The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-10

~ as an act of courtesy and to wish them
good luck, but it then occurred to me that
by going over with them,I could attend
to certain business in the opposite village
and save q journey at some future time
TOR that purpose only.
As stepped into the boat noticed an
expression of surprise on the faces of nv
recent guests, and in moment, in fact
before had taken my seat, one of them
asked ''if intended to 20, too, , and up-
on my saying that I did, and giving my
reasons for having changed my calcula-
tons, the other inquired, rather sharply,
''if l couldn't arrnnge my matters at
some other time"
49," I replied, 81 hardly suppose it
would make any difference to you, and
80 L"
"Yes; but we have special business on
the other side," interposed Gordon
"Ihen shall not trouble you after We
leave the boat" I answered, for by that
time ! was provoked, and immediately
aided: "Pull away, Tom," 81 49,
Tom did as directed, and the long
strong sweep. of his oars (for he had
grown to be d powerful fellow during the
time he had been with mel was soon
placing .goodly distance between us and
the Canada side. - Es@''a%
Although I could see that nv presence
was anything but agreeable to-. nv. late
guests, yet we were soon talking about
the probabilities Of having clear dav
on the morrow, ETC., and would thought
no more OF our little difference at the
start, had not my previously -awakened
suspicious caused me to notice, particu-
/ iarly, everything that was SAID and done
by them. 4 : p 4
When about two-thirds across the river.
Gordon, (more to keep up the cenvere
ton than any thing else, thoueht) al
II had any tobacco, and, upon being
swered In the negative, turned with
same question, to Thompson, who replieo(
that he ''had little Kaintuck. ny -
Hardly had the words been uttered
when terrific yell, rivalling that of a
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 a floating
cake of ice. Whether he had struck one
and was stunned, or whether he was held
down by one, was equally uncertsin, as
no answer came to my frantic and oft-re.
peated "Tom, Tom, where are youg"
My attention was now drawn to nv re-
naming companions. For a moment
they could not understand the turn af
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 50 easily {tor I
now understood the true business of these
"lumber dealers from Vermont" and re-
collected that, two or three months be-
tore, Southern gentleman, upon seeing
Tom, inquired particularly concerning
the circumstances under which l had en-
ployed hlm.) " .'~.~ "f'
Nothing was left for US to do but to
reach shore, which we did after a short
pull at the oars. After the first burst of
anger, my companions maintained a 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 l could not think of returning at
night, alone. I went at once to the house
OF a 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
not turn up on Canada side again. This
was more than likely, as he was capital
swimmer, and as unconcerned under
boat as In one generally.
On the following morning
crossed the 80 river and came directly
to- the. house. How to account
for my being alone was; problem
that / was called upon to solve. Tom
would be missed at once, I was confident
of that. And whether it was advisable
to tell the whole story at once, or to ex-
plain his absence in some other way, I
could not decide. If he were still on the
New York side, he mi ht be detained by
parties that knew to be in sympathy
with my disappointed visitors. But, once
on British soil NO harm could betall him.
Guided by these reasons, l determined to
say as little as possible concerning the
manner in which he had so suddenly
disappeared.
However it was not made necessary for
me to invent any plausible explanation
in order to stihe inquiry, for entered
the hotel only to be met and welcomed
by Tom.
Surprised beyond measure, could on
ly grasp the honest fellows hand and
gaze in mock astonishment into his round,
laughing face. He was the first to speak.
swell, sah,,' said he, :. I neber suppos-
ed anything war wrong wild dem fellahs
till I jes heah dat ar one word .Kaintuck,
an then it went right through dis chile's
head to swonst, an climb out Oh dat ar
boa, an heah I is,' and the way in
which Tom danced around the room was
remarkable. ~ :
"Well, Toni 1 now managed to say,
"you are no more glad than am because
OF your narrow, escape, and in the future
l shall never expect you to cross the
river under any circumstances"
"Much obliged to you, sab, much
obliged to you,', said Tom "but I don't
stay in dis yeah. place no mo-, and in
spite OF all said he collected his things
into bundle, and thanking me with