\"Three，sir。\"
\"Anymarksonthem?\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidClarence，eagerly:\"\'OfftoCalifornia\'and\'Root，Hog，orDie。\'\"
Mr。Peyton\'seyeseemedtoleapupandholdClarence\'swithasudden，strangesignificance，andthenlookeddown。
\"Howmanywereyouinall?\"hecontinued。
\"Five，andtherewasMrs。Silsbee。\"
\"Nootherwoman?\"
\"No。\"
\"Getupanddressyourself，\"hesaidgravely，\"andwaitheretillI
comeback。Keepcoolandhaveyourwitsaboutyou。\"Hedroppedhisvoiceslightly。\"Perhapssomething\'shappenedthatyou\'llhavetoshowyourselfalittlemanagainfor，Clarence!\"
Thedoorclosed，andtheboyheardthesamemuffledhoofsandvoicesdieawaytowardsthefront。Hebegantodresshimselfmechanically，almostvacantly，yetconsciousalwaysofavagueundercurrentofthrillingexcitement。Whenhehadfinishedhewaitedalmostbreathlessly，feelingthesamebeatingofhisheartthathehadfeltwhenhewasfollowingthevanishedtrainthedaybefore。Atlasthecouldstandthesuspensenolonger，andopenedthedoor。Everythingwasstillinthemotionlesscaravan，except——
itstruckhimoddlyeventhen——theunconcernedprattlingvoiceofSusyfromoneofthenearerwagons。PerhapsasuddenfeelingthatthiswassomethingthatconcernedHER，perhapsanirresistibleimpulseovercamehim，butthenextmomenthehadleapedtotheground，facedabout，andwasrunningfeverishlytothefront。
ThefirstthingthatmethiseyeswasthehelplessanddesolatebulkofoneoftheSilsbeewagonsahundredrodsaway，bereftofoxenandpole，standingaloneandmotionlessagainstthedazzlingsky!Nearitwasthebrokenframeofanotherwagon，itsforewheelsandaxlesgone，pitchedforwardonitskneeslikeanoxunderthebutcher\'ssledge。Notfarawaythereweretheburntandblackenedruinsofathird，aroundwhichthewholepartyonfootandhorsebackseemedtobegathered。Astheboyranviolentlyon，thegroupopenedtomakewayfortwomencarryingsomehelplessbutawfulobjectbetweenthem。AterribleinstinctmadeClarenceswervefromitinhisheadlongcourse，buthewasatthesamemomentdiscoveredbytheothers，andacryaroseof\"Goback!\"
\"Stop!\"\"Keephimback!\"Heedingitnomorethanthewindthatwhistledbyhim，Clarencemadedirectlyfortheforemostwagon——theoneinwhichheandSusyhadplayed。Apowerfulhandcaughthisshoulder；itwasMr。Peyton\'s。
\"Mrs。Silsbee\'swagon，\"saidtheboy，withwhitelips，pointingtoit。\"Whereisshe?\"
\"She\'smissing，\"saidPeyton，\"andoneother——therestaredead。\"
\"Shemustbethere，\"saidtheboy，struggling，andpointingtothewagon；\"letmego。\"
\"Clarence，\"saidPeytonsternly，accentinghisgraspupontheboy\'sarm，\"beaman!Lookaroundyou。Tryandtelluswhotheseare。\"
Thereseemedtobeoneortwoheapsofoldclotheslyingontheground，andfurtheron，wherethemenatacommandfromPeytonhadlaiddowntheirburden，another。Inthoseragged，dustyheapsofclothes，fromwhichallthemajestyoflifeseemedtohavebeenruthlesslystampedout，onlywhatwasignobleandgrotesqueappearedtobeleft。Therewasnothingterribleinthis。Theboymovedslowlytowardsthem；and，incredibleeventohimself，theoverpoweringfearofthemthatamomentbeforehadovercomehimlefthimassuddenly。Hewalkedfromtheonetotheother，recognizingthembycertainmarksandsigns，andmentioningnameaftername。Thegroupsgazedathimcuriously；hewasconsciousthathescarcelyunderstoodhimself，stilllessthesamequietpurposethatmadehimturntowardsthefurthestwagon。
\"There\'snothingthere，\"saidPeyton；\"we\'vesearchedit。\"Buttheboy，withoutreplying，continuedhisway，andthecrowdfollowedhim。
Thedesertedwagon，morerude，disorderly，andslovenlythanithadeverseemedtohimbefore，wasnowheapedandtumbledwithbrokenbones，cans，scatteredprovisions，pots，pans，blankets，andclothinginthefoulconfusionofadust-heap。Butinthisheterogeneousminglingtheboy\'squickeyecaughtsightofadragglededgeofcalico。
