The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-15
CHAPTER XXI.

tracks. march,"
CHAPTER XXI
Cy Walters had never been accuses
of possessing an amiabls temper, and i
will be admitted that his experience
during the previous night was Of a try
ing nature. His rasping trials continued
1t was not to be supposed that tn
fugitive believed to be sleeping VI
stairs would fire upon an enemy with
out warning, and therefore Cy's ap
proaoh to the cabin WIS., unhesitating
though made with caution. As the twt
stepped across the threshold the whit,
man said In low voice:
go up the ladder and tell Hank
want to speak with him.
eyes, sab," replied Pete, prompt,
obeying. It required but q few step
when his head appeared through thu
opening. One glance was sufficient
Turning his frightened face toward til,
veteran below, he gasped:
4'He amt here
WHAT" Numbered Walters. "Comt
down and let me see for myself"
The trembling negro descended, and
the other recklessly climbed the rounds.
The next second he saw that Pete bad
spoken the truth. Down he came, aud
in his most dangerous mood.
"Say your prayers" be said with
fearful significance. "I'll give you five
minutes and no more"
He stepped back with his Winchester
partly raised. He meant all he said.
"Marse Cy, if I proves to yo' dat dat
man amt Hank Boyer, how will dat
do?'' :
"But you can't do it unless you pro.
duce him before me, and you can t do
that"
It was now question Of life and
death, and the quaking African told the
secret which until then had been locked
in his breast. All the time he was talk.
ing the grim ex-guerrilla kept his gilt
tering eyes upon the dusky oounte-
nance, as il he would pierce him through.
Not until the brief story was told did
he lower his gun. The action showed
that Pete had saved his life.
"We must find him." was the COM
ment Of Cy. Lets CO."
With no definite idea Of whittier they
should direct their steps, they followed
the path to the creek, the intention Of
Cy Walters being to meet his two
friends and make known the astounding
story he had just heard. Arrived there.
the missing dugout revealed my method
Of flight.
"This knocks out all the bloodhounds
in the country" remarked the veteran.
"None Of them can trail him through
the water, and has he gone up or down
stream?"
There was no way Of deciding
""You may 60 up the creek, and / II
follow it down He can't be fur of. "
On the point Of separating, Pete said:
"Marse Cy, what jes' tole yo' am
a secret, yo' know"
"Of course, if you wish it to be so"
" Deed do. It'll sabe me lots Of
trouble -
'"All right; off with you" And they
parted company.
The foregoing shows the injustice
done to Pete by my suspicious. He had
never had any intention of betraying
me. and played the part Of friend
from the first, but his welfare had be-
come involved with my own in an ex-
traordinary manner, and his lips were
held mute when he would have loved
to speak. It required the extremity of
mortal peril to unseal them.
I conceded too much to his sagacity
when credited him with discovering
in the faint star CLEAN that which es-
capped others equally clear sighted I'M
der the glare Of the lamp at tho inn. It
was natural that when, from my hiding
place under the bank in the dugout, I
saw Cy Walters steathily searching for
me, should neglect no precaution to
elude his gaze.
Meantime, with the advance Of morn.
ing, the vigilantes began gathering at
LAo AhA III aAoAAo, OA01uolOSS " COlA>
plete the entertainment of which they
were robbed on the preceding evening.
Learning Of the startling proceedings
in the early hours-though, be it re-
the agency Of Miss Mansley
in the business was never suspected
hey set out for Black Man. swamp, ao-
by the most ferocious blood
hound for miles around.
And something also happened to that
orute which eliminated him as factor
n the solution Of the problem.
1t was not long after this that what
nay be called an adjourned meeting Of
he man hunters took place in the depths
# the swamp, near the creek which
lad played an important part in the Gu
ious incidents. Cy Walters was pres
mt, as were Gabe Horner and the owner
( the second hound that had departed
his life. To express it mildly, a vein Of
dissatisfaction ran through the proceed
ngs.
The proposition was made for several
lembers Of the party to go back and
rooure more dogs
"I'm opposed to that" called ont
'abe, who was Infatuated by the loss Of