按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
obliterated； he had no tracks to discover save Wetzel's； and these were as
hard to find as the airy course of a grosbeak。 On soft ground or marshy grass；
which Wetzel avoided where he could； he left a faint trail； but on a hard
surface； for all the traces he left； he might as well not have gone over the
ground at all。
Joe's persistence stood him in good stead； he hung on； and the more he failed；
the harder he tried。 Often he would slip out of the cave after Wetzel had
gone； and try to find which way he had taken。 In brief； the lad became a fine
marksman； a good hunter； and a close； persevering student of the wilderness。
He loved the woods； and all they contained。 He learned the habits of the wild
creatures。 Each deer； each squirrel； each grouse that he killed； taught him
some lesson。
He was always up with the lark to watch the sun rise red and grand over the
eastern hills； and chase away the white mist from the valleys。 Even if he was
not hunting； or roaming the woods； if it was necessary for him to lie low in
camp awaiting Wetzel's return； he was always content。 Many hours he idled away
lying on his back； with the west wind blowing softly over him； his eye on the
distant hills； where the cloud shadows swept across with slow； majestic
movement； like huge ships at sea。
If Wetzel and Joe were far distant from the cave； as was often the case； they
made camp in the open woods； and it was here that Joe's contentment was
fullest。 Twilight shades stealing down over the camp…fire； the cheery glow of
red embers； the crackling of dry stocks； the sweet smell of wood smoke； all
had for the lad a subtle； potent charm。
The hunter would broil a venison steak； or a partridge； on the coals。 Then
they would light their pipes and smoke while twilight deepened。 The oppressive
stillness of the early evening hour always brought to the younger man a
sensation of awe。 At first he attributed this to the fact that he was new to
this life； however； as the days passed and the emotion remained； nay； grew
stronger； he concluded it was imparted by this close communion with nature。
Deep solemn； tranquil； the gloaming hour brought him no ordinary fullness of
joy and clearness of perception。
〃Do you ever feel this stillness？〃 he asked Wetzel one evening； as they sat
near their flickering fire。
The hunter puffed his pipe； and； like an Indian； seemed to let the question
take deep root。
〃I've scalped redskins every hour in the day； 'ceptin' twilight；〃 he replied。
Joe wondered no longer whether the hunter was too hardened to feel this
beautiful tranquillity。 That hour which wooed Wetzel from his implacable
pursuit was indeed a bewitching one
There was never a time； when Joe lay alone in camp waiting for Wetzel； that he
did not hope the hunter would return with information of Indians。 The man
never talked about the savages； and if he spoke at all it was to tell of some
incident of his day's travel。 One evening he came back with a large black fox
that he had killed。
〃What beautiful； glossy fur！〃 said Joe。 〃I never saw a black fox before。〃
〃I've been layin' fer this fellar some time；〃 replied Wetzel； as he began his
first evening task； that of combing his hair。 〃Jest back here in a clump of
cottonwoods there's a holler log full of leaves。 Happenin' to see a blacksnake
sneakin' round； I thought mebbe he was up to somethin'； so I investigated； an'
found a nest full of young rabbits。 I killed the snake； an' arter that took an
interest in 'em。 Every time I passed I'd look in at the bunnies； an' each time
I seen signs that some tarnal varmint had been prowlin' round。 One day I
missed a bunny； an' next day another； so on until only one was left； a peart
white and gray little scamp。 Somethin' was stealin' of 'em； an' it made me
mad。 So yistidday an' to…day I watched； an' finally I plugged this black
thief。 Yes； he's got a glossy coat； but he's a bad un fer all his fine looks。
These black foxes are bigger； stronger an' cunniner than red ones。 In every
litter you'll find a dark one； the black sheep of the family。 Because he grows
so much faster； an' steals all the food from the others； the mother jest takes
him by the nape of the neck an' chucks him out in the world to shift fer
hisself。 An' it's a good thing。〃
The next day Wetzel told Joe they would go across country to seek new game
fields。 Accordingly the two set out； and tramped industriously until evening。