\"That\'sMrs。Silsbee\'sdress!\"hecried，andleaptintothewagon。
Atfirstthemenstaredateachother，butaninstantlateradozenhandswerehelpinghim，nervouslydiggingandclearingawaytherubbish。Thenonemanutteredasuddencry，andfellbackwithfranticbutfuriouseyesupliftedagainstthepitiless，smilingskyabovehim。
\"GreatGod!lookhere!\"
Itwastheyellowish，waxenfaceofMrs。Silsbeethathadbeenuncovered。Buttothefancyoftheboyithadchanged；theoldfamiliarlinesofworry，care，andquerulousnesshadgivenwaytoalookofremotepeaceandstatue-likerepose。Hehadoftenvexedherinheraggressivelife；hewastouchedwithremorseathercold，passionlessapathynow，andpressedtimidlyforward。Evenashedidso，theman，withaquickbutwarninggesture，hurriedlythrewhishandkerchiefoverthemattedlocks，asiftoshutoutsomethingawfulfromhisview。Clarencefelthimselfdrawnback；
butnotbeforethewhitelipsofabystanderhadwhisperedasingleword——
\"Scalped，too!byGod!\"
CHAPTERVI
ThenfolloweddaysandweeksthatseemedtoClarenceasadream。
Atfirst，anintervalofhushedandawedrestraintwhenheandSusywerekeptapart，astrangeandartificialinteresttakenlittlenoteofbyhim，butafterwardsrememberedwhenothershadforgottenit；theburialofMrs。Silsbeebeneathacairnofstones，withsomeceremoniesthat，simplethoughtheywere，seemedtousurpthesacredrightsofgrieffromhimandSusy，andleavethemcoldandfrightened；daysoffrequentandincoherentchildishoutburstsfromSusy，growingfainterandrarerastimewenton，untiltheyceased，heknewnotwhen；thehauntingbynightofthatmorningvisionofthethreeorfourheapsofraggedclothesonthegroundandahalfregretthathehadnotexaminedthemmoreclosely；arecollectionoftheawfullonelinessanddesolationofthebrokenandabandonedwagonleftbehindonitskneesasifprayingmutelywhenthetrainwentonandleftit；thetrundlingbehindofthefatefulwagoninwhichMrs。Silsbee\'sbodyhadbeenfound，superstitiouslyshunnedbyeveryone，andwhenatlastturnedovertotheauthoritiesatanoutpostgarrison，seemingtodropthelastlinkfromthedraggingchainofthepast。Therevelationtothechildrenofanewexperienceinthatbriefglimpseofthefrontiergarrison；thehandsomeofficerinuniformandbeltedsword，anheroic，vengefulfiguretobeadmiredandimitatedhereafter；thesuddenimportanceandrespectgiventoSusyandhimselfas\"survivors\"；thesympatheticquestioningandkindlyexaggerationsoftheirexperiences，quicklyacceptedbySusy——allthese，lookingbackuponthemafterwards，seemedtohavepassedinadream。
Nolessstrangeandvisionarytothemseemedtherealtransitionstheynotedfromthemovingtrain。Howonemorningtheymissedthechangeless，motionless，low，darklinealongthehorizon，andbeforenoonfoundthemselvesamongtherocksandtreesandaswiftlyrushingriver。Howtheresuddenlyappearedbesidethemafewdayslateragreatgraycloud-coveredridgeofmountainsthattheywereconvincedwasthatsamedarklinethattheyhadseensooften。Howthemenlaughedatthem，andsaidthatforthelastthreedaystheyhadbeenCROSSINGthatdarkline，andthatitwasHIGHERthanthegreatgray-cloudedrangebeforethem，whichithadalwayshiddenfromtheirview!HowSusyfirmlybelievedthatthesechangestookplaceinhersleep，whenshealways\"kinderfelttheywerecrawlin\'up，\"andhowClarence，inthehappydepreciationofextremeyouth，expressedhisconvictionthatthey\"weren\'tabithigh，afterall。\"Howtheweatherbecamecold，thoughitwasalreadysummer，andatnightthecampfirewasanecessity，andtherewasastoveinthetentwithSusy；andyethowallthisfadedaway，andtheywereagainuponadazzling，burnt，andsun-driedplain!Butalwaysasinadream!
