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The boys were much pleased with the primitive but comfortable houses, made of poles, bent at the top to a common centre, and wattled in with straw and corn-shucks. Each house was situated in a separate enclosure, and surrounded by a small garden. The only weapon these Indians use is a bow and arrow, with which they are very expert.
The floors were littered with "corn-shucks" and fodder; and the maimed, gashed, and dying lay confusedly together. A few, slightly wounded, stood at windows, relating incidents of the battle; but at the doors sentries stood with crossed muskets, to keep out idlers and gossips. The mention of my vocation was an "open sesame," and I went unrestrained, into all the largest hospitals.
The spasm of pain which swept the girl's face stirred within me a memory long forgotten. Once, when my own starved youth had wearied and clamored anew for an outlet, I had determined on a reckless adventure. From corn-shucks and dried grass I made a cigar which I tried to smoke. It gave me the most miserable penitent hour I have ever known.
"I thort that wur yur bisness," continued the swearer. "I thort so; but jest this time you've kim upon a fool's errand. Durn the government grant! durn your pre-emption right! an' durn yur title-papers too! I don't valley them more'n them thur corn-shucks I don't. I've got my pre-emption dokyment inside hyur. I'll jest shew ye that, mister; an' see how ye'll like it."
Rain and sleet had begun to fall, and it was decided that after having been warmed and refreshed we should be concealed in the barn until the following night. Accordingly we were conducted thither and put to bed upon a pile of corn-shucks high up under the roof.
Belike enuf, the skunk tuk him back the same night, and then come agin 'ithout him; or Kipp might a sent a nigger to fetch him?" "But Holt's own horse the old `critter, as you call him?" "That diz need explainin'. He must a left him ahind. He culdn't a tuk him in the dug-out; besides, he wan't worth takin' along. The old thing war clean wore out, an' wuldn't a sold for his weight in corn-shucks.
The bed squeaked; the mattress, I think, was filled with corn-shucks, the hard part of which had an ungentle way of assailing you when you least expected it. Yet, if now were given to me the choice of going back to the Élysée Palace in Paris, or the Hotel Rhiner on the Achensee, it would not take me two seconds to start for the corn-shucks.
The pork-dealer and his partner seemed to get a little nettled. "It's the cards," said the latter, with an air of pique. "Of coorse it's the cards," repeated white-hat. "Had nothing but darned rubbish since the game begun. Thar again!" "Bad cards again?" inquired his partner with a sombre countenance. "Bad as blazes! couldn't win corn-shucks with 'em."
Each time the house beyond the stile-block had looked miserably uninviting, a plough on the front porch, harness on the porch posts; all around the house the yard litter of cheap farm life, a broken-down harrow, broken-backed furniture, straw, corn-shucks, ghosts of past winters and past summers on the farm, that had shuffled out there and died there; each time the cleared patches beyond the house had looked lean; each time the native had been sallow and toil-worn; but each time that welcome word had been a finely perfect thing, good to hear.
I can run, too," and, in maidenly effort to free herself, she hugged him closer. They crossed the gate and together breasted a slight rise through scattered sheaves of corn-shucks. Meanwhile, Voles and the cattlemen were engaged in a cursing match until Rachel Craik, recovering her wind, screamed an eldrich command: "Stop, you fool! They're getting away. He has taken her down the road!"
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