AtthistheotherplayersbegantoregardClarencesingularly，oneortwoofthespectatorssmiled，andtheboy，coloring，movedawkwardlyaway。Buthissleevewascaughtbythesuccessfulplayer，who，detaininghimgently，putthreegoldpiecesintohishand。
\"That\'sYOURshare，sonny，\"hewhispered。
\"Share——forwhat?\"stammeredtheastoundedClarence。
\"Forbringingme\'theluck，\'\"saidtheman。
Clarencestared。\"AmI——to——toplaywithit?\"hesaid，glancingatthecoinsandthenatthetable，inignoranceofthestranger\'smeaning。
\"No，no!\"saidthemanhurriedly，\"don\'tdothat。You\'llloseit，sonny，sure!Don\'tyousee，YOUBRINGTHELUCKTOOTHERS，nottoyourself。Keepit，oldman，andrunhome!\"
\"Idon\'twantit!Iwon\'thaveit!\"saidClarencewithaswiftrecollectionofthemanipulationofhispursethatmorning，andasuddendistrustofallmankind。
\"There!\"Heturnedbacktothetableandlaidthemoneyonthefirstvacantcardhesaw。Inanothermoment，asitseemedtohim，itwasrakedawaybythedealer。Asenseofreliefcameoverhim。
\"There!\"saidtheman，withanawedvoiceandastrange，fatuouslookinhiseye。\"WhatdidItellyou?Yousee，it\'sallusso!
Now，\"headdedroughly，\"getupandgetouto\'this，aforeyoulosethebootsandshirtoffye。\"
Clarencedidnotwaitforasecondcommand。Withanotherglanceroundtheroom，hebegantomakehiswaythroughthecrowdtowardsthefront。Butinthatpartingglancehecaughtaglimpseofawomanpresidingovera\"wheeloffortune\"inacorner，whosefaceseemedfamiliar。Helookedagain，timidly。Inspiteofanextraordinaryhead-dressorcrownthatsheworeasthe\"GoddessofFortune，\"herecognized，twistedinitstinsel，acertainscarletvinewhichhehadseenbefore；inspiteofthehoarseformulawhichshewascontinuallyrepeating，herecognizedtheforeignaccent。
Itwasthewomanofthestage-coach!Withasuddendreadthatshemightrecognizehim，andlikewisedemandhisservices\"forluck，\"
heturnedandfled。
Oncemoreintheopenair，therecameuponhimavagueloathingandhorroroftherestlessmadnessandfeverishdistractionofthishalf-civilizedcity。Itwasthemorepowerfulthatitwasvague，andtheoutcomeofsomeinwardinstinct。Hefoundhimselflongingforthepureairandsympatheticlonelinessoftheplainsandwilderness；hebegantoyearnforthecompanionshipofhishumbleassociates——theteamster，thescoutGildersleeve，andevenJimHooker。Butaboveallandbeforeallwasthewilddesiretogetawayfromthesemaddeningstreetsandtheirbewilderingoccupants。
Heranbacktothebaker\'s，gatheredhispurchasestogether，tookadvantageofafriendlydoorwaytostrapthemonhisboyishshoulders，slippedintoasidestreet，andstruckoutatoncefortheoutskirts。
Ithadbeenhisfirstintentiontotakestagetothenearestminingdistrict，butthediminutionofhissmallcapitalforbadethatoutlay，andhedecidedtowalktherebythehighroad，ofwhosegeneraldirectionhehadinformedhimself。Inhalfanhourthelightsoftheflat，strugglingcity，andtheirreflectionintheshallow，turbidriverbeforeit，hadsunkwellbehindhim。Theairwascoolandsoft；ayellowmoonswamintheslighthazethatroseabovethetules；inthedistanceafewscatteredcottonwoodsandsycamoresmarkedlikesentinelstheroad。Whenhehadwalkedsomedistancehesatdownbeneathoneofthemtomakeafrugalsupperfromthedryrationsinhispack，butintheabsenceofanyspringhewasforcedtoquenchhisthirstwithaglassofwaterinawaysidetavern。Herehewasgood-humoredlyofferedsomethingstronger，whichhedeclined，andrepliedtocertaincuriousinterrogationsbysayingthatheexpectedtoovertakehisfriendsinawagonfurtheron。Anewdistrustofmankindhadbeguntomaketheboyanadeptininnocentfalsehood，themoredeceptiveashiscareless，cheerfulmanner，theresultofhisreliefatleavingthecity，andhisperfecteaseinthelovingcompanionshipofnightandnature，certainlygavenoindicationofhishomelessnessandpoverty。
