Mexico Missouri message., 1907-12-26


Now another complication arose as
Martin, Old Cy. and Levi left the spot
where this enemy had watched them
what 10 do about Angle. and the
girl? From the FIRST warning from
Levi that they we're in danger from
the half.breed. Martin had avoided all
hint OF II to them. Now they must be
destroyed. Concealment was no long
or possible. however, and when Angle
was told. her face paled. Her frst
intuition, and as the sequel proved. a
wise one, was for them to at once
pack up and quit the woods as speed.
lily as possible.
But Martin was OF different fibre.
To run away like this was cowardly.
and besides he cherished only con.
tempt for a wretch who had played
the role Of this fellow. and was so vile
OF instinct. With no desire to do
wrong. he yet felt that II sufficient
provocation and the need of self-de-
fonse arose. the earth. and especially
this wilderness. would be we'll rid OF
Then Lewis advice carried weight.
I'VE amt goin' to 'scape him." he
said, "by startln' out o. the woods
now. Most likely he's got his eye on
us this minute. He knows every rod
O. the way out whar we'd be likely to
camp. He'd sure follow, an II he
didn't cut our canoes to pieces some
nIght hn'a ,yatch bta nhanca ~ grah
the gal n make OF under cover o
darkness. We've got a sort o human
panther to figger on. an shootin' un'
der such conditions might mean killin'
the gal. We've got to go out some
| time. but don't believe In turning
tail fust gooff, n we may get a
chance to wing the cuss. like ez not"
and the glitter in Lewis eyes showed
he would not hesitate to shoot this
halfbreed II the chance presented It.
self
Old Cy's opinion is also worth quot
ing:
My notion is this hyena's a cow
ard. n like sich'n never show himself
by daylight. He knows we've got
guns n know how to use EN-. The
camps as good as a fort. One on us
kin allus be on guard daytimes, an
when it's time to go out-wal. think
we ought to hev cunnin' mum 'mongst
us to gin one hyena the slip. Thar's
one thing must be done. though, n
that is, keep the gal clus 'Twont do
10 let her go over the hog.back arter
berries, or canoein' round the lake no
more"
And now began n state of semi.sIege
at Birch camp.
Chip was kept an almost prisoner.
hardly ever permitted out OF Angles
sight. One OF the men. always with
rife handy. remained on guard-usual-
ly Old Cy. and for a few nights he lay
in ambush near the shore. to see II
perchance this enemy would steal up
again.
With all these precautions against
surprise, came a certain feeling Of de-
flance in Martin. With Ray for com.
panion he went fishing once more.
and with Levi as pilot he cru ed
about for game.
Only a few weeks OF his outing re-
mained, and on sober second thought,
no didn't mean to let this sneaSing
enemy spoil those.
But Old Cy never relaxed his vigil
This waif OF the wilderness and her
pitiful position appealed TO him even
more than to Angle. and true to the
nature that had made all Greenvale's
| ola m Chin
find him kind and protecting father
With rifle always with him. he took
her canoeing and fishing: sometimes
Angie Joined them. and so life al
Birch camp became pleasant once more
A week or more OF happiness wal
passed, with no sight OF their enemy
and then one morning when Old Cy
had journeyed over to the ice-house
he glanced across the lake TO a mar
row valley through which a stream
known as Beaver Brook reached the
lake. and. far up in this vale. risinI
above the dense woods, was a faint
column OF smoke.
The morning was damp, cloudy and
still-conditions suitable for smoke
rising. and yet so faint and distant
; was this that none but the keen, OBJ
servant eyes OF q woodsman woulC
. have noticed IT, Yet there II was, {
thin white pillar. clearly outlined
against the dark green Of the foliage.
Old Cy hurried back. motionel 4
Lovi, and the two watched II from thI
front OF the camp. Martin soon joineS
them. then Angie and Chip, and al
stood and studied this smoke sign.
I was almost ludicrous. and yet not
for at its foot must be FIRE. and be
! side Il, doubtless. the hRlf-breed.
Can you locate it?' queried Mar
! tin OF his guide, as the delicate column
] of white slowly faded.
D "It's purity well up the brook" Lev
, answered: ''thar's n sort of Rock.
, Dunbar thar. n probably a cave