The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-03-11

So1EAESASS4EoAE6AG6AB
right plum at 1t. Bettah keep yer eyes
open long dat shore, sah."
The girl, alertly bent forward, was
first among us to detect the concealed
opening, which was almost completely
screened by the overarching trees, her
voice ringing excitedly as she pointed
1t out. Sam was quick to respond,
and almost before l had definitely es-
tablished the spot the bow Of the boat
swerved and we shot in through the
leafy screen, the low-hung branches
sweeping against our faces and scrap
ing along the sides. 1t looked a veri-
table cave, and indeed all 1 remember
noting in my first hasty glance
! through the shadows was the outline
of small boat moored to a fallen
| tree. l scrambled over, found preca-
rIous footing, and made fast.
80 this is the placer l questioned
incredulously, staring about at the
dark, silent forest. which still re-
mained in the deep night shade. why,
there's nothing here"
mo, sab; dar certenly don't pear
fer ter be much" and the negro crept
out of the cockpit and Joined me,
"'ceptin' dat boat. Oar amt no boat
| round yere, les folks hes bin a-Tidln'
in 1t, All reckon"
Sam advanced cautiously and began
anxiOusly to scan the ground, beating
back and forth through the under
brush. After watching him a moment
!
and 1 crept along the log, curious to
examine it more closely. 1t had the
appearance of being newly built, the
paint unscratChed, and exhibiting few
marks of usage. A single pair Of oars
lay crossed in the bottom, and beside
these was an old coat and some ordi-
nary fishing tackle-but nothing to
arouse any interest. Without doubt
is belonged to Amos Shrunk, and had
been leH here after the return from
some excursion either up or down the
river. l was still staring at these
things and speculating abou> them
when the negro called out from dis
tance that he had found the path,
Rene answered his hail, standing up
In the boat, and l FASTENED back to
help her ashore.
We had scarcely exchanged words
during the entire night, but now she
accepted my proffered hand gladly.
and with a smile, springing lightly
from the deck to the insecure footing
of the log.
II do not intend that you shall leave
me behind" she said, glRncing about
with a shudder. This is such a hor-
rid place."
"The way before US looks scarcely
better" 1 answered, vainly endeavor-
ing to locate Sam. Friend Shrunk
evidently is not eager for callers.
Where is that fellow%
Somewhere over in that thicket, I
; think. At least his voice sounded
from there. You discovered nothing
In the boat?"
"Only a rag and some fishing tackle.
Come; We'll have to plunge in some
: where"
She followed closely as l pushed a
passage through the obstructing un-
derbrush, finally locating Sam at the
! edge Of a small opening, where the
light was sufficiently strong to enable
us to distinguish marks of little-used
trail leading along the bottom of a
shallow gully blsecting the sidehill.
| At the crossing Of a small stream we
noticed the imprint Of several feet in
the soft mud of the shore. One plainly
enough was small and narrow, beyond
j all question that of woman, but the
others were all mems, one being clad
in moccasins. Sam, still ahead, start
= ed to Chamber across the trunk Of a
fallen tree, but came to a sudden halt,
l. staring downward at something con-
n cealed from our view on the other
= side.
"Good Lord o. mercy" he exclaimed
5 excitedly, whats dat2"
was close beside him by this time
r and saw the thing also-the body OF
3 Il man lying on the ground.
h "Walt where you are, ReneW l ex'
" claimed, waving her hack. "There is
3 man lying here beyond the log
= Come, Sam; we will see what he looks
like"