The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-10-25


aged to get upon the log where it sat
and picked and arranged its glossy
feathers until Dicky. at imminent risk
of falling into the water, crawled upon
the cypress and cuddled down by his
side.
An hour later, when ellison and the
trapper McCrory returned to the hill
they noticed at once the absence of the
skiff, and upon reaching the house
found Mrs. ellison in despair at the
unaccountable absence of little Dicky.
HE amt on the HILL" she sobbed,
'.Tve been everywhere, Oh, my baby
my baby-I jest know he's drowned
or bear has got him!'
''Taint bar" dissented McCrOry,
"ye can't fool OIL Track! Eff bar
he'd ben on the hill he'd toll it. No
the kids in the skiff. It's gone-tho'
how he ever made out tew paddle off,
blest if 1 know"
"The current would take him If he
got clear off the bank" eagerly sug-
gested ellison. as they hurried to the
landing. EFF he stuck ter the boat
he's all right"
''Yhar's his hat" announced the
trapper. pointing to the little straw
fabric caught in clump of bushes.
.Come, brace up, Miss ellison! faint
no sign the boys in the water jest
kase his hat is. Whars that Billy
duckp-don't know, ehp-well l dew.
He's with the boy, an that's a sure
sign that they're both all right. Ell
Dicky warn't thar, the duck would
come back. P"
There was sound logic in this rea-
soning, and both his hearers knew it.
McCrory and ellison sSrang into boat
end pulled out from the landing.
''Let her float with the current, "
said the trapper, Its slow way. but
the only safe one. Let that paddle
alone, Gibson; yer excited like, an
might guide her wrong. Eff 1 strike a
straight shute whar I kin gain time
I'll sure gain it"
1t was the only course to pursue.
Every thing depended on following ex-
actly on the trail of the missing boat
To miss it either way meant death to
tn poor lost baby-death by starva-
ton or drowning.
Suddenly McCrory leaned forward
and caught Gilson's arm.
mot word! Silence; l see him, but
if you want ter save his life be quiet.
Look yander ter Their left"
A floating cypress, with boat tan
gled in the vines beside it. A Sleep
ing child crouched upon the rough
bark. his shoulders resting against a
supporting branch. In his arms.
Rugged up to his breast, little white
duck, that watched the intruders with
bright and curious eyes; and over head,
something
ellison paed and gasped for breath.
"My Cod" he breathed hoarsely, ''is
the child dead or sleeping?"
''Sleepin' as yet''-gritted the trap
per-"but eff he wakes, an moves, it is
DEATH"
1t was a terrible sight-the sleeping
unconscious child, and coiled on a
branch foot above his head, Shiny
hideous serpent-a monster swamp
mOccasin.
your rifle" whispered ellison,
surely you can kill the snake without
the boy. I'd try it-but-my God! I'm
shaking like leaf"
''It's an awful risk" murmured the
other. mot of hittin' Their kid-thar's
no danger of that-but eff Their snake
amt hit in the head he'll sink tooth
in the lad jest fer spite"
''It's the only way" persisted the
anxious father, you must shoot, and
at once. Heavens! if the boy should
mover
"lt's mighty nigh like bein' my own
kid" murmured McCrory, and his
hand was seen to tremble visibly as he
drew back the hammer of the rife.
'Pardner, / KANT dew it"
Course it. you must; don't fail me
now Ed. McCrory! Your hand is steady
enough when no one is concerned but
yourself. Didn't 1 see you shoot a
pistol out of Jack Sny's hand when
your life depended on itp'
''But was mad then, and when I'm
mad kin shoot ther best"
A strange CLEAN shone in Gibson's
eyes for moment.
''YOu are coward. Ed McCrorv.
A coward and horse-thief like your
father before you! Give me the gun
and l will shoot the boy through the
head! BY the gods, he shall not fall a
prey to that devil yonder; give me the
gun, and when it is all over / will
settle with you for going back on a
friend in trouble"
But the trapper showed him back.
and again the rifle was raised. and
this time not tremor agitated the
long barrel. Yet in the short space
that had elapsed affairs had assumed
more fearful shape.
The child had awakened, and caupht
sight OF his father. and was rising tc
his feet, and the hideous fangs above
were barred for the fatal stroke.
Would McCrory never fire? An in
stant's delay just now might mean the
difference between safety and death
Already it seemed too late, for the
boys head seemed to partially shield
that OF the serpent, an instant, ani
then
Boy and snake we're in the water to-
gether at the crack of the rifle. and
with horrible foar Of b;s - ~,