THE RED CHIEFS
Henry awoke only once, and that was about half way between midnight and morning, when his senses, never still entirely, even in sleep, warned him that something was at the door.He rose cautiously upon his arm, saw a dark muzzle at the crevice, and behind it a pair of yellow, gleaming eyes.He knew at once that it was a panther, probably living in the swamp and drawn by the food.It must be very hungry to dare thus the smell of man.
Henry's hand moved slowly to the end of a stick, the other end of which was a glowing coal.Then he seized it and hurled it directly at the inquisitive head.
The hot end of the stick struck squarely between the yellow eyes.
There was a yelp of pain, and the boy heard the rapid pad of the big cat's feet as it fled into the swamp.Then he turned over on his side, and laughed in genuine pleasure at what was to him a true forest joke.He knew the panther would not come, at least not while he was in the hut, and he calmly closed his eyes once more.The old Henry was himself again.
He awoke in the morning to find that the cold rain was still falling.It seemed to him that it had prepared to rain forever, but he was resolved, nevertheless, now that he had food and the strength that food brings, to begin the search for his comrades.
The islet in the swamp would serve as his base-nothing could be better-and he would never cease until he found them or discovered what had become of them.
A little spring of cold water flowed from the edge of the islet to lose itself quickly in the swamp.Henry drank there after his breakfast, and then felt as strong and active as ever.As he knew, the mind may triumph over the body, but the mind cannot save the body without food.Then he made his precious bear meat secure against the prowling panther or others of his kind, tying it on hanging boughs too high for a jump and too slender to support the weight of a large animal.This task finished quickly, he left the swamp and returned toward the spot where lie had seen the Mohawks.
The falling rain and the somber clouds helped Henry, in a way, as the whole forest was enveloped in a sort of gloom, and he was less likely to be seen.But when he had gone about half the distance he heard Indians signaling to one another, and, burying himself as usual in the wet bushes, he saw two small groups of warriors meet and talk.Presently they separated, one party going toward the east and the other toward the west.Henry thought they were out hunting, as the Indians usually took little care of the morrow, eating all their food in a few days, no matter how great the supply might be.
When he drew near the place he saw three more Indians, and these were traveling directly south.He was quite sure now that his theory was correct.They were sending out hunters in every direction, in order that they might beat up the woods thoroughly for game, and his own position anywhere except on the islet was becoming exceedingly precarious.Nevertheless, using all his wonderful skill, he continued the hunt.He had an abiding faith that his four comrades were yet alive, and he meant to prove it.
In the afternoon the clouds moved away a little, and the rain decreased, though it did not cease.The Indian signs multiplied, and Henry felt sure that the forest within a radius of twenty miles of his islet contained more than one camp.Some great gathering must be in progress and the hunters were out to supply it with food.Four times he heard the sound of shots, and thrice more he saw warriors passing through the forest.Once a wounded deer darted past him, and, lying down in the bushes, he saw the Indians following the fleeing animal.As the day grew older the trails multiplied.Certainly a formidable gathering of bands was in progress, and, feeling that he might at any time be caught in a net, he returned to the islet, which had now become a veritable fort for him.
It was not quite dark when he arrived, and he found all as it had been except the tracks of two panthers under the boughs to which he had fastened the big pieces of bear meat.Henry felt a malicious satisfaction at the disappointment of the panthers.
"Come again, and have the same bad luck," he murmured."At dusk the rain ceased entirely, and he prepared for a journey in the night.He examined his powder carefully to see that no particle of it was wet, counted the bullets in his pouch, and then examined the skies.There was a little moon, not too much, enough to show him the way, but not enough to disclose him to an enemy unless very near.Then he left the islet and went swiftly through the forest, laying his course a third time toward the Indian camp.He was sure now that all the hunters had returned, and he did not expect the necessity of making any stops for the purpose of hiding.His hopes were justified, and as he drew near the camp he became aware that its population had increased greatly.It was proved by many signs.New trails converged upon it, and some of them were very broad, indicating that many warriors had passed.They had passed, too, in perfect confidence, as there was no effort at concealment, and Henry surmised that no white force of any size could be within many days' march of this place.But the very security of the Indians helped his own design.They would not dream that any one of the hated race was daring to come almost within the light of their fires.
