CHAPTER XI.
A KING OF THE FOREST.
The boys remained standing at the mouth of the cavern until the guidedisappeared on the other side of the little plateau. Then they looked ateach other and smiled.
"Well, it appears that we are to have another day to ourselves," saidJack; "and we can't gain anything by waiting, so let's be off."
Nothing could be more satisfactory to Fred, and the two took nearly thesame course as their friend, who passed from sight but a short timebefore. They had no intention, however, of following him, for that wouldhave been displeasing to the veteran, who, had he desired their company,would have asked for it.
Without any definite object in mind, they took substantially the routeof the previous afternoon. Sooner than they anticipated, they foundthemselves on the margin of the canyon that had been the scene of sostirring an experience, but the point where they reached it was deeperin the mountains.
"Jack, we can't be very far from that break that Hank spoke of; let'shunt it up."
"I am willing; but before we do so we'll peep over the side, to seewhether he or anyone else is there."
No change was to be noted in the appearance of the tiny stream at theenormous depth, but neither friend nor stranger was in sight. They didnot expect to see any one, and began moving along the side of thestupendous fissure in their search for the place where Hank had enteredit. From what he said it could not be far off, but they weredisappointed before reaching the right point. A gradual descent of thesides was notable, and continued until the depth of the canyon wasdecreased one-half, while the roar became more audible.
"We can't be far from the break," said Jack; "that is, if this descentcontinues."
They found, however, a few minutes later, that it did not continue, butbegan to increase, until they were fully as elevated above the bottom ofthe gorge as at the point where they had leaped it. The width alsovaried continually, sometimes being only three or four feet, while inothers it expanded to nearly ten times that extent. They did not pauseto look over the margin again, for their aim was to reach the placereferred to by their friend.
At the moment when they began to wonder whether a mistake had not beenmade they came upon the break. Both banks sloped downward so abruptlythat it would have been laborious for the two to work their way to thebottom, or from the bottom to the top, though the masses of boulders,with the tough pines growing almost the whole distance, offered securefoothold.
The picture was an interesting one. At the point where the stream issuedfrom the canyon, its width was about twenty yards. It flowed swiftly,but quickly slackened its pace, since its expansion was fully a hundredfeet. This flowed for probably double that distance, when the high banksagain appeared, and what may be called the regular canyon was resumed.
Jack and Fred sat down to survey the curious picture. They noticed thatthe canyon seemed to be dotted at intervals with rocks, some of whichrose to a considerable height above the current. Many were near one sideor the other, while others were in the middle of the swift stream, whichdashed against them with a violence that threw the spray and foam highin air. It was easy to believe that Hank Hazletine had made his way upthe canyon by leaping from rock to rock, with little more result thanthe wetting of his shoes.
"It might be done in the daytime," said Jack, "but I should not want totry it at night."
"The water must be very deep in many places; and flows so fast that thestrongest swimmer couldn't help himself. I should prefer to climb thewall, as Hank did."
"But that would be dangerous in the darkness."
"The best thing we can do is to do neither," observed Fred, with alaugh. "I have a good deal of curiosity to know what led Hank to pickhis way up the canyon, but I haven't enough to lead me to followhim----"
Jack Dudley suddenly gripped the arm of his friend and drew him backfrom the boulder on which they had been sitting. Fred nearly lost hisbalance, and did not know what to make of the proceeding until bothchecked themselves at a safe distance and cautiously peeped forth. Thenthe cause of Jack's excitement became apparent.
From the pines on the other side of the stream, and near the middle ofthe depressed portion, three Indians stepped into view. The firstanxiety of the youths was to learn whether Motoza was one of them; buthe was not. All were strangers.
They were dressed much the same as the vagrant Sioux, and, like him,their faces were painted, and their coarse black hair dangled looselyabout their shoulders. They were armed with rifles; but two of theweapons seemed to be the long, old-fashioned muzzle-loaders, while thethird carried a Winchester. Although they emerged from the pines inIndian file, they spread apart and walked beside one another to the edgeof the broad stream, where they stopped, as if that were the end oftheir journey.
Their gestures showed they were talking energetically, though of coursenot the slightest murmur reached the youths, who took care to screenthemselves from view while cautiously peeping forth. Even after thewarning words of their guide they felt no special alarm, for theybelieved the red men were from the reservation near by, and would notharm any one. If they attempted it, Jack and Fred felt they had theadvantage of position, sheltered behind the rocks, far above theirenemies, down upon whom they could fire with their Winchesters, shouldthe necessity arise.
It was quite certain that the three belonged to one of the huntingparties whose signal-smoke the boys had seen earlier in the day. Theiraction was curious. They did not look up the bank, so that the boysmight have been more careless without being discovered; but it wasapparent that two of them were arguing with the third, who was moreexcited than either of his companions. Finally he turned away and madeas if to pass up the canyon, after the manner of Hank Hazletine. Heleaped out upon one of the rocks, then bounded as lightly to another,and then to a third, which took him within the canyon. The otherswatched him without protest or action.
