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4m 1-! Inn-mm I-u-u-I Inn-1 “‘* 1-1 m I?“ mmm\\

 

 

 

 

 

Corvmoa'r, 1886, BY Bun”: 8; ADAMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. MAY, 17965.
. m} .l. lungs 47:730.. Publishers,
"0 1 1  Pnthhed Every (JAMES SI,‘I.LIVAN. I’anuKTon). PRICE 5 CENTS'  l
. I 60c. a year. . 1

month. 379 Pearl Street, New York.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(,

. y!
'x

      _   
h The Old Walmsas 0’ the Wanda

BY OLL COOMES,

AUTHOR or “wwonnroor FRED.” “mu

Bocxsm,” “BABY 8AM," “warp-mo,
JOE,” 31‘s., no.

 

   

 

CHAPTER I.
m an'nmIOUs BOAT.

“ THERE, pard, there she comes! Cast your
solemn old eyes upon thet floating mystery—-
rattle up your fiaan mtellect and make a.
guess or two as‘ 'what she is, for, by the award
0’ Gideon! she has baffled the penetrative powers
0’ the Cold Wave these two days!”

Down through the deep pine tomb of Minne-

“mm! niummwmlrnumrnr suw was ALVA"‘" mwfim‘nwmmmm‘ihm

 

 
  
    

 

 

 

 

2 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy.

 

 

theRed River of the North bearing upon its
tranquil bosom a strange craft. ,

For years without number, almost, this great
river had been the highway. as it were, of the
Northwest. Its waters had been traversed by
the canoes of the plumed and painted savages,
the bateaux of the hardy voyageurs, and the
great rafts and flatboats of the traders, hunters
and trappers. Many curious-looking crafts had
been seen upon its bosom in years gone by, but
about none of them was ever that air of suspi-
cion—of mystery that hung over and around
the one to which t 0 above remarks referred.

The speaker was the noted hunter, Polar Sol,
and the man to whom he addressed his words

was his old-time friend, Old Dismal, of “ Deer-_

Lodge ” fame.

It was an August day, warm and sultry. The
sun had not yet rem-bed the zenith and his rays
fell aslant upon the two hunters who stood upon
the west bank of the river.

Above the borderman the river stretched away
for nearly two miles in a straight line, but the
mysterious craft was less than a mile away,
floating at the will of the strong current.

“ I’ll have to wait till she comes closer afore I
give an opinion ” Old Dismal replied to Polar
Sol’s speech. “ It may be a pirate concern, or
it maybe a floatin’ nieetin’-house goin’ to do
work among the red savages and Polar 801’s 0’
the wilderness. Then, ag’iu, it may be the
devil’s own barge—”

“ Yes,” interrupted Polar, “ liiintin’ up all the
Old Disnials that infest the Red River country.
But, as I told you, I think before, the craft is
a flatboat ’bout forty feet ong. lts sides are
both boardzd up ’bout six feet high. The ends
are 0 ion. In the for’d end is a wolfish-lookinrr
little rass howitzer or swivel-gun with its black
mug p’inted down-stream as if challengin’ any-
thing or anybody to attempt to dispute its ri ht-
o’-way. In the center of the concern stun s a
wall-tent, and upon each side 0’ it is a shelter
tent. On each side 0‘ the boat, to a kind 0’
davits, hangs two canoes; and now, aside from
this, Ican tell (you nothin’. I have hailed the
craft by day an b night, but I got no res onse.
I never see’d a. son on board distinctly, t ough
t’other night I thought I see’d a shadowy form
movin’ ‘bout on the open end 0’ the contra tioii,
and at the same time, ’niagined I hear sub-
du voices.”

“ Bet a bear-pelt,” said Dismal, “it’s an aban-
doned craft.”

“ D’ you think, Dismal, the Cold Wave is a.
slumberous ejioti Do you think this furnace-
warmth 0’ August is liquidatin’ my intellect?
Do on think I’m growin’ mellow with age?”

“ ’m not an ex rt on diseases 0’ the brain,
Polar ” responded ld Dismal, a smile u n his
roun , solemn face and a twinkle in is big,
owlisheyes; “ but ’m certain that we’re older
than we war years ago, find we may be wiser;
but d’ye think we’re be te men?”

“Dismal, if thar’s to be Ingin-flghtin’ as it’s
rumored thar will be I’ll show you that ’m the
same ole-Roman l on as of yore. I’ve see’d
the day I could make the tinklin’ riv’lets gurgle
hoarse with red-skin gore, and muss up thin
wuss than a beiir’s paw in a bee-hive; an’ I u
do ’em yitl Just trot out your red-skins, Dis-
mal, and I’ll show on some 'ntin" and fresco-
in’ that’d dazzle t e eyes 0 the old masters-—
Hey! who comes there?”

party of three horsemen, with two heavily-
laden ack-animals following behind, were dis-
covered approachin through the woods, and to
them the two old unters now turned their at-
tention for the time being.

The stran ers drew mm a few rods from the
river, and ismountin , advanced toward the
two bordermen. He w 0 came before wore the
uniform of a soldier, with the insignia of a cap-
tain of infantry u n his shoulders. He wasa
man of perhaps 8 and-twenty years, with a
fine physique, a handsome, expressive face, a
pleasant blue eye, a heavy brown mustache, and
withal, the bearing of a soldier and a gentle-

man.

The second man was some‘ ears the captain’s

senior. He wore the cap an blouse of a soldier
lso, but the rest of his suit was of some gray
material.

The third person was a negro of about thirty
year evidently the captain’s servant.

“ al, by the sword o’ Gideon i” exclaimed
Old Polar, as the three came within good speak-
ing distance, ‘.‘ this is ruther s’prisin’ to see a
soldier perambnlatin’ in these diggin’s ”

“ I presume so,” re lied the ofl‘icer politely;
“ but am Captain ack Rivers, of the army,

and this mung: my friend, Joe Danvers, and this
' ngo.
tumulhiously  meet you,

my IBI'VED
‘Well, 1

 

Captain Jack, Joe Danvers, and Mr. Con o,”
declared Polar Sol, shaking hands with eac of
the partyé “ My name is Polar Sol, and now
let me in rduc‘evyou to my solemn-faced chum,
01d Dismal. e’re a pair 0’ ole walrusses o’
the woods, and have been standin’ here an hour
with our curiosity all wound u like a fish-reel.”

“Surely our presence hasn’t n the cause of
youilllperplexity,” observed the captain.

“ 0t all, Captain J ack,” replied Old Sol:
“ though we were so'me’at s’prised to see you.
here; but if you’ll throw your eyes up the river
you’ll see on its bosom what’s up.”

“ Ah! I see some kind of a raft or boat,” said
the captain, after scanning the river above.

“ Yes; it’s a ewes between a rat t and a flat-
bont; but who’s aboard o’ it is what’s puzzlin’ us,”
Polar Sol added, and then he went on and nar-
rated what he knew—or rather, what he did not
know—of the craft.

“ I’ll bring the field-glass and take a p at
the thing throughfiit," said Danvers, and iasten-
ing to his horse, he returned with the glass and
handed it to Polar Sol.

The old borderman adjusted the instrument to
his eyes, and for fully five minutes gazed at the
craft, occasionally giving an exclamation of
surprise at what he saw.

“ Don’t look the . thing outen countenance,
Polar,” ad jurcd Dismal, impatiently, “ but tell
us what you see.”

“There’s a man aboard the contraption,” an-
swered Polar, lowcrin r the glass. “ I had a fair
squint at the fellow. 10’s 0. large chap, with a.
light brown beard. He’s dressed v in good
style, and—blamed if he. ar’ii’t loo 'in’ at us
through a glass. Look, Mr. Danvers, for yer-
self, and see if I‘m right.”

Danvers took the glass and turned it upon the
craft, saying as he did so:

“Yes, there’s an elderly man, and if I mis-
take not, I see a female form—but there, she’s
flitted out of sight! Alil they’ve a cannon—a
swivel- un—abo'rd, as I live. The bearded fel-
low is coking at us. and there comes a second
chap into view. He’s at the gun, and acts as
thou h he were sighting it. There, the bearded
man owers his ass and seems to be speaking
to the other. 1’] declare, I’ve seen that man be-
fore. Captain Rivers, I’ll swear that bearded
man is no other than—” ,

Joe Danvers never finished the sentence, for,
at this moment, a cloud of white smoke was seen
to burst from the forward end of the raft, and,
before he could uttei‘ the name that was upon
his lips, a cannon-ball came shrieking through
the air and, striking im square in the face,
tore off his head and went crashing on into the
woods through which rolled in sullen echoes the
roar of the murderous gun! ,

CHAPTER II.
A VISION or BEAUTY.

Srnncnnnss and motionlem with horror and
consternation depicted upon their faces, the old

rderman and the captain stood and gazed
upon the headless body of Danvers as if unable
to fully com rehend the ghastly spectacle be.
fore them. at ulckly the rebounding echoes
of the gun sta Polar 801 to a sense of the
situation, and he exclaimed:

“ Sword of Gideon! what means this murder-
ous work i”

“ My God!” cried the captain, “this is shock-
ing—inhuman! 0h,in poor, brave old friend I”

 

“It settles the fact,’ said Old Dismal, “that

yonder. craft is a bulk o’ bloody irates, and it
won be just as safe, perha s, or us to step
bac under kiver o’ the w s for they know
how to handle a gun.”

“ That is very true, Dismal,” assented the
captain, his voice choked with grief; “it is sel‘L
dom the first shot fired from a howitzer at such
a. distance is so accurate—down !”

As he uttered the last word the captain, who
had his eyes upon the craft at the time, dropped
flat upon the earth, and he had scarcely done so
when a second ball from the cannon tore
through the air above him and crashed into the
timber. . '

“A lucky dodge) captain,” declared Old Po-
lar: “oif you’d been up on yer feet that shriekin’
iron’d ’a’ chopped you in two.”

Not another moment was lost by the party'

in tting under cover of the woods.

few minutes later a third ball came scream-.

inf: down the river but did no damage.

The boat was still half a mile away, and as
the shot that had killed Danvers had destroyed
the field-glass, the ca tain and the hunters could
not, wit any satis action, observe the move-
ments of the mysterious foe.

captain Rivers was deeply grieved over the
dog. of his friend. .

 

 

“ Poor Danvers,” he said in a melancholy tone;
“ he was one of m truest and noblest frien
and but for his k nd regard for me he‘w
never have been here.”

“ Captain, are there any other soldiers in this
country besides you and Danvers'l” asked Dis-

a .

“ None that I know of.”

“ Then you are a long ways from camp.”

“I left my command in Northern Montana
two weeks ago. My time in the service had ex.
pired, or rather my resignation having been

‘acce ted, I was about to start for n13 home in

Bout ern Ohio when I received wo that my
brother, who is a post-trader on the Crow “'ing
River had been shot, and seriously if not fatally
wounded. He was anxious that I should come
to him, and believing I could make time by
crossing ihe Country on horseback, I struck out
with Danvers and Congo. We have met with
no danger until this hour. Danvers was a 1-10]-
dier in my company. His time expired inrnihs
ago, but he remained at the fort waiting until I
could return home with him. But now 1 must
consign his remains to the grave and with a sad
heart go on without him.”

“ Then you’ve heard nothin’ 0‘ Ingin troubles
brewin’ in these parts?" Old Dismal queried.

“Nothing, sir, whatever.”

“ “Val, it may all be a hoax, but Polar Sol and
me’s down here to ’vestigate the matter; for, if
there‘s any fightin’ to be done, we’re wound up
for business. But say, captain, do you remem-
ber Joe Dan vers’s last words?” .

“ I do, and that is a matter that perplexes me.
He was about to mention the name of some one
he knew, and if known to him, the same person
may be known to me. It may also be possible
that if Danvers recognized the bearded man on
the, boat, the man may also haw» recognized
both Danvers and I . But, why he should wish
to murder Joe, I cannot conceive, for I do not
believe Joe Danvers ever harmed a human be-
ing save only in his line of duty as a gallant
so] ier.”

“ But captain,” said Polar Sol, “ you were
undoubtedly the object of that second shot.”

“Why any one should wish to kill me,” the
captain responded, “is more than I can con
ceive. I was never in this countr before.”

“Yes, but your uniform might ave provoked
the shot,” suggested Old Dismal.

“ I can’t think it are that, Dismal.” Polar Sol
observed; “I believe the hull secret lies in the
recognition of Danvers and the captain by the
bearded man on the boat. If Danvers knowed
him. he knowed Danvers.” .

“ Polar Sol,” thoughtfully observed the young
officer, “you are undoubtedly correct' in your
theor , and so believing, it seems imperative
that should know who is aboard that craft
and punish the murderer of my friend. I shall
go no further until the mystery is solved.”

“ Then we’ll join hands in the work, captain,”
declared Polar, “and if we don’t make it spas--
modic for that pirate the Cold Wave’ll retire
from the fodder—walk.”

“ My first duty is to my dead friend,”
said Rivers, “and when he has been buried, we -
will confer as to the best way to proceed against
our enemy.” I

With their knives and hands Sol and Dismal
scooped out a shallow grave at the foot of a tree.

v The remains were brought, wrapped in a blanket

tenderly lowered into the grave and cover ,
from the view of the world forever.. The captain
was deeply moved by his loss, and when he
turned away from the. lonely rave beneath the
murmurin pines, he walk alone into the
shadows 0 he woods to compose his grief.
When he finally returned, he said to Polar Sci
and Dismal: I

“ My kind old friends, I am ready for action.”

“ And here, too,” responded 801.

By this time the raft had drifted within fifty
rods of the arty, and from their concealment
Polar and D a1 had kept a close watch upon
the boat. But not a soul could they see. ‘

Finally the raft came too. point opposite them,
and then drifted on past, silent, and to all apv
pearancesdese

Polar Sol now suggested that two of thei
part follow along the shore under cover, an -
watc the float, while the other two follow them
'with the horses. As some one supmd to be
known to Rivers was aboard the t, it was
necessary that he be one of the party to follow
the'craf , and so he and Polar set out, leavmg
Dismal and Congo to bring up the horses.

As the great heat was moved only by the will
of the current its pro _ was slow, and those
following had no d fliculty in keeping it in-

sight. Q _
The men hour had long since passed, but the

I

\

 

 

 

 

.. a;
'. 5/.

 

 

' I strike the red-skins afcre the new _
’roundandaocksthemarket. Itakeallin urs‘

“e

 

Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy.

 

 

hunters and their friends had been too busy to
even think of eatin . They kept on until the sun
was low. Evenin s ows were gathering in the.
woods and stretc 'ng out over the river.
gan to look as if darkness would cloae around
the raft without the pursuers having caught the
glimpse of a single persom board. (1 to

their further disap intment they finally found-

on

their advance chec ed by a far creek flowing
into the river from the west. hen they reach-
ed it. however, they were a few rods in advance
of the raft. From where they stood they could
see down the creek across the river. The setting
sun hanging in line with the narrow lane in the
forestmade by the creek, threw a vivid bar of
light down the opening and across the river.

“I reckon well git our last view 0’ the raft
to-day from this point, captain,” Polar Sol ob-
served. '

“ Yes, and 1 wish it would cross that lingering
bar of light before the sun gets behind the tree-
tops," replied the captain. “ I do not suppose
the boat will tie up for the night, for it is not at
all likely those aboard it have anything to fear
from the Indians— Ah! there it goes, now!”

True enough, the prow of the craft had ap-
peared in the narrow band of light stretching
across the river, and as it crept across this line,
and the rear drif into view, a subdued cry
suddenly burst from the two men’s lips, for they
beheld, standing out in plain view a young wo-
xrfian,laround whose shoulders was thrown a light
8 aw . .

She could not have been over twenty years of
age. Her head was bare, and as the golden sun-
light fell full upon her, it revealed a vision of
loveliness—a face radiant with sublime beauty.

“Great Heavens!” cried Rivers starfing for-
ward as if to pursue the vision of loveliness into
the shadows.

Bu Polar Sol, grasping him by the arm, ar-
res his movements saying;n
“ Easy, captain! Do you ow her?”

Rivers made no answer, but continued to
:1 after the visicn on the raft like one trans-
l

Sol turned his eyes from the captain’s face to
the boat, but already the craft had drifted into
the shadows, the sun had drop behind the

distant tree-tops, and the std ness of “ death

rei ed for a moment. ‘

en the sound of 1i ht footsteps was heard

 

and the two men, uic tnrnin about, found

themselves face to mwiyth an d and curious

looking specimen of humanity. -
CHAPTER III.

1 ran SILENT SLAYER.

WITHOUT a word, Captain Rivers gave the
stran er a contem tuous look, then turned and
100 out across t e river.

. But Polar Sol gave his attention to the in-

truder, . . .

th‘i‘gw o’ ideonl what for a contraption is
8

i
stranger was It meant ’rha fl
Egan, small :of stature, with a s iort' 111201: :31:
tween round, “humped ” shoulders, brewd,

e , and a
sharp wk—bill nose. » ' I
' On his back he carried a large bundle tied u
' in oiled canvas,  at a glance Sol knew by th
that he was one of those pack-peddlers occasion-
in the border settlements and In-,

cunnin , weasel face, a. little

ian V1 .

k to the ground, and, removing
mop% his swelteri ,brow with it;
"f hot evenin’, ar’n’t it Glad to meet
somebody, swear I am. My name’s Peter Zull,
and I’m a p’eddler, I sin—on my .way to the
n v e. i
 Wal, eter ” exclaimed Sol. “what in the
deuce ou landjn? here for? Why don’t you
trawl n a boat? or git on a boss ’

“ Started out on a m e.” replied the dler.
 “but second ni ht out lost it, and pu ed for‘d
afoot. I’ve a roarin’ ole tramp but five
h. j per cent.» profit on the goods in that
pack are! a- ferocious stimulant for a man’s

WWI: that ourproflton‘goolisi” I
“’Bout sit—more, if any. diflerence, if. I

are its
.. and sell them for hard coin to the mean when

thfieeeme. What d e see, stra i”
 uestion was ressed to ptainRivers,
ago . stood1 gazing in deep thought out over
river. I» - . .'
“I see nothing.” was .Rivers’elaconic reply.
“ A‘strange craft Just went past; ~did- younee
it, Peter!” asked Polar.

_  “ago; what was it like?”

It be-.

strangeers,” the man said, as he

 

Old Sol told him. -

By this time the shadows of night he an to
thic on around them, and Old Disma and
Con 0 having made their appearance, the party
cone uded to go into camp for the night, and a
suitable spot was at once selected for the pur-

Then the pack-horses were unloaded and

pose.
a shelter-tent, large enough to accommodate

half a dozen, was pitched under atree at the
edge of a thicket extending back to‘the creek.
The tent was lighted with a small pocket—lan-
tern which the captain carried. .
Peter Zull was invited to stop over night with
them but for some time he smmed undecided as
to whether he should accept or not; finally he
shouldered his pack and concluded to go on.
Again Old Polar invited him to stop with them,

and this time the invitation was given more

like an imperative command than a request, and
without another word the peddler threw down
his pack and seated himself within the tent.

To 01d Dismal, if not the peddler himself, it
was plain to be seen that Polar Sol was suspi-
cious of the man.

A sumptuous and highly-relished supper was
made off Captain Rivers’s supplies, after which
Congo was sent out to keep watch over the

horses, while the others, including Peter, the‘

peddler, remained seated in the tent in conversa-
tion, though Polar Sol and Old Dismal did most
of the talking. ‘

Captain Rivers had little to say. He seemed
in deep thought mest'of the time, and the ex-
presslpn that occasionally swept over his face
told that a fierce struggle was going on within
his breast. Sol felt almost certain that Rivers
half mistrusted the secret connected with the
mysterious raft. His actions at the time they
caught a glimpse of the fair girl, convinced him
of this, although the wondrous beauty of the
maiden was enough to have turned the head of
even as old and unromantic a sinner as himself.
He waited for some time in hopes the captain.
would answer the quest on hozput to him regard-
ing the girl, just as Peter ull appeared upon
the scene. ,

“ Captain,” the hunter finally said, “ I thought
you recognized that girl at first: how is it?”

“ I thought so myself, at first.” Rivers re )lied'
“ and yet a second thought convinced me t at I
was wrong; the woman I first took her to be is
more than a thousand'miles from here. Let me
show on her picture.”

A‘ e concluded, the young officer took a phe-
togra h from a leathern case and handed it to
So . aiding the picture so that the light fell
u n it, the hunter gazed u n it with alight of

miration beaming in his eyes. 'It was the
picture of a fair and beautiful young woman.

’Peter Zull, who had been a quiet listener, now
thrust his head out rom betv een his shoulders
—-stretk:hing out it s neck in a way, and to an
extent, that was phenomenal, and red over
Sol’s shoulder at the picture. A s ngle glance
seemed to satisfy him, and he drew back his
head between his shoulders as a snail withdraws
into its shell. Captain Rivers could not hel
noticing him—not so much on account of h s
action as the expression that swept over his
weasel- ike face. .

For several moments Polar Sol gazed at the
picture, as if mentally comparing it with the
face he had seen on the raft. "

“She’s a , femus beautiful gal ca taind’
heflnail ; “but I can’t so as to or re-
semblin .on the raft, or I only got a
gum o’ the tter. I see’d she w .an angel,

utt t’e all Icould say ’bout her. v at s’poee
she was the original 0’. this picture, captain,
what do you know ’bout her?” ,

“If .he whom wesaw upon that raft,” re-
plied Rivsrs,“is the original of this picture,
then sjieismy wife!” ' -

“Sword 0’ Gideon l” exclaimed Polar Sol. ,

' “ Whew!” whistled Peter, the peddler.

. “Then it war no wonder vou war excited
when SIyou see’d her," declared Old Dismal; “ but
why ould she be here? If it war your wife,
sure] you’d recognized her beyond a doubt.”

“ es,” piped in Zull, with an attempt to be
facetious; “it’s .ginerally s’posed a man’s 'ac—
quainted with his wt 9 I’ ' J .

“I was not ex 113 her here,” Rivers went
on, “ and I only got a gh‘m se of the woman on
the boat. Near‘ ten mont sage I was married
in Ohio to Miss rene Hanlon, of‘wKentucky. I
was at home on. a furlough and she was visiting
with a schoolmate in the nei hborhood. I re-
mained with my young wi e three or four
weeks after our marriage; then I returned to
m commandand sheto her father’s home. ‘I
in nded to resign my commission at once, but
failed --in having it accepted until recently.

Meanwhile. I ;have heard from my. wife fre-

 

tho’

 

 

uently, and had hoped to be with her soon. If
t at is my wife, on the raft there, she is the
victim of some foul conspiracy or cruelty.” .

“_ Have you any group s on whichto basemny
s‘ icion, captain ” asked Polar 801.