Morerealwerethepersonswhocomposedtheparty——whomtheyseemedtohavealwaysknown——andwho，intheinnocentcapriceofchildren，hadbecometothemmoreactualthanthedeadhadevenbeen。TherewasMr。Peyton，whotheynowknewownedthetrain，andwhowassorichthathe\"needn\'tgotoCaliforniaifhedidn\'twantto，andwasgoingtobuyagreatdealofitifhelikedit，\"andwhowasalsoalawyerand\"policeman\"——whichwasSusy\'srenderingof\"politician\"——andwascalled\"Squire\"and\"Judge\"atthefrontieroutpost，andcouldorderanybodytobe\"tookupifhewantedto，\"
andwhokneweverybodybytheirChristiannames；andMrs。Peyton，whohadbeendelicateandwasorderedbythedoctortoliveintheopenairforsixmonths，and\"nevergointoahouseoratownagin，\"andwhowasgoingtoadoptSusyassoonasherhusbandcouldarrangewithSusy\'srelatives，anddrawupthepapers!How\"Harry\"
wasHenryBenham，Mrs。Peyton\'sbrother，andakindofpartnerofMr。Peyton。Andhowthescout\'snamewasGusGildersleeve，orthe\"WhiteCrow，\"andhow，throughhisrecognizedintrepidity，anattackupontheirtrainwasnodoubtaverted。Thentherewas\"Bill，\"thestockherder，and\"TexasJim，\"thevaquero——thelattermarvelousandunprecedentedinhorsemanship。Suchweretheircompanions，asappearedthroughthegossipofthetrainandtheirowninexperiencedconsciousness。Tothem，theywereallastoundingandimportantpersonages。But，eitherfromboyishcuriosityorsomesenseofbeingmisunderstood，Clarencewasmoreattractedbythetwoindividualsofthepartywhowereleastkindtohim——
namely，Mrs。PeytonandherbrotherHarry。Ifearthat，afterthefashionofmostchildren，andsomegrown-uppeople，hethoughtlessofthesteadykindnessofMr。PeytonandtheothersthanoftheraretoleranceofHarryorthepoliteconcessionsofhissister。
Miserablyconsciousofthisattimes，hequiteconvincedhimselfthatifhecouldonlywinawordofapprobationfromHarry，orasmilefromMrs。Peyton，hewouldafterwardsrevengehimselfby\"runningaway。\"Whetherhewouldornot，Icannotsay。Iamwritingofafoolish，growing，impressionableboyofeleven，ofwhosesentimentsnothingcouldbesafelypredictedbutuncertainty。
Itwasatthistimethathebecamefascinatedbyanothermemberofthepartywhosepositionhadbeentoohumbleandunimportanttobeincludedinthegroupalreadynoted。Ofthesameappearanceastheotherteamstersinsize，habits，andapparel，hehadnotatfirstexhibitedtoClarenceanyclaimtosympathy。Butitappearedthathewasactuallyayouthofonlysixteen——ahopelessincorrigibleofSt。Joseph，whoseparentshadprevailedonPeytontoallowhimtojointheparty，bywayofremovinghimfromevilassociationsandasamethodofreform。OfthisClarencewasatfirstignorant，notfromanywantoffranknessonthepartoftheyouth，forthatingeniousyounggentlemanlaterinformedhimthathehadkilledthreemeninSt。Louis，twoinSt。Jo，andthattheofficersofjusticewereafterhim。Butitwasevidentthattoprecocioushabitsofdrinking，smoking，chewing，andcard-playingthisovergrownyouthaddedastrongtendencytoexaggerationofstatement。Indeed，hewasknownas\"LyingJimHooker，\"andhisvariousqualitiespresentedaproblemtoClarencethatwasattractiveandinspiring，doubtful，butalwaysfascinating。Withthehoarsevoiceofearlywickednessandacontemptforordinarycourtesy，hehadaround，perfectlygood-humoredface，andadispositionthatwhennotcalledupontoactuptohisself-imposedroleofrecklesswickedness，wasnotunkindly。
Itwasonlyafewdaysafterthemassacre，andwhilethechildrenwerestillwrappedinthegloomyinterestandfrightenedreticencewhichfollowedit，that\"JimHooker\"firstcharacteristicallyflasheduponClarence\'sperceptions。HanginghalfonandhalfoffthesaddleofanIndianpony，thelankJimsuddenlymadehisappearance，dashingviolentlyupanddownthetrack，andaroundthewagoninwhichClarencewassitting，tuggingdesperatelyatthereins，witheveryindicationofbeingfuriouslyrunawaywith，andretaininghisseatonlywiththemostdauntlesscourageandskill。
Roundandroundtheywent，thehelplessriderattimeshangingbyasinglestirrupneartheground，andagainrecoveringhimselfby——asitseemedtoClarence——almostsuperhumaneffort。Clarencesatopen-mouthedwithanxietyandexcitement，andyetafewoftheotherteamsterslaughed。ThenthevoiceofMr。Peyton，fromthewindowofhiscar，saidquietly，——
\"There，thatwilldo，Jim。Quitit!\"
Thefurioushorseandriderinstantlydisappeared。Afewmomentsafter，thebewilderedClarencesawtheredoubtedhorsemantrottingalongquietlyinthedustoftherear，onthesamefierysteed，whointhatprosaiclightboreanastoundingresemblancetoanordinaryteamhorse。Laterinthedayhesoughtanexplanationfromtherider。
