The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-31

but they succeeded at last in wriQQlinQ their
way through the undsrbrush to the shelter
Afforded by the tall pines. 'Now,' said
LAM lam solennly. 'ws have got to foot il
vi,
The Retreat.
Footing it doable-quick step'' through
a thick swamp in the dead of night 10 Z
serious Undertaking, 80 serious that 1t IL
practically Impossible 90 far as double
quick step is concerned. The boys had
waited until dark before leaving camp. but
the darkness which they encountered within
the wood WAS vsry different from that out
side of it. For some minutes they could
scarcely distinguish q step before them. so
they were obliged to keep within touch of
each other from tho fear of being separated.
Farmer Bunker's house was . good eight
miles distant, and the path to 1t, a. they
we'll remembered, lay through the heart of
the woods and was winding and narrow.
The first thing to do was to find the path
SO to escape from the undsrbrash and
windfalls which blocked them at every
Other step and would render progress sx-
positively slow, even though they did not
AobO tAOt ooAllnkbs lAC9 AN - udT6 W
light their one lantern lest it should be
discovered by the enemy. 80 they cropped
and Numbered in single file between the
tall trees and over the PROSTATE ones with
Hank in the van.
Dash it ALL" at last cried George, who
was bringing up tho rear, and who was
sma rting ns he spoke from a tumble caused
by catching his foot in q tangle OF vine.
Lets light up M see whore we are.
We're losing time, and I'd sooner take the
chance of their spotting us than Of being
overtaken."
He had scarcely spoken when Hank, bid
ding tho others remain whore they we're,
pushed forward in the direction of a glin-
mer of light just ahead. In another ill
slant he emitted u low whistle. which
cheered the hearts Of the other three.
Following the footsteps Of their leader
thew found themselves in the desired path.
They had stumbled Upon it, as it were.
The darkness, bv way Of contrast, seemed
luminous; trunks of the trees close at
hand stood out with dusky distinct-
mesa, ard overhead they could. peroaive u
patch OF sky brlRht with stars. Gordon
waved his cap over his head in mute
exaltation. There would at least be no
further delay. They trudssd along in
silence for some minutes trying to make up
for lost time. Hank still led the way with
little Dick close at his heels. followed by
Gordon, with George as a rear guard. ALI
OF a sudden Hank stopped short, and bend
ing down put his ear to the ground and lis
tened, while tho others held their breath.
"Oh, what's the matter, Hxnk?' MUIR
murod Dick, whose nerves not unnaturally
had been strained by the events of the day.
II thought l heard something. What
I'm most afraid of is that they'll set q
bloodhound on uB."
but he said douehtily, They didn't have u
dog with them, did they?'
Eyes they did" said Dick.
"Was it a b~loodhOund?' asked Gordon,
TT WAS a hound of somo kind. IL had
long cars"
Hank in a hoarse whisper, for [ thought l
heard a bay just before | stopped. If it is
we're goners. They're fierce as fury"
1--WE could shoot him. if there il only
one" said George.
Hank, who had raised his head to join
In the conversation. proceeded to listen
again. but the silence was productive of
nothing definite. The 0ou9hing of the
trees alone broke the stiffness.
a. fast as We can" he continued and hs
proceeded to set a pace which was too rapid
for little Dick. and would soon have under.
mined the energies of the whole party.
path, as though it was a city side
walk or q suburban road. and the boys soon
realized that this was the longest eight-mile
tramp they had ever undertaken. Every
now and hen Han would stop and pat
his ear to the ground. while the three others
listen lntontly. Strange cries from
the forest reached them from time to time,
which they asoribsd to bear and Wildcat;
they distinguished plainly the 80 whit-to
whoo' of the owl, but nothing
which suggested the baying Of = hound or
the voice of pursuers.
Tk&- I'D r~n-. $500 .- -
seemed twice the nlmbsr, whom
Hank, coming to q halt, led the two elder
boys aside and said, with an excited. mys-
.terious air:
Did you n0tice?"
"What?' asked the pair eagerly.
1--WE just passed a bear. Don't let Dick
"Why didn't you fire At him?" asked
George.
"And lot Jim Harris know We were hsre?"
was he?"
Just BY that big tree"
The boys looked in the direction indi-
aated, but could see nothing.
He was standing on his hind legs" CON-
|inued Hank. THAT ia, I'd swear it was a
bear. 1t was a big, black mass, and as l
'ooked at it it seemed to move its paws"
'Craokvv' said Gordon.
Lets 10 back and ses." said George;
uoA ouuooAIy A0 auuoAs al O0S You IL |
want q bear, Hank"
"Do you mean to tell mo / lie, Gsoroe
Pratt2 Don't o suppose knew q bear
when I see oneY"
why didn't We sec him then" asked
because you're used to tho woods a.
'm," replied Hank with such an injured
lir that an older person might have drawn
he Inference that there WAS considerable
in his mind al to whether il had been
bear or merely Imagination working on
he stump of a tree.
There was nc settling The question any
more than 1t had been possible to settle the
concerning Georges big fab. but all
hree shsrsensd their eyes for the rest of
he way for the appearance of another
ruin. and Hank insisted on keeping the
that thev had passed close to ono .
ecret from his brother. much TO the dis
ross OF that younRstsr. who was convinced
y his mySterious behavior that hs had oh
aimed conclusive evidence that the blood
was on their track.
On they went. on and on. II seemed AZ
hough they would never come to the end
4 the Tong limos of trees and escape from
he gloom of the forest. They felt AZ if
hey had Travelled twenty miles rather than
light. Hank had Dick BY the hand, and
no Run and axe on Georges shoulder
eemed TO weigh a ton. They were all
aged; yet ~ the wood became lsss dense
marks Of civilization began to appear