They came upon a country no less beautiful than the one they had left； though
the picturesque cliffs and rugged hills had given way to a rolling land； the
luxuriance of which was explained by the abundant springs and streams。 Forests
and fields were thickly interspersed with bubbling springs； narrow and deep
streams； and here and there a small lake with a running outlet。
Wetzel had said little concerning this region； but that little was enough to
rouse all Joe's eagerness； for it was to the effect that they were now in a
country much traversed by Indians； especially runners and hunting parties
travelling from north to south。 The hunter explained that through the center
of this tract ran a buffalo road； that the buffalo always picked out the
straightest； lowest and dryest path from one range to another； and the Indians
followed these first pathfinders。
Joe and Wetzel made camp on the bank of a stream that night； and as the lad
watched the hunter build a hidden camp…fire； he peered furtively around half
expecting to see dark forms scurrying through the forest。 Wetzel was extremely
cautious。 He stripped pieces of bark from fallen trees and built a little hut
over his firewood。 He rubbed some powder on a piece of punk； and then with
flint and steel dropped two or three sparks on the inflammable substance。 Soon
he had a blaze。 He arranged the covering so that not a ray of light escaped。
When the flames had subsided； and the wood had burned down to a glowing bed of
red； he threw aside the bark； and broiled the strips of venison they had
brought with them。
They rested on a bed of boughs which they had cut and arranged alongside a
huge log。 For hours Joe lay awake； he could not sleep。 He listened to the
breeze rustling the leaves； and shivered at the thought of the sighing wind he
had once heard moan through the forest。 Presently he turned over。 The slight
noise instantly awakened Wetzel who lifted his dark face while he listened
intently。 He spoke one word： 〃Sleep；〃 and lay back again on the leaves。 Joe
forced himself to be quiet； relaxed all his muscles and soon slumbered。
On the morrow Wetzel went out to look over the hunting prospects。 About noon
he returned。 Joe was surprised to find some slight change in the hunter。 He
could not tell what it was。
〃I seen Injun sign；〃 said Wetzel。 〃There's no tellin' how soon we may run agin
the sneaks。 We can't hunt here。 Like as not there's Hurons and Delawares
skulkin' round。 I think I'd better take you back to the village。〃
〃It's all on my account you say that；〃 said Joe。
〃Sure；〃 Wetzel replied。
〃If you were alone what would you do？〃
〃I calkilate I'd hunt fer some red…skinned game。〃
The supreme moment had come。 Joe's heart beat hard。 He could not miss this
opportunity； he must stay with the hunter。 He looked closely at Wetzel。
〃I won't go back to the village；〃 he said。
The hunter stood in his favorite position； leaning on his long rifle； and made
no response。
〃I won't go；〃 continued Joe； earnestly。 〃Let me stay with you。 If at any time
I hamper you； or can not keep the pace； then leave me to shift for myself； but
don't make me go until I weaken。 Let me stay。〃
Fire and fearlessness spoke in Joe's every word； and his gray eyes contracted
with their peculiar steely flash。 Plain it was that； while he might fail to
keep pace with Wetzel； he did not fear this dangerous country； and； if it must
be； would face it alone。
Wetzel extended his broad hand and gave his comrade's a viselike squeeze。 To
allow the lad to remain with him was more than he would have done for any
other person in the world。 Far better to keep the lad under his protection
while it was possible； for Joe was taking that war…trail which had for every
hunter； somewhere along its bloody course； a bullet； a knife； or a tomahawk。
Wetzel knew that Joe was conscious of this inevitable conclusion； for it
showed in his white face； and in the resolve in his big； gray eyes。
So there； in the shade of a towering oak； the Indian…killer admitted the boy
into his friendship； and into a life which would no longer be play； but
eventful； stirring； hazardous。
〃Wal； lad； stay；〃 he said； with that rare smile which brightened his dark face
like a ray of stray sunshine。 〃We'll hang round these diggins a few days。
First off； we'll take in the lay of the land。 You go down stream a ways an'
scout round some； while I go up； an' then circle down。 Move slow； now； an'
d