Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-05-27

absence from the fort would be dis
covered. 1t was one chance in hun
dred, but Zack Brayton took that
chance and foated down the river.
The lights of the steamer receded in
the darkness; not sound broke the
stiffness save the plash, plash Of his
paddle. Bending forward, stfaining
his eyes to catch the first glimpse Of
danger in whatever form, the current
bore him on.
"0nly for her-her and the chill
dren," he muttered under his breath,
while his eyes grew moist. He wiped
them hastily, as though anyone could
perceive his weakness.
On-onl The water undulated
greatly under the boat as he floated
on it's broad, dark bosom. Now the
sUrrent set in near the shore, and mys-
terious sounds were borne out to him
from those wild forest depths-sounds
neither man nor beast could make. A
lone owl hooted dismally from tree
top. Instantly the woods seemed
alive with strange responses. He felt
awed and heaved sigh of relief when
the current bore him far out into the
stream once more.
With the first flush of dawn the SOL
dier guided his primitive craft to the
shore, drew it up out of the water and
managed to hide the unwieldy bulk in
the bushes. He looked at the stretched
buffalo skin with affection, thinking
what a good turn it was doing him.
All day he lay concealed in the vicin-
ity, not a mouthful Of food entering
his lips. With the gathering darkness
he was soon afoat, bound for "down-
river" and the old Missouri home.
He could scarcely tell the number
of days after while; he did not
care to keep account. All he desired
was to escape those who were doubt
less pursuing him. Wandering In
dians gave him food when he dared
seek it. He held his breath when he
passed the forts and settlements on
the river banks in the night. He
even fancied that the beatings of his
heart could be heard on either shore.
"If Elviry knowed how it war;" he
said to himself, "she might be
a-prayin' fur me, as she uster."
The thought gave him renewed
courage. He bent to the paddle with
a giants strength, and the bull-boat
went along faster than the current, yet
could not keep pace with his impa
tience
At length he began to chuckle grim
ly with satisfaction. Hour by hour
he felt that he was nearing home. In
dian wigwams no longer dotted the
plains. Dark objects loomed up on
the hills, which he knew to be school
houses or churches. Steamboats,
passed more frequently, and he was
obliged to use great caution in avoid
ing them, although few ever remained
out in the river late at night. Still he
chuckled, for every hour lessened the
danger. They would never look for
him so far down river, surely-they
would think he had fed toward the iu-
terror.
Tomorrow night" he assured him
self, "Pll leave the river and tramp
for IT,"
His face frightened; the sky, the
river, the plain took up n new express
sion of hopefulness, and the remainder
of that night his paddles dipped un-
ceasiugly.
"Pr'haps she amt quite so bad off
as the doctor thinks, arter all, an l
kin take care of her now; an I'd just
work for her" He dropped the pad
dies moment as pleased smile
crept over his bronzed face.
''Ah! the chillern has growed like
sixty,in course"
The heavens seemed to don an an
swering smile, the east bursting into
rosy glow, while the distant hills
and rolling prairies assumed new and
delicate tints of beautiful summer
life.
''It amt the wust sort O. world, arter
all-it can't be so bad az all that" he
went on, disconnectedly.
Yet all around him the river rushed
in a discolored, rapid flood. The
isJune rise" was sweeping down from
the northern mountains; the unsightly
sand-bars lay concealed beneath the
dashing waves; logs, trees, debris OF
various kinds, went whirling past.
Hnce the carcass of buffalo-shot
needlessly by some passenger on an
lp-rivey boat, doubtless--bore down
gainst him, and he was obliged to
55hsh away with his paddle.
Glow they must a growedl" he re-
peatei TO himself, cheerily. 1t seemed
ls-though he had been away cen
'khry His head dropped, as a success
sion of homely incidents passed
through his quickened brain.
A village, with its white .spired
church, rose from the nearer bank.
The boat, carried around in an abrupt
bend and suddenly DETECTED from its
course by strong eddy, headed di-
rectly for that shore. The wary voy-
ager, yielding for one instant to a sud-
den sense of security and repose, sat
with dropping face and made no re-
sistance.
There was a sudden shock. The lit
tie boat bumped violently against a
snag, and some one cried out from the
guards of steamboat at that moment
preparing to push ont into the stream.
The startled soldier lifted his head
and sat as though petritied. A detaeh-
ment of United States troops met his
bewildered gaze.
Suddenly he seized the paddle with
frantic haste. Would Elyiry never
know how he had tried?
An officer was standing on the lower
deck.
"a deserter, by Heaven" he ex
claimed to the sergeant at his side
Then, in a stentorian voice, he com
manded;
"Pull in shorS if you value youl
lifel"
But the man in the boat paid no at
tention. He began to push out Will
rapid, energetic strokes. How clums!
the craft seemed to him then how
,Aowly the distance widened between
him and the dreaded foel