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simplicity was such； that if he cut off his hair it would seem he feared the
Indiansfor that streaming black hair the Indians had long coveted and sworn
to take。 It would make any brave a famous chief； and was the theme of many a
savage war tale。
After breakfast Wetzel said to Joe：
〃You stay here； an' I'll look round some； mebbe I'll come back soon； and we'll
go out an' kill a buffalo。 Injuns sometimes foller up a buffalo trail； an' I
want to be sure none of the varlets are chasin' that herd we saw to…day。〃
Wetzel left the cave by the rear。 It took him fifteen minutes to crawl to the
head of the tortuous； stony passage。 Lifting the stone which closed up the
aperture； he looked out and listened。 Then； rising； he replaced the stone； and
passed down the wooded hillside。
It was a beautiful morning； the dew glistened on the green leaves； the sun
shone bright and warm； the birds warbled in the trees。 The hunter's moccasins
pressed so gently on the moss and leaves that they made no more sound than the
soft foot of a panther。 His trained ear was alert to catch any unfamiliar
noise； his keen eyes sought first the remoter open glades and glens； then bent
their gaze on the mossy bluff beneath his feet。 Fox squirrels dashed from
before him into bushy retreats； grouse whirred away into the thickets；
startled deer whistled； and loped off with their white…flags upraised。 Wetzel
knew from the action of these denizens of the woods that he was the only
creature； not native to these haunts； who had disturbed them this morning。
Otherwise the deer would not have been grazing； but lying low in some close
thicket； fox squirrels seldom or never were disturbed by a hunter twice in one
day； for after being frightened these little animals； wilder and shyer than
gray squirrels； remained hidden for hours； and grouse that have been flushed a
little while before； always get up unusually quick； and fly very far before
alighting。
Wetzel circled back over the hill； took a long survey from a rocky eminence；
and then reconnoitered the lowland for several miles。 He located the herd of
buffalo； and satisfying himself there were no Indians nearfor the bison were
grazing quietlyhe returned to the cave。 A soft whistle into the back door of
the rocky home told Joe that the hunter was waiting。
〃Coast clear？〃 whispered the lad； thrusting his head out of the entrance。 His
gray eyes gleamed brightly； showing his eager spirit。
The hunter nodded； and； throwing his rifle in the hollow of his arm； proceeded
down the hill。 Joe followed closely； endeavoring； as Wetzel had trained him；
to make each step precisely in the hunter's footprints。 The lad had soon
learned to step nimbly and softly as a cat。 When half way down the bill Wetzel
paused。
〃See anythin'？〃 he whispered。
Joe glanced on all sides。 Many mistakes had taught him to be cautious。 He had
learned from experience that for every woodland creature he saw； there were
ten watching his every move。 Just now he could not see even a little red
squirrel。 Everywhere were sturdy hickory and oak trees； thickets and
hazelnuts； slender ash saplings； and； in the open glades； patches of sumach。
Rotting trees lay on the ground； while ferns nodded long； slender heads over
the fallen monarchs。 Joe could make out nothing but the colors of the woods；
the gray of the tree trunks； and； in the openings through the forest…green；
the dead purple haze of forests farther on。 He smiled； and； shaking his head
at the hunter； by his action admitted failure。
〃Try again。 Dead ahead；〃 whispered Wetzel。
Joe bent a direct gaze on the clump of sassafras one hundred feet ahead。 He
searched the open places； the shadowseven the branches。 Then he turned his
eyes slowly to the right。 Whatever was discernible to human vision he studied
intently。 Suddenly his eye became fixed on a small object protruding from
behind a beech tree。 It was pointed； and in color darker than the gray bark of
the beech。 It had been a very easy matter to pass over this little thing； but
now that the lad saw it； he knew to what it belonged。
〃That's a buck's ear；〃 he replied。
Hardly had he finished speaking when Wetzel intentionally snapped a twig。
There was a crash and commotion in the thicket； branches moved and small
saplings waved； then out into the open glade bounded a large buck with a
whistle of alarm。 Throwing his rifle to a level； Joe was trying to cover the
bounding deer； when the hunter struck up his piece。
〃Lad； don't kill fer the sake of killin；〃 he said； quietly。 〃We have plenty of
venison。 We'll go arter a buffalo。 I hev a hankerin' fer a good rump steak。〃
Half an hour later； the hunters emerged from the forest into a wide plain of
waving grass。 It was a kind of oval valley； encircled by hills； and had been
at one time； perhaps； covered with water。 Joe saw a herd of large animals
browsing； like cattle； in a meadow。 His heart beat high； for until that moment
the only buffalo he had seen were the few which stood on the river banks as
the raft passed down the Ohio。 He would surely get a shot at one of these huge
fellows。
Wetzel bade Joe do exactly as he did； whereupon he dropped on his hands and
knees and began to crawl through the long grass。 This was easy for the hunter；
but very bard for the lad to accomplish。 Still； he managed to keep his comrade
in sight； which was a matter for congratulation； because the man crawled as
fast as he walked。 At length； after what to Joe seemed a very long time； the
hunter paused。
〃Are we near enough？〃 whispered Joe； breathlessly。
〃Nope。 We're just circlin' on 'em。 The wind's not right； an' I'm afeered
they'll get our scent。〃
Wetzel rose carefully and peeped over the top of the grass； then； dropping on
all fours； he resumed the advance。
He paused again； presently and waited for Joe to come up。
〃See here； young fellar； remember； never hurry unless the bizness calls fer
speed； an' then act like lightnin'。〃
Thus admonishing the eager lad； Wetzel continued to crawl。 It was easy for
him。 Joe wondered how those wide shoulders got between the weeds and grasses
without breaking； or； at least； shaking them。 But so it was。
〃Flat now；〃 whispered Wetzel； putting his broad hand on Joe's back and
pressing him down。 〃Now's yer time fer good practice。 Trail yer rifle over yer
backif yer careful it won't slide offan' reach out far with one arm an'
dig yer fingers in deep。 Then pull yerself forrard。〃
Wetzel slipped through the grass like a huge buckskin snake。 His long； lithe
body wormed its way among the reeds。 But for Joe； even with the advantage of
having the hunter's trail to follow； it was difficult work。 The dry reeds
broke under him； and the stalks of saw…gass shook。 He worked persistently at
it； learning all the while； and improving with every rod。 He was surprised to
hear a swish； followed by a dull blow on the ground。 Raising his head； he
looked forward