| Show attie ath e it eva ship woman W oman complications biond traveling by canoe on an ur the Ml on his way to XI in that early days day of the th settlement of louisiana ana william brampton english sty spy known to indians and settlers as the th white whit indian ss a natches natchee indian poet pod a declaration of wr war against the french for hi 0 own lbs purposes he ha hastens to 11 1 to c carry rry th tb 0 news to glenvil ia french OT ern or meets n old friend joe labrador laman halfbreed half balf bred breed who warns warn him biro blonville hila has threatened to bang him as a a spy py brampton refuses refuse to turn back Us K falls fall in with jules jul and baell mattor on their way to B to lecure r wives from a le hip the mairs brIng lag women woman from francs france at biloxi brampton Bra apton protects protect a woman from a efanti rf anti ants brutality she tells tell b him m she h to li claire picked up in a raid in parts evidently well bred and educated the h in a mystery to brampton H intervenes to prevent a mai Engl engllish En flah lih known aa old six flit kr gore fa her to new orlan A frenchman francois narbonne slightly demented dment ed by stories lorlei he has heard of the riches of the new world introduces himself Bl enville accuses brampton of treachery but the latter secures a respite from death by revealing the natches declaration of war he in s to awatt await the arrival of a former companion damean the fox who will exonerate or condemn him damean has documents proving brampton an english spy brampton receives a message from claire begging him to help her roach reach the english settlements brampton trusts narbonne with a note to claire promising to meet her at now nf w orleans he plans his hi escape after a struggle st ruRel brampton wrests the incriminating papers from damean and escapes from biloxi ile he meets meeta the matters and they to go to new orleans in a sall fair packet at the landing place brampton again encounters jdie afi labrador whom he sends mends to bring claire to him brampton qu questions emotions her closely bu but ashe she will tell him little of her history with labrador brampton and claire lse lene in two canoes for the english settlements claire turns out to be a creature of moods and a terrible handl handicap cap in a race for life I 1 CHAPTER VII continued one must catch the fish first was the quiet response besides I 1 placed the wood on the blare monsieur started the coals will be ready all the wood I 1 ply demanded she bridled at my tone A tug at my line demanded my attention after a brief fight I 1 landed a catfish she waited until I 1 had bad secured my hook book and colled coiled my line then she said bald the wood was to burn arri yes yes but not all at once A allt little t le at a time 1 I was riot not to know without being told she said with much dignity it if monsieur will be explicit another time perhaps I 1 will do better but wood I 1 lai la I 1 lal la I 1 there Is nothing but wood surely one does not have hav to be sparing of wood in this landl I 1 hesitated whether to explain the danger of big fires and much smoke I 1 I 1 FM I 1 darted my gaze on the river I 1 ola dla covered nothing until ahe stood close at my side and pointed a finger being seen by in an enemy or to wait and after acting as an ray my own fire tender for a while see if 1 she did not learn her lesson by observation if we have finished with the matter of thi the fire she quietly resumed 1 I 1 would like to ask monsieur the meaning of that object which floats boats up astrea iacross across the dying patch of sunlight I 1 darted my gaze on the river I 1 discovered nothing until she stood close at my blue ale and pointed a finger then I 1 saw jt C a canoe far out and presumably bounting for dead water on the opposite shore indians Ind lans probably hamas we are in their country I 1 told her are they wicked will they trouble gar fr she demanded glancing up into zw sf tam wot oft it b alfe vor tor was vu I 1 amid afraid of dadlink for I 1 had bid many friends among 69 til the hudaa all 13 BI q huah Pen Peu dexler dexter auther of langson kang of the misouri edg drapal A virginia scout etoi or by hah 1123 m returning my gaze caze to the river I 1 was troubled to observe the canoe was appo making no progress sd toward the opposite shore and only white men ignorant of the viver riter would skirt the edge of the mighty current and barely hold their own when easy paddling was to be enjoyed along the shore now one can hardly see them she cried well go back and cook our fish isaid I 1 gald the canoe was heading toward us thus making it appear to be a speck and I 1 had no doubt the smoke from our generous ore had attracted the voya voyageurs voyage geurs ura attention if damean and his companions were on the same anine side with us ns the intervening forest would prevent his seeing the smoke it was his marieto against mine and I 1 was hampered by an irresponsible girl woman CHAPTER VIII what the smoke brought even if the distant canoe was ft as making for our smoke I 1 did not see how bow I 1 could break camp and hide in the forest or take to the pirogue bild I 1 been alone the problem of avoiding the two men would have been child a play but the girl would hold me back in the woods while to continue in the