Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-30
Chip was IN that cancel
CHAPTER Y

entering the 0luer-ChOked outlet OF this
lake. 20 miles below and close TO
where the stream entered another
lake, four men were launching their
canoes.
1t was here" Martin was saying to
Oficer Hersey. zone moonlight night
a year ago. that friend OF mine and
myself saw a spectral man astride a
log. Just entering that bed OF reeds. as
/ told you. Who or what Il was. we
could not guess: but as that spook
canoeman went up this stream. We fol-
lowed and discovered our hermit's
home"
Nighttime and moonshine play
queer FRANKS With our Imagination"
Hersey responded. I'm not a Whit
superstitious. and yet I've many a
time seen what I thought TO be a
hunter creeping along the lake shore
az night. and / once came near plug
gig fat man in a shadowy glen
was up on a cliff watching down into
it. the day was cloudy. and way below
1 saw what 7 was sure was q bear
crawling along the bank OF the stream.
l had my rife raised and was only
waiting f~r a better sight when up
rose the bear and I saw a human face
For moment IL made me faint and
since then I make doubly sure before
shooting az any object in the woods
And now these four men, Levi WELD
ing the stern paddle o. Martins canoe.
and Hersey's deputy that Of his. en-
tered the broad. winding stream The
tall spruCc-tCps meeting darkened It's
fnur -
white moss depeB ded from every limb
and as they twisted and turned Up this
somber highway. The air grew stining-
Not breeze. not "a sound disturbed
the solemn silence. and except for the
swish OF paddles and faint thud as
they touched gunwales. the fan OF q
leaf might have been heard So dense
was this dark silent forest and so for
bidding its effect that for an hour no
one scarce spoke. aud even when the
two canoes finally drew together. con-
verse came Ina whispers. Another hour
OF steady progress. and thea the banks
began to outline themselves ahead. the
trees opened more. a sign OF current
/ was met. and the sun lit mp their path
way
by now the spectral beard had van
ished from the trees. white clouds
were reflected from the stiu waters.
and the CLEAN OF sandy bottom was
seen below. The birds. inspired per
haps by the absence Of gloom. also
added their cheering notes. Nature
was smiling once more. and not a
hint or even Intuition OF the fastuear-
INK tragedy met those men.
And then. as a broad. eddying bend
In the stream hold their canoes. by
tacit consent halt was made.
Martin. his paddle crossed on the
thwarts in front. dipped a cup OF the
cool, sweet water and drank Levi
wiped the sweat from his face. and
Hersey also quenched his thirst The
day was hot They had padded ten
miles. There was no hurry. and as
pipes were drawn forth and filled. con
versation began. But just az this mo-
ment Lewis ears. ever alert. caught
the faint sound OF a paddle striking a
canoe gunwale. Not as usual. In an in
termittent fashion. as would be the
case with a skilled canoeist. but a
steady, rhythmic thud
Hist be said. and silence fell upon
the group.
In the wilderness all sounds are no
tced and noted. by night especially.
because then they may mean bear
crawling softly through the under
growth, OF a wildcat yellow-eyed and
vicious. creeping near. But by day as
we'll they are always needed. and the.
craclIle OF a twig. or the sound OF a
deer's foot striking a stone. or any
slight noise becomes of keen interest.
And now. from far ahead. came the
steady tap. tap. tap. II soon increased.
and then 10 assured those waiting. lis
tening men that some canoe was being
urged down stream.
Without a word they glanced at one
another. and then. as if an intuition
came 10 both at the same time. Martin
and Hersey reached for their rifles.
On and on came the steady thump.
thump.
Just ahead the stream narrowed and
curved ont Of sight. A few foam
hecks from an unseen riH above float
ed down The white sandy bottom
showed the clear water.
And then. as those stern-faced. watch
ing. listening men. rifles in hand, al
most side by side. waited there. out
from behind this bend shot a canoe.
MY God. it's Pete Bolduci Look
OUT! almost yelled Levi. and Halt.
surrender" from Hersey, as two,
| rifles were leveled at the Oncomer.
Then one instants sight of a red and
SCARED face. a quick reach for a rife.
a splash OF water. an overturned canoe.
and with curse the astonished half
breed dived into the underground.
Two rifles spoke almost at the same
Instant from the waiting canoes. one
answered from out the thicket. A
thrashing. struggling something in the
filled canoe next caught all eyes and
Levi. leaping into the waist-deep
stream, grasped and lifted a dripping
4 form.
1t was Chip!
brief yet bloodless tragedy. all
over In less time than the telling; yet
lifetime of horror had been endured