Part 28 (1/2)
”You have done well, Dagaeoga,” he said. ”Did I not say to others in your defense that you had intelligence and, in time, might learn? You have saved my life, a poor thing perhaps, but the only life I have, and I thank you.”
Robert laughed, and his laugh was full of heartiness. He saw the old Tayoga coming back.
”You'll be a new man tomorrow,” he said. ”With flesh and blood as healthy as yours a hole through your shoulder that I could put my fist in would soon heal.”
”What does Dagaeoga purpose to do next?”
”You'll find out in good time. I'm master now, and I don't intend to tell my plans. If I did you'd be trying to change 'em. While I'm ruler I mean to be ruler.”
”It is a haughty spirit you show. You take advantage of my being wounded.”
”Of course I do. As I said, it's the only chance I've had. Stop that!
Don't try to sit up! You're not strong enough yet. I'll carry you awhile.”
Tayoga sank back, and, in a few more minutes, Robert picked him up and went on once more. But he noticed that the Onondaga did not now lie a dead weight upon his shoulder. Instead, there was in him again the vital quality that made him lighter and easier to carry. He knew that Tayoga would revive rapidly, but it would be days before he was fit to take care of himself. He must find not only a place of security, but one of shelter from the fierce midsummer storms that sometimes broke over those mountain slopes. Among the rocks and ravines and dense woods he might discover some such covert. Food was contained in his knapsack and the one still fastened to the back of Tayoga, food enough to last several days, and if the time should be longer his rifle must find more.
The way became rougher, the rocks growing more numerous, the slopes increasing in steepness, and the thickets becoming almost impenetrable.
”Put me down,” said Tayoga. ”We are safe from the enemy, for a while at least. All the warriors have been drawn by the battle, and, whether it goes on now or not, they have not yet had time to scatter and seek through the wilderness.”
”I said I was going to be absolute master, but it looks, Tayoga, as if you meant to give advice anyhow. And as your advice seems good, and I confess I'm a trifle weary, I'll let you see if you can sit up a little on this heap of dead leaves, with your back against this old fallen trunk. Here we go! Gently now! Oh, you'll soon be a warrior again, if you follow my instructions!”
Tayoga heaved a little sigh of relief as he leaned back against the trunk. His eyes were growing clearer and Robert knew that the beat of his pulse was fuller. All the amazing vitality that came from a powerful const.i.tution, hard training and clean living was showing itself.
Already, and his wound scarcely two hours old, his strength was coming back.
”You look for a wigwam, Dagaeoga?” he said.
”Well, scarcely that,” replied Robert. ”I'm not expecting an inn in this wilderness, but I'm seeking some sort of shelter, preferably high up among the rocks, where we might find protection from storms.”
”Two or three hundred yards farther on and we'll find it.”
”Come, Tayoga, you're just guessing. You can't know such a thing.”
”I am not guessing at all, Dagaeoga, and I do know. Your position as absolute ruler was brief. It expired between the first and second hour, and now you have an adviser who may become a director.”
”Then proceed with your advice and direction. How do you know there is shelter only two or three hundred yards farther on?”
”I look ahead, and I see a narrow path leading up among the rocks. Such paths are countless in the wilderness, and many of them are untrodden, but the one before my eyes has sustained footsteps many times.”
”Come down to earth, Tayoga, and tell me what you see.”
”I see on the rocks on either side of this path long, coa.r.s.e hairs. They were left by a wild animal going back and forth to its den. It was a large wild animal, else it would not have sc.r.a.ped against the rocks on either side. It was probably a bear, and if you will hand me the two or three twisted hairs in the crevice at your elbow I will tell you.”
Robert brought them to him and Tayoga nodded a.s.sent.
”Aye, it was a bear,” he said, ”and a big one.”
”But how do you know his den is only two or three hundred yards away?”
”That is a matter of looking as far as the eyes can reach. If you will only lift yours and gaze over the tops of those bushes you will see that the path ends against a high stone face or wall, too steep for climbing.
So the den must be there, and let us hope, Dagaeoga, that it is large enough for us both. The bear is likely to be away, as this is summer.