CHAPTER XLVI.
WHAT SHASTA DID.
The night was still, and the regular tramp of the Indians sounded likethe march of a file of soldiers, as they passed over the grass-coveredearth. Elwood listened, hardly daring to breathe, as the tread grewfainter, fainter, fainter still, then died out; then was revived by asigh of the night air, and all was still.
The boy raised his eyes and looked upward. Through the dark cloudsdrifting tumultuously across the sky he detected the glimmer of a staror two, and in that moment of deep solemnity a passage of the Holy Biblecame to him.
"They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in."
"Hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted in them."
"When they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distress."
It came from his heart, and he repeated it over again.
How beautiful! How appropriate to the situation! The tears welled to hiseyes, and his heart overflowed at the repeated remembrance of theall-merciful Father, whose eye alone saw him and whose ear alone heardthe thankfulness that would find expression.
He fell into a sweet reverie, from which he was awakened by a slightnoise below. He leaned his head over the ledge and listened. All at oncehe heard a soft rush, and the next moment an Indian was holding on tothe edge of the tabular-like projection with one hand, while his otherwas outstretched and placed upon his body.
"Is that you, Shasta?"
"Oogh! Sh-e-asta!"
"All right! I am waiting for you."
The hand closed upon his right arm; he was lifted bodily as if he werean infant, and held in mid-air; and the next instant the Pah Utahdropped lightly to the earth, and the two stood upon their feet. TheIndian uttered an exclamation which seemed to be one of inquiry, and theboy made answer in this manner:
"I am ready for anything, Shasta; lead the way."
Instead of allowing him to walk, as Elwood confidently expected, the PahUtah flung him over his shoulder and then started on a long, loping trotup the path. His extraordinary agility and muscular power made theweight he carried of the same effect as if it were his rifle he was thustransporting.
This rapid progress continued but a few minutes, when he sunk into awalk--one of long strides, such as would have compelled the boy to amoderate run to equal. He could tell that he was going up quite anascent, but toward what point it was impossible to tell. Occasionallyhis hand or his foot struck the projecting rocks, and the rush of thewind now and then against his face told when they were passing throughthe more open space.
Wonderful indeed was the skill of the Pah Utah, that in the densedarkness showed him, just where and just the outlay of strength thatwould land his young white friend upon the shelf of safety. Equallyextraordinary was the woodcraft that brought him back to the precisespot, and enabled him to thread his way through the impenetrable gloomwith the surety of the mountain chamois, which bounds over thefastnesses of the Alps at midday.
Elwood was quiescent, for he know whose hand held him upon those brawnyshoulders, and he felt that the moccasined foot which touched the earthso lightly was too sure to miss its hold, and the heart throbbing withinthat dusky bosom pulsated too powerfully with the common humanity of ournature ever to falter or hesitate in its work of love.
This singular means of progress was continued for the better part of anhour, when the Indian paused and placed him gently on his feet. The sky,which had partially cleared, enabled him to see that they had emergedfrom the ridge of hills whose entrance had been so eventful to him, andthey now stood in the open woods.
Elwood Brandon admitted to himself that the work of Shasta was nowfinished, and he fully expected to be left alone in the forest to seekhis way back to his friends; but if _he_ thought so the Pah Utahcertainly did not.
Even in that moment the boy could not fail to notice that the Indian'sbreathing could not be heard. Not the slightest panting nor exhaustionfrom the tremendous exertion undergone!
Shasta waited but a moment, and then gripping Elwood by the wrist hebegan threading his way through the forest. As he did so, instead ofallowing the youngster to walk by his side, he held his arm backward, sothat to all intents and purposes the boy was following behind him, andyet at such an angle that their feet did not interfere with each other.
Not once did either the Pah Utah or his dependent strike a tree. Oftendid they graze the back, and brush through the limbs and undergrowth,but the uplifted arm of the Indian parted asunder the obstructions, andopened the way, as does the snow plow of the locomotive to the enginethat drives it forward and the train coming behind.
Whether the marvelous vision of the Pah Utah penetrated the Egyptiandarkness or not, cannot be said. The veteran backwoodsman, as he stridesthrough the midnight forest, seems to _feel_ the presence of eachtree-trunk as he approaches it, just as the fingers of pianists strikethe piano keys with such bewildering certainty, without their oncelooking at them.
Onward they pressed, Elwood only now and then able to catch a glimpse ofhis faithful guide, who never vouchsafed a word or exclamation for hisbenefit. There was no need of it. Both fully understood each other, andthe boy did not attempt to divert the attention which was so needed, atthe present time, for the work before him.
Finally Shasta seemed to hesitate--not the hesitation of doubt anduncertainty, but as if he had neared if not reached his destination, andhad slackened his pace that he might not pass the exact point.
He was not long in finding the proper spot, and Elwood could see that hewas stooping down and busy at something. While he was closelyscrutinizing him, he suddenly became aware that they stood beside theriver, and the Pah Utah was engaged with his canoe. It occupied him buta moment, when he turned around, lifted the boy over and laid him downupon the blanket which was spread over the bottom of the boat, theremainder was folded carefully around his body, and then the Indianstood back, as if to command his young friend to go to sleep without anydelay or questioning.
The boy had lain but a short time when he found the blanket sointolerably warm that he threw a portion from him. It was instantly andrather roughly replaced--evidence that Shasta meant that his wishesshould be obeyed. At any rate the boy thought so, and dared not repeatthe act.
The great warmth of the blanket caused Elwood to break out into acopious perspiration from head to foot, and caused him almost to gaspfor breath; but when he seemed only to meditate on relieving himself ofthe superabundant clothing, the dusky watcher leaned forward to seewhether he dared violate his implied commands. It looked very much asthough the Pah Utah was acting as a physician to his youthful friend.