The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-02-11


andale at discreet distance and then
bore on again. Is
Let us not go too near shore any.
where" said Helen; and Miss Pat
murmured acquiescence.
mo; we don't care to meet people, -
she remarked, trifle anxiously.
I'm afraid don't know any to in,
troduce you to-" seplied, and turned
away into the broadcast part of the
lake. The launch was capable Of a
lively clip and the engine worked cap
italy. I had no fear of being caught,
even If we should be pursued, and
this, in the broad light of the peaceful
Sabbath afternoon, seemed the re-
hottest possibility.
It had been understood that we
were to remain out until the sun
dropped into the western wood, and I
loitered on toward the upper lake
where the shores were rougher.
That's real island over there
they call it Battle Orchard-you must
have glimpse of it."
"Oh, nothing is so delightful as an
island!" exclaimed Helen.
lima had scanned the lake con-
stantly since we started, as was his
habit. Miss Pat turned to speak to
Helen of the shore that now swept
away from us in broader curves as we
passed out of the connecting channel
into the farther lake. lima remarked
to me quietly, as though speaking of
the engine:
There's man following in a row.
boat"
And as l replied to some remark by
Miss Pat, l saw, half a mile distant,
it's sails hanging idly, sloop that an
swered Gillespie's description of the
Stiletto. Its. snowy canvas shone
white against the green verdure of
| Battle Orchard.
Shut off the power moment We
will turn here, Ijima"-and 1 called
Miss Pats attention to a hoary old
sycamore on the western shore.
ooh, I'm disappointed not to cruise
nearer the island with the romantic
name,' cried Helen. "And there's a
yacht over there, tool"
already had the boat swung round,
and in reversing the course lost the
Stiletto, which chung to the island
shore; but saw now quite plainly the
rowboat lima had reported as follow.
ing us. 1t hung off about quarter of
mile and its single occupant had
ceased rowing and shipped his oars
as though waiting. He was between
us and the strait that connected the
upper and lower lakes. Though not
alarmed 1 was irritated by my care.
lessness in venturing through the
strait and anxious to return to the less
wild part of the lake. I did not dare
look over my shoulder, but kept talk
ing to my passengers, while lima,
with the rare intuition of his race, un.
derstood the situation and indicated
by gestures the course.
There's boat sailing through the
green, green WOOD" exclaimed Helen;
and true enough, as we crept in close
to the shore, We could still see, across
wooded point of the island, the sails
of the Stiletto, as of a boat of dreams,
drifting through the trees. And as
looked l saw something more. A tiny
signal flag was run quickly to the top.
mast head, withdrawn once and
flashed back; and as 1 faced the bow
again the boatman dropped his oars
into the water.
What strange looking man." re.
marked Miss Pat.
He doesn't look like native" re
piled, carelessly.
cutting half-circle, of which the Ital.
ian's boat was the center. He dallied
idly with his oars and seemed to pay
no heed to us, though he glanced sew.
eral times toward the yacht, which
had now crept into full view, and I'm.
der freshening breeze was bearing
southwark.
Full speed, lima"
The engine responded instantly, and
we cut through the water smartly.
There was space of about 25 yards
between the boatman and the nearer
shore. did not believe that he would
do more than try to annoy us by for
cling us on the swampy shore; for II
was still broad daylight, and we were
likely at any moment to meet other
craft. l was confident that with any
sort of luck could slip past him
and gain the strait, or dodge and run
round him before he could change the
course of his heavy skiff.
/ kicked the end of an oar which
the launch carried for emergencies
and lima, on this hint, drew 1t toward
him.
! "You can see some of the roofs o.
Port Annandale across the neck here,'
remarked, seeing that the women