A HOIDEN'S CONQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10009, 21 December 1895, Page 3 (Supplement)

A HOIDEN'S CONQUEST.

BY MRS. (JBOItOIK SHELDON, Author of" Brownie's Triumph," " The Forsaken Jiri'lo,' etc. CHAPTER X\j.-(Continued.) AnnoT' tho same hour of Agnes Hazelfield's departure for the village, on that uidinorablo day of tho storm, a boat, containing four men, might havo been seen shooting across a beautiful lake, that was located somo two miles, "as tho crow flies," to the south of her cabin : although to follow tho trail leading to it, one would be obliged to walk more than twice that distance. They had with them guns and fishingtackle, while the huge hamper in the prow of tho little craft proclaimed that they wore out for a whole day's sport, and had taken tho precaution to make ample provision for tho inner man. The oarsmen finally ceased their labours as they nearod tho shore, and dropped anchor beneath tho shade of somo overhanging treos, alter which they cast in their lines. They mot with excollent success; fish after fish of various kinds was hauled in, until their basket was well ladon, ami two hours had pnsxod when they wero warned, both by their appetites, and tho sun, that it was past noon, and time to inspect tho contents of their hamper. After a short consultation, they agreed to land and lunch on shore; whereupon, the boat was shoved into a cove, and made fast, and they began preparations for their meal, They dressed some of their fish, built a fire, and laid thorn on somo clean boated rocks. In this way thoy woro cooked ; and when they were ready to be dished, no viand prepared by the most expert French chef was ever so toothsome, or appetising as thoso finny treasures prepared in this primitive manner, and eaten in that bracing mountain air; while who shall daro relate the amount consumed or hint of the delicious languor and somnolency that succeeded thoir masticatory operations ? Then, as they lounged about to smoke thoir postprandial cigars, thoy fell to chatting upon various matters that wero mutually interesting. Once, during a littlo lull in thoir conversation, Mr. floepor Wynans observed: " And so, Fielding, you are going to try to find the place ? Granite Lodge I think you called it." " Yes, that was one thing that induced mo to join you on this trip. I have lately been making some inquiries regarding its locality, ami I think ' I shall havo no difficulty in finding it now," respondod Robert), who, paler and graver than we havo ever seen him before, made one of the quartette referred to, and who wore now | reclining under the shade of as many , plumy, fragrant pines. " And you think tho place must bo somowhore in this vicinity?" pursued his friend. " Yes, I am sure we cannot be very far from ib. I was told to cross the lake to this point, then follow the trail loading northward for about six or eight miles," tho young man returned. " Then you havo navor seen this Lodgo in thowildorness,"Mr. Stafford remarked, with some surprise. " No ; I intondod to hunt ib up, long ago, to ascertain what its condition might be ; but you know I wonb abroad soon aftor 1 assumed tho control of Miss Wontworth's affairs, and so I know nothing about this portion of her proporty. I imagine it must bo falling to decay, however, for ib has never been occupied, to my knowledge, since tho death of Mrs. Went worth," Robert; oxplained. " That was a great many years ago," Mr. Wynans obsorved, reflectively; " and nob having boen looked after, I should hardly suppose ib could be worth very much today." "Ib was a woil-built house, I have been told," Mr. Fielding respondod. " It was made of stone laid in cemonb, and as Mr. Wontworth was a man who did everything thoroughly, I imagine it must be an enduring structure. J think, boys," ho added, after u thoughtful pause, "I will leavo you to pursue your fishing or hunting as best pleases you—push my way ovor tho mountain since I ana so near, and have a , look at the placo." Oh, no; leave it until another day," Mr. Stafford urged. Robert smiled, " 1 am not superstitious," lie said, " but within the last fow moments I have boon impressed that I must go to day." " Then suppose we all go along with you,' Mr. Wynans suggested. . i

