The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-03-06
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CHAPTER NXXV.
The Raft Again.


The Raft Again.
Yancy and Cavendish threw them.
selves on the sweeps and worked the
raft clear of the keel boat, then the
turbulent current seized the smaller
craft and whirled it away into the
night; as it's black bulk receded from
before his eyes the Earl of Lambeth
spoke with the voice of authority and
experience.
@'It was a good fight and them fel
lows done well, but not near well
enough" A conclusion that could not
be gainsaid He added, mo one amt
hurt but them that had ought to have
got hurt. Mr.. Yancy's all right, and
SOS Mr.. Carrington-who's mighty
welcome here" The earl's shock OF
red hair was bristling like the name
of some angry animal and his eyes
still flashed with the light of battle,
but he managed to summon up an
expression of winning friendliness.
flMr. Carrington's kin to me, Pol
ly," explained Yancy to Mrs. Caven-
dish His voice was far from steady,
for Hannibal had been gathered into
his arms and had all but wrecked the
stole calm with which the Scratch
Hitler was seeking to guard his emo.
tons.
Polly smiled and dimpled at the
Kentuckian. Trained to romantic
point of view she had a frank liking
for handsome stalwart men Caven-
dish was neither, but none knew bet
ter than Polly that where he was most
lacking in appearance he was richest
in substance. He carried scars hon
orably earned in those differences he
had been prone to cultivate with less
generous natures; for his scheme Of
life did not embrace the millennium.
Thank God, you got 1ere when you
did," said Darlington.
1--WE was some pushed TO- time, but
we done it," responded the earl mod
estly. He added, what now?-do we
make a landing?"
@'No-unless it interferes with your
plans not to. / want to get around
the next bend before we tie up. Later
We'll all go back. Can count on
you?"
"You surely can. l. consider this
here as sociable neighborhood as |
ever struck. 1t pleases me well. Folks
are up and doing hereabout.'
Darlington looked eagerly around in
search Of Betty. She was sitting on
an upturned tub, pathetic enough
figure as she dropped against the wall
of one of the shanties with all her
courage quite gone from her. He made
his way quickly to her side
.La!" whispered Polly in Chills
and Fever's ear. ''If that poor young
thing yonder keeps a widow, it won't
be because of any encouragement she
gets from Mr. Darlington. If l ever
seen marriage in mans eye l seen
it in his this minute!"
"Bruce!" cried Betty, starting up as
Darlington approached. ooh, Bruce,
] am so glad you have come-you are
not hurt?" She accepted his presence
without question. She had needed him
and he had not failed her.
"We are none of us hurt, Betty" he
said gently, as he took her hand.
He saw that the suffering she had
undergone during the preceding TWEEN
ty-four hours had left its record on her
tired face and in her heavy eyes. She
retained shuddering consciousness
of the unchecked sayagery OF those
last moments on the keel boat; she
was still hearing the oaths of the men
as they struggled together, the sound
of blows, and the dreadful silences
that had followed them. She turned
from him, and there came the relief
of tears.
ssThere. Betty, the danger is over
now and you were so brave while it
lasted l can't bear to have you cry!'
81 was wild with fear-all that time
on the boat, Bruce" she faltered be-
tween her sobs. 81 didn't know but
they would find you out ! could only
wait and hope-and pray!"
81 was in no danger, dear. Didn't
the girl tell you was to take the place
of man Slosson was expecting? He
never doubted that l was that man
until a light-a signal it must have
been-on the shore at the head OF
the bayou betrayed me-
Where are we going now, Bruce?
Not the way they went" and Betty
glanced out into the black void where
the keel boat had merged into the
gloom.
"Ne, no-but we can't get the raft
bark Mp stream against the current,