Street；　the
Livin'　Skeleton；　and　me！〃

〃May　we　ask；　fair　young　sir；〃　said　the　Living　Skeleton；　who；
however；　seemed　in　fairly　robust　condition；　〃whence　came　ye　on　the
wings　of　the　morning；　and　whose　Marble　Halls　ye　hev　left　desolate？〃

〃I　came　across　the　plains；　and　got　into　Stockton　two　days　ago　on
Mr。　Peyton's　train；〃　said　Clarence；　indignantly；　seeing　no　reason
now　to　conceal　anything。　　〃I　came　to　Sacramento　to　find　my　cousin；
who　isn't　living　there　any　more。　　I　don't　see　anything　funny　in
THAT！　　I　came　here　to　the　mines　to　dig　goldbecause…because　Mr。
Silsbee；　the　man　who　was　to　bring　me　here　and　might　have　found　my
cousin　for　me；　was　killed　by　Indians。〃

〃Hold　up；　sonny。　　Let　me　help　ye；〃　said　the　first　speaker；　rising
to　his　feet。　　〃YOU　didn't　get　killed　by　Injins　because　you　got　lost
out　of　a　train　with　Silsbee's　infant　darter。　　Peyton　picked　you　up
while　you　was　takin'　care　of　her；　and　two　days　arter　you　kem　up　to
the　broken…down　Silsbee　wagons；　with　all　the　folks　lyin'　there
slartered。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Clarence；　breathlessly　with　astonishment。

〃And；〃　continued　the　man；　putting　his　hand　gravely　to　his　head　as
if　to　assist　his　memory；　〃when　you　was　all　alone　on　the　plains　with
that　little　child　you　saw　one　of　those　redskins；　as　near　to　you　as
I　be；　watchin'　the　train；　and　you　didn't　breathe　or　move　while　he
was　there？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Clarence　eagerly。

〃And　you　was　shot　at　by　Peyton；　he　thinkin'　you　was　an　Injun　in　the
mesquite　grass？　　And　you　once　shot　a　buffalo　that　had　been　pitched
with　you　down　a　gullyall　by　yourself？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence；　crimson　with　wonder　and　pleasure。　　〃You　know
me；　then？〃

〃Well；　ye…e…es；〃　said　the　man　gravely；　parting　his　mustache　with
his　fingers。　　〃You　see；　YOU'VE　BEEN　HERE　BEFORE。〃

〃Before！　　Me？〃　repeated　the　astounded　Clarence。

〃Yes；　before。　　Last　night。　　You　was　taller　then；　and　hadn't　cut
your　hair。　　You　cursed　a　good　deal　more　than　you　do　now。　　You　drank
a　man's　share　of　whiskey；　and　you　borrowed　fifty　dollars　to　get　to
Sacramento　with。　　I　reckon　you　haven't　got　it　about　you　now；　eh？〃

Clarence's　brain　reeled　in　utter　confusion　and　hopeless　terror。

Was　he　going　crazy；　or　had　these　cruel　men　learned　his　story　from
his　faithless　friends；　and　this　was　a　part　of　the　plot？　　He
staggered　forward；　but　the　men　had　risen　and　quickly　encircled　him；
as　if　to　prevent　his　escape。　　In　vague　and　helpless　desperation　he
gasped

〃What　place　is　this？〃

〃Folks　call　it　Deadman's　Gulch。〃

Deadman's　Gulch！　　A　flash　of　intelligence　lit　up　the　boy's　blind
confusion。　　Deadman's　Gulch！　　Could　it　have　been　Jim　Hooker　who　had
really　run　away；　and　had　taken　his　name？　　He　turned　half…
imploringly　to　the　first　speaker。

〃Wasn't　he　older　than　me；　and　bigger？　　Didn't　he　have　a　smooth；
round　face　and　little　eyes？　　Didn't　he　talk　hoarse？　　Didn't　he〃
He　stopped　hopelessly。

〃Yes；　oh；　he　wasn't　a　bit　like　you；〃　said　the　man　musingly。　　〃Ye
see；　that's　the　h…ll　of　it！　　You're　altogether　TOO　MANY　and　TOO
VARIOUS　fur　this　camp。〃

〃I　don't　know　who's　been　here　before；　or　what　they　have　said；〃　said
Clarence　desperately；　yet　even　in　that　desperation　retaining　the
dogged　loyalty　to　his　old　playmate；　which　was　part　of　his　nature。
〃I　don't　know；　and　I　don't　carethere！　　I'm　Clarence　Brant　of
Kentucky；　I　started　in　Silsbee's　train　from　St。　Jo；　and　I'm　going
to　the　mines；　and　you　can't　stop　me！〃

The　man　who　had　first　spoken　started；　looked　keenly　at　Clarence；
and　then　turned　to　the　others。　　The　gentleman　known　as　the　living
skeleton　had　obtruded　his　huge　bulk　in　front　of　the　boy；　and；
gazing　at　him；　said　reflectively；　〃Darned　if　it　don't　look　like　one
of　Brant's　pupssure！〃

