The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-08

Darlington cast a hurried glance In
tie direction of these sounds. There
between the boat and the shore the
dim outline Of a raft was taking shape
II was now canopied by a wealth of
pale gray smoke that faded from be-
fore his eyes as the darkness lifted.
Turning, he saw Slosson and his men
clearly. Surprise and CONSERVATION
was depicted on each face
The light increased From the fiat
stone hearth of the raft ascended
visible six pigmy figures, tow-headed
and wonderfully vocal, who were toll
ing like mad at the huge sweeps The
light showed more than this 1t
showed lady of plump and pleasing
presence smoking cOb-pipe while she
fed the fire from tick stuffed with
straw. 1t showed two bark shanties,
a line between them decorated with
the never-ending Cavendish wash. IL
showed a rooster perched on the
ridge-pole Of one of these shanties in
the very act Of Growing Justify.
Hannibal, who had climbed to the
roof of the cabin, shrieked for help,
and Betty added her voice to his.
"All right, Nevvy!" came the cheer
full reply, as Yancy threw himself
over the side of the boat and grap-
pied with Slosson.
Uncle Bob! Uncle Bob!" cried
Hannibal.
Slosson uttered a cry of terror. He
had a simple but sincere faith in the
supernatural, and even with the
Scratch Killers big hands gripping
his throat, he could not rid himself OF
the belief that this was the ghost OF
a murdered man.
You'll take dogs licking from
me, neighbor," said Yancy grimIy. Il
been saving it fo' you!"
Meanwhile Mr.. Cavendish, whose
proud spirit never greatly inclined
him to the practice of peace, had pre-
pared for battle. Springing aloft he
Knocked his heels together.
"Whoop! I'm a man as can slide
! down a thorny locust and never get
scratched!" he shouted This was
equivalent to setting his triggers:
then he launched himself nimbly and
with enthusiasm into the thick of the
fight. 1t was Mr.. Bunker's unfortu-
nate privilege to sustain the onslaught
of the Earl of Lambeth.
The light from the Cavendish
hearth continued to brighten the
scene, for Polly was recklessly sac
rificing her best straw tick. Indeed
her behavior was In every way worthy
OF the noble alliance she had formed
Her cob-pipe was not suffered to 60
out and with Comics help she kept
the six small Cavendishes from risk.
ing life and limb in the keel boat, to-
ward which they were powerfully
drawn. Despite these activities she
found time to call to Betty and Han.
nibal on the cabin roof.
Jump down here; that amt no fit-
tin place for you-all to stop In with
them gentlemen fighun!"
An instant later Betty and Hanni-
bal stood on the raft with the little
SoVCAuASucS uOChIuS dUOut Lucm. MT.
! Yancys quest of his nevvy had taken
an enduring hold on their imagina-
tion. For weeks it had constituted
their one vital topic, and the fight be-
came merely satisfying background
for this interesting restoration.
"Sho', they'd got him! Sho'-he
want no bigger than Richard! Shot"
"Oh!" cried Betty, with a fearful
glance toward the keel boat. Cant
you stop them?"
What fo'?" asked Polly, opening
her black eyes very wide. BLESS yo'
tender heart!-you don't need to wor-
ry none, We got them strange gentle
men licked like they was a passel OF
! children! Connie, you-all mind that
; fire!"
! She accurately judged the outcome
of the fight. The boat was little bet
! ter than a shambles with the havoc
, that had been wrought there when
! Yancy and Darlington dropped over
its side to the raft. Cavendish fol-
lowed them, whooping his triumph as
, he came.