The newspaper., 1908-03-13

No halt was made to visit traps.
Old Cy was trailing bigger game now;
and when the point where they had
left the canoe the day previous was
reached, tine canoe was pulled out on
the streams bank, the rifles only taken
and the trailing began. He followed
up the brook valley little way, to
find that only one track came down;
he then circled about the canoe. until
like hound. he found where the clear
ly defined trail left the swamp again
spruce trees one could follow this
trail on tie run, and here also Old
Cy found where this enemy had halted
beside trees. evidently while watching
them as the tracks indicated. When
the bordering swamp was reached, the
trail turned in westerly direction,
skirting thus for half mile, and here,
also, evidences of skulking along were
visible.
Another trail was now come upon,
but leading directly over the ridge, and
just beyond this juncture both the
trails now Joined. entered the swamp.
and ended at a lagoon opening out
from the stream. Here. also. evidences
of canoe having been hauled up into
the bog were visible.
That sneakin' pirate come up this
-tream." Old Cy observed to Ray, as
the two stood looking at these unmis-
taxable signs. He left his canoe here
n crossed the ridge above us n down
to whar we left the otter n on to our
canoe. Then he come back the way
we follered. N my idee is he had his
eye on us most o. the time. | callate
he has been laughin' ever since at
what we'd say when We found that
mud daub on our canoe. durn HIM"
But their canoe was now a halfmile
away. and for little time Old Cy
looked at the black. currentless stream
and considered. Then he glanced up
at the sun.
I've a notion we'd best fetch our
canoe over here" he said at last. an
follow this thief a spell farther. We
may come on TO suthin.''
Won't he shoot at u.s." returned
Ray. more impressed by this possible
danger than was Old Cy.
wal. mebbe and mebbe not" an
swered the old man. -'Shootin's game
two kin play at. an we've iist ez good
a right to foller the stream ez he has. ="
But when their canoe had been car
ried over and launched in this lagoon,
Rays spirits rose. IL was an expedi-
ton into new waters. somewhat ven
turesome. and for that reason it ap-
pealed to him.
For two hours they padded along
this serpentine highway. and then the
vastness of this morass began to i'm.
press them.
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 luxurious repast which was
now eaten. A couple of hardtacks
munched by each and moistened with
a cup of this swamp water and a bit
of dried deer meat was all. and then
Old Cy lit 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 just ahead.
an oasis In this unvarying mud swamp.
and gaping at them from amid its
cover of scrub birch and cedar stood
a deadfall. IL faced them as they
neared this small island. and with log
upraised between a pen of stakes It
much resembled the open mouth of a
huge alligator.
'Hain't been built long" Old Cy ex-
claimed. after they had landed TO ex-
anime II. 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 lopped-over
spruce was met: n spot where drift
had been pushed aside to clear the
stream was found at one place; signs
of canoe having been nosed into the
bog grass were seen: and here were
also the same footprints they had fol
lowed.
Another bit of hard bottom was
reached, and here again was another
deadfall. Tracks evidently made with.
In few days were about here. and
tied to its figure-four spindle was a