The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-02-28

dark ranks OF the forest walled off the
clearing, but across the water din
point of light was visible. He fixed its
position as somewhere near the heaC
of the bayou. Apparently it was Ian
tern, but as he looked a ruddy glow
crept up against the sky line.
From the bow Bunker had been OBJ
serving this singular phenomenon. Sud
denly he bent and reused SlOsson
who had fallen asleep. The tavern
keeper sprang to his feet and Bunker
pointed without speaking.
"Mebby you can tell me what thai
light back yonder means?" cried Slos
son, addressing himself to Darlington
as he spoke he snatched up his rifle
That's what I'm trying to make
out answered Darlington.
HE'LL" cried Slosson, and tossed his
gun to his shoulder.
What seemed to be breath OF wind
lifted stray lock Of Carringtons
hair, but his pistol answered Slossol
in the same second. He fired at the
huddle of men in the bow Of the boat
and one of them pitched forward with
his arms outstretched.
keep back, you!" he said, and
dropped off the cabin roof.
His promptness had bred a momen
tary panic, then Slosson's bull like
voice began to roar commands; but in
that brief instant OF surprise and
shock Darlington had found and with
drawn the wooden peg that fastened
the cabin door. He had scarcely done
this when Slosson came tramping aft
supported by the three men.
Calling to Betty and Hannibal to es-
cape in the skiff which was towing
astern the Kentuckian rushed forward
the bow. At his back he heard the door
creak on it's hinges as it was pushed
open by Betty and the boy, and again
he called to them to escape in the
skiff The fret of the current had
grown steadily and from beneath the
wide flung branches of the trees which
here met above his head, Darlington
caught sight of the star-specked arch
of the heavens beyond. They were is
suing from the bayou. He felt the
river snatch at the keel boat, the but
feting of some swift eddy, and saw the
blunt bow swing off to the south as
they were plunged into the black shore
shadows.
But what he did not see was big
muscular hand which had thrust itself
out of the impenetrable gloom and
clutched the side of the keel boat. Co.
incident with this there arose perfect
babel of voices, high pitched and shrill.
"Sho'-I bet it's him! Sho'-it's I'm
Gle Bob's newly! Sho', you can hear
EN-. Sho, they're shootin' guns!
Sho'.'
Darlington cast hurried glance in
the direction of the 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
of pale gray smoke that faded from be-
fore his eyes as the darkness lifted.
Turning, he saw Slosson and his men
clearly. Surprise and CONSERVATION
was depicted on each face.
The light increased. From the fiat
stone hearth of the raft assembled a
tall column of flame which rendered
visible six pigmy figures, tow-headed
and wonderfully vocal, who were toll
ing like mad at the huge sweeps. The
light showed more than this. 1t showed
a 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 CuSIl uSCOIdlcu WIN thS iS' Wa
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 hell,
and Betty added her voice to his.
"All right, nevvy!" came the cheer
full reply, as Yancy threw himself
over the side of the boat and grappled
with SlossOn.
"Uncle Bob! Uncle Bob" cried Han
nibal.
Slosson uttered a cry of terror. He
had a simple but sincere faith in the
and even with the
Scratch Killers big hands gripping his
throat, he could not rid himself OF the
belief that this was the ghost OF muir
dered man.
You'll take dogs licking from me.
neighbor," said Yancy grimly. 81 been
saving If fO' won't"