The Washington herald., 1911-11-16
CHAPTER xxXIV-Continued.


Darlington cast a hurried glance in
the direction of these sounds. There
between the boat and the shore the dim
outline Of a raft was taking shape. 1t
was now canopied by a wealth of pale
gray smoke that faded from before his
eyes as the darkness lifted. Turning,
he saw Slosson and his men clearly.
Surprise and CONSERVATION was de-
picted on each face.
The light increased. From the fat
stone hearth of the raft assembled a tall
column of flame which. rendered visible
six pigmy figures, tow-headed and
wonderfully vocal, who were toiling
like mad at the huge sweeps. The light
showed more than this. 1t showed
lady of plump and pleasing presence
smoking a cob pipe while she fed the
fire from a tick stuffed with straw. 1t
showed two bark shanties, line be-
tween them decorated with the never
ending Cavendish wash. 1t showed
rooster perched on the ridge-pole of
one Of these shanties in the very act OF
Growing Justify.
Hannibal, who had climbed to the roof
Of the cabin, shrieked for help, and Betty
added her voice to his.
"All right, nevvy," came the cheerful
reply, as Yancy threw himself over the
side Of the boat and grappled with Slos-
son.
Uncle Bob! Uncle Bob cried Han
nibaL
SIosson uttered a cry of terror. He had
q simple but sincere faith in the super
natural, and even with the Scratch Hill
ler's big hands gripping his throat he
could not rid himself of the belief that
this was the ghost of murdered man.
you'll take a dogs licking from me,
neighbor," said Yancy, grimly. II been
saving it TO you"
Meanwhile, Mr.. Cavendish, whose proud
spirit never greatly inclined him to the
practice of peace, had prepared for bat
tie. lSpringing aloft, he knocked his heels
together.
''Whoop. I'm a man as can slide down
a thorny locust and never get scratched"
he shouted. This was equivalent to set
ting his triggers. Then he launched HIM
self nimbly and with enthusiasm into the
thick of the fight. 1t was Mr.. Bunker's
unfortunate privilege to sustain the
Onslaught of the Earl of Lambeth.
The light from the Cavendish hearth
continued to brighten the scene, for Polly
was recklessly sacrificing her best straw
tick. Indeed, her behavior was in every
way worthy of the noble alliance she had
formed. Her cob pipe was not suffered
10 go out, and with Comics help she
kept the six small Cavendishes from risk
ing life and limb in the keel boat, toward
which they were powerfully drawn. De-
spite these activities, she found time to
call to Betty and Hannibal on the cabin
roof.
Jump down here; that amt no fittin'
place for you-aIl to stop in with them
gentlemen fightin'."
An instant later Betty and Hannibal
stood on the raft with the little Caven-
dish 1ocking about them. Mr.. Yam
Cy's quest of his newly had taken an. en-
during hold on their imagination. For
weeks it had constituted their one vital
topic. and the fight became merely
satisfying background for this interest
ing restoration.
''Sho' they'd got him! Sho'-he want
no bigger than Richs I'd! Sho'!"
OH cried Betty. with 4 fearful
glance toward the keel boat Can't you
stop them?'
What fog" asked Polly. op, ming her
black eyes very wide. BLESS yo tender
heart!-you don't pesd to worry none,
We got them strange gentlemen licked
like they was a passel of children! Con-
ME. you-all mind that fire.
She accurately judged the outcome of
the fight. The boat was little better than
a shambles with the havoc that had
been wrought there when Yancy and
Darlington dropped over its side to the
raft Cavendish followed them, whoop-
ing his triumph as he came.