Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-02

The natives bearded face appeared
in the companionway. He climbed to
The deck, wipins his hands on bali
OF waste.
Tony" Miller sid, do you know
the Snake channel2
Tony started His hands ceased
tearing AZ The waste.
IT'S near The mouth Of The river.
Miller added
Tony nodded. lie moved uneasily
His eyes questioned.
Think you could get us through
without pilins Us on an oyster bank ~
The native waited \ moment before
nodding again with a 1erliy motion.
These signs were moi los n Miller.
rye altered my plans he said
Instead OF abandoning you and the
Dart here in few days as | had IN
tended I've decided 10 80 a little far
her north by water
Tony's satisfaction WAS apparent In
smile
Miller felt il was important to let
tina, impression which was more or
less true. stand. II would explain his
desire 10 navigate the Snake Once
through HE Snake and in he inlet
lie would find ways to laugh Tony on
Of his superstitious fears.
so wen cast oil" he said, land 90
through the snake this afternoon.
Tony's smile faded. The bearded
lips half opened as thought he was
about to speak. But his eyes caught
Tie high sun and evidently he chang
"a his, mind. for he went down The
ladder and after mhment the en-
enc was Indignantly thraehine.
Miller sighed
Tons reappoarei, cast off, took his
place at he wheel and backed The
dart info the river
Miller seated himself In his des&
chair. The city, whose warm, hurried
life had lust seemed to welcome him,
let llim go now indiilerently to a far
2roatef loneliness than that with
which Ne had bought himself done.
He realized his with surprise before
three o'clock. The short distance be-
tween Captains Island and the me.
tropolis had deceived him. He haG
been unable to conceive The desolate
nature OF that narrow stretch. He
mad not dreamed OF anything like the
prccipifatc loneliness thar crowded lie
last shanry outpost of The great lac
tories
A little after three the smoke Of
these factories was a vague maze on
The horizon The high ground on whcl.
,hcv stood had fallen abruptly to Hat,
vet, uninhabitable magshes. The"
were relieved only by repellant
swamps Of palmettos or an occasional
pine Tree which stretched itself 9aurt
and giblet like from the waving 2rasS.
Miler's half amused reception Of
HE agents talk had NOT been pose.
i He had no belief in the supernatural
nor would he admit for an instant that
is lapoury r,lnours would ever have
The power 10 matcriali2c for him into
any startling fact. Yet This Landscape
could not fail 10 impress him as a
barren neutral ground between acth
! ity and siagnation, between the fam
liar and The unsounded. II forced
him, indeed, 10 call upon his eXcer
tai inertness, desire to abandon him
self to melancholy. And his will waa
not altogether victorious He became
ill.at.ease, restless. He glanced al
Tony. The native leaned forward
clutching the wheel with both hands
as though engaged in physical at
tempt 10 aid the swift lido and 'hf
engines. His pipe had, ior once, eoL'
our. and remained neglected
Miller began anyiously to look fol
ri2ns of the Snake channel. But Il
either side the dreary marshes swep
away apparently nnbroken
Al five o'clock, however. Tony turn
cd the Dart towards the left bank y
the river. Miller could see q marrow
opening in the marsh grass through
which CLASSY water flowed reluctant
". Beyond It in the direction of th'
sea. he made out line Of low trees
probably palmettos and cedars. I
stretched northward from the rive
across the marshes for, perhaps, fiv'
miles. He pointed at he opening
'"rhe Snake" he asked.
Tony nodded. He shifted his fec
rastlessly. After manipulating HI
levers until the engine slowed dowr
he faced Miller.
Anchor"
Miller arose and walked to The
freak OF the deck.
Certainly not ! said We were 20
ing through the Snake tonight
Tony shuiiied nearer He sprcaC
his hands towards die sky.
you mean" Miller said, that |
will he dark in an hour or so? knoT
II. What Of it?'