The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-30

and saw the blunt bow swing off 10 the south as they were plunged into the black shore shadows.
 But what he did not see was a pig muscular hand which had thrust itself out of the impcnetrable gloom and clutched the side of the keel b It. Co incident with this there arose per feet babel of voices, high-pitched and shrill.
 "Sho'-I bet it's him! Sho'-it's Un- cle Bob's nevvy! Sho', you can hear 'eml Sho', they're shootin' gunsl Sho'!"
 earring Sn east hurried glance in ha direction Of these sounds. There ltween the boat and the shore the 3u outline of raft was taking shape Was Low cancpied by a wealth ot jEio gray s'rose that faded from be- ere his eyes as the darkness lifted. tafaing, he saw Eiozson and his men dearly. Surprise and consternation Tas depicted ou each face,
 The light increased. From the flat stone hearlh of the raft ascended tail column of flame which rendered. yieihle six pigmy figures, tow-headed md wonderfully vocal, who were toll ing like mad at the huge sweeps. The ight showed more than this. It showed a lady of plump and pleasing presence smoking a cob-pipe while she fed the fire from a tick stuffed with straw It showed two bark shanties, a line between them decorated with the never-ending Cavendish wash 1t showed a rooster perched on the ridge-pole of one of these shanties in the very act of growing lustily
 Hannibal, who had climbed to the roof of the catin, 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 cry Of terror. He had a simple but sincere faith in the supernatural, and even with the Scratch Hillers big hands gripping his throat, he could not rid himself oi the belief that this was the ghost oi a murdered man.
 You'll take dogs licking from me, neighbor." said Yancy grimly. T 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. SpriIging aloft he knocked his heels together.
 'Whoop! I'm 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 It was MT Bunker's unfortu- nate privilege to s, ain 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 go 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 aint no it. tin place for you-all to stop in with them gentlemen fightinI"
 An instant later Betty and Hanni- bal stood on the raft with the little Cavendishes fiocking about them. MT. Yancy's 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! Sho'!"
 "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 tire!"
 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,
 Continued m next issue