pirogue would bring the men upon us I 1 was convinced they could not be some of damians Da moans men and this b belief reconciled me somewhat to meeting them on reaching the alre re I 1 hurriedly cleaned the fah the girl watched my preparations with a 9 little grimace I 1 feared site she was ous I 1 broiled the fish on the cols coals co ls and served it on two clenn clean pieces of birl bark she sat back from the lire and tout tenta a nibbled at some smoked meat but refused tile the fish this was nn an arra arraignment gement of my rough and rendy cooking and provoking because slie she had made no offer to do the equaw work herself I 1 was beginning to real alze how entirely useless tills this young per person peron on was when it came to coring caring for herself for one raise nosed in poverty the he instinct of self preservation seemed sf emed to be meagerly rud gerly developed of course tier her hands should have hae told me that lit it the beginning site she pied eyed the tough smoked ment disapprovingly then brevet re marked ins irked 1 tile I lie me lie burned well exceedingly well m another and a longer pause then she was timidly reni gennil arkIng ing there came caline to nil me ow IP absurd no tion that hint ajon gonoir was vins because I 1 user tiser the wood hut but I 1 tell myself there Is much wood nond enough for all france also the more wood the more coals what have I 1 done that la 13 wrong nothing that Is wrong only this fire I 1 asked the wood to ie be fed on a little at a time you put it all on at once but it made a good fire monsieur you have said it yourself I 1 fear ou are overnice in your exactions 1 I only mention it because the lie heavy smoke Is drawing the strange canoe to our shore and soon we have hav visitors I 1 gently explained 1 I would have ouid ald nothing this tinie time but I 1 did not want mademoiselle to be taken by surprise and perhaps alarmed this awful country where the sim aim blest act may bring death I 1 she dra mati cally whispered I 1 smiled reassuringly hardly death or we would not he be here waiting it if Is nothing these strangers coming I 1 only mention them so mademoiselle will not be startled you have your musket close my your side as if you feared 1 I 1 I too will be ready and she pulled the sheathed dirk from her bee bosom and allowed it to hang bang outside her blouse then as tin an inspiration but the log boat I 1 we should hide it then they could not find us now that they have seen the smoke it Is better that they find us I 1 an if we should they would find the fire alre and they would go on up the river and tell of the desert ed camp it would be bad for them to tell such soch news to damann the fox finishing my fish I 1 took my gun and said mademoiselles courage Is one fine she will sit where she Is while I 1 withdraw to one side 1 I do not understand she faltered by this time the two men will be landing near our pirogue they will reconnoiter recon cautiously I 1 must get them to the ore to see sec who they are to make sure they carry no tales ahead of us but would you leave me here alonet alone only as halt bait tor for the trap into which they must walk As soon as they break cover I 1 will be by your side monsieur does not go far away only inside the trees nave have cour age nothing shall harm you 1 I am not afraid of men she coldly replied now sitting very erect it la Is the land the great river the annam able loneliness that brings fear but I 1 sull not tl til grace you the grande dome air in a doll and yet she carr carried I 1 ea it off most moat e excellently iet t took my musket and slipped into cover and waited I 1 heard beard the two men climbing the bluff long before they should have betrayed themselves the carelessness or awkwardness of 0 their approach told me they were not cou call de bols this left them atheni colo nests from new orleans sent in blundering pursuit of mo me and I 1 was con aident I 1 could soon send theiu theio to the right about now they were passing through the dinst fringe of bushes encircling the alre and the girl suddenly gave gae a shrill zer earn As I 1 glided forward to close the trap I 1 heard a rough voice yell in sh blast ray my eyes if it aint her I 1 ahoy ines whores wheres your convoy 7 II I prel lerel I 1 spoke up lip stepping into tile firelight my musket across my left arm the girl was crouching behind a log and from her face one would have thought she was facing a panther old SIX sit fingers more apish than ever stood leering at her his yellow snags showing in an ugly grin on lecog me he lowered his arm and with ft a scowl growled so its it a you Is it itt llo ho Mons monsieur leur brampton wo we meet again I 1 loudly greeted narbonne limping clear of a grapevine behold I 1 give you the freedom of my river I 1 mademoiselle command me I 1 throw myself at your feet she rose rosa and seated herself on the log lag in tin nn effort to recover tier her dignity but never allowing tier her frightened eyes to stray long from the grinning face of six IT Mons monsieur leur narbonne was so good as to to do me a service in la ia nouvelle I or lenns betins ills presence presence Is always most wel conie she nervously assured the 1 api we go up the lie river to fand the coun try of nf where the lie diamonds grow on rose hu hushes and the women nrc