Part 35 (2/2)
”Nary a one. They would come up close, on a dead run, an' then shy like a skittish hoss afore a bit o' white paper. Time an' ag'in I thought one would heave hisself atop o' me an' squash me, but the time didn't come. Say, but it wuz a sight, that wuz!” went on Watson earnestly.
”Them buffalo was mad, clean stark mad, and trampled all over each other. The stampede at thet p'int didn't last more 'n three minutes an'
arfter it wuz over thar wuz five buffalo dead less than four yards away from me!”
”Tramped to death by the others?”
”Yes, smashed up too. Ye never saw sech a sight. Arfter thet ye can calkerlate I keep clear o' all other stampedes,” concluded the old hunter.
Talking over one thing and another the party moved along until about one o'clock, when a halt was made for dinner.
Allen found that Noel was suffering but little but his arm was well bandaged. Slavin, however, was pale.
”You need a rest, Slavin,” he said, kindly.
”I reckon ye air right,” was the faint response. ”Didn't calkerlate ter git sech an all-gone feelin'.”
”We'll rest until the worst of the heat is over; eh, Ike?”
”Jes' as ye say,” answered the old hunter.
They found an inviting spot in a small grove of trees close to a spring and a brook, and proceeded to make themselves comfortable. Slavin was glad enough to drop into a light doze.
”He's a changed man, unless I miss my guess,” said Allen to Noel.
”I think you are right, Allen. That adventure took him so close to death I fancy it rather awakened his conscience.”
”I hope he does turn over a new leaf. He doesn't appear such a bad fellow at heart.”
”You are right. I suppose some men get bad out here simply because they haven't any good example to follow. They cut loose from their old a.s.sociates and fall in with the wrong sort.”
”That's just it, and it's so much easier to find the wrong sort than the right sort. Some men think life altogether too slow unless they are doing something against the law.”
Allen, as he rested, could not help but think of his two brothers. What were Chet and Paul doing? He sincerely trusted all was going well with them.
”They ought to be old enough to take care of themselves,” said Noel.
”You mustn't worry too much on their account.”
”Well, we have to be on guard out here night and day, Noel. You really don't know who to trust.”
”Oh, I know that.”
”Just think of what my uncle has suffered, and of what he may be suffering this minute. It is enough to make one's blood boil!”
”It may not be as bad as you imagine, Allen. Your uncle must know a thing or two.”
”Of course, but one man can't do much against three or four, or half a dozen. Those rascals will do all in their power to bring him to terms, rest a.s.sured of that.”
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