Evidently the Indian who had started off so hurriedly was more impulsivethan his companions, for after his third leap he remained standing onthe rock; and, although it would have been easy for him to spring to thenext leading up the canyon, he refrained from doing do. Instead, helooked around, and then deliberately rejoined his friends, who showed nosurprise over his reverse movement. They spoke only a few words to oneanother, when they moved back in Indian file toward the growth of pines,among which they passed from sight and were seen no more.
"That was a queer performance," remarked Jack; "it looked to me as ifthat first fellow wanted his companions to go up the canyon with him,and when they refused he started off by himself."
"Only to change his mind."
"There can be no doubt of that; but it strikes me as strange that thereshould be something up there to attract them as well as Hank."
"Some day Hank will tell us about it. Do you observe, young man, thatthe forenoon is well along and we haven't had a sight of any game?"
With no thought of the Indians whom they had just seen, the boys beganretracing their steps. Inasmuch as it was on the other side of the gorgethat they had gained the shot at the buck, the feeling was strong thatthey should pass it again and push their hunt in that direction.
It did not require long to find a spot where the fissure was easilyleaped. In fact, the exploit was becoming quite an everyday thing withthem.
"We are not far from the spot where we killed that rattler yesterday,"said Fred, recognizing several landmarks. "I wonder whether there areany more near us----"
At that instant Fred uttered a gasp and leaped several feet from theground, while his companion was hardly a second behind him. Both hadheard the well-remembered whir at the same moment, and bounded awayseveral steps before pausing to look back.
Remarkable as it might seem, a second specimen of the _crotalus_, fullyas large as the other, lay on the flat surface of a rock only a fewinches above the ground. Evidently it was sunning itself when thusdisturbed by the approach of the young hunters, at sight of whom itthrew itself into coil. The boys were not in danger, for the warni
ng wassounded while they were still a number of paces distant.
Feeling safe, they stood still and surveyed the hideous thing. Theyagreed that it was larger than the other, and seemed to be darker incolor. But for the fact that the reptiles were on opposite sides of thecanyon, it might be believed they were mates. The head and tail wereelevated, the latter vibrating with the swift, hazy appearance at theend of the rattles which they had noted before.
Jack repeated the oft-quoted expression: "The heel of the woman shallbruise the serpent's head," and added: "I suppose nine persons out ofevery ten, when they see any kind of a snake, are seized with an impulseto kill it."
"Even though many are harmless and useful."
"I think the best use you can put a rattlesnake to is to blow him intosmithereens, which is what I am going to do."
As he spoke, Jack brought his Winchester to a level and sightedcarefully at the pitted head of the serpent. He was deliberate, and didnot press the trigger until sure his aim was accurate to a hair.
Fred kept his eye on that head. At the instant the sharp crack of therifle rang out the frightful object vanished, and the long body brokeinto fierce writhings. Jack had clipped off the head as neatly as ifwith the blow of a scimitar, the bullet shattering the neck just below,and at its narrowest portion.
"That's as well as I could have done myself," commented Fred, as hisfriend lowered his weapon and watched the struggles of his victim, whichquickly ceased, for, as has been said, the _crotalus_ species is easilykilled, and when one of them has been decapitated he cannot keep upappearances very long.
When it became certain the reptile was dead the boys drew near for acloser inspection. They counted the rattles, which were seventeen innumber, proving the reptile of extraordinary size.
"We didn't think to count those of the other," said Fred, "but I am sureit was not so large as this."
"No; but I wonder whether we are going to stumble over them at everystep?"
"This is only the second one; we may not see another for a week."
"I hope we shall not; but so long as they are kind enough to give usnotice of their intentions we ought to be able to avoid their bites."
It looked as if their experience of the previous day was to be repeated,for within a hundred yards from the spot an animal was discovered on arock, a considerable distance above them. Fred was the first to see it,and exclaimed:
"There's another buck, Jack! It's your turn."
But before Jack could bring his weapon to a level the animal saw themand was off like a flash. In fact they had no more than a glimpse ofit--barely enough to see that it had no antlers, and probably was not adeer at all.
"It isn't going to be as easy work as we thought," said Fred; "Ishouldn't be surprised if we fail to get a shot to-day."
"Well, we shall have the fun of tramping ourselves tired. It seems to methat when any sort of game shows itself it comes out in plain sight andis not scared up by us. Let's sit down a while and watch things aroundus."
This singular proposal was acted upon. After picking their way somedistance further among the rocks they chose a seat, and then lookedsearchingly here and there at the different elevations and prominentpoints, in the hope of catching sight of some game which would give thema shot before dashing off with headlong haste.
"Right over that part of the mountain peak yonder," said Jack, pointingat the place, "I saw the moon rise last night. I have watched it comeout of the ocean many a time, but never saw anything so beautifulbefore."
