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 London Harper & Brothers Publishers 1902 Copyright, 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"

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: Raftmates by Kirk Munroe
• 2: So no wonder he was proud of the raft
• 3: He remarked pettishly to his sister Elta one day in October
• 4: Leaving Elta to gaze after him with a grieved expression
• 5: But you mean that Winn shall go to college
• 6: For if the boom once lets go of that snag
• 7: I'll have a chance to see Elta before bedtime
• 8: Elta knew nothing of the storm until morning
• 9: ' exclaimed Elta It certainly has
• 10: Caspar led him in front of a mirror
• 11: The first had seen nothing of the raft
• 12: With this affair of Winn and the raft on my hands
• 13: Caspar and Elta wrote notes to Winn
• 14: Winn stood gazing and listening
• 15: The lonely lad crept back into the shanty
• 16: Now Winn had never learned to cook
• 17: And smarting from many scalds and burns
• 18: Winn was profuse in his apologies
• 19: Gilder also pushed back his chair
• 20: We must talk it over with Plater
• 21: Gilder walked to the southern end of the island
• 22: Gilder plunged directly into the tall timber
• 23: This Plater began to shovel overboard
• 24: Winn shouted as he approached it
• 25: Selected a blazing stick from the camp fire
• 26: I can make a raft of these logs
• 27: Which Winn did not think probable
• 28: I don't know what you mean began Winn
• 29: Winn wondered at the brightness of this light
• 30: Bim was a diminutive of Cherubim
• 31: While Bim sat in the stern of the skiff
• 32: Perhaps the trail leads to the raft
• 33: Billy Brackett and Bim sang and howled in concert
• 34: Billy Brackett sat on the floor
• 35: To this Billy Brackett returned no answer
• 36: Winn sat up and looked about him
• 37: And Winn was again beginning to feel the pangs of hunger
• 38: The next one that he approached was only a tow head
• 39: In vain did Winn gaze in every direction
• 40: That Winn at first took to be a child
• 41: We hain't got no mewel at de present time
• 42: Until finally Aleck Fifield became proud of the name
• 43: Now Sabella must of course be included in the plan
• 44: Transferred all his affections to Sabella
• 45: And by the time Billy Brackett hailed the Whatnot
• 46: As Billy Brackett walked towards the shanty
• 47: Billy Brackett uttered a cry of amazement
• 48: My name is Fifield Aleck Fifield
• 49: Illustration Winn's introduction to Sabella
• 50: While Sabella and Solon cleared the table
• 51: While Winn was eating his late breakfast
• 52: And towards this Billy Brackett directed his steps
• 53: He could afford to run the Whatnot by steam
• 54: And the third is offered by some one named Brickell
• 55: Just before his departure from Mandrake
• 56: To the Captain of the Whatnot Mrs
• 57: Sabella was also to remain out of sight
• 58: Grew fainter and fainter in his ears
• 59: At the same moment Sabella exclaimed
• 60: Are you living on board the Whatnot
• 61: Because I heard you say you were a friend of Sheriff Riley
• 62: Brackett helped us last evening
• 63: To which Sabella had already returned
• 64: At this Billy Brackett became thoughtful
• 65: The Whatnot was got under way at the same time
• 66: Exclaimed Billy Brackett a big man
• 67: Billy Brackett only laughed at this
• 68: But this Billy Brackett would not allow
• 69: Sabella looked for a moment longer
• 70: Before Sabella could remonstrate
• 71: As he dashed across the street after Bim
• 72: And made inquiries for one having three shanties
• 73: Especially after his meeting with Sabella
• 74: Where should he look for Gilder and Plater
• 75: Whom they knew as the proprietor of the Whatnot
• 76: But you've only borrowed the Whatnot for a little while
• 77: He met Plater coming to find him
• 78: Never had Winn been so excited
• 79: Winn knew this as well as any one
• 80: And Winn shuddered at the thought of her fate
• 81: Illustration The rescue of Sabella
• 82: To which Winn was only too glad to follow him
• 83: An' I reckin dis young gen'l'man hongry now
• 84: Do you mean to say that the Whatnot has been stolen
• 85: Billy Brackett boarded the boat
• 86: Billy Brackett asked if they might see the rescued negro
• 87: And Billy Brackett picked it up
• 88: Did Winn bring the Whatnot down the river
• 89: I've rather lost interest Losing the Whatnot
• 90: Thought he meant the raftmates
• 91: Glen and Binney looked curiously at each other
• 92: And Binney and I are to go with him
• 93: Then turning to Billy Brackett
• 94: Under the leadership of their beloved campmate
• 95: Billy Brackett could make griddle cakes
• 96: Binney heard and understood it
• 97: Sheriff Riley happens to be my brother
• 98: From being dropped overboard by Plater
• 99: Billy Brackett listened closely
• 100: Binney Gibbs is lying comfortably in one of the bunks
• 101: Dem fellers laff fit to bus' deirselfs
• 102: By a mighty effort Billy Brackett spun the skiff around
• 103: They saw that the dog was indeed Bim
• 104: Billy Brackett seized the brave dog in his arms
• 105: Bim had been almost as excited as she
• 106: In company with Nanita and her little ones
• 107: Was petted and praised until even Nanita grew jealous
• 108: The raftmates talked so much of Moss Bank
• 109: Billy Brackett was certain that Bim
• 110: Bim was full of eager excitement
• 111: But Binney acted precisely as Winn had done
• 112: Were the Government snag boats
• 113: Besides supplying the raft with passengers
• 114: The raft was close to the levee as he shot alongside
• 115: All but these two and Solon were asleep
• 116: Billy Brackett wondered if Major Caspar
• 117: But Billy Brackett caught his arm
• 118: To each of these questions Winn gave an affirmative answer
• 119: He left the friendly oleanders
• 120: Quorum had come from the great house
• 121: Sumner briefly explained his errand