\"Keep——the——Bible,\"saidMr。Wells,\"remember——its——word。\"HishandcloselyclaspedNell\'s,andthensuddenlyloosened。Hispallidfacewaslightedbyameaning,tendersmilewhichslowlyfaded——faded,andwasgone。Thevenerableheadfellback。Theoldmissionarywasdead。
Nellkissedthepale,coldbrow,andthenrose,halfdazedandshuddering。
Jimwasvainlytryingtoclosethedeadman\'seyes。Shecouldnolongerlook。
OnrisingshefoundherselfneartheIndianchief。Hetookherfingersinhisgreathand,andheldthemwithastrong,warmpressure。Strangelythrilled,shelookedupatWingenund。Hissombereyes,fixedpiercinglyontheforest,andhisdarksternface,were,asalways,inscrutable。Nocompassionshonethere;noemotionunbefittingachieftainwouldeverfindexpressioninthatcoldface,butNellfeltacertaintendernessinthisIndian,aresponseinhisgreatheart。Feltitsosurely,sopowerfullythatsheleanedherheadagainsthim。Sheknewhewasherfriend。
\"Come,\"saidthechiefoncemore。HegentlyputNellasidebeforeJimarosefromhissadtask。
\"Wecannotleavehimunburied,\"expostulatedJim。
Wingenunddraggedasidealargestonewhichformedonewallofthecavern。
Thenhegraspedalogwhichwashalfcoveredbydirt,and,exertinghisgreatstrength,pulleditfromitsplace。Therewasacrash,arumble,thejarofaheavyweightstrikingtheearth,thentherattlingofgravel,and,beforeNellandJimrealizedwhathadhappened,thegreatrockformingtheroofofthecavernslippeddownthebankfollowedbyasmallavalanche。thecavernwascompletelycovered。Mr。Wellswasburied。Amossystonemarkedtheoldmissionary\'sgrave。
NellandJimwerelostinwonderandawe。
\"Ugh！\"criedthechief,lookingtowardtheopeningintheglade。
FearfullyNellandJimturned,tobeappalledbyfournaked,paintedsavagesstandingwithleveledrifles。BehindthemstoodDeeringandJimGirty。
\"Oh,God！Wearelost！Lost！Lost！\"exclaimedJim,unabletocommandhimself。
Hopediedinhisheart。
NocryissuedfromNell\'swhitelips。Shewasdazedbythisfinalblow。Havingenduredsomuch,thislastmisfortune,apparentlytheruinofherlife,broughtnoaddedsuffering,onlyastrange,numbfeeling。
\"Ah—huh！Thoughtyou\'dgivemetheslip,eh？\"croakedGirty,stridingforward,andashelookedatWingenundhislittle,yelloweyesflaredlikeflint。\"DoesawolfbefriendGirty\'scaptives？Chiefyouhevledmeahardchase。\"
Wingenunddeignednoreply。Hestoodashedidsooften,stillandsilent,withfoldedarms,andalookthatwashaughty,unresponsive。
TheIndianscameforwardintotheglade,andoneofthemquicklyboundJim\'shandsbehindhisback。Thesavagesworeawild,brutishlook。Afeverishferocity,verynearakintoinsanity,possessedthem。Theywerenotquietamoment,butranhereandthere,fornoapparentreason,except,possibly,tokeepinactionwiththeragingfireintheirhearts。ThecleanlinesswhichcharacterizedthenormalIndianwasabsentinthem;theirscantbuckskindresswasbedraggledandstained。Theywerestilldrunkwithrumandthelustforblood。Murdergleamedfromtheglanceoftheireyes。
\"Jake,comeoverhere,\"saidGirtytohisrenegadefriend。\"Ain\'tsheaprize？\"
