a waif of the plains(草原流浪儿)-第5部分
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〃You bet；〃 they responded。
The voice was not unkindly； although the speaker had thrown his
lower jaw forward as if to pronounce the word 〃pup〃 with a humorous
suggestion of a mastiff。 Before Clarence could make up his mind if the
epithet was insulting or not； the man put out his stirruped foot； and； with a
gesture of invitation； said； 〃Jump up。〃
〃But Susy；〃 said Clarence； drawing back。
〃Look； she's making up to Phil already。〃
Clarence looked。 Susy had crawled out of the mesquite； and with her
sun…bonnet hanging down her back； her curls tossed around her face； still
flushed with sleep； and Clarence's jacket over her shoulders； was gazing
up with grave satisfaction in the laughing eyes of one of the men who was
with outstretched hands bending over her。 Could he believe his senses？
The terror…stricken； willful； unmanageable Susy； whom he would have
translated unconsciously to safety without this terrible ordeal of being
awakened to the loss of her home and parents at any sacrifice to himself
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this ingenuous infant was absolutely throwing herself with every
appearance of forgetfulness into the arms of the first new…comer！ Yet his
perception of this fact was accompanied by no sense of ingratitude。 For
her sake he felt relieved； and with a boyish smile of satisfaction and
encouragement vaulted into the saddle before the stranger。
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CHAPTER IV
The dash forward to the train； securely held in the saddle by the arms
of their deliverers； was a secret joy to the children that seemed only too
quickly over。 The resistless gallop of the fiery mustangs； the rush of the
night wind； the gathering darkness in which the distant wagons； now
halted and facing them； looked like domed huts in the horizonall these
seemed but a delightful and fitting climax to the events of the day。 In the
sublime forgetfulness of youth； all they had gone through had left no
embarrassing record behind it； they were willing to repeat their
experiences on the morrow； confident of some equally happy end。 And
when Clarence； timidly reaching his hand towards the horse…hair reins
lightly held by his companion； had them playfully yielded up to him by
that hold and confident rider； the boy felt himself indeed a man。
But a greater surprise was in store for them。 As they neared the
wagons； now formed into a circle with a certain degree of military
formality； they could see that the appointments of the strange party were
larger and more liberal than their own； or indeed anything they had ever
known of the kind。 Forty or fifty horses were tethered within the circle；
and the camp fires were already blazing。 Before one of them a large tent
was erected； and through the parted flaps could be seen a table actually
spread with a white cloth。 Was it a school feast； or was this their
ordinary household arrangement？ Clarence and Susy thought of their
own dinners； usually laid on bare boards beneath the sky； or under the low
hood of the wagon in rainy weather； and marveled。 And when they
finally halted； and were lifted from their horses； and passed one wagon
fitted up as a bedroom and another as a kitchen； they could only nudge
each other with silent appreciation。 But here again the difference already
noted in the quality of the sensations of the two children was observable。
Both were equally and agreeably surprised。 But Susy's wonder was
merely the sense of novelty and inexperience； and a slight disbelief in the
actual necessity of what she saw； while Clarence； whether from some
previous general experience or peculiar temperament； had the conviction
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that what he saw here was the usual custom； and what he had known with
the Silsbees was the novelty。 The feeling was attended with a slight
sense of wounded pride for Susy； as if her enthusiasm had exposed her to
ridicule。
The man who had carried him； and seemed to be the head of the party；
had already preceded them to the tent； and presently reappeared with a
lady with whom he had exchanged a dozen hurried words。 They seemed
to refer to him and Susy； but Clarence was too much preoccupied with the
fact that the lady was pretty； that her clothes were neat and thoroughly
clean； that her hair was tidy and not rumpled； and that； although she wore
an apron； it was as clean as her gown； and even had ribbons on it； to listen
to what was said。 And when she ran eagerly forward； and with a
fascinating smile lifted the astonished Susy in her arms； Clarence； in his
delight for his young charge； quite forgot that she had not noticed him。
The bearded man； who seemed to be the lady's husband； evidently pointed
out the omission； with some additions that Clarence could not catch； for
after saying； with a pretty pout； 〃Well； why shouldn't he？〃 she came
forward with the same dazzling smile； and laid her small and clean white
hand upon his shoulder。
〃And so you took good care of the dear little thing？ She's such an
angel； isn't she？ and you must love her very much。〃
Clarence colored with delight。 It was true it had never occurred to
him to look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant； and I fear he was just
then more struck with the fair complimenter than the compliment to his
companion； but he was pleased for her sake。 He was not yet old enough to
be conscious of the sex's belief in its irresistible domination over mankind
at all ages； and that Johnny in his check apron would be always a hopeless
conquest of Jeannette in her pinafore； and that he ought to have been in
love with Susy。
Howbeit； the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her
own wagon； to reappear later； washed； curled； and beribboned like a new
doll； and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another of the
party。
〃Well； my boy； you haven't told me your name yet。〃
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〃Clarence； sir。〃
〃So Susy calls you； but what else？〃
〃Clarence Brant。〃
〃Any relation to Colonel Brant？〃 asked the second man carelessly。
〃He was my father；〃 said the boy； brightening under this faint prospect
of recognition in his loneliness。
The two men glanced at each other。 The leader looked at the boy
curiously； and said；
〃Are you the son of Colonel Brant； of Louisville？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the boy； with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his heart。
〃But he's dead now；〃 he added finally。
〃Ah； when did he die？〃 said the man quickly。
〃Oh； a long time ago。 I don't remember him much。 I was very
little；〃 said the boy； half apologetically。
〃Ah； you don't remember him？〃
〃No；〃 said Clarence shortly。 He was beginning to fall back upon that
certain dogged repetition which in sensitive children arises from their
hopeless inability to express their deeper feelings。 He also had an
instinctive consciousness that this want of a knowledge of his father was
part of that vague wrong that had been done him。 It did not help his
uneasiness that he could see that one of the two men； who turned away
with a half…laugh； misunderstood or did not believe him。
〃How did you come with the Silsbees？〃 asked the first man。
Clarence repeated mechanically； with a child's distaste of practical
details； how he had lived with an aunt at St。 Jo； and how his stepmother
had procured his passage with the Silsbees to California； where he was to
meet his cousin。 All this with a lack of interest and abstraction that he
was miserably conscious told against him； but he was yet helpless to resist。
The first man remained thoughtful； and then glanced at Clarence's
sunburnt hands。 Presently his large； good…humored smile returned。
〃Well； I suppose you are hungry？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence shyly。 〃But〃
〃But what？〃
〃I should like to wash myself a little；〃 he returned hesitatingly；
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thinking of the clean tent； the clean lady； and Susy's ribbons。
〃Certainly；〃 said his friend； with a pleased look。 〃Come with me。〃
Instead of leading Clarence to the battered tin basin and bar of yellow soap
which had formed the toilet ser
