chooner moved slowly up the solemn river through
the dense shadows of the overhanging forests. The boats' crews were
relieved every hour, and shortly before sunrise the children, who had
been forced by sleepiness to take naps in their state-rooms, were
wakened by Uncle Christopher, who said,

"Come, children, hurry up on deck. The schooner has just been made fast
to the 'Go Bang' pier, and we're going to fire a gun to wake up the
folks--a sort of a 'Go Bang' good-morning, you know."

CHAPTER XX.

EDNA MAY MARCH.

Mark, Ruth, and Edna hurried on deck, and reached it in time to see
Captain May load to its muzzle the small brass cannon that was carried
on the schooner for firing signals.

How beautiful and peaceful everything looked! The tide, with which they
had come up, filled the river to the brim, and it sparkled merrily in
the light of the rising sun. The ferry-boat lay moored to the bank just
in front of the schooner, and they could see the tin horn hanging to
its post, and the very card on which were the ferry rates that Ruth had
printed so many months before. The house was hidden from their view by
a clump of trees, but over their tops rose a light column of smoke, and
they knew Aunt Chloe was up and busy, at any rate.

Suddenly, flash! bang! the small cannon went off with a roar worthy of
a larger piece, and one that woke the echoes for miles up and down the
river, disturbed numerous wild water-fowl from their quiet feeding, and
sent them screaming away through the air, and set all the dogs in
Wakulla to barking furiously. In the midst of all the clamor the
children heard the loud bark of their own dog, Bruce, and in another
moment he came bounding down to the landing, and was the first to
welcome them home.

At the same time a number of colored people, among whom the children
recognized several familiar faces, came running down to the opposite
bank of the river, where they stood rubbing their eyes and staring at
the big schooner, the first that had been seen in their river in many
years.

The children did not pay much attention to them, however, for a
landing-plank was being run ashore, and they were eager to go to the
house. As Mark reached the wharf, and was holding out his hand to Ruth,
who followed, there was a loud hurrah behind him, and before he could
turn around Frank March had thrown his arms round his neck, and was
fairly hugging him in his joy.

"I knew you'd come when we weren't ex