Iron County register., 1907-01-31

folds of her muslin dress, looking
about for seat. This was owatoga'B
opportunity. "Sit in the boat; see.
owatoga has It ready, and from q
sheltering cove he dragged light
strong canoe. Back in the shadows
was another-a smaller boat She
laughed. why, you have . whole
feet at hand"
The shrewd eyes narrowed. and he
replied. with a grunt Of hidden mean
ing: "The other is for him" Then
giving her no time for question, he
pointed again to the boat he had first
dragged forth. "Sit." A cushion in
the stern looked most inviting; the
boat was apparently secure on the
beach. Into 1t she sprang, seating her
self with a sigh of comfort. There
the view is charming; the seat is soft.
I am not in danger Of being made love
to-altogether, l am Quite-why, Owa-
toga, what are you doing% for the
latter had given the light skiff vigor-
Gus push. 1t grated moment on the
sand, then of on the rivers turbid
crest, with the Indian at the oars.
The girl gave one glance at the ever
increasing passage Of water between
her and the shore, then sprang to her
feet in panic. But the dangerous
rocking of the boat recalled her, and
she sank to the cushion, calm-but
with face blanched to the whiteness
of the foam that curled In their wake,
what does this mean? Is 1t a
trjck-a jest"
eve are going to the old mans; he
Is Owatoga's friend. He will take the
white maid; he will not let her be the
squaw of the yellow man."
Owatoga's friend? But no, 1t could
not be; he would not call Winslow an
"old man" His mysterious manner
his strange words, and, above all, his
rapid rowing away from shore, tend
ed to unnerve her, but she made great
effort to hide her fear. Leaning for
ward, she placed one hand playfully
on the oar-lock, and said: "Let US &C
back now. Senior Gonzaga will bt
waiting"
''He will have long to watt" was the
disheartening reply. A shiver passed
over her; the hot wind was breath
of ice; clammy hand on her brow
Then she mastered the horror, ant
only two helpless tears betrayed the
struggle.
"You frighten me, owatoga, yet
know you would do me no harm. Elk
plain, then, why we are going-why
you are taking me away" There was
command and pleading in the voice
he responded by less rapid rowing
and a fathomless smile. "You are SAT-
with Owatoga; more safe than will
that other" The dilated nostrils ant
contemptuous curve of the wide moutl
conveyed plainly the speakers opinion
of his masters rival.
Lavender was beginning to under
stand. "Then you wish to take mi
away from Senor Gonzaga?" eyes
this is the only way" and he seemed
to gather fresh vigor with his words
and tugged stronger at the oars.
i. When they came in sight Of the scat
tered cabins of st. Charles, new hop
sprang in her heart. "You are taking
me to the village?" For answer th
Indian rowed harder toward mid
stream.
Soon all human habitation was lef
far behind; the two were alone on tn
wide river.
AS calmly as possible, Lavender OK
planned that her worst alarm was TO
her mother; of the anxiety she woul,
feel And the other said-lsss gruff
ly than he had yet spoken "Owatog
has thought of that; he has told al
to the woman at the inn; she will tel
them that the maid is safe with Owa
toga." Again: SIT is the only way
trust Owatoga," he repeated, with mo
notonous insistence.
And she did trust him. She coul
not lose faith in the man who ha
been their friend for so long. An
they had ever found him faithful. Il
then, as he said, her mothers anxiet
would be relieved, the chief load wa
lifted from her heart. Whatever wa
his reason for taking her away--freal
whim, or savage fancy, she felt sure
would not be for long, and, above al
she need have no personal fear. Thi
security was much; it helped her t
bear the suspense and fatigue. Dunn
! and fearless, she watched the shore
glide by; the southern bank vagu
blur of bluffs, tree-topped. The cane
now hugged the northern side SO clos
!. it seemed she could almost wade ashor'
They were rowing westward; and ono
Owatoga said: eve follow the sun; h
too, will rest soon."
:. She gave start. "You must tur
back before sunset" but the savae
rowed on unheeding.
e The afternoon wore away, and sti
e he piled a tireless oar.
4: At length Lavender nerved herself
s ask: docs your friend-the man 20
call master docs he know you lhaV
S taken me away?" The man shook b
e head. "My master knows nothing
After pause, he added: "He only said
|. The yellow man must not have hel
(: He did not say more. What could Owl
|, toga do? There was no other way"
"Then he knows nothing Of thisi
/. The Indian shook his head. He ca
8 trust Owatoga." And this was the bu
d den Of his speech, and 1t vaguely cheers
d her.
r. Later she ventured tine question
e "Shall we not land soon?" AT II
It swamp where grow the tamaracks
> She shiyered at the gloomy prospect