The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-13
CHAPTER y.-rREAcHERy.

CHAPTER V.-TREACHERY
Continually his gaze questioned the
northern skies that Toured porten-
tously. foul with smoke-here dia-
phanous smear. there sluggish pail
like thunoercloud, there again spew-
Ing aloft dense, convolutcd pillars that
blushed darkly with the reelection of
Internal fires; countrywide con1a-
grafton driven by winds that restlersly
quartered the north from east to west
threatened unless soon checked to lay
waste TO all Northern Maine. bone dry
with drought.
Only the South offered a fair pros-
pect Aud the fres were making south
ward far faster than man might hope
TO travel through that grim and stub
born land. Yesterday night little moro
! than dull glow down tho horizon, to-
day they were already imminent
menace. closing in swiftly from the
north. spreading rapidly In The east.
! hourly threatening the western trails.
Even as he stared. Alan saw fresh
columns Of dun-colored smoke spring
up In the northwest as rhe flames.
spurred by fre.hcning wind from
tho northeast. made league consuming
strides.
Anxiously he consulted the impas-
slve mask of the Indian. from whom his
questions gained Alan little comfort.
Jacob opined that rain alone would
STOP the names. refused 10 venture any
weather forecast: negatived Alan's ten
tative suggestion that they turn back !:
recommended forced marches to bring
them by to-morrow's noon to spot he
called Spirit Lake, where canoes might
be found TO aid their flight; and with
drew into sullcn reserve.
They travelled far and fast by dim
forest trails before shutdown. then
again paused for food and rest. And
as Jacob sat deftly about prepa ring the
meal. Alan stumbled OF TO whip the
little trailside stream for trout.
Perhaps hundred yards upstream
tho back lash OF careless cast by his
weary hand hooked the State OF Maine.
, Too tired even to remember the. APP
propriate words Alan scrambled ashore.
forced through the thick underground
that masked tho trail. found his iy.
set tho State OF Maine free-and swing
ing on his heel. brought up standing,
| nose to nose with a sapllng. transhXed
by the discovery OF n rectangle OF
white pasteboard fixed TO it's trunk.
trey OF hearts. OF which each pip had
been neatly punctured by a .22-calibre
bullet.
Nor had it been long there. When
Alan scrutinized 1t closely. ne found the
card innocent of weatherstains. the pin
unrusted that held II. the wounds In
the sa pling raw and damp.
He carried II back to camp, meaning
to consult the guide. but on second
thought held his tongue. 1t WAS not
likely that the Indian had overlooked
an object so conspicuous on tho trail
or all other known signs OF human
| neighbors that must have been so glar-
ing to his woods sharpened wits.
SO Alan waited for him TO speak
and meantime determined to watch
Jacob more narrowly, though no other
suspicious circumstance had marked
IL,
1t might still turn out to be simple
chance which had thrown that sinister
card In his patch.
The first half of the night was, as
the day, devoted to relentless progress
southwark; thirty minutes OF steady
jogging, five minutes for rest-and re-
peat.
No more questions as to the need for
such urgent haste; overhead the north
wind muttered without ceasing: thin
wells OF smoke drifted through the
forest, huggtng the ground. like some
weird acrid mist; and ever tho curtain
ed heavens glarod, livid with reflected
fires.
BY midnight Alan had come to the
bounds of endurance; flesh, bone and
sinew could no longer stand that strain.
Though Jacob declared that Spirit Lake
was now only six hours distant. IS far
a concerned Alan. he might have said
Blk nunoTeu lHcy CdHIPeu W pci
functory fashion. His blanket once
unrolled. Alan dropped upon 1t like one
drugged.
The sun was high when he awakened
and sat up. rubbing heavy eyes.
stretching aching limbs. wondering
what had come over the Indian to let
him sleep so late.
or sudden he was assalled "by sick
ening fears that needed only the brief
est investigation to confirm. Jacob
had ahsconded with every valuable
Item OF their equipment. leaving Alan
barely food enough for cold break
fast.
Nor was his motive far to seek
Overnight the Are had made tremend-