Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-28

Tensas, we had to throw ourselves fiat
in the canoe TO avoid the overhanging
bushes. From the Tcnsas its opening was
barely distinguishable.
Right here was a secure camping and
hiding place: we marked the spot and
pushed on. The outlet below we had also
marked by placing a buoy some zen rods
below the opening.
No one has any idea of the intricacieS of
these waterways beyond the levees unless
he makes an attempt to navigate them
Often did We wander up some well-defined
course, to find it end in an impossible
swamp.
Bayos de Glaze and Boeuf were disturbed
by our canoe. and 1t was nearly four weeks
before We arrived at Moses landing, near
which point we determined to strike for the
Arkansas river.
Rypaths by day and secure roads by night
these we must have There was the Red
river to cross. portages to make and men to
avoid everywhere l kept an accurate map
of the way. The last of January found US
across the Arkansas and padding up the
White river in our big canoe.
One bright morning we stood on the land
ing at Bradley's yard. Surveys had been
made. ties and track laid, and. with the
exception of the rolling stock, the under
ground railroad was completed from the
banks of the Teche to Bradley's yard.
Moore was In the woods when we arrived
and as we were pretty tired We threw our
selves down on the floor and slept until
about dark, when he came in and awoke
US. Moore was a silent man usually, but
this evening he was quite talkative.
"Gentleman,'' said he, I'VE have our rail-
road. and there is no doubt plenty of work
In case of accident the engineer and con-
ductor will be likely to go under; as for
the passengers, the extent of their injuries
would be sound flogging. If we succeed
we have gold mine, If we fail We hang
unless we are lucky enough to escape"
This We knew. and that night felt pretty
sober over it. Moore's argument and rea-
soning was close and plausible. No one
would suspect negroes of attempting to es-
cape to the north from a place so far re-
moved as Attakapas. If they disappeared
the most that would be done to recover
them would be to search some neighbour
hood and the swamps round about for
usually when they did run away this was
their refuge for few weeks When
starved out they would return to their old
homes. sadder, wiser and much hungrier
and dirtier than before After reeeiyipS,
their usual 100 lashes they would crawl into
some old gin house and ray there until the
first smart was over, then stupidity return
to their work
On the contrary, the escaping negro In
the border states would be followed to
death or capture. white man caught
i near their quarters must explain his BUSH
ness pretty cOnclusively or the home
guards, taking his case into their hands
would escort him across the border the
chances being that he would die en- route.
For these reasons Moore agreed with us
that the farther south We conducted our
operations the better
The next day. bidding Moore farewell. we
commenced the return trip to Attakapas
via L. c.. railroad.
ON arriving we found the store finished
Il was small wooden building, about 2o
ieet wide by 40 long, with a shed attached
W G began to unpack our goods There
were one or two boxes the covers Of vvhfch
We dld not display on our counters: these
contained various DISCUS s-stains for tho
SKIN false hair, wigs and complete nara
phefhaiia Tor different costumes. While
away we had shaved our faces sp,oo,h :
be better prepared. ~
The goods unpacked. We had our opening.
anu trade commenced. Business was good
CHAPTER VII.
One day l was busy trying to trade with