He had a
remarkable capacity for dismissing trouble or apprehension, and
just then he was enjoying great physical and mental peace. He
looked through half closed eyes at his comrades, who also were
enjoying repose, and his fancy could reproduce Long Jim in the
forest, slipping from tree to tree and bush to bush, and finding
no menace.
"Feels good, doesn't it, Henry?" said the shiftless one. " I like
a clean, bold country like this. No more plowin' around in
swamps for me."
Yes," said Henry sleepily, " it's a good country."
The hour slipped smoothly by, and Paul said:
" Time for Long Jim to be back."
"Jim don't do things by halves," said the shiftless one. "Guess
he's beatin' up every squar' inch o' the bushes. He'll be here
soon."
A quarter of an hour passed, and Long Jim did not return; a half
hour, and no sign of him. Henry cast off the blanket and stood
up. The night was not very dark and he could see some distance,
but he did not see their comrade.
"I wonder why he's so slow," he said with a faint trace of
anxiety.
"He'll be 'long directly," said Tom Ross with confidence.
Another quarter of an hour, and no Long Jim. Henry sent forth
the low penetrating cry of the wolf that they used so often as a
signal.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48