Hugh Pendexter

“ Reaching a point where his line of vision up the slope crossed his trail, he dropped behind a decaying log and sighted his gun on a birch.
THE day was drowsily warm. A squirrel ran down a tree and “froze” on beholding the figure by the log. The puppy thrust his head from the ranger's shirt and on seeing the squirrel yapped ecstatically. Growling beneath his breath, Putnam thrust the puppy back. The squirrel ran up the tree, and, vibrating mightily, began shrilly proclaiming to all forest folks that an enemy was near. ”

“ To shoot while they were yet within the woods meant a waste of powder. Putnam waited until they came to the opening and the leader glided into view and sought to find the trail on the naked ledge. The rocks left no signs of the ranger's passing, yet a tiny piece of moss torn from its fastenings told the whole story to the Indian.
Putnam covered him but waited until he straightened to his full height to call to his companions. With the bang of the gun the stricken brave leaped convulsively but made no outcry. ”

“ Then a low oath slipped through his clinched teeth as he realized the bosom of his shirt was quiet. The puppy had tumbled or crawled out and was questing forth for adventures.
“Dern his fat little hide! He's killed hisself,” murmured Putnam, watching anxiously the progress of the runaway by noting the occasional disturbance of twigs and the low branches.
But now was created a new focus for his attention. From some silver birch just below him and squarely in his path to the lake emerged the naked and freshly oiled figure of an Indian. Behind him followed another, and then another. ”

“ Rogers smiled at Putnam's simplicity in believing he owed loyalty to a puppy and somewhat impatiently remarked—
“With your friend's life at stake and a party of Frenchmen waiting to be captured or run off the lake I guess we won't have much time to think about dogs.”
“I will take the dog to his mother,” spoke up young Brant.
“To his mother? That would be a dangerous job,” said Putnam. “You'd never get within six miles of Ticonderoga without losing your hair. Even if the pup was back there they'd kill him. They seem to think he's chuck full of some devil.” ”

“ You ranger should hang for shooting so poorly when he had such an excellent target.”
“I shall discipline him. Yet it is good. It makes me feel better. I hate like sin to kill a wounded man, and yet I'll be —— if I'm not going to try taking you a prisoner to Fort William Henry.”
“Zut! You will show resistance?” softly queried Pean, his eyes glittering and a hand dropping to an Indian ax in his belt.
Putnam laughed harshly and cast a glance toward the lake. To his great relief he saw no signs of soldiers or Canadians. ”

“ Men sprang from the ground and began buckling on their accouterments.
A second order sent a squad hurrying to the boats, while six men with the officer in the lead followed the Indian directly toward Putnam's hiding-place. The ranger fell back and, striking into a path, ran as fast as the darkness would it until he came to his canoe.
Leaping in, he paddled swiftly to get among the islands just south of the point. The Indian had discovered something which made him believe that Putnam was hiding on the point. Possibly he had heard the puppy complaining and had located the canoe. ”

“ PUTNAM dug his paddle deep, soon rounded one of the two islands that partly choked the mouth of the bay and came in sight of a small fire. A sentry sharply challenged him, and figures of sleepers suddenly became armed. men erect and ready for a fight. Putnam called out his name and jumped ashore.
Major Rogers came down to the beach to greet him, and to him Putnam hurriedly reported:
“Band of Canadian regulars camping at Sabbath Day Point. An Indian scout got some trace of me and they was hunting for me when I quit the point.” ”

“ Some of his children will be all white. He will never disgrace his new mother. He is too young for meat. He will die soon if he doesn't have milk! Ku!”
The last in applause as the puppy gave a wrench and untied a moccasin fastening with her teeth.
“Blind Seneca,” mused Putnam. “I've heard a heap about him. Didn't know he was in this country. But he isn't really blind.”
“The Indians say he has been touched by the Great Spirit, or he'd 'a' been killed long ago. Crazy's a loon. That's why they call him blind. If he comes round this lake we'll have to wipe him and his —— pack of dogs out. ”

“ We must put the fear of the Lord into them red trackers.”
He could catch flitting glimpses of naked bodies as the warriors glided zigzag through the woods, moving from tree to tree and yet advancing swiftly, and bending low to read the trail on the forest floor. Three sinister figures, the personification of the forest's inexorable cruelty. ”

“ But his Majesty and Louis the Fifteenth have different notions.
“Ah, now some one comes! And only the Indians. One—two—three. Not so bad as I'd feared. Pup, I'm going to shoot, but don't you be scared. ”