Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 20, 2025
"Big moon might get shot," grunted Mukoki. "See lynx on hill. See wolf-tracks on red deer trail. No shot." This was as much of the history of Mukoki's night on the trail as the boys could secure, but during their breakfast Wabi shot another glance at Rod, and as Mukoki left the table for a moment to close the damper in the stove he found an opportunity to whisper: "See if I'm not right.
If the mysterious person who had fired the golden bullet had leaped from the mountain top into space he could have left no fewer traces behind him. At the end of an hour Rod and his companions returned to the canoe, carried their loads to the pack in the dip, and prepared dinner. Their suspense and fear, and specially Mukoki's dread, were in a large measure gone.
Another shot, and another three in quick succession, and one of the fleeing animals fell, scrambled to its knees and plunged on again! A fifth shot the last in Mukoki's rifle! Again the wounded animal fell, struggled to its knees to its forefeet and fell again. "Good work! Five hundred yards if it was a foot!" exclaimed Wabigoon with a relieved laugh. "Fresh steak for supper, Rod!"
Did the Woongas not fear pursuit? Was it possible that they believed the hunters would not hasten to give them battle? Or were they relying upon the strength of their numbers, or, perhaps, planning some kind of ambush? Mukoki's advance now became slower and more cautious. His keen eyes took in every tree and clump of bushes ahead.
Mukoki's traps were not more than an eighth of a mile from camp, and as the two rounded a certain bend in the river the old hunter suddenly stopped with a huge grant of satisfaction. Following the direction in which he pointed Rod saw a dark object lying in the snow a short distance away. "That's heem!" exclaimed the Indian.
In straight-away boxing, without the finer tricks and artifice of the game, he was soon convinced that the forest man was almost his match. Little by little he began to exert the cleverness of his training. At the end of ten minutes Father Roland was sitting dazedly in the snow, and the grin had gone from Mukoki's face.
Not the smallest twig broke under his moccasined feet; the movement of the smallest bird, the trembling of a bush, the scurry of a rabbit halted him, rigid, his rifle half to shoulder. And Rod and Wabigoon soon become filled with this same panic-stricken fear. What terrible dread was it that filled Mukoki's soul? Had he seen something of which he had not told them?
"Man who shoot bear heem no dead," replied the old pathfinder. "Same gun, same gold, same " "Same what?" A strange gleam came for an instant into Mukoki's eyes, and without finishing he turned and pointed across the narrow plain that lay between them and the mysterious chasm which they were to follow in their search for treasure. "Cry went there!" he said shortly. "To the chasm!" said Wabi.
Mukoki's voice floated back in an answering halloo, but before the young hunters came within sight of their comrade another sound reached their ears, the muffled roar of a cataract! Again and again the boys sent their shouts of joy echoing through the night, and above the tumult of their own voices they heard the old warrior calling on them to put into shore.
Trapping was exceptionally good now on account of the scarcity of animal food and since the big storm they had captured a wolf, two lynx, a red fox and eight mink. But as Mukoki's absence lengthened their enthusiasm grew less. In the afternoon, as they were watching, they saw a figure climb wearily to the summit of the hill. It was Mukoki.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking