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the spirit of the border-µÚ9½Ú

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¡¨Ugh£¡¡¨¡¡grunted¡¡the¡¡big¡¡Indian£»¡¡jamming¡¡Joe¡¡with¡¡his¡¡rifle¡­stock¡£



Joe¡¡took¡¡heed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡warning¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡all¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡to

the¡¡course¡¡over¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡being¡¡taken¡£¡¡Here¡¡was¡¡his¡¡first¡¡opportunity¡¡to

learn¡¡something¡¡of¡¡Indians¡¡and¡¡their¡¡woodcraft¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡his

captors¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡so¡¡gay¡¡and¡¡careless¡¡had¡¡they¡¡not¡¡believed

themselves¡¡safe¡¡from¡¡pursuit£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡concluded¡¡they¡¡were¡¡leisurely¡¡conducting

him¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡towns¡£¡¡He¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡supple¡¡figure¡¡before¡¡him£»

wondering¡¡at¡¡the¡¡quick¡¡step£»¡¡light¡¡as¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡a¡¡leaf£»¡¡and¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡as

softly¡£¡¡He¡¡found£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡readily¡¡avoided¡¡the¡¡sticks

and¡¡brush£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡move¡¡without¡¡snapping¡¡twigs¡£¡¡Now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡would

look¡¡up¡¡and¡¡study¡¡the¡¡lay¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡¡ahead£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡came¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡certain

rocks¡¡and¡¡trees¡¡he¡¡scrutinized¡¡them¡¡closely£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡their¡¡shape

and¡¡general¡¡appearance¡£¡¡He¡¡believed¡¡he¡¡was¡¡blazing¡¡out¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡this

woodland¡¡trail£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡should¡¡fortune¡¡favor¡¡him¡¡and¡¡he¡¡contrive¡¡to¡¡escape£»¡¡he

would¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡find¡¡his¡¡way¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡Also£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡enjoying¡¡the

wild¡¡scenery¡£



This¡¡forest¡¡would¡¡have¡¡appeared¡¡beautiful£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡one¡¡indifferent¡¡to¡¡such

charms£»¡¡and¡¡Joe¡¡was¡¡far¡¡from¡¡that¡£¡¡Every¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡steal¡¡stronger¡¡over

him¡¡a¡¡subtle¡¡influence¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡define¡£¡¡Half¡¡unconsciously¡¡he¡¡tried

to¡¡analyze¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡baffled¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡no¡¡more¡¡explain¡¡what¡¡fascinated

him¡¡than¡¡he¡¡could¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡melancholy¡¡quiet¡¡which¡¡hung¡¡over

the¡¡glades¡¡and¡¡hollows¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡pictured¡¡a¡¡real¡¡forest¡¡so¡¡differently¡¡from

this¡£¡¡Here¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long¡¡lane¡¡paved¡¡with¡¡springy¡¡moss¡¡and¡¡fenced¡¡by¡¡bright¡­green

sassafras£»¡¡there¡¡a¡¡secluded¡¡dale£»¡¡dotted¡¡with¡¡pale¡­blue¡¡blossoms£»¡¡over¡¡which

the¡¡giant¡¡cottonwoods¡¡leaned¡¡their¡¡heads£»¡¡jealously¡¡guarding¡¡the¡¡delicate

flowers¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sun¡£¡¡Beech¡¡trees£»¡¡growing¡¡close¡¡in¡¡clanny¡¡groups£»¡¡spread

their¡¡straight¡¡limbs¡¡gracefully£»¡¡the¡¡white¡¡birches¡¡gleamed¡¡like¡¡silver

wherever¡¡a¡¡stray¡¡sunbeam¡¡stole¡¡through¡¡the¡¡foliage£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡oaks£»¡¡monarchs¡¡of

the¡¡forest£»¡¡rose¡¡over¡¡all£»¡¡dark£»¡¡rugged£»¡¡and¡¡kingly¡£



Joe¡¡soon¡¡understood¡¡why¡¡the¡¡party¡¡traveled¡¡through¡¡such¡¡open¡¡forest¡£¡¡The

chief£»¡¡seeming¡¡hardly¡¡to¡¡deviate¡¡from¡¡his¡¡direct¡¡course£»¡¡kept¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡broken

