Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
CONTINUED FRoM PAGE TWO

his face showed plainly now pleased ne was.
"If things keep up at this rate" he said,
gleefully, when the hatboat was again drift
ing down the river, II shall have to put on
almost whole new stock at Cairo. The
best of it is, that all these people tell me they
will trade with me when | come again, SO
that, instead of sitting out here looking ior
customers on the next trip, shall know just
where to stop"
Then you have proven that you can make Z
as much money as you thought you couid,
"It looks so now," was the guarded reply,
"but we can't be certain until we sell what
we have taken in exchange. 1t looks quite
like business to go below and see the things
piled up. l thought your father had sent me
altogether too many bags, but I'm AFRAID tna5 y
we shant have enough to last US to caro-
"Yes, you're having a good time now, jim,
and Bent and | are sort OF playing the part
of clerks; but just wait until we get into the
Mississippi, and then you will find that you
won't have SO much assistance.
II can get along without it if you and Bent
only have a good time: | have been AFRAID
you would get tired before we got out OF the
Ohio, for it must be dull for YOU.
"Dull? Not a bit OF it. We've both en-
joyed seeing you act the part of trader and
when we get where game is plenty, we shall
be only more ready to start out for 1t.
The conversation was interrupted by hail
from the shore, and again the fatboat was
forced in to a landing by the united Ell
forts of all hands.
Again was Jim agreeably surprised at learn
that quite an extensive purchase would be
made If he and the farmer could come TO
satisfactory arrangement in regard to prices;
but the farmer was so bent on getting more
than full value for his goods, and paying less
than cost for Jim's, that True and Bent soon
understood that the River Queen would not
leave her moorings until the next day.
Some of the boys on shore told True that
small game was plenty half mile back from
the river and he and Bent at once decided
to make the first hunting trip OF the voyage
st isn't very likely that you will go any
further today, Jimmie" True said, interrupt
ing heated discussion between the young
trader and the farmer, so Bent and are
going out into the woods we shall be PACK
in a couple of hours"
Jim was too deeply engaged in his bargain
ing to pay very much attention to what True
had said; but, when the boys were getting
their ammunition ready, Jethro ventured to
remark:
at hain't the easiest matter in the world
TO find your way to the boat when you git
into the woods along here. You see when you
do strike the river on your way, back, you
never know whether the boat is above or be-
low you. | shouldn't wonder If you two boys
would git lost the first thing you know, an
then"
''Well. now, that settles it, Jethro," inter
rupted True, "if you have begun to predict
that we're going to get lost; you might as well
ReJ Teduy 10 uuu uS hOW.
81 hain't a predictin'. l was only a-say-
in"
And then Jethro shufAed into the kitchen
to work off his Indignation by making the
pots and pans dance; for he did not like it
that any one should even so much as inti-
mate that his predictions were the cause of
trouble.
Jim and the farmer had not come to an
understanding regarding the market value OF
corn when True and Bent started for the
A1cs but haxy fa HanIG ARf
shortly afterward, and the work of making
the exchange was begun. Jethro and Pete
received the farm produce, slowing it. away
in the hold as it was delivered on deck, while
Jim and the farmer kept tally and put
up the goods that were to be sent ON shore.
In this manner the time passed until four
o'clock in the afternoon, and the exchange
was completed.
1t had been a close bargain. and Jim be-
heved that he had made a. reasonably good
profit, the more so because of the quantity
exchanged.
Up to this time the young trader had hard
ly thought of his companions; if his mind did
revert to them for an instant, it was only
to say to himself that they were probably
having a good time, or they would have re-
turned before. Now however, when he was
ready to leave the place, he began to wonder
why they did not return and to grow uneasy.
Consultation with Jethro did not dispel the
fears that were beginning to arise, but, ON
the contrary, increased them.
81 reckon they've got lost" said the cook,
in response to Jims question. "It amt any
thing like as easy as it looks to find your
: way butter these ere bottoms, when you've
got to strike any one pertic-lar place on the
river. If you only had gun, you might
keep firm it, an that would let 'em know
which way to come.
But Jim had no firearms of any kind. The
only weapons that had been brought on board
of the River Queen were those which True
and Bent had carried away with them on their
hunting expedition.
While Jim was seriously thinking over the
matter. Pete came on board, bringing with
him an old army musket. and horn full Of
powder.