Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-09-11

PEELED by his crippled condition to act
| on the defensive, although he was
obliged to remove his arm from it's sup
port in order to balance himself, was
| formidable antagonist to his drunken
| rival. Again and again Lemourier tried
| to break his guard, but was foiled by an
agility and address which deprived him
of what little prudence he possessed.
| The glittering blade which f1ickered be-
| fore his dazzled eyes suddenly forced
| his, sword from his hand, while the
| sharp point which pressed against his
| throat told him that he was vanquished.
Then was. heard the steady tramp of
| marching feet and the provost marshaFs
guard appeared upon the scene.
CHAPTER ".
A SAD MEMENTO.
The sun having risen and dispelled
| the fog, the voyagers looked OUT for
| place to land. A little creek almost
concealed by overhanging branches of
| fered a safe retreat and the canoe was
drawn up on shore, breakfast disposed
| of and Marden lay down to rest while
JADE and Ariel kept watch. There was
| serious doubt in their minds whether
| their escape from the redskins had
| been so thoroughly covered up as to
preclude the fear of pursuit. The up
setting of onecanoe might be attributed
to accident, but the disappearance of
the other with its human freight might
well excite suspicion in the breasts of
the wary savages. While Jabe. there
fore, watched the river from his hiding
place, the restless half-breed lowered
around the spot where Marden slept
| bo 70 hot
Jabe, being in a recumbent position.
might sleep at his post; wherefore he
hurried to the spot. Slight as was the
sound of his approach, the ranger heard
it and made gesture which caused the
boy to crouch to the earth while he
crept to the river bank. A canoe,
| padded by two braves, was gliding up
the stream, and it soon became apparent
that they were scrutinizing the shores
for some trace of the presence of a foe.
On reaching the mouth of the creek
they paused. Something had attracted
their attention.; they were about to in
vestigate. Jabe's eyes, following the
direction of theirs, had discovered the
secret. A newly-broken branch over
hanging the creek had betrayed their
hiding-p1ace. The canoe approached
cautiously; it entered the creek. In
another moment all would be discov-
cred. Jake was in the act of cooking
his rifle, but at sign from Ariel he de-
sisted. The report of gun might be
heard at the camp. The boy fitted an
arrow to his bow and waited. A grunt
from one of the braves announced that
he had found the canoe, and he was
about to launch it when the half-breed's
arrow buried itself in his chest, while
Jabe from tho bank above hurled a
boulder through the bottom of the hos
tile bark which narrowly missed its re-
naming occupant. As the canoe sunk
beneath him, however, the brave seized
an overhanging branch by which he
| swung himself to the further side of the
creek and disappeared in the timber.
Ariel, having aroused his master, re-
turned to his post on the river bank.
from whence he returned hastily with
tho news of another canoe on the river.
Marden determined at once to proceed
and gave orders to launch the canoe.
1--WE will paddle quietly up stream %
said he, land they may follow us in the
belief that we are their friends, for they
can not distinguish US at such dis
| tance."
Again Ariel took his place in the bot
tom of the canoe as it headed up stream,
and it seemed as if Marden's stratagem
was about to succeed, for the hostile bark
still held its course.
1t was now past noon. and strong
breeze made ripples on the stream.
Ariel clapped his hands and pointed
to the pursuing bark. She was coming
on rapidly, propelled by blanket sail
TO BE CONTINUED.
81 DON'T believe in this women'i