The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-02-02

A"%t
There Were Signs Of Womens Feet
also a bare native foot. but no sign
OF struggle or disturbance The fooi
prints. both native and white, wer,
firmly placed, but the horses hoof
prints showed agitation. Presently III,
hoofmurks became more compose,
again. suddenly one of DyCk's sup
pOrters exclaimed he had picked III
II small piece OF ribbon, evidently
dropped to guide those who mighI
come searching Presently another
token WAS found in loose bit of
buckle from Shoe. Then, suddenly
upon the middle of the road was u little
pool of blood and signs that body
had lain In The dust.
"She shot native here" said Dyck
to his companions morosely, yet cO0lly
"rhere are no signs OF II struggle
remarked the most observant.
well. we must 20 carefully here
| for they may have been imprisoned il
! lie ruin You stay here, and IN Z
| onward lie added. With n hand or
| his sword I've got an Idea they're
| here. We have one chance, my lads
| and lets keep our heads. II anything
should happen TO me, have Try yonr
selves, and see what you can do. III,
ladies' must be freed, If they're there
| There's not one OF you that WONT
stand by to the last, but | want youi
oath upon it. by the heads or graves
| ~ your mothers, lads, you'll see II
! through Up with your hands -
Their hands went up. by ON
mothers heads or gravcs!' they said
in low tones.
GOOD y he replied. nh 20 on
ahead. II you hear call. or Shot
fired, come forward swiftly"
! An instant later he plunged INTO thu
woods TO the right OF the road, by
which he would come upon the ruins
| from the rear. He held n pistol as III
stole carefully yet quickly forward
! He was anxious there should he u,
! delay, but he was equally anxious
moi to be rash. At last, without mect
ing anyone, he came near 10 the ruins
They showed serene In the shade OF
the trees.
Then suddenly he saw come from
The ruins a Maroon OF fierce yet not
cruel appearance. who laid hand be
hind his car, and looked steadfastlA
toward that part of the wood wher,
pl ~ hn htau
something. Dyck did not know hoy
many Maroons there might he in tn
ruins, or near 1t, and he did NOT nj
tack. 1t was essential that he tip'
out the strength Of his foe and he re-
NAMED quiet. Presently the native
turned as though to 30 back into III,
ruins, but changed his mind, and he
gan to make n tour of the stony
ruined building. Dyck waited. AM
! presently he saw more natives com,
| from the ruins. and after momen
another three. These last we're buv
ing an argument of some stress. ful
they pulled at each others arms AM
legs and even caught at tile lon
cloths of the hcad-dresscs they wore
They've got the ladies there
thought Dyek, but they've done then
no harm yet" He waited some mo
mcnts longer to see if more nnii,r,
were coming out, then said 30 himself: .
"Ili make try for II now. II wont
do TO run the risk ot going back tt
bring my fellows up. It's fair risk
but It's worth taking"
With that he ran softly forward IL
The entrance OF the ruins from which
lie had seen the men emerge. Look
ing In he saw only darkness. ThrI
suddenly he gave soft call. The call
Of an Irish bird-note which all people
In lrcland-in the west and south W
lrcland-know. II SheiIa was alive
and in the place she would answer II
he was sure. He waited moment,
and there was no answer Thou hc
called sgain, and In an instant. as
though from a great distance. there
came the reply of the same nule
clearer and more bell-like than his
OWL
"She's therew he suld, and boldly
entered the place.
II was dark and damp. but ahead
was a break in the solid munotony OF
ruined wall and he saw clear stream
of light beyond. lie stole ahead. got
over the stone distractions, aud came
on to II biggish room which once had
been a refectory. Looking round II