I " No, I could nob subject you to such a [ tramp, with your guns and fiebinpr tacklo ; then what would become of the boat and hamper?" the young man objected, "1 think I will go alone and as I Imvo been informed that tho Lodge is only about five or six miles from the village of I think I will take the stage from there and rejoin you at Loon Lake this evening, or to-morrow morning at the latest." Thus it was arranged, and Robert, taking his gun for his only companion, bado his friends good afternoon, and plunged at once itito tho trail to search for Granite Lodge. CHAPTER XLI. AN rroKXPKornD meeting. If Robert Fielding had followed the right trail, ho would, eventually, have- come out very near the Lodge, and some of .tho incidents to bo related in this chapter would never have occurred. But after pursuing his way for a few miles, ho came to a fork, where another trail led off to tho left of tho one which he had hitherto been following. He had not been told of this branching of the trail beyond a certain point, consequently he lost his bearings at once. He stopped in perplexity, for ho had no's the slightest idea winch way he ought to go. "If I turn to tho left, I should say it would take me toward the lake again," ho mused. " I believe I will risk it, and keep to the right, and if I come out wrong I can try tho other at some future time. I am almost sorry I did not leb ono of tho boys come with mo, for it is rather lonely tramping through this wilderness by myself," ho added, regretfully. But it was ton late to laraonb ovor bis mistake, if such it was ; and so, turning to tho right, ho moved on at a swinging pi\co, and the woods being so donso, was not awaro of the ominous cloud that) was rapidly rising in the west, until tho sun was suddenly obscured and the distant rumbling of thunder fell upon his ours, warning him that he had better be looking for a shelter, if ho wished to escape a drenching. " I hope I am not going to bo caught in a shower in tho midst of this forest," ho muttered, uneasily, and looking back with an anxious eyo to find cohorts of clouds speeding rapidly upward as if in eager pursuit of him. He pushed forward with all possiblo speed, hoping that ho might come out into soaio clearing before tho storm should overtake him ; but as far as ho could seo there was only the dense, unbroken wilderness before him.

A sharp flash of lightning, followed by a startling clap of thunder, admonished him that the storm would soon bo upon him. Another and another followed in quick succession, and soon great drops began to patter among the foliage above him. " I do not believe that I can bo very far from the Lodge unless I havo taken the wrong trail," ho mused. "It seems as if I must have travelled fully six miles already ; but I must find some placo of refuge without dolay, or run tho risk of being struck by lightning." lancing aboub him, ho espied, nob far away, a rugged spur of a mountain, with huge boulders projecting from its side. " I think 1 can find shelter beneath those rocks, and 1 should feel far safer there than under these trees," ho remarked. There was no time to bo lost, for tho shower was advancing rapidly. He accordingly moved forward, with all possible speed, and suceoeded in reaching the boulders just as tho hoavens opened and tho torrents fell.

He crept around the group, hoping thus to shield himself from the gale of wind that was blowing, where ho found an overhanging rock that would effectually protect him from tho storm.

He regarded himself as extremely fortunato and, standing his gun where it would bo most securely shielded from dampnoss, ho sat down to rest, and watch, from his vantago ground, the sublime conflicts of the elements.

It was a grand sight, and ho gazed upon the storm with mingled awe and admiration, when, after .1 momentary lull, there came a blinding (lash of lightning that soemed to sweop the whole heavens; then a clap of thunder which i-hook tho mountains to thoir very foundations, as if all nature's artillery had been set in motion at one signal. A dead silenco ensued for a moment—a silence that was even moro appalling, from contrast, than the previous crash had been, for it seemed as if tho storm had only paused to gather breath and strength for a more furious onslaught; then tho rain and hail descended with intense fury, while the mighty wind swept ruthlessly through the forest, rudely prostrating strong trees to the earth, tearing great branches from others, and carrying destruction all along its course. Hut the worst was over; tho backbone of tho storm had been broken with that terrific burst of thunder; the lightning grew less vivid, the rain and hail gradually ceased; the clouds began to break and disperse, and tho sun finally came out as bright and choerful as if its glory had never been obscured. Robert dreaded tho dronching, which ho knew ho would get from the dripping trees, but there was no help for it, unless ho remained where ho was all night.

He did not for a moment entertain such a thought, and being anxious to get out upon pomo beaten track beforo daylight should fade, lie at oncu resumed his tramp.

But he could not find the trail again !

Ho had lost his bearings, and whichever way he turned he only seemed to get more and more confused.