“or a moment Rivers was silent, but finally
sax :

“Yes; our marriage was a rivate onewsome
would call it a secret one. ere were no u it-
nesses to it but Irene’s school friend, Joe Dan-
vers, the person who officiated; and God.
Irene’s father was set upon her marrying a
wealthy Dr. Tomas Victor. a S )anish gentle.
man more than twice as old as 8 10. It was to
forestall this act of parental cruelty that we
were married when we were. Perhaps we did
wrong, but we did not think so, nor do I yet,
under the circumstances. The last time I heard
from my wife she wrote me that she had told her
father of our marriage, but said nothing of how
be received the news; but she urged me to get
home as soon as possible, and this made me
think she did not tell all. I would have taken
her with me had I known I must remain away
so long; but one cannot foresee the disappoint-
ments before them, and if it should prove that
the woman aboard that raft is in wife, and a.
hair of her head is harmed, by the maven above
us the guilty ones will pay most dearly for it!”

“ That’s the groper talk, captain,” declared
old Polar, “ an I’m sadly mistaken if you ar’n’t
the man, to back up your words with work.
Young folks sometimes makes some bad breaks,
especiall in love affairs, but then that don’t
justify o (1 folks in makin Mesaic feels 0’ them-
selves and in ri pin? up the universe. I don’t
blame you and t e gal a bit for headin’ off that
old Spanish buccaneer, Victor, and the al’s
dad, who must be wantin’ in rental love. ut
say, cap‘n, did Joe Danvers now the father of
your Wife?"

“ Yes,” re lied Rivers, “'an’ the fact of Joe’s
recognizin’ t e man on the boat—although he
was slain before he could speak his name-is the
strongest circumstantial evidence in the whole
matter of my wife being on board that raft with
her father.” ‘

“ And if it war Hanlon, then them shots were
intended for ou—as divorce percedin’s. as it
war. But' it on’t seem probable at all, even'
(possible? r
“ a ’n,” suddenly exclaimed Peter Zull, rub-

bing h 3 hands together in a glveful way, each

lookin up into Rivers’s face, “ what’lL you give
me to u out whether that woman’s your wife
or not? I’m on the make. Money’s my god,

and I’ll risk almost any danger to increase the
size of m idol. Make me a fat, juicy offer and
I’ll boar thareraft afore mornin’ and bring the
information ’o'u want. I’ve seen service as a
spy—a detec ive in my younger days and I
hain’t forgot my cunnin’ yit.” , ' '

“ Juan Altar I"

This name was pronounced by a strange voice
—'invisible lips. And yet it seemed uttered
within the tent. The four men heard it distinct-
ly. Zull started and gazed from one to the
other of his companions, fairly alarmed. All
were ' led, and the profound silence that fol-
low was suddenly broken by the mysterious
voice again sayin : .

“ Juan Alvar! , ‘ ~ ‘
Zull’s face new assumed a look of abeoihte ter- _
ror. yHis teeth fairly chattered. His hands
“flied'wmh‘i‘” s°fth°iieama33w€f “im’
an en, noueu asap

3 ’ p ‘ at and thrust

that dead the entrance to the to

his head outside as if to search the darkness for

.tfiunseen speaker. As he did so, the captain
a

the hunters saw something'fiash across the
opening; they heard a dull low, a gasp and

whistling gur is, At the same instant the saw _
the body of £9 dler lee forward an fall
rostrate‘u n h s face, hal out of the tent, the
p of the 3.31: dropping back to its Place owr

him. A convulsive quiver a ta ' his legs,

,and, believing the man had 'fal en in». fit of ter-

ror, 01d Dismal seized him by the feet and
dragged him into the tent. But jo-theu- horror
the saw that the head did '_ not come with the
y' but that blood waszspurtmg from the

arteries ‘of thermal: where,likea noiseless sumo-i
tips, the. sword of an unseen foe—the sword of a
Damocles—had. at a. single blow, severed the
head‘from the trunk! . 1 *

. "_ , CHAPTER IV.

. rm: sacs or an ntr

AGAIN

was Polar 801 and' his friends fairly 

Showed 1‘3"“ Presence of death. The sudden, ':  . I: 

,dler. ed their minds With horror, an
for several moments. the sat motionless, spell-
bound by the shocking ght before them. Old

, ' ‘ ‘ , - ,t. v

silent and m sterious beheading of‘Peter Zull
the pod

 

  

Polar Sol was the first tomove. Grasping his
revolver, he sprung to his feet, saying:

“ An assassin lurks in the shadows! I will
crucify him 1"

He rushed from the tent without a fear of the ,
fee .who had slain the peddler, but outside he!
found all was darkness. He peered into the j

loom around him-she listened. He saw noth- ;

ng—he heard nothing ,save the dreary, monoto- ’
nous moan of the Wilderness. !
~ " Say. you cowardly. nocturnal assassin l" he I
at length called out, “ show yourself and I’ll
shoot the kidneys outen you, you rowlin’ hyenai
Come forth from your hidin’, an buck the Cold
Wave from ‘Seatka—flip an’ slosh your battle-ax
lbout the neck 0’ a Roman legion as ye did that
poor ole Eeddler. and I’ll tunnel your liver—”

"Say, olar Sol,” came the voice of Old Dis-
mal from the tent, “bang that lip o’ yourn shat!
You‘re nervous. man, as a willow in the wind;
come in here outen the damp air afore your ole
toil-knot’s clipped off.”

‘ You come out, Dismal, and we’ll charge this
Woods with fixed bagone ," responded the fear-
less Sol. i‘ I don’t perpose to have all our heads
shot off, and shaved of! by sneakin’ assassins!
Swaller down your timid, flutterin’ heart. Dis-
mal, ' ‘ld up yer lions, thou valorious knight 0’
Deer edge, and come forth to battle.”

Old Dismal emerged from the tent admonish-
ing Sol to be silent. Captain Rivers also came
out. and the three made a careful search for the
assassin, but'without success. The silent islayer
had disappeared as quietly as he had come and
done his« eudl y work.’

Dismal went out to where Congo was watch-
ing the horses. He found the faithful darky at
his post, totally ignorant of the ~tragedy at
camp.

The body of Zull was removed outside the tent
and covered with boughs. ,

'Old Dismal concluded to remain in the woods
on guard for an hour or so at leas'. .

Sol and Riversreturned to the tent, and seat-
ing themselves, discussed the death of the ped-
dler and the probable cause for it. While thus
engaged, the captain’s eyes suddenly became
fixed on something at the end of the tent oppo-
' site the entriince. Old Sol’s e es quickly sought

the object of the officer’s start ed gaze. and they
tell u ona sight that filled his brain with amaze-
ment, if not his breast with sudden fear.

Near the bottom of the tent was. a slit in the
canvas about fifteen inches long. This slit stood
a are, and in the opening was inserted a horri-
b coking face but whether of human or beast
he could not tell. It appeared to be a black
face, and from the cirmimstanres under which
it was seen, it seemed of hideous conformation.
They could see a double row of white teeth grin-
ning at them; and a flat nose, and a pair of
great wild, rolling eyes surrounded with white
ringslike toe rings of Saturn. ‘ . r
- “Sword 0‘ Gideon i” cried the bun :- fumb- .
‘ mg? his pistol; “ whatin the nameo’An-ica’s _

a As he spoke, the unknown creature appeared
to wink with one of its Saturn-ringed eyes, skew ,
“l:§”°§°§l‘°‘t§" ll“ “Sa’l‘f'mk'lilib‘ “““’
w use ,8 rp qu , vquea sappear
from the slit in the canvas. ' v - '

In a second Polar was 11 and out of the tent,
almostrunning over Old Blemal withwhom be
collided in his headlong rush into the darkness.
He ran around the tent and listened. ' ‘30
something re‘reating through the‘thicket toward
the river and started in pursuit; He wasmot

‘ far from the stream when he heard a plunge
into the water.‘ He ran tovthe edge of the bank
and peered up and dawn the stream, but it was
so dark he could see nothing. Hecould hear the
waves chafing the beach, and the faint strokes
of something swimming. He fired a shot in “the
direction the sound steamed to come from, but

._ with no known result. . ' _ ’

_' I For several momentstbe hunter stood still lis-
teningyandfinelly. his ears were greeted by a
hoarse, dismal sound. like the “ yank, you/c.

" _ mk’.’ of a sea—lion. It came fromtho opposite

side of tbejrlver, but whether from human or

animal lips‘he knew not. . .
> “ Wei, bv‘ the sword o' Gideon i” mentally ex-

 

claimed Sn“ “if that "don’t; stump the Cold. '. era 1

' ‘, “Wave, Idou't know whatever did. I'll be gol-
.‘ swizziedif this igli’t thoéfiaskiest courgirypgrevg
.‘at'rue wtbe use no "demons 'a
dealt vs a ffeller a chance tthrike. a lick.

=A d,' thar's‘sich acritteraathe Iin o’Nigbt I
7 elections mamas-news. I’ve. held the-

  ' - anew “ {mi " whims
- . Pidarrggurned‘tothewnt.  the

 

 

on: ,

l 

 

   

  p: em, as at.

Tamarac Tom..the Big Trapper

“I’d say spelt, if I war you, Dismal, when
ou’d stand here like u. dead pine and let the
mp o’ Darkness crawl past you, and ke his

mug into the tent and make faces at the Cold
lvave! I follered the critter to the river, into
which it jumped and swum oil’. A few minutes
later I heard its croupy bark on t’other side of
the stream, and I’ll be plagued if I ar‘n’t wuss
bum-fuzzled over to-night’s preceodiu’s ’n a hull
insane asylum l" A

“And (1’ you know, 801, that just since you
left the tent, another mam—a stranger—mas put
iu‘hi‘s appearance?”

t  .

“Yes; 1 turned, him over to the captain,

Mebby be can throw some light on the things
that have scrambled your brain.”

“ I’ll bet he’s the man that bounced Zull’s head
off. Let’s go in and interview him."

So saying, the bordermen entered the tent.

The stranger was seated and conversing with
Rivers. He was a man, of five-and-forty years,
or thereabouts. His face was covered with a
short, bushy board. He had small, dark eyes,
and a flat but crooked nose. His general appear-
ances were not such as would impress one favor-
ably. That he was a Frenchman, or of French
descent, Sol knew at a glance. He had given
his name as Pierre Grev , and by this name was
he introduced to 801 an Dismal. He seemed in
a very sad and downcast mead when the hon-
ters entered, for Rivers was 'ust telling him of
the mysterious murder of all, the peddler;
andl when the borderers had been seated, he
sai : -

“ This is very sad rows to me, for Peter Zull
was a friend 0’ mine. I have been expecting
him for long time at the Indian village. I come
with canoe to meet him at month of the creek
ycndcr.” '

' ‘f How did you know he’d be here?” asked
Polar Sol. , ‘ /

“AM that's easy to know,” replied Grevy.
“ An Injun runner come in today at. noon, and
tell me the peddler come.”

This answer was not at all satisfactory to
Polar Sol. He did not say so, but it was easy
to be seen in the ex rcssion of his mobile coun-
tenance. In fact, ol did not, from the first
like the looks of Grevy, and after he had heard
his story of the Indian runner, he made n his
mind the fellow was tellin a deliberate else-

possession of Zn 1’s k. .
ravy,” he finally asggd, “what war

“ eter Zull,” answered the man;

“That’s What he told'ns; but
other name?” ‘ i '

“ Not that I known, but be mi ht ’a‘ had.”
“ How long have you known h ml”

“ Three—four, yes, five years; and as 1 am his
b st friend I have a right to take his pack,”
replied the fellow. '

‘ Yes,” responded Old Polar. with a look, of

distrust, “ you would have providin’ you didn’t

it he an

s

i kill him to obtain on o’ it.”
“ Me kill to fr 3" exclaimed the stranger,
his eyes flash with a look of ' rage that con-

vinced the hunter be Was not a coward—a man
that could be insulted with impunity. '

“ That's what I - said, edzactly, responded
lSol calmly; “ but you‘d asj-well keep cool ’bout
it, Mr. Soup-Gravy. If you’re innocent you'll
have a chance to prove it, I reckon.”

“ Polar Sol!" Gravy exclaimed, his face white
with re e, “I am not the man that can be in-
sulted y even you. You must retract your
words or back them with your life i”

The Frenchman drew a knife as he spoke.

“ Mr. Gravy,” retorted Polar Sol, graspin his
revolver, “ I can back a hull sewin’sociegy of

words. ' v- .

The next instant, in‘all probabili , the two
men ‘w, have" been engagedfin a dly cou-
flifit had‘they not been deterred bye strange
v ce so u z - ‘ -

“ 014?: mgm if It was this blade, wielded by
this am, that-"alewJua’n Alvar !” v ', ,-

The voice seemrdrto come from overrthem,
and dropping their hands at their sides and lift-

 

‘ing their eyes, the fees beheld ed above
and between them, like theswo V of Damocles
on: slender blade of, glitteringdsteel
clutched in ahead that was thrustinto : tent
through a slit in the canvas! ' ; ,
(CHAPTER V.

rumba pron, can no mrm‘ 307.
A! exclamatioulof' l'llO burst from the

~ lipspf thefour insulin tbe’ t' whoa-they beheld
' murderous We of Zull's self-accused slayer
abovethm-aa.  honorswept

  
  

like 9*- 

a

.l,

    
     

 

Bey.

4*

 

lyzed; as if expecting the sword to descend upal
him, and yet unable to move.

Polar Sol took in the situation at a glance,
and would have believed the unseen swmdsman
a confederate of Grevy’s had he not seen that the
latter’s sudden fear was genuine.

But only for a brief moment did the sword re-
main suspended over them, and yet, before any
one moved, it was withdrawn.

Then, with a cry like that of a Wounded beast,
the Frenchman darted from the tent insearch of
the unknown.

Polar Sol and Dismal, also, hurried out into
the night to aid in the search. They were 'gone
nearly an hour, and when they returned they
were no wiser than before. They had seen or
heard nothing of the silent slayer. _

Grevy had not yet returned, nor (lid he evor
come, much to the disappointment of Polar So],
who wished to apologize for the wrong he had
done the man, who was not a‘coward, whatever
he might otherwise be. -

Polar Sol and his old pard took turns in keep-
ing watch over the tent the remainder of the
night, determined that no further surprises by
silent and mysterious beings should occur; and
their vigilance carried themsafely through with-
out further visitations I or disturbances, until
morning dawn relieved them.

Congo, the captain’s faithful servant, reported
at camp at daylightas havmg passed a quiet
and pleasantiiight with the horses about forty
rods from on ip in a little grassy glade.

Breakfast was soon dispatched and repara-
tions to start in pursuit of the raft speedi y made.
The bah! of the trader was buried, his pack and
the other effects loaded upon the horses, and the
journey began. .

Polar Sol crossed the mouth of the creek on
some driftwood and proceeded alone down the
river, whilethe others, to get over with the ani-
mals, were to proceed about three miles up the
creek, effect a crossin , and then make for a cer-
tain point on the cart side of a large sheet of

meet them. . ‘
When the party broke camp the sun was two
hours high. Not a breath of air was stirring
yet a coolness pervaded the forest that was rife
with the invigorating odor of the pines; and with
the elastic step of youth Polar Sol pursued his
way down‘the river revolving in his mind the
complication of stirrin events and strange
fihings he had witnessed in the past twenty-four
ours.
I It had been several ears since the old border-

:man had been so far own the Red River. The

' abundance of game further south had enabled

him to work within a certain limit for cars.
He know, however the exact location of In-
dian vil e—tbatl . I

be was lie is at any time x meet wit red-skins. ,
It had been rumored the Indians were on the
war-path and it was to ascertain the. truth or
falsity of this that he and Dismal had ted
river. .

‘ After traveling about five miles. the hunter
came toacreek that he knewto be theoutler
from Inke-of—lles, and cmssiu it, he turned
and followed it up to the lake w icb, was a little
over a mile from the river. '

Lake.of-lsles, or Dotted Lake, as it was called
' b some, was an . pod body of water
0 nearly two thousand acres in area. W
dotted with island: v in m from one to
ten rods aqua ’I thesmaller islands

a dense growth of pines that interlaced
branches over the narrow lanes of water, pres}.

of one large island. in one side

thefither could lsnot be e! on  tgaigdforgse
an twason from, aneflya on .
lanes of water could be seen here andthere,at_

the designated point of meeting. A long narrow
standing in the center. He had almost-reached
one endof the opening when he suddenly discov-

position behind some bushesiinnhe deep shadows
where \he could not be seen and watched the.
maiden, for such she evidently was. She could
not have been over eighteen years. ,
white girlhyet dressed in the garb of an Indian
maiden. or.
double ,braids at her .hack. Her“ .
wreathe‘dwith a glittering 
her an of

      
      
  
 

  
    

moccasins.

        
  
 

 

   
  

water known as Lake-of-Isles, where 801 was to \

t was not far awn , and-that '

these parts by inquest, of the settlers up the 7

It was '
re. 3 P . .
lay in clusters, and these-all being covered with ‘

’ bird's-e e view the a r , ‘
seated, from a l  m ,

an. v ' .
- Polar 801 was moving along the lake toward
glndn lay before him with amngie, smer tree

cred a female figure walkinfieto and fro beneath . x
the tree. Stepping back, t old hunter took. a ’

saw» 1; " f

1 . dark-brown  in j '

 

 



 

      
      
  
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

" red-skins spla

 

. an American,

H Medicine-Man who is, himself, a

‘»
,r

r.‘_“v'rmgei¢ propagat, boyzr 

Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy.

5

 

 

bare, plump arms and fair neck were reeplen—
dent with Jewels. A light shawl of vivid colors
lay carelessly about her shoulders and willowy,
graceful form.

It was quite evident that the maiden was
there upon some extraordinar occasion, and
was in her holiday attire. To olar Sol she ap-
peared the veg-(y .icture of beauty and grace,
and as he at casting his eyes upon her, he
mused: ,

“Sword 0’ Gideon! a. white gal in Injin
goods, and I’ll swear she’s a screamin’ pretty
critter! I’ve beam 0’ wood-nymphs, am sich,
and if there be sich things, she’s the queen o’ the
flock. But Old Dismal alers said I war an ole
ejiott ’bout gals—that every one I see’d war an
angel for beauty, and mebby I have a weakness
that way, but it‘s no bad fault. But, what for
a goloswizzlcd country is this, anyhow? Last
night imps and Slayers stalked abroad in this
wood, and with day comes faiI‘IPS and birds and
—hut. sugar! what’s the use? That gal’s there
t ) meet some one—a lover, I‘ll go a beaver-skin.
Thunder and tornadoes! if I war just ’bouta
century younger, I’d sail into that glade like a
Roman conquest and demolish that little doe’s
heart. But. poor old feel that I am! I war
born too early in the begiiinin’ o’ the Christian
Era ever to make an impression on that 5al’s—”

“ Well, old pard, what’s the matter! re you
airaid to advance!”

It was a strange voice that spoke thus, and
tin-nine with a halt-guilty look 11 on his face
Polar gel found himself confron by a tall and
powerful youth of perhaps twenty {ears Ovor
six feet high, and pro rtionately uilt, he was
a veritable young giant, with Q handsome,
nianlg'aface, a sparkling brown eye, and the air
of a ring, dashing youth. He was dressed in
the garb of a border hunter, and carried a rifle,
hunting-knife, and a. pair of revolvers. His
face, however, bore the red marks of recent vio-
lence, and his clothing was torn in places and
speckled With blend-stains.

Polar Sol reeo nixed him at a glance, and ad-
vancing toward i'm with outstretched hand, he
exclaimed: v

“ Tamarac Tom, the Big Boy Trapper, or I’m
a. Turk l" _ ‘

“Right you are, Polar Solomon,” the young
giant; responded, "and I’m truly glad‘to meet

u. . v
“ But what ’vo you been doin’, Tom? You
look as though you’d been foolin’ with a'b’ar, or
a. Cold Wave?” . _
“ A racy 01:1 fight with a pack of four Ingins
this mprning is what ails me,” was the boy’s re-

_ Spouse.

“ The Satan, you say? Then the red devils
are r'ila‘ellyrpn the war-path? How did you come
out om '

“’Well. I came out alive,” answered the boy
with a’amile, “and that’s moro’u. I can say for
the red-skins, though‘I tell vou.'they made me
flutter around for awhile. But if ever. on seen
tiered over onorganined rrito
it war them four bucks. They acted as thong
they wanted to take me a prisoner at first, and
before they found out I was loaded, they were
not in a shape to perforn With a knife or
hatchet. But, Polar, you must excuse me for a
few minutes (0111-81 me com? the to meet that

oung' l in t 0 your er.

y “Ah?! Page, you lucky dog!” the old
man. exclaimed; “then ycu’re her lover—ye
needn‘tblush, nor summer, nor lie ’bout 1;,

Tamarac.‘ But it’s well you t ’loug when ,

did, for-I had just ’bout m e u my! min _
rance‘ in there, capture her hear and fly With
or to Rome. Shes aiiiflalngel, {omfini gloom-

tins.butbefore on o - mew 03 em

“ Her true na¥no g Naidee Bondon—her In-
dian name ’“ June.” . ' ‘

.“ Theashelivcs with the Indians?’

“Yes, but she is a white girl. , Her father was

' her mother a Frenchwoman.

Some ears'ago her father died and her mother

came live with a brother who, having mar-

ried a daughter of the chic .. Crow Wing, lives
with the-Indians and is a; trader. , I first met

June in the Indian village, where I was always

a. welcome visitor, two years ago. But finall I

was forbidden to out 'r the village again um er
enalty of death. This was a startlin’ surprise

antic but'I soon learned from J one, the cause

or“: ’Iihadarivalin one Carl Costello, 0. tel-e

lbw claimin’ to be a Cuban. and a trio (130$ tlzle
, Dan 81‘ .
Cuban or not, June detestedhim, but he secured

‘*  the influence of the chief to keep me away from
 .m and June; but Since then we have
, t to see each other by, meeting in the!

801. “ But so
rival—see thu

He noted to adark--visaged man who had up.
p arci from the woods on the north and was
walking straight toward the maiden

Sol saw the oung-trapper’s face change color
and his hand ( rop nerVously to his revolver.

“ Do you know him, Tom l”

“ Yes: it is the Cuban, Carl Costello!”

“Oh, the deuce! shall I drop him?" and Old
Sol raised his rifle. , '

“ Wait a moment, but watch, and if he offers
violence to her It t him have it.” 11‘ died the
youth. “ The scoundrcl has dogged or foot-
stolps here."

' he Cu‘ on was within thnty feet of the
maiden before she discovcrc'l his prcs‘cuce, and
as she started back 111 surprise, he doil‘cd his hat
and bowed low to her.

