Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-12-11

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AT HIS FEET A BIRCH CANOE WAS DRAWN
UP.
venlson, broiled rsh ana aromatic coffee,
lighted his pipe and resumed his rev.
cry, while Ariel distinguished the fire
and made other preparations for the APP
preaching night. One by one the stars
came out, and the silence would have
been oppressive but for tho gurgling
sound OF the water, which had such a
soporitic effect upon Marden, tired as he
was. physically and mentally, that he
was obliged to pace the narrow limits of
the isle to keep awake until Ariel, re-
freshed by few hours sleep, relieved
his guard.
The boy paused not for reveries nor
listened to drowsy murmurings. For a
moment his eyes swept the obscurity
around him, and glaneing upward dis
cerned the branches Of a lofty tree out
lined against the star-lit sky. Noise
lessly he launched the canoe and soon
gained the shore of another and larger
island, from the center OF which arose
the gigantic form OF the tree he was in
search of, and he soon gained an elevat-
ed position among its branches whore
he remained hour after hour, striving
to penetrate the darkness.
With the first faint indication of day
light his patience was rewarded by
spark of fire on distant isle, between
himself and which many others were
were dimly visible. Then the spark
a.. s,l. ~,
could see that it was fed by dusky fig
ures that momentarily grew more dis
tinct There were four OF Thorn and the
spy soon decided that they were whites
and that they were about TO prepare q
meal. Instantly the boy descended from
his perch and pushed out in his canoe,
which he headed in tho direction
OF the scene he had just wit
messed. 1t was now daylight and
he proceeded with great caution,
counting the intervening islands until
he reached one which he know must be
opposite to the point whore he saw the
fire. Here he landed and crept along
until he got view of the scene, now
only few rods distant. In the fore
ground was fire on which were some
culinary utensils. Two of tho mon
lounged on the grass, while another
aided the cook, whose negro features
and the sound of his voice, as he direct
ed his assistant, indicated that he was
Lemourier's servant. In the back.
ground he caught a glimpse of rude
shelter composed Of bark and blankets
suspended upon poles driven in tho
earth, at the entrance of which sat a
girl whose long, straight, black hair fell
over the vesture of . squaw or half
breed.
Ariel waited few minutes for further
developments, and then crept back to
the canoe. He found Marden awaiting
his return with much anxiety.
where hast thou been, Ariel?" he
asked. ''Thy face indicates some dis
covery."
The boy at once communicated his
adventure, after which he proceeded to
prepare breakfast while his master
thought out plan to assure himself of
the presence of Mile. Destain in the on
emy's camp and to rescue her if possi-
bio. After the meal tho fire was ex-
tinguished, and the baggage transferred
to the canoe, which was headed for tho
island where Ariel made his first OBJ
seryations. There, concealed in the
foliage of tho great tree, the adventurous
watched the movements of the enemy.
The whites were lounging on the
shore; but the negro was not visible.
Presently a tall female figure emery
ed from the tepec, followed by another,
which Ariel recognized as that of the
squaw.
The distance was too great TO distin-
guish features, but Marden felt that
the tall slender form could belong to no
other than Ninon Destain. Two canoes
were drawn up on the shore, and the
careless demeanor OF the mon indicated
their entire sense Of security from at
tack or observation. All day the scouts
kept watch in the branches until the
growing darkness hid tho island from
view, when they descended and made a
fire to prepare the meal which their
long abstinence rendered necessary to
recruit them for their contemplated en-
terprise.
After two hours rest, they launched
the canoe and steered boldly for tho
camp Of the enemy. The white men
were asleep by the fire; but the negro
was not 10 be seen when Ariel stepped
on shore to reconnoiter, and crept soft
ly toward tho tepec, across the entrance
Of which was stretched the bulky form
Of the negro. The boz retreated to the
rear Of the tepec, where he searched for
a crevice in the side. The interior was
dark with the exception of faint ray
which struggled through the entrance
from tho fire without Bafiled in this
attempt TO communicate with Ninon,
Ariel resolved upon dangerous expert