Finally, becoming desperate, ho resolved to go higher up tho mountain, and tried to get tho " lay of the land." Accordingly, he clarabored up over rocks and through underbrush, scratching and bruising himself non a little, until he attainod a considerable altitude, when to his intense roliof, ho espied just below him an oponing in tho forest, while a faint lino of smoke curled gracefully upward from tho spot, although he could discern no building. Keeping his eyo steadily fixed upon this point, ho made a " bee-lino" for it, unmindful of the many obstacles in his path. By-and-by, as ho drew nearer, he could distinguish a chimney ; then tho roof of a dwelling appeared in sight, to his great delight, for ho was foot-sore and weary, hungry and thirsty, Pushing rapidly on with renewed vigour, ho presently came into full view of Agnes Hazolfield's log-houso, when a hoarse, startled cry burst from his lips, for, lying prostrate across a yawning chasm, he saw a huge maple, that had evidently been overturned during the storm, and standing upon its massive trunk, and among its heavy foliago, directly over that) black and gaping gulf, was—Harrie ! Tho girl's face was as white as chalk ; her great dark eyes wore rilled with a namoless horror, and tor the moment, it seemed to tho astonishod man fuzing at her, as if tho figure was but the apparition of his lost darling, risen from tho bowels of the earth to confront him, But this illusion was dispelled almost as quickly as it had come, for Harrio, espying him, although not recognising him in his Blouch hat and rough dress, threw out her hands in a wildly appealing gesture. " Oh, sir, will you not come and help me!" Bho criod, in thrilling tones of entreaty. " Tho house has boon struck by lightning, and—" "Harriel Oh, my darling! Have I really found you at last?" joyously interposed tho young man, his heart leaping into his throat at tho sound of her dear voice " Bo careful, love," ho added, in a tono of earnest solicitude, as, overcome by the sound of his familiar tones, she prow dizzy, and seomed about to fall. "Stand firmly, just where you are, and I will bo with you in a moment." " Oh, Robert! Robert! Robert!" gasped Harrie, with a sob between each repetition of his name, while she clutched eagerly at the branches of the fallen tree, for her strength seemed on the poinb of deserting her, now that such valiant and reliable assistance was near, and she knew that her troubles and dangers wore over. With three bounds Robert was beside her, and his strong arms oncircled her, and, in another moment, he had bomo her over that gaping chasm to a lace of safety, whore, unmindful of- everything savo tho fact of her presence, lie hold bor close to his heart and rained passionate kisses upon her pale face. " My love! my love ! how is it that I find you here in this wilderness, and in such a sorry plight?" he questioned, tenderly, as tho young girl, beginning to recover a little from the excitement of this unexpected meeting, gently tried to release herself from his embrace. " No, no, dear," ho whisperod, enfolding her even more closely ; " now that I have found you, pray lot me have tho satisfaction

of realising that you are tangible, else I shall fear that you will again vanish from my sight as suddonly as you appeared before me." "But I am afraid, Robert," she said, nervously, and looking apprehensively about) her. " I will tell you all about how I carao hero, only you must take me away from this place first. Do you know tho way to thonearest village 1" " No; but I imagine that yonder land leads out upon tho highway, and, onco there, it will bo comparatively easy to reach some settlement," ho replied, but regarding her withaomo concern, for sho was shaking like a leaf. " come quickly," pleaded tho excited girl, eagerly; " tho cook told mo, when she brought me my dinner, that Agnes Hnzelfield had gone to town for provisions j 80 we must hurry away before sho returns." "Agnes Hazelfield?" returned Robert, astonished boyond measure. " Yes: for the second time I have been her captive—for nine long, weary days sha has kept me in an underground cave—but —oh ! Robertlook—look there I" She paused abruptly in hor explanations, and now, with a shudder of horror, and wild, dilated eyes, pointed toward tho tent before which sho had espied tho prostrato and motionless form of Wacomet. "Ah we must s-ee what that means!" Robert gravely remarked, but knowing in« tuitively why the man was there. He went to his side and bent down to examine him. " It is an Indian," he said, " ho has been killed by the lightning." Ho turned as he .'poke, and lod his companion quickly away so that sho might) not soo the disfigured face of the dead man. " His name was U'acomet—ho was one ol Agnes HaMlfield's servants," Harrio explained, as sho clung to her companion's arm. " Oh, I wonder if the cook was also injured during the storm I" sho added, turning her gaze toward tho house. " Let us go inside and seo," Robert proposed, as he lod her thither. \ (To be continued.