The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-06-25

skein together. As we finished the
meal, some newly awakened curiosity
caused me to glance out again into
the rear room. It was gloomy with
shadows, the bodies Of man and dog
beyond view; yet what l perceived
brought from my lips q sudden excla-
nation.
Brady, some one has been in here!
The outer door Is unlatched-yes-and
the soldiers coat is gonel"
We searched the room carefully, but
discovered no sign Of its having been
entered, except for the door standing
slightly ajar, and the disappearance Of
the red coat We dare not carry q
torch into the open, and the night was
too dark for US to trace marks on the
ground. Brady stood In the glow of
1irelight, looking to the printing of his
rife. his face Swallowed.
II am going out awhile. Hayward"
he said finally. Eyes, l am all right
now. l meant to take you along, but,
I reckon, it will be safer not to leave
the Dutchman here alone. However.
don't think there will be any more
visitors tonight"
He slipped out the back way, disap-
pearing instantly. and picked up my
own rife, babe Schultx remain where
he was. and followed. with the purpose
Of scouting about the island. could
perceive the new danger we were in.
Suppose the assassin, eager to save
himself from suspicion, should be At
tracted to that camp Of raiders, and,
relying on their friendship for protec-
ton, charge 10 with the murder Of
D'Auvray. What mercy could we hope
for at their hands? Beyond doubt the
band, Was composed of ambitious young
warriors, who had already tasted
blood, and under control Of no chief
able to restrain them, II their wild pas.
sions should be appealed to.
But emerged into darkness ana 81.
lence. Quickly a. had made this de-
cision I was too late. The scout had
already disappeared across the narrow
open space, and vanished into the
fringe of trees. There was nothing to
guide me, except . vague sense Of d.
rection, yet felt my way forward
through the dense tree growth, hear.
ing no sound Of movement, and COM
PEELED to move slowly until l emerged
at the shore, and could perceive the
stars reflected on the surface of still
water. As fingered there clear Of the
woods shadow, my courage gradually
returned, and our situation appeared
less desperate. Whoever the fellow
was who had killed D'Auvray he might
have az much cause to fear the Indian
raiders as we did. The mere fact that
he wore red coat was no direct proof
he was . British soldier; doubtless
many q forest renegade had picked up
bits of discarded uniform. Besides,
why should any soldier desire to kill
D'Auvray? He had led his Indians to
action under Hamilton. More likely
the fellow was French. and the murder
the end Of some private feud. His
only desire then would be to get away
safely, to escape unseen. Brady would
learn all this, and he would be back
presently.
do not know how long a time
passed, only l had circled the house
twice, skirting the edge Of the woods
in my rounds, keeping we'll in the
blacker shadows. and moving noise
lessly. every nerve alert. Back Of the
house discovered mound Of earth,
heaped as . roof, over an opening In
the ground. evidently cellar of some
kind. So far as could discover, by
cropping in the darkness, there was
nothing concealed within, but the en-.
trance offered . good hiding place, and
l sat down there where l could see in
every direction, with my rife across
my knees. The stars yielded a spec
trail light, and no one could move
across the clearing unobserved. sat
there for.ten minutes. seeing and hear.
ing nothing. gradually growing drowsy
In the silence, my head sinking back
against the earth mound. Yet re.
NAMED awake and watchful, although
when first perceived q figure fitting
out Of the black fringe of woods. halt
believed 1t q dream. But 1t was no
dream, and l sat up suddenly, my
heart beating like triphammer. and
stared. l could see little. not enough
u Ocl0TUlu0 WuStu0T lu0 lutTuu0T WAS
savage or white, merely perceiving an
indistinct form, crouching low, yet ad.
vancing directly toward me. There
was no hesitancy. no evidence Of fear,
but merely the natural caution Of one
travelling alone in the wilderness. At
first believed 1t to be Brady return.
ing, yet hesitated to step boldly forth,
for the figure appeared small and I'm.
natural, barely perceptible against the
darker background of earth.
To render myself more secure I drew
cautiously back step within the Gel
lar entrance, and waited breathlessly,
bracing myself to meet either friend
or foe. could no longer see the in
truder. and the caution Of his ap.
proach made me certain the man must
be- an enemy. Surely Brady. even
while exercising every precaution.
would never hesitate like this, and
grope his way forward inch by inch.
felt the hot blood leap in my veins;
then the fellow, still crouching low,