OCR Text |
Show 18 CHAPTER 6 The Shorter Way After the mind chooses a path, there is no turning back without a loss. He knew of a shorter way home, but water was scarce and in his weakened condition it would be risky to travel that trail. Without food the longer way would also be hard. He weighed the two choices in his mind. Before he slept, he had made up his mind to try the shorter route. He started early, while it was cool and the sun rested. In the heat of the day he crawled under a pine tree. He brushed aside a few sharp pine needles to lay down and discovered some pinenuts. He searched more carefully and gathered two handsful. He cracked them open as he rested and ate every one. They did not satisfy his hunger, but he knew they provided |