a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第12章
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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 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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