a waif of the plains-第6节

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air。　　〃It's　'bout　a　boy；〃　she　added　confidentially　to　Mrs。　Peyton；
〃whose　father　wouldn't　never；　never　stay　with　him　on　a　burnin'
ship；　though　he　said；　'Stay；　father；　stay；'　ever　so　much。〃

With　this　clear；　lucid；　and　perfectly　satisfactory　explanation　of
Mrs。　Hemans's　〃Casabianca；〃　Clarence　began。　　Unfortunately；　his
actual　rendering　of　this　popular　school　performance　was　more　an
effort　of　memory　than　anything　else；　and　was　illustrated　by　those
wooden　gestures　which　a　Western　schoolmaster　had　taught　him。　　He
described　the　flames　that　〃roared　around　him；〃　by　indicating　with
his　hand　a　perfect　circle；　of　which　he　was　the　axis；　he　adjured　his
father；　the　late　Admiral　Casabianca；　by　clasping　his　hands　before
his　chin；　as　if　wanting　to　be　manacled　in　an　attitude　which　he　was
miserably　conscious　was　unlike　anything　he　himself　had　ever　felt　or
seen　before；　he　described　that　father　〃faint　in　death　below；〃　and
〃the　flag　on　high；〃　with　one　single　motion。　　Yet　something　that　the
verses　had　kindled　in　his　active　imagination；　perhaps；　rather　than
an　illustration　of　the　verses　themselves；　at　times　brightened　his
gray　eyes；　became　tremulous　in　his　youthful　voice；　and　I　fear
occasionally　incoherent　on　his　lips。　　At　times；　when　not　conscious
of　his　affected　art；　the　plain　and　all　upon　it　seemed　to　him　to
slip　away　into　the　night；　the　blazing　camp　fire　at　his　feet　to　wrap
him　in　a　fateful　glory；　and　a　vague　devotion　to　somethinghe　knew
not　whatso　possessed　him　that　he　communicated　it；　and　probably
some　of　his　own　youthful　delight　in　extravagant　voice；　to　his
hearers；　until；　when　he　ceased　with　a　glowing　face；　he　was
surprised　to　find　that　the　card　players　had　deserted　their　camp
fires　and　gathered　round　the　tent。


CHAPTER　V


〃You　didn't　say　'Stay；　father；　stay；'　enough；　Kla'uns；〃　said　Susy
critically。　　Then　suddenly　starting　upright　in　Mrs。　Peyton's　lap；
she　continued　rapidly；　〃I　kin　dance。　　And　sing。　　I　kin　dance　High
Jambooree。〃

〃What's　High　Jambooree；　dear？〃　asked　Mrs。　Peyton。

〃You'll　see。　　Lemme　down。〃　　And　Susy　slipped　to　the　ground。

The　dance　of　High　Jambooree；　evidently　of　remote　mystical　African
origin；　appeared　to　consist　of　three　small　skips　to　the　right　and
then　to　the　left；　accompanied　by　the　holding　up　of　very　short
skirts；　incessant　〃teetering〃　on　the　toes　of　small　feet；　the
exhibition　of　much　bare　knee　and　stocking；　and　a　gurgling
accompaniment　of　childish　laughter。　　Vehemently　applauded；　it　left
the　little　performer　breathless；　but　invincible　and　ready　for　fresh
conquest。

〃I　kin　sing；　too；〃　she　gasped　hurriedly；　as　if　unwilling　that　the
applause　should　lapse。　　〃I　kin　sing。　　Oh；　dear！　　Kla'uns；〃
piteously；　〃WHAT　is　it　I　sing？〃

〃Ben　Bolt；〃　suggested　Clarence。

〃Oh；　yes。　　Oh；　don't　you　remember　sweet　Alers　Ben　Bolt？〃　began
Susy；　in　the　same　breath　and　the　wrong　key。　　〃Sweet　Alers；　with
hair　so　brown；　who　wept　with　delight　when　you　giv'd　her　a　smile；
and〃　with　knitted　brows　and　appealing　recitative；　〃what's　er　rest
of　it；　Kla'uns？〃

