Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-09-04
ARIEL,
The Half-Breed.
A Romance of Colonial DAYS.
BY Eo5ERT 4. CUNNING.
lCoPYEG9T, 1880
CHAPTER V.-CoyTINCED.


CHAPTER V-CoSTINCED.
''She is overbauling u.s." said Mar
3en- and we may as well end this
matter at once" He turned the Prov
Of the canoe to shore, with the inten-
ton Of landing, when a shot from the
pursuers whistled past his head Jabe
instantly returned II, with what effect
he could not see, as the blanket con-
cealed the enemy. Marden coolly wait
ed until the canoe was almost on a line
with him, when the angle Of the sail
gave him a glimpse of the man at the
stern and he fired. The little bark
forged ahead, struck a snag in the
middle of the stream. and turned
slowly round The heavy sail forced II
over on its side, and il foated helpless
~ down stream. Then befeaJhered head
rose TO the surface for { moment and
sank out of sight
THAT shot of yours, Jabe, must have
hit one Of them" said Marden, as he
stepped on shore; and now 10 see if
there are any more redskins on our
track. Ariel, climb this tree; il viii
give you a good view Of the river" The
boy obeyed, climbing into Che topmost
=
but soon returned with the mute as
surance that no enemy was in sight
Night was approaching and the tired
voyagers were fain to find a place Of
rest and security. The stream was be
coming narrow and comparatively shall
low, and q small island in its midst
forced it into rapids on either side. This
Marden selected for their bivouac, and
the canoe bore them 10 its lower extren-
ity- Here they ventured TO make fire
with the aid of powder flashed in a rife
pan 1t was kindled in the hollow stump
OF tree, the light carefully concealed
by their blankets; and Ariel cooked
their supper. which consisted OF dried
venison, frizzled on the Goals, coffee and
corn cakes. After the repast Marden
and Jabe lit their pipes, while Ariel
Cazed into the fire and seemed TO be
lost in revery. This is the end Of our
Journey by water Marden announced,
IS he shook the ashes ont of his pipe
BY daylight tomorrow you and !, Jabe,
viii take up our march through the for
est until we gain point in the St.
Lawrence where We may get some 1nfor-
nation of the motions Of the French.
We have made d wide detoUr TO avoid
their Indian allies, but hope to out
flank them As for thee, my Ariel, -
he continued in French, and with
Z tinge Of pathos in bis voice,
thou knowest the task before
thee. I trust thy native instinct 10
find the way TO the Mohawk valley and
the homo Of my friend Charles Selwyn.
Thou wilt give him this letter, in which
have commended thee 70 his pr0tec-
ton, and l doubt not that he Will shell
ter thee until happier days shall restore
thee to thy master" The boy sat gag
ing into the fire as If he were reading
his fate in the embers. One hand half
concealed the face which rested on IL;
the other grasped that Of his master
At daybreak the party arose, and pad
ding across the stream secreted the
canoe under pile Of brush and leaves
They were ready for the march. Ariel
approached his master. took his hand
and pressed IT TO his lips, then with q
sign OF farewell TO the ranger, disap-
peared in the depths of the forest,
Jabe looked after him rerretfully.
Hes the first redBbin that I would
trust further than I can see" he re-
marked. and he is clear grit and true
blue
Marden was silent; his spirits were
under cloud this morning. He
could not account for his interest in the
boy; he reproached himself for sending
him on such dangerous errand, and re
called with anguish Of soul the parting
look Of devoted affection in those dark,
expressive eyes.
JGbe, observing his companion troub-
led face and guessing its cause, was
silent also, and they journeyed on with
scarcely word spoken guided by the
sun, the moss on the trees, and pocket
com pass which Marden carried, until
noon, when hunger and fatigue CON-
PEELED them TO rest Thus far there
were no Indian signs IN the wet ground