\"Yousee，\"answeredJimgloomily，\"tharain\'tagalootinthisyercrowdezknowsjistWHAT\'Sinthathoss!Andthemezsuspecksdaren\'tsay!Itwouldn\'tdofortohevitletoutthattheJudgehezaMorgan-Mexicanplugthat\'skilledtwomenaforehegothim，andisboundtokillanotheraforehegetsthrough!Why，on\'ytheweekaforewekemuptoyou，thattharhossboltedwithmeatcamping!Buckedandthrowedme，butIkeptmyholto\'thestirrupswithmyfoot——so!Draggedmeamatteroftwomiles，headdown，andmekeepin\'awayrockswithmyhand——so!\"
\"Whydidn\'tyoulooseyourfootandletgo?\"askedClarencebreathlessly。
\"YOUmight，\"saidJim，withdeepscorn；\"thatain\'tMYstyle。I
justlaidlowtillwekemtoasteeppitchedhill，andgoin\'downwhenthehosswas，sotospeak，kinderBELOWme，Ijustturnedahandspring，so，andthatlandedmeonterhisbackagain。\"
Thisaction，thoughvividlyillustratedbyJim\'sthrowinghishandsdownlikefeetbeneathhim，andindicatingtheparabolaofaspringintheair，provingaltogethertoomuchforClarence\'smindtograsp，hetimidlyturnedtoalessdifficultdetail。
\"Whatmadethehorseboltfirst，Mr。Hooker?\"
\"SmeltInjins!\"saidJim，carelesslyexpectoratingtobaccojuiceinacurvingjetfromthesideofhismouth——asingularlyfascinatingaccomplishment，peculiarlyhisown，\"\'n\'likelyYOURInjins。\"
\"But，\"arguedClarencehesitatingly，\"yousaiditwasaweekbefore——and——\"
\"ErMexicanplugkinsmellInjinsfifty，yes，ahundredmilesaway，\"saidJim，withscornfuldeliberation；\"\'n\'ifJudgePeytonhadtookmyadvice，andhadn\'tbeensomightyfearedaboutthecharacterofhishossgettin\'outhe\'dhevplayedrootsonthemInjinsaforetheytetchedye。But，\"headded，withgloomydejection，\"thereain\'tnosandinthisyercrowd，tharain\'tnovim，tharain\'tnothin\'；andtharkan\'tbeezlongezthar\'swomenandbabies，andwomenandbabyfixin\'s，mixedupwithit。I\'dhevcutthewholeblamedgangefitweren\'tforoneortwothings，\"headdeddarkly。
Clarence，impressedbyJim\'smysteriousmanner，forthemomentforgothiscontemptuousallusiontoMr。Peyton，andtheevidentimplicationofSusyandhimself，andaskedhurriedly，\"Whatthings?\"
Jim，asifforgetfuloftheboy\'spresenceinhisfitfulmood，abstractedlyhalfdrewaglitteringbowieknifefromhisbootleg，andthenslowlyputitbackagain。\"Thar\'soneortwooldscores，\"
hecontinued，inalowvoice，althoughnoonewasinhearingdistanceofthem，\"oneortwoprivateaccounts，\"hewentontragically，avertinghiseyesasifwatchedbysomeone，\"thethevtobewipedoutwithbloodaforeIleave。Thar\'soneortwomenTOOMANYaliveandbreathin\'inthisyercrowd。Mebbeeit\'sGusGildersleeve；mebbeeit\'sHarryBenham；mebbee，\"headded，withadarkyetnobledisinterestedness，\"it\'sME。\"
\"Oh，no，\"saidClarence，withpolitedeprecation。
FarfromplacatingthegloomyJim，thisseemedonlytoawakehissuspicions。\"Mebbee，\"hesaid，dancingsuddenlyawayfromClarence，\"mebbeeyouthinkI\'mlyin\'。Mebbeeyouthink，becauseyou\'reColonelBrant\'sson，yerkinrunMEwiththisyertrain。
Mebbee，\"hecontinued，dancingviolentlybackagain，\"yekalkilate，becauseyerunoff\'n\'stampededababy，yekintotemeroundtoo，sonny。Mebbee，\"hewenton，executingadoubleshuffleinthedustandalternatelystrikinghishandsonthesidesofhisboots，\"mebbeeyou\'respyin\'roundandreportin\'totheJudge。\"
FirmlyconvincedthatJimwasworkinghimselfupbyanIndianwar-
dancetosomedesperateassaultonhimself，butresentingthelastunjustaccusation，Clarencehadrecoursetooneofhisolddoggedsilences。Happilyatthismomentanauthoritativevoicecalledout，\"Now，then，youJimHooker!\"andthedesperateHooker，asusual，vanishedinstantly。Nevertheless，heappearedanhourortwolaterbesidethewagoninwhichSusyandClarencewereseated，withanexpressionofsatiatedvengeanceandremorsefulbloodguiltinessinhisface，andhishaircombedIndianfashionoverhiseyes。Ashegenerouslycontentedhimselfwithonlypassingagloomyanddisparagingcriticismonthegameofcardsthatthechildrenwereplaying，itstruckClarenceforthefirsttimethatagreatdealofhisrealwickednessresidedinhishair。
ThissethimtothinkingthatitwasstrangethatMr。Peytondidnottrytoreformhimwithapairofscissors，butnotuntilClarencehimselfhadforatleastfourdaysattemptedtoimitateJimbycombinghisownhairinthatfashion。