GirtyandDeeringstoodbeforethepoor,strickengirl,andgloatedoverherfairbeauty。Shestoodaswhenfirsttransfixedbythehorrorfromwhichshehadbeenfleeing。Herpalefacewaslowered,herhandsclenchedtightlyinthefoldsofherskirt。
Neverbeforehadtwosuchcoarse,cruelfiendsasDeeringandGirtyencumberedtheearth。Evenontheborder,wherethebestmenwerebad,theyweretheworst。Deeringwasyetdrunk,butGirtyhadrecoveredsomewhatfromtheeffectsoftherumhehadabsorbed。Theformerrolledhisbigeyesandnoddedhisshaggyhead。Hewaspassingjudgment,fromhispointofview,onthefinepointsofthegirl。
\"Shecer\'aintlyis,\"hedeclaredwithagrin。\"She\'salittlebeauty。BeatsanyIeverseen！\"
JimGirtystrokedhissharpchinwithdirtyfingers。Hisyelloweyes,hisburntsaffronskin,hishookednose,histhinlips——allhisevilfaceseemedtoshinewithaneviltriumph。tolookathimwaspainful。Tohavehimgazeatherwasenoughtodriveanywomanmad。
Darkstainsspottedthebrightfrillsofhisgaudydress,hisbuckskincoatandleggins,anddottedhiswhiteeagleplumes。Darkstains,horriblysuggestive,coveredhimfromheadtofoot。Bloodstains！TheinnocentbloodofChristianscrimsonedhisrenegade\'sbody,andeverydarkredblotchcriedmurder。
\"Girl,IburnedtheVillageofPeacetogityou,\"growledGirty。\"Comehere！\"
Witharudegraspthattoreopenherdress,exposingherbeautifulwhiteshoulderandbosom,theruffianpulledhertowardhim。Hisfacewastransfixedwithafiercejoy,abrutalpassion。
Deeringlookedonwithadrunkengrin,whilehisrenegadefriendhuggedthealmostdyinggirl。TheIndianspacedthegladewithshortstrideslikeleashedtigers。Theyoungmissionarylayonthemosswithclosedeyes。HecouldnotendurethesightofNellinGirty\'sarms。
NoonenoticedWingenund。Hestoodbackalittle,halfscreenedbydroopingbranches。Onceagainthechief\'sdarkeyesgleamed,hisheadturnedatrifleaside,and,standinginthestatuesquepositionhabitualwithhimwhenresting,helistened,asonewhohearsmysterioussounds。Suddenlyhiskeenglancewasrivetedonthefernsabovethelowcliff。Hehadseentheirgracefulheadsquivering。Thentwoblindingsheetsofflameburstfromtheferns。
Spang！Spang！
Thetworiflereportsthunderedthroughtheglade。TwoIndiansstaggeredandfellintheirtracks——deadwithoutacry。
Ahugeyellowbody,spreadoutlikeapantherinhisspring,descendedwithacrashuponDeeringandGirty。Thegirlfellawayfromtherenegadeashewentdownwithashrillscreech,draggingDeeringwithhim。Instantlybeganaterrific,whirling,wrestlingstruggle。
Afewfeetfartherdownthecliffanotheryellowbodycamecrashingdowntoalightwithathud,tobounderect,torushforwardswiftasaleapingdeer。
ThetworemainingIndianshadonlytimetodrawtheirweaponsbeforethislithe,threateningformwhirleduponthem。Shrillcries,hoarseyells,theclashofsteelanddullblowsmingledtogether。Onesavagewentdown,twistedover,writhedandlaystill。Theotherstaggered,wardedoflightninglikeblowsuntilonepassedunderhisguard,andcrasheddullyonhishead。Thenhereeled,roseagain,butonlytohavehisskullclovenbyabloodytomahawk。
Thevictordartedtowardthewhirlingmass。
\"Lew,shakehimloose！Lethimgo！\"yelledJonathanZane,swinginghisbloodyweapon。
