Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-01-19

/ broad, dark bosom. Now the current
set in near the shore, and mysterious
] sounds were borne out to him from
! those wild forest depths soands
| neither man nor beast could make. A
lone owl booted dismally from a tree
! top. Instantly the woods seemed alive
with the strange responses. He felt
awed, and heaved a sigh of relief when
the current bore him far out into the
stream once more.
With the first flush Of dawn the sol
der guided his primitive craft TO the
shore, drew it up out Of the water and
managed to hide the unwieldy bulk in
the bushes. lie looked at the stretched
buffalo skin with affection, thinking
what a good turn it was doing him. All
day he lay concealed in the vicinity,
not a monthful of food entering his lips.
With the gathering darkness he was
soon afloat. bound for ''down-riyer" and
the old Missouri home.
He could scarcely tell the number of
days after awhile; he did not care to
keep account All he desired was to
escape those who were doubtless pur-
suing him Wandering Indians gave
him food when he dare seek il. 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 the shore.
"If Elviry knowed how it war" he
said to himself, '.she might be a-prayin'
for me, as she uster."
The thought gave him renewed cour-
age. He bent 10 the paddle with
giants strength. and the bull-boat went
along faster than the current, yet could
not keep pace with hisimpatience.
At length he began 10 chuclle 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
10 use great caution in avoiding them,
although few ever remained out in the
river at night. Still he chuckled, for
every hour lessened the danger. They
would never look for him so far down
the river, surely-they would think he
had fed toward the interior.
Tomorrow night" he assured him-
self. "I'll leave the river and tramp
for IT,"
His face brightened; the sky, the
river. the plain took up new express
sion Of hopefulness aud the remainder
of the night his paddles dipped un-
ceasingly.
"Prhaps she amt quite so bad Off
as the doctor thinks, arter all, an
kin take care of her now; an I'd just
work for her" lie dropped the paddles
a moment as pleased smile crept over
his bronzed face.
"Ah. the children has growed like
sixty, Of course"
The heavens seemed 10 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.
1T amt the wurst sort o world, after
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 June
rise" was sweeping down from the
northern mountains; the unsightly
sandbars Law concealed beneath the
dashing waves: logs. trees, debris OF
various kinds. went whirling past,
Once the carcass OF a buffalo-s shot
needlesslv by some passenger on an
up-riyer boat. doubtless bore down
against him. and he was obliged 20
push il away with his paddle
GLOW they must "a growedt" he re-
peated ia himself. cheerily II seemed
rs though he had been away century
His head dropped as succession Of
homely incidents passed through his
quickcned brain
4 village, with it's white-spired
church, rose from the nearer bank.
The boat. carried around an abrupt
bend and suddenly detected from its
course by the strong eddy headed de
reetly for that shore. The wary voy-
agcr yielding for one instant 10 sud
den sense az security and repose sat
with dropping face and made no re-
sistance
There was sudden shock The lit
tie boat bumped against snag: and
some one cried out from the guards
of steamboat n that moment pre-
pairing TO push out into the stream.
The startled soldier lifted his head,
and sat as though petrifed. \ detach-
mcnt Of United States troops met his
he0i'G.e,l gaze
Suddenly he SCI 1ed tie paddle with
frantic haste Would Ehiry ever know
how he had tricd9
IN officer was st0uaiug "a the lower
deck
a deserter, by heaven," lie ex-
claimed T. the sergeant oy his side.
Then fl >;entorlan voice lie COM
manded
pull in shore fyou value your life"
But the man ID She hoat paid no att
tention lie hogan to push out with