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disappointed； and that disappointment revealed to them the fact
that they had concealed it from each other。 The girl was the first
to succumb； and burst into a quick spasm of angry tears。 That
single act of weakness called out the boy's pride and strength。
There was no longer an equality of suffering； he had become her
protector； he felt himself responsible for both。 Considering her
no longer his equal； he was no longer frank with her。
〃There's nothin' to boo…boo for；〃 he said； with a half…affected
brusqueness。 〃So quit； now！ They'll stop in a minit； and send
some one back for us。 Shouldn't wonder if they're doin' it now。〃
But Susy； with feminine discrimination detecting the hollow ring in
his voice； here threw herself upon him and began to beat him
violently with her little fists。 〃They ain't！ They ain't！ They
ain't。 You know it！ How dare you？〃 Then； exhausted with her
struggles； she suddenly threw herself flat on the dry grass； shut
her eyes tightly； and clutched at the stubble。
〃Get up；〃 said the boy； with a pale； determined face that seemed to
have got much older。
〃You leave me be；〃 said Susy。
〃Do you want me to go away and leave you？〃 asked the boy。
Susy opened one blue eye furtively in the secure depths of her sun…
bonnet； and gazed at his changed face。
〃Ye…e…s。〃
He pretended to turn away； but really to look at the height of the
sinking sun。
〃Kla'uns！〃
〃Well？〃
〃Take me。〃
She was holding up her hands。 He lifted her gently in his arms；
dropping her head over his shoulder。 〃Now；〃 he said cheerfully；
〃you keep a good lookout that way； and I this； and we'll soon be
there。〃
The idea seemed to please her。 After Clarence had stumbled on for
a few moments； she said； 〃Do you see anything； Kla'uns？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃No more don't I。〃 This equality of perception apparently
satisfied her。 Presently she lay more limp in his arms。 She was
asleep。
The sun was sinking lower； it had already touched the edge of the
horizon； and was level with his dazzled and straining eyes。 At
times it seemed to impede his eager search and task his vision。
Haze and black spots floated across the horizon； and round wafers；
like duplicates of the sun； glittered back from the dull surface of
the plains。 Then he resolved to look no more until he had counted
fifty； a hundred； but always with the same result； the return of
the empty； unending plainsthe disk growing redder as it neared
the horizon； the fire it seemed to kindle as it sank； but nothing
more。
Staggering under his burden； he tried to distract himself by
fancying how the discovery of their absence would be made。 He
heard the listless； half…querulous discussion about the locality
that regularly pervaded the nightly camp。 He heard the
discontented voice of Jake Silsbee as he halted beside the wagon；
and said； 〃Come out o' that now； you two； and mighty quick about
it。〃 He heard the command harshly repeated。 He saw the look of
irritation on Silsbee's dusty； bearded face； that followed his
hurried glance into the empty wagon。 He heard the query； 〃What's
gone o' them limbs now？〃 handed from wagon to wagon。 He heard a
few oaths； Mrs。 Silsbee's high rasping voice； abuse of himself； the
hurried and discontented detachment of a search party； Silsbee and
one of the hired men； and vociferation and blame。 Blame always for
himself； the elder； who might have 〃known better！〃 A little fear；
perhaps； but he could not fancy either pity or commiseration。
Perhaps the thought upheld his pride； under the prospect of
sympathy he might have broken down。
At last he stumbled； and stopped to keep himself from falling
forward on his face。 He could go no further； his breath was spent；
he was dripping with perspiration； his legs were trembling under
him； there was a roaring in his ears； round red disks of the sun
were scattered everywhere around him like spots of blood。 To the
right of the trail there seemed to be a slight mound where he could
rest awhile； and yet keep his watchful survey of the horizon。 But
on reaching it he found that it was only a tangle of taller
mesquite grass； into which he sank with his burden。 Nevertheless；
if useless as a point of vantage； it offered a soft couch for Susy；
who seemed to have fallen quite naturally into her usual afternoon
siesta； and in a measure it shielded her from a cold breeze that
had sprung up from the west。 Utterly exhausted himself； but not
daring to yield to the torpor that seemed to be creeping over him；
Clarence half sat； half knelt down beside her； supporting himself
with one hand； and； partly hidden in the long grass； kept his
straining eyes fixed on the lonely track。
The red disk was sinking lower。 It seemed to have already crumbled
away a part of the distance with its eating fires。 As it sank
still lower； it shot out long； luminous rays； diverging fan…like
across the plain； as if； in the boy's excited fancy； it too were
searching for the lost estrays。 And as one long beam seemed to
linger over his hiding…place； he even thought that it might serve
as a guide to Silsbee and the other seekers； and was constrained to
stagger to his feet； erect in its light。 But it soon sank； and
with it Clarence dropped back again to his crouching watch。 Yet he
knew that the daylight was still good for an hour； and with the
withdrawal of that mystic sunset glory objects became even more
distinct and sharply defined than at any other time。 And with the
merciful sheathing of that flaming sword which seemed to have
swayed between him and the vanished train； his eyes already felt a
blessed relief。
CHAPTER III
With the setting of the sun an ominous silence fell。 He could hear
the low breathing of Susy； and even fancied he could hear the
beating of his own heart in that oppressive hush of all nature。
For the day's march had always been accompanied by the monotonous
creaking of wheels and axles； and even the quiet of the night
encampment had been always more or less broken by the movement of
unquiet sleepers on the wagon beds； or the breathing of the cattle。
But here there was neither sound nor motion。 Susy's prattle； and
even the sound of his own voice； would have broken the benumbing
spell； but it was a part of his growing self…denial now that he
refrained from waking her even by a whisper。 She would awaken soon
enough to thirst and hunger； perhaps； and then what was he to do？
If that looked…for help would only come nowwhile she still slept。
For it was part of his boyish fancy that if he could deliver her
asleep and undemonstrative of fear and suffering； he would be less
blameful； and she less mindful of her trouble。 If it did not come
but he would not think of that yet！ If she was thirsty meantime
well； it might rain； and there was always the dew which they used
to brush off the morning grass； he would take off his shirt and
catch it in that； like a shipwrecked mariner。 It would be funny；
and make her laugh。 For himself he would not laugh； he felt he was
getting very old and grown up in this loneliness。
It was getting darkerthey should be looking into the wagons now。
A new doubt began to assail hi