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omission and the very unobtrusiveness of his hiding…place would be his
salvation from a greater danger。
With the coming darkness the wind arose and swept the plain with a
long…drawn sigh。 This increased to a murmur； till presently the whole
expansebefore sunk in awful silenceseemed to awake with vague
complaints； incessant sounds； and low moanings。 At times he thought he
heard the halloaing of distant voices； at times it seemed as a whisper in his
own ear。 In the silence that followed each blast he fancied he could
detect the creaking of the wagon； the dull thud of the oxen's hoofs； or
broken fragments of speech； blown and scattered even as he strained his
ears to listen by the next gust。 This tension of the ear began to confuse
his brain； as his eyes had been previously dazzled by the sunlight； and a
strange torpor began to steal over his faculties。 Once or twice his head
dropped。
He awoke with a start。 A moving figure had suddenly uplifted itself
between him and the horizon！ It was not twenty yards away； so clearly
outlined against the still luminous sky that it seemed even nearer。 A
human figure； but so disheveled； so fantastic； and yet so mean and puerile
in its extravagance； that it seemed the outcome of a childish dream。 It
was a mounted figure； but so ludicrously disproportionate to the pony it
bestrode； whose slim legs were stiffly buried in the dust in a breathless
halt； that it might have been a straggler from some vulgar wandering
circus。 A tall hat； crownless and rimless； a castaway of civilization；
surmounted by a turkey's feather； was on its head； over its shoulders hung
a dirty tattered blanket that scarcely covered the two painted legs which
seemed clothed in soiled yellow hose。 In one hand it held a gun； the
other was bent above its eyes in eager scrutiny of some distant point
beyond and east of the spot where the children lay concealed。 Presently；
with a dozen quick noiseless strides of the pony's legs； the apparition
moved to the right； its gaze still fixed on that mysterious part of the
horizon。 There was no mistaking it now！ The painted Hebraic face； the
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large curved nose； the bony cheek； the broad mouth； the shadowed eyes；
the straight long matted locks！ It was an Indian！ Not the picturesque
creature of Clarence's imagination； but still an Indian！ The boy was
uneasy； suspicious； antagonistic； but not afraid。 He looked at the heavy
animal face with the superiority of intelligence； at the half…naked figure
with the conscious supremacy of dress； at the lower individuality with the
contempt of a higher race。 Yet a moment after； when the figure wheeled
and disappeared towards the undulating west； a strange chill crept over
him。 Yet he did not know that in this puerile phantom and painted pigmy
the awful majesty of Death had passed him by。
〃Mamma！〃
It was Susy's voice； struggling into consciousness。 Perhaps she had
been instinctively conscious of the boy's sudden fears。
〃Hush！〃
He had just turned to the objective point of the Indian's gaze。 There
WAS something！ A dark line was moving along with the gathering
darkness。 For a moment he hardly dared to voice his thoughts even to
himself。 It was a following train overtaking them from the rear！ And
from the rapidity of its movements a train with horses； hurrying forward to
evening camp。 He had never dreamt of help from that quarter。 This
was what the Indian's keen eyes had been watching； and why he had so
precipitately fled。
The strange train was now coming up at a round trot。 It was
evidently well appointed with five or six large wagons and several
outriders。 In half an hour it would be here。 Yet he refrained from
waking Susy； who had fallen asleep again； his old superstition of securing
her safety first being still uppermost。 He took off his jacket to cover her
shoulders； and rearranged her nest。 Then he glanced again at the coming
train。 But for some unaccountable reason it had changed its direction；
and instead of following the track that should have brought it to his side it
had turned off to the left！ In ten minutes it would pass abreast of him a
mile and a half away！ If he woke Susy now； he knew she would be
helpless in her terror； and he could not carry her half that distance。 He
might rush to the train himself and return with help； but he would never
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A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
leave her alonein the darkness。 Never！ If she woke she would die of
fright； perhaps； or wander blindly and aimlessly away。 No！ The train
would pass and with it that hope of rescue。 Something was in his throat；
but he gulped it down and was quiet again albeit he shivered in the night
wind。
The train was nearly abreast of him now。 He ran out of the tall grass；
waving his straw hat above his head in the faint hope of attracting
attention。 But he did not go far； for he found to his alarm that when he
turned back again the clump of mesquite was scarcely distinguishable
from the rest of the plain。 This settled all question of his going。 Even if
he reached the train and returned with some one； how would he ever find
her again in this desolate expanse？
He watched the train slowly passstill mechanically； almost
hopelessly； waving his hat as he ran up and down before the mesquite； as
if he were waving a last farewell to his departing hope。 Suddenly it
appeared to him that three of the outriders who were preceding the first
wagon had changed their shape。 They were no longer sharp； oblong；
black blocks against the horizon but had become at first blurred and
indistinct； then taller and narrower； until