HighaboveZane\'scry,Deering\'sshoutsandcurses,Girty\'sshrieksoffearandfury,abovethenoiseofwrestlingbodiesanddullblows,roseadeepboomingroar。
ItwasWetzel\'sawfulcryofvengeance。
\"Shakehimloose,\"yelledJonathan。
Baffled,heranwildlyaroundthewrestlers。Timeandtimeagainhisgorytomahawkwasraisedonlytobelowered。Hefoundnoopportunitytostrike。
Girty\'sghastlycountenancegleamedathimfromthewhirloflegs,andarmsandbodies。ThenWetzel\'sdarkface,lightedbymercilesseyes,tookitsplace,andthatgavewaytoDeering\'sbroadfeatures。Themenbeingcladalikeinbuckskin,andtheirmotionssorapid,preventedZanefromlendingahelpinghand。
SuddenlyDeeringwaspropelledfromthemassasifbyacatapult。Hisbodystraightenedasitcamedownwithaheavythud。Zanepounceduponitwithcatlikequickness。Oncemoreheswungaloftthebloodyhatchet;thenoncemoreheloweredit,fortherewasnoneedtostrike。Therenegade\'ssidewastornopenfromshouldertohip。Adelugeofbloodpouredoutuponthemoss。Deeringchoked,abloodyfrothformedonhislips。Hisfingersclutchedatnothing。
Hiseyesrolledviolentlyandthenwerefixedinanawfulstare。
Thegirllyingsoquietinthewoodsneartheoldhutwasavenged！
JonathanturnedagaintoWetzelandGirty,notwithanyintentiontoaidthehunter,butsimplytowitnesstheendofthestruggle。
WithoutthehelpofthepowerfulDeering,howpitifullyweakwastheDeathsheadofthefrontierinthehandsoftheAvenger！
JimGirty\'stomahawkwasthrowninonedirectionandhisknifeinanother。Hestruggledvainlyintheirongripthatheldhim。
Wetzelrosetohisfeetclutchingtherenegade。Withhisleftarm,whichhadbeenbaredinthefight,heheldGirtybythefrontofhisbuckskinshirt,anddraggedhimtothattreewhichstoodaloneintheglade。Hepushedhimagainstit,andheldhimthere。
Thewhitedogleapedandsnarledaroundtheprisoner。
Girty\'shandspulledandtoreatthepowerfularmwhichforcedhimhardagainstthebeech。Itwasabrownarm,andhugewithitsbulging,knotted,rigidmuscles。Amightyarm,strongasthejusticewhichruledit。
\"Girty,thyraceisrun！\"Wetzel\'svoicecutthesilencelikeasteelwhip。
Theterrible,ruthlesssmile,theglitteringeyesofdoomseemedliterallytopetrifytherenegade。
Thehunter\'srightarmroseslowly。Theknifeinhishandquiveredasifwitheagerness。Thelongblade,drippingwithDeering\'sblood,pointedtowardthehilltop。
\"Lookthar！See\'em！Thar\'syerfriends！\"criedWetzel。
Onthedeadbranchesoftreesstandingfarabovethehilltop,weremanygreat,darkbirds。Theysatmotionlessasifwaiting。
\"Buzzards！Buzzards！\"hissedWetzel。
Girty\'sghastlyfacebecameanawfulthingtolookupon。Nolivingcountenanceeverbeforeexpressedsuchfear,suchhorror,suchagony。Hefoamedatthemouth,hestruggled,hewrithed。Withaterriblefascinationhewatchedthatquivering,drippingblade,nowpoisedhigh。
Wetzel\'sarmswungwiththespeedofashootingstar。HedrovethebladeintoGirty\'sgroin,throughfleshandbone,hardandfastintothetree。Henailedtherenegadetothebeech,theretoawaithislingeringdoom。
\"Ah—h！Ah—h！Ah—h！\"shriekedGirty,incriesofagony。Hefumbledandpulledatthehaftoftheknife,butcouldnotloosenit。Hebeathisbreast,hetorehishair。Hisscreamswereechoedfromthehilltopasifinmockery。