are almost as beautiful as selle sell prattled led narbonne with a smirk nt it the lip girl and now BOW wes picked you vou up well wi 11 still mil in convoy grinned 91 six fingers and he broke into some of his her elble sea doggerel and began chanting alea a hol ho anil and tile the devil up 11 slab H in he sun hurrah bullie for the main arave lo 10 and th the red rd blond from I 1 mm white wl lie throats will runt hurrah WM nearest to him and with a 1 swoop sweer lip ile stilled tip the vivious lips lind sent ax is x I 1 or and binl now I 1 tind lind no nn bedre vir elter of nt tile lie two to be traveling moling ahead of nie me would not wittingly harm me hut but he wits eccentric to say the least leu it ills his was capable of adv inv infamy if left unwatched so I 1 arrested ed the lie role of pac lOcator and suld sald 1 lot I ct bygones be hi bygones six fin gars forgot ills sen are not for flung ears cars n no will not forget again come come nion aill need stout hearts for your journey to the AM nil us sli fingers I 1 egera pres pressile his fingers to lils his split ups HP and made mn IP animal noises narbonne was staring at him coldly one hand on the he hilt of tits ills sword the old villain essayed something intended for nn an aff affable smile tin and croaked rough hough day dav ante but im used to rough tiling living and rough ways was I 1 was wag forgetting tie the lass ill stay ferard after this and theres a jug of brandy in the lie boat whit what ill overhaul I 1 signaled aled for narbonne to let him go for his departure would give me a cannee to talk alon with nith the french man once six fingers I 1 had disappeared toward the olge of the he bluff I 1 drew narbonne farther apart from the ohp girl and suld said you know I 1 nm being hunted per haps you ou do not know that there are those thoe ahead whom I 1 fear more than plan all those remaining behind I 1 do not know how far I 1 con can trust your com coin pa danlon riblin but bot to you ou I 1 tell this at point coup couppe coupe e a dav lays a journey from here the river makes a big loop my bly enemies will I 1 believe follow the main channel there Is id a small bayou or canal not more than fix feet apet wide and usually choked with drift tit at the open ing if I 1 can reach that lint auneen and cut across the he loop I 1 will rave a day it 11 Is at point coupee I 1 plan to get ahead or of my pursuers narbonne stiffly answered monsieur I 1 have nn equity in this cursed curbed river I 1 am a landed proprietor I 1 have invested a hundred thousand in this country I 1 am re apon ahle for in law and order I 1 shall go with boll mi to protect you ion lie he said aid it ns as if standing stan tan bandin din dinK in the ci cn cin n ter of aroid ancestral neree as if an army arm of minions was ready to carry cirra out tits hi every wish and tits his heart was as bonet lio not in its poRe as it he be hart had commanded the obedience and li ervil ity paid to louis XIV in his lifetime I 1 tried to thank him for carrying my note to mademoiselle but he be would not permit declaring nay is ay not so the thanks ore are for tile to utter it rave me the rarest pleasure to speak peak with mademoiselle again I 1 am la it your debt the girl now shyly advanced and extended a hand to narbonne flaking flaying 1 1 I have the brave frenchman to think thank again the absurd fellow was waa all but kneeling as he reverently kissed the alm slim ilm hand his cap gathering fathering more grime crime from the forest mold and I 1 was popeyed to observe how calmly she accepted d his homage she retired to her log putting pulling us along after her by the exquisite charm of her manner it caused me grim amusement and some borne chagrin to realize she walled waited until narbonne was present before ing the height of her charm with a glance to make sure aure stir six fingers was waa not within hearing she confessed messieurs I 1 am much afraid of that man Nar narbonne tionne bowed and turned to leave us but I 1 seized his arm and detained him ile he roughly shook off my grasp and nd whispered did you not hear I 1 have endured the little beast but surely mademoiselle should not be annoyed she understood this byplay and wo was between us if you have respect for fo the women of france you will dismiss the girl now shyly advanced and extended a land hand to narbonne saying 1 I have the brave Franch miln to thank again such black thought 4 from your mind she khe of course I 1 feel no fear when you two are with me to me her fear of six fingers was incomprehensible lie he was raly a ne enle old spider of a anfin who could do ro no beyond burang hur ieng a knifa and guzzling brandy narbonne surrendered his purpose of seeking six sit fingers aid putting him to the sword and said the old thief goes with me to the land of thas where his pirates soul can revel over hills bills of gold ile he will not discommode mademoiselle we two will push on ahead I 1 feared for six sit fingers treacherous old tongue if he fell in with damoon it was wag not my plan to have him ahead of me spreading the news ewe of our coming our ways monsieur mona leur are the same for many leagues leni gues I 1 said eald it to Is my wish that you and your companion comp anlon travel in our company with a side olde glance I 1 directed the girl to |
