The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-12-03
yes. monsieur" she said. her i'm.

AoS' mOASieuT, Sno S0lO, ner lid
trembling. Il win go with you"
The dawn found me with the paddle
but Rene still wide awake. There wa
a thin. gray fog over the river, whicl
turned to purple as the light strength
ened. and we were at the apex of
great bend, the course of the STREAM
ahead leading into the northwest. Tha
was not our direction, and besides
felt II there was pursuit it would b,
safer far ashore. Just as the sui
broke through the mist we came unex
pectedly to the mouth of a small
stream leading into the main rive
from the south. So thoroughly was il
concealed by thick growth of bushes
that we would have slipped by, had
not been skirting the shore closely
seeking some such opening. l headed
the canoe straight in, pressing aside
the branches to gain passage, ane
found beyond narrow creek, up which
we managed to paddle for several hun
dred yards. Then l stepped over
board, and dragged the light craft still
higher, until discovered a place Of
concealment behind . huge rottine
log.
Here we left it, Rene and l bearing
with us the guns and our small store
Of provisions. had cut cane for
Brady, and, with it's help, he managed
to get along slowly. although sight OF
his face made my heart ache. Thus in
single file we waded up the tiny
stream, until we attained a ledge of
rocks where our feet would leave no
trail Over these we toiled, helping
each other, until we came to the up.
land, into an open forest, carpeted
with autumn leaves. By this time
Brady was too exhausted to 60 further
sinking helplessly on the ground. Rene
also looked worn and heavy-eyed, and
had no heart to urge them on. We
ate sparsely of what food we had, but
Brady barely touched his portion. I
wrapped him in our only blanket, and
the three of us slept.
1t was the gray dawn when mademoi.
selle awoke me, shaking me soundly
ere | could be aroused. That some
thing was wrong perceived instantly
from the expression of her face, and
sat up. glancing hastily about, expect
ing the approach of savages.
What is it?"
He Is gone, monsieur! Monsieur
Brady is gone"
Gone! You mean left camp. Why
hat is impossible; he could barely
walk"
but he is not here, monsieur" she
insisted. See; it was there he lay.
will tell you all know l woke up in
The night and thought of him, of how
hard 1t was for SO strong a man to be
so weak and ill. Then l got up and
vent over quietly to be sure he was
Ill right. But he was awake, mon
'1eur, staring up at the sky with eyes
vide open. He saw me, and said he
vas nervous and could not sleep. No.
le told me he was not in pain, but
of being cold. l spread
more leaves over him, and he said that
vas better. Then-then he took my
land and kissed it. and begged me to
% back and-and lie down. He was
cry nice and gentle, and smiled al
ne. SO l went back, and crept into
ny leaves. and tried to sleep. He did
lot move. yet lay there long while
think cried a little, mon
ieur. for l felt so sorry. At last I
lept again. 1t was just little light
'hen l awoke once more, and my first
memory was of him. went over there
he was gone. could see
here he had rested In the leaves, and
ne blanket on the ground. but-but he
as not there. l sought for him, but
here was no trace-nothing. So j
anne and woke YOU"
l was on my feet. feeling of dread
juggling at my heart. l felt that l al |
eady knew what had happened, yet l |
ould not tell her-not now, not until |
was sure.
HE could not have gone far, Rene"
said hastily. Perhaps to the river
'r a drink. Come, we will see."
The ground about the camp had
cen SO trampled by our feet that, at
rst, l could not pick up the trail
inally, taking wider circle. l came
pom softer soil and the imprint of his
occasins. l knew they were his be-
ause Of one foot dragging, and the
npression Of his cane. They led down
ward the river, and followed swift
:. the girl close behind, until we stood
the edge Of the stream The mans
all ended there. explored the bank
r some distance up and down, but
ithout result. There were tears
immering in Rene's eyes, as l came
also was beginning to un.
,rstand. Without a word l waded
1t into the water, and swan across to
e other shore. There was nothing
ere-no sign. no mark of any de-
l came back to where
q waited, wading out with dripping
rments to the bank.
"There--there was nothing. mon.
eur?"
Nothing" answered gravely. "He
a not crOssod ovpr" hpaito tod q n In |