a waif of the plains-第2章

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〃Kla'uns；　he　bites。〃

Clarence　picked　up　a　hard　sun…baked　clod；　and；　running　forward；
threw　it　at　the　coyote。　　It　was　a　clever　shot；　and　struck　him　on
his　slouching　haunches。　　He　snapped　and　gave　a　short　snarling　yelp；
and　vanished。　　Clarence　returned　with　a　victorious　air　to　his
companion。　　But　she　was　gazing　intently　in　the　opposite　direction；
and　for　the　first　time　he　discovered　that　the　coyote　had　been
leading　them　half　round　a　circle。

〃Kla'uns；〃　said　Susy；　with　a　hysterical　little　laugh。

〃Well？〃

〃The　wagon's　gone。〃

Clarence　started。　　It　was　true。　　Not　only　their　wagon；　but　the
whole　train　of　oxen　and　teamsters　had　utterly　disappeared；
vanishing　as　completely　as　if　they　had　been　caught　up　in　a
whirlwind　or　engulfed　in　the　earth！　　Even　the　low　cloud　of　dust
that　usually　marked　their　distant　course　by　day　was　nowhere　to　be
seen。　　The　long　level　plain　stretched　before　them　to　the　setting
sun；　without　a　sign　or　trace　of　moving　life　or　animation。　　That
great　blue　crystal　bowl；　filled　with　dust　and　fire　by　day；　with
stars　and　darkness　by　night；　which　had　always　seemed　to　drop　its
rim　round　them　everywhere　and　shut　them　in；　seemed　to　them　now　to
have　been　lifted　to　let　the　train　pass　out；　and　then　closed　down
upon　them　forever。


CHAPTER　II


Their　first　sensation　was　one　of　purely　animal　freedom。

They　looked　at　each　other　with　sparkling　eyes　and　long　silent
breaths。　　But　this　spontaneous　outburst　of　savage　nature　soon
passed。　　Susy's　little　hand　presently　reached　forward　and　clutched
Clarence's　jacket。　　The　boy　understood　it；　and　said　quickly；

〃They　ain't　gone　far；　and　they'll　stop　as　soon　as　they　find　us
gone。〃

They　trotted　on　a　little　faster；　the　sun　they　had　followed　every
day　and　the　fresh　wagon　tracks　being　their　unfailing　guides；　the
keen；　cool　air　of　the　plains；　taking　the　place　of　that　all…
pervading　dust　and　smell　of　the　perspiring　oxen；　invigorating　them
with　its　breath。

〃We　ain't　skeered　a　bit；　are　we？〃　said　Susy。

〃What's　there　to　be　afraid　of？〃　said　Clarence　scornfully。　　He　said
this　none　the　less　strongly　because　he　suddenly　remembered　that
they　had　been　often　left　alone　in　the　wagon　for　hours　without　being
looked　after；　and　that　their　absence　might　not　be　noticed　until　the
train　stopped　to　encamp　at　dusk；　two　hours　later。　　They　were　not
running　very　fast；　yet　either　they　were　more　tired　than　they　knew；
or　the　air　was　thinner；　for　they　both　seemed　to　breathe　quickly。
Suddenly　Clarence　stopped。

〃There　they　are　now。〃

He　was　pointing　to　a　light　cloud　of　dust　in　the　far…off　horizon；
from　which　the　black　hulk　of　a　wagon　emerged　for　a　moment　and　was
lost。　　But　even　as　they　gazed　the　cloud　seemed　to　sink　like　a　fairy
mirage　to　the　earth　again；　the　whole　train　disappeared；　and　only
the　empty　stretching　track　returned。　　They　did　not　know　that　this
seemingly　flat　and　level　plain　was　really　undulatory；　and　that　the
vanished　train　had　simply　dipped　below　their　view　on　some　further
slope　even　as　it　had　once　before。　　But　they　knew　they　were
disappointed；　and　that　disappointment　revealed　to　them　the　fact
that　they　had　concealed　it　from　each　other。　　The　girl　was　the　first
to　succumb；　and　burst　into　a　quick　spasm　of　angry　tears。　　That
single　act　of　weakness　called　out　the　boy's　pride　and　strength。
There　was　no　longer　an　equality　of　suffering；　he　had　become　her
protector；　he　felt　himself　responsible　for　both。　　Considering　her
no　longer　his　equal；　he　was　no　longer　frank　with　her。

〃There's　nothin'　to　boo…boo　for；〃　he　said；　with　a　half…affected
brusqueness。　　〃So　quit；　now！　　They'll　stop　in　a　minit；　and　send
some　one　back　for　us。　　Shouldn't　wonder　if　they're　doin'　it　now。〃

