Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-06
CHAPTER XI.
The Log Hut in the Mountains.

The Log Hut In the Mountains.
What awakened the woman she did
not know; in all probability It was
the bright sunlight streaming through
the narrow window before her. The
cabin was so placed that the sun did .
not strike fairly into the room until .
it was some hours high, consequently
she had her long sleep out entirely un- ,
disturbed. The man had made no ef- |
fort whatever to awaken her. What |
ever tasks he had performed since day /
break had been so silently accomplish I
ed that she had not been aware of .
them
So soon as he could do so. he had left |
the cabin and was now busily engaged |
In his daily duties outside the cabin |
and beyond earshot He knew that
sleep was the very best medicine for
her, and It was best that she should
not be disturbed until in her own good
time she awoke.
The clouds had empued themselves
during the night, and the wind had
at last died away toward morning, and
now there was great calm abroad in
the land. The sunlight was dazzling.
Outside, where the untempered rays
beat full upon the crests OF the noun
tains. II was doubtless warm, but with
IN the cabin It was chilly. The fire
had long since burned completely
away. and he had not entered the room
10 replenish Il. Yet Enid Maitland had
lain snug and warm under her blan-
kets. She presently tested her wound
ed foot, by moving It gently. and dis
covered agreeably that It was much
less painful than she had anticipated.
The treatment the night before had
been very successful
She did not get up Immediately, but
the GOODNESS OF the room struck her SO
soon as she got out OF bed. Upon her
first awakening she was hardly con-
scious Of her situation; her sleep had
been too long and too heavy, and her
awakening too gradual for any sud-
den appreciation Of the new condition.
II was not until she had stared around
the walls OF the rude cabin for some
time, that she realized where she was
and what had happened. When she
did so she arose at once.
Her first impulse was to call. Never
In her life had she felt such death
like stiffness. Even in the camp al
most always there had been a whis-
per OF breeze through the pine trees,
or the chatter OF water over the rocks.
But here there were no pine trees and
no sound Of rushing brook came to
her. II was almost painful. She was
keen to dress and 90 out of the house.
She stood upon the rude puneheon
floor on one foot. scarcely able yet to
bear even the lightest pressure upon
the other. There were her clothes on
chairs and tables before the fireplace.
Such had been the heat thrown out by
that huge blaze that a brief inspec-
ton convinced her that everything
was thoroughly dry. Dry or wet, she
must needs put them on, since they
were all she had. She noticed that
there were no locks on the doors, and
she realized that the only protection
she had was the sense Of decency and
the honor OF the man. That she had
been allowed her sleep unmolested
made her the more confident on that
account.
She dressed hastily. although II was
the work OF some difficulty in view OF
her wounded foot, and OF the stiff con
dition OF her rough, dried apparel
Presently she was completely clothed
save for that disrobed foot With tn,
big clumsy bandages upon II, she coulc
not draw her stocking over it, and ever
II she succeeded in that, she could IN
no way make shift to put on her boot
The situation was awkward, the pre-
dicament annoying. She was wearins
boomers and a short skirt for he
mountain climbing. and she did no
know quite what to do. She thought O
tearing up one OF the rough, unblesch
ed sheets and wrapping it around he
leg. but she hesitated as to that. 1
was very trying. Otherwise, she woul.
have opened the door and stepped GU
Into the open air. Now she felt her
self virtually a prisoner.
She had been thankful that no on,
had disturbed her. but now she wishe,
for the man. In her helplessness sh,
thought OF his resourcefulness will
eagerness. The man. however. did no
appear. and there was nothing for he
to do but to wait for him. Taking on.
of the blankets from the bed. she 81
down and drew IL across her knees an
took stock Of the room.
The cabin was built OF logs, Ii
room was large perhaps IL by 20 fee
with one side completely taken up
the stone fireplace; there were Nv
windows, one on either side OF I'll
outer door, which opened toward II
southwest. The walls were unplsste
ed save in the chinks between II
rough hewn logs OF which II was mad
Over the fireplace and around on or
side ran a rude shelf covered Wit
books. She had no opportunity to e
anime them, although later she voul
become familiar with every one
them.
Into the walls on the other sit
were driven wooden pegs; from son
OF them hung q pair of snow shoes,
heavy Winchester rifle. fishing tack
and other necessary wilderness par
phernalia. On the puncheon door VIC
and bear skins were spread. In OF
corner against the wall again We
Piled several splendid pairs Of horI