Itwaslongpastmidnight，when，wearyinbody，butstillhopefulandhappyinmind，heturnedoffthedustyroadintoavastrollingexpanseofwildoats，withthesamesenseofsecurityofrestasatravelertohisinn。Here，completelyscreenedfromviewbythetallstalksofgrainthatrosethicklyaroundhimtotheheightofaman\'sshoulder，hebeatdownafewofthemforabed，onwhichhedepositedhisblanket。Placinghispackforapillow，hecurledhimselfupinhisblanket，andspeedilyfellasleep。
Heawokeatsunrise，refreshed，invigorated，andhungry。Buthewasforcedtodeferhisfirstself-preparedbreakfastuntilhehadreachedwater，andalessdangerousplacethanthewild-oatfieldtobuildhisfirstcampfire。Thishefoundamilefurtheron，nearsomedwarfwillowsonthebankofahalf-drystream。Ofhisvariouseffortstopreparehisfirstmeal，thefirewasthemostsuccessful；thecoffeewassomewhattoosubstantiallythick，andthebaconandherringlackeddefinitenessofqualityfromhavingbeencookedinthesamevessel。InthisboyishpicnichemissedSusy，andrecalled，perhapsalittlebitterly，hercoldnessatparting。Butthenoveltyofhissituation，thebrilliantsunshineandsenseoffreedom，andtheroadalreadyawakeningtodustylifewithpassingteams，dismissedeverythingbutthefuturefromhismind。Readjustinghispack，hesteppedoncheerily。Atnoonhewasovertakenbyateamster，whoinreturnforamatchtolighthispipegavehimaliftofadozenmiles。ItistobefearedthatClarence\'saccountofhimselfwasequallyfancifulwithhispreviousstory，andthattheteamsterpartedfromhimwithagenuineregret，andahopethathewouldsoonbeovertakenbyhisfriendsalongtheroad。\"Andmindthatyouain\'tsuchafoolagintolet\'emmakeyoutotetheirdod-blastedtoolsfurthem!\"headdedunsuspectingly，pointingtoClarence\'sminingoutfit。Thussavedtheheaviestpartoftheday\'sjourney，fortheroadwascontinuallyrisingfromtheplainsduringthelastsixmiles，Clarencewasyetabletocoveraconsiderabledistanceonfootbeforehehaltedforsupper。Herehewasagainfortunate。Anemptylumberteamwateringatthesamespring，itsdriverofferedtotakeClarence\'spurchases——fortheboyhadprofitedbyhislatefriend\'ssuggestiontopersonallydetachhimselffromhisequipment——toBuckeyeMillsforadollar，whichwouldalsoincludea\"shakedownpassage\"forhimselfonthefloorofthewagon。\"I
reckonyou\'vebeenfoolin\'awayinSacramentothemoneyyerparentsgiveyerforreturnstagefare，eh?Don\'tlie，sonny，\"headdedgrimly，asthenowartfulClarencesmileddiplomatically，\"I\'vebeentharmyself!\"Luckily，theexcusethathewas\"tiredandsleepy\"preventedfurtherdangerousquestioning，andtheboywassoonreallyindeepslumberonthewagonfloor。
Heawokebetimestofindhimselfalreadyinthemountains。BuckeyeMillswasastragglingsettlement，andClarenceprudentlystoppedanyembarrassinginquiryfromhisfriendbydroppingoffthewagonwithhisequipmentastheyenteredit，andhurriedlysaying\"Good-
by\"fromacrossroadthroughthewoods。Hehadlearnedthatthenearestminingcampwasfivemilesaway，anditsdirectionwasindicatedbyalongwooden\"flume，\"orwater-way，thatalternatelyappearedanddisappearedontheflankofthemountainopposite。
Thecooleranddrierair，thegratefulshadowofpineandbay，andthespicybalsamicodorsthateverywheregreetedhim，thrilledandexhilaratedhim。Thetrailplungingsometimesintoanundisturbedforest，hestartedthebirdsbeforehimlikeaflightofarrowsthroughitsdimrecesses；attimeshehungbreathlesslyoverthebluedepthsofcanyonswherethesameforestswererepeatedathousandfeetbelow。Towardsnoonhestruckintoaruderoad——
evidentlythethoroughfareofthelocality——andwassurprisedtofindthatit，aswellastheadjacentsoilwhereverdisturbed，wasadeepIndianred。Everywhere，alongitssides，powderingthebanksandbolesoftreeswithitsruddystain，inmoundsandhillocksofpileddirtontheroad，orinliquidpaint-likepools，whenatricklingstreamhadformedagutteracrossit，therewasalwaysthesamedeepsanguinarycolor。Onceortwiceitbecamemorevividincontrastwiththewhiteteethofquartzthatpeepedthroughitfromthehillsideorcrossedtheroadincrumbledstrata。OneofthosepiecesClarencepickedupwithaquickeningpulse。ItwasveinedandstreakedwithshiningmicaandtinyglitteringcubesofmineralthatLOOKEDlikegold!