But　Susy；　with　feminine　discrimination　detecting　the　hollow　ring　in
his　voice；　here　threw　herself　upon　him　and　began　to　beat　him
violently　with　her　little　fists。　　〃They　ain't！　　They　ain't！　　They
ain't。　　You　know　it！　　How　dare　you？〃　　Then；　exhausted　with　her
struggles；　she　suddenly　threw　herself　flat　on　the　dry　grass；　shut
her　eyes　tightly；　and　clutched　at　the　stubble。

〃Get　up；〃　said　the　boy；　with　a　pale；　determined　face　that　seemed　to
have　got　much　older。

〃You　leave　me　be；〃　said　Susy。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　go　away　and　leave　you？〃　asked　the　boy。

Susy　opened　one　blue　eye　furtively　in　the　secure　depths　of　her　sun…
bonnet；　and　gazed　at　his　changed　face。

〃Ye…e…s。〃

He　pretended　to　turn　away；　but　really　to　look　at　the　height　of　the
sinking　sun。

〃Kla'uns！〃

〃Well？〃

〃Take　me。〃

She　was　holding　up　her　hands。　　He　lifted　her　gently　in　his　arms；
dropping　her　head　over　his　shoulder。　　〃Now；〃　he　said　cheerfully；
〃you　keep　a　good　lookout　that　way；　and　I　this；　and　we'll　soon　be
there。〃

The　idea　seemed　to　please　her。　　After　Clarence　had　stumbled　on　for
a　few　moments；　she　said；　〃Do　you　see　anything；　Kla'uns？〃

〃Not　yet。〃

〃No　more　don't　I。〃　　This　equality　of　perception　apparently
satisfied　her。　　Presently　she　lay　more　limp　in　his　arms。　　She　was
asleep。

The　sun　was　sinking　lower；　it　had　already　touched　the　edge　of　the
horizon；　and　was　level　with　his　dazzled　and　straining　eyes。　　At
times　it　seemed　to　impede　his　eager　search　and　task　his　vision。
Haze　and　black　spots　floated　across　the　horizon；　and　round　wafers；
like　duplicates　of　the　sun；　glittered　back　from　the　dull　surface　of
the　plains。　　Then　he　resolved　to　look　no　more　until　he　had　counted
fifty；　a　hundred；　but　always　with　the　same　result；　the　return　of
the　empty；　unending　plainsthe　disk　growing　redder　as　it　neared
the　horizon；　the　fire　it　seemed　to　kindle　as　it　sank；　but　nothing
more。

Staggering　under　his　burden；　he　tried　to　distract　himself　by
fancying　how　the　discovery　of　their　absence　would　be　made。　　He
heard　the　listless；　half…querulous　discussion　about　the　locality
that　regularly　pervaded　the　nightly　camp。　　He　heard　the
discontented　voice　of　Jake　Silsbee　as　he　halted　beside　the　wagon；
and　said；　〃Come　out　o'　that　now；　you　two；　and　mighty　quick　about
it。〃　　He　heard　the　command　harshly　repeated。　　He　saw　the　look　of
irritation　on　Silsbee's　dusty；　bearded　face；　that　followed　his
hurried　glance　into　the　empty　wagon。　　He　heard　the　query；　〃What's
gone　o'　them　limbs　now？〃　handed　from　wagon　to　wagon。　　He　heard　a
few　oaths；　Mrs。　Silsbee's　high　rasping　voice；　abuse　of　himself；　the
hurried　and　discontented　detachment　of　a　search　party；　Silsbee　and
one　of　the　hired　men；　and　vociferation　and　blame。　　Blame　always　for
himself；　the　elder；　who　might　have　〃known　better！〃　　A　little　fear；
perhaps；　but　he　could　not　fancy　either　pity　or　commiseration。
Perhaps　the　thought　upheld　his　pride；　under　the　prospect　of
sympathy　he　might　have　broken　down。

At　last　he　stumbled；　and　stopped　to　keep　himself　from　falling
forward　on　his　face。　　He　could　go　no　further；　his　breath　was　spent；
he　was　dripping　with　perspiration；　his　legs　were　trembling　under
him；　there　was　a　roaring　in　his　ears；　round　red　disks　of　the　sun
were　scattered　everywhere　around　him　like　spots　of　blood。　　To　the
right　of　the　trail　there　seemed　to　be　a　slight　mound　where　he　could
rest　awhile；　and　yet　keep　his　watchful　survey　of　the　horizon。　　But
on　reaching　it　he　found　that　it　was　only　a　tangle　of　taller
mesquite　grass；　into　which　he　sank　with　his　burden。　　Nevertheless；
if　useless　as　a　point　of　vantage；　it　offered　a　soft　couch　for　Susy；
who　seemed　to　have　fallen　quite　naturally　into　her　usual　afternoon
siesta；　and　in　a　measure　it　shielded　her　from　a　cold　breeze　that
had　sprung　up　from　the　west。　　Utterly　exhausted　himself；　but　not
daring　to　yield　to　the　torpor　that　seemed　to　be　creeping　over　him；
Clarence　half　sat；　half　knelt　down　beside　her；　supporting　himself
with　one　hand；　and；　partly　hidden　in　the　long　grass；　kept　his
straining　eyes　fixed　on　the　lonely　track。