Thewhitedogstoodnear,hishairbristling,histeethsnapping。
Thedarkbirdssatonthedeadbranchesabovethehilltop,asifwaitingfortheirfeast。
ChapterXXVIII。
Zaneturnedandcuttheyoungmissionary\'sbonds。JimrantowhereNellwaslyingontheground,andtenderlyraisedherhead,callingtoherthattheyweresaved。Zanebathedthegirl\'spaleface。Presentlyshesighedandopenedhereyes。
ThenZanelookedfromthestatuelikeformofWingenundtothemotionlessfigureofWetzel。Thechiefstooderectwithhiseyesonthedistanthills。
Wetzelremainedwithfoldedarms,hiscoldeyesfixeduponthewrithing,moaningrenegade。
\"Lew,lookhere,\"saidZane,unhesitatingly,andpointedtowardthechief。
Wetzelquiveredasifsharplystung;thecoldglitterinhieeyeschangedtoluridfire。Withupraisedtomahawkheboundedacrossthebrook。
\"Lew,waitaminute！\"yelledZane。
\"Wetzel！wait,wait！\"criedJim,graspingthehunter\'sarm;butthelatterflunghimoff,asthewindtossesastraw。
\"Wetzel,wait,forGod\'ssake,wait！\"screamedNell。ShehadrisenatZane\'scall,andnowsawthedeadlyresolveinthehunter\'seyes。Fearlesslysheflungherselfinfrontofhim;bravelysheriskedherlifebeforehismadrush;franticallyshethrewherarmsaroundhimandclungtohishandsdesperately。
Wetzelhalted;frenziedashewasatthesightofhisfoe,hecouldnothurtawoman。
\"Girl,letgo！\"hepanted,andhisbroadbreastheaved。
\"No,no,no！Listen,Wetzel,youmustnotkillthechief。Heisafriend。\"
\"Heismygreatfoe！\"
\"Listen,oh！pleaselisten！\"pleadedNell。\"HewarnedmetofleefromGirty;
heofferedtoguideustoFortHenry。Hehassavedmylife。Formysake,Wetzel,donotkillhim！Don\'tletmebethecauseofhismurder！Wetzel,Wetzel,loweryourarm,dropyourhatchet。Forpity\'ssakedonotspillmoreblood。WingenundisaChristian！\"
Wetzelsteppedbackbreathingheavily。Hiswhitefaceresembledchiseledmarble。Withthoselittlehandsathisbreasthehesitatedinfrontofthechiefhehadhuntedforsomanylongyears。
\"WouldyoukillaChristian？\"pleadedNell,hervoicesweetandearnest。
\"Ireckonnot,butthisInjunain\'tone,\"repliedWetzelslowly。
\"Putawayyourhatchet。Letmehaveit。Listen,andIwilltellyou,afterthankingyouforthisrescue。Doyouknowofmymarriage？Come,pleaselisten！
Forgetforamomentyourenmity。Oh！youmustbemerciful！Bravemenarealwaysmerciful！\"
\"Injun,areyouaChristian？\"hissedWetzel。
\"Oh！Iknowheis！Iknowheis！\"criedNell,stillstandingbetweenWetzelandthechief。
Wingenundspokenoword。Hedidnotmove。Hisfalconeyesgazedtranquillyathiswhitefoe。Christianorpagan,hewouldnotspeakonewordtosavehislife。
\"Oh！tellhimyouareaChristian,\"criedNell,runningtothechief。
\"Yellow—hair,theDelawareistruetohisrace。\"
AshespokegentlytoNellanobledignityshoneuponhisdarkface。
\"Injun,mybackbearsthescarsofyourbraves\'whips,\"hissedWetzel,oncemoreadvancing。
\"Deathwind,yourscarsaredeep,buttheDelaware\'saredeeper,\"camethecalmreply。\"Wingenund\'sheartbearstwoscars。Hissonliesunderthemossandferns;Deathwindkilledhim;Deathwindaloneknowshisgrave。Wingenund\'sdaughter,thedelightofhiswaningyears,freedtheDelaware\'sgreatfoe,andbetrayedherfather。CantheChristianGodtellWingenundofhischild？\"
