River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-06-09

down to the river bank, taking Andy
and me with them.
Our own boat was gone, but there
was another in its place-or, rather, a
few yards above where ours had been.
Ii was no doubt there when we landed,
but we had failed to see il. IL was a
ricaety old concern, empty save for a
pair of paddles.
This discovery was regarded as sure
sign of our guilt. great hubbub
arose, and we were roughly handled
for a moment or two.
But, fortunately, our own boat had
Jeff deep imprint in the sand. and
when we succeeded in pointing this out
to our captors they accepted it as evil
dence of the truth of our story-name-
ly. that the robbers had abandoned
their own boat and taken ours instead.
You fellows may be lying, and you
may not" said the leader, but IL you've
got nothing to do with this burglary
reckon Squire McMasters will want to
see you about that Indian grave, so
Wen send you right over to him"
The men held hasty conference. and
then hurried us across the island. Their
own boats were on that side-two big
bateaus Half of the party immedi-
ately embarked in one of them and
pulled with long strokes down the riv-
emo doubt in pursuit of the thieves.
The others crowded into the remaining
boat, taking US with the m. and headed
for the opposite shore.
BY this time there seemed to be a
l.alfAf IN, srnAnan.a
of our captors obligingly told us that
the men whom they were pursuing had
robbed a farmhouse ten miles up the
river that afternoon, and injured the
farmer.
The pugnacious young man, who had
tried to club us. was the latter's son.
The burglars had taken to the river in
a stolen boat, and the pursuing party
had followed steadily on their track.
until CLEAN of light from our lantern
caused them to land on the island.
Andy and took little interest in the
story of the burglary. We were wor-
ried over the lost boat, and over the
fate that Squire McMasters would
probably mete ont to US.
OF course the squire was in bed when
we landed. but he came down in dress
ing-gown and slippers, and rcs,ived the
whole party in the hall.
The confusing tale was soon told, and
the squire eyed Us inadvertently.
''Sacrilegious young rascals!" he mutt
tered. III teach them a lesson"
Then we were led away to an out
building and securely locked up. Es-
cape was out of the question, so we
made the best of the situation and slept
brokenly until morning
About eight o'clock the squire himself
liberated us and led US down the bank
to the river.
Half dozen of the men who had cap
tured us on the previous night were
standing around. Both bateaus lay in
the water, and between them we spied,
to our great delight, our own boat
The two burglars were captured
down on the dam" said the squire, in
peculiar voice. go you boys are exon
Grated from that charge. There is your
boat again. safe and sound"
He led us down to il, and lifted the
lid of the locker, revealing the heap of
bones and broken pottery.
II suppose this is the result of your
dissertation" he said, sternly. Which
mound did you get into? The one near
est the house?"
"Yes-yes, sir" we stammered, to-
gether.
The squire's eyes twinl1led and the
corners of his mouth twitched.
81 thought so, he said. Those are the
bones of my old white horse, Moses.
buried him there fifteen years ago, the
week / moved from the island. That
other valuable Indian pottery is some
broken crockery my wife threw into
the hole. There's a bushel or more Of
it back in my wood yard you may have,
and I'll pay you to boot for taking il
away" The squire paused a moment.
evidently to enjoy the situation. Il
won't prosecute yOd this time" he re-
sumed, but II / ever catch you on that
island again you'll not get OF so easily.
You can go now"
Andy and | took quick advantage of
this permission, and as we pulled swift
ly down the river we heard the squire
and his companions laughing uproar-
iously.
We sunk the bones and the crockery
in the deepest part of Clark's Ferry
dam, and arrived home in the middle of
the afternoon. Somehow or other the
joke got out, and it was a long time be-
fore we heard the last of it.
The experience taught us a lesson,
however, and from that time on we had
considerably more respect for the prop
erty of others. We never paid another
visit to Eagle island. Ralph Hamilton,
in Golden DAYS