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


whispered TO Ray. "or we may wish
we had been. callate our pirate
friends got hi5ia' spot over thar. n
most likely don't want callers. He
may be only queer cid trapper a lit
tie short O scruples ag'in' takin' what
he nnds, n then ag'in he may be
worse'n that. His campin spots agin
him. anyhow"
But the sun was now very low; =
camp site must soon be found. and
scarce two minutes from the time be
saw this rising column OF smoke. Old
Cy dipped his paddle and slowly drew
back into the protecting forest. Once
well out OF sight. the canoe was turned
and they sped back downstream and
into the swamp once more. Here he
turned aside into a lagoon they had
passed. and al its head they pulled
their canoe out into the bog.
The two gathered up their belong
ings, and picking their way out OF the
morass. reached the belt OF hard bot
tom skirting the ridge They were
now out OF sight from the lake, but
still too near the stream TO risk
campfire. and so Old Cy led the way
along this belt until a more secluded
niche in the ridge was reached, and
here they began camp-making.
That night was the longest ever
passed by Ray. for not until near morn
ing did he fan into a htful slumber.
and scarcely had he lost himself be-
fore Old Cy was up and watching for
The dawn
Its first faint glow was visible when
Rays eyes opened. and without walt
ing for FIRE or breakfast. they started
for the top OF the ridge From here
a curious sight met their eyes. for the
lake and also the ridges out Of which
the smoke had risen were hidden be
meath white pan Of fog. Back OF
them also. and completely coating the
immense swamp. was the same sea
Of vapor. L soon vanished with the
rising sun. and just as the ledge across
the lake outlined themselves. once
more that smoke sign rose aloft.
And now the two watchers could
better see whence "a came. Old Cy
had expected 20 obtain sight OF some
hut or bark shack nesting among
these rocks. but none was visible In
stead, the smoke rose out Of a jagged
rock. and there was not cabin roof
or sign OF one anywhere.
THAT fe,ler's in a cave" he whis-
percd 60 Ray. AN the smokes comm
out O. crack. sure's a gum"
It seem @ SO. and for a half-hour the
two watched &c in silent amazement.
Then came another surprise. for sud
denly old Cy caught si~ht OF a man
just emerging from behind a rock fully
ten rods from the rising smoke. he
stopped. lifted canoe into view. ad-
vanced to the shore sid IL halfway
into the water. returned 20 the rock.
picked up a rife. then pushed the
canoe or. and. crossing the lake. van
ishcd into the outlet
The two watchers on the ridge e1-
. changed glances.
Hes goin' TO tend his traps. an
4 mebbe ourn." old Cy said az last, and
then - the way back % their bark
shack. Here he halted, and placing
one hand scoop-fashion over his ear.
listened iDtently until he caught the
faint sound Of a paddle touching a
canoe gHnwale. First slightly. then a
more distinctive thud. and then less
and less until the sound ceased.
The coasts clear ne added. now
In an exultant whisper. AN while the
old cats away we'n take peek at his
den"
A hurried gathering OF their few be
loRgings was made. the canoe was
showed into the lagoon, and no time
I was lost until the lake was crossed
and they drew along side OF where the
smoke was still rising in a 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 a series OF outcroppine
slate lodges rose one above another
and between them and parallel TO the
shore, narrow. irregular passages par
TALLY closed by broken rock. II was
all OF slaty formation. jagged. serrateC
and gray with moss.
Following one OF these passages, OLD
Cy and Ray came 10 the ledge out o.
which the smoke was rising from {
crevasse. II was a little lower thar
one in front, perhaps 40 feet II
breadth, double that in length. and o
more even surface. At each end wa
. short transverse passage hardl!
wide enough to walk in. and few fee
deep.
And now, after a more careful ex
animation OF the crevasse out OF which
the thin film OF smoke rose, Old c,
began a search. Up and down eacl
narrow passway he peeped and peer
ed. but nowhere was a crack O
Granny TO be found in their walls. II
places they were as high as mis- head
sheer faces OF slate. then broken, sci
rated, moss-coated. or OF yellow. rust,
color. Here and there a stunted spruc
had taken root IN some crack. an
over. back from the topmost ledge
this green enclosure began and cor
tinued up the low mountain. Here
also In a sunny nook below this bell
ing tangle Of scrub spruce. were an
pie signs OF trappers occupation 4
the way OF pelts stretched upon forke
sticks and hanging from a cord eros!