The Monmouth inquirer., 1921-04-21

nOOUlnR nSnJ DlTuS udu cStlScI bhSlE
clamoring. The sunrise breeze had
not arisen yet, and the golden leaves
of aspens and birches had ceased to
fiutter to the ground or the dark,
smooth surface of the river.
A wild cry was heard in one Of the
tents. 1t was the shrek # a woman
robbed of her young!
Ameou had awakened from a
heavy sleep which long nights Of
sorrowing wakefulness nad finally
brought to her. In the darkness her
hand had gone out to feel the child,
to gather comfort by laying her fin
gers or the little body OF the sluln-
bering baby.
Vaguely she thought that in some
manner it must have moved in its
sleep, and her hand wandered far
ther in the darkness without meet
ing the object of her search.
Her blanket was cast off with a
sudden, fierce motion, prompted by
anguish. She crawled about the
floor of the tent, hardly realizing
that her little Yellow hair would
have been unable to creep away.
On hands and knees sne searched
the tent and awakened the oshers.
The realization that the Daby was
missing came to her with the sudden
ness of a shot. Her piercing shrek
awoke other tent-dwellers-even
Curran, who had slumbered without
care for the grief he had caused.
They came hurriedly, inquiring
what the trouble might be, and were
met by the old chief Nimissuts and
his wife, who were running about
aimlessly, and by a wild-eyed wo-
man, who dashed from one person
to another, fiercely demanding her
baby and sobbing out her distress as
they shook their heads.
Mashkaugan had been one of the
first to be attracted by the clamor.
AS soon as he heard the news his
suspicious fell upon Curran; but he
met the agent coming half dressed
from the post, and shrewdly decided
that he had taken no actual part in
the stealing.
at is Scarface the Nascaupeel
suddenly screamed Ameou.
They followed her to the tent of
the people who had arrived on the
previous day. 1t was learned quickly
that the man was gone with his ca
noe and outfit.
"He has stolen my little man,
Yellow Harp cried Ameou in
voice that was becoming hoarse. II
must follow himi"
Curran came forward at once,
seeking to dissuade her. 1t was
surely but mean trick played by
the man. An immediate searcn
would be begun. Canoes would be
sent in different diredtions.
He maze bold to say t aG he would
move heaven and earth himself to
find the child. He would bring it
back in his own arms, and when
Scarface was found he would be pun
ished so severely that the memory of
it would last him as lc.lg as the scar
which the bear had given him.
The agent was talking loudly and
forcibly for effect. He made much
pretense of going to work at once to
discover the kidnaper, but Ameou
hardly listened to him, and once,
when he stood before her, roughly
pushed him out of her way.
She ran into the storeroom and
came out with a small armfui of
provisions, moving feverishly, pay
ing not the slightest heed to advice
that was coming from all sides.
Out of her tent she brought her
nack-bag. partly filled. She ran into
the post building and entered the
room she had occupied with her hus-
band, emerging with his rifle, which
had been placed there after it was
brought back by Mashkaugan.
The hunchback, in the meanwhile,
had lighted torch of bark and was
searching the river-bank at the place
where Scarface had drawn up his
canoe on his arrival.
He examined the ground minutely
down to the waters edge, and came
to spot where there was a distinct,
broad mark on the sandy gravel
close to the very edge.
At once he recognized it. The
most insignificant detail never es-
capped the constant, close observation
of such woodsman.
He had noted that Scarface used
rather broad paddle. This mark had
been made by it. From it's direc-
tion it was entirely plain that it had
been made in pushing the canoe off,
downstream, toward the north.
Ameou came down, hurrying to-
ward him, for her canoe was near at
hand. She had no thought of where
she ought to seek, being only moved
by maddening desire to hunt and
search until she fell from exhaustion.
Mashkaugan took her canoe, lift
ing it as if it had been feather,
and pushed it into the water. Ameou
quickly threw into it the things she
had brought down.
''But you mustn't go off like that"
Curran was protesting. "We are go
ing to begin to look as soon the sun
rises. You may depend on it that
viii find your child for you-have no
fear. The man has surely gone up
stream with it, but we will look
everywhere; it cannot be far"
$50, then, and look!" cried the
young woman. Find my baby for
me! All | have in the world / will
give to the man who finds him, and
will kneel before him to give
thanksw
"You will give all? Is this true
talk?" asked Curran eagerly, with
the light of victory in his eyes,"
"All-all have in the world" she
shrieked, ''if you will only find him
for mel"'
0T chau bo +ba ona 20 win +bof ra