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Mr。 Peyton bent down towards him。 〃An Injinwhere？〃 he asked
quickly； with the same look of doubting interrogatory with which he had
received Clarence's name and parentage。 The boy for a moment regretted
having spoken。 But with his old doggedness he particularized his
statement。 Fortunately； being gifted with a keen perception； he was able
to describe the stranger accurately； and to impart with his description that
contempt for its subject which he had felt； and which to his frontier auditor
established its truthfulness。 Peyton turned abruptly away； but presently
returned with Harry and another man。
〃You are sure of this？〃 said Peyton； half…encouragingly。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃As sure as you are that your father is Colonel Brant and is dead？〃 said
Harry； with a light laugh。
Tears sprang into the boy's lowering eyes。 〃I don't lie；〃 he said
doggedly。
〃I believe you； Clarence；〃 said Peyton quietly。 〃But why didn't you
say it before？〃
〃I didn't like to say it before Susy andher！〃 stammered the boy。
〃Her？〃
〃Yes； sirMrs。 Peyton；〃 said Clarence blushingly。
〃Oh；〃 said Harry sarcastically； 〃how blessed polite we are！〃
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〃That'll do。 Let up on him； will you？〃 said Peyton； roughly； to his
subordinate。 〃The boy knows what he's about。 But；〃 he continued；
addressing Clarence； 〃how was it the Injin didn't see you？〃
〃I was very still on account of not waking Susy；〃 said Clarence； 〃and
〃 He hesitated。
〃And what？〃
〃He seemed more keen watching what YOU were doing；〃 said the boy
boldly。
〃That's so；〃 broke in the second man； who happened to be experienced；
〃and as he was to wind'ard o' the boy he was off HIS scent and bearings。
He was one of their rear scouts； the rest o' them's ahead crossing our track
to cut us off。 Ye didn't see anything else？〃
〃I saw a coyote first；〃 said Clarence； greatly encouraged。
〃Hold on！〃 said the expert； as Harry turned away with a sneer。 〃That's
a sign； too。 Wolf don't go where wolf hez been； and coyote don't foller
Injinsthere's no pickin's！ How long afore did you see the coyote？〃
〃Just after we left the wagon；〃 said Clarence。
〃That's it；〃 said the man； thoughtfully。 〃He was driven on ahead； or
hanging on their flanks。 These Injins are betwixt us and that ar train； or
following it。〃
Peyton made a hurried gesture of warning； as if reminding the speaker
of Clarence's presencea gesture which the boy noticed and wondered at。
Then the conversation of the three men took a lower tone； although
Clarence distinctly heard the concluding opinion of the expert。
〃It ain't no good now； Mr。 Peyton； and you'd be only exposing yourself
on their ground by breakin' camp agin to…night。 And you don't know that
it ain't US they're watchin'。 You see； if we hadn't turned off the straight
road when we got that first scare from these yer lost children； we might
hev gone on and walked plump into some cursed trap of those devils。 To
my mind； we're just in nigger luck； and with a good watch and my patrol
we're all right to be fixed where we be till daylight。〃
Mr。 Peyton presently turned away； taking Clarence with him。 〃As
we'll be up early and on the track of your train to…morrow； my boy； you
had better turn in now。 I've put you up in my wagon； and as I expect to
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be in the saddle most of the night； I reckon I won't trouble you much。〃
He led the way to a second wagondrawn up beside the one where Susy
and Mrs。 Peyton had retiredwhich Clarence was surprised to find fitted
with a writing table and desk； a chair； and even a bookshelf containing
some volumes。 A long locker； fitted like a lounge； had been made up as a
couch for him； with the unwonted luxury of clean white sheets and pillow…
cases。 A soft matting covered the floor of the heavy wagon bed； which；
Mr。 Peyton explained； was hung on centre springs to prevent jarring。 The
sides and roof of the vehicle were of lightly paneled wood； instead of the
usual hooked canvas frame of the ordinary emigrant wagon； and fitted
with a glazed door and movable window for light and air。 Clarence
wondered why the big； powerful man； who seemed at home on horseback；
should ever care to sit in this office like a merchant or a lawyer； and if this
train sold things to the other trains； or took goods； like the peddlers； to
towns on the route； but there seemed to be nothing to sell； and the other
wagons were filled with only the goods required by the party。 He would
have liked to ask Mr。 Peyton who HE was； and have questioned HIM as
freely as he himself had been questioned。 But as the average adult man
never takes into consideration the injustice of denying to the natural and
even necessary curiosity of childhood that questioning which he himself is
so apt to assume without right； and almost always without delicacy；
Clarence had no recourse。 Yet the boy； like all children； was conscious
that if he had been afterwards questioned about THIS inexplicable
experience； he would have been blamed for his ignorance concerning it。
Left to himself presently； and ensconced between the sheets； he lay for
some moments staring about him。 The unwonted comfort of his couch；
so different from the stuffy blanket in the hard wagon bed which he had
shared with one of the teamsters； and the novelty； order； and cleanliness of
his surroundings； while they were grateful to his instincts； began in some
vague way to depress him。 To his loyal nature it seemed a tacit infidelity
to his former rough companions to be lying here； he had a dim idea that he
had lost that independence which equal discomfort and equal pleasure
among them had given him。 There seemed a sense of servitude in
accepting this luxury which was not his。 This set him endeavoring to
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remember something of his father's house； of the large rooms； drafty
staircases； and far…off ceilings； and the cold formality of a life that seemed
made up of strange faces； some strangerhis parents； some kinderthe
servants； particularly the black nurse who had him in charge。 Why did
Mr。 Peyton ask him about it？ Why； if it were so important to strangers；
had not his mother told him more of it？ And why was she not like this
good woman with the gentle voice who was so kind toto Susy？ And
what did they mean by making HIM so miserable？ Something rose in his
throat； but with an effort he choked it back； and； creeping from the lounge；
went softly to the window； opened it to see if it 〃would work；〃 and looked
out。 The shrouded camp fires； the stars that glittered but gave no light；
the dim moving bulk of a patrol beyond the circle； all seemed to intensify
the darkness； and changed the current of his thoughts。 He remembered
what Mr。 Peyton had said of him when they first met。 〃Suthin of a pup；
ain't he？〃 Surely that meant something that was not bad！ He crept back
to the couch again。
Lying there； still awake； he reflected that he wouldn't be a scout when
he grew up； but would be something like Mr。 Peyton； and have a train like
this； and invite the Silsbees and Susy to accompany him。 For this purpose；
he and Susy； early to…morrow morning； would get permission to come in
here and play at that game。 This would familiarize him with the details；
so that he would be able at any time to take charge of it。 He was already
an authority on the subject of Indians！ He had once been fired atas an
Indian。 He would always carry a rifle like that hanging from the hooks at
the end of the wagon before him； and would eventually slay many Indians
and keep an account of them in a big book like that on the