a waif of the plains-第3节

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！


on　reaching　it　he　found　that　it　was　only　a　tangle　of　taller
mesquite　grass；　into　which　he　sank　with　his　burden。　　Nevertheless；
if　useless　as　a　point　of　vantage；　it　offered　a　soft　couch　for　Susy；
who　seemed　to　have　fallen　quite　naturally　into　her　usual　afternoon
siesta；　and　in　a　measure　it　shielded　her　from　a　cold　breeze　that
had　sprung　up　from　the　west。　　Utterly　exhausted　himself；　but　not
daring　to　yield　to　the　torpor　that　seemed　to　be　creeping　over　him；
Clarence　half　sat；　half　knelt　down　beside　her；　supporting　himself
with　one　hand；　and；　partly　hidden　in　the　long　grass；　kept　his
straining　eyes　fixed　on　the　lonely　track。

The　red　disk　was　sinking　lower。　　It　seemed　to　have　already　crumbled
away　a　part　of　the　distance　with　its　eating　fires。　　As　it　sank
still　lower；　it　shot　out　long；　luminous　rays；　diverging　fan…like
across　the　plain；　as　if；　in　the　boy's　excited　fancy；　it　too　were
searching　for　the　lost　estrays。　　And　as　one　long　beam　seemed　to
linger　over　his　hiding…place；　he　even　thought　that　it　might　serve
as　a　guide　to　Silsbee　and　the　other　seekers；　and　was　constrained　to
stagger　to　his　feet；　erect　in　its　light。　　But　it　soon　sank；　and
with　it　Clarence　dropped　back　again　to　his　crouching　watch。　　Yet　he
knew　that　the　daylight　was　still　good　for　an　hour；　and　with　the
withdrawal　of　that　mystic　sunset　glory　objects　became　even　more
distinct　and　sharply　defined　than　at　any　other　time。　　And　with　the
merciful　sheathing　of　that　flaming　sword　which　seemed　to　have
swayed　between　him　and　the　vanished　train；　his　eyes　already　felt　a
blessed　relief。


CHAPTER　III


With　the　setting　of　the　sun　an　ominous　silence　fell。　　He　could　hear
the　low　breathing　of　Susy；　and　even　fancied　he　could　hear　the
beating　of　his　own　heart　in　that　oppressive　hush　of　all　nature。
For　the　day's　march　had　always　been　accompanied　by　the　monotonous
creaking　of　wheels　and　axles；　and　even　the　quiet　of　the　night
encampment　had　been　always　more　or　less　broken　by　the　movement　of
unquiet　sleepers　on　the　wagon　beds；　or　the　breathing　of　the　cattle。
But　here　there　was　neither　sound　nor　motion。　　Susy's　prattle；　and
even　the　sound　of　his　own　voice；　would　have　broken　the　benumbing
spell；　but　it　was　a　part　of　his　growing　self…denial　now　that　he
refrained　from　waking　her　even　by　a　whisper。　　She　would　awaken　soon
enough　to　thirst　and　hunger；　perhaps；　and　then　what　was　he　to　do？
If　that　looked…for　help　would　only　come　nowwhile　she　still　slept。
For　it　was　part　of　his　boyish　fancy　that　if　he　could　deliver　her
asleep　and　undemonstrative　of　fear　and　suffering；　he　would　be　less
blameful；　and　she　less　mindful　of　her　trouble。　　If　it　did　not　come
but　he　would　not　think　of　that　yet！　　If　she　was　thirsty　meantime
well；　it　might　rain；　and　there　was　always　the　dew　which　they　used
to　brush　off　the　morning　grass；　he　would　take　off　his　shirt　and
catch　it　in　that；　like　a　shipwrecked　mariner。　　It　would　be　funny；
and　make　her　laugh。　　For　himself　he　would　not　laugh；　he　felt　he　was
getting　very　old　and　grown　up　in　this　loneliness。

