Dick's Desertion: A Boy's Adventures in Canadian Forests / A Tale of the Early Settlement of Ontario

in the

int, sad recollection of spring. The sun had not yet appeared above the far-off edge where the misty forest lands faded into mistier skies, but the promise of his a

his footsteps in the dried leaves sounding harsh and clamorous; but save for this, and for the lanterns which moved abo

ated ground ended in a low stump fence. Beyond this fence there was a small and rocky ravine, which ran up in a constantly narrowing cleft into the very midst of the fertile fields. On the crest of the dip Dick paused, and peere

ng from among the bushes. No sooner had he seen it than he scrambled silently, but with difficulty

ast. Dick had thought to steal upon him unheard, but he was disappointed, for the lad's eyes sought him out im

nes and untirable muscles. He was dressed in what had originally been a respectable suit of homespun, probably presented to him by good Mrs. Collinson, but it was patched and pieced out with all manner of skins and rags. A scarlet blanket served to keep out the frost. But his eyes were what attracted a

y and pleasant. Peter also saw that the English boy would not go more than one mile to his own two on the trail; that while he was probably a good shot, he lacked patience; and that he moved with excessive noise; so Peter value

t that his questions were too trivial to break the massive silence with which the young savage surrounded himself. It was the first time he had come into con

stick, and merely nodded again in answer, seeming to think it a matter of entire indifference whatever Dick chose to suppose. "When you 've been up to the hou

introduction of business. So after a few minutes' meditation, he grunted agreement. "All right, I come," he said. Then he turned hi

s taciturn manner; and before an hour had passed, the two lads, some

ed his pace from time to time as if out of consideration for his companion's weaknesses. It is not pleasant to know that your comrade can run twice as fast as you can, and to know that he knows it also. He h

nd then Dick made valiant efforts to gain upon his companion, but Pete

ent on, following unerringly the fresh scent, until, all at once, the character of the country changed, and a small, low, sandy hillock, almost bare of trees and unde

o be familiar enough; for Peter Many-Names, after a few minutes' search, unearthed two broad discs of thick wood from beneath the accumulation of leaf and vine which had

rdly wise, killing or sparing at his pleasure, with the Indian as an appreciative audience. He resented the w

the mouth of a burrow, where, Peter declared, the thief must now be securely and gorgedly sleeping. At the same time, he g

ge nature, so much wilder, so much stronger, than his own. There seemed to be something in the keen, dark face, with its strange eyes, which req

"see watch" the whole affair, which promised to be interesting, and even peculiar. He wondered why the I

y though loosely filled for some four feet from its mouth. Next he took one of the flat discs of wood, and fitted it carefully into the opening, using earth to wedge it firmly, and finally blocking

ut the fox?"

y to enter into a long and curiously worded e

n so doing he built a barrier in the burrow behind him as he worked, and by the time he had pushed them all back, he faced the immovable plug of wood, and was penned into a section of the tunne

at their work for that day was done, and done without his help or advice. He supposed there was

ing to read his thoughts. At last he spoke,

e this to-day?" he said,

o restraint! One more day of the deep silent undergrowth and the stately uplands, of the clear chill skies and the keen cold wind! One more day of the wilderness that was dearer and fairer to him than the farm an

g the love of God's "unmanstifled places" which glorifies their profitless wandering. Profitless only in the wor

and once more he chose the way that plea

nt in his dark face. He had a far keener appreciation of the situation than had Dick, and it gave him a boy's feeling of pride to think of all the wonders of the wood

recent frosts but made the going better. Very silently, Peter Many-Names turned into the undergrowth, Dick following closely in his track, and the well-trained dog following Dick as closely. He was troubled

rests of his dreams, and duty cal