Barbour County index., 1904-11-16

.
and here alsowas bit of sandy beach.
Without word of comment, Levi
turned his canoe toward this, and side
by side the two little craft drew near.
to halt suddenly when within a few
rods, for there on the bank and beside
narrow path lay birch bark canoe,
bottom up!
And we'll they might halt to see that
tangible evidence of human existence,
so far from civilization and so abso-
lutely hid in the wilderness.
Then the two men looked at each
other, while both canoes, as if sharing
their feelings, drew close together The
doctor was first to speak.
Can it be he?" he whispered. Mar
tin shook his head looking and listen
ing. The question now was not so
much whether he was lurking in the
thicket back OF the canoe, as how he
would be apt to receive callers.
The canoe looked harmless-an old
fashioned one of birch bark and not
the 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 rifle in hand and led
the way up the narrow path. And very
slowly those four. in single file, ad-
vanced. The path wound around, as
cending a low hill, thick grown with
spruce at it's base, then white birch on
top. and beyond those soon appeared
an opening. and facing it log-cabin
half hidden under green vines. A
smaller one stood back of it. The
opening bTistled with blackened stumps,
fence of birch stakes driven into the
earth and bound with bark withes, sur
rounded cabins and cleared space. and
in this rude 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 bolder
than the rest advanced to meet the Wis.,
itors 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 1t little way and glanced
in. The interior was neat, and odorous
with fir bOughs, few dishes were
piled on shelf-like table, two stools
of split slabs stood near small stove
in one corner, and on the bunk lay the
skins Of two lucivees and 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
A faint smell Of smoke, mingiing with
the balsam odor, showed the cabin to
have been recently occupied. On a
bench outside the door lay a short
broom made of twigs. The smaller
cabin contained wood. cut and split and
pile of chips in front-all bespoke this
lone hut to be a human habitation.
But where was its owner, and what
manner of man must he be, content to
live in this wilderness?
ITO Be Continued