Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 51: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—_—_—<=— A4 BONNY JEAN. harming Jean or her mother; but something entirely different instigated his movements. Just as he had anticipated, the report of the rifle startled the horses upon the flat. With a frantic bound they leaped wildly overboard. The flat careened like a crazy thing; the impetus given it by the horses’ leap nearly overturned it, and, in another moment, Jean and -her mother were struggling in the water. | Like most Southern women reared in the country, the two could swim very well, and after the first shock was over, they struck out boldly for the shore; but to Gabriel Black’s intense chagrin, they turned their faces to the opposite side. ‘‘ Better to drown than to fall into his hands,” Jean said. On they swam. The swift current tossed them about; they battled energetically with the wild, rushing waters ; one moment they could see no escape—they were confident they must die ; but the next instant Jean struck out bravely for the shore again, with a fervent ‘‘We shall be saved” trembling on her lips, On—on; God surely guided them, for past the eddies they went safely over the whirling waves, which hid deep, treacherous holes, and on—on—they are nearing the shore, Jean in ad- vance. She turns to see that her mother is safe. Yes! Mrs. Conway, though pale and terrified, is swimming onward, almost at the side of her intrepid daughter. 177 ‘‘Cheer up, mother dear ‘*we will outwit them yet.” On—on; thank God, they are close to the bank now, and clutching at the weeds and shrubbery, which grow dense and rank to the water's edge, the two succeeded in pulling them- selves to shore. One moment they stand, all dripping with water, and cast a look of defiance to the other side, where their hated pursuer stands, pallid and vengeful, glaring after them ; then they turn away to the swamp near by, and vanish in its depths. : Strange good fortune!+the horses, too, have swam -in the same direction, Jean and her mother have not gone very far cries the clear, girlish voice; Gomichooks (E(0) =)