Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-14
Copyright. !
CHAPTER VIII.
The Wilderness Cabin.

The light YVES cCnslderaOiy 1artner
away thsa thsy had at hrst supposed,
and as they advanced steadily toward
it. the nature OF the ground rapidly
chsnSod. becoming irregular, and lit
tered With low growing shrubs. In
the darkness they stumbled over out
croyetngp OF rock, and after a fall or
two, were compelled to move forward
with extreme caution. But the mys-
FERROUS yellow glow continually beck
oned. and with new hope animating
the hearts OF both men. they staggered
on nervins themselves to the effort.
and following closely along the bank
of the stream.
At last they arrived where they
could perceive dimly something of the
nature OF this unexpected desert oasis.
The light shone forth, piercing the
night, through the uncurtained window
OF log cabin, which would otherwise
have been completely concealed from
view by a group OF low growing cot
tonwoods. This was all the black en-
shrouding night revealed. and even
this was merely made apparent by the
yellow illumination Of the window.
The cabin stood upon an island, a
strip Of sand, partially covered by wa
ter, separating 1t from the north shore
on which they stood. There was no
sign Of life about the hut, other than
the burning lamp, but that alone was
sufficient evidence OF occupancy. In
spite Of hunger, and urgent need, Keith
hesitated. uncertain as to what they
might be called upon to face. Who
could be living IN this out-of-the-way
spot, IN the heart OF this inhospitable
desert? It would be no cattle out
post surely, for there was no surround
ing grazing land, while surely no pro-
fessional hunter would choose such
barren spot for headquarters. Either
hermit, anxious to escape all inter
course with l1rnsHitv. o. some outlaw
tii'rr Hr~-- ~r-- --'1 - 'i'-e'-' ~
select 80 isolated q place IN which to
live. To them it would be ideal. Away
from all trails, where not even widely
rowing cattlemen would penetrate In
midst Of desert avoided by Indians
because OF lack Of game-a mar might
hide here year after year without
danger Of discovery. Yet such one
would not be likely to welcome their
coming, and they were without arms.
But Keith was not man to hesitate
long because Of possible danger. and
he stepped down into the shallow wa
ter.
Come on, Neb," he commanded
land wen find out WHO lives here"
The window faced the vest, aud he
came up the low bank TO where the
door fronted the north IN intense
darkness. Under the shadow Of the
cOttonwoods he could see nothing
cropping his way, with hands extended
Els foot struck fat stone, and he
plunged forward, striking the uRlatch
ed door SO heavily as to swing it open
and fell partially forward into tht
room. AS he struggled to his knees
Neb's black face peering past him int
the lighted interior, he seemed to per
ceive in one swift, mprehensiv'
glance every revealed detail, A LAM
burned on rudely constructed set 0
drawers near the widow, and a woC'
fire blazed redly In stone fireplace
opposite, the yellow and red light
blending In a peculiar glow OF color
Under this radiance were revealed TIN
rough log walls plastered with yellow
clay, and hung about with the skin
of wild animals, q roughly made table
bare except for book lying upon II
and few ordinary appearing boxes
,-As1 ~
with a barrel cut so as to mako a CON
Portable chair. In the back wall wa
door, partially open, APPARENT
leading into a second room. That wa
all, except the woman.
Keith must have perceived all thes
On that first hurried glance, for the
were ever after closely associated tc
gether In his mind, yet at the memen
he possessed no clear thought Of any
thing except her. She stood direcu
Behind the table, whore shs must hav
sprung hastily at the first sound c
their approach. clutchiug at the rud
IatEtel above the fireplace, and starin
toward him, her face white, her breat
coming In sobs. At first he though
from his long struggle; he could n,
conceive the possibility Of such a pre-
ence In this lonely place. and stasse
Ing TO his fest, Eazed wildly, dumb
at the slender. gray clad figure, the {
most girlish face under the shadOwil
dark hair. expecting the maryello
vision TO vanish. Surely this cou
not be real 4 woman. and such
woman as this here, and alone, OF
pi&css! He staggered from weakne'
a<noft terror, and grsspsd the tai
70 aeld himself ereot. Tho risi
wind cane swirl!n9 In through t
open door, causing the fro to Sc
forth spirals Of smoke, aDd hs turn'
dragging the dazed negro within, a
Hnspping the latch behind him. VII
he glanced around again ne fully
leyed the vision confronting h
would have vanished. But no! the
sSe yet remained, those wide-op'
S.1ghtaoet brown eyes, with long la
as hlt hiding their depths, looking
Tsctiy into his own; only now she Ii
slightly changed her posture leani
toward him across the table. Like
yeality-5och and blood-and W
the swift instinct OF a gentleman,
nurnbed. neryeless fingers jerked
his hat, G"1 . bowed bareheaded
b1.