Alonglevelofdullgraythatfurtherawaybecameafaintblue，withhereandtheredarkerpatchesthatlookedlikewater。Attimesanopenspace，blackenedandburntinanirregularcircle，withashredofnewspaper，anoldrag，orbrokentincanlyingintheashes。Beyondthesealwaysalowdarklinethatseemedtosinkintothegroundatnight，androseagaininthemorningwiththefirstlight，butneverotherwisechangeditsheightanddistance。
Asenseofalwaysmovingwithsomeindefinitepurpose，butofalwaysreturningatnighttothesameplace——withthesamesurroundings，thesamepeople，thesamebedclothes，andthesameawfulblackcanopydroppeddownfromabove。Achalkytasteofdustonthemouthandlips，agrittysenseofearthonthefingers，andanall-pervadingheatandsmellofcattle。
Thiswas\"TheGreatPlains\"astheyseemedtotwochildrenfromthehoodeddepthofanemigrantwagon，abovetheswayingheadsoftoilingoxen，inthesummerof1852。
Ithadappearedsotothemfortwoweeks，alwaysthesameandalwayswithouttheleastsensetothemofwonderormonotony。Whentheyvieweditfromtheroad，walkingbesidethewagon，therewasonlytheteamitselfaddedtotheunvaryingpicture。Oneofthewagonsboreonitscanvashoodtheinscription，inlargeblackletters，\"OfftoCalifornia!\"ontheother\"Root，Hog，orDie，\"butneitherofthemawokeinthemindsofthechildrenthefaintestideaofplayfulnessorjocularity。Perhapsitwasdifficulttoconnecttheseriousmen，whooccasionallywalkedbesidethemandseemedtogrowmoretaciturnanddepressedasthedayworeon，withthispasteffusivepleasantry。
Yettheimpressionsofthetwochildrendifferedslightly。Theeldest，aboyofeleven，wasapparentlynewtothedomestichabitsandcustomsofalifetowhichtheyounger，agirlofseven，wasevidentlynativeandfamiliar。Thefoodwascoarseandlessskillfullypreparedthanthattowhichhehadbeenaccustomed。
Therewasacertainfreedomandroughnessintheirintercourse，asimplicitythatborderedalmostonrudenessintheirdomesticarrangements，andaspeechthatwasattimesalmostuntranslatabletohim。Hesleptinhisclothes，wrappedupinblankets；hewasconsciousthatinthematterofcleanlinesshewaslefttohimselftoovercomethedifficultiesoffindingwaterandtowels。Butitisdoubtfulifinhisyouthfulnessitaffectedhimmorethananovelty。Heateandsleptwell，andfoundhislifeamusing。Onlyattimestherudenessofhiscompanions，or，worse，anindifferencethatmadehimfeelhisdependencyuponthem，awokeavaguesenseofsomewrongthathadbeendonetohimwhichwhileitwasvoicelesstoallothersandevenuneasilyputasidebyhimself，wasstillalwaysslumberinginhischildishconsciousness。
Tothepartyhewasknownasanorphanputonthetrainat\"St。Jo\"
bysomerelativeofhisstepmother，tobedeliveredtoanotherrelativeatSacramento。Ashisstepmotherhadnoteventakenleaveofhim，buthadentrustedhisdeparturetotherelativewithwhomhehadbeenlatelyliving，itwasconsideredasanactof\"riddance，\"andacceptedassuchbyherparty，andevenvaguelyacquiescedinbytheboyhimself。Whatconsiderationhadbeenofferedforhispassagehedidnotknow；heonlyrememberedthathehadbeentold\"tomakehimselfhandy。\"Thishehaddonecheerfully，ifattimeswiththeunskillfulnessofanovice；butitwasnotapeculiaroramenialtaskinacompanywherealltookpartinmanuallabor，andwhereexistenceseemedtohimtobearthecharmofaprolongedpicnic。NeitherwashesubjectedtoanydifferenceofaffectionortreatmentfromMrs。Silsbee，themotherofhislittlecompanion，andthewifeoftheleaderofthetrain。
Prematurelyold，ofill-health，andharassedwithcares，shehadnotimetowasteindiscriminatingmaternaltendernessforherdaughter，buttreatedthechildrenwithequalandunbiasedquerulousness。
