Читать книгу Camping in the Winter Woods: Adventures of Two Boys in the Maine Woods онлайн

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A low-hanging hemlock limb swept the cap from George’s head, and Ben stopped the team that he might go back and recover it. George jumped down. He was about to pick up his cap when something went tearing through the woods at the roadside with such a tremendous noise that he half-started toward the wagon in alarm.

Ed grasped the guide by the arm and inquired breathlessly, “What’s that?”

“Don’t get scared so easy,” laughed Ben. “That was only a partridge, or ruffed grouse some call them. You’ll see and shoot lots of them; yes, and eat them, too. Why, look at George, he’s pale yet,” he chuckled.

George had meanwhile recovered his cap and climbed thankfully back to his seat. As they traveled along, Ben told about the bird that had given them their first fright in the woods.

“He has lots of tricks to fool you with, but you fellows will learn them all before you go back home,” he promised.

For some time they bumped along over the rough wood-road in silence, the boys gazing with interest into the deep, somber woods which stretched away for miles on both sides of them. Once George thought he saw some large animal sneaking off between the trees. He pulled Ed excitedly by the sleeve and endeavored to make him see it. They spoke to Ben about it, but he only smiled and said he guessed it was nothing much.