Wetzelshooklikeatreeinastorm。JusticecriedoutintheIndian\'sdeepvoice。Wetzelfoughtformasteryofhimself。
\"Delaware,yourdaughterlaysthere,withherlover,\"saidWetzelfirmly,andpointedintothespring。
\"Ugh！\"exclaimedtheIndian,bendingoverthedarkpool。Helookedlongintoitsmurkydepths。Thenhethrusthisarmdownintothebrownwater。
\"Deathwindtellsnolie,\"saidthechief,calmly,andpointedtowardGirty。
Therenegadehadceasedstruggling,hisheadwasboweduponhisbreast。\"ThewhiteserpenthasstungtheDelaware。\"
\"Whatdoesitmean？\"criedJim。
\"YourbrotherJoeandWhisperingWindslieinthespring,\"answeredJonathanZane。\"Girtymurderedthem,andWetzelburiedthetwothere。\"
\"Oh,isittrue？\"criedNell。
\"True,lass,\"whisperedJim,brokenly,holdingouthisarmstoher。Indeed,heneededherstrengthasmuchassheneededhis。Thegirlgaveoneshudderingglanceatthespring,andthenhidherfaceonherhusband\'sshoulder。
\"Delaware,weareswornfoes,\"criedWetzel。
\"Wingenundasksnomercy。\"
\"AreyouaChristian？\"
\"Wingenundistruetohisrace。\"
\"Delaware,begone！Taketheseweaponsan\'go。Whenyourshadowfallsshortestontheground,Deathwindstartsonyourtrail。\"
\"Deathwindisthegreatwhitechief;heisthegreatIndianfoe;heisassureasthepantherinhisleap;asswiftasthewildgooseinhisnorthernflight。
Wingenundneverfeltfear。\"Thechieftain\'ssonorousreplyrolledthroughthequietglade。\"IfDeathwindthirstsforWingenund\'sblood,lethimspillitnow,forwhentheDelawaregoesintotheforesthistrailwillfade。\"
\"Begone！\"roaredWetzel。Thefeverforbloodwasoncemorerisingwithinhim。
ThechiefpickedupsomeweaponsofthedeadIndians,andwithhaughtystridestalkedfromtheglade。
\"Oh,Wetzel,thankyou,Iknew———\"Nell\'svoicebrokeasshefacedthehunter。
Sherecoiledfromthischangedman。
\"Come,we\'llgo,\"saidJonathanZane。\"I\'llguideyoutoFortHenry。\"Heliftedthepack,andledNellandJimoutoftheglade。
Theylookedbackoncetopictureforeverintheirmindsthelovelyspotwithitsghastlyquietbodies,thedark,hauntingspring,therenegadenailedtothetree,andthetallfigureofWetzelashewatchedhisshadowontheground。
WhenWetzelalsohadgone,onlytwolivingcreaturesremainedintheglade——thedoomedrenegade,andthewhitedog。Thegauntbeastwatchedthemanwithhungry,madeyes。
Alongmoanwailedthroughtheforest。Itswelledmournfullyontheair,anddiedaway。Thedoomedmanheardit。Heraisedhisghastlyface;hisdulledsensesseemedtorevive。HegazedatthestiffeningbodiesoftheIndians,atthegorycorpseofDeering,atthesavageeyesofthedog。
Suddenlylifeseemedtosurgestrongwithinhim。
\"Hell\'sfire！I\'mnotdoneferyet,\"hegasped。\"Thisdamnedknifecan\'tkillme;I\'llpullitout。\"
Heworkedattheheavyknifehilt。Awfulcursespassedhislips,butthebladedidnotmove。Retributionhadspokenhisdoom。