Therearwagoncreaked，swayed，androlledonslowlyandheavily。
Thehoofsofthedraft-oxen，occasionallystrikinginthedustwithadullreport，sentlittlepuffslikesmokeoneithersideofthetrack。Within，thechildrenwereplaying\"keepingstore。\"Thelittlegirl，asanopulentandextravagantcustomer，waspurchasingoftheboy，whosatbehindacounterimprovisedfromanail-kegandthefrontseat，mostoftheavailablecontentsofthewagon，eitherundertheirownnamesoranimaginaryoneasthemomentsuggested，andpayingforthemintheeasyandliberalcurrencyofdriedbeansandbitsofpaper。Changewasgivenbytheexpeditiousmethodoftearingthepaperintosmallerfragments。Thediminutionofstockwasremediedbybuyingthesamearticleoveragainunderadifferentname。Nevertheless，inspiteofthesefavorablecommercialconditions，themarketseemeddull。
\"Icanshowyouafinequalityofsheetingatfourcentsayard，doublewidth，\"saidtheboy，risingandleaningonhisfingersonthecounterashehadseentheshopmendo。\"Allwoolandwillwash，\"headded，witheasygravity。
\"IcanbuyitcheaperatJackson\'s，\"saidthegirl，withtheintuitiveduplicityofherbargainingsex。
\"Verywell，\"saidtheboy。\"Iwon\'tplayanymore。\"
\"Whocares?\"saidthegirlindifferently。Theboyherepromptlyupsetthecounter；therolled-upblanketwhichhaddeceitfullyrepresentedthedesirablesheetingfallingonthewagonfloor。Itapparentlysuggestedanewideatotheformersalesman。\"Isay!
let\'splay\'damagedstock。\'See，I\'lltumbleallthethingsdownhererightontopo\'theothers，andsell\'emforlessthancost。\"
Thegirllookedup。Thesuggestionwasbold，bad，andmomentarilyattractive。Butsheonlysaid\"No，\"apparentlyfromhabit，pickedupherdoll，andtheboyclamberedtothefrontofthewagon。Theincompleteepisodeterminatedatoncewiththatperfectforgetfulness，indifference，andirresponsibilitycommontoallyounganimals。Ifeithercouldhaveflownawayorboundedofffinallyatthatmoment，theywouldhavedonesowithnomoreconcernforpreliminarydetailthanabirdorsquirrel。Thewagonrolledsteadilyon。Theboycouldseethatoneoftheteamstershadclimbeduponthetail-boardoftheprecedingvehicle。Theotherseemedtobewalkinginadustysleep。
\"Kla\'uns，\"saidthegirl。
Theboy，withoutturninghishead，responded，\"Susy。\"
\"Wotareyougoingtobe?\"saidthegirl。
\"Goin\'tobe?\"repeatedClarence。
\"Whenyouisgrowed，\"explainedSusy。
Clarencehesitated。Hissettleddeterminationhadbeentobecomeapirate，mercilessyetdiscriminating。Butreadinginabethumbed\"GuidetothePlains\"thatmorningofFortLamarieandKitCarson，hehaddecideduponthecareerofa\"scout，\"asbeingmoreaccessibleandrequiringlesswater。Yet，outofcompassionforSusy\'spossibleignorance，hesaidneither，andrespondedwiththeAmericanboy\'smodestconventionality，\"President。\"Itwassafe，requirednoembarrassingdescription，andhadbeenapprovedbybenevolentoldgentlemenwiththeirhandsonhishead。
\"I\'mgoin\'tobeaparson\'swife，\"saidSusy，\"andkeephens，andhavethingsgiv\'tome。Babyclothes，andapples，andapplesass——
andmelasses!andmorebabyclothes!andporkwhenyoukill。\"
Shehadthrownherselfatthebottomofthewagon，withherbacktowardshimandherdollinherlap。Hecouldseethecurveofhercurlyhead，andbeyond，herbaredimpledknees，whichwereraised，andoverwhichshewastryingtofoldthehemofherbriefskirt。
\"Iwouldn\'tbeaPresident\'swife，\"shesaidpresently。
\"Youcouldn\'t!\"
\"CouldifIwantedto!\"
