Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/217

 accomplishment in the city bred boy’s estimation that the veteran could so long defy exhaustion and set the pace for the elastic Bub. Incidentally, it was another lesson for him to ponder over—what nature can and will do for those who do not desert her.

As he became dulled to the danger ever dogging their heels Stanley found himself admiring the autumnal effect presented by the reddish glow on scattered maples, now half in bud. Isolated patches of hard wood trees were ever giving an atmosphere of October to the landscape, only to be contradicted at the next step by the delicate light green of birch and elm.

“Hi! go ’round the knoll; not up over it,” warned Abner in a low voice, as Bub was mechanically breasting a slight rise.

Bub blushed at the rebuke, for like Stanley his wits had been deadened by weariness and familiarity with the situation.

“I don’t think he’s behind us,” he feebly defended, but obeying the old man’s order.

“Wait a minute and we’ll try and find out,” muttered Abner, creeping to the top of the knoll and cautiously gaining a coign of vantage. After a few moments he softly invited, “Crawl up ’side of me, but keep low. Now