The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-07-31
CHAPTER xxII-continued.


ly as a ghost. A dozen feet away l
lost sight of him entirely amid the
dim, dancing shadows. Then fol-
lowed with equal caution, my face
turned up to the sky. 1t was 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.
l moved down the shore cautiously,
keeping well below the concealing
bank until l found Brady. He was
crouched in the shadow of great tree
root, his whole attention riveted on
the opposite side.
There are no signs of pursuit."
Not that can see. 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, l noticed, held one hand
pressed against his side as though
from pain, breathing heavily. To our
left, but some distance away, a voice
called, and was answered by another.
So, toiling on, we came to a 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"
| looked where he pointed, shading
my eyes, and gradually focusing the
outlines until they assumed definite
shape.
1T is a big tree bent down over the
river; no doubt the one she meant"
you see no movement"
| strained my eyes, searching the
dark shore inch by inch, but could per-
ceive nothing; the lights of the fires
we're far away.
1T 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-
ly 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; we'll 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,
smuggled under the leaning tree, bow
to bank, rendered shapeless by COW
ering of broken branches. We lay
hold of the sides, standing waist deep
in water, our eyes searching the high
bank towering dark above US. There
was no movement, no sound, and low
cred the branches one by one into the
water and permitted them to float ST.
lently down stream.
Concealed by the shade of the great
tree | waded cautiously ashore and
crept out into maze of roots. The
higher bank rose sheer before me. To
the right there was an opening, as If a
trail led down to the river, and re-
vealed there against the upper sky,
something moved. For an instant
could tell no more; then l recognized
human figure stealing cautiously to-
ward me through the gloom. 1t moved
silently as spirit, and my heart beaS
fiercely as | rose up and stared. She
was close upon me before l was sure
Rene"
oh" little catch in the quick
whisper; "then-then it is you; how
how did you come here?"
| drew her back into the deeper
shadow, and told her the brief story in
swift words, clinging to her hands, as
I held her close. l could not distin
buish her face, but she listened, hel
soft breath on my cheek.
ooh, / am so glad-so glad, mon
sieur. did not know until after gave
the signal. IL came down here to be
sure-to, to say good-by," she faltered
"and-and saw them waiting"
Then 1t was treachery? The pur
pose was to kill us? Girty lied?"
Eyes, monsieur. You-you will not
believe l knew? That suspected such
a thing?"
My handclasp frightened.
mo, dear, no; go on. Where are the
menu"
Most of them, ten or twelve as neal
as could make out, are in ravine al
the edge of the camp, yonder close tt
the shore. There are three others VI
above here, hiding behind the bank"
II see; the attack was to be made by
those above as we crept along, and i
either of US got away those three
devils were to complete the job"