Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-01-04
CHAPTER xiv.-Continued.

Then came another surprise, for sud
denly Old Cy caught sight of man
Just emerging from behind a rock fully
ten rods from the rising smoke; he
stopped. lifted a canoe into view, ad
vanced to the shore, slid it halfway
into the water returned to the rock,
picked up a rifle, then pushed the
canoe off. and, crossing the lake, van
ished into the outlet.
The two watchers on the ridge ex.
changed glances.
He's goin' to tend his traps, an
mebbe ourn." Old Cy said at last, and
then led the way back to their bark
shack. Here he halted, and placing
ono hand scoop-fashion over his ear,
listened intently until he caught the
Saint sound of a paddle touching a
canoe gunwale. First slightly, then
more distinctive rhud, and then less
and less until the sound ceased.
The coasts clear; ne added, now
in an exuttant whisper, IAN while the
old cats away well take a peek at his
den"
A hurried gathering Of their few be-
lonSings was made, the canoe was
showed iuto the lagoon, and no time
was lost until the lake was crossed
and they drew along side of where the
smoke vas still rising in thin film
No landing was possible here. for the
shore was a sheer face of upright
slate. and only where this lone trap
per had launched his canoe could they
make one.
From here series of outcropping
sfate hedges rose one above another,
and between them and parallel to the
shore. narrow, irregular passages par
italy closed by broken rock. 1t was
all Of 7laty formation, jagged, serrated
and gray with moss.
Following one OF these passages, Old
Cy and RAJ came to the ledge out OF
which the smoke was rising from a
Crevas4e. Ii was a little lower than
one IN front. perhaps 40 feet in
breadth, double that in length, and of
n more even surface. At each end was
a short transverse passage hardly
wide enough TO walk in, and few feet
deep
And now. after a more careful eX
animation OF the crevasse out of which
the thin finn of smoke rose, Old Cy
began search. Up and down each
narrow passway he peeped and peer
cd but nowhere was q crack or
Granny 10 be found in their walls. In
places they we're as high as his head,
II,
rated, mOss-coated, or of yellow, rusty
color Here aud there a stunted spruce
had taken root in some crack, and
over. back from the topmOst ledge,
this green enclosure began and con
finued Up the low mountain. Here,
also, ia a sunny NOOK below this belt
ing tangle OF scrub spruce were am
pie signs OF trapper's occupation in
the way Of pelts stretched upon forked
sticks and hanging from a cord cross
ing this niche. They were of the
usual species found in this wilderness,
"a dozen muskrat, with a few mink
and otter skins and one lynx.
Another sign of human presence
was also noted, for here log showing
AK marks. with split wood and chips
lll about, was seen.
"Some o. them pelts is ourn," Old
Cy calculated, glancing at the array,
IAN I've a notion we'd best hook on
60 'em. Mebbe not, though he added
n moment later, ut might git us into
more trouble"
But Ray was getting more and more
uneasy each moment since they had
landed there. 1t seemed to him most
dangerous exploit, and while Old Cy
had hunted over this curious confusion
of slate lodges and stared at the rising
dim OF smoke. Ray had covertly
watched the lakes outlet.
81 don't think we'd better stay here
much longer" he said at last. I'VE
can't tell how soon that man may
,ecma hack aud catch us"