\"Couldn\'t!\"
\"Couldnow!\"
\"Couldn\'t!\"
\"Why?\"
Findingitdifficulttoexplainhisconvictionsofherineligibility，Clarencethoughtitequallycrushingnottogiveany。Therewasalongsilence。Itwasveryhotanddusty。Thewagonscarcelyseemedtomove。Clarencegazedatthevignetteofthetrackbehindthemformedbythehoodoftherear。Presentlyheroseandwalkedpasthertothetail-board。\"Goin\'togetdown，\"
hesaid，puttinghislegsover。
\"Mawsays\'No，\'\"saidSusy。
Clarencedidnotreply，butdroppedtothegroundbesidetheslowlyturningwheels。Withoutquickeninghispacehecouldeasilykeephishandonthetail-board。
\"Kla\'uns。\"
Helookedup。
\"Takeme。\"
Shehadalreadyclappedonhersun-bonnetandwasstandingattheedgeofthetail-board，herlittlearmsextendedinsuchperfectconfidenceofbeingcaughtthattheboycouldnotresist。Hecaughthercleverly。Theyhaltedamomentandletthelumberingvehiclemoveawayfromthem，asitswayedfromsidetosideasiflaboringinaheavysea。Theyremainedmotionlessuntilithadreachednearlyahundredyards，andthen，withasuddenhalf-real，half-assumed，butaltogetherdelightfultrepidation，ranforwardandcaughtupwithitagain。Thistheyrepeatedtwoorthreetimesuntilboththemselvesandtheexcitementwereexhausted，andtheyagainploddedonhandinhand。PresentlyClarenceutteredacry。
\"My!Susy——lookthere!\"
Therearwagonhadoncemoreslippedawayfromthemaconsiderabledistance。Betweenitandthem，crossingitstrack，amostextraordinarycreaturehadhalted。
Atfirstglanceitseemedadog——adiscomfited，shameless，ownerlessoutcastofstreetsandbyways，ratherthananhoneststrayofsomedrover\'strain。Itwassogaunt，sodusty，sogreasy，soslouching，andsolazy!Butastheylookedatitmoreintentlytheysawthatthegrayishhairofitsbackhadabristlyridge，andthereweregreatpoisonous-lookingdarkblotchesonitsflanks，andthattheslouchofitshauncheswasapeculiarityofitsfigure，andnotthecoweringoffear。Asitlifteditssuspiciousheadtowardsthemtheycouldseethatitsthinlips，tooshorttocoveritswhiteteeth，werecurledinaperpetualsneer。
\"Here，doggie!\"saidClarenceexcitedly。\"Gooddog!Come。\"
Susyburstintoatriumphantlaugh。\"Ettain\'tnodog，silly；it\'sercoyote。\"
Clarenceblushed。Itwasn\'tthefirsttimethepioneer\'sdaughterhadshownhersuperiorknowledge。Hesaidquickly，tohidehisdiscomfiture，\"I\'llketchhim，anyway；he\'snothin\'mor\'nakiyi。\"
\"Yecan\'t，tho，\"saidSusy，shakinghersun-bonnet。\"He\'sfasternorahoss!\"
Nevertheless，Clarencerantowardshim，followedbySusy。Whentheyhadcomewithintwentyfeetofhim，thelazycreature，withoutapparentlytheleasteffort，tooktwoorthreelimpingboundstooneside，andremainedatthesamedistanceasbefore。Theyrepeatedthisonsetthreeorfourtimeswithmoreorlessexcitementandhilarity，theanimalevadingthemtooneside，butneveractuallyretreatingbeforethem。Finally，itoccurredtothemboththatalthoughtheywerenotcatchinghimtheywerenotdrivinghimaway。TheconsequencesofthatthoughtwereputintoshapebySusywithround-eyedsignificance。
\"Kla\'uns，hebites。\"
Clarencepickedupahardsun-bakedclod，and，runningforward，threwitatthecoyote。Itwasaclevershot，andstruckhimonhisslouchinghaunches。Hesnappedandgaveashortsnarlingyelp，andvanished。Clarencereturnedwithavictoriousairtohiscompanion。Butshewasgazingintentlyintheoppositedirection，andforthefirsttimehediscoveredthatthecoyotehadbeenleadingthemhalfroundacircle。
\"Kla\'uns，\"saidSusy，withahystericallittlelaugh。
\"Well?\"
\"Thewagon\'sgone。\"
