The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-04-20

n>tne firmly, and then she turned and
went gut In silence. As she passed out
of the opening her hand dropped the
skin. leaving the interior In darkness.
l stood motionless, listening to the
many sounds without, hardly conscious
yet that she had gone. The hot blood
was throbbing in my veins, but it was
caused by no thought OF the dangers
me. At that moment she
alone occupied my mind. Then SLOW
ly her message required, forcing its
way In upon my consciousness with in
sistence. Tonight-our escape must be
made within two short hours. /
stepped forward to awaken Brady. but
now, with my brain cleared. . sudden
suspicion came. Was this honest plan
ming? Was the desire back Of It &C
tually our escape? Or was it born of
treachery? Not for an instant did
question her-the purity and truth Of
her purpose--but Simon Girty. Why
should he scheme to help us? Never
before had I heard his name spoken
as any harbinger Of mercy to the
frontier. / recalled his ugly face. his
narrow, furtive eyes, and my doubt of
him increased. The plan was too easy,
too we'll oiled, to be altogether natural.
/ shook Brady awake, told him all
that had occurred, so far as related to
our effort, but without voicing my sus-
picion.
OF an owl, but it was not repeated.
Then, at last, the signal came, sound
ing near at hand, from somewhere
down the stream. Brady went first,
worming his way silently beneath the
flap. and, the instant he disappeared,
followed. There was a slight gully to
our left, and we crept into it, keeping
down out of the CLEAN of fire. Lying
side by side at the edge of the water
he put his lips close to my ear.
"On your back, lad, with only the
nose out; stroke easy, and let the cur
rent carry you down."
He lowered himself into the stream,
which was deep to the shore, as silent
ly as ghost. A dozen feet away
lost sight of him entirely amid the
dim, dancing shadows. Then l fol-
turned up to the sky. It was q dark
night, but with few stars visible
peeping down through riffs Of cloud.
The small river was not wide, nor the
current particularly swift, and l had
not been carried far down stream
when the overhanging branches of the
opposite bank gave shelter. drew my
self ashore, and sat there. shivering in
my wet clothes. the night air chill, and
stared anxiously about, and across to
the shore we had just left. The heavy,
dark woods were silent: could hear
a scurrying in the bushes at the top of
the bank, but it was only the fright
ened fight OF some startled wild ami.
NAL. There was no sign of alarm, or
excitement
I moved down the shore cautiously,
keeping well below the concealing
bank until I found Brady. He was
crouched in the shadow of a great tree
root, his whole attention riveted on
the opposite SIDE
There are no signs of pursuit."
mot that can see. l have watched
here some minutes, but there has been
no movement along the bank. We will
move on down stream"
1t was hard walking amid the tangled
roots, and we made slow work of it.
Brady, in advance, stumbled once or
twice, and, / noticed, held one hand
pressed against his side as though
from pain, breathing heavily. To our
left, but some distance away, voice
called, and was answered by another.
So, toiling on, we came to sharp
bend in the stream
ut must be about opposite here,
Hayward he said stopping, "the girl
told you the boat would be. What is
that Jumping shadow yonder? Your
eyes are younger than mine"
l looked where he pointed, shading
my eyes, and gradually focusing the
outlines until they assumed definite
shape.
ut is big tree bent down over the
river; no doubt the one she meant"
You see no movement"
I strained my eyes. seal ching the
dark shore inch by inch, but could per-
ceive nothing; the lights of the fires
were far away.
at is still as death over there"
He shot swift glance at me, as if
the words pleased him little. In the
dim starshine his face appeared ghast-
~ white.
Perhaps the days of miracles are
not gone" he said doubtfully, "and
Girty may have played fair. Anyhow
there is nothing to be done now but
test it. Come on, lad; well take to
water again"
The cheerful note in his voice boil
stored my own courage. We swan
straight this time, with steady stroke,
our eyes scanning the bank we were
approaching. And the canoe was there.