The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-07-10

lowed, and the man brought up tn,
rear.
After walk of about a quarter of Q
mile we reached the bank of the lake
Tied to tree by a rawhlde rope was 9
floating cabin. The foundation was 9
rough-nade scow, and the upper works
as they are termed, consisted Of long
narrow and stoutly made hut of logs,
There was a chimney of mud and sticks,
from which smoke issued, and two per.
sons we're on the bank to receive us.
One was boy of twelve or thirteen and
the other girl two or three years older
They looked more like wild animals
than human beings, and talked in a
language so strange that l could moi
understand word. 70,
"Go ahead" said the man, as /. halt.
ed on the bank; and followed the
woman aboard of the scow and into the
cabin. 1t was house In which there
was but one room, with the hides OF
cattle thrown over the wild Southern
moss for beds. There was no stove, but
sort of fire place made Of stones, with
two or three kettles on the hearth as
kitchen furniture.
All orr camp equipage had been re-
moved to the cabin and my Winchester
rife stood in the corner. As this was
q new fire arm, 1 did not believe they
knew how TO use 1t, but my revolvers
we're Colts old pattern, aud loaded with
powder aud used percussion caps.
"Sot thar" said the woman as she
pointed to a corner.
went over and sat down on the bed.
1t was not the corner where my rife
stood. but 1t was not more than ten feet
away. The woman then said something
to the children in their own mongrel
dialect, and both of them sat down fac
ing me, and only three or four feet
away. Then man and wife cast off the
rope, seized long poles, and presently
the boat moved slowly down the lake to
the north. The lake appeared to be
about three miles wide by five long,
and was shut in the dense forest.
The views I had through the open
door and the chinks between the logs
showed me that the craft was kept near
the shore. While the people seemed
in no hurry to get down the lake, they
kept the scow moving at fair pace
until we were about three miles from
the place where we had embarked. A
landing was then made in the mouth of
creek, and the scow was entirely hid
den from sight of any one on the lake.
Hunters and tourists, and even small
pleasure steamers come up from, the
main river as far as this lake.
1t was mid-afternoon when the boat
was made fast. The pain and swelling
had now entirely departed front my
hand and arm, and the helpless feeling
which had come over me when first cap.
tured had given way to determination
to help myself out of the scrape. If
could get hold OF my rifle, would be a
match for the whole four of them.
counted them as four, because the boy
and girl had hunting knives, and would
surely take part in any scrimmage
brought on. Their looks and actions
proved this. They maintained their
places directly in front of me, and THEN
eyes never left me for second. They
held their knives as if they expected an
attempt to escape, and meant to cut and
thrust if l tiled it.
While the boat was moving there was
no show for me. A score of alligators
some of monstrous size, followed us in
procession, and had but to look upon
the lake to realize that it was full OF
these fierce reptiles. One who jumped
or fell overheard would be seized as soon
as he struck the water.
Not word was addressed to me un.
til the boat was tied up. Then the man
came in, took a single-barrelled rife
from under the other bed, and after a
few hurried words with the woman out
side, jumped ashore and disappeared.
When he had gone the woman entered,
lighted pipe, sending the boy outside
to watch, she sat down in his place,
with the revolver on her lap. She had
face which betrayed the mind of q
beast.
"Well, what are you going to do with
me?" asked after awhile.
Feed you to the alligators," she re.
piled.
"Where has your husband gomez"
ITO kill the other two men,"
"What do you want to murder us forf
We have In no way injured YOU" -
"We was whipped and druv out OF
the settlements, and we want revenge -
she growled.
"But we had nothing 10 do with IT,
l protested in firm tone.
Cant help that. You came pOach-
ing on our claim" she answered.
''But Wen 60 away"
81 guess you won't. We never let
any get away to tell on U.S."
said nothing further, but by no
means looked upon myself as a dead
man. If worst came to worst would
give them a fight. could not move
then, with knife and bullet ready tor
me, and deemed 1t wiser to settle back
and bide my time.
The man had been gone about half
an hour when the faint report of a
rifle came to us through the trees,
The woman had been listening for it,
and as It came she gave start aud
cried out:
There goes one of 'em."
"Who?' / asked.
"One of your partners. Dan has