Clarencestarted。Itwastrue。Notonlytheirwagon，butthewholetrainofoxenandteamstershadutterlydisappeared，vanishingascompletelyasiftheyhadbeencaughtupinawhirlwindorengulfedintheearth!Eventhelowcloudofdustthatusuallymarkedtheirdistantcoursebydaywasnowheretobeseen。Thelonglevelplainstretchedbeforethemtothesettingsun，withoutasignortraceofmovinglifeoranimation。Thatgreatbluecrystalbowl，filledwithdustandfirebyday，withstarsanddarknessbynight，whichhadalwaysseemedtodropitsrimroundthemeverywhereandshutthemin，seemedtothemnowtohavebeenliftedtoletthetrainpassout，andthencloseddownuponthemforever。
CHAPTERII
Theirfirstsensationwasoneofpurelyanimalfreedom。
Theylookedateachotherwithsparklingeyesandlongsilentbreaths。Butthisspontaneousoutburstofsavagenaturesoonpassed。Susy\'slittlehandpresentlyreachedforwardandclutchedClarence\'sjacket。Theboyunderstoodit，andsaidquickly，——
\"Theyain\'tgonefar，andthey\'llstopassoonastheyfindusgone。\"
Theytrottedonalittlefaster；thesuntheyhadfollowedeverydayandthefreshwagontracksbeingtheirunfailingguides；thekeen，coolairoftheplains，takingtheplaceofthatall-
pervadingdustandsmelloftheperspiringoxen，invigoratingthemwithitsbreath。
\"Weain\'tskeeredabit，arewe?\"saidSusy。
\"What\'stheretobeafraidof?\"saidClarencescornfully。Hesaidthisnonethelessstronglybecausehesuddenlyrememberedthattheyhadbeenoftenleftaloneinthewagonforhourswithoutbeinglookedafter，andthattheirabsencemightnotbenoticeduntilthetrainstoppedtoencampatdusk，twohourslater。Theywerenotrunningveryfast，yeteithertheyweremoretiredthantheyknew，ortheairwasthinner，fortheybothseemedtobreathequickly。
SuddenlyClarencestopped。
\"Theretheyarenow。\"
Hewaspointingtoalightcloudofdustinthefar-offhorizon，fromwhichtheblackhulkofawagonemergedforamomentandwaslost。Butevenastheygazedthecloudseemedtosinklikeafairymiragetotheearthagain，thewholetraindisappeared，andonlytheemptystretchingtrackreturned。Theydidnotknowthatthisseeminglyflatandlevelplainwasreallyundulatory，andthatthevanishedtrainhadsimplydippedbelowtheirviewonsomefurtherslopeevenasithadoncebefore。Buttheyknewtheyweredisappointed，andthatdisappointmentrevealedtothemthefactthattheyhadconcealeditfromeachother。Thegirlwasthefirsttosuccumb，andburstintoaquickspasmofangrytears。Thatsingleactofweaknesscalledouttheboy\'sprideandstrength。
Therewasnolongeranequalityofsuffering；hehadbecomeherprotector；hefelthimselfresponsibleforboth。Consideringhernolongerhisequal，hewasnolongerfrankwithher。
\"There\'snothin\'toboo-boofor，\"hesaid，withahalf-affectedbrusqueness。\"Soquit，now!They\'llstopinaminit，andsendsomeonebackforus。Shouldn\'twonderifthey\'redoin\'itnow。\"
ButSusy，withfemininediscriminationdetectingthehollowringinhisvoice，herethrewherselfuponhimandbegantobeathimviolentlywithherlittlefists。\"Theyain\'t!Theyain\'t!Theyain\'t。Youknowit!Howdareyou?\"Then，exhaustedwithherstruggles，shesuddenlythrewherselfflatonthedrygrass，shuthereyestightly，andclutchedatthestubble。
\"Getup，\"saidtheboy，withapale，determinedfacethatseemedtohavegotmucholder。
\"Youleavemebe，\"saidSusy。
\"Doyouwantmetogoawayandleaveyou?\"askedtheboy。
Susyopenedoneblueeyefurtivelyinthesecuredepthsofhersun-
bonnet，andgazedathischangedface。
\"Ye-e-s。\"
Hepretendedtoturnaway，butreallytolookattheheightofthesinkingsun。
\"Kla\'uns!\"
\"Well?\"
