"Wapaw must have worked hard, for we should have overhauled him by this
time," said Walter to his uncle on the evening of the next day, as they
plodded steadily along through the snow.
"I would give up the pursuit," said Robin, somewhat gloomily, "for it's
losin' time that might be better spent on another search; but it won't
do to leave the crittur, for if he's badly wounded he may die for want
o' help."
"Guess he can't be very bad, else he'd niver travel so fast," observed
Stiff, who, now that the chief murderer was punished, did not care much
to go in search of the wounded Indian.
"When a man thinks a band o' yellin' redskins are follerin' up his
trail," said Slugs, "he's pretty sure to travel fast, wounded or not
wounded--leastways if he's able. But I don't think we'll have to go
much farther now, for I've noticed that his stride ain't so long as it
was, and that's a sartin sure sign that he's failin'; I only hope he
won't go under before we find him."
"Niver a fear o' that," said Larry O'Dowd, with a grin. "I've seed him
as far gone as any one iver I comed across, wi' starvation; but the way
that fellow walked into the grub when he got the chance was wonderful to
behold! I thought he'd ait me out o' the house entirely; and he put so
much flesh on his bones in a week or two that he was able to go about
his business, though he warn't no fatter when he began to ait than a
consumptive darnin' needle. True for ye--it's naither walkin',
starvin', nor cowld, as'll kill Wapaw."
"What does the Black Swan think?" inquired Robin.
"We shall see Wapaw when the sun is low to-morrow," replied the Indian.
"Mayhap we shall," quoth Robin, "but it behooves us to get the steam up
for to-morrow: so, comrades, as there's a good clump o' timber here
away, we'll camp."
Robin threw down his bundle as he spoke, and his example was at once
followed by the others, each of whom set to work vigorously to assist in
preparing the encampment.
They had all the requisite implements for this purpose, having returned,
after the attack on the Indians, for the things they had left behind
them.
"It's a pity that we shall have to keep watch to-night," said Walter;
"one of us will have to do it, I fancy; for though I don't believe these
murderin' redskins have pluck to attack us, it would not do to trust to
that."
Slugs, to whom this remark was addressed, lowered the axe with which he
was about to fell a neighbouring tree for firewood.
"That's true," said he, looking round him in all directions; "hold on,
comrades, yonder's a mound with a bare top, we'd better camp there.
Makin' a big blaze on sitch a place'll show the red reptiles we don't
care a gun-flint for them, and they'll not dare to come near, so we
won't have to watch."
"Arrah! an' a purty spot it'll be for the blackyirds to shoot us all
aisy as we're sottin' at supper," exclaimed Larry O'Dowd.
"Doubtless there's a hollow on it," rejoined Slugs, "for the top is
flat."
"Humph! maybe," growled Larry, who still seemed to object; but, as the
rest of the party were willing to adopt the suggestion, he said no more,
and they all went to the top of the little mound, which commanded a
clear view of the surrounding country.
As Slugs had surmised, there was a slight hollow on the summit of the
mound, which effectually screened the party from any one who might wish
to fire at them from below; and as there was no other mound in the
immediate neighbourhood, they felt quite secure. Huge logs were cut and
carried to the top of the mound, the snow was cleared out of the hole,
pine branches were spread over it, the fire was kindled, the kettle put
on and filled with snow, and soon Larry O'Dowd was involved in the heat,
steam, smoke, and activities of preparing supper, while his comrades
spread out their blankets and lay down to smoke with their arms ready
beside them.
The fire roared up into the wintry sky, causing the mound to resemble
the cone or crater of a volcano, which could be seen for miles round.
Ever and anon, while supper was being eaten, the Black Swan or Slugs
would rise, and going stealthily to the edge of the mound would peep
cautiously over, to make sure that none of their enemies were
approaching.
Immediately after supper, they all lay down to sleep, but, for a time,
each motionless form that lay rolled tightly in its blanket like an
Egyptian mummy, sent a series of little puffs from its head. At last
the stars came out, and the pipes dropped from each sleeper's lips.
Then the moon rose--a circumstance which rendered their position still
more secure--and the fire sank low. But Slugs was too cautious a hunter
to trust entirely to the alleged cowardice of the savages. He knew well
that many, indeed most of the redskins, bad as well as good, had quite
enough of mere brute courage to make them dare and risk a good deal for
the sake of scalping a white hunter, so he rose once or twice during the
night to replenish the fire and take a look round; and as often as he
rose for these purposes, so often did he observe the glittering eye of
the Black Swan glaring round the encampment, although its owner never
once moved from his recumbent posture.
Thus the night was spent. The first glimmer of daylight found the whole
party up and equipped for the journey.
They did not breakfast before setting out, as they preferred to take
their morning meal later in the day. Few words were spoken. At that
early hour, and in the sleepy condition which usually results from a
_very_ early start, men are seldom inclined to talk. Only one or two
monosyllables were uttered as each man rolled up his blanket with his
share of the provisions in it, and fastened on his snow-shoes. A few
minutes later Robin led the way down the slope, and the whole party
marched off in single file, and re-entered the woods.