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There seemed to be one or two heaps of old clothes lying on the
ground； and further on； where the men at a command from Peyton had
laid down their burden； another。 In those ragged； dusty heaps of
clothes； from which all the majesty of life seemed to have been
ruthlessly stamped out； only what was ignoble and grotesque
appeared to be left。 There was nothing terrible in this。 The boy
moved slowly towards them； and； incredible even to himself； the
overpowering fear of them that a moment before had overcome him
left him as suddenly。 He walked from the one to the other；
recognizing them by certain marks and signs； and mentioning name
after name。 The groups gazed at him curiously； he was conscious
that he scarcely understood himself； still less the same quiet
purpose that made him turn towards the furthest wagon。
〃There's nothing there；〃 said Peyton； 〃we've searched it。〃 But the
boy； without replying； continued his way； and the crowd followed
him。
The deserted wagon； more rude； disorderly； and slovenly than it had
ever seemed to him before； was now heaped and tumbled with broken
bones； cans； scattered provisions； pots； pans； blankets； and
clothing in the foul confusion of a dust…heap。 But in this
heterogeneous mingling the boy's quick eye caught sight of a
draggled edge of calico。
〃That's Mrs。 Silsbee's dress！〃 he cried； and leapt into the wagon。
At first the men stared at each other； but an instant later a dozen
hands were helping him； nervously digging and clearing away the
rubbish。 Then one man uttered a sudden cry； and fell back with
frantic but furious eyes uplifted against the pitiless； smiling sky
above him。
〃Great God！ look here！〃
It was the yellowish； waxen face of Mrs。 Silsbee that had been
uncovered。 But to the fancy of the boy it had changed； the old
familiar lines of worry； care； and querulousness had given way to a
look of remote peace and statue…like repose。 He had often vexed
her in her aggressive life； he was touched with remorse at her
cold； passionless apathy now； and pressed timidly forward。 Even as
he did so； the man； with a quick but warning gesture； hurriedly
threw his handkerchief over the matted locks； as if to shut out
something awful from his view。 Clarence felt himself drawn back；
but not before the white lips of a bystander had whispered a single
word
〃Scalped； too！ by God！〃
CHAPTER VI
Then followed days and weeks that seemed to Clarence as a dream。
At first； an interval of hushed and awed restraint when he and Susy
were kept apart； a strange and artificial interest taken little
note of by him； but afterwards remembered when others had forgotten
it； the burial of Mrs。 Silsbee beneath a cairn of stones； with some
ceremonies that； simple though they were； seemed to usurp the
sacred rights of grief from him and Susy； and leave them cold and
frightened； days of frequent and incoherent childish outbursts from
Susy； growing fainter and rarer as time went on； until they ceased；
he knew not when； the haunting by night of that morning vision of
the three or four heaps of ragged clothes on the ground and a half
regret that he had not examined them more closely； a recollection
of the awful loneliness and desolation of the broken and abandoned
wagon left behind on its knees as if praying mutely when the train
went on and left it； the trundling behind of the fateful wagon in
which Mrs。 Silsbee's body had been found； superstitiously shunned
by every one； and when at last turned over to the authorities at an
outpost garrison； seeming to drop the last link from the dragging
chain of the past。 The revelation to the children of a new
experience in that brief glimpse of the frontier garrison； the
handsome officer in uniform and belted sword； an heroic； vengeful
figure to be admired and imitated hereafter； the sudden importance
and respect given to Susy and himself as 〃survivors〃； the
sympathetic questioning and kindly exaggerations of their
experiences； quickly accepted by Susyall these； looking back upon
them afterwards； seemed to have passed in a dream。
No less strange and visionary to them seemed the real transitions
they noted from the moving train。 How one morning they missed the
changeless； motionless； low； dark line along the horizon； and
before noon found themselves among the rocks and trees and a
swiftly rushing river。 How there suddenly appeared beside them a
few days later a great gray cloud…covered ridge of mountains that
they were convinced was that same dark line that they had seen so
often。 How the men laughed at them； and said that for the last