It　was　getting　darkerthey　should　be　looking　into　the　wagons　now。
A　new　doubt　began　to　assail　him。　　Ought　he　not；　now　that　he　was
rested；　make　the　most　of　the　remaining　moments　of　daylight；　and
before　the　glow　faded　from　the　west；　when　he　would　no　longer　have
any　bearings　to　guide　him？　　But　there　was　always　the　risk　of　waking
her！to　what？　　The　fear　of　being　confronted　again　with　HER　fear
and　of　being　unable　to　pacify　her；　at　last　decided　him　to　remain。
But　he　crept　softly　through　the　grass；　and　in　the　dust　of　the　track
traced　the　four　points　of　the　compass；　as　he　could　still　determine
them　by　the　sunset　light；　with　a　large　printed　W　to　indicate　the
west！　　This　boyish　contrivance　particularly　pleased　him。　　If　he　had
only　had　a　pole；　a　stick；　or　even　a　twig；　on　which　to　tie　his
handkerchief　and　erect　it　above　the　clump　of　mesquite　as　a　signal
to　the　searchers　in　case　they　should　be　overcome　by　fatigue　or
sleep；　he　would　have　been　happy。　　But　the　plain　was　barren　of　brush
or　timber；　he　did　not　dream　that　this　omission　and　the　very
unobtrusiveness　of　his　hiding…place　would　be　his　salvation　from　a
greater　danger。

With　the　coming　darkness　the　wind　arose　and　swept　the　plain　with　a
long…drawn　sigh。　　This　increased　to　a　murmur；　till　presently　the
whole　expansebefore　sunk　in　awful　silenceseemed　to　awake　with
vague　complaints；　incessant　sounds；　and　low　moanings。　　At　times　he
thought　he　heard　the　halloaing　of　distant　voices；　at　times　it
seemed　as　a　whisper　in　his　own　ear。　　In　the　silence　that　followed
each　blast　he　fancied　he　could　detect　the　creaking　of　the　wagon；
the　dull　thud　of　the　oxen's　hoofs；　or　broken　fragments　of　speech；
blown　and　scattered　even　as　he　strained　his　ears　to　listen　by　the
next　gust。　　This　tension　of　the　ear　began　to　confuse　his　brain；　as
his　eyes　had　been　previously　dazzled　by　the　sunlight；　and　a　strange
torpor　began　to　steal　over　his　faculties。　　Once　or　twice　his　head
dropped。

He　awoke　with　a　start。　　A　moving　figure　had　suddenly　uplifted
itself　between　him　and　the　horizon！　　It　was　not　twenty　yards　away；
so　clearly　outlined　against　the　still　luminous　sky　that　it　seemed
even　nearer。　　A　human　figure；　but　so　disheveled；　so　fantastic；　and
yet　so　mean　and　puerile　in　its　extravagance；　that　it　seemed　the
outcome　of　a　childish　dream。　　It　was　a　mounted　figure；　but　so
ludicrously　disproportionate　to　the　pony　it　bestrode；　whose　slim
legs　were　stiffly　buried　in　the　dust　in　a　breathless　halt；　that　it
might　have　been　a　straggler　from　some　vulgar　wandering　circus。　　A
tall　hat；　crownless　and　rimless；　a　castaway　of　civilization；
surmounted　by　a　turkey's　feather；　was　on　its　head；　over　its
shoulders　hung　a　dirty　tattered　blanket　that　scarcely　covered　the
two　painted　legs　which　seemed　clothed　in　soiled　yellow　hose。　　In
one　hand　it　held　a　gun；　the　other　was　bent　above　its　eyes　in　eager
scrutiny　of　some　distant　point　beyond　and　east　of　the　spot　where
the　children　lay　concealed。　　Presently；　with　a　dozen　quick
noiseless　strides　of　the　pony's　legs；　the　apparition　moved　to　the
right；　its　gaze　still　fixed　on　that　mysterious　part　of　the　horizon。
There　was　no　mistaking　it　now！　　The　painted　Hebraic　face；　the　large
curved　nose；　the　bony　cheek；　the　broad　mouth；　the　shadowed　eyes；
the　straight　long　matted　locks！　　It　was　an　Indian！　　Not　the
picturesque　creature　of　Clarence's　imagination；　but　still　an
Indian！　　The　boy　was　uneasy；　suspicious；　antagonistic；　but　not
afraid。　　He　looked　at　the　heavy　animal　face　with　the　superiority　of
intelligence；　at　the　half…naked　figure　with　the　conscious　supremacy
of　dress；　at　the　lower　individuality　with　the　contempt　of　a　higher
race。　　Yet　a　moment　after；　when　the　figure　wheeled　and　disappeared
towards　the　undulating　west；　a　strange　chill　crept　over　him。　　Yet
he　did　not　know　that　in　this　puerile　phantom　and　painted　pigmy　the
awful　majesty　of　Death　had　passed　him　by。

