a waif of the plains-第16部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


said　his　companion　carelessly；　〃and　you'll　be　sure　to　find　the
color。　　Fill　your　pan　with　the　dirt；　go　to　that　sluice；　and　let　the
water　run　in　on　the　top　of　the　panworkin'　it　round　so；〃　he　added；
illustrating　a　rotary　motion　with　the　vessel。　　〃Keep　doing　that
until　all　the　soil　is　washed　out　of　it；　and　you　have　only　the　black
sand　at　the　bottom。　　Then　work　that　the　same　way　until　you　see　the
color。　　Don't　be　afraid　of　washing　the　gold　out　of　the　panyou
couldn't　do　it　if　you　tried。　　There；　I'll　leave　you　here；　and　you
wait　till　I　come　back。〃　　With　another　grave　nod　and　something　like
a　smile　in　the　only　visible　part　of　his　bearded　facehis　eyeshe
strode　rapidly　away。

Clarence　did　not　lose　time。　　Selecting　a　spot　where　the　grass　was
less　thick；　he　broke　through　the　soil　and　turned　up　two　or　three
spadefuls　of　red　soil。　　When　he　had　filled　the　pan　and　raised　it　to
his　shoulder；　he　was　astounded　at　its　weight。　　He　did　not　know　that
it　was　due　to　the　red　precipitate　of　iron　that　gave　it　its　color。
Staggering　along　with　his　burden　to　the　running　sluice；　which
looked　like　an　open　wooden　gutter；　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　he
began　to　carefully　carry　out　Flynn's　direction。　　The　first　dip　of
the　pan　in　the　running　water　carried　off　half　the　contents　of　the
pan　in　liquid　paint…like　ooze。　　For　a　moment　he　gave　way　to　boyish
satisfaction　in　the　sight　and　touch　of　this　unctuous　solution；　and
dabbled　his　fingers　in　it。　　A　few　moments　more　of　rinsing　and　he
came　to　the　sediment　of　fine　black　sand　that　was　beneath　it。
Another　plunge　and　swilling　of　water　in　the　pan；　andcould　he
believe　his　eyes！a　few　yellow　tiny　scales；　scarcely　larger　than
pins'　heads；　glittered　among　the　sand。　　He　poured　it　off。　　But　his
companion　was　right；　the　lighter　sand　shifted　from　side　to　side
with　the　water；　but　the　glittering　points　remained　adhering　by
their　own　tiny　specific　gravity　to　the　smooth　surface　of　the
bottom。　　It　was　〃the　color〃gold！

Clarence's　heart　seemed　to　give　a　great　leap　within　him。　　A　vision
of　wealth；　of　independence；　of　power；　sprang　before　his　dazzled
eyes；　anda　hand　lightly　touched　him　on　the　shoulder。

He　started。　　In　his　complete　preoccupation　and　excitement；　he　had
not　heard　the　clatter　of　horse…hoofs；　and　to　his　amazement　Flynn
was　already　beside　him；　mounted；　and　leading　a　second　horse。

〃You　kin　ride？〃　he　said　shortly。

〃Yes〃　stammered　Clarence；　〃but〃

〃BUTwe've　only　got　two　hours　to　reach　Buckeye　Mills　in　time　to
catch　the　down　stage。　　Drop　all　that；　jump　up；　and　come　with　me！〃

〃But　I've　just　found　gold；〃　said　the　boy　excitedly。

〃And　I've　just　found　yourcousin。　　Come！〃

He　spurred　his　horse　across　Clarence's　scattered　implements；　half
helped；　half　lifted；　the　boy　into　the　saddle　of　the　second　horse；
and；　with　a　cut　of　his　riata　over　the　animal's　haunches；　the　next
moment　they　were　both　galloping　furiously　away。


CHAPTER　IX


Torn　suddenly　from　his　prospective　future；　but　too　much　dominated
by　the　man　beside　him　to　protest；　Clarence　was　silent　until　a　rise
in　the　road；　a　few　minutes　later；　partly　abated　their　headlong
speed；　and　gave　him　chance　to　recover　his　breath　and　courage。

〃Where　is　my　cousin？〃　he　asked。

〃In　the　Southern　county；　two　hundred　miles　from　here。〃

〃Are　we　going　to　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

They　rode　furiously　forward　again。　　It　was　nearly　half　an　hour
before　they　came　to　a　longer　ascent。　　Clarence　could　see　that　Flynn
was　from　time　to　time　examining　him　curiously　under　his　slouched
hat。　　This　somewhat　embarrassed　him；　but　in　his　singular　confidence
in　the　man　no　distrust　mingled　with　it。

