WANDERING THROUGH THE DRIFTS
IT was a chagrined and sadly disappointed lot of scouts who turned and
looked at each other after the last had been seen of the fleeing buck.
"What a splendid set of antlers he had!" Lil Artha exclaimed.
"To think of how close we came to having a supply of fresh meat!"
groaned Toby, shaking his head dismally, as he put a hand on the pit of
his stomach, just as if he wished to call their attention to its
depressed appearance.
"Was it really a deer?" asked George. "Now, you needn't all turn on me
so savagely, like you think I'm away off my base. I've known hungry
people to imagine they saw things. Ain't it always the thirsty traveler
who sees the mirage on the desert, and thinks he can hear the gurgle of
the running water as he looks at the river boiling among the rocks?
Course it is; and so I say again, was it really a deer, or did we just
_think_ we saw one?"
Knowing the folly of trying to convince George when he chose to question
even his own eyes, the others made no attempt to swing him around to
their way of thinking.
"That goes to show us the meaning of our motto 'Be Prepared,'" Lil Artha
continued. "Now, if either Elmer or me had happened to have a gun in our
hands how easy it would have been to bowl that fine buck over. And then
think what it would mean to all of us. Wow! after this I'm meaning to
stick even closer to my gun than a brother."
"We always shut the door after the horse has been stolen," said Elmer,
"but even in our misfortune you can see the silver lining to the cloud
if you look."
"Then for goodness' sake, Elmer, point it out, so George can get that
sour frown off his face. He don't believe what he sees, and yet he's
grieving worse than any of us because we didn't get that venison when we
had the chance."
"If there's one deer up here in this forest there must be others," Elmer
told them. "You may have noticed that he went off in about the same
direction we expect to head in when we start. We may see him again, and
if that luck comes our way we'll try and be ready next time."
Ten minutes later and chancing to look out over the snow Elmer saw a
moving object that gave him a start, until on looking a second time he
made it out to be only George, who was prowling around, looking for any
signs the deer may have left as he broke through the deep snow drifts.
Evidently George must have been convinced, for when he came in later
there was a satisfied expression on his face; and noticing Elmer
observing him the doubter nodded his head, and simply said:
"It was a deer all right; I saw his tracks out there!"
They had been sitting by the fire eating their frugal lunch for
something like five minutes when the sun suddenly looked down at them,
dazzling their eyes with his bright beams glinting from all that snow.
Of course the four boys immediately broke out into a shout, they were so
glad to see the cheerful face of the sun again. The meal was finished in
record time; but then perhaps that was not to be wondered at, for the
supply had run far short of the demand; and Lil Artha, after polishing
his pannikin until he could almost see his face in the same, jocosely
remarked:
"The sample was pretty fine; now bring on the dinner!"
They were so eager to get moving that they did not allow their state of
hunger to give them much concern. The rude shelter was taken down,
though they had some trouble with the rubber ponchos, as they seemed to
be frozen stiff under the accumulated snow, which from time to time had
thawed in the heat of the fire, only to congeal again later on.
In the end, however, everything was packed as before, and having secured
their blankets over their shoulders again, the scouts were ready to make
a start. Toby had made his threat good, and had his wonderful snowshoes
on. He struck out bravely enough, and at first seemed to be able to
easily outstrip his companions. This caused him to feel an unnatural
exultation, for he began calling back at them, and derisively telling
them to "hurry up," that they were "too slow a bunch for him," and all
that sort of nonsense.
Then suddenly this tirade ceased.
"Wonder what's happened to him now?" Lil Artha remarked, turning a
grinning face toward Elmer, who simply replied:
"Wait and see, and be ready to laugh, though it's never a laughing
matter to the fellow with the snowshoes!"
As Elmer had expected would be the case they presently discovered
something floundering in the snow, which upon closer inspection proved
to be Toby's feet. He had lost his balance while negotiating a big
drift, and in spite of the assistance afforded by the long staff he
carried, had taken a plunge, so that when they arrived his feet were
where his head should be.
Elmer knew how to go about it in order to right the novice. Toby was no
longer bubbling over with enthusiasm as he once more started off. He was
learning that even innocent looking snow-shoes may have traps concealed
about them for the unwary; and afterward he conducted his advance with
much more caution.
In spite of this, however, the others had to rescue him regularly about
once every fifteen minutes, until finally even Toby was ready to call
the experiment off for the time being.
"I'll get there yet, see if I don't," he assured the others, as they
gathered around to watch him take the big cumbersome things off his
feet, and sling them over his back. "Uncle Caleb'll teach me how to use
'em; and besides, Elmer, didn't you say this was mighty poor snow for a
learner to start out with? Gimme time, and I'll master the trick yet,
see if I don't."
