Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-02-07
hurrying to the mighty battles of the

hurfying to the mighty battles of the
sea. We mounted Keeling knobs, and
coasted over whirling dips, and rushed
to boiling levels, and jumped foamy
ridges, and went galloping in the rush
and tumble Of long slopes.
Let 'er rip!" could hear D'ri shout
ing, once in a while, Is he flashed up
ahead Of me. LET 'er rip! Consarn
Ter pictur'!"
He gave a great yell Of triumph as
we slowed in q long stretch OF still.
broad water. Judas Priest!" said he,
as / came alongside, "thst air .
rougher n the bog trail"
We came to Paleyville with time only
for bite Of luncheon before dark.
We could see no sign Of life on the is
land or the "Canuck shore" as we
turned our bows to the south channel.
That evening the innkeeper sat with
us under a creaking sign. our chairs
tilted to the tavern-side.
D'r was making a moose-horn Of
birch-bark as he smoked thoughtfully.
When he had finished, he raised IL to
his lips and moved the haring end in
a wide circle as he blew blast that
rang miles away in the far forest.
"Ef we heppen t git separated in any
way, shape er manner 'cept one" said
he, as he slung 1t over his shoulder
with string, Eye II know purity nigh
where be when ye hear tibet air
thing"
you said, in any way, shape er
manner 'cept one,'" quoted. What
do you mean by that?"
My friend expectorated, looking off
into the night soberly a moment.
Guess l did MT mean nuthin,," said
he, presently. when set out e say
suthin', don't never know where I m
goin' t land. Good deal LUX settin'
sail without compass. Thet g one
reason 1 don't never say much fore
women"
Our good host hurried the tagging
hours with many q tale of the river
and that island we were soon to visit,
once the refuge of Tadusac, the old
river pirate, so he told us, with . cave
NOW haunted by some ghost. We START
ed for the shore near ten o'clock, the
inpkeeper leading us with . lantern, its
light fiickering in q west wind. The
sky was cloudy. the night dark. Our
host lent us the lantern, kindly ofIsr-
ing to build bonfire on the beach 1t
IL to light us home.
Careful, boys" said the innkeeper,
as we got aboard. Aim straight fer
h' head o. tn island. Can't 70 see 1t
Upright over yer heads there? Mem
Der, they g awful rough water below. !"
Y, We pushed of, D'ri leading. could
lsee nothing Of the island, but D'ri had
better eyes, and kept calling me as he
event ahead. After q few strokes Of the
paddle I could see on the dark sky the
darker mass Of tres-tops.
Better light up" I suggested. We
were now close in.
"Hush!" he Kissed. Then, 20 I came
up to him, he went on, whispering:
ct amt bes' t mex no noise here.
Don know none tew much bout this
here business. Dom cal'1ate we re
goin' t hev any trouble, but II we dew
-Hark!"
F We had both heard stir in the
bushes. and stuck our paddles In the
sand, listening. After little silence
I heard D'n get up and step stealthily
into the water and buckle on his
sword. Then could hear him sinking
the canoe and showing her anchor deep
unto the sand. He did it with no noise
that, so feet away, could have been
distinguished from that of the ever
|murmuring waters. In moment he
came and held my canoe, while I also
took up my trusty blade. stepping out
OFT the canoe into the shallow water.
Dhen he showed her off little, and
sank her beside the other. knew not
his purpose, and made no question OF
1t, following him as he strobe the
shore with measured PAGES, the Ian
tern upon his arm. Then presently he
stuck his paddle into the bushes, and
mine beside it. We were near the
head Of the island, walking on reedy
strip Of soft earth at the river margin
After q few PAGES we halted to listen
but heard only the voice of the waite,
and the maurmur Of pines. Then we
pushed Though thicket Of small fiji
trees to ,Rbere We CROPPED along in
utter DARKNESS among the big tree
trunks On Dr.. mufae-footing. After 8
moment Or 90. We got spray of light
We haltedos peering at the glow that
now sprinkhd out through many 6
pinhole aperture in fairy lattice Of
pine needles.
My heart was beating loudly, ia,
there was The promised lantern. Wa.
not soon tetsee the brighter light Of
those dear faces? It was all the kind
OF thing JsNoyed then-the atmos.
phere Of periba and romance-wild youth
that was. Etsis pity. God knows,
had SO little consideration for old D'ri;
but he loved me, and-well, he himself
had some pleasure in excitement
We halted dor only a moment
pushing boldly athrough "a thicket o.
young pines into the light. A Lantern
hung on the bough, of tall tree, .ant
beneath it was wide opening vel
carpeted with moss and needles. W.