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?>Y CHARLEO CLAQK MUNti COPYRIGHT, 1906, BrLOTHf?OP, LCC U OHEPARD CO. SYNOPSIS. ?tra. a 16 ???? cW tiri l?vlna a' ? In thr Main? woo<Ja. la a t to Tat? Uo? ? half t>r?r?n?. Sha runa away. CHAPTER ? ?Chip r?a.>.??? th?? camp ef Xturtin ? Hi-ltn '?. M?ahfW, R. ? and ?ruld?"? r atory ar.vi la car??? for by Mr?, h r.abl?? ^ plain? Journey of ?'S party Into wcoda la to who ha* r?f?:?1?<i In th? wilder ????? far many year? Wbtl camp la tirokan Chip and Ray occupy saatie canoa. ?PTKR IV Tri.? pa? camp of Mr? Kri*bt?*-a fa *??? ?? corred bv bin ftnd Cy Walker, an o??5 fri?pnd and former to?naman of th? Iowa for ijmmtr ? ear ?nil Ray ara In Walk' - - area found on lake ahora in Ci ? a Is aawn arresi? to ?rreat .iwn aa o?. a? ;>ed CHAPTER 1 wood? friend sa Indiai Ray believe? y.? ajasa ? b? ?t oc Ih? rids? M by ' '-olduc and ?-scape? with Bat in a cants*. hip Is rwacued by Mart:? from the ? - r? Ray that ? - ter. ai ? - - Ham: CHAPTER XII. The ? to this la it of mir. and ' 'ring animals. Old ? h the home? soon I few ?!? ? up Beaver bt? more ? A? gum gathuring mas also a part of season'? . ? now ]??: swamp ? spruce-clad ui ->rk. aa also a> that aSater? ng and gum gathering life. the half-breed. ? hain't nothln' agin us," Old Cy asserted, when th? "We didn't ch:i??e him tbe day he stole Chip, *n' yet I ?, show up some day. a* mebbe do us barm." It was this fear that had led Old Cy ? o leave a log ?arred, and a ? oaatloo th, sin on guard at th? cabin while he and Ray wer? away A canoe Is the one mo*t vital of a wlldwood life, for the reason that the streams are the only aven..? ???cape and afford the only opportuni? ties for travel. Old Cy knew, or at least he felt al? most sure, that the half breed would return in good tlrr.? afl also rea eeend out his failure to do so at once, and knew that left canoeless, as be had been that tragic day. bis only course must be the one he actually followed. A month had elapsed since then, with no slftn of ibis 'varmint's" return, and now Old Cy was on tbe watch for It. They had first visited tbe small traps near the lake, securing a couple of mink and three muskrats. whiob wer? Iftft In tbe canoe. An otter was found In one of the deadfalls, and taking this with them, they entered the spruce timber and hung It on a conspicuous Kmb. Then the search for gum began. Aa usual, they worked hard. The days were short, the best of sunlight was needful to aee the brown gum But? In the somber forest, and bo they paid no heed to aught except what was overheard. When time to return arrive!, Old Cy picked up his rifle and led the way back to where the otter had been left, but it had vanished. Glancing about to make sure that he was right, he advance to the tree, looked down, and saw two footprints. Stooping over to examine them better tn the uncertain light, he noted also that they were not his own, but larger, aad made by some one wearing boote. "Tain't the half breed." be muttered, with an accent of relief, and looking about he saw a wall-defined trail lead? ing down the slope and thence onward toward the swamp. Some one had crossed this broad, ova], spruc?>covered upland while they were not 200 rods away from this had stolen their otter and gone on into the swamp. Any freshly made human footprint found in a vast wilderness awakens curiosity; these seemed ominous. "He must 'a' seen us 'fore he did the otter," Old Cy ejaculated, "an' it's curis he didn t make himself known. Neighbors ain't over plenty, here? about." But the ?un was nearlng the tree tops, the canoe was a mile away, and after one more look around. Old Cy started for It. There was no use in following this trail now, for It led Into the tangled swamp, aad so, skirting this until s point opposite the canoe was reached. Old Cy and Ray then plunged into iL Twilight had begun to shadow this vale ere the canoe was reached. And here was another surprise, for the ennoe waa found turn??*! half over, and on ita broad oval bottom waa a curious outline of black mud. The light was not good here. A flr-grown ledge ghadowed the ?j..lt. hut as Old Cj ?tooped to exam?ne'thls mud made em blesB. It gradually tock ahai?e. and b? saw?a skull and cross bones! "Wal. by the Great Horn Spoon!" be exclaimed. "I never s'posed s pi rat? 