Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-28
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Yes, the cabin was deserted Of every
one except myself. I pronounced the
name Of Pete several times, but there
Was no response. The door was closed
and everything below appeared to be rs
when climbed the ladder in the early
hours Of the morning. except that the
latchstring hung outside, so az to ad-
init any one who chose to pull 1t.
was hungry, but there was not
particle Of food In sight, nor any odor
to denote that my man had cooked
moutbful for himself. A pail Of fresh
water sat on small bench in the COR
ner and dipped gourd into il and
took refreshing draft. Then I made
use Of ii to lave my face and hands.
drying them upon my handkerchief.
Ny toilet articles were at the inn of
Tom Bulfinch in the hamlet Of Aldine.
Then. with deliberation that sur
prised myself. I examined my revolver.
The three charges were in place, and l
grimly wondered how soon / should
have to appeal to them.
No doubt fingered in my mind that
the negro intended treaobery. II not,
why had he failed to call me. as he
promised? I was mildly astonishcd that
he had not robbed me in my sleep, but
accounted for that on the theory that
he intended to deliver mo intact TO the
white men who We're hunting for me.
This fancy became more reasonable
when reflected that Pete must be an
object Of suspicion to his neighbors be-
cause of his numerous forays upon their
property. In what more effectual way
could he square himself with them than
by delivering me into their hands? He
had gone forth to open communication
with them. and as soon as he could do
~ would bring them to the cabin, where
! should have been caught like rat In
. trap.
stepped TO tho small window on the
right and peeped out. The small clear
ing stretched away to the wood and
showed no sign Of living person. The
same view met my eye from the oppo.
site window. Then lifted the latch
and looked along the trail over which
We had come to the building. That
too. was equally devoid Of persons, but
the chickens were industriously scratch
ing the ground in qnest Of their break
fast, as much at home as IL with their
rightful owners.
Feeling that every passing minute
was Of value, I drew the door fully
open, stepped forth and latched il after
me. A hurried glance ON every hand
failed to show any cause for additional
alarm. and walked rapidly over the
path toward the creek where the dugout
had been left.
There was danger Of meeting Pete at
any moment ! resolved IL ! did so
20 charge him directly with playing me
false and il he proved ugly or attempt
ed TO detain me to use one OF the re-
manning charges in my revolver upon
him, but ! reached the stream without
sight Of him.
had paused. Debating the best course
20 take, when heard the murmur OF
voices in the underground on my left,
the sounds indicating that two persons
at least were approaching the spot
where / stood. / instantly stepped ont
Of the trail and crouched among the
dense underground. where was invisi.
BILE unless the parties continued across
the path. Drawing my revolver, / pre-
pared for the contingency.
The fear Of being detected held me so
low in the shrubbery that i could not
zee either OF the men, though recog.
nized their voices as those OF Pete and
Of Cy Walters. By some means the two
had established communication. and
doubtless other members Of the man
hunt were within call.
The two continued talking. but to my
exasperation il was in such low tones
that it was impossible to distinguish a
syllable. This was the more remarka-
BILE when it Is remembered that they
were within biscuits toss OF where
was croucbing Perhaps should have
heard enough to catch the drift OF their
conversation had they not changed their
position by moving farther along the
path in the direction of the cabin. Wait
ing several minutes, ventured to steal
forward a few PAGES into the trail in the
hope OF catching sight Of them aud
making my own position more advan.
tagsous. Unfortunately. however, Q
turn in the path shut them from sight,
and I dared not approach any nearer
through fear Of betraying myself.
All, II in the light Of after events
had caught tat a single sentence Of that
extraordinary conversation going on so
near mel
At that moment the distant baying OF
a hound sounded through the swamp
There was no mistaking the hideous
sound nor could there be any doubt OF
the fact that the brute was on my trail.
Moreover, now that the man hunters
had been given time to gather and
formulate their plans they were snre to
provide themselves with more than one
of the frightful creatures.
The warning could not pass unheed-
ed. The dogs would follow my foot
steps straight to the twisted tree and
then up the creek to where / had entered
the dugout of the negro Pete. Cy Wal
ters was already in the company of the
African, SO that the trail to where /
was orouching at this instant was as
NA-A. 4 J..