Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-01-25
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LAIR OF AN oUTcAsr.

Ulo lOTeSt uuQuly SOmDre WQen Lew
caught the first sound of the stream
where, months before, he and Martin
had landed to follow mysterious path
It's beginning, beside the bush-grown
brook, was easily found, where twigs
had been broken off and grass recently
trOdden.
Here's tracks," exclaimed Levi, who
had landed first, with paddle in hand:
and, STOPPING, he added, "They's the
wild mans sure's a gun"
ct is he, fast enough" asserted
Martin, who had followed, rifle in hand,
and now also stopped over them.
They were plainly visible, and a
group of them at that. Some faint on
the patches of moss, and those close to
the stream more distinct and showing
the well-remember claw marks. For
full five minutes the little party of
four stood looking at them with thrice
the interest Martin and the doctor felt
once before. They had journeyed 100
miles to find desperate, and the first
signs OF him filed them with forebod-
ings.
well, gentlemen" almost whis.
pered Martin, when the tracks had
been well examined, there we are, and
your game isn't far off, and he led the
way into the shadowy forest, up the
narrow path only few rods, and then
he halted, for there, beside it, and near
ly hid under freshly cut fir boughs, lay
a canvas canoe, bottom up.
1t was the one inseparable compan-
ion of man and his existence in this
wilderness; and yet, had it been
crouching panther instead, it would not
have awakened much more interest
1t held all eyes one instant only, and
then the row of four stalwart men
glanced furtively around as if expect
ing a savage to step out from behind
each tree. Only moment they halted,
and then with rifles at ready, and Mar
tin ahead, they filed cautiously up the
narrow path, step by STEP, twisting
around the dense thicket, along the
frowning ledge, and up the defile to
where the moose skull still grinned.
and here they paused. Martin made
no comment, but glanced at the Off
GERS, anxious to see how this CHASTITY
warning was received by them. They
looked at it in grim silence, then at
one another, and then up the narrow,
rock-walled path.
Once more Martin, as leader, moved
on, and the rest followed.
Not whisper from any, not a loud
breath even, each step slow one and
catlike, and, parting the bushes with
caution until the open glade came in
sight, and just VIII ere the swinging
stick crossed the path, they halted.
From here the log hut was visible,
and out of it's low chimney a thin film
of smoke was ascending.
Martin looked at it moment and
then at his companions.
There's your man, l guess" he
whispered, cooking supper. Do you
want to call on him witho notice, or
shall ring?"
1t was the critical moment, and one
Officer Scott was not ready to meet.
He and his companion had for weeks
been searching this painless wilderness
| for a man whose crimes they knew
well enough, but of bis temper, dispo.
| sition, looks even, they knew but lit
| tie. If the occupant>ef this cabin was
Mcclure, he was in position to defy
arrest, or at least make it costly.
WELL" whispered Martin again
realizing their dilemma, shall ring?''
| Scott nodded.
| On the instant, almost, and as the
faint, tinkling answers reached the
watching men, shaggy-haired human
| face appeared at the one small win
dow, then slide was moved across it,
leaving narrow crack open.
The cabins owner was evidently at
home.
But it needed a brave man, indeed,
| to now enter this open glade, bristling
with blaekened stumps like so many
fangs, and advance to the hut. Scott
/ was evidently not that man, for he
merely watched and waited, and Mar
| tin felt no cause to expose himself
| One, two three minutes passed, and the
| four still eyed the cabin.
/ And now Scott advanced to the sig
| nal lever and moved it again and
| again.
Only the faint bell sounds issued.
I II was SScullASly q CooS Vi CAthCA du
!. vance or retreat, but Scott did neither.
Only moment more he waited, then
then gave loud "hallO."
. 1t echoed through that silent wilder
ness and back from the cliff that
frowned down upon the hut, but nc
4 one appeared. Again and again was II
repeated, but the cabin door remained
shut, the window slide in place, and
the smoke still ascending.
! 1--we a notion to try shot," whis-
/ pered Scott. and, as no one answered
he raised his rifle, aimed at the clif
and fired.
The ping Of the bullet against the
rock came back mingling into the re-
4 port, but no one emerged from the
hut
| Once again Scott lifted his rifle and
fred.