Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-15
CHAPTER XIX.
cAueBr IN THEIR OWN TRAP.


When that morning had left the
cave, and scaled the crevasse. with the
somewhat wild hope Of falling in with
the squatter's party, and bringing back
help, II was Norah Mackenzie who first
missed me, and 10 was the conduct OF
SNOWFALL that first made her suspect
something wrong. This gentleman, aft
er climbed out Of sight, had become
strangely uneasy and apprehensive as TO
his own share in the matter. Every min
ute he had expected that my lifeless
body would come hurting down the
rocks and this caused him to gravitate
in an aimless and undecided sort Of
fashion between the narrow passage and
the cave for some little time. The ways
OF white man to SNOWFALL were mys-
terious. Doubtless II may have occur
red TO Snowfall that was following
Daly's example. and going Of on my
own account. But SNOWFALL was not to
be left long to these speculations
"well. SNOWFALL. asked his mis-
tress, 'what for you look ont that ono
rockt''
SNOWFALL tried to look rs IL he did not
quite understand. The old fashioned
way of gaining time Is much the same
all the world over.
Where is Mr.. Parkerf" she persist
ed, beginning to have a suspicion that
something was wrong and going into
the narrow passage.
THAT fellow bin go up," grinned
SNOWFALL in a manner that was meant
70 be conciliatory. pointing to the strip
4 blue sky overhead
Just then my handkerchief, with the
stone in IL, came sailing down the Gre
vase, striking from side to side in the
course Of its descent.
My cried SNOWFALL rs he lodged
against il, experiencing rap on the
side Of his head that made him feel
queer for a second or two. "That fel-
low plenty coolah. t'ink It."
And now the murder was out. and
there was not little excitement in the
cave. Norah Mackenzie said that /
must be seen by the blacks and neces-
sariIy killed She scolded poor Snowfall
for not having acquainted some Of tho
party with my Intentions
I've must distract the attention OF
the blacks, che said and. going on to
the terrace, uttered loud "coo-ee." In
an instant number Of them came to-
ward the cave, and the attention Of the
whole camp was attracted. Those in
the cave were somewhat mystified.
What was this strange girl going to do
nowt But they knew her too well TO
ask any questions They only held
themselves in readiness for whatever
might occur.
"Place your rifles on the ground, ="
she said, "but see that they're handy.
Wen interview the blacks, keep them
from ascending In the meantime and.
II possible, find ont their plans. Wemay
learn something and gain time.
The blacks still stood some 200 yards
of. Then she went down the terrace
before any one could dissuade her and,
breaking q small leafy bough from a
tree, waved il over her head. In another
minute tall savage had taken another
bough and waved it over his in like
manner.
The girl had evidently made herself
sufficiently plain to the blacks, because
most Of them retired TO some little dis
tance, and the chief advanced. Then,
before Jack or any Of the party could
prevent her, the girl went forward on to
q clear space some 80 yards from the
terrace. The black fellow also came to-
ward her. Suddenly she stopped, stamp
ed her foot significantly, and the savage
dropped the spear he had been dragging
along the ground by his toes He looked
,shamed, and so he was, but not be-
..sse he had taken spear with him to
meet a woman. but that he had been
detected by one in 80 doing.
The party gradually came down from
the terrace. all save Gordon. who came
and sat ON the bresstwork 30 as to keep
q lookout The chief, who was white
haired, rakish looking individual with
breast and arms cicatriEed in gro
tesuue and horrible fashion and who
had several possum skins hung on vari-
ous parts of his body, looked with not
. little surprise on the White Mary"
who stood within few PAGES Of him so
cool and collected. She was probably
the first white woman he had ever seen.
he tugged in curiously nervous fash
ion at his long griEzled upturned mus
tache.
"Laka natcha cooramora takanyaf"
she asked.
"Wata cawanti carabinyi." he TO
plied, shaking his head.
The girl tried another tack. The saw.
,ge had not understood what she said.
She placed the palms Of her hands to-
gether and then, turning the tips OF her
fingers downward. said. "Yola che an
air.
And now the chief understood and
talked away at rattling pace. One
great faculty the Australian aboriginal
has besides that Of mimicry (there are
10 mimics in the world like them) is
the linguistic faculty. he has an ire
sistible desire to learn the language OF
any tribe with which he comes in con-
tact. This chief had doubtless In his
wanderings picked up the one that
Norah Mackenzie now spoke. After
they had talked together for few min
utes, during which time the mob Of
| blacks manifested not . little impa-
tience. the girl turned to the party and
interpreted what had been said with
| not . little Of tho old spirit Of mischief
In her eyes.
s.His request Is Q modest one Elsie,
you have Q chance Of doing Z noble
deed and sacrificing youlself fof 9th.
erA This gentleman says"-and hege
shs mimicked the high A0wn tones d
| the old dreprobate-''if the lady with the
hair lke tAe yellow rocks and the cheek
hks the color Of the setting sun vii
| Give herssk up and eater into statl
d conAabial felicity With BIN hs vii
] vithdssw his 1asso 81 - - 81 q