Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-09

Hoods got on before us, you know,
he explained eagerly. Captain Ser
combe and got away safely and reach
ed this ferry twenty minutes before
you, but the boat had gone.
You mean Hoods boat" | asked.
CHATS It," Sercombe broke In. i
reclsoned we might nab Hood In the
act, but we came too late by ten MN
utes | recognized the place from MS
description For the matter OF that'
it's easy to find, but there was no boat.
That meant we must carry the eXpedl-
ton a stage farther ere we could crop
OH him. Presently Montgomery ana l
happened upon this tub a bit lower
down. She's no great shakes, but she'll
do to come up with him.
"And when we do?" said Sheppard.
''1 don't want to put too fine point
ON it sir" said Sercom oe. "but IT
men,s- cutting out, and il we are not
prepared for cutting out, why, we had
best turn the nose of the boat upstream
again
There was silence after this, but
Sheppard and Montgomery applied
their oars, If anything, trife more
smartly.
We're not going to turn back now,
if that's your meaning, captain, y l said.
I'VE only want to understand where
we are and what we have to expect
Il think, Mr. Greatorex, that you
may expect treasure" said Sercombe,
with a laugh. Hoods got load
aboard, and he's no thought Of being
followed. What he's after don't quite
know, for he never got to the end OF his
explanations, owing to that Greek nf-
fair, but he's going down the river,
that's certain, and he'll paddle none too
quick, having cargo. On the other
hand, he does not want daylight on
him. He'll make where he's bound for
by night and under the stars. Now, I
dare say, you gentlemen know these
parts better than l. What point do
you put on it?''
"Give him six hours" l suggested,
land that will fetch us into the early
morning. Montgomery, how far do you
reckon boat would get by 3 in the
morning?"
Montgomery paused on his oar and
considered.
at ought to get near Portag1'ee," said
he at last. I
And where may that be?' asked
Sercombe.
I'm the mouth of the Severn-in tho
estuary
"Ah!' said Sercombe thoughtfully.
"Now, | wonder what will happen
then. And should like to know what
my friend Hood has got in his head
The sky was heavy with low belly
ing clouds, and scarce q breath of air
stirred. We raced between the banks
as it were through wild moorand,
and some scattered voices Of the dark
reached us. A little after there was q
jar and a shock that sent US all sprawl
ing in the bottom Of the tub.
Sercombe, who was in the bows, pus
out his arms.
Its BOOM" he said. This is u
piece of private water"
1--WE shall have to carry the boat
round" said Sheppard.
did Hood, do you suppose?" l
asked.
NO; think not" said Sercombe.
"I'd like to see the party that would
carry that cargo Yes; you're right.
Where Hoods been we can CO."
eff he has been," said Sheppard.
Sercombe made no answer, but pull
ed the boat along the boom.
Its wood" he said, land I make
no doubt but it's old and tired. Any
how l think Hoods dingey went
through this. can find no break,
though"
LET us put pace on the tub and
try" l suggested.
sercombe whistled slowly. ''She's
not much of tub, admit" he said
obviously, "but it's all We've got"
"You are afraid of her splitting upY'
That's so, but, anyhow, let's risk it.
Drive, boys, when l give the word"
We backed out and pulled up the
stream, and l set her nose full on.
"Noww said Sercombe, and the oars
struck the water together. With a
signing, grooming noise the tub dipped
her snout into the water, and it hum
med about her sides.
':Now!' shouted Sercombe again. I
leaned forward to the stroke and in
the next second the blow came. She
struck and staggered, recoiling and
shivering in every beam. But Ser
combe, in the bows, who had been al
most precipitated into the stream,
cried out in triumph:
"She's through; the boom's given
somewhere"
That was true, as we found out i'm
mediately, for the current bore the
dingey down once more upon the log,
and with rasping noise and jerking
movement she slipped over.
Its lucky that the wood was rot
ten," said Sercombe. Il don't believe
our tub would have stood another
ounce"
81 think we must thank Hood, too"
I remarked.
ooh, We'll thank him when we meet
him." said Sercombe cheerfully, "and
the sooner we pay our devoirs the bet
ter. So let's buckle to-
In spite of our objections Sercombe
insisted upon taking hand with me
at the sculls. He protested himself
quite well, said he had often suffered