“ 0h, mere l” exclaimed 01d Sol, sarcastical-
1y, “ he’s po itcr ’u a hull French reception.
W'hcw! don't be stack it on majestic’ly? Don‘t
he warp and weave ‘bout like a willer in the
wind? But the gal don’t act as tho’ she’ reciat-
ed the Cubanistio sweetness o’ the (larnct tool.”

It was quite evident to the. watchers that J une
was surpriscd by the Cubau’s presence. for ashe.
advanced toward her, she slowly retreated.
They could not hear what was said for they were
fully seventy-live yards away.

Costello contimicd in his advance, and when
he. saw that June manifested a fear of him, he
Ball : ‘ -

“ My fair young lady, I hope you will have. no
fears of me. True, I am sur )rised, and yet de-
lighted to meet you here in t iis charming spot.
But you are brave to come here alone by the
Lake-of-Islcs. f-g-r is it not known that here
dwr-lls the Evil Spirit of the Lake? that in these
woods ‘round and about roams, day and night, a
hideous, black imp?” '

“ Carl Costello,” replied J unc, indignantly,
“ there is no evil spirit hereahouts except that
which prompted you to follow me here! Be-
gonel I detest you i”

The words seemed toasting the. Cuban to the
quick, and determined to crush the girl’s haugh-
ty. defiant spirit at a blow, he re ended:

- “ Miss June, you think I do not now wit you
are here, but ‘be undeceived at once. I new
that you were to meet Tom Pope here ~to-day,
but let me inform you that Tom will not be here
for a party of four warriors, went to intercept
him a his usual crossing on the river. That is
why he is not here, and the reason why I am! I
now stand without a rival, and you will gain
nothing by further obstinacy.” .

“ Coward! assassin l” hissed the girl; “do not
approach me!”

“ But I will—you must go with me!” he re-
plied and started toward her as if to seize her.

Old Polar saw his movements and uickly
'threw his rifle to his shoulder, but instant y low-
ered it a in, exclaiming: ~

“ Good Lordlwhat’s that whirlin’ ’cross the
glade?"

Tom made no reply but fixed his gazeupon the
object alluded to like one rendered suddenly
dumb. Out of the woods across the glade, di-
rectly toward the man and maiden, the saw
something whirling along the ground en over
end with therapidity, almost. of lightning.

e ban had. also seen it up reaching and,
starting back, grasped his piste , but before he
could use it, the unknown object struck him
square in the stomach and doubled him up like
a . .

, Tom, I guess you’ve got another

inch-knife on the earth.
amarro Tom‘ and Polar Sol new dashed from
their cont ailment and ran .toward the scene of
excitement.

The maiden, as if paralyzed with terror at
what had taken place, stood motionless in her
tracks, but when i she saw Tom Pope coming to-
ward her, she uttered a cry of joy and ran to
meet the lover whom Costello lzad told her
would never come. And while the young trap-

,r gave his entire attention to t e maiden,

olar Sol gave his to the Cuban who still lay
curled up motionless on the earth, and from
whose side there suddenly sprun erect a dimin-
utive human figure within. wool y head, a black
face and great staring white eyes!

“Sword 0’ Gideonll’burst from Polar’s I ps-
as he stopped short and glared at the figure, ‘ it
it nr’n’t an imp I’ll nowr see one. i” ,

“Ki-yil” half-laughed. half-barked the black
.Lillirutian: “I: css you’s‘fraid chino. massed“
» “Well. what ind o" a contraption are ye?”
asked Sol; “ be you a boy, mm, or what?" i _. r

“ i’ee nothin’ but a boy, and not much ob one

Imp's my name, and Fee a blank kid oswbar.‘

 

 

: n butt de horns of! agent. Oh. 3011 but it
rI‘j‘didii’t giVedat feller. a when; in deyzto

neither; and you guessed my name fur-pony

 

    

dat make him curl up sick like he’d been tooken‘.
wid de cnnnps. Say, massa, (1’ you kno, it was
me dat peeked into yoah tent last night?”

Old bol looked upon the little black specimen
of humanity with wonder and curiosity.
boy was nearly, if not quite a full-blooded Abi-
can. He looked as though he was but ten or
twelve years of age, but was no doubt sixteen
or seventeen. He ad a lithe, sup .le figure that
could have been but little over our feet high.
He had an enormous mouth, a wide, flat nose
and a big white c e made larger by a way he
had of “staringfi The wool upon his round
budet head was cropped close to the skull. His
head, feet, and legs to the thighs, were bare.

The boy scemer restless as a captive dccraa
he stood before the hunter. His big, white eyes
roamed i'estlessly around him like one accustom-
ed to constant dangers. He would turn around
and around, stand first on one foot and then the
0 her, all the time working his fingers in a nerv-
ous way. He was all supplcness and activity
and involuntarily cut some antics that forced a
smile to the hunters lips. And, finally a groan
from the lips of tho reviving Cuban caused the
lad to assume an attitude and expression so
comical that 801 could no longer restrain an out-
burst of laughter. ' ’

“Tom Pope," the hunter exclaimed, “excuse
my interruption, but for the Lord’s sake come
this way! I’ve struck the biggest little icnio
this side 0’ the moon--ahull Roman holi ay—a
colored ca n11.)—nicctin’——a comic concert I”

“I‘ve soon that lad before, and heard of him.
often,” responded Tom, wire with June ad-
vanced toward them. “That is Imp, the Elf of
the “’oods.”

“ He’s a toy tempest.” declared Old Sol, “and
the may he struck that gcntlc man is a, cau-
tion— . ' ‘ ‘

“ Oh ' masses!” suddenly broke in the little
black-skin excited] , stretching out his hands
and working his ngers nervously, “run for

.youah livas! ‘dur come whole gob ob sabbages l”

Searcer had these words of warning been ut-
tered when a wild, ravage yell reSounded
through the forest, and no less than five-and-
twcnty Indians burrt from the Woods at the.
point where 801 and Tom had entered the glade, .
and dashed toward the whites like so many in-
furiated demons! v .

CHAPTER VI.
» run DUEL in run rouns'r. .
. “Conn, Tom l” cried Polar Sol, “hurry on
into the timber with your gal and I’ll do'my
beat to cover your retreat! uick, boy! for
there’s murder in the red dcvils’ carts!” ' a

The Boy Tra per took June by the hand, and
hurried towar the woodssvliithcr Imp, the Elf
of the Woods. had preceded them.

To Polar Sol's surprise the Cuban rose to hil
feet as the red-skin came up, and, frantic with '
impoteutrage, urged on the warriors in wait
of the fugitives. But the hunter kept c cse he»
bind the young couple, a revolver in his ripht
hand and his rifle in the left, a look of resolutr
courage and determination upon his face. He
did not wish to fire the first shot until absolutel . '
compelled to—until he saw there was no hopes '
averting a conflict. although there would be little
hope for him and Tom against such odds. They
could have seen d all daugrs, rhaps, had _
the left June he (1 as she a thcmé‘to do. -
an sought safety in flight. Batu the iden ~
had previous) exp , 3a determmatlouncvor '
to return tot e Indian village, her silent lover
resolverlllto stay byher aslongau ehadlifeto
defend er. I .

Two of the pursuing savages; flecter than their
friends were pressing close upon Polar Bollwith
uplifted tomahawks before. they had quite
reached the timber, and the hunter saw thatthe
must strike, and turned to o n the conflict. _
But it was not for him to fire he first shot .for _
as he faced the for. a rifle in the woods behind , >
him cracked, and the nearest savage fellehot 
through the heart, while the other checked his
speed to await the‘comlng cf his friends. Again
turning his back to the enemy. Old Sol ran (13- ‘
into the woods where he met Old D smal, can;
thin Rivers, and the negro, Congo, weapons
hand ready for battle. . . _ ,

Tamarac Tom. havuig reached the cover of
the woods, bade his sweetheart run on- iuto the
forest and conceal herself until danger was
Pasadwhile he returned to the assistancaofhia

ricn a. ,, >

To the young man’s surprise. however, all was
quiet when he reached them. The sayeger had.
all'halted about three rods from the a go of £133

1st after the shot from Dimini‘s-‘riile had

once: their number lifeless. and called” aloud to

mick the whites, notto shoot. Then their leader, 3 

 
   

 

 - from, a
. was a total

 

 

'6

 

'Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy.

 

 

large and erful man, evidently a half-breed,
armed wit a bu e and ancient-lookin sword
stepped to the rent of the savage ' e and

said:

“Men! we do not want to 3 ht, though we
are many and vou are few. 6 are here to
oven 3 only a single wrong.”

“ nswer for us, Sol,” said Old Dismal, “ fur
if thar’s any diplomatic lyin’ to he did, as well
as flghtin’, ou’ve the faculties for every emer-
gency]: unlnnber, Polar, and open on ’em.”

“\ nl, Rooms to me ye changed yer notion

l quite suddenly, didn’t ve, ’bout flghtm’?” 801 at

once replied to tho bitr foe. “I reckon ye didn‘t
know thar was a ma battery in the woods
here when you come bulvin’ nrtcr us so wolfish‘
ish, did ye? Reckon ye didn’t know Old Dismal,
the bffl)by-ffl00d dcestroyer war nestled in bore
like a Roman legion in a swamp, nor that you
war crowdin’ on Polar Sol, the bold Wavo from
’Scatka, nor Big Tom Pope, a freshly-forged
thunderbolt from Olym us?”

“ Toni Pope is the fol ow we're after, and no
other,” responded the bi half-breed.

“Is that so?” return $01. “Wal, Tom’s a
much-sought-after chap; even the gals are aiitor
Tom. Tom flourishes well in theso parts, I see;
popular as the itch in an Indian Village. But
why d’yo want Tom and none 0’ the rest 0’ us?
Thar’s a v’riety 0’ us here with .scalps in all
sta cs 0’ ripeness and bi'illinncy o’ plumage.”

“ om Po , the Bi" Pine, mus answer for
the death 0 four of brow Wing’s warriors ho
murdered in cold' blood this mornin’,” declared
the renegade in a Very em hatic manner.

“Them as what waylait him and got their
kidne s all massed u , eh?” replied Sol.

“ c murder of t em warriors was without
pmvooation; and if you would avert a general
uprising of the Indians, you will deliver up Big
Pine for punishment.” '

“ 8’ I’m willin’ an’ 'l‘om isn‘ti—or s’pose
we a1 kick?” I
. “Then on will all have to take the conse-
quences. ut if what I have heard of Polar Sol

' is true, he is not such‘a fool as to stand up

against five to one,” returned the big rene-
e.
8 “Yes, I be, colonel,” replied Sol; “the older
I grow the bigger fool I git to be about fl htin',
and seein‘ as me and my part are all 01 Mas-
ters with knife, sword and pilito we’ve no rea-
son to fear you, nor glive up Bi ' no ’cause he
sos’d fit to save his ‘fs by ki ’ four 0’ your
cut-throats. 'Now, ist you figgcr- up that if
'l‘om Pope could po h OR four red-skins afnre
breakfast alone, what show your little band ’d
have in- a light with we five consolidated and
robust bullrwalruses. ,' Wh , man, you’re frivil-
on! as s sprin dumb ’roun a wolf’s don.”
. “I say, Po r Sol!” exclaimed the red-skins’
becoming nettled by the hunter's words.

leader
' ‘.‘ wo’nld have you know that I’m not a fool

nor a coward. ou» evidently take me for
what‘Iam not. ir,‘my father was lgallant
French naval oflicer, and my mother an nglish
.éand those races are not races of cow-

) “ Pedigree first-mic, captain,” on Sol answer-a,

:1 ad, “but t we’re all Sta ' n led-banner
‘ Americans, to the tune o’ co Doodle,
aredown on the herd-book” Jersey-bul-

’4.

l

, your boasted. skill and strongt

nan and slender.,
' bearing.
hair

thrown carelessly,
. V  His'facc was cove

' '  :Mm‘l‘mmfi
'  afinwfim

and
' liens on that ht. Tom Po or an on
thissids r g “a ’ “‘4”

, ttcr man than

you be with lust, knife, sword or'pistol, by
header!” . , .
“ Bnyi”crlcd the big renegade, flourishing his
sword above his head, "since you have thus

0 the timber are a

, challenge you or any one of your
crowd to meet ‘ me hols-way between our
friends with your choice 0 weapons, and if I’m
whipped no further demands ’ll be made of you.
Now come on—any one of K311, and display

to that chal-

“Gmilemcn, I will ospcmd

it”! a!” . /
‘ Igwas a. strange voice that spoke thus, and

turnip to adense clump of bushes whence it
camcfi’dm‘ Sci and his friends saw step there-
long. slender sword in hand. a man who,
topvery one of them. He
was {man of font or forty-five years of age,
. ti: a dignified and. soldierl '
His" head was bare, and his thin dar
back from a 1135 , intel-
with a
coat rim-«vest.
,. I by open. an:-

 ..n ran-.sm
Q " affiva -
 . , ..

faces,er him a
Easing, ad-
t, renegade,

   
  
 
 

  
   

 

» low; 0 his back, his right whirl

’ thc.hushcs, he"

 

   
   
 

“Come, Sir Son of a Frenchman,‘and I will
test the mettle of your blade, and the skill of
your arm.”

Polar 801 and his friends had been so com-
pletely astounded by the sudden appearance of
the stranger and his deliberate actions, that be-
fOre the could speak or interpose any objec-
tions to is accepting the renegade’s challenge
he was out in the glade. But all had occurr
in a moment. 01d Dismal was the first to

spea .

“ Polar,” he said, “my life on it that that man
is the mysterious assassm of Peter Zull, the
peddlerl” ,

“Mon,” spoke up Tamarac Tom, a little ex-
cited: “I cannot allow that man to fight my
battles—I shall recall him!" ’

But Tom was too late, for the big renegade,
not knowing but that the soldierly man was one
of the_hunters' part , advanced to meet him, and
as the last word loll-from the Boy Trap r‘s
lips, his cars were greeted by the clash o , the
duelists’ swords.

CHAPTER VII.’
THE ISLE or REFUGE. '
“STAND to your arms, men!” commanded
Polar Sol, as the clash of the combatants’ steel
smote upon his ears “and see that our friend is

not interfered with by the savages!”

But already the revolvers of the whites were
in hand ready for inst nt use. The‘hunters had
little faith in the save es standing their ground,
idle spectators, until t e duel was ended; but it
was soon observed that they maintained a cool-
ness that could on] have come of their perfect
confidence in the a fifty of their leader to van-
guish his foe. ' r

Even the hunters and the captain, when they
looked upon the slender figure of their stran 8
friend and that of the powerful renegade a -
meet trembled for the fate of the former. ’311
they soon discovered that the stranger was no
novice in the use of the sword; and yet it seem-
ed, as he skillfully parried the desperate blows
of the foe, that his slender sword must be snap-
ped in two by his antagonist’s heavy blade. But
the stranger seemed to know the mettle of his
sword and with his left hand lyin in the hol-
and flashed
the 1glitter-inguinal in the face of the renegade.

C ashi. clung! clanng runfibe terrible blades,
the forest echoes repeating sounds in clear,
metallic notes. The apparent case with which
the s crymet and hwarted the desperate
lunges and blows of his adversary soon con-
vinced, Captain Rivers, who was himself no
mean swo ' , that be was playing with
tslg Frenchman, and in a low tone said to Polar

“.Polar', that stranger
merely toying with that big regagade, who
thinks he is keeping him all the w ’ e on the de-

fense. The foe no mean swordsman, but I
look for a coup c on tho Ptof the stran-
that impetuous

gn- prettysoon tha will astonis

Scarcely- had this prediction been made are a
cry of pain escaped the Frenchman’& lips, and
his sword fe point‘downward to the ground,
his hand half ver'ed at thewrist by a dextarous
twirl of the stranger’s sword. It was the last

lace the man could have expected a blow, but
he stranger had discovered that a on of
the hand-guard of his sword had- been roken‘ 01!
and wiring: quick to take advantage of the ex-

.) w . _ ' ’ -
p The renegade sprung backward. a look of baf-
fled rage upon his face and a curse u on his lips.
The savages saw that he was da gated, and,
true to their treachermis natures, they uttered a
frightful war‘whoop and charged upon the vic-
to us stranger. - ' A ' '

But this was no more than Old Sol and Dismal
had , of them, even had the renegade
been the victor, and they were prompt to act.
The next instant the rattlin bark of their re-
volvers and the shouts of t e bordcrmen wore
mingled with-tho savage yells“ in one horrible
tumult of battle. - - " ' “

In the very midst Of the fray flashed (the dead-’
lv sword of the mysterious stranger. ' Captain

Rivers, with sword also, had entered the fray
and rained terrible blows upon the savages.
The negro, Congo, proved himself the bravest of
the brave, bathe soon fell with a eleven skull'at
the side of his master. Tamarac Tom, With

clubbed rifledaid aims him with giant blows,

mowingaswath thronzhthe ranks of the foot
Nth Old Polar and Much-skillch veteranso
hand-twhmd contest. dodged thoblows

mars. , . , .
"aimed-at their heads. and mine time made ’

their revolvers count. The

av V shot from

   

is an expert. H'é's “

 

  
 
 
 

tomchswks, and as '

they rushed in a body upon the whites, these be
hind fou ht at some disadvantage.

With t e whites there was more in k ing out
of the reach of the tomahawks, and at t 6 same
time strikin dead! blows, than in the way the
blows were ealt. he lon arm and sweeping
gun-barrel of Tom Po eha led him to keep the
foe beyond reach of him, and while his weapon
was not so deadly it was most effective in sweep.
ing down and confusing the foe, his friends dq-
infi‘lthe deadly work. I '

e conflict had been raging but a few brief
seconds, and was fierce as the deadly animosity
of mortal foes could make it, when, suddenly,
there occurred a terrific explosion or report
within the limits of the battle-ground. It was
almost instantly followod by a second, and the
ver concussion Seemed to cause the savages to
rec backward, and with a cry of disma turn
and flee, leavin the whites the victors an their
dead and woun ed upon the bloody field.

It was a most surprising turn of affairs, for at
the moment the red-skins were holding their
ground with a hopeful stubbornness, when those
crashing explosions seemed to fill them with sud-
den fear. And great was the amazement of
the whites, on looking around for the source

of those friendly 0:: .losions, to see Imp, the Elf ’ '

of the Woods, stan ing near with a great double-
barreled shot-gun in his hands—the muzzle still
smoking—his eyes big as moons and his little
form all aquiver with excitement and curiosity.

“ Boy! did you do that?” exclaimed ’I'amarac

Tom.
1 (‘1‘ Yes, mesa, me and Old Belcher,” replied the
a .
“ Bravo] bravo!” elled Polar Sol; “ you are a
glorious little rasca , Impl But, I say, stran-
ger ”—turning to the mysterious swordsman——
“you did same 0’ the nicest, andest work since
the days 0’ Bunker Hill. By t e sword o‘ Gideon!

[you are an artist with the sword! Shake, stran-

ger!” \

“ I thank you, sir, for the compliment, but
I am afraid our victory has been dearly bought,
after all "said the stranger," in a calm, serious
tone, as he glanced around him over the scene
of battle at the prostrate forms.
‘ “By Heavens! Captain Rivers and Congo are

down, and Dismal’s hurt!” cried Sol, glancing '

around him. ,

In the wild excitement of the moment the fall
of Rivers had not beelilifiolfiserved before. He
w lyin rons u n ace.
him in ’ glifelesspgorm of-Congg, while at an-
other cc Old Dismal was just sta erlng to
hisfee , his face covered with blood. amarsc
Tom had received some ht wounds, but Polar
Sol fluid the stranger ha escaped without a
sore '. :

Polar~hurried to the side of Captain Rivers '

and turned him on his back. He had
wound on the head and another in the s r,
groin which the crimson tide of life was fast ebb-
n awn o '
stranger hastened to' Sal’s. assistance.

They discovered that the captain was not dead,
and immediately proceed to stanch the
wounds the stra or displaying a skill that con-
vgnced $01 at once  some knowledge
0 sur ry. , / ' .

The p, stan near, was ordered by the
stranger to run and _ ring some water. The boy
scampered away, and in about ten minutes re-
turned with the water in a wooden bucket.

“ y,” exclaimed Old 801, “ whar did you git
that vessel?” " ,

“ At my cabin," answered the stranger for

m.- , ~ ,
“ Ah! then zen live near here, and that black
kid are your 01k?”
“Yes, sir ” answered the man, asbe proceeded
to wash and dress the ca ta‘ ’3 wounded bead.
Meanwhile Tamarac on} ad started off into
the woods in search of his sweetheart, June.
Imp saw him, and, divining his purpose, ran
aftfiixim, and when he . came up with Lim, in.
u :
q “Mnssa Tom, be you gwine to' look for
young missus?” V . I ,
“ Yes, Imp: do you know. where she is?”
“Yes, Massa,Tom, I runned awa wid her,”
replied the boy, with a grin, “ when e fight war
’bout to n. I slipped up to da'skeert 0%

missus an tole her if she foller mede e

wbar shebomfe,and I jist flutter her offto 

Mama Omar’s cabin on, Refuge Islan’. anti-when
I went for do bucket to bringdo watering! talc
her'bout dc awful bi  anlshoaxr’hont
you, and I tola her, a . ishc ' her hands
and rolled herfcyes up,: an said somefl-u’g
behalf, and then laughed and cried—oh,

Not far from‘

the 

fl 1 .
“Imp, 793m . little mum  5;:

u-..

 

L

l . ‘ '«.
:.- v‘

 

:55pr  a"

3.‘

r ‘ . . _ U‘

. ’ . v

V . - ~v . ;w ,i 
“a...” 544...? .fi.....I 1“: ~ ~ 1 1i“ .V

  
  
  
    

 

 

  

l rapidity of a beaver.

'l  whammy men to me in my seclur ed life.
"alone misapply mv *u‘file with fish, fowl and-

 - , ,— ‘ good
i at hunting» as he isslii lful in swimmi

Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. ' ‘  7'

 

 

with a. smile of joy; “ you’re worth your weight
in gold.”

“ Golly, Mar’s Tom you’s chock full ob tickle-
words, ar‘n’t you? lint now I’se gwine to git
Ole Belcher and git ’im home.”

“ W'ho’s Belcher, Imp?” asked Tom. ,

“ \Vhy, Belcher am dat ole twin-bar'led shot-
gun. Lor’ ‘mio'htyl massa Tom, if I didn’t, jis’

red he plom Full ob powder and bullets, and
when I teched ’im off he r.;m back ’g’inst me
wus..:cr"u my billy-goat, Nick. I mos' awful
’l’e‘ard I not git back ’fore do fight was over."

“ You got there in time to do heroic work,
Imp. You and Bclchcr put the Iugins to rent
and ended the light. But let us return to our
friends; th may need our help.”

Side by side the giant and pigmy returned to
the scene of the battle. They found Captain
Rivers had recovered consciousness, but was
Very weak from loss of blood and was suffering
much.

