Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-14
HRIEn,
The Ha1f-Breed
A Romance of Colonial Days

girl whose long. straight. black hair fell
over the vcsture Of q squaw or half
breed.
Ariel waited few minutes for further
developments. and thon 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."
Tho boy at once communicated his
adventure, after which he proceeded to
prepare breakfast while his master
thought out a plan to assure himself OF
| the presence of Mile. Destain in the en-
emy's camp and to rescue her If possi-
| BILE. After the meal the fire was exc
tinguished, and the baggage transferred
to the canoe, which was headed for tho
island where Ariel made his first OBJ
servations. There, concealed in the
foliage Of the great tree, the adventurous
watched the movements OF the enemy.
Tho whites were lounging on the
shore; but the negro was not visible.
Presently q tall female figure emery
cd 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 men 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 the 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 the
camp of the enemy. The white men
were asleep by the fire; but the negro
was not to be seen when Ariel stepped
on shore to reoonnoiter, and crept soft
ly toward the tepec, across the entrance
of which was stretched the bulky form
of the negro. The boy retreated to the
rear Of the tepec, where he searched for
n crevice in the side. The interior was
dark with the exception Of a faint ray
which struggled through the entrance
from the fire without. Baf1ed in this
attempt to communicate with Ninon,
Ariel resolved upon a dangerous expert
ment Creeping along the ground like
snake, he approached the negro. whose
heavy breathing encouraged him to pro-
coed. He arose and stepped over him.
In doing so he intercepted the ray OF
light, which, as he perceived, fell upon
the face Of the squaw. She moved, and
as Ariel glided into the d9rkness, she
raised herself on her elbow, then appar-
emily satisfied, composed herself to rest
again. Ariel paused to listen, and soon
detected gentle breathing; he knelt
down and touched hand which SILVER
ed and withdrew. Then tho negroes
voice Jared upon his ear. asking the
squaw If she was asleep. The woman
replied sulkily. He muttered . threat
and went away to the fire, and returning
with his pipe lighted, resumed his place
at the entrance.
Ninon, also awakened, stretched out
her hand and encountered that OF Ariel.
1t was a critical momont; would she
scream7 He placed finger on her lips.
She did not move and scarcely breathed.
Ariel traced his name letter by letter on
the palm Of her hand, and he knew by
: the pressure on his own that she com.
pretended all. Her presence of mind
saved them, and while she asked the
squaw some careless questions, she
drew a piece Of bark aside and pushed
him through the crevioe. She was
about TO follow him when the squaw
laid her hand upon her shoulder. "Why
you not 60 to sleep?" she asked In
broken French. Ariel heard the ques
ton and knew that the opportunity was
lost for the present, although part o.
hts mission had succeeded. Mile. Des
tain knew that her friends were al
hand.
THAT will be relief to her." he
thought, 'if she does not betray 1t by
: her looks
Marden was growing impatient, how
. over. He told Ariel, that no better op
oprtunitg was likely to OCCUR, while
some accident mi ght snatch the prize
from their grasp.
''Go back" he said; ''or stayi I'll &
, myself. We must have her tonight 4
we have to fight against odds. Ha
what is that?" Something attracts theil
attention. Ariel did you hear tha
shout? It came from the water. Seer
AS he spoke q huge shadow appeared ,
few rods from the shore, another mo
mont and the freight foil upon
barge, propelledoby six rowers, In thu
bow Of which stood man of large pro
portions, who sprang to the shore before
the vessel touched. Marden recognized
s him instantly. 1t was Lemonrier.
CHAPTER XIII
BRING HANpFULs OF L1LIes."
Mercer was prepared, as far IS hi
limited force admitted, for the attacl
= Of the enemy, with the courage Of ,
man who was ready to die at his post
mingled with scorn Of the pusillanimit,
which rendered the loss Of an importan
position almost certain, and for which
the English Generals Loudoun and Alb
ercrombie earned the lasting contemp
of the colonists, If not of their owl
!, troops, while history accuses them o
9 imbeoility and cowardice.
1t was Renwick's whim to snnounc
= the arrival Of the little fleet at Osweg