HAWKING WITHOUT A HAWK.
Verty nursed the wounded pigeon with the tenderness of a woman and the
skill of a physician; so that on the third day, as he had promised
himself, the bird was completely "restored to health." The wing had
healed, the eyes grown bright again, every movement of the graceful
head and burnished neck showed how impatient the air-sailer was to
return to his mistress and his home.
"_Ma mere_" said Verty, standing at the door of the old Indian woman's
lodge, "I think this pretty pigeon is well. Now I shall carry it back,
and I know I shall find Redbud."
Verty, it will be seen, had concealed nothing from his mother; indeed,
he never concealed anything from anybody. He had told her quite simply
that he wanted to see Redbud again; that they wouldn't tell him where
she was; and that the pigeon would enable him to find her. The old
woman had smiled, and muttered something, and that was all.
Verty now stood with one hand on Cloud's mane, in the early morning,
ready to set forth.
The pigeon was perched upon his left hand, secured to Verty's arm by a
ribbon tied around one of its feet. This ribbon had been given him by
Redbud.
In the other hand he carried his rifle, for some days disused--at his
feet lay Longears and Wolf, in vain pleading with down-cast eyes for
permission to accompany him.
"What a lovely morning!" said Verty, "and look at Cloud, _ma
mere_!--he seems to know it's fall. Then there's Wolf, who can't
understand what I told him about Mr. Rushton's not liking so many
dogs--see how sorry he is."
"The gun makes him so," said the old woman; "he thinks my boy is going
a hunting."
"Maybe I shall--who knows?" Verty said. "If I see a deer upon my way,
good-bye to the law work!"
And bounding lightly into the saddle--a movement which caused the
pigeon to open and flutter its wings--Verty smiled on the old woman,
placed his hand on his breast, and touched Cloud with his heel.
Cloud shook his head, and set forward cheerfully, Longears galloping
by his master's side.
Verty drank in the Autumn loveliness with that delight which he always
experienced in the fresh pure hills, with the mountain winds around
him. The trees seemed to be growing more and more gorgeous in their
coloring, and the cries of wild birds were far more jubilant
than ever. As he went on along the narrow bridle path, under the
magnificent boughs, his countenance was brighter and more joyous, and
he broke once or twice into a song.
Suddenly, while he was humming thus in a low tune, to himself, a still
"croak!" attracted his attention, and he stopped abruptly.
"Ah!" he murmured, "that's a good big gobbler, and I'll see about
him!"
And Verty cautiously dismounted, and with one foot raised, listened
for a repetition of the sound.
It was not long before the turkey's call was again heard from a thick
copse on his left.
The young hunter turned, and imprisoning Cloud's nostril in his
nervous grasp, looked fixedly into that intelligent animal's eyes.
Cloud seemed to understand very well--nodded his head--drew a long
breath--and stood like a statue. Verty then placed his foot upon
Longears, made a gesture with his hand, and Longears showed himself
equally docile. He laid down, and without moving, followed his master
with his eyes, and listened.
Verty crept noiselessly, without treading on a leaf or a twig, to a
neighboring thicket, from which the horse and dog were not visible.
He then lay down in the bushy top of a fallen pine, and without the
assistance of any "call," such as hunters generally make use of,
uttered the low, cautious cry of the wild turkey. This he repeated a
number of times, and then remained still.
For ten or fifteen minutes no noise disturbed the stillness of the
forest; all was quiet. Then a slight agitation of the leaves was
visible at the distance of fifty or sixty yards, and a magnificent
gobbler made his appearance, moving his bright head, and darting upon
every side glances of curiosity and circumspection.
He was looking for the female who had called him.
Verty cocked his rifle, and uttered the low croak again.
This seemed to remove any fears which the turkey had--he replied
to it, and advanced toward Verty's impromptu "blind." A streak of
sunlight through the boughs fell on his burnished neck and brilliant
head, and he paused again.
Verty ran his eye along the barrel--covered the turkey bashaw's head,
and fired. The ball passed through the fowl's throat, and he fell
back with violent flutterings--no longer anything but the memory of a
living turkey.
"Very well," said Verty, smoothing the head of his pigeon, which had
been greatly startled by the explosion, "I can shoot better than
that--I ought to have hit your eye, Monsieur."
And going to the spot he took up the turkey, and then returned to
Cloud, who, with Longears at his feet, remained perfectly quiet,
Verty tied the turkey to his saddle-bow, and went on laughing. He made
his entry into Winchester in this extremely lawyer-like guise; that is
to say, in moccasins and leggins, with a rifle in one hand, a pigeon
on the wrist of the other, and a turkey dangling at his horse's side.
Cloud, in order to complete the picture, was shaggier than ever, and
Verty himself had never possessed so many tangled curls. His shoulders
were positively covered with them.
Unfortunately Winchester had no artist at the period.
Mr. Roundjacket was standing at the door of the office, and he greeted
Verty with a loud laugh.
"You young savage!" he said, "there you are looking like a barbarous
backwoodsman, when we are trying our very best to make a respectable
lawyer of you."
Verty smiled, and let Cloud dip his muzzle into the trough of a pump
which stood by the door, venerable-looking and iron-handled, like all
parish pumps.
"What excuse have you, young man?" said Mr. Roundjacket. "The
individual who arrives late at the locality of his daily exercitation
will eventually become a candidate for the high and responsible
position of public suspension."
"_Anan_? said Verty, who was not accustomed to paraphrase. Then
turning his eyes toward the pigeon, he said:
"Pretty fellow! Oh! will you show me the way? You shall--to see
Redbud!"
And Verty, for the first time, seemed to realize the fact, that he
could see her again. His countenance became brilliant--his eyes were
filled with light--his lips wreathed with smiles.
Mr. Roundjacket was astounded.
"Young man," he said, sticking his pen behind his ear, "I should
be pleased to know what you are thinking about! You are really
extravagant, sir--you need the purifying and solidifying influence of
the law; believe me--hey! what are you doing there?"
Verty was gnawing off the ribbon from the pigeon's foot, tied too
tightly; he could not undo it, and having no knife, used his sharp
white teeth for the purpose.
The pigeon sank down toward the horizon--seemed about to
disappear--Verty uttered a deep sigh. But no: the bird suddenly
pauses, drops from the clouds, and settles upon the roof of a house
crowning a grassy hill, which hill was distant from Verty not more
than a quarter of a mile.
A smile of delight passed over Verty's countenance. He had found
Redbud--she was there!
There was no longer any necessity for such headlong speed--he could go
on slowly now--the goal was near, and would not fly as he approached.
Verty drew near the house, which was a tall, wooden structure,
embowered in trees, and carefully reconnoitered with true
huntsman-like precision. He thought that the place looked like the
residence of Redbud--it was so bright, and sunny, and cheerful.
On the roof sat the returned pigeon, cooing, and pluming his wings
among his fellows.