Fiction > Book editions > London, 1889 - Master of Ballantrae

THE JOURNEY IN THE WILDERNESS. 309
again passed the day in exploration, and returned in
a mingled humour of anxiety and hope, being partly
certain they were now close on the discovery of what
they sought, and on the other hand (with the return of
darkness) were infected with the fear of Indians. Moun-
tain was the first sentry ; he declares he neither slept
nor yet sat down, but kept his watch with a perpetual
and straining vigilance, and it was even with unconcern
that (when he saw by the stars his time was up) he drew
near the fire to awaken his successor. This man (it was
Hicks the shoemaker) slept on the lee side of the circle,
something farther off in consequence than those to
windward, and in a place darkened by the blowing
smoke, JMountain stooped and took him by the
shoulder ; his hand was at once smeared by some ad-
hesive wetness ; and (the wind at the moment veering)
the firelight shone upon the sleeper, and showed him,
like Pinkerton, dead and scalped.
It was clear they had fallen in the hands of one of
those matchless Indian bravos, that will sometimes
follow a party for days, and in spite of indefatigable
travel, and unsleeping watch, continue to keep up with
their advance, and steal a scalp at every resting-place.
Upon this discovery, the treasure-seekers, already reduced
to a poor half dozen, fell into mere dismay, seized a few
necessaries, and deserting the remainder of their goods,
fied outright into the forest. Their fire they left still
burning, and their dead comrade unburied. All day