The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-08-27
Then, they olAsped hands in sllonc,

anu SephrhVcu. ~ q = 81 s-A, F.Aah f.
An hour later Mercer himself Opened
the door Of the fort for the departing
adventurers. Marden, in the dress Of
backwoodsman, armed only with rid,
and knife stuck in his belt; the half
braed, or Ariel, as we shall call him
had exchanged his uniform for the moe
assias, leggings and blanket Of an In
dian brave, bow in his hand and
knife, hatchot and half dozen arrow,
in his belt. lie drew the blanket arount
his head as Mercer, laying his hand OF
his shoulder, spoke a few kindly words
in French, to which he replied with 3
gesture Of farewell. D4 &H
Jsbe was waiting for them at the
bank Of the river Ho, too, had dis
carded his uniform and wore dress
similar to that OF his leader. The birch
canoe was freighted with few pro.
visions and blankets, to which were
added the rifles, and the party en-.
barked. Jabe took his place in the
prov, which was turnod up stream;
Marden seated himself in the stern. and
at his masters command Ariel lay down
on the blankets and fell asleep.
Propelled by paddles In four strong
hands the canoe shot rapidly up stream,
the paddles rising and falling with no
other sound than the ripple of the water
at the prov. The spring-tide current
had carried the floating Ice out into the
lake, leaving no obstacle except what
might be apprehended from driftwocd,
and for this Jabe kept watch with un.
firing vigilance. Two hours had passed
with nothing to disturb the feeling Of
security. Above their heads the trees
waved their leafless branches and the
stars twinkled benignly; below the river
offered smooth pathway, and the en-.
shrouding darkness concealed them from
prying eyes. Suddenly section OF tho
stars was obscured by a lofty bluff,
around which the stream was forced to
make its way at an acute angle, and
here the watchful Jabe gave the signal
agreed upon, and the bark orept eau
tiously around the point, then stopped
abruptly, for the eyes OF the yoyagers,
accustomed to the darkness, were daz-
lied by glare Of light which Illuminated
The river and It's banks for q space too
vide to be crossed with safety. The
,anoc drifted into the shadow, and Mar
len turning its prov TO tho shore soon
,ained the bank. The first to step on
ezra nrma was the boy. He had his
'ow in his hand, and, with gesture to
lis master, disappeared In tho darkness.
Evidently large FIRE had been
tindled on the bank to prevent tho pas
age OF boats to or from the forts at
light, and doubtless there was sufficient
orce to make the attempt perilous II
.ot impossible. In few minutes the
oy returned and began to gesticulate
apidly. lie had been taught the sign
lnguagc OF the deaf mutes by a priest
4 Montreal, and Marden had become
in 1t too. lie reported that
here were at least two hundred In
ians with two or three Frenchmen in
inform, and that a strict watch was
ept along the river bank.
Mardeh at once decided 10 send Jabe
lck TO the fort with the news Of the In
AN encampment, while he and Ariel
main where they were and en-
eavor by daylight to find some path
creek by which to transport the canoe
a point on the river above the encamp-
ent, With this purpose they crossed
10 stream, and while Marden and the
" plunged into the forest, Jabe re-
aced his way in tho canoe, with orders
return TO tho samo spot on the fol-
wing night. ,
Wrapped in their blankets the ad-
nturers stepped among tho moscow
ed roots Of a tree, and with tho dawn
day proceeded TO take observations Of !,
Q enemy, but they found the opposite ,
nix obscnred by a fog, which the bon
es failed TO penetrate. Marden was !
out to reproach himself for his hasty
tion In sending back tho canoe with ,
lich they might have passed tho hos
Q camp unobserved, when he saw a a
adowy limo spanning tho river, which,
the light increased, resolved itself 4
10 Gordon Of cenoes, fastened end to
d, and effectually blocking the way. a
owly the fog lifted, tho Indian boat \
IN cut loose their barls5 and padded
the opposite shore.
rho barricade was complete. The day
8 spent in vain search for some path
creek by which the canoe coald be
'ried or fioated to a point Of safety,
d whom the night closed in and the !,
glare Of the watch fro made the !,
allest objects visible, Marden. began =
think the task desperate one. :,
We must give 1t up, Ariel" no whis- = =
ed, sadly, "thoy have outwitted US.
ere is nothing left but TO abandon :,
canoe and make our way through n
, forest"
he boy shook his head and began TO ..
k with his fingers. There was bare =,
Light enough TO follow the rapid mo- =
Ms, but when he concluded, his mas y
gazed at him with admiration. :,
1t might be DONE" he mused. "It
II bo done II tho fog serves us well. al
d now rest thee, boy. lovo thee, "
thful ftiend, and haply at some future o,
We will share . peaceful home To- :,
her, f.....,- ~
lad the darkness permitted Marden =, ~
aid have seen the look Of devoted af- - =,
tion which repaid tho kindly speech; ~
the haif-breed made no sign. q
evolving In his mind plans for tho ., a.
therance OF his mission and the re- ..
val OF the present obstacle, Mardsn g.
It watch for the ranger and his canoe, :,
Ariel slept at his feetL-the light a.
refreshing slumber which nature ~
tches from fatigue and danger. At "