〃Who　trembled　with　fear　at　your　frown？〃　prompted　Clarence。

〃Who　trembled　with　fear　at　my　frown？〃　shrilled　Susy。　　〃I　forget　er
rest。　　Wait！　　I　kin　sing〃

〃Praise　God；〃　suggested　Clarence。

〃Yes。〃　　Here　Susy；　a　regular　attendant　in　camp　and　prayer…meetings；
was　on　firmer　ground。

Promptly　lifting　her　high　treble；　yet　with　a　certain　acquired
deliberation；　she　began；　〃Praise　God；　from　whom　all　blessings
flow。〃　　At　the　end　of　the　second　line　the　whispering　and　laughing
ceased。　　A　deep　voice　to　the　right；　that　of　the　champion　poker
player；　suddenly　rose　on　the　swell　of　the　third　line。　　He　was
instantly　followed　by　a　dozen　ringing　voices；　and　by　the　time　the
last　line　was　reached　it　was　given　with　a　full　chorus；　in　which　the
dull　chant　of　teamsters　and　drivers　mingled　with　the　soprano　of
Mrs。　Peyton　and　Susy's　childish　treble。　　Again　and　again　it　was
repeated；　with　forgetful　eyes　and　abstracted　faces；　rising　and
falling　with　the　night　wind　and　the　leap　and　gleam　of　the　camp
fires；　and　fading　again　like　them　in　the　immeasurable　mystery　of
the　darkened　plain。

In　the　deep　and　embarrassing　silence　that　followed；　at　last　the
party　hesitatingly　broke　up；　Mrs。　Peyton　retiring　with　Susy　after
offering　the　child　to　Clarence　for　a　perfunctory　〃good…night〃　kiss；
an　unusual　proceeding；　which　somewhat　astonished　them　bothand
Clarence　found　himself　near　Mr。　Peyton。

〃I　think；〃　said　Clarence　timidly；　〃I　saw　an　Injin　to…day。〃

Mr。　Peyton　bent　down　towards　him。　　〃An　Injinwhere？〃　he　asked
quickly；　with　the　same　look　of　doubting　interrogatory　with　which　he
had　received　Clarence's　name　and　parentage。

The　boy　for　a　moment　regretted　having　spoken。　　But　with　his　old
doggedness　he　particularized　his　statement。　　Fortunately；　being
gifted　with　a　keen　perception；　he　was　able　to　describe　the　stranger
accurately；　and　to　impart　with　his　description　that　contempt　for
its　subject　which　he　had　felt；　and　which　to　his　frontier　auditor
established　its　truthfulness。　　Peyton　turned　abruptly　away；　but
presently　returned　with　Harry　and　another　man。

〃You　are　sure　of　this？〃　said　Peyton；　half…encouragingly。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃As　sure　as　you　are　that　your　father　is　Colonel　Brant　and　is　dead？〃
said　Harry；　with　a　light　laugh。

Tears　sprang　into　the　boy's　lowering　eyes。　　〃I　don't　lie；〃　he　said
doggedly。

〃I　believe　you；　Clarence；〃　said　Peyton　quietly。　　〃But　why　didn't
you　say　it　before？〃

〃I　didn't　like　to　say　it　before　Susy　andher！〃　stammered　the　boy。

〃Her？〃

〃Yes；　sirMrs。　Peyton；〃　said　Clarence　blushingly。

〃Oh；〃　said　Harry　sarcastically；　〃how　blessed　polite　we　are！〃

〃That'll　do。　　Let　up　on　him；　will　you？〃　said　Peyton；　roughly；　to
his　subordinate。　　〃The　boy　knows　what　he's　about。　　But；〃　he
continued；　addressing　Clarence；　〃how　was　it　the　Injin　didn't　see
you？〃

〃I　was　very　still　on　account　of　not　waking　Susy；〃　said　Clarence；
〃and〃　　He　hesitated。

〃And　what？〃

〃He　seemed　more　keen　watching　what　YOU　were　doing；〃　said　the　boy
boldly。

〃That's　so；〃　broke　in　the　second　man；　who　happened　to　be
experienced；　〃and　as　he　was　to　wind'ard　o'　the　boy　he　was　off　HIS
scent　and　bearings。　　He　was　one　of　their　rear　scouts；　the　rest　o'
them's　ahead　crossing　our　track　to　cut　us　off。　　Ye　didn't　see
anything　else？〃

