The National tribune., 1902-11-27
CHAPTER XIII.
THE FINAL WORD.

The cries Of the alarmed females, as
low as they were uttered, reached the
ears of the strange abductor, and it sud-
denly checked its ungainiy fight, to turn
for moment its wolfsh visage toward
the little party in the canoe.
The Forester, having already raised his
gun to level with the creature, exclaim
ed, as his eye ran along its barrel
Beast or devil, halt, before I tie
knot in your amazement that III puzzle
you to unravel. if it be wanton waste
O. powder"
A reply, in a most unexpected manner,
as agreeable as it was unlocked for, fol-
lowed in tone Of human supplication:
For Gods sake, don't shoot!'
The Forester laughed In his peculiar
fashion, though he still held Old Danger
companions watched with wonder the
strange scene:
II reckon / amt the man to fire on
supplicant for mercy. Who be youi"
II am Christie Craig! This woman is
my wife. We've been hunted like wild
beasts, till shs cannot take another step
an I'm nigh dead wi stumblin' through
this trackless wilderness"
"Aweel, this be an amazement that
leads the reason wild goose chase. When
men cOnsort in VOLTS skin, then il be
time to look for wolf in mans garb I'm
minded that We are weakest in our vain
est moments. But it may be you're right,
and the old man is wrong. I'm ne'er for
getful O. the time when or Danger re-
fused to bite you. 1t may be the gun is
wiser than its master. Wait where you
are till the lads can run the birch in
ashore, while l keep painters eye on
you"
Merru-Maqua taking the hint from the
Forester, began to paddle the canoe in to-
ward the bank, the woman in the arms Of
the strangely-disguised man speaking for
the first time:
Don't shoot, Mister! It's Christie,
though he skeered me most to death afore
I'd b'lieve it."
I'm ne'er unmindful O. the fact that
| have ne'er right to be trailing out folks
doings, but, aweel, nows me, amt the
critter any other kivering to put on? I'm
mindful it be g0odish wolf skin, but in
all my perambulation I ne'er see man so
near like a wolf nor wolf that stalkad
like a man! There be something wrong
when sich knots gets tangled in the skein
O. human lives"
By this time the canoe had been placed
alongside the bank, but not until the man
had laid aside the tattered skin of the
huge gray wolf would the Forester al
low him to enter the craft. When he had
discarded his uncommon disguise he was
seen to be, as he claimed, the same Chris
tie Craig We first met on the afternoon
when he went out into the forest to meet
in combat his lifelong enemy. But he
was more gaunt now than on that day,
and he showed that he had been through
a trying ordeal.
In silence, with gentleness one might
not have looked for by his unconth ap-
pearance, he laid Mrs. Craig, who was
suffering from sprained ankle, in the
bottom of the canoe, when he stepped
aboard, taking his wolf skin with him.
| 81 must get that back to jamie" he
Enuttered. then relapsed into silence
Mary Shepley was already bending over
the suffering Mrs. Craig, who was happy
to meet her again.
Il had given up the hope of ever see
/ ing you again." she said. "You must tell
us what has befallen you since we were
parted"
Il will, lass, sometime I managed TO
get away from the wretches, but l should
never have found my way outn the wild
erness if Christie hadn't come along in
that heathenish garb. But it did SO well
in soaring off the Injuns we run 'crost
that he held to it. am so glad to have
got 50 fur, an to have found Christie.
How has 1t been wi YEP
The little party was now approaching
the landing leading to Sagarac, when it
was noticed that Merru-Maqua began to
glance anxiously in that direction.
Swift Bear must leave you here" he
said. Hope you get home well. l will
keep watch over French, who very much
mad over your get away. lose some,
but glad white girl found her friends"
This speech brought back to the mind
OF Mary what she had been on the point
of sa-ing just as the Wolf Stalker had
been discovered. So she said:
"This is yours, is it not, Chef?" hold
Ing up the little ladle that had been given
to her in such mysterious manner while
she was being taken captive to Beau
manaiI.