Afewdayslater，Jimagaincasuallyfavoredhimwithaconfidentialinterview。Clarencehadbeenallowedtobestrideoneoftheteamleaderspostillionwise，andwascorrespondinglyelevated，whenJimjoinedhim，ontheMexicanplug，whichappeared——
nodoubtapartofitswickedart——heavilydocile，andevenslightlylame。
\"Howmuch，\"saidJim，inatoneofgloomyconfidence，——\"howmuchdidyoureckontomakebystealin\'thatgal-baby，sonny?\"
\"Nothing，\"repliedClarencewithasmile。PerhapsitwasanevidenceofthemarkedinfluencethatJimwasbeginningtoexertoverhimthathealreadydidnotattempttoresentthisfascinatingimplicationofgrownupguilt。
\"Itorterbinagoodjob，ifitwarn\'trevenge，\"continuedJimmoodily。
\"No，itwasn\'trevenge，\"saidClarencehurriedly。
\"Thenyekalkilatedtergeterhundreddollarsrewardeftheoldmanandoldwomanhadn\'tbinscelpedaforeyetgotupto\'em?\"saidJim。\"That\'syourblameddodgastedluck，eh!Enyhow，you\'llmakeMrs。Peytonplankdownsuthin\'ifsheadoptsthebabby。Lookyer，youngfeller，\"hesaid，startingsuddenlyandthrowinghisfaceforward，glaringfiendishlythroughhismattedside-locks，\"d\'yemeantertellmeitwasn\'taplant——askingame——thehullthing?\"
\"Awhat?\"saidClarence。
\"D\'yemeantosay\"——itwaswonderfulhowgratuitouslyhuskyhisvoicebecameatthismoment——\"d\'yemeantertellmeyedidn\'tsetonthemInjinstowipeouttheSilsbees，sothatyecouldhevanout-an\'-outgalORFENonhandferMrs。Peytonteradopt——eh?\"
ButhereClarencewasforcedtoprotest，andstrongly，althoughJimcontemptuouslyignoredit。\"Don\'tlieterme，\"herepeatedmysteriously，\"I\'mfly。I\'mdark，youngfel。We\'recahootsinthisthing?\"AndwiththisartfulsuggestionofbeinginpossessionofClarence\'sguiltysecrethedepartedintimetoeludetheusualobjurgationofhissuperior，\"Phil，\"theheadteamster。
NorwashisbalefulfascinationexercisedentirelyonClarence。InspiteofMrs。Peyton\'sjealouslyaffectionatecare，Clarence\'sfrequentcompanionship，andthelittlecircleofadmiringcourtiersthatalwayssurroundedSusy，itbecameevidentthatthissmallEvehadbeensecretlyapproachedandtemptedbytheSatanicJim。Shewasfoundonedaytohaveafewheron\'sfeathersinherpossessionwithwhichsheadornedhercurls，andatanothertimewasdiscoveredtohaverubbedherfaceandarmswithyellowandredochre，confessedlythefreegiftofJimHooker。ItwastoClarencealonethatsheadmittedthesignificanceandpurportoftheseofferings。\"Jimgived\'emtome，\"shesaid，\"andJim\'sakindofInjinhisselfthatwon\'thurtme；andwhenbadInjinscome，they\'llthinkI\'mhisInjinbabyandrunaway。AndJimsaidifI\'djusttoldtheInjinswhentheycametokillpapaandmamma，thatI
b\'longedtohim，they\'dhevrunnedaway。\"
\"But，\"saidthepracticalClarence，\"youcouldnot；youknowyouwerewithMrs。Peytonallthetime。\"
\"Kla\'uns，\"saidSusy，shakingherheadandfixingherroundblueeyeswithcalmmendacityontheboy，\"don\'tyoutellme。IWAS
THERE!\"
Clarencestartedback，andnearlyfelloverthewagoninhopelessdismayatthisdreadfulrevelationofSusy\'spowersofexaggeration。\"But，\"hegasped，\"youknow，Susy，youandmeleftbefore——\"
\"Kla\'uns，\"saidSusycalmly，makingalittlepleatintheskirtofherdresswithhersmallthumbandfingers，\"don\'tyoutalktome。
Iwasthere。I\'seaSERIVER!Themenatthefortsaidso!TheSERIVERSisallus，allusthere，andallusallusknowseverythin\'。\"
Clarencewastoodumfoundedtoreply。HehadavaguerecollectionofhavingnoticedbeforethatSusywasverymuchfascinatedbythereputationgiventoheratFortRidgeasa\"survivor，\"andwastryinginaninfantilewaytoliveuptoit。ThisthewickedJimhadevidentlyencouraged。ForadayortwoClarencefeltalittleafraidofher，andmorelonelythanever。
Itwasinthisstate，andwhilehewasdoggedlyconsciousthathisassociationwithJimdidnotprepossessMrs。Peytonorherbrotherinhisfavor，andthattheformerevenbelievedhimresponsibleforSusy\'sunhallowedacquaintancewithJim，thathedriftedintooneofthoseyouthfulescapadesonwhicheldersareapttositinseverebutnotalwaysconsideratejudgment。Believing，likemanyotherchildren，thatnobodycaredparticularlyforhim，excepttoRESTRAINhim，discovering，aschildrendo，muchsoonerthanwecomplacentlyimagine，thatloveandpreferencehavenologicalconnectionwithdesertorcharacter，Clarencebecameboyishlyreckless。Butwhen，oneday，itwasrumoredthataherdofbuffalowasinthevicinity，andthatthetrainwouldbedelayedthenextmorninginorderthatahuntmightbeorganized，byGildersleeve，Benham，andafewothers，ClarencelistenedwillinglytoJim\'spropositionthattheyshouldsecretlyfollowit。
