Putnam patriot., 1912-05-24

With Enthusiasm Into the Fight
 the wide-fiung branches of the trees
 which here met above his head, Car
 rington caught sight of the star
 specked arch of the heavens beyond.
 They were issuing from the bayou.
 He felt the river snatch at the keel
 boat. the buffeting of some swift eddy,
 and saw the blunt bow swing of 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 b It. Co incident with this there arose per feet babel of voices, high-pitehed and
 shrill.
 "Sho'-I bet it's himi Sho'-it's Un-
 cle Bob's nevvy! Sho'. you can hear
 'em! Sho'. they're saootin' guns! ShoI"
 Darlington cast . hurried glance in the direction of these sounds. There between the boat and the shore the dim outline of raft was taking shape. 1t was now canopied by wealth 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 consternation
 was depicted on each face. The light increased. From the fiat stone hearth of the raft ascended tall column of flame which rendered visible six pigmy figures, tow-headed and wonderfully vocal, who were toil- ing like mad at the huge sweeps. The light showed more than this. It showed a lady of plump and pleasing presence smoking a cobp while she ] fed the fire from tick stuffed with straw. It showed two bark shantfes, q line between them decorated with l the never-ending Cavendish wash. It showed 8 rooster perched on the l ridGe-pole of one of these shanties in the very act of growing lustily. Hannibal, who had climbed to the roof of the cabin, shrieked for help,
 and Betty added her voice to his.
 "An right, Nevvy!" came the cheer | ful reply, as Yancy threw himself over the side of the boat and grap- pied with Slosson.
 Uncle Bob! Uncle Bobi" cried ] Hannibal.
 Slosson uttered cry of terror. He had a simple but sincere faith in the 1 supernatural, and even with the | Scratch Hiller's big hands gripping | his throat, he could not rid himself of the belief that this was the ghost of a murdered man.
 You'll take a dogs licking from
 me, neighbor," said Yancy grimly. Il been saving 1t fo' youl" Meanwhile MT. Cavendish, whose proud spirit never greatly inclined him to the practice of peace, had pre- pared for battle. Springing aloft he knocked his heels together.
 "Whoop! I'm man as can slide down a thorny locust and never get scratchedl" he shouted. This was
 equivalent to setting his triggers; then he launched himself nimbly and with enthusiasm into the thick of the fight. It was Mir Bunkers unfortu-
 nate 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 sac rifcing 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 to go iats hal al a the six small Cavendishes from risk ing life and limb in the keel boat, to-
 ward which they were powerfully drawn. Despite these activities she found time to call to Betty and Han nibal on the cabin roof. Jump down here; that ain't no fit- tin place for you-all to stop in with them gentlemen fightin'!" An instant later Betty and Hanni- bal stood on the raft with the little Cavendishes fiocking about them. MT. Yancy's quest of his nevvy had taken an enduring hold on their imagina- tion. For weeks 1t had constituted their one vital topic, and the fight be- came merely a satisfying background lOI lulS lulctcotih6 iCosOioeNSH "Sho', they'd got him! Sho'-he want no bigger than Richard! Sho'!" "Oh." cried Betty. with fearful glance toward the keel boat. Cant you stop them?"
 What fo'?" asked Polly, opening her black eyes very wide. Bless yo' tender heartl-you don't need to wor- " none, we got them strange gentle men licked like they was passel of children! Connie. you-all mind that fire."
 She accurately judged the outcome of the fight. The boat was little bet ter than a shambles with the havoc that had been wrought there when Yancy and Darlington dropped over
 its side to the raft. Cavendish fol-
 lowed them, whooping his triumph as he came.
 HAADTER xxx