The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-30

"If I'd only pushed my quarrel with him." he thought bitterly.
 He heard Slosgon's shufIiing step in the distance, word or two when he spoke gruffiy to some one, and a mo 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 superfluous 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, pardnerl" he said, joining Darlington at the steer ing oar.
 Wen cast off then," answered 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.
 q reckon you're river-man?' ob. 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 an occasional order from Darlington no word was spoken, and soon the un. wieldy craft glided into the sluggish current and gathered way. MT. Slos. son, who clearly regarded his relation to the adventure as being of an off cial character, continued to stand at Carrington's elbow.
 What have we between here and the river?" inquired the latter. It was best, he felt, not to give Slosson an opportunity to ask questions.
 Tt narrows considerably, pardner, but it's straight course" said Slos- son. Black in wonder. ain't 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.
 q reckon you ain't needing meY' he said
 Better go 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 flood, 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 near the head of the bayou. Apparently it was lantern, but as he looked a ruddy glow crept up against the sky. line.
 From the bow Bunker had been ob- 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 wonder means?" cried Slos son. addressing himself to Caring ton; as he spoke he snatched up his rife.
 That's what I'm trying to make out" answered Darlington.
 He'll" cried Slosson, and tossed his gun to his shoulder.
 What seemed to be a breath oi wind lifted 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 momen tary panic, then Blossoms bull-like voice began to roar commands; but in that brief instant of surprise and shock Darlington had found and with drawn the wooden peg that fastened the cabin door. He had scarcely done this when Slosson came tramping aft supported by the three men.
 Calling to Betty and Hannibal to es cape in the skiff which was towing astern the Kentuckian rushed toward the 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 cgSzzKW%zgWEYxTyz SSF{7Il sa5sI ( N sN5X N<S><1%A&J