Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-26
CHAPTER XII.

FTER Wallace left them the
two men settled again into
IH2 their customary ways of life.
Up to the present Thorpe had
enjoyed a clear field. Now two men
came down from above and established
temporary camp in the woods half a
mile below the dam. Thorpe soon sat
isfied himself that they were picking
out route for the logging road.
The two men, of course, did not both
err themselves with the timber to be
travoyed, but gave their entire atten-
ton to that lying farther back. Thorpe
was enabled thus to avoid them entire
ly. He simply transferred his estimat-
ing to the forest by the stream. Once
he met one of the men, but was fortu-
nately in country that lent itself to
his pose of hunter. The other he did
not see at all.
But one day he heard him. The two
up river men were following carefully
but noisily the bed Of little creek.
Thorpe happened to be on the side hill,
so he seated himself quietly until they
SllOulu lave luONeu VII uOWA OuC VI
them shouted to the other, who, crash
ing through thicket, did not hear.
"Ho-o-o, Dyer" the first repeated.
Here's that internal conner over herew
"Yop." assented the other, Coming"
Thorpe recognized the voice instantly
as that of Railways scaler. His hand
crisped in gesture Of disgust. The
hol ,1u oh 10
him.
Two days later he stumbled on their
camp. He paused in wonder at what
he saw.
The packs lay open, their contents
scattered in every direction. The fire
had been hastily extinguished with
bucket of water, and a frying pan lay
where it had been overturned. If the
thing had been possible, Thorpe would
have guessed at hasty and unpre-
meditated flight.
He was about to withdraw carefully
lest he be discovered when he was
startled by a touch on his elbow. 1t
was Injun Charley.
"Dey go up river" he said. 81 come
see what de row."
The Indian examined rapidly the con-
dition Of the little camp.
"Dey look for somethin'," said he,
making his hand revolve as though
rummaging and indicating the packs.
II t'ink dey see you in de woods" he
concluded. "Dey go camp get 'um
boss. Boss he gone on river trail two
tree hour"
you're right, Charley" replied
Thorpe. who had been drawing his own
conclusions. Zone of them knows me.
They've been looking in their packs for
their notebooks with the descriptions
of these sections in them. Then they
piled out for the boss. If know any
thing at all, the boss ii make tracks for
Detroit"
"Wot you do?" asked Injun Charley
curiously.
Il got to get to Detroit before they
do; that's ALL"
Instantly the Indian became all ac-
ton
"You come" he ordered and set out
at a rapid pace for camp
There, with incredible dizziness, he
packed together about twelve pounds
of the jerked venison and a pair of
blankets, thrust Thorpe's waterproof
match safe in his pocket and turned
eagerly to the young man.
''You come" he repeated.
Thorpe hastily unearthed his ode
scriptions" and wrapped them up. The
Indian in silence rearranged the mis-
placed articles in such a manner as to
, relieve the camp Of it's abandoned air.
1t was nearly shutdown. Without a
word the two men struck off into the
forest. the Indian in the lead Their
course was southeast, but Thorpe ask
ed no questions. He followed blindly.
Soon he found that if he did even that
adequately he would have little atten-
ton left for anything else. The In
dian walked with long, swift strides,
his knees always slightly bent, even
at the finish Of the step, his back hol-
lowed, his shoulders and head thrust
forward. His gait had queer sag in
it, up and down in long curve from
one rise to the other. After a time
Thorpe became fascinated in watching
before him this easy, untiring lope,
hour after hour, without the variation
of seconds fraction in speed or an
inch in length.
At first Thorpe followed him with
comparative ease, but at the end Of
three hours he was compelled to put
forth decided efforts to keep pace. His
walking was no longer mechanical, but
conscious. When it becomes so man
soon tires. Thorpe resented the N
CAPABILITIES, the stones, the roots, the
patches of soft ground which lay in
his way. He felt duly that they were
not fair. He could negotiate the dis
lance, but anything else was gratui-
| tous insult.
Then suddenly he gained his second
wind. He felt better and stronger and
] moved freer-