Eyes of the Woods — Joseph Altsheler

CONTENTSCHAPTER PAGE I. THE FLIGHT 1 II. THE GREAT JOKE 23 III. A MERRY NIGHT 45 IV. THE CAPTURED CANOE 67 V. THE PROTECTING RIVER 89 VI. THE OASIS 111 VII. INTO THE NORTH 130VIII. THE BUFFALO RING 149 IX. THE COVERT 168 X. THE BEAR GUIDE 186 XI. THE GREATER POWERS 209 XII. THE STAG'S COMING 225XIII. THE LEAPING WOLF 245 XIV. THE WATCHFUL SQUIRREL 266 XV. THE LETTER 286CHAPTER ITHE FLIGHTA strong wind swept over the great forest, sending green leaves andtwigs in showers before it, and bringing clouds in battalions from thewest. The air presently grew cold, and then heavy drops of rain came,pattering at first like shot, but soon settling into a hard and steadyfall that made the day dark and chill, tingeing the whole wildernesswith gloom and desolation.The deer sought its covert, a buffalo, grazing in a little prairie,thrust its huge form into a thicket, the squirrel lay snug in its nestin the hollow of a tree, and the bird in the shelter of the foliageceased to sing. The only sounds were those of the elements, and theworld seemed to have returned to the primeval state that had endured forages. It was the kingdom of fur, fin and feather, and, so far as thecasual eye could have seen, man had not yet come.But in the deep cleft of the cliff, from which coign of vantage they hadfought off Shawnee and Miami, Henry Ware, Paul Cotter and Long Jim Hartsat snug, warm and dry, and looked out at the bitter storm. Near them asmall fire burned, the smoke passing out at the entrance, and at the farend of the hollow much more wood was heaped. There were five beds of dryleaves with the blankets lying upon them, useful articles were stored inthe niches of the stone, and jerked meat lay upon the natural shelves.It was a secret, but cheerful spot in that vast, wet and coldwilderness. Long Jim felt its comfort and security, as he rose, putanother stick of wood on the fire, and then resumed his seat near theothers.I'm sorry the storm came up so soon, said Henry. Of course, Sol andTom are hardened to all kinds of weather, but it's not pleasant to becaught in the woods at such a time.And our ammunition, said Paul. It wouldn't hurt the lead, of course,but it would be a disaster for the powder to be soaked through andthrough. They'd have to go back to the settlements, and that would meana long journey and a lot of lost time.I don't think we need be afraid about the powder, said Henry.Whatever happens, Sol and Tom will protect it, even if their own bodiessuffer.Then I'm thinkin' they'll have to do a lot of protectin', said LongJim. The wind is blowin' plum' horizontal, an' the rain is sweepin''long in sheets.Henry, despite his consoling words, was very anxious. Since their greatbattle with the invading Indian force and the destruction of the cannon,their supply of ammunition had run very low, and without powder andbullets they were lost in the wilderness. He walked to the narrowentrance of the cave, and, standing just where the rain could not reachhim, looked out upon the cold and dripping forest, a splendid figureclothed in deerskin, specially adapted in both body and mind towilderness life.