Charlevoix county herald., 1907-11-30


Martin. Old Cy, and Levi left the spot
where this enemy had watched them
what to do about Angie and the
girl? From the first warning from
Levi that they were in danger from
the half-breed, Martin had avoided all
hint of it to them. Now they must be
told, and all peace of mind at once
destroyed. Concealment was no long
er possible, however, and when Angie
was told, her face paled. Her first
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 If sufficient
provocation and the need of self-de-
Tense arose, the earth, and especially
this wilderness, would be well rid of
such a despicable creature.
Then Lewis advice carried weight
1--WE amt goin' to 'scapc him." he
said, by startin' 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 if he
didn't cut our canoes to pieces some
night, he'd watch his chance n grab
the gal n make off under cover o
darkness. We've got a sort o human
panther to figger on, an shootin' I'M
der such conditions might mean KILN
the gal. We've got to go out some
time, but | don't believe in turning
tail fust go-off, n We may get a
chance to wing the cuss, like ez not"
he would not hesitate to shoot this
half-breed if 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 sichll never show himself
by daylight. He knows we've got
guns n know how to use 'em. 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' huff 'mongst
us to gin one hyena the slip. Thar's
one thing must be done, though, n
that is, keep the gal clus. 'Twon't do
to let her go over the hog-back arter
berries, or canoein' round the lake no
more"
And now began a 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
rifle handy, remained on guard-usual-
ly Old Cy, and for few nights he lay
in ambush near the shore, to see If
perchance this enemy would steal up
again.
With all these precautions against
surprise, came a certain feeling of de-
fiance in Martin. With Ray for COM
panion he went fishing once more,
and with Levi as pilot he cruised
about for game.
Only q few weeks of his outing re-
NAMED, and on sober second thought,
he didn't mean to let this sneaking
enemy spoil those.
But Old Cy never relaxed his vigil.
This waif of the wilderness and Ter
pitiful position appealed to him even
more than to Angie, and true to the
No hot ho n GrnnnVa1Q
children love him, so now did Chip
find him kind and protecting father.
With rifle always with him, he took
her canoeing and fishing; sometimes
Angie joined them, and so life at
Birch camp became pleasant once more.
A week or more Of happiness was
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 mar
row valley through which a stream
known as Beaver Brook reached the
lake, and far up in this vale, rising
above the dense woods, was faint
column of smoke.
The morning was damp, cloudy and
authorizations suitable for smoke
rising, and yet so faint and distant
was this that none but the keen, OBJ
servant eyes of a woodsman would
have noticed it. Yet there it was. a
thin white pillar, clearly outlined
against the dark green of the foliage.
Old Cy hurried back, motionel to
Levi, and the two watched it from the
front of the camp. Martin soon Joined
them, then Angie and Chip, and all
stood and studied this smoke sign. 1t
was almost ludicrous, and yet not;
for at it's foot must be fire. and be-
side it, doubtless, the half-breed.
Can you locate it?' queried Mar
tin of his guide, as the delicate column
of white slowly faded.
ITS purity we'll up the brook" Levi
answered. "thar's a sort of Rocky