a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第4部分
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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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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 at last they stood out like
exclamation points against the sky。 He continued to wave his hat； they
continued to grow taller and narrower。 He understood it nowthe three
transformed blocks were the outriders coming towards him。
This is what he had seen
＇Drawing of three black blocks＇
This is what he saw now
！ ！ ！
He ran back to Susy to see if she still slept； for his foolish desire to
have her saved unconsciously was stronger than ever now that safety
seemed so near。 She was still sleeping； although she had moved slightly。
He ran to the front again。
The outriders had apparently halted。 What were they doing？ Why
wouldn't they come on？
Suddenly a blinding flash of light seemed to burst from one of them。
Away over his head something whistled like a rushing bird； and sped off
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invisible。 They had fired a gun； they were signaling to himClarence
like a grown…up man。 He would have given his life at that moment to
have had a gun。 But he could only wave his hat frantically。
One of the figures here bore away and impetuously darted forward
again。 He was coming nearer； powerful； gigantic； formidable； as he
loomed through the darkness。 All at once he threw up his arm with a
wild gesture to the others； and his voice； manly； frank； and assuring； came
ringing before him。
〃Hold up！ Good God！ It's no Injunit's a child！〃
In another moment he had reined up beside Clarence and leaned over
him； bearded； handsome； powerful and protecting。
〃Hallo！ What's all this？ What are you doing here？〃
〃Lost from Mr。 Silsbee's train；〃 said Clarence； pointing to the darkened
west。
〃Lost？how long？〃
〃About three hours。 I thought they'd come back for us；〃 said
Clarence apologetically to this big； kindly man。
〃And you kalkilated to wait here for 'em？〃
〃Yes； yesI didtill I saw you。〃
〃Then why in thunder didn't you light out straight for us； instead of
hanging round here and drawing us out？〃
The boy hung his head。 He knew his reasons were unchanged； but all
at once they seemed very foolish and unmanly to speak out。
〃Only that we were on the keen jump for Injins；〃 continued the
stranger； 〃we wouldn't have seen you at all； and might hev shot you when
we did。 What possessed you to stay here？〃
The boy was still silent。 〃Kla'uns；〃 said a faint； sleepy voice from the
mesquite； 〃take me。〃 The rifle…shot had awakened Susy。
The stranger turned quickly towards the sound。 Clarence started and
recalled himself。 〃There；〃 he said bitterly； 〃you've done it now； you've
wakened her！ THAT'S why I stayed。 I couldn't carry her over there to
you。 I couldn't let her walk； for she'd be frightened。 I wouldn't wake
her up； for she'd be frightened； and I mightn't find her again。 There！〃
He had made up his mind to be abused； but he was reckless now that she
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was safe。
The men glanced at each other。 〃Then；〃 said the spokesman quietly；
〃you didn't strike out for us on account of your sister？〃
〃She ain't my sister；〃 said Clarence quickly。 〃She's a little girl。
She's Mrs。 Silsbee's little girl。 We were in the wagon and got down。 It's
my fault。 I helped her down。〃
The three men reined their horses closely round him； leaning forward
from their saddles； with their hands on their knees and their heads on one
side。 〃Then；〃 said the spokesman gravely； 〃you just reckoned to stay
here； old man； and take your chances with her rather than run the risk of
frightening or leaving herthough it was your one chance of life！〃
〃Yes；〃 said the boy； scornful of this feeble； grown…up repetition。
〃Come here。〃
The boy came doggedly forward。 The man pushed back the well…
worn straw hat from Clarence's forehead and looked into his lowering face。
With his hand still on the boy's head he turned him round to the others；
and said quietly；
〃Suthin of a pup； eh？〃
〃You bet；〃 they responded。
The voice was not unkindly； although the speaker had thrown his
lower jaw forward as if
