News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-09-15
~ 0 Kinds %

t By this time the man in the ski
3 was so far astern that his voice coul,
l scarcely be heard, and the pilo
winked at his assistant and chuckled
The third night after passing Cairo
they were startled by seeing a boa
containing six men shoot out of tn,
darkness and its occupants spring
over the rail.
Where are you from? demanded
the leader.
1--WE left Louisville two weeks ago, ,
promptly replied Brown.
mo lies. This is Yankee COAL" as
serted the newcomer.
'Now if that stuff you're standing
on warn't mined in Kentuck, you
may hang Jack Leathers to any tree
on the bank, retorted the pilot.
''Ah, Leathers, is that you?"
went on the officer of the guard
'NOw | know we've captured "a prize. y
And turning to his followers he con-
tinued: "Two of you men lump into
the skiff and run his line out to the
shore. And you, Leathers, order
your crew to the oars. You must
make landing at Vicksburg. All,
ha, this lot of Yankee coal is lust
what the boys are in need of.
Il tell you,' persisted the pilot,
'Ive got Kentucky coal aboard"
Perhaps you have; but we will
see."
As the two seccessionists got into
the boat Brown went forward to
hand them the end of the warping
line. In passing among his own crew
he whispered:
"Look here, if those fellows take us
to Vicksburg every one of us will
hang before daylight. 1t seems to
me mighty cOwardly to allow half
dozen men, though they are armed,
to capture thirty big fellows like u.s."
A low growl was the response, but
it meant volumes.
PAY Outl Pay outI' shouted
the soldiers in the boat.
"All right" returned the second
pilot. Pull away, you're getting it
now EASTERN you can take it," But
in reality Brown was holding onto
the rope until he could secure a piece
OF timber to it, to mislead the would
be captOrs and induce them to think
they were towing a hawser. Then he
cut line and noiselessly dropped the
log of wood into the water.
In the darkness the four southern
ers who were gathered about the in
dignant pilot, could not see what was
going on, nor did they realize any
change in the situation until they
felt their arms pinioned to their sides
and heavy hands placed over their
mouths.
"What does this mean?" ques-
toned Leathers
Means" replied the intreped
Brown, "that we don't propose to
make a landing at Vicksburg, that's
all.
It's a bold stroke, but perhaps the
best one,' replied Leathers. Secure
them firmly until we get by the city.
Where are the two rascals that went
off in the ship.?'
Towing a log of wood ashore
to secure it to the bank, answered
All eyes were strained to detect
the presence of another guardboat
should one be abroad upon the river,
but our friends were not mOlested
and the broadhorn swept by the city
where ere long was to be the scene of
carnage and strife.
"What are you going to do with
us?" demanded the officer as soon as
he recovered speech.
"Set you adrift in one of my skiffs
when you have finished eating" was
the cool reply.
'You will be made to suffer for this
believe ME Leathers."
"Oh, reckon not. My instructions
were to take this coal south as soon
as possible, and not to allow myself
to be stopped under any circumstan-
ces. And L Judge the officer who is
looking for this cargo is a little high
er up than you are, my friend"
"But where are you taking it?"
"There's another of my instruc-
tions. Not to tell soul on the riv-
er to whom it is consigned. So if you
have finished your repast you may
climb into the skiff and go back
to Vicksburg. It'll be hard pull,
know, but it is your own fault. You
should have taken my word and not
made the attempt to retard my pro-
gress."
In surly mood the soldiers took
their seats in the boat land without
responding to the pilots farewell
started on a good ten mile row
against the strong current of the
Mississippi.
When they were well out of hearing
Leathers grasped the hand of his
assistant and said:
Brown, you did well, and if we
reach New Orleans all right you shall
have a hundred dollars for last
nights work, if [ have to pay it my
self"
"Oh, we'll be sure to get there safe
now, | tell you the way | reason.
Vicksburgh is the principal upper
guard station, and having run the |
gauntlet there successfully there is
but little danger of being stopped |
further down"
Eyes, but those fellows will report |
us as soon as they get ashore, set the
telegraph at work and we will be
caught again"
81 don't think so. They will be
ashamed to acknowledge that six
armed men allowed a coalboat to go |
by them"
Browns reasoning proved correct, |
and the people met with no further |
trouble, but delivered the coal in |
safety in New Orleans.
Although secesh sentiments ran
high in the Crescent City, the boat
men found no difficulty in securing
passes to return to their homes, and |
in just eight weeks from the time
they left home Jack Leathers, the
pilot, and Bill Brown, were back in
Pittsburg with a round sum ofmoney
in their pockets, earned by running a
cargo of coal to New Orleans.-Marl- |
ton Dowing in Yankee Blade.
BE PROUD OF Your BUsIN Ess. -
''The first thing a young man should
do is to decide what his advocate
shall be. The next and most impor-
tant is to adhere to this, to use every
means within reach to perfect himself
in his pursuit. allowing no sort of al
mrempnt TO waste his time or draw