The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-07

| when l might make such brilliant figur
as speculatOr. By the time had reached
this point fell to talking of my dissatisfac
ton to passenger ON board who was max
ing the trip up with me. He insisted tina
the danger l dreaded, was after all imagi
nary.
Z" These fellows" SAID he, are deter
mined to make a clean sweep of the cotton
in the interior; and your friend-who, aftel
all, only gave you back your own bOat-has
thrown you bone for a purpose of his own
and is really one of the ring With sucl
chances as yOu have, you are foolish for not
playing for all there is on the board. IT you
ever get "a successful load out of one of the
interior bayous, where yOu fix the price
yourself, your fortune will be made fol
life"
"You talk as if you had made the thing q
study, and were thoroughly posted mp IL
the NATTER" said, emphasizing my words
in snch a way as t" give him an opportn-
nifty to make his proposition, if he had any
such to make.
The man took in my meaning at once.
81 live on Devils Bayou" he said, 'and
| know every cotton planter up there much
better than | know You. If you agree to
what l advise you, and allow me my pro
rata for my trouble, put me ashore immedi-
ately and proceed with your boat up the
bayo l will hurry across the country on
horseback, whispering to each planter, as
ride along, what they must do, and will be
at the head of the bayou before your boat
arrives. Y"u will not have to wait mo-
ment for single BALE and, before the gov
eminent officials can be appraised that yon
have entered, you will have obtained your
cargo and be once more descending towards
the city. Are you into it: Do You say
landw
My mind was made up. decided to stake
all on the chance. l, however, was so much
affected with the greatness of my risk, that
could not reply and, instead of speaking,
| gave the signal to head the boat to the
shore The man understood me-gave few
rapid directions about ascending and con-
cert Of action which were unnecessary, as
was thoroughly familiar with the ground,
and by the time the boat had rounded to
AMI made her landing, he had sprung ashore
with his baggage in hand.
Its all right, Captain" he shouted, as he
disappeared out of sight; and tried to
think that what he had said was true. But,
somehow, after we had again put on steam,
as sat meditating over the matter, under
the bright full moon that shone on the black
waters and painting, heaving boat, my
mind more and more misgave me, l
would, probably, have recalled my rash
promise if it had been in my power"
"Devifs, Bayou | muttered I" it is the
fiend himself that is making me risk dead
sure thing for an uncertainty. But it is too
late to stop now"
immediately hunted up the plot, but the
only command or explanation of my change
Of plan was a few brusgue and short words,
telling him to turn into Devils Bayou and
to proceed up to its head. He made no re-
ply at first, but it was easy to see in the
sparkle of his eye that he comprehended
more than was said by my words. He, and
almost every hand on board who shared, to
some extent, the venture, or supposed that
they shared it, (tor there, as was ultimately
shown by the result, was tronble,) had be-
come affected with the same greed.
"This will be about the first boat that has
passed up that way in twenty years." he
said. ''There are not many people that know
that the Bayou is even navigable; that is
to say if it really is So"
''Well,7 replied, little anxionsly, eve
have plenty Of cable on board, and IA plenty
of water; and if we happen to get aground
we can pull her up with the wndlass and en-
CINE. don't suppose the jayhawkers will
know that we are here, or trouble lis, and if
we get safe through, the thing is bound to
pay for everybody on board"
''The plan suits me, Captain. no boat has
been seen for years. Coming in the night time,
we are not likely to be mOlested 10y any dis
orderly gangs, either black or white If
they had to see us they would think it
was the DEVILS own craft, or one equally to
be dreaded, and keep away from the bank"
The pilot at the time was off duty, and
was seated around that centre table which
SO often on river steamboats, is covered with
gaming checks. With him were several of
the officers, with open shirt collars, stongly
marked features, ruddy faces and powerful
frames there, too, were the cynical clerks
resting mOmentarily from their bills of Ia
ding, and there, too, was the harsh-volced
mate, tempering his passions to the lust
Of gain. Below, the gang Of laborers lay
scattered about sleeping with bare breasts,
and rude sticks of wood for pillows; or
dancing like fiends in front of the lurid fires
of the engines. The whole scene to its mi
nutest detail, stands out like a picture to
this day.
No other wOlds were uttered by myself
than those given above yet in a half hour
after they had been spoken, our destination
was known to every one on board. To the
lowest fireman, dipping mp the water which
ne drank in cup from therver; to the weary |
lining groom servants awaiting their turn to /
stand guard over different ends of the boat
1T is a desperate game we have com
nenced to play" muttered (which affects
,verybody's fortunes much more than any |
takes that they have ever put upon the
able. l would gvie half of what l hope to
gain fit was over with"
But the boat plunged on mp the turbid
stream, and not long after we had entered
he bayou, whose dangerous character was
shown in it's name.
On the following night the boat was
lailed by the party who had gone shore
Who had kindled light, and who on coming
board told me there was no need of our as
ending higher. He had secured as much
otton as the boat could carry already.
AT little distance from the river" he
aid :" lived two of the wealthest planters
II the South, at least they were SO before
he war; owners each of five hundred slaves
nd producers of crops in proportion. One
f them invested his estate from conviction
Il Confederate bonds, and of course has lost.
he other has raised enormous crops for four
ears, besides swindlng his generous
,rother ont of what still remained to him.
n vonl time this cntfOn FIR ona Season |