In the mean time, the strange swordsman had
informed Polar Sol and his friends that his
name was Omar, and that he had once been a
practicin" physician and surgeon, and that, if
Captain ivers was removed to his cabin he
would do all in his power to save his life. He
informed them that his cabin was on an island
in the Lake-of-Islcs not far distant. He told the
hunters that they would all be Welcome under
hisroof as long: as the wished to remain, and
as‘Old Dismal had received wounds that needed

,snne attention they concluded to accept his. in-
;itation, and at once prepared to go home with

im. '

A litter of poles auda blanket was constructed
and the wounded captain placed thereon, car-
ried down to the lake and laid in the canoe in
which the kind-hearted and brave Dr. Omar
had come ashore. Then Omar and Polar en-
tered the craft and, seating themselves, the for-
mer took up the paddle and pushed oil? into, the
lake. They crossed a narrow expanse of water.
and entered a. dark tunnel-like passage between
:two wooded islands. They were just emerging
imam thisinto the light of more 9 a water
whrn Old Polar was suddenly startle by sight
of something swimming in their wake with the

It was about _twenty
paces away. Involuntarin Sol’s hand dropped
to his belt. The movement brought a smi e to
Dr. Omar’s face. ’ - W.

“It’s the be , Imp,” he explained.

“Sword 0’ ideonl what‘for a critter is he?”
exclaimed the hunter. ' . ,

l " Certainly one of the most remarkable beings
I ever saw. He-is but fifteen ears of age and
yet by his wonderful feats of ring and ven-
ture. he has been named by some one, the Elf of
the Woods.”

: Lying upon his back‘ in the water the be

ma ougside the then rising upon h 8
fact he stood «seams. to the waist exposed,
andkfptpucamth-the by “treading”
water '

v This he kept up for a. rod or two when, all of a
sudden, he rop downward into the water

out of sight.
antics, watched for him to rise to the surface
where he had disc? . several moments

WI, and us bed not come up, the hunter

was growing uneasy when his ears were sudden-

ly greeted b a. “yank wk 1; k”-—a

, g s W
. “croup ” bar he had heard t enlght before—-

on his oft, and looking around he saw, about
four rods away, a number of. waves circling
object which proved to be the

out from a dark
head of Imlp. , , .

“ Wal, 'll be sacrificed!” exclaimed Polar,
“ that black critter must be part. fish.”

*‘ If you'd see him climb a tree,” said Omar,-

“ you would think he was part monkey,
though ‘ he is without doubt. a most marvelous
swimmer. He can remain under water a longer

time than it would take ‘0 lrown a hooked-fish.

'I-Ie 'isvas active as a squ'rr.l,.cunning es afox,

and fears- nothing by day nor the ‘gloomicst
nith He can climb‘a lr’ndred foot into a

' tree and rob a emu-m of be e. of t‘ eir honey

with impunity. He keeps my table supplied
with :1 the choicest of -‘ w; d honey. Squirrel-
nostfl have been robbed of their young by him.
The nests (item 5, bowls and eagles for five
miles around be. 9 yielded tribute tothat boy's
reckless darin . One day he came in with a

" beer’scub‘ un er each arm. almost frightening
~Old Hulda, his. mother, out of her senses. He

almost worries the life out If the kind, in-
dulgent old womnr- - In“. l.e is w rtho dozfin
o

rt ‘c-shot, and as skillful
and

   

  c.

»

invited 801 to step into his “arsenn1”and

Id 80!, highly amused at his

 

  
  

aud’s an old master with, the sword. But why

pedients in trapping game than any trapper I
ever hc ard of.

While thus conversing the boat had passed by
three or four.little islands and, flnall , came
in sight of the one on which Omars cabin
stood. In size it was live or six acres in area,
almost round and rising gradually from the
surroundin0r waters to the center. It was
devoid of timber except on the elevated center
where there was perhaps an acre of tall, magni-

ficent lines. 1n the center of this little grove
stood r. Omar’s cabin, a. wide, low building of
logs.

i

You‘ve a line location there, dootor,“ Polar
Sol remarked: “ how long have you been there?"

“ Not long,” replied Omar, “ though long
enough to give the lake the name of being the
abode of the Evil Spirit. This comes, however,
I think, of Iinp‘s performances ’round and about
the lake, and his black face which to the red-
skin. seems suggestive of evil.”

“ But why a man like you, doctor, would want
to live here out of the world and the society in
which I know you war born and bred, is what
stumps me,” declared Old Sol.

“I like solitude, Polar,” replied Omar, in an
evasive manner.

At this juncture the boat touched the island,
and landing the old hunter and recluse lifted the
Wounded man from 1 he boat and bore him ten-
derly up the grassy sl ipo to thecabin.

At the door they were met by a fat negress of
fifty—the mother of Imp—and the fugitive mai-
den J une. - ‘

The wounded captain was placed 11 n a. bed
in the dector’s private bed-c amber, is cloth-
ing removed, and his wounds again more care-
fully dressed, and in a short time he was resting
as easy and comfortable as it was possible for
human skill' and kindness to make him under
the circumstances. '

. CHAPTER VIII.
ran Herons ON run WALL.

WHILE the doctor was en god in-dressing
Rivers’s wounds, Polar Sol 11 d a conversation
with Old Hulda, the negress, and the fair June.
In the mean time, Imp came in and i on
the hunter going out ,and seeing- his pet bears
and to please him the borderman went out an
looked at the half-grown cubs that were inclosed
in a log pen. But what _ leased 801’s tanc
most was». ir of great 81 man bloodhoun s
chained in t eir kennel back of the house.

When the hunter returned to the cabin the
doctor had finished his work for the time apd
in-
spect his weapons of defense. He then led the
way into a small room in one corner of the
cabin where no less than a dozen different kinds
of fire-arms stood leaniu against the wall.
There was a Spencer carb no, 0. Henry rifle,‘a
Sériugfleld rifle, and “others of various make and
e cicncy, including Imp’s Old Belcher, which
he had returned
There was also a pair
bullets, power and ca
last, but not least, in a
score of hand grenades.

“ Doctor Omar,” said Polar Sol, when he had
looked at the weapons, “ you’ve gotthe tools to
fight wants: whar’s your men to use r’cml"

“There are three combo ts in-my family,”
replied Omar, “ myself, mp and his father.
01d Joe left a week ago for supplies, and I‘m cx-
pecting him back ’most any ay or hour. But
still, I have no fears of the Indians-that is, I
have not had, but there’s no telling what to-day’s
troubles may bring."

“ Yes, that reminds me I must return for Dis.
.mal and Tom Pope.”'said 801 and he at once
left the cabin, proceeded to the lake,’uud board-
in the canoe returncd_to his waiting friends.

Ibo bod-y of the slum Congo was buried, the
eflccts of Captain Rivcrs Were placed in the
boats and the horses driven into the lake-'and
forced to swim ovcr to an island where there
was little timber and plenty of pasture. Then

, and an old 'musket or two.
of navy revolvers, with
in abundance. \And
x in the corner was a

the hunters started for the doctor’s cabin, dis-
' coming the situation as they proceeded. *

When they reached the island J mm was at the
landing to greet her boy lever, Tamarac Tom.

Rivers'saefl’ects were taken ashore, and then.

801 and Dismal started to the cabin, leaving the
lovers lingering behind. r' - '

“ Saprismal ” observed Sol, as they walked
slowly up the hill, “what do you think-now
’bcut Ingin troubles?"

.'“I savthe hall‘s opened in cod shape,» ,,,_‘

plied Dismal. “and that folksgon this islapddl

«not beasts long. But now, Polar, let me'ex you ‘
what you think 0’ this man, Doctor

. 0mer '
I think he’s a gentleman with: big heart,

.aud Tom had stated her case to Dr. Omaialwho

~ der to case his
this he had fallen intca doze and the doctor had . , '

 

un 'outbewaloftheroomot
\Ms 5 l

   

he‘s here in this lonely place I can’t so . If I
then ht be war capable o’ a wrong I' say be
war idin’ here from justice, as man a man has
done. But he's no outlaw, and yet ’m satisfied
that he’s a man with a secret, and that secret
may have all to do with his being here. In
twenty years in the wilderness I’ve run across a
dozen men that’d banished themselves to the
wilds on account 0’ trouble 0’ some kind or
other, if nothin’ but uis’p‘intment in love. But
there is one thing certain, Diz, this man, Doc-
tor Onmr is, in mg opinion, the very feller that
clispod oil? Peter ull s head last night and yit
I out want to quiz him ’bout it. I-Ie‘s done,
and still dom’, us a good turn, and if he saves
the captain‘s life we’ll owe him a debt 0’; eternal
gratitude, for I’ll sw’ar I never met a man that
I think so much of as that man Rivers. And
that ‘rcminds me that we’ve got to foller that
raft. The poor captain’ll licvm‘ rest till he’s in
his grams, unless the secret 0’ that murderous
craft is solved. The fact is, Dismal, I’ve a.
sneakin’ curiosity myself to board that beat.”

“ I s‘pose so,” replied Dismal, facetiously, “, ou
know thar’s a pretty woman aboard 1t. hl
what a multitoor inous feel an ole fool is ’bout a
handsome woman 2”

Their arrival at the cabin put an end to their
conversation.

Tamarac Tom and June still linfered by the
water talking over the events of tie day. Fi-
nally June asked:

“Tom. do you know what become of Carl
Cestello?”

“ I do not, and yet I do know he did not risk
his cowardly head in the fight,” responded Tom,
“ though he encouraged the savages in their lur-
suit 0 us as they passed him where Imp ad
curled him up on the ground.”

“ Oh, what shall I do?” cried the maiden; “it

will be almost sure death for me to return to the _ -_ v

villa e—”

“ ut, my dearJune,” interrupted Tom, “you ‘

must not go back there while Costello liv s.”

“But, om, you forget my mother is there,
poor, dear soul I”

“ No, June, I did not overlook that fact nor
your love and" respect for your mother. Idem .
you wi ll be safe from Costellols wcr, and I will
contrive sumo way to get wor to your mother
of your whereabout and perhaps induce her to
come to (you. 1 Wil lay your case before Dr.
Omlar an . I feel sure he will advise you to re-
main. We hunters will protect you with our
lives. Polar Sol informs me there in colored
woman at the cabin. If so. she will be some
company for you. But, if after we hear
your motherpand it’s her wish, and you feel it
your duty to return to’éher, I- _ escort you
there. or as near there as I dare go.” I ,

Between the propriety of her remaining in
the cabin of a stranger, and the dun :- of going
back to the Indian illage. the ma! :1 was un-
decided until they ad returned to the cabin,

s

decided the matter for her by saying in to or
kindness: ' v

“ You should accept Tom‘s advice and remain
here where you are ten thousand times welcome,
until word can be sent'and received from your
mother. Here your honor will he guarded as
though you were my Own dau liter. and here,
with these brave men, your a will be pro- ‘
tectedl” , 1~ ‘

“Amen!” shouted Old Polar, “that'swbat’ll
he did, doctor. I tell you that’s more eel-vine
and solid comfort in fightiu‘ forltbe life and
honor o’ a pretty gal than an thing on earth
even if she are sum other tel cr’s sweetheart.
We—that’s me and Dismal-wave teen that he-
forc. With .a good-icokln’ woman in sight, I'do
believe in my soul, in solemn-faced c um can
do more fancy lightin than a hull flcct'o' Tro-
jans. We pro se to linger ’rcund here till the
captain’s able 0 get out, and jist as much longer

.as we’re needed.” -

After some further (11. cussicn of ti e situation
Pclarand Dismal arose and— went out to look
over the' island. l . ,

Dr. Omar remained in conversation wilhTom ‘
Pope and J uuc until he was suddenly startled by
a cry of
the adjoming room. - . v ‘

r ‘ An hour before, after dressing the young of!!-
cer’s wounds. the doctor had given bun “a pow.
pain, and under the influence of ~

thus left him to melt with the other guests. ‘
‘Ha‘stcning to his bedside when he heerd‘bil

the doctor found ’Rivers lying upon his back  ‘ 

hgband slight! elevated ' g wildly at
rtrait of a fa :- and lovelyyoupgevgoma

\

pain from the lips of Captain Rivers in , I

ntbst. j
‘

l

1'.

 
 
     

  

 

   

:child she haw-the must be my _ I
; child of that woman!” he declared, poxnting to

 I  seede
I"    your life.

    

 

-.. .

Tamarao Tom, the Big Trapper Boy.

 

 

“’Wbat’s wrong captain l” the recluse asked.

Raising his ban and pointing at the picture
on the wall, the captain cried out:

“ Where did you get that, dOctorl It is the
picture of my youn wife I”

Dr. Omar  A stra e smile Passed
over his face, and in a low tone 0 repli :

“No, on tain, you are mistaken; that i; the
portrait o my young wife I”

 

CHAPTER IX.
/ na. onm‘s sronr. -

FOR a few moments Captain Rivers lay speech-
less gazing up into the face of his kind host, a
startled puzzled expression ‘upon his bloodless
face. I‘lor was the look of the recluse any less
curious and startling. That each should claim
the portrait as that of his wife seemed most sin-

r and absurd to the other. Dr. Omar was
t 0 first to break the momentary silence that
followed their stran . e declarations.

“ch, captain,” e continued; “that is the
portrait of my wife. She has been dead these
many long years. ,You must beexcited, cap-
tain and this you must void henceforth, if you
Would ever rise from t at bed.”

“Doctor Omar,” said Rivers, “in my coat
yonder. in an inner pocket, is a lenthern card
case. Will you please hand it to me?”

The doctor got him the case from which the
captain took the photograph of the woman he
had shown Old Polar, saying:

“ Doctor, look at that and tell me if it is not
the very counterpart of that portrait, even-to
the arrangement of the hair."

The doctor] oked at the picture. An excla-
mation of surprise escaped his lips. His hand
trembledslightly, and as he continued to look
first at one picture and then the other, a strange
expression seemed to light up his hitherto ini-
mobile face. . .

“ Captain,” he finally said, “ the resemblance

,, isstrangely wonderful, but of course it can be

nothing more than a coincidence, unless-That,
captain, where is your wife l”

‘ I left her months ago in Ohio, though her
home is in Kentucky,” Rivers answered; “but

a I am not so sure she is there now."

“ And why not?”

“ You have heard my friends speak of a
strange craft we saw—yes, encountered on the
Red iver yesterday.” i

“ Yes, and late yesterday evening—after

_ ightfall, in fact—I saw that craft “replied the
doctor. seating himself by the bedside.
- Cs Rivers then related the story of his
marriage with [race Hanlon, almost word for
word as we have already heard it. He also told
lump! the murderous shots fired from the raft,
and of seein aboard boat the woman he be-
lieved to he is wife. ‘ . _

After he had finished is story. Omar asked:

“ Was her father opposed to your marria l”
“ Yes; else we would never have rose to a
secret , the prudence of which on and
many others mammalian. And if t t we-
.man aboard the t is my wife, our marriage
may have something to do with her presence
here almosit out of the world.” . -

“Are you ‘sure. organic, that {she is the
daughter—I mean the cab and blood of theman
who claims her as his ownchildf" r I

“ I knownothlng to the contrary.”

“ What is her age?" .

. “About twenty years.” '

The doctor gla cod at the picture on the wall,‘

‘ I

and for/ several moment seemed engnfid, in
mental reflection. Finally he turned to lvers
and continued: . l
“_ Captain, did. it ever occur to you that she
might not be Hanlon's child?” _
‘_ “ It has often Occurred to me as absolutely
henomeunl that a father who, like ’Morgan
garden, was so uncultured and destitute of
moral attributes, could be the father of a; child

so ore in heart. and possessed of the most deli-.

instincts and imgulses of high-born wo-
manhpod. But why, octor, do you ask this

q “ 13:?an R'vers, if she is‘not Hanlon’s own
r nose, 1 .
‘ daughter—the

theportrnit. . , ; -
The contain was somewhat surprised at his

‘  friend‘s words. and yet they but confirmed the

sly fanned conclusion that the recluse

 was a' man with a secret sorrow.
- . L. , \‘Mtc'r, afowmoments of silence the doctor con-

"; newt eimr since I. first met you, there
nio be an sanity existing between as,
W “films-33 our stronger the more Iknow

 

.smms

 

InmgfotsMondho-

    

lieve in foreordination, and as there may be
more in my feelings toward you than you may
think, I’m going)!» take you into my confidence
and give you a it of my history so that, what-
evor may be the outcome of matters, you will
be prepared for the developments.

‘ In the first place, my name is not Omar,
but it will do for the present. I am a man fifty
years of age. Twenty-tWO'years ago I lived
with my young wife at New Orleans. I was,
despite in years, a surgeon of reputation.
Through t e influence of n. friend-4). Spanish
gentleman of high standing, 1 was induced, I
am sorry to say, to accept the position of as-
sistant-sur eon in the Royal Hospital on the
island of obs. I did not know at the time
that a young Spanish sur eon was displaced to
make room for me, but learned it to my sor-
row shortly after I had removed to the island.
I had been there less than six months when my
friend died, and then the displaced surgeon,
named Dorantes, a hot-headed and vindicitive
man by nature, determined to accomplish my
ruin and thereby gratify his revenge on me for
supplnnting him in the hospital.
was finally made against me that I was a secret
agent of a band of American fillibustcrs who
were in league with an organization of Cuban
revolutionists. The charge was brought direct-
ly by Dorantcs, himself, and supported by the
testimon of no less than five coached witnesses

ocur from among the Spanih thieves and

h s- that infested the dives of New Orleans.
An right here let me sa "that one of them vil-
lains paid the penalty 0 his bearing false wit-
ness u ainst me, with his life last night. I re-
ggr to, nan Alvar, the peddler, that was in your

at.

. “ Ah! we mistrusted that on were his heads—
man,” said Captain Rivers, .‘ when we first met
you to-day.” .

“Pending my trial,” the recluse went on,
“ my young wi 6 died, leaving a little girl-baby
less than a year old. The death of my wife was
caused directly from trouble over my arrest,
and her death. at that time, was the hardest
blow of all. My baby—my little Inez-I sent to
my mother, livmg in New Orleans.

“ But to make along sto short, I was tried,
found guilty, and senten to be shot.“ I ap-
plied for a rehearing. and pending this I man-
aged to escape prism: through secret influences I
promised never to reveal. But I escaped. and
in disguise got away from the island in a smug-
gler,and made my way to Australia, tourism
return .to Angelica les 1. beextradited. 'I
been hiding in Australia six years, when, one

day, I chanced to meet one of the ver friends

who had aided my escape, and informe me that
the c iracyagainst me had been confessed by
one of rantes's hired witnesses on his death-
bed, or rather, on the scafiold for another crime
and that I had been exonerated and recalled
from exile, while a ls , reward was offered for
Donates who, himse , bad now become the
hunted f itive. ..  I ,

“Well. at once returned to America with
the wealth I had accumulated in Australia, ex-

ting to settle down With m mother and

my and-thereafter keep away rom Spaniards
and épanisb haspitals. Bu

t judge of m an rise
on reaching my mother’s home to find my by
was not . nor had she been tor four years.
It seems that shortly after my innocence had
been established by the dying itch and,
mark you before my mother he learn of it

swim, claimi to horny rsonal
friend, and to know where was in bi ng, and
even pretended to tell her—called at my mother‘s
home and told her I had sent him for the child.
Believing him, she gave the child up to him, and
he went am; telling her I would be heard from
frequently. ithin six weeks she learned of
my exoneratiOufrom that very man that called
for the child. He ote her saying that should
I ever return h
child and had put it where I should never see it
again. and hoped I would remember him always,
and then went on about the sweetness of his ro-
venge- in a most brutal way—winding up by
saving be was Dorsntes. -
“ I at once employed skillful detectives and
put the‘mtowork, but the trail was then four

years old, and it looked like a very hopeless case. . come like the locus’cs 0’ Egypt.

The charge .

e, to tell me that ho had my -

woods, for hunting, and when I settled down a
few years ago I selected a romantic spot on a
lake in the woods of Wisconsin, and there built
a cabin, and there for some years I In ed
with my black servants, Old Joe, the Luslinnd of
Hulda, and father of Imp. My cabin was al-
ways oBen 10 white man and red, and among
those w o stopped with me one evenin was an
old Red River hunter on his way to orthcrn
Michigan. He was suffering some from the ef—
fects ofa wound on his hand. I dressed it for
him, and this led to his telling me of a white
doctor or mcdicineman, in Crow Wing’s village
on Moose Lake, in Northern Minnesota, that had.
first dressed his wounds. Instantly it struck
me that that medicineiman might be Doruntes,
but I asked no questions, and the next day 1 was.
off on a journey to Grow VVing’s village, which
I reached in due time, in disguise, and there, sure
enough, was my man, sailing under the mum- of
Mokomah, the medicine-man. I gave him no
chance to' recognize me, and got out of the.
cam as soon as possible. I remained in the
woogs, ostensibly asa. hunter, for three works.
The Indians were quite friendly, and in that
time I could have slain Dorantcs, had I wished.
But I was afraid that his death might forever
debar me from finding my child. At first I
thought she might be with him in the Indian.
village,» but she was not. I sta ed around there
long enough to make certain 0 this.

“Disappointed, but not disheartened, I re-
turned to my cabin, and soughtthe assistance ( f
a noted old border detective named Jack Drew,
whom I had once met at Denver, and put him
v after Mokomah, in hopes he might be able to
truck him to where my child was. _

"To be near the seat of operations I moved
over to this lake, and with the help of Old J «e
and those that helped to bring me over, I erected
this cabin. and here I have been now but a few
months. Meantime I have kept to self in the
background, Jack Drew, Old Joe, an lmp denig-
whatever is‘ necessary beyond the immediate
vicinity of the lake, though I sometime-s venture.
out, as I did yesterda evening and last nigl.t.
‘I have endeavored to cop on good terms with
the red-skins, but presume this morning’s cm.-
fiict vs ith‘ them will endanger my situation. Ilut
I have nothing to regret. I could not resist th 2
temptation to fight that big renegade, knowing
my skill as a. swordsman. \

“One of the first things Jack Drew learned
was that Mokomah was not fixed in his place of
businem—thatis, he was in the habit of going
away from the village and somet remaining
away a month or two at a time. 9 About four
weeks ago he went off on one of these trips
somewhere, and Jack Drew is after him. What.
the result will be I cannot tell, but may it not be
possible that his return may have something to
do with the resence of that woman on thernft?
One thin I eel certain of, and thatis that Peter
Zull, as e called himaelf, belonged to .that raft
and was traveling ashore as an advance scout,
carryin. a peddlcr‘s pack as a blind, and com—
municst ng with the raft b secret n.eau:‘. And
since he was Dorantes’s on the Island of
Cuba he is doubtless the same here, and. if ’so,
then Dorantes must have been aboard that raft.
Should my friend, Jack Drew put inan appear-
ance soon I would almost feel certain of, being
right. But, captain, .I must not tax your
patience. I for at the duty of a physician to his
patient, and as
give you. another powder)l .

