The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-10-03

those Wild forest depths - SOUNDS
neither Ifan nor beast could make. A
lone owl hooted disrnally from tree
top. Instantly the woods seemed alive
with the strange responses He felt
awcd. and heaved q 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. He looked at the stretched
buffalo skin with affection. thinking
what good turn it was doing him. All
day he lay concealed in the vicinity,
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.
Ee could scarcely tell the number of
Gays 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 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 the shore.
IF Elyiry knowed how ii war" he
said to himself. ''she might be a-prayin'
for me. as she lister"
The thought gave him renewed cour-
age. He bent to the paddle with
giants strength. and the bull-bcat went
along faster than the current. yet could
not keep pace with his Impotence
st length he began TO chuekle grim
" with satisfaction. Hour by hour he
felt that he was nearing home. In
dian wigwars no longer dotted the
plains. Dark objects doomed up on the
hills. which he knew to be school
houses OF churches Steamboats, PASSED
more frequently. and he was obliged
to use great caution in avoiding them,
although few ever remained cut in the
river at night Still he chuckIed- for
every hour lessened the danger. They
would never look for him 50 far down
the river. surely-they would think he
had fed toward the interior.
I Tomorrow night he assured him
self, I'll leave the river and tramp
+ for it
( His face Frightened; the sky. the
river. the plain took up new EXPIRES
sion OF hopefulness and the remainder
Of the night his paddles dipped IN
ceasinely.
"Prhaps she amt quite so bad OF
as tie doctor thinE. artsr all. an
kin take care of her now; an I'd Just
work fer her. lie dropped the paddles
a moment as a pleased smile crept over
, his b7onzed face
Is "Ahl the Children has growed like
sky, Of course"
The heavens seemed 10 don an an
swering smile. the east bursting into
a rosy glow. while the distant hills
and rolling prairics 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. diseolnectedly.
Yet all around him the river rushed
in a discolored, rapid food. The June
rise" was sweeping down from the
northern mountains; the unsightly
sandbars lay coucealed beneath The
dashing waves; logs. trees, debris of
various kinds. went whiriing past.
Once the carcass of a bufEalo-shot
needlessly by some passenger on an
up-river boat. doubtless-bOre down
against him. and he was obliged 10
push 1t away with his paddle.
"Tow they must q growedl- he re
peated TO himself. cheerily. II seemed
as though he had been away century.
His head drooped as a succession of
homeIy incidents passed through his
quickened brain.
A village. with its white-spired
church. rose from the nearer bank.
The boat. carried around an abrups
bend and suddenly DETECTED from its
course by the 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, sal
with dropping face and made no re
sistarce.
There was q sudden shock. The lit
tie boat bumped against a snag; and
some one cried out from the guards
of a steamboat at that moment pre-
pairing to push ont into the stream.
The startled soldier lifted his head
and sat as though petrifed. a detach-
ment Of United States troops net his
bewildered gaze.
Suddenly he seized the paddle with
frantic haste Would Elviry ever know
how he had tried?
An officer was standing on the lower
deck.
- deserter. by heaven." he eS
claimed to the sergeant by his side
Then. in a stentorian voice. he com
manded;
"Pun in shore. if you value your lifel'
But the man in the boat raid no at
tention. He began to push out viii
rapid. energetic strokes. How clumsy
the craft seemed TO him then-hoN
slowly the distance widened between
him and the dreaded foe.
Cold beads Of perspiration glistenet
on his fSce. The morning sunshine