Toeffecttheirunhallowedpurposerequiredboldnessandduplicity。
ItwasarrangedthatshortlyafterthedepartureofthehuntingpartyClarenceshouldaskpermissiontomountandexerciseoneoftheteamhorses——afavorthathadbeenfrequentlygrantedhim；thatintheoutskirtsofthecampheshouldpretendthatthehorseranawaywithhim，andJimwouldstartinpursuit。Theabsenceoftheshootingpartywithsolargeacontingentofhorsesandmenwouldprecludeanyfurtherdetachmentfromthecamptoassistthem。Onceclear，theywouldfollowthetrackofthehunters，and，ifdiscoveredbythem，wouldofferthesameexcuse，withtheadditionthattheyhadlosttheirwaytothecamp。Theplanwassuccessful。
Thedetailswerecarriedoutwithalmosttooperfecteffect；asitappearedthatJim，inordertogivedramaticintensitytothefractiousnessofClarence\'shorse，hadinsertedathornappleundertheneckofhissaddle，whichClarenceonlydiscoveredintimetopreventhimselffrombeingunseated。Urgedforwardbyostentatious\"Whoas!\"andsurreptitiouscutsintherearfromJim，pursuerandpursuedpresentlyfoundthemselvessafelybeyondthehalf-drystreamandfringeofalderbushesthatskirtedthecamp。Theywerenotfollowed。Whethertheteamsterssuspectedandwinkedatthisdesign，orbelievedthattheboyscouldtakecareofthemselves，andrannoriskofbeinglostintheproximityofthehuntingparty，therewasnogeneralalarm。
Thusreassured，andhavingageneralideaofthedirectionofthehunt，theboyspushedhilariouslyforward。Beforethemopenedavastexpanseofbottomland，slightlyslopingontherighttoadistanthalf-filledlagoon，formedbythemainriveroverflow，onwhosetributarytheyhadencamped。Thelagoonwaspartlyhiddenbystragglingtimberand\"brush，\"andbeyondthatagainstretchedtheunlimitableplains——thepastureoftheirmightygame。Hither，Jimhoarselyinformedhiscompanion，thebuffaloescametowater。A
fewrodsfurtheron，hestarteddramatically，and，alighting，proceededtoslowlyexaminetheground。Itseemedtobescatteredoverwithhalf-circularpatches，whichhepointedoutmysteriouslyas\"buffalochip。\"ToClarence\'sinexperiencedperceptiontheplainboreasingularresemblancetothesurfaceofanordinaryunromanticcattlepasturethatsomewhatchilledhisheroicfancy。
However，thetwocompanionshaltedandprofessionallyexaminedtheirarmsandequipments。
These，Igrievetosay，thoughvaried，werescarcelyfullorsatisfactory。ThenecessitiesoftheirflighthadrestrictedJimtoanolddouble-barreledfowling-piece，whichheusuallycarriedslungacrosshisshoulders；anold-fashioned\"six-shooter，\"whosebarrelsrevolvedoccasionallyandunexpectedly，knownas\"Allen\'sPepperBox\"onaccountofitsculinaryresemblance；andabowie-
knife。ClarencecarriedanIndianbowandarrowwithwhichhehadbeenexercising，andahatchetwhichhehadconcealedundertheflanksofhissaddle。TothisJimgenerouslyaddedthesix-
shooter，takingthehatchetinexchange——atransferthatatfirstdelightedClarence，until，seeingthewarlikeandpicturesqueeffectofthehatchetinJim\'sbelt，heregrettedthetransfer。
Thegun，Jimmeantimeexplained\"extrycharged，\"\"chuckup\"tothemiddlewithslugsandrevolverbullets，couldonlybefiredbyhimself，andeventhenhedarklyadded，notwithoutdanger。Thispovertyofequipmentwas，however，compensatedbyoppositestatementsfromJimoftheextraordinaryresultsobtainedbythesesimpleweaponsfrom\"fellersIknew:\"howHEhimselfhadoncebroughtdowna\"bull\"byaboldshotwitharevolverthroughitsopenbellowingmouththatpiercedhis\"innards；\"howafriendofhis——anintimateinfact——nowinjailatLouisvilleforkillingasheriff\'sdeputy，hadoncefoundhimselfaloneanddismountedwithasimpleclasp-knifeandalariatamongaherdofbuffaloes；how，leapingcalmlyupontheshaggyshouldersofthebiggestbull，helashedhimselfwiththelariatfirmlytoitshorns，goadingitonwardwithhisclasp-knife，andsubsistingfordaysuponthefleshcutfromitslivingbody，until，abandonedbyitsfellowsandexhaustedbythelossofblood，itfinallysuccumbedtoitsvictorattheveryoutskirtsofthecamptowhichhehadartfullydrivenit!ItmustbeconfessedthatthisrecitalsomewhattookawayClarence\'sbreath，andhewouldhavelikedtoaskafewquestions。
Buttheywerealoneontheprairie，andlinkedbyacommontransgression；theglorioussunwascomingupvictoriously，thepure，crispairwasintoxicatingtheirnerves；inthebrightforecastofyoutheverythingWASpossible!
