“It’s somebody, thet’s a fact. Like as not, an Indian.”
He continued watching him eagerly for a few minutes longer, and then ejaculated:
“Beavers! it’s a white man! Whoop! If he war only comin’ this way, or rather, if he war only comin’ here, for he’s got his nose p’inted in this direction; but it’s noways likely he’ll come near enough for me tew holler tew him. If my gun war only loaded!”
He stood in silence, watching the approaching object—which was now plainly visible as a man on horseback—for some time, and then a shadow crossed his face, as the rider turned his horse in an opposite direction.
“Hel-lo-o!” shouted the trapper. “’Tain’t likely he can hear so fur off, but I’ll try anyhow. Hel-lo-o!”
The equestrian passed on without seeming to hear.
“Whoop!” screamed Wild Nat, making every sound the human voice can compass. “Who-o-o-p! Hel-l-l-oo!”
The stranger seemed to hear, for he stopped to listen.
“Hello! Whoop! Hel-l-loo!” yelled the trapper, growing black in the face with his efforts. “He hears!” he ejaculated, joyfully, as the stranger turned toward him. “He hears, an’ I’m out of this trap!”
The stranger approached to within a few hundred yards of the cliff, and then, not being able to see any one, shouted.