Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-30
CHAPTER w.
A Voice from the Lake.

ran to the window and peered out
into tho night. The wood through
which we had approached the house
seemed to encompass It. The branches
of great tree brushed the panes.
was Juggling at the fastening of the
window when became aware of Bates
at my elbow.
Did something happen, sir?"
His unbroken calm angerod me-
Some one had fred a. me through
window and | had narrowly escaped
being shot. resented the unconcern
with which this servant accepted the
situation.
Nothing worth mentioning. Some
body tried to assassinate me. that's
all" said, in voice that failed to be
calmly ironical I was still fumbling
at the catch Of the window
ALLOW me, sir,"-and he threw up
the sash with an ease that increased
my irritation.
leaned out and tried to find some
clue to my assallant. Bates opened
another window and surveyed the dark
landscape with me-
1T was shot from without, was
It, SIR"
"Of course it was; YOU didn't sup
pose I shot at myself, did you?"
He examined the broken pane and
picked up the bullet from the table.
IT'S a rife ball, | should say"
The bullet was half.Aattened by It's
contact with the wall It was cart
ridge ball of large caliber that might
have been fired from either rife or
pistol.
IT'S very unusual, sir J wheeled
upon him angrily and found him fun
bling with the bit of metal. troubled
look on his face. He at once con-
tinued. as though anxious to allay my
fears. Quite accidental most likely.
Probably boys on the lake are shoot
ing at ducks
l laughed out SO suddenly that Bates
started back in alarm.
You IDIOT" | roarcd. selling him
by the collar with both hands and
shaking him ferceiy. You fool, do
the people around here shoot ducks at
night? Do they shoot water fowl with
elephant guns and fire at people
through windows just for fun"
l threw him back against the table
so that il leaped away from him, and
he fell prone on the foor
Get up!" ! commanded and fetch
a lantern"
He said nothing but did as | babe
him. We traversed the long, cheerless
hall to the trent door, and sent him
before me into the woodland. My no
tons of the geography of the region
were the vsguest, but | wished to ex-
anime for myself the premises, that
evidently contained a dangerous PROV
Ter ! was very angry and my rage
increased as | followed Bates, who
had suddenly retired within himself
We stood soon beneath the lights of
the refectory window.
The ground was covered with leaves
which broke crisply under our feet
What lies beyond here?" l de
manded.
About a quarter of mile of woods
sir and then the lake"
Go ahead" I ordered, straight tc
the lake"
| was soon stumbling through rough
underbrush similar to that through
which we had approached the house
Bates swung along confidently enough
ahead OF me, pausing occasionally to
hold back the branches. began tC
feel, as my rage abated that had sci
out on a foolish undertaking | was
utterly at sea as to the character OF
the grounds | was following a man
whom | had not seen until two hours
before. and whom | began to suspect
of all manner of designs upon me. |,
was wholly unlikely that the person
who had fired into the windows would
Turk about, and, moreover, the light OF
the lantern, the crackle OF the leaves
and the breaking OF the boughs adver
tised our approach loudly.
A bush slapped me sharply and
stopped to rub the sting from my face
Are you hurt, SIR" asked Bates so
licitously, turning with the lantern.
"Of course not | snapped I'm
having the time Of my life. Are Their,
no paths in this Jungle"
Not just here, sir 1t was Mr.. Glen
arms idea not to disturb the wood a
all, He was very fond of WALKING
through the timber"
Not at night | hope! Where ar,
We now"
Quite near the lake, sir"
Then go on
was out of patience with Bates
with the painless woodland, and,
must confess, with the spirit of JohI
Marshall Glenarm, my grandfather.
We came out presently upon a srav
ely beach, and Bates stamped sud
denly on planking.
This is the Glenarm dock, sir: ant
that's the boat house"
He waved his lantern toward low
structure that rose dark beside us. A
we stood silent, peeripg out into tn,
starlight, ! heard distinctly the dip o
a paddle and the soft gliding motion o
! canoe.
IT'S boat. sir" whispered Bates
hiding the lantern under his coat
} brushed past him and crept to tn,
end OF the dock. The paddle dlppel
on silently and evenly IN the still
water but the sound grew fainter.