Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-09

| he saw u TOOK OF stump, ana you mu6v
help do it, Levi nodded.
II think I'll turn in now" continued
Martin, land YOU may as we'll"
But his faithful guide only put more
fuel on the fire and, taking Martins
rife. sat down beside IL.
"Ill keep watch a SPELL" he said
ITS just as we'll"
When Martin, awakened by the first
notes Of the inevitable bird concert
emerged from the tent. the fire was
still smouldering, and Levi rolled in
his blanket fast asleep beside &C.
Without awakening him he picked up
the rife and carefully entered the old
log road. Step by step he followed It,
slowly and like true woodsman, ever
watching for signs OF man or beast.
The doctors tracks, both going and
coming were plain. and when the patti
turned down to the stream. his rod
was found, but although Martin
| looked well about, not a solitary one
could be found of the dozen or more
trout claimed to have been caught.
Martin saw the stump back OF which
the doctor had thrown them. saw his
tracks on the soft bank-grass tram
Pied bushes broken-and that was all.
Then be looked across the stream, and
there too, was the boulder from be-
hind which this wild man had glared.
Cautiously, and peering often up and
down the stream and into the thick
forest. now gray with morning light.
he crossed. stepping from rock to rock
Just ont of the water Back OF the
boulder the roIting leaves showed
fresh disturbance. and from its side
bits OF damp moss had been scraped
Then he noted the faint forest sign of
leaves that had been trodden upon or
turned over, leading up the brook and
beneath the overhanging frs. Only a
few rods he followed them, for the
underground was more than dense,
and then he returned to the crossing
Here. on a bit of sandy bank, washed
up by the spring freshet, he saw that
same footprint once more-a huge,
horrible track, half brute, half human,
with the heel mark OF a mans foot
round and deep, and the toe mark of
panther's claws. Involuntarily he
cooked his rife, looked about, and lis
tened.
Only the morning light, now bright
and clear. the low note of the stream
at his feet, the song Of birds!
He stopped and measured those claw
prints with twig as Levi had A full
inch in depth they were, with a spread
of at least five inches--wider than the
largest human foot
Then he turned back to where the
doctor had stood and hshed. Here, un-
observed at first. and distinct in the
doctors tracks, Martin found the claw
prints again.
Once again he listened long. looking
all about and half expecting to see
that face in the dense underground
Then. as the intangible menace grew
upon him. he turned and almost ran
down the bushy path to the camp.
Levi only was up, and he was Just
starting fire. Without a word Mar
tin beckoned him TO follow, and to-
Gether they returned to the puzzling
enemy in the painless forest, so did
Levi now follow and examine those
footprints. All about where the doctor
stood he traced them. then back and
mp the old wood road 10 where a fallen
tree blocked the way. while Martin
watched his every motion And here
that keen woOdsman, pecring into
these lnterlacing boughs. suddenly
reached up to one. and, detaching
something. held it up to the light. II
was long. white hair.
With intense interest Martin looked
at that somewhat curly token of a hu-
man scalp which his guide held aloft.
taking IT between thumb and finger.
quietly wound il into a tiny coil and
placed it in his pocket book.
"Well,' he said at last what is it,"
ITS a critter that walks on two
legs" responded Levi slowly shaking
his head but them tracks is GURUS.
never knowed an Injun with white
hair, either"
To Martin this was a new possi-
bility.
He come down this path" con-
tinued Levi, as he slowly led the way
back. half STOPPING, the better to
watch for tracks. On he went back the
same way, steppin' strong, n on his
hind legs"
ITS a human being. then" put in
Martin, as they reached the stream
again and halted.
Yes" its a human, mehbe," ad-
mi'ted Levi once more, shaking his
head, only them tracks amt"
For moment Martin pondered.
And in that instant a dilemma con-
fronted him. To obey his keen hunt
er's instinct and follow this strange
creature into The wilderness. he could
not with timid DR. Sol on his hands;
neither did he dare even to let his
old-time friend know what a strange
creature had watched them. And sup
pose he were alone. with his trusted
and faithful guide. and they should
follow and come upon this mysterious
animal-'hs possible beast or posi-
bic man-what then?
Levi" he said suddenly, his mind
made up. I'VE must get out of here az
soon as we can pack and start And
mind You. not one word or hint TO
Jean or the doctor"
Jean was busy cooking breakfast.
and Or, Sol watching and smiling the
pleasant odor Of tho frying ham, when
N and avi noachoI cap,,,