Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-04-11
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
Cy Walters had never been accused
Of possessing an amiable temper, aud it
will be admitted that his experience
during the previous night was Of try
ing nature. His rasping trials continued.
II was not to be supposed that the
fugitive believed 70 be sleeping up
stairs would fire upon an enemy with.
out warning. and therefore Cy's ap-
proach to the cabin was unbesitating.
though made with caution. As the two
stepped across the threshold the white
man said in low voice:
go up the ladder and tell Hank
want to speak with him."
EYES, sab" replied Pete, promptly
obeying. II required but few steps
when his head appeared through the
opening. One glance was sufficient.
Turning his frightened face toward the
veteran below, he gasped:
"He amt here"
"Whatv' thundered Walters. Come
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 had
spoken the truth. Down he came, and
In his most dangerous mood.
"Say your prayers. he 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. II proves to yo' dat dat
man amt Hank Boyer, how will dat
do?i'
"But you can't do II unless you pro-
duce him before me, and you can't do
that"
II was now q 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 fight.
This knocks ont 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 W way Of deciding.
"You may 20 up the creek, and ] ii
follow 1, down He can't be- fur of. :"
On the point Of separating, Pete said:
"Marse Cy. what l jes' tole yo' am
q secret. yo' know"
"Of course, if you wish 1t to be so.
a. Deed I do. It'll sabe me lots OF
trouble"
can right: OF 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 " len he would have loved
to speak. II required the extremity Of
mortal peril to unseal them.
conceded too much to his sagacity
when / credited him with discovering
in the faint star gleam that which es-
capped others equally clear sighted un-
der the glare Of the lamp ut the inn. IL
was natural that when, from my hiding
place under the bank in the dugout, l
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 mt
the inn in Aldine, clamorous to com.
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-
membered. the agency Of Miss Mansley
in the business was never suspected
they set out for Black Mans swamp, &C
companied by the most ferocious blood
hound for miles around.
And something also happened to that
brute which eliminated him as factor
IN the solution Of the problem.
It was not long after this that what
may be called an adjourned meeting Of
the man hunters took place In the depths
Of the swamp, near the creek which
had played an important part in the Gu
rious incidents. 'Cy Walters was pres
ent, as were Gabe Horner and the owner
of the second hound that had departed
this life. To express It mildly. vein OF
dissatisfaction ran through the proceed
ings.
The proposition was made for several
members of the party to 60 back and
procure more dogs
"I'm opposed to that" called ont
Gabe, who was infuriated BY the lose Of