The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-01-06
CHAPTER XXVI.
UNEXPECTED TROUBLE.

But of that journey into the wilder
ness little need be said. 1t was like
all such-a romantic, though at times
somewhat tedious, following of
streams, crossing lakes and carries,
and camping when night overlook
them. On the second day out old Cy
obtained his first sight and shot at 4
deer, and, as might be expected, no
harm befell the deer.
Il sartinly aimed fair enough" he
asserted in response to Martins laugh,
but the gun might "a wobbed a leelle
It's bigger game n I'm used to-"
He made amends later, for along to-
ward night and just as they rounded
a bend in the stream, there ON the
bank, with antlers held high, stood a
noble buck looking directly at them.
With a quick backward stroke Jean
halted the canoe, Cy raised his rifle,
ward and vanished in the underground.
Never touched hint" exclaimed
Martin. But with a Not SO, he one
dead deer" from the more experienced
Jean, he urged his canoe forward, and,
sure enough, there on the bank a trail
of blood led them 100 rods into the
forest and to the prize awaiting them.
No deer Jump that way 'cept he ver'
bad hit" asserted Jean, in triumph,
and as for old Cy, it was the proulest
moment of his life.
The next day they came upon u Jolly
party Of four low-spc:tsmen, housed
in deserted lumber camp on the shore
of small lake, and halted for the
usual exchange of compliments, and
finally they made camp and renamed
near them that night They were Il
typical party, jolly and full of fun, and
addressed eaca other by most unique
nicknames. The leader, stout, norid,
genial man was called Lobster Face,
the next, thin fellow, was Herring
Bone, short dapper little fellow re-
| sponded to Brownie, and the dude of
the party answered TO Dead Easy.
| But Martin was too anxious to solve
| the mystery that led him into The
woods to tarry long with This pleasant
party, and early the next morning
pushed on. 1t was four days after
when they saw another human being,
and one days journey to the lake
| where he and DR.. Sol had found the
| hermit, when just as Levi and Jean
| had pitched the tent and started a
| fire, two men padded up in a canoe
and landed close by.
Both were dressed as ordinary sports
men, yet neither could be classed as 4
guide.
1--WE were about to make camp above
here" explained The older, man with
shor!-cropped gray beard and keen
eyes. land, seeing your fire, we came
! down for company's sake. Hope VIC
don't intrutle"
Not at all. answered Martin, pleas
| antly, and according to the code of all
| spOrtsmen, my old friend and | also
like company, and you are welcome iu
camp with u.s." Then, still following
| the code, he drew flask out from the
stores and passed it to them
After this peace-offcring they with"
drew few rods and began clearing a
| camp site. Later, when Martin and
| old Cy had disposed of the broiled ven
1son, coffee and boiled potatoes Levi
| had provided, and lit their pipes, the
newcomers Joined them. And now ell
sued polite word duel between Martin
| and the elder stranger, with each try
Ing to obtain information without CIV
ing IL. 1t was fruitless, as might ne
expected, for Martin was suspicious
that these men were not the sportsmen
they claimed TO- be; hence he gave no
| information and they were as reticcnt.
1t Is curious and yet well-known
fact that two men meeting thus, WILL
In short space, form usually cor
rect opinion of each others character
and present plans and intentions. One
| may strive TIA evade, to assert what ;s
false, and as the saying is, pull wool
over the others eyes," yet it is usually
futile. In this case Martin soon felt
satisfied beyond doubt that these men
were not here for sport, but on some
secret mission they meant to conceal.
They spoke Of the abundance of game
and where they had seen it, of the
weather, numbering interests, parties
they had met. and kindred subjects,
all the time striving to induce Martin
to do more talking. At last he decided
to try an experiment on those who he
felt wished to learn his mission.
II presume, gentlemen" he said,
that you've been up the Mooschorn ?"
The speaker Of the two admitted that
he had.
WELL" continued Martin, in a conf
Dental manner. Il was up that way
last spring with a friend of mine who
had never been in the woods, and one
night we received visit from most
hideous wild man. My friend saw him
first and nearly died of fright, and
later on saw him glazing at US from