'ud fetch in here' An' he's swiped our muskrats and mink," he added, as be looked under th** canoe, "darn him!" assale of H ail oc? curred to Old Cy Tbe theft was doubte less made by whosoe-eer had takes tbetr otter, and not contest with rob? bing them, be had added insult. "I s'pose we'd orter be graceful he i? paddles 'n* didn't smash th? canoe,"* O tinned, turning it over. *T wonder who't cBn One hasty look around revealed th? same bootmarks In the ? near the stream, and then he and Ray launched their craft and started for "I'm goln' to foller them tracks to? morrer." Old Cy said, when I entering tbe lake and a light in the cabia Just may be a li'tb n' to find out what sorter a ntig' ? CHAPTER XIII. :ii the ? be un? broken silence and solitude <>? a t leas forest m aw human be? ing one we are gl;? A party of lumbermen wlel I s one to turn aside and call on ?'e camp sc?*t, r a stream's bank always Invites a landing to Interview was now felt by Old C? sense of dang- inter m In r the In width, was ? ? th?? otter ha:, taken It, and I canoe, daub It and then had gone on his a Old ? Irotu behind trace, skulking along when their backs w ? 1, a low, Old ring this oval ridge on s as a swamp, that a stream flowed through it. and surmising that this fellow might havo thla stream, he aelr cabin prepared for a two or three dava' sojourn away from it, which meant that food, blankvts and ?lmpl? cooking utensili must be taken along. No halt was mad? to visit traps. Old Cy was trailing bigger gam?" and when the point whore they bad laaft tbs canoe the day ., waa reached, the canoe was pulled out on the stream's bank, the rifles only taken and th? trailing began. Ha fall up the brook valley a little era find that only one track cam? down; I he then circled about the canoe, until. i like a hound, he fonnd where the ol?ear : ly defined trail left the swamp again. pa In the soft carpet under the ? apruce trees one could follow thia trail on the run. and here also Old Cy found where this enemy had halted betiid? trees evidently while watching them, as the tracks Indicated. When th? bordering swamp waa reached, the trail turned in a westerly dir. skirting thus for half a mile, and here, also, evidences of skulking along were vi aible. Another trail was now come upon.? but leading dlr-ectly over the ridge, and Just beyond this juncture both the trails now joined, entered the swamp, aad ended at a lagoon opening out from tbe stream Here, also, evidences of a canoe having been hauled np Into tbe log were visible. "That saeakln' pirate com? up this stream." Old Cy observed to Ray, as th? two stood looking at these unmis? takable signs. "He left his canoe here *n' croaaed the ridge above ua 'a' down to wbu?r we left tbe otter 'n' on to our canoe. Then be come back the way we follered, '?' my Idee Is he bad bis ?ye on us most o' tbe time. I call at? he bas been langhin' ever since at what we'd say when we found that mud daub on our canoe, durn him!" But their canoe was now a half-mil? away, and for a little Um? Old Cy looked at tbe black, currentless stream and considered. Then he glanced up at tbe tun. "G?? a notion we'd best fetch oar caco? over bere.** he said at Sast, **an* follow this thief a spell farther. Ws may come on to suthin'." 'Won't he shoot at us?*' returned Ray, more impressed by this possibl? danger than was Old Cy. "Wal, mebbe and mebb? not," an? swered the old man. "Shootln's a gam? two kin play at. an' we've jlst ez good a right to foller the stream ez he has." Hut when their canoe bad been car? ried over and launched in this lagoon. Ray's spirits rose. It waa an expedi? tion bato new waters, somewhat ven? turesome, and for that reason it ap? pealed to him. Then they had two rifles; Old Cy had taught him to shoot; he had al? ready killed one deer and some ?mail? er game, aad the go-west and kill-In? dian impulse latent in all boys was a part of Ray's nature. Besides, he had an unbounded faith in Old Cy'a skill with the rifle. For two hours they paddled along this serpentine highway, and thea the vaatnesa of this morass began to Im? press them. No sign of current had been met. All view of the spruce grown upland they had left was ob? scured by distance. Now and then a dead tree, bleached and spectral. I marked a turn In the stream, aad hun? dreds of them, rising all about above th? low green tangle, added a ghostly haze. It was as it they were veaturiag Into a new world?a boundless morass, covered by an Impenetrable tangle, and made grewsome by the bleaching, trunks of dead treea. halt for dinner