The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-12-23

The answer forestalled his arrival
IN Liverpool:
Trine's death sign for your father. For
Gods sake. look to yourself and keep
| away from America.
But Alan had more than once Wis
tied America incognito and unknown
to Seneca Urine via secret route OF
his own selection.
Eight days out of London, a second
class passenger newly landed from
one OF the C.-P. steamships, he walked
the streets of Quebec-and dropped
out Of sight between dark and dawn,
to turn up presently In the distant
Canadian hamlet of Bale St Paul, ap-
parently very tenderfooted American
woods-traveler chaperoned by a taci-
turn Indian guide picked up heaven
mows-where.
Crossing the st. Lawrence by night,
the two struck off quietly into the
h1nterland Of the Notre Dame range,
then crossed the Maine border.
On the second noon thereafter,
trall-Worn and weary, as lean as their
depleted packs, the two paused on a
r1dge-pole of the wilderness up back
OF the Allagash country, and made
their midday meal in a Silence which,
If normal in the Indian, was one of
deep misgivings on Alan's part.
Continually his gaze questioned the
northern skies that lowered porten-
tously, foul with smoke-a country.
wide conf1agration that threatened all
northern Maine, bone-dry with
drought
Only the south offered a fair pros
pect. And the fires were making
southwark far faster than man might
hope to travel through that grim and
stubborn land.
Even as he stared, Alan saw fresh
columns of dun-colored smoke spring
up In the northwest.
Anxiously he consulted the impas.
sive mask of the Indian, from whom
his questions gained Alan little com.
fort. Jacob recommended forced
marches to Spirit lake, where canoes
might be found to aid their flight;
and withdrew into sullen reserve.
They travelled far and fast by dim
forest trails before shutdown, then
again paused for food and rest. And
as Jacob sat deity about preparing
the meal, Alan stumbled off to whip
the little trail-side stream for trout.
Perhaps hundred yards upstream,
the back-lash of a careless cast by his
weary hand hooked the state of Maine.
Too tired even to remember the an.
propriate words, Alan scrambled
ashore, forced through the thick un-
dergrowth that masked the trail,
found his fly, set the state of Maine
ireland swinging on his heel
brought up, nose to sapling, trans.
liked by rectangle of white paste
board fixed to its trunk. a trey of
hearts, of which each pip had been
neatly punctured by 22-caliber bull
let.
He carried 1t back to camp, mean
Ing to consult the guide, but on sec.
ond thought, held his tongue. It was
net likely that the Indian had over
looked an object SO conspicuous on
the trail.
SO Alan waited for him to speak
and meantime determined to watch
Jacob more narrowly, though no other
suspicious circumstance had marked
the several days Of their association.
The first half of the night was, as
The day, devoted to relentless prog.
'ess southwark; thirty minutes OF
steady jogging, five minutes for rest
and repeat
No more question as to the need for
'uch urgent haste; overhead the north
wind muttered without ceasing. Thin
veils of smoke drifted through the for.
'st, hugging the ground, like some
weird acrid mist; and ever the cur.
aimed heavens glared, livid with re.
lected fires.
BY midnight Alan had come to the
'ounds of endurance; flesh, bone and
inew could no longer stand the strain.
'hough Jacob declared that Spirit
axe was now only six hours distant.
. AoA 90 GOACCIuCu Aldu ne mlgnt
ave said 600. His blanket once un.
oiled, Alan dropped upon It like one
rugged.
The sun was high when he awak.
ned and sat up, rubbing heavy eyes.
tretching aching limbs, wonderinR
hat had come over the Indian to let
Inn sleep so late.
OF sudden he was assaiIed by sick.
ming fears that needed only the brief.
st investigation to confirm. Jacob
ad absconded with every valuable
EN- Of their equipment.
Nor was his motive far to seek.
vernight the fire had made tire.
endous gains. And ever and anon
Ie wind would bring down the roar
the holocaust, dulled by distance
1T not unlike the growing of wild
limals feeding on their kill.
Alan delayed long enough only to
vailow few mouthfuls of raw food.
llped water from a spring, and set
1t at dog-trot or the trail to Shirt