The Red Cloud chief., 1875-11-11

they showed Gen. Zach Tayloris plant
sti0:, or the scene Of the Grand Gulf
"cave," where's square mile Of Louisiana
dropped into the river o night. Cap
tains rather cultivated them, in fact,
although it was a difficult bit Of bust
aess, for ~roustabouts who wouldn't say
"thank you" tor a glass of French
brandy, or a genuine, ODD fashioned
,~plantation cigar" seemed destitute of
ordinary handles Of which a steamboat
Captain could take hold. Lady pas
sengers took considerable notice of
them, and were more successful than
any n else at drawing them into con.
versation. The linguistic accomplish
ments of the Chums were no. numerous,
but it did one good to see Black lose his
scared, furtlve look when a lady ad-
dressed him, and to see the affectIonate
Difference with which he appealed to
Red, until that worthy was drawn into
the conversation. When Black sue
comm back without 'em-need whisky
to bring EN- to, l suppose. Why didn't
I send whisky down by the other boat1
There's an awful amount of time beng
wasted here. What's the matter, Mr..
Bells" shouted the Captain, as the boat
approached the steamer.
'Both dead" replied the officer.
"DeadG Now, ladies and gentlemen"
exclaimed the Captain, turning towards
the passengers, who were crowding for
ward just below him, ~ want to know
If that amt q streak of the meanest kind
of luck! Both the Chums gone! Why,
l won't be able 10 hold up my head in
New Orleans. How came 1t that just
those two fellows were knocked OutT"
"Red tumbled out, and Black jumped
in after him." replied the officer, "Red
must have been caught in IN eddy and
tangled in the old trees top-clothes torn
almost of-head caved in. Black must
have burst a blood vessel his face looked
like a copper pan when he reached shore,
aud he just grOsned and dropped
The Captain was sorry-so sorry that
he sent a waiter for brandy. But the
Captain was human, business was bust
ness, the rain was falling, and Il big log
was across the boats bow, 50 be- shouted:
Hurry up and bury 'em, then. You
ought to let the second boats crcw gone
on with that, aad you have gone back to
your ~soundings. They @ds the Chums,
to be sure, but 10Y they're only dead
roustabOuts. Below there. Pass out a
couple of shovels"
"Perhaps some ladies' would go down
with the boat, C~sptain-and a preacher,
too, if there's one aboard" remarked the
mate, with Nm earnest but very mysteri-
Gus expression.
"Why, what in thunder does the fell
low meant" solilo9uized the Captain,
audibly. "Women-and a preacher-for
dead roustabouts. What do you mean,
Mr.. Belle"
"Red's a wonan," briefly responded
the mate.
The passengers all s~tarted-the Cap
tain brought his hands together with a
tremendous cl lap, and exclaimed:
Murder will out! But who'd have
thought l was to be the man to find out
the secret of the Carmi Chums? Guess
I'll be the biggest man on the New Or
leans levee, sitter all. Yes, certainly-of
course some ladies IL go-and a preach.
or, too, if there's such a man aboard.
Hold up, though-well all go. Take
your soundings, quick, and we'll drop
the steamer just below the point and tie
up. I wonder if there is a preacher
aboardT
No one responded for a moment; then
the Judge spoke:
"Before l entered the law I was the
regularly settled pastor of a Presbyterian
church," said lie. "I'm decidedly rusty
now, but a little time will enable me to
prepare myself properly. Excuse me,
ladies and gentlemen"
The sounding boat pulled away, and
the Judge retired to his stateroom. The
ladies, with very pale faces, gathered in
a group and whispered earnestly with
each other; then ensued visits to each
others statercoms, and the final regath-
ering Of the ladies with two or three
bundles. The soundings were taken,
and as the steamer dropped down stream,
men were seen cutting a path down the
rather steep clay bank. The Captain
| put his hands to his mouth and shouted:
"Dig only n grave-make it wide
enough for two"
And all the passengers nodded assent
and satisfaction.
Tue had teen short since the news
reached the steamer, but the Benefits
carpenter, who was himself a married
man, had made a plain coffin by the time
the boat tied up, and another by the
time the grave was dug. The first was
put upon 3 lopg barrow, over which the
Captain had previously spread a table
cloth. and followed by the ladies, was
deposited beside the body OF Red. Half
an hodr later the men placed Black in
the other coffin, removed both to the
aide of The sraYe. and signaled the boat