a waif of the plains-第6章

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luxury　which　was　not　his。　　This　set　him　endeavoring　to　remember
something　of　his　father's　house；　of　the　large　rooms；　drafty
staircases；　and　far…off　ceilings；　and　the　cold　formality　of　a　life
that　seemed　made　up　of　strange　faces；　some　strangerhis　parents；
some　kinderthe　servants；　particularly　the　black　nurse　who　had　him
in　charge。　　Why　did　Mr。　Peyton　ask　him　about　it？　　Why；　if　it　were
so　important　to　strangers；　had　not　his　mother　told　him　more　of　it？
And　why　was　she　not　like　this　good　woman　with　the　gentle　voice　who
was　so　kind　toto　Susy？　　And　what　did　they　mean　by　making　HIM　so
miserable？　　Something　rose　in　his　throat；　but　with　an　effort　he
choked　it　back；　and；　creeping　from　the　lounge；　went　softly　to　the
window；　opened　it　to　see　if　it　〃would　work；〃　and　looked　out。　　The
shrouded　camp　fires；　the　stars　that　glittered　but　gave　no　light；
the　dim　moving　bulk　of　a　patrol　beyond　the　circle；　all　seemed　to
intensify　the　darkness；　and　changed　the　current　of　his　thoughts。
He　remembered　what　Mr。　Peyton　had　said　of　him　when　they　first　met。
〃Suthin　of　a　pup；　ain't　he？〃　　Surely　that　meant　something　that　was
not　bad！　　He　crept　back　to　the　couch　again。

Lying　there；　still　awake；　he　reflected　that　he　wouldn't　be　a　scout
when　he　grew　up；　but　would　be　something　like　Mr。　Peyton；　and　have　a
train　like　this；　and　invite　the　Silsbees　and　Susy　to　accompany　him。
For　this　purpose；　he　and　Susy；　early　to…morrow　morning；　would　get
permission　to　come　in　here　and　play　at　that　game。　　This　would
familiarize　him　with　the　details；　so　that　he　would　be　able　at　any
time　to　take　charge　of　it。　　He　was　already　an　authority　on　the
subject　of　Indians！　　He　had　once　been　fired　atas　an　Indian。　　He
would　always　carry　a　rifle　like　that　hanging　from　the　hooks　at　the
end　of　the　wagon　before　him；　and　would　eventually　slay　many　Indians
and　keep　an　account　of　them　in　a　big　book　like　that　on　the　desk。
Susy　would　help　him；　having　grown　up　a　lady；　and　they　would　both
together　issue　provisions　and　rations　from　the　door　of　the　wagon　to
the　gathered　crowds。　　He　would　be　known　as　the　〃White　Chief；〃　his
Indian　name　being　〃Suthin　of　a　Pup。〃　　He　would　have　a　circus　van
attached　to　the　train；　in　which　he　would　occasionally　perform。　　He
would　also　have　artillery　for　protection。　　There　would　be　a
terrific　engagement；　and　he　would　rush　into　the　wagon；　heated　and
blackened　with　gunpowder；　and　Susy　would　put　down　an　account　of　it
in　a　book；　and　Mrs。　Peytonfor　she　would　be　there　in　some　vague
capacitywould　say；　〃Really；　now；　I　don't　see　but　what　we　were
very　lucky　in　having　such　a　boy　as　Clarence　with　us。　　I　begin　to
understand　him　better。〃　　And　Harry；　who；　for　purposes　of　vague
poetical　retaliation；　would　also　drop　in　at　that　moment；　would
mutter　and　say；　〃He　is　certainly　the　son　of　Colonel　Brant；　dear
me！〃　and　apologize。　　And　his　mother　would　come　in　also；　in　her
coldest　and　most　indifferent　manner；　in　a　white　ball　dress；　and
start　and　say；　〃Good　gracious；　how　that　boy　has　grown！　　I　am　sorry
I　did　not　see　more　of　him　when　he　was　young。〃　　Yet　even　in　the
midst　of　this　came　a　confusing　numbness；　and　then　the　side　of　the
wagon　seemed　to　melt　away；　and　he　drifted　out　again　alone　into　the
empty　desolate　plain　from　which　even　the　sleeping　Susy　had
vanished；　and　he　was　left　deserted　and　forgotten。　　Then　all　was
quiet　in　the　wagon；　and　only　the　night　wind　moving　round　it。　　But
lo！　the　lashes　of　the　sleeping　White　Chiefthe　dauntless　leader；
the　ruthless　destroyer　of　Indianswere　wet　with　glittering　tears！

