Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1931-01-16
CHAPTER IV-Continued

This recalled an important matter
to his mind. Toinette had entrusted
him with letter for Jeems. Boiling
over with his own selfish Civilizations,
he had forgotten it. He hoped it was
an invitation for Jeems to come to
the seigneurie. He had often told
his girl she should be more friendly
with the lad.
Jeems took the letter and went off
by himself. 1t was the first recogni-
ton from Toinette since the day of
the levee. He had not seen her and
had tried not to think of her. Alone,
he read the words she had written
him.
With pitiless GOODNESS and brevlty,
they called him a renegade and u
coward
On September morning some days
later, Jeems stood watching his uncle
as he disappeared into the frost-tinted
woods of Forbidden valley. 1t seemed
to him that Hepsibah's suspicious and
guardianship of the valley had become
greater with the growing news Of
French triumphs in the south which
so positively assured their safety.
Only yesterday Tonteur had brought
the latest word from Dieskau The
German had been on the eve of smash
ing Sir William johnson and his mob
Of Colonials and Indians when his
messenger had left. By this time the
event had probably happened. Jeems
thought. Yet his uncle was going into
Forbidden valley with a look in his
face which puzzled him.
Restlessness possessed Odd after
Hepsibah had gone. Passing years
were beginning to leave their mark
on the dog. He was growing
content to watch life with Jeems in
stead of ceaselessly pursuing it. He
was not old, and yet he was no longer
young. There remained one thing
which did not fail to stir in him the
tense fierceness of his youth. This
was the Indian smell. He always told
Jeems when one Of their wilderness
visitors was near, sometimes many
minutes before the savage appeared
from the woods. And he never tired
Of watching Forbidden valley. In the
dawn he faced it. At midday he dozed
with his half-closed eyes turned
toward it. In the evening he shifted
its scents. Yet he did not go down
into the valley unless Jeems or Henri
was with him.
During the morning, Odds uneasi-
ness began to reflect itself in Jeems.
Soon after noon, he left his work and
told his mother he was going in the
direction of Lussan's place. Cath
crime walked with him through the
young orchard and up the slope.
Never had she seemed more beautiful
to Jeems. His father was right-this
mother Of his would always be girl.
From above the orchard, standing on
a little plateau that overlooked the
Bulain farm, they called to Henri,
who was in his turnip field, and waved
at him. Jeems stood for a few mo-
ments with his arm about his mother.
Then he kissed her, and Catherine
watched him until he was lost to her
sight in the Big forest.
Jeems did not have the desire to
hunt, nor did Odd. Unexplainable
impulses were pulling at them both.
Odds restlessness was unlike his mas
ter's. Whenever Jeems paused, the
dog turned and shifted the air Of their
trail, facing Forbidden valley In an
attitude of suspicion and doubt. Jeems
observed his companions enigmatic
actions Odd was not giving the In
dian signal. 1t was as if something
without form or substance, thing be-
wildering and unintelligible, lay be-
hind them.
They came to Lussan's, nine miles
from their home. Since Lussans de-
parture, the place had been aban-
doned, and In those five years the
wilderness had largely reclaimed what
man had taken from 1t. Jeems stood
where he had fought Paul Tache, and
ghostly whispers crept about him in
the stiffness. Then came feeling of
dread, almost of fear. He turned back
to the house and to the open, where
long ago he had stood with Toinette
and all her loneliness so near to him.
The sun had set and dusk was gath
ering over the land before he drew
himself away from the ghosts which
haunted Lussan's place. Night could
add nothing more to his gloom.
Odd whined frequently in his eager
ness to reach home. Sometimes he
showed Impotence at his masters
slowness by running ahead. Jeems
did not hurry. He unslung his bow,
which was the only weapon he had
brought, and carried it ready in his
hand. Yet If Odd had limited of dan
ger he would have paid no attention
to the warning. Danger was miles
away on the other side of Dieskau
and his men. 1t would come no nearer
ana he would never have a chance to