Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-03-13

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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 if 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 foaming
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 reached
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 Baggett; but by some
means or other they had escaped their
doom. All three appeared to be ex-
hausted and suffering, either from illness
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 darlingp
said Phil, as Irene touched the shore.
"Ohl thank Heaven that you are not
deadr' cried Irene, leaping to his side
and taking his brown out-stretched
hand in her own soft. but hardly less
sun-burned one.
'sDeadl 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 a safe
distance, Irene"
II would sink it before it should be
the means of your capture Let US go
at once.n
The two friends and companions of
Lieutenant Barker lifted him gently
from the ground and placed him on the
boat. There was nothing else to go, for
they had neither horses nor baggage of
any kind.
Irene quickly spun 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, and none of them saw
the shadowy form that lay watching
them behind pile Of stranded drift
wood.
They proceeded at once up to the
ferry house and entered. Irene lighted
candles, made pallets for the weary sol
diers to rest on, and then she went about
preparing refreshments.
''Thank God l have him safe,n she
murmured, 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 con-
dition, caused by long journey through
a wild country, quite incapacitated them
from proceeding 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
fordable condition at any place, their
enemies might yet get them in hand.
But at present they were too much ex-
hausted to think Of anything, save that
they were safely lodged in Mr.. Crooks
cottage, and that the mad river rolled
defantly between themselves and their
enemies.
Irene prepared savory meal, with
great pot of steaming coffee, and the
three wanderers ate voraciously. Then
they wrapt their blankets around them
and were soon buried in sleep.
Neither Mr.. Crook nor Ned Baggett
returned to the cottage, but this did not
cause Irene any uneasiness, for her father
frequently 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 it
happened.
Irene went to her own little room,
which was at the end of the cottage
facing the river, and prepared to retire.
Just outside her window were several
great spiles, driven into the ground, to
which was fastened the heavy hawser or
guide rope of the ferry, and these were
now creaking and squeaking as they
ground together by the strain of the
rope. Irene wondered why they did SO.
She thought it was probably done by the
wind swaying the long guide-rope. She
looked out of the window in the direc-
ton of the river, but it was so dark that
she could see nothing.
She went to bed and tossed to and fro
on her pillow, but could not sleep. The
moon arose, and, as the clouds parted in
the east, it shed bright silvery light
over the river shores and along the foam
ing waves Of the Sabine.
Irene, who had fallen into kind of