Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-07-20
CHAPTER n.
A CURIOUS FOOTPRINT.

and June, was in full force when Mar
tin crept out OF the tent next morning.
The sun was just peeping through the
spruce tops. film Of thin gray fog COW
cred the placid lake. and Levi had Just
started fire. Then came the usual
wash in clear. cold water, the gathering
around the bright fire to watch tho
guides cooking, the keen appetite for
the simple breakfast of fried trout
ham, eggs, and coffee. eaten while sit
ting cross-legged on a moss-covered
log, the packing OF their belongings.
the launching and loading OF canoes
and so the day began.
we have an easy day ahead of us"
observed Martin, when they were ready
TO start. "a good twenty miles up the
MooSehorn, which enters this lake close
by, with no quick water or carries
We can reach the North Branch in
ample time TO make camp tonight and
catch some trout there for supper" II
was an attractive programme. almost
unvarying for all such days in the will
derness, and so pleasant that the i'm
press OF the previous nights caller.
creeping close to the tent. had almost
vanished from Martins mind But il
was soon recalled in an unexpected
way, for Levi, always last to leave each
camping spot. was about to enter his
canoe and push off. when he paused.
and stepping to one side OF the bit of
beach. stopped over, looking at some
thing.
What is it?" queried Martin. from
the canoe.
81 dunno; you better come and see,"
answered Levi.
Martin stepped out of the canoe and
TO where his guide stood. to be as much
astonished. for there in the hard damp
sand. close to the bank. was a queer
footprint. 1t was no longer than one
made by human foot. with the deeply
indented claw marks of a panther
Only these showed distinctly, for the
heel mark was scarcely visible 1t
looked as If the creature making it had
come out of the water and up on to the
harder bank, where no track would
show.
Well said Martin again. after a
long examination, what is it?''
Its more'n / can tell" replied Levi
shaking his head and measuring the
claw prints with twig. IF he's a pan
Their, he had longer claws'n ever saw.
n never knew one to have a heel
mark like that. or step in the water il
he could help it. 1t beats me-"
What have you found" called the
doctor from his canoe out in the lake.
oh, nothing" answered Martin;
only the track of an otter" and he
stepped into his canoe again and they
padded away.
Then he told Levi about the night
visitor, creeping about the tent.
i do not think it wise to tell the doc
tor or Jean" he said in conclusion. 'or
speak OF this queer track. It's the doc
tors first trip into the woods. and
SUCH things will alarm him unduly and
spoil his enjoyment" And so the sin
guitar footprint and its possible connec
ton with the creature who had crept
up TO their tent at midnight was left
behind
Usually two sportsmen. in canoeing
upstream especially, will keen along
together, but somehow that day If han
pened that DR.. Sol and Jean were first
TO reach the junction of the North
Branch with the broad and slow-run-
ming Moosehorn. and the lowering sun
bad left its valley in shadow ere Jean
pushed his canoe ashore and the doctor
stepped out. 1t was as Martin had
stated, good camping spot. for the en-
trance TO an old tote-road furnished 2
clear space, an endless procession of
foam flecks on the Branch emerged
from the shadow of its overhang and
wheeled into the broader stream. while
the music of little cascade Just bacl,
in the woods suggested trout.
You may jis' so we'll go fish" said
Jean turning to the canoe and taking
from 1t small axe. "zar be one YER
nice hole up re stream few rod" ana
he pointed where bush-ch oked OMEN
ing showed that tote-road had once
been cut alongside the Branch.
Dr. Sol eyed it suspiciously. mo
bears or panthers up there. Jean ?" be
queried.
III you see him. he see you fust. an
you no see him came the paradox
zeal answer, as Jean began cutting away
the underground with his hunting
Knife, preparatory to the erection of a
tent
DIR. Sol reached for his rod fointed
IT, still glancing furtively into the som
bre wilderness, and then down the
stream again. II wish Frisbie would
keep up he said, half 10 himself ~
want trout for supper, but I'm not iust
anxious to go into the woods alone
after them"
But the floating foam necks. the call
OF the running waters. and the love of
sport conquered the forbidding forest
a2d with one more glance down the
Moosehorn he started up the almost in.
visible path
From the sound. the little cascade he
could hear must be scarce ten rods in
but as he followed the old log road
now close beside the stream. and tbe,,
bending away while ne nusf,od aeido