Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-12

flaming sentinels of the naples had
changed their scarlet uniform for one
OF duller hue. The wild rice in the
marshes had shed its grain upon the
mud banks. The acorns were loosen
ing in their cups. Fall in the west
gorgeous, beautiful, had now set In
OF all the seasons of the year, that most
loved by the huntsman.
This tall, lean man, clad in buckskin
like savage, brown almost as saw
age, as active and as alert, seemed to
at nc: =. With these environments, nor
to lack either confidence or content
ment. He walked on steadily, follow
ing the path along the bayou bank, and
at length paused for moment, throw
ing down his burden and STOPPING to
drink at the tiny pool made by the little
rivulet which trickled down the face
of the bluff. Here he bathed his face
and hands in the cool stream, for the
moment abandoning himself to that
rest which the hunter earns. It waa
when at length he raised his head and
turned to resume his burden that his
suspicious eye caught glimpse OF
something which sent him in a flash
below the level of the grasses, and
thence to the cover Of a tree trunk.
AS he gazed from his hiding-place
he saw the tawny waters Of the bayou
broken into long series of advancing
ripples. Passing the fringe of wild
rice, swimming down beneath the
heavy cordage Of the wild grapevines,
there came on two canoes, roughly
made of elm bark, in fashion which
would have shown an older frontiers
man full proof Of their western origin,
In the bow Of the foremost boat, as
Law could now clearly see, sat q
slender young man, clad in the uni
form, now soiled and faded, of cap
tain in the British army. His boat
was propelled by four dusky paddlers,
Indians of the east. stalwart, powerful,
silent, they sent the craft on down
stream, their keen eyes glancing swift
ly from one point to the other of the
ever-changing panorama, yet finding
nothing that would seem to warrant
pause. Back of the first boat by short
distance came a kindred craft, its crew
comprising two white men and two In
dian paddlers. Of the white men, one
might have been a petty officer, the
other perhaps private soldier
1t was, then, as Du Mesne had said
Every party bound into the west must
pass this very point upon the river Of
the Illini. But why should these be
present here? Were they friends or
foes? So queried the watcher, tense
and eager as a waiting panther. now
crouched with straining eye behind the
sheltering tree.
As the leading boat swung clear Of
the shadows, the man in the PROV
turned his face. scanning closely the
shore of the stream. AS he did so,
Law half started to his feet, and a
moment later stepped from his conceal
ment. He gazed again and again,
doubling what he saw. Surely those
clean-cut, handsome features could be-
long to no man but his former friend,
Sir Arthur Pembroke!
Yet how could Sir Arthur be here?
What could be his errand, and how had
he been guided hither? These sudden
questions might, upon the instant, have
confused brain ready as that of this
observer who paused not to reflect
that this meeting, seemingly so i'm
possible. was in fact the most natural
thing in the world; indeed, could scarce
have been avoided by anyone travelling
with Indian guides down the water
way to the Messasebe.
The keen eyes Of the red paddlers
caught sight of the crushed grasses
ct the little landing on the bayou bank,
even as Law rose from his hiding
plane. . swift. concerted swssp q TIL