a waif of the plains-第15章

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thish　yerthish　yerCOUSIN　o'　yours　was　the　biggest　devil　onhung；
that　he'd　just　killed　a　man；　and　had　to　lite　out　elsewhere；　and
THET'S　why　he　didn't　show　up　in　Sacramentowhat　if　I　told　you
that？〃

Clarence　felt　that　this　was　somehow　a　little　too　much。　　He　was
perfectly　truthful；　and　lifting　his　frank　eyes　to　Flynn；　he　said；

〃I　should　think　you　were　talking　a　good　deal　like　Jim　Hooker！〃

His　companion　stared；　and　suddenly　reined　up　his　horse；　then；
bursting　into　a　shout　of　laughter；　he　galloped　ahead；　from　time　to
time　shaking　his　head；　slapping　his　legs；　and　making　the　dim　woods
ring　with　his　boisterous　mirth。　　Then　as　suddenly　becoming
thoughtful　again；　he　rode　on　rapidly　for　half　an　hour；　only
speaking　to　Clarence　to　urge　him　forward；　and　assisting　his
progress　by　lashing　the　haunches　of　his　horse。　　Luckily；　the　boy
was　a　good　ridera　fact　which　Flynn　seemed　to　thoroughly
appreciateor　he　would　have　been　unseated　a　dozen　times。

At　last　the　straggling　sheds　of　Buckeye　Mills　came　into　softer
purple　view　on　the　opposite　mountain。　　Then　laying　his　hand　on
Clarence's　shoulder　as　he　reined　in　at　his　side；　Flynn　broke　the
silence。

〃There；　boy；〃　he　said；　wiping　the　mirthful　tears　from　his　eyes。　　〃I
was　only　foolin'only　tryin'　yer　grit！　　This　yer　cousin　I'm　taking
you　to　be　as　quiet　and　soft…spoken　and　as　old…fashioned　ez　you　be。
Why；　he's　that　wrapped　up　in　books　and　study　that　he　lives　alone　in
a　big　adobe　rancherie　among　a　lot　o'　Spanish；　and　he　don't　keer　to
see　his　own　countrymen！　　Why；　he's　even　changed　his　name；　and
calles　himself　Don　Juan　Robinson！　　But　he's　very　rich；　he　owns
three　leagues　of　land　and　heaps　of　cattle　and　horses；　and；〃
glancing　approvingly　at　Clarence's　seat　in　the　saddle；　〃I　reckon
you'll　hev　plenty　of　fun　thar。〃

〃But；〃　hesitated　Clarence；　to　whom　this　proposal　seemed　only　a
repetition　of　Peyton's　charitable　offer；　〃I　think　I'd　better　stay
here　and　dig　goldWITH　YOU。〃

〃And　I　think　you'd　better　not；〃　said　the　man；　with　a　gravity　that
was　very　like　a　settled　determination。

〃But　my　cousin　never　came　for　me　to　Sacramentonor　sent；　nor　even
wrote；〃　persisted　Clarence　indignantly。

〃Not　to　YOU；　boy；　but　he　wrote　to　the　man　whom　he　reckoned　would
bring　you　thereJack　Silsbeeand　left　it　in　the　care　of　the　bank。
And　Silsbee；　being　dead；　didn't　come　for　the　letter；　and　as　you
didn't　ask　for　it　when　you　came；　and　didn't　even　mention　Silsbee's
name；　that　same　letter　was　sent　back　to　your　cousin　through　me；
because　the　bank　thought　we　knew　his　whereabouts。　　It　came　to　the
gulch　by　an　express　rider；　whilst　you　were　prospectin'　on　the
hillside。　　Rememberin'　your　story；　I　took　the　liberty　of　opening
it；　and　found　out　that　your　cousin　had　told　Silsbee　to　bring　you
straight　to　him。　　So　I'm　only　doin'　now　what　Silsbee　would　have
done。〃

Any　momentary　doubt　or　suspicion　that　might　have　risen　in
Clarence's　mind　vanished　as　he　met　his　companion's　steady　and
masterful　eye。　　Even　his　disappointment　was　forgotten　in　the　charm
of　this　new…found　friendship　and　protection。　　And　as　its　outset　had
been　marked　by　an　unusual　burst　of　confidence　on　Clarence's　part；
the　boy；　in　his　gratitude；　now　felt　something　of　the　timid　shyness
of　a　deeper　feeling；　and　once　more　became　reticent。

