The encouraging calls of the young men were
disregarded, or only answered by a low and plaintive whining. For a
minute the pup also was similarly affected; but less sage, or more
easily excited, he was induced at length to leap forward, and finally
to dash into the cover. An alarmed and startling howl was heard, and,
at the next minute, he broke out of the thicket, and commenced
circling the spot, in the same wild and unsteady manner as before.
"Have I a man among my children?" demanded Esther. "Give me a truer
piece than a childish shotgun, and I will show ye what the courage of
a frontier-woman can do!"
"Stay, mother," exclaimed Abner and Enoch; "if you will see the
creatur', let us drive it into view."
This was quite as much as the youths were accustomed to utter, even on
more important occasions, but having given a pledge of their
intentions, they were far from being backward in redeeming it.
Preparing their arms with the utmost care, they advanced with
steadiness to the brake. Nerves less often tried than those of the
young borderers might have shrunk before the dangers of so uncertain
an undertaking.
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