The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-04-07

ping SLOWLY from lI3e Caste. oW
roads traverSed this region one In
parts but an open track. running the
length of the spur into the plain, the
others merely tracks of grass crossed
and recrossed by footpaths through the
great wilderness. The Gwent was very
sparsely settled. and the only tenants
of these regions were Il few wood cut
ters scattered among the huts through.
out the forest. 1t was into this silence
ami desolation that we plunged in I'll
early hours of the night Darkness
hung about Us, conveying our steps
with blacker shadows from the cop5es
At first progress was leiSureiy ana the
walking Through Il plantation OF pine
fairly easy. We had designed to strike
road that ran over the spur south
ward mainly out of a within of Shep
pard's that he could determine if any
carriage had passed that way.
These tracks are unfreGUented," he
explained, mot pair of Wheels once
a week. and I'll guarantee ii Serc0mbC
drove this way. which leads naturally
to the station at Nreachan, he has left
his marks. There was rain last night"
| had not 50 much hope myself, but
his plan was the only one before US.
and SO we directed our steps toward
this crOSsroad. Down the valley came
the cry of cock pheasant, and then
with whizzing ana whirring of wing,
covey sailed out of the deeps, be
came a momentary buzz about our
heads and disappeared into the brack-
eli beyond.
We didn't startle those" said Mont
gomery.
How do YOU know" l asked, though
the matter seemed Indifferent.
"Oh, know pheasants" said Mont
gomery emphatieally. They've been
scared down in the bottom there
You mean bcgSn.
Don't let's talk so loud urged the
BOY. There's some one down there"
The notion put new blood into us all.
$40 noise this time" said l, IN warn
ing. "and no discovery. Let us go
ahead slowly
1t was impossible to proceed through
that bracken without some sound, the
fern lay so thick about our legs But
we moved with the utmost caution,
silently making for the distant patch
Of forest whence the pheasants had
started. No word was spoken be-
tween us, but we communicated by
gestures, which were just visible in
the faint starlight. Drawing close in
this manner, we halted at length upon
the margin of the spot over which our
suspicious brooded. Sheppard crawled
stealthily forward. and after a time
we followed him. He caught my arm
and pointed to the ground
Some one has passed here" he whis-
pered. We're ON side track"
so much the better" | answered in
the same voice. I'VE shall make less
noise in walking"
With that we resumed our way with
the same microscopic caution. and must
have covered, as | should guess. about
the quarter of a mile. when suddenly
Sheppard came to a pause.
Hear anything?' he murmured in
my ear.
| shook my head.
Il believe they're just ahead-several
of Them he continued. Step lightly.
for heavens sake"'
| needed no reminder, nor did Mont
gomery. We We're like church service
for sOlemnity, and crept rather than
walked as we stalked closer upon our
nf a
who was walking just before me- drop
ped OH his knee and moved his hand
back to me. | followed his example
and crawled on all tours toward him.
What is it?' | asked.
There's some one behind that tree"
he whispered, pointing to a huge oak
some ten feet from the path
There ensued a deep silence. and
then, just as | began to find my posi-
ton intolerable and was thinking Of
changing my feet, twig cracked in
the forest. and there came a noise as
of feet among the dry leaves.
What shall we do:" he asked.
To say the truth. l had no idea, but
it was plain that if we had been seen,
cOnceaiment was Of no further use, and !
il we had not. that the spy could not |
now discover us through the under |
growth SO we resumed our path, |
rather speedily. and caught up with |
Sheppard. He came to meet us in a |
state Of excitement laying his arms
upon our shoulders and drawing our
heads together.
Hood, as | liver he cried in whis-
per.
Did you see him?' we both spoke at /
once.