The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02

her cheeks were flushed and her eyes
glstened with excitement. She first
explained the Noccopola business to
her father.
Gentlemen" she added II have an
inspiration" Neither of the gentle
men looked startled.
She continued: III Dudley Cakes
fails to get that train into Noccopola
Skinny McAfferty will be marooned
with 500 bales of cotton. II the au-
thorities find 1t necessary to blow the
levee that cotton Is doomed. Mr.. Nc
Afferty would sell it for a song-if
he could find a ran crazy enough to
buy IT,"
Still the listening gentlemen main
tanned their poise.
You ran q steamboat into Nocco-
pola in 's2, daddy. Why can't you do
1t again. II Raccourci Bottom goes
under water, and pick up that cotton.
after our speculative young friend
here has played the role Of crazy man
and bought 1t for a song?"
The two men eyed each other steady
for a moment. Their passivity was
now unquestionably jostled. Then
they simultaneously arose and gripped
hands across the table.
I'm afraid the train will get
through and spoil our game" said
Bonebrake. But will you take
chance omit, Cap, and put the Valley
Belle up Bayou Maxime?"
will T." Numbered Zeno. when
did you ever know me to show the
white feather? You bet I will"
Turning. he opened a panelled recess
in the wall and seized bottle Of cog
nae. Drink a health to the smartest
girl In old mississippi. II she is my
daughter!"
And the nerviest gambler in the
bunch" added Bonebrake slyly.
Secrecy was imperative. So on
reaching Natchez, where the Valley
Belle had expected to lay up until af-
ter the flood. only one white man in
the crew. Hawkins, the engineer. re-
ceived an intimation to remain aboard.
At 2 o'clock the next morning the
boat quietly slipped out Of her berth
and headed up river.
Dawn was breaking. accompanied
by slappng gusts OF rain. when she
reached the pass OF Bayou Maxine.
w III sio"' iohS VI
coughs she reluctantly crawled
through the opening into the desolate,
submerged country beyond. where the
forest was bearded like patriarchs
with Spanish moss and knit together
by a tangle OF vines.
Capt. Calvert and Bonebrake &C.
cupied the pilot house with Deeda.
An alligator might easy run afoul
in here observed the captain. Il
used to brag that I could take n boat
across n cotton field on heavy dew
and I've mighty nigh done it, But
damme IL like this skiddin' over
cypress knees and snags that could
snatch your hull timbers from under
You like milkin stool
Steerageway only. George. and stand
close by" he called down the speaking
tube to the engine room.
As the boat nosed along the narrow
channel twigs switched the railing on
either side. Occasionally II was neces-
sary for darky to shin up a tree
and saw off n limb. Sometimes the
limb had been preempted by a water
snoccasin, which showed fight. where
upon a great ki-ying and guffawing
would go up from the forecastle at
the expense of the luckless wight M
the tree. stubs protruded from tho
water like fangs OF submerged
monsters.
AS the Valley Belle worked further
inland and the navigation grew more
hazardous the leadsman. both port
and starboard, piled their lines con-
tinuously. Capt. Calvert on the for
la,lY r.fn al h.
singsong tallies to the pilothouse,
where Deeda spun the wheel accord
ingly, with Bonebrake pulling down
for her. In tight places yawl was
sent forward to make soundings and
set buoys.
Finally they neared the lateral or
wing which ran back from the main
levee on tn river front to the hills
behind From the lofty pilothouse n
fine view was afforded Of the rich ana
prolific RacCourci Bottom, ninety miles
long and from twenty to thirty wide.
with a soil of unfathomable depth, all
filched throughout the ages by the
Father of Wat RS and his tributaries
from territory as far north as
Canada, and bounded on the east by
the Appalachians and on the west by
the Rockies. stately homes reared
their white gables amid clusters Of
trees and the fiat fields were lush
with young cotton and corn.
1t was n peaceful scene. The med
ley of the hooking bird filled the air.
Yet on the levee glowed the tents of
the State militia, like fungi of night.
The patrolling soldiers passed to and
fro. The smell of their bacon and cof-
fee drifted to the boat. Above the
treetops lowered wireless telegraph
mast communicating with half a
dozen other stations on the grea,
Raccourci levee, and the snap and
crackle of its electric flame was dis
tinctly audible.
This is close enough" said Zeno,
set her over against those two big
Expresses, Deed, where there's plenty
of water and something to tie to. /.
they dynamite the levee it will be
som'ers along here, and the first effect
will be to lower the level foot or so,
with a current like a mill tail. Lis
ten"
ship ahoy!" came through a mega
phone.
AYE. aye" Zeno beloved back
through his cuppcd hands,
"Stand off "A safe distance. JUS.
received word to lay mine here,
Pressure on the north levee is bad.
May have to make an opening here
any time to let the water in gradually.
Get it,"
save, ave! - Now. YOU mig