Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-12-28
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
The streams and swamps contiguous
to this lake were well adapted for the
habitat of mink, muskrat, otter, fisher,
and those large fur-bearing animals,
the lynx and lucivec.
Old Cy, familiar as he was with the
homes. habits, and the manner of
catching these cunning animals, soon
began his trap-setting campaign. A
few dozen steel traps were first set
along the stream and lagoons entering
the lake, and then he and Ray pushed
mp Beaver brook. and leaving their
canoe. followed its narrow valley in
search Of suitable spots to set the more
elaborate deadfalls.
AS gum-gathering was also part Of
their seasons plan, they now left the
swamp valley, and, ascending the
spruce-clad upland, began this work.
There was also another element that
entered into the trapping and gum
gathering life,-the possible return Of
the half-breed
He haint nothin' agin u.s." Old Cy
asserted, when the question came up.
I'VE didn't chase him the day he stole
Chip, n yet | s'pOse he'll show up
some day, n mebbe do us HARM
1t was this fear that had led Old Cy
to leave one Of their canoes in log
locker, securely barred, and also to
caution the hermit to remain on guard
at the cabin while he and Ray were
away.
A canoe is the one most vital need
of wildwood life. for the reason that
the streams are the only avenues of
escape and afford the only opportuni-
ties for travel
;. Old Cy knew, or at least he felt al
most sure, that the half-breed would
return in good time. He had also rea-
soned out his failure to do so at once,
and knew that left canoeless, as he
had been that tragic day, his only
course must be the one he actually
followed A month had elapsed since
then, with no sign of this "varmints"
return, and now Old Cy was on the
watch for it,
They had first visited the small traps
near the lake, securing couple of
mink and three musllrats, which were
left in the canoe. An otter was found
in one of the deadfalls, and taking Ibis
with them. they entered the spruce
timber and hung it on a conspicuous
limb. Then the search for gum began.
AS usual, they worked hard. The
days were short, the best of sunlight
was needful to see the brown gum
nuts in the somber forest, and so they
paid no heed to aught except what
was overheard. When time TO return
arrived. Old Cy picked up his rife and
led the way back to where the otter
had been left, but it had vanished.
CHANGING about to make sure that he
was right he advanced to the tree,
looked down, and saw two footprints.
STOPPING over to examine them better
in the uncertain light, he noted also
mat they were not his own, but larger,
and made by some one wearing boots.
"Tain't the halfbreed," he muttered,
with an accent of relief, and looking
about he saw a well-defined trail lead
ing down the slope and thence onward
toward the swamp.
Some one had crossed this broad,
oval, spruce-covered upland while they
were not 200 rods away from this tree,
had stolen their otter and gone or
into the swamp.
Any freshly made human footprint
found in vast wilderness awakens
curiosity; these seemed ominous.
HE must "a seen us fore he did the
otter" Old Cy calculated IAN it's
curis he didn't make himself known.
Neighbors amt over plenty. here
about"
But the sun was nearing the tree
tops, the canoe was a mile away, and
after one more look around, Old Cy
started for it. There was no use in
following this trail now, for it led into
the tangled swamp, and so, skirting
this until a point opposite the canoe
was reached, Old Cy and Ray then
plunged into 1t.
Twilight had begun 10 shadow this
vale ere the canoe was reached. And
here was another surprise for the