Elmer did not doubt in the least but what he would, because this sort of
talk showed the determined spirit that always gets there in the end, no
matter how many difficulties may be encountered by the way.
They found it hard traveling through all that accumulated snow, even
though the pilot of the expedition made it a point to pick out the
easiest course, avoiding most of the drifts, though keeping on the
course he had laid out in the beginning.
As they went they used their eyes to the best advantage, hoping to
discover something in the shape of game, little they cared whether it
might be a covey of partridges, a rabbit that was out of its burrow at
the wrong time, a deer, or even so small a thing as a gray squirrel.
As the afternoon began to wear on, and their progress was becoming
slower all the while, on account of weariness, and the difficulty of
pushing through the snow, their hopes took a downward turn with the drop
of the sun toward the horizon.
Everywhere lay that unending white blanket. The breeze had stopped, and
it seemed as though a deathly silence lay upon all the region roundabout
them, now and then disturbed when some rotten limb broke under the
weight of snow, and crashed to the ground; for in the beginning, before
it became so cold, the falling flakes had clung tenaciously wherever
they dropped, and thus the trees were in places bending double with
their burden.
Still not the slightest sign did any of the boys discover of human
presence. If only they could have caught the ringing echo of a woodman's
ax, or hear the hello of a hunter returning to camp with game on his
back, what a thrill must have passed through their whole bodies; but to
have that terrible silence around them was discouraging, to say the
least.
All of them were staggering more or less by now. It was the absence of
hope as much as the fact of their being tired that caused this. Could
they have glimpsed smoke curling upward a mile ahead, to tell them of
succor, doubtless even George, who was more worn out than any of the
others, would have started on a mad rush to reach the coveted camp where
comfort and plenty awaited them.
But that was not fated to be just then. The scouts had by accident found
themselves entangled in a network of difficulties, and there were still
other experiences awaiting them before they could expect to reach the
end of their adventure.
All of them seemed to be holding up as well as could be expected. George
could forget his weakness when he chose, and show that he had the right
sort of stuff in him, just as Elmer had known all along. He did not
complain even as much as Toby did; though perhaps that worthy was soured
by his keen disappointment in connection with his wonderful snow-shoes,
which after all had only been a delusion, a snare, and a burden up to
date.
They knew that this sort of thing could not keep up a great while
longer, for the sun would soon be ready to set in the west, and they
must think to prepare for another dismal night in the endless snow
forest.
Somehow no one mentioned anything about the prospect ahead now. They
dreaded it more than ever, because the conditions were gradually getting
harder all the while. When a parcel of well grown boys, with the healthy
appetites of their kind, are reduced to cutting their rations down to
one-half, they do not face the future with anything approaching
enthusiasm.
Their manner of march was about like this: Elmer went in front, breaking
a way, as it might be described, and his was the eye that had to pick
the course, avoiding all the difficult drifts as much as possible,
though heading into the near-northwest as arranged at the time they laid
their plans.
Immediately after him came Toby, puffing like a porpoise at times, being
short of breath; and occasionally floundering about when he lost his
footing or made a miscalculation.
On his heels George plodded along, looking this way and that, ever ready
to call to Elmer did he but discover a moving, dun-colored object that
might turn out to be the deer they had missed.
Lil Artha brought up the rear, though with those long waders of his it
must have been an easy task for him to have taken the lead, since they
seemed particularly adapted for carrying their owner through floods of
snow or water. Lil Artha kept his gun ready at all times. If game that
had been made to hide because of the coming of Elmer attempted to slink
away later on, the tall scout was on hand, ready to take advantage of
the first opportunity.
So far nothing had rewarded their vigilance, much to their keen
disappointment. That there was game to be found in the forest they did
not question; but after such a heavy fall of snow it wisely remained in
den or hollow tree, waiting for a change in the weather before venturing
forth. Hunger would eventually compel most of the animals that did not
hibernate like the bear to issue forth and seek their accustomed food;
but they could abstain for days, and meanwhile what was to become of the
four scouts?
As they moved along the stillness was disturbed by the noisy cawing of a
flock of crows that seemed to be disputing some matter. Often had the
boys watched the queer actions of crows when holding what Toby called a
"cawcus," as though trying one of their number that had been caught
doing something unfair, according to crow laws; but never had they
anticipated they would begin to observe the noisy black fellows with
hungry eyes.
"If it comes to the worst, crow mightn't go so _very_ bad," suggested
Lil Artha.
"Well, we haven't got to that point yet, remember!" hastily cried
George. "I'm willing to stand for nearly anything, but eating crow is
too, too much. What d'ye take us for, Lil Artha; think we're a bunch of
defeated politicians, do you, that have to pay an election wager? No
crow for me until I'm at the last gasp. Get out, you black rascals;" and
he waved his arms in order to make them fly before Lil Artha could
conclude to fire his gun.