\"Takeme。\"
Shewasholdingupherhands。Heliftedhergentlyinhisarms，droppingherheadoverhisshoulder。\"Now，\"hesaidcheerfully，\"youkeepagoodlookoutthatway，andIthis，andwe\'llsoonbethere。\"
Theideaseemedtopleaseher。AfterClarencehadstumbledonforafewmoments，shesaid，\"Doyouseeanything，Kla\'uns?\"
\"Notyet。\"
\"Nomoredon\'tI。\"Thisequalityofperceptionapparentlysatisfiedher。Presentlyshelaymorelimpinhisarms。Shewasasleep。
Thesunwassinkinglower；ithadalreadytouchedtheedgeofthehorizon，andwaslevelwithhisdazzledandstrainingeyes。Attimesitseemedtoimpedehiseagersearchandtaskhisvision。
Hazeandblackspotsfloatedacrossthehorizon，androundwafers，likeduplicatesofthesun，glitteredbackfromthedullsurfaceoftheplains。Thenheresolvedtolooknomoreuntilhehadcountedfifty，ahundred，butalwayswiththesameresult，thereturnoftheempty，unendingplains——thediskgrowingredderasitnearedthehorizon，thefireitseemedtokindleasitsank，butnothingmore。
Staggeringunderhisburden，hetriedtodistracthimselfbyfancyinghowthediscoveryoftheirabsencewouldbemade。Heheardthelistless，half-querulousdiscussionaboutthelocalitythatregularlypervadedthenightlycamp。HeheardthediscontentedvoiceofJakeSilsbeeashehaltedbesidethewagon，andsaid，\"Comeouto\'thatnow，youtwo，andmightyquickaboutit。\"Heheardthecommandharshlyrepeated。HesawthelookofirritationonSilsbee\'sdusty，beardedface，thatfollowedhishurriedglanceintotheemptywagon。Heheardthequery，\"What\'sgoneo\'themlimbsnow?\"handedfromwagontowagon。Heheardafewoaths；Mrs。Silsbee\'shighraspingvoice，abuseofhimself，thehurriedanddiscontenteddetachmentofasearchparty，Silsbeeandoneofthehiredmen，andvociferationandblame。Blamealwaysforhimself，theelder，whomighthave\"knownbetter!\"Alittlefear，perhaps，buthecouldnotfancyeitherpityorcommiseration。
Perhapsthethoughtupheldhispride；undertheprospectofsympathyhemighthavebrokendown。
Atlasthestumbled，andstoppedtokeephimselffromfallingforwardonhisface。Hecouldgonofurther；hisbreathwasspent；
hewasdrippingwithperspiration；hislegsweretremblingunderhim；therewasaroaringinhisears；roundreddisksofthesunwerescatteredeverywherearoundhimlikespotsofblood。Totherightofthetrailthereseemedtobeaslightmoundwherehecouldrestawhile，andyetkeephiswatchfulsurveyofthehorizon。Butonreachingithefoundthatitwasonlyatangleoftallermesquitegrass，intowhichhesankwithhisburden。Nevertheless，ifuselessasapointofvantage，itofferedasoftcouchforSusy，whoseemedtohavefallenquitenaturallyintoherusualafternoonsiesta，andinameasureitshieldedherfromacoldbreezethathadsprungupfromthewest。Utterlyexhaustedhimself，butnotdaringtoyieldtothetorporthatseemedtobecreepingoverhim，Clarencehalfsat，halfkneltdownbesideher，supportinghimselfwithonehand，and，partlyhiddeninthelonggrass，kepthisstrainingeyesfixedonthelonelytrack。
Thereddiskwassinkinglower。Itseemedtohavealreadycrumbledawayapartofthedistancewithitseatingfires。Asitsankstilllower，itshotoutlong，luminousrays，divergingfan-likeacrosstheplain，asif，intheboy\'sexcitedfancy，ittooweresearchingforthelostestrays。Andasonelongbeamseemedtolingeroverhishiding-place，heeventhoughtthatitmightserveasaguidetoSilsbeeandtheotherseekers，andwasconstrainedtostaggertohisfeet，erectinitslight。Butitsoonsank，andwithitClarencedroppedbackagaintohiscrouchingwatch。Yetheknewthatthedaylightwasstillgoodforanhour，andwiththewithdrawalofthatmysticsunsetgloryobjectsbecameevenmoredistinctandsharplydefinedthanatanyothertime。Andwiththemercifulsheathingofthatflamingswordwhichseemedtohaveswayedbetweenhimandthevanishedtrain，hiseyesalreadyfeltablessedrelief。
