The Prairie Read Online Free

dazzled the eye, a gray and more sober light
had succeeded, and as the setting lost its brilliancy, the proportions
of the fanciful form became less exaggerated, and finally distinct.
Ashamed to hesitate, now that the truth was no longer doubtful, the
leader of the party resumed his journey, using the precaution, as he
ascended the slight acclivity, to release his own rifle from the strap,
and to cast it into a situation more convenient for sudden use.
    There was little apparent necessity, however, for such watchfulness.
From the moment when it had thus unaccountably appeared, as it were,
between the heavens and the earth, the stranger's figure had neither
moved nor given the smallest evidence of hostility. Had he harboured
any such evil intention, the individual who now came plainly into view,
seemed but little qualified to execute them.
    A frame that had endured the hardships of more than eighty seasons, was
not qualified to awaken apprehension, in the breast of one as powerful
as the emigrant. Notwithstanding his years, and his look of emaciation,
if not of suffering, there was that about this solitary being, however,
which said that time, and not disease, had laid his hand heavily on him.
His form had withered, but it was not wasted. The sinews and muscles,
which had once denoted great strength, though shrunken, were still
visible; and his whole figure had attained an appearance of induration,
which, if it were not for the well known frailty of humanity, would have
seemed to bid defiance to the further approaches of decay. His dress was
chiefly of skins, worn with the hair to the weather; a pouch and horn
were suspended from his shoulders; and he leaned on a rifle of uncommon
length, but which, like its owner, exhibited the wear of long and hard
service.
    As the party drew nigher to this solitary being, and came within a
distance to be heard, a low growl issued from the grass at his feet, and
then, a tall, gaunt, toothless, hound, arose lazily from his lair, and
shaking himself, made some show of resisting the nearer approach of the
travellers.
    "Down, Hector, down," said his master, in a voice, that was a little
tremulous and hollow with age. "What have ye to do, pup, with men who
journey on their lawful callings?"
    "Stranger, if you ar' much acquainted in this country," said the
leader of the emigrants, "can you tell a traveller where he may find
necessaries for the night?"
    "Is the land filled on the other side of the Big River?" demanded the
old man, solemnly, and without appearing to hearken to the other's
question; "or why do I see a sight, I had never thought to behold
again?"
    "Why, there is country left, it is true, for such as have money, and ar'
not particular in the choice," returned the emigrant; "but to my taste,
it is getting crowdy. What may a man call the distance, from this place
to the nighest point on the main river?"
    "A hunted deer could not cool his sides, in the Mississippi, without
travelling a weary five hundred miles."
    "And what may you name the district, hereaway?"
    "By what name," returned the old man, pointing significantly upward,
"would you call the spot, where you see yonder cloud?"
    The emigrant looked at the other, like one who did not comprehend his
meaning, and who half suspected he was trifled with, but he contented
himself by saying—
    "You ar' but a new inhabitant, like myself, I reckon, stranger,
otherwise you would not be backward in helping a traveller to some
advice; words cost but little, and sometimes lead to friendships."
    "Advice is not a gift, but a debt that the old owe to the young. What
would you wish to know?"
    "Where I may camp for the night. I'm no great difficulty maker, as to
bed and board; but, all old journeyers, like myself, know the virtue of
sweet water, and a good browse for the cattle."
    "Come then with me, and you shall be master of both; and little more is
it that I can offer on this hungry prairie."
    As the old man was speaking, he raised his heavy rifle