Itwasyetdaylight,whichseemedastrangetimetocreepintothislittlenook;but,Joethought,itwasnottosleep,onlytowait,wait,waitforthelonghourstopass。Hewasamazedoncemore,because,bythetimetwilighthadgivenplacetodarkness,Wetzelwasasleep。Theladsaidthentohimselfthathewouldneveragainbesurprisedatthehunter。HeassumedonceandforallthatWetzelwascapableofanything。Yethowcouldhelosehimselfinslumber？
Feeling,ashemust,overthecaptureofthegirls;eagertodrawabeadontheblack—heartedrenegade;hatingIndianswithallhissoulandstrength,andlyingtherebutafewhoursbeforewhatheknewwouldbeabloodybattle,Wetzelcalmlywenttosleep。Knowingthehuntertobeasbloodthirstyasatiger,Joehadexpectedhewouldrushtoacombatwithhisfoes;but,no,thisman,withhiskeensagacity,knewwhentocreepuponhisenemy;hebidedthattime,and,whilehewaited,slept。
Joecouldnotclosehiseyesinslumber。Throughtheintersticesinthebrancheshesawthestarscomeoutonebyone,thedarknessdeepened,andthedimoutlineoftalltreesoverthedarkhillcameoutsharply。Themomentsdragged,eachoneanhour。Heheardawhippoorwillcall,lonelyanddismal;
thenanowlhootmonotonously。Astealthyfootedanimalranalongthelog,sniffedattheboughs,andthenscurriedawayoverthedryleaves。Byandbythedeadsilenceofnightfelloverall。StillJoelaytherewideawake,listening——hisheartonfire。HewasabouttorescueNell;tokillthathawk—nosedrenegade;tofightSilvertiptothedeath。
Thehourspassed,butnotJoe\'spassionateeagerness。Whenatleasthesawthecrescentmoongleamsilver—whiteovertheblackhilltopheknewthetimewasnigh,andoverhimranthrillonthrill。