Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-04-16
CHAPTER XVII.

Ballard, after parting with Kenton
and Norwood. struck out into the forest
| in southeastern direction, leaving the
Kentucky river Il little to the left. The
| scout was in i'll humor. for he was fully
| persuaded in his own mind that Allan
was a person to disarrange and foil the
most skllfully devised plans that expert
| enced woodcraft could contrive.
"Ie's a green hand" he muttered to
| himself. Hes stumbln' block in my
| way. I don't want to be in such com
pany: want men who have walked up
| and down this great country as l have.
when there was Il painted cre'tur' behind
every bush. and no man could safely
say his life was his own for the next
three seconds. He won't never get back
| to Boonesborough with whole skin.
| Sumthin in the course of natur' will nat
orally break"
Having arrived at this stage. and to
! him self-cvident conclusion, the scout
paused to deliberate on the object OF his
present mission. In short time he
moved on again. decided upon some par
ticular course of action. He traversed
beautiful woodlands. lying in uniform
| and graceful swells. where the wild
grape vines mounted gigantic trees,
where innumerablc flowers breathed
their perfume to the balmy air.
1t was near the hour of sunset when
Ballard reached the hills. The forester
was thirsty and looked about for water.
Hearing the murmur of rivulet, he
advanced in that direction and discovered
a small stream gushing from the hills.
Thinking to find cooler and more re-
frcShing waters nearer the source of the
spring. he followed the streamlet. He
soon perceived that it flowed from one
of the highest of the range of hills, the
sides of which were nearly perpendicu-
lar. As the scout threw himself down
to drink. he observed that the ground
about the spot seemed considerably trod-
den. He instantly examined this APP
pearance more particularly and was
convinced that human feet had recently
pressed the soil; and not merely on one
or two occasions. hut SO often that
tolerably well-detined path was discern
able. Having satisfied his thirst, Bal
lard discovered that the water gushed
from an open space in the hillside. few
steps beyond, and the spot was over
grown with grapevines and hazel, while
rectlon was lost.
The scout approached the place and,
pulling away the vines. perceived, much
to his SURPRISE the mouth of a small
cave. Having gazed into the dark and
forbdding aperture until his eyes had
become in some measure accustomed to
the darkness, he entered the s,lbterra-
| mean abode. He groped his way along
until he reached a place where he could
stand erect. lie was strauing his pow
ers of vision to the utmost, when he was
Frustrated by heavy blow upon his
head. Before the scout had fairly recov-
cred his senses his hands and feet were
securely bound.
Come in," said gruff voice. "I've
got him where he can't do no mischief
Come in and kindle a fire and let us see
who we've caught"
Ballard turned his eyes toward the
| mouth of the cave. aud saw two females
glide in. They passed the spot where
he was lying. and one of them lighted
pile of fagots that had been previously
prepared. and hcapcd against a large
rock with a cleft at the top which al
lowed the smoke to pass out.
The flames ieapcd up cheerfully. and
fling II r"ddy glare of light upon the
features of the scout. The individual
WHO had knocked him down and bound
him. stood by like a surly mastiff, who.
having conquered his adversary. stands
by to give him an addt ionaI shake. if
necessary.
Its Htllard"' he exclaimed. when
the scouts features We're revealed by
| the freight.
"You shouldn't knock A man down
without an introduction," said the spy,
cOolly.
$50 you've tracked me at last" said
| the man.
II reckon have" returned the scout.
sand would like to track my way back
| again.
"Yon've made the last tracks you'n
ever make" cried the other. tiercely.
81 knew something would break an
swcred Ballard.
"You've got a broken head already,
| neck before you get through with this
| business" rctorted the man.
II have n notion your name Is Nc
| kee. the bosom friend of that vilainous
| piece of human uatur' called Silas Cir
| ty." said the scout
Draw it mild or | may make an end
| Of you on the spot" answered Mckee
| savagcly. "You have always been spy
| on our movements. and your death has
| been resolved on for a long time. Girty
| aud | have been after you for many
| weeks"
"Thank ye" said Ballard.
"Girty will he here in the morning"
resumed Mckee.
| 81 should rather have seen him yes
| terday morning." observed the scout.
| honestly.
mo doubt--no doubt!' returned Nc
| kee, with a sinister grin.
| Ballard felt little inclination to con-
time the conversation so uniuteresting.
and accordingly turned his attention to-
ward the two females. The elder of the
two was obviously of the Indian race,
while the younger was. evidently her
| daughter. Both were clad in the cos
tune Of savage life. The younger was