a waif of the plains-第15部分

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wooden　gutter；　in　which　three　or　four　bearded；　slouching；　half…
naked　figures　were　raking　like　chiffonniers；　there　was　nothing　to
suggest　the　royal　metal。　　Yet　he　was　so　absorbed　in　gazing　at　the
scene；　and　had　walked　so　rapidly　during　the　past　few　minutes；　that
he　was　startled；　on　turning　a　sharp　corner　of　the　road；　to　come
abruptly　upon　an　outlying　dwelling。

It　was　a　nondescript　building；　half　canvas　and　half　boards。　　The
interior　seen　through　the　open　door　was　fitted　up　with　side
shelves；　a　counter　carelessly　piled　with　provisions；　groceries；
clothing；　and　hardwarewith　no　attempt　at　display　or　even　ordinary
selectionand　a　table；　on　which　stood　a　demijohn　and　three　or　four
dirty　glasses。　　Two　roughly　dressed　men；　whose　long；　matted　beards
and　hair　left　only　their　eyes　and　lips　visible　in　the　tangled
hirsute　wilderness　below　their　slouched　hats；　were　leaning　against
the　opposite　sides　of　the　doorway；　smoking。　　Almost　thrown　against
them　in　the　rapid　momentum　of　his　descent；　Clarence　halted
violently。

〃Well；　sonny；　you　needn't　capsize　the　shanty；〃　said　the　first　man；
without　taking　his　pipe　from　his　lips。

〃If　yer　looking　fur　yer　ma；　she　and　yer　Aunt　Jane　hev　jest　gone
over　to　Parson　Doolittle's　to　take　tea；〃　observed　the　second　man
lazily。　　〃She　allowed　that　you'd　wait。〃

〃I'mI'mgoing　toto　the　mines；〃　explained　Clarence；　with　some
hesitation。　　〃I　suppose　this　is　the　way。〃

The　two　men　took　their　pipes　from　their　lips；　looked　at　each　other；
completely　wiped　every　vestige　of　expression　from　their　faces　with
the　back　of　their　hands；　turned　their　eyes　into　the　interior　of　the
cabin；　and　said；　〃Will　yer　come　yer；　now　WILL　yer？〃　　Thus　adjured；
half　a　dozen　men；　also　bearded　and　carrying　pipes　in　their　mouths；
straggled　out　of　the　shanty；　and；　filing　in　front　of　it；　squatted
down；　with　their　backs　against　the　boards；　and　gazed　comfortably　at
the　boy。　　Clarence　began　to　feel　uneasy。

〃I'll　give；〃　said　one；　taking　out　his　pipe　and　grimly　eying
Clarence；　〃a　hundred　dollars　for　him　as　he　stands。〃

〃And　seein'　as　he's　got　that　bran…new　rig…out　o'　tools；〃　said
another；　〃I'll　give　a　hundred　and　fiftyand　the　drinks。　　I've
been；〃　he　added　apologetically；　〃wantin'　sunthin'　like　this　a　long
time。〃

〃Well；　gen'lemen；〃　said　the　man　who　had　first　spoken　to　him；
〃lookin'　at　him　by　and　large；　takin'　in；　so　to　speak；　the　gin'ral
gait　of　him　in　single　harness；　bearin'　in　mind　the　perfect
freshness　of　him；　and　the　coolness　and　size　of　his　cheekthe　easy
downyness；　previousness；　and　utter　don't…care…a…damnativeness　of
his　coming　yer；　I　think　two　hundred　ain't　too　much　for　him；　and
we'll　call　it　a　bargain。〃

Clarence's　previous　experience　of　this　grim；　smileless　Californian
chaff　was　not　calculated　to　restore　his　confidence。　　He　drew　away
from　the　cabin；　and　repeated　doggedly；　〃I　asked　you　if　this　was　the
way　to　the　mines。〃

〃It　ARE　the　mines；　and　these　yere　are　the　miners；〃　said　the　first
speaker　gravely。　　〃Permit　me　to　interdoose　'em。　　This　yere's　Shasta
Jim；　this　yere's　Shotcard　Billy；　this　is　Nasty　Bob；　and　this
Slumgullion　Dick。　　This　yere's　the　Dook　o'　Chatham　Street；　the
Livin'　Skeleton；　and　me！〃

〃May　we　ask；　fair　young　sir；〃　said　the　Living　Skeleton；　who；
however；　seemed　in　fairly　robust　condition；　〃whence　came　ye　on　the
wings　of　the　morning；　and　whose　Marble　Halls　ye　hev　left　desolate？〃

