Part 6 (1/2)

But the result was not what the watchers expected. With a howl of terror the little darky leaped to his feet and dashed away at a bounding, leaping run, breaking through the undergrowth as though it were reeds. One glance, as he flew by the watchers without seeing them, caused them to hold their sides and double up with laughter. The line was still fastened to Chris' leg, and drew after it the captive of his hook. One glance behind and Chris began to holler, ”Help, help, Ma.s.sa Walt, help, Ma.s.sa Charley. De snake's goin' to get dis n.i.g.g.e.r.

Oh golly, oh golly!”

The line caught on a bush and broke short off, but Chris was making for the lean-to with champions.h.i.+p speed and knew it not.

Charley picked up the severed line and held up the prize to view.

”The biggest, fattest eel I ever saw,” he declared exultantly. ”Guess it must have been the first one Chris ever saw. They certainly do look like snakes.”

”Keep it out of sight till we hear what he says,” Walter said, and Charley with a smile agreed.

The captain gathered up the fish and stringing them upon a cord slung them over his shoulder.

In a few minutes they were back at the camp, where they found Chris stretched out on the ground breathing heavily, his face an ashen hue.

”Why you-alls doan come when Chris hollers for help?” he demanded indignantly. ”'Pears like you don't care if dis n.i.g.g.e.r's killed.”

”We came as soon as we could, Chris,” said Walter, soothingly, ”what was the trouble, anyway?”

Chris, mollified, sat up. ”Done got into nest ob snakes,” he declared, ”reckon I killed fifty of 'em, but more and more kept coming so I had to run. Golly, I 'spect thar was mighty nigh a hundred chased me most to camp. Dat's why I yells for you-alls.”

The captain smilingly laid down the string of fish, and Chris'

countenance fell.

Charley swung the eel into view. ”It isn't a snake, Chris,” he explained, ”it's an eel; they are not poisonous, and are mighty good eating.”

For once the little darky was fairly caught without chance of evasion.

Without a word he started building a fire, gutted the fish, washed them clean, and without removing head or scales, thrust them into the glowing coals. In twenty minutes they were done, the heads were cut away, the skin with its load of scales peeled off, and our hungry hunters sat down to a dish fit for a king.

They were in the midst of the meal when Charley arose and getting his rifle put it down by his side. ”Get your guns quick and keep them close to you. We are going to have visitors,” he said.

The bushes were crackling loudly at the neck of the point and a moment later a body of men came into view. As they clambered over the barricade, Charley counted them. They were twelve in number, one of them an Indian, his face disfigured by a long scar that gave to it a sinister, malignant expression.

”Keep close together and your guns handy,” counseled Charley, as the band approached. ”I declare, if they aren't all unarmed,” he added.

”What in the world is the matter with them?” whispered Walter in amazement; ”see, some of them can hardly walk.”

As the men drew nearer, our little party's wonder grew. Most of them dragged themselves forward with stumbling footsteps. Their faces were haggard, their hands moving restlessly and their features twitching.

They looked like men who had been for days undergoing severe mental and physical strain and were on the verge of collapse.

Our hunters drew close together with their guns, close to hand and awaited the convicts' coming with lessened apprehension as they saw that they carried no guns.

The leader staggered in front, the balance following him like starved sheep. He stopped before the captain and sank to a seat on a stump.

The perspiration stood in great drops on his face and he was breathing heavily.

”Strangers,” he said hoa.r.s.ely, ”if you've got any tobacco, fer mercy'