The Ordway new era., 1909-03-05


ciDhcrcd this message.
the dav Jones Is up II francis River.
II was not signed and the writing
showed that its author was In no
sense scholar. | was pOndcring over
1t when ParIow came In To tell me that
the gasoline launch was ready for my
d"rar'''-" whenever wished to set
out. had not really Intended going
on cruise. as | thought The boat
would be found In n day or so. but the
anonymous letter had put the idea in
my head. | showed the note TO Par
low and he became highly excited
He sworc. That's just what thought
they'd do. They've run out there In
the swamps to pick the boat to pieces
SO that they can find my gold There
ain't no gold aboard It. but them thiev-
Ing rivcr-rats think there is. and this
air'r the first time they've tried to
get at It.
We lcf. about one o'clock AM made
rapid time dowI the river. had Oft
en- seen the Mississippi river during
llbOtl uNl iliu lafN'l lAllN hlA''i E'''l
its Irresistible force until this trip
down 1t In the 30foot launch We
Travelled at the rate OF racehOTse.
Parluw wanted TO run after rtShiial!.
and whine was more In favor OF tying
up. he and Wastrow assured me that
travelling was absolutely SAT" ana. as
they were experienced river men and
seemed Ia understand the bOat and
the river, too, | consented and turned
in making bed on the locker seat of
the forward cabin. My bed was a little
cramped and the situation was a novel
one hut soon dr0pped asleep and
dent wake until 1t was broad day
light next morning.
II was close to noon when we turned
a sharp bend in the river, which Par
low told me was 80 miles from the
Mississippi On tho farther shore there
was a depression in the treeline, which
Parlow said Indicated that a slough or
lead put out there, and that II 1t were
followed up one would probably lnd
a lake back in the timber. l looked
at it curiously. and was on the point
of asking some question when was
trow, who was steering, became great
" excited and called Parlow TO MS
side. He pointed across the river at
the mouth of the slough and seemed
to be endeavoring to show some OBJ
ject to his companion. Parlow saw 1t
in an instant, and the boats prov was
headed for it. l couldn't make OUT
what they had discovered, although
strained my eyes, as | asked what IL
was.
Parlow pointed with his long,.skinny
arm at tree limb which had been
broken half OFF near the trunk and
which dangled down, hanging by
strip of bark | saw, even at That dis.
tance, that the break was white and
fresh, MY companions seemed to at
tach the greatest weight to 1t, for tney
gesticulated and pointed at H. talking
excitedly all the while.
We were now approaching 1t closely,
and l suddenly saw Parlow graD up
his rifle and point it at streak on
the trunk of the tree in which hung
the broken limb. l saw what he re-
ferred to, and as we ran close Deslde
1t | saw tndL IL WAS a siieNS>
and splinters of wood as If something
had rubbed against it. Then l real
lied the purport of these signs and dld
not need the excited explanation that
the rivermen gave me. We slowed the |
engine down until its muified exhaust
was scarcely audible and stealthiy
crept into the narrow slough that ran
back into the timber. The men were
sure that some boat had run up thls
slough. and I felt that they were right'
and that 1t must be the vessel that
we we're after, for no sane pilot wouid
drive a boat into such a channel un'
legs he were endeavoring to fnd
place of concealment.
It was a tortuous course through tne
forest. by this narrow slough, or lead'
fringed with stately cypress trees
standing as straight as arrows. Even
nv inexperienced eye could detect tnat
the boat had surely passed along
the channel ahead of us. The drift
was disordered and willows and sap
lings were broken off here and tnefe'
As we proceeded, the rivermen
their rifles nervously and
Deered ahead through the open win.
low Of the cabin with baleful glare OF
panthsrs. They swept every nlt Oh 'ne