Theroadnowbegantodescendtowardsawindingstream，shrunkenbydroughtandditching，thatglareddazzinglyinthesunlightfromitswhitebarsofsand，orglistenedinshiningsheetsandchannels。Alongitsbanks，andevenencroachinguponitsbed，werescatteredafewmudcabins，strange-lookingwoodentroughsandgutters，andhereandthere，glancingthroughtheleaves，thewhitecanvasoftents。Thestumpsoffelledtreesandblackenedspaces，asofrecentfires，markedthestreamoneitherside。AsuddensenseofdisappointmentovercameClarence。Itlookedvulgar，common，andworsethanall——FAMILIAR。Itwasliketheunlovelyoutskirtsofadozenotherprosaicsettlementshehadseeninlessromanticlocalities。Inthatmuddyredstream，pouringoutofawoodengutter，inwhichthreeorfourbearded，slouching，half-
nakedfigureswererakinglikechiffonniers，therewasnothingtosuggesttheroyalmetal。Yethewassoabsorbedingazingatthescene，andhadwalkedsorapidlyduringthepastfewminutes，thathewasstartled，onturningasharpcorneroftheroad，tocomeabruptlyuponanoutlyingdwelling。
Itwasanondescriptbuilding，halfcanvasandhalfboards。Theinteriorseenthroughtheopendoorwasfittedupwithsideshelves，acountercarelesslypiledwithprovisions，groceries，clothing，andhardware——withnoattemptatdisplayorevenordinaryselection——andatable，onwhichstoodademijohnandthreeorfourdirtyglasses。Tworoughlydressedmen，whoselong，mattedbeardsandhairleftonlytheireyesandlipsvisibleinthetangledhirsutewildernessbelowtheirslouchedhats，wereleaningagainsttheoppositesidesofthedoorway，smoking。Almostthrownagainstthemintherapidmomentumofhisdescent，Clarencehaltedviolently。
\"Well，sonny，youneedn\'tcapsizetheshanty，\"saidthefirstman，withouttakinghispipefromhislips。
\"Ifyerlookingfuryerma，sheandyerAuntJanehevjestgoneovertoParsonDoolittle\'stotaketea，\"observedthesecondmanlazily。\"Sheallowedthatyou\'dwait。\"
\"I\'m——I\'m——goingto——tothemines，\"explainedClarence，withsomehesitation。\"Isupposethisistheway。\"
Thetwomentooktheirpipesfromtheirlips，lookedateachother，completelywipedeveryvestigeofexpressionfromtheirfaceswiththebackoftheirhands，turnedtheireyesintotheinteriorofthecabin，andsaid，\"Willyercomeyer，nowWILLyer?\"Thusadjured，halfadozenmen，alsobeardedandcarryingpipesintheirmouths，straggledoutoftheshanty，and，filinginfrontofit，squatteddown，withtheirbacksagainsttheboards，andgazedcomfortablyattheboy。Clarencebegantofeeluneasy。
\"I\'llgive，\"saidone，takingouthispipeandgrimlyeyingClarence，\"ahundreddollarsforhimashestands。\"
\"Andseein\'ashe\'sgotthatbran-newrig-outo\'tools，\"saidanother，\"I\'llgiveahundredandfifty——andthedrinks。I\'vebeen，\"headdedapologetically，\"wantin\'sunthin\'likethisalongtime。\"
\"Well，gen\'lemen，\"saidthemanwhohadfirstspokentohim，\"lookin\'athimbyandlarge；takin\'in，sotospeak，thegin\'ralgaitofhiminsingleharness；bearin\'inmindtheperfectfreshnessofhim，andthecoolnessandsizeofhischeek——theeasydownyness，previousness，andutterdon\'t-care-a-damnativenessofhiscomingyer，Ithinktwohundredain\'ttoomuchforhim，andwe\'llcallitabargain。\"
Clarence\'spreviousexperienceofthisgrim，smilelessCalifornianchaffwasnotcalculatedtorestorehisconfidence。Hedrewawayfromthecabin，andrepeateddoggedly，\"Iaskedyouifthiswasthewaytothemines。\"
\"ItAREthemines，andtheseyerearetheminers，\"saidthefirstspeakergravely。\"Permitmetointerdoose\'em。Thisyere\'sShastaJim，thisyere\'sShotcardBilly，thisisNastyBob，andthisSlumgullionDick。Thisyere\'stheDooko\'ChathamStreet，theLivin\'Skeleton，andme!\"
\"Mayweask，fairyoungsir，\"saidtheLivingSkeleton，who，however，seemedinfairlyrobustcondition，\"whencecameyeonthewingsofthemorning，andwhoseMarbleHallsyehevleftdesolate?\"
\"Icameacrosstheplains，andgotintoStocktontwodaysagoonMr。Peyton\'strain，\"saidClarence，indignantly，seeingnoreasonnowtoconcealanything。\"IcametoSacramentotofindmycousin，whoisn\'tlivingthereanymore。Idon\'tseeanythingfunnyinTHAT!Icameheretotheminestodiggold——because——becauseMr。
Silsbee，themanwhowastobringmehereandmighthavefoundmycousinforme，waskilledbyIndians。\"
