The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-26
CHAPTER v.
Morning on the River.

After the random shot had been fired,
Isaac Akers and the woman, suffering
greatly from hunger and fatigue from the
battle and the exhaustion of worry so
long without rest or food, permitted the
boat to drift with the current, making
no effort to guide it with the oars. as it
was evident to both that ii was useless
to try to End a landing until daylight.
they were satisfied to let the river di-
rect their voyage, but, after daylight,
they hoped to get some food at some
friendly house on the bank, and then de-
eide what course to pursue. The night
was now waning. The stars more dimly
grew, the dark shadowy forms of the
hills on the eastern bank rose slowly
cut of the blaclness beneath and marked
their highest peaks with the faintest
vapory halo. 1t was mornings first ban
ner hung on the hilltops. The stars. enc
by one, sank farther and farther back
from the darkness to hide in the light
The trees grew out of the invisible and
took their places like sentinels guarding
the departing night. The blackness of
the sky, far up, faded into gray, be-
meath was a tinge of blue while soft
light was hanging over the hills. The
trees are now more plainly visible. The
light is clearer. Above the hilltops,
crown Of sapphire and gold; beneath,
canopy Of purple, and all softly melts
into the rosy morn whose long bosom of
the river, sparkling from every ripple
like sea of waving diamonds. The
god of light has mounted his chariot of
fire and waves the torch OF day.
1t was now broad daylight and the
boat was still drifting down with the
stream. The woman being the philos-
opher on this occasion, and, like the
first woman on the first morning, began
to complain about her wearing apparel
| IF 1 had only gotten some mems
| clothing last night" she said, Il could
get off and not burden you, for 1 sup
pose you must go back to your regi-
| ment."
Yes" replied Isaac Akers. 81 must
go back, and 1 was just meditating and
| thinking, or trying to think, of some
better way for you to take than the
| road across this wild country. when
| these papers to Cedar Dell 1t is true.
| If we were blessed with little money
we could drift down the river to the
| first railroad station and you could start
| from there, but as we have none you
| will have to return up the river on
| foot. The farther we go the farther you
| will have to walk when you start back"
At this point little log cabin was
| discovered on the hillside, like an eagle
/ nest on crag; though il was not the
/ place. one MOulu SELECT Tor an elaborate
meal, the hungry inmates of the little
| boat We're not long in deciding about
making a landing. They approached
] the little cabin and found two old col
ored women whom their race believed
| to be witches, and had accused them
Of hoodooing their bean patches until
| they wouln't grow any beans, and had
1 banished them to that lonely place.
| AS might be expected under these cir.
| cumstances, the meal was not very
/ sumptuous, but such il was, corn
| bread and bacon, was very welcome
and tasted better than anything they
| had ever eaten before. They were desti-
| tute Of money, but both Isaac Axes and
| the woman had a little spare tobacco
which for ages had been the accompani.
ment of misery, and lights up a barbar.
| Gus joy that nothing else seems to awak.
en-. They donated this to the old black
| women, with their blessings, and were
/ blessed in return. Having enjoyed Their
| meal as only the half furnishing can
they returned to the boat to say good
| bye and separate, going in opposite di
| rections. As the boat was too large and
heavy for the woman to row up stream
| and even If she was to do so she might
| come across its former owners IL wa.
useless TO think about that. But rs
Isaac Akers had to make a journey
| down stream, he might as well use the
| craft. which he decided to do. Though
she was as ugly as any creature he haC
ever seen. the beauty of her soul anc
| the depth of her kindness made her seen
10 him the most lovely creature OF
earth; nor could he suppress the emotion
when thanking her and telling her good
| bye.
Though / know you not" said he, ~
owe my life and all to you, and trus
! and hope you will remain at Cedar Del
until return. Can you promise?"
A scarlet flush spread over her face
| She was a woman. and for the first tir1lf