Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-01-12

For hours he trod steadily through
the sand. The sun rose above him.
hot and blistering, and the dunes still
stretched out ahead of him, like win
nows and hills and mountains OF gilt.
tering glass. Gradually the desert be-
came narrower. Far ahead he could
see where the forest came down to
the shore and his heart grew
lighter. Half an hour later he en-
tered the margin Of trees. Almost i'm
mediately he found signs of life. A
tree had been felled and cut into
wood. A short distance beyond he
came suddenly upon a narrow path.
beaten hard by the passing Of feet,
n leading toward the lake. He had
meant to rest under the shade Of
these trees, but now he forgot his
fatigue. For a moment he hesitated.
Far back in the forest he heard the
barking Of a dog-but he turned in
the opposite direction. If there was a
boat the path would take him to It.
Through a break in the trees he
caught the green sweep Of marsh
rice and his heart beat excitediy with
hope. Where there was rice there
were wild fowl, and surely where
there were wild fowl there would be
a punt or a canoe! In his eagerness
he ran, and where the path ended, the
flags and rice beaten into the mud and
water. he stopped with an e%xultant
cry. At his feet was a canoe. 1t was
uot no fhn,,0h t,ct Irauyn n,tf nf tho
water, and a freshly used paddle was
lying across the bow. Pausing but to
take a quick and cautious glance
about him he showed the frail craft
into the lake and with a few quiet
strokes buried himself in the rice
grass. When he emerged from 1t he
was half a mile from the shore.
For a long time he sat motionless,
looking out over the ~shimmering sea.
Far to the south and west he could
make out the dim outline of Beaver
island, while over the trail he had
come, mile upon mile. lay the glisten-
ing dunes. Somewhere between the
coast of the Mormon kingdom Marion
was making her way back to bondage.
Nathaniel had given up all hope Of
overtaking her now. Long before he
could intercept her she would have
reached the island. When he started
again he padded slowly, and laid out
for himself the plan that he was to
follow. There must be no mistake this
time, no error in judgment, no rash.
ness in his daring. He would lie in
hiding until dusk. and then under
cover Of darkness he would hunt down
Strang and kill him. After that he
would fly to his canoe and escape. A
little later. perhaps that very night If
fate played the game well for him. he
would return for Marion.
The sun mounted straight and hot
over his head; he padded more slow
ly, and rested more frequently, as 1t
descended into the west, but 1t still
lacked two hours Of sinking behind
the island forest when the white wa
terrim of the shore came within his
vision. He had meant to hold off the
coast until the approach Of evening,
but changed his mind and landed, con.
cealing his canoe in a spot which he
marked well, for he knew 1t would
soon be useful to him again. Deep
shadows were already gathering In the
forest and through these Nathaniel
made his way slowly in the direction
Of st. James.
He came out In the strip of dense
forest between the clearing and st,
James, worming his way cautiously
through the underbrush until he could
look out into the opening. A single
glance and he drew back II astonish-
ment, He looked again. and his face
turned suddenly white. and an almost
inaudible cry fell from his lips. There
was no longer a cabin In the clear
Ing! Where 1t had been there was
gathered n crowd OF men and boys.
Above their heads he saw a thin film
of smoke and he knew what had hap
pened. Marion's home had burned!
But what was the crowd doing? 1t
hung close In about the smoldering
ruins as II every person In 1t were
striving to reach a common center.
Surely a mere fire would not gather
and hold a throng like this.
Nathaniel rose to his feet and
thrust his head and shoulders from
his hiding-place. He heard a loud
shout near him and drew back quick
ly as a boy rushed madly across the
opening toward the crowd crying out
at the top OF his voice. He had come
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