Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-09-04
THE CANOE SHOT RAPIDLY UP STREAM.

commanders,' said Shirley. doubtless
Sir William johnson will lose no time
in communicating with Londoun or Abb
ercrombie, and if they can not or will
not come, then the 'onus of our defeat
will rest with them. But is it wise to
entrust such an important message to a
mere boy?"
''My life upon his fidelity said Mar
den, warmly.
sssI have no doubt of that" observed
Pepperel. ''His devotion tc you is I'M
deniable, and his Indian training and
sagacity fits him peculiarly for the task.
But have you consulted him?''
ST have" replied Marden, and he
spoke to the boy in French.
"Whst sayest thou, Ariel? Wilt thou
spread thy wings for long fight for
I thy masters sake?"
| The olive color in the boys cheeks
grew deeper and his eyes brighter, but
| he simply laid his hand upon his heart
and bowed.
| 1--WE are all agreed, them" said Mer-
Ger, rising. ''and the details of both ex-
petitions are left to you, Captain Mar
den.''
''The night is dark-all the better for
| our purpose-and the canoe will leave
no track in the woods" replied Marden;
e"and now, brothers-in-arms, FAREWELL!
Not for England or King George. but
for our native land we offer up our lives
and all that is dear to us. FAREWELL"
Then they clasped hands in silence
and separa ted.
An hour later Mercer himself opened
the door of the fort for the departing
! adventures. Marden, in the dress of a
backwoOdsman, armed only with rifle
| and a knife stuck in his belt. the half
| breed, or Ariel, as we shall call him,
had exchanged his uniform for the moo
j asSins, leggings and blanket of an In
dian brave, a bow in his hand and a
Knife, a Ratchet and half a dozen arrows
in his belt. He drew the blanket around
his head as Mercer, laying his hand on
his shoulder, spoke few kindly words
| in French, to which he replied with a
gesture of farewell.
Jabe was waiting for them at the
bank of the river. He. too, had dis
carded his uniform and wore dress
similar TO that of his leader. The birch
canoe was freighted with a few pro-
! visions and blankets. to which were
| added the rifles, and the party en-
barked.. Jabe took his place in the
prov, which vase turned 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 appre hended from driftwood,
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 twdnkled benignly; below the river
offered smooth pathway, and the en-
shrouding darkness concealed them from
prying eyes. Suddenly a section OF the
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 crept eau
tiously around the point, then stopped
abruptly, for the eyes of the voyagers,
accustomed to the darkness, were daz-
xled by a glare of light which illuminated
the river and its banks for space too
wide to be crossed with safety. The
canoe drifted into the shadow. and Mar
den turning its PROV to the shore soon
gained the bank. The first to step on
terra flrma was the boy. He had his
bow in his hand, and, with q gesture to
his master. disappeared in the darkness.