Torn Po coming in to see the captain reliev—
ed the doc or in hlS_ attendance at the bedside,

and lie—the doctor—walked out to consult with 1

Polar 801 and Dismal. He found them a little
way from the cabin seated upon t grassy
slope1 talking, and as he approached them Sol
a ‘ N l ‘ ' ’.
“ Doctor, how soon do you think Cap Rivers
’11 be likely to get around!” 3, I '

“ Well, the captain is a young. healthy man
and if nothing happens to prevent, he may be
able to leave is bed in two week 'and the is~
land inperhape a month or six woe ' .” .

“ Sword 0’ Gideon! are it 'blo the soldier’s
choppcd up that had? Bu then, it makes no
diflerence; we‘ll stay by him till the lake goes

 

dry or the island sinks, even tho’ the savages
Our ail‘airs at

'want to work myself. I visited a thousand I home ’11 keep if we never git back, and while

dorsal:
and the

might be in hiding. I kept this up for yearS._

without once getting: a traceof him, and finally,

'I concluded that Doigntes must have gone, to
' an _'I “rave up

80mm!!!) In H indespairvof
ever. finding Emmi} my child. I '- '
“During myvresidence in Australia I had
 attest liking tenths solitudeof

places/in the United States," Mexico.

the 'o’houpds up thar asthma-though

 we’re wairin’ for the ca tain to git around we’ll
provinces, where I thought the villain. look ’bout that raft—Io ler it into the provinces
.butwhst we’ll know all ’bout it and its crew. '

But, we’ll have'to keep a clue watch on the red-
skins for awhile. They‘ll beapt to try team
the death 0’ their friends. and when they 0
they’ll come. like hornets .and every man ‘ll be
needcdrigbt here. But. doctorifrou‘ves air
a .3

  

seeyou have some pain I will -

 

’4 "Av—

 

       

 

I.

 

 

q .

 

    

Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper. Boy.

 

 

 

‘ could do some pow‘rful nasty work ‘round a

red-skin’s jugular.”

“ Yes, but I hope I may never have occasion
to turn them loose,” replied the doctor.

“ Ho, Mar’s Omar?” suddenly called lmp from
the cabin, “mommy says dat dinner am
read .”

“Come, friends,” said Omar turning toward
the cabin; “I know you are hungry, for it is
now ast noon, and your strength has been
heavi y taxed since breakfast.”

Returnin to the cabin, they were all at once
seated at t e doctor’s table, upon which Old
Hultlla had spread a sumptuous and inviting
mea . -

 

CHAPTER X.
run run AT ANCHOR—IMP AND THE SAVAGE.

As the day were away and night approached,
the islanders became quite uneasy through fear
of a night attack by the Indians, for several of
the dus y fellows had been seen near the close of
day flitting like shadows amourIr the islands. But
as soon as it was dusk, Polar be! and Tamarac
Tom, who had made friends with the two blood-
hounds, each took one of the dogs and patrolled
the island until midnight when the were re-
lieved by Doctor Omar and Imp, who opt watch
until morning. Old Dismal, who was suffering
somewhat from the effects of his Wounds re-
ceived in battle, remaining at the cabin with

Ca tain Rivers and the women.
lthough the suspense of that night wasgreat,
not a thing was seen or even heard of an enemy.
- But this immunity from danger did not relieve
the little band of islanders of their fears, nor
cause them to relax their vigilance for a
moment. . '

With the dawn of the new day, however, the

. anxiety opraptain Rivers and Doctor Omar
about the mystery of the raft became so great,
that Polar Sol concluded he would o at once
and try and investigate the matter. ut Doctor
Omar would not hear to his going alone, and as
daylight revealed the surroundings-of the island
clear of enemies, he concluded to accompany
him; and so immediately after breakfast the
two men embarked in 'a canoe, crossed the lake
to a point nearest the river, and landing and
cpncealing their canoe, struck out _ down the
r var.

The moved along rapidly at cautiously.
They oped to overtake the ra t before it had
passed opposite the Indian village, which was
about ten :31an dgvtath: river. gut w

ey were 153. ; owever, ey
on unobServed 1% than five miles beyond t e
village, and still the raft was not .overhaul .

. Finally, they came to the conclunon that the
boat could not have drifted so far in so short
a time. and that it had dropped aside into
some'cove or bayou. Acting upon this belief
they turned about and ° . retracmg their
steps up the river and tin ing a cameo, about
a mile beyond the Indian Village on the river,
they boarded it and crossed the stream so as to
be able to explore the lakes and hayous on that
side having connection With the river.

Moose Like, connected With the Red River by
a marsh or lagoon. fully a mile long, was'the
first sheet of water to claim their inspection

.th
and, to their joy, discovered the object of their

search, the mysterious boat, anchored on in
the vergeoenter of the lake nearl a mile f , to
shore, craft having made to way there
' through the open waters of the lagoon.

The two men a fair View of the craft
and ,the Indian village stretching along the
whole lake front on the opposite side. The raft
stood sothat the swivel-gun on board pointed
south which was evidence of expected danger
from that quarter. ~ _

Persons could be seen on deck walking to and
fro, but all were men. '

' Seating themselves» on the bank where they
cont not be seen from the boat, the two men
ate a lunch, meanwhile keeping a sharp watch
on the boat, and discussing the character of
the craft and its crew. Both Were of the opinion

that it had reached its destination and also that
there was something not only mysterious,‘-but of
a criminal nature about it and its occupants.
7' While they were watching it‘th'ey sawa boat
put out from the. northern fiber", at a, point
‘ of Indians were congre-

' ' here a large -
j gated, and kw; the raft. It contained two

occupan - but whether I I or white men
the watchers could not tell, but it satisfied them
that“, triendl communication had already

been establish between the raft and the vil.

 ._ fimmdanmt’it seemedpmdblo‘far

 

them" to in relation to the mysterious boat, the
two men started on their return to the Lake-
of—Isles, determined, however, to vis1t Moose
Lake again as soon as possible and continue their
investigation of the armed craft.

The sun was still two hours high when they
entered their own canoe on the dark, silent wa-
ters of the Lake-of-Isles. Dr. Omar used the

addle while Polar Sol sat in the stern of the

out his eyes and ears u n the alert. They
were nearing the resident island when the old
hunter suddenly discovered something swimming
across a. narrow passe 0 between two islands
which lay a few rods be ore them, but__owmg to
the shadows he could not make out what it was.
Calling the reelusc’s attention to his discovery
he suggested they land upon the nearest island
and watch the surrounding islands a few min-
utes in the he of makin some discoveries.

In this the octor readi y concurred and in a
short time they had effected a landing on a
densely wooded islet, one of a group of a dozen,
where the waters between them were narrow
and shaded—Offering excelleutmdvantages to a
lurking foe. "

Crossing to the o posite side of the island up-
on which they hnd ended—keeping under cover
of the bushes—the two men carefully searched
the waters and islands before them, and they
had no sooner done so than they discovered a
lithe figure glide from the bushes on an island 01)
the left, and about four rods away, slip nimbly
down the bank into the water to his knees and
there pause and see around him. ‘.

“ Pshawl” exr- aimed the doctor with a smile,
“it’s Imp, the Elf. The little rascal is out on
one of his rampages. That’s what you saw
swimming, Polar. If there‘s an Indian among
these islands that boy’ll know—but now what is
he up to?” '

The lad, still standing to his knees in the wa-
ter, had assumed a crouching attitude and then,
all of a sudden, he made a grab at something in
the water—somethin which he aspcd and old
above his head—a orig, slem or object that
writhed and squirmed n his hand and which
the two watchers readily saw was a large
water-snake. ' 

Amused as well as disgusted with the boy’s
antics, Omar and Sol kept perfectly still and
watched him. .ntly' they saw him start
across the narrow channel of water toward the
island nearest the one he had just left and per
haps two rods away. . He held on to his wrig-
gling snake holding the reptile by the use ;
and as be advanced the water w dee r until
it took him to the chin, when t seemer to sud-
denly grow shallower; but the fact was it had
become too _dee for wading and the boy had be-
gun “ treading, ' a feat he performed so marvel-
ously that Polar 801 could not hcl expressing,
in a quiet tone, his amazement an surprise.

In this way the black lad crossed the chan-
nel, but instead of landing on the island. pasaed
out of sight around the south end. The watchers
were on the eve‘nf returning to their canoe
when they were startled by the sight of an In-
dian warrior coming from under cover of the
very islet that Imp had just left, step on the
bank. peer around him, then slip down into the
water and begin crossing the channel, to all
appearance following in the very footsteps oil

a be ..
“rug madam,” whispered Old Sol,~ “he’s
follerin’ the boy, I reckon, to git his woolly
skulpl Shall I put a chunk 0’ lead through his
tufted head, doctor?” I ~ 1

“ alt a moment,”re lied Omar; “be ex-

ts to wade that water inking, perhaps, Imp

id. I‘ve no other idea than that the water is
ten or' fifteen feet deep there in the middle of
that channel. -If so, the Indian will get woo-
fully fooled.”

Cautioust the redvskin waded into the water.
At every step it grew deeper, and, at length he

found himself in to his neck. Stopping he look-
1

ed around him like one in a puzz ng predica-
ment—unable to understand how it was that
the boy could wade where he could not. A He
seemed in doubt as to whether to turn back or
go on; and while thus tarrying. Omar and Sol
saw a round, black object pop up outlof the
water a few feet behind the savage, and they at
once recognized it as the head of the irrepressi—
ble Imp who had his snake still in hand! '
The Indian hearing the commotion in the
water. quickly turned his head and glanced
back over his shoulder. As he did so, Imp
gave voice to his favorite cronpv “yank.
swung his snake around his head a time or two
and then dealt the savage a resoundinz smack
in the face with'i causing the startled red-
mantocry ontwi pain. stagger backand

mammtdinppearnnder thew-Neill

inches of the tail “flayed
from it, was almost as damaging .u

 

CHAPTER XI.
an nxcxrmo m) AMUSING cosmcr.

POLAR. 801. could scarcely restrain an out-
burst of lau rhtcr as the savage. staggered and
disappeared neath the water under the blow
Imp had dealt him with the writhing serpent.

'lhe savage, however soon appeared on the
surface a in and with a halt-strangled yell
lunged at he boy like a demon. But, the little

sprite was on his guard. and, as it seemed, in"

his favorite element—the water-—and as he
leaped back and to one side, he dealt the red—
skin a second blow with the snake squarely
across the eyes that causgd the warrior to bowl
with pain and for a moment to stagger in blind—
ness. Inlp immediately followed up with other
further blows of his serpent—whip until the sav-
age was compelled to retreat and, taking to
deep water. attempted to escape to the opposite
island by swimming. -

But, (good a swimmer as he was, Imp was bet-
ter, an before he was within ten feet of the
island the boy was between him and the shore,
ready to renew the attack. Stung to fury, the
red-skin determined to destroy be little tor-
ment and charged upon him. Im gave him
one blow, but before he could rages it the sav-
age was close updn him, and he ad to retreat,
taking to deep water.

Thinking, perhglps, that the boy had been ran-
quished, the red- in swam iii-pursuit of him;
but never was an Indian more mistaken than
be. No sooner was he in deep water than Im
turned on him with his repulsive whip. an

dealt him one blow after another in the face.

and over the head until the fellOw was forced
to dive underthe water to escape. But he had
no sooner a peered in sight again than the
boy’s whip gall to fall upon him. Tum
which way he might, the lad was soon in front
of him: and seeing there was no more hope of
catching him in the water than a fish, he made
another attempt to escape. .

It was no doubt fearfully humiliatin .to the
savage to have to flee before such an nsignifl-
cant a foe as the pigmy black, but he seemed to
know the boy‘s advantage lay in the. element
they were in, and that once ashore he would
soon the little foe. But Imp was equally
no wise as his adversary, and realized, ' ,
wherein his advantaggalday, and exerted every
effort to hold it by ing the Indian-away
from the shore. . ' ‘ f '

“ I’ll sw’ar, doctor,” Polar Sol declared as" the
contest continued between the rel-skin and
black, “that’s the most niultitudinous Roman
holiday I ever witnessed, and if I don‘t git to
lat! soon—ont-loud roar and howlL—I'll explode.
I tell you that boy is possessed 0’ a mischievous
devilii Think 0‘ a great, savage warrior bein
whipped to death With a snake in the facade
a h ck brat o"'a nig riboy l" 3 '

After repeated orto to reach the islands
near him, the Indian final] struck out into
more open water, and made or the very island
the two hidden spectators were on. But Imp
divinin his intention, speedily swam arou
him an cut him on gtiivinghim a blowiwith
his dismal whi , which Iy this time had the‘life
lashed and cho ed out o  and in fact, a'fcw

of, so that a blow

club. .- , r . .
Beaten 03 {min the nerd island,1ho Indian

struck out for more open water. minim ngflgito‘
. in,

i
rapidly; but thii movement proved fatal

for he was no sooner away from the immediate .

vicinity of an island than he was bran ht to buy
like a stag by the whip of app, w a, like}
hound. swam round and round h m, helahoring
him all the while. This he kept up until, wit
shrer exhaustion, the savage was overcome and
sunk beneath the waves, rese ’aud sunk, rose
a in, and went down in death!

or a moment ‘aftcr; ho had disappeared for I
the last timeBImp stood ill the water watching »

the rising bu bles, a grim. look of satisfaction-on
his black face: and while thus enga _ ‘, Dr.
Omar, in fun, fired a shot from his revover. the
bullet striking the water near the boy. But;

scarcely had the hill .“aipped ” on the. water he- ‘
fore Imp’s head-vent down, his heels L’flasbed in

the air. and down went the boy under the water
like a muskrat' nor did the two men see him
again until. half an hour later they lundedon
Refuge Island, where Imp, the Elf of theWoods,
was the first to greet them. -

They said nothing at the time 6: what they I
had witnessed; but some time after their return ‘

they'hsard the lad narrate, in a spirit of

his adventure with the rod-skin in the lake: nor ‘

did he exaggerate in an particular. :3 t his
mother, who always had in idea 

o . . I

that of a“

  

 
 

l

 

1'0

Tamarac Tom, the Big TrapperMBoy.

 

 

 

ful was not a truthful boy, acclaimed, after he
had concluded his story:

“’Fo’ God, chile, you’ll choke to death some
ob dese days tellin’ 0’ big w‘oppors ’bout what
you does in do w s an de water! Go ’long
wid you, for you do no sich t'ing, an’ if yo‘ don‘t
quit o’ lyin’ I’ll break 0’ head i” -

“ I ulda,” spoke up r. Omar, “your son is
telling you the truth, for Sol and I witnessed his
adventure.”

“Yes, a meetin’-house truth, Mrs. Hulda,”
affirmed Polar. “That kid 0’ yourn are a roya
little buccaneer, and you‘d ought to be proud 0
him as a hen with One chick.”

Old Hulda cast a smiling glance at her oil’-
spring, as she listened to these words of praise;
but as soon as Polar Sol had finished speakigg,
Imp inquired:

“ Who shoot dat bullet at me? You do dat,
'Mars’ Omar?” ‘

The two men indulged in a hearty laugh at
tho boy’s expense, and then admitted the fact.

Dr. Omar found Captain Rivors resting quiet-
ly, although the news from the flat—boat or raft

, was quite disappointing to him. But Old Sol as—
sured the sick man that no time nor pains would
he s ared to solve the mystery surrounding the
craft, and now that it had sto ped quite near,
evidently at its journey’s en , there won be
little difficulty in keeping watch upon it.

- During the evening of that (lay Old Joe, the
husband of Hulda and father of Imp, returned

from the trading-post with a supply of flour and.

groceries. He wasaccompanied h two young
men named Ed Morton and Dick erbert, who
belonged at a settlement for u the river, They
had heard of a prospective Inc inn war, and, like
many a yomig man who knows but little of the
dangers, and hardships incident to Indian war-
fare, became anxious to distinguish themselves
as Indian—fighters, and set out for the seene of
action. Fallingi l with Old Joe, they had ac-
companied him to the Lake-of-Isles, where they
were welcomed by Dr. Omar, and promised by
Old Sol 11 chance to have their wishes of fighting
red-shins gratified at no distant day if they
would remain at the island. .

Bela well-armed and equipned their addition
to the efenswe force of the is ml was very for-
tunate at the time, swelling the numbers of the
defenders, including Imp. to eight persons, to say
nothing of the two ferocious hounds. ‘ «2’

To accommodate all with quarters, the shelter
tentof Usgtain Rivers was pitched
side the ea in to which the young settlers were
assigned. along with Polar 801 and Tamarae

om

That night passed awn quietly, notwithstand-
ingktho guards discove a number of Indians
lur ing about on the adjacent islands. But it was
found next moraimnf that Captain Rivers’s horses
had all disagnpca from the island where they
had been lo , and an investigation showed thgt
the ladies: had taken them. ‘

 Dr; Qumrand  ‘81}. gigglingbt ejkfast, tgis-
cusaed a re me o o a , r on
againstaahttgck. The old herd?» n Sousa it
be done without delay, and when h sub-
mitted his plans formatting the defense the doe-

.‘ W 5 .tzr readily acquiesced, and the work was begun
. a, -

a

' l of stockade.

once. .5

There bein two axes on the island men were
lotto work elliag the trees that stoodon the
knoll‘furthest from the cabin. These were out
into lengths of twelve feet each, and split and
then rot upon end in a ditch two feet deep close
together, and then socurolygplgnted. They had
timber enough to ere: t a kade at the rear
and son 11 side of the cabin. The other two sides
werefo be “protected by an abattis; made of the
larger bought and limbs of the trees. These

L boughs more laid cloudy together and securely

,il.

I

   
 

 F." "‘l

fastened, the ends pein outward, all being

‘ '_ ~ ‘ chewed. Noicss than t reo lines were thus
' ' . cons ct .

the inner one coming flush with the

' The outrauceto the cabin‘was
1gb the about: though opening at diaereat

places in the different lines. '

It re aired three dovs‘ labor for all hands to
«couple a the work, but when it was done Polar
Sol deemed it almost impregnable by a fee, hav-
ing to face besides a deadly fire from within.
 only way the . cabin could be reached
throir'h the chat“: would be by chopping away
{he obstructions. andthis could hardly be ac-
eommishuldiv a I'll-skin under fire, even with
the cover of rlmcss around him. » I

 After their defense had. twee completed Polar
Soloed Twmm Tom made a visit to Memo
W3 to" we aboléttt

WHIP!”- ,. , 1’ nee . even
. 7 clone! the raft so far as'they could
 ’ , their return home they tell in with ‘a

1- ,  skin: tad. .115 Wu W’Wém

    

      

.. - a" ,

just along.

I» shape team had ' as» -

lively running and fl hting that they esca
back to Refuge Island.g pad
This made them more cautious, and the pres-
enco of foes on and around the lake convinced
the hunters that the next conflict would be on
Refuge Island itself, and so every thin was
made ready for the anticipated attack. ot a
man was pennitted to leave the island unless he
went as a scout. But two days passed by and
then it was discovered that the enem had all
withdrawn from about the lake. hi how-
ever, did not relieve the bordermcn (If their
fears, In fact, it increased them, for theyknew
it was but a ruse of the red-skins to throw them
off their guard; and so their vigilance was re-
doubled, and one morning, about an hour b fore

barking of one of the hounds and the crack of a
rifle mingled with a savage death-wail.

Two minutes later the guards came hurrying
Within the defense—Polar Sol with the inforn‘ia-
titn that no less 'than fifteen or twenty canocs
filled with savages had touched on the northern
side of the lake. He had fired upon them and
rug, tlhe report of his gun calling in the other
pa re s. :

The entrancc through the abattis was speedily
closed, and then as the little baud ot’ dcfenders
stood around him ready for the conflict, Old
Polar said: '

“ B0 8, the tug 0’ war is comin’, and we must
all rel ember that defeat means death! If we
lick thunder out o" the red-skins they‘ll not trou-
ble here again. There are many more 0’ them
than 0’ us, and the ’ve taken advantage 0’ this
dark hour to attac us, but let us make it a Bel—
shazzar’s feast for them, and-—” r ,

His voice was here drowned by a fiendish yell
that seemed to come from the threats of a thou-
sand demons, but it was immediately answered
by a yell of defiance from the threats of the little
band of islanders.

CHAPTER XII.
TEE BATTLE.

Tan Indians had chosen the darkest hour of
the night fortheir attack upon the island. The
moon had 101: since gone down, and in the
darkness they expected to overwhelm the
whites by; a bold dash upon the cabin. It is not
to besup ‘ ;howerer, that they were ignorant
of the w 'tes beinfspartially fortified at least,
for the two lines o ockade could be seen from
the lake, but it soon became evident that the
were not aware of the obstructions on the nort
and. east sides, and hurled themselves against
the sharpened boughs with a force that must
gave inflicted great injuries upon many of

8m. - 1 ‘

Thedefenders. standin in the deep shadows
of the few trees left stun in arest the cabin,
could see the horde of so ing red-shins as
they approached and- resorvcd their fire until
they struck the defense when they open upon
them with a withering volley from 4' sand
shot-guns loaded with buckshot. » i.

The yel .cries and. groans that at once be--
came min ed with their terrible war-cries told
the: dreadful execution had been done in their
ran '8. . ,

Finding themselves checked b the abattis the
red-skins, or these possessing rearms, fired a
volley at the defenders, but their shots were all
aimed high and passed over the heads of the
whites, pelting the roof and ables of the house.

The attack hadpbeen ma 9 from two points,
thus confipelliug the defenders to divide their
forces. at the latter being certainof their po-
sition, and perfectly familiar with all its ad—
vantages, were enabled to work with precision,
while the savages were compelled to act at ran-
dom in the darkness.

Old Hulda and (lune, both of whom knew how
to load fire-arms aided m" terially in the defense.
In the “arsenal” where. a tallow all was
huruiu they stood and, with nimble ugnrs,
role the guns and passed them out to the de- l,

fenders.

Another great help to the men and terror to
the too, were 3.110 two Siberian bleedhounds.
thenever a savage succeeded in creepin '
through the first line of obattis, the hon
were sure to detect him and force him to retreat '
or speedin end his career. , v '-

So vigorous and determined were the red-skins
in their assault. that a breach, was Soon efl’ectad
in the outer line of defense, and a wild, triumph-
ant yell announced the fact, drawing the whole
force tothat pmntpbut; when they found their
way to victory-again disputed by another line
of obstructions, and expand tea more certain

(lay, the islanders were startled by the excited ,

 

 

and deadly fire from the foe, it seemed that 'a
rpaaicwasaboattoensneintheranksiandthea.

