Raftmates: A Story of the Great River Read online

  RAFTMATES

  A Story of the Great River

  by

  KIRK MUNROE

  Author of"Dorymates" "Campmates" "Canoemates" Etc.

  Illustrated

  [Frontispiece: "Winn dashed away with the speed of a deer."]

  New York and LondonHarper & Brothers Publishers1902Copyright, 1893, by Harper & Brothers.All rights reserved

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER

  I. THE RAFT II. WINN ASSUMES A RESPONSIBILITY III. A MUD-BESPATTERED ARRIVAL FROM CALIFORNIA IV. BILLY BRACKETT STARTS DOWN THE RIVER V. HOW THE VOYAGE WAS BEGUN VI. MR. GILDER AND HIS RUDE RECEPTION VII. A GANG OF "RIVER-TRADERS" VIII. DISAPPEARANCE OF THE RAFT IX. ALONE ON THE ISLAND X. A NIGHT OF STRANGE HAPPENINGS XI. BILLY BRACKETT'S SURPRISING SITUATION XII. THE TRAPPERS TRAPPED XIII. WINN'S LONELY CRUISE XIV. A PEAL OF GIRLISH LAUGHTER XV. "CAP'N COD," SABELLA, AND THE "WHATNOT" XVI. BIM MAKES AN ENEMY XVII. THE TRUTH, BUT NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH XVIII. FOLLOWING THE TRAIL XIX. A CURIOUS COMPLICATION XX. BIM GROWLS XXI. EVERY ONE EXPLAINS XXII. A "MEWEL" NAMED "REWARD" XXIII. REWARD RUNS AWAY WITH THE PANORAMA XXIV. WINN DISCOVERS HIS LONG-LOST RAFT XXV. THE RAFT AND SHOW-BOAT CHANGE CREWS XXVI. A DISASTROUS COLLISION XXVII. IS THIS OUR RAFT OR NOT? XXVIII. THE RESCUE OF SABELLA XXIX. BIM BRINGS ABOUT A JOYFUL MEETING XXX. IN CLOD'S CABIN XXXI. CAMPMATES TURN RAFTMATES XXXII. THE "RIVER-TRADERS" ATTEMPT TO REGAIN POSSESSION XXXIII. WHERE IS BIM? XXXIV. A BLAZE ON THE RIVER XXXV. BIM'S HEROISM XXXVI. THE MASTER OF MOSS BANK XXXVII. BIM'S COON XXXVIII. THE GREAT RIVER AND ITS MISCHIEF XXXIX. HURLED THROUGH THE CREVASSE AND WRECKED XL. A MEETING OF MATES

  ILLUSTRATIONS.

  "WINN DASHED AWAY WITH THE SPEED OF A DEER" . . . _Frontispiece_

  "WINN SECURED ONE END OF THE CABLE TO THAT PART OF THE BOOM RESTING AGAINST THE SNAG"

  "'WHY, THE RAFT HAS GONE!' EXCLAIMED ELTA"

  "'HOLD ON, YOUNG MAN! ONE AT A TIME IS ENOUGH'"

  "A BROAD STREAM OF WHEAT RUSHED OUT ON DECK"

  "'WATCH HIM, BIM!'"

  "'WHO'S THERE?' CRIED THE OLD MAN"

  "BILLY BRACKETT UTTERED A CRY OF AMAZEMENT"

  WINN'S INTRODUCTION TO SABELLA

  BILLY BRACKETT IS A FRIEND IN NEED

  "THE MULE WAS PURCHASED THAT AFTERNOON"

  "WITH A PRODIGIOUS LEAP HE LANDED SQUARELY ON REWARD'S HEAD"

  "'THE RAFT HAS GONE, AND WE ARE AFTER IT'"

  THE RESCUE OF SABELLA

  "THE NEXT INSTANT HE SPRANG TO HIS FEET WITH A CRY"

  "THE STRONG ARMS LIFTED HIM AS THEY WOULD A CHILD"

  "LIKE YOUNG TIGERS THE BOYS TUGGED AT THE HEAVY SWEEPS"

  "'YO' CALLIN' DAT AR PLANTASHUN MOSS BACK?' EXCLAIMED SOLON"

  "THE LANTERNS OF THE WORKING GANG GLANCING HERE AND THERE LIKE FIRE-FLIES"

  A REUNION OF "MATES"