按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
remember something of his father's house； of the large rooms； drafty
staircases； and far…off ceilings； and the cold formality of a life that seemed
made up of strange faces； some strangerhis parents； some kinderthe
servants； particularly the black nurse who had him in charge。 Why did
Mr。 Peyton ask him about it？ Why； if it were so important to strangers；
had not his mother told him more of it？ And why was she not like this
good woman with the gentle voice who was so kind toto Susy？ And
what did they mean by making HIM so miserable？ Something rose in his
throat； but with an effort he choked it back； and； creeping from the lounge；
went softly to the window； opened it to see if it 〃would work；〃 and looked
out。 The shrouded camp fires； the stars that glittered but gave no light；
the dim moving bulk of a patrol beyond the circle； all seemed to intensify
the darkness； and changed the current of his thoughts。 He remembered
what Mr。 Peyton had said of him when they first met。 〃Suthin of a pup；
ain't he？〃 Surely that meant something that was not bad！ He crept back
to the couch again。
Lying there； still awake； he reflected that he wouldn't be a scout when
he grew up； but would be something like Mr。 Peyton； and have a train like
this； and invite the Silsbees and Susy to accompany him。 For this purpose；
he and Susy； early to…morrow morning； would get permission to come in
here and play at that game。 This would familiarize him with the details；
so that he would be able at any time to take charge of it。 He was already
an authority on the subject of Indians！ He had once been fired atas an
Indian。 He would always carry a rifle like that hanging from the hooks at
the end of the wagon before him； and would eventually slay many Indians
and keep an account of them in a big book like that on the desk。 Susy
would help him； having grown up a lady； and they would both together
issue provisions and rations from the door of the wagon to the gathered
crowds。 He would be known as the 〃White Chief；〃 his Indian name
being 〃Suthin of a Pup。〃 He would have a circus van attached to the train；
in which he would occasionally perform。 He would also have artillery
for protection。 There would be a terrific engagement； and he would rush
into the wagon； heated and blackened with gunpowder； and Susy would
put down an account of it in a book； and Mrs。 Peytonfor she would be
30
… Page 31…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
there in some vague capacitywould say； 〃Really； now； I don't see but
what we were very lucky in having such a boy as Clarence with us。 I
begin to understand him better。〃 And Harry； who； for purposes of vague
poetical retaliation； would also drop in at that moment； would mutter and
say； 〃He is certainly the son of Colonel Brant； dear me！〃 and apologize。
And his mother would come in also； in her coldest and most indifferent
manner； in a white ball dress； and start and say； 〃Good gracious； how that
boy has grown！ I am sorry I did not see more of him when he was
young。〃 Yet even in the midst of this came a confusing numbness； and
then the side of the wagon seemed to melt away； and he drifted out again
alone into the empty desolate plain from which even the sleeping Susy had
vanished； and he was left deserted and forgotten。 Then all was quiet in
the wagon； and only the night wind moving round it。 But lo！ the lashes
of the sleeping White Chiefthe dauntless leader； the ruthless destroyer of
Indianswere wet with glittering tears！
Yet it seemed only a moment afterwards that he awoke with a faint
consciousness of some arrested motion。 To his utter consternation； the
sun； three hours high； was shining in the wagon； already hot and stifling in
its beams。 There was the familiar smell and taste of the dirty road in the
air about him。 There was a faint creaking of boards and springs； a slight
oscillation； and beyond the audible rattle of harness； as if the train had
been under way； the wagon moving； and then there had been a sudden halt。
They had probably come up with the Silsbee train； in a few moments the
change would be effected and all of his strange experience would be over。
He must get up now。 Yet； with the morning laziness of the healthy young
animal； he curled up a moment longer in his luxurious couch。
How quiet it was！ There were far…off voices； but they seemed
suppressed and hurried。 Through the window he saw one of the
teamsters run rapidly past him with a strange； breathless； preoccupied face；
halt a moment at one of the following wagons； and then run back again to
the front。
Then two of the voices came nearer； with the dull beating of hoofs in
the dust。
〃Rout out the boy and ask him；〃 said a half…suppressed； impatient
31
… Page 32…
A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
voice； which Clarence at once recognized as the man Harry's。
〃Hold on till Peyton comes up；〃 said the second voice； in a low tone；
〃leave it to him。〃
〃Better find out what they were like； at once；〃 grumbled Harry。
〃Wait； stand back；〃 said Peyton's voice； joining the others； 〃I'LL ask
him。〃
Clarence looked wonderingly at the door。 It opened on Mr。 Peyton；
dusty and dismounted； with a strange； abstracted look in his face。
〃How many wagons are in your train； Clarence？〃
〃Three； sir。〃
〃Any marks on them？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Clarence； eagerly： 〃'Off to California' and 'Root； Hog；
or Die。'〃
Mr。 Peyton's eye seemed to leap up and hold Clarence's with a sudden；
strange significance； and then looked down。
〃How many were you in all？〃 he continued。
〃Five； and there was Mrs。 Silsbee。〃
〃No other woman？〃
〃No。〃
〃Get up and dress yourself；〃 he said gravely； 〃and wait here till I come
back。 Keep cool and have your wits about you。〃 He dropped his voice
slightly。 〃Perhaps something's happened that you'll have to show
yourself a little man again for； Clarence！〃
The door closed； and the boy heard the same muffled hoofs and voices
die away towards the front。 He began to dress