had yet been made They wero both faint from need of food, and so Old Cy reached for a amali wooden pail containing their sole supply of provisoes. Neither was it a luxurious repast whi<A waa? oow eaten A couple of hardtacks munched by each and moistened with a cup of this swamp water and a bit sf dried deer meat was all. and then Old Cy Ut bla pipe, dipped bis paddle in the stream, and on?e more they pushed on. Soon a low mound of hard soil rose out of the tangle lust ahead, an oasis in this unvarying mud swamp, and gaping at them from amid Its cov?w of scrub birch and cedar stood a deadfall. It faced them as they Beared this small island, and with log upraised between a pea of stakes it much resembled the open mouth of a huge alligator. 'Hain't been built long," Old Cy ex? claimed, after they had landed to ex? amine it- "I've a notion li s tbe doin's of our pirate friend, an" he's trappin: round about this swamp, lie's had good luck lately, anyhow, for he's got six o" our pelts to add to bis string." m here onward signs of humaa presence in this swamp became mor? visible. Now and then an opening cot through the limbi of a loppe >a met; a spot where drift had b*et. aside to clear the stream was found at one place; signs of a canoe having I d into th? bog grass were seen. and here wer? also th? samt footprints they bad fol? lowed. Another hit of hard bottom was reached, and hero again was an? deadfall. Tra< la a few days were about here, and tied to its figuro four spindle waa a freshly ca "The Bevute gettin' ? muttered, as 1 .? igns of a trapper's presence, ? mindful of the sun, he paddled oa again. And p?t an upland growth of tall sprue? was seen al t>anks be? came in evidence, and a waa met. On? ta the stream was followed, then came curv? ing banks at. ad spruce. They were ?nap. ? posed tbaiu. a low murmur of running wate: ahead, and then a pasa between two abutting lr enter? the stream edili??! over sunken rooks, and pushing on. the for? est seemed sud vanish as emerged freni the gloom of this short canyon, and the I ? caught sechi of a !> The ana, now a topa, cast a reddish | m its placid surface, a:. ne a chango was It from the ? I 'rbld dlng swamp Ja halt? ed their canoe at once to look out upon It. It was seemingly a mile long, but quite ina? - rocky ahore rising la m juat aerosa, and ex that side, back a low. gr??en clad moun? tain rht. and at the ??? this lanelik* lake s cliff was was net aa oblong gorg?? tn break In this bare peak, and as Old Cy urn??d their canoe out af I ream, cow curre . line ferro that the I had pai ? "*l*e fer a ? Thar ain't man> - hat swamp ?It took I'll bet no lumberman ever tn??d it itely 'way from bein' ocate here I dunno v. cross 'n -a or go back into tho ? Guess w? a take a sneak round st Ige. I no a loggln ????*<1?? op that way 'fore we left the sw.: But no* ng was disiovered that proved old Cy's wisdom, for as they, charmed somewhat by th? spot. The Two Watched ?n Silent Amaze? ment. yet feeling It forbidding, still glanced up and down the bold shore just across, suddenly a thin column of smoke rose fne sway to the right, amid the bare ledges. First a faint haze, rising in tbe still air, then a burst of white, until the fleecy pillar was plainly outlined as it ascended and drifted backward Into th? greca forest. CHAPTER XtV. Old Cy was, above all. a pesceabl? man. tnd while curiosity basi led him to follow th? trail of this robber aad to croat. thic rast swamp, now that h? ?a*** th? tuggestlv? amoks slam hs p astia;*?, ar- ?? g*h>aref. "1 guess wed best be k?erful." he | whispered to Ray. "or we may wish ' we had bea-n. I caliate cir pirate friend's got a hldla* spot over thar, 'a* most likely dont want callers. He may be only a queer eld trapper a lit? tle ah? rt iplea ag'in' takin' what he finds, 'n' then a* in he may be worse"? that His campln' spot's ag'in him. anyhow." But the sun was now very low; a camp site ?und, and j scarce two Bata ?? time be | saw this rising -noke, Old ; Cy dipped his paddle and slowly drew j back Into the protecting forest. Once well out of sljiht. the canoe area turned ( and they sped back down-stream and . into tbe swamp once more. Here he i turned salde into a lagoon they had j passed, and at Its head they pulled j their canoe <>?it in'o Da? bog. The tv? -r belong-J Ings. and picking their way out of tbe j morass, re. a b?