The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-07-25

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whit. But by the time we reached Lock
Haven their surliness had worn off, and
they began to treat us in spirit of
good-comradeship Mel and l found
life on board the raft almost as pleas
ant as we had pictured it. BY day
there was always something to be seen,
and occasionally we were allowed to
take a turn at the sweeps. In theeven-
ing, we sat around the cabin stove,
listening to tales of adventure mar
rated by our companions. We were
always hungry for Grubb's palatable
and well-cooked meals.
Owing to the windings of the river,
the current was none too swift, and
forty miles was fair days run. Early
on the morning of the third day we
passed Williamsport, and that evening
we tied up few miles below Lewis
burg. Spitfire had been snarling and
yowling all day. and he screeched with
fury when we dropped his supper
through the trap-door; and his eyes
shone like huge yellow diamonds In
the morning he was even worse tenn
pered, and we were almost afraid to 90
near the cage
About nine o'clock the raft passed the
mouth of the North Branch at Norths
cumberland, and we were on the main
river A little later we ran the shute
of the big dam below Sunbury. The
river had fallen somewhat, and to navi-
gate safely required constant care and
watchfulness.
We made better speed than usual that
day. By eight o'clock in the evening
we were at Clark's Ferry, forty miles
below Sunbury. The raft was moored
not far above the big dam Mel and
hurried into the village We found
butcher shop open and purchased half
dozen pounds of raw meat
Spitfire welcomed our return with a
curling screech, and yowled like
an angry cat all the time he was eating.
The cutlery brought a crowd of village
Boys to the raft, and they became so
annoying that Hackett was compelled
to drive them off. They shouted insult
ing names at us from shore, and threw
few stones When Hackett started
after them with club they fed into
the darkness.
non, and we thought no more of it.
About ten o'clock we hauled in the
plank, and went to bed. Nothing less
than gunshot had power to rouse the
men when once they were sound
asleep. During the night 1 was wax
ened by wailing cry from Spitfre;
but the sound ceased, and dozed off
again.
had forgotten the incident by morn
ing, but it was recalled to me when we
came to feed Spithre The balance of
the meat was missing. It had been
placed under a wooden bucket. near the
rear end of the raft
1t was impossible to buy more until
evening, for the raft was already
through the shute of the dam and glid-
ing rapidly down mid-channel.
Them young rascals must "a waded
on board last nightp' exclaimed Hack
EFT. Il reckon they fed meat to the
varmint. / wish I'd got awake stead
O you, lad. 1t can't be helped now
though. The crittur must bide without
eatin' till evening"
AS the raft drifted on through the
perilous channel that extends for some
miles below Clark's Ferry dam, Spit
fire began to realize his neglect. He
yowled In sullen rage from time to
time, and paced restlessly up and down
his cage.
Presently Dauphin doomed into view
on the left shore, and a quarter of a
mile ahead were seen the ruined piers
of the old railroad bridge Hackett
ran forward to scan the channel, and
shouted back instructions to his COM
panions-
When Mel and I had finished our
task, we stepped around the corner of
the cabin, hoping for chance to assist
at the sweeps The raft was just glid-
ing between the second and third piers
of the bridge, with little room to spare
on either side.
Flows that for steering, lads2" cried
Grubb, exultantly.
The sound seemed to anger Spithre,
for rasping screech came from the
cage.
'Shut up. you bruter shouted Fos-
dyke, tossing chunk of wood against
the door.
mere was another screech followed
by a dull thump, and before our horri-
fed eyes the hinges parted easily from
their hold on the side of the cage The
next instant the great, tawny brute
was crouching before the open door
screaming with fury. He launched
his long, 1.-THE body straight at Grubb,
but pumped down on the bare boards.
The raftsman escaped by the very skin
of his teeth. Urged to desperation by
his peril, he made tremendous leap
for the passing pier He fell short OF
the mark, but few strokes brought
him to the eddy at the side, and he soon
had hold of the masonry
AS Spitfre turned, with screech of
bafffed rage, to seek another victim,
Fosdyke ran out on one of the sweeps
and, dropping into the water, clasped
his arms about the blade. There he
chung, his frightened face bobbing up
and down with the yellow tide.
Spitfire hesitated to follow, and Mel
and took advantage of our chance to
bolt for the cabin Hacl1ett joined us
at the door, and we scrambled inside to-
gether Mel quickly drew the door
shut and turned the little button. We
peeped anxiously through the crevices
in the rear end. Grubb had climbed
out ON the front of the pier and was
looking blanlxly after the receding raft.
Fosdyke was still clinging to the oar
blade, in mortal dread that Spitfire
would crawl after him. There was
some likelihood of this, for the brute
crouched on the extreme edge of the
raft, humping the planks with his
long tail.
"Wa-al, this is purity fixp' snarled
Hackett. Here we are, cooped up in
the shanty, an just at the worst bit of
the channel, too. If we swing broad
side we're sure to go to pieces on the
rocks. How in thunder did the brute
git out?"
We gave an account of the affair, and
1t only increased the big fellow wrath.
'Tt's them tarnation boys" he
Qrcwled. "rll bet anything they
loosened the screws in the hinges.
wish had 'em here now. I'd tan their
hides we'll"
At this point Spitfire trotted toward
the cabin and made circuit of it three
or four times. shutting at the chinks
and screaming shrilly. We almost held
our breath. The brute was evidently
ravenous with hunger.
Presently he crept to the forward end
of the raft, but returned too quickly to
allow Fosdyke a chance to gain the
cabin. The luckless fellow had no al
formative but to remain where he was
He kept shouting at the top of his
voice to attract the attention Of people
on shore.
Meanwhile, tn raft, already turned
slightly zigzag, was speeding on
through the Dauphin river; on each
side could be seen the patches Of swirl
ING water that marked the location of