Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-07-07
bent. He pointed slowly to trace in

oShCos
cit amt him, sir, that mark. Look
at Tits one-footed man! end!''
he added, striding forward and look.
ing closer,-"end it's a left-footed
man! end it's one wooden-legged
man! and then, with conviction, otis
the burned niger that's been spyin'
after us. Leave him to me. He amt
goin' to spy US tomorrow not hef /
knows it.
l approached the marks, and per-
ceived that beside the foot was the
round hole made by a wooden
stump.
After dinner, Brace looked to the
pine torches he had brought up, and
spent the evening in drying them care
fully, whilst chatting with the man OF
the hotel. He said not word about
our discovery nor did theman speak
of any visitor being in the house.
This with a certain cunning look in
his red eyes, alarmed me.
We were called at four o'clock the
next morning, Brace saying that we
must start early, in order to get our
Job done in time to get back to a
comfortable dinner, but in reality, I
believe, to preclude the possibility OF
being followed. When wehad finished
our breakfast, Brace, taking the hotel
man by the button, said:
"Old pal, you hev got stranger
staying in this house, reckon"
The man scratched his ear, looked
up and looked down, and then at a
jerk OF his button blinked upat Brace,
and said:
oval, allow hev"
"a wooden-legged stranger, Think"
The same shutfling, and then:
oval, 1 allow he hev got a wooden
leg"
"a niger. believe"
oval, niger accordin' to appear
ances."
II kinder fancy he's in the little
chamber over there. 'Twarnt swine
heard gruntin', were it,"
"You kin inspect him, if you like"
II will, after which hef I
take a fancy to nailin' OF him up
for four and twenty hours for
the same number OF dollars, you will
allow me the use Of a hammer and
some three.inch pints?"
~ will do that" said the man; and,
the two having shaken hands on the
bargain, he went off to get the articles
required, while Brace looked into the
room.
"1t's the same" said Brace, and
turning up his sleeves, heproceeded to
nail up the door in q business.like
manner.
II don't think he will trouble us.
unless he kin afford to make it worth
the old pals while to let him OUT"
said Brace, as we started from the
house, lend even then he won't get
much OF a chance, SEEM as no mortal
man can get down that hole without
a light, and we've got eyes or to see
hef a light is follerin' on U.S."
1t was dark, despite the SHOWS that
lay upon the ground. Brace led the
way with q pine torch, which burned
sluggishly in the mist that enveloped
us. Lola holding my hand tightly,
we followed close behind Brace, who
kept the torch low to show the nature
OF the path; nevertheless, we slipped
and houndered considerably in step
ping from boulder to boulder,-the
half melted snow rendering it impos-
SAciS w oOCtllll ~ Ill III lOOUIIlS.
Under other circumstances, Lola
would have enjoyed the difficulties,
and laughed at our mishaps, but now
she neither smiled nor spoke; some
times she would press my hand
a little tighter, that was all the
sign she gave. We followed the
course of the river, guided by the
sound OF the rushing waters. AS we
proceeded the descent grew more and
more rapid, the stream forming along
succession OF falls, and. the light in
creasing, the rocks and boulders about
us became dimly visible through the
gray mist. At length our progress
was stopped BY huge rock that rose
perpendicular before u.s.
clark" said the Judge, as we stop
ped to regain the breath that had
been jumped out OF our lungs by the
last scramble.
lstened,-we seemed to have turn
ed our backs on the stream,-its rush
ing sounded more distant than l had
yet heard it. l said this.
clark again!" said Brace. Then as
| leaned my ear attentively, I
heard beside the swirling and
dashing noise in our rear, mu1iied
roar, that seemed to come from the
very bowels OF the earth. I almost
fancied l felt the rock vibrating under
my feet.
"Iou're right" said Brace, when
gave him my impression; lend the
roar you hear is that stream shootin'
down thousands OF feet to the bot
tom OF the great hole. If it warn't for
the burned MIST" he added, holding
up the torch, which revealed but a
few feet above our heads OF the granite
wall by urside, you'd see that we're
now standin' right between the two
sides OF the divide we looked at last
night. We are standin' right over the
canont with per'ans four or five
thousand feet OF nothing under
us, on a lump OF rock that's
tumbled down from up above, and
wedged itself here, cause somethin'
stopped it's goin' furder; end it do
tremble, l allow. 1t amt solid! It's
moved a. hmm since kpew II IN +l,o