To have a fine big car fetching a trio of colored children home was an event of importance.
Boys and girls, and a sprinkling of older persons as well, hurried to ascertain what it could mean.

Doubtless they were quick to sense the fact that something out of the common run must have occurred to cause such a happening.
Hugh recognized an old man he knew as a preacher, and addressing himself to this person he hastened to explain.
"These children were up at the old mill-pond, and the boy had made a raft on which he was having the time of his life, when the thing separated, and left him clinging to one plank where the water was quite deep.

We chanced to hear the girls' screams and got to the spot in time to push out in an old boat and get hold of him just as he was sinking.

He's a plucky little chap, I want to tell you.

Only for the way he held on to that plank, he must have drowned before we could reach him.