The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-09-09
CHATTER III.

CHATTER III.
% SAT up with the water trickline
! b down my back. The cry was re
| 81 peated, out Of the west.
knew the woods, but night al
tiers the most familiar places. I made
directly toward the woman,s voice
which guided me more plainly, but lef,
off running as my ear detected that she
was only in pcrplcxity. She called a
intervals, imperatively, but not in con
tinuous screams. She was white wo
man, for no squaw would publish hel
discomfort.
Climbing over rocks and winGfalls
came against solid log wall and heart
the woman talking in very pretty
chatter the other side Of it. She only
left off talking to call for help. and left
of calling for help to scold and laugh
again. There was 4 man imprisoned
with her, and they were speaking Eng
lish, 4 language I did not then under
stand. But what had happened tc
them was very plain. They had wan
dered into q pen built by hunters tc
trap bears and could not find the bush
masked and winding opening, but were
travelling around the walls.
found my way to the opening and
whistlcd. At once the woman ceased
her chatter and drew in her breath,
and they both asked me a question
that needed no Interpretation. told
them where they were, and the woman
began talking at once in my own
tongue and spoke it as well as could
myself
In a bear pen? George, he says we
are in bear pen! Take Us out, dear
chief, before the bear family arrive
home from their ball. don't know
wnetner you are q chief or not, but
most Indians are. Ny nurse was a
chiefs daughter. Where are you?
can't see anything but hunks Of black
ness"
7 took her horse by the bride and
led him and so got both the riders out
side. They had no tinder, 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 every direction and turned back un-
able to get through.
Though we could not see one another,
I knew that both the adventures were
young and that they expected to be
called 70 severe account for the law
less act they were committing The
girl, talking English or French or NO
hawk almost in one breath, took the
blame upon herself and made light Of
the boys self reproaches.
She laughed and said, "My father
thinks I am with Miss Chantry, and
Miss Chantry thinks I 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 will
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 consulted. I might have led him
back to our hunting camp, but it was
q hard road for woman and an I'M
possible one for horses. There was no
inhabited house nearer than De Chau-
mont's own. He decided they must
retreat to the road by which they had
come into the bear pen, and gladly
accepted my offer to go with him; dis
mounting and leading Annabel 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 Of
laughter. 1t was plain that ne could
not find any outlet, and falling behind
with the numbered horse he let me
guide the party.
60 not know by what instinct /
felt my way, conscious Of slipping be-
tween the wild citizens Of that vast
town Of trees But we fnaAy reached
q clearing and saw across the open
space a lighted cabin. Its sashless
windows and defective chinks were
gilded with the yellow light that comes
from a glowing hearth.
Il know this placer exclaimed An
mabel. "It is where the Saint-AGchels
used TO live before they went to my
fathers settlement at Le Rayville.
George, why don't you go and knock on
the door?"
It was not necessary, for the door
opened and man appeared, holding
his violin by the neck. he stepped
out to look around the cabin at some
horses fastened there, and saw and
hailed US.
I was not sorry to be allowed to
enter, for I was tired to exhaustion
and sat down on the floor away from
the fire. The man looked at me suspi-
ciously, though he was ruddy and good
natured. But be bent quite over before
De Chaumont's daughter and made a
flourish with his hand in receiving
young Croghan. There were in the
cabin with him two women and two
little girls, and q Canadian servant
like a fat brown bear came from the
rear Of the house to look at US and then
went back to the horses.
All the women began to speak, but
Annabel de Chaunont could talk
faster than the four others combined;
so they knew our plight before we
learned that they We're the Grignon
and Tank families, who were going
into the west to find settlement and
had made the house their camp for
one night The Dutch maid, dark and
round eyed, and the flaxen little Gri-
gnon had respect for their elders and
held their tongues while Nine. Tank
and Nine. Grignon spoke, but Annabel
de ChaumoIlt was like grove OF spar
rows. The world seemed swarmlng