Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-03
moving spirit In some such organize,
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the distance, q word or two when he
spoke gruh1y to some one, and mo.
ment later he saw Betty and the boy.
their forms darkly silhouetted against
the lighter sky as they moved along
tho top of the bank. Slosson, with
out any superfiuous gallantry, helped
his captives down the slope and
aboard the keel boat, where he locked
them in tho cabin, tho door of which
fastened with hasp and wooden peg.
"You're boss now. pardner!" he
said, joining Darlington 1T the steer
Ing oar.
well cast on then" answered
Darlington.
Thus far nothing had occurred ia
mar his plans. II 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.
Il reckon you're q river-man7" OBJ.
served Slosson.
"All my life."
The line had been cast on, and the
crew with their setting poles werd
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.
the river" inquired the latter. It was
best, he felt, not to give Slosson an
opportunity to ask questions.
1T narrows considerably, pardner.
but it's e straight course" said Slos-
son. "Black in yonder, amt 1T" 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
it's bank. Slosson yawned prodigious-
~.
II reckon you amt needing me!''
he said.
Better 60 up in the bow and get
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 hurry
ing yellow food, 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
dim point of light was visible. He
fixed its position as somewhere near
the head of the bayou. Apparently it
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.
"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.
his gun to his shoulder.
What seemed to be a breath OF
wind lifted a stray lock of Caring
tons 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 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 sound and with
drawn the wooden peg that fastened
the cabin door. He had scarcely done
this when Slosson came tramping att
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 1t 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 wloe-nung 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 on to
the south as they were plunged into
the black shore shadows.
But what he did not see was a big
muscular hand which had thrust itself!
out of the impcnctrable gloom and
clutched the side OF the keel b at. Co
incident with this there arose per-
feet babel Of voices. high-pitched and
Shrill. =,
.'sho'-I bet its him! Sho'-it's I'm
Gle Boh's nevvy! sho', ron can hear
'smi Sho'. they'rs shootin' gunsl
y !, i i q 4. ~ at 81