Suddenlyhesawadarkshadowmovingalongthesunlitground。Itsweptpasthim。Helookeduptoseeagreatbirdwithwidewingssailingfarabove。Hesawanotherstillhigher,andthenathird。Helookedatthehilltop。Thequiet,blackbirdshadtakenwing。Theywerefloatingslowly,majesticallyupward。Hewatchedtheirgracefulflight。Howeasilytheyswoopedinwidecircles。herememberedthattheyhadfascinatedhimwhenaboy,long,longago,whenhehadahome。Wherewasthathome？Hehadoneonce。Ah！thelong,cruelyearshaverolledback。Ayouthblottedoutbyevilreturned。Hesawalittlecottage,hesawtheoldVirginiahomestead,hesawhisbrothersandhismother。
\"Ah—h！\"Acruelagonytorehisheart。Heleanedhardagainsttheknife。Withthepainthepresentreturned,butthepastremained。Allhisyouth,allhismanhoodflashedbeforehim。Thelong,bloody,mercilessyearsfacedhim,andhiscrimescrusheduponhimwithawfulmight。
Suddenlyarushingsoundstartledhim。Hesawagreatbirdswoopdownandgrazethetreetops。Anotherfollowed,andanother,andthenaflockofthem。
Hesawtheirgray,spottedbreastsandhookedbeaks。
\"Buzzards,\"hemuttered,darklyeyeingthedeadsavages。Thecarrionbirdswereswoopingtotheirfeast。
\"ByGod！He\'snailedmefastforbuzzards！\"hescreamedinsudden,awfulfrenzy。\"Nailedfast！Ah—h！Ah—h！Ah—h！Eatenalivebybuzzards！Ah—h！Ah—h！
Ah—h！\"
Heshriekeduntilhisvoicefailed,andthenhegasped。
Againthebuzzardsswoopedoverhead,thistimebrushingtheleaves。One,agreatgrizzledbird,settleduponalimbofthegiantoak,andstretcheditslongneck。Anotheralightedbesidehim。Otherssailedroundandroundthedeadtreetop。
Theleaderarchedhiswings,andwithadiveswoopedintotheglade。HealightednearDeering\'sdeadbody。Hewasadark,uncannybird,withlong,scraggy,bareneck,awreathofwhite,grizzledfeathers,acruel,hookedbeak,andcoldeyes。
Thecarrionbirdlookedaroundtheglade,andputagreatclawonthedeadman\'sbreast。
\"Ah—h！Ah—h！\"shriekedGirty。Hisagonizedyellofterrorandhorrorechoedmockinglyfromthewoodedbluff。
Thehugebuzzardflappedhiswingsandflewaway,butsoonreturnedtohisgruesomefeast。Hisfollowers,madeboldbytheirleader,floateddownintotheglade。Theirblackfeathersshoneinthesun。Theyhoppedoverthemoss;
theystretchedtheirgrizzlednecks,andturnedtheirheadssideways。
Girtywassweatingblood。Ittrickledfromhisghastlyface。Allthesufferingandhorrorhehadcausedinallhislongcareerwasasnothingtothatwhichthenrendedhim。He,therenegade,thewhiteIndian,theDeathsheadofthefrontier,pantedandprayedforamercifulbreath。Hewasexquisitelyalive。
Hewashuman。
Presentlythehugebuzzard,theleader,raisedhishoaryhead。Hesawthemannailedtothetree。Thebirdbenthisheadwiselytooneside,andthenlightlyliftedhimselfintotheair。Hesailedroundtheglade,overthefightingbuzzards,overthespring,andoverthedoomedrenegade。Heflewoutoftheglade,andinagain。HeswoopedclosetoGirty。Hisbroadwingsscarcelymovedashesailedalong。
Girtytriedtostrikethebuzzardashesailedcloseby,buthisarmfelluseless。Hetriedtoscream,buthisvoicefailed。
Slowlythebuzzardkingsailedbyandreturned。Everytimeheswoopedalittlenearer,andbenthislong,scraggyneck。
Suddenlyheswoopeddown,lightandswiftasahawk;hiswidewingsfannedtheair;hepoisedunderthetree,andthenfastenedsharptalonsinthedoomedman\'sbreast。
