The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1912-07-31


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, If not easy Of accom-
plishment, at least within the realm
of the possible.
II reckon you're a river-man7" OBJ
served Slosson.
"All my life."
The line had been cast on, 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 I'M
wieldy craft glided into the sluggish
current and gathered way. Mr.. Sios-
son, who clearly regarded his relation
to the adventure as being of an Off
cial character, continued to stand at
'arrington's elbow.
What have we between here and
the river?" inquired the latter. 1t was
lest, he felt, not to give Slosson an
opportunity to ask questions.
1T narrows considerably. pardner.
but it's straight course" said Slos-
son. BLACK in yonder, amt it?" he
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-
Iy.
81 reckon you amt needing me?"
he said.
Better go up in the bow and get
some Sleep" advised Darlington, and
Slosson, nothing loath, ciambered
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 hurry
ing yellow flood, and the beat OF the
kentucklan's pulse quickened. Would
he find the raft there? He glanced
back over the way they had come.
The dark ranks OF the forest walled
off the clearing. but across the water
a dim point OF light was visible. He
fixed 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 OBJ
serving this singular phenomenon.
Suddenly he bent and reused Slos-
son. who had fallen asleep. The tav-
ern-keeper sprang to his feet and
Bunker pointed without speaking.
Inv fnl xxyha huf
light back yonder means?" cried Slos-
son. addressing himself to Caring
ton: as he spoke he snatched up his
rife.
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 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'll" he said, and
dropped of 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 skin which was towing
astern the Kentuckian rushed toward
the bow. At his back he heard the
door creak on its hinges as it was
pushed open by Betty and the boy.
and again he called to them to escape
by the skin. The fret of the current
had grown steadily and from beneath
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 off to
the south as they were plunged into
the black shore shadows.
But what he did not see was a big
hand which had thrust itself
out of the impenetrable gloom and
clutched the sido OF the keel at. Co.
nj wit