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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 shining
bits of metal； without study； without method or routinethis was really life；
to some day come upon that large nugget 〃you couldn't lift；〃 that was
worth as much as the train and horsessuch a one as the stranger said was
found the other day at Sawyer's Barthis was worth giving up everything
for。 That rough man； with his smile of careless superiority； was the living
link between Clarence and the Thousand and One Nights； in him were
Aladdin and Sindbad incarnate。
Two days later they reached Stockton。 Here Clarence； whose single
suit of clothes had been reinforced by patching； odds and ends from
Peyton's stores； and an extraordinary costume of army cloth； got up by the
regimental tailor at Fort Ridge； was taken to be refitted at a general
furnishing 〃emporium。〃 But alas！ in the selection of the clothing for that
adult locality scant provision seemed to have been made for a boy of
Clarence's years； and he was with difficulty fitted from an old condemned
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Government stores with 〃a boy's〃 seaman suit and a brass…buttoned pea…
jacket。 To this outfit Mr。 Peyton added a small sum of money for his
expenses； and a letter of explanation to his cousin。 The stage…coach was
to start at noon。 It only remained for Clarence to take leave of the party。
The final parting with Susy had been discounted on the two previous days
with some tears； small frights and clingings； and the expressed
determination on the child's part 〃to go with him；〃 but in the excitement of
the arrival at Stockton it was still further mitigated； and under the
influence of a little present from Clarencehis first disbursement of his
small capitalhad at last taken the form and promise of merely temporary
separation。 Nevertheless； when the boy's scanty pack was deposited under
the stage…coach seat； and he had been left alone； he ran rapidly back to the
train for one moment more with Susy。 Panting and a little frightened； he
reached Mrs。 Peyton's car。
〃Goodness！ You're not gone yet；〃 said Mrs。 Peyton sharply。 〃Do
you want to lose the stage？〃
An instant before； in his loneliness； he might have answered； 〃Yes。〃
But under the cruel sting of Mrs。 Peyton's evident annoyance at his
reappearance he felt his legs suddenly tremble； and his voice left him。
He did not dare to look at Susy。 But her voice rose comfortably from the
depths of the wagon where she was sitting。
〃The stage will be gone away； Kla'uns。〃
She too！ Shame at his foolish weakness sent the yearning blood that
had settled round his heart flying back into his face。
〃I was looking forforfor Jim； ma'am；〃 he said at last； boldly。
He saw a look of disgust pass over Mrs。 Peyton's face； and felt a
malicious satisfaction as he turned and ran back to the stage。 But here； to
his surprise； he actually found Jim； whom he really hadn't thought of；
darkly watching the last strapping of luggage。 With a manner calculated
to convey the impression to the other passengers that he was parting from
a brother criminal； probably on his way to a state prison； Jim shook hands
gloomily with Clarence； and eyed the other passengers furtively between
his mated locks。
〃Ef ye hear o' anythin' happenin'； ye'll know what's up；〃 he said； in a
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low； hoarse； but perfectly audible whisper。 〃Me and them's bound to part
company afore long。 Tell the fellows at Deadman's Gulch to look out for
me at any time。〃
Although Clarence was not going to Deadman's Gulch； knew nothing
of it； and had a faint suspicion that Jim was equally ignorant； yet as one or
two of the passengers glanced anxiously at the demure； gray… eyed boy
who seemed booked for such a baleful destination； he really felt the half…
delighted； half…frightened consciousness that he was starting in life under
fascinating immoral pretenses。 But the forward spring of the fine…
spirited horses； the quickened motion； the glittering sunlight； and the
thought that he really was leaving behind him all the shackles of
dependence and custom； and plunging into a life of freedom； drove all else
from his mind。 He turned at last from this hopeful； blissful future； and
began to examine his fellow passengers with boyish curiosity。 Wedged in
between two silent men on the front seat； one of whom seemed a farmer；
and the other； by his black attire； a professional man； Clarence was finally
attracted by a black…mantled； dark…haired； bonnetless woman on the back
seat； whose attention seemed to be monopolized by the jocular gallantries
of her companions and the two men before her in the middle seat。 From
her position he could see little more than her dark eyes； which
occasionally seemed to meet his frank curiosity in an amused sort of way；
but he was chiefly struck by the pretty foreign sound of her musical voice；
which was unlike anything he had ever heard before； andalas for the
inconstancy of youthmuch finer than Mrs。 Peyton's。 Presently his
farmer companion； casting a patronizing glance on Clarence's pea…jacket
and brass buttons； said cheerily
〃Jest off a voyage； sonny？〃
〃No； sir；〃 stammered Clarence； 〃I came across the plains。〃
〃Then I reckon that's the rig…out for the crew of a prairie schooner；
eh？〃 There was a laugh at this which perplexed Clarence。 Observing it；
the humorist kindly condescended to explain that 〃prairie schooner〃 was
the current slang for an emigrant wagon。
〃I couldn't；〃 explained Clarence； naively looking at the dark eyes on
the back seat； 〃get any clothes at Stockton but these； I suppose the folks
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didn't think there'd ever be boys in California。〃
The simplicity of this speech evidently impressed the others； for the
two men in the middle seats turned at a whisper