The National tribune., 1902-10-23
"THEY CAME UPON THE ENcAMpMENT OF LONE INDIAN"

runner of some disaster On the second
evening after having overtaken their In
dian ally. Since the afternoon storm the
weather had been several degrees colder,
and rs they climbed the roof of this North
ern country the nights took on the pecu-
liar frosty atmosphere belonging to the
season. The trio had lain down in q fir
embowered hillock overlooking sheet of
water-an ideal camping-spOt to one of
the FOrester'S nature-and both Philip
and Eden had fallen asleep, when the lat
ter was awakened by the hand of the
Forester laid on his arm.
Hist, ladn' admonished the scout, 'be
| ne'er alarmed, and You must forgive the
OF man for breaking sich sweet sleep, but
| there be signs writ on the sky tonight that
be worth trailing. Mark the play o. yon-
der Northern streamers and tell me if
,here be aught writ in the book o men so
pleasing. But I'm not unmindful O. the
fact that there be much O humanity in
natur'. l see this in the way the night
jewels her bosom with stars, and way up
yon her children must be kindling bon
fires in honor o the lengthening O. their
queen-mother. Aweel'-
But the rude philosopher stopped
abruptly in the midst Of his speech, and
pointing with his long right arm toward
the western slope of the heavens, murmur-
ed rather than spoke aloud:
Look yOn, lad"
Eden Harwood had already caught
sight Of shooting star, which had sud
denly left its myriad of companions, and
like a child flying off into a tangent Of
temper it could not control, it shot away
into space.
"Didst mark its track, ladg' asked the
Forester, earnestly. 'Didst note each
curve and point, and trail its blazing
arrow. Ay, lad, vast it not as plain as
print in book-the points, the barbs,
the shaft, even to the feathers along its
slender body?"
1T did bear strong resemblance to a
huge arrow" assented Eden. ~ am glad
you woke me, for it was a pretty sight,
and well worth the loss Of few winks
of Sleep"
''Dost call it purity sight, lad? Par
don an old mans weakness, which may
have come with his years, but to me it
looked like an arrow O. evil. l cannot
dissemble, lad, but the sign says to me
that ill-fortune will betide us on this trail
The simple reds, who live very near to
natur, always look on sich as a sign O
'jOyment, when they should wreak much
o evil to their enemies. To the white
man who looks on it.
For the second time the Forester was
checked in the midst of his speech, and
for the second time the twain looked on
the arrow of the shooting star, which
burned brighter and longer than the first
%Nct III tht DdiDtu punt, lnc idSl 10 llilSpT,
on the sight, had vanished did the older
of the couple speak, and he showed then
that deeper emotions of his being was
stirred to their utmost capacity:
las the first arrow trailed evil to 'em
who looked on it, SO does the second say
that OF those two who take this trail one
will ne'er wind his way back, but keep on
that long trail which knows neither turn
nor end. Don't chide me- lad, for it may
be only an oil mans whim, a weakness
which comes with his years. II there be
one called from the war trail o men to the
endless trail o peace which winds where
man listeth not, it be well if the OF man
be chosen. Like the oak standing alone
on some sheer rock where the wind could
NOT reach 1t and has outlived its kim so
he has no kin to weep should he be ta'en,
and no friend who can be so well spared
| as he"
The Forester showed by his manner as
well as his deep. fervent speech that he
was strongly affected by what he had wit
messed. From his long association with
the solitude Of the wilderness and life
among the lower creatures of the viii
uerhess ne had, to certain extent uncon-
ScIously, become imbued with a control
ing power at times Of that element those
uneducated in the schools of men denomi-
nate superstition. Eden Harwood tried
to speak cheerfully of the situation, though
even he felt the ominous influence more
than he cared to show. when ba stonnad
him: pp'N
There be nothing to lower our spirits.
lad Look on what I've said as the wbim
a foolish OF man, though, mark my
word, one who goes on this trail will ne'er
come back. Who stay may not be Won
nor l, but see how. the sky has brighten
&C." he added, again sweeping the Starry
ornament with his gaze. II swan it is
brlghter,n before, as il natur' was laugh
ing at the freak she had played on ne
poor mortals. And see, the Northern
lights rush higher and clearer. Let il he
a good omen to us, and now, lad, return
10 the blanket from which / had ne'er rea-
son to rouse y0I."
Eden Harwood was fain to follow this
ADVICE, and few minutes later his com
panion initiated his example. and If other
stars blazed arrows of fatality on the
midnight sky happily they did not cross
the 6orderland of the sleep that had been
found by the scouts. 80 80
(To be continued)