182 THE WILD HOG. 



Thinkinof thus, I beofan to wish that I had never 

 missed a single meal in trying to provide food for 

 others, for then, perhaps, my absence would have 

 caused some uneasiness. Mv next thouo^ht was on the 

 hardness of my seat, which at first had felt comfort- 

 able enough. 



' It's no use my trying to make myself heard at the 

 plantation,' I muttered ; ' the wind's dead against me, 

 so I know they can't hear me. Never mind though. 

 Anyhow I'll try. So here goes.' 



' House I — house ! ahoy I ' I roared at the top of my 

 voice ; then listened earnestly for a reply. None came. 



' What a fool that overseer 3Iarsh is ! I wish he 

 was in my place. He knows I came out a-foot ; for 

 I told him, when I started, that I was just going to 

 knock over a deer and come in at once. He ought to 

 have sense enough to know that something has hap- 

 pened, and ought to come and see what it is.' 



I had heard that a Comanche war-whoop could be 

 heard farther than any other kind of yell, from its long 

 quavering notes. I had heard it, when I fancied the 

 Seven Sleepers would have had their slumbers dis- 

 turbed, as most certainly they would, had they been 

 napping on the war-path. So I determined to try one. 



' How-how-poo-oo-oo-oo-ahl' I yelled out; then 

 listened again. 



Still no response. 



'How-how-poo-oo-oo-oo-ah-ah-ah!' I shouted out. 



