Now he meant to see.
His information was very indefinite, and he began to discover
signs much earlier than he had expected. Before the end of the
first day he saw the traces of other snowshoe runners on the icy
snow, and once he came to a place where a deer had been slain and
dressed. Then he came to another where the snow had been
hollowed out under some pines to make a sleeping place for
several men. Clearly he was in the land of the enemy again, and
a large and hostile camp might be somewhere near.
Henry felt a thrill of joy when he saw these indications. All
the primitive instincts leaped up within him. A child of the
forest and of elemental conditions, the warlike instinct was
strong within him. He was tired of hunting wild animals, and now
there was promise of a' more dangerous foe. For the purposes
that he had in view he was glad that be was alone. The wintry
forest, with its two feet of snow covered with ice, contained no
terrors for him. He moved on his snowshoes almost like a skater,
and with all the dexterity of an Indian of the far North, who is
practically born on such shoes.
As he stood upon the brow of a little hill, elevated upon his
snowshoes, he was, indeed, a wonderful figure.
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