the marrow of the men on the raft.

"I'll show you who we are!" bellowed Anderson Crow. "Send her ashore,
boys, fast. The derned scamp sha'n't escape us. Dead er alive, we must
have him."

As they poled toward the bank the woman grasped the man by the arm,
dragging him back among the trees. It was observed by all that she was
greatly terrified. Moreover, she was exceedingly fair to look
upon--young, beautiful, and a most incongruous companion for the bloody
rascal who had her in his power. The raft bumped against the reedy bank,
and Anderson Crow was the first man ashore.

"Come on, boys; follow me! See that your guns are all right! Straight up
the hill now, an' spread out a bit so's we can surround him!" commanded
he in a high treble.

"'But supposin' he surrounds us," panted a cautious pursuer, half way up
the hill.

"That's what we've got to guard against," retorted Anderson Crow. The
posse bravely swept up to and across the greensward; but the fox was
gone: There was no sight or sound of him to be had. It is but just to
say that fatigue was responsible for the deep breath that came from each
member of the pursuing party.

"Into the woods after him!" shouted Anderson Crow. "Hunt him down like a
rat!"

In the meantime a coatless young man and a most enticing young woman