CHAPTERIII
Withthesettingofthesunanominoussilencefell。HecouldhearthelowbreathingofSusy，andevenfanciedhecouldhearthebeatingofhisownheartinthatoppressivehushofallnature。
Fortheday\'smarchhadalwaysbeenaccompaniedbythemonotonouscreakingofwheelsandaxles，andeventhequietofthenightencampmenthadbeenalwaysmoreorlessbrokenbythemovementofunquietsleepersonthewagonbeds，orthebreathingofthecattle。
Butheretherewasneithersoundnormotion。Susy\'sprattle，andeventhesoundofhisownvoice，wouldhavebrokenthebenumbingspell，butitwasapartofhisgrowingself-denialnowthatherefrainedfromwakingherevenbyawhisper。Shewouldawakensoonenoughtothirstandhunger，perhaps，andthenwhatwashetodo?
Ifthatlooked-forhelpwouldonlycomenow——whileshestillslept。
Foritwaspartofhisboyishfancythatifhecoulddeliverherasleepandundemonstrativeoffearandsuffering，hewouldbelessblameful，andshelessmindfulofhertrouble。Ifitdidnotcome——
buthewouldnotthinkofthatyet!Ifshewasthirstymeantime——
well，itmightrain，andtherewasalwaysthedewwhichtheyusedtobrushoffthemorninggrass；hewouldtakeoffhisshirtandcatchitinthat，likeashipwreckedmariner。Itwouldbefunny，andmakeherlaugh。Forhimselfhewouldnotlaugh；hefelthewasgettingveryoldandgrownupinthisloneliness。
Itwasgettingdarker——theyshouldbelookingintothewagonsnow。
Anewdoubtbegantoassailhim。Oughthenot，nowthathewasrested，makethemostoftheremainingmomentsofdaylight，andbeforetheglowfadedfromthewest，whenhewouldnolongerhaveanybearingstoguidehim?Buttherewasalwaystheriskofwakingher!——towhat?ThefearofbeingconfrontedagainwithHERfearandofbeingunabletopacifyher，atlastdecidedhimtoremain。
Buthecreptsoftlythroughthegrass，andinthedustofthetracktracedthefourpointsofthecompass，ashecouldstilldeterminethembythesunsetlight，withalargeprintedWtoindicatethewest!Thisboyishcontrivanceparticularlypleasedhim。Ifhehadonlyhadapole，astick，orevenatwig，onwhichtotiehishandkerchiefanderectitabovetheclumpofmesquiteasasignaltothesearchersincasetheyshouldbeovercomebyfatigueorsleep，hewouldhavebeenhappy。Buttheplainwasbarrenofbrushortimber；hedidnotdreamthatthisomissionandtheveryunobtrusivenessofhishiding-placewouldbehissalvationfromagreaterdanger。
Withthecomingdarknessthewindaroseandswepttheplainwithalong-drawnsigh。Thisincreasedtoamurmur，tillpresentlythewholeexpanse——beforesunkinawfulsilence——seemedtoawakewithvaguecomplaints，incessantsounds，andlowmoanings。Attimeshethoughtheheardthehalloaingofdistantvoices，attimesitseemedasawhisperinhisownear。Inthesilencethatfollowedeachblasthefanciedhecoulddetectthecreakingofthewagon，thedullthudoftheoxen\'shoofs，orbrokenfragmentsofspeech，blownandscatteredevenashestrainedhisearstolistenbythenextgust。Thistensionoftheearbegantoconfusehisbrain，ashiseyeshadbeenpreviouslydazzledbythesunlight，andastrangetorporbegantostealoverhisfaculties。Onceortwicehisheaddropped。
