Thomas County cat., 1890-10-09

approached his master, took his hand
and pressed it to his lips, then with a
sign of farewell to the ranger, disap,
peared in the depths of the forest.
Jabe looked after him regretfully.
"He's the first redskin that would
trust further than I can see," he re-
marked, land he is clear grit and true
blue"
Marden was silent; his spirits were
under a cloud this morning. He
could not account for his interest in the
boy; he reproached himself for sending
him on such a dangerous errand, and re.
called with angL gLish of soul the parting
look of devoted affection in those dark,
expressive eyes.
Jabe, observing his companions 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
compass which Marden carried, until
noon, when hunger and fatigue COM
PEELED them to rest. Thus far there
were no Indian signs in the wet ground
which retained the tracks of numerous
wild animals; yet caution and silence
were advisable.
Toward night rain began to fall, and
they looked around for hollow tree or
projecting rock.
''There is something looks like a
house, or is it rock?" said Jabe, point
inc to an object. which in the growing
darkness might pass Tor eILner. IL
proved to be the remains of a l.'g cabin,
part of which had been destroyed by
fire, although a portion of the roof, sup
ported by the chimney, and the walls
remained, charred by fire; doorless,
forbidding appearance, but it was a
shelter, and Jabe, who was not troubled
with aesthetic tastes, boldly entered,
and with the aid of hatchet and some
powder succeeded in kindling fire on
the hearth, the smoke of which dis
turbed an owl who had long made the
chimney his home, as the bones and
| feathers beneath testified.
Marden's foot struck something as he
entered, and as the fire lighted up the
blackened walls he saw that it was a
human skull with a fracture across the
forehead, to which still clung few
long brown hairs.
'Some devils work has been done
here" said Jabe, pointing to the skele-
ton to which the skull belonged. and to
smaller one, that of an infant, lying
close to the wall against which it had
been hurled, as the bloody marks testi-
fed.
"Yes," continued Jabe, the fierce
| light in whose eyes when the dismal
spectacle revealed itself was now ex-
tinguished by tear. "Yes, Captain,
can see it all as plain as if had been
here when it was done. The red devils
attacked the shanty and killed the
mother and child while the father was
absent; or may be we'll find his bones
outside; and the wolves have made
meal of them, see!" and he held up
bone on which the marks of teeth were
plainly visible. Marden turned away
| with a Shudder.
1--WE will bury them out of sight,
Jabe," he said.
BY the aid Of knife and hatchet shall
| AZ" 3 Sh~'N ""S NaS Al g SOhhSh VI WIZ
room, for there was no floor but the
mother earth, to whose bosom the poor
remains were consigned, while the
/ grave-diggers, each according to his
light, hallowed the spot with silent
! prayer. Jabe then prepared supper,
after which he seated himself on a
BLOCK of wood which had evidently been
used by the former occupants for that
purpose, lit his pipe with a frontiers
man appreciation of present comfort, no
matter how far short it might come of
the genuine article.
Marden followed his example and
! tried to Danish from his mind the gloomy
/ thoughts incident to the situation.
! Its strange" said Jabe, ,thoughtfully,
show things happen accidental-like that
bring to mind some other thing that
may be you haven't thought Of for years
and as good as forgotten" he paused
for moment, and then in answer to
Marden's inquiring look he went on:
You see. Captain, l was thinking
about what happened here where we are
sitting, and made sort Of picture Of
1t In my mind. with that poor woman
and her child. May be there was others,
carried off to Canada to be slaves to
their redSkin masters; and the figure
that came into my mind to represent
this woman was the perfect picture of
another that l saw years ago. and
haven't thought of since, although
have been hunting for her in my mem
ory for months past"
why were you seeking for thing
Z forgotten?" asked Marden.
THAT is the queer part of 1t, sir: 1
was trying to think how this poor
mother looked when she was alive, and
when her child was killed before her
eyes. and another, may be, dragged away
by the red devils, before they sunk che
tomahawk in her head-when up comes
before my eyes. IS plain as day, that
other mother, grievlng for her children
that was lost in like manner, and there
they stand. all three Of them, - Ike -
ears Of corn"