*lt of hard bot-1 torn Baditing tbe ridge. They were now out of eight fn?m tbe lake, but still tbe stream to risk a camp fire, nnd so Old Cy led the way along this belt until a more secluded niche in the ridge was reached, and j here tbe\ making. That night was the longest ever j passed by Ray. for not until near morn? ing did he f;,'l into a fitful slumber, j and scar? imself be? fore Old Cy was up and watching for ' tbe dawn ? Its f ? when Ray's ? ? mut wait? ing for fire or bre;: ?rted ? a curi- ????.. for the lake ai of which hidden be I ' ?vas the earn? with the ? . ? once thai ???ft. And some min' ir the vance?J into ? ' ! the van? iahe : changed glan? "ilf ? ? ?=, an ti." Old Cy said at last, and then law bark shack. Here h?~ halted, and placing . over his car. ?d latently until he caught th? faint sound of a paddle touching a canoe g?nwu?. iglitly. thon a more distinctive thud, and then lees and less until the sound ceased. ? coast's cia?ar, ne added, now in an ??xultant whisper, "an' while the old cat's away we'll take a peek at hia den." A hurried gathering of their few be? longings was made, the canoe was shoved Into the lagoon, and no time was Kiet until the lake was crossed and they drew along side of where the smoke was still rising in a thin film. ' No landing was possible h??re, for the ! shore wss s sheer faca? of upright ! slate, and only where this lone trap? per had launched his canoe could they From here a series of outcropping slate ledges rose one above another, and between them and parallel to the shore, narrow, irregular passages par? tially closed by broken rock. It was all of slaty formation, jagged, serrated and gray with moss. Following on? of thete passages. Old Cy and Ray came to the ledge out of which the smoke was rising from a se. It was a little lower than one in front, perhaps 40 feet In breadth, double that in length, and of a more even surface. At each end waa a short transverse passage hardly wide enough to walk in, and a few feet deep. And now. after a more careful ex? amination of the crevasse out of which the thin film of smoke rose, Old Cy began a search. Up and down each narrow passway be peeped and peer? ed, but nowhere waa a crack or cranny to be found in their wails. la placet tbey were as high an his head, sheer faces of slate, then O.oken, ser? rated, moss-coated, or of yellow, rusty color. Here and there a stunted spruce had taken root in some crack, and over, back from the topmost ledge, this ?treen enclosure began and con? tinued up the low mountain. Here, also. In a sunny nook below this belt? ing tangle of scrub spruce, were am? ple figns of a trapper's occupation in the way of pelts stretched upon forked sti? ks and hanging from a cord cross? ing this niche Tbey were of the usual species found in this wilderness, ?a dozen murkrat. with a few mink and otter skins and one lynx. Another sign of human presence was also noted, for here a tog showing irks, with split wood and chips all abosa? was ? **8osae 0 :?elts is ourn," Old "Cy ejaculated, glancing at the array, **an I've a aOtloa wed b*?*t hook oa M ebbe not, though.' he added it might glt ut Into trouble." Hut Ray was getting more and mors uneasy each moiienf since they had leaded there. It se.??;.? ? to him a most dangerous exploit, and while Old Cy had hunted over tl 's enrlcua conr of alate led-'?*?; and stared at the rising film of smotta, Kay had covertly wstched the lake's outlet "1 don't think we d Bettet stay herf much longer." he said at last. "We can't tell how aaoa that man may come back and catch | "Cues? you're right." Old Cy assert? ed tersely, and after one more look at the inch wide crack out of which tbe smoke rose, he led the way to their eanc?e. "Thar'a a cave thar, sure's a gen," be muttered, as they skirted the bold shore once more, "an* that smoke's comin* out on't. I wish I dared stay here a little longer 'n' hunt for it." Old Cy was right, there was a cave there beneath the slate ledge?In fact, two caves: and In one. safe and se? cure, aa its owner the notorious Mc Oulre believed, wore concealed the savings of his lifetime. More than that, so near do we often come to an Important discovery and miss it. Old Cy had twice leaned against a slab of slate closing the en? trance to this cave and access to a fortune, the heritage of Chip McGulre. Ray's fear, while well founded, were needless, however. McGulre?for It was this outlaw whom they had am? ple reason to avoid?waa many miles away. And yet so potent