Thesurfaceofthebottomlandthattheywerecrossingwashereandtherebrokenupbyfissuresand\"potholes，\"andsomecircumspectionintheirprogressbecamenecessary。Inoneofthesehalts，Clarencewasstruckbyadull，monotonousjarringthatsoundedliketheheavyregularfallofwateroveradam。Eachtimethattheyslackenedtheirpacethesoundwouldbecomemoreaudible，andwasatlastaccompaniedbythatslightbutunmistakabletremoroftheearththatbetrayedthevicinityofawaterfall。Hesitatingoverthephenomenon，whichseemedtoimplythattheirtopographywaswrongandthattheyhadblunderedfromthetrack，theywerepresentlystartledbythefactthatthesoundwasactuallyAPPROACHINGthem!Withasuddeninstincttheybothgallopedtowardsthelagoon。AsthetimberopenedbeforethemJimutteredalongecstaticshout。\"Why，it\'sTHEM!\"
AtafirstglanceitseemedtoClarenceasifthewholeplainbeyondwasbrokenupandrollingintumblingwavesorfurrowstowardsthem。Asecondglanceshowedthetossingfrontsofavastherdofbuffaloes，andhereandthere，dartinginandoutandamongthem，oremergingfromthecloudofdustbehind，wildfiguresandflashesoffire。Withtheideaofwaterstillinhismind，itseemedasifsometumultuoustidalwaveweresweepingunseentowardsthelagoon，carryingeverythingbeforeit。Heturnedwitheagereyes，inspeechlessexpectancy，tohiscompanion。
Alack!thatredoubtableheroandmightyhunterwas，toallappearances，equallyspeechlessandastonished。Itwastruethatheremainedrootedtothesaddle，alank，stillheroicfigure，alternatelygraspinghishatchetandgunwithakindofspasmodicregularity。Howlonghewouldhavecontinuedthiswouldneverbeknown，forthenextmoment，withadeafeningcrash，theherdbrokethroughthebrush，and，swervingattherightofthelagoon，boredowndirectlyuponthem。Allfurtherdoubtorhesitationontheirpartwasstopped。Thefarseeing，sagaciousMexicanplugwithaterrificsnortwheeledandfledfuriouslywithhisrider。Moved，nodoubt，bytouchingfidelity，Clarence\'shumblerteam-horseinstantlyfollowed。Inafewmomentsthosedevotedanimalsstrugglednecktoneckinnobleemulation。
\"Whatarewegoin\'offthiswayfor?\"gaspedthesimpleClarence。
\"PeytonandGildersleevearebackthere——andthey\'llseeus，\"
gaspedJiminreply。ItstruckClarencethatthebuffaloesweremuchnearerthemthanthehuntingparty，andthatthetramplinghoofsofadozenbullswereclosebehindthem，butwithanothergaspheshouted，\"Whenarewegoingtohunt\'em?\"
\"HuntTHEM!\"screamedJim，withahystericaloutburstoftruth；
\"why，they\'rehuntin\'US——dashit!\"
Indeed，therewasnodoubtthattheirfrenziedhorseswereflyingbeforetheequallyfrenziedherdbehindthem。Theygainedamomentaryadvantagebyridingintooneofthefissures，andoutagainontheotherside，whiletheirpursuerswereobligedtomakeadetour。Butinafewminutestheywereovertakenbythatpartoftheherdwhohadtakentheotherandnearersideofthelagoon，andwerenowfairlyinthemidstofthem。Thegroundshookwiththeirtramplinghoofs；theirsteamingbreath，minglingwiththestingingdustthatfilledtheair，halfchokedandblindedClarence。HewasdimlyconsciousthatJimhadwildlythrownhishatchetatacowbuffalopressingcloseuponhisflanks。Astheysweptdownintoanothergullyhesawhimraisehisfatefulgunwithutterdesperation。Clarencecrouchedlowonhishorse\'soutstretchedneck。Therewasablindingflash，asinglestunningreportofbothbarrels；Jimreeledinonewayhalfoutofthesaddle，whilethesmokinggunseemedtoleapinanotheroverhishead，andthenriderandhorsevanishedinachokingcloudofdustandgunpowder。A
momentafterClarence\'shorsestoppedwithasuddencheck，andtheboyfelthimselfhurledoveritsheadintothegully，alightingonsomethingthatseemedtobeaboundingcushionofcurledandtwistedhair。Itwastheshaggyshoulderofanenormousbuffalo!
