It seemed but an hour after the tired boys had laid down their heads that the above words were bellowed1 through the opening in the tent.
Bob sat up and rubbed his eyes.
Yes, it was really morning. There was no doubt about that, for the sun was pouring into the tent in a warm stream, the birds were filling the woods with music, and the perfume of Nature was creeping all around them.
One entire end of the tent had been thrown open to reveal these delights, and when Arnold opened his eyes he saw the gigantic figure of his Scottish host doing its best to fill the space. There was a good-humoured smile on the man's face—a smile that betokened2 a heart of the largest dimensions.[Pg 104]
Bob soon roused his chum, who was buried in a blanket.
"What's the matter?" questioned the latter, as he unrolled from the coverings.
"Can you not smell it?" demanded Mackintosh.
"Fried bacon and coffee—yes—ripping!" was the reply as Alf began to move, being inspired to haste by the odour that proceeded from the camp-fire beyond the tent, where Haggis was busy cooking.
Mackintosh gave a snort of assumed contempt.
"Bacon and coffee! Who thinks o' bacon and coffee on a morning like this? Fegs! but have you no' ears for the birds, nor nostrils3 for the scents4 of Nature? Man, but I'd sooner have a sniff5 o' the backwoods——"
"Than a mouthful of bacon? Not I," chimed in Alf merrily, at which the man laughed heartily6 as he turned on his heel.
"I'm thinking that there's very little poetry in a hungry stomach," he said. "Well, 'get a gait on.' You'll find a wash-hand basin behind the tent, and breakfast'll be ready when you are."
The boys needed no second bidding, and it was not many minutes before they were ready to[Pg 105] show how well they could appreciate the half-breed's culinary art.
While the lads were breakfasting, Mackintosh and Haggis busied themselves with striking the tent and packing the rest of the camp outfit7 upon the single pack-horse that accompanied the naturalist's wanderings. The two men had already fed at an earlier hour, and had stowed away most of their belongings8 in preparation for the journey.
"We'll be making straight for the Silver Lake, where the hanky was found," explained Mackintosh as they set off. "Haggis'll maybe pick up tracks there that'll be o' use to us." And so a northerly route was taken—crossing an arm of the Athabasca, and then following a course through the woods under the unerring guidance of the half-breed.
Towards noon the Scotsman called a halt, as he pointed9 to a small clearing through which ran a small stream of clear water.
"This'll no' be a bad place for us to eat our dinner, lads," he said. "If you'll unpack10 the mare11 and tether her, Haggis, we can see aboot the fire and the meat."
"Don't you think it would be well if we were[Pg 106] to shoot something?" suggested Bob. "You see, we don't know where we may have to go yet, and game may be scarce. There seemed to be any amount of it on the way here. It would be as well to save what we have in hand."
"A good thought," returned Mackintosh approvingly. "Let's see what the pair o' you can do wi' your guns while Haggis and I are setting things to rights."
"I'll go one way and you the other, Bob, and see which of us will have the best bag in half an hour!" said Alf, with the eager delight of a friendly competition in prospect12.
"Right you are," agreed Arnold heartily, "You go to the right; I'll take the left, and in half an hour we'll meet again at the camp and compare notes."
With a few words of friendly chaffing as to which would be the more successful, the chums parted. Each was determined13 that his gun should prove a superior Nimrod's skill, and both were stirred to high spirits by the excitement of the quest.
It must not be a matter for surprise that the boys could take such pleasure in the diversions of the moment, even recollecting14 the serious[Pg 107] nature of the mission on which they had embarked15 with the original Skipper Mackintosh. The truth was that, once having been convinced that the absent men were indeed alive, the weight of anxiety was greatly lifted by that knowledge. As we are already aware, their fathers were men who had had many a backwoods adventure in their youth. They were well capable of taking care of themselves according to the circumstances in which they were placed. Hence the chief anxiety now was to hasten a meeting, when they would learn aright the cause of the elders' absence; and, though they could not conjecture16 what that cause could be, they felt assured that accident (in the ordinary sense of the word) was not the reason. Ordinary accidents of the hunt were not likely to meet two such experienced sportsmen at one time; and if one had suffered the other would have found means to communicate the fact ere this. The boys felt assured that to some other cause the matter must be attributed, and so they were fairly at ease in their minds, though, of course, anxious to hasten the time when the mystery would be explained.
Thus it was that when the opportunity occurred[Pg 108] for this diversion in the form of a little friendly rivalry17, each set off in the highest of spirits.
Holden at once plunged18 into the thickest part of the bush at the back of the little camp-ground. Arnold decided19 to follow the downward course of the stream, in the hope that it might lead to a lake or pool where duck might fall to his lot.
Pushing his way through the scrub that bordered the running water, Bob went some distance without any success. Then he heard the sound of a gun some way to the rear, and he smiled to himself, as he thought that his chum had already commenced operations.
Spurred on by the thought, the boy hastened his steps, and increased his vigilant20 scrutiny21 of the bush for the first signs of game. But luck did not come his way for some time, and his anxiety not to be beaten in the contest led his feet farther than the half-hour's limit merited.