〃Air　ye　any　relation　to　Kernel　Hamilton　Brant　of　Looeyville？〃　asked
the　first　speaker。

Again　that　old　question！　　Poor　Clarence　hesitated；　despairingly。
Was　he　to　go　through　the　same　cross…examination　he　had　undergone
with　the　Peytons？　　〃Yes；〃　he　said　doggedly；　〃I　ambut　he's　dead；
and　you　know　it。〃

〃Deadof　course。〃　　〃Sartin。〃　　〃He's　dead。〃　　〃The　Kernel's
planted；〃　said　the　men　in　chorus。

〃Well；　yes；〃　reflected　the　Living　Skeleton　ostentatiously；　as　one
who　spoke　from　experience。　　〃Ham　Brant's　about　as　bony　now　as　they
make　'em。〃

〃You　bet！　　About　the　dustiest；　deadest　corpse　you　kin　turn　out；〃
corroborated　Slumgullion　Dick；　nodding　his　head　gloomily　to　the
others；　〃in　point　o'　fack；　es　a　corpse；　about　the　last　one　I　should
keer　to　go　huntin'　fur。〃

〃The　Kernel's　tech　'ud　be　cold　and　clammy；〃　concluded　the　Duke　of
Chatham　Street；　who　had　not　yet　spoken；　〃sure。　　But　what　did　yer
mammy　say　about　it？　　Is　she　gettin'　married　agin？　　Did　SHE　send　ye
here？〃

It　seemed　to　Clarence　that　the　Duke　of　Chatham　Street　here　received
a　kick　from　his　companions；　but　the　boy　repeated　doggedly

〃I　came　to　Sacramento　to　find　my　cousin；　Jackson　Brant；　but　he
wasn't　there。〃

〃Jackson　Brant！〃　echoed　the　first　speaker；　glancing　at　the　others。
〃Did　your　mother　say　he　was　your　cousin？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　wearily。　　〃Good…by。〃

〃Hullo；　sonny；　where　are　you　going？〃

〃To　dig　gold；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃And　you　know　you　can't　prevent　me；
if　it　isn't　on　your　claim。　　I　know　the　law。〃　　He　had　heard　Mr。
Peyton　discuss　it　at　Stockton；　and　he　fancied　that　the　men；　who
were　whispering　among　themselves；　looked　kinder　than　before；　and　as
if　they　were　no　longer　〃acting〃　to　him。　　The　first　speaker　laid　his
hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　said；　〃All　right；　come　with　me；　and　I'll
show　you　where　to　dig。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　said　Clarence。　　〃You　called　yourself　only　'me。'〃

〃Well；　you　can　call　me　FlynnTom　Flynn。〃

〃And　you'll　show　me　where　I　can　digmyself？〃

〃I　will。〃

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Clarence　timidly；　yet　with　a　half…conscious
smile；　〃that　II　kinder　bring　luck？〃

The　man　looked　down　upon　him；　and　said　gravely；　but；　as　it　struck
Clarence；　with　a　new　kind　of　gravity；　〃I　believe　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　eagerly；　as　they　walked　along　together；　〃I
brought　luck　to　a　man　in　Sacramento　the　other　day。〃　　And　he　related
with　great　earnestness　his　experience　in　the　gambling　saloon。　　Not
content　with　thatthe　sealed　fountains　of　his　childish　deep　being
broken　up　by　some　mysterious　sympathyhe　spoke　of　his　hospitable
exploit　with　the　passengers　at　the　wayside　bar；　of　the　finding　of
his　Fortunatus　purse　and　his　deposit　at　the　bank。　　Whether　that
characteristic　old…fashioned　reticence　which　had　been　such　an
important　factor　for　good　or　ill　in　his　future　had　suddenly
deserted　him；　or　whether　some　extraordinary　prepossession　in　his
companion　had　affected　him；　he　did　not　know；　but　by　the　time　the
pair　had　reached　the　hillside　Flynn　was　in　possession　of　all　the
boy's　history。　　On　one　point　only　was　his　reserve　unshaken。
Conscious　although　he　was　of　Jim　Hooker's　duplicity；　he　affected　to
treat　it　as　a　comrade's　joke。

They　halted　at　last　in　the　middle　of　an　apparently　fertile
hillside。　　Clarence　shifted　his　shovel　from　his　shoulders；　unslung
his　pan；　and　looked　at　Flynn。　　〃Dig　anywhere　here；　where　you　like；〃
said　his　companion　carelessly；　〃and　you'll　be　sure　to　find　the
color。　　Fill　your　pan　with　the　dirt；　go　to　that　sluice；　and　let　the
water　run　in　on　the　top　of　the　panworkin'　it　round　so；〃　he　added；
illustrating　a　rotary　motion　with　the　vessel。　　〃Keep　doing　that
until　all　the　soil　is　washed　out　of　it；　and　you　have　only　the　black
sand　at　the　bottom。　　Then　work　that　the　same　way　until　you　see　the
color。　　Don't　be　afraid　of　washing　the　gold　out　of　the　panyou
couldn't　do　it　if　you　tried。　　There；　I'll　leave　you　here；　and　you
wait　till　I　come　back。〃　　With　another　grave　nod　and　something　like
a　smile　in　the　only　visible　part　of　his　bearded　facehis　eyeshe
strode　rapidly　away。

