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blow。 The gully was only a narrow and short fissure or subsidence of the
plain； a few paces more of retreat and he would be at its end； against an
almost perpendicular bank fifteen feet high。 If he attempted to climb its
crumbling sides and fell； there would be those short but terrible horns
waiting to impale him！ It seemed too terrible； too cruel！ He was so
small beside this overgrown monster。 It wasn't fair！ The tears started to
his eyes； and then； in a rage at the injustice of Fate； he stood doggedly still
with clenched fists。 He fixed his gaze with half…hysterical； childish fury
on those lurid eyes； he did not know that； owing to the strange magnifying
power of the bull's convex pupils； he； Clarence； appeared much bigger
than he really was to the brute's heavy consciousness； the distance from
him most deceptive； and that it was to this fact that hunters so often owed
their escape。 He only thought of some desperate means of attack。 Ah！
the six… shooter。 It was still in his pocket。 He drew it nervously；
hopelesslyit looked so small compared with his large enemy！
He presented it with flashing eyes； and pulled the trigger。 A feeble
click followed； another； and again！ Even THIS had mocked him。 He
pulled the trigger once more； wildly； there was a sudden explosion； and
another。 He stepped back； the balls had apparently flattened themselves
harmlessly on the bull's forehead。 He pulled again； hopelessly； there was
another report； a sudden furious bellow； and the enormous brute threw his
head savagely to one side； burying his left horn deep in the crumbling
bank beside him。 Again and again he charged the bank； driving his left
horn home； and bringing down the stones and earth in showers。 It was
some seconds before Clarence saw in a single glimpse of that wildly
tossing crest the reason of this fury。 The blood was pouring from his left
eye； penetrated by the last bullet； the bull was blinded！ A terrible
revulsion of feeling； a sudden sense of remorse that was for the moment
more awful than even his previous fear； overcame him。 HE had done
THAT THING！ As much to fly from the dreadful spectacle as any
instinct of self…preservation； he took advantage of the next mad paroxysms
of pain and blindness； that always impelled the suffering beast towards the
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left； to slip past him on the right； reach the incline； and scramble wildly up
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