\"Holdup，sonny。Letmehelpye，\"saidthefirstspeaker，risingtohisfeet。\"YOUdidn\'tgetkilledbyInjinsbecauseyougotlostoutofatrainwithSilsbee\'sinfantdarter。Peytonpickedyouupwhileyouwastakin\'careofher，andtwodaysarteryoukemuptothebroken-downSilsbeewagons，withallthefolkslyin\'thereslartered。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidClarence，breathlesslywithastonishment。
\"And，\"continuedtheman，puttinghishandgravelytohisheadasiftoassisthismemory，\"whenyouwasallaloneontheplainswiththatlittlechildyousawoneofthoseredskins，asneartoyouasIbe，watchin\'thetrain，andyoudidn\'tbreatheormovewhilehewasthere?\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidClarenceeagerly。
\"AndyouwasshotatbyPeyton，hethinkin\'youwasanInjuninthemesquitegrass?Andyouonceshotabuffalothathadbeenpitchedwithyoudownagully——allbyyourself?\"
\"Yes，\"saidClarence，crimsonwithwonderandpleasure。\"Youknowme，then?\"
\"Well，ye-e-es，\"saidthemangravely，partinghismustachewithhisfingers。\"Yousee，YOU\'VEBEENHEREBEFORE。\"
\"Before!Me?\"repeatedtheastoundedClarence。
\"Yes，before。Lastnight。Youwastallerthen，andhadn\'tcutyourhair。Youcursedagooddealmorethanyoudonow。Youdrankaman\'sshareofwhiskey，andyouborrowedfiftydollarstogettoSacramentowith。Ireckonyouhaven\'tgotitaboutyounow，eh?\"
Clarence\'sbrainreeledinutterconfusionandhopelessterror。
Washegoingcrazy，orhadthesecruelmenlearnedhisstoryfromhisfaithlessfriends，andthiswasapartoftheplot?Hestaggeredforward，butthemenhadrisenandquicklyencircledhim，asiftopreventhisescape。Invagueandhelplessdesperationhegasped——
\"Whatplaceisthis?\"
\"FolkscallitDeadman\'sGulch。\"
Deadman\'sGulch!Aflashofintelligencelituptheboy\'sblindconfusion。Deadman\'sGulch!CouldithavebeenJimHookerwhohadreallyrunaway，andhadtakenhisname?Heturnedhalf-
imploringlytothefirstspeaker。
\"Wasn\'theolderthanme，andbigger?Didn\'thehaveasmooth，roundfaceandlittleeyes?Didn\'thetalkhoarse?Didn\'the——\"
Hestoppedhopelessly。
\"Yes；oh，hewasn\'tabitlikeyou，\"saidthemanmusingly。\"Yesee，that\'stheh-llofit!You\'realtogetherTOOMANYandTOO
VARIOUSfurthiscamp。\"
\"Idon\'tknowwho\'sbeenherebefore，orwhattheyhavesaid，\"saidClarencedesperately，yeteveninthatdesperationretainingthedoggedloyaltytohisoldplaymate，whichwaspartofhisnature。
\"Idon\'tknow，andIdon\'tcare——there!I\'mClarenceBrantofKentucky；IstartedinSilsbee\'strainfromSt。Jo，andI\'mgoingtothemines，andyoucan\'tstopme!\"
Themanwhohadfirstspokenstarted，lookedkeenlyatClarence，andthenturnedtotheothers。Thegentlemanknownasthelivingskeletonhadobtrudedhishugebulkinfrontoftheboy，and，gazingathim，saidreflectively，\"Darnedifitdon\'tlooklikeoneofBrant\'spups——sure!\"
\"AiryeanyrelationtoKernelHamiltonBrantofLooeyville?\"askedthefirstspeaker。
Againthatoldquestion!PoorClarencehesitated，despairingly。
Washetogothroughthesamecross-examinationhehadundergonewiththePeytons?\"Yes，\"hesaiddoggedly，\"Iam——buthe\'sdead，andyouknowit。\"
\"Dead——ofcourse。\"\"Sartin。\"\"He\'sdead。\"\"TheKernel\'splanted，\"saidthemeninchorus。
\"Well，yes，\"reflectedtheLivingSkeletonostentatiously，asonewhospokefromexperience。\"HamBrant\'saboutasbonynowastheymake\'em。\"
\"Youbet!Aboutthedustiest，deadestcorpseyoukinturnout，\"
corroboratedSlumgullionDick，noddinghisheadgloomilytotheothers；\"inpointo\'fack，esacorpse，aboutthelastoneIshouldkeertogohuntin\'fur。\"
\"TheKernel\'stech\'udbecoldandclammy，\"concludedtheDukeofChathamStreet，whohadnotyetspoken，\"sure。Butwhatdidyermammysayaboutit?Isshegettin\'marriedagin?DidSHEsendyehere?\"
ItseemedtoClarencethattheDukeofChathamStreetherereceivedakickfromhiscompanions；buttheboyrepeateddoggedly——
\"IcametoSacramentotofindmycousin，JacksonBrant；buthewasn\'tthere。\"
\"JacksonBrant!\"echoedthefirstspeaker，glancingattheothers。
\"Didyourmothersayhewasyourcousin?\"
\"Yes，\"saidClarencewearily。\"Good-by。\"
\"Hullo，sonny，whereareyougoing?\"
\"Todiggold，\"saidtheboy。\"Andyouknowyoucan\'tpreventme，ifitisn\'tonyourclaim。Iknowthelaw。\"HehadheardMr。
PeytondiscussitatStockton，andhefanciedthatthemen，whowerewhisperingamongthemselves，lookedkinderthanbefore，andasiftheywerenolonger\"acting\"tohim。Thefirstspeakerlaidhishandonhisshoulder，andsaid，\"Allright，comewithme，andI\'llshowyouwheretodig。\"
