White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-03-09

wept aloud to remember and behold
him; and standing thus by his elbow
under the broad moon, prayed fer
vently either that he should be re-
leased or strengthened to persist In
my affection.
20 God" said l. this was the best
man t~vge and to himself, and now
I shr.. J from him. He did no wrong.
or not MI he was broke with sor-
rows: these are but his honorable
wounds that we begin to shrink from.
Oh. cover them up, oh, take him away,
before-%e hate him!"
II was still 30 engaged in my own
bosom, when a sound broke sudden
ly upon the night. 1t was neither very
loud nor very near; yet, bursting as
1t did from 80 profound and 80 pro-
longed silence, 1t startled the camp
like an alarm of trumpets. Ere had
taken breath. Sir William was beside
me, the main part OF the voyagers
clustered at his back, intently giving
ear.
Methought, as glanced at them
across my shoulder. there was a
whiteness, other than moonlight, on
their checks: and the rays Of the
moon reflected with sparkle on the
eyes of some. and the shadows lying
black under the brows OF others (ac
cording as they raised or bowed the
head to listen) gave to the group a
strange air Of animation. My lord was
to the front, crouching little forth
his hand raised az for silence: a
man turned to stone. And still the
sounds continued, breathlessly re-
newed. with precipitate rhythm.
Indiana Knew.
Suddenly Mountain spoke in loud
broken whisper, as Of a man relieved
II have 1t now" he said: and, as we
all turned to hear him, "the Indian
must have known the cache" he added
That Is he-he is digging out the
treasure"
why. to be sure!" exclaimed Sill
William. I'VE were geese not to have
supposed so much"
1.-THE only thing is," Mountain re-
sumed, "the sound is very close to
our old camp. And, again, do moi
see how he is there before us, unless
the man had wings!'
Greed and fear are WINGS" re-
marked Sir William. But this rogue
has given us an alert. and have q
notion to return the compliment
What say you. gentlemen. shall We
have moonlight hunt?"
1t was so agreed; dispositions were
made to surround Secundra at his task
some of Sir Williams Indians hast
ened In advance; ard strong guarC
being left at our headquarters, We
set forth along the uneven bottom Of
the forest frost cracking. Ice some
times loudly splitting underfoot; anG
overhead the blackness of pine woods
adm the broken brightness OF the moon
A narrow plateau, OVERLOOKED by the
white mountains and encompasset
nearer hand by woods, lay bare to tn,
strong radiance of the moon. Rough
goods, such as make the wealth of for
esters, were sprinkled here and there
upon the ground in meaningless dis
array. About the midst, tent stood
silvered with frost: the door open
gaping on the black interior. At tn,
one end Of this small stage lay VIVA
seemed the tattered remnants OF {
man.
Without doubt We had arrived upor
the scene OF Harris encampment
there were the goods scattered in tn,
panic of flight; 1t was in yon ten
the master breathed his last: and the
frozen carrion that lay before us wat
the body Of the drunken shoemaker
1t was always moving to come upor
the theater Of any tragic incident:
to come upon 1t after SO many days
and to find 1t Tin the seclusion OF q
desert) still unchanged, must have
impressed the mind Of the most care
less.