Hawk Eye had only his knife. No loose rocks lay upon the flat surface.
Holding it firmly in his fist he began to maneuver for a fatal plunge at the animal"s throat. But the knowing beast kept its head in motion, making it well nigh impossible for him to avoid her gaping jaws. For several minutes he attempted to plunge the sharp blade into its throat.
Suddenly the foothold it had managed to maintain with its hind feet gave way, and in order to avoid plunging down the side of the great boulder, the bear desperately pressed its chin upon the top of the rim to keep from falling.
The animal"s mouth now being closed by the pull-down of its body, and its head held rigid by its weight, Hawk Eye seized the opportunity he had been waiting for. Advancing cautiously with knife in hand, he came down on his knees and whipped the sharp blade across the side of its throat.
The hold of its front paws weakened, its head slipped off the ledge top, and its heavy body hurtled to the ground. For a short time the mortally wounded animal rolled about, moaning and pawing the ground until, with a final quiver, it lay still.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ITS HEAVY BODY HURTLED TO THE GROUND.]
Hawk Eye climbed down the rock and gazed silently at the huge body.
Then looking up into the sky, he murmured: "O Great Mystery, my heart is glad that you have aided me to gain a necklace of bear claws. My spirit sings because you have looked with favor upon the offering of my most beloved possession."
Squatting down beside the bear"s body, he lifted one of the paws and carefully examined the great claws before commencing to remove them one by one with his knife.
[Ill.u.s.tration: {Campsite.}]
When all had been cut away, he placed them in the doeskin pouch that hung at his belt. He also slit the pelt down the belly and cut a number of juicy steaks.
"I will return with Raven Wing for the pelt," he thought, as he retraced his steps to the spot where he had dropped his bow and quiver of arrows.
After some little distance he came upon them and the body of the rabbit which he had killed.
As he made his way back to the sh.o.r.e, he noticed that the sun was high in the heavens. Raven Wing by this time must be wondering what had kept him away for so long a time. Quickening his steps into a run, he soon came to their beached canoes. A fire which had been kindled on the sand had burned down to a heap of dead ashes. He looked about for Raven Wing.
He was nowhere in sight.
[Ill.u.s.tration: {Bear.}]
CHAPTER VIII
THE PELT IS REMOVED
Hawk Eye set the package of bear meat in one of the canoes and again looked about. Noticing that his gun had been taken from the canoe in which he had left it, he concluded that Raven Wing had grown tired of waiting for him to return.
Not having tasted food since the previous evening, he took out some pemmican and commenced to eat. His appet.i.te somewhat satisfied, he stood up and again looked about him.
"I may as well go back and skin the bear. Raven Wing may not return for some little time," he thought. The morning had already slipped away and by the time the bear"s pelt could be removed he realized that the sun would be low in the sky. So he set off without delay, stopping only at a tiny spring for a cool drink.
[Ill.u.s.tration: {Brave hunting.}]
On nearing the spot where he had first encountered the bear, his ears caught the sound of some one treading softly. As he slipped behind a tree trunk and fitted an arrow to his bowstring, he heard Raven Wing"s voice calling.
"Thought at first you might be the mate of the bear I killed a while ago," cried Hawk Eye, coming out into the open.
"What! You say you have slain a bear?" exclaimed Raven Wing, dropping a couple of prairie chickens which he had shot.
"Come, I will show you my kill," answered Hawk Eye.
"I was following your trail from the hillside when I caught sight of you at the edge of the timber," explained Raven Wing. "From what I now see of the trail I should judge you were being chased by the bear."
"I was," admitted Hawk Eye, with a grin. "But it was no laughing matter at the time, as you will soon see for yourself."
Presently they came to the rocky, flat open s.p.a.ce. As Raven Wing advanced and caught sight of the animal"s huge form lying close to the base of the giant boulder, he uttered a cry of amazement.
"What a bear!" he cried. "But look! Someone has already removed the claws."
"They are safe in my doeskin pouch," answered Hawk Eye. "I wished to make sure of a necklace of bear claws before leaving the body."
"The Great Spirit has rewarded you for sacrificing the necklace of panther claws," said Raven Wing in an awe-struck voice.
"He has indeed," agreed Hawk Eye. After a moment"s silence Hawk Eye said, "Help me remove the pelt."
Without further words both boys set to work. It was no mean job they had undertaken. They found it necessary to cut down two strong young saplings with which to turn over the immense body. At length they were able to tear the hide clear of the carca.s.s.
As Raven Wing bound it up in a neat, tight roll, he remarked, "I see you have already taken the choice cuts."
"They are in my canoe," answered Hawk Eye, wiping his blood-stained hands on the bear"s head.
"We have another pelt to trade," chuckled Raven Wing, shouldering the package. "We had better start at once for the river. The sun is low."
"Yes," answered Hawk Eye. "I do not like the idea of leaving our canoes for so long a time. Let us make haste."
[Ill.u.s.tration: {River.}]
CHAPTER IX
THE RAPIDS
"Give me the pack," said Raven Wing, after some little distance. Hawk Eye placed it on the younger boy"s shoulder and took the gun which he had been carrying. Examining it to satisfy himself that it was loaded, he dropped the barrel into the curve of his left arm. From the brow of the gentle sloping hill they could see the river bordered by trees through a narrow valley.
Great rocks of granite and limestone cropped out everywhere upon the treeless prairie and were turned a pinkish hue in the glow of the setting sun. As the sun sank lower in the west the boulders took on many fanciful shapes.
"Not so long ago buffaloes roamed this prairie," remarked Hawk Eye. "Now they graze further toward the land of the setting sun."
"We will have plenty of fresh meat for our evening meal," said Raven Wing.
"Yes, we have more than enough with the prairie hens you shot and the bear meat," chuckled Hawk Eye.
"You also killed a rabbit," added Raven Wing.
On arriving at the beach where their canoes lay, Hawk Eye unrolled the bear hide and spread it very carefully from one bow to another.