The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-04-14
CHAPTER XVII.


Ballard. after parting with kenton
and Norwood, struck out into the forest
| in southeastern direction, leaving the
Kentucky river little to the left. The
scout was in ill humor, for he was fully
persuaded in his own mind that Allan
| was a person to disarrange and foil the
most skillfully devised plans that expert
| enced woodcraft could contrive.
''He's a green hand" he muttered TO
| himself "He's a stumblin' block IN my
| way. l don't want to be in such COM
| pany; want men who have walked up
and down this great country as l nave,
when there was painted cre'tur' behind
| every bush, and no man could sa1ely
| say his life was his own for the next
| three seconds He won't never get back
| to Boonesborough with a whole skin.
| Sumthin in the course Of natur' will nat
orally break"
Having arrived at this stage, and to
! him self-evident conclusion, the scout
paused to deliberate on the object of his
present mission. In a 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 innumerable 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 a rivulet, he
advanced in that direction and discovered
a small stream gushing from the hills.
Thinking to find cooler and more re-
| freshing 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 ap-
pearance more particularly and was
convinced that human feet had recently
pressed the soil; and not merely on one
or two occasions, but so often that
tolerably well-defned 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
the slight footpath tended in that d.
rection 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
forbidding aperture until his eyes had
become in some measure accustomed to
the darkness, he entered the subterra-
mean abode. He CROPPED his way along
until he>reached place where he could
stand erect. He was straining his pow
ers Of vision to the utmost, when he was
Frustrated by a heavy blow upon his
head. Before the scout had fairly recov-
cred his senses his hands and feet were
securely bound.
Come in" said a gruf voice. Give
got him where he can't do no mischief.
Come in and kindle fire. and let US see
who we've caught"
Ballard turned his eyes toward the
mouth of the cave, and saw two females
glide in. They passed the spot where
he was lying, and one of them lighted a
pile Of fagots that had been previously
prepared, and heaped against a large
rock with cleft at the top which al
lowed the smoke to pass out.
The flames leaped up cheerfully, and
flung rudy glare of light upon the
features of the scout. The individual
who had knocked him down and bound
him, stood by like surly mastiff, who,
having conquered his adversary stands
by to give him an additional shake, if
necessary.
Its Ballardv' he exclaimed, when
| the scouts features were revealed by
the freight.
ssYou shouldn't knock a man down
without an introduction" said the spy,
coolly.
$50 you've tracked me at last" said
| the man.
81 reckon l have" returned the scout.
"and would like to track my way back
| again."
| you've made the last tracks you'll
ever maker cried the other fiercely.
| II knew something would break" an
swered Ballard
| you've got a broken head already,
and it's my opinion you'll get a broken
neck before you get through with this
business" retorted the man.
| II have a notion your name Is Nc
| Kee, the bosom friend of that villainous
| piece of human natur' called Silas Cir
| ty." said the scout.
| Draw it mild or l may make an end
Of you on the spot" answered Mckee
savagely. "You have always been a spy
on our movements, and your death has
been resolved on for long time. Girty
and l have been after you for many
| weeks"
THANK ye." said Ballard.
"Girty will be here in the morning. -
resumed Mckee.
Il should rather have seen him yes
terday morning." observed rne scout,
honestly.
mo doubt mo- doubtr' returned Nc
Kee, with a sinister grin.
Ballard felt little inclination to con-
tinue the conversation so unintefesting,
and accordingly turned his attention to
ward the two females. The elder Of the
two was obviously Of the Indian racs,
while the younger was evidently her
daughter. Both were clad In the cos
L - - - M.