Year: 1863




the Grip of the law. Ha mink you may cur
your lip at me, but when tell you that you
father saw me do what my hate made me -


"Bah |" exclaimed Abner, impatiently, sou
with it, old woman. You dirked my step fathe
because the old man had made up his mind nev
er to die, and we wanted his gold. Henry Up
son saw it done, and saw me help So we fec
from the city ten years ago, and having heard tina
the only witness of the deed had settled not many
miles from here year or two ago, we have laiC
in wait to put him out of the way that we nigh
go back and enjoy the wealth that now waits fol
the want of an heir. But must be gone agair
for a few hours to gather ~ band of Hurons.--
You see we are the adva esat Rurgeynes host
I and my ten savages, and coming upon old Up
son and his family in full flight, we pounced upon
them"


"Tel me that is Henry Upson's scalp that
hangs from your belt and will bless you" shrek
ed the hag.


81 wish it was" was his savage answer, as the
renegade glanced at the pair of CORY scalps pin





tended son-in-law, Harold Holmes, the rebel cap
tan made their escape after We left them for
dead, but before we could give them red night
caps their party rallied and scattered ours But
had secured the girl and when flying with her
on my horse, l saw Upson and Holmes in full
chase after my Hurons while pursued an oppo-
site course hither Now look 10 the girl and the
bounty on these scalps shall be yonrs-the British
pay well for rebel scalps. 1 must be after my
braves for the rebels cannot long keep up the
pursuit; for with her we shall pave our way back
to home and fortune-od Upson has no kin but
his daugter Clara, and loves her as MS life. Be-
sides, hope to catch the father and lover before
morning, by the aid of this bright moon"


Abner hastened away and Hester sat staring at
the captive with malicious eyes.


81 want to kill you, you look so much like
Henry Upson," said she, between her curses
"but ye shall live. 1 am too old and battered to
care for wealth now, but we may never grow toe
old to love revenge. Clara Upson ye shall live
in shame and sorrow, as have lived and Abnel
Madge and I shall be the only ones at your boun
ty wedding. The tidings will wither the heart
strings of Henry Upson-if he escapes my boy,
hatchet. l love to look at you and think
about it,


The calm bright eyes of the queenly captive did
not finch from the malicious hate that seemed tc
gloat upon her youth and beauty The exuting
hag sat with her back to the door and grasping a
long keen bladed knife in her skinny yellow claws
exclaiming:


Il wish that was Henry Upsons heart, do
do !" and darting the steel savagely into the wood
at every word.


An hour passed thus, when a tall and powerful
man, behind whom appeared another, cider and
with white hair, filled the doorway. So stopped
were Hester's ears with the clamors of her bias
phemies and rawlings, that she heard no signs O.
their presence nor dreamed of it, until Harold
Holmes cast his sinewy arm around her and gag
ged her foul mouth with his hand. The father
and lover were armed with pistols only.


Cut the cords, haste" he cried, and with waste
of breath, for Henry Upson had done it ere the
words were spoken. The pair had marked the
flight of the renegade and hurried pursuit, while
the friends kept on after the Hurons


There was but brief time for embracing and
after securely binding the veromous hag and gag
ging her with rope that filled her mouth and was
tied behind her head, Harold lifted the fainting
girl in his stout arms and with her father hurried
to the lake shore. There they found canoe. in
which they embarked and pushed from the pebbly
beach.


Hardly had this been done when Abner, with
three painted savages-all that were left of hi,
too eager band-rushed into the hut.


AT glance he discovered all! Calling to hi,
warriors to follow him, and needless of the grea
and blazing fagot that had rolled from the hearth
to The floor, he rushed to the shore. The moor
shed a radience clear and fair, and he saw the fu
gitives yet in rifle shot.


Aim at the men, he said, as he leveled hii
rifle at Upson. Fonr rifles cracked at once, ant
the renegade shouted with Joy as he saw bo;t
father and son sink in the bottom of the canoe.


"The girl for me-the scalps for you" he cried
as he plunged into the placid lake followed by
his savages.


Clara sat in the motionless canoe, and her darE
eyes were stern and dry, as the four heads witt
fierce visages drew nearer and nearer. The sill
vered waters parted from the brawny throats, anC
the sheen of the moon-beams glittered upon tht
soalping knives barred between the white teeth o
the savages. Five more of those sweeps of dusky
arms would have carried them to the canoe, wher
Clara cried: "Now father up Harold !" and al
her lips spoke the words both sprang from am
bush and feigned death, and the flash of he
pistols was the last of earth seen by the Hurons
ere they sank forever.


Abner MaGge turned to regain the shore ere
the pistols should try his life again, but he heard
Harold cry, "You shall not escape" and heavy
splash in the lake told him that deadly and for
midaole fSe was behind him, whose skill as Z
swimmer was the talk of the northern fronters.-
The renegade was no coward, and had no lack o
faith in his own proves. He wheeled to NEE
his enemy, and drew his hunting knife from hi
belt As he drew it, the long hair of the sca!p
at his girdle seemed to clasp his arm will
Shiny folds, and to bind his to his side ere HI
could raise it his foe had darted upon him anc
buried his dagger in his throat. He yelled will
rage and pan-broke the Americans fierce holC
! from his collar and sank The next instant Har
old whrled complete somersault in the waite
and thus escaped the upward thrust of the rene
gades hunting knife. He sank, and the furiou
Abner rose from below