handle the terrible
McGee, whom men so feared.

"She's thar in the horspittal, jest like yuh told me tuh leave her,"
the boy said, steadily enough. "She's awaitin' till ther eye doctor he
kims erlong down from the Nawth. They 'spected him yist'day. Reckons
as how he musta arriv."

"But why did yuh kim away, an' leave the pore leetle gal alone thar?"
continued McGee, in a low but fearful voice.

Already Phil realized that this man was no common creature, but one to
be reckoned with. He could now easily believe the stories he had heard
about the tremendous strength of the giant. And it was easy to see how
he kept control over the members of the squatter clan by sheer force of
character.

"She war bein' looked arter fine. Ther nusses was kind, an' they sez
as how nawthin' cud be did till the doctor he kim. But I got chased
outen town by a gang o' men, an' they'd sure given me thuh cowhidin'
they sez, on'y I hid aboard the boat uh these boys. They be'n mighty
good tuh me too. They ain't nawthin' they wouldn't do foh me, I tells
yuh. An' ther critter as was leadin' them cowards as chased me acrost
kentry, he was Kunnel Brashears!"

Then the shingle-maker broke out into a string of profanity that
shocked Larry, and set him to shivering again. He could do little save
stare at this remarkable man, and draw in great breaths. No doubt he
regretted the evil day he had promised to accompany his chum down into
this region of swamps, alligators, wildcats, and lawless squatters.
But it was much too late now to think of retreating; they had thrown
their hat into the ring, and must accept the consequences of their
rashness.

McGee, turning, snatched a lantern from its resting place. This he
held alternately in front of, first Phil, and then Larry. Evidently he
judged the latter to be of small consequence anyway; for after that
moment he paid attention only to the one whom he believed to be the
leading spirit in the expedition.

"Yuh don't 'pear tuh be a Southerner?" he said, frowning at Phil.

"Oh! no, I've only come down here with my friend for a trip. We had
the boat sent by rail, and launched her in the river above here. We
expect later to run on down to the gulf, and do some cruising there.
But first of all I wanted to stop over with the shingle-makers of the
swamps, and meet you, McGee!"

Phil said this without putting on airs. He knew that any one who found
himself virtually in the power of these inde