young edwin inwood had been deprived so long of his hunt, that he determined to improve his time to the utmost. he took a direction exactly opposite to the one pursued by his brother, and soon found himself in the midst of the wood which contained their new home, where it was open and easily traveled.
it was his wish to secure an antelope, which were quite abundant in this section, although almost entirely unknown a little further south, and he walked very carefully, well aware of the acuteness of their hearing. a quarter of a mile or so brought him to a broad, wild ravine, and, looking down this, the first object that met his eye was a group of mohave indians seated around a camp-fire. three sat smoking, and two were engaged in dressing a fine plump antelope, and preparing it for their supper.
they were fully a hundred feet below where the boy stood, and several hundred yards distant. he watched them for some time with interest. each had around his person or near him, one of those brilliant and wonderfully woven blankets, which have made the indians of the distant southwest known all over the country. they were painted and daubed up like a lot of children’s toys, their coarse black hair hanging loosely over their shoulders, while its usual stiffness was intensified by the rainbow-hued stuff smeared among it. it makes a fellow look hideously comical to see his face of all colors, and there was something in the outlandish look of these mohaves which would have[63] brought a grim smile to the countenance of him who had scarcely ever laughed.
they never once raised their heads, although edwin scrutinized them so closely that he was sure they were a portion of the party which had attacked them at the cave, and he recognized the very individual who was so handsomely vanquished in his attempt to shake hands with jim tubbs. this being the case, he entertained much less fear of them than he would, had they been strangers.
but, recollecting that he had come out for the purpose of obtaining food, he turned away and wandered off in another direction. while he was asking himself whether it would be prudent to fire his gun in their vicinity or not, a fine plump young antelope rushed by him with the speed of the wind. quick as thought his gun was over his shoulder, and, with a frenzied leap, the beautiful creature dropped, and, after a few frantic struggles, lay dead.
edwin hurried up to him, and, drawing his knife, commenced dressing it and securing the choicest portions for their supper. absorbed thus in his work, he forgot entirely the proximity of the aborigines. he had about completed his work, when, with lightning-like suddenness, a reflection of his peril came over him, and he rose erect and glanced about him.
providentially his first look was directed toward the proper point, and he saw at quite a distance two indians, standing perfectly motionless, and watching him seemingly with great interest. the moment he raised his head they darted each behind a tree, evidently not through fear, but with a far different object.
edwin was a boy with an intelligence and perception beyond his years, and he immediately saw his danger, and looked furtively around to learn the best direction in which to retreat. his first thought was to run straight from the red men and, observing that the wood was thicker and more broken, he did not hesitate, but started off at once.
casting one glance over his shoulder, he observed the two aborigines after him, although neither of them gave utterance to the “yell,” which, with the proverbial “ugh,”seems to be about the only language which ever emerges from the lips of the north american indian, if the authority of story writers is to be taken.
in a race of this kind, we could not dare risk our reputation in saying that the little fellow was anything like a match for his lithe pursuers. he hadn’t been in training as long as they, and it was impossible that the cowardly mohaves should not gain upon him with sad certainty.
all of which he expected, and he therefore turned all his energies toward finding some place in which he could conceal himself. bounding over and among the rough and rugged rocks, he turned at right angles to the course he had been following, darted a few rods ahead, and then, to his dismay, found himself on the banks of a small, rapid stream.
but there was no time for hesitation. he ran along the shore a little way, and then rapidly climbed a small tree, dragging his rifle as best he could after him. here he crouched among the branches, and, panting and trembling, awaited the result.
as yet, he had not heard a sound, but he did not dare hope that his pursuers were off the scent. he had read certain wonderful tales of the miraculous prowess of the “red men of the woods,” and had every reason to believe that they were perfect bloodhounds in such matters.
nor was he mistaken; for he had not been in his elevated position five minutes, when, through the interstices of the leaves, he saw one of them walking along the edge of the stream, carefully examining the ground, occasionally pausing and looking about him, and now and then making a curious, gyrating motion with his hand over his head, which the boy did not understand, but which we suspect was a signal for his companion.
it would have been the easiest thing in the world for edwin inwood to load his gun, and shoot the mohave who was stealing so cautiously upon him; but he hesitated. it is no light thing to take a human life, even if it belong to an indian, and he did not wish to commit such a deed, unless his own self preservation demanded it. whether it did or[65] not was the question which the boy considered, and upon which he was hardly able to decide.
suppose he did slay the red man, his companion remained, against whom he could do nothing, and who would be sure to visit a cruel punishment upon him. no; he decided that the time had not yet come for him to do such a thing.
in the meantime, the mohave was close at hand. not once did he raise his head, but walked slowly along, examining the ground, and looking across the stream as though he expected to see the fugitive. the heart of the latter gave a throb as he saw him pass beyond the tree which contained himself; but the temporary hope thus awakened was speedily dispelled by observing the red man suddenly halt, look around him as though he failed, for the moment, exactly to comprehend things, and then he raised his head and saw the youngster cowering among the branches.
the mohave surveyed him quietly a moment, and then motioned for him to descend. the boy could not refuse, as he was entirely in his power, and he obeyed without delay. the captor looked into his face with a curious expression, but still uttered no exclamation or word. finally, he took him by the arm, led him a short distance down the stream of the brook, and then motioned for him to fall behind and follow.
on the whole, this struck edwin as rather a curious proceeding. the mohave had not deprived him of his gun, and did not even take the trouble to examine whether it was loaded or not, nor did he once look over his shoulder to see whether he was followed by the captive. it was a strong temptation to the latter to dart aside, and make another effort to get away, but he could hardly bring his mind to the “sticking point.”
as a matter of course, edwin had strong hope of getting out of this difficulty, and he therefore paid strict attention to the route which they followed, so as not to be lost, when the opportunity should come to him. the mohave literally took the “back track,” going over his own footsteps, and turning off from the stream at precisely the point where the boy first struck it.
as yet there was nothing seen of the other indian, and the boy was wondering where he could have taken himself, when he made his appearance as suddenly as if he had risen from the very ground. he seemed to entertain the same constitutional objection to talking as did his predecessor, for not a word was exchanged between them. one walked in the front and the other in the rear of the boy, so that, for the present, he gave over all thoughts of taking abrupt leave of them.
the party passed directly by the remains of the antelope slain by edwin, and so on until they reached the gorge where he had first descried the mohaves as they were seated around the camp-fire. this led the boy to think that they were a part of those who had besieged them in the cave.
whether this was a matter for congratulation or fear was more than he could determine, although it gave him hope that the captured mohave might be among them, who he was sure would not forget the magnanimity shown him when he was at the mercy of those whom he sought to injure.
nightfall was close at hand, and the party made their preparations for remaining on the old camping-ground of their former friends. they had a portion of the antelope with them, and offered a piece to edwin, who accepted it more for the sake of pleasing them, than on account of any hunger he felt. after this, they seated themselves upon the ground, and motioned for him to do the same. their pipes were then produced, and then began the longest and dreariest evening of edwin inwood’s life.
he lay on the ground, looking up at the stars, communing with the great being who dwelt beyond them, wondering what george and jim thought of his prolonged absence, and speculating as to what the morrow would bring forth. hour after hour wore away, and it was near midnight, when his ear detected a faint, regular jarring of the ground, and, raising his head, he saw through the gloom a party of men close at hand.