Yet　it　seemed　only　a　moment　afterwards　that　he　awoke　with　a　faint
consciousness　of　some　arrested　motion。　　To　his　utter　consternation；
the　sun；　three　hours　high；　was　shining　in　the　wagon；　already　hot
and　stifling　in　its　beams。　　There　was　the　familiar　smell　and　taste
of　the　dirty　road　in　the　air　about　him。　　There　was　a　faint　creaking
of　boards　and　springs；　a　slight　oscillation；　and　beyond　the　audible
rattle　of　harness；　as　if　the　train　had　been　under　way；　the　wagon
moving；　and　then　there　had　been　a　sudden　halt。　　They　had　probably
come　up　with　the　Silsbee　train；　in　a　few　moments　the　change　would
be　effected　and　all　of　his　strange　experience　would　be　over。　　He
must　get　up　now。　　Yet；　with　the　morning　laziness　of　the　healthy
young　animal；　he　curled　up　a　moment　longer　in　his　luxurious　couch。

How　quiet　it　was！　　There　were　far…off　voices；　but　they　seemed
suppressed　and　hurried。　　Through　the　window　he　saw　one　of　the
teamsters　run　rapidly　past　him　with　a　strange；　breathless；
preoccupied　face；　halt　a　moment　at　one　of　the　following　wagons；　and
then　run　back　again　to　the　front。

Then　two　of　the　voices　came　nearer；　with　the　dull　beating　of　hoofs
in　the　dust。

〃Rout　out　the　boy　and　ask　him；〃　said　a　half…suppressed；　impatient
voice；　which　Clarence　at　once　recognized　as　the　man　Harry's。

〃Hold　on　till　Peyton　comes　up；〃　said　the　second　voice；　in　a　low
tone；　〃leave　it　to　him。〃

〃Better　find　out　what　they　were　like；　at　once；〃　grumbled　Harry。

〃Wait；　stand　back；〃　said　Peyton's　voice；　joining　the　others；　〃I'LL
ask　him。〃

Clarence　looked　wonderingly　at　the　door。　　It　opened　on　Mr。　Peyton；
dusty　and　dismounted；　with　a　strange；　abstracted　look　in　his　face。

〃How　many　wagons　are　in　your　train；　Clarence？〃

〃Three；　sir。〃

〃Any　marks　on　them？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Clarence；　eagerly：　〃'Off　to　California'　and　'Root；
Hog；　or　Die。'〃

Mr。　Peyton's　eye　seemed　to　leap　up　and　hold　Clarence's　with　a
sudden；　strange　significance；　and　then　looked　down。

〃How　many　were　you　in　all？〃　he　continued。

〃Five；　and　there　was　Mrs。　Silsbee。〃

〃No　other　woman？〃

〃No。〃

〃Get　up　and　dress　yourself；〃　he　said　gravely；　〃and　wait　here　till　I
come　back。　　Keep　cool　and　have　your　wits　about　you。〃　　He　dropped
his　voice　slightly。　　〃Perhaps　something's　happened　that　you'll　have
to　show　yourself　a　little　man　again　for；　Clarence！〃

The　door　closed；　and　the　boy　heard　the　same　muffled　hoofs　and
voices　die　away　towards　the　front。　　He　began　to　dress　himself
mechanically；　almost　vacantly；　yet　conscious　always　of　a　vague
undercurrent　of　thrilling　excitement。　　When　he　had　finished　he
waited　almost　breathlessly；　feeling　the　same　beating　of　his　heart
that　he　had　felt　when　he　was　following　the　vanished　train　the　day
before。　　At　last　he　could　stand　the　suspense　no　longer；　and　opened
the　door。　　Everything　was　still　in　the　motionless　caravan；　except
it　struck　him　oddly　even　thenthe　unconcerned　prattling　voice　of
Susy　from　one　of　the　nearer　wagons。　　Perhaps　a　sudden　feeling　that
this　was　something　that　concerned　HER；　perhaps　an　irresistible
impulse　overcame　him；　but　the　next　moment　he　had　leaped　to　the
ground；　faced　about；　and　was　running　feverishly　to　the　front。

The　first　thing　that　met　his　eyes　was　the　helpless　and　desolate
bulk　of　one　of　the　Silsbee　wagons　a　hundred　rods　away；　bereft　of
oxen　and　pole；　standing　alone　and　motionless　against　the　dazzling
sky！　　Near　it　was　the　broken　frame　of　another　wagon；　its　fore
wheels　and　axles　gone；　pitched　forward　on　its　knees　like　an　ox
under　the　butcher's　sledge。　　Not　far　away　there　were　the　burnt　and
blackened　ruins　of　a　third；　around　which　the　whole　party　on　foot
and　horseback　seemed　to　be　gathered。　　As　the　boy　ran　violently　on；
the　group　opened　to　make　way　for　two　men　carrying　some　helpless　but
awful　object　between　them。　　A　terrible　instinct　made　Clarence
swerve　from　it　in　his　headlong　course；　but　he　was　at　the　same
moment　discovered　by　the　others；　and　a　cry　arose　of　〃Go　back！〃
〃Stop！〃　　〃Keep　him　back！〃　　Heeding　it　no　more　than　the　wind　that
whistled　by　him；　Clarence　made　directly　for　the　foremost　wagonthe
one　in　which　he　and　Susy　had　played。　　A　powerful　hand　caught　his
shoulder；　it　was　Mr。　Peyton's。

