Now, Ned, suppose we eat a little, and brace
ourselves for the arrival of the pursuit."
They ate with a good appetite and then lay propped on their elbows,
where they could look just over the logs at the circling forest. It was
very quiet. Nothing stirred among the trees. Their eyes, used now to the
half dusk, could see almost as well as if it were daylight. Ned finally
noticed some dark objects on the boughs of the trees and called Obed's
attention to them.
"Wild turkeys," said Obed, after a long look. "The first we've seen and
we can't take a shot at them. They must know it or they wouldn't sit
there so quiet and easy."
A half hour later, Ned saw something move among the trees at the nearest
point of the forest. It looked like a shadow and was gone in an
instant. But his heart leaped. He felt sure that it was a Lipan, and
told Obed of his suspicion.
"Of course you're right," said the Maine man. "They may have been there
in the woods for an hour spying us out. They've dismounted and have left
their horses further back among the trees. Suppose you watch to the
right while I face to the left. I think the two of us together can cover
a whole circle."
Ned felt a singular composure. It seemed to him that he had passed
through so many emotions that he had none left now but calm and
expectancy.
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