ground£»¡¡matted¡¡thickets¡¡and¡¡tangled¡¡windfalls¡£¡¡Joe¡¡got¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡dark

ravines¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡music¡¡of¡¡tumbling¡¡waters£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡gray¡¡cliffs¡¡grown¡¡over

with¡¡vines£»¡¡and¡¡full¡¡of¡¡holes¡¡and¡¡crevices£»¡¡steep¡¡ridges£»¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡dense

patches¡¡of¡¡briar¡¡and¡¡hazel£»¡¡rising¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡Yet¡¡the¡¡Shawnee¡¡always¡¡found¡¡an

easy¡¡path¡£



The¡¡sun¡¡went¡¡down¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡foliage¡¡in¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡and¡¡shadows¡¡appeared¡¡low¡¡in

the¡¡glens£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡faded¡¡into¡¡an¡¡indistinct¡¡mass£»¡¡a¡¡purple¡¡shade

settled¡¡down¡¡over¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡and¡¡night¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡party¡¡to¡¡a¡¡halt¡£



The¡¡Indians¡¡selected¡¡a¡¡sheltered¡¡spot¡¡under¡¡the¡¡lee¡¡of¡¡a¡¡knoll£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of

which¡¡ran¡¡a¡¡little¡¡brook¡£¡¡Here¡¡in¡¡this¡¡inclosed¡¡space¡¡were¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡a

camp¡­fire¡£¡¡Evidently¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡had¡¡halted¡¡there¡¡that¡¡same¡¡day£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡logs

still¡¡smouldered¡£¡¡While¡¡one¡¡brave¡¡fanned¡¡the¡¡embers£»¡¡another¡¡took¡¡from¡¡a

neighboring¡¡branch¡¡a¡¡haunch¡¡of¡¡deer¡¡meat¡£¡¡A¡¡blaze¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡coaxed¡¡from¡¡the

dull¡¡coals£»¡¡more¡¡fuel¡¡was¡¡added£»¡¡and¡¡presently¡¡a¡¡cheerful¡¡fire¡¡shone¡¡on¡¡the

circle¡¡of¡¡dusky¡¡forms¡£



It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡picture¡¡which¡¡Joe¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡many¡¡a¡¡boyish¡¡dream£»¡¡now¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a

part¡¡of¡¡it¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dwell¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hopelessness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡situation£»¡¡nor¡¡of¡¡the

hostile¡¡chief¡¡whose¡¡enmity¡¡he¡¡had¡¡incurred¡£¡¡Almost£»¡¡it¡¡seemed£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡of

this¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡and¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡kept¡¡apart

from¡¡Jim£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡Joe¡¡that¡¡their¡¡captors¡¡treated¡¡his¡¡brother¡¡with¡¡a

contempt¡¡which¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡show¡¡him¡£¡¡Silvertip¡¡had£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡informed¡¡them

that¡¡Jim¡¡had¡¡been¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡of¡¡the¡¡white¡¡man's¡¡God¡£



Jim¡¡sat¡¡with¡¡drooping¡¡head£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡was¡¡sad£»¡¡and¡¡evidently¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡most

disheartening¡¡view¡¡of¡¡his¡¡capture¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡the¡¡slice¡¡of¡¡venison

given¡¡him¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡with¡¡his¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fire¡£



Silvertip£»¡¡in¡¡these¡¡surroundings£»¡¡showed¡¡his¡¡real¡¡character¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡appeared

friendly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡settlement£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡relentless¡¡savage£»¡¡a¡¡son¡¡of¡¡the

wilds£»¡¡free¡¡as¡¡an¡¡eagle¡£¡¡His¡¡dignity¡¡as¡¡a¡¡chief¡¡kept¡¡him¡¡aloof¡¡from¡¡his

braves¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡no¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prisoners¡¡since¡¡the¡¡capture¡£¡¡He¡¡remained

silent£»¡¡steadily¡¡regarding¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡with¡¡his¡¡somber¡¡eyes¡£¡¡At¡¡length£»¡¡glancing

at¡¡the¡¡big¡¡Indian£»¡¡he¡¡motioned¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡prisoners¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡single¡¡word