〃Mrs。　Silsbee's　wagon；〃　said　the　boy；　with　white　lips；　pointing　to
it。　　〃Where　is　she？〃

〃She's　missing；〃　said　Peyton；　〃and　one　otherthe　rest　are　dead。〃

〃She　must　be　there；〃　said　the　boy；　struggling；　and　pointing　to　the
wagon；　〃let　me　go。〃

〃Clarence；〃　said　Peyton　sternly；　accenting　his　grasp　upon　the　boy's
arm；　〃be　a　man！　　Look　around　you。　　Try　and　tell　us　who　these　are。〃

There　seemed　to　be　one　or　two　heaps　of　old　clothes　lying　on　the
ground；　and　further　on；　where　the　men　at　a　command　from　Peyton　had
laid　down　their　burden；　another。　　In　those　ragged；　dusty　heaps　of
clothes；　from　which　all　the　majesty　of　life　seemed　to　have　been
ruthlessly　stamped　out；　only　what　was　ignoble　and　grotesque
appeared　to　be　left。　　There　was　nothing　terrible　in　this。　　The　boy
moved　slowly　towards　them；　and；　incredible　even　to　himself；　the
overpowering　fear　of　them　that　a　moment　before　had　overcome　him
left　him　as　suddenly。　　He　walked　from　the　one　to　the　other；
recognizing　them　by　certain　marks　and　signs；　and　mentioning　name
after　name。　　The　groups　gazed　at　him　curiously；　he　was　conscious
that　he　scarcely　understood　himself；　still　less　the　same　quiet
purpose　that　made　him　turn　towards　the　furthest　wagon。

〃There's　nothing　there；〃　said　Peyton；　〃we've　searched　it。〃　　But　the
boy；　without　replying；　continued　his　way；　and　the　crowd　followed
him。

The　deserted　wagon；　more　rude；　disorderly；　and　slovenly　than　it　had
ever　seemed　to　him　before；　was　now　heaped　and　tumbled　with　broken
bones；　cans；　scattered　provisions；　pots；　pans；　blankets；　and
clothing　in　the　foul　confusion　of　a　dust…heap。　　But　in　this
heterogeneous　mingling　the　boy's　quick　eye　caught　sight　of　a
draggled　edge　of　calico。

〃That's　Mrs。　Silsbee's　dress！〃　he　cried；　and　leapt　into　the　wagon。

At　first　the　men　stared　at　each　other；　but　an　instant　later　a　dozen
hands　were　helping　him；　nervously　digging　and　clearing　away　the
rubbish。　　Then　one　man　uttered　a　sudden　cry；　and　fell　back　with
frantic　but　furious　eyes　uplifted　against　the　pitiless；　smiling　sky
above　him。

〃Great　God！　look　here！〃

It　was　the　yellowish；　waxen　face　of　Mrs。　Silsbee　that　had　been
uncovered。　　But　to　the　fancy　of　the　boy　it　had　changed；　the　old
familiar　lines　of　worry；　care；　and　querulousness　had　given　way　to　a
look　of　remote　peace　and　statue…like　repose。　　He　had　often　vexed
her　in　her　aggressive　life；　he　was　touched　with　remorse　at　her
cold；　passionless　apathy　now；　and　pressed　timidly　forward。　　Even　as
he　did　so；　the　man；　with　a　quick　but　warning　gesture；　hurriedly
threw　his　handkerchief　over　the　matted　locks；　as　if　to　shut　out
something　awful　from　his　view。　　Clarence　felt　himself　drawn　back；
but　not　before　the　white　lips　of　a　bystander　had　whispered　a　single
word

〃Scalped；　too！　by　God！〃


CHAPTER　VI


Then　followed　days　and　weeks　that　seemed　to　Clarence　as　a　dream。
At　first；　an　interval　of　hushed　and　awed　restraint　when　he　and　Susy
were　kept　apart；　a　strange　and　artificial　interest　taken　little
note　of　by　him；　but　afterwards　remembered　when　others　had　forgotten
it；　the　burial　of　Mrs。　Silsbee　beneath　a　cairn　of　stones；　with　some
ceremonies　that；　simple　though　they　were；　seemed　to　usurp　the
sacred　rights　of　grief　from　him　and　Susy；　and　leave　them　cold　and
frightened；　days　of　frequent　and　incoherent　childish　outbursts　from
Susy；　growing　fainter　and　rarer　as　time　went　on；　until　they　ceased；
he　knew　not　when；　the　haunting　by　night　of　that　morning　vision　of
the　three　or　four　heaps　of　ragged　clothes　on　the　ground　and　a　half
regret　that　he　had　not　exami