Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-05
CHAPTER xxXI-Continued.

the stern Oh the DOdl- nc was ~
membering that day all the sand Bar.
ony road-and during all the weeks
and months that had intervened, Muir
rell, working in secret, had moveo
steadily toward the fulfillment Of his
desires! Unquestionably he had beer
back of the attack on Norton. had In
spired his subsequent murder and the
mans sinister and mysterious power
had never been suspected. Caring
ton knew that the horse-thieves and
slave stealers were supposed to main
tain a loosely knit association; ne
wondered IL Murrell were not the
moving spirit in some such organiza'
ton.
"If I'd only pushed my quarrel with
him!" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shutting step In
the distance. a word or two when ne
spoke gruff1y to some one. and a mo-
ment later he saw Betty and the boy
their forms darkly silhouetted against
the lighter sky as they moved alone
the top of the bank. Slosson, without
any superfiuous gallantry, helped his
captives down the slope and aboard
the keel boat, where he locked them
in the cabin, the door Of which fasten-
ed with a hasp and a wooden peg.
You're boss now. pardner!' ne
said. Joining Darlington at the steer
ing oar.
wen cast off, then" answered
Darlington.
Thus far nothing had occurred to
mar his plans. If they could but quit
the bayou before the arrival Of the
man whose place he had taken, the
rest would be II not easy Of accom-
plishment, at least within the realm
OF the possible.
81 reckon you're a river-man?" OBJ
served Slosson.
'All my life"
The line had been cast off, and the
crew with their setting poles were
forcing the boat away from the bank
All was quietly done; except for an
occasional order from Darlington no
word was spoken, and soon the un-
wieldy craft glided into the sluggish
current and gathered way. Mr.. Slos-
son, who clearly regarded his relation
to the adventure as being Of an off,
cial character, continued to stand at
Carrington's elbow.
What have we between here and
the river?" inquired the latter. 1t
was best, he felt, not to give Slosson
an opportunity to ask questions.
1T narrows considerably, pardner'
but it's a straight course" said Slos-
son. Back in yonder, amt it?" ne
added. nodding ahead.
The shores drew rapidly together;
they were leaving the lake-like ex-
panse behind. In the silence, above
the rustling of the trees, Darlington
heard the first fret of the river against
its bank. Slosson yawned prodigious-
ly.
II reckon you amt needing me?"
he said.
some Sleep" advised Darlington, and
Slosson, nothing loath, clambered
down from the roof of the cabin and
stumbled forward.
The ceaseless murmur of the rush.
ing waters grew in the stiffness as the
keel boat drew nearer the hurrying
yellow flood, and the beat Of the Ken
tuckian's pulse quickened. Would he
find the raft there2 He glanced back
over the way they had come. The
dark ranks Of the forest walled of
the clearing, but across the water a
dim point Of light was visible. He fix
ed its position as somewhere near the
head of the bayou. Apparently 1t was
a lantern, but as he looked a ruddy
glow crept up against the sky line.
From the bow Bunker had been
observing this singular phenomenon
Suddenly 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 that
light back yonder means?" cried Slos-
son. addressing himself to Caring
ton; 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
pnn IN his shoulder.
What seemed to be a breath OF
wind lifted a stray lock Of Caring
toms hair, but his pistol answered
Slosson in the same second. He fired
at the huddle of men in the bow OF
the boat and one of them pitched for
ward with his arms outspread.
Keep back. you" he said. and
dropped off the cabin roof.
His promptness had bred a mo-
mentary panic, then Slosson's bull
like voice began to roar commands;
but In that brief instant of surprise
and shock Darlington had found and
withdrawn the wooden peg that fas-
tened the cabin door. He had scarce
~ QOne tnlS "neH SlOSSOn Cdilie
tramping aft supported by three men
Calling to Betty and Hannibal to
escape in the skiff which was towing
astern the Kentuckian rushed toward
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 es.
cape by the skiff. The fret of the cur
rent had grown steadily and from be-
meath 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 issuing from the bayou
He felt the river snatch at the keeI
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 shadows.
But what he did not see was a bis
muscular hand which had thrust it
self out Of the impenetrable gloon
and clutched the side of the keel boat
Coincident with this there arose
perfect babel of voices, high-pitchet