ForJim\'sdesperaterandomshotanddoublechargehadtakeneffectonthenearhindlegofaprecedingbull，tearingawaythefleshandham-stringingtheanimal，whohaddroppedinthegullyjustinfrontofClarence\'shorse。
Dazedbutunhurt，theboyrolledfromtheliftedforequartersofthestrugglingbrutetotheground。Whenhestaggeredtohisfeetagain，notonlyhishorsewasgonebutthewholeherdofbuffaloesseemedtohavepassedtoo，andhecouldheartheshoutsofunseenhuntersnowaheadofhim。Theyhadevidentlyoverlookedhisfall，andthegullyhadconcealedhim。Thesidesbeforehimweretoosteepforhisachinglimbstoclimb；theslopebywhichheandthebullhaddescendedwhenthecollisionoccurredwasbehindthewoundedanimal。Clarencewasstaggeringtowardsitwhenthebull，byasupremeeffort，lifteditselfonthreelegs，halfturned，andfacedhim。
Theseeventshadpassedtooquicklyfortheinexperiencedboytohavefeltanyactivefear，orindeedanythingbutwildexcitementandconfusion。Butthespectacleofthatshaggyandenormousfront，thatseemedtofillthewholegully，risingwithawfuldeliberationbetweenhimandescape，sentathrillofterrorthroughhisframe。Thegreat，dull，bloodshoteyesglaredathimwithadumb，wonderingfury；thelargewetnostrilsweresonearthattheirfirstsnortofinarticulateragemadehimreelbackwardsasfromablow。Thegullywasonlyanarrowandshortfissureorsubsidenceoftheplain；afewpacesmoreofretreatandhewouldbeatitsend，againstanalmostperpendicularbankfifteenfeethigh。Ifheattemptedtoclimbitscrumblingsidesandfell，therewouldbethoseshortbutterriblehornswaitingtoimpalehim!Itseemedtooterrible，toocruel!Hewassosmallbesidethisovergrownmonster。Itwasn\'tfair!Thetearsstartedtohiseyes，andthen，inarageattheinjusticeofFate，hestooddoggedlystillwithclenchedfists。Hefixedhisgazewithhalf-hysterical，childishfuryonthoselurideyes；hedidnotknowthat，owingtothestrangemagnifyingpowerofthebull\'sconvexpupils，he，Clarence，appearedmuchbiggerthanhereallywastothebrute\'sheavyconsciousness，thedistancefromhimmostdeceptive，andthatitwastothisfactthathunterssooftenowedtheirescape。Heonlythoughtofsomedesperatemeansofattack。Ah!thesix-
shooter。Itwasstillinhispocket。Hedrewitnervously，hopelessly——itlookedsosmallcomparedwithhislargeenemy!
Hepresenteditwithflashingeyes，andpulledthetrigger。A
feebleclickfollowed，another，andagain!EvenTHIShadmockedhim。Hepulledthetriggeroncemore，wildly；therewasasuddenexplosion，andanother。Hesteppedback；theballshadapparentlyflattenedthemselvesharmlesslyonthebull\'sforehead。Hepulledagain，hopelessly；therewasanotherreport，asuddenfuriousbellow，andtheenormousbrutethrewhisheadsavagelytooneside，buryinghislefthorndeepinthecrumblingbankbesidehim。Againandagainhechargedthebank，drivinghislefthornhome，andbringingdownthestonesandearthinshowers。ItwassomesecondsbeforeClarencesawinasingleglimpseofthatwildlytossingcrestthereasonofthisfury。Thebloodwaspouringfromhislefteye，penetratedbythelastbullet；thebullwasblinded!A
terriblerevulsionoffeeling，asuddensenseofremorsethatwasforthemomentmoreawfulthanevenhispreviousfear，overcamehim。HEhaddoneTHATTHING!Asmuchtoflyfromthedreadfulspectacleasanyinstinctofself-preservation，hetookadvantageofthenextmadparoxysmsofpainandblindness，thatalwaysimpelledthesufferingbeasttowardstheleft，toslippasthimontheright，reachtheincline，andscramblewildlyuptotheplainagain。Hereheranconfusedlyforward，notknowingwhither——onlycaringtoescapethatagonizedbellowing，toshutoutforevertheaccusinglookofthathugeblood-welteringeye。
Suddenlyheheardadistantangryshout。Tohisfirsthurriedglancetheplainhadseemedempty，but，lookingup，hesawtwohorsemenrapidlyadvancingwithaledhorsebehindthem——hisown。
Withtheblessedsenseofreliefthatovertookhimnowcamethefevereddesireforsympathyandtotellthemall。ButastheycamenearerhesawthattheywereGildersleeve，thescout，andHenryBenham，andthat，farfromsharinganydelightinhisdeliverance，theirfacesonlyexhibitedirascibleimpatience。Overcomebythisnewdefeat，theboystopped，againdumbanddogged。
\"Now，then，blankitall，WILLyougetupandcomealong，ordoyoureckontokeepthetrainwaitinganotherhouroveryourblankedfoolishness?\"saidGildersleevesavagely。
Theboyhesitated，andthenmountedmechanically，withoutaword。
\"\'Twouldhaveserved\'emrighttohavegoneandleft\'em，\"mutteredBenhamvindictively。
ForonewildinstantClarencethoughtofthrowinghimselffromhishorseandbiddingthemgoonandleavehim。Butbeforehecouldputhisthoughtintoactionthetwomenweregallopingforward，withhishorseledbyalariatfastenedtothehornofGildersleeve\'ssaddle。
