Raftmates

," he said to himself; "and if there is one thing in this world meaner than another it is cooking. I never realized before what mother has to go through with every day. Never complains of it, either.

arn to cook the way he does. I wonder if he ever gets into scrapes? He'd be

rass formed the boy's bed, and a drink of river-water his supper. He had thought of passing the night in the log-hut; but as darkness came on he could not bear the thought of its lonesomeness. It was bad enough to be alone on the river-bank, with a broad expanse of star-dotted sky to look at; but that forlorn little hut, shut in on all sides by the dark forest! Ugh

ed weirdly through the tall timber behind him; while queer gurglings, mysterious splashings, and other strange sounds came from t

o his cheek. Yes, there was a wet spot. What were those two bright points shining in the dim fireglow! They looked like eyes. Winn sprang to his feet. At his movement th

und that was almost as terrifying as the recent presence of the unknown animal. It seemed a mingling of howls, cries, and groanings. It rose and fell, now loud, and then almost inaudible; but it

illed with such unexplained terrors. Feeling his way cautiously to the river-bank, he reached the little raft without mishap. It took him some time to ge

Suddenly he heard low voices close beside him, a dark object dashed up to his raft, and a dazzling light was flashed full in his face. The next instant two men sprang to his side, t

the man said, "So you thought you could give us the slip, did you, young fellow? Well, you found us up too early, didn't you? Now the best thing you can do is t

Winn, indignantly; but a heavy hand

nother loud word I'll brain you. You'll find out what I mean when we've landed you safe

force into his whisper as he dared, "and there isn

. "If that's the tone you are going to ta

ow make yourself useful, young fellow, and lead us to your mint or den or whatever you call it. If you don't wan

the log-hut

ll it; but you want to get

and that there was no one besides themselves on the island, they would be willing to listen to his story. At any rate, so long as he was in their power it was

e, the men followed in single file. At the edge of the little clearing Winn halted, and

!" came

soon as he was given the chance, "and if you fi

left there the evening before ought to have burned out long ago. He also wondered that he did not remember having closed the door. As no light came from its direction,

you've led us into a trap or played us false, I'll see that you swing for it, or my name's not Riley. Bill, you stay here an

hearers, there was no mistaking the man's stern meaning, and Winn experienced an

iumphant they would declare he had led them into a trap, for doing which they had promised to hang him. If, on the other hand, the "river-traders" had returned and should make a successful fight, would not their wrath also be direc

n could not detect a sound save the suppressed breathing of the

rang out through the night air. There was a confused trampling; the forest echoed with a roa

ld of the boy's arm and took a step forward,

hed the camp in which he had passed the night so unhappily, but bounded down the bank to the water's edge. Here he cast loose the painter of the skiff that had brought Mr. Riley and his men to the island, and, with a mighty shove towards the channel, g