The Young Trailers

ved to fish, it became his duty to supply the table with fish, and that, too, at regular hours, and he also began to think of traps and snares, which he would set in the autumn for game. It was

he names of which he did not know. Sometimes when his hook and line had brought him all that was needed, and the day was hot, he would take off his clothing and plunge into the deep, cool pools. Often his friend, Paul Cotter, was with

s did not go to the river, quickly throw off their clothing, and jump into the clear water. There they swam an

ike to have nothing to do, but wander through the woods just as you pleased, slee

rest, and the blue haze of the sky beyond. Hi

a white man, after a while, and they say that the difference betw

get along without

all the country because we've learned

is thoughts wandered far into th

le wandered away into the forest and were lost, they could not be replaced. It was now the latter half of summer, and the grass and foliage were fast turning brown in the heat. Late on the afternoon of one of th

feet. Quickly they threw off their garments and sprang into the water. How cool and grateful it felt! The

rustle. There was thunder in the distance and a stroke of lightning. The

ry, who was weatherwise, "an

The heat had been great for days, and the earth was parched and thirsty. The men had talked in the evening of rain, and said how welcome i

ontinuous; the forest groaned as it bent before the wind. Then the great drops fell, and soon they were beating the earth like volleys of pistol bullets. Fragments of boughs, stripped off

ut one cow, driven by terror, broke from the rest and ran toward the woods. Agile Henry, not willing to lose a single straggler, pursued the fugit

owing her nature, expected trouble. So he ran as fast as he could, and he was not

aul! I'll b

. He considered it as much his duty to help as it wa

woods, and saving themselves from falls, or collisions with trees, only by the light from the flashes of lightning. Many boys, even on the border, would have turned back, but there

less frequency. Both the boys were drenched, but they did not mind it; they did not even know it at the time. The lightning died presently, the thunder ceased to rumble, and then the darkness fell like a great blan

eluctantly. "We couldn't follow a whole h

ind her to-morr

ry. "We've got to wait

h sheets directly in their faces that it half blinded them, now and then their feet sank deep in mire and their drenched bodies began to grow cold. The little log houses in which they

e near the cle

uide to them. But they saw none. They had misjudged the distance, so they thought, and they pushed on a half hour longer, but there wa

e wrong way!"

," reluctantly

wilderness, and they did not fear even darkness and wandering through the wood

heard, besides that made by themselves. They stopped again, worn out and disconsolate at last. All their walking only served to confuse them the more. Neither now had any idea of the direction in which Wareville lay, and to be lost in the wilde

we to do?"

say," rep

rying, and Henry and Paul, taking off their coats, wrung the water from them. They were strong lads, inured to many hardships of the border and the forest, and they did not fear ill results from a mere wetting. Nevertheless, they wish

ed and sleepy at every step. They were hungry, too, but if they might only sleep they could forget that. They heard again the hooting of owls and the wind, moaning among the leaves, made strange noises. Once th

hem, and it was dark in the recess, but the boys were too tired now to worry about shadows. They crept into the hollow,

est, new-washed by the rain, smelt clean and sweet. The south wind was still blowing. The world was bright and beautiful, but he was conscious of an acute pain at the center of his being. That is, he was i

er, that the wilderness was very vast and they were very small. But Henry and Paul did not despair; in fact no such thought entered Henry's mind. Instead he began to find a certain joy in the situation; it appealed to his courage. They resolved to find something to eat, and they used first a temporary cure for the pangs of hunger. Each had a strong clasp knife and they cut strips of the soft inner bark of the slippery-elm tree, which they chewed,

er," said Henry, "and it's strange if

aid Paul, "we could get all the meat we wan

ust obtain more solid food than wild plums and blackberries, if they would retain their strength, and both boys knew it. Yet they saw no way and they continued wandering

one of those fine

xclaimed Henry, a sudden f

l we have to do is to whistle and the finest of 'em will come

nd lines now but we mig

, and he looked in am

clothes," re

f their clothing-cloth in those days was often made as strong as leather-and twisted and knotted them together until they had a line fifteen feet long. It

we to get a hook

s trousers were fastened together at the back. Breaking this apart he bent the slend

e may slip off or he may no

th a clasp knife, served for the first, and, to get the latter, they had nothing

a triumphant flourish Henry

he biggest fish that e

inhabitants, besides being full of a natural curiosity, did not dream of any danger coming from the outer air. Therefore

nd then Paul uttered a cry of triumph, but Henry, as became his superior dignity at that moment, took his victory modestly. It was in reality something to rejoice over, as these two boys were perhaps i

is pocket the flint and steel that he had learned from the men

then Paul relieved him. It fell to the younger boy's lot to succeed. A bright spark flying forth rested a moment among the lightest and dryest of the twigs, igniting there. A tiny point of flame appeared, then grew and leaped up. In a few moments the grea

y might not have such luck with it again. Paul suggested that they make a fish trap, of sticks tied together with strips cut from their clothing, and put it in the cree

it would naturally love to make his nest and around a circle about six inches in diameter he drove a number of smooth pegs. Then he tied a strong cord made of strips of their clothing to one end of a stout b

anything that might have its head thrust into the inclosure. The bush, too, would fly back into place and there would be the intruder,

th bruised pieces of the small plantain leaves that the rabbits love. Then they con

lothes every time we get a dinner we

only l

ut there was none to be thankful for, and they were too tired to fish again. So they concluded t

heap as high as their heads, which blazed and roared in a splendid manner, sending up

