Alcott, Louisa May - SSC 11 Read Free Page B

comforted, and when
they turned to Eunice there was a faint tinge of color on the pale cheeks, as
if the evening red kissed her; the look of pain was gone, and she slept
quietly, without the moans that had made their hearts ache before.
                            
"He hears! he hears!" cried Onawandah, and for the first time Reuben
saw tears in his keen eyes, as the Indian boy turned his face to the sky, full
of a gratitude that no words were sweet enough to tell.
                            
All night Eunice lay peacefully sleeping, and the moon lighted Onawandah's
lonely watch, for Reuben was worn out with suspense, and slept beside his
sister.
                            
In the morning she was safe, and great was the rejoicing; but for two days the
little invalid was not allowed to continue the journey, much as they longed to
hurry on. It was a pretty sight, the bed of hemlock boughs spread under a green
tent of woven branches, and on the pillow of moss the pale child watching the
flicker of sunshine through the leaves, listening to the babble of a brook close
by, or sleeping tranquilly, lulled by the murmur of the pines. Patient, loving,
and grateful, it was a pleasure to serve her, and both the lads were faithful
nurses. Onawandah cooked birds for her to eat, and made a pleasant drink of the
wild-raspberry leaves to quench her thirst. Reuben snared rabbits, that she
might have nourishing food, and longed to shoot a deer for provision, that she
might not suffer hunger again on their journey. This boyish desire led him
deeper into the wood than it was wise for him to go alone, for it was near
nightfall, and wild creatures haunted the forest in those days. The fire, which
Onawandah kept constantly burning, guarded their little camp where Eunice lay;
but Reuben, with no weapon but his bow and hunting knife, was beyond this
protection when he at last gave up his vain hunt and turned homeward. Suddenly,
the sound of stealthy steps startled him, but he could see nothing through the
dusk at first, and hurried on, fearing that some treacherous Indian was
following him. Then he remembered his sister, and resolved not to betray her
resting-place if he could help it, for he had learned courage of Onawandah, and
longed to be as brave and generous as his dusky hero.
                            
So he paused to watch and wait, and soon saw the gleam of two fiery eyes, not
behind, but above him, in a tree. Then he knew that it was an "Indian
devil," as they called a species of fierce animal that lurked in the
thickets and sprang on its prey like a small tiger.
                            
"If I could only kill it alone, how proud Onawandah would be of me,"
thought Reuben, burning for the good opinion of his friend.
                            
It would have been wiser to hurry on and give the beast no time to spring; but
the boy was over bold, and, fitting an arrow to the string, aimed at the bright
eye-ball and let fly. A sharp snarl showed that some harm was done, and, rather
daunted by the savage sound, Reuben raced away, meaning to come back next day
for the prize he hoped he had secured.
                            
But soon he heard the creature bounding after him, and he uttered one ringing
shout for help, feeling too late that he had been foolhardy. Fortunately, he
was nearer camp than he thought. Onawandah heard him, and was there in time to
receive the beast, as, mad with the pain of the wound, it sprung at Reuben.
There was no time for words, and the boy could only watch in breathless
interest and anxiety the fight which went on between the brute and the Indian.
                            
It was sharp but short; for Onawandah had his knife, and as soon as he could
get the snarling, struggling creature down, he killed it with a skilful stroke.
But not before it had torn and