"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。