Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-19
CHAPTER XII
The Family on The Raft

and-Fever Cavendish, Of Lincoln
County, in the state of Tennessee,
some months previously and after
Unprecedented mental effort on his
part, decided that Lincoln County was
no place for him. When he had
established this idea firmly in his own
mind and in the mind Of Polly, his
wife, he set about solving the problem
of transportation.
Mr.. Cavendish's paternal grand
parent had drifted down the Holston
and Tennessee; and Mr.. Cavendish's
father, in his sons youth, had poled up
the Elk. Mr.. Cavendish now determined
to float down the Elk to its juncture
with the Tennessee, down the Tennessee
to the Ohio, and IL need be. down the
Ohio to the Mississippi, and keep drift
ing until he found some spot exactly
suited to his taste. Temperamentally,
he was we'll adapted to drifting. No
conception of vicarious activity could
have been more congenial.
With this end in view he had toiled
through late winter and early spring,
building himself a raft on which to
transport his few belongings and his
numerous family; there were six little
Cavendishes, and they ranged in years
from four to eleven; there was In ad-
dition the baby, who was always
enumerated separately. This particular
infant Mr.. Cavendish said he wouldn't
take a million dollars for. He usually
added feelingly that he wouldn't give
piece Of chalk for another one.
June found him aboard his raft
with all his earthly possessions be-
slowed about him, awaiting the rains
and freshets that were to watt him
effortless into a newer country where
he should have white mans chance.
At last the rain came, and he cast off
from the bank at that unsalubrious
spot where his father had elected to
build his cabin on strip OF level
bottom subject to periodic inundation.
Wishing fully to profit by the floods
and reach the big waters without delay,
Cavendish ran the raft twenty -four
hours at stretch, sleeping by day while
Polly managed the great sweep, only
calling him when some dangerous Dit
of the river was to be navigated. Thus
1t happened that as Murrell and
Slosson were dragging Yancy down
the lane, Cavendish was just rounding
bend in the Elk. a quarter OF a mile
distant. Leaning loosely against the long
handle Of his sweep, he was watching
the lane of bright water that ran be-
tween the black shadows cast by the
trees of either bank. He was in shirt
and trousers, barefoot and bare
headed, and his face, mild and con-
templative, wore an expression OF
dreamy contentment
Suddenly it's expression changed.
He became alert and watchful. He had
heard a dull splash. Thinking that
some tree had been swept into the
flood, he sought to pierce the darkness
that lay along the shore. Five or six
minutes passed as the raft glided
along without sound. He was about to
RELAPSE into his former attitude of list
less ease when he caught sight Of some
object in the eddy that swept along
side. Mr. Cavendish promptly detached
himself from the handle Of the sweep
and ran to the edge Of the raft.
Good Lord-whats that" he gasped,
but he already knew 1t was a face,
livid and blood Dropping on
his knees he reached out pair Of long
arms and made a dexterous grab, and
his fingers closed on the collar OF
Yancy's shirt. "Neighbor, l certainly
have got you!" said Cavendish, be-
tween his teeth. He drew Yancy close
alongside the raft, and. slipping
hand under each arm, pulled him
clear of the water. The swift current
swept the raft on down the stream.
1t rode fairly in the center Of the lane
of light, but no eye had observed it's
passing Mr.. Cavendish stood erect
and stared down at the blood-stained
face, then he dropped on his knees
again and began hurried ex-
animation of the still figure. There's
little life here-not much, but some
you was we'll worth fishing up!" he
said approvingly, after brief interval.
POLLY" he called, raising his voice.
This brought Mrs. Cavendish from
one Of the two cabins that occupied
the center of the raft. She was young
woman, still very comely, though of
matronly plumpness. She was in her
Inightgown, and when she caught sight
of Yancy she uttered shrek and fled
back into the shanty.
Il declare, Dick, you might ha' told
body you want alone!" she said
reproachfully.
Her cry had aroused the other
denizens of the raft. The tow heads
of the six little Cavendishes rose
promptly from a long bolster in the
smaller of the two shanties, and as
promptly six little Cavendishes, each
draped in a single non-cOmmittal gar
ment. apparently cut by one pattern
and not at all according to the wear
er's years or length of limb, tumbled
forth from their shelter.
"Sho, Polly, he's senseless! But
you dress and come here quick. Now,
you young folks, don't you fetch him."
for the six small Cavendishes, excited
beyond measure, were crowding and
showing for a nearer sight of Yancy.
They began to pelt their father with
Questions Who was it? Sho. in the
river? Sho, all cut up like that
who'd cut him? Had he hurt himself?
Was he throwed in? When did pop
fish him out? Was he dead? Why
did he lay like that and not move or
speak-sho'! This and much more
was flung at Mr.. Cavendish all in one
breath, and each eager questioner seiz-
ed him by the hand. the dangling
sleeve of his shirt, or his trousers
they clutched him from all sides. Il
never seen such a family" said Mr..
| ICavendish helplessly Now, you all