stretched¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡leaves¡£



Joe¡¡noted¡¡the¡¡same¡¡changelessness¡¡of¡¡expression¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡dark¡¡faces¡¡as¡¡he

had¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡Silvertip's¡£¡¡It¡¡struck¡¡him¡¡forcibly¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡their

soft£»¡¡guttural¡¡tones£»¡¡or¡¡burst¡¡into¡¡a¡¡low£»¡¡not¡¡unmusical¡¡laughter£»¡¡or¡¡sat

gazing¡¡stolidly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡seemed¡¡always¡¡the¡¡same£»

inscrutable£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡now¡¡hidden¡¡in¡¡night¡£¡¡One¡¡thing¡¡Joe

felt¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡sawthese¡¡savages¡¡were¡¡fierce¡¡and¡¡untamable¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡sorry

for¡¡Jim£»¡¡because£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡believed£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡as¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡the¡¡panther

gentleness¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡prey¡¡as¡¡to¡¡instill¡¡into¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡wild¡¡creatures¡¡a

belief¡¡in¡¡Christ¡£



The¡¡braves¡¡manifested¡¡keen¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡anticipation¡¡as¡¡to¡¡what¡¡they¡¡would¡¡get

out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pack£»¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡now¡¡opened¡£¡¡Time¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡big¡¡brave

placed¡¡his¡¡broad¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡a¡¡comrade¡¡Indian¡¡and¡¡pushed¡¡him

backward¡£



Finally¡¡the¡¡pack¡¡was¡¡opened¡£¡¡It¡¡contained¡¡a¡¡few¡¡articles¡¡of¡¡wearing¡¡apparel£»¡¡a

pair¡¡of¡¡boots£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pipe¡¡and¡¡pouch¡¡of¡¡tobacco¡£¡¡The¡¡big¡¡Indian¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡latter

articles£»¡¡grunting¡¡with¡¡satisfaction£»¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡the¡¡boots¡¡and¡¡clothes¡¡to¡¡the

others¡£¡¡Immediately¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡scramble¡£¡¡One¡¡brave£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡struggle¡¡with

another£»¡¡got¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡both¡¡boots¡£¡¡He¡¡at¡¡once¡¡slipped¡¡off¡¡his¡¡moccasins

and¡¡drew¡¡on¡¡the¡¡white¡¡man's¡¡foot¡­coverings¡£¡¡He¡¡strutted¡¡around¡¡in¡¡them¡¡a¡¡few

moments£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡proud¡¡manner¡¡soon¡¡changed¡¡to¡¡disgust¡£



Cowhide¡¡had¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soft£»¡¡yielding¡¡qualities¡¡of¡¡buckskin£»¡¡and¡¡hurt¡¡the

Indian's¡¡feet¡£¡¡Sitting¡¡down£»¡¡he¡¡pulled¡¡one¡¡off£»¡¡not¡¡without¡¡difficulty£»¡¡for

the¡¡boots¡¡were¡¡wet£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡remove¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡He¡¡hesitated¡¡a¡¡moment£»

being¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡subdued¡¡merriment¡¡of¡¡his¡¡comrades£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡held¡¡up¡¡his

foot¡¡to¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡one¡£¡¡This¡¡chanced¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡big¡¡Indian£»¡¡who¡¡evidently¡¡had

a¡¡keen¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡humor¡£¡¡Taking¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boot¡¡with¡¡both¡¡hands£»¡¡he¡¡dragged¡¡the

luckless¡¡brave¡¡entirely¡¡around¡¡the¡¡camp¡­fire¡£¡¡The¡¡fun£»¡¡however£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be

all¡¡one¡­sided¡£¡¡The¡¡big¡¡Indian¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡more¡¡strenuous¡¡pull£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boot¡¡came

off¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡Unprepared¡¡for¡¡this£»¡¡he¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡balance¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡down¡¡the¡¡bank

almost¡¡into¡¡the¡¡creek¡£¡¡He¡¡held¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boot£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¡and¡¡getting¡¡up£»

threw¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fire¡£



The¡¡braves¡¡quieted¡¡down¡¡after¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡lapsed¡¡into¡¡slumber£»¡¡leaving¡¡the

