The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-08-08
CHAPTER xxll-contlnued.

CHAPTER NNiI-Contiuueu,
He lowered himself into the stream,
(which was deep to the shore. as silent
~ rs a ghost. A dozen feet away
tost sight of him entirely amid the
dim, dancing shadows. Then 4 fol-
sowed with equal caution, my face
Burned up to the sky. 1t was a dark
might, but with a few stars visible
peeping down through riffs OF cloud.
The small river was not wide. nor the
current particularly swift, and I mad
mot been carried far down stream
when the overhanging branches Of the
opposite bank gave shelter. ! drew my
self ashore, and sat there, shivering in
bmy wet clothes, the night air chilli and
stared anxiously about, and across to
the shore we had just left.
| moved down the shore cautiously,
Eeeping well below the concealing
bank until I found Brady. He was
crouched in the shadow Of a great tree
root. his whole attention rlveted on
the opposite side.
There are no signs OF pursuit.
MOT that can see. have watched
here some minutes, but there has been
no movement along the bank We will
move on down stream
It was hard walking amid the tangled
roots, and we made slow work Of IT..
Brady, in advance stumbled once or
twice. and. l noticed, held one hand
pressed against his side az though
from pain, Breathing heavily. To our
n,ff I,,t ~.,f.
called and was answered by another.
so. toiling on, we came to q sharp
bend in the stream.
ut must be about opposite mere,
Hayward he said stopping, the girl
told YOU the boat would be What is
chat Jumping shadow yonder' Your
eyes are younger than mine"
I looked where he pointed, shading
my eyes, and gradually focusing the
outlines until they assumed definite
shape
ut is a big tree bent down over the
river; no doubt the one she meat"
you see no movement"
! strained my eyes, searching the
dark shore inch by inch, but could per
ceive nothing the lights of the fires
were far away.
IT is still as death over there
lie shot a swift glance at me. as II
the words pleased him little In the
dim starshine his face appeared zhast.
ly white
Perhaps the days Of miracles are
not gone" he said doubtfuliy, and
Girty may have played fair Anyhow
there is nothing to be done now but
test it, Come on, lad; wen take to
water again"
The cheerful note in his voice boil
stored my own courage We swan
straight this time, with steady stroke,
our eyes scanning the bank w, we're
approaching And the canoe was here,
smuggled under the leaning trea bow
Go bank, rendered shdpeless by GOV.
ering Of broken branches. We lay
hold of the sides. standing waist deep
In water. our eyes searching the high
bank towering dark above us There
was no movement, no sound, ana low
Bred the branches one by one into the
water, and permitted them tn boat ST.
tently down stream.
Concealed by the shade of the great
Gree / waded cautiously ashore and
crept out into a maze of roots The
higher bank rose sheer before ne. To
the right there was an opening. as if a
trail led down 20 the river, and re.
Vealed there against the upper sky,
something moved. For an instant
t,u I g,.y
Il human figure stealing cautiously to-
ward me through the gloom it moved
silently as a spirit, and my heart beat
Gercely as I rose up and stared She
MAS close upOn me before ! wls sure.
"Reue"
Oh" a little catch in the quick
whisper; "then-then It is you how
how aid you come here?"
drow her back into the deeper
shadow and told her the brief story in
swift words. clinging to her hands. as
J held her close. could not distln-
buish her face. but she listened. her
soft breath on my cheek.
ooh. am so glad--so glad. mon
sieur did not know until after gave
AN0 blS LAAi- - Ittltlti uOWll mere " Dtt
sure-to, to say good-by," she faltered
"and-and saw them waiting"
Then it was treachery? The pur-
pose was to kill us? Girty lied2"
yes. monsieur YOu-you will not
believe I knew That suspected such
thing2
My handclasp tightened
mo. dear. no; go on. Where ara the
men2"
Most of them, ten or twelve 3s near
es could make out, are in a ravine at
the edge Of the camp, yonder close to
the shore There are three others up
above here, hiding behind the bank"
Il see: the attack was to be made by
those above as we crept along. and il
either OF us got away those three
devils we're 70 complete the Job"
CHAPTER XIII
In the Woods.