The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-04-01
CHAPTER XIV.
Battle Orchard.

When called at st. Agatha's the
following morning the maid told me
that Miss Pat was i'll and that Miss
Helen asked to be excused. I walked
restlessly about the grounds until
luncheon, thinking Helen might ap.
pear; and later determined to act on
an impulse, with which I had trifled
for several days, to seek the cottage
on the Tippecanoe and satisfy myself
of Holbrooks absence. A sharp show
er had cooled the air, and I took the
canoe for greater convenience in run.
ming into the shallow creek. I know
nothing comparable to padding as a
litter of the spirit, and with my arms
and head barred and cool breeze at
my back was soon skimming along
as buoyant OF heart as the responsive
canoe beneath me. It was about four
o'clock when dipped my way into the
farther lake, and as the water broad.
ened before me at the little strait saw
the Stiletto lying quietly at anchor OF
the eastern shore Of Battle Orchard.
drew close to observe her the better,
but there were no signs of life on
board, and padded to the western
side of the island.
1t had already occurred to me that
Holbrook might have another hiding
place than the cottage at Red Gate,
where had talked with him, and the
island seemed likely spot for it.
ran my canoe on the pebbly beach and
climbed the bank. The trail bore up
ward and soon came upon small
clearing about an acre in extent that
had once been titled, but it was now
pre-empted by weeds as high as my
head. Beyond lay an ancient orchard,
chiefly of apple trees, and many hoary
veterans stood faithful to the brave
hand that had marshaled them there.
every orchard is linked to the He's
perides and every apple waits for At
alanta-if not for Eve!) I stopped to
pick wild flower and found an arrow
head lying beside it.
Fumbling the arrow head in my fin.
gers, passed on to a log cabin hid
den away in the orchard. approached
warily remembering that if this were
Holbrook's camp and he had gone
away he had probably left the Italian
to look after the yacht, which could be
seen from the cabin door. 1 made a
circuit of the cabin without seeing any
signs of habitation, and was about to
enter by the front door, when heard
the swish of branches in the under
brush to the east and dropped into the
grass.
| In a moment the Italian appeared,
carrying pair of oars over his Shout
der. He had evidently just landed,
as the blades were dripping. He threw
them down by the cabin door, came
round to the western window, drew
! out the pin from an iron staple with
which it was fastened, and thrust his
head in. He was greeted with a howl
and loud demand of some sort, to
which he replied in monosyllables, and
after several minutes Of this parley
caught fragment of dialogue which
seemed to be final in the subject under
discussion.
Let me out or it will be the worse
Tor you; let me out, say!"
my boss he sometime come back:
then you get out it, maybe"
With this deliverance, accomplished
with some difficulty, the Italian turned
away, going to the rear Of the cabin
for pail with which he trudged of
toward the lake. He had not closed
the window and would undoubtedly
return in a few minutes; so l waited
until he was out Of sight, then rose
and crawled through the grass to the
opening.
looked in upon bare room whose
one door opened inward. and did not
for moment account for the voice.
Then something stirred in the farther
corner, and I slowly made out the hg.
ure Of man tied hand and foot, lying
on his back in pile Of grass and
leaves.
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