They　were　in　time　to　snatch　a　hasty　meal　at　Buckeye　Mills　before
the　stage　arrived；　and　Clarence　noticed　that　his　friend；　despite
his　rough　dress　and　lawless　aspect；　provoked　a　marked　degree　of
respect　from　those　he　metin　which；　perhaps；　a　wholesome　fear　was
mingled。　　It　is　certain　that　the　two　best　places　in　the　stage　were
given　up　to　them　without　protest；　and　that　a　careless；　almost
supercilious　invitation　to　drink　from　Flynn　was　responded　to　with
singular　alacrity　by　all；　including　even　two　fastidiously　dressed
and　previously　reserved　passengers。　　I　am　afraid　that　Clarence
enjoyed　this　proof　of　his　friend's　singular　dominance　with　a　boyish
pride；　and；　conscious　of　the　curious　eyes　of　the　passengers；
directed　occasionally　to　himself；　was　somewhat　ostentatious　in　his
familiarity　with　this　bearded　autocrat。

At　noon　the　next　day　they　left　the　stage　at　a　wayside　road　station；
and　Flynn　briefly　informed　Clarence　that　they　must　again　take
horses。　　This　at　first　seemed　difficult　in　that　out…of…the…way
settlement；　where　they　alone　had　stopped；　but　a　whisper　from　the
driver　in　the　ear　of　the　station…master　produced　a　couple　of　fiery
mustangs；　with　the　same　accompaniment　of　cautious　awe　and　mystery。
For　the　next　two　days　they　traveled　on　horseback；　resting　by　night
at　the　lodgings　of　one　or　other　of　Flynn's　friends　in　the　outskirts
of　a　large　town；　where　they　arrived　in　the　darkness；　and　left
before　day。　　To　any　one　more　experienced　than　the　simple…minded　boy
it　would　have　been　evident　that　Flynn　was　purposely　avoiding　the
more　traveled　roads　and　conveyances；　and　when　they　changed　horses
again　the　next　day's　ride　was　through　an　apparently　unbroken
wilderness　of　scattered　wood　and　rolling　plain。　　Yet　to　Clarence；
with　his　pantheistic　reliance　and　joyous　sympathy　with　nature；　the
change　was　filled　with　exhilarating　pleasure。　　The　vast　seas　of
tossing　wild　oats；　the　hillside　still　variegated　with　strange
flowers；　the　virgin　freshness　of　untrodden　woods　and　leafy　aisles；
whose　floors　of　moss　or　bark　were　undisturbed　by　human　footprint；
were　a　keen　delight　and　novelty。　　More　than　this；　his　quick　eye；
trained　perceptions；　and　frontier　knowledge　now　stood　him　in　good
stead。　　His　intuitive　sense　of　distance；　instincts　of　woodcraft；
and　his　unerring　detection　of　those　signs；　landmarks；　and
guideposts　of　nature；　undistinguishable　to　aught　but　birds　and
beasts　and　some　children；　were　now　of　the　greatest　service　to　his
less　favored　companion。　　In　this　part　of　their　strange　pilgrimage
it　was　the　boy　who　took　the　lead。　　Flynn；　who　during　the　past　two
days　seemed　to　have　fallen　into　a　mood　of　watchful　reserve；　nodded
his　approbation。　　〃This　sort　of　thing's　yer　best　holt；　boy；〃　he
said。　　〃Men　and　cities　ain't　your　little　game。〃

At　the　next　stopping…place　Clarence　had　a　surprise。　　They　had　again
entered　a　town　at　nightfall；　and　lodged　with　another　friend　of
Flynn's　in　rooms　which　from　vague　sounds　appeared　to　be　over　a
gambling　saloon。　　Clarence　woke　late　in　the　morning；　and；
descending　into　the　street　to　mount　for　the　day's　journey；　was
startled　to　find　that　Flynn　was　not　on　the　other　horse；　but　that　a
well…dressed　and　handsome　stranger　had　taken　his　place。　　But　a
laugh；　and　the　familiar　command；　〃Jump　up；　boy；〃　made　him　look
again。　　It　WAS　Flynn；　but　completely　shaven　of　beard　and　mustache；
closely　clipped　of　hair；　and　in　a　fastidiously　cut　suit　of　black！

〃Then　you　didn't　know　me？〃　said　Flynn。

〃Not　till　you　spoke；〃　replied　Clarence。

〃So　much　the　better；〃　said　his　friend　sententiously；　as　he　put
spurs　to　his　horse。　　But　as　they　cantered　through　the　street；
Clarence；　who　had　already　become　accustomed　to　the　stranger's
hirsute　adornment；　felt　a　little　more　awe　of　him。　　The　profile　of
the　mouth　and　chin　now　exposed　to　his　sidelong　glance　was　hard　and
stern；　and　slightly　saturnine。　　Although　unable　at　the　time　to
identify　it　with　anybody　he　had　ever　known；　it　seemed　to　the
imaginative　boy　to　be　vaguely　connected　with　some　sad　experience。
But　the　eyes　were　thoughtful　and　kindly；　and　the　boy　later　believed
that　if　he　had　been　more　familiar　with　the　face　he　would　have　loved
it　better。　　For　it　was　the　last　and　only　day　he　was　to　see　it；　as；
late　that　afternoon；　after　a　dusty　ride　along　more　traveled
highways；　they　reached　their　journey's　end。

