The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-18
right, 1seg, ana all right. reserve by J. n Harris

der the boats keel John Shii altered his course to the north and the little craft moved crabwise across the os- tuary. sagging southward with tht strong sweep of the tide, and making so much leeway that she went two feel sideways to every one that she forg- ed ahead.
 iy, however. and he just fetched the mouth of a smaller creek which join- ed the main estuary on the other side Then he dropped pony anchor. so as to lose no ground, for the tide was siuicing past him like q mill race When he had done this he stepped for'ard and touched Laura gently on the shoulder. The time had come to row against the wind and tide and he could not do 1t while she lay full length of the boat
 She did not stir. though the noise of the sail Tapping In the wind might have aroused Rip Van Wrinkle himself from sleep. John Shii lowered the f1ut- tering canvas and slowed it away by her side Then he unstspped the mast and laid 1t on top of the sail. Then he looked down at Laura, who still slum- bered peacefully.
 As he looked. he could no longer re- strain the passion that was in his heart. He knelt down by her side and kissed her gently on the lips. And then Laura Tankerlane awoke.
 He rose sharply Q his feet and bus jed himself with a rope.
 I'm afraid must disturb you now" he said. T have to row now and l can't do 1t unless you move"
 She sat up and pressed her hands to her eyes, Her checks were crimson and her heart beat like hammer.
 T have been dreaming" she said faintly. She knew well enough that 1t had been no dream and she did not wish her lover to think that she knew.
 'It win take us. an hour ' to get there" he said. but you can see the house from here.'
 Laura rose to her feet. and. lookin 2 up the narrow creek, saw a low, black building, just showing its first floor windows above high bank.
 Tt looks very close here.n she said. Couldn't we land here and walk along the bankp'
 Impossible" he replied: I am not an Essex man. but I have lived here long enough to know that much. There are half a dozen little creeks to be crossed before you get there and 1t Is impossible to>seross even the first of them. No, I must pull you up. The exercise will do me good. Wili you please sit in the stern?"
 When she had obeyed his instruc- tions he got the anchor on beard. and, moving quickly to the thwart, shipped the sculls. But quick though he had been, the boat had slipped dozen yards down the stream before the blades of his oars gripped the water Then he set to work in grim earnest. and exerted all his great strength to force the punt through the sluicing tide.
 In less than an hour he reached a small 'hard'--a firm path of shingle running out from the bank through the soft deep mud on either side. As the bow of the punt grated on the sprang to his feet with the hair ruff ling on his back.
 A second later a black collie sprang lover the edge of the bank, and showed his white teeth. Then the bulky figure of a man appeared, and as he saw John Shil, he touched his hat, gave the dog a kick. and hurried down the narrow causeway.
 "You are early, s'morin', sir" he said, as he laid hold of the boat and pulled it farther up the hard" His brown, weather-b beaten face betrayed no sur prise at Laura's presence. He helped her out of the punt, as though he had been expecting her arrival.
 Walk straight up." said John Shil to Laura; "Ill be with you in min ute"
 She took the hint. and strolling up the path, climbed to the top of the bank and surveyed the dreary stretch of marshland around her. From that point of vantage she could see that she was on large island. Eight feet be- low her there was small black house, built of tarred wood. A woman stood at the doorway scattering grain to a crowd of hungry fowls. The collie sat a few yards from her and snarled at Pat, who regarded him with well-bred contempt.
 In less than a minute John Shil and the man. who appeared to be half sailor and half-farmer, came up to her, and the man touched his hat.
 Mrs. Dowsett will be glad to put you