nk, choosing a place where a current of
the swift little brook had cut into the bank with a circular sweep, and
had formed a pool of water as clear as the day, a forest mirror.

Henry did not feel the presence of any danger, but he retained all his
caution as he knelt down to drink, a caution become nature through all
the formative years of practice and necessity. His knees made no noise
as they touched the earth. Not a leaf moved. Not a blade of grass
rustled. The rifle remained upon his shoulder, his right hand grasping
it around the stock, just below the hammer, the barrel projecting into
the air. Even as he rested his weight upon one elbow and bent his mouth
to the water, he was ready for instant action.

The water touched his lips, and was cool and pleasant. He had come far,
and was thirsty. He blew the bubbles back and drank, not eagerly nor in
a hurry, but sipping it gently, as one who knows tastes rare old wine.
Then he raised his head a little and looked at his shadow in the water,
as perfect as if a mirror gave back his face. Eyes, mouth, nose, every
feature was shown. He bent his head, sipping the water a little more,
and feeling all its grateful coolness. Then he raised it again and saw a
shadow that had appeared beside his own. The mirror of the water gave
back both perfectly.

An extraordinary thrill ran through him but he made no movement. The
blood was leaping wildly in his veins, but his nerves never quivered. In
the water he could yet see his own shadow as still as the shadow that
had come beside it.

Henry Ware, in that supreme moment, did not know his own thoughts, save
that they were full of bitterness. It hurt him to be trapped so. He had
escaped so much, he had come so far, to be taken thus with ease;
although life was full and glorious to him, he could have yielded it
with a better will in fair battle. There, at least, one did not lose his
forest pride. He had gloried in the skill with which he had practiced
all the arts of the wilderness, and now he was caught like any beginner!

But while these thoughts were running through his mind he retained
complete command of himself, and by no motion, no exclamation, showed
his knowledge that he was not alone. He suppressed his rebellious
nerves, and refused to let them quiver.

The shadow in the water beside his own was distinct. He could see the
features, the hair drawn up at the top of the head into a defiant
scalp-lock, and the outstretched hand