The banner-enterprise., 1884-04-10

attracted her attention. She peered across
the boiling maelstrom of water and per.
ceived three figures, one Of whom appeared
to be lying on the ground and the other two
were gesticulating wildly and waving hand
kerchiefs in the air, beckouing for the ferry
boat to be brought over.
Irene walked closer to the river bank and
endeavored by signs to tell them that the
river was impossible, but still the two men
continued their gestures of pleading to be
brought over. Another storm was brewing
| in the northwest, and Irene knew that on
the east side Of the river there was no house
nor shelter of any kind for many miles, and
her heart went in sympathy for the travellers
on the opposite shore. She determined to
brave the current and bring the ferry-boat
over it could possibly be done.
In few moments she was on board the
old scow, and giving the guide wheel few
turns, she was soon driven rapidly into the
center of the fosmlng river. The pulleys
creaked, the cordage was terribly strained,
and the great guide rope was like the string
on bent bow. The force of the current
was tremendous, but the brave Irene reach.
ed the shore in safety.
And imagine her astonishment when she
discovered that the three travellers were her
betrothed, whom she had been told was dead,
and two of her friends. They were in fact,
the very persons who had been taken and
condemned as spies, as stated by Ned Bag
gett; but by some means or other they had
escaped their doom. All three appeared to
be exhausted and suffering, either from ILL
ness Or fatigue, and Phil Barker was unable
to stand or walk, for he was suffering from
very bad wound in his side.
"God bless you, my brave darling!" said
Phil, as Irene touched the shore.
"Oh! thank Heaven that you are not dead!'
cried Irene, leaping to his side and taking
bis brown outstreched hand in her own soft,
but hardly less sun-burned one.
"Dead! No, but it has been a tight slip
and we are not yet safe, for they are close
behind US. But if we can once get across
the river we will be safe for time, at least,
for they cannot cross the stream without the
ferry, and that they mustn't have until we are
at safe distance, Irene"
II would sink it before it should be the
means of your capture Let us 60 at once"
The two friends and companions of Lieu
tenant Barker lifted him gently from the
ground and placed him on the boat. There
was nothing else to 60, for they had neither
horses nor baggage of any kind
Irene quickly snun the wheel around the
other way, and the old ferry boat started on
its homeward journey once more.
1t was very dark when they reached the
west shore, aad none of them saw the sha-
dowy form that lay watching them behind
pile Of stranded driftrwood.
They proceeded al once up to the ferry
house and entered. Irene lighted candles,
made pallets for the weary soldiers to rest on,
and then she went about preparing refresh
ments.
"Thank Godl have him safe," she MUIR
INJURED, as she went gaily about her work.
But her lover and his two faithful friends
were not quite out of danger. His wound and
their exhausted condition, caused by long
journey through wild country, quite inca
pactated them from pro, eeding onward for
at least day or two. If the river remained
up, they were safe, providing their pursuers
did not get hold of the ferry; but If the river
SHOULD suddenly fall to a fordable condition
at any place, their enemies might yet get
them in hand. But at present they were too
much exhausted to think Of anything, save
that they were safely lodged in Mr.. Crooks
cottage, and that the mad river rolled def
antly between themselves and their enemies.
Irene prepared savory meal, with great
pot of steaming coffe, and the three wander
ers ate voraciously. Then they wrapt their
blankets around them and were soon buried
in sleep
Neither Mr.. Crook nor Ned Baggett re-
turned to the cottage, but this did not cause
Irene any uneasiness, for her father fre-
quently remained in the woods (where he
was at the present time, engaged in securing
fueD for several days at time. AS for Ned,
he went and came just as 1t happened.
Irene went to her own little room, which
was at the end Of the cottage facing the river,