The Eyes of the Woods: A Story of the Ancient Wilderness

“Henry!”

After that, although their emotion was deep, they made no great show of it. The border was always terse.

“I knowed you’d shake ’em off, Henry,” said the shiftless one.

“But it must have been a long chase,” said Paul.

“Wish I’d been with you,” said Long Jim.

“Big work,” said Tom Ross.

“I didn’t do it all my myself,” said Henry. “I was helped by the people of the forest. They came to my aid again and again.”

Paul looked at him wondering, and Henry told them how he had been warned by the animals one after another, and he could not believe it was mere chance.

“The woods are full o’ strange things,” said Shif’less Sol, thoughtfully. “An’ I never try to explain ’em all to myse’f. I let ’em go fur what they are.”

“How has it been with all of you?” asked Henry.

“We stayed a long time on the oasis in the swamp,” replied Paul, “and then we started toward the north, hanging on to the rear of the pursuit, and trying for a chance to help you, though we never found it. At last the great cold made us seek shelter, but we were sure it would compel the warriors to abandon the chase and drive them into their villages.”

“After all, it was King Winter that intervened finally in my behalf.”

“That’s true. And while we were hovering about, hoping to help you, we left the long trail which I suppose you saw.”

“Yes, I came upon it, and it led me to you.”

“An’ now,” said Shif’less Sol, “sence all the warriors hev been drove into winter quarters, an’ none o’ us hez been killed or took, s’pose we go into them kind a’ quarters ourselves, an’ keep warm.”

“Whar?” asked Silent Tom.

“Why, our old hollow in the cliff!” exclaimed Paul. “The warriors would not think of marching against it again before next spring, if at all, and it’s the warmest, safest and finest place in all the wilderness.”

“A good choice,” said Henry.

“Right thar we’ll go,” said Shif’less Sol.

“Ez soon ez we kin make tracks fur it,” said Long Jim.

“Shore,” said Tom Ross.

They started at once, and all things turned in their favor. The wilderness remained frozen and bitter cold, but there was no pursuit. By all rules, game should have been scarce at such a time, but they found plenty of it. Day after day they traveled through the woods, crossing the Ohio on the ice, and at last they drew near the rocky home they had defended so valiantly, and which once more extended to them a silent welcome.

Now they built their fires anew, killed game and obtained abundant supplies of food and furs, though for two weeks Henry was not allowed to join the others in the chase, resting like Hercules after his mighty labors. Then, while the great cold lasted, they, the eyes of the woods, built up their strength and spirit for new labors and dangers in the spring.