Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-07-01

..DOwN-RIvER.'
4 TAie or Army tiFe


his love.letter. He did not utter q
word in reply, but there was an un-
usual look OF determination settling
down upon his uncouth features, form
in into hard lines they had never no.
ticed before.
The days at Fort Buford are long in
June. There is no evening.
In this high latitude the sun cheats
you out OF the evening hours and sets
at nearly 10 o'clock. A detachment
of troops were assisting the steamboat
roustabouts inunloading military sup
plies. At dark, hambesux were har-
ing from the boats guards, by the
light of which they completed their
labors. Then the bluecoats marched
back to the barracks, preceded by o
train of government wagons.
A few roustabouts, huddled upon
the boiler-deck, were grumbling unit
edly about some triAe, as Missouri
river roustabouts have q habit Of
doing The night became very dark
at last so dark that even had one
been looking In that direction he
would not have noticed man who
crept out OF the willow-bog and. step
ping cautiously into an Indian ''bull-
boat" at the wharf, drifted of with the
swift current under cover tof the
friendly shadows. rp,S qsit
In q few moments, at best, the mans
absence from the fort would be dis.
covered. It was one chance in hun
bred, but lack Brayton took that
chance and hoated 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, straining
his eyes 90 catch the first glimpse Of
danger in whatever form, the current
bore him on.
"Only 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 hoated
on its broad, dark bosom. Now the
current 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 ont into the
stream once more.
With the first flush of dawn the SOL
der guided his primitive craft to the
shore, drew it mp 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 good turn 1t was doing him.
All day he lay concealed In the vicin-
ity, not mouthful of food entering
his lips. With the gathering darkness
he was soon ahoat, 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
dams 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 II 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-
thence.
At length he began to chuckle grim
" with satisfaction. Hour by hour
he felt that he was nearing home. In
dian wigwams no longer dotted the
plains. Dark objects doomed 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 in
terror. 'r'f
Tomorrow night" he assured him.
self, "I'll leave the river and tramp
for it," i.
His face frightened; the sky. the
river, the plain took up new express
sion Of hopefulness, and the remainder
Of that night his paddles dipped I'M
ceasingly.
"P'r'haps she amt. quite so bad of
as the doctor thinks, after all, an
kin take care Of her now; an I'd just
g. H. I.nD,,aI AZ III