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usual； vanished instantly。 Nevertheless； he appeared an hour or
two later beside the wagon in which Susy and Clarence were seated；
with an expression of satiated vengeance and remorseful
bloodguiltiness in his face； and his hair combed Indian fashion
over his eyes。 As he generously contented himself with only
passing a gloomy and disparaging criticism on the game of cards
that the children were playing； it struck Clarence for the first
time that a great deal of his real wickedness resided in his hair。
This set him to thinking that it was strange that Mr。 Peyton did
not try to reform him with a pair of scissors； but not until
Clarence himself had for at least four days attempted to imitate
Jim by combing his own hair in that fashion。
A few days later； Jim again casually favored him with a
confidential interview。 Clarence had been allowed to bestride one
of the team leaders postillionwise； and was correspondingly
elevated； when Jim joined him； on the Mexican plug； which appeared
no doubt a part of its wicked artheavily docile； and even
slightly lame。
〃How much；〃 said Jim； in a tone of gloomy confidence；〃how much
did you reckon to make by stealin' that gal…baby； sonny？〃
〃Nothing；〃 replied Clarence with a smile。 Perhaps it was an
evidence of the marked influence that Jim was beginning to exert
over him that he already did not attempt to resent this fascinating
implication of grownup guilt。
〃It orter bin a good job； if it warn't revenge；〃 continued Jim
moodily。
〃No； it wasn't revenge；〃 said Clarence hurriedly。
〃Then ye kalkilated ter get er hundred dollars reward ef the old
man and old woman hadn't bin scelped afore yet got up to 'em？〃 said
Jim。 〃That's your blamed dodgasted luck； eh！ Enyhow； you'll make
Mrs。 Peyton plank down suthin' if she adopts the babby。 Look yer；
young feller；〃 he said； starting suddenly and throwing his face
forward； glaring fiendishly through his matted side…locks； 〃d'ye
mean ter tell me it wasn't a planta skin gamethe hull thing？〃
〃A what？〃 said Clarence。
〃D'ye mean to say〃it was wonderful how gratuitously husky his
voice became at this moment〃d'ye mean ter tell me ye didn't set
on them Injins to wipe out the Silsbees； so that ye could hev an
out…an'…out gal ORFEN on hand fer Mrs。 Peyton ter adopteh？〃
But here Clarence was forced to protest； and strongly； although Jim
contemptuously ignored it。 〃Don't lie ter me；〃 he repeated
mysteriously； 〃I'm fly。 I'm dark； young fel。 We're cahoots in
this thing？〃 And with this artful suggestion of being in
possession of Clarence's guilty secret he departed in time to elude
the usual objurgation of his superior； 〃Phil；〃 the head teamster。
Nor was his baleful fascination exercised entirely on Clarence。 In
spite of Mrs。 Peyton's jealously affectionate care； Clarence's
frequent companionship； and the little circle of admiring courtiers
that always surrounded Susy； it became evident that this small Eve
had been secretly approached and tempted by the Satanic Jim。 She
was found one day to have a few heron's feathers in her possession
with which she adorned her curls； and at another time was
discovered to have rubbed her face and arms with yellow and red
ochre； confessedly the free gift of Jim Hooker。 It was to Clarence
alone that she admitted the significance and purport of these
offerings。 〃Jim gived 'em to me；〃 she said； 〃and Jim's a kind of
Injin hisself that won't hurt me； and when bad Injins come； they'll
think I'm his Injin baby and run away。 And Jim said if I'd just
told the Injins when they came to kill papa and mamma； that I
b'longed to him； they'd hev runned away。〃
〃But；〃 said the practical Clarence； 〃you could not； you know you
were with Mrs。 Peyton all the time。〃
〃Kla'uns；〃 said Susy； shaking her head and fixing her round blue
eyes with calm mendacity on the boy； 〃don't you tell me。 I WAS
THERE！〃
Clarence started back； and nearly fell over the wagon in hopeless
dismay at this dreadful revelation of Susy's powers of
exaggeration。 〃But；〃 he gasped； 〃you know； Susy； you and me left
before〃
〃Kla'uns；〃 said Susy calmly； making a little pleat in the skirt of
her dress with her small thumb and fingers； 〃don't you talk to me。
I was there。 I'se a SERIVER！ The men at the fort said so！ The
SERIVERS is allus； allus there； and allus allus knows everythin'。〃
Clarence was too dumfounded to reply。 He had a vague recollection
of having noticed before that Susy was very much fascinated by the
reputation given to her at Fort Ridge as a 〃survivor；〃 and was
trying in an infantile way to live up to it。 This the wicked Jim
had evidently encouraged。 For a day or two Clarence felt a little
afraid of her； and more lonely than ever。
It was in this state； and while he was doggedly conscious that his
association with Jim did not prepossess Mrs。 Peyton or her brother
in his favor； and that the former even believed him responsible for
Susy's unhallowed acquaintance with Jim； that he drifted into one
of those youthful escapades on which elders are apt to sit in
severe but not always considerate judgment。 Believing； like many
other children； that nobody cared particularly for him； except to
RESTRAIN him； discovering； as children do； much sooner than we
complacently imagine； that love and preference have no logical
connection with desert or character； Clarence became boyishly
reckless。 But when； one day； it was rumored that a herd of buffalo
was in the vicinity； and that the train would be delayed the next
morning in order that a hunt might be organized； by Gildersleeve；
Benham； and a few others； Clarence listened willingly to Jim's
proposition that they should secretly follow it。
To effect their unhallowed purpose required boldness and duplicity。
It was arranged that shortly after the departure of the hunting
party Clarence should ask permission to mount and exercise one of
the team horsesa favor that had been frequently granted him； that
in the outskirts of the camp he should pretend that the horse ran
away with him； and Jim would start in pursuit。 The absence of the
shooting party with so large a contingent of horses and men would
preclude any further detachment from the camp to assist them。 Once
clear； they would follow the track of the hunters； and； if
discovered by them； would offer the same excuse； with the addition
that they had lost their way to the camp。 The plan was successful。
The details were carried out with almost too perfect effect； as it
appeared that Jim； in order to give dramatic intensity to the
fractiousness of Clarence's horse； had inserted a thorn apple under
the neck of his saddle； which Clarence only discovered in time to
prevent himself from being unseated。 Urged forward by ostentatious
〃Whoas！〃 and surreptitious cuts in the rear from Jim； pursuer and
pursued presently found themselves safely beyond the half…dry
stream and fringe of alder bushes that skirted the camp。 They were
not followed。 Whether the teamsters suspected and winked at this
design； or believed that the boys could take care of themselves；
and ran no risk of being lost in the proximity of the hunting
party； there was no general alar