News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1912-05-29

sires! 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; he
wondered if Murrell were not the
moving spirit in some such organiza-
ton.
"If I'd only pushed my quarrel with
hint" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shutting step in
the distance, a word or two when he
ment later he saw Betty and the boy,
their forms darkly silhouetted against
the lighter sky as they moved along
the top of the bank. Slosson, with
out any supertuous gallantry, helped
his captives down the slope and
aboard the keel boat, where he locked
them in the cabin, the door of which
fastened with hasp and wooden peg.
You're boss now, pardner!" he
said. Joining Darlington at the steer
ing s ear oou4 -, 4,o,, ors,ono,
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, if not easy of accom-
plishment, at least within the realm
of the possible.
81 reckon you're 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 ar
occasional order from Darlington nc
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 al
Carringtons elbow.
the riyer?" inquired the latter. 1t was
best, he felt, not to give Slosson an
opportunity to ask questions.
ut 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
it's bank. Slosson yawned prodigious
ly.
81 reckon you amt needing me-?
he said.
Better go up in the bow and gel
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
a dim point of light was visible. He
fixed its position as somewhere neal
the head of the bayou. Apparently il
was a lantern, but as he looked q
ruddy glow crept up against the sky
line.
From the bow Bunker had been OBJ
serving this singular phenomenon
he bent and reused Slos
son, who had fallen asleep The tav
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
rife.
That's what Pm trying to make
out," answered Darlington.
HE'LL" cried Slosson, and tossed
mis- gun to his shoulder.
What seemed to be a breath Of
wind lifted a stray lock Of Caring. |
IONS hair, but his pistol answered
Slosson in the same second. He free
1t the huddle of men in the bow OF
he boat and one of them pitched for
ward with his arms outspread.
Keep back, you'll" he said, and
dropped off the cabin roof.
His promptness had bred a momen
-ary panic, then Slosson's bull-like |
voice began to roar commands; but in
hat brief instant of surprise and
shock Darlington had found and with
lrawn the wooden peg that fastened
he cabin door. He had scarcely done
his when Slosson came tramping aft
by the three men.
Calling to Betty and Hannibal to es
cape in the skiff which was towing
astern the Kentuckian rushed towarc
he 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 escape
by the skiff. The fret of the current |
had grown steadily and from beneath
the wide-iung branches of the trees
which here met above his head, Car
ringtOn caught sight of the star