The Washington times., 1902-08-24

I through the ground almost as easily a
! thresh path. The million scarcely aud
: ible noises that fill forest surrounde
: me. and twigs not broken by me eracke'
/ or shook Still / made directly towar'
the woman's voice. which guided M
, more plainly, but left off running as IN.
ear detected that she was only in per
plexity. She called at Intervals. imper
atively but not in continuous screams
She was white woman. for no squav
would publish her discomfort A squaw
II lost, would camp sensibly on a bed @
leaves and find her way back to the vii
lage in the morning. The wilderness.
was full of dangers, but when you ar,
elder brother to the bear and the wild
cat you learn their habits and avoid ol
outwit them.
Climbing over rocks and windfalls.
came against a solid log wall and heard
the woman talking in a very pretty
chatter the other side OF it, She only
left off talking to call for help, and left
off calling for help to scold and laugh
again. There was man imprisoned
with her. and they were speaking En-
glish, a language 1 did not then under
stand. But what had happened to them
was very plain. They had wandered into
pen built by hunters to trap bears, and
could not find the bush-masked and
winding opening. but were travelling
around the walls. 1t was lucky for them
in that case their horses must have
smelled him. l heard the beasts shak-
| ing their brides.
! l found my way TO the opening and
whistled. At once the woman ceased her
chatter and drew in her breath. and they
no Interpretation. l told them where
they were. and the woman began talking
at once in my own tongue, and spoke it
as well as l could myself.
I'm a bear pen? George, he says we
are in a bear pen. Take us out. dear
home from their ball. l don't know
whether you are chief or not. but most
Indians are. My nurse was chiefs
daughter. Where are you? I can't see
anything but chunks of blackness."
I took her horse by the bride and led
They had no finder, and neither had I;
and all of us groped for the way by
which they had come to the bear pen.
The young man spurred his horse in ev-
cry direction, and turned back unable to
get through.
Though we could not see one another,
knew that both the adventurers
were young. and that they ex-
pected to be called to, severe
account for the lawless act they
were committing. The girl. talking
English, or French. or Mohawk almost
in one breath. took the blame upon
herself and made light of the boys self
reproaches.
She laughed Ind said-"My father
thinks l am with Miss Chantry, and
Miss Chantry thinks 1 am with my
father. He will blame her for letting
me ride with George Croghan to meet
him. and lose the way and so get into
the bear pen And she will blame my
father. and your dearest Annabel win
let the Count de Chaumont and Miss
Chantry fight it out 1t is not an affair
for youth to meddle with, George
Having her for interpreter the boy and |
1 consulted. l might have led him back |
to our hunting camp. but IT was a hard |
for horses. There was no inhabited |
house nearer than De Chaumonts own. |
He decided they must return to the road |
by which they had come into the beai
pen. and gladly accepted my offer to go |
with him; dismounting and leading An
irabol de Chaumont's horse while led |
his. We passed over rotten logs and
through black tangles, the girl bending
to her saddle bow. unwearied and full or
laughter. 1t was plain that he could not
find any outlet. and falling behind with
the numbered horse he, let me guide the
party.
do not know by what instinct felt
my way, conscious of slipping between
The wild citizens of that vast town OF
trees; but We finally reached a clearing
and saw across the open space a lighted
cabin. Its sashless windows and defec-
tive chinks were gilded with the yellow
light that comes from a glowing hearth
Il know this place," exclaimed An
label at is where the Saint -Michels
Ised to live before they went to my
ather's settlement at lie Rayville. Look
It the housed Nobody lives there. 1t
must be full of witches"
Violin music testified that the witch
IS were merry. We halted and the
,orses nefghed and were answered by
,thers of their kind.
George Croehan's grandmother was
truck by a witch ball And here her
,randson stands. too tired to run. But !
.erhaps there aren't any witches in the :
ouse / don't believe wicked things
would be allowed to enter It. The Saint
lichels We're so pious. and ugly. and Z
esigned to the poverty OF refugees.
heir society was so good for me. my
mother. VIXEN she was alive. made me
enerate them until hated them. Holy
ophie died and went to heaven. | shall
ever see her again. She was. indeed. /
xcellent. This can't be nest of witch
Co