The National tribune., 1902-10-02
CHAPTER X.
ga nDEArr NIGHT ISnp owl Sr'

Ihe escaping captlNeS qucki! raiheu'
and as a dozen guns were discharged at
ter them they ran for the cover of the
woods, which they gained a little to the
left of the concealed scouts.
Waste no powder, lad" said the Fores-
ter as the reports of the Indians guns
died .SS away ;r I'VE We oansxs mnsf ara" the rsas
The maddened horde of savages now
made rush for the forest, though 1t was
too dark for them to distinguish an object
far away. The twain in the ambush
waited until sure of their men. when the!
fired together, bringing down two of the
foremost of the party and causing the
others to express their surprise in renewed
yells.
For the swamp" said the Forester.
"Load as you run"
But running in the midst of that mass
of underbrush was no easy matter. let
ting alone the matter of following on the
heels of his active leader, as John Stark
quickly found. Having heard no sound
from any other direction, and not dream
ing ef the presence Of others in the vicini-
ty, the pursuing Indians mistoOk the
scouts for the fugitives, and rushed pell-
neil in the course they had taken. AT
places it was pitchy dark in the forest.
though at others riffs of light struggled
down through an opening in the tree-topS,
the sky having cleared considerable with
in the past quarter of an hour. Coming
out from the wolf-keep upon their hands
and knees. the fleeing twain soon found
themselves in the deeper forest, though tho
surface of the ground was as uneven as
> ever The Indians were heard close at
hand, and having divided into small
squads were rapidly securing the woods
in every direction. In fact. they seemed
SO numerous that a less sanguine person
than the scouts must have despaired Of
eluding them.
'Stick clus to the ground. lad" whisper
cd the Forester. 1.-The painted pagans be
hungry for another supper, and there's
no telling how they'll cook it. don't hear
anything O the old whistler, but the recs
pear to be drawing this way. Keep your
head under the bush-caps, while we cross
this hummOck."
All the time he was advancing at pace
which puzzled Stark to follow. A few
minutes Of this fight, and then he was
brought to a standstill by the hold of his
companion laid on his arm, and a low hist
from his iDS.
The cries of the Indians had suddenly
died away. and as far as any sound of them
was concerned it seemed as if there was
not an Indian within hearing of the ear.
But the scouts knew only too well that
one of them might be within touch of
them. 1t was a silent chase now.
Lie low," whispered the Forester,
with his lips to his companions ear. The
moon lights the wood here amazingly;
Creep
So, upon their hands and knees, carrying
their guns in readiness for quick use, the
twain advanced, Taconica leading the way,
but with Stark close behind him. They
soon reached an opening in the canopy
overhead, where bright bars of moonlight
fell transyersely across their pathway. 1t
was necessary to pass around this, though
five minutes of time was lost by taking
this roundabout course. The underbrush
was becoming less dense as they advanced,
and while this afforded them more rapid
passage at the same time it exposed them
more TO the keen eyes of their enemies. No
sound now came from them, neither had
they heard anything to tell them of the
fate or the situation of the fugitives. The
silence to them was omin0us of impending
trouble, as neither for a moment felt that
the savages had abandoned their pursuit.
This intensity of purpose was exemplified
by the long-continued silence of the For
ester, who crept forward with every sense
strained to catch some indication OF the
enemy.
Suddenly, in the midst of this stealthy
progress, John Stark felt the hand Of his
companion pushing him closer TO the
earth, and he knew the other was hugging
tuc SiOuhu 40 SloSc 40 a VINE CliuS1HS "
its support. Piercing the semi-darkness
ahead with scrutinizing gaze. he held
his breath at the sight of a nodding plume
of feathers intermixed with the needles Of
creeping hemlockl So stealthily had been
the movements made by the three that
this red man had actually got within two
yards of them. But obliyious of the pres
ence of those for whom he was searching,
the warrior crept across their path with
what seemed surprising rapidity, consid
ering he was crawling like a snake. Still
the Forester remained motionless for sew
eral minutes after his sinuous form had
disappeared in the darkness beyond the
range Of their gaze. Then he slowly moved
forward, soon crossing the very trail Of
their red foe, who could not have been
very far distant then. Near the foot of
a large maple he finally paused again, say
ing in an undertone:
Dids't hear that call"
Il heard nightbird," replied Stark.
A bird without feathers" declared his
companion. laughing in his noiseIess way.
Il opine the old chap with whistle has
not reached the canoe. He's hiding just
yOn that clump O. jumpers, and less he
have you eye for that leetle bush Just yon
that hummock? Keep your eye on it for
a minute. Hark! The reds are busy with
their signs and calls" as the hoOt Of an
owl once more fell on the night scene. In
moment it was answered by another
the last coming from thicket close at
hand. They are tangled to know what
has become o. us. NOw-the bushr'
John Stark had now seen the bush move
n foot or more, ard he understood that il
covered an Indian.
1.-The old whistler has been trailed
down." said the Forester sIt is our
amazement now. II you can drop down
to yOn clump O. bresh you might get bead
on the pesky varmiDt bout the time
draw his load"
Understanding what was wanted of him
without stopping 10 make any inquiries,
John Stark began to move in the direction
OF a broadside of earth held together BY
a network OF roots that belonged to an
overturned tree. while his companion con-
tihued to watch the Indian creeping upon
the unsuspecting fugitiyes.
There was scanty time in which to act
80 intent was the red man in getting his
victim, so Stark had barely ensconced him.
SELF behind one of the projecting corners
Of natural breastworks before the Fores-
ter, in order to attract the attention of
his man. snapped a small stick between
his fingers. The effect was magical, for
the bush instantly became stationary,
while the scout felt certain a pair OF
sharp eyes were trying to discover him.
"I'ii help you what 1 can, old dusky.
skin," unused the scout, removing his car
and placing 1t on the muzzle of his gun
pushed it slowly and with apparent eau
tion above the brush line II the effect
was magical before, it was startling now
for in the twinkling of an eye, as it seem
cd clear report rang ont and a Duff M