Dick Herron and Sam Bolton sat on the trunk of a fallen tree. It was dim morning. Through the haze1 that shrouded2 the river figures moved. Occasionally a sharp sound eddied3 the motionless silence--a paddle dropped, the prow4 of a canoe splashed as it was lifted to the water, the tame crow uttered a squawk. Little by little the groups dwindled5. Invisible canoes were setting out, beyond the limits of vision. Soon there remained but a few scattered6, cowled figures, the last women hastily loading their craft that they might not be left behind. Now these, too, thrust through the gray curtain of fog. The white men were alone.
With the passing of the multitude once again the North came close. Spying on the deserted7 camp an hundred smaller woods creatures fearfully approached, bright-eyed, alert, ready to retreat, but eager to investigate for scraps9 of food that might have been left. Squirrels poised10 in spruce-trees, leaped boldly through space, or hurried across little open stretches of ground. Meat-hawks, their fluffy12 plumage smoothed to alertness, swooped13 here and there. Momentary14 and hasty scurryings in the dead leaves attested15 the presence of other animals, faint chirpings and rustlings the presence of other birds, following these their most courageous16 foragers. In a day the Indian camp would have taken on the character of the forest; in a month, an ancient ruin, it would have fitted as accurately17 with its surroundings as an acorn18 in the cup.
Now the twisted vapours drained from among the tree-trunks into the river bed, where it lay, not more than five feet deep, accurately marking the course of the stream. The sun struck across the tops of the trees. A chickadee, upside down in bright-eyed contemplation, uttered two flute-notes. Instantly a winter-wren, as though at a signal, went into ecstatic ravings. The North was up and about her daily business.
Sam Bolton and Dick finally got under way. After an hour they arrived opposite the mouth of a tributary20 stream. This Sam announced as the Mattawishguia. Immediately they turned to it.
The Mattawishguia would be variously described; in California as a river, in New England as a brook21, in Superior country as a trout22 stream. It is an hundred feet wide, full of rapids, almost all fast water, and, except in a few still pools, from a foot to two feet deep. The bottom is of round stones.
Travel by canoe in such a stream is a farce23. The water is too fast to pole against successfully more than half the time; the banks are too overgrown for tracking with the tow-line. About the only system is to get there in the best way possible. Usually this meant that Dick waded24 at the bow and Sam at the stern, leaning strongly against the current. Bowlders of all sorts harassed25 the free passage, stones rolled under the feet, holes of striking unexpectedness lay in wait, and the water was icy cold. Once in a while they were able to paddle a few hundred feet. Then both usually sat astride the ends of the canoe, their legs hanging in the water in order that the drippings might not fall inside. As this was the early summer, they occasionally kicked against trees to drive enough of the numbness26 from their legs so that they could feel the bottom.
It was hard work and cold work and wearing, for it demanded its exact toll27 for each mile, and was as insistent28 for the effort at weary night as at fresh morning.
Dick, in the vigour29 of his young strength, seemed to like it. The leisure of travel with the Indians had barely stretched his muscles. Here was something against which he could exert his utmost force. He rejoiced in it, taking great lungfuls of air, bending his shoulders, breaking through these outer defences of the North with wanton exuberance30, blind to everything, deaf to everything, oblivious31 of all other mental and physical sensations except the delight of applying his skill and strength to the subduing32 of the stream.
But Sam, patient, uncomplaining, enduring, retained still the broader outlook. He, too, fought the water and the cold, adequately and strongly, but it was with the unconsciousness of long habit. His mind recognised the Forest as well as the Stream. The great physical thrill over the poise11 between perfect health and the opposing of difficulties he had left behind him with his youth; as indeed he had, in a lesser33 sense, gained with his age an indifference34 to discomfort35. He was cognisant of the stillness of the woods, the presence of the birds and beasts, the thousand subtleties36 that make up the personality of the great forest.
