Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-04-09

concludes to do SO. Others of the party
return to Greenvale, taking Chip with
them. Chip starts to school in Greenvale,
and finds life unpleasant at Aunt Com
forts, made SO especially by Hannah.
CHAPTER XII.
The streams and swamps contiguous
to this lake were we'll adapted for the
habitat of mink, muskrat, otter, fisher,
and those large ~fur-bearing animals,
the lynx and lucivee.
Old Cy, familiar as he was with the
homes, habits, and the name of
catching these cunning animals, Don
began his trap-setting campaign. A
few dozen steel traps were first set
along the stream and lagoons entering
the lake, and then he and Ray pushed
UP Beaver brook, and leaving their
canoe, followed its narrow valley in
search of suitable spots to set the more
elaborate deadfalls.
AS gum-gathering was also a part Of
their Seasons plan, they now left the
swamp valley, and, ascending the
s~pruce-clad upland, began this work.
There was also another element that
entered into the trapping and gum
gathering life,-the possible return of
the half-breed.
HE hain't nothin' agin u.s." Old Cy
asserted, when the question came up.
I'VE didn't chase him the day he stole
Chip, n yet / s'pose- he'll show up
some day, N mebbe do us HARM"
1t was this fear that had led Old Cy
to leave one Of their canoes in a log
locker, securely barred, and also to
caution the hermit to remain IN guard
at the cabin while he and Ray were
away.
A canoe is the one most vital need
of a wildwood life, for the reason that
the streams are the only n Of
escape and afford the only opportuni-
ties for travel.
Old Cy knew, or at least he felt al
Nmost sure, that the h%alf-breed would
return in good time. He had also rea-
soned out his failure to do so at once,
and knew that left %canoeless, as he
had been that tragic day, his only
course must be the one he actually
followed. A month had elapsed since
then, with no sign Of this "varmint's"
return, and now Old Cy was on the
watch for 1t.
They had first visited the small traps
neal the lake, securing a couple Of
mink and three muskrats, which were
left in the canoe. An otter was found
in n Of the d~eadfalls, and taking This
with them, they entered the spruce
timber and hung it on a conspicuous
limb. Then the search for gum began.
AS usual, they worked hard. The
days were short, the best of sunlight
was needful to see the brown gum
nuts in the somber forest, and so they
paid no heed to aught except what
was overheard. When time to return
arrived, Old Cy picked up his rifle and
led the way back to where the otter
had been left, but it had vanished.
CHANGING about to make sure that he
was right, he advanced to the tree,
looked down, and saw two footprints.
STOPPING over to examine them better
in the uncertain light, he noted also
that they were not his own, but larger,
and made by some one wearing boots.
faint the half-breed," he muttered,
with an accent Of relief, and looking
about he saw a well-defined trail lead
ing down the slope and thence onward
toward the swamp.
Some one had crossed this broad,
oval, spruce-covered upland while they
were not 200 rods away from this tree,
had stolen their otter and gone on
into the swamp.
Any freshly made human footprint
found in a vast wilderness awakens
curiosity; these seemed ominous.
HE must "a seen us fore he did the
otter" Old Cy calculated, IAN it's
curtis he didn't make himself known.
Neighbors amt over plenty, here
about"
But the sun was nearing the tree
tops, the canoe was a mile away, and
after n more look around, Old Cy
started for 1t. There was no use in
following this trail now, for 1t led into
the tangled swamp, and SO, skirting
this until a point opposite the canoe
was reached, Oid' Cy and Ray then
plunged into It.
Twilight had begun to shadow this
vale ere the was reached. And
here was another surprise, for the
canoe was found turned half over, and
on its broad oval bottom was a curious
outline Of black mud. The light was
not good here. A fir-grown ledge
Swallowed the spit; but as Old Cy
stopped to examine this mud-made EN-.
blem, 1t gradually took shape, and he
saw--a skull and cross bones!
wal, by the Great Horn Spoonl" he
exclaimed, Il never s'posed a pirate
,ud fetch In here! An he's swiped our
muskrats and mink" he added, as he
looked under the canoe, darn him!"
Then the bold bravado OF 1t all oc-
currad to Old Cy. The theft was doubt
less made by whatsoever had taken