Evening star., 1895-10-24

overlooked nearly the whole intervale call
ed the meadows, John Martin took Elsie s
hat and a shoe that belonged to her and
excited the dogs to sniff of them.
In moment the hounds dashed away
down the hill, and did not slacken pace un-
til they came to the spot where VIII had
picked up the hat. There a moment of
what seemed to be confusion on the part
of the dogs occurred. and the villagers
caught up. The pause was not long
one. however, and away went the hounds
again, as confident apparently as before.
Then all at once they yelped and wheeled
about, searched the ground for rods around.
finally striking a scent, only to retrace
their course. They had come to the spot
where Wanga had taken Elsie in his arms.
The villagers were greatly puzzled.
IF 1t had been the edge of a brook. now"
said one of them, "there'd be nothing sur
prisipg in 1t. but no ones going to suppose
that Elsie flew away from that place, and
Silver brook is at least a hundred yards
away"
viii overheard this comment. and the
truth flashed upon him. He went TO Mar
tin.
Elsie must have been picked up here"
he said; cant the dogs take the scent of
the man who carried herr"
"They may get onto it in a minute re-
piled Martin, who was watching the antics
of the hounds with dissatisfaction.
1t seemed presently as If they had indeed
taken second scent for they proceeded
straight to the brook. but there was no life
sis-sm with which dog follows a known
CT AIRY. AS they came among the trees
bordering the brook they raised their
snouts to the low bushes and shifted and
bsyed as If they had found trace.
IF she was carried" said Martin, crti-
cally, her feet or skirts must have scraped
the bushes"
At the edge of the brook the dogs not
only stopped but turned back, tails down,
and whining
There's something wrong" muttered
Martin. How long agod you say twas
Billy?"
1T can't be much more than an hour
well, then, If anybody waded the
stream, specially carrying a girl 'tain't
likely he'd go far without getting onto land
again. Some of you cross the brook and
some stay on this side. 'Taint likely he
went down stream, for that would bring
him to the open meadows and take to the
village. So you fellows go along the banks
and look sharp for wet grass or bushes
One drop may tell the story, SO keep your
eyes OPEN"
The party separated as suggested and
after a few minutes a cry came from the
men on the same side of the stream on
which Martin stood with his dogs.
"'Twould be a good trick he remarked,
'if man was to pretend to cross the
stream. and yet come out on the same side
he went in"
He gave the leash by which he held the
dogs. having caught them when they turn
ed back, to one of the villagers, and ex-
aInlneQ the ground ana DuSneS Wnere the
man who had cried out stood. 1t was in
deep shade, for they had followed the
streaa into the edge of the forest There
was more than one tell-tale drop of water
in evidence upon the ground and vines.
This is where he came out" declared
Martin, in satisfied tone; Tets have the
dogs"
They were led to him, and he tried to
| excite them to the fresh scent. They drew
back whining, and made as if they would
break away. Martin cuffed them and
abused them for worthless mongrels, until
at last. seeming to prefer the distasteful
scent to his punishment, they took after it.,
and he slipped the leash.
The dogs 'crept along-it could not be said
| that they ran-while the villagers followed,
L amazed at their behavior.
I All at once both gave loud yelps Of terror,
abandoned the scent, 1eaped away and bolt
! ed, tails down, as fast as they could CO.
The villagers saw small snake wriggling
slowly along the line of the scent
You laundering cowards." howled Mar
tin. in a furious rage as he drew a re-
| volver; turn tail at an adder, would you ?''
And he shot after the flying brutes, an an
swering yelp testifying to the accuracy of
his aim.
(To be continued tomorrow)