The Young Trailers

n he and Paul were unarmed and destitute in the forest. The walls of the little log house in which he

of Paul bent over the big text of an ancient history, he would apply himself anew to his labor which cons

son will be a great scholar," he said once to Mr. Ware, "but he will be a Nimrod, a mighty hunter before men, and a leader in action. I

ed Mr. Ware, "the

. Pennypacker's eyes followed him. But both rem

comfort that the lad has a sen

nry heard that Ross had arrived the night before from the nearest settlement a hundred miles away, but had stayed only an hour, going to their second nearest neighbor distant one hundred and fifty miles. He brought news of som

e came between him and the page a vision of the beaver dam and the pool above it, now covered with a sheet of ice, and

there were no recitations. The teacher seemed to be looking far away at something outside the schoolroom, and his thoughts followed his eyes. Henry by a

o all the world in general that Mr. Pennypacker was about to speak on a matter of impo

pass away, but now, for the first time in many months, news had come across the mountains from their old home, and had entered the great forest. The troubles were not gone. On the contrary they had

est the patriotism of the settlers in the wilderness burned with a glow all the brighter on that account. More than o

homes for themselves, but to win the land that it might be homes for others. There were rumors that the savages would be used against them, that they might come down in

that little Massachusetts town, thrilled him as nothing in his life had done before. He had a vague idea of go

may have to defend ourselve

no more of its progress. They might be fighting great battles away off there on the Atlantic coast, but no news came

ey would hear anything further until spring, because the winter was unusually

re was no need for them now to roam the cold forests in search of game. They built the fires higher and watc

raps for game and were not without reward. Often they found elk and deer, and once or twice a buffalo floundering in the deep snowdrifts, and these they added to the winter larder. They br

snow turned great portions of the forest into lakes. The trees stood in water a yard deep, and the aspect of the wilderness was gloomy and desolate. Even the most resolute of the hunters let the game alone at such a time. Often the warm winds would cease to blow when night came and then the great lagoons would be cover

ized with a sudden regret that it was almost at its end. He was beginning to feel the se

ass and foliage and the young buds were swelling. Henry heard the whisper of these winds and every one of them called to him. He knew that he was wanted out there in the woods. He began to hate the sight of human

s when he was not hungry. When his mother noticed the latter circumsta

e; take your rifle and bri

then the glory of living! The blood was flushing in his veins as the sap was rising in the trees around him. The world was coming forth from its torpor of winter refreshed and strengthened. He saw all about him the signs of

rough illimitable forests and float silently down unknown rivers came over him. He would not feel the ne

e still clucking to each other. Henry, through sheer energy and flush of life, ran up the slope, and

ce, it blended into one mass, already showing a pervading note of green with faint touches of pink bloom appearing here and there. The

ets. Birds in plumage of scarlet and blue and gold shot like a flame from tree to tree

n he leaped the stream and went on into the deeper woods, a tall, lithe, strong figure, his ey

ng at him with expanding and startled eyes. Henry standing quite still r

e woods. There was no undergrowth, and Henry for a long time watched the form of the de

red in the setting sun

e deer?" ask

it!" said Henry

e merel