Read Online Comanche by J. T. Edson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J. T. Edson
Tags: Western
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left hand was the type found to be best suited to a Comanche’s needs. Only three foot in length, it could be handled easily from the back of a fast-running horse and yet still packed sufficient power to drive a thirty-inch arrow feather deep into the body of a bull buffalo. It had been made by Sleeps Long And Deep, costing Long Walker twenty horses, and the chief regarded the price as reasonable.
Being newly arrived in the area, the village had not yet done much hunting. So Long Walker expected he would be able to show the boy some success on his first trip. He did not allow the youngster to take a bow, but Loncey felt satisfied.
Game roamed in abundance in the area. Not only did the buffalo herds graze on its rich grass, but wapiti and Texas whitetail deer could be found in fair numbers. It was the latter that Long Walker sought.
Never one to waste time, Long Walker took advantage of every opportunity to teach Loncey something of use. They did not rush, but looked into every bit of sign they came across and the chief explained its meaning. At last, after covering some four miles from the camp, Long Walker saw what he wanted. Slipping from his saddle, he motioned the boy down from the bare back of his spirited colt.
‘Deer fed here this morning, tawk ,’ the chief said and told Loncey how to read from the torn edges of the cropped grass the length of time elapsed since the upper section had been ripped away by the animal’s teeth. ‘Nothing frightened it, so we may find it among those trees up there.’
‘We will find it,’ Loncey stated.
‘Perhaps,’ smiled Long Walker. ‘But we must make sure we see the deer before it sees us. That means walking slowly and little, looking a lot.’
Trembling with eagerness, Loncey watched his grandfather slide an arrow from the quiver and place it into position on the bow. Then side by side they advanced along the deer’s tracks towards the trees. Already the boy knew the Indian way of walking silently, by placing the ball of the foot to the ground first and only lowering his heel when sure that nothing which might roll or snap lay underneath.
The boy had little to learn about the need for silent movement and his ability in that line had already brought him one sizeable meal. During a period of food shortage Loncey ranged far from the village and came on a flock of wild turkeys. Although the turkey had not yet developed that wary alertness brought about by excessive hunting—and which would one day make it highly prized as a sporting game bird—one did not stalk and drive an arrow into a big tom without silent movement and using cover. Loncey had killed a tom turkey that day. All the basic rules of stalking he had used on that occasion served him just as well now.
Without giving any sign or hint of doing it, Long Walker studied the boy’s behaviour. Shortly after entering the trees a satisfied smile came to the chief’s face. He saw Loncey, about to step on a dry stick, pause balanced effortlessly on the other leg and move his raised foot beyond the danger point. It seemed that the boy learned well and did not allow excitement to fluster him.
Silently and slowly the man and boy advanced through the woods. They kept the wind in their faces and made many halts to scan the country before them. Long Walker felt pleased that they did not come quickly upon their quarry. A long difficult search would test the boy’s patience and teach him the persistence so often needed when hunting, raiding or making war.
A brief flicker of movement attracted Loncey’s attention during one of the halts. His quick eyes focused on the place but for a moment failed to detect anything. Then the thing moved again and he made it out to be the ear of a big white-tail deer; a buck lying among a clump of blueberry bushes, its antlers merging into the background so thoroughly as to fool the casual eye. Only the movement of the ear gave the animal away.
Loncey glanced at his grandfather. To his
Being newly arrived in the area, the village had not yet done much hunting. So Long Walker expected he would be able to show the boy some success on his first trip. He did not allow the youngster to take a bow, but Loncey felt satisfied.
Game roamed in abundance in the area. Not only did the buffalo herds graze on its rich grass, but wapiti and Texas whitetail deer could be found in fair numbers. It was the latter that Long Walker sought.
Never one to waste time, Long Walker took advantage of every opportunity to teach Loncey something of use. They did not rush, but looked into every bit of sign they came across and the chief explained its meaning. At last, after covering some four miles from the camp, Long Walker saw what he wanted. Slipping from his saddle, he motioned the boy down from the bare back of his spirited colt.
‘Deer fed here this morning, tawk ,’ the chief said and told Loncey how to read from the torn edges of the cropped grass the length of time elapsed since the upper section had been ripped away by the animal’s teeth. ‘Nothing frightened it, so we may find it among those trees up there.’
‘We will find it,’ Loncey stated.
‘Perhaps,’ smiled Long Walker. ‘But we must make sure we see the deer before it sees us. That means walking slowly and little, looking a lot.’
Trembling with eagerness, Loncey watched his grandfather slide an arrow from the quiver and place it into position on the bow. Then side by side they advanced along the deer’s tracks towards the trees. Already the boy knew the Indian way of walking silently, by placing the ball of the foot to the ground first and only lowering his heel when sure that nothing which might roll or snap lay underneath.
The boy had little to learn about the need for silent movement and his ability in that line had already brought him one sizeable meal. During a period of food shortage Loncey ranged far from the village and came on a flock of wild turkeys. Although the turkey had not yet developed that wary alertness brought about by excessive hunting—and which would one day make it highly prized as a sporting game bird—one did not stalk and drive an arrow into a big tom without silent movement and using cover. Loncey had killed a tom turkey that day. All the basic rules of stalking he had used on that occasion served him just as well now.
Without giving any sign or hint of doing it, Long Walker studied the boy’s behaviour. Shortly after entering the trees a satisfied smile came to the chief’s face. He saw Loncey, about to step on a dry stick, pause balanced effortlessly on the other leg and move his raised foot beyond the danger point. It seemed that the boy learned well and did not allow excitement to fluster him.
Silently and slowly the man and boy advanced through the woods. They kept the wind in their faces and made many halts to scan the country before them. Long Walker felt pleased that they did not come quickly upon their quarry. A long difficult search would test the boy’s patience and teach him the persistence so often needed when hunting, raiding or making war.
A brief flicker of movement attracted Loncey’s attention during one of the halts. His quick eyes focused on the place but for a moment failed to detect anything. Then the thing moved again and he made it out to be the ear of a big white-tail deer; a buck lying among a clump of blueberry bushes, its antlers merging into the background so thoroughly as to fool the casual eye. Only the movement of the ear gave the animal away.
Loncey glanced at his grandfather. To his
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