ChapterXXIX。
ThefleetinghumaninstinctofWetzelhadgivenwaytothehabitofyears。
Hismercilessquestformanydayshadbeentokillthefrontierfiend。Nowthatithadbeenaccomplished,heturnedhisvengeanceintoitsaccustomedchannel,andoncemorebecametheruthlessIndian—slayer。
Afierce,tinglingjoysurgedthroughhimashestrucktheDelaware\'strail。
Wingenundhadmadelittleornoefforttoconcealhistracks;hehadgonenorthwest,straightasacrowflies,towardtheIndianencampment。Hehadastartofsixtyminutes,anditwouldrequiresixhoursofrapidtravelingtogaintheDelawaretown。
\"Reckonhe\'llmakeferhome,\"mutteredWetzel,followingthetrailwithallpossiblespeed。
Thehunter\'smethodoftrailinganIndianwassingular。Intuitionplayedasgreatapartassight。Heseemedalwaystodivinehisvictim\'sintention。Onceonthetrailhewasashardtoshakeoffasabloodhound。Yethedidnot,byanymeans,alwayssticktotheIndian\'sfootsteps。WithWetzelthedirectionwasofthegreatestimportance。
ForhalfamilehecloselyfollowedtheDelaware\'splainlymarkedtrail。Thenhestoppedtotakeaquicksurveyoftheforestbeforehim。Heabruptlyleftthetrail,and,breakingintoarun,wentthroughthewoodsasfleetlyandnoiselesslyasadeer,runningforaquarterofamile,whenhestoppedtolisten。Allseemedwell,forheloweredhishead,andwalkedslowlyalong,examiningthemossandleaves。Presentlyhecameuponalittleopenspacewherethesoilwasasandyloam。Hebentover,thenrosequickly。HehadcomeupontheIndian\'strail。Cautiouslyhemovedforward,stoppingeverymomenttolisten。InalltheclosepursuitsofhismatureryearshehadneverbeenavictimofthatmostcunningofIndiantricks,anambush。Hereliedsolelyonhiseartolearniffoeswerecloseby。Thewildcreaturesoftheforestwerehisinformants。Assoonasheheardanychangeintheirtwittering,hummingorplaying——whicheverwaytheymanifestedtheirjoyorfearoflife——hebecameashardtosee,asdifficulttohearasacreepingsnake。
TheDelaware\'strailledtoarockyridgeandtheredisappeared。Wetzelmadenoefforttofindthechief\'sfootprintsontheflintyground,buthaltedamomentandstudiedtheridge,thelayofthelandaround,aravineononeside,andadarkimpenetrableforestontheother。HewascalculatinghischancesoffindingtheDelaware\'strailfarontheotherside。Indianwoodcraft,subtle,wonderfulasitmaybe,islimitedtoeachIndian\'sability。Savages,aswellasothermen,werebornunequal。Onemightleaveafainttrailthroughtheforest,whileanothercouldbereadilytraced,andathird,morecunningandskillfulthanhisfellows,haveflownundertheshadytrees,forallthetrailheleft。Butredmenfollowedthesamemethodsofwoodcraftfromtradition,asWetzelhadlearnedafterlongyearsofstudyandexperience。
Andnow,satisfiedthathehaddivinedtheDelaware\'sintention,heslippeddownthebankoftheravine,andoncemorebrokeintoarun。Heleapedlightly,sure—footedasagoat,fromstonetostone,overfallenlogs,andthebrawlingbrook。Ateveryturnoftheravine,ateveryopenplace,hestoppedtolisten。