\"Whoareyou?\"saidClarence。\"Youcalledyourselfonly\'me。\'\"
\"Well，youcancallmeFlynn——TomFlynn。\"
\"Andyou\'llshowmewhereIcandig——myself?\"
\"Iwill。\"
\"Doyouknow，\"saidClarencetimidly，yetwithahalf-conscioussmile，\"thatI——Ikinderbringluck?\"
Themanlookeddownuponhim，andsaidgravely，but，asitstruckClarence，withanewkindofgravity，\"Ibelieveyou。\"
\"Yes，\"saidClarenceeagerly，astheywalkedalongtogether，\"I
broughtlucktoamaninSacramentotheotherday。\"Andherelatedwithgreatearnestnesshisexperienceinthegamblingsaloon。Notcontentwiththat——thesealedfountainsofhischildishdeepbeingbrokenupbysomemysterioussympathy——hespokeofhishospitableexploitwiththepassengersatthewaysidebar，ofthefindingofhisFortunatuspurseandhisdepositatthebank。Whetherthatcharacteristicold-fashionedreticencewhichhadbeensuchanimportantfactorforgoodorillinhisfuturehadsuddenlydesertedhim，orwhethersomeextraordinaryprepossessioninhiscompanionhadaffectedhim，hedidnotknow；butbythetimethepairhadreachedthehillsideFlynnwasinpossessionofalltheboy\'shistory。Ononepointonlywashisreserveunshaken。
ConsciousalthoughhewasofJimHooker\'sduplicity，heaffectedtotreatitasacomrade\'sjoke。
Theyhaltedatlastinthemiddleofanapparentlyfertilehillside。Clarenceshiftedhisshovelfromhisshoulders，unslunghispan，andlookedatFlynn。\"Diganywherehere，whereyoulike，\"
saidhiscompanioncarelessly，\"andyou\'llbesuretofindthecolor。Fillyourpanwiththedirt，gotothatsluice，andletthewaterruninonthetopofthepan——workin\'itroundso，\"headded，illustratingarotarymotionwiththevessel。\"Keepdoingthatuntilallthesoiliswashedoutofit，andyouhaveonlytheblacksandatthebottom。Thenworkthatthesamewayuntilyouseethecolor。Don\'tbeafraidofwashingthegoldoutofthepan——youcouldn\'tdoitifyoutried。There，I\'llleaveyouhere，andyouwaittillIcomeback。\"Withanothergravenodandsomethinglikeasmileintheonlyvisiblepartofhisbeardedface——hiseyes——hestroderapidlyaway。
Clarencedidnotlosetime。Selectingaspotwherethegrasswaslessthick，hebrokethroughthesoilandturneduptwoorthreespadefulsofredsoil。Whenhehadfilledthepanandraisedittohisshoulder，hewasastoundedatitsweight。Hedidnotknowthatitwasduetotheredprecipitateofironthatgaveititscolor。
Staggeringalongwithhisburdentotherunningsluice，whichlookedlikeanopenwoodengutter，atthefootofthehill，hebegantocarefullycarryoutFlynn\'sdirection。Thefirstdipofthepanintherunningwatercarriedoffhalfthecontentsofthepaninliquidpaint-likeooze。Foramomenthegavewaytoboyishsatisfactioninthesightandtouchofthisunctuoussolution，anddabbledhisfingersinit。Afewmomentsmoreofrinsingandhecametothesedimentoffineblacksandthatwasbeneathit。
Anotherplungeandswillingofwaterinthepan，and——couldhebelievehiseyes!——afewyellowtinyscales，scarcelylargerthanpins\'heads，glitteredamongthesand。Hepoureditoff。Buthiscompanionwasright；thelightersandshiftedfromsidetosidewiththewater，buttheglitteringpointsremainedadheringbytheirowntinyspecificgravitytothesmoothsurfaceofthebottom。Itwas\"thecolor\"——gold!
Clarence\'sheartseemedtogiveagreatleapwithinhim。Avisionofwealth，ofindependence，ofpower，sprangbeforehisdazzledeyes，and——ahandlightlytouchedhimontheshoulder。
Hestarted。Inhiscompletepreoccupationandexcitement，hehadnotheardtheclatterofhorse-hoofs，andtohisamazementFlynnwasalreadybesidehim，mounted，andleadingasecondhorse。
\"Youkinride?\"hesaidshortly。
\"Yes\"stammeredClarence；\"but——\"
\"BUT——we\'veonlygottwohourstoreachBuckeyeMillsintimetocatchthedownstage。Dropallthat，jumpup，andcomewithme!\"
\"ButI\'vejustfoundgold，\"saidtheboyexcitedly。
\"AndI\'vejustfoundyour——cousin。Come!\"
HespurredhishorseacrossClarence\'sscatteredimplements，halfhelped，halflifted，theboyintothesaddleofthesecondhorse，and，withacutofhisriataovertheanimal\'shaunches，thenextmomenttheywerebothgallopingfuriouslyaway。
CHAPTERIX
Tornsuddenlyfromhisprospectivefuture，buttoomuchdominatedbythemanbesidehimtoprotest，Clarencewassilentuntilariseintheroad，afewminuteslater，partlyabatedtheirheadlongspeed，andgavehimchancetorecoverhisbreathandcourage。
\"Whereismycousin?\"heasked。
\"IntheSoutherncounty，twohundredmilesfromhere。\"
