按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
30
… Page 31…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
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
31
… Page 32…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
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；
32
… Page 33…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
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
33
… Page 34…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
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