Intwohoursmoretheyhadovertakenthetrain，alreadyonthemarch，andwereinthemidstofthegroupofoutriders。JudgePeyton\'sface，albeitatrifleperplexed，turnedtowardsClarencewithakindly，half-tolerantlookofwelcome。Theboy\'sheartinstantlymeltedwithforgiveness。
\"Well，myboy，let\'shearYOURstory。Whathappened?\"
Clarencecastahurriedglancearound，andsawJim，withfaceaverted，ridinggloomilybehind。Thennervouslyandhurriedlyhetoldhowhehadbeenthrownintothegullyonthebackofthewoundedbuffalo，andthemannerofhisescape。Anaudibletitterranthroughthecavalcade。Mr。Peytonregardedhimgravely。\"Buthowdidthebuffalogetsoconvenientlyintothegully?\"heasked。
\"JimHookerlamedhimwithashotgun，andhefellover，\"saidClarencetimidly。
AroarofHomericlaughterwentupfromtheparty。Clarencelookedup，stungandstartled，butcaughtasingleglimpseofJimHooker\'sfacethatmadehimforgethisownmortification。Initshopeless，heart-sick，andutterlybeatendejection——thefirstandonlyrealexpressionhehadseenonit——hereadthedreadfultruth。Jim\'sREPUTATIONhadruinedhim!Theonegenuineandstrikingepisodeofhislife，theonetrustworthyaccounthehadgivenofit，hadbeenunanimouslyacceptedasthebiggestandmostconsummatelieofhisrecord!