Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-09-18
HRIEA,
The Breed
A Romance of Colonial Days.
By ROBERT A. CUNNING.
COPYRIGHT, 1901
CHAPTER V.-CONTINUED.

CHAPTER V.-CoNTINUED.
s'She is overhauling u.s." said Mar
den, land 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 it, with what effect
he could not see, as the blanket con-
cealed the enemy. Marden coolly watt
ed until the canoe was almost on 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 othe stream, and turned
slowly round. The heavy sail forced it
over on its side, and it foated helpless
1y down stream. Then befeathered head
rose to the surface for a momeat and
sank out of sight.
''That shot of yours, Jabe, must have
hit one of Them" said Marden, as he
stepped on shore; ''aad now to see if
there are any more redskins on our
track. Ariel, climb this tree; it will
give you good Wow of the river" The
boy obeyed, climbing into the topmost
branches with the agility of squirrel,
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 a small island in it's midst
forced it into rapids on either side. This
Marden selected for their bivouac, and
the canoe bore them to its lower extrem-
ity. Here they ventured to make a fire
with the aid of powder flashed in a rifle
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, ffizzled on the Goals, coffee and
dorm cakes. After the repast Marden
and Jabe lit their pipes, while Ariel
gazed into the fire and seemed to be
lost in revery. ''This is the end of our
journey by water" Marden announced,
as he shook the ashes out of his pipe.
by daylight tomorrow you and I, Jabe,
will take up our march through the for
est until we gain a point in the St
Lawrence where we may get some infor
nation of the motions of the French
We have made wide detoUr to avoid
their Indian allies, but hope to out
flank them. AS for thee, my Ariel,
he continued in French, and with
a tinge of pathos in his voice
|.thou knowest the task before
thee. 1 trust thy native instinct tx
find the way to the Mohawk valley ant
the home Of my friend Charles Selwyn
Thou wilt give him this letter, in which
have commended thee to his protec
ton, and l doubt not that he will shell
ter thee until happier days shall restore
thee to thy master" The boy sat gaz
ing into the fire as if he were reading
his fate in the embers. One hand hal
concealed the face which rested on it
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. Arie
approached his master. took his hand
and pressed 1t to his lips, then with {
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 1 would
trust further than 1 can see," he re
marked, land he is clear grit and tru
blue
Marden was silent; his spirits wer,
under q cloud this morning. HI
could not account for his interest in tn
boy; he reproached himself for sendin
him on such dangerous GRAND, and re
called with anguish of soul the partin
look Of devoted affection in those dark
expressive eyes.
Jabeo observing his companions trout
led face and guessing its cause, wa
silent also, and they journeyed on wit
scarcely a word spoken, guided by tn
sun, the moss on the trees, and q poke
compass which Marden carried, unit
noon, when hunger and fatigue com
PEELED them to rest Thus far Their
We're no Indian signs in the wet groun