〃I　came　across　the　plains；　and　got　into　Stockton　two　days　ago　on
Mr。　Peyton's　train；〃　said　Clarence；　indignantly；　seeing　no　reason
now　to　conceal　anything。　　〃I　came　to　Sacramento　to　find　my　cousin；
who　isn't　living　there　any　more。　　I　don't　see　anything　funny　in
THAT！　　I　came　here　to　the　mines　to　dig　goldbecause…because　Mr。
Silsbee；　the　man　who　was　to　bring　me　here　and　might　have　found　my
cousin　for　me；　was　killed　by　Indians。〃

〃Hold　up；　sonny。　　Let　me　help　ye；〃　said　the　first　speaker；　rising
to　his　feet。　　〃YOU　didn't　get　killed　by　Injins　because　you　got　lost
out　of　a　train　with　Silsbee's　infant　darter。　　Peyton　picked　you　up
while　you　was　takin'　care　of　her；　and　two　days　arter　you　kem　up　to
the　broken…down　Silsbee　wagons；　with　all　the　folks　lyin'　there
slartered。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Clarence；　breathlessly　with　astonishment。

〃And；〃　continued　the　man；　putting　his　hand　gravely　to　his　head　as
if　to　assist　his　memory；　〃when　you　was　all　alone　on　the　plains　with
that　little　child　you　saw　one　of　those　redskins；　as　near　to　you　as
I　be；　watchin'　the　train；　and　you　didn't　breathe　or　move　while　he
was　there？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Clarence　eagerly。

〃And　you　was　shot　at　by　Peyton；　he　thinkin'　you　was　an　Injun　in　the
mesquite　grass？　　And　you　once　shot　a　buffalo　that　had　been　pitched
with　you　down　a　gullyall　by　yourself？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence；　crimson　with　wonder　and　pleasure。　　〃You　know
me；　then？〃

〃Well；　ye…e…es；〃　said　the　man　gravely；　parting　his　mustache　with
his　fingers。　　〃You　see；　YOU'VE　BEEN　HERE　BEFORE。〃

〃Before！　　Me？〃　repeated　the　astounded　Clarence。

〃Yes；　before。　　Last　night。　　You　was　taller　then；　and　hadn't　cut
your　hair。　　You　cursed　a　good　deal　more　than　you　do　now。　　You　drank
a　man's　share　of　whiskey；　and　you　borrowed　fifty　dollars　to　get　to
Sacramento　with。　　I　reckon　you　haven't　got　it　about　you　now；　eh？〃

Clarence's　brain　reeled　in　utter　confusion　and　hopeless　terror。

Was　he　going　crazy；　or　had　these　cruel　men　learned　his　story　from
his　faithless　friends；　and　this　was　a　part　of　the　plot？　　He
staggered　forward；　but　the　men　had　risen　and　quickly　encircled　him；
as　if　to　prevent　his　escape。　　In　vague　and　helpless　desperation　he
gasped

〃What　place　is　this？〃

〃Folks　call　it　Deadman's　Gulch。〃

Deadman's　Gulch！　　A　flash　of　intelligence　lit　up　the　boy's　blind
confusion。　　Deadman's　Gulch！　　Could　it　have　been　Jim　Hooker　who　had
really　run　away；　and　had　taken　his　name？　　He　turned　half…
imploringly　to　the　first　speaker。

〃Wasn't　he　older　than　me；　and　bigger？　　Didn't　he　have　a　smooth；
round　face　and　little　eyes？　　Didn't　he　talk　hoarse？　　Didn't　he〃
He　stopped　hopelessly。

〃Yes；　oh；　he　wasn't　a　bit　like　you；〃　said　the　man　musingly。　　〃Ye
see；　that's　the　h…ll　of　it！　　You're　altogether　TOO　MANY　and　TOO
VARIOUS　fur　this　camp。〃

〃I　don't　know　who's　been　here　before；　or　what　they　have　said；〃　said
Clarence　desperately；　yet　even　in　that　desperation　retaining　the
dogged　loyalty　to　his　old　playmate；　which　was　part　of　his　nature。
〃I　don't　know；　and　I　don't　carethere！　　I'm　Clarence　Brant　of
Kentucky；　I　started　in　Silsbee's　train　from　St。　Jo；　and　I'm　going
to　the　mines；　and　you　can't　stop　me！〃

The　man　who　had　first　spoken　started；　looked　keenly　at　Clarence；
and　then　turned　to　the　others。　　The　gentleman　known　as　the　living
skeleton　had　obtruded　his　huge　bulk　in　front　of　the　boy；　and；
gazing　at　him；　said　reflectively；　〃Darned　if　it　don't　look　like　one
of　Brant's　pupssure！〃

