Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-19

ever elusive, lot dozen turns IN the
winding stream were rounded ere an
opening in the banks showed where the
brook entered. It's mouth was broad
and rippled, and out of idle curiosity,
Martin, who was also padding, turned
the prov Of his canoe into it and up
little way. Only couple of rods,
for 1t soon narrowed, and here, scarce
ly noticeable, and only to the trained
eye OF woodsman, were the faint signs
OF a path leading up the bank. Not
one well trod, but rather a divided
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 pushed ashore,
both stepped out and began an ex-
animation
What are you looking for?" ques-
tened the doctor. who had come up
Bear tracks, answered Martin,
reaching for his rifle, and following
Levi up the stream, at which the doc
tor scrambled 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 it 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 defile was
reached, when he suddenly exclaimed:
So iva
And well he might, for, perched upon
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 a grewsome warning, and,
in some mysterious way, connected
with the creature he had seen the
night before.
For a full minute he was spellbound
by that object, placed where it was
with evident and sinister intent, then
he turned to Levi Not 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, 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!
In an instant he stepped back, and
as this traplike trigger swung into
place, he saw it was bound to a small
sapling with thong of deer-skin,
while around its butt was wound a
fine wire. From this, and barely visi-
BILE. the wire led away down the ledge.
well as startled by this queer human
continuance, Martin once more moved
the swinging stick forward ito 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-slids4 in
it open halfway for an instant, and
then close quickly. 1t was too dark to
see more than the motion of this slide,
but it was unmistakable. The cabin
held an occupant
Ordinarily Martin, like any other
pleasure-seeke in the wilderness,
would have descended to this cabin,
and made friendly call; but the
time, place and mystery, as well as
evident threat of this warning signal,
were enough Without a word he
stepped quickly back, and SO potent is
the weakening of any leader, that the
doctor, just in the rear, turned on the
instant and ran as if pursued And it
must be recorded that Martin and
Levi reached the canoes almost as
soon. Neither was any discussion in
dulged in, for night and darkness was
near, and by tacit consent, canoes
were pushed off and all tumbled in,
the doctor and Martin each grasping
the spare paddles and using them until
that ill-omened landing was left full
mile asterr
(To be Continued.)