Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-08-16

ter), but, as he afterward told me, to the
fact that with the failure to get help from
Stryker-a help he had accounted as certain
he had given over hoping, and took des-
perately calm view of the next day or two,
surely believing that by then all would be
over. Yet withal he in no wise abated his
vigilance, though he considered the hand of
death was near him, and when, finally,
there opened up bare chance for our es-
cape from the island, he said it was as
though he had come back from the grave
Ay, and so did I. 1t was as though SUI
locating hand placed over my mouth had
been suddenly withdrawn.
On the start he told me little of himself
Though had thought to find him communi.
cative), and had TO drag from him that he
had left brother at Turtle bay, whom he
was now journeying to rejoin. The youth
was but year or two younger than himself,
and fairly helpless, having been stricken by
the Almighty with dumbness from birth,
though not with it's usual accompanying
curse-deafness. From helping the great
cause in some way both brothers were under
a ban, and my companions life was forfeit
if he was taken.
Now as black as seemed my chances, left
the weight of the old adage of life and hope
being akin, and I was by no means over
joyed in knowing that we might be handi-
capped by a helpless youth should some
chance open way out from the surround
ing danger. And this / frankly told my
companion, though to ME he made no reply
For the most part he walked a pace or so
ahead of me, and thus we went along, 20.
ing easily enough while crossing open fields,
but faring sorely when we struck woodland
or plowed ground. Perilously near, too, we
went to dwellings, even stopping at well
hard by one to drink, though first making
sure there were no dogs about. I never
would have dared this had I been alone, but
my companion laughed at the risk, and
followed his lead, though it then struck me
as strange that l should let this stripping
take the upper hand in our expedition. The
truth is, l was tagged and not myself, and
though if driven to corner would have
fought like shrew, had no head for fine
points on that night, and was growing timid.
Anon we took to the high road for space
TO flank swamp, and once dog went wild
at the smell of us, but we were unmoested.
Not house showed light Though that was
small wonder, it being past midnight), and
now we felt the breath of the damp that
rose in the cooling air, and could even mark
the pondlike appearance of the mist as it lay
in some black hollow of the land Through
brooks, small swamps and pools we went, !
with heavy boots going dry-shod, though
Ames, with but pumps and stockings, was
wet to the knees, and could hear the
scrunching Of water in his shoes as he
walked. But there was little to choose
about him after had pulled him out of a
ditch into which he stumbled, though he
made joke of it even while his teeth were
chattering from the chill of his sousing.
1t was fearful going in the dark. The Dove
lay five miles from Turtle bay by road, but.
with our circling and retracing, we must
have gone three or four more. For the most
part we spoke little, and, though much re-
manned to talk about, was in no spirits to
ask questions-or answer them either, for
that matter. With me there was now no
thought of what lay behind or before, all
that remained of my wits being stupid,
stubborn determination to get on and reach
our destination, be it what it might.
take 1t twas past one o'clock, md had
been following my leader in an aimless fash.
ion for half an hour without word be.
tween us when he halted and laid his hand
upon me, pointing toward house with the
bulk of a barn looming through the gloom
behind it. seemed to wake then, and no.
tice the glimmer of water stretching beyond,
and knew we were on the bank of the Sound
river.
us this the place, them" asked, a.
tried to make head or tail of the bleak build
ing that stood against the faint sky like 4
black block.
He grunted an assent and climbed fence,
following tamely behind, but instead Of
proceeding to the house, we cut around it,
and finally entered what might have been
disused COW shed built against the rear Ct
the barn. Going to the end, he laid his ear
against the rough boards of the barn ard b.
gan scratching gently. Nothing coming Of
this, he fumbled about, and presently, to ny
great establishment, a broad board came
away in his hand, leaving in the barns side
a long, black hole that looked to lead into
the bowels of darkness.
ITO BE CONTINUED