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 vaquero--the 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.