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


the low green tangie, added a ghostly
haze. II was as II they were venturiRs
into a new worlds boundless morass.
covered by an impenetrable tangle.
and made grewsome by the bleaching
trunks OF dead trees. :
No halt for dinner had yet been
made. They were both faint from need
OF food. and so Old Cy reached for a
small wooden pail containing their
sole supply Of provisions. Neither
was II 8 luxurious repast which vas
now eaten. A couple OF hardtacks
munched by each and moistened With
a cup of this swamp water and q bit
OF dried deer meat was all. and then
Old Cy III his pipe, dipped his paddle
IN the stream. and once more they
pushed on. Soon a low mound Of hard
soil rose out of the tangle rust ahead,
an oasis in this unvarying mud swamp,
and gaping at them from amid its
cover OF scrub birch and cedar stood
q deadfall Il faced them as they
neared this small island. and with log
appraised between a pen OF stakes 1t
much resembled the open mouth Of a
huge alligator.
"Hsiu't been built long" Old Cy ex-
claimed. after they had landed TO eK-
anime IT. I've a notion It's the doin's
OF our pirate friend. an he's trappin'
round about this swamp. He's had
good luck lately. anyhow. for he's got
six O our pelts to add to his string"
From here onward signs OF human
presence in this swamp became more
visible. Now and then an opening cut
through the limbs OF a lopped-over
spruce was met: q spot where drift
had been pushed aside to clear the
stream was found az one place; signs
OF q canoe having been nosed into the
box grass we're seen; and here we're
also the same footprints they had fol-
lowed
Another bit OF hard bottom was
reached, and here again was another
deadfan. Tracks evidently made with
IN a few days we're about here, and
tied 10 its fgure-four spindle was a
freshly caught brook sucker.
The scents gettin' warm" old CT
muttered. as he examined these signs
mindful Of the sun. he padded on
again.
And now an upland growth OF tall
spruce was seen ahead. the banks be-
came IN evidence. and a slight current
was met. One more long bend in the
stream was followed. then came curv-
INK banks and large bodied spruce.
They were out Of the swamp.
Soon a more distinctive current op-
posed them, a low murmur OF running
water came from ahead. and then a
pass between two abutting lodges was
entered Here the stream eddied over
: Eunken rocks. and pushing on. the for.
est seemed suddenly 20 vanish as they
emerged from the gloom OF this short
canyon. aud the next moment they
caught sight OF long. narrow lakelet
The sun. now almost 20 the tree
L tops. cast a reddish glow upon its
placid surface and so welcome a
change was it from the ghostly. forbid
ding swamp just left that Old Cy halt
ed their canoe at once 70 look on,
upon II. Ii was seemingly g mile long
but quite a narrow lake. A bold. rocky
aAlAN AAoAAh AZ ANAhfo ANNNA AAAfAA JUS
across. and extended along that side
back OF these a low. green clad noun
tain. 90 the right. and AT the end OF
; this lanelike lake a holder. bare-torpet
elin was outlined clear and distinct
The strip OF water for Il was not
much more seemingly filed an oblonr
gorge in these mountains. only one
break IN them. 20 the left OF this bare
peak: and as old Cy urged their canoe
out OF the alder-cholIed stream. nov
currentless. once more. a margin line
OF PUSHES and reeds was seen 20 fern
that shore. Back OF these. also. rose
the low ledge they had passed.
Looks like a good hidin' spot fer ,
pirate" he exclaimed. glancing up and
down the smiling lakelet. Thar ain
many folks likely 20 tackle that SWAMP
1t took us most all day 20 cross q
I'll bet no lumberman ever tried q
twice, n IL / wanted 20 git absolutely
way from bein' molested I'd locat,
here. ! dunno whether we'd bes
cross n make camp mong then
lodges or so back into the woods
, Guess we'd best go back n take 1
sneak round behind the ledge. no
uced loggin leadin up that way for,
we left the swamp"
But now something was discovere,
that proved Old Cy's wisdom. for a.
they, charmed somewhat by the spot