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

breakfast was disposed of, tent struck
canoes loaded, and they padded away
up the MOosehorn, its clutch was still
upon him. All that bright morning
while they pushed up the winding and
almost currentless stream, now shad-
owed by spruce and then broadening
into long and narrow lakelets, family
rippled and sparkling in the sunlight
It's spectral hand reached out from
every shadowy opening. Over and over
again had he and Levi discussed tn is
strange visitor, only to fail OF reach
ing any tangible solution or solve any
part OF the mystery, and when noon
came, and they halted where a short
rapid compelled carry, Martin had
hard work to keep from making a
clean breast TO the doctor OF all he had
seen and imagined. Then, as II to
drive him TO confession, here at this
landing he came upon two more mystic
rious discoveries.
They had decided 10 cook dinner
here and as usual. while the guides
prepared II, Martin and the doctor
tried for trout. Both made few
casts in the same pool below the
rapids, and then Martin, leaving his
friend, started up the path that led
around the rapids to try in another
pool. With more thought for tracks
than trout he walked slowly, half
STOPPING and scanning every srot where
one might show. None were found un.
til the path ended at the stream once
more. and here. on a bit OF sandy
margin, and as IL the creature had
stepped out Of the water, were the
same broad and well-marked claw
prints. Then. turning back, now that
he had found the trail and, with hunt
er's cunning. locating a dozen others,
though so family defined that only the
prints Of sharp claws were visible in
the hard soil, or bit of moss scratch ed
from stone showed where the animal
had stepped. All pointed DOWNSTREAM
and were made az the others were--by
creature walking upright
Then. leaving the path and crowding
through the underground TO an eddy
ing pool in the rapids, Martin made q
cast. 1t scored. and then another and
still another speckled beauty was
hooked and reeled in, and the keen
zest OF time, place and sport had, for
the moment, obliterated all other
thought, when. in stepping from ono
rock to another above. he saw, wedged
between them. curious bit OF drift
wood. one end of which seemed to
grin az him. II was that that caught
his eye. and STOPPING, he pulled it
from between the rocks and found it
TO be the handle of broken paddle,
with the knob carved into semblance
OF human skull So realistic had this
unknown artist tried to be, that he had
inserted row of small, catlike teeth
in the skulls mouth and dyed the eye
and nose sockets red. The sun and
rain had almost removed this. but the
teeth still held in place. 1t was a GU
rious bit of fotsam. evidently tossed
up and caught between the rocks dur
ing some freshet, and then left 10
bleach in sun and storm. 1t had SEEM
ingly been so exposed for more than
IL
did not appeal to Martin as having any
connection with the mystery he had
come upon, but merely as the long-ago
handiwork Of some eccentric trapper
or hunter thus killing time. II was q
curio. but when he returned TO the ca
noes at call 10 dinner. he said moth
ing, but quietly tucked it into the bow
of his canoe.
When dinner was over, the doctor,
who wanted to fish most Of the time.
returned 10 his pool, Jean began wash
ing the dishes. and then a look and
nod from Martin TO Levi were enough,
and together they walked up the path
Our friend of last night came down
this way not long ago" asserted Mar
tin, quietly. pointing to the best defined
tracks on the streams bank, and now
can you tell me when?'
Levi knceled and studied them well.
Then glancing up to the sun. and back
to where one track just emerged from
the shadow of en- outgrowing spruce
bough. he moved up to that and again
lent low
Yesterday; n late in the afternoon
at that" he answered.
And II was fully ten miles OF almost
impossible wilderness-that is. by
land-to where they had encamped the
night hefore
For few moments Martin looked
at his guide, and then at those tracks
In silence
ITS beyond me-" he said at last:
and the temptation to tell the doctor
all, and then return 10 where they had
camped and pursue this strange crea-
ture. was strong upon him.
III It's sane human being" he con-
tinued, he would have made himself
known TO us last night; If some half
insane old hermit or trapper. even then
l think he would. Even IL it was ii
wild man, the sight of us and our fire
would also have drawn some cry or ex-
preston OF human kinship from him.
But to look at lis in grim silence from
out the darkness. and then steal away
like some hunted animal, was-un-
canny."
ut was human fast enough" put in
Levi. m nothin' else. Bears stand
UP once IN while. but run on four
legs. The only other critter that don't
ia an ape. n no ape was ever known
in these woods"
When once more the two canoes were