〃I　saw　a　coyote　first；〃　said　Clarence；　greatly　encouraged。

〃Hold　on！〃　said　the　expert；　as　Harry　turned　away　with　a　sneer。
〃That's　a　sign；　too。　　Wolf　don't　go　where　wolf　hez　been；　and　coyote
don't　foller　Injinsthere's　no　pickin's！　　How　long　afore　did　you
see　the　coyote？〃

〃Just　after　we　left　the　wagon；〃　said　Clarence。

〃That's　it；〃　said　the　man；　thoughtfully。　　〃He　was　driven　on　ahead；
or　hanging　on　their　flanks。　　These　Injins　are　betwixt　us　and　that
ar　train；　or　following　it。〃

Peyton　made　a　hurried　gesture　of　warning；　as　if　reminding　the
speaker　of　Clarence's　presencea　gesture　which　the　boy　noticed　and
wondered　at。　　Then　the　conversation　of　the　three　men　took　a　lower
tone；　although　Clarence　distinctly　heard　the　concluding　opinion　of
the　expert。

〃It　ain't　no　good　now；　Mr。　Peyton；　and　you'd　be　only　exposing
yourself　on　their　ground　by　breakin'　camp　agin　to…night。　　And　you
don't　know　that　it　ain't　US　they're　watchin'。　　You　see；　if　we
hadn't　turned　off　the　straight　road　when　we　got　that　first　scare
from　these　yer　lost　children；　we　might　hev　gone　on　and　walked　plump
into　some　cursed　trap　of　those　devils。　　To　my　mind；　we're　just　in
nigger　luck；　and　with　a　good　watch　and　my　patrol　we're　all　right　to
be　fixed　where　we　be　till　daylight。〃

Mr。　Peyton　presently　turned　away；　taking　Clarence　with　him。　　〃As
we'll　be　up　early　and　on　the　track　of　your　train　to…morrow；　my　boy；
you　had　better　turn　in　now。　　I've　put　you　up　in　my　wagon；　and　as　I
expect　to　be　in　the　saddle　most　of　the　night；　I　reckon　I　won't
trouble　you　much。〃　　He　led　the　way　to　a　second　wagondrawn　up
beside　the　one　where　Susy　and　Mrs。　Peyton　had　retiredwhich
Clarence　was　surprised　to　find　fitted　with　a　writing　table　and
desk；　a　chair；　and　even　a　bookshelf　containing　some　volumes。　　A
long　locker；　fitted　like　a　lounge；　had　been　made　up　as　a　couch　for
him；　with　the　unwonted　luxury　of　clean　white　sheets　and　pillow…
cases。　　A　soft　matting　covered　the　floor　of　the　heavy　wagon　bed；
which；　Mr。　Peyton　explained；　was　hung　on　centre　springs　to　prevent
jarring。　　The　sides　and　roof　of　the　vehicle　were　of　lightly　paneled
wood；　instead　of　the　usual　hooked　canvas　frame　of　the　ordinary
emigrant　wagon；　and　fitted　with　a　glazed　door　and　movable　window
for　light　and　air。　　Clarence　wondered　why　the　big；　powerful　man；
who　seemed　at　home　on　horseback；　should　ever　care　to　sit　in　this
office　like　a　merchant　or　a　lawyer；　and　if　this　train　sold　things
to　the　other　trains；　or　took　goods；　like　the　peddlers；　to　towns　on
the　route；　but　there　seemed　to　be　nothing　to　sell；　and　the　other
wagons　were　filled　with　only　the　goods　required　by　the　party。　　He
would　have　liked　to　ask　Mr。　Peyton　who　HE　was；　and　have　questioned
HIM　as　freely　as　he　himself　had　been　questioned。　　But　as　the
average　adult　man　never　takes　into　consideration　the　injustice　of
denying　to　the　natural　and　even　necessary　curiosity　of　childhood
that　questioning　which　he　himself　is　so　apt　to　ass