The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-09

 the tree and leaped for the scow.
 Five missed the boat because 1t had be- gun to dart ahead. The leader struck just within the stern. Before he could pull himself together, Judith, her dark beauty flushed crimson from excitement, rushed from the cabin and pushed him overheard. Bullets battered around the ark, but in another moment the craft was out in the lake and he grapnel lifted.
 A southerly breeze up with the approach of dusk, a. ..tter spread the great square sail which soon took them to the castle. When the girls were safe ly in the house and the ark secure be- hind the palisade, the three men launched a canoe and padded quietly to shore to get the two remaining canoes that were hidden in hollow trees, the possession of which would enable the savages to creep on the castle.
 They found the first without any adven- ture, and lowed it to the middle of the lake, where they set it free in such way that 1t would drift towarh the castle. The second one was hidden some dis tance down the shore. Just as they had launched 1t and Hutter and Hurry Harry had taken their positions in it, their eyes caught the gleam of an ember under the trees.
 At once they decided, despite the re- monstrances of Deerslayer, to creep on the camp and try for scalps, for the British colonies had declared a bounty on the scalps of Indians fighting on the French side, and neither Hutter nor Har- ry were averse to filling their purses in this manner.
 Deerslayer refused to join them but agreed to lie off shore in his canoe. The two frontiersmen pushed ashore like ghosts, and disappeared in the black for sxafe cf1o of the primeval wilderness remained un- broken as if no living creature were within it. Deerslayer padded in, got the vacant canoe, took it out into the lake, like the first one, and then f1oated close to the shore waiting.
 Suddenly a cry of terror rang out Rifles roared under the trees. Bushes and branches crashed. The two hunters burst on the beach. but even as Deer slayer urged his canoe toward them they fell under a swarm of savages and were tied up in a jiffy.
 Knowing that he could not aid his i'm prudent companions, Deerslayer started for the castle. On his way he picked up one canoe, but could not find the other until the first gray glimmer of dawn showed the little boat drifting ashore near the foot of the mountain. He padded in. Just as he reached the precious craft, a rife shot came from the WOODS. instantly ne Jumped ike one shot fatally, and fell face down. The stratagem succeeded. A painted Iroquois came bounding to seize the boat only to be laid low by the white hunters rifle. Deerslayer padded his recovered canoes swiftly to the castle and re- counted the experiences of the night. With all the canoes in their possession they felt that they were reasonably safe during the day; and at sunset Chingach- gook made his way through the hidden watchers around the lake and added an- other deadly rife to their little force. They held a counsel of war and agreed that to free Hutter and Hurry Harry by force or trick was out of the question; but Deerslayer believed that 1t might be possible to ransom them. He examined Hutter's belongings which were scanty, as frontiersmens possessions naturally would be- There was little to tempt saw ages except a beautiful rifle, which was famous far and wide under the title of. Kill-deer.
 Famous as it was, however, and eager as Indians were to own so mighty d weapon, it alone would not induce the Irouuois to give up two such formidable white enemies. At this juncture Judith suggested that they open a great chest, which Hutter always had guarded with jealous care, refusing to let his daughters peer into it.
 After a long search the keys were found and the lifted lid disclosed splen- dors that were strange indeed for will derness cabin. Rich coats, scarlet and gold, were drawn forth-garments evi- dently made for a gentleman Of exalted station. Below them lay still richer garments-glorious dresses in brocade and silk, finer than any that Judith had ever seen on the officers ladies in the forts.
 Silver mounted pistols succeeded Next came something that surprised even Chingachgook out of his Indian stocsm and forced him to utter exclamations of delighted wonder. It was a set of un- commonly large and beautiful ivory chess men, The Indians greatest wonder was aroused by the castles, which were mounted on large elephants, and he gazed at ''the two-tailed beasts with al- most superstitious awe.
 Buy whole tribe-buy Delaware, al- mostv' said he.
 At that instant a sound outside startled them. Deerslayer crept out and saw raft at the palisades, with an Indian lad in it. Before he could stir Hetty stood before him. A few words suiriced to ex- plain what had happened. The feeble minded girl had stolen ashore in a canoe, which she showed back into the lake after she had landed to that the Iroquois should not get it. and then she had made her way to the Indian camp.
 With the veneratlOn thar the lnuldnS accorded to all whose intellects were de- ranged, the Iroquois offered her no harm She was permitted to wander around the camp, and to talk with her father and Hurry Harry. She had also seen Chin gachgook's bride. Hist who had man. aged to impress on the feeble-minded girl message telling Chingachgook that she would try to creep to certain spot on the shore when the evening star should appear above the tops of the hemlocks on the next night.
 After some hours the Indian lad had ferried her to the castle to deliver message from the warriors, in which they asked for some canoes so they might deliver their captives to their friends
 This proposal of course. was not &C., cepted, but the lad offered just the op- portunity desired by the inmates of the castle to treat for ransom He was per mitted to examine the elephants, which elicited evident delight. He returned soon with two chiefs, who agreed to take the wonderful things in exchange for the prisoners, and by the next sunset Tom Hutter and Hurry Harry. tied up like sheep, were rafted to the castle and delivered safe and sound.
 That this did not mean peace, how eyer was proved a few moments after ward, when bundle of faggots with the ends dipped in blood, was tossed on the platform outside of the palisade.
 On seeing this signal of war. Deer slayer counseied that the party desert the castle for the night and take to the ark, with the canoes in tow, to escape