The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-29
the time spent in waiting for Toms re-
turn was employed in drying their

the time spent in waiting for Toms re-
turn was employed in drying their
clothes.
An hour passed away. The storm
grew more and more furious. The rain
poured down in torrents, and the great
tops of the pine trees bent and writhed
in the terrible gusts, which became
more and more frequent. The river,
always rapid and strong, was now q
fierce, turbulent stream, whose middle
current nothing could cross in safety.
At last Tom burst into the mill.
"It's of no use," he exclaimed.
"We've got to stay here or swim home.
l went clear to the main road, more
than FIVE miles from here, and found
that the horses have turned the wrong
way, instead of going home. If they
had gone straight back, the men would
have known that something had hap
pened and come for us; but there's no
chance for that now"
At this Harry and Jack begun to
cry, and even Mrs. Allen looked dis
mayed.
IS Staying here tonight is out of the
question" said Mr.. Allen. "We must
get home somehow. We haven't a
morsel to eat and every hour we stay
makes it worse. We're in for a long
storm and the road half the way from
here to the turnpike will be under water
within twelve hours"
"What shall we do, thenp" asked
Tom, who was holding his dripping
coat before the blaze.
Mr.. Allen shook his head.
"If it was fair weather should know
what to do quick enough; and I don't
know but we shall be obliged to come
to it any way"
| "Why, what do you mean, Father!"
inquired Mrs. Allen, anxiously.
He pointed to the river.
"I should take the shingle-raft lying
there by the landing. It IS staunch and
strong and just as safe as any boat that
ever foated ON the st. Johns River. "
| Mrs. Allen had all a woman's dread
of the water and her heart sank at once.
But the idea of being compelled to re-
main for two or three days in that DESC
late spot, without food or chance to
sleep, was more dreadful yet, and she
felt almost like urging her husband to
carry out the desperate idea he had an
noanced.
"We'ye got to decide upon something
very quick" continued the farmer.
ssIt'll be dark in an hour and then we
shall have no choice.''
He went to the window and looked
out for a moment at the river. Then he
came back to the stove.
"It storms fearfully; but then we're
pretty nigh as wet as we can be now.
believe we can keep in-shore without
much trouble, and at the rate the stream
is running now we should reach Wood.
stock in less than an hour. I've done
it in worse weather than this"
j "I shouldn't be afraid myself" said
Tom; "but then there's Mother and the
children to think Of"
i "I'm not afraid, Tom," said Mrs
Allen. "And even if I were, believe
it's the only thing we can do.''
!! "We'n try it, then,' said Mr.. Allen,
decidedly. "Come, Tom, we've nc
time to lose. See if there is rope
enough in the corner there for q coil te
throw ashore when we get to the land
i ing at Woodstock, and put the paddles
aboard. Let me take the baby, Moth
er. Now, boys, jump on. There.
room enough for q regiment. You'll
have to make up your minds to stand !.
good deal Of water the next hour. Pusl
her off"
The raft swung slowly round from it,
fastenings, and in another minute strucl
the shore current, which, though les
swift than that in the middle of the riv
er, was yet so strong as to make SAT,
: navigation difficult task. The rail-
came with such binding force that i
was almost impossible to see the shore
. and the increasing dusk threatened t.
; grow into total darkness be ore the en-,
Of their perilous journey was reached
. 1t was barely three quarters Of al
4 hour from the time they left their start
!, ing point when the raft touched th
: landing place at Woodstock, and Tom
rope in hand, jumped on shore, to thro,
q the loop over the post which had a
3 ways stood there.
To his dismay, the post was gone
and as the raft swept along he felt th
!. rope slip through his fingers, in spit
9 Of his endeavors to hold it. There Wa
7 another point, lower down, where th
. raft might strike, Il his father coul
keep it out Of the current by his singl
: arm. Beyond that the river made
Q sudden bend, and it the landing shoul
be missed there no power could kee
: them from going down the river.
VI He hurried to the nearest houses {
q the village and gave the alarm, an
/, then few down the street, which "a
q parallel with the river, to the low
% landing. He was just in time to see b
v father spring from the raft, holding Il