"
"What! I ride, when everybody else is afoot!" exclaimed Mr. Pennypacker,
indignantly.
"You're the only schoolmaster we have and we can't afford to lose you,"
said Ross without the suspicion of a grin.
Mr. Pennypacker looked at him, but he could not detect any change of
countenance.
"Hop up," continued Ross, "it ain't any time to be bashful. Others of us
may have to do it afore long."
Mr. Pennypacker yielded with a sigh, sprang lightly upon the horse, and
then when he enjoyed the luxury of rest was glad that he had yielded.
Paul, and one or two others took to the horses' backs later on, but
Henry continued the march on foot with long easy strides, and no sign of
weakening. Ross noticed him more than once but he never made any
suggestion to Henry that he ride; instead the faint smile of approval
appeared once more on the guide's face.
The sun began to sink, the twilight came, and then night. Ross called a
halt, and, clustered in the thickest shadows of the forest, they ate
their supper and rested their tired limbs. No fire was lighted, but they
sat there under the trees, hungrily eating their venison, and talking in
the lowest of whispers.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151