Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-30
0, us'n we need be 0. him

In spite of Old Cy's conclusions.
however. the camp remained in a state
of siege that day and many days fol-
lowing.
Angie and Chip seldom strayed far
from the cabin. Ray assumed the wa
ter-bringing. night and morning. Old
Cy and Levi patroled the premises.
while Martin. Hersey, and his deputy
hunted little for game and a good
deal for moccasined footprints or a
sight or sign of this half-breed.
Hersey, more especially, made him
his object OF pursuit. He had come
here for that purpose. his pride and
reputation were at stake. and the
thousand dollars Martin had agreed to
pay was a minor factor. He and his
mate passed hours in the mornings
and late in the afternoon watching
from wide apart outlooks on the ridge.
They made long jaunts up the brook
valley where the smoke sign had been
seen, they found where this halfbreed
had built fire here. and later another
lair. mile from the cabins and in this
ridge. Long detours they made in
other directions. Old Tomah's trail In
the forest was crossed: but neither in
forest nor on lake shore were any re-
cent footprints Of the half-breed found.
Old ones were discovered I'm plenty.
An almost beaten trail led from his
lair in the ridge to crevasse back Of
the cabins. but TO one well versed in
wood tracks. It was easy to tell how
old these tracks were.
A freshly made trail IN the forest
bears unmistakable evidence OF its
date, and no woodwise man ever con-
POUNDS a two or three days old one
with it. One footprint may not deter
mine this occult fact: but followed
to where the moss IS spongy or the
earth moist. a matter OF hours, even.
can be decided.
A week Of this watchN1lness. with
no sign OF their enemys return, not
even 70 within the circuit patrolcd
time and again. began 10 relieve sus-
pense and awaken curiosity. They
had been so sure, especially Martin.
that he would come back for revenge.
that now IT was hard to account for
his not doing SO,
My idee Is be got so skeered at
them two shots" Old Cy asserted, he
haint stopped runnin' yit." And then
the old man chuckled at the ludicrous
picture OF this pernicious "varmint"
scampering through a wilderness from
fright.
But Old Cy was wrong u was not
fear that saved them from a prompt
visitation from this halfbreed. but
lack OF means OF defense. The one
shot remaining IN his rifle al the mo-
ment OF meeting had been sent ON its
vengeful erraud all the rest OF his
ammunition was IN his canoe. and now
on the bottom OF the stream. Being
thus crippled for means to act. the
only course left 90 him was a return 20
his cabin 20 miles away. with only a
hunting-knife 20 sustain life with.
Even 20 a skilled hunter and trapper
like him this was no easy task. Il
meant at least a weeks Journey
through almost impossible swamps
and underground. with frogs. raw FISH.
roots and berries for food
How that halfbreed. unconscious
lh@t the ml4s OF God had ground him
the grist he deserved. fought his way
through this painless wilderness. how
no ate mice and frogs 90 sustain his
worthless life; how he cursed Mcclure
as the original cause of his wretchcd
plight and Martins party as aids: and
how many times he swore he would
XIII every one og them. needs no de-
scription.
He lived TO reach his hut on the Fox
Hole and from that moment on. this
wilderness held an implacable enemy
OF McGuirc's. sworn 20 Kin him. first
OF all.