It　was　a　low…walled　house；　with　red…tiled　roofs　showing　against　the
dark　green　of　venerable　pear　and　fig　trees；　and　a　square　court…yard
in　the　centre；　where　they　had　dismounted。　　A　few　words　in　Spanish
from　Flynn　to　one　of　the　lounging　peons　admitted　them　to　a　wooden
corridor；　and　thence　to　a　long；　low　room；　which　to　Clarence's　eyes
seemed　literally　piled　with　books　and　engravings。　　Here　Flynn
hurriedly　bade　him　stay　while　he　sought　the　host　in　another　part　of
the　building。　　But　Clarence　did　not　miss　him；　indeed；　it　may　be
feared；　he　forgot　even　the　object　of　their　journey　in　the　new
sensations　that　suddenly　thronged　upon　him；　and　the　boyish　vista　of
the　future　that　they　seemed　to　open。　　He　was　dazed　and　intoxicated。
He　had　never　seen　so　many　books　before；　he　had　never　conceived　of
such　lovely　pictures。　　And　yet　in　some　vague　way　he　thought　he　must
have　dreamt　of　them　at　some　time。　　He　had　mounted　a　chair；　and　was
gazing　spellbound　at　an　engraving　of　a　sea…fight　when　he　heard
Flynn's　voice。

His　friend　had　quietly　reentered　the　room；　in　company　with　an
oldish；　half…foreign…looking　man；　evidently　his　relation。　　With　no
helping　recollection；　with　no　means　of　comparison　beyond　a　vague
idea　that　his　cousin　might　look　like　himself；　Clarence　stood
hopelessly　before　him。　　He　had　already　made　up　his　mind　that　he
would　have　to　go　through　the　usual　cross…questioning　in　regard　to
his　father　and　family；　he　had　even　forlornly　thought　of　inventing
some　innocent　details　to　fill　out　his　imperfect　and　unsatisfactory
recollection。　　But；　glancing　up；　he　was　surprised　to　find　that　his
elderly　cousin　was　as　embarrassed　as　he　was；　Flynn；　as　usual；
masterfully　interposed。

〃Of　course　ye　don't　remember　each　other；　and　thar　ain't　much　that
either　of　you　knows　about　family　matters；　I　reckon；〃　he　said
grimly；　〃and　as　your　cousin　calls　himself　Don　Juan　Robinson；〃　he
added　to　Clarence；　〃it's　just　as　well　that　you　let　'Jackson　Brant'
slide。　　I　know　him　better　than　you；　but　you'll　get　used　to　him；　and
he　to　you；　soon　enough。　　At　least；　you'd　better；〃　he　concluded；
with　his　singular　gravity。

As　he　turned　as　if　to　leave　the　room　with　Clarence's　embarrassed
relativemuch　to　that　gentleman's　apparent　reliefthe　boy　looked
up　at　the　latter　and　said　timidly

〃May　I　look　at　those　books？〃

His　cousin　stopped；　and　glanced　at　him　with　the　first　expression　of
interest　he　had　shown。

〃Ah；　you　read；　you　like　books？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence。　　As　his　cousin　remained　still　looking　at　him
thoughtfully；　he　added；　〃My　hands　are　pretty　clean；　but　I　can　wash
them　first；　if　you　like。〃

〃You　may　look　at　them；〃　said　Don　Juan　smilingly；　〃and　as　they　are
old　books　you　can　wash　your　hands　afterwards。〃　　And；　turning　to
Flynn　suddenly；　with　an　air　of　relief；　〃I　tell　you　what　I'll　do
I'll　teach　him　Spanish！〃

They　left　the　room　together；　and　Clarence　turned　eagerly　to　the
shelves。　　They　were　old　books；　some　indeed　very　old；　queerly　bound；
and　worm…eaten。　　Some　were　in　foreign　languages；　but　others　in
clear；　bold　English　type；　with　quaint　wood…cuts　and　illustrations。
One　seemed　to　be　a　chronicle　of　battles　and　sieges；　with　pictured
representations　of　combatants　spitted　with　arrows；　cleanly　lopped
off　in　limb；　or　toppled　over　distinctly　by　visible　cannon…shot。　　He
was　deep　in　its　perusal　when　he　heard　the　clatter　of　a　horse's
hoofs　in　the　court…yard　and　the　voice　of　Flynn。　　He　ran　to　the
window；　and　was　astonished　to　see　his　friend　already　on　horseback；
taking　leave　of　his　host。

For　one　instant　Clarence　felt　one　of　those　sudden　revulsions　of
feeling　common　to　his　age；　but　which　he　had　always　timidly　hidden
under　dogged　demea