Arrivingontheothersideoftheridge,helefttheravineandpassedalongtheedgeoftherisingground。Helistenedtothebirds,andsearchedthegrassandleaves。Hefoundnottheslightestindicationofatrailwherehehadexpectedtofindone。Heretracedhisstepspatiently,carefully,scrutinizingeveryinchoftheground。Butitwasallinvain。Wingenundhadbeguntoshowhissavagecunning。Inhiswarriordaysforlongyearsnochiefcouldrivalhim。Hisboasthadalwaysbeenthat,whenWingenundsoughttoeludehispursuers,histrailfadedamongthemossandtheferns。
Wetzel,calm,patient,resourceful,deliberatedamoment。TheDelawarehadnotcrossedthisrockyridge。Hehadbeencunningenoughtomakehispursuerthinksuchwashisintention。Thehunterhurriedtotheeasternendoftheridgefornootherreasonthanapparentlythatcoursewastheonethesavagehadtheleastreasontotake。Headvancedhurriedlybecauseeverymomentwasprecious。
Notacrushedbladeofgrass,abrushedleaf,anoverturnedpebblenorasnappedtwigdidhefind。HesawthathewasgettingneartothesideoftheridgewheretheDelaware\'strailhadabruptlyended。Ah！whatwasthere？A
twistedbitoffern,withthedropsofdewbrushedoff。Bendingbesidethefern,Wetzelexaminedthegrass;itwasnotcrushed。Asmallplantwithtriangularleavesofdarkgreen,layunderthefern。Breakingoffoneoftheseleaves,heexposeditslowersidetothelight。Thefine,silveryhairoffuzzthatgrewupontheleafhadbeencrushed。WetzelknowthatanIndiancouldtreadsosoftlyasnottobreakthespringygrassblades,buttheundersideofoneoftheseleaves,ifamanstepsonit,alwaysbetrayshispassagethroughthewoods。Tokeeneyesthisleafshowedthatithadbeenbruisedbyasoftmoccasin。Wetzelhadlocatedthetrail,butwasstillignorantofitsdirection。Slowlyhetracedtheshakenfernsandbruisedleavesdownoverthesideoftheridge,andatlast,nearastone,hefoundamoccasin—printinthemoss。Itpointedeast。TheDelawarewastravelinginexactlytheoppositedirectiontothatwhichheshouldbegoing。Hewas,moreover,exercisingwonderfulsagacityinhidinghistrail。This,however,didnottroubleWetzel,forifittookhimalongtimetofindthetrail,certainlytheDelawarehadexpendedasmuch,ormore,inchoosinghardground,logsorrocksonwhichtotread。
Wetzelsoonrealizedthathisowncunningwasmatched。Hetrustednomoretohisintuitiveknowledge,butstuckclosetothetrail,asahungrywolfholdstothescentofhisquarry。
TheDelawaretrailledoverlogs,stonesandhard—bakedground,upstonyravinesandovercliffs。Thewilychiefusedallofhisoldskill;hewalkedbackwardovermossandsandwherehisfootprintsshowedplainly;heleapedwidefissuresinstonyravines,andthenjumpedbackagain;helethimselfdownoverledgesbybranches;hecrossedcreeksandgorgesbyswinginghimselfintotreesandclimbingfromonetoanother;hewadedbrookswherehefoundhardbottom,andavoidedswampy,softground。
WithdoggedpersistenceandtenacityofpurposeWetzelstucktothisgraduallyfadingtrail。Everyadditionalrodhewasforcedtogomoreslowly,andtakemoretimeinordertofindanysignofhisenemy\'spassagethroughtheforests。Onethingstruckhimforcibly。Wingenundwasgraduallycirclingtothesouthwest,acoursethattookhimfartherandfartherfromtheDelawareencampment。