The　red　disk　was　sinking　lower。　　It　seemed　to　have　already　crumbled
away　a　part　of　the　distance　with　its　eating　fires。　　As　it　sank
still　lower；　it　shot　out　long；　luminous　rays；　diverging　fan…like
across　the　plain；　as　if；　in　the　boy's　excited　fancy；　it　too　were
searching　for　the　lost　estrays。　　And　as　one　long　beam　seemed　to
linger　over　his　hiding…place；　he　even　thought　that　it　might　serve
as　a　guide　to　Silsbee　and　the　other　seekers；　and　was　constrained　to
stagger　to　his　feet；　erect　in　its　light。　　But　it　soon　sank；　and
with　it　Clarence　dropped　back　again　to　his　crouching　watch。　　Yet　he
knew　that　the　daylight　was　still　good　for　an　hour；　and　with　the
withdrawal　of　that　mystic　sunset　glory　objects　became　even　more
distinct　and　sharply　defined　than　at　any　other　time。　　And　with　the
merciful　sheathing　of　that　flaming　sword　which　seemed　to　have
swayed　between　him　and　the　vanished　train；　his　eyes　already　felt　a
blessed　relief。


CHAPTER　III


With　the　setting　of　the　sun　an　ominous　silence　fell。　　He　could　hear
the　low　breathing　of　Susy；　and　even　fancied　he　could　hear　the
beating　of　his　own　heart　in　that　oppressive　hush　of　all　nature。
For　the　day's　march　had　always　been　accompanied　by　the　monotonous
creaking　of　wheels　and　axles；　and　even　the　quiet　of　the　night
encampment　had　been　always　more　or　less　broken　by　the　movement　of
unquiet　sleepers　on　the　wagon　beds；　or　the　breathing　of　the　cattle。
But　here　there　was　neither　sound　nor　motion。　　Susy's　prattle；　and
even　the　sound　of　his　own　voice；　would　have　broken　the　benumbing
spell；　but　it　was　a　part　of　his　growing　self…denial　now　that　he
refrained　from　waking　her　even　by　a　whisper。　　She　would　awaken　soon
enough　to　thirst　and　hunger；　perhaps；　and　then　what　was　he　to　do？
If　that　looked…for　help　would　only　come　nowwhile　she　still　slept。
For　it　was　part　of　his　boyish　fancy　that　if　he　could　deliver　her
asleep　and　undemonstrative　of　fear　and　suffering；　he　would　be　less
blameful；　and　she　less　mindful　of　her　trouble。　　If　it　did　not　come
but　he　would　not　think　of　that　yet！　　If　she　was　thirsty　meantime
well；　it　might　rain；　and　there　was　always　the　dew　which　they　used
to　brush　off　the　morning　grass；　he　would　take　off　his　shirt　and
catch　it　in　that；　like　a　shipwrecked　mariner。　　It　would　be　funny；
and　make　her　laugh。　　For　himself　he　would　not　laugh；　he　felt　he　was
getting　very　old　and　grown　up　in　this　loneliness。

It　was　getting　darkerthey　should　be　looking　into　the　wagons　now。
A　new　doubt　began　to　assail　him。　　Ought　he　not；　now　that　he　was
rested；　make　the　most　of　the　remaining　moments　of　daylight；　and
before　the　glow　faded　from　the　west；　when　he　would　no　longer　have
any　bearings　to　guide　him？　　But　there　was　always　the　risk　of　waking
her！to　what？　　The　fear　of　being　confronted　again　with　HER　fear
and　of　being　unable　to　pacify　her；　at　last　decided　him　to　remain。
But　he　crept　softly　through　the　grass；　and　in　the　dust　of　the　track
traced　the　four　points　of　the　compass；　as　he　could　still　determine
them　by　the　sunset　light；　with　a　large　printed　W　to　indicate　the
west！　　This　boyish　contrivance　particularly　pleased　him。　　If　he　had
only　had　a　pole；　a　stick；　or　even　a　twig；　on　which　to　tie　his
handkerchief　and　erect　it　above　the　clump　of　mesquite　as　a　signal
to　the　searchers　in　case　they　should　be　overcome　by　fatigue　or
sleep；　he　would　have　been　happy。　　But　the　plain　was　barren　of　brush
or　timber；　he　did　not　dream　that　this　omission　and　the　very
unobtrusiveness　of　his　hiding…place　would　be　his　salvation