The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-01-06
CHAPTER NXvII.
A NIGHT JOURNEY IN THE WILDER
NESS

CHAPTER NXVII.
A NIGHT JOURNEY IN THE WILDER
NESS.
For an hour Martin and his three
faithful allies watched the other camp
fire from in hiding. At last it died.
down, the two strange men entered
their tent. and, after another tedious
wait Levi crept over to it, returned.
and in whisper announced that they
were snoring. After hearing this, it
did not take long for the four to pack
and quietly fold their tent like the,
Arab and silently steal away
The bordering forest along tho
stream was a wall OF almost inky dark
ness; its course was but narrow,
winding rift between these walls and
barely outlined by the stars. Now and
then patch OF foam, caught in some
eddy. lay like PROSTATE ghost in
waiting, tall frs leaning over it, and,
side by side. the two canoes, like two
huge crocodiles slowly swimming, now
crept up the stream. Not word, not
! whisper even, from the four deter
mined men, bound on a mission of pro-
lection over an unknown old hermit
who might not. after all, deserve it, 1t
| was dim theory and faith in long,
| range guess only on Martins part that
led him forward on that all-night jour-
ney, and yet that was Martins way.
Once he formed a conclusion he never
halted or turned back, but pushed on
| until he proved himself right or wrong.
And what a wild night journey that
| was under the stars and ever on and
on into the black forest!
No use to turn bacli-nO waiting.
welcoming light ahead, but ever the
| same dark, forbidding wilderness.
ghostly and spectral. The black cur
rent they faced. veered and twisted
| from side to side, ever disputing their
progress; owls hooted out Of swamps,
looms saluted them with half-human
despairng cries. when a broad lakelet
In the stream was reach ed, while ever
and anon from out the darkness, came
| the scream OF a wildcat or panther.
Sometimes the way grew uncertain
where the stream brOadened in a.
| swamp. and here they poked into beds
| OF reeds. or nosed into clumps of al
! ders. at last to find the current again
and enter the forest orce more. Now
and then they halted 10 rest, fill their
| pipes. and exchange greetings in
whispers. for the Wilderness ut night
ever awes and loud speech seems dan
| gerOuS. And so on and on, hour after
hour, each man patiently welding his
| paddle. while backs ached, arms grew
tired and eyes dim with watching, un-
| til at last Il broadening lake was
reached just as the gray light OF com-
Ing morn drove away tho darkness.
With renewed courage it was soon
| crossed and there, in the same cove.
and on the same sandy shore where
| Martin and the doctor had camped.
the canoes were drawn out and the
weird night journey ended.
1--WE have got to sleep a little, boys"
| asserted Martin. looking into the tired
faces of the rest, and especially old
Cy. whose hollow eyes looked CHASTITY.
Il confess I'm well tired out" :.
ut want the paddlin' that tuckerea
me so much as the rcelin' skeery all
the time" responded old Cy. at sor-
ter seemed IS tho sum wild critter was
| like TO, jump out o. the woods any
| minnit."
But conversation was at discount.
and, without waiting for tent raising,
or even cutting Dough beds, each man
rolled himself in his blanket and the
sleep OF utter exhaustion
And what picture greeted them two
hours later when the September sun.
i now well up, smiled down into that
rippled lake, blue and sparklingl
Overhead a fishhawk was circlings
| across on tall dead trce-top sar a
gray forest eagle; a flock of ducks pad.
died to and fro along the margin Of
bed of wild rice, while just above ana
nearer shore. stood an antlered deer
knee deeD III the water.
Best of all, no sight or sound OF
aught human was visible.
The picture was so woodIike so 70.
mantle, SO perfect with the two canoes
side by side on the sandy shore, kissed
by the ripples, it almost brought tear
to old Cy, unused to such.
If I'd got to shut my eyes fer good"
he said after long look with face up
. raised to where the eagle sat, 'I'd like
to do 1t right now m carry this picte,
with me into kingdom come. | though,
| knew what bein' in the woods meant
but ! never did afore. Mebbe Gods
concluded to be good to me now I'm
gittin old. They call me an middle in
Greenvale," he added little sadly.
but ! amt, n never go through
thick woods When it's sorter shadowy
n still, but l feel jist as If God was
knepin' me company n I'd orter step
light. Lookin' up at mountain alse
'fects Inc the same way. N jist can't
help takin' my hat Off.
And Martin, touched by the simple
reverence OF old Cy, felt new admi-
ration for him.
But duty Of protection and rescue
lay ahead, and there was an immediate
need of food. 1t did not take Levi long
to start fire, and while the slices OF
venison grew fragrant as they broiled,
the coffee mingled its aroma with thu
resinous odor Of the forest, and the
boiling potatoes sent steam aloft, an
enjoyed vigorous wash in the clear
lake water.
II think we've stolen . good march
ON those rascals who doubted my