〃Ye　never　saw　yourcousin？〃　he　asked。

〃No；〃　said　Clarence；　〃nor　he　me。　　I　don't　think　he　knew　me　much；
any　way。

〃How　old　mout　ye　be；　Clarence？〃

〃Eleven。〃

〃Well；　as　you're　suthin　of　a　pup〃Clarence　started；　and　recalled
Peyton's　first　criticism　of　him〃I　reckon　to　tell　ye　suthin。　　Ye
ain't　goin'　to　be　skeert；　or　afeard；　or　lose　yer　sand；　I　kalkilate；
for　skunkin'　ain't　in　your　breed。　　Well；　wot　ef　I　told　ye　that
thish　yerthish　yerCOUSIN　o'　yours　was　the　biggest　devil　onhung；
that　he'd　just　killed　a　man；　and　had　to　lite　out　elsewhere；　and
THET'S　why　he　didn't　show　up　in　Sacramentowhat　if　I　told　you
that？〃

Clarence　felt　that　this　was　somehow　a　little　too　much。　　He　was
perfectly　truthful；　and　lifting　his　frank　eyes　to　Flynn；　he　said；

〃I　should　think　you　were　talking　a　good　deal　like　Jim　Hooker！〃

His　companion　stared；　and　suddenly　reined　up　his　horse；　then；
bursting　into　a　shout　of　laughter；　he　galloped　ahead；　from　time　to
time　shaking　his　head；　slapping　his　legs；　and　making　the　dim　woods
ring　with　his　boisterous　mirth。　　Then　as　suddenly　becoming
thoughtful　again；　he　rode　on　rapidly　for　half　an　hour；　only
speaking　to　Clarence　to　urge　him　forward；　and　assisting　his
progress　by　lashing　the　haunches　of　his　horse。　　Luckily；　the　boy
was　a　good　ridera　fact　which　Flynn　seemed　to　thoroughly
appreciateor　he　would　have　been　unseated　a　dozen　times。

At　last　the　straggling　sheds　of　Buckeye　Mills　came　into　softer
purple　view　on　the　opposite　mountain。　　Then　laying　his　hand　on
Clarence's　shoulder　as　he　reined　in　at　his　side；　Flynn　broke　the
silence。

〃There；　boy；〃　he　said；　wiping　the　mirthful　tears　from　his　eyes。　　〃I
was　only　foolin'only　tryin'　yer　grit！　　This　yer　cousin　I'm　taking
you　to　be　as　quiet　and　soft…spoken　and　as　old…fashioned　ez　you　be。
Why；　he's　that　wrapped　up　in　books　and　study　that　he　lives　alone　in
a　big　adobe　rancherie　among　a　lot　o'　Spanish；　and　he　don't　keer　to
see　his　own　countrymen！　　Why；　he's　even　changed　his　name；　and
calles　himself　Don　Juan　Robinson！　　But　he's　very　rich；　he　owns
three　leagues　of　land　and　heaps　of　cattle　and　horses；　and；〃
glancing　approvingly　at　Clarence's　seat　in　the　saddle；　〃I　reckon
you'll　hev　plenty　of　fun　thar。〃

〃But；〃　hesitated　Clarence；　to　whom　this　proposal　seemed　only　a
repetition　of　Peyton's　charitable　offer；　〃I　think　I'd　better　stay
here　and　dig　goldWITH　YOU。〃

〃And　I　think　you'd　better　not；〃　said　the　man；　with　a　gravity　that
was　very　like　a　settled　determination。

〃But　my　cousin　never　came　for　me　to　Sacramentonor　sent；　nor　even
wrote；〃　persisted　Clarence　indignantly。

〃Not　to　YOU；　boy；　but　he　wrote　to　the　man　whom　he　reckoned　would
bring　you　thereJack　Silsbeeand　left　it　in　the　care　of　the　bank。
And　Silsbee；　being　dead；　didn't　come　for　the　letter；　and　as　you
didn't　ask　for　it　when　you　came；　and　didn't　even　mention　Silsbee's
name；　that　same　letter　was　sent　back　to　your　cousin　through　me；
because　the　bank　thought　we　knew　his　whereabouts。　　It　came　to　the
gulch　by　an　express　rider；　whilst　you　were　prospectin'　on　the
hillside。　　Rememberin'　your　story；　I　took　the　liberty　of　opening
it；　and　found　out　that　your　cousin　had　told　Silsbee　to　bring　you
straight　to　him。　　So　I'm　only　doin'　now　what　Silsbee　would　have
done。〃

