Finally, in sheer desperation, I ran round the pony, pulled,
tugged, and knotted the lasso; more by luck than through sense I had
accomplished something in the nature of the diamond-hitch.
I headed Hal up the gentle forest slope, and began the day's journey
wherever chance might lead me. As confidence came, my enjoyment increased.
I began to believe I could take care of myself. I reasoned out that, as the
peaks were snow-capped, I should find water, and very likely game, up
higher. Moreover, I might climb a foothill or bluff from which I could get
my bearings.
It seemed to me that I passed more pine-trees than I could have imagined
there were in the whole world. Miles and miles of pines! And in every mile
they grew larger and ruggeder and farther apart, and so high that I could
hardly see the tips. After a time I got out of the almost level forest into
ground ridged and hollowed, and found it advisable to turn more to the
right. On the sunny southern slopes I saw trees that dwarfed the ones on
the colder and shady north sides. I also found many small pines and
seedlings growing in warm, protected places. This showed me the value of
the sun to a forest. Though I kept a lookout for deer or game of any kind,
I saw nothing except some black squirrels with white tails. They were
beautiful and very tame, and one was nibbling at what I concluded must have
been a seed from a pine-cone.
Pages:
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57