The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-05
XVII.
RIVER FLIGHT.

There was no rudder TO the boat, but
in the bottom we found barrel stave
which answered the purpose. With this
Margaret steered and kept sharp
lookout ahead, while | padded up the
river. The moonlight shone on her face,
strove to get in among her tresses,
kissed her forehead, her lips; while
above her the simmer of the ripping
water seemed to my ardent magma
ton the gold braid upon her robe.
"Hark!" she exclaimed.
l ceased to row, we both listened
and heard a splashing at the ford be-
low. We knew il was the sound of
horses in water.
"Muiile the oars"
Tearing Off pieces of our clothing, we
made mufllers; then / gave way, and
we shot up the river, ] putting in all
my strength, Margaret again keeping
lookout ahead. Suddenly she turned
the boat into the mouth of creek.
"There is n boat coming down." she
gasped.
l pulled up by the shore and waited
under the shadow of the trees. and in
few minutes the boat was opposite
the mouth of the creek There were
three mon in il, two pulling, and one
in the stern who appeared to hold tiller-
ropes. | could not distinguish the
dress of the oarsmen, bur the moon
glistened on the gold-laccd cuffs of the
man in the stern. and knew he was a
confederate officer.
Never in my life have kept so still.
IT seemed that my very breathi:g
would het"ay us, Charon in his boat
on 'ho StYv could not have been more
terrible to departing souls than was
the man sitting in the stern of yonder
skiff to me.
The boat seems to stop, or at least to
go at u snails pace. They are turning
TO search the mouth of the creek.
No, it is my imagination; there is the
stern of the boat, and the officers back
full towards me. The sound grows
fainter. draw long breath.
What's that? Listen. a new danger.
Thunk-thunk! Thunk-thunk! Great
heavens! another boat! II is coming up.
We listened and heard the receding
skiff hail the one approaching. There
was parley; we could hear them talk
ing, but not what they said. After a
short conference they separated, one
continuing down, the other coming up
the river. The latter made slow head
way, the oarsmen now and again ceas-
ing to row.
"They are searching the Shore" said
Margaret. Pull farther up the creek"
| gave dozen strokes with long
sweep to each, which sent us around
bend and right under overhanging
bushes. The approaching boat turned
into the creek as we expected, but came
up only n short distance from the
mouth. We heard one of them say
something about the west shore being
nearer the mark, whereupon they left
the creek. Pulling out after them
cautiously, we saw them making for
the other side of the river.
/ rowed on up, slSulldng along the
east bank, screened occasionally by
overhanging trees. The boat ahead of
us searched the west bank for awhile;
then we heard no more of it. We felt
no immediate apprehension till Mar
garet, who knew the river well, said
that we were approaching ferry. Be
leving ii would be watched, we dreaded
to attempt to pass it, and paused under
the branches of tree for consultation.
"I'll tell YOU said Margaret. you
slSulk through the woods back of the
ferry to some point beyond it. I'll
pun the boat up the river. If pass the
ferry I'll go TO where you strike the
river. and take YOU in"