\"Arewegoingtohim?\"
\"Yes。\"
Theyrodefuriouslyforwardagain。Itwasnearlyhalfanhourbeforetheycametoalongerascent。ClarencecouldseethatFlynnwasfromtimetotimeexamininghimcuriouslyunderhisslouchedhat。Thissomewhatembarrassedhim，butinhissingularconfidenceinthemannodistrustmingledwithit。
\"Yeneversawyour——cousin?\"heasked。
\"No，\"saidClarence；\"norheme。Idon\'tthinkheknewmemuch，anyway。
\"Howoldmoutyebe，Clarence?\"
\"Eleven。\"
\"Well，asyou\'resuthinofapup\"——Clarencestarted，andrecalledPeyton\'sfirstcriticismofhim——\"Ireckontotellyesuthin。Yeain\'tgoin\'tobeskeert，orafeard，orloseyersand，Ikalkilate，forskunkin\'ain\'tinyourbreed。Well，wotefItoldyethatthishyer——thishyer——COUSINo\'yourswasthebiggestdevilonhung；
thathe\'djustkilledaman，andhadtoliteoutelsewhere，andTHET\'Swhyhedidn\'tshowupinSacramento——whatifItoldyouthat?\"
Clarencefeltthatthiswassomehowalittletoomuch。Hewasperfectlytruthful，andliftinghisfrankeyestoFlynn，hesaid，\"IshouldthinkyouweretalkingagooddeallikeJimHooker!\"
Hiscompanionstared，andsuddenlyreineduphishorse；then，burstingintoashoutoflaughter，hegallopedahead，fromtimetotimeshakinghishead，slappinghislegs，andmakingthedimwoodsringwithhisboisterousmirth。Thenassuddenlybecomingthoughtfulagain，herodeonrapidlyforhalfanhour，onlyspeakingtoClarencetourgehimforward，andassistinghisprogressbylashingthehaunchesofhishorse。Luckily，theboywasagoodrider——afactwhichFlynnseemedtothoroughlyappreciate——orhewouldhavebeenunseatedadozentimes。
AtlastthestragglingshedsofBuckeyeMillscameintosofterpurpleviewontheoppositemountain。ThenlayinghishandonClarence\'sshoulderashereinedinathisside，Flynnbrokethesilence。
\"There，boy，\"hesaid，wipingthemirthfultearsfromhiseyes。\"I
wasonlyfoolin\'——onlytryin\'yergrit!ThisyercousinI\'mtakingyoutobeasquietandsoft-spokenandasold-fashionedezyoube。
Why，he\'sthatwrappedupinbooksandstudythathelivesaloneinabigadoberancherieamongaloto\'Spanish，andhedon\'tkeertoseehisowncountrymen!Why，he\'sevenchangedhisname，andcalleshimselfDonJuanRobinson!Buthe\'sveryrich；heownsthreeleaguesoflandandheapsofcattleandhorses，and，\"
glancingapprovinglyatClarence\'sseatinthesaddle，\"Ireckonyou\'llhevplentyoffunthar。\"
\"But，\"hesitatedClarence，towhomthisproposalseemedonlyarepetitionofPeyton\'scharitableoffer，\"IthinkI\'dbetterstayhereanddiggold——WITHYOU。\"
\"AndIthinkyou\'dbetternot，\"saidtheman，withagravitythatwasverylikeasettleddetermination。
\"ButmycousinnevercameformetoSacramento——norsent，norevenwrote，\"persistedClarenceindignantly。
\"NottoYOU，boy；buthewrotetothemanwhomhereckonedwouldbringyouthere——JackSilsbee——andleftitinthecareofthebank。
AndSilsbee，beingdead，didn\'tcomefortheletter；andasyoudidn\'taskforitwhenyoucame，anddidn\'tevenmentionSilsbee\'sname，thatsameletterwassentbacktoyourcousinthroughme，becausethebankthoughtweknewhiswhereabouts。Itcametothegulchbyanexpressrider，whilstyouwereprospectin\'onthehillside。Rememberin\'yourstory，Itookthelibertyofopeningit，andfoundoutthatyourcousinhadtoldSilsbeetobringyoustraighttohim。SoI\'monlydoin\'nowwhatSilsbeewouldhavedone。\"
AnymomentarydoubtorsuspicionthatmighthaveriseninClarence\'smindvanishedashemethiscompanion\'ssteadyandmasterfuleye。Evenhisdisappointmentwasforgotteninthecharmofthisnew-foundfriendshipandprotection。AndasitsoutsethadbeenmarkedbyanunusualburstofconfidenceonClarence\'spart，theboy，inhisgratitude，nowfeltsomethingofthetimidshynessofadeeperfeeling，andoncemorebecamereticent。
TheywereintimetosnatchahastymealatBuckeyeMillsbeforethestagearrived，andClarencenoticedthathisfriend，despitehisroughdressandlawlessaspect，provokedamarkeddegreeofrespectfromthosehemet——inwhich，perhaps，awholesomefearwasmingled。Itiscertainthatthetwobestplacesinthestageweregivenuptothemwithoutprotest，andthatacareless，almostsuperciliousinvitationtodrinkfromFlynnwasrespondedtowithsingularalacritybyall，includingeventwofastidiouslydressedandpreviouslyreservedpassengers。IamafraidthatClarenceenjoyedthisproofofhisfriend\'ssingulardominancewithaboyishpride，and，consciousofthecuriouseyesofthepassengers，directedoccasionallytohimself，wassomewhatostentatiousinhisfamiliaritywiththisbeardedautocrat。
