Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-11-30
\Copyrlght, 1905. by Les and Snepard.)

copyright, 1905. by Les and snepard.)
CHAPTER lV.-CoxTlNuED.
1T was human fast enough :" nut in
Levi, IN nothin' else. Bears stand
up once IN while. but run on four
legs. The only other critter that don't
as an ape. n no ape was ever known
in these woods"
When once more the two canoes were
under way, and had assembled the
Moosehorn few miles, the stream
seemed to lose itself in a dismal swamp
0lled with dead fir trees. They stood
out above the green underground like
bleaching skeletons, with here and
there a lane Of black waters between
q forest Golgotha of whitened cones.
gaunt,, spectral and ghostly. A crow.
perched upon one. cawed ominouslv.
and, as II to add an uncanny touch to
this forest graveyard, the horizon. now
opening wide. had grown hazy, and the
lowering sun red as blood. None but
a woodsman like Levi could thread
that haze of lagoons twisting and turn
Ing into one another, and when thew
were crossed. and the canoes once more
entered the now lessened Moosehorn.
the overhanging spruce and fir seemed
doubiy welcome. A mile up, the banks
grew holder, with now and then q
frowning cliff, moss covered, over
which the spruce roots crept down.
wards. twisting and turning like arms
oil gnomes. Here a scattered process
sion of foam-hecks was met, and soon
the murmur of running waters broke
the forest stiffness. Low and sweet it
tnkled like tiny bells just ahead, and
ever elusive, for dozen turns in the
winding stream were rounded ere an
opening in the banks showed where the
brook entered. Its mouth was broad
and rfppled. and out OF idle curiosity,
Martin, who was also padding, turned
the PROV of his canoe into it and up
little way. Only a couple of rods.
for it soon narrowed, and here, scarce
ly noticeable, and only to the trained
eye OF woodsman. were the faint signs
OF path leading up the bank. Not
path where some one had pushed the
thick growth aside, or had broken
branches to reach the brook.
Curious still, Martin nodded to Levi.
and as the canoe was push ed ashore,
both stepped out and began an ex-
animation.
What are you looking for?" ques-
toned the doctor, who had come up.
Bear tracks," answered Martin,
reaching 70. his rife, and following
Lew up the strepm, at which the doc
tor scran4 bled hastily ashore and fol-
lowed: them.
The faint signs soon converged in
to a distinct path. keeping close to the
stream for perhaps 200 rods, then turn
Ing to the right. it skirted the base of
. low ledge until 1t reached and led
through a narrow pass. Like two
hounds on the scent, Levi and Martin
had followed this. ever STOPPING and
watching for footprints, with the doc.
tor close behind, until a defle was
reach ed, when he suddenly exclaimed:
For Gods sake. Martin. look up"
And well he might, for, perched upon
q projecting shelf of rock above them,
white and CHASTITY in the forest gloom,
was the bleached skull of an enormous
moose.
Such a relic Of some hunters Prov
ess is not uncommon in the wilder
ness, and ordinarily would excite no
comment, but here and now it seemed
to Martin grewsome warning, and,
tn some mysterious way, connected
with the creature he had seen the
night before.
For full minute he was spellbound
by that object, placed where it was
with evident and sinister intent, then
he turned to Levi. Not a word was
uttered, yet in that long meeting of
eyes, one and the same question was
asked, and for it there was no an
swer.
Soon Martin, gaining courage, moved
on up the ridge, followed by the rest.
And now stepping slow and oft halt
ing to- listen, he soon saw an opening
Just ahead, and, looking down through
the thick growth. they saw a tangled
confusion of fallen trees, perhaps 80
rods in breadth, and, beyond and close
beside a wall-like cliff, a small log
cabin. 1t was dim and shadowy down
In this narrow vale, for the twilight
had come, and as Martin pushed
through the thicket closing the path,
he moved aside a small sapling
barring the way, and at that moment.
up from this lone and lonely cabin,
faint and yet distinct, came the tinkle
OF a .bell!- ..x..
In an instant he stepped back, and
as this traplike trigger swung into
place, he saw it was bound to small
sapling with q thong of deer-skin,
while around its butt was wound a
6ne wire. From THIS, and barely visi-
bic, the wire led away down the ledge
toward the cabin. Curious now, as
well as startled by this queer human
continuance, Martin once more moved
the swinging stick forward to hear
again the answering tinkle. Twice.
thrice, he repeated this, his eyes on
The cabin below: and then he saw the
one little and closed window-slide In
It open halfway for an instant. and
then close quickly. 1t was too dark to
zee. more than the motion1of this slide.
but it was unmistakabie. The cabin
held an occupant.
Ordinarily Martin, like any other
pleasure seeker in the wilderness.
would have descended to this cabin.
and made friendly call; but the
time. place and mystery, as we'll as
evident threat Of this warning signal.