three days they had been CROSSING that dark line； and that it was
HIGHER than the great gray…clouded range before them； which it had
always hidden from their view！ How Susy firmly believed that these
changes took place in her sleep； when she always 〃kinder felt they
were crawlin' up；〃 and how Clarence； in the happy depreciation of
extreme youth； expressed his conviction that they 〃weren't a bit
high； after all。〃 How the weather became cold； though it was
already summer； and at night the camp fire was a necessity； and
there was a stove in the tent with Susy； and yet how all this faded
away； and they were again upon a dazzling； burnt； and sun…dried
plain！ But always as in a dream！
More real were the persons who composed the partywhom they seemed
to have always knownand who； in the innocent caprice of children；
had become to them more actual than the dead had even been。 There
was Mr。 Peyton； who they now knew owned the train； and who was so
rich that he 〃needn't go to California if he didn't want to； and
was going to buy a great deal of it if he liked it；〃 and who was
also a lawyer and 〃policeman〃which was Susy's rendering of
〃politician〃and was called 〃Squire〃 and 〃Judge〃 at the frontier
outpost； and could order anybody to be 〃took up if he wanted to；〃
and who knew everybody by their Christian names； and Mrs。 Peyton；
who had been delicate and was ordered by the doctor to live in the
open air for six months； and 〃never go into a house or a town
agin；〃 and who was going to adopt Susy as soon as her husband could
arrange with Susy's relatives； and draw up the papers！ How 〃Harry〃
was Henry Benham； Mrs。 Peyton's brother； and a kind of partner of
Mr。 Peyton。 And how the scout's name was Gus Gildersleeve； or the
〃White Crow；〃 and how； through his recognized intrepidity； an
attack upon their train was no doubt averted。 Then there was
〃Bill；〃 the stock herder； and 〃Texas Jim；〃 the vaquerothe latter
marvelous and unprecedented in horsemanship。 Such were their
companions； as appeared through the gossip of the train and their
own inexperienced consciousness。 To them； they were all astounding
and important personages。 But； either from boyish curiosity or
some sense of being misunderstood； Clarence was more attracted by
the two individuals of the party who were least kind to him
namely； Mrs。 Peyton and her brother Harry。 I fear that； after the
fashion of most children； and some grown…up people； he thought less
of the steady kindness of Mr。 Peyton and the others than of the
rare tolerance of Harry or the polite concessions of his sister。
Miserably conscious of this at times； he quite convinced himself
that if he could only win a word of approbation from Harry； or a
smile from Mrs。 Peyton； he would afterwards revenge himself by
〃running away。〃 Whether he would or not； I cannot say。 I am
writing of a foolish； growing； impressionable boy of eleven； of
whose sentiments nothing could be safely predicted but uncertainty。
It was at this time that he became fascinated by another member of
the party whose position had been too humble and unimportant to be
included in the group already noted。 Of the same appearance as the
other teamsters in size； habits； and apparel； he had not at first
exhibited to Clarence any claim to sympathy。 But it appeared that
he was actually a youth of only sixteena hopeless incorrigible of
St。 Joseph； whose parents had prevailed on Peyton to allow him to
join the party； by way of removing him from evil associations and
as a method of reform。 Of this Clarence was at first ignorant； not
from any want of frankness on the part of the youth； for that
ingenious young gentleman later informed him that he had killed
three men in St。 Louis； two in St。 Jo； and that the officers of
justice were after him。 But it was evident that to precocious
habits of drinking； smoking； chewing； and card…playing this
overgrown youth added a strong tendency to exaggeration of
statement。 Indeed； he was known as 〃Lying Jim Hooker；〃 and his
various qualities presented a problem to Clarence that was
attractive and inspiring； doubtful； but always fascinating。 With
the hoarse voice of early wickedness and a contempt for ordinary
courtesy； he had a round； perfectly good…humored face； and a
disposition that when not called upon to act up to his self…imposed
role of reckless wickedness； was not unkindly。
It was only a few days after the massacre； and while the children
were still wrapped in the gloomy interest and frightened reticence
which followed it； that 〃Jim Hooker〃 first characteristically
flashed u