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to succumb； and burst into a quick spasm of angry tears。 That single act
of weakness called out the boy's pride and strength。 There was no longer
an equality of suffering； he had become her protector； he felt himself
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responsible for both。 Considering her no longer his equal； he was no
longer frank with her。
〃There's nothin' to boo…boo for；〃 he said； with a half…affected
brusqueness。 〃So quit； now！ They'll stop in a minit； and send some one
back for us。 Shouldn't wonder if they're doin' it now。〃
But Susy； with feminine discrimination detecting the hollow ring in his
voice； here threw herself upon him and began to beat him violently with
her little fists。 〃They ain't！ They ain't！ They ain't。 You know it！
How dare you？〃 Then； exhausted with her struggles； she suddenly threw
herself flat on the dry grass； shut her eyes tightly； and clutched at the
stubble。
〃Get up；〃 said the boy； with a pale； determined face that seemed to
have got much older。
〃You leave me be；〃 said Susy。
〃Do you want me to go away and leave you？〃 asked the boy。
Susy opened one blue eye furtively in the secure depths of her sun…
bonnet； and gazed at his changed face。
〃Ye…e…s。〃
He pretended to turn away； but really to look at the height of the
sinking sun。
〃Kla'uns！〃
〃Well？〃
〃Take me。〃
She was holding up her hands。 He lifted her gently in his arms；
dropping her head over his shoulder。 〃Now；〃 he said cheerfully； 〃you
keep a good lookout that way； and I this； and we'll soon be there。〃
The idea seemed to please her。 After Clarence had stumbled on for a
few moments； she said； 〃Do you see anything； Kla'uns？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃No more don't I。〃 This equality of perception apparently satisfied
her。 Presently she lay more limp in his arms。 She was asleep。
The sun was sinking lower； it had already touched the edge of the
horizon； and was level with his dazzled and straining eyes。 At times it
seemed to impede his eager search and task his vision。 Haze and black
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A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
spots floated across the horizon； and round wafers； like duplicates of the
sun； glittered back from the dull surface of the plains。 Then he resolved
to look no more until he had counted fifty； a hundred； but always with the
same result； the return of the empty； unending plainsthe disk growing
redder as it neared the horizon； the fire it seemed to kindle as it sank； but
nothing more。
Staggering under his burden； he tried to distract himself by fancying
how the discovery of their absence would be made。 He heard the listless；
half…querulous discussion about the locality that regularly pervaded the
nightly camp。 He heard the discontented voice of Jake Silsbee as he
halted beside the wagon； and said； 〃Come out o' that now； you two； and
mighty quick about it。〃 He heard the command harshly repeated。 He
saw the look of irritation on Silsbee's dusty； bearded face； that followed his
hurried glance into the empty wagon。 He heard the query； 〃What's gone
o' them limbs now？〃 handed from wagon to wagon。 He heard a few
oaths； Mrs。 Silsbee's high rasping voice； abuse of himself； the hurried and
discontented detachment of a search party； Silsbee and one of the hired
men； and vociferation and blame。 Blame always for himself； the elder；
who might have 〃known better！〃 A little fear； perhaps； but he could not
fancy either pity or commiseration。 Perhaps the thought upheld his pride；
under the prospect of sympathy he might have broken down。
At last he stumbled； and stopped to keep himself from falling forward
on his face。 He could go no further； his breath was spent； he was
dripping with perspiration； his legs were trembling under him； there was a
roaring in his ears； round red disks of the sun were scattered everywhere
around him like spots of blood。 To the right of the trail there seemed to
be a slight mound where he could rest awhile； and yet keep his watchful
survey of the horizon。 But on reaching it he found that it was only a
tangle of taller mesquite grass； into which he sank with his burden。
Nevertheless； if useless as a point of vantage； it offered a soft couch for
Susy； who seemed to have fallen quite naturally into her usual afternoon
siesta； and in a measure it shielded her from a cold breeze that had sprung
up from the west。 Utterly exhausted himself； but not daring to yield to
the torpor that seemed to be creeping over him； Clarence half sat； half
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A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
knelt down beside her； supporting himself with one hand； and； partly
hidden in the long grass； kept his straining eyes fixed on the lonely track。
The red disk was sinking lower。 It seemed to have already crumbled
away a part of the distance with its eating fires。 As it sank still lower； it
shot out long； luminous rays； diverging fan…like across the plain； as if； in
the boy's excited fancy； it too were searching for the lost estrays。 And as
one long beam seemed to linger over his hiding…place； he even thought
that it might serve as a guide to Silsbee and the other seekers； and was
constrained to stagger to his feet； erect in its light。 But it soon sank； and
with it Clarence dropped back again to his crouching watch。 Yet he knew
that the daylight was still good for an hour； and with the withdrawal of that
mystic sunset glory objects became even more distinct and sharply defined
than at any other time。 And with the merciful sheathing of that flaming
sword which seemed to have swayed between him and the vanished train；
his eyes already felt a blessed relief。
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CHAPTER III
With the setting of the sun an ominous silence fell。 He could hear
the low breathing of Susy； and even fancied he could hear the beating of
his own heart in that oppressive hush of all nature。 For the day's march had
always been accompanied by the monotonous creaking of wheels and
axles； and even the quiet of the night encampment had been always more
or less broken by the movement of unquiet sleepers on the wagon beds； or
the breathing of the cattle。 But here there was neither sound nor motion。
Susy's prattle； and even the sound of his own voice； would have broken
the benumbing spell； but it was a part of his growing self…denial now that
he refrained from waking her even by a whisper。 She would awaken
soon enough to thirst and hunger； perhaps； and then what was he to do？ If
that looked…for help would only come nowwhile she still slept。 For it was
part of his boyish fancy that if he could deliver her asleep and
undemonstrative of fear and suffering； he would be less blameful； and she
less mindful of her trouble。 If it did not come but he would not think of
that yet！ If she was thirsty meantime well； it might rain； and there was
always the dew which they used to brush off the morning grass； he would
take off his shirt and catch it in that； like a shipwrecked mariner。 It
would be funny； and make her laugh。 For himself he would not laugh； he
felt he was getting very old and grown up in this loneliness。
It was getting darkerthey should be looking into the wagons now。 A
new doubt began to assail him。 Ought he not； now that he was rested；
make the most of the remaining moments of daylight； and before the glow
faded from the west； when he would no longer have any bearings to guide
him？ But there was always the risk of wak