Part 17 (2/2)
Without delay a ca them comfortable It was found that Benson's wound was by far the worst, yet the old scout said it would not interfere with his outing
”I've had lots of 'em in my time,” was the way he expressed himself
”Lots, and I aint dead yet 'Pears to h as a pine-knot”
It was found that the horses had not suffered in the least frohtened Soon they cal out of the ordinary had occurred But Captain Moore and old Benson carried the marks of the adventure forno one felt , and half a day was lost in ”buood rest and put the horses in fine fettle, and when they started out after the h spirits
That night found theround, a broad valley where the grass was thick and of a peculiar richness On the way they had shot a nu of iame was too far off to be pursued
As they expected to remain at this point until ready to return home, the old scout proceeded to put up a shelter of brush, which, when completed, was almost as cohs, which gave the shelter a peculiar odor
”Best thing in the world for colds and weak lungs, that smell,” said Benson ”I've never known it to fail” The boys declared that the odor s”
”It's queer we haven't seen any Indians,” reht these mountains were full of them”
”They were full, before the fort was established,” answered Benson ”But the kind that are in this neighborhood don't like white men very much, and they only come around the fort when it's necessary But we et a critter like that”
The old scout said it would be useless to go out in a body to look for buffalo, and so it was arranged that he should first go over the ground alone, leaving the captain and the two boys to look for same
This settled, Benson soon set off, and a little later Captain Moore, Joe, and Darry took their way along so a s their horses tethered near the shelter
”I will go up one side of the strea that we'll be sure to stir up anything within a hundred yards of the water”
The boys agreed, and soon each member of the party was hard at work, on the hunt for any s before they gained a spot where the underbrush along the brook was thick Here the strea it, the captain and the boys becaraduallyeach from the other
”I don't see much,” said Joe, after half a mile had been covered ”Those little birds aren't worth wasting powder and shot on”
”It looks to round,” returned Darry ”See here, aren't those fresh footprints?”
”I believe they are And see, here are the prints of several horses'
hoofs Benson didn't come this way, did he?”
”I don't think he did”
”Then there must be other hunters not far off”
They continued on their way, co to a halt where the branch of the brook entered a s further,” said Joe ”Let us retrace our steps”
”Where can your brother be? I haven't heard him for some time”
Joe set up a yell, and both listened attentively No answer came back
Then both called in concert Still the silence continued