| Object ID |
A3 |
| Object Name |
Painting |
| Dimensions |
H-19 W-13 inches |
| Early Date |
1925 |
| Late Date |
1926 |
| Description |
“We will try then to hasten the captain’s return,” observed Selden, and taking from his pocket a sort of whistle, formed from the leg-bone of a deer, he blew a blast whose loud, shrill note was capable of being heard at a great distance.
A strict silence of several moments was now observed by the whole party in listening for a reply from their leader, who, it was understood, carried about him a corresponding instrument. At length, instead of a reply from a whistle, the sharp report of a rifle burst from a neighboring glen and, echoing wildly from cliff to cliff in the surrounding stillness, died slowly away on the distant mountains.
“There he is!” “There goes the captain’s rifle!” I should know her voice among a thousand,” simultaneously burst from the lips of several of the company.
“Just as I told you,” said Smith; “I knew he would never return empty. That shot, mark me, brought down a deer, which he had in his eye when the leftenant whistled, and prevented his answering the call, which no small game would.”
The event soon proved the truth of the last speaker’s conjecture. The heavy, slow tread, as of one carrying some weighty load, now became distinguishable at a distance in the woods, the sounds falling more and more distinctly on the ear every moment as they approached the spot where the expectant and excited party stood, eagerly straining their eyes to catch the first glimpse of their huntsman leader. At length he emerged from the bushes, bearing a noble buck upon his shoulders. Advancing amid the congratulations of his fellows he came up to the spot, and, with the air of one relieved from a heavy burden, threw down his prize to the ground before them. Of the probable age of twenty-six or eight he was a man of a very fine and even majestic appearance. Though tall and muscular, so compactly and finely set were his limbs that his contour presented nothing to the eye in the least disproportioned or ungainly. His features seemed to correspond in regularity of formation to the rest of his person, while his countenance was rather of the cool and deliberate cast, indicative, however, of a mild, benevolent disposition as well as a sound, reflecting intellect. Every development, indeed, whether of his shapely head or manly countenance, went to show a strong, well-balanced character, and one capable of action beyond the scope of ordinary men. His dress, which was that of a huntsman, was neat—not rich—but tastefully arranged and well fitted. A mahogany-stocked rifle, richly chased with silver, with small arms partially concealed in his dress, completed his equipments.
“Heaven save me from another such jaunt,” were his first words after he had thrown down his load and recovered himself a little; “a noble buck, indeed, but the chase has been rather a dear one.”
“I don’t see how it could well have been otherwise, captain,” observed Selden, now evidently in high spirits and disposed for a little merriment:
“Your huntsmen, whenever a deer’s in the race,
Like your lovers, of course, must expect a dear chase.”
“Mine has been somewhat dearer, however, I think,” replied the former with an appreciating smile, “than was necessary to give zest to those savory trout, which, by the way, I am right glad to see so nearly ready for the partaking.”
“Yes,” rejoined the other, glancing around at the Indian, who stood demure and silent in the background, with his face partly averted from the company, “and yet I know not, really, Captain Warrington, but you may have other fish to fry first.”
“And just about the oddest fish, too, that we have caught today, captain,” said Jones, instantly understanding the allusion of the last speaker; “I rather think he must be a sort of shellfish, from the difficulty we found in getting his mouth open.”
“Oh, ho!” exclaimed Warrington, his eye now for the first time resting on the form of the Indian and his countenance clearing up from the puzzled expression that had come over it for the instant at the enigmatical words of his friends; “a new recruit! That explains your call, the wherefore I was about to ask. A new recruit of doubtful credentials, eh?”
So saying, he advanced to the side of the Indian youth and attentively examined his features; while the object of scrutiny stood perfectly immovable and apparently unconscious of the examination he was undergoing till, perceiving by the hesitation of the other that he was not likely to be recognized, he, without looking up or varying the expression of a single muscle of his face, quietly observed:
“Cappen no remember Neshobee—no remember shoot three wolf?”
“Aha?” said the other, recalled by the last allusion; “the same poor fellow that I so providentially came across and relieved from that savage pack of wolves last year on these very mountains? You may well remember that escape, my friend. But it is strange I did not know you.”
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| Credit |
Gift of Thos. Nelson & Sons |
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