tance to "Prossy
and his mother," and had received a brief and passing introduction to
the latter. So deep and unexpected was the impression she made upon
them that these two oracles of the camp retired down the hill in awkward
silence for some time, neither daring to risk his reputation by comment
or oversurprise.

But when they approached the curious crowd below awaiting them, Cyrus
Brewster ventured to say, "Struck me ez ef that old gal was rather
high-toned for Prossy's mother."

Joe Wynbrook instantly seized the fatal admission to show the advantage
of superior insight:--

"Struck YOU! Why, it was no more than I expected all along! What did we
know of Prossy? Nothin'! What did he ever tell us'? Nothin'! And why'?
'Cos it was his secret. Lord! a blind mule could see that. All this
foolishness and simplicity o' his come o' his bein' cuddled and pampered
as a baby. Then, like ez not, he was either kidnapped or led away by
some feller--and nearly broke his mother's heart. I'll bet my bottom
dollar he has been advertised for afore this--only we didn't see the
paper. Like as not they had agents out seekin' him, and he jest ran into
their hands in 'Frisco! I had a kind o' presentiment o' this when he
left, though I never let on anything."

"I reckon, too, that she's kinder afraid he'll bolt agin. Did ye notice
how she kept watchin' him all the time, and how she did the bossin' o'
everything? And there's ONE thing sure! He's changed--yes! He don't look
as keerless and free and foolish ez he uster."

Here there was an unmistakable chorus of assent from the crowd that had
joined them. Every one--even those who had not been introduced to
the mother--had noticed his strange restraint and reticence. In the
impulsive logic of the camp, conduct such as this, in the face of that
superior woman--his mother--could only imply that her presence was
distasteful to him; that he was either ashamed of their noticing his
inferiority to her, or ashamed of THEM! Wild and hasty as was their
deduction, it was, nevertheless, voiced by Joe Wynbrook in a tone of
impartial and even reluctant conviction. "Well, gentlemen, some of ye
may remember that when I heard that Prossy was bringin' his mother here
I kicked--kicked because it only stood to reason that, being HIS mother,
she'd be that foolish she'd upset the camp. There wasn't room enough for
two such chuckle-heads--and one of 'em being a woman, she couldn't be
shut up or sat upon ez we d