Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-11
larly, everything that was sand ana done

larry, everything that was SAID ana done
by them.
When about two.thirds across the river,
Gordon, Gmore to keep up the cenversa-
ton than any thing else, thought asked
if / had any tobacco, and, upon being an
swered In the negative, turned with the
same question, to Thompson, who replied
that he ''had little Kaintuck."
Hardly had the words been uttered
when terrific yell, rivalling that of
Comanche Indian, came from the boat,
followed by loud splash, and-Tom was
gone.
In the growing darkness it was impos
slble to distinguish him from floating
cake of ice Whether he had struck one
and was stunned, or whether he was held
down by one, was equally uncertain, as
no answer came to my frantic and oft-re-
peated "Tom, Tom. where are yous"
| NY attention was now drawn to my re-
naming companions. For moment
they could not understand the turn at
fairs had taken, but when they fully real
lied the full import of what had occurred,
their rage was without limits. Language
utterly failed to express their chagrin
that Tom should have escaped when they
could have secured him SO easily (tor
now understood the true business of these
"lumber dealers from Vermont" and re-
collected that, two or three months be-
fore, Southern gentleman, upon seeing
Tom, inquired particularly concerning
the circumstances under which had en-
ployed HIM.
Nothing was left for us to do but to
reach shore, which we did after e short
pull at the oars. After the first burst OF
anger, my companions maintained dog
ged silence, and as we touched the shore
were joined by two other 'lumDer deal
ers," who appeared to be expecting them,
| They left me without word, and were
, soon lost to view.
AS could not think of returning at
night, alone. went at once to the house
of friend, to whom related the whole
? affair. After talking the matter over, We
| concluded that we could render Tom no
assistance that night, and that the best
, course to pursue was to keep the matter
quiet for few days, and see if he would
4 not turn up on Canada side again. This
: was more than likely, as he was capital
E swimmer, and as unconcerned under
8 boat as in one generally.
On the following morning I
t crossed the river and came directly
t to the house. How to account
: for my being alone was a problem
e that l was called upon to solve. Tom
Y would be missed at once, was confident
: of that. And whether it was advisable
to tell the whole story at once, or to ex-
I plain his absence in some other way, l
: could not decide. If he we're still on the
= New York side, he might be detained by
!. parties that knew to be in sympathy
t with my disappointed visitors. But once
+ on British soil no harm could betall him.
= Guided by these reasons, determined to
: say as little as possible concerning the
:. manner in which he had so suddenly
: disappeared.
: However it was not made necessary for
q me to invent any plausible explanation
T. in order to stifie inquiry, for entered
e the hotel only to be met and welcomed
l by Tom.
a Surprised beyond measure, could on
d ly grasp the honest fellows hand and
e gaze in mock establishment into his round,
laughing face. He was the first to speak,
it "Well, sah," said be, g neber suppos-
a ed anything war wrong wild dem felIahs
U I'LL JeS mean udL dT one WOrG halnIuck,
l. an then it went right through dis chile's
e head to wonst, an climb out oh dat ar
l. boat an heah I is,'' and the way in
IS which Tom danced around the room was
l. remarkable.
1t "Well, Tom," now managed to say
n "you are no more glad than l am because
a OF your narrow escape, and in the future
,r I shall never expect you to cross the
l. river under any circumstances"
e "Much obliged to you, sab, much
obliged to you," said Tom shut I don't
,r stay in dis yeah place no mo-, and in
d spite OF all said he collected his things
d into bundle, and thanking me with
l. tears III his eyes for what l had done fol
IT him, shouldered his pack and started
N north to seek home anew.
+ "AHd you have never heard from him
lie since9" inquired, as the landlord com
pieted his story.
n 80, yes; when the war closed he went
l. to Chicago, where he is doing a good
is business; has five or six thousand dollar.
1t ahead and anticipates no trouble from
1t Vermont lumber dealers. l hear from
7, him occasionally. He is coming out Il
l see me in the spring.