Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-10-21

Il heap sight soundcr that night,
thinking l had squeezed through a
mighty narrow hole.
The conscientious chief slowly sllook
his head but made no answer for sew
eral minutes; finally, he said,-
"pcrhaps there's some way we can
get around it. Now. Kentucky is as
much Scccsh as she is for the Union,
so was thinlin' if we could make IL
trade for Il hundred bushcl or so of
her coal, wc'dhave both kinds aboard.
and we'd be all right"
Brown smiled at the novel manner
in which his pilot proposed to quiet
his conscience, though he had to adj
nit it was not IL bad scheme.
'sBut, Inc remarked, 'swon't the
rcbs capture us if we make Il landing
TO try that kind of Il hartar::.
Eyes, they would he likely to.
But it struck me that before we got
out of the Ohio we might meet Il
steamer that'd he willing to exchange.
l know most o. the cap'ns, and.
wouldn't mind throwin' i'm IL few
extra bushels for the sake o. the ac-
commodation."
This idea seemed to greatly please
both men. although Brown observed
that he wouln not go to so much
trouble. and volunteered to do all the
lying i'm case they were stopped and
questioned.
To this Lcathcrs would not consent,
so the matter vas dropped.
Day and night the broadhorn tloatcd.
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 %journcying through
what might he termed a neutral
country, for the people, at this time,
had not openly cspousrd the cause of
the other side.
Nearly IL week they had been alb
sent from Pittsburgh when they ar
rived at Louisville. Here they were
Obliged TO haul up and await their
turn in passing through tho canal.
''Sou-uns won't get very far with
that Yankee COAL" observed IL Ioafcr
ON the lcvec.
THE boats from down river say
that thcy-uns are just lookin' for
such chaps as you-uns."
''lscclon they be-" replied Brown
Brown, to whom the remark was adj
dressed. "And they won't have to
look hard to find us, for a broadhorn
amt so small IN object that it can't
be seen from n bank to another"
This was the only comment made
which would tend to cause the boat
men to fear for their safety further
along. When again we'll on their
way, leaving the city behind them.
che pilot said:
''l'vc fixed it, Billy. I've fixed it
all right. You know HUB SHELTON,
the cap'n % the Sandusky. Well, he's
coming out o Louisville some Time to-
hight, and III overhaul us Il long way
this side o. Cairo. He's agreed to
slow down am make fast, and give us
Is Observation-Disclosures bushels o. Sc
ccsh coal for Il hundred and twenty o.
ourn. What do you think % that, my
hoy?"
''lt's Il right pert scheme" was the
reply. Seem it amt a-goin' to delay
us any, an will be Il heap of relief to
your mind
'.That's Just it, my lad"
Some hours after midnight, the
heavy putting of a high-prcssure boat
was heard, approaching them up the
river.
''Thcrc's the sandusky.n exclaimed
Leaticrs. Snow, light anofhcr lam
tern, Bill, and swing it so SHELTON III
know it's u.s.
AS sol as the signal was displayed,
the experienced boatman could tell by
the sounds that reached them that the
steamer was slowing down.
..It's all right" said the pilot.
Stand by for her lines. And YOU fell
lows get ready to roust a hundred and
twenty bushels aboard of her lively"
Gurus, a boat jest out O. Louis
vile wantin' ter buy COAL" grumblcd
III of the men.
s'P'raps she's Sccesh an the Yanks
wouldn't sell it to her, or p'raps sh's a
Yank an the Seccsh 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
hawscrs. and the big steamer and the
broadhorn iloated on down the river,
side by side.
When the boatmcn saw the negro
crew of the Sandusky pass them with
filled baskets. and dump coal upon
their OWL pile, they came to the con
clusion that either Leathers, the pilot,
the captain 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 smoke stacks disap-
pearcd around the bend farther down.
Lcathers fairly danced with delight
when the exchange had been com
plcted, and he was again alone with
his little band. Calling his crew
about him, he said:
s.Now. boys. if we're hauled up
afore we reach the Mississippi OF
lcastwisc aforc we pass Island Mum.
, her Ten, and anyone asks what we've
got aboard, tell 'em pittsburgh coal;'