And with the strange sixth sense of the accustomed woodsman Sam felt, as they travelled, that something was wrong. The impression did not come to him through any of the accustomed channels. In fact, it hardly reached his intellect as yet. Through long years his intuitions had adapted themselves to their environment. The subtle influences the forest always disengaged found in the delicately attuned37 fibres of his being that which vibrated in unison38 with them. Now this adjustment was in some way disturbed. To Sam Bolton the forest was _different_, and this made him uneasy without his knowing why. From time to time he stopped suddenly, every nerve quivering, his nostrils39 wide, like some wild thing alert for danger. And always the other five senses, on which his mind depended, denied the sixth. Nothing stirred but the creatures of the wilderness40.
Yet always the impression persisted. It was easily put to flight, and yet it always returned. Twice, while Dick rested in the comfort of tobacco, Sam made long detours41 back through the woods, looking for something, he knew not what; uneasy, he knew not why. Always he found the forest empty. Everything, well ordered, was in its accustomed place. He returned to the canoe, shaking his head, unable to rid himself of the sensation of something foreign to the established order of things.
At noon the men drew ashore42 on a little point of rock. There they boiled tea over a small fire, and ate the last of their pilot's bread, together with bacon and the cold meat of partridges. By now the sun was high and the air warm. Tepid43 odours breathed from the forest, and the songs of familiar homely44 birds. Little heated breezes puffed45 against the travellers' cheeks. In the sun's rays their garments steamed and their muscles limbered.
Yet even here Sam Bolton was unable to share the relaxation46 of mind and body his companion so absolutely enjoyed. Twice he paused, food suspended, his mouth open, to listen intently for a moment, then to finish carrying his hand to his mouth with the groping of vague perplexity. Once he arose to another of his purposeless circles through the woods. Dick paid no attention to these things. In the face of danger his faculties47 would be as keenly on the stretch as his comrade's; but now, the question one merely of difficult travel, the responsibility delegated to another, he bothered his head not at all, but like a good lieutenant48 left everything to his captain, half closed his eyes, and watched the smoke curl from his brier pipe.
When evening fell the little fish-net was stretched below a chute of water, the traps set, snares49 laid. As long as these means sufficed for a food supply, the ammunition50 would be saved. Wet clothes were hung at a respectful distance from the blaze.
Sam was up and down all night, uncomfortable, indefinitely groping for the influence that unsettled his peace of mind. The ghost shadows in the pines; the pattering of mysterious feet; the cries, loud and distant, or faint and near; the whisperings, whistlings, sighings, or crashes; all the thousand ethereal essences of day-time noises that go to make up the Night and her silences--these he knew. What he did not know, could not understand, was within himself. What he sought was that thing in Nature which should correspond.
The next day at noon he returned to Dick after a more than usually long excursion, carrying some object. He laid it before his companion. The object proved to be a flat stone; and on the flat stone was the wet print of a moccasin.
"We're followed," he said, briefly51.
Dick seized the stone and examined it closely.
"It's too blurred," he said, at last; "I can't make it out. But th' man who made that track wasn't far off. Couldn't you make trail of him? He must have been between you an' me when you found this rock."
"No," Sam demurred52, "he wasn't. This moccasin was pointed53 down stream. He heard me, and went right on down with th' current. He's sticking to the water all the way so as to leave no trail."
"No use trying to follow an Injun who knows you're after him," agreed Dick.
"It's that Chippewa, of course," proffered54 Sam. "I always was doubtful of him. Now he's followin' us to see what we're up to. Then, he ain't any too friendly to you, Dick, 'count of that scrap8 and th' girl. But I don't think that's what he's up to--not yet, at least. I believe he's some sort of friend or kin19 of that Jingoss, an' he wants to make sure that we're after him."
"Why don't he just ambush55 us, then, an' be done with it?" asked Dick.
"Two to one," surmised56 Bolton, laconically57. "He's only got a trade-gun--one shot. But more likely he thinks it ain't going to do him much good to lay us out. More men would be sent. If th' Company's really after Jingoss, the only safe thing for him is a warning. But his friend don't want to get him out of th' country on a false alarm."
"That's so," said Dick.
They talked over the situation, and what was best to be done.
