The Young Trailers

art swelled with pride, and he was no longer worried about Paul, because he saw that the latter's interest and ambitions were not exactly the same as his own

ich was tense and preoccupied, seemed graver than usual. The boy was too wise to ask questions, bu

of a wild turkey a

lots of 'em about here. You re

then, but in about fiv

particular wild turke

broke through the tan of his cheeks. He, Henry Ware, a rover of the wilderness to ask such foolish questions! A child of the towns would have shown as much sense

and, I guess

t wild turkey, and I know why you said last night we o

r caution, as their soundless bodies slipped through the undergrowth. Everywhere they looked for the trail of that wild turkey. It may be said that a turk

p, when Ross, suddenly stopped beside a little brook, or branch, as he and his comrades always called them, and po

ey has pa

uide

same flock. But that footprint is three or four hours old.

e to trace them on the turf and through the undergrowth. A half mile from the start other fo

Ohio or we wouldn't be left all these days b'il'n salt so pe

he Big Bone Lick it was still a dim far-away affair, but now he stood almost in its presence. The Shawnees, whose name was a name of terror to the new settlements, were probably not a mile

" said Ross, "an' bend low an' follow me. But don't

ady awakened. Henry bent far down, and holding his rifle before him in such a position that it could be used at a moment's warning, was following behind Ross so s

he crest of a hill thickly clothed in tall undergrowth the

," he

for a moment turned cold. Perhaps thirty in number, they were sitting in a glade about a little fire. All of them had blankets of red or b

if they do they don't think we know they've come, an' they're plann

e said nothing. It did not become him to venture op

, "an' they'd attack about midnight. That gives

were a half mile from the Indian camp they increased their speed t

d Ross to Shif'less Sol, "an' we must go kitin'

ent to work with extraordinary diligence and the others imitated his speed. To the schoolmaster

the backs of the horses along with the food for the way. In a little more than a half hour they were all ready and then they fled southward

d giant bones, and then, with resignation, turned his f

alf in delight, half in terr

. I believe we could whip 'em in a stand-up fight, though they are three to our one, but they know

away, even from a foe thrice as strong. Yet he could not questi

ernoon in early spring. The forest glowed in the tender green of the young buds, and, above them arched the sky a brilliant sheet of unbroken blue. Never did a world look more attractive, more harmless, and it seemed incredible that these wo

y'll follow us, H

it's mighty likely. They'll hang o

ertake us, ther

cour

Paul in Henry's esteem. The bigger and stronger boy knew his comrade's courage and tenacity, and he respected him a

ent angle in the heavens, and poured sheaves of fiery rays directly upon them. Mr. Pennypacker began to gasp. He was a man of dignit

he said; "the big bay there can carry his salt

y else is afoot!" exclaimed

and we can't afford to lose you," said

im, but he could not detect

t any time to be bashful. Others o

one or two others took to the horses' backs later on, but Henry continued the march on foot with long easy strides, and no sign of weakening. Ross notic

ckest shadows of the forest, they ate their supper and rested their tired limbs. No fire was lighted, b

ed. He had been troubled by the has

ite men should run away fro

ecomin', but it's

e master, "and we might rest here comfortably until

hey make the least noise then they're most dangerous. Now I'm certain sure that they struck our trail not long afte

d save the shuffling feet of the horses which could not be kept wholly quiet; and then they started on again, not going so qu

up by the s

t, this way?" he asked. "Wasn't Mr. Pennypack

t is likely to happen in them than Mr. Pennypacker could know in all his life, if he were to

ng, because Henry, like all the others, now took turns on horseback. Twice they crossed small streams and once a larger one, where they exercised the utmost caution

nt, softened by the spaces over which it came. It seemed to be far behind them, but inclining to the right, and after a few moments there came another faint cry just like it, also behind them, bu

cry of a wol

er wolf answer

laugh, but full of irony. Paul wheeled about at once, his pride af

olf-and a wolf that

between 'em. Them was the signal cries of the Shawnees, an', as Tom has been tellin' you all the time, they're ho

ck. "Thank God it will be daylight soon," he murmured to

tween. Henry noticed that Ross and Shif'less Sol seemed to draw themselves together, as if they would make every nerve and muscle taut, and then hi

a war party," said Mr. Pennypacker. "At least we are numerous

the heights of his

packer," he said, "those are the

guage!" exclaimed the exasperated schoolmaster, "instead o

e turned his face and hid the smile-he would not o

of golden beams upon the vast, green wilderness of Kentucky. Henry, as he looked around upon the little band, re

ned against tree trunks, Ross and Sol talked in low tones, but Henry could see that all their words were

de by real wolves, but by Shawnees, callin' to each other an' directin' the chase of us.

ter's eyes op

say that they are ove

e better trained travelers for woods than we

is eyes flashed. In the great battle ground of the white man and the red man,

in consulted and

uld be better to fight when we are fresh an

th Ross and Sol roamed round the forest and finally and simultaneously the two uttered a low cry of pleasure. They had come into rocky gr

d Ross loud enough for all to hear. "I

e of retreat," objec

llowin' it all the time," rejoined the leader. "Now we don't need it no more,

r salt," add

all these miles an' work all these days just to los

cky soil, which fortunately was covered with a good growth of

d Ross with a trace of a smile. "They can shoot our sa

o dragged up all the fallen tree trunks and boughs that they could find to help out their primitive fortific

a beautiful world. All the wilderness was touched with the tender young green of spring and nothing stirred but the gentle wind. The silky blue sky smiled over a scene so often enacted in early Kentucky, that great border battle ground of the white man and t

hed close to the earth behind their low and primitive wall, and then it looked into the forest at the red

eing nor any trace of a foe. Henry looked from tree to tree, but he could see no flitting shadow. Where the patches of grass grew it moved only with the regular sweep of the breeze. He began to think that Ross and Sol must be mistaken. The warriors

ke the swift lash of a whip, and then a cry, so terrible that Henry, strong as he was, shuddered in every nerve and muscle. The short high-pitched and agonizing shout died away in a wail and after it

killed one of 'em," he whis

lse," said Paul trembling. "I'll he

to hear it again every night for

his heart yearned over these two lads, his pupils, each a good boy in his own way. He felt that it was a part of hi

m, "don't expose yourselves. You are not called upon

, of course, we are!" replie

form a man's full duty, and Mr. Pennypacker, see

no thought of strife in a human breast anywhere. Henry again searched the forest in front of them, and, although he could see nothing, he was not deceived now by this app

g into one continuous ominous rattle; little puffs of white smoke arose, whistling bullets buried themselves with a sighing sound in the ba

f terror through Paul and Henry, but their disciplined minds held their bodies fir

e, every syllable of which cut through the tumult. "Don't shoot

g Ross's caution and their terrible need he restrained himself although his finger already lay caressingly on the trigger. Around him the rifles had begun to crack. Ross and Sol were firing with slow deliberate aim, and then reload

nter, but he had never hunted men before. When he looked again he saw a blur upon the ground, and despite himself and the fight for life, he shuddered. Paul beside him was now in a state of wild excitement. The smaller boy's ne

him, "if you jump up that way again exposing yourself to their bullets, I'll turn you over m

its height. Then it ceased so suddenly and so absolutely that the silence was appalling. The wind blew the smoke away, a few dark