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！
hear a swish； followed by a dull blow on the ground。 Raising his head； he
looked forward。 He saw the hunter wipe his tomahawk on the grass。
〃Snake；〃 whispered Wetzel。
Joe saw a huge blacksnake squirming in the grass。 Its head had been severed。
He caught glimpses of other snakes gliding away； and glossy round moles
darting into their holes。 A gray rabbit started off with a leap。
〃We're near enough；〃 whispered Wetzel； stopping behind a bush。 He rose and
surveyed the plain； then motioned Joe to look。
Joe raised himself on his knees。 As his gaze reached the level of the grassy
plain his heart leaped。 Not fifty yards away was a great； shaggy； black
buffalo。 He was the king of the herd； but ill at ease； for he pawed the grass
and shook his huge bead。 Near him were several cows and a half…grown calf。
Beyond was the main herd； extending as far as Joe could seea great sea of
black humps！ The lad breathed hard as he took in the grand sight。
〃Pick out the little fellarthe reddish…brown onean' plug him behind the
shoulder。 Shoot close now； fer if we miss； mebbe I can't hit one； because I'm
not used to shootin' at sich small marks。〃
Wetzel's rare smile lighted up his dark face。 Probably he could have shot a
fly off the horn of the bull； if one of the big flies or bees； plainly visible
as they swirled around the huge head； had alighted there。
Joe slowly raised his rifle。 He had covered the calf； and was about to pull
the trigger； when； with a sagacity far beyond his experience as hunter； he
whispered to Wetzel：
〃If I fire they may run toward us。〃
〃Nope； they'll run away；〃 answered Wetzel； thinking the lad was as keen as an
Indian。
Joe quickly covered the calf again； and pulled the trigger。 Bellowing loud the
big bull dashed off。 The herd swung around toward the west； and soon were
galloping off with a lumbering roar。 The shaggy humps bobbed up and down like
hot； angry waves on a storm…blackened sea。
Upon going forward； Wetzel and Joe found the calf lying dead in the grass。
〃You might hev did better'n that；〃 remarked the hunter； as he saw where the
bullet had struck。 〃You went a little too fer back； but mebbe thet was 'cause
the calf stepped as you shot。〃
Chapter XV。
So the days passed swiftly； dreamily； each one bringing Joe a keener delight。
In a single month he was as good a woodsman as many pioneers who had passed
years on the border； for he had the advantage of a teacher whose woodcraft was
incomparable。 Besides； he was naturally quick in learning； and with all his
interest centered upon forest lore； it was no wonder he assimilated much of
Wetzel's knowledge。 He was ever willing to undertake anything whereby he might
learn。 Often when they were miles away in the dense forest； far from their
cave； he asked Wetzel to let him try to lead the way back to camp。 And he
never failed once； though many times he got off a straight course； thereby
missing the easy travelling。
Joe did wonderfully well； but he lacked； as nearly all white men do； the
subtler； intuitive forest…instinct； which makes the Indian as much at home in
the woods as in his teepee。 Wetzel had this developed to a high degree。 It
was born in him。 Years of training； years of passionate； unrelenting search
for Indians； had given him a knowledge of the wilds that was incomprehensible
to white men； and appalling to his red foes。
Joe saw how Wetzel used this ability； but what it really was baffled him。 He
realized that words were not adequate to explain fully this great art。 Its
possession required a marvelously keen vision； an eye perfectly familiar with
every creature； tree； rock； shrub and thing belonging in the forest； an eye so
quick in flight as to detect instantly the slightest change in nature； or
anything unnatural to that environment。 The hearing must be delicate； like
that of a deer； and the finer it is； the keener will be the woodsman。 Lastly；
there is the feeling that prompts the old hunter to say： 〃No game to…day。〃 It
is something in him that speaks when； as he sees a night…hawk circling low
near the ground； he says： 〃A storm to…morrow。〃 It is what makes an Indian at
home in any wilderness。 The clouds may hide the guiding star； the northing may
be lost； there may be no moss on the trees； or difference in their bark； the
ridges may be flat or lost altogether； and there may be no water…courses； yet
the Indian brave always goes for his teepee； straight as a crow flies。 It was
this voice which rightly bade Wetzel； when he was baffled by an Indian's trail
fading among the rocks； to cross； or circle； or advance in the direction taken
by his wily foe。
Joe had practiced trailing deer and other hoofed game； until he was true as a
hound。 Then he began to perfect himself in the art of following a human being
through the forest。 Except a few old Indian trails； which the rain had half
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