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‘‘Gent'men born an''' the other began； but the last of his sentence was
lost as the boat turned up the river； and the cadence of the paddles died in
the distance。
Sandy waited until the rascals had disappeared around the bend； then
shoving his skiff quickly alongside Leander's； he whispered into the
latter's ear：
‘‘Me an' Gil is goin' in to Beaver Dam。 Yer knows them two fellers； an'
so do I。 One of 'em is the feller what whacked me； an' the t'other is that
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bum Hildey。 If they gits here afore I come back； you an' Dink'll have to do
somethin' desp'ret。''
‘‘All right；'' said Leander； clutching his pistol； ‘‘you can trust me。''
Sandy rounded the point that divided the two creeks； and in a short
time had paddled past the trees and vines that hung over and partly
covered the entrance to Beaver Dam。 The boat was managed with
consummate skill； now left； now right； through the sinuous waterway； and
the two boys had gone fully half a mile； when； without warning； they were
rudely jolted as the skiff grated harshly on a bar。 Ordinarily； such an
incident would have been without effect upon them； but now their nerves
were so highly strung； that the noise of the boat rubbing against the gravel
seemed as loud as the report of a cannon。
Using all possible force； Sandy and Gilbert succeeded in shoving their
craft back into the water。 Then they pressed forward into the shadow of an
embankment on the left； and not a moment too soon did they reach Gover；
for the door of a hut was thrown open； and the voice of Tom Foley was
heard； asking：
‘‘Is that you； dad？''
An instant later Foley was seen standing in the dim light of the
doorway； shading his eyes and peering into the darkness。
‘‘I say； dad； is that you？'' came again。 ‘‘I'll be doggoned if I didn't
think I heerd somebody comin'。 I guess 'tain't nuthin'；''looking anxiously
to the right and left。 ‘‘I cert'nly does git scared out er my boots aroun' here；
though； when I'm left alone。 I'm goin' to wake up the brat an' make her
keep me comp'ny；'' and the door closed with a bang。
He had hardly gone inside when the piteous cry of a child was heard；
‘‘Please don't beat me； Tom。''
‘‘I ain't beatin' yer； go ahead； dance fer me。''
Sandy and Gilbert were fairly crazed； and in their anger rushed up
toward the hut。
Again came the cry； ‘‘Please don't hit me； Tom。''
‘‘Dance； I say；''and the sharp swish of a whip was heard。
It took but a second for Sandy to bound into the room。 Surprised and
terrified； Foley made a dart for the door； but was met by Gilbert； who；
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The Fifth String
pistol in hand； held him stock still。 In desperation Foley reached for a club
and ran back of the frightened child in the hope that she might serve as
guard against his assailant。 Like a flash； Sandy followed； and knocked the
cowardly brute senseless with the barrel of his pistol。
Gilbert ran to his sister； and； taking her up； showered loving kisses
upon her。 With her arms clasped about his neck and her head nestling on
his shoulder； she cried：
‘‘Oh； Gil； I'm so glad you've come。 I've been waiting all this time for
you。 I knew Sandy would come； because he ain't afraid of robbers； or
anybody else； even if he had his hands tied behind him。 I've been praying
for you every minute； and here you are。'' Again Gilbert pressed his sister to
his heart； and kissed her。
Young Foley was still lying unconscious； as the result of the blow he
had received； and Sandy was clutching him tightly by the throat。
‘‘Take yer sister； little codger；'' said Sandy； ‘‘wrap her up； git in the
skiff； an' I'll be with yer as soon as I tie this chuckle…headed idiot fast and
tight。''
Gilbert left the hut with Lillian； while the other boy remained long
enough to loosen the rope around his waist； and bind the young ruffian
securely。 Then he placed him in a corner of the room。 Locking the door
behind him； Sandy joined Gilbert in the skiff； and together they paddled
furiously out of the creek into the river。
The moon was up in all her splendor； and objects on the water were
plainly visible for some distance。 Lillian was seated in the bow； facing the
two boys at the paddles。 Leander and Dink fell in the wake of Sandy's
skiff； about ten yards in the rear。
As the party reached the middle of the channel； a skiff came into view
from the bend； a short way above； and steered directly toward them。 With
a cry； Lillian stood up：
‘‘Oh； Gil； here come those two bad men that took me away。''
The boys turned； and they； too； recognized Dennis Foley and Hildey as
the occupants of the approaching boat。
‘‘Lie flat； little one；'' whispered Sandy； ‘‘an' don't move till I tells yer。''
The child obeyed； but already Foley and his partner had espied her；
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The Fifth String
and it was evident they were using all their efforts to catch up。 Leander
now called：
‘‘It's the same gang； Sandy； that came out of the creek。 What shall we
do？''
‘‘Paddle fer all ye're worth；'' was shouted back。
‘‘Hold up； or we'll shoot；'' yelled Dennis Foley。
With that a pistol…shot was heard coming from the direction of the
pursuers； but the bullet went wide of its mark； and the boys sped on。
‘‘Don't waste yer load unless yer haveto；'' cautioned Sandy； ‘‘ 'cause
yer won't have time to put in 'nother； an' I don't want er draw their fire； fer
fear they might hit Lily。''
The race had become one of life and death。 The boys strained to the
utmost their strong young muscles； and； with paddles bent almost double；
drove their little craft like the wind before them。 Down past Turtle Creek
they flew； Licking Banks were soon left behind； and shortly； they were
alongside the Sycamores。 Dink looked back over his shoulder； and
whispered：
‘‘We ain't gained on 'em a bit； an' they seem to be goin' strong。''
When the Meadows were reached； Dink said again：
‘‘They're comin' like everythin'。''
‘‘Don't weaken；'' urged Leander； ‘‘as long as