"He don't know yet that we've discovered him," submitted Sam. "My scouting58 around looked like huntin', and he couldn't a seen me pick up that stone. We better not try to catch him till we can make _sure_. He's got to camp somewheres. We'll wait till night. Of course he'll get away from th' stream, and he'll cover his trail. Still, they's a moon. I don't believe anybody could do it but you, Dick. If you don't make her, why there ain't nothing lost. We'll just have to camp down here an' go to trapping until he gets sick of hanging around."
So it was agreed. Dick, under stress of danger, was now a changed man. What he lacked in experience and the power to synthesise, he more than made up in the perfection of his senses and a certain natural instinct of the woods. He was a better trailer than Sam, his eyesight was keener, his hearing more acute, his sense of smell finer, his every nerve alive and tingling59 in vibrant60 unison with the life about him. Where Sam laboriously61 arrived by the aid of his forty years' knowledge, the younger man leaped by the swift indirection of an Indian--or a woman. Had he only possessed62, as did Bolton, a keen brain as well as keen higher instincts, he would have been marvellous.
The old man sat near the camp-fire after dark that night sure that Herron was even then conducting the affair better than he could have done himself. He had confidence. No faintest indication,--even in the uncertainty63 of moonlight through the trees,--that a man had left the river would escape the young man's minute inspection64. And in the search no twig65 would snap under those soft-moccasined feet; no betraying motion of brush or brake warn the man he sought. Dick's woodcraft of that sort was absolute; just as Sam Bolton's woodcraft also was absolute--of its sort. It might be long, but the result was certain,--unless the Indian himself suspected.
Dick had taken his rifle.
"You know," Sam reminded him, significantly, "we don't really need that Injun."
"I know," Dick had replied, grimly.
Now Sam Bolton sat near the fire waiting for the sound of a shot. From time to time he spread his gnarled, carved-mahogany hands to the blaze. Under his narrow hat his kindly66 gray-blue eyes, wrinkled at the corners with speculation67 and good humour, gazed unblinking into the light. As always he smoked.
Time went on. The moon climbed, then descended68 again. Finally it shone almost horizontally through the tree-trunks, growing larger and larger until its field was crackled across with a frostwork of twigs69 and leaves. By and by it reached the edge of a hill-bank, visible through an opening, and paused. It had become huge, gigantic, big with mystery. A wolf sat directly before it, silhouetted70 sharply. Presently he raised his pointed nose, howling mournfully across the waste.
The fire died down to coals. Sam piled on fresh wood. It hissed71 spitefully, smoked voluminously, then leaped into flame. The old woodsman sat as though carved from patience, waiting calmly the issue.
Then through the shadows, dancing ever more gigantic as they became more distant, Sam Bolton caught the solidity of something moving. The object was as yet indefinite, mysterious, flashing momentarily into view and into eclipse as the tree-trunks intervened or the shadows flickered72. The woodsman did not stir; only his eyes narrowed with attention. Then a branch snapped, noisy, carelessly broken. Sam's expectancy73 flagged. Whoever it was did not care to hide his approach.
But in a moment the watcher could make out that the figures were two; one erect74 and dominant75, the other stooping in surrender. Sam could not understand. A prisoner would be awkward. But he waited without a motion, without apparent interest, in the indifferent attitude of the woods-runner.
Now the two neared the outer circle of light; they stepped within it; they stopped at the fire's edge. Sam Bolton looked up straight into the face of Dick's prisoner.
It was May-may-gwán, the Ojibway girl.
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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eddied
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| 起漩涡，旋转( eddy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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acorn
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| n.橡实，橡子 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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subduing
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| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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subtleties
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| 细微( subtlety的名词复数 )； 精细； 巧妙； 细微的差别等 | |
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attuned
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| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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40
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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41
detours
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| 绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子 | |
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42
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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45
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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46
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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47
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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48
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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49
snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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51
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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52
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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54
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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56
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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57
laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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58
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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59
tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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60
vibrant
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| adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的 | |
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61
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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62
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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63
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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64
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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65
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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66
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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68
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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69
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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70
silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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71
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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72
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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