THE CALL OF THE WILD.
First of all the explorer stopped by the fire and tossed several heavy
bits of fuel upon the embers, doing this with the air of one who looked
upon such an act as second nature.
Perhaps, if Stackpole were watching from under the shade of his hat
brim, he might alter his opinion with regard to the novice act, and
begin to understand that a fellow need not necessarily be raw to the
ways of the woods because he possesses means, and chooses to supply
himself with certain comforts that are apt to come in handy--the best of
moccasins, a modern quick-firing rifle that carries a small bullet
calculated to spread in mushroom shape upon striking the quarry and do
the work of a gun of much larger caliber, a sleeping-bag, a compact
kerosene stove for the inevitable wet time in camp when the wood will
not burn--a veteran is apt to turn up his nose at such innovations, and
growl that the simple life suits him as it did his forebears; but, when
the rainy spell arrives he is just as willing to cook upon the little
stove he derided as the next one; and of a cold night, with the wind
howling around like a fiend, give him an opportunity to snuggle down
inside that cozy bag which had excited his contempt, and ten to one you
will be hardly able to divorce him from it at dawn.
Cuthbert had tried both ways, and, like the sensible chap he was,
decided that a man would be a fool to choose the old method with its
lack of comfort when able to afford these modern luxuries.
He stalked over to the boats, trailing his gun along, as Owen saw with
grim pleasure, for it told him Cuthbert had not changed his mind with
regard to the character of their guest, and would undoubtedly keep a
close eye on Stackpole while his watch lasted.
The other dropped down beside him, with a few words of greeting.
Owen thought he detected a slight movement of the recumbent form, and
believed Stackpole must be awake--he made no effort to sit up and look
around, which in itself was somewhat suspicious, for a veteran of his
caliber must have so educated his faculties that not a movement, however
slight, could take place in a camp where he was sleeping without his
knowing it.
The boys sat there and conversed in low tones for quite a long spell;
indeed, Cuthbert had to almost drive Owen to the tent, so contented did
the Canadian lad seem to be in his company--lonely enough had his life
been since the loss of those he held dear, and there was something
infinitely precious to him in the cheery radiance of this optimistic
Yankee who had crossed his path at a period when he desperately needed a
friend.
Cuthbert settled himself down for a good siege when finally he had seen
the other crawl into the tent, for he was not to arouse Eli, who slept
like a log, until it was after three by his little silver watch.
He had made up his mind that if this pilgrim to whom they had given
shelter and food as become generous campers, showed any disposition to
pilfer he would treat him in a summary manner, and chase him into the
woods, just as any rascal should be made to decamp; and the fact of
Stackpole's gigantic figure made not a particle of difference in his
calculations.
Whatever the fellow may have planned to attempt during the silent
watches of the night, his nerve evidently failed him, for he did not
venture to make the least move; possibly the combination of these three
determined-looking lads awed him more than he could care to admit, or it
might be he had other schemes up his sleeve whereby the same end could
be accomplished without taking so much risk--at any rate Cuthbert sat
his watch out, and after fixing the fire again, aroused Eli, who in turn
sauntered over to the boats, carrying his patron's cherished gun, which
he as dearly loved to fondle as a girl might a kitten.
And if Stackpole saw this, as he evidently must under the shelter of
that hat brim, he knew it would be a signal for trouble with a big T if
he tried any queer business with these wideawake lads.
Cuthbert was almost positive he heard him give a disgusted grunt as he
settled back for another snooze, and they heard nothing farther from him
until morning, when he arose, yawning and stretching his huge bulk, as
though he had been dead to the world from the moment he lay down.
They treated him decently and gave him an abundance of breakfast, which
the big timber-cruiser gulped down with the eagerness of a hungry wolf;
for it had been a long day since he tasted such delicious bacon and
coffee with flap-jacks to "beat the band," as Eli said, made by Owen,
who had proved to be superior as a cook to either of his new friends,
the gift being a legacy from his mother, he confessed.
Nevertheless, there was an air of restraint about their associations
with the woodsman, which he could not but feel, and therefore he made
up his bundle soon after, saying he must be on his way, and while they
were engaged in stowing the tent he took his departure, grunting some
sort of thanks for the many favors he had received at their hands.
If what Owen told them of the fellow's nature was actually so, this
generosity on the part of the young explorer would not count for a row
of pins when occasion arose whereby the temptation came to Stackpole to
appropriate some of the expensive outfit his envious eyes had gloated
over during his stay with them.
Our friends did not hasten their departure, for they wished to let him
have a long lead; for he had left the camp going in a direction that, if
persisted in, would land him at Fort Harmony in due time.
Owen had not changed his mind since the preceding night, when he
asserted so positively that it was his opinion, judging from what he
knew of the relations existing between this rover of the mighty woods
and the chief factor of the region, Stackpole would hardly turn up at
the post, since there had long been bad blood between these men, and the
cruiser was too shrewd to put himself in the power of so strenuous an
enemy as the grim old Scotch trading master, who ruled affairs in this
stretch of country as though he were king.
"I think he only started in that direction to blind us; and that after
going a mile or less he will break off the trail and head where he was
aiming for last night when he saw our fire, and thought there might be
something worth picking up here, or else keep watch of our movements,"
said Owen, as he pulled the cords tight around the bag that held the
waterproof tent, while the others were doing the same duty for the
smaller bags in which food and extra clothes had been thrust.
Cuthbert chuckled as though greatly tickled.
"Well, if that was his hope, I'm afraid he was bitterly disappointed in
his calculations, that's all. We kept him under cover, all right, and
perhaps he's mentally kicking himself now over having wasted so many
hours peeping out from under that hat brim when he might just as well
have been snoozing."
Eli professed to be greatly disappointed, for he remarked dejectedly:
"Thought I might get a chance to try your gun, and I had just made up my
mind like which leg I'd pepper if he tried to sneak anything away. Well,
p'raps we may run across the critter again, and I'll just keep it in
mind that it was the left leg I chose--he's got somewhat of a limp in
the right one now, and you see that'd sort of even things up. I don't
like to see a lopsided feller nowadays."
"Yes, I believe you're something of a philanthropist, Eli, always
looking out to do somebody good, even if you have to force it into them
with a hypodermic syringe or a shotgun. For my part, I don't care if we
never set eyes on old Stack again, for I fancy the fellow mighty little.
There is something about his eyes that goes against my grain, a shifty
look that you see in a wolf. He's welcome to all he stowed away, but I
hope he doesn't fancy he has a standing invitation to drop in frequently
to supper."