waa the sense of danger, that neither Old Cy nor Ray thought, of food, .or ceased paddling one moment, until they had ??d the vast swamp and once more pulled tbeir canoe out at the point ? they had entered It the day beffre. Here a brief halt for food and rest was taken; then they shouldered their light craft and started for Hirch Camp. In the meantime another canoe was ascending this winding stream, and long before nightfall. Pate Holduc, eure that he waa on the trail of Mc? entered the ledge-bordered lake. CHAPTER XV. To trail an enemy who Is never it a rifle and the will to use it. I requin ad Indian cunninc ; BOth, and ; after observing th> of a \ :>, he after he 1 reached this lake, the had his j lair. ? ^s did Old ? ' '. ? times. a. ? ? ? cln-llng m I of the Ing al 'h. ?? ' inlng * blm ? half ! ag he laid | his rifle ? padd> ke to the | ! this with pack and rifle, was move of this human panther, and hero In a for hu iter, and hast at sunset, Aa usual, he ? scan Iti H? bel and thought no human being waa Ilk? find this lakelet Put for all that, he was watchful ring lum per might cross this .imp and find this lake during his aha? A brief scrutiny assured him that he was still safe from human eyes, and i he crossa?d the lake. From the hare cliff a single k??en and vengeful eye watched him. As usual, also. McGuire made his landing at a eon\enlent point, some 50 rods from his cave, and carried his canoe up and turned it over, back of a low Jutting ridge of slate He skinned the half ?!????? prizes his traps had se? cured that day and followed a shallow defile to hla lair Here his ?>elts !;ed. a slab of slate was lifted from its position in a deep, wide cre? vasse between two of these ledges, and McOulre rrawled into his den. Moat of these rnawenients were ob? served by the half brood, who, watch? ing ever while he plotted and planned how best to catch his enemy unawares, saw him ? an amid the ledgos again, go down to the lake, return with a pail of water, and vanish once more. All this was a curious proceeding, for be. like Old Cy, had expected to find McGuire occupying some bark shelter, and even now he supposed there was one among this confusion of bar? rocks. Another surprise soon came to this , distant watcher, for he bow saw a thin ' column of Bisoke rise from a ledge and continue in varying \olumne until hid- ? den by twilight. And now. secure in bla cave and Quite unconscious of the watcher with murderous Intent who bad observed bis actions. McC.ulre was enjoying himself. He had built a little slate fireplace withm his cave. A funnel of the same easily fitted material car? ried the tmoke ?p io a long, inch wide fissure In the r.xif He had a table of slate to eat from, handy by a bed filled with moss and dry grass, also pin ? knots for needed ! Opening lato this small cave was a lesser one. always cool and dry. for no rain nor melting snow could <-nter it, and here was IfcQuire'a pantry, and here also a half dozen tin cans, safely hidden in Will; To still further protect this Inner cave he had fitted a section of slat? to entirely fill Its < ntram When the lai ?inset had vanished and twinkling stars were re? flected freni : lake, the half breed descended from his lookout point, end. launching his canoe, fol? lowed clobe to the shadowed shore and landed just above where alcOuir?? disembarked Indian that he was, he choKe the hours of asgas* and darkness to crawl up to the bark shelter which he expected to And. his Intention b.-lng ? ' " *V| fea. Closed In a Dcath-Grappl?. to thrust a rifle muzzle close to his enemy's head and thea pull the trig? ger. But to do this required a long wait and extreme caution. Ilia enemy sure? ly had a camp-fire behind a ledge, and shelter as well. The smoke had seemed to rlae out of a ledge, but certainly could not. and so?still unaware of McGulre'a position, yet sure that he was amid these ledges, aad near a shelter?Pete grasped hi? rifle and crept ashore. It was too early to surprise his enemy?time to fall asleep must be allowed. Yet so eager was the half breed to deal death to him. that he must needs com? here to wait. No chance? must be taken when he did crawl up to hia victim, for a false step or the rattle of a loose stone, or his form outlined against the atarllt sky as he crawled over a ledge, might mean death to him inst??ad of IfcQuire rouching safely In a dark nook above the landing. Pete waited, watched and lister. One