Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-07-24

stream leading into the main river
from the south. So thoroughly was it
concealed by a thick growth of bushes.
that we would have slipped by, had l
not been skirting the shore closely.
seeking some such opening. / headed
the canoe straight in, pressing aside
the branches to gain passage, and
found beyond a narrow creek, up which
we managed to paddle for several hun
dred yards. Then / stepped over-
board, and dragged the light craft still
higher. until / discovered a place of
concealment behind a huge rotting
log.
Here we left it, Rene and / bearing
with US the guns and our small store
of provisions. l had cut a cane for
Brady, and, with its 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 go further,
sinking helplessly on the ground. Rene
also looked worn and heavy-eyed, and
| had no heart to urge them on. We
ate sparsely.sf what food we had, but
Brady barely touched his portion. 1
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.l 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
that is impossible; he could barely
walk"
But he is not here, monsieur she
insisted. See; it was there he lay. I
will tell you all l know. l woke up in
the night and thought of him, of how
hard it was for SO strong a man to be
SO weak and i'll. Then l got up and
wen i've quietly to be sure he was
all right. But he a awake, mon
sieur, staring up at the sky with eyes
wide open. He saw me, and said he
was v and could not sleep. No,
he told me he was not in pain, but
complained of being cold. l spread
more leaves over him, and he said that
was better. Then-then he took my
hand and kissed it, and begged me to
go back and-and lie down. He was
very nice and gentle, and smiled at
me. So I went back, and crept into
my leaves, and tried to sleep. He did
not move, yet / lay there a long while
thinking. think / cried a little, mon
sieur, for l felt so sorry. At last I
slept again. 1t was just a little light
when / awoke onc more, and my first
memory was of him. I went oyer there
and-and he was gone. / could see
where he had rested in the leaves, and
the blanket on the ground, but-but he
was not there. / sought for him, but
there was no trace-nothing. So /
came and woke you"
I was on my feet, a feeling of dread
tugging at my heart. / felt that l al
ready knew what had happened, yet
could not tell her-not now, not until
I was sure.
HE. could not have gone far, Rene"
I said hastily. Perhaps to the river
for a drink. Come. we will see."
The ground about the camp had
been so trampled by our feet that, at
first, / could not pick up the trail.
Finally, taking a wider circle, l came
upon softer soil and the imprint of his
moccasins. / knew they were his be.
cause of one foot dragging, and the
impression of his cane. They led down
toward the river, and l followed swift.
ly. the girl close behind. until we stood
at the edge of the stream. The mans
trail ended there. I explored the bank
for some distance up and down, but
without result. There. were tears
glimmering in Rene's eyes, as / came
back-she also was beginning to I'm.
derstand. Without a word l waded
out into the water, and swan across to
the other shore. There was nothing
there-no sign, no mark of any de.
scription-and ! came back to where
she waited, wading out with dripping
garments to the bank.
"There-there was nothing, mon,
sieurw
Nothing" I answered graveIy. HE
has not crossed over" Ihesitated an in
slant, but could not resist the question
ing horror in her eyes. You under
stand. do you not?"
"You-you think" she faltered, "thai
Monsieur Brady has-has killed him
self"
He has given his life for others. my
girl-for you and me, and those sol
diers of st. Clair's."
She stood a moment, silent, tears OF
her cheeks, looking blindly out at the
water. Then she sank upon her knees
holding the crucifx against her face
| could see the movement of her lips
but heard. nothing; only l knew thaf
she prayed for his soul, and my owl
eyes were moist as / knelt beside her
Then l lifted her up by the hand, ant
we went back up the hill to the camp
There raj nothing to hope for ii
waiting. and all Jul duty lay beyond
Without the exchange of a word WI
packed what few things we had. ant
started, following the bank of tn,
stream.
1t was a raw November morning tina
we came Unexpectedly upon St. Clair's
outposts. The ground was cover
with snow, and the little pools wer,
SKINNED owe with thin ice. 1t hat
been too cold to rest, and we hal
walked much of the night, afraid Il
! build a fire. Chilled to the marrow
by the icy wind that swept through
the trees and buffeted US, I hat
wrapped the girl in our only blanket
fastening it about her head and face
hurt Is l did SO by the dumb, pa
mar, Queen Alexandra's younges