G20 THE WEST SHORE.
withaonaDimou8.oicc,after"OMSyc" dormant In the evenbg Ella entered
had finished his narrative, the old moun- her room, and some tune after dark, as
taineers were in favor of starting on the she had not appeared in the dining room,
rand expedition early the next morn- her mother entered the chamber, but
ing. The roll wa again spread upon Ella was apparently sleeping, and she
the table, and was considerably increased, thought it best not to disturb her. Next
To add his mite in the campaign, the morning she did not appear at the usual
Rev. Dixon walked slowly up, took the time, and Mrs. Dixon again went to the
pen in his hand and was ready to sign, room to wake her, but soon discovered
when " Old Syc " said- that she had been deceived by an effigy.
"Don't sot her down, parson; you Search was made on the premises, but
stay homo and pray for poor Billy, and no trace could be found of her. The
us old toughs '11 gather in the scalps." neighbors were then notified of her ab-
The He?. Dixon returned home with a sence, and a general search was insti
better opinion of "Old Syc" than he tuted. Men, women, and even children,
had ever entertained before, although it were hurrying over hillside and along
was a pity ho drank. Preparations for the river bank, but not a clue as to her
tho expedition were completed early the mysterious absence could be found. Rev.
next morning. Diion now longed for " Old Syc" He
had already formed enough confidence
About 0:00 o'clock the volunteers were in the old wood-chopper's acuteness and
ready to start, and in the absence of a energy, to believe that with his assist
buglcr, "Old Syc" waved his hat and ance, it might be possible to recover at
gave the command to march, and the least her form, cold though it might be,
men were greeted with three hearty in death. Thus days passed, and all
cheers from the people of Atlanta, which hopes of again seeing Ella alive, had
waa responded to by a war-whoop, as the vanished. Earnest prayers had not been
horses started off on a gallop. "Old answered, and the continued search
Syc " yelled out at the top of his voice: proved fruitless.
" Every one of us fellers what don't
get a scalp to pay for Billy in the first Just after sunset on the evening of
fight, will never say ' here ' to another the first day's march, a halt was called
rU clL" on the divide between the Salmon and
Rev. Dixon eyed him curiously, and Boise rivers, where the previous entrage
thoughtfully returned to the parsonage, ment had taken place, and search was
Ho wan meditating on human character, instituted for the remains, or any traces,
and wondered how so worthless a drunk- of Billy. The grave faces of the old
ard as " Old Syc " could express such mountaineers told too plainly that no
bravo and religious sentiments. Having success had attended them. Captain
never awaociated with that class of men, Wright gave orde that the horses be
and consequently not knowing how easy staked out and camp made for the night
it is for humanity to wander from the On tho following morning camp was
path of righteousness, he could not be struck at the first dawn of day, and the
exited to understand it During the expedition was on its way down the Sal
day, ho walked with Ella along the river mon, moving with great caution. The
bank to console her, but not a word was heavy storms of the past few days had
Token of Billy. That would only bring obliterated all traces of the direction
back t collections that ho wished to lie taken by the savages, and the men again