hour passed?it seemed two? and then the ; t stealth? he smoke had seen. Not by strides, or even steps, but as a panther would, lifting one foot and failing whore it woold and then another, and all the while listening and advancing again. It was McGuIres habit, while stay in?: !. ok st the weather pros? pects each night, and also to ob' drink of cool water before going to ? ? when the evenings were he would sit by the for a half I Its starlit or moon glitt surface, ami listening to the calls of nig1 -re. In spite of being an outlaw, de rai nature, and one who ? w man. he was not with ?aent. and the wild gra: , of those enclosing mountains, and the ' sense of seeurit> pleasant to him. Hts life had been a b and brutal one. He had dealt in man's lust and love of liquor. He ? measured all humankind by his own ' standard of rtgbt and wrong, and be , Lteved that he others ?v: ? would rob him. He had followed that belief implicitly from the start, and ! would so long as h? lived. He felt that every man's hand wan against him. and no reproaches of conscience bad resulted from his cold blooded kill lag of an officer Never once did the thought returs of the lew years when a woman's hand sought bit In tender? ness, nor any sens? of the unspeak? able horror h? bad decreed for bla owa child. So vil? a wretch seemed unfit for God's green earth; and yet the s of night beside this lske. and tbe stars mirrored on Its motionless surface, saothed and satisfied him. He had now sad then another im? pulse?to some day take hit savings of many years, secreted here, and go to some other country,assume another name, and lead a different Ufa And now, while an unsuspected enemy was waiting for him to enter a sleep that should know no waking, be left his cave and seated himself on a shelf-like projection close to tbe lake, which was deep here, and the ledg? shore a sheer face rising som? ten feet above the water. One hour or more this strange com? pound of brute and man sat there con? templating the stars, and then he sud? denly detected a sound?only a falet one. the mere click of on? pebble striking another. He arose and listened. Soon another soft, crushing sonad reached hire. Some animal creeping along In tbe passage between the ledges, b? thought. He stepped quickly to the end of th? shelf. On that Instant s crouching form rose upward and confronted him. He bad one moment only, but enough to see a tail man a step be? low bim, tbe next a Sash of spitting fire, a ttinglag pala In one shoulder, and tbit human panther l?aap?ad upoa IflcGuire! But life was swteet. even to afcGuire, and as he grasped and struck at thia enemy in a blind instinct of self pre? ervation as both closed In a death grapple, one instant of awful agony ?same to htm aa a knife entered bla heart?a yell of mingled hat? and deadly fear, as two bodies writhed on the narrow shelf, a plunging sound, aa both struck th? water below?and then silence. Death and vengeance wer? clasped la one eternal embrace. CHAPTER XVI. For two months Ufo at Birch Camp much resembled that of a woodchuck or a squirrel. Now and then a day came when the crusted snow permitted a gum-gathering trip Into tbe forest, or a few midday hours at ice fishing; and never were the first sigas of spring more welcome than to those winter-bound prisoners. Th? wise counsel and patient eiaoipi? of Old Cy had not been lost upon Ray, either; and that winter's experience bad changed bim to an almost marvelous degree. He was no longer a moody and selfish boy, thinking only of his own privations, but more of a man, who realized that he bad duties and obllga tlona toward others, aa well aa him? aelf. With the returning sun and vanish tag ?now. animal life was ?? astir, and a short season of trapping was again entered upon, and mi with that a few days more of gum gathering, it was brief and at a d vantage, for Id : the lake, and until ?ha* disapiwarepd no u the <??