     

it was that the voice of a white was heard rall -
ing the redTSkins and encouraging them to t e
onset. Nor‘were his words without effect, for
the Indians answered him with a wild war-
whoo and again renewed their struggle more
fierce y than ever. But so far their more des-
irate efforts had been concentrated upon the
ofense rather than the defender. To get at
the latter, the former must be removed, and this
could only be effected under a deadly fire. A

The shot-guns of the defenders roved the
most effective weapons in the run om firing,
and the heavy piece that Imp‘had used so suc-
cessful] on a revious Occasion, thundeer and
roared ike a. old-piece.

The savages displayed unusual courage in
facing the defenders’ fire, and the result of this
was to effect a breach in the second line of abat-
tz's, which result was again announced I y a yell
of triumph; but it he Starccly died upon the
foremost ones’ lips ‘erc they encountered the
third line of sharpcnrd bcughs. But now the
critical period for the defenders had come.
Should another breach in the defense he made,
all would be lost. The redékins now could he-
giu to see that but a few paces so arated them
from the blazing niuzzles of the dc unders’ guns,
and worked with a will to carry the last barrier
between'them and victory.

Dr. Omar now bethought him of the fog.
hand grenades in the “arsenal,” and gave the
word for Hulda to light the fuses and pass them
out. This the brave old negress did, assisted by
June, and soon the terrible missiles were burst-
ing among the screaming foe. It'seemed to be
a new danger they, could ‘not understand, and
it soon became evident to'their ltader that they
could not endure it. They began to u'awr
from their assault on the abattr's and fly for
safety. Again their lcader endeavored to
rail them, but the bursting shells and the
wit ering volleys from the rifles of the defendeis
were now more potent in filling their hearts with
terror than his words were with encouragement.
Moreover, this white rcnegade’s voice suddenly
became hushed. Old Polar, having located him
bl the sound of his voicc, sent a double-disw
c arge of buckshot in that direction, and be was
not heard of afterward: but whether he was
killed or frightened into silence they did not
know then. But true it is that,-with the silen-
cing of his voice, the siege was raised and '

savages fled; but. before they did so, it seemed ‘

that ever one hurled his tomahawk at the de-
fenders, etermined to inflict as much damage
u n them as ‘ble. Had they done this

on they first made the breach in the second
line, there is no telling what would have been
the result, for no less than three of the defenders
were stricken down, and others injured day that
single shower of missiles. And had it no
for this, the victory of the besieged would have
been bloodless. . ’

Tamarac 'Tom Old Joe. and Dick Herbert,
had allbeen  en down by flyin tornahawks.
Tamar'sc, however, soon recove from his in-
juries, but Old Joe had Menstruck on the head,
and afi'ightful wound inflicted, from which he
did not recover consciousness for several hours.
and even-then his, life was deapaired of. But
Dick Herbert was ‘dead. ,He had fought with
all the courage of a veteran, and died in his first

tile. .

The grief of Ed Morton over his young friend’s
death was most a omzing. ' With this his first
battle. were 6 ed all hindreams o renown
as an Indian-fig tcr. '

As soon as the conflict had ended. Dr. Omar
hastened to inform Captain Rivers of the result,
and was startled to find the captain out of bed.
In the excitement around him, the wounded sol-
dier had forgotten his injuries and arose. But
the doctor got him back to bed, expressing a
hope, which was evidence of his fear. that noth-
ing serious would come of his excitement and
over-exertions. ' l

After this the dortor was called to attend the
wounded, and for awhile theories of old Hulda

and Imp,‘as the stood b the unconscious form .

of Old Joe. ma the cu in: house of sadness
and moumil'i'g. ' ' ‘ 
Tamarac om‘sufllered but little from the ef-

. fects of his injuries. The gentle hand of June

bathed his headland bandaged it, and there yes"
a magnetism in her touch, and an inspiration in.
her tender, sympathetic voice. that med t
(11' l the pain from his hesitant!
brave young heart with infinite joy. 4 .  _
Never'was the coming of- day.’_,ha!lod with
greater joy than by' the defenders of
errors of the conflict

thermwere no less than a dozen dead savages
lying within. sight of the 

   
 
   

   
 

   
 

~,:

   

 

been I

o
flood'hiag'

Refuge ' l
I Island that morning although-it revealed rage.
.fully the dreadful i: ,‘ r

door,» while , 

(I

 

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2:- "I-flu-w

,,i!~

 r. ~....‘ 3 v ‘ a '.
mm‘a‘vvwr magnum.» w, . I
. _ , M ‘ , ‘ . .

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“a 'I .
' ~

 

  
   
   
  

 

 

  
  
    
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
 
  
    
   
    
  
  
     
  
   
    
  
   
   
  
   
 
   
   
   
    
   
 
 
  
  
    

' ~4-

pcrs and walked on tip-toe.

' weary eyes.

bush in the cabinkbrokcn vulvlw th



é

Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy.

11

 

 

around the cabin lay near] tWO-scorc of toma-
hawlzs that had been hurle( at the defenders.

The removal and burial of the dead savages
was the first work of the any to be done, and
while engaged in this, a young Indian wearing
the insignia of a war—chief was found at the
edge of the island most painfully, if not fatally,
wounded. Instead of ending his misery, as the
savage Would have done had it been on the
other hand, Polar So] had him 'carricd to the
tent lithe cabin, where Dr. Omar dressed his
woun ‘, and June, who recognized him as a
young war-chief named Malakah, carried him
water and prov13i..ius. ,At first the chief was
silent an.l sullen, but when he found that ho had
nothing‘to ("bar ll‘Olll the whites. he brightened
up and became communicative. From him Juno
lziarned that the attack upon tho island had
been planned and led l y Carl Costello, who was
determined upon taking the lilo of Big Pine and
possessing himself of her—June.

But the most gratifying: news to all was that
the Cuban renegade had been killed in the bat—
tle, his body having been filled with bullets
while trying to rally the fleeing warriors. ‘ The
Indian talked frec.y with June, who spoke
his language flucntly. He told her there were
[nearly a hundred warriors engaged in the at;
tack. and that nearly half of them had been
killed and wounded. It was supposed, he. said,
that tho whites had but a part of their defense
completed, and that the Indians knew nothing
of the abuflis until their advance had been
checked by it.

Along in the afternoon of that day Dick lIcr-
bert’s body was laid to rest on the eastern slope
of the i-.lan.:l: then the breaches in tho abouts
were repaired, and everything put in order
again for the continued defense of the place. It
was impossible for them to remove the wounded,
Rivers and Old Joe, and the women refused to

, go to a place of safety, preferring to remain

there and share. their friends’ danger rather
than be Separated from them. And to add to
the bitter disappointment and fears of all, Cap-
tain Rivers was taken with a raging fever, the
result of his excitement and ovor-exertion dur-
ing the battle; and in spite of Dr. Omar’s skill,
he continued to grow worse from day to day.
His stre th gradually wasted away, and at
times 0 came delirious. The doctor did not
leave is bedside for ‘two weeks, except for;
a few minutes at a time. Nor did one of tho

‘ thunters‘v leave the island, except to reconnoitcr

the surrounding Waters and woods.

The condition of the captain seemed to throw
a shadow over the spirits of the islanders. The
succussful execution of their future plans sccmod
to hang upon the result of the soldier’s sickncs-n
And thus three weeks dragged along; but a fec-
ble spark of life remained in the weak, emaciated
body and one evening Doctor Omar announced
that the captain’s sickness had reached that stage
wherein he who enabled to determine almost to
a certainty, the critical hour in the life of the
'sick mam. He said that by midnight thcre
would come a change for better r worse-dire
or death, with the odds in favor of the latter,
ten to one. " ‘ ‘ ' ‘ .

Those of our readers who have overheard this
announcement in the case of a prostrate friend
or relative, can the agoniziuo' suspense,
the aimed: breathless waiting. the cho in si hs,
the weary watching of the hands of the e no as
they await the hour that is to decide the 'fate of
the sick one. '

No one retired that night. The women. Polar
Sol and Dismal romaine in the cabin; also lit-
tle Imp, who curled himself up on the floor and
domed. The others, who were not on guard, re-

»mained in the tent outside.

Doctor Omar staid constantly by the sick man

atching every breath~evcry thread-like pulse-
‘thr’ob. ‘ , .

Those in the adjoining room' talked in whis-
Thero was no time-
riece in the cabin, but the old hunters could
almost tell the exact hours of night by the stars,
and so, ever and anon, one or the other of them
would steal softlv from the room and scan the
sky'and the position of the blinking stars with

nu. The deep
, 4? dreary
chirr'uping of a crie ct, or _tho ticking of a (lan h-
watch, was painfully Significant or the presence

And thus the hours wor'o’ slowly

‘of death. ‘ . .~ . ,
A wen nfnllook was a n the , zzlcrl
races of  It‘ll: Dismal, whilopald Hula: and

June trembled in a_ pg of suspense.‘ Ever and
noon One of those in t e .
cl. look into the dimly-lighted room at the.

 .m,fthm tnrn.away without a word.‘

 

tent would come to the ‘ ing it.
n

C

l

upon Rivera’s mind flu

 

The ifaces of those within spoke plainer than 
Will't s. 3
Still the hours wore wearily on. The waitinq
friends were eager for the midnight hour to
come and relieve them of their suspense, and yet
dreaded its comin r through four that the ver- ‘

dict Would be (hat 1.

Finally, Dismal, returning from a look at the
stars, said: ‘ '

“ The hour’s u i and past.”

Old Sol shook iis head glooniily.

Still they waited on.

Nearly another h lll had passed when they
heard a footstcp in t 10 sick chamber, and Dr.
()mar came softly into the room. And then
every heart ceased to bcat—cvt‘ry head was
incl nod forward to catch the doctor’s words. '

“ The captain‘s asleep, and there are still
hepcs. The change is for the better.”

01d Hulda groomed aloud a “ hrcss dc. Lor’,”
but without a word Polar Sol and Dismal arose I
and went out into the night. ‘

Dismal lookcd up and around him and in n ‘
half-choked voice said: . i

“ I’olnr, ole boy, 'the sky looks hazy—it’s i
goin’ to rain.” I

But tho sky was never brighter. The old hun— !
tcrsnw it through the mist in his bi" solemn
cycis', andthh a low, chuckling laughfl’olur Sol ‘
sar : -

“Sword 0’ Gideon! did you hear my heart
drop with a “ chum ” outcn my throat whar it’s
been pun11.in’ own for six hours, Dim? Heavens!
what a tassel! P1 rnthcr fight forty battles ’11
go through that Siege agiin. But, Dismal, old
sinner that you, are, the Lord seems to been our
side, after all.” I

 

 

CHAPTER XIII.
A BABY’S our. ’

THE night were away and the morning
dawned clear and bright, and when the cap-
tain awoke the hunters were rmittul to see
him and speak a few kind WOI’L s of congratula-
tions and encouragement. But the young otiicer
was'quito weak and far from being outof dan-
ger, although the dmtor had no tears now of his
recovery unless taken with a relapse.

The secret of that m stations raft had been
g all his Sickness. He
talked of it when delirious, and it was almost
the first thing he spoke of to 'I’olar Sol that
morning.

"We’re goin’, captain,” the hunter assured
him, “to renew our investigation 0’ that raft
jist as soon as we can getaway with safety; so.
re::t quiet, be of gocd cheer, and all will come
out right crud to.’ '

That day preparations were made to start
again to  kc. The journey was tobe
made in a canoe under cover of the comin
night. This time had been Selected because 0
the dimculty in descending the river with a

t in open daylight, for a reconnoissance
had revealed the lpint-pace of red-skins in the
forest about the aka. It was neccniary that
they have a boat on Moose Lake in order to
roachthe raft in cape such a thing'hdght at all
‘be'doemed ex lent. Moreover, their 0 .era-
tions on the 0 would have to beconduc un-
der cover of darkness

Ifwaslfépnllybsettlcd that Polar SoéiJOld D33-
ma ,an om 0 were ocompose cox :-
tion to Moose 1.313;. m. Omar suggested glint
Imp be added to the party on account of his
superior skill as a aw mmer, and the boy was
eager to go. _Bnt Polar Sol objected, fearing
that the boy’s impulswcncss might t them it to ;
trouble when everything depend on extreme
silence and caution. .

About dark the 'throo bordermcn embarked
from the island. They pushed across the lake
to its outlet, down Which they moved, and flunk.

ly entered the Red River. ,It was quite dark ,

when they entered this (great. watercourse and
headed down-stream. The utmost silence ‘was
observed by the trio, and a close watch kept

pon all sides; butdcspite their vigilance they

were suddenly started by discovering ‘a round .

black object alongside their boat and a familiar
voice saying in a low tone: ‘

the:

‘ that direct

 

We dismal waters begun, and bidmidnight thex
were adrift upon the bosom of case Lake.
light breeze was blowing from the south, but,
despite this fact, a white, stemny fog lay upon
the waters of the lake.

Off toward the north, :1 par antly suspended
in the air, they could sec u ( ull ight, which they
were satisfied marked the location of the raft
and so they let their boat drift before the wind
in that direction.

In the course of an hour they hadgained 0.

int within forty rods of the light, which was,

yond question, on the raft. Buball of a sud-
den this li ht was seen to move. It soc-med to
be carried urricdly to and fro on the boat, and
the bordermen made up their minds that their
approach had been discovered and preparations
for their reception u ere being made.

Acting upon this belief. 01d Polar used the
paddle suflicientto counteract the force of the
waves and prevent their drifting ueare the en-
emy, while they awaited results. T hcy could
hear nothing for the wind was in the wronf di~
roction, and yet they knew by the moving ight
that something unusual was about to take place
on board the craft. When satisfied that their
presence was not the cause of the commotion, a
u nsultation was held as to the best course to
1m sue. To attempt to approach the raft in the
( nnoo was considered too dangerous, and the
only way left was by some one swimming to or
near the craft, and )icking up'such information
as they could rcgnr ing‘ the mysterious concern
and its crew. ‘ t.

Imp insisted on his being the part to go. He
scented to have such a clear knoch e of what
would be required of the one going, t )6 dangers
of the adventure, and such perfect confidence in
his ability to stem the tide that, after some ar-

, nmcnt, the hunters gave way and consented for
' im to go. ' . _

In a twinkling the be had divested himself of
most of his clothinp. an having received minute
instructions as to do duty, he quietiy dro ped
himself overboard and the next moment his ithe
figure had floated away into the shadows. ‘

“Wonderful little Imp l” exclaimed Old Dis-
mal. “ but now we must he kecrfulvand hold this
loot right in re, or he’ll not be able to‘flnd.us.”~

,“ That’s all very true Dismal,” replied Polar;
“ but don’t it seem a leetle reedic’ on: for the
Cold Wave 0’ the Nor’west, the me Big

‘ Pine, and the mighty Modem, Old Dismal. hav-
in’ to set here like three lurk-lee while that som-
ber-skinned boy‘performs a deed, or undertakes
it, at least. that-—” ~

“Polar,” interrupted Dismal s'é‘ftly, “if we

t

war half-crocodi e like that boy we might covert ‘- -

’round in the sea like adolphin." , ,
“ Ay,” replied Tamarac Tom: “and he’s.”
expert on the ground or in a tree-to as in the
water. He’s brave a: he is artful, or n’ as he
is cunnin’-in short, hc’sa human phc nomenon.”
» And thus in while rs the three convened. but
not for a moment d (1 they take-theme of! the
li ht on the raft. filmy could see it at lmoving
a out at intervals. At times it would disappear
for a few seconds then rc‘nppcar a in in movmg ,
ound in various courses. The itwa‘so lan-
torn, there was no doubt in the mind: of the

hunter. -

Patiently the bordermen awaited the return
of their little spy, for patience is one of char-
mtcristics of the successful hunter a , scout. ..
1‘ n hour, perhaps, had when the ght on
the boat was observed to moving about quite.
t xcitcdly, and for the first time the bordermm
I'm-dine sounds of low,'tut excited voices in i

n. I ‘ . ' ~
“By that ord o’ Gideon!” exclaimed Polar,
“ the hornet are stirred up utglastl I do won- 1
tier if Imp has been discowrctll ’
» .“ If so ‘ replied Tamarac Tom, “ it’ll be all
im. - , - I ~
we bean-downer: ‘the pirate and see?"
8 ' sted Disma. . w x, _ ,
“We, no!” uicklyprotcstedSol; ,“ if the boy
should return we and find us gonc‘ it might ho'
a fatal- thin for us all. But there mouthing ~
wrvmgycn .t at graf sure as sin. and I’ve a
uo‘lonto swim dorm at way and inquire into

 

1' Youk! yank!”  A
It was Imp, the Elf of the Woods. He had s
followed them in spite of 5501’s objections. and '
. there was no other altcmative now but to take '
him aboard and make the best of it. He od- .
.Jnitted that he had slipped awav from the island l

. determined to prove to Polar Sol that. were he !
- his enemy,‘

he could approach unobserved and §
"unheard, widout ’mlsiveness,” clooeenoulrh to '
take hie—the hunters—life, without'his know-~-

 

time ‘the‘ lagoon connectinfihelfoone Luke
withfthe river was _ reached, and

. V“

  

mod

it." - . . ,
"If we were only around tn the opposite side.
0’ the-ma, we could hear romcth n’: but 0’
course itaroh’t do to loavo here till Imp git: .
“Ck-,1 ' V V O i . A ‘ "

For several minutes the thymine!) remained _' '
uiet. listening. But they could bear nothing. j
9 light, however, was still bobbing about on ,

 tn . y : . i
“la: afraid the boy’s in h‘myblc,” said Taina- - '
m ‘Tom, “ or at least has alarmed the crew at

that concern.” 7 I a
a“ I’m not afraid lmp'll 

 

 

 

 

I

. Tamarac Tom, the Big] Trapper Boy.

‘iv'n . ...

 

Polar, “ but I reckon if daylight should sudden-
) come, we’d be h’isted out 0‘ this, water by a
at from that—” I
“1Harkl listen 1” suddenly commanded Dis-
!“ I
Silence ensued. The three hunters started.
A strange sound fell u n their cars. It did not
emanate far away. t resembled the sobbing,
pitiful wail of a young infant!

CHAPTER XIV.
. noxmuu’s wnarn.
WE will drop for awhile the main thread of
. our story, and take the reader to the Indian vil-
lage, that we have already Seen from the dis-
tance, lying along the northern shore of Moose
Lake. t is on the da preceding the night of
two would enter the

 

events just narrated t

lags.

It was a little ast noon when uite a commo-
tion was crea among the do y denizens by
the arrival of a party of three horsemen from
the north. They were all white men, and one
of them rather striking in his general a. pear-
ance. He was a tall, dark-skinned man 0 'fifty
{foal-s, with Ian , black hair, a heavy black mus-

he, a small b eye, which of itself was in-
dicative of a cold, cruel heart. He was dressed
in the gor cons and fanciful costume of an In-
dian medic no-man, and when he and his suit en-
tered the villa e the name of Mohomah and the

“ White Medic no” passed from lip to lip.

Everywhere the man‘s presence was hailed
with joy by old and young, and by the time he

drawn rein in front of Crow Wing’s lodge
he was surrounded by the entire village of sav-
age denizens. eagerto do him honor.

_ As the man dismounted and gave his horse to
anattendant, Crow Wing, the chief, came from
his lodgeand exclaimed:

" Welcome back, Mokomah,'to the village of
Crow Wing!" ‘

“And glad is MokOmah to return to his red

friends ” replied” the medicine-man; “ I ho

I find Crow Wing and his red children well. ’

f‘ Crow Win is well, but his heart is

gloom and ” the chief responded. as he

ed t 9 way into, his lodge, followed by
Mokomah. ..

“Why is Crow Wing’s heart sad?” asked the
cine-man. .

"‘Mauy of hiawarriors are dead, and many
of them wounded. The pale-face hunters are no
ion er the friends of the Sioux. ”

. ‘ on there has been fighting going on since
I was away!” . ’ . .
“Crow Wing has not. formally dug up
the hatchet of war,” the chief replied, ‘hut
many of his warriors have been slain by the
pale-face hunters on the Lake-of-Isles. For many
months Crow Wing‘s warriors never gone
about that lake, for it was said the Evil Spirit
had taken up his abode there, But-“one moon
the young pale-face hunter, Bi Pine, slew
'four Sioux warriors. Moosehead, okomah’s
white friend, went forth with a. band of war-
riors to take the Big Pine and gunish him.
They met him in the forest by e Lake-of-
with man Manda. A hard battle ensued
and many of t fiioux were slain and Moose-
head’s hand almost severed from the wrist.” ,.
“ In that possible!” exclaimed Mokomah;
2“ bat pardon me, Crow Wing; go on—tell mo

“ The lakes, Big Pine,” the chief went on.
“bad sto en the white maiden, "June, [rem the

Wigwam of her mother. and carried her tothe
wigw‘am of the Evil 8 irit who. dwells on an
island in the Lake-of- es. Her white lover,
Black-Eagle, mught Crow Wing and asked or
warriors to go, and rescue the young woman.

Crow Wing gave his consent and a hundred
1 warriont wentto the Lake-of-Isles and fought

. the pale-faces; but the guns of the lever were
many and many Siouxs Were slain, and they
were defeated and fled from the island, taking
with them their wounded and some of their dead

‘~ comrades, and among the latter we your white
friend, Black-Eagle. Malakah, the pride of my
tribe was slam, too.” ' _

. .“ Greatfieavensi is Carl Costello dead, Crow

- 9‘ etyiirit is in the happy hunting-grounds,”
, the chi went on. “ He was a brave warrior,
- andknned the youn maiden most dearly.”
5 “ nd are thepa e—face hunters on the Lake-
.ofIIsies yeti” ’ . * V

n

L“; will]me Wing not avenge .the death
of his warriors?” ‘

,“ The guns of tbe‘palefaces unlike the fish in
themand thebirdain theair.. CrowW‘
mime} for Mekomah‘ to

‘.

mg as
with mm, ” Marathi: he

     

my fair lady.

 

“ Well Crow Wing, I’m sorry to hear of this
trouble; but I will go at once and see Moosehead
and the wounded braves, and anoint their
wounds. Then I will'return, and we will talk
to ether about this trouble.”

saying, the medicine-man arose and left the

go.

In the course of an hour he returned, and
meetin the chief at the door of his lodge, he
pointe( across the lake, and asked:

“ Crow Wing,'what craft is that lying over
yonder on the waters of the lake 1‘”

“The big boat of a ale-face ” the chief an-
swered. “ He is a frien to the Sioux. He has
given Crow Wing tobacco, and blankets, and
beads, and many fine presents. He has eaten
salt in Crow Wing’s lodge, and Crow Wing has
eaten the bread of the pale-face. He has a big
gun on his boat, and it is turned toward the en-
emies of the Sioux.”

