“My father rests here!” murmured Frank, as he knelt beside that mound.
For some minutes he remained there, tears starting from his eyes and trickling slowly down his cheeks.
“Poor father!” came softly from his lips. “You never knew what real peace and happiness meant. Yours was a wild, strange life, and it seems fitting that you should die as you did. But, oh, what would I not have given to have been at your side! Perhaps I could have comforted you. To-morrow I will bring flowers and place upon this mound. A stone shall be erected, and here, dear father, you will sleep your long, last sleep. At last you have found the peace and rest that was denied you in life. God knows what is best, and He doeth all things well.”
When he turned away he felt in no mood to return to the cabin at once, so he wandered down toward the shimmering lake, which seemed calling to him in the soft whispers of passing breezes. As he approached the lake, he passed beneath some wide-spreading trees, which gave a deep shadow.
Suddenly his attention was attracted by a moving object on the bosom of the lake. He paused and gazed, and the moonlight showed to him a canoe that seemed to be occupied by two persons. It was approaching the side of the lake on which Merry stood, and he could see the dripping paddle flash and shine in the moonlight.
Not a sound came from the canoe. There was no movement of either figure, save the swinging arms of the one in the stern, who plied the paddle.
Merriwell drew a little nearer to the shore, shielding himself carefully and waiting. When the canoe was close in, he decided that it must contain the old Indian, Joe Crowfoot, and the strange boy.
Barely had the craft touched the shore when out from places of concealment leaped two men and flung themselves on the Indian and the boy. One of the men clutched the boy, who fought like a tiger-cat.
The other ruffian gave his attention to the old Indian, who whipped out a knife and met his attack. The man fired a shot, but the Indian closed in swiftly, as if not touched, and this forced the assailant to drop his revolver and bring forth a knife.
Then a deadly and terrible battle took place there on the shore of Lake Sunshine. The knives were heard to strike and grate together as the foes met, hand to hand and face to face.