Atnoonthenextdaytheyleftthestageatawaysideroadstation，andFlynnbrieflyinformedClarencethattheymustagaintakehorses。Thisatfirstseemeddifficultinthatout-of-the-waysettlement，wheretheyalonehadstopped，butawhisperfromthedriverintheearofthestation-masterproducedacoupleoffierymustangs，withthesameaccompanimentofcautiousaweandmystery。
Forthenexttwodaystheytraveledonhorseback，restingbynightatthelodgingsofoneorotherofFlynn\'sfriendsintheoutskirtsofalargetown，wheretheyarrivedinthedarkness，andleftbeforeday。Toanyonemoreexperiencedthanthesimple-mindedboyitwouldhavebeenevidentthatFlynnwaspurposelyavoidingthemoretraveledroadsandconveyances；andwhentheychangedhorsesagainthenextday\'sridewasthroughanapparentlyunbrokenwildernessofscatteredwoodandrollingplain。YettoClarence，withhispantheisticrelianceandjoyoussympathywithnature，thechangewasfilledwithexhilaratingpleasure。Thevastseasoftossingwildoats，thehillsidestillvariegatedwithstrangeflowers，thevirginfreshnessofuntroddenwoodsandleafyaisles，whosefloorsofmossorbarkwereundisturbedbyhumanfootprint，wereakeendelightandnovelty。Morethanthis，hisquickeye，trainedperceptions，andfrontierknowledgenowstoodhimingoodstead。Hisintuitivesenseofdistance，instinctsofwoodcraft，andhisunerringdetectionofthosesigns，landmarks，andguidepostsofnature，undistinguishabletoaughtbutbirdsandbeastsandsomechildren，werenowofthegreatestservicetohislessfavoredcompanion。Inthispartoftheirstrangepilgrimageitwastheboywhotookthelead。Flynn，whoduringthepasttwodaysseemedtohavefallenintoamoodofwatchfulreserve，noddedhisapprobation。\"Thissortofthing\'syerbestholt，boy，\"hesaid。\"Menandcitiesain\'tyourlittlegame。\"
Atthenextstopping-placeClarencehadasurprise。Theyhadagainenteredatownatnightfall，andlodgedwithanotherfriendofFlynn\'sinroomswhichfromvaguesoundsappearedtobeoveragamblingsaloon。Clarencewokelateinthemorning，and，descendingintothestreettomountfortheday\'sjourney，wasstartledtofindthatFlynnwasnotontheotherhorse，butthatawell-dressedandhandsomestrangerhadtakenhisplace。Butalaugh，andthefamiliarcommand，\"Jumpup，boy，\"madehimlookagain。ItWASFlynn，butcompletelyshavenofbeardandmustache，closelyclippedofhair，andinafastidiouslycutsuitofblack!
\"Thenyoudidn\'tknowme?\"saidFlynn。
\"Nottillyouspoke，\"repliedClarence。
\"Somuchthebetter，\"saidhisfriendsententiously，asheputspurstohishorse。Butastheycanteredthroughthestreet，Clarence，whohadalreadybecomeaccustomedtothestranger\'shirsuteadornment，feltalittlemoreaweofhim。Theprofileofthemouthandchinnowexposedtohissidelongglancewashardandstern，andslightlysaturnine。Althoughunableatthetimetoidentifyitwithanybodyhehadeverknown，itseemedtotheimaginativeboytobevaguelyconnectedwithsomesadexperience。
Buttheeyeswerethoughtfulandkindly，andtheboylaterbelievedthatifhehadbeenmorefamiliarwiththefacehewouldhaveloveditbetter。Foritwasthelastandonlydayhewastoseeit，as，latethatafternoon，afteradustyridealongmoretraveledhighways，theyreachedtheirjourney\'send。
Itwasalow-walledhouse，withred-tiledroofsshowingagainstthedarkgreenofvenerablepearandfigtrees，andasquarecourt-yardinthecentre，wheretheyhaddismounted。AfewwordsinSpanishfromFlynntooneoftheloungingpeonsadmittedthemtoawoodencorridor，andthencetoalong，lowroom，whichtoClarence\'seyesseemedliterallypiledwithbooksandengravings。HereFlynnhurriedlybadehimstaywhilehesoughtthehostinanotherpartofthebuilding。ButClarencedidnotmisshim；indeed，itmaybefeared，heforgoteventheobjectoftheirjourneyinthenewsensationsthatsuddenlythrongeduponhim，andtheboyishvistaofthefuturethattheyseemedtoopen。Hewasdazedandintoxicated。
Hehadneverseensomanybooksbefore；hehadneverconceivedofsuchlovelypictures。Andyetinsomevaguewayhethoughthemusthavedreamtofthematsometime。Hehadmountedachair，andwasgazingspellboundatanengravingofasea-fightwhenheheardFlynn\'svoice。
