Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-07-25
Saint Nafg's Beacon.

Eere 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 off to
the south as they were plunged into
the black shore shado|s.
Put what he did not see was big
muscular hand which had thrust itself
out of the impenetrable gloom and
clutched the sido of the keel at. Co
incident with this there arose per-
feet babel of voices, high-pitched and
shrill.
"Sho'-I bet it's hjml Sho'-it's Un.
Gle Bob's nevvyl Sho', you can hear
'em! Sho', they're shootin' gunsl
Shot,
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 CONSERVATION
was depicted on each face.
The light increased. From the nat
stone hearth of the raft assembled q
tall column of fame 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. II
showed lady of plump and pleasing
presence smoking cob-pipe while she
fed the fire from a tick stuffed with
straw. 1t showed two bark shanties,
a line between them decorated with
the never-ending Cavendish wash. II
showed q 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.
IAN right, Nevvyl" came the cheer
full reply, as Yancy threw himself
over the side OF the boat and crap
pied with Slosson.
Uncle Bobl Uncle Boil" cried
Hannibal
Slosson uttered a cry of terror. He
had simple but sincere faith In the
supernatural, 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
murdered man.
You'll take dogs licking from
me, nelghbor," said Yancy grimly. Il
been gazing 1t TO you!"
Meanwhile Mr.. 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 a man as can slide
down thorny locust and never get
scratched" be shouted. This was
equivalent to setting his triggers:
then he launched himself nimbly and
with enthusiasm into the thick OF the
fight. It was Mr.. Bunker's 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 recklessIy sac
rificing 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
out and with Comics help she kept
the Fix 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 amt no Mt
tin place for you-all to stop in with
them gentlemen fghtin'!"
An instant later Betty and Hanni-
bal stood on the raft with the little
Cayendishes focklng about them. Mr..
Yancys quest Of his nevvy had taken
an enduring hold on their imaginar
tion. For weeks 1t had constituted
their one vital topic, and the fight be-
came merely q satisfying background
for this interesting restoration.
"Sho', they'd got him! Sho'-he
want no bigger than Richardl Shot,"
"Ohi" cried Betty, with a fearful
glance toward the keel boat. Cant
you stop them?"
"What fo'2" asked Polly, opening
her black eyes very wide. BLESS yo'
tender heart!--you don't need to wor-
ry none, we got them strange gentle
men licked like they was passed. OF
children! Connie, you-all mind that
fret"
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.