The state herald., 1915-01-08
81 RANDALL LPAPRISfI
ILLUSTRATED 6r D.J.LAVnl
O0X2'I27T THCNsCZLI?G s. 90. ./2k5
CHAPTER xxIi-contlnued.

He lowered himself into the stream,
which was deep to the shore, as silent
ly as a ghost. A dozen feet away
lost sight OF him entirely amid the
dim. dancing shadows. Then I fol-
lowed with equal caution. my face
turned up to the sky. 1t was a dark
night, but with few stars visible
peeping down through riffs OF cloud
The small river was not wide, nor the
current particularly swift, and had
not been carried far down stream
when the overhanging branches of the
opposite bank gave shelter. drew my
self ashore. and sat there. shivering in
my wet clothes, the night air chill, and
stared anxiously about, and across to
the shore we had Just left.
moved down the shore cautiously.
keeping well below the concealing
bank until / found Brady. He was
crouched In the shadow of great tree
root. his whole attention riveted 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"
1t was hard walking amid the tangled
roots. and We made slow work of It
Brady. In advance. stumbled once or
twice. and. noticed. held one hand
pressed against his side as though
from pain, breathing heavily. To our
left, but some distance away, a voice
called. and was answered by another
So. toiling on, we came to a sharp
bend in the stream.
ut must be about opposite here,
Hayward" he said stopping. ''the girl
told you the boat would be. What =
that Jumping shadow yonder? Your
eyes are younger than mine"
looked where he pointed. shading
my eyes. and gradually focusing the
outlines until they assumed definite
shape.
1T is n big tre1 bent down over the
river: no doubt the one she meant"
You see no movement"
strained my eyes. searching the
dark shore inch by inch. but could per-
ceiye nothing: the lights of the fires
were far away.
1T Is still as death over there"
He shot a swift glance at me. as II
the words pleased him little. In the
dim starshine his face appeared ghast-
iy white.
Perhaps the days OF miracles are
not gone" he said doubtfully. "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 we were
approaching. And the canoe was there.
smuggled under the leaning tree, bow
10 bank. rendered shapoless 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. and low.
ered the branches one by one into the
water. and permitted them to float 81.
iently down stream.
Concealed by the shade OF the great
tree ! waded cautiously ashore and
crept out into a maze OF roots. The
higher bank rose sheer before mo. To
the right there was an opening. ns II a
trail led down TO the river. and re-
vealed there against the upper sky.
something moved. For an instant !
could tell no more; then recognized
a human figure stealing cautiously to-
ward me through the gloom. II moved
silently as . spirit. and my heart bent
derceiy a. rose up and stared. She
vas close upon me before ] was sure.
''Repc."
"Ot." little catch In the quick
whisper: "then-then II In you: how
hoN did you come heref"
! drew her back into the deeper
shadow. and told her the brief story In
swift words. oiingins to hcr hands. AZ
I held her close. could not distin.
bdish her face. but she listened. her
soft breath on my cheek,
"Oh. | am 80 glad-so glad, mon,
sicur. l did not know until after gave
the signal. IL cam. down here 10 bc
surc-to. to say good.by." she faitcreI
-snd-and saw them waiting"
Then II was trcaoheryr The pur-
vos. MAS to kill usI Girty lied1"
'yea. monsieur. You-you will not
eclievo knrw' That I suspected such
. thinkr'
Ny handoiasp tirhtsned.
No. dear. no. 30 on. Whore mr., tn.
a-nf"
Most OF them. ten or twelve ~ noar
~ could make out. are In ravine st
The edge Of the camp. yondcr close TO
the shore. There are three othors up
above here. hiding behind the bank"
II see. the attack was To be made by
0ore above AZ We crept along. and n
~ither OF us got away those three
devils we're to complete tho Job"
CHAPTER ssili.