“Indeed! Well, I should like to meet him,”
said Mokomah.

“He comes here every day— Ah, look! he
comes now i”

True enough, a boat was seen to put out from
the raft and come toward the village. In half
an hour it had touched shore opposite the chief’s
lodge, and its occupant landed. .

e was a tall bearded man of fifty years or
more. He had a cold, steel— y eye, and a
countenance that was not at a l prepossessin .
He wore a suit of gray and awhitelslouched ha ,
from beneath wh ch hung thin locks of long,
carroty hair).

The new-comer advanced toward Crow Win ’8
lodge, and as he and Mokomah came sudden y
face to face, each started back as if confronted
by a specter.

“ Mor n Hanlonl” burst from the lips of
Mokoma .

“ Tomas Victor 1” exclaimed the other.

Then recovering from their sudden surprise,
the two men advanced and shook hands, appa-
rently rejoiced to see each other, though it was
plain to be seen that Hanlon was a little ex-

cited.

“You’re thelast man I ever expected to see
here, 150 Bunion,” Mokcmah declared.-

“‘ And' t e same to you Victor,” replied Han-
lon “and in such an outfit of Indian trappings
an flue things. What does it mean?”

“I’m known here as Mekomah, the White
Medicine.” .

“ And how long have you been here?”

“ Off and on for years." 7' ~

“ You never told me of the fact, Victor.”

“1 know it. I tell nobody of where I’m go-
.in’ when I leave one place for another.”

“But I have not seen you here before.”

“ I have been away for three months. I was
over at St. Paul on avisit, and I came. very
near running down to Kentucky to see yen and
‘ If I had I’d >missed you; but
how is Irene, anyhow? and what on earth
ever brought you away into this wilderness so
far from the land of Blue-Grass?”

A “I‘ came off here on a health-trip ” replied
Hanlon,’ avoidingthe other’s  “ have not
been well for some time, and be r advised
me to go nerth'and spend. a few months in the
pine woods fishing and. hunting and roughing
, , . . ,

"‘ Well. indeed; but you don’t look much like
an invalid.” ' , , ‘
“ I‘m feeling firstrate.”
3

“And that your floating palace over you-
der!” ' , ’

H Y W ' ‘

“ Are von alone?”

“. No; I have my black servants, Old Horace
and Rachel, and, also two other male‘friends
with me.” ‘ ' ,

“But you haven’t told me aboutlrene et—
how is she? and what does she think 0 her
old lover by this timei” ‘~

“She was well when I left home, and rebel-
lious as ever,” replitd Hanlon, moving about. in
a manner that told he was ill at ease.

. ‘t‘l’s she still struck on "that young emcer
ye r i
f “ I can’t say that sheis as bad'as she was.”

“ I wish to the Lord ou’dbrought her with

you, Haulon, and we’d ave married at once.
.t matter must not be defeated. It was that
which took me to St. Paul. I learned from, my

man there that there's no rfiuestion about men 2’

Doctor Franklin Hampton fa lug, heir to a
snugfortune in the death of a relative in New,
Orleanaand as he does not d' to the ad-
vertisements that have been , ding in bold
head-lines'in the newspapers of. too land for
three gears, the executors of the. estate” have
:sonfin _ the conclusiou‘he is dead, and the next

I .

 

 

will come  for the‘wealth, and’thati

person is his daughter .who must first become
my wife. Of course, it must not appear, in

rovinghher right to it, that I had anything to

o wit her abduction, and as her grand-
mother is dead, I stand in no fear of detec-
tion. All the time I will be in any danger
will be the short time it will take me to corn
vert the pro erty into cash, divide with you
and skip. If my wife wants to go along well
and good, but if not, she can stay and apply
for a divorce, and renew her love With the
gallant Rivers. But, Senor Hanlon. I presume
your craft is supplied with your rich, old Ken—
tucky Bourbon, and, rchance, some choice
Havanas, such as gent emen carry on pleasure
and health excursions, and I‘m gomg to beg an
invitation tovisit you aboard your boat. WV hen
you go back I believe I’ll go over and spend the
evening with you.”

“ Be glad tohave you go, Tomas, but my stock
of Bour on is exhausted. ’

“Never mind that, Hanlon, for I know Your
stock of sociability is not exhausted,” re lied
Mokomah, leading] the way into the chief’s edge
where all seated t emselves and talked over the
t ouble at the Lake-ostles. A

But all the while Hanlon seemed restless and
uneas , and at times became silent and medita-
tive, hough his old friend did not appear to
notice it.

Morgan Hanlon remained for hours in the
chief’s tent. He said nothing about returning
to his boat, and finally Mokomah arese, saying:

“I presume you’ll soon be going back to your
craft, Hanlon, so I’ll run up ,to Mersehead‘s
lodge and dress his wounded wrist, as I promised
him. I will be back in half an hour and ready
to go with you.” _

So so infi, he left the lodge. Hanlon watched
him un 11 e was out of si ht, then he hurried
down to‘ the lake, boarded is canoe and pulled
out for his raft.

Half an hour later when Mokomah returned,
and learned that his friend had gone off with-
out him, a dark scowl settled upon his brow,
and after a few moments' reflection he exclaimed:

“ Caramba! that is' most devilish cool!
There's something wron with Morgan Hsnlou.
Hedoes not want me a rd. hlS_ craft, but by
heavens! I’ll show him that I W111 not acoept
such an insult ,with impumtyl” _

, And with a murderous scowl upon hlS,f&C

'the man turned and entered his lodge. _

 

CHAPTER XV.
RESULT or mr’s anvnsrmut. '

POLAR SOL and his friends listened in breath-
less silence to the tender, wailing cry that had
startled them so suddenly, as the sat in their
boat awaiting the return of .Imp mm the mys—
terious raft.

“ Inthe name 0’ mystery. whatis it. anyhow!”
queried Polar Sol, completely astounded.

“ It’s the cry 0' ‘a baby,” declared Dismal, “ a
real, ginuwine, royal baby, with lungs that'it
knows how to use—ah! listen to 'thati—Ihoutin‘
——low calls out on the ' water! Boys, thar’s
somethin’s broke loose and I do wonder if that
black boy isn’t at the bottom 0’ it our Jist like
as any way that cryin’ business is scme—”

The hunter’s remarks were here cut short by a ‘

low “ uouk, yank,” that the’ knew, well enough,
came from the ii of the f of the Words.

The crying of he child hadceased, and as the
hunters re

.nal-cry, the’dip of a paddle fell upon their ‘

ears.

“Look sh boys!” exclain'ed- Tamerae
Tong, “for a rap! There’s acanoe apprcaih-
' I

The three men lifted their revolvers 'frrm
their holsters ready for instant use. tut. as it 93‘
did so, their ears were grreted by a voice callmg
out from the strange canoe: '

“ Say, Mars’ Sol, whar be. you, anyhow i”

“ Here, Im ; come on and bear ahttle‘to’ lite
left,” r 11 ed 801 -

. l
ovetthe kid’s stolen a boat from the .

H
rafti'ydeclared Dismal.’ . , ._
The next moment a canoe glided altogsn'p

that of the hunters, who were (Vonipletely as-

tounded to see in it, beside the» itile frrm- of
Imp, a cloaked ti re from the’drpihs ofnv- hose
wrappings came be plaintive sob of an infant.
“Imp!” exclaimed Old Sol, “what does‘ihis
n ,»
“Golly, M I
made the biggestest haul you ,ehber see. ~ I (it no

stole do canoe wid de missus and, her picks».
ninny, and I guess do folks am lookin' \for new f

’bout now.” . ,
“ Who is the lad on have in theth
"' By {ingo massiyforgit'mvask hen”. .
“ ,  the,woman.‘speaking in allots,

u: . . \
/“'- ,

lapsed into silence after the boy's gig. ~

ars’ Sol,” replied the lay, “J‘ser

.V.
.A

“A...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

..,‘

 

   
 

 

'. .o’ savages."
'tion of my father.

'- speak thus of to rather, for I cannot do other-
- wise thin tell t 0 truth.

sine. Ho declared
his child, and that—-”_

 ' toanswer em.” -
 g Gm’gudeythinkwinddrlf'bootaway,”uid

 

-.__..._...-._._._V_..... -

timid voice, “I am the daughter of Morgan
IIanlon.” ~

“ The boss 0’ that raft lyin’ out yore?”

“Yes, sir,” she answered.

“ But we can’t ’zactly understand why you‘re
here.”

" Oh, sir! I hardly know myself,” she replied.

“My ood woman,” said Sol, in a kindl
voice, “ see you’re excited and narvous.
hope our lmp hasn’t been actin’ ugly and
saucy—4’

" Oh, no, sir!" exclaimed the woman. “ If you
mean this lL‘ullc ,boy, I must say he is a kind,
bravo you Eh.”

“ lut how does it come you are here, ma’aml”

“ For some reason or otuel‘, my father told me,
about tWo hours ago, that I must leave the raft
and go ashore at once,” the woman said. “ He
would not tell me why he wished me and my old
nurse, Rachcl, to leave the boat, but said we
must go. Preparations were being made to take
us. I was placed with my babe in this canoe l
which lay alongsxde the raft. Old Rachel ha

.gone back to our tent on the boat to get some

things necessar to our Comfort on shore. Old
Horace, Roche ’s husband, who was to take us
to land, was busy somewhere else and my_fathcr,
who held the lantern when I was helped into the
canoe, turned away leaving me in darkness. It
was at this instant I imagined I felt the canoe
moving, but my baby beginning to cry, I thought
no more about it, but gave my attention to the
child, and when it had become hushed and I
looked up, I found I was adrift some distance
from the raft. M first impulse was to cry out,
but at the instant was rendered speechless by a; -
strange voice speaking low in my ear and I saw
the outlines of a little figure apparently standing
on the water at lll side. He seemed to know
was almost terri ed, and told me he was my
friend. and that his master and Captain Rivers
wanted to see me. My heart leaped with joy at
the mention of that name and instantly, almost,
my fears vanished. and I begged the boy to help
me to escape. But. gent-lumen, can you tell me
who this Captain River‘s is?”

“ Madam,” said 01d Polar, “ if you know any
Captain Rivers at all, the one the boy told you
’bout must be our husband I”

A little cry urst from the woman’s lips.

“ 1 cannot understand, sir,” she said, with
tremulous voice, “ how you, all strangers, know
who I am.” " 'I

“ I war with the captain the other evening on
the banks 0’ the Red River when we caught a

l'mpse o’ you—that is, it war tyou. if you war

a only w its woman on the re 1:. The captain
started at sight 0‘ you, but as the boat nickly
floated into the shadows, he only got a g impse
0’ our face, and a. creek before us revented our
to erin’ you up But if your name s Irene you’re
Jack Rivers’s wife.” .

“That is- in name,” she replied. “ Oh, I

ray, friends, t at you will take me to my bus-
gand, and protect me from the power of my
cruel father!” - ‘ ' ‘

“ That’s what we’ll do, Mrs. Jack Rivers,”
declared-Polar 801; “but pardon the axin'; is
that baby yours?”

“It is, sir, m child.” .

“The reason axed is because Ididn’t hear the
contain say anything ’bout—”

“ No, sir I presume not, for he has never
seen our child. It was born but three weeks
ago on onder raft.” ,
a ‘9. W , 1 be blessed l” exclaimed Dismal,
“drill wonders never cease? But the strap est
0’ all is you folks hein’ away here in this ad

here by deco tion—tbe decep-
Do not t ink me cruel to,

“Iwaslured

I married Ca tain
Rivers against his will, because he was eter-
Inined tecompel me tomarry one Tomas Victor,
asiianiard 'and a man older than be. But when
I told him of my marriage with J ackaivors he
appeared to forgiye me, and was determined I
should go at once and join my husband. not-g
Withstandin'z he knew I was expecting. the cap-
tain home soon. . But not wishing to a pose him
further. I consentecl to go With im, \or he had
retained to accompany me to my husband.
Eutdittle did I dream that his apparent kind-
nem'was a cruel‘ liin to gatme from home and
into this drea u coup . O .r we ? were,

the Red River he revealed his scheme to
upon Jack Rivers should never see

- “ wen, he will, though, cbnfound a!" declared

 V Old Sol; “but I boar‘volceoon‘the lake callin';
-3 13W

they’re huntin’ you. Surely they don’t

  

   
 

 

 

Im ,with a low, b0 ish laug , “'and if ever do
fin ‘ 5 out dis colon chicken am dat wind dey‘ 1
make de air crackle wid cuss-word's and mad. ’

“ But what ever put it into your head to steal
this boat and lady away from the raft?"

“Gosh! my head not all skull-bone. Didn’t
I hear de lady sobbin’ when she got into de
boat, and say she’d rather be drowned wid her
pickaninny dun to go ’way into be black, greary
woods? Didn’t I hear herdaddy say cuss-words,
and tell her he’d kill de young’un if she staid?
Say, wa’n’t dat hint 'null’ for me to tookcn a bolt
and he’p de lady, eh?”

“Yes, Imp, you did right; you’re a, brave,
sensible boy,” said Dismal; “but Mrs. Rivers,
how many persons are there now aboard that
ral‘tl’

“Five men nnd one woman—the latter,~Old
Rachel, the negress."

“One more uestion, ma’am, and then I'll ax
you no more: L id it ever occur to you that the
man you call your father is not your father?”

The Woman uttered a little cry, and in evi-
dent pain replied:

“ \Vhat else do you men know of me and my
history? I am sure Jack Rivers nevor intimat-
ed sucha thing to you, for not until the past
three weeks did I learn that I was not the
daughter of Morgan I-Izmlon. I learned it from
Old Rachel who has been in Hanlon’s family
thirty years. At a time, three Weeks ago, when
it was thought I was dying, the old woman told
me that I was only llanlon‘s adopted child.
She said I had been left there when but a little
girl, but who it was that left me, and who my
people were, she l'now not. Can you tell me,
gentlemen?”

"It are altogether likely, Irene Rivers," re-
sponded Old Sol, “ that, by the bedside 0’ your
sick husband attends your father, a grand,
brave, silent gentleman o’ whom you‘ll be proud
if he’s your parent, and I guess there’s no doubt
o’ it. missus.” .

The woman uttered a low or of joy, and

clas ing her bab closer to her n‘eust, nest-led
her face against t e inf ant’s and endeavored to
stifle the conflicting emotions within her wildly
fluttering heart.
. There was a momentary‘silence for the wo
man’s sobs a emotions touched deeply the
hearts of the hunters. But the silence was sud-
denly broken by a voice calling aloud:

“ —reenel Oh, Missus Iwi‘eenel”

“ It is (poor Old Rachel calling me,”the wo-
man sai ; “the deer, kind old soul! she has
been akind friend and mother to me. Oh! I
wish she was with me i”

“ We’ll go and git her,” said Polar.

“No, do not go to the raft. They will surely
harm ion, for no stranger has been permitted
to go a ard the raft.”

‘ We’ll risk our lives, Mrs. Rivers, on that
craft.” responded Sol, “and -if Tmnarac Tom
and Imp will take you on to the mouth of the
lagoon and wait for us there, we’ll go and try
and {get your nurse. and anything else you want.
I th nk most 0’ the-crew is absent on the lake
huntin’ you.” \

“ You are very kind. gentlemen, and I be

you will not endanger your lives in my beh f ‘

further than you have.
\ “We’ve a curiosity, ma’am,” said Old Dismal,
“toboard that boat, and the sooner we do it,
the better the chance, I think.”

Tom would like to have accompanied the old
hunters, but he. was too gallant to say one word
likely to touch the sensitive feelings of the we-

-man, and stepping into the boat with her and

gmpgehe seated himself and said, addressing the
un rs: . v
“ Pards, don’t tarry too long, for we should be
on our way to the Lake-of~Isles long before day-
li ht exposes us to dangers. , ‘
.ithout any reply, olar Sol dipfid his pad.
die, and he and Dismal (1me of! in be dark-
nm' '

 

‘ CHAPTER XVI. ‘
‘, monomn’s vrsrr ro rim nan. _
One; more we will go back to the indian vil-

la . '

‘IIokomah—y-Tomas Victor—who was, as the
reader has no doubt surmised. Doctor Donates,
the Spaniard who had so persecuted Doctor

Hanlon’s conduct in 30mg of! the raft without
him otherwise than as an insult. “At first he
was tempted to beard- a canoe and. follow-him;
but after some reflwtion, he concluded to'wait

coaduct. I , . I . ,
. That night the chief called a council of  his
war-chiefs to discuss the Motion; Mekomah

     
  

' l

Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. I

 

'Omar on the Island of .Cuba-—couldx not accopt ‘

. and give his friend an opportunityto explain hi1 ,

  

 

coward! Let'ua k

 

.wu pruent. The young chiefs were for irnluo- ,

diate wan, They held in terms of eloquence that
the spirits of their friends slain on the Lake-of-
lsles were.crying aloud for vengeance. With all
the policy of an admin and cunning diplomat, Mo-
komnh talked in favor“ war, and et counseled
care and caution in a way calcu ated to dis
courage any decided action.

The council did not break up until near] mid-
night. N o definite plans had been decid upon
when it did.

From the Council Lodge the med icine—man went
to the lodge of his friend, Monsehead, to dress
his wounded wrist. This took hip) but a few
minutes, and he started on his return to his
own quarters. His way lay nlon the beach.
The. waves were breaking in gent e murmurs
at his feet. " .

Suddenly he heard the dip of a paddle. He
stmped. He saw a boat crex p out of the fog
am touch the beach near where he stood

“ Who's there?" the doctor demanded.

“ A friend, Pascal Moore, from the raft on
the lake," was the boatman‘s reswnse.

“IWhat brings you . here at this time of
nil: it‘l' .

“ A canoe went adrift from the raft."

“But why hunt for it to—nightl” 7

“Ayl Captain Hanlon’s daughter and child
were in it." , v

“ Hanlon‘s daughter and child?" queried
Mokomah in evident sur wise. I

“ Yes, sir, and I’m loo in’ for ’em down the
wind " replicrl Moore.

“ What was her name—I mean her first
name?" ' ,

.“ Irene. ”

“Irene!” re .catcd the medicine—man, “and
what was she. c oing in the boat?” v

“ Cap. I‘Ianlon was goin’ to send her ashore.” ‘

“ To this village?”

“ No, sir—somewheres south.”

“ And you say she had a child?”

66 I did")?

“ Her own?”

“ Yes, sit" a young babe.”

“Well 1 have heard nothing at them.” said
Mokomah and returnin the man strode on, the
{pry to! an enraged A emon burning, in his

rcas . ~
\. Hastening on to his own quarters he awoke
his~servant and ordered him to get a boat in
readiness for him to visit the raft. This the
man soon did, andin a few minutes more the
wrathy Mokomah was (idling across the. lake-
alone. Guided by the i ht on the raft he made
his way strai ht tow it, and when within a
few strokes o the craft, a voice called out: '

- ‘; Who is there!” It was Morgan Banlon’l
v0 co. , - .

“Pascal Moore,” answered the quick-witted,
Mokomah in a disguised tone. _

“ you found nothin’ of Irene, nor the

., , .

“Nothing,” nded Mokomnh, lea
aboard the raft an confrontin
the full glare of a lantern that no too been
above them; “but I have found, organ Han-
lon, that you are playing me a double and
treacherous moi” * ~

“Tamas ictorl” exclaimed
dumfounded by the othth presence,
why sir, do you accuae'mo than!”

‘ in: ha!’ laugheqvmor in cold, mooring
tones, “ you need not attempt the ‘injured- -
noceut’ dodge on me. I know now why on
left the village to-da withth Why didn’t

ou tell me at first '
boat? and that she )3. the mother of a child!
Did ' ou steal of! here intothis remote comer of
crea ion in ho of hiding” her shame from me
and the world , Bunion, you‘re a woundrell”, .
. “ Tonia: Victor!” criedflanlon with flushing
eyes, “1 maybe a scoundrel, for I have ha
an export teacher in you, sir I’m not a

cool. ~ did not

Irene here to conceal r Shams 
the world, for hating you, the
Rivers. t was a secret marriage

toccncoal, on your: and mine.”

asked icl'or. _
i “I have tried to
was illegal. and that-— .. . .
“I see our object, Morgan M” interw
nipted etor: “ on need not to ’
um i“ “as.” ...

me a a game: in on
rytoa D0an. as :- Fraynklin
youwould

- ' 13"

‘ 'i
Hookahwlp’og I

1: Iran was aboard this ..

Jock
but legal _
, asauyeveroonsummatod, and there is nosbomo .

t to 
twin: 

  

Hanlou wthnigl ‘

\

i l

‘ _

copfinoeherher MUG .

Hampton; I A,  

 
   
 

.14

and
‘ bar
that

' ‘ on the river-bank. Iwas surp .
' in this country, and in: fears were' aroused. I

 

' “ and sent another man

 I ithere'wasgwensed byen‘e'l’olar delaying
Zull, bat-hematite: unharmed. ,I‘ have  the
.-  1-fl’r ‘ ii, >   “a ._

.7 /’

Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy.

 

Banioa’s hand rung out and the vian of
many names reeled backward with a cry of
in, then lea forward like a wounded
iger upon Han on. The two grappled-ander
heavily upon the deck in a deat -struggle.

Old Rachel, the negress who was alone on
the boat with them, ran shrieking to the wall-
tent standin in the center of the craft.

Tc and re the' combatants rolled on the
Jack. Knives gleamed in their hands. The
boat trembled under the violence of their blows.

In the midst of the fight two men sprung
aboard the craft and hurried to the scene of
conflict. They were Polar Sol and Old Dismal.

Quickly e borderman dragged the com-
batants apar , but neither of them arose to his
feet. Dorantes made a few attempts to rise,
but each time fell back and finally his strength
gave out; he stretched himself at full length
311 tlhe deck, rattled in the throat and was

(:05 . i .

