Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-04

which his pilot proposed to quiet his
conscience, though he had to admit it
was not a bad scheme.
"But," he remarked, "won't the rebs
capture us if we make q landing to try
that kind of a barter~
eyes, they would be likely to. But it
struck me that before we got out of the
Ohio we might meet a steamer that'd be
willin to exchange know most O. the
cap'ns, and wouldn't mind THROWN in
few extra bushels for the sake O. the
accommodation.
This idea seemed to greatly please
both men, although Brown observed
that he would not go to so much trou-
BILE, and volunteered to do all the lying
in case they were stopped and ques-
toned.
To this Leathers would not consent:
so the matter was dropped.
Day and night the broadhorn foated
TRANQUILITY down the Ohio. One after
another the large towns and cities were
passed, and our friends could see that
everywhere on shore great excitement
prevailed.
They were now journeying through
what might be termed neutral coun-
try, for the people at this time had not
openly espoused the cause of the other
side.
Nearly week they had been absent
from Pittsburg when they arrived at
Louisville. Here they were obliged to
haul up and await their turn in passing
through the canal.
"You uns won't get very far with that
Yankee COAL" observed loafer on the
levee.
"The boats fronbdown river say that
they uns are just lookin for such chaps
as you uns."
"Reckon they be-" replied Brown, to
whom the remark was addressed "And
they won't have to look hard to find us,
for broadhorn amt so small an object
that it can't be seen from one bank to
another"
That was the only comment made
which would tend to cause the boatmen
to fear for their safety farther along.
When again well on their way, leaving
the city behind them, the pilot said
"I've fixed it, Billy. I've fixed it all
right. You know Hub Shelton, the
cap'n o the Sanduslzy? Well, he's COM
ing out O Louisville some time tonight,
and'll overhaul us long way this side
O. Cairo. He's agreed to slow down an
make fast an give us 1870 bushels O.
secesh coal for 100 O. ourn. What do
you think O. that, my boy?"
cts right pert scheme" was the
a., 10
any, an will be heap of relief to your
mind"
"That's just it, my lad"
Some hours after midnight the heavy
putting of high pressure boat was
heard approaching from up the river.
"There's the Sandusky!" exclaimed
Leathers. "Now, light another lantern,
Bill, and swing it SO Skelton'n know
it's us"
AS soon as the signal was displayed,
the experienced boatmen could tell by
the sounds that reached them that the
steamer was slowing down.
"Its all right" said the pilot. ''Stand
by for her lines. And you fellows get
ready to roust 100 bushels aboard of
her lively"
Gurus, boat jest out O. Louisville
wantin ter buy COAL" grumbled one of
the men.
'P'raps she's secesh an the Yanks
wouldn't sell it to her, or p'raps she's
Yank and the secesh wouldn't sell it to
her," returned another of the crew.
"You can't tell how it is in these times"
1t did not take long to secure the
hawsers, and the big steamer and the
broadhorn foated on down the river side
by side.
When the boatmen saw the negro
crew of the Sandusky pass them with
filled baskets and dump coal on their
own pile, they came to the conclusion
that either Leathers, the pilot, or the cap
tain of the steamer, or both, were crazy,
but they continued their labor until
ordered to cease.
Then the big boat drew ahead, and
soon her red hot smokestacks disap-
peared around the bend farther down.
Leathers fairly danced with delight
when the exchange had been completed
and he was again alone with his little
band. Calling his crew to him, he said:
SNOW, boys, if we're hauled up afore
we reach the Mississippi, or leastwise
afore we pass Island Number Ten, and
any one asks what we've got aboard,
tell 'em 'Pittsburg COAL but after that,
mind you, it's Kentucky, for we've just
taken some out O. the Sandusky."
AS the cleverness of the pilots scheme
dawned upon the none too brilliant
minds of the boatmen, they burst into
hearty laugh and congratulated their
superior upon his strategy.
On, on they drifted, until the Missis-
sippi opened before them. Although
many boats were met, some containing
officers and soldiers in uniform, they
were interrupted but once before they
reached the Father of Waters.
eff you know when you're well off,
you'd better work in and make land
ing on the Illinois shore and sell your
coal for what it will FETCH" advised
man who had come off in skiff to hail