Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-08-29


We're interrupted but once before they
reached the Father If Waters.
"lf you know when you're we'll off,
you'd tier work in and make n land
ing ON the Illinois shore and sell your
coal for what it will fetch" advised
man who mad come off in skiff to hail
them. IF you don't, the seces. will
seize it a I'd chuck you fellows overheard
to the catfish"
81 hope things aint quite as bad as
that" returned Leathers.
'lf they're not now thy will be be-
fore you get 200 miles further"
By this time the manin.the skiff was
so far astern that his voice could scarce
ly be heard, and the pilot winked at his
assistant and chuckled.
The third night after passing Cairo
they We're startled by seeing boat con-
tanning six men shoot out of the dark
ness and its occupants spring over the
rail.
The strangers were armed and quickly
covered the two pilots with their re-
volyers.
"Where are you fromg' demanded the
leader.
I'VE left Louisville two weeks ago."
promptly replied Brown.
mo lies. This is Yankee COAL" as
serted the newcomer.
Nov if that stuff you're standin on
warn't mined in Kentucky you may
hang Jack Leathers to any tree on the
bank" retorted the pilot
"Ah, Leathers, is that your" went ON
the officer Of the guard. "Now know
we've captured prize" And turning
to his followers he continued: 1.-Two Of
you men jump into the skitf and run his
line out to the shore. And you, Leath-
ers, order your crew to the oars. You
must make n landing at Vicksburg. All,
ha, this lot of Yankee coal is just what
tho boys are in need Of"
II tell you,' persisted the pilot, "Pve
got Kentucky coal aboard"
"Perhaps you have but we'll see."
AS the two secessionists got into the
boat Brown went forward to hand them
the end of the warping line. In passing
among his own crew he whispered:
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 out! Pay out" shouted the SOL
diers in the boat.
'All right" returned the second pilot.
Pull away, you're getting it now
fastern you can take it." Though in
reality Brown was holding onto the
rope until he could secure piece of
timber to it, to mislead the would be
captors and induce them them to think
they were towing hawser. Then he
cut the line and noiselessly dropped the
log of wood into the water.
In the darkness the four southerners,
who were gathered about the indignant
pilot, could not see what was going on,
nor did they realize any change in the
situation until they felt their arms pin
ioned to their sides and heavy hands
placed over their mouths.
"What does this mean?" questioned
Leathers
"Means," replied the intrepid Brown,
that we don't propose to make land
ing 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. II
won't take half an hour to leave the
lights behind. Where are the two ras-
calls that went off in the skiff?'
Glowing Il log of wood ashore to Sc
cure it to the bank" answered Brown,
with chuckle.
All eyes were now 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.
| AS the sun arose the coalboats were
well down in the sparsely settled coun-
try, and Leathers, having secured the
soldiers weapons, ordered them to be
released and invited them to join him at
breakfast.
"What are you going to do with usT'
demanded the officer, as soon as he re-
covered speech.
''Set you adrift in one of my skiffs
when you have finished eating" was
the cool reply.
you'll be made to suffer for this, be.
lieve me, Leathers."
"Oh, reckon not My instructions
were to take this coal south as quickly
as possible, and not to 'tie up" or allow
myself to be stopped under any circum-
stances. And | judge the officer who
is looking for this cargo is little bit
higher up than you are, my friend"
But where are you taking it?'
"There's another of my instructions.
Not to tell soul on the river 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 a
hard pull, know, but it is your owr
fault, { You should have taken my word
and not made the attempt to retard my
progress" Hrn H. AoriG