a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第16章
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to the plain again。 Here he ran confusedly forward； not knowing
whitheronly caring to escape that agonized bellowing； to shut out forever
the accusing look of that huge blood…weltering eye。
Suddenly he heard a distant angry shout。 To his first hurried glance
the plain had seemed empty； but； looking up； he saw two horsemen rapidly
advancing with a led horse behind themhis own。 With the blessed sense
of relief that overtook him now came the fevered desire for sympathy and
to tell them all。 But as they came nearer he saw that they were
Gildersleeve； the scout； and Henry Benham； and that； far from sharing any
delight in his deliverance； their faces only exhibited irascible impatience。
Overcome by this new defeat； the boy stopped； again dumb and dogged。
〃Now； then； blank it all； WILL you get up and come along； or do you
reckon to keep the train waiting another hour over your blanked
foolishness？〃 said Gildersleeve savagely。
The boy hesitated； and then mounted mechanically； without a word。
〃'Twould have served 'em right to have gone and left 'em；〃 muttered
Benham vindictively。
For one wild instant Clarence thought of throwing himself from his
horse and bidding them go on and leave him。 But before he could put his
thought into action the two men were galloping forward； with his horse led
by a lariat fastened to the horn of Gildersleeve's saddle。
In two hours more they had overtaken the train； already on the march；
and were in the midst of the group of outriders。 Judge Peyton's face；
albeit a trifle perplexed； turned towards Clarence with a kindly； half…
tolerant look of welcome。 The boy's heart instantly melted with
forgiveness。
〃Well； my boy； let's hear YOUR story。 What happened？〃
Clarence cast a hurried glance around； and saw Jim； with face averted；
riding gloomily behind。 Then nervously and hurriedly he told how he
had been thrown into the gully on the back of the wounded buffalo； and
the manner of his escape。 An audible titter ran through the cavalcade。
Mr。 Peyton regarded him gravely。 〃But how did the buffalo get so
conveniently into the gully？〃 he asked。
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〃Jim Hooker lamed him with a shotgun； and he fell over；〃 said
Clarence timidly。
A roar of Homeric laughter went up from the party。 Clarence looked
up； stung and startled； but caught a single glimpse of Jim Hooker's face
that made him forget his own mortification。 In its hopeless； heart…sick；
and utterly beaten dejectionthe first and only real expression he had seen
on ithe read the dreadful truth。 Jim's REPUTATION had ruined him！
The one genuine and striking episode of his life； the one trustworthy
account he had given of it； had been unanimously accepted as the biggest
and most consummate lie of his record！
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CHAPTER VII
With this incident of the hunt closed； to Clarence； the last
remembered episode of his journey。 But he did not know until long after
that it had also closed to him what might have been the opening of a new
career。 For it had been Judge Peyton's intention in adopting Susy to
include a certain guardianship and protection of the boy； provided he could
get the consent of that vague relation to whom he was consigned。 But it
had been pointed out by Mrs。 Peyton and her brother that Clarence's
association with Jim Hooker had made him a doubtful companion for Susy；
and even the Judge himself was forced to admit that the boy's apparent
taste for evil company was inconsistent with his alleged birth and breeding。
Unfortunately； Clarence； in the conviction of being hopelessly
misunderstood； and that dogged acquiescence to fate which was one of his
characteristics； was too proud to correct the impression by any of the
hypocracies of childhood。 He had also a cloudy instinct of loyalty to Jim
in his disgrace； without； however； experiencing either the sympathy of an
equal or the zeal of a partisan； but ratherif it could be said of a boy of his
yearswith the patronage and protection of a superior。 So he accepted
without demur the intimation that when the train reached California he
would be forwarded from Stockton with an outfit and a letter of
explanation to Sacramento； it being understood that in the event of not
finding his relative he would return to the Peytons in one of the southern
valleys； where they elected to purchase a tract of land。
With this outlook； and the prospect of change； independence； and all
the rich possibilities that to the imagination of youth are included in them；
Clarence had found the days dragging。 The halt at Salt Lake； the transit
of the dreary Alkali desert； even the wild passage of the Sierras； were but a
blurred picture in his memory。 The sight of eternal snows and the rolling
of endless ranks of pines； the first glimpse of a hillside of wild oats； the
spectacle of a rushing yellow river that to his fancy seemed tinged with
gold； were momentary excitements； quickly forgotten。 But when； one
morning； halting at the outskirts of a struggling settlement； he found the
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entire party eagerly gathered around a passing stranger； who had taken
from his saddle…bags a small buckskin pouch to show them a double
handful of shining scales of metal； Clarence felt the first feverish and
overmastering thrill of the gold…seekers。 Breathlessly he followed the
breathless questions and careless replies。 The gold had been dug out of a
placer only thirty miles away。 It might be worth； say； a hundred and fifty
dollars； it was only HIS share of a week's work with two partners。 It was
not much； 〃the country was getting played out with fresh arrivals and
greenhorns。〃 All this falling carelessly from the unshaven lips of a dusty；
roughly dressed man； with a long…handled shovel and pickaxe strapped on
his back； and a frying… pan depending from his saddle。 But no panoplied
or armed knight ever seemed so heroic or independent a figure to Clarence。
What could be finer than the noble scorn conveyed in his critical survey of
the train； with its comfortable covered wagons and appliances of
civilization？ 〃Ye'll hev to get rid of them ther fixin's if yer goin' in for
placer diggin'！〃 What a corroboration of Clarence's real thoughts！
What a picture of independence was this！ The picturesque scout； the all…
powerful Judge Peyton； the daring young officer； all crumbled on their
clayey pedestals before this hero in a red flannel shirt and high…topped
boots。 To stroll around in the open air all day； and pick up those
