The Young Trail Hunters

n Hal came riding up, very much excited, d

and saw what I immediately admitted to be the c

Jerry! I didn't know that grizzl

y ain't," wa

e there, if there was no be

d Jerry, attentively regarding it

eature's track," said I. "Yo

t: that ain't no critter

Look! here is the imprint of the heel, and there the toes, as plain a

, makin' 'em scoop out the sand, as you see thar. You ought to hev seen that yourself; but you see you 'States' men never stop to think. If a

upted both Hal an

A Mexican or Injun will go all day without speakin', onless he's spoke to; but he'll see everything there is ter be seen

iling," remarked Ned. "Can't you g

t inter camp, if these cussed varmints'll let us alone long enuff, I'll give yer a lectur' on trailin', ter pay fer yer killin' that Coman

xtensive view of the country around; and far, very far in the

stinctly see a party of three or four Indians, and

an with them, and Jerry, who had been look

ar ez I'm consarned; but ef them devils hev got a woman pris'ner, why we'd be less than men not ter go arter her whatever happened. We kin h

e finally decided that common humanity required we should rescue the woman, if it could be done; and, procuring a good supply of ammunition, Jerry, myself, Hal

point where we expected to intercept the savages. We rode swiftly along over the beautiful green rolling

d knees, and stealthily crept to the top. A single glance sufficed to show him the situation; and he returned to us,

sure, riding on a pony, with one of the varmints

on far in advance of us. An hour's ride, and we came to a halt;

the level of the waving grass that grew on the summit; then he carefully arose upon his feet, and, standi

Hurriedly he told us that the party were not a mile away; but he had failed to discover the two braves with the prisoner, who were evidently lingering

whatever might happen; we spurred our horses up the steep acclivity; ou

ndians who were in advance, turned their horses and galloped furiously back

I saw Jerry bring his rifle to his shoulder. I noticed the long, bright barrel glisten in the sunlight, and then the little p

horses as though to protect them from our expected volley. But not a shot was fired. We could

elous pace. Hal kept close to my side, as we swiftly sped over the beautiful green turf. I watched every movement of the sa

's your time, bo

e 'em on

s himself; then, a moment after, falls, and his horse dashes of

horses a chance to breathe. Thar ain't no hurry, now; we'll

aptors;-carefully we examine every foot of ground. Old Jerry says, "We must be ne

trail, where the grass was fresh and green, w

ar thrust, through her body, told us a

her worn and bloody feet bore evidence that she had walked many weary miles, wh

sposed of her in the manner above narrated. The bloody deed accomplished, the murderers were hurrying on to join their comrade

ds towards camp, which we reached just after nightfall, very weary from our long afternoon's ride an

his promise, he entertained us for a long hour; giving us much useful information upon the subject, which I will endeavor to repeat for the benefit of my young readers, some of whom may one day be placed like Hal and Ned in a

hted his pipe, old Je

er. You must have a sharp eye, a fine ear, and a sti

merely the substance of his remarks; and here let me add, that, in addition to the above requirements

e morning. By following this course he is pretty certain of overtaking the party on the third day, especially if they do not suspect pursuit. Then comes the time when the services of an experienced trailer are requisite to tell you the number and condition of the enemy, a

along when starting on the war-path; consequently, they never carry their lodge-poles with them, which are always fastened to the sides of t

pony from that made by a white man's horse; for the form

ccomplish in trailing is to learn to

e sand, little particles will be found running into the impression left in the ground. Should rain have fallen since th

trail, by what tribe it had been made, their number, its age, and in fact ev

ully, and could detect no mark of any kind; but the Mexican led us across as easily as though it had

ss, that, with the closest scrutiny, bore evidence of having been pressed by the foot: so slight was the impression made, it would have escaped the

its general direction and watching the formation of the land; for all trails are made over t

e party; and, even after it has recovered its natural position, a good trailer will have no difficulty in following it; for

him the gait at which the party were travelling, and he t

uitous may be the route by which you may have reached a certain locality, an Indian will find his way back to the place of starting by the most direct route, though it b

on the road he never speaks, except it shoul

r, must of necessity be an observer, as well as thinker; and re