he good Lord, I reckon, don't make lads as true and white as he to be
killed off by a pack of jail vermin. Come to the wall as he told us
to. Maybe we'll get a shot at those murderers before the day is done.
Come along an' stop that blubberin'," and he grabbed the soft-hearted
little darky by the arm and dragged him to the post.

The convicts were quick to see and interpret Charley's action, and
their guns were quickly turned upon his frail craft. As he drew nearer
the drifting dugout and came within range, a perfect hail of bullets
splashed the water into foam around him. He did not falter or
hesitate, but with long clean strokes of the paddle, sent his light
little craft flying towards his goal. Perhaps it was this very speed
that saved his life. Bullet after bullet pierced the thin canvas sides
and one struck a corner of his paddle, tingling his arm and side like
an electric shock. A few minutes of this furious paddling brought him
to the bow of the dugout. Seizing its rawhide painter, he fastened the
end to a seat in his own boat. Then taking the paddle again, he headed
back to the point. The leaden hail fell as thickly as ever, but by
crouching low he was shielded somewhat by the high sides of his tow.
His return progress was now slow, but gradually he worked the two
crafts out of the range of the convicts.

Walter had lost no time in getting back to camp at the call of the
rockets, and was waiting at the water's edge to receive his chum.

"Haul both boats in and make them fast," Charley ordered as he wearily
paddled in.

Walter waded out knee deep, and seizing the bow of each boat as it came
in reach, drew it up on the shore, and taking the painter, quickly made
them fast to a nearby pine.

"We have got some heavy, quick work ahead of us," Charley said quickly
enough to forestall the volley of eager questions on the tip of his
excited chum's tongue. "Every minute counts now. I dare not call
either Chris or the captain away from their posts. Help me into the
lean-to with these poor fellows, then get your gun and join the
captain. Those murderers may be over here any minute now. They are
bound for their own safety to let no witness of their horrible crime
escape."

As he rose from his cramped crouching position, Charley got his first
glance of the interior of the dugout and his face grew dark with anger
towards those who had brought this thing to pass.

Prone on his face in the bottom lay a ma