He described as best he could the impressive scene, while Fred listened,and for the first time felt regret that he had not been awakened thathe, too, might have enjoyed the view.
When he had studied the mountain peak for some minutes, he raised hisglass and surveyed it steadily for a while longer.
"I thought so," he remarked; "turn your glass, Jack, in that direction."
Jack did as requested, and saw to what his comrade referred. Perched onthe highest portion was an immense gray-headed eagle. Sailing thitherfrom the depths of space, he had paused for a while, with the grand viewspread out before him, and what a view it must have been!
It was easy to identify the bird with the aid of their glasses, whichwere kept pointed for some time at him.
"I wonder whether he sees us?" said Fred.
"There can be no doubt of it, for their eyes detect the smallest objecton a landscape. He is probably studying us with as much interest as weare watching him."
"Our rifles couldn't carry a ball half-way to him."
"And what if they could? Would you wish to harm the emblem of ourcountry?"
"No; unless he attacked us, which I don't think is likely. Halloo!"
Just then the immense bird spread his wings and began skimming throughthe air with majestic grace. More than that, he was coming in thedirection of the boys.
"I believe he means to make a meal off of us!" exclaimed Fred; "we wouldbetter be ready for him."
"There's nothing to be frightened at. If he intends to attack us we haveonly to wait until he is near, when we can puncture him."
If the king of birds held any such intention he changed his mind.Swooping far across the intervening space, seemingly aiming straight atthem, he suddenly changed his course, and, ascending high in the sky,swept around in a wide circle and finally disappeared over the peakwhere first seen.
The boys sat for a while in silence, gazing away in the distance, wherethe noble bird had vanished, half-expecting it to reappear and probablypress its attack; but it had taken its flight for good and was seen nomore.
"I wonder whether we would have done any better if we had brought a dogwith us?" said Jack, beginning to feel a trifle discouraged over theirfailure to secure a shot at any game.
"I proposed bringing my dog, you remember, when we left home, but youthought we could do better out here. Hank and the rest of them don'tseem to place much value on the animals in hunting. Did you hear that?"
From some point not very far off came the report of a rifle, thoughwhether it was the weapon of Hank Hazletine or one of the Indians thathad been discharged, neither could guess.
"Somebody else is in luck, and I don't see why we should not----"
Before Fred could finish his sentence both heard the rustling of bushesbehind them. They turned on the instant, and saw a sight which held themtransfixed, for never had they expected to view anything of the kind.
They had read and heard much of grizzly bears. They knew they grew to anenormous size, and are the most formidable animals found in the greatWest, but had they been told that there were such monsters as the onebefore them they could not have believed it had it been related byHazletine himself.
To Jack and Fred he seemed fully four times the size of the largestblack bear they had ever seen in any zoological garden. Had his legsbeen longer, Fred Greenwood would have pronounced him the equal of Jumbohimself.
Where this Colossus among beasts had come from it was impossible to say,but the terrifying fact was self-evident that he was advancing to attackthe boys!
He must have caught sight of them as they sat on the rock with theirbacks toward him, and, angered at the intrusion, he was sweeping downupon them like a cyclone, furious and determined to crush them out ofexistence.
"He was sweeping down upon them like a cyclone."]
The gait of the animal was awkward, but speedier even than the youthssuspected. He swung along with a swaying motion, and his claws, strikingthe flinty rocks as he passed over them, rattled like iron nails. Hisvast mouth was open, his long red tongue lolling out, and his whiteteeth gleaming. As if no element of terror was to be omitted he uttereda deep, cavernous growl at every step or two, while his comparativelysmall black eyes seemed to glow with a savage light, altogether foreignto the species.
All this was taken in at the first glance of the boys, who, petrifiedfor one moment, realized in the next their fearful peril.
"There's no time to shoot!" exclaimed Jack; "we must run!"
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sp; "But he can run faster than we!" replied Fred, who stood his ground longenough to bring his Winchester to his shoulder and let fly straight atthe front of the beast. That he struck the bear was certain, but itserved only to add to his towering rage, and he plunged forward withouthalt.
Jack had made no attempt to fire, but was running at headlong speed.Fred was eager to thrust another cartridge into the chamber of hisWinchester from the magazine, but to do so would detain him until oldEphraim was upon him, and even then it was not likely the bullet wouldstay or affect his attack.
Accordingly, instead of firing a second shot he whirled about and dashedafter Jack, who was thus placed about a rod in advance. Although theground was not favorable for running, it may be safely said that neitherJack Dudley nor Fred Greenwood ever gave such an exhibition of speed.They held fast to their rifles, for it looked as if the weapons were tobe their final reliance.
Fred glanced over his shoulder to learn how he was making out in therace. With an awful sinking he saw that the grizzly was gaining fastupon him. Still he dared not pause long enough to fire, but redoubledhis energies, only to catch his foot in a running vine and plungeforward on his face.