< ado. Once arati un W way. hov, spring rotaraed with spa began to overflow, the lake to rise, and one morning, instead of a whl'? pause of watery Ice. it was a blu?? rippla?d ha] >re. And now plans for Rsy's return tn vale were in order, an?! topic of discussion. He was as as s boy Bnxioua f"r th?? school, and for a double reason, t Is self evi It was aj;r??ed that Old ?"y and him? self should make the trip out In two canoes, and ? -?? ?? gum and firs. At the settle these were to be packed, to await ?ale and shipment. return to camp, and Ray would go on to G: ? A change in this plan came in an unexpected manner, however, for a few days before the one set for de? parture. OM Cy, always on watch, saw a canoe enter the lake, and who should appear but Levi. Martin's old guide. "I've been cookln' up at a lumber camp on the Moos'tiom." he > ? plained, after rr^etlngs had b??en ex? changed, "an' I thought I would make a trip up here an' call on ye t went out." How welcome he was, and how all. even Amzl. of those winter-bound prisoners vied with each other in mak? ing him the guest of honor, need not be as had been a part of their life here the previous summer, with ali its joys and dangers, and now seemed one of them. When mutual experiences and their winter's hiatory had b??en exchanged. :rse Chlp'l rescue, the half breed's escape, and th?* whereabouts came up for discussion that evening. Tv? Inward from Tim's Place tv three times this winter." said i/ovi. re has nee early last fall. Pete got thar Sut vowed reve? Martin and I ' when ? : later, and then s'a;? . t never Tim an" D 'long in him was found, or even of 1 snow hev ?! and ain't ? him all winter at the "We've seen him." put iti ? . ? calla ted 'twas him, on to thai effect He was trappln" ..\er be ? "nd a big all. 'n* he paid us a visit, stole a half dozen o' our catches 'n' left hie tra?!? our canoe.'' And tl : ! the ?tory of their a?lv?*ut ?ire, omitting, however, any refaarenc? to th? aup pose?! ?ave "It'a curls what has become o' him.** ild. when the tale was told, "and our camp crowd all be less 'hat thar's been foul play. with Pete at the bot? tom ont Nobody's she?i any tears, though an' I'm thlnkln' the woods is well rid o' him He's been a terror to ??>dy lrng en?Migh " Mu<xh myre of thlt backwoods gos? sip and change of nxpetieac? filled tn UM ?venlng. and next morning Old Cy gave Ra* a w? r<* ??f < autioa. "I kept whist heat our flndln' what w? csllsted was a cav?.'" he said, "an* I want you to Thlt matter o' afe (iuire and the nalf-hreed ain't blowed over ylt. an we don't want to git mixed up In It. Fz fer th? cave, if we 'lowed we found one. the f.ilks at Tim's Place 'ud go hnnttn' fer It. sure, n' I've my reasons for not wantln' they should go. So mum's tbe wcrd to Levi bout it " Levi'a arrival, however, changed their plans, for he at once offered to convoy Ray out of the woods, thut re? lieving Old Cy, and three days later these two, with well laden canoes, started on the out going j?jurney. It was not without incident, for when the main stream was reached, it was dotted With floating logs and th? red shitted drivera with tbe bateaux asd tpike shoes w?r? in evidence A monster jam was met at the first rapid, the bags of gum nuts, bundles, of firs, and canoes had to be carried around It. and when Tim's Place was reached, a score of the good natured woodsmen were la possession. Levi discreetly avoided all questions as to what Tira knew of Chip, her father, or the half breed. Ray's lips were also Fealed. and so both esesped much questioning Here, also, they learned what both had guessed?that McGulre and Pete had either left th? wilderness or had perished that win? ter. Where and how. if such was th? rase, no one seemed to know or car?, and a close observer would have said that every one a Tim's Place hoped that these two outlaws had met their fate. Old Tornah was also found at Tim'? Place, and he was undeniably glad to see b?uh Raj and Levi, and to learn that Chip was likely to be well cared for. When then two voyagera were ready to start, he joined and kept with them until tt..? tasajeases?? was reached. Knowing full well the value of gum and furs, he soon found a purchaser .ay's store and stock at Its full value; and when that youth, now elated as never be;? ire, was ready to start f..r Oreeavele, the fine old Indian ahowed almost a white man's emotion. "Take this to little girl." he said, handing Kay a package, ' and tell her Old Ton:ah not for.p t. He hope ah? come back to ?. on." M Mr IMaMa I sball be here, wait in' to meet bim. when he sends word." Levi taid; and shaking hands with both of his good friends. Ray now bade them good by with many thanks for ali they had <: Of bis homeward trip and all the chat mini antlcfiietloas a iw his. no mention need be made. They are but the flower? wi?-;v ?tr?vn la the path? way of >? -new more a man than vhea I?* Blared the woods ?fun well deserved all that lay before