New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-11-28
!" "Wah-te-to.v
THE PEARL OF THE MINNESOTA.
Chapter 8.
(COnt57aued.)

(Cont6nued.
With the sun we were up the next
morning, and after a simple meal, which
wassswashed down with a cup of coffee,
that one great solace for the one, who
misses all other benefits of life within
the settlements, we shouldered our pack
as on the day before, and followed our
guide, who as usual led the way. He
calmly and deliberately pursued bis
course down the very path on which ]
had followed him at midnight, and no
action of his betrayed his knowledge
that I had been silent witness of all
that had transpired, and which now
caused me to look with suspicion on
his future movements.
L sincerely regretted Of being forced
to entertain belief of doubt as to Mar
tells friendship for me and my own, but
could not, much as I pondered over the
subject, assign any reason why he
should wish to lead us into difficulties.
AS he walked along, occasionally CIV
ing advice as to the avoidance of en-
tangling roots or sudden wash-outs on
the path, intently watched him, and no
ticed with some relief, I must own, that
his face wore most melancholy aspect
Ora, who strobe beside him, had fallen
into quiet meditation, as I could per-
ceive by his movements, and the con-
versation between the two, usually free
and entertaining, was now entirely lack
ing.
1t did not take us long to reach the
river, which lay calm and placid before
our view, forming right in front of us
a large curve. Its course lay from the
southwest, in which direction we no
ticed dense growth of trees, directly
toward the east, and as we gazed over
the water, as it glided noiselessly by, past
the shadowy banks on each side, Alice,
who had wandered up the river a little
way, for the purpose of plucking d few
of the wild plums, which grew SO plen-
tifully in the small groves, suddenly ut
tered an exclamation of surprise, and
hurrying toward me, pointed toward
the bend of the river above, around
which, as [ perceived at glance,
canoe was slowly drifting. Mart, who
had followed the direction of my arm,
as | pointed to the seemingly empty
bark, hastily unfastened his moccasins,
and rolling up his pantaloons, waded
into the water to head off the skiff as it
foated by Happily it moved over to
our side, born on the current which fol-
lows the outer bank, and with strong
pull the scout succeeded in arresting its
progress, at the same time uttering a
shout of amazement, which caused us to
apprehend a serious discovery. Silent
ly the scout drew the canoe after him.
and as he stepped ashore, at the same
time pushing his prize high on the
sands, recognized with Il shudder of
horror that the frail bark held it's mas
ter: lifeless Indian. The women had
retired to some distance when I had
motioned them to step back, and Ora
had meanwhile brought blanket.
which we laid beneath a tree, prepara-
tory to transferring the body Of the ill
fated savage beneath its shade. Martel
was silent witness Of our preparations
leaning listlessly against the very tree,
underneath which l had hid few hours
before. His face was working convul-
sively, and as I gazed on him, the po-
werfully built, sinewy scout of the prai-
ries, who was alike proof against the
ravages Of fatigue and the storms Of
the plains, but who now stood helpless
at the vision of death before us, I was
completely at a loss how to estimate his
character. Still hastened to the side
of the Indian whom my sons had quiet
ly laid on the bedding, and instituted an
examination to discover the cause of his
death. [ loosened his hunting g-shirt,
and when I brushed back with my hand
the raven hair that in long skeins
fell across his dusky face, [ gave a
start, for recognized in the form at
my feet the Indian, who on the previous
night had met Martel on the identical
spot where we now stood. O.! hand Of
Providence, how mysterious are thy rul-
ings, exclaimed, as I turned to the
scout, and the next instant q cruel
thought crossed my mind. Had Martel
murdered his companion. after ! had
left? Was it possible that the man who
had grown dear to us in the tedious day
of travel in the wilderness, was pos
sessed of so base nature, was so
hard of heart as to slay his friend, as
to associate unconcernedly with those
who confided in him like a brOtherp