Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-05-21

he later KIND made OF canvas. 1t was
long, narrow, and shallow, patched in
many places and must have had many
years of service.
We hesitate about landing on un-
known shores, and Martin now exper-
fenced this feeling; but at last he mo-
toned to Levi, and as his canoe
grounded on the sandy beach, Martin
stepped out with rife in hand and led
the way UP the narrow path. And very
slowly those four, in single file, adj
vanced. The path wound around, as
cending low hill, thick grown with
spruce at its base, then white birch on
top, and beyond those soon appeared
an opening, and facing it a log-cabi1
half hidden under green vines. A
smaller one stood back of it. The
opening bristled with blackened stumps,
fence of birch stakes driven into the
earth and bound with bark withes, sur
rounded cabins and cleared space, and
In thlsrude garden spot potatoes, beans,
and corn, were just growing green. No
occupant of the cabin was visible, its
door was closed, and as the now as
tonished party drew near, a dozen or
more red squirrels were observed.
perched on the cabin or frisking about
it. scolding and chattering. One holder
than the rest advanced to meet the Wis
ttors with evident delight. 1t was such
q peaceful scene and the squirrels
added such touch of nature to the
wildwood home, all fear of grizzly faced
Wild men vanished. If this was the lair
of one, he certainly must be poetic of
nature and therefore harmless.
Martin knocked at the door, but re-
ceived no response, then lifted the
latch, opened it little way and glanced
in. The Interior was neat, and odorous
with fir boughs, a few dishes were
piled on shelf-like table, two stools
of split slabs stood near a small stove
in one corner and on the bunk lay the
skins of two lucivees and a deer, while
others hung from the log walls. A few
steel traps also hung from chains, and
as if to add welcome to the now sur
prised callers. while they looked, a
squirrel suddenly appeared at the one
little window, now open, sat upright
and began to chatter.
faint smell of smoke, mingling with
the balsam odor, showed the cabin to
have been recently occupied On a
bench outside the door lay short
broom made of twigs. The smaller
cabin contained wood cut and split and
4 pile Of chips in frontal bespoke this
lone hut to be human habitation:
But where was its owner, and what
manner of man must he be, content to
live in this wilderness?
n y - 81
gan tour of investigation, and every
trifie held interest. An axe that sadly
needed grinding, with a helve of white
birch, a pailA' deftly fashioned out of
birch bark, hoe that hung from
Granny between the logs, and even the
Vines clim bling the log walls and grow
ing green over the pole and bark
matched roof, were examined. In one
corner of the garden a long, narrow
bed was green with plants that might
hear flowers later, a row of bending and
broken-down stalks along the fence,
with broad heads picked clean OF
seeds, showed where sunfowers had
grown the previous year, and as all
this domestic and home-making evil
dence was noted, it seemed more GER
tain that the wearer of moccasins, with
panther's claws, was not the occupant
Of this wildwood home.
But who was he?
And as II in answer to this query,
and just as the visitors were grouped
in front of the hut, an old man, tall,
gaunt, with tangled hair and long
beard, suddenly appeared from one side
of the cabin.
He was coatless, hatless, and bare
| foot; a gray shirt patched in many
| places and trousers more SO were his
only dress; and, as he halted, looking
first at one and then at another of the
group with wide-open, solemn eyes, his
arms hung limp and motionless.