Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-09-29
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were able to tell exactly where Bouton
was. 1t was agreed between Henry and
Kushat that they should not speak after
they had reached point within hear
ing of the outlaws. They crouched on
the ground waiting for developments,
when they heard Bouton ask:
Where is Louis Kyle?"
HE is har," said one Of the men.
| "Whee?"
"Hr OH the ground" replied the
man. II thought it'd be better to tie
him up, and so I've done it. p"
Louis Kyle" began Bouton, "your
friends have blocked my way
Il am aware Of that, and am glad ol
it," replied Louis.
"You win not be so glad when you
near my plan TO defeat Brandon.
You think not?"
Il am sure Of it have sent through
60 men, and when daylight comes Bran
don will find himself under my rifiel F"
"And will not you be under his? You
should know by this time that Brandon
has a habit of shooting back
Let him shoot But tell me-do you
call him your friend?'
II do"
81 will give you chance to test his
friendship"
"Go on. am listening.
II propose 10 send you through, 50 rs
70 be with Font Robb when he makes
the attack. Ny orders will be to place
you in the advance Then let Captain
Brandon shoot if he will, " said Bouton
gloatingly.
Garry out your plan. am not ask
ing favors Of you. and never expect
TO, " said Louis Kyle, with proud ring
in his voice.
Bouton turned 10 two men who were
| standing behind him and said:
Unite his feet, but keep his arms
bound Take him through the pass, and
if he attempts 10 cry out so as 10 attract
Brandon's attention shoot him down at
once Do you both understand"
The men said they understood very
clearly, but they did not reply like men
at all delighted with the undertaking
on hand They advanced, and freeing
| the young mems feet told him 10 rise.
Then they examined the ropes that
| bound his arms, and finding them loOser
than they liked they frightened them and
told him 20 follow. During the talking
and the subsequent tramping Henry
Kyle whispered to Kushat:
"They are going to take my brother
through the pass. We must follow"
They could see the men walking of
with the prisoner between them, and
they could hear him ask:
"Will you let me speak with my sis
ter and Miss Blanchard? This may be
my last chance "
1--WE can't do it," replied one Of the
men brutally. If you wanted any IA
vors. you'd orter ask Bouton. "
They went on again, and when they
We're 30 yards from the camp Henry
| Kyle and Kushat We're on their feet and
after them. The men with their prison
| er walked fast, though the road was
rough and the path so dark that the
| hand could not b. seen before the face.
| They had gone over half the distance
| and were just abreast the place that
| Captain Brandon had made So terrible
BY daylight when Bouton's men came
TO halt and one Of them asked:
Didn't you hear noise as If we was
follercd?"
They were nearly through the pass,
and Kushat was about 10 ask Henry if
| the time for action had not come when,
| quick IA flash. he bounded from her
| side and with his uplifted rifle knocked
one Of the men senseless. He was III the
| act of raising his rife again when, with
a cry of alarm, the other man leaped 70
one side and drawing a pistol fired. Sc
| close was he that the shot would have
| been fatal had not Kushat, with the
rapid spring of mountain lion, thrown
herself on his arm and sent the shot into
| ,hc earth. The next instant the second
| outlaw was down and forever indiffer-
ent 10 Bouton and his plans. Before
| Louis Kyle could comprehend what had
| happened knife flashed, and the rope
| that bound his arms fell to the ground.
Follow me, whispered Henry, seiz'
ing his arm.
"Who are you?"
II am your friend, and once you call
ed me brother" was the reply, with a
sob at the close.
"And you are still my brother, cried
Louis, and he reached out his arms, fol
| in the sweep Of gratitude all the past o!
this brave though erring youth was for
gotten. They were just through the pass
when voice demanded in low, stern
tones which Henry recognized as those
| Of Font Robb:
"Who goes there?"
No answer was made, but still the
brothers, with Kushat between them,
hurried on
answer, OF I'll firer' shouted Font
| Robb, now thoroughly alarmed.
Il am Henry Kyle, replied the own
er of that name.
Henry Kyle" exclaimed Robb.
eyes. Fire if you dare. l did not
mean to bring you under my rifle, Font
| Robb, for once called You friend. You
must begin the struggle between you
and me, and will end it. "
"And what are you doing here:' ask
| ed Robb, who in his heart admired and
feared the reckless and generous COM
panion of his past misdeeds
| II will tell you, and want you tt
carry the message to Bouton. " While
Henry was speaking he still kept walk
| ing on with Louis and Kushat till they
reached the protection Of rock at the
exit from the pass.
'Let me hear.
"Tell Bouton that I have left two OF
his gang in the rift and that have res
cued from their hands my brother.
Tell him that defy the bloodhounds
he has put on my trail, and that one by
one they shall go down before my rifle.
Tell him that stood over the ruin OF
my fathers horne, burned down by
him, and that there swore that this
earth was too small for Bouton and me.
shall follow him night and day, for
henceforth am sleepless, and the bal.
ance of my i'll spent life shall be used
in making reparation to the innocent
and bringing vengeance to the camps OF
the guilty. His end is nearing, and
shall live to see it. "
This was said with a dramatic inten-
sity Of voice that struck horror into the
souls of Robb and his companions. Ev-
cry one of them felt that the weather
had become suddenly cold, and the
bravest did not dare to make reply.
L utl.<1,,.,l. c$,R fvo,o haiuU houn6 and