The newspaper., 1908-02-14

awakened the mebuilding impulse
himself, he could only help them to
one in the future, and to that end and
purpose he now bent his thought.
1t was midsummer when Martin and
his party returned to the lake with
Chip. In two weeks the new log
cabin-a large one, divided into three
compartments-was erected and ready
for occupation.
Working as all the men had done
from dawn until dark to complete
this cabin, no recreation had been
taken by anyone except Ray and
Chip; and now Martin, keen sports
man, felt that his turn had come
The trout were rising night and morn
all over the lake. partridges so tame
that they would scarce fly were as
plenty as sparrows, half-dozen deer
could be seen any time along the lake
shore-in fact, one had already fur
nished them venison-and so Martin
now anticipated some relaxation and
sport
But Fate willed otherwise.
One of Old Cys first and most far
sighted bits of work, after being left
with the hermit the previous autumn,
had been the erection of an ice-house
out of large saplings. 1t stood at the
foot of high bank on the north of
the knoll and close to the lake. and
here. out of the sunshine. yet handy
to fill. stood his creation. Its double
Of xrfth
its roof chinked with blue clay. a
sliding door gave ingress. and even
now. with summer almost gone. an
ample supply OF ice remained in it.
In the division of duties among
these campers. Levi usually started
the morning fire while Old Cy visited
the ice-house for anything needed. One
morning after the new cabin was COM
pleted. he came here as usual.
A fine string of trout caught by Mar
tin and Ray the day before were
hanging in this ice-house. and secur-
ing what was needed. Old Cy closed
the door and turned away. AS usual
with him, he glanced up and down
the narrow beach TO see II deer had
wandered along there that morning,
and in doing so he now saw. close to
the waters edge and distinctly out
lined in the damp sand. the print of a
moccasined foot.
1t was of extra large size. and as
Old Cy bent over it. he saw 1t had re-
Gently been made. Glancing along
toward the head of this cove. he saw
more tracks. and two rods away. the
sharp furrow of a canoe PROV in the
sand.
It's that pesky half-breed. sure's a
gun" he muttered. STOPPING over the
track. FER a good bit o his legs was
turned up to walk on. and he wore
moccasins tother day"
Curious now. and somewhat startled
he looked along where the narrow
beach curved out and around to the
landing. and saw the tracks led that
way. Then picking his way so as not
to obscure them. he followed until not
three rods from the new cabin they
left the beach and were plainly visible
behind a couple of spruces. in the soft
carpet of needles. which was crushed
for a small space. where some one had
stood.
Returning to camp. Old Cy motioned
to Levi and Martin. All three returned
to the ice-house. looked where the
canoe had cut its furrow. took mp ths
trail to its ending beside the tive
trees. and then glanced into one an
others eyes with serious. sober. trou
bled faces.
And well they might; for the even
ing previous they had all been grouped
upon the piazza of this new cabin un
til late. while scarce three rods away
spying enemy. presumably this half
breed. had stood and watched them.