Heawokewithastart。Amovingfigurehadsuddenlyuplifteditselfbetweenhimandthehorizon!Itwasnottwentyyardsaway，soclearlyoutlinedagainstthestillluminousskythatitseemedevennearer。Ahumanfigure，butsodisheveled，sofantastic，andyetsomeanandpuerileinitsextravagance，thatitseemedtheoutcomeofachildishdream。Itwasamountedfigure，butsoludicrouslydisproportionatetotheponyitbestrode，whoseslimlegswerestifflyburiedinthedustinabreathlesshalt，thatitmighthavebeenastragglerfromsomevulgarwanderingcircus。A
tallhat，crownlessandrimless，acastawayofcivilization，surmountedbyaturkey\'sfeather，wasonitshead；overitsshouldershungadirtytatteredblanketthatscarcelycoveredthetwopaintedlegswhichseemedclothedinsoiledyellowhose。Inonehanditheldagun；theotherwasbentaboveitseyesineagerscrutinyofsomedistantpointbeyondandeastofthespotwherethechildrenlayconcealed。Presently，withadozenquicknoiselessstridesofthepony\'slegs，theapparitionmovedtotheright，itsgazestillfixedonthatmysteriouspartofthehorizon。
Therewasnomistakingitnow!ThepaintedHebraicface，thelargecurvednose，thebonycheek，thebroadmouth，theshadowedeyes，thestraightlongmattedlocks!ItwasanIndian!NotthepicturesquecreatureofClarence\'simagination，butstillanIndian!Theboywasuneasy，suspicious，antagonistic，butnotafraid。Helookedattheheavyanimalfacewiththesuperiorityofintelligence，atthehalf-nakedfigurewiththeconscioussupremacyofdress，atthelowerindividualitywiththecontemptofahigherrace。Yetamomentafter，whenthefigurewheeledanddisappearedtowardstheundulatingwest，astrangechillcreptoverhim。YethedidnotknowthatinthispuerilephantomandpaintedpigmytheawfulmajestyofDeathhadpassedhimby。
\"Mamma!\"
ItwasSusy\'svoice，strugglingintoconsciousness。Perhapsshehadbeeninstinctivelyconsciousoftheboy\'ssuddenfears。
\"Hush!\"
HehadjustturnedtotheobjectivepointoftheIndian\'sgaze。
ThereWASsomething!Adarklinewasmovingalongwiththegatheringdarkness。Foramomenthehardlydaredtovoicehisthoughtseventohimself。Itwasafollowingtrainovertakingthemfromtherear!Andfromtherapidityofitsmovementsatrainwithhorses，hurryingforwardtoeveningcamp。Hehadneverdreamtofhelpfromthatquarter。ThiswaswhattheIndian\'skeeneyeshadbeenwatching，andwhyhehadsoprecipitatelyfled。
Thestrangetrainwasnowcomingupataroundtrot。Itwasevidentlywellappointedwithfiveorsixlargewagonsandseveraloutriders。Inhalfanhouritwouldbehere。YetherefrainedfromwakingSusy，whohadfallenasleepagain；hisoldsuperstitionofsecuringhersafetyfirstbeingstilluppermost。Hetookoffhisjackettocoverhershoulders，andrearrangedhernest。Thenheglancedagainatthecomingtrain。Butforsomeunaccountablereasonithadchangeditsdirection，andinsteadoffollowingthetrackthatshouldhavebroughtittohissideithadturnedofftotheleft!Intenminutesitwouldpassabreastofhimamileandahalfaway!IfhewokeSusynow，heknewshewouldbehelplessinherterror，andhecouldnotcarryherhalfthatdistance。Hemightrushtothetrainhimselfandreturnwithhelp，buthewouldneverleaveheralone——inthedarkness。Never!Ifshewokeshewoulddieoffright，perhaps，orwanderblindlyandaimlesslyaway。
No!Thetrainwouldpassandwithitthathopeofrescue。
Somethingwasinhisthroat，buthegulpeditdownandwasquietagainalbeitheshiveredinthenightwind。
Thetrainwasnearlyabreastofhimnow。Heranoutofthetallgrass，wavinghisstrawhatabovehisheadinthefainthopeofattractingattention。Buthedidnotgofar，forhefoundtohisalarmthatwhenheturnedbackagaintheclumpofmesquitewasscarcelydistinguishablefromtherestoftheplain。Thissettledallquestionofhisgoing。Evenifhereachedthetrainandreturnedwithsomeone，howwouldheeverfindheragaininthisdesolateexpanse?