〃Mamma！〃

It　was　Susy's　voice；　struggling　into　consciousness。　　Perhaps　she
had　been　instinctively　conscious　of　the　boy's　sudden　fears。

〃Hush！〃

He　had　just　turned　to　the　objective　point　of　the　Indian's　gaze。
There　WAS　something！　　A　dark　line　was　moving　along　with　the
gathering　darkness。　　For　a　moment　he　hardly　dared　to　voice　his
thoughts　even　to　himself。　　It　was　a　following　train　overtaking　them
from　the　rear！　　And　from　the　rapidity　of　its　movements　a　train　with
horses；　hurrying　forward　to　evening　camp。　　He　had　never　dreamt　of
help　from　that　quarter。　　This　was　what　the　Indian's　keen　eyes　had
been　watching；　and　why　he　had　so　precipitately　fled。

The　strange　train　was　now　coming　up　at　a　round　trot。　　It　was
evidently　well　appointed　with　five　or　six　large　wagons　and　several
outriders。　　In　half　an　hour　it　would　be　here。　　Yet　he　refrained
from　waking　Susy；　who　had　fallen　asleep　again；　his　old　superstition
of　securing　her　safety　first　being　still　uppermost。　　He　took　off
his　jacket　to　cover　her　shoulders；　and　rearranged　her　nest。　　Then
he　glanced　again　at　the　coming　train。　　But　for　some　unaccountable
reason　it　had　changed　its　direction；　and　instead　of　following　the
track　that　should　have　brought　it　to　his　side　it　had　turned　off　to
the　left！　　In　ten　minutes　it　would　pass　abreast　of　him　a　mile　and　a
half　away！　　If　he　woke　Susy　now；　he　knew　she　would　be　helpless　in
her　terror；　and　he　could　not　carry　her　half　that　distance。　　He
might　rush　to　the　train　himself　and　return　with　help；　but　he　would
never　leave　her　alonein　the　darkness。　　Never！　　If　she　woke　she
would　die　of　fright；　perhaps；　or　wander　blindly　and　aimlessly　away。
No！　　The　train　would　pass　and　with　it　that　hope　of　rescue。
Something　was　in　his　throat；　but　he　gulped　it　down　and　was　quiet
again　albeit　he　shivered　in　the　night　wind。

The　train　was　nearly　abreast　of　him　now。　　He　ran　out　of　the　tall
grass；　waving　his　straw　hat　above　his　head　in　the　faint　hope　of
attracting　attention。　　But　he　did　not　go　far；　for　he　found　to　his
alarm　that　when　he　turned　back　again　the　clump　of　mesquite　was
scarcely　distinguishable　from　the　rest　of　the　plain。　　This　settled
all　question　of　his　going。　　Even　if　he　reached　the　train　and
returned　with　some　one；　how　would　he　ever　find　her　again　in　this
desolate　expanse？

He　watched　the　train