It was not until he had tramped a mile or more that Bob realised how quickly the time had passed. It was disappointing to have to return empty-handed to the camp, especially since he had heard Alf's gun crack twice again. At the same time, if there were no creatures to be shot, he could not be reproached for his lack of success.[Pg 109]
With a rueful grimace22 and a laugh of amusement at his own failure, the boy was just turning to retrace23 his steps, when suddenly the bush rustled24 at his side, and a brown body leapt into the air as if it had been shot from a catapult.
"Antelope25!" Bob exclaimed with delight, and quick as a flash of light the butt26 of his gun darted27 to his shoulder and the woods resounded28 with the explosion of a cartridge29.
It was a quick aim and not too good, for the animal disappeared in the farther bush, and the cracking of twigs30 told the young hunter that the quarry32 was yet active.
"This is worth waiting for," said Bob to himself, as he rushed forward in pursuit. "A dozen of Alf's prairie chicken will not be equal to an antelope—if I get him!"
There was much in that little "if," for evidently the deer was far from being disabled, since it had so rapidly made distance between itself and the hunter.
Nothing daunted33, Bob hurried on, replacing the used cartridge as he ran, and easily following the tracks that the animal had made in its dash for liberty.
Bob's pulses were thrilling with excitement,[Pg 110] but his nerves were the real hunter's nerves that can be steady even when excitement runs highest. He gripped his gun firmly, and with eyes scaled to see each tremor34 of a leaf he followed the track with the dogged purpose of one who meant to capture.
Time and distance were unheeded now. All the boy's senses were converged35 towards one aim, and for the time being he was oblivious36 to all other distractions37. Suddenly he stopped in the very midst of a pace, as if he were suddenly changed into a statue of marble; for at no great distance, he saw the deer standing38 at the edge of what seemed to be a natural paddock of green grass. The animal had paused in its flight, and was now sniffing39 the air with head raised, to discover if it were still pursued.
It was worth gun-shot.
Cautiously Bob raised his weapon without even moving from the strained position in which he had stopped at first glimpse of the game. It would be useless for him to approach closer, for the least disturbance40 of the bush would be discovered, and a few leaps would carry the deer across that stretch of green turf, and thence—probably beyond all chance of recovery.[Pg 111]
Bob took a careful sight this time. Then he fired. Instantly the deer sprang upwards41 into the air, gave two marvellous leaps forward, and then fell in a lifeless heap right in the centre of the paddock.
Bob gave a cry of exultation42 and ran forwards towards his bag. So excited was he now that he did not notice how the turf shivered under his feet when first he stepped upon the edge of the clearing. He had no thoughts for aught else but the triumph of his stalking. But suddenly, when he was within a few yards of the deer, he felt one foot sink beneath him. For a moment he did not give the incident any serious thought, but placed his other foot a little beyond, where the turf seemed firmer. But the next step sunk deeper than the first, and at each effort to release the one the other sunk farther.
Then a cold sweat broke out all over the lad's body. He realised the plight43 that he was in, for the green sward was no more than a thin covering of turf that concealed44 a great muskeg—a lake of liquid mud such as has been known to swallow men, horses—nay, even a herd45 of buffalo46, without leaving a trace of the hapless victims that have disappeared within that ever-hungry throat.[Pg 112]
Bob stood still in horror at his terrible discovery.
He looked round him. There was not a sign of anything that might aid him—not a log, not so much as a twig31. Nothing was at hand but the grass that a moment before had looked so fresh and alluring47, but which now seemed to suggest all that was ugly and treacherous48. Even the slain49 deer was already beginning to yield to the suction from beneath.
If ever Bob was near to utter despair, it was at that moment. He was over the ankles in mud, and he could feel himself gradually sinking, while the slimy mass seemed to cling to his limbs and drag him downwards50 with irresistible51 force.
Once he thought that he might be safer if he lay upon his face, but he quickly banished52 that suggestion when he saw that the prostrate53 position of the deer did not impede54 its certain destruction. He scarce dared to breathe, since every movement of a muscle hastened the work of the muskeg.
Down, down he sank. The mud crept to his knees and gradually began to ascend55 his thighs56.
It seemed to be only a matter of time—another hour, perhaps less—and the tragedy would end.[Pg 113]
Yet he tried to be brave. He tried to brace57 himself to face the trial like a man, though it is hardly to be wondered at that he felt hope quickly leaving him, as inch by inch he sunk into that horrible green death-trap.
Then, just as suddenly as if a voice had spoken to him from the very grass at his feet, there flashed into his mind the words that the good old Scot had spoken by the camp-fire the previous night—
"There's a Hand that could guide the frailest58 birch-bark through Niagara."
Bob remembered, and hope sprang up in his heart with a bright-burning flame. Yet his faith was severely59 tested, as the mud crept up, up—now to his hips60, then slowly advancing beyond his waist, until at last it was embracing his chest in a cold grip.
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1
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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7
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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8
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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9
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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10
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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14
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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15
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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16
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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17
rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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18
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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19
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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20
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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21
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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22
grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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23
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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24
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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26
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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27
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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28
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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29
cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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30
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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31
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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32
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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33
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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35
converged
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| v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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36
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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37
distractions
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| n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱 | |
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38
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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39
sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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40
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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41
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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42
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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43
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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44
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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45
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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46
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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47
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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48
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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49
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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50
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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51
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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52
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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54
impede
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止 | |
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55
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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56
thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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57
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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58
frailest
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| 脆弱的( frail的最高级 )； 易损的； 易碎的 | |
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59
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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60
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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