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How joyfully different from Ogdensburg。
Chapter 72。 Scouting Across Country
That very night； Rolf turned again with the latest news and the
commandant's reports。
He was learning the country well now； and； with the wonderful
place…memory of a woodman； he was able to follow his exact back
trail。 It might not have been the best way； but it gave him this
advantage in nearly every case he was able to use again the
raft he had made in coming； and thereby saved many hours of
precious time。
On the way out he had seen a good many deer and one bear； and had
heard the howling of wolves every night； but always at a
distance。 On the second night； in the very heart of the
wilderness； the wolves were noisy and seemed very near。 Rolf was
camping in the darkness。 He made a small fire with such stuff as
he could find by groping； then； when the fire blazed； he
discovered by its light a dead spruce some twenty yards away。
Taking his hatchet he went toward this； and； as he did so； a wolf
rose up； with its forefeet on a log； only five yards beyond the
tree and gazed curiously at him。 Others were heard calling；
presently this wolf raised its muzzle and uttered a long smooth
howl。
Rolf had left his pistol back at the fire； he dared not throw his
hatchet； as that would have left him unarmed。 He stooped； picked
up a stick； and threw that； the wolf ducked so that it passed
over； then； stepping back from the log； stood gazing without
obvious fear or menace。 The others were howling； Rolf felt
afraid。 He backed cautiously to the fire； got his pistol and came
again to the place； but nothing more did he see of the wolf；
though he heard them all night and kept up two great fires for a
protection。
In the morning he started as usual； and before half an hour he
was aware of a wolf； and later of two； trotting along his trail；
a few hundred yards behind。 They did not try to overtake him；
indeed； when he stopped； they did the same； and when he trotted；
they； true to their dog…like nature； ran more rapidly in pursuit。
How Rolf did wish for his long rifle； but they gave no
opportunity for a shot with the pistol。 They acted； indeed； as
though they knew their safe distance and the exact range of the
junior gun。 The scout made a trap for them by stealing back after
he had crossed a ridge； and hiding near his own trail。 But the
wind conveyed a warning； and the wolves merely sat down and
waited till he came out and went on。 All day long these two
strange ban dogs followed him and gave no sign of hunger or
malice； then； after he crossed a river； at three in the
afternoon； he saw no more of them。 Years after； when Rolf knew
them better； he believed they followed him out of mild curiosity；
or possibly in the hope that he would kill a deer in which they
might share。 And when they left him； it was because they were
near the edge of their own home region； they had seen him off
their hunting grounds。
That night he camped sixty miles from Ticonderoga； but he was
resolved to cover the distance in one day。 Had he not promised to
be back in a week？ The older hands had shaken their heads
incredulously； and he； in the pride of his legs； was determined
to be as good as his promise。 He scarcely dared sleep lest he
should oversleep。 At ten he lay down。 At eleven the moon was due
to rise； as soon as that was three hours high there would be
light enough； and he proposed to go on。 At least half a dozen
times he woke with a start； fearing he had overslept； but
reassured by a glance at the low…hung moon； he had slumbered
again。
At last the moon was four hours high； and the woods were plain in
the soft light。 A horned owl 〃hoo…hoo…ed；〃 and a far… off wolf
uttered a drawn…out； soft； melancholy cry； as Rolf finished his
dried meat； tightened his belt； and set out on a long； hard run
that； in the days of Greece； would have furnished the theme of
many a noble epic poem。
No need to consult his compass。 The blazing lamp of the dark sky
was his guide； straight east his course； varied a little by hills
and lakes； but nearly the crow…flight line。 At first his pace was
a steady； swinging stride； then after a mile he came to an open
lake shore down which he went at a six…mile trot； and then an
alder thicket through which his progress was very slow； but that
soon passed； and for half a mile he splashed through swamps with
water a foot deep： nor was he surprised at length to see it open
into a little lake with a dozen beaver huts in view。 〃Splash；
prong〃 their builders went at his approach； but he made for the
hillside； the woods were open； the moonlight brilliant now； and
here he trotted at full swing as long as the way was level or
down； but always walked on the uphill。 A sudden noise ahead was
followed by a tremendous crashing and crackling of the brush。 For
a moment it continued； and what it meant； Rolf never knew or
guessed。
〃Trot； trot；〃 he went； reeling off six miles in the open； two or
perhaps three in the thickets； but on and on； ever eastward。 Hill
after hill； swamp after swamp； he crossed； lake after lake he
skirted round； and； when he reached some little stream； he sought
a log bridge or prodded with a pole till he found a ford and
crossed； then ran a mile or two to make up loss of time。
Tramp； tramp； tramp； and his steady breath and his steady heart
kept unremitting rhythm。
Chapter 73。 Rolf Makes a Record
Twelve miles were gone when the foreglow the first cold
dawn…light showed； and shining across his path ahead was a mighty
rolling stream。 Guided by the now familiar form of Goodenow Peak
he made for this； the Hudson's lordly flood。 There was his raft
securely held； with paddle and pole near by； and he pushed off
with all the force of his young vigour。 Jumping and careening
with the stream in its freshet flood； the raft and its hardy
pilot were served with many a whirl and some round spins； but the
long pole found bottom nearly everywhere； and not ten minutes
passed before the traveller sprang ashore； tied up his craft；
then swung and tramped and swung。
Over the hills of Vanderwhacker； under the woods of Boreas。
Tramp； tramp； splash； tramp； wringing and sopping； but strong and
hot； tramp； tramp； tramp； tramp。 The partridge whirred from his
path； the gray deer snorted； and the panther sneaked aside。
Tramp； tramp； trot； trot； and the Washburn Ridge was blue against
the sunrise。 Trot； trot； over the low； level； mile…long slope he
went； and when the Day… god burnt the upper hill…rim he was by
brown Tahawus flood and had covered eighteen miles。
By the stream he stopped to drink。 A partridge cock； in the pride
of spring； strutted arrogantly on a log。 Rolf drew his pistol；
fired； then hung the headless body while he made a camper's
blaze： an oatcake； the partridge； and river water were his meal。
His impulse was to go on at once。 His reason； said 〃go slow。〃 So
he waited for fift