The newspaper., 1908-02-14

fense arose, the earth, and especially
this wilderness. would be well rid OF
such despicable creature.
Then Lewis advice carried weight.
I'VE amt goin' to 'scape him" he
said, by startin' out o the woods
now. Most likely he's got his eye on
us this minute. He knows every roc
O. the way out whar we'd be likely to
camp. He'd sure follow, an II he
didn't cut our canoes to pieces some
night, he'd watch his chance n grab
the gal n make off under cover o
darkness We've got sort o human
panther to figger on, an shootin' un-
der such conditions might mean KILN
the gal We've got to go out some
time. but | don't believe in turning
tail fust go-off, n we may get
chance to wing the cuss, like ez not"
and the glitter in Lewis eyes showed
he would not hesitate to shoot this
half-breed If the chance presented it.
self
Old Cy's opinion is also worth quot
ing:
MY notion is this hyena's a cow
ard, N like sich1l never show himself
by daylight. He knows we've got
guns N know how to use 'em. The
camps as good as fort. One on us
kin allus be on guard daytimes, an
when it's time to go out-wal, ! think
we ought to hev cunnin' nun 'mongst
MS TO gin one hyena the slip. Thar's
one thing must be done. though. n
that is. keep the gal clus. 'Twon't do
to let her go over the hog-back arter
berries. or canoein' round the lake no
more"
And now began a state of semi-siege
at Birch camp.
Chip was kept an almost prisoner.
hardly ever permitted out of Angles
sight One OF the men, always with
rife handy. remained on guard-usual-
ly Old Cy. and for a few nights he lay
| in ambush near the shore. to see IL
perchance this enemy would steal up
again.
, With all these precautions against
surprise. came a certain feeling of de-
| fance in Martin. With Ray for com
panion he went fishing once more.
and with Levi as pilot he cruised
hDOul ioi SAINT
Only a few weeks of his outing re-
mained. and on sober second thought.
he didn't mean to let this sneaking
enemy spoil those.
But Old Cy never relaxed his vigil
| This waif of the wilderness and her
| pitiful position appealed to him even
more than to Angie. and true to the
nature that had made all Greenyale's
/ children love him. so now did Chip
find him a kind and protecting father.
with rifle always with him. he took
her canoeing and fishing: sometimes
/ Angie Joined them. ard so life at
Birch camp became pleasant once more.
week or more OF happincfl was
/ passed. with no sight of their enemy.
and then one morning when Old Cy
/ had journeyed over to the icehouse.
he glanced across the lake to mar
row valley through which a stream
known as Beaver Brook reached the
lake. and far up in this vale. rising
above the dense woods. was faint
column Of smoke.
The morning was damp. cloudy and
authorizations suitable for smoke
rising. and yet so faint and distant
was this that none but the keen. OBJ
servant eyes of woodsman would
have noticed II. Yet there It was. a
thin white pillar. clearly outlined
against the dark green OF the foliage.
Old Cy hurried back. motionel to
Levi. and the two watched II from the
front of the camp. Martin soon joined
them. then Angle and Chip, and all
stood and studied this smoke sign. II
was almost ludicrous. and yet not:
for at its foot must be fire. and be-
side It. doubtless. the half-breed
Can you locate it?" queried Mar
tin of his guide. as the delicate column
of white slowly faded.
It's purity well up the brook" Levi
answered.: "thar's a sort OF Rocky
Dunbar thar. n probably cave. |
callate II it's him. he's s'pected n
storm. N so sneaked to cover
And now. as II TO prove this. a few
drops of rain began to patter on the
motionless lake; thicker. faster they
came. and as the little group hurried
to shelter, a torrent, almost. descend.
ed For weeks not drop of rain had
fallen here. Each morn the sun had
risen In undimmed splendor, to van.
ish at night, ball of glorious red.
But now a change had come. Wind
followed the rain. and all that day the