〃Air　ye　any　relation　to　Kernel　Hamilton　Brant　of　Looeyville？〃　asked
the　first　speaker。

Again　that　old　question！　　Poor　Clarence　hesitated；　despairingly。
Was　he　to　go　through　the　same　cross…examination　he　had　undergone
with　the　Peytons？　　〃Yes；〃　he　said　doggedly；　〃I　ambut　he's　dead；
and　you　know　it。〃

〃Deadof　course。〃　　〃Sartin。〃　　〃He's　dead。〃　　〃The　Kernel's
planted；〃　said　the　men　in　chorus。

〃Well；　yes；〃　reflected　the　Living　Skeleton　ostentatiously；　as　one
who　spoke　from　experience。　　〃Ham　Brant's　about　as　bony　now　as　they
make　'em。〃

〃You　bet！　　About　the　dustiest；　deadest　corpse　you　kin　turn　out；〃
corroborated　Slumgullion　Dick；　nodding　his　head　gloomily　to　the
others；　〃in　point　o'　fack；　es　a　corpse；　about　the　last　one　I　should
keer　to　go　huntin'　fur。〃

〃The　Kernel's　tech　'ud　be　cold　and　clammy；〃　concluded　the　Duke　of
Chatham　Street；　who　had　not　yet　spoken；　〃sure。　　But　what　did　yer
mammy　say　about　it？　　Is　she　gettin'　married　agin？　　Did　SHE　send　ye
here？〃

It　seemed　to　Clarence　that　the　Duke　of　Chatham　Street　here　received
a　kick　from　his　companions；　but　the　boy　repeated　doggedly

〃I　came　to　Sacramento　to　find　my　cousin；　Jackson　Brant；　but　he
wasn't　there。〃

〃Jackson　Brant！〃　echoed　the　first　speaker；　glancing　at　the　others。
〃Did　your　mother　say　he　was　your　cousin？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　wearily。　　〃Good…by。〃

〃Hullo；　sonny；　where　are　you　going？〃

〃To　dig　gold；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃And　you　know　you　can't　prevent　me；
if　it　isn't　on　your　claim。　　I　know　the　law。〃　　He　had　heard　Mr。
Peyton　discuss　it　at　Stockton；　and　he　fancied　that　the　men；　who
were　whispering　among　themselves；　looked　kinder　than　before；　and　as
if　they　were　no　longer　〃acting〃　to　him。　　The　first　speaker　laid　his
hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　said；　〃All　right；　come　with　me；　and　I'll
show　you　where　to　dig。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　said　Clarence。　　〃You　called　yourself　only　'me。'〃

〃Well；　you　can　call　me　FlynnTom　Flynn。〃

〃And　you'll　show　me　where　I　can　digmyself？〃

〃I　will。〃

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Clarence　timidly；　yet　with　a　half…conscious
smile；　〃that　II　kinder　bring　luck？〃

The　man　looked　down　upon　him；　and　said　gravely；　but；　as　it　struck
Clarence；　with　a　new　kind　of　gravity；　〃I　believe　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Clarence　eagerly；　as　they　walked　along　together；　〃I
brought　luck　to　a　man　in　Sacramento　the　other　day。〃　　And　he　related
with　great　earnestness　his　experience　in　the　gambling　saloon。　　Not
content　with　thatthe　sealed　fountains　of　his　childish　deep　being
broken　up　by　some　mysterious　sympathyhe　spoke　of　his　hospitable
exploit　with　the　passengers　at　the　wayside　bar；　of　the　finding　of
his　Fortunatus　purse　and　his　deposit　at　the　bank。　　Whether　that
characteristic　old…fashioned　reticence　which　had　been　such　an
important　factor　for　good　or　ill　in　his　future　had　suddenly
deserted　him；　or　whether　some　extraordinary　prepossession　in　his
companion　had　affected　him；　he　did　not　know；　but　by　the　time　the
pair　had　reached　the　hillside　Flynn　was　in　possession　of　all　the
boy's　history。　　On　one　point　only　was　his　reserve　unshaken。
Conscious　although　he　was　of　Jim　Hooker's　duplicity；　he　affected　to
treat　it　as　a　comrade's　joke。

They　halted　at　last　in　the　middle　of　an　apparently　fertile
hillside。　　Clarence　shifted　his　shovel　from　his　shoulders；　unslung
his　pan；　and　looked　at　Flynn。　　〃Dig　anywhere　here；　where　you　like；〃
said　his　companion　carelessly；　〃and　you'll　be　sure　to　find　the
color。　　F