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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 appeared to be over a
gambling saloon。 Clarence woke late in the morning； and；
descending into the street to mount for the day's journey； was
startled to find that Flynn was not on the other horse； but that a
well…dressed and handsome stranger had taken his place。 But a
laugh； and the familiar command； 〃Jump up； boy；〃 made him look
again。 It WAS Flynn； but completely shaven of beard and mustache；
closely clipped of hair； and in a fastidiously cut suit of black！
〃Then you didn't know me？〃 said Flynn。
〃Not till you spoke；〃 replied Clarence。
〃So much the better；〃 said his friend sententiously； as he put
spurs to his horse。 But as they cantered through the street；
Clarence； who had already become accustomed to the stranger's
hirsute adornment； felt a little more awe of him。 The profile of
the mouth and chin now exposed to his sidelong glance was hard and
stern； and slightly saturnine。 Although unable at the time to
identify it with anybody he had ever known； it seemed to the
imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad experience。
But the eyes were thoughtful and kindly； and the boy later believed
that if he had been more familiar with the face he would have loved
it better。 For it was the last and only day he was to see it； as；
late that afternoon； after a dusty ride along more traveled
highways； they reached their journey's end。
It was a low…walled house； with red…tiled roofs showing against the
dark green of venerable pear and fig trees； and a square court…yard
in the centre； where they had dismounted。 A few words in Spanish
from Flynn to one of the lounging peons admitted them to a wooden
corridor； and thence to a long； low room； which to Clarence's eyes
seemed literally piled with books and engravings。 Here Flynn
hurriedly bade him stay while he sought the host in another part of
the building。 But Clarence did not miss him； indeed； it may be
feared； he forgot even the object of their journey in the new
sensations that suddenly thronged upon him； and the