Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-23

had flown.
The thought instantly occurred to him
that there must be the carcass Of some
dead animal there: so Fastening back to
the French Cave he asked Moko TO take
him across to the other side of the river in
the yawl
Ten minutes afterward they reached the
opposite shore, and almost instantly the
birds took hight, shrilly protesting against
this intrusion.
4 few yards from the spot where they
had landed lay the body of yonng llama,
evidently killed but a few hours before, as
the body was still warm. Donovan exam
ned the animal, and found still bleeding
wound in its Aank-a wound that certain
iy had not been made by the teeth of a
Ia9uar or any other wild beast.
This animal was certainly shot" ex-
claimed Donovan.
"And here is the proof of IT," cried his
companion, who had managed to extract
u bullet from the wound with his knife.
or course, the shot could not have been
! lired only by Watson, or one OF his COM
| panions, and Donovan and Mollo, leaving
! the llama for the birds, fastened back to
! the cave 10 hold n consultation with their
! comrades, for the time and place where
! the llama had received the wound were Of
the utmost Importance.
All things considered, it appeared highly
| improbable that the deed had been com
| mittcd three or four hours before--the
| time necessary for the animal to traverse
the downs and nearly reach the river; con
sequentlY, one Of WastOn's men must
| have been hunting near the south end of
the lake, and the party had probably as-
| cended the East River, and was now grad
| ualy approaching the cave.
The situation therefore, was becoming
more ana more ominous, though no i'm
mediate danger was perhaps to be feared,
as the desOlate character of the downs,
and the lack Of game might cause the
party to hasten back to their former quar-
tcrS.
But three days after this event Il much
more significant fact increased the uppre.
tensions already felt, aud showed that the
situation was becoming more and more
critical.
About nine o'clock on the morning of
the 9th, Brian aud Gordon went out to
see If it would not be possible to erect a
sort Of barricade across the narrow path
lending from the lake to the marsh, in or
der that Donovan and the best shots of the
little colony might shelter themselves be-
hind it ana open an effective fire upon the
enemy In case Of WaIston's approach.
The two boys were walking along on
the edge of the forest that bordered the
stream, when Brian stepped upon some
thing and crushed it. He paid no atten.
ton to the fact, however thinking it was
one of the thousands ana tens or rnou-
sands Of shells which are deposited here
when the high tides cover the South Moor,
but Gordon, who was behind him, paused
and said:
"Wait, Brian; wait moment"
"What is the matterY
Gordon stopped aud picked up the crush.
cd article.
"LooI,!' he exclaimed; lit is pipe and
a5 none of our party smoke, this Pipe
must have been lost by one of Walstons
hand"
"UuIc,s it belonged to the Frenchman
who had possession of Chairman Island
before we did, y suggested Brian.
"No; these scratches are too distinct foI
It ever to have been in the possession Of
man who died twenty years a~o. 1t must
have been dropped here very recently
the tobacco which stll adherrs to it is
sure proof of that. Consequently, u few
days, or perhaps only n few hours ago, one
Of WHlstOn's companions or WalstOn him
self must have been on this shore of Fam.
lily Lake.
Gordon and Brian Immediately returned
to the cave with this alarming Intelligence
and every possible preparation for defense
was at once made. All the rest of the day
n guard was stationed on the top of the
cliit in order that any approach of the en-.
envy might be instantly observed; autl dur
ing the night two of the elder boys were
to guard the doors leading into the hall
aud store room. These doors were
strengthened by means of heavy bars, aud
hey could be baricuded ut moments
notice. II necessary, by the large stones
which were piled up IN the cave. As re-
CARDS the narrow windows that had been
made in the walls and which served ms
loopholes for their two small cannon, one
defended the side of their abode next the
River Zealand, and the other the side
fronting on Family Lake; besides, their
guns and reyolyers were ready for use at q
moments notice,
1t is needless to say that Kate approved
NIL these measures, though She carefully
concealed the uneasiuess with which she
looked forward to the unequal struggle
between the lads, TO whom she had be.
come SO dovotedly attached, and the crew
of the "Severu." All why was not the
brave mate Evans with them? why hau
he not followed Kate In her hight2 Ger.
tainly with his aid the Inmates of the
French Cave might have made more Of
fcCtivc arrangements for its dcfrnse