big¡¡fellow£»¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡had¡¡addressed¡¡his¡¡brief¡¡command£»¡¡acting£»¡¡as

guard¡£¡¡Observing¡¡Joe¡¡watching¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡puffed¡¡on¡¡his¡¡new¡¡pipe£»¡¡he¡¡grinned£»

and¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡broken¡¡English¡¡that¡¡was¡¡intelligible£»¡¡and¡¡much¡¡of¡¡a¡¡surprise¡¡to

the¡¡young¡¡man¡£



¡¨Palefacetobac'heap¡¡good¡£¡¨



Then£»¡¡seeing¡¡that¡¡Joe¡¡made¡¡no¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡his¡¡brother's¡¡initiative£»¡¡for

Jim¡¡was¡¡fast¡¡asleep£»¡¡he¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡recumbent¡¡figures¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡again¡¡in¡£



¡¨Ugh£¡¡¡Paleface¡¡sleepInjun¡¡wigwamsnear¡¡setting¡¡sun¡£¡¨



On¡¡the¡¡following¡¡morning¡¡Joe¡¡was¡¡awakened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡in¡¡his¡¡legs£»¡¡which¡¡had

been¡¡bound¡¡all¡¡night¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡when¡¡the¡¡bonds¡¡were¡¡cut¡¡and¡¡the¡¡party¡¡took

up¡¡its¡¡westward¡¡march¡£



The¡¡Indians£»¡¡though¡¡somewhat¡¡quieter£»¡¡displayed¡¡the¡¡same¡¡carelessness£º¡¡they

did¡¡not¡¡hurry£»¡¡nor¡¡use¡¡particular¡¡caution£»¡¡but¡¡selected¡¡the¡¡most¡¡open¡¡paths

through¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡They¡¡even¡¡halted¡¡while¡¡one¡¡of¡¡their¡¡number¡¡crept¡¡up¡¡on¡¡a

herd¡¡of¡¡browsing¡¡deer¡£¡¡About¡¡noon¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡drink¡¡from¡¡a¡¡spring£»

his¡¡braves¡¡followed¡¡suit¡¡and¡¡permitted¡¡the¡¡white¡¡prisoners¡¡to¡¡quench¡¡their

thirst¡£



When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡start¡¡again¡¡the¡¡single¡¡note¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bird¡¡far¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the

woods¡¡sounded¡¡clearly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡air¡£¡¡Joe¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡given¡¡heed¡¡to¡¡it

had¡¡he¡¡been¡¡less¡¡attentive¡£¡¡He¡¡instantly¡¡associated¡¡this¡¡peculiar¡¡bird¡­note

with¡¡the¡¡sudden¡¡stiffening¡¡of¡¡Silvertip's¡¡body¡¡and¡¡his¡¡attitude¡¡of¡¡intense

listening¡£¡¡Low¡¡exclamations¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡braves¡¡as¡¡they¡¡bent¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡the

lightest¡¡sound¡£¡¡Presently£»¡¡above¡¡the¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gentle¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡water¡¡over

the¡¡stones£»¡¡rose¡¡that¡¡musical¡¡note¡¡once¡¡more¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡made¡¡by¡¡a¡¡bird£»¡¡Joe

thought£»¡¡and¡¡yet£»¡¡judged¡¡by¡¡the¡¡actions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Indians£»¡¡how¡¡potent¡¡with

meaning¡¡beyond¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡melody¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woodland¡¡songster£¡¡¡He¡¡turned£»

half¡¡expecting¡¡to¡¡see¡¡somewhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tree¡­tops¡¡the¡¡bird¡¡which¡¡had¡¡wrought¡¡so

sudden¡¡a¡¡change¡¡in¡¡his¡¡captors¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡did¡¡so¡¡from¡¡close¡¡at¡¡hand¡¡came¡¡the¡¡same

call£»¡¡now¡¡louder£»¡¡but¡¡identical¡¡with¡¡the¡¡one¡¡that¡¡had¡¡deceived¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an

answering¡¡signal£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡by¡¡Silvertip¡£



It¡¡flashed¡¡into¡¡Joe's¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡other¡¡savages¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡run

across¡¡the¡¡Shawnee

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