The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-02-28

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S Darlington looked at her curiously
This may be a serious business fol
Il your people, he said significantly, and
IA watched her narrowly.
.And you-al may get killed.
Il reckin if yo' want to do thing bad
"a enough you don't mind much what
comes AFTER she answered with a
hard little laugh, as she went from
Y the shed.
Il "Come!" said Darlington to the ne
4 gro, when he had seen the cabin door
/ close on Bess and her lantern; and
( they stole across the clearing. Reach
ing the bayou side they began noise
4 less search for the dugout, which they
quickly found and Darlington turned
to George. Can you swim?' he asked.
YES, Mas'r."
Then go down into the water and
drag the canoe farther along the
shore-and for Gods sake, no sound! -
he cautioned
They placed a second hundred yards
between themselves and the keel boat
in this manner, then he had George
bring the dugout to the bank, and
they embarked Keeping within the
shadow of the trees that fringed rhe
shore, Darlington padded silently
n bout tho boo1 nf thp haVOll
George" he at length said bend
ing toward the negro; my horse is
tied in the woods on the right hand
side OF the road just above where
you were taken from the carriage las.
night-you can be at Belle Plain in
side of an hour"
Look here, Mas'r Darlington, those
folks yonder is kin to Boss Hicks. Ii
he gets his hands on me first don't
you reckon he'll stop my mouth?
been here heaps of times fotchin' let
tiers TO- Masr Tom," added George:
who were the letters for?' asked
the Kentuckian, greatly surprised.
Hey was ~ JlidI Siploiil A'A"h SAA'
seems like him and Mas'r Tom was
mixed up in sight of business"
when was this-recently? in
ouired Darlington. He was turning
this astonishing statement OF the slave
over in his mind
well, no, Mas'r; seems like they
roannt1v -
Il reckon you'd better keep away
from the big house yet a While,' said
Darlington. Instead of going there,
stop at the Belle Plain landing. You'll
find raft tied to the shore; it be-
longs to man named Cavendish. Tell
him what you know-that I've found
Miss Malroy and the boy; tell him
to cast off and drift down here. I'll
run the keel boat aground the first
chance l get, so tell him to keep a
sharp lookout"
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Keel Boat.
A few minutes later they had sepa
rated. George to hurry away in search
of the horse, and Darlington to pass
back along the shore until he gained
point opposite the clearing. He
whistled shrilly three times and after
an interval of waiting heard splash
of oars and presently saw a skiff steal
out OF the gloom.
who's ther?' 1t was Bess who
asked the question.
Darlington" he answered.
Lucky you amt met the other
mani" she said as she swept her skitf
alongside the bank.
Lucky for him, you mean. I'll take
the oars" added Darlington as he en-
tered the skiff.
Slowly the clearing lifted out of the
darkness, then the keel boat became
distinguishable; and Darlington then
checked the skiff by backward
stroke of the oars.
"Hello!" he called
There was no immediate answer to
his hail, and he called again as he
sent the skiff forward. He felt that
he was risking all now.
what do you want?" asked surly
voice
you want Slosson," the girl quick
" prompted in whisper.
Il want to see Slosson!" said Car
rington glibly and with confidence.
and once more he checked the skiff.
who be you?"
"Murrell sent you," prompted the
girl again, in hurried whisper.
"Murrell-" And in his astonish-
ment Darlington spoke aloud.
"Murrell?" cried the voice sharply.
sent me-" said Darlington quick
ly, as though completing an untln-
ished sentence. The girl laughed nerv-
ousIy under her breath.
"Row closer!" came the sullen com