Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-04-26
CHAPTER yxy.-sAvED AGAIN.

experience dS a NOLullIttA anu IL JGLtSII
rambler, that pack weighs a good deal
heavier at the end of march than at the
beginning.
My plan was TO make straight for the
sea-shore and follow the coast until we
came to the channel. then follow that until
we found a ford.
Failing ford, meant to extemporize a
raft.
We got on better than | expected. The
tidal wave had opened a broad track down
to the sea, and the sand on the shore, being
firm and hard, made very good walking.
Despite the weight of literature which he
bore on his back, Buttercup went gayly
ahead. The two women were splendid
marchers walking with an even, elastic
tread, heads erect, shoulders well thrown
back, aud looking as if they could go on
all day long. 1t was all | could do to keep
up with them.
We reached the creek in about three
hours. 1t was very full, the tide being
just then at its height. Fording was out
of the question; swimming with our kit,
rifles, and the rest, equally so; and | could
see no suitable timber for raft-making. So
| proposed that we should strike inland
for few miles, in the hope that by the
time the tide ebbed we might find a prac-
tiCable crossing
Nab concurred; and after a short halt
and an aJ-trCSCO breakfast, we turned our
backs to the sea, and followed, as well as
we could, the course of the stream; but as
its banks in many places were swampy
and covered with almost impenetrable
brushwoOd, we had to make several de-
tours, and for some time we got on very
slowly.
Shortly after we resumed our tramp, a
bird, of which did not take particular no
tice, flew out of tree.
THAT is bad sign" said Nab, who
missed nothing.
"a bad signl Why"
Don't you see that it is n magpie?"
Yes, it is rather like one. l did not
know you had magpies in this part Of the
world"
AT any rate, we call IT a magpie."
"Why shouldn't your am sure [ have
no objection. But you have not told me
why it is a bad sign"
Don't you know that n single magpie
BODIES evil?
lone for sorrow, two for mirth,
Three for a wedding, four for BIRTH"
81 think | have heard something like
that before" l said, laughing. 81 once
heard an old woman repeat it when | was
a small boy"
you don't believe in sign and omens?"
mo, | don't, and am surprised you do.
Yet why should | be? Superstition dies
hard; and your ideas are naturally"
Here, feeling that was rather putting my
foot in it, paused for further cOnsidera-
ton.
ooh, don't hesitate. l know what you
mean," returned the queen, in a hurt
voice. 1--WE islanders are backward and
ignOrant-our ideas are old-fashioned |
admit it. All the same, you must &C
knowledge that my forebodings have so
far proved only too true, and if the flight
of that magpie does not prove presage of
sorrow { shall be agreeably surprised"
al have not the least doubt it will Sor-
row is sure to come sooner or later-rather
sooner than later; mrth, too, whether
magpies fly singly or IN pairs; so are we'd
dngs and births-at the rate of few
thousand day"
Don't talk nonsense. Mr.. Erie" re-
turned Nab impatiently (she was not used
to being chatred) The sign is only for
those by whom ii is seen. The appearance
of that magpie BODIED sorrow for some of
us. OF that | am sure"
(Which of us is going to be married
them For see, there are three of them fly
ing over that treew
This time the queen did not answer; but
a minute later she uttered an exclamation.
'StOpl Look thereI'' she cried.
Her sharp eyes had detected a deer
browsing in glade few hundred yards
ahead. instinctively raised my rifle to
my shoulder, and as | pulled the trigger
the creature bounded away.
"ConfOund itr' | exclaimed. 81 forgot
that was not loaded. What a splendid
shot | should have had! However. | will
be ready for the next" And with that |
opened the breech and inserted cartridge.
Let me have one, too" said Nab (she
was a keen spor tswHman). 81 wonder
whether could hit a deer'"
II have no doubt you could. There.
your piece is charged. You shall have the
first shot, if we do see another; and if Won
miss will try. Thought you said Swamp
Island was inhabited only by snakes and
alligatorS."
There may be also few deer Or per-
hapS the one we saw just now has crossed
over from Fair Island"
I'm that case there is likely to be a track
and a ford not far off We must keep our
eyes open"
As we went through the glade, looking
carefully for the slot of the deer. Butter
cup, who was just then leading the way,
came to a sudden stop, like pointer set
ting game.
do you see something?" l asked
"Ratheri Look therer'
THE embers of a fire. hardly cold. and
feathers and boneSl Who has been cook
ing there, | wonder--suakes or alIigators'
Or perhaps it is the deer we saw a little
while since"
at is very strange" said Nab. 81 am
sure nobody is living here. or l should have
heard. Hunters from Fair Islands But
why hunters should come here when game
is so much more abundant over there. l
don't quite see"
There is no accounting for taste" put
in. They must be hunters. and If we
can find them, their coming will be all the
better for US. They can show Us the way"
There they are! But
Back back! behind the trees!-for your
lives, behind the treesr' l cried, as an ar
row whistled past my head, and another
grazed the queens shoulder.
Poor Buttercup was less fortunate As
half dozen nearly naked savages came
toward us at a run, spears in hand. he fell
TO the ground without grOan, struck
through the heart.
81 will take the man TO my right; you
take the next" said TO the queen. "Nowr'
The next moment two of the black fell
lows jumped into the air with yell. and
then fell forward on their faces. dead!
"Charge again, quickly! Here is anoth-
er cartridges" But before we were ready
for second volley, the remaining four,
after staring at each other for an instant
in evident CONSERVATION, disappeared into
the forest
Nab threw down her rifle. knelt beside
Buttercup, and raised his head.
My poor, poor boy! They have killed
him!-they have killed himr' she cried. as
the tears streamed down her cheeks. oh,
how shall l tell his mother, Say, Mr..
Erlel say, Marian! how shall tell his
'uothers She had only him."
To be continued
MIS- FRANCIS CARMICHAEL. who was
oh WI.