Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-07-07
CHAPTER XVI.
UNEX TROUBLE.

all SuCn--a romantic, though at times
somewhat tedious. following of
streams. crossing lakes aud carries.
and camping when night overlook
them On the second day out old Cy
obtained HIS first sight and shot at u
deer, and, as might be expected, no
harm hefcll the door
al sartinly aimed fair enough" he
asserted IN response to Martins laugh.
'but the gun might "a wobbled a lcetle.
It's bigger game n I'rp used to-
He made amends later, for along to-
ward night and Just as they rounded
bend in the stream. there on the
bank, with antlers held high, stood a
noble buck looking directly nj them.
With quick backward stroke Jean
halted the canoe Cy raised his rife
fired, and the deer leaped straight up
ward and vanished in the underground
Never touched HIM" exclaimed
Martha But with a mot SO, he one
dead deer. from tho moro experienced
Jean he urged his canoe forward, and.
sure enough there on the bank n trail
of blood lei hem l"o iods into the
forest and to the prize awaiting thom.
mo deer jump that way 'ccpt he YER
bad hit" asserted Jean, in triumph,
and as for old Cy, It was the proudest
moment of his life.
The next day they came upon Jolly
party of four fcllow-sportsmen. housed
in a deserted lumber camp on the shore
of small lake. and halted for tho
usual exchange OF compliments, and
finally they made camp and remained
near them that night. They were q
typical party, jolly and full of fun, and
addressed each other by most unique
nicknames. The leader, a stout, ford,
genial man was called Lobster Face,
the next, thin fellow, was Herring
Bone, a short dapper little fellow re-
sponded to brownie and the dude Of
the party answered to Dead Easy.
But Martin was too anxious to solve
the mystery that led him into the
woods to tarry long with this pleasant
party, ard early the next morning
pushed on It was four days after
when they saw another human being,
and one days journey to the lake
where he and DR.. Sol had found the
hermit, when Just as Levi and Jean
had pitched the tent and started n
fire. two men padded up in canoe
and landed close by.
Both were dressed as ordinary sports
men. yet neither could be classcd as a
guide.
We were about to make camp above
here explained the older man with
short-cropped gray beard and keen
eyes, land, seeing your fire, we came
down for company's sake. Hope we
don't intrude"
"Not a. all" answered Martin. pleas
antly, and according to tho code of all
spurtsmcn. my old friend and | also
like company. and you are welcome to
camp with US" Then, still following
the code. he drew a flask ont from the
stores and passed It to them.
After this remembering they with
drew a few rods and began clearing a
camp site. Later when Martin and
old c. had DISPOSED of tho hroiled ven
ison, cuGo, and boiled potatoe3 Levi
had PROV .nd, and lit their pipes. the
ncWcu. Joined them. And now en-
sued polite word duel between Martin
and the eide stranger, With each try
ing TO obtain information without Civ
ing it II was fruitloss, as might be
expected, for Martin was Suspicious
that these mol were not the sportsmcn
they claimed to 10; hence he gave n
information and they were as reticent
1t IS a curious and yet well-knowu
fact that two men meeting thus, will
in a short space, form usually cor
rect opinion Of each Others Ctaractel
and present plans and Intentions. One
may strive to evade, to assert what IL
false and as the saying IS. pull WOO
over the others eyes" yet It is usually
futile. In this case Martin soon fol-
satisfied beyond doubt that these mex
were not here for sport, but GA some
secret mission they meant to conceal
They spoke Of the abundance of gam,
and where they had seen It, of tn,
weather., ilinbcring Interests, partie
they rGA net. and kindred subjects
pll the Emo striving 10 induce Martin
10 do moro talking. At last he decide
10 try an experiment on those who h
felt wished TO learn his mission.
Il presume, gentlemen" he said
that you've been up the Moosehorn?
The speaker Of the two admitted tina
he had
well" continued Martin, In a conf
dental manner, II was up that wa
last spring with friend Of mine VIZ
had never been in the woods, and on
NIGHT we received Il VISIT from a mos
hideous wild man. My friend saw hin
first and nearly died of fright. an
later on ! saw him alariHg at us fror
behind a bush. If you 20 that wa
again, you may meet him.
The ncw day" continued Martin
smiling al their sudden interest, "w
hunted for this fellows tracks an
found he was endowed with the claw
Of n panther"
1t was true, and yet in an instan
Martin saw he wasn't believed
Did you notice horns on him ais
the evening bcfore?" came tre quer.
in response TO this astonishing stat,
ment.
~No," answered Martin, laughing
NOR tail either; but what tell you
true, though see you don't believe it,
For answer the two men looked frs
at one another, then at Levi and Jea
reclining close nv and rising M