Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-06-06

FOR settlement TO get officers 90 arrest
escaped murderer
CHAPTER vIL-Chip's one woods
Ray believes he sees a bear on the
ridge.
q CHAPTER vrII.-Chip Is stolen BY
Pete Bolduc and escapes with her in
canoe.
CHATTER Ix.-chiP IS rescued by
from the settlement Bolduc escapes
CHAPTER x.-Oid Cy proposes 20 Ray
SELF and AMI and trap during The win
ter. and he concludes 70 do 40 others
OF the party return TO Groenvaie. taking
Chip with them.
CHAPTER xI-Chip starts 20 school
In Greenvale. and finds nfe unpleasant
a. Aunt Comforts, made 50 especially by
Hannah.
CHAPTER XII.
The streams and swamps contiguous
90 this lake were we'll adapted for the
habitat Of mink, muskrat. otter. fisher.
and those large fur-bearing animals.
the lynx and lucivee.
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 laeoons entering
the lake, and then he and Ray pushed
UP Beaver brook. and leaving their
canoe followed it's narrow valley IA
search Of suitable spots 20 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 halfbreed.
He hain't nothin' agin US" Old Cy
asserted. when the question came Up.
We didn't chase him the day he stole
Chip. n yet I s'pose he'll show up
some day. n mebbe do US harm"
II was this fear that had led Old Cy
20 leave one OF their canoes In a log
locker. securely barred. and also 10
caution the hermit 70 remain on guard
AZ 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 20 do so az 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 II.
They had first visited the small traps
near the lake, securing a couple OF
mink and three muskrats. which were
left in the canoe. An otter was found
in one OF the deadfalls, and taking this
with them, they entered the spruce
timber and hung 1t 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 70 see the brown gum
nuts In the somber forest, and so they
paid no heed 10 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 IL had vanished
Glancing about TO make sure that hc
was right, he advanced 70 the tree
looked down, and saw two footprints
STOPPING over 10 examine them better
IN the uncertain light, he noted alst
that they were not his own. but larger
and made by some one wearing boots
'Tain't the half-breed," he muttered
with an accent OF relief. and looking
about he saw a well-dehned trail lead
ing down the slope and thence onwarC
toward the swamp.
Some one had crossed this broad
oval, spruce-covered upland while the.
were not 200 rods away from this tree
had stolen their otter and gone OF
into the swamp.
Any freshly made human footprint
found IN a vast wilderness awaken
curiosity; these seemed ominous.
He must "a seen US fore he did III
otter" Old Cy calculated. AN it
curis he didn't make himself known
Eeighbors amt over plenty. here
about"
But the sun was nearing the tree
tops, the canoe was a mile away. an
after one more look around. Old c.
started for IL. There was no use 4
following this trail now. for ii led int
the tangled swamp. and so. skirtin
this until a point opposite the cano
was reached, Old Cy and Ray the
plunged into It.
Twilight had begun 10 shadow thi
vale ere the canoe was reached. An
here was another surprise. for IN
canoe was found turned half over. an
on its broad oval bottom was curiou
outline Of black mud. The hight wa
not good here. A fir-grown ledg
Swallowed the spit: but as Old c