Raftmates

se, to show that his search for the raft had been fruitless. His wife's mother-instinct t

at has happ

far as the Elbow, where we waited in the slack-water to hail up-bound steamboats. The first had seen nothing of the raft; but the second, one of the 'Diamond Jo' boats, reported that they had seen such a raft-one with three shanties on it-at daybreak, in the 'Slan

ad you did!" cr

The latter had glanced curiously at him once or twice while talking to his wife, but witho

It's William-my own brother Will

ke-"so it is, William Brackett himself. But, my dear fellow, I must c

y the time both of us are wrung out and dried, and sister has looked up some dinner, I'll be ready to unfold a plan that will make th

ss the plains, and, after spending some time on the Pacific coast, had just returned to the Mississippi Valley-out of a job, to be sure, but with the certainty of obtaining one whenever he should want it. From the moment of leaving San Francisco he had intended making the Caspars a visit, and had directed his journey towards their home. In Chicago he had run across an engineering friend named Hobart, who was at that moment r

cted to obtain the timber he had thus contracted to furnish. As the work must be begun immediately, he hurried

plaining these details at the dinner-table; "and it's not only a big

eplied the Major; "but I don't see how I can go into it just now, with this af

and the raft. You know a heap more about getting out bridge timber than I do, while I expect I know more about river rafting than you do. Not that I'm anything of a raftsman," he added, modestly, "but I picked up a good bit of knowledge concerning the river while on that government job down in Arkansas. If you'll only give me the chance, I'll guarantee to find the raft and navigate it to any port you may choose to name-Dubuque,

plans. "Not only that, but I believe your companionship with Winn on this river trip, and your example, will be infinitely better for him than mine. I have noticed that young

ging up and throwing her arms about his neck. "Ho

thing pertaining to the past seems of any value as compared with the present or immediate future. Consequently a companion who is near enough of an age to symp

than by any one else in the world! At the same time, I think William's plan well worth considering, for I have hated the idea of that raft trip

start down the creek that very evening, so as to be ready at daylight to begin his search for the missing raft at the point where it had been last reported. By his own desire he was to go alone in the skiff, except for the compan

a line of introduction to an old soldier who had been his most devoted follower during the war. He was now livin

d not hope to recognize, the young engineer and his four-footed companion set forth soon after supper on their search