Hewatchedthetrainslowlypass——stillmechanically，almosthopelessly，wavinghishatasheranupanddownbeforethemesquite，asifhewerewavingalastfarewelltohisdepartinghope。Suddenlyitappearedtohimthatthreeoftheoutriderswhowereprecedingthefirstwagonhadchangedtheirshape。Theywerenolongersharp，oblong，blackblocksagainstthehorizonbuthadbecomeatfirstblurredandindistinct，thentallerandnarrower，untilatlasttheystoodoutlikeexclamationpointsagainstthesky。Hecontinuedtowavehishat，theycontinuedtogrowtallerandnarrower。Heunderstooditnow——thethreetransformedblocksweretheoutriderscomingtowardshim。
Thisiswhathehadseen——
[Drawingofthreeblackblocks]
Thisiswhathesawnow——
!!!
HeranbacktoSusytoseeifshestillslept，forhisfoolishdesiretohavehersavedunconsciouslywasstrongerthanevernowthatsafetyseemedsonear。Shewasstillsleeping，althoughshehadmovedslightly。Herantothefrontagain。
Theoutridershadapparentlyhalted。Whatweretheydoing?Whywouldn\'ttheycomeon?
Suddenlyablindingflashoflightseemedtoburstfromoneofthem。Awayoverhisheadsomethingwhistledlikearushingbird，andspedoffinvisible。Theyhadfiredagun；theyweresignalingtohim——Clarence——likeagrown-upman。Hewouldhavegivenhislifeatthatmomenttohavehadagun。Buthecouldonlywavehishatfrantically。
Oneofthefigureshereboreawayandimpetuouslydartedforwardagain。Hewascomingnearer，powerful，gigantic，formidable，asheloomedthroughthedarkness。Allatoncehethrewuphisarmwithawildgesturetotheothers；andhisvoice，manly，frank，andassuring，cameringingbeforehim。
\"Holdup!GoodGod!It\'snoInjun——it\'sachild!\"
InanothermomenthehadreinedupbesideClarenceandleanedoverhim，bearded，handsome，powerfulandprotecting。
\"Hallo!What\'sallthis?Whatareyoudoinghere?\"
\"LostfromMr。Silsbee\'strain，\"saidClarence，pointingtothedarkenedwest。
\"Lost?——howlong?\"
\"Aboutthreehours。Ithoughtthey\'dcomebackforus，\"saidClarenceapologeticallytothisbig，kindlyman。
\"Andyoukalkilatedtowaitherefor\'em?\"
\"Yes，yes——Idid——tillIsawyou。\"
\"Thenwhyinthunderdidn\'tyoulightoutstraightforus，insteadofhangingroundhereanddrawingusout?\"
Theboyhunghishead。Heknewhisreasonswereunchanged，butallatoncetheyseemedveryfoolishandunmanlytospeakout。
\"OnlythatwewereonthekeenjumpforInjins，\"continuedthestranger，\"wewouldn\'thaveseenyouatall，andmighthevshotyouwhenwedid。Whatpossessedyoutostayhere?\"
Theboywasstillsilent。\"Kla\'uns，\"saidafaint，sleepyvoicefromthemesquite，\"takeme。\"Therifle-shothadawakenedSusy。
Thestrangerturnedquicklytowardsthesound。Clarencestartedandrecalledhimself。\"There，\"hesaidbitterly，\"you\'vedoneitnow，you\'vewakenedher!THAT\'SwhyIstayed。Icouldn\'tcarryherovertheretoyou。Icouldn\'tletherwalk，forshe\'dbefrightened。Iwouldn\'twakeherup，forshe\'dbefrightened，andI