Clarence　did　not　lose　time。　　Selecting　a　spot　where　the　grass　was
less　thick；　he　broke　through　the　soil　and　turned　up　two　or　three
spadefuls　of　red　soil。　　When　he　had　filled　the　pan　and　raised　it　to
his　shoulder；　he　was　astounded　at　its　weight。　　He　did　not　know　that
it　was　due　to　the　red　precipitate　of　iron　that　gave　it　its　color。
Staggering　along　with　his　burden　to　the　running　sluice；　which
looked　like　an　open　wooden　gutter；　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　he
began　to　carefully　carry　out　Flynn's　direction。　　The　first　dip　of
the　pan　in　the　running　water　carried　off　half　the　contents　of　the
pan　in　liquid　paint…like　ooze。　　For　a　moment　he　gave　way　to　boyish
satisfaction　in　the　sight　and　touch　of　this　unctuous　solution；　and
dabbled　his　fingers　in　it。　　A　few　moments　more　of　rinsing　and　he
came　to　the　sediment　of　fine　black　sand　that　was　beneath　it。
Another　plunge　and　swilling　of　water　in　the　pan；　andcould　he
believe　his　eyes！a　few　yellow　tiny　scales；　scarcely　larger　than
pins'　heads；　glittered　among　the　sand。　　He　poured　it　off。　　But　his
companion　was　right；　the　lighter　sand　shifted　from　side　to　side
with　the　water；　but　the　glittering　points　remained　adhering　by
their　own　tiny　specific　gravity　to　the　smooth　surface　of　the
bottom。　　It　was　〃the　color〃gold！

Clarence's　heart　seemed　to　give　a　great　leap　within　him。　　A　vision
of　wealth；　of　independence；　of　power；　sprang　before　his　dazzled
eyes；　anda　hand　lightly　touched　him　on　the　shoulder。

He　started。　　In　his　complete　preoccupation　and　excitement；　he　had
not　heard　the　clatter　of　horse…hoofs；　and　to　his　amazement　Flynn
was　already　beside　him；　mounted；　and　leading　a　second　horse。

〃You　kin　ride？〃　he　said　shortly。

〃Yes〃　stammered　Clarence；　〃but〃

〃BUTwe've　only　got　two　hours　to　reach　Buckeye　Mills　in　time　to
catch　the　down　stage。　　Drop　all　that；　jump　up；　and　come　with　me！〃

〃But　I've　just　found　gold；〃　said　the　boy　excitedly。

〃And　I've　just　found　yourcousin。　　Come！〃

He　spurred　his　horse　across　Clarence's　scattered　implements；　half
helped；　half　lifted；　the　boy　into　the　saddle　of　the　second　horse；
and；　with　a　cut　of　his　riata　over　the　animal's　haunches；　the　next
moment　they　were　both　galloping　furiously　away。


CHAPTER　IX


Torn　suddenly　from　his　prospective　future；　but　too　much　dominated
by　the　man　beside　him　to　protest；　Clarence　was　silent　until　a　rise
in　the　road；　a　few　minutes　later；　partly　abated　their　headlong
speed；　and　gave　him　chance　to　recover　his　breath　and　courage。

〃Where　is　my　cousin？〃　he　asked。

〃In　the　Southern　county；　two　hundred　miles　from　here。〃

〃Are　we　going　to　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

They　rode　furiously　forward　again。　　It　was　nearly　half　an　hour
before　they　came　to　a　longer　ascent。　　Clarence　could　see　that　Flynn
was　from　time　to　time　examining　him　curiously　under　his　slouched
hat。　　This　somewhat　embarrassed　him；　but　in　his　singular　confidence
in　the　man　no　distrust　mingled　with　it。

〃Ye　never　saw　yourcousin？〃　he　asked。

〃No；〃　said　Clarence；　〃nor　he　me。　　I　don't　think　he　knew　me　much；
any　way。

〃How　old　mout　ye　be；　Clarence？〃

〃Eleven。〃

〃Well；　as　you're　suthin　of　a　pup〃Clarence　started；　and　recalled
Peyton's　first　criticism　of　him〃I　reckon　to　tell　ye　suthin。　　Ye
ain't　goin'　to　be　skeert；　or　afeard；　or　lose　yer　sand；　I　kalkilate；
for　skunkin'　ain't　in　your　breed。　　Well；　wot　ef　I　told　ye　that
thish　yerthish　yerCOUSIN　o'　yours　was　the　biggest　devil　onhung；
that　he'd　jus