boys to build it, even aside from its uses as a signal, as the co

k and red met. He could live in the woods, he was living now without arms, even, and if he only had his rifle and ammunition he could live in luxury. And then the wonderful freedom! That old thought came to him with renewed force. To roam as he pleased, to stop when he pleased and to

thing as effective as guns against panthers and that was the great bonfire which still roared and blazed near them. He was glad now for a new reason that they had built it high, because the panther's cry was so uncanny and sent such a chill down one's back. He

ound and Henry was sure that he heard a soft tread. He rose upon his elbow and gazed into the darkness. There he beheld at last a dim form moving with sinuous motion, an

knew, however, that they were drawn not by the desire to attack, but by a kind of terrified curiosity. The fire was to them the magnet that the snake is to the fascinated bird. He longed then for

red eyes, and presently Henry, doing as he had done on a former

rting down upon them. Their flight was so quick that they disappeared in an instant and Henry knew they would not venture near th

's the matter

othing," re

s did not have the attraction for him that it had for his comrade, and he wished again for the strong log walls and comfortable roofs of Wareville. But Henry reassured

dually weary nature became the master of him. The woods grew di

. He knew now that the Indian warriors had come across the Ohio, and

rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. It was Paul sure enough standing beside him, and the sun a

cried Henry as he

e from the third, and the loop sprung, but there was nothing in it. The hearts of the boys sank and they thought again of wild plums and blackberries which were

ull of game that some of it fa

e time to this problem of food, and they decided, for the present, not to leave the creek. They were afraid to renew the search for Wareville, lest they wander deeper into the wilderness,

for, at least two hours passed, without either boy getting a bite. When the fish did lay hold it was usually to slip again from the rude hook, and it was at least another

e mouth like fire, but which Henry said they could use, after soaking it a long time in water. Then they discussed the matter of the fish trap which they thought they could ma

d then by following the stream, if his surmise was right, they could reach home again. It was a plausible theory and Henry agreed with him. Meanwhile they built their fire high again and lay down for another n

as dry as tinder. They refreshed themselves with a swim in the creek just before lying down to sleep, but they were soon pa

earch for them would never cease so long as there was a hope of success, and they thought that th

ind would blow

d a rain like the one in wh

ur of the night by a roaring in his ears, and at first he believed that Paul was about to have his stor

ng his comrade by the should

the flames twisting into pyramids and columns leaped from tree to tree with a sound like thunder

he conflagration had been set by their own bonfire, fanned by a rising wind as they slept, but it was no time to lament. The rush and sweep of the flames, feeding upon the dry forest and gathering strength as they came, was terrific. It was indeed like the thunder of a storm in the ears of the

said Paul, who en

" replied Henry. "This creek won

ing like the battle-front of an army, and destroying everything that lies before it. It leaves but bla

ul than ever. The flames leaped higher than the tops of the tallest trees, and thrust out long red twining arms, like coiling serpents. Beneath was the

e's hand again. "We've got to run, as we'v

flame were coming nearer and nearer and the sparks flew over their heads in greater showers. Paul was panting, and being the younger and smaller of the two his strength was now failing. Henry felt his comrade dragging upon his hand. If he freed himself from Paul's gras

of fire. The deer were in a panic of terror, and a great stag ran for a few moments beside the boys, not noticing them, or, in his fear of greater evil, having no fear of human beings wh

sank to his kn

e stay here and you s

e almost blinded him. A boy with a spirit less stanch than his might well have fled in a panic, leaving his companion to his

a stick, he struck Paul several smart blows on his back. Paul cried out with the sud

comrade again by the hand. "One more big try and we'll get away! Just

they reached the brow of the hill both uttered a shout of delight. There was no forest for perhaps a qua

oyous that he

exclaimed. "Here's sa

cross the short dry grass, burnt brown by late summer days, running for life toward the flowing

ck to the surface, spluttering and blowing the water out of eyes, mouth and nostrils. A brown head was bobbing beside him. He seized it by

la

and he began to swim about, looking at the boys with great pathetic eyes, as if he would ask them what he ought to do next

Splash

more deer, a buffalo, and any number of smaller game spra

vided at the little prairie, and swept around them, passing to left and right. It was a grim sight. All the heavens seemed ablaze, and the clouds of smoke were suffocating. Even there in the river the heat was most oppressive, and at time

d prairie are here," said Henry. "Anoth

ith awe-stricken eyes. It swept past them and rushed on, in a gr

Yet so great was the wall of fire that it was long in sight, dying at last in a red band

te and blackened ruin. Here and there charred trunks stood like the chimneys of burned houses, and others lay upon the ground like fallen and smoking rafters. Scattered about were great beds of living coals, where the b

that fire,

, "but we didn't know our spark w

nd a deer still alive and with a broken leg, tripped in its panic-stricken flight or struck by a fallen tree. Henry approached cautiously and slew him with his clasp knife. H

t toil they lifted it over the hot ground, and then across another little prairie, until they came to woods

o begin all over again, but they resolved to spend the rest of the present day, there under the shade of

rdships were beginning to weigh upon him and he thought all the time of Wareville, and the comfortable little log houses and the certain and easy supplies of food. Henry knew what was on his comrade's mind but he did not upbraid him for weakness o

or us to have reached it, since we've been wandering around. So it must be the same. Now either we are above Wareville or we are below it. We've got to guess at

ver come to i

he raft and follow the river back up th

enthusiasm and they decided that they would