Hisfriendhadquietlyreenteredtheroom，incompanywithanoldish，half-foreign-lookingman，evidentlyhisrelation。Withnohelpingrecollection，withnomeansofcomparisonbeyondavagueideathathiscousinmightlooklikehimself，Clarencestoodhopelesslybeforehim。Hehadalreadymadeuphismindthathewouldhavetogothroughtheusualcross-questioninginregardtohisfatherandfamily；hehadevenforlornlythoughtofinventingsomeinnocentdetailstofillouthisimperfectandunsatisfactoryrecollection。But，glancingup，hewassurprisedtofindthathiselderlycousinwasasembarrassedashewas，Flynn，asusual，masterfullyinterposed。
\"Ofcourseyedon\'tremembereachother，andtharain\'tmuchthateitherofyouknowsaboutfamilymatters，Ireckon，\"hesaidgrimly；\"andasyourcousincallshimselfDonJuanRobinson，\"headdedtoClarence，\"it\'sjustaswellthatyoulet\'JacksonBrant\'
slide。Iknowhimbetterthanyou，butyou\'llgetusedtohim，andhetoyou，soonenough。Atleast，you\'dbetter，\"heconcluded，withhissingulargravity。
AsheturnedasiftoleavetheroomwithClarence\'sembarrassedrelative——muchtothatgentleman\'sapparentrelief——theboylookedupatthelatterandsaidtimidly——
\"MayIlookatthosebooks?\"
Hiscousinstopped，andglancedathimwiththefirstexpressionofinteresthehadshown。
\"Ah，youread；youlikebooks?\"
\"Yes，\"saidClarence。Ashiscousinremainedstilllookingathimthoughtfully，headded，\"Myhandsareprettyclean，butIcanwashthemfirst，ifyoulike。\"
\"Youmaylookatthem，\"saidDonJuansmilingly；\"andastheyareoldbooksyoucanwashyourhandsafterwards。\"And，turningtoFlynnsuddenly，withanairofrelief，\"ItellyouwhatI\'lldo——
I\'llteachhimSpanish!\"
Theylefttheroomtogether，andClarenceturnedeagerlytotheshelves。Theywereoldbooks，someindeedveryold，queerlybound，andworm-eaten。Somewereinforeignlanguages，butothersinclear，boldEnglishtype，withquaintwood-cutsandillustrations。
Oneseemedtobeachronicleofbattlesandsieges，withpicturedrepresentationsofcombatantsspittedwitharrows，cleanlyloppedoffinlimb，ortoppledoverdistinctlybyvisiblecannon-shot。Hewasdeepinitsperusalwhenheheardtheclatterofahorse\'shoofsinthecourt-yardandthevoiceofFlynn。Herantothewindow，andwasastonishedtoseehisfriendalreadyonhorseback，takingleaveofhishost。
ForoneinstantClarencefeltoneofthosesuddenrevulsionsoffeelingcommontohisage，butwhichhehadalwaystimidlyhiddenunderdoggeddemeanor。Flynn，hisonlyfriend!Flynn，hisonlyboyishconfidant!Flynn，hislatesthero，wasgoingawayandforsakinghimwithoutawordofparting!Itwastruethathehadonlyagreedtotakehimtohisguardian，butstillFlynnneednothavelefthimwithoutawordofhopeorencouragement!WithanyoneelseClarencewouldprobablyhavetakenrefugeinhisusualIndianstoicism，butthesamefeelingthathadimpelledhimtoofferFlynnhisboyishconfidencesontheirfirstmeetingnowoverpoweredhim。Hedroppedhisbook，ranoutintothecorridor，andmadehiswaytothecourt-yard，justasFlynngallopedoutfromthearch。
Buttheboyutteredadespairingshoutthatreachedtherider。Hedrewrein，wheeled，halted，andsatfacingClarenceimpatiently。
ToaddtoClarence\'sembarrassmenthiscousinhadlingeredinthecorridor，attractedbytheinterruption，andapeon，lounginginthearchway，obsequiouslyapproachedFlynn\'sbridle-rein。Buttheriderwavedhimoff，and，turningsternlytoClarence，said:——
\"What\'sthematternow?\"
\"Nothing，\"saidClarence，strivingtokeepbackthehottearsthatroseinhiseyes。\"Butyouweregoingawaywithoutsaying\'good-
by。\'You\'vebeenverykindtome，and——and——Iwanttothankyou!\"
AdeepflushcrossedFlynn\'sface。Thenglancingsuspiciouslytowardsthecorridor，hesaidhurriedly，——
\"DidHEsendyou?\"
\"No，Icamemyself。Iheardyougoing。\"
\"Allright。Good-by。\"HeleanedforwardasifabouttotakeClarence\'soutstretchedhand，checkedhimselfsuddenlywithagrimsmile，andtakingfromhispocketagoldcoinhandedittotheboy。
Clarencetookit，tosseditwithaproudgesturetothewaitingpeon，whocaughtitthankfully，drewbackastepfromFlynn，andsaying，withwhitecheeks，\"Ionlywantedtosaygood-by，\"droppedhishoteyestotheground。Butitdidnotseemtobehisownvoicethathadspoken，norhisownselfthathadpromptedtheact。
Therewasaquickinterchangeofglancesbetweenthedepartingguestandhislatehost，inwhichFlynn\'seyesflashedwithanodd，admiringfire，butwhenClarenceraisedhisheadagainhewasgone。
Andastheboyturnedbackwithabrokenhearttowardsthecorridor，hiscousinlaidhishanduponhisshoulder。
\"Muyhidalgamente，Clarence，\"hesaidpleasantly。\"Yes，weshallmakesomethingofyou!\"
CHAPTERX