Any　momentary　doubt　or　suspicion　that　might　have　risen　in
Clarence's　mind　vanished　as　he　met　his　companion's　steady　and
masterful　eye。　　Even　his　disappointment　was　forgotten　in　the　charm
of　this　new…found　friendship　and　protection。　　And　as　its　outset　had
been　marked　by　an　unusual　burst　of　confidence　on　Clarence's　part；
the　boy；　in　his　gratitude；　now　felt　something　of　the　timid　shyness
of　a　deeper　feeling；　and　once　more　became　reticent。

They　were　in　time　to　snatch　a　hasty　meal　at　Buckeye　Mills　before
the　stage　arrived；　and　Clarence　noticed　that　his　friend；　despite
his　rough　dress　and　lawless　aspect；　provoked　a　marked　degree　of
respect　from　those　he　metin　which；　perhaps；　a　wholesome　fear　was
mingled。　　It　is　certain　that　the　two　best　places　in　the　stage　were
given　up　to　them　without　protest；　and　that　a　careless；　almost
supercilious　invitation　to　drink　from　Flynn　was　responded　to　with
singular　alacrity　by　all；　including　even　two　fastidiously　dressed
and　previously　reserved　passengers。　　I　am　afraid　that　Clarence
enjoyed　this　proof　of　his　friend's　singular　dominance　with　a　boyish
pride；　and；　conscious　of　the　curious　eyes　of　the　passengers；
directed　occasionally　to　himself；　was　somewhat　ostentatious　in　his
familiarity　with　this　bearded　autocrat。

At　noon　the　next　day　they　left　the　stage　at　a　wayside　road　station；
and　Flynn　briefly　informed　Clarence　that　they　must　again　take
horses。　　This　at　first　seemed　difficult　in　that　out…of…the…way
settlement；　where　they　alone　had　stopped；　but　a　whisper　from　the
driver　in　the　ear　of　the　station…master　produced　a　couple　of　fiery
mustangs；　with　the　same　accompaniment　of　cautious　awe　and　mystery。
For　the　next　two　days　they　traveled　on　horseback；　resting　by　night
at　the　lodgings　of　one　or　other　of　Flynn's　friends　in　the　outskirts
of　a　large　town；　where　they　arrived　in　the　darkness；　and　left
before　day。　　To　any　one　more　experienced　than　the　simple…minded　boy
it　would　have　been　evident　that　Flynn　was　purposely　avoiding　the
more　traveled　roads　and　conveyances；　and　when　they　changed　horses
again　the　next　day's　ride　was　through　an　apparently　unbroken
wilderness　of　scattered　wood　and　rolling　plain。　　Yet　to　Clarence；
with　his　pantheistic　reliance　and　joyous　sympathy　with　nature；　the
change　was　filled　with　exhilarating　pleasure。　　The　vast　seas　of
tossing　wild　oats；　the　hillside　still　variegated　with　strange
flowers；　the　virgin　freshness　of　untrodden　woods　and　leafy　aisles；
whose　floors　of　moss　or　bark　were　undisturbed　by　human　footprint；
were　a　keen　delight　and　novelty。　　More　than　this；　his　quick　eye；
trained　perceptions；　and　frontier　knowledge　now　stood　him　in　good
stead。　　His　intuitive　sense　of　distance；　instincts　of　woodcraft；
and　his　unerring　detection　of　those　signs；　landmarks；　and
guideposts　of　nature；　undistinguishable　to　aught　but　birds　and
beasts　and　some　children；　were　now　of　the　greatest　service　to　his
less　favored　companion。　　In　this　part　of　their　strange　pilgrimage
it　was　the　boy　who　took　the　lead。　　Flynn；　who　during　the　past　two
days　seemed　to　have　fallen　into　a　mood　of　watchful　reserve；　nodded
his　approbation。　　〃This　sort　of　thing's　yer　best　holt；　boy；〃　he
said。　　〃Men　and　cities　ain't　your　little　game。〃

At　the　next　stopping…place　Clarence　had　a　surprise。　　They　had　again
entered　a　town　at　nightfall；　and　lodged　with　another　friend　of
Flynn's　in　rooms　which　from　vague　sounds　appea