The girl
met the menace of his words with soft, fullthroated laughter.
"Why, yo' hand's shakin' now, Mr. Carrington!"
"You know me?"
"Yes, I seen you once at Boggs'." She made an impatient
movement. "You can't do nothing against them fo' men unless I
help you. Miss Malroy's to go down river to-night; they're only
waiting fo' a pilot--you-all's got to act quick!"
Carrington hesitated.
"Why do you want Miss Malroy to escape?" he said.
The girl's mood changed abruptly. She scowled at him.
"I reckon that's a private matter. Ain't it enough fo' you-all
to know that I do? I'm showing how it can be done. Them four
men on the keel boat are strangers in these parts, they're
waiting fo' a pilot, but they don't know who he'll be. I've
heard you-all was a riverman; what's to hinder yo' taking the
pilot's place? Looks like yo' was willing to risk yo' life fo'
Miss Malroy or you wouldn't be here."
"I'm ready," said Carrington, his hand on the door.
"No, you ain't--jest yet," interposed the girl hastily. "Listen
to me first. They's a dugout tied up 'bout a hundred yards above
the keel boat; you must get that to cross in to the other side of
the bayou, then when yo're ready to come back yo're to whistle
three times--it's the signal we're expecting--and I'll row across
fo' you in one of the skiffs."
"Can you see Miss Malroy in the meantime?"
"If I want to, they's nothin' to hinder me," responded Bess
sullenly.
"Tell her then--" began Carrington, but Bess interrupted him.
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