Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-12-25
HRIEh,
The Ha1f-B Breed.
A Romance of Colonial Days.
BY ROBERT A. CUMMING.
[coPYRIGHT, 1890
CHAPTER Ky
PROJECTS AND RESULTS.


Mile. Destain would have followed
Ariel had she not feared TO compromise
his safety. She therefore resumed her
place on the bear skin which formed her
couch and awaited the course of events
But the feeling of despair which lay SO
heavily on her heart gave place to one
of Joy and gratitude at the thought that
her existence was known to those who
would dare all things to effect her res
cue. Her reveries were interrupted,
however, by the announcement of the
squaw that Lemourier had arrived and
the next moment the tepec was illumin-
ated by a torch in the hands of the ne
oro. nrd tho cantain Of scouts stood in
the entrance regarding her with grim
smile of triumph.
81 trust madamoiselle likes her
quarters" he said, ironically, land If
they are not as commodious as those Of
Mime. Chevreul, madamoiselle must re-
member that soldiers bride, like him
self, should submit gracefully to incon-
venience."
Ninon regarded him silently, with an
expression which reminded him of her
aunt at their last interview.
''Parbleu!" he exclaimed, fiercely,
with gesture as if he was about to
strike her. do you think it will be
safe to defy me? Am l one of your vas
sails like De Barzac? Undeceive your
self, madamoiselle. | am not your lover,
but your master. You will marry me in
the morning. The priest is here and
the bridal party waiting" he added, with
a harsh laugh
Ninon regarded him scornfully. 'You
are coward" she said in low tone,
but it touched every nerve in his body.
The blood rushed to his face and a
murderous light shone in his eyes. He
made stride forward and struck her
across the face with the back of his
hand. His savage temper being aroused,
he might have used further violence,
but the squaw pushed herself before
him.
Perhaps the fair and gentle captive
touched some chord in the heart of this
child of the forest and unconsciously
enlisted her sympathy. 1t is certain that
she held knife concealed in her dress.
and the glitter in her eye indicated that
she was in a dangerous mood. 1t needed
but a gesture, however, to remind
Lemourier that he was disgracing him
self, and boiling with rag at his own
rashness, not less than at The offense
given him, he strobe abruptly out of the
tepec. The night was warm ard the fire
burned low. Confident in their numbers
and the isolation of their camp, the
Frenchmen slept around the embers or
smoked and talked with the vivacity of
their race.
Marden and his companion ha wing
concealed the canoe in clump of trees
on the shore. watched the enemy
through the branches, and while the
fire lasted made an estimate of their
numbers. Circumstances seemed to fa-
vor the two scouts, and Marden made
up his mind that the rescue Of the lady
could be effected easily.
Ariel was not so confident, remember
ing his late experience, but started to
reconnoiter, his master following at
short distance The camp Gre was so
low that he could barely distinguish the
tepee Searching on his knees for the
crevice through which he had escaped.
he found it at last, and cautiously feel
ing his way touched something from
which he was about to recoil, whom he
felt his hand grasped in one so hard and
muscular that his heart sank within
him, as the picture Of failure and ruin