The Washington herald., 1911-11-15
CHAPTER XXyIV.
The Keel Boat.
BY VAUGHAN KESTEE


point opposite the clearing. He whis-
tied shriIly three times, and after an
interval Of waiting heard the splash of
oars and presently saw a skin steal out
of the gloom.
who's there?" 1t was Bess who
asked the question.
Darlington" he answered.
Lucky you amt met the other man."
she said, as she swept her skin along
side the bank.
Lucky for him, you mean. I'll take
the oars" added Darlington, as he en-
tered the skin.
Slowly the clearing lifted out of the
darkness, then the keel boat became
distinguishable; and Darlington checked
the skin by a backward stroke of the
oars.
Hello" he called.
There was no immediate answer to
his hail, and he called again as he sent
the skiff forward He felt that he was
risking all now.
What do you want?' asked a surly
voice.
You want SIosson" quickly prompt
ed the girl in a whisper.
Il want to see Slosson!" said Car
rington glibly and with confidence, and
Dnce more he checked the skin.
who be your"
'Murrell sent you" prompted the girl
again, in a hurried whisper.
'Murrell-" And in his astonish-
ment Darlington spoke aloud.
''Murrell?' cried the voice sharply.
- sent me-" said Darlington, quick
ly, as though completing an unfinished
sentence. The girl laughed nervously
under her breath.
Row closter!" came the sullen COM
Inand, and the Rentuckian did as he
was hidden. Four men stood in the bow
of the keel boat, q lantern was raised
aloft and by its light they looked him
over. There was a moments silence
broken by Darlington, who asked:
Which one of you is Slosson?" And
he sprang lightly aboard the keel boat.
I'm Slosson,' answered the man with
the lantern. The previous night Mr..
Slosson had been somewhat under the
enlivening and elevating influence OF
corn whisky, but now he was his own
cherries self, and rather jaded by the
passing of the hours which he had sacri-
feed to an irksome responsibility. What
word do you fetch from the captain,
hrother?' he demanded.
Miss Malroy is to be taken down
river responded Darlington.
SIosson swore with surprising fuency.
Say, we're five able-bodied men risk
ing our necks to oblige him! You can
get married a damn sight easier than
this if you go about it right-Ive done
II lots of times" Not understanding the
significance Of Siosson's allusion to his
own matrimonial career, Darlington held
his peace. The tavern keeper swore
again with unimpaired vigor. You'll find
mighty few men with more experience
than me-" he asserted. shaking his head.
But II you say the word"
I'm all for getting shut of this" an
swered Darlington promptly, with sweep
of his arm. II call these pretty close
quarters"
Still shaking his head and muttering.
the tavern keeper sprang ashore and
mounted the bank, where his slouching
figure quickly lost itself in the night
Darlington took up his station on the
fiat roof OF the cabin which filled the
stern of the boat. He was remembering
that day in the sandy Barony road-and
during all the weeks and months that
had interviewed, Murrell working in Sc
cret had moved steadily toward the full
fIlnent of his desires! Unquestionably
he had been back of the attack on Nor
ton, had inspired his subsequent murder,
and the mans sinister and mysterious
power had never been suspected. Car
rington knew that the horse thieves and
slave stealers were supposed to main
tain a loosely knit association; he won
II
spirit in some such organization.
IF Id only pushed my quarrel with
him." he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shutting step in
the distance. a word or two when he
spoke grufiy to some enc, and a mo-
ment later he saw Betty and the boy,
their forms darkly silhouetted against
the lighter sky as they moved along the
top Of the bank. Slosson, without any
~
captives down the slope and aboard the
keel boat, where he locked them in the
cabin, the door of which fastened with
a hasp and wooden peg.
You're boss now, pardner." he said
joining Darlington at the steering oar
Wen cast of, then" answered Car
rington.
his plans. II they could but quit the
bayou before the arrival of the man
whose place he had taken, the rest
would he, if not easy of accomplishment,
at least within the realm of the possible
Il reckon you're a riverman?" OBJ
served Slosson.
"AI my life
The line had been cast off, and the
crew with their setting poles were fore
ing the boat away from the bank. All
was quietly done; except for an Occa-
sional order from Darlington no word
was spoken, and soon the unwieldly craft
glided into the sluggish current and
gathered way Mr.. Slosson, who clearly
his relation to the adventure
as being of an official character, contin- !
ued to stand at Carrington's elbow.
What have We between here and the |
river?" inquired the latter. 1t was best, |
he felt, not to give Slosson an opportu- !
nifty 10 ask questions |
TT narrows considerably, pardner. but |
It's a straight course" said SIosson. |
BLACK in yonder. amt 1t - he added. |
nodding ahead.
The shores drew rapidly together; they |
were leaving the lakelixe expanse be- |
hind. In the silence, above the rustling
OF the trees, Darlington heard the first |
fret Of the river against it's bank. Slos- |
son yawned prodigiously
Il reckon you amt needing me?" he |
said.
Better go up in the bow and get some
Sleep" advised Darlington, and Slosson, |
nothing loath, clambered down from the |
roof of the cabin and stumbled forward. |
The ceaseless murmur Of the rushing
waters grew in the stiffness as the keel |
boat drew nearer. the hurrying yellow |
flood, and the beat Of the Kentuckian's |
pulse quickened. Would he find the raft |
there? He glanced back over the way
they had come. The dark ranks of the |
forest talled or the clearing, but across |