The hunters having1 made sure no other ene-
mies were aboard t e boat, sought out Old
Rachel whom they found crouching in terror
in the tent and relieved her of her fears by
words of "ndness and, the assurance of their
protection. _ ’

Low moans of agony from Morgan Hanlon’s
lips called the hunters to his side. Dismal held
the lantern chars to his iii-contorted face and
saw that the pallor of oath was Settling upon
it.~ He lay in a l of blood and when the
hunters , attemptec to move him he cried
out in agony and begged them to let him die
there. The presence of the bordcrmcn did not
disconcert him in the least. He knew no enemy
-—no friend now. Only the fear of God’s 'udg-
meat was before him. He called alou for
Rachel. and when the terrified neg-rose came
trembling to his side, he lifted his glazing
eyes and said: . -

“ Rachel, I’m dying l” . ~

“ 0h, Massa Hanlon, don’t say dati” cried the
negress, wringing her hands; “what’ll po’ ole
Homes and Rachel do if you dies 3”

' "Tell Irene if you meet her again to take
care of you ” IIanlon replied. “ Rachel, I have
not been a man all my life, and not until I
was reduced almost to poverty and your end
old mistress died, did I consentto serve the evil
to retrieve my lost fortune. You never knew,
Rachel, that the man who left little Irene with
me twenty years ago was Tomas Victor. I did
notknow myself until two years ago that she
was not Victor’s child. He told .me then that
her fa'her’s name was Dr. Frank Hampton,
and that he had stolen the child from her v and-
mother to tor re her father. Then he to d me
that Frank m ton had fallen heir to a large
property, but as 'e was supposed to be dead
rene would inherit it. Victor Igoposed to me
.that he and I should possess it. is plans were
for him to marry Irene and then proceed to es-
tablish . her right to the fortune without expos-
ing himself as the man who abductedher. He
had friends'to hel him in this. and I had the
, eartlessness to on into the conspiracy against
rene—she, who had-been a daughter to me in
every sense of the word—kind and aflectionate.
But the reward I have received in all this crime
iscold steel driven intomy body.“ Perhaps it’s
ust; I deserved it. 1 had no business dragging
rene into this place ,1) ‘
over, I knew not that e very man from whom
I washed tokeepall evidence ofilrene‘s marriage
a secret was here. When Irene told me thats o
and Captain Rivers had been secretly married
whilosln was visiting in Ohio, I endeayored to
makeher believe it was illegal. he showed me
the certificate of the marriage. s I kept, and
made her believe I had destroyed it. It is in m
trunk in the tent. I want you to take it, Rache
give lltdgid’her,ivvtitt‘i‘ifimy has; wishes. ea'é‘ell
, ow an my a reQu is
she will forgive me if she can);

“ But, look here. stranger.” said Old Dismal,
“do ,ron know that Captain Rivers is in this

borhoodi”

nei h

' ‘glknewhewasamonthorsoag answered
the wounded man; “I saw him an her men
riled-to Ieehim

I u thepart wthm n,andtheydis$
W M y myymggut, Peter 21:111.,
a

a peered. That ni h
310111 I kept ashorefin the guise of ,
lathe captain’s tent by an unknown

w
m slain

. one?! - . . i
. ow did you find that out?” asked Dismal.’

fl
“Zull failing” «to r 7, attbe 'ropertimevl
became uneasy amfiirk." ansvgered Hanlo'n

vlr‘u. “'-'~*.:_ '

deception, and, more- ‘

ashore to seeabout him: ' V
Will’s ten and while Omar

from Irene the. fact of having seen Rivers in this
country; but I did not suppose he was still about
nor that he had discovered who, was aboard this

t.

“ And I reckon, stranger,” said Sol, “ that
you didn’t know that Peter Zull )v'as a confeder-
ate 0’ that very man lyin’ there dead, who told
you, forwe heard him, that his true name we
Cortes Dorantes.” -~
1 “ I did not. How do you know?” asked Han-
on. '

“ I know so,” replied Sol; “ he was recognized
by the man who clmpped off his head as Juan
Alvar, one o’ the villains who aided Dorantes in
his cons iracy against Doctor Hampton when he
was in ‘ubu.”

“ Then, Dorantes, or Victor, as I have known
him, has kept a spy on my movements,” Hanlon

said. “ I first met Zull—at—but then it makes
no diiYerenco now. Oh! but it is hard to die in
this manner 2”

“You should ’a’ thought 0’ that before, old
man,” said Sol. .

“ Yes, that is true, stranger. There is no one
toblame but mySclf and Tomas Victor. But he
has gone to his account and I will soon follow.”

Thus the dying man talked on for more than
an hour. In the mean time, the three boats that
were out came in. Not one of the four men
knew what had transpired on the. raft until they
had landed thereon, and been confronted by Sol
and Diemal, and disarmed. As they came in
one and two at a time, this was no trouble
though, when the man Pierre Grevy, whom it
will be remembered Polar Sol accused of mur-
dering Peter Zull, the peddler, remgnizcd the
hunter. he was disposed to fight, when one of his
own friends remonstratcd with the plucky fellow

and he gave up. When he did, Sol apologized for

the wrong he had done him and this ended all
{eegng between them, for the time being, at
ea - ,

Before he died, Hanlon told his friends much
they did not know of his conspiracy against the
peace and happiness of Irene and implored
them to aid and rotect her in the future.

When Polar l and Dismal finally left the
rat the were accompanied by Old' Horace and
Rac cl, be three white men who remained be-
hind aboard the raft, seeming quite anxious that
the old colored folks should go. In the hunters’
boat was carried Hanlon’s trunk and Irene’s
effects, while the old colored couple followed be-
hind in a second boat. -

It was not! far from morning when they en-
tered the lagoon where Tamarac Tom, Imp and
Irene were in waiting. .

Old Horace and Rachel became almost frantic
with joy on meeting their youn mistress and
her baby again. But the news 0 the terrible
tragedy aboard the raft, and the confession of
her father, almost prostrated the young mother;
notwithstanding the fact that the death of the
two men ended her dangers and restored her to
her husband and father. But the kind words of
the old bordermen who gave her then-assurance
that she should soon meet, not only with her
gallant young husband but the father he had
never known, di lled the shadows from her
heart, and ii 0d her soul with the radiance
of joyful promise. <___'_ .
CHAPTER XVII.

Eli-UNITED.

Tnosm left at Refuge Isisan noted every hour
of the hunters’ absence, for all were'kept in‘ reat
suspense and anxiety, not on] for the safe of
the three absent hunters and he sucCcss of t eir
expedition, but their 'own safet , for Indians

were seen skulking among the is ands after the
hunters left, and it was feared an attack would
\be made in their absence. It is true. the young
chief, Melakah, was. still an invalid at the cabin,
receiving the treatment of Dr. Omar and the
kindness of all But whether he would, after
all, show his gratitude by using his influence in
behalf of the whites, was a question of some

“doubt. Moreover, the disappearance and pro-
longed absence of Imp, was an additional cause
for_alarm. It is true, the boy often left the
island without saying a word- to any one, and as
he had never remained away so long it was
feared he had fallen into the ands of the red-
skine. His mother was almost distracted.

I The night passed away and day dawned with
no tidings from any of t )8 absent ones; but a
couple ours later a buzzof excitement was
created (by the appearance of Polar Sol, ac-
cogl‘pani by Imp, in a canoe upon the lake.

» ith‘a mingled feelin of hope and fear Dr.

hastened to meet, t em.

 

island just as they” or come-up, and

i-

-tell your ole dad

 

801 "and the boy had acted 'u landing a,

locating up into his excited face, the hunter
sax -

“ Wal, goodgmornin’, Doctor Franklin Humps
ton! How’s things on the island?”

The doctor gave a quick start. His white
face grew whiter. For a moment he stared
like one bewildered at the hunter, then as his
whirling brain caught a world of meaning in
801‘s address, be answered with trcmulous lips:

“Polar Sol, you are the first man I ever
heard speak my true name on this is and. It
tells me much— that your mission to Moose
Lake has been more than successful.”

“ That’s ’bout the size 0’ it, doctor,” declared

“ Then that woman is Rivers‘s Wife——”

“ And your darter.”

“ Blessed Father!” cried the doctor.
where is she, Sol?"

“She and her bab are safe, and your old—
time enemy, Doctor ortez Dorantes, 0’ Cuba——
alias Tomas Victor, 0’ America—Was Meko-
mah, big sawbones and pill-dispenser 0’ Crew
\Ving’s tribe—rand Morgan Hanlon, the man
who’s had your darter ever since Dorantcs stole
her, and captain 0’ that raft, are deader’n
smelts—fell out about the gal and tickled each
other to death with knives. Darantcs never
yaw d after he got his medicine, but Hanlon
'live two hours, and he lost no time in tr in’ to
unburden his guilty soul. In my time, octor',
I’ve beam the confessions o’ a score 0’ dyin’
sooundrels, but I never heard one that bad sich
a flimsy pretext for bein’ mean and low-lived as
that man Hanlon. If I have as poor case as his
when I come to die, I’ll whive examination at
the Judgment Bar, plead guilty, and go straight
to dingnation. But, doctor, your (larter’s com-
in’ back here with Dismal and Tamarac Tom. I
come on ahead to break the news in small hunks
to Cup Rivers, so’s he wouldn’t take a connip—

ion. '
- . “ Brit, Sol, did you not speak of Irene and her

baby;

“ cs, Doc, she’s got the all-firedcst. dumplin’-
ist little kid you ever see’d in your life. And
sich lungs! Whewl git away Comanchcsl
Doctor, you‘re a grandfather, or I’m a goat l“

“ Can it be I‘ossible,” the doctor said, thought-
fully, “ that the child I know only as a prat-
tling babe is now a mother!”

“ Yes, Dec, and she‘s one o’ the sweetest, fair-
est women I ever saw—blamed if I don’t envy
you and the captain both.” '

“,I will go at once and break the news to Riv-

ers. . .
The tr. 0 started toward the cabin. They saw
Old Hulda and her “baby " meet, and‘after the
old woman had embraced her boy, she wi '
her streaming eye and then proceeded to hereto
the outh most soundl for his waning away.

“V oily. mommy,” mp exclaimed, after she
had run out of brcat , “ you’s actin’ queer. If
I hadn’t runned away, de exposition to de raft ’d
’a’ been a plumb, smack failure. and I knowed,
too. Oh, crack l’mommy, it’ll make your face
turn white wid 0 when you sees de party little
sweet kitten oh a shy (let 1—”

“ Baby !” broke in the mother, with arms
akimbo and a look of despair -on her face.
“Irn , you mis’able black vagabonel I allers.
told youah ole daddy dat you war a born thief,
and dot youah mean ’nufl A. to steal a baby from
its muddcr, and now you’s gone and done it.”

“Golly, Hulda,” said the boy with a grin.
“ I stole the hub and its mudder too.” ' -

“ Then fo’ G you’s a born liah, tool" groan-

“ But

ed the distressed mother, wringing her hands ‘

and meaning in 830111;. ,

At this juncture olar Sol, who had heard
the conversation between the mother and son,
came to the latter‘s' rescue and vouched
for the truthfulness of the gallant Imp's stag.

Turning toward her young ho eful Wi a
fond look and a changed voice, 0 d-Eulda ex-
claimed: ', »

"‘Honcy, you little, black nigger,
mudder’s {mud oh you, chile! Come ’ ong and
dy, ’bout our capers. It’ll
maize do: Inging hatchet-ho in his he’d heal
w: Joy. ‘~ ’ ‘ ‘

The look on Dr. Omar’s face when he entered
Jack Rivera’s room told the young ca tain
that the news from Monse Lake,l.was at . east,
fdvorable. ‘ . r .
’ “ Now, captain.” said the doctor in as natural
tone as he could,.command, “ you know that
we have heard from our friends, and/yon don’t
want to get excited over anything, or it will
be the worse for you. I' have no bed‘news,

however to ive on. In fact. Odd news or.
.I bog y s, ” i, _

waging, dtililh'as  ii

‘ sai" e oungo oer calm ting

tothe portrait oxl'tmmnu’am was.
1,. 4 V  \.

I
' ~

our ole '

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'   ' Tamarao ‘Tom,~the Big Trapper--Boy:”‘:-leeks." : ' a.   1

 

portrait of your dead wife, and the mother of
mine?”
“ There are now no doubts of it, my boy.”
“Then it was Irene that 1 saw on the raft?”
h “ It, was, and she is safe and now on her way
ero.’
“ Thank God i” said Rivers; “but, doctor, is
she alone?”
A faint smile passed over Omar’s face, as he
re )lied:
4' No, she is accompanied by Tom and Dismal,
her old nurse and her infant son.”
A Confused smile llitted over the captain’s pal-
131 face, a mist gathered in his eyes and he
turned his fuel to the wall to conceal his emo-
tions.
Half an hour later the rest of the party from
Moose Lake landed on Refuge Island. Dr. Omar
and Old Sol met them at the landing, and there
the meeting of the father and daughter took
place. But we Will not attempt to describe it,
, for ourvpen is inadequate to the task; but t e
reader can well imagine it was a most happ ,
joyous and affect: meeting, that moved to
tears'those who witn ssed it.

Irene was fully apprised of the low condition
of Captain Rivers, and the danger to him of un-
due exz'iteinen't, so that when her father eon-
ductcd her to the cabin and into the presence
of her sick husband, she was fullv prepared for
the meeting. But when she looked upon his
thin, emaciated face, it required all her s len—
(‘id courage to maintain her com osurc. ever
did a woman, whose mind and body had been
. undergoing for weeks the crucial tests of fear,

grief and motherhood, conduct herself so nobly,

i so heroically, so self-possessed, as did Irene

Rivers in the chamber of her sick husband. It

_ . was not a meeting of excitementand demonstra-
"r, tions, but one of quiet joy and burning love.

' A few minutes after their first meeting, when
Irene placed in Jack’s arms thé tiny bit of hu-
mlmity, their own offspring—the golden link
that binds in closer union the hearts of wedded
love, the captain felt that his cup of bliss was
full—that the crowning joy of his life had been
bestowed upon him. . ..

And the joy and happiness that filled the
breasts of Doctor Omar his child and her hus-
band, was fully shared by the rest of their
friends, But in the midst of their rejoicing they
did not forget that they were surrounded b

‘,

 

,. . dangers. In fact, they were reminded of this
- .f ‘ I nearly eve hour of the day or night by the

sight of Int ian scouts among the islands, or

upon the lake. _ ~ . '_
Two days had passed, however,'in quiet, but
one morning Polar Sol was startled b seeing a
,r i  , rude raft creep into si ht of Refuge sland, on
 p, a 7 hem-d of which was t e cannon that had be-
 ” longed to the raft of Morgan Hanlou. The craft
anchored in the lake beyond rifle-range of the

 ., ~, s island, the muzzle of the gun was turned toward

 4i ~Ii_' . the cabin of the recluse, and a shot sent scream-

‘ " ing over the house, the boom of the gun awaken-
ing: a thousand slumberinfiigc‘choes.
Immediately after the , , e of the gun,

scores of canoes filled with red— as were seen

u-' 5. ~ hovering abopt‘he islands, andthat another at-
" tack, and that too by day, was to be made,
there seemed no doubt. But more than the red-

‘ [skins the islanders dreaded that terrible gun on

m. " -. he 'ai‘t. .- ' “

“i  “ a’s 'a. terrible mistakeyDismal,” said Polar
Sol, “ that we didn’t spike that gun or tumble it
into the lake when” it was at our more .”

‘,‘ Yes, and. a wuss one that we di n‘t shoot

' them three men we left there for the ’re the

vcr varmints that’ll handle‘that gun. ey’ve

‘ ma- c peace with the red-skins and war against
"  us, end we’re in no shape to fight ag’inst can-

 

. non. - . .
i; ' , . While they were thus conversing acanoe with,

two occupants, a white man and an Indian, was
seen approaching the island With a white rag

' tied to a stick. . _ ,
“ It’s a flag 0’ truce!” exclaimed Sol, “and

, ‘ we’ll soon know what is wanted.”

 ~’ , * .- The boat soon landed and the truce-bearers
"“ > '. fl ' up reached the'mbin. One of them proved to
‘ _ ' ,he ierre revy; and the other noless personage
than Crow ing, the great chief, himself.
' Dr. Omar, Polar Sol, Old Dismal and Tom

. abatm, and received t em kindly.

 

.\‘,V

7’ marks. Gravy,-. upon whoseface there wasalook
  , of‘ina - -

ieious cunning, said: 

e have come to demand of you the per-
son of Big Pine. tenths murder of four Sioux
warriors, and the maiden, June, who is held a
captive by you.” ’ ‘ - ’ -

~. ":And suppose
plied 801.

S

we refuse to give ’em up!” re?

 

w:-  '; ‘ I Pope met the two men V tontsideotthe line of
After a few moments of preliminary 're-'

 

“We’ll batter down your cabin, and turn a
thousand warriors loose upon this island!

CHAPTER XVIII.
A CONFERENCE AND A CONCLUSION.

11' was quite evident to the islanders that
Pierre Grevy had no other object in his demands
on the whites than mere petty spite, growiu out
of his and Polar Sol‘s ditiicu ty in the ten the
ni ht Peter Zull was slain. But while he was
dc ivering, in his grandiloqucnt style, the ulti-
matum of a refusal to com )ly With their de-
mands, Crow \Ving was start ed by an appari-
tion that he saw coming slowly toward him
from the direction of the cabin. It was Mala-
kah, the young war-chief, who, thin and
emaciated, looked more like a specter than his
former self.

But Crow_Wing [knew him, and with a light
of joy beaming upon the old chief’s face, be ex-
claimed :

“ Malakah is alive! We have mourned him as
dead! lVe knew not lie was a captive in the
power of tho pale-face.” .

“ Malakah is not a captive,” replied the young
chief, in his own language, which we translate.
‘fHe was wounded in battle, and the pale-face
took him into his Wigwam and dressed his
wounds and gave him food. Though the pale-
faccs wounded Malakah they have HaVed his life.
They are brave in war and kind and generous in,
peace. But why does Crow Wing‘s warriors
gather on the lake? And why does Crow Wing
come here?”

“ To demand the Big Pine, who slew my war-
riors, and J unc, who is a Cu ptivo here,” answered
the old chief.

“ J une is not a captive hero,” replied Mnlakah.
“She remains here because she loves Big Pine,
and Big Pine slow the warriors because they
were sent by Black Eagle without your knowl-
edge to slay Big Pine. Crow Win has letn
deceived by the white men who claimed to be
his friends. They have incited warriors to be. t-
tle and death when nothing was involved but
self~interest. Let Crow. “'ing listen to Muluka b.
He can tell him much.”

“ Malakah is a wise youn chief,” responded
Crow Wing. “His voice is t 0 voice of wisdom.
Crow Wing has missed his counsel more than all
others. Let him speak.” I

And Malakah di speak, in tones of thunder,
as it were. .

He denounced in unsparin terms the white
men who had lived amen t em as pretended
friends. To them he laid a l the recent troubles
with the whites on the island. He wound up
with an ap cal for the whites who had so ten-
derly nurse him through the worst of his suit“
fering and declared that it war was-made upon
a single one of them, hewould remain and die
fl hting with them.

he conference lasted more than an hour.
Malakah succeeded ‘most effectually in turning
the head of Crow Wing; and thee d chief re-
turned to the lake, called his warriors around
him and haranguod them for an hour or more.
His speech was accepted with shouts of joy and
approval; and when the raft with the swivel-
in upon it was seen to drift away out of sight,

t ie islanders knew the are to have no further
trouble with the red- ins— that their kindness
to. Malakah, and his gratitude and influence,
had saved them; tho h Pierre Gravy, in his
heart of hearts, no don t, wished that Malakah
had died of his wounds or had. never been born.

Before leavmg for his village, Crow Wing
came back to the island with a few of his warriors.

‘He was given a fine reception, Old 801 and Dis-

mal knowing exactly how to flatter h'is savage
vanity. When .he went away he was given
manly presents including the entire packet-the
pod ler, Peter Zull. ‘ - ,
Malakah remained under the treatment of Dr.

Omar for several days after the threatened ae-
sault on the island: and nearly every da old
Crow Wing or some of his followers visit the'
island. Among the first arrivals was June’s
mother, a carewornand sad-faced woman, who,
upon learning from her daughter that she never
intended to return to the Indian village, became

.almost distracted. 'But when ‘June and Tom

Pope, and all the others appealed to the old lady
to give up her Indian home and go with them to
the land of civilization where she eould always
be near her child, she card them and at once
decided that she would go. ' ' -

 

Three weeks after the rescue of Irene from
the raft on Moose Lake. the entire party on Re-
fuge Island embarked in boats for the south. Dr.
Omar having presented to Crow Winaand Maine
kah everything belonging to him‘that could not
be taken along. with them. ' 

‘v

, unatten

 

Their Journey was along and laborious one

ed with any incident to break the mono-
tony of the trip, on il they arrived at the cabin
of other Lille, a Jesuit missionary living a
short distance beyond the settlement oi French-
town. There the halted fora few days’ rest,
and while there om Po and the fair J une
were married by the priest.

Continuing on the party passed Buzzard Bend
and stop (1 over night in Convict Cave at the
mouth 0 the Menomme. '

The next day they reached Deer Lodge, the
home of Old Dismal. Here the rty remained
several days Visiting with Polar ‘ )1 and Dismal,
for the hunters Were going no further. Their
services were no longer need.d for they were
now beyond all dangers. .

The most afl’ecting scene or all was when the
hour of separation from the old bordermen, had
come. The hunters had walked with the party
down to the river-bank where the boats w ere in
waiting. ‘l‘here the parting took place, the boats

pulled out and started on their southward jour- [I

I‘MI . .

gmndin on the bank, the bordermen watched
the room ing boats— answering the farewell
waving of hands and hats—and when the last one
had missed from si rht, Old Dismal said:

“ here, Polar, o d pard, that closes the second
act 0’ our life-drama in which the wickedness 0’
men,cniclty o’ savage-gals, boys, lovers, babies
mysteries have all come and played their part,
rung down the curtain and gone, and here we
old inc-cancers still are.” .

“ Yes, Dismal, ready for the next act," replied
Polar Hui, “so let old Time ring up the curtain
again, and we old artists, with gun and pistol,
Will be found on deck.” -

THE END.
‘

Edward L. Wheeler's V

Deadwood Dick {Novels

Beadle’s Half-Dime Library.
1.’ eggs... Dick; or, The Black Rider or the
ac 8. ' ‘
20. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick‘s
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From 

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No. l to 28 Mill".

)8 so 88 Popular Dialogues and Dramas in each book.

 
 

XxxiBl'ILNIDON S Y3 5;
HOME in“

Each volume 100 I“. m It.

lion-paid, on receipt of price, TEN CENTS.

BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William St, N. Y.

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ht no other books in the market. at any price. contain so many useful and, available dialogues and dramas of wit, pathos, humor and sentiment.

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Dime Dialogues. No. 1.

of the Muses. For nine young ladies.
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Mo’s Coronation. For male and female.
on. For two ladies.
reheaital. For six bo
Which will you Choose! or two boys.
the gueen of Ma . For two little girls.
i'he eat-Party. or four ladies.
Three Scenes in Wedded Life.
Ire. Sniffies's Confession. For male and female.
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Dogmatism. For three male speakers.

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The Year’s Rec oning. Twelve femal one male.

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How to write “ P0 “131' " Stories. For two main
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A Sensation at Last. For two males.

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How to Find an ir. For five males.

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A Connubial Eclogue.

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Dime Dialogues, No. 3.

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