Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-01-15

approached his master, took his hand
and pressed it to his lips, then with
sign of farewell to the ranger, disap-
peared in the depths of the forest.
Jabe looked after him respectfully.
"He's the first redsl1in that ! would
trust further than | 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; lie reproached himself for sending
] him on such Il dangerous errand, and re-
called with ang Lish of soul the parting
! look of devoted affection in those dark.
expressive eyes.
| Jabe, observing his companions troub-
led face and guessing it's cause, was
silent also, and they journeyed on with
scarcely word spoken, guided by the
sun, the moss on the trees, and a 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 around
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 roclS?" said Jabe, point
ing to an object, which in the growing
darkness might pass for either. 1t
proved to be the remains of a l,,g cabin.
part of which had been destroyed by
| fire, although portion of the roof, sup
ported by the chimney, and the walls
remained, charred by fire; dooriess.
windowless, it presented CHASTITY and
forbidding appearance, but it was u
shelter, and Jabe, who was not troubled
with aesthetic tas ties, boldly entered,
and with the aid of Ratchet 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 fracture across the
forehead, to which still chung 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
EYES," continued Jabe, the fierce
light in whose eyes when the dismal
spectacle revealed itself was now ex-
tinguished by tear. "Yes, Captain, l
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
tside; and the wolves have made a
meal of them, see!" and he held Up
bone on which the marks OF teeth wero
plainly visible Marden turned away
with shudder.
"We will bury them out of sight,
Jabe, he said.
BY the aid of knife and Ratchet shall
low grave was dug in corner of the
room, for there was no floor but the
mother earth, to whose bosom the poor
rcHlaluS were COhSiBHcu, Wullo tuc
grave-diggers, each according to his
light, hallowed the spot with a 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 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-liket 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 a moment, and then in answer IL
Mardens inquiring LOOK be wnn. on:
"You see, Captain, II was thinking
about what happened here where we are