Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-11-14

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ w ~ ~ w.
Take on men2 We are not to return
south, thenY"
No; you're going in the other direc-
tion-up the Rock. You better get
busy"
He wheeled his horse and disap-
peared, leaving the angry captain
venting his displeasurei on the vacant
air. Kirby, evidently from some posi-
ton across the deck, broke in with
sharp question.
"What is that, Corcoran? Did the
fellow say you were not going back to
st. Louis?'
That's just what he said. We've
got to nose our way up Rock river,
with a lot of those measly soldiers
aboard. Here you, Mapes, stop that
unloading, and get steam up-we've
got to put In 6. might of it."
But" insisted Kirby in disgust,
I'm not going up there; aren't there
any boats going DOWN."
How the h should I know? Go
ashore and find out-you haven't any
thing else to do"
The men below knocked off work
willingly enough and, taking advan-
tage of the confusion on board, en-
deavored to creep up the stairs and
gain view Of the upper deck. But
both Mapes and the second mate made
this attempt impossible, forcing me
into the ranks of the others and COM
pelling me to restow the cargo. So far
as I could perceive, no attempt to de-
part was made by anyone, excepting
big fellow with red mustache, who
swore profanely as he struggled
through the mud, dragging a huge
valise.
The situation puzzled and confused
me. What choice would Kirby and the
deputy make? If once up Rock river
the Adventurer might very likely not
return for weeks, and it did not seem
to me possible that the impatient gam
bier would consent to such delay.
Every advance northward brought
with 1t new danger of ex-
posure. These were Illinois troops
to be transported-not regulars,
but militia, gathered from a hundred
hamlets-and many among them would
be open enemies of slavery. Let such
men as these, rough with the pioneer
sense Of justice, once suspect the situ-
alton of those two women, especially
II the rumor got abroad among them
that Eloise was white, and the slave
hunter would have hard row to hoe.
And made up my mind such rumor
should be sown broadcast; aye, more,
that If the necessity arose, would
throw Off my own disguise and front
him openly with the charge. 1 could
do no more.
1t was only an accident which gave
me a clue to the real program. Mapes
sent me back into the vacant space
just forward of the paddle-wheel, seek
Ing lost canthook, and, as 1 turned
about to return, the missing tool in nv
hand, l paused a moment to glance
curiously out through a slit In the
boats planking, attracted by the sound
of a loud voice uttering command.
|
men, ununiformed, slouching along
with small regard to order, but each
bearing rifle across his shoulder,
were just tipping the ridge and plow-
ing their way down through the Slip
perry clay in the direction of the for
ward gangway. Although 1 saw, not
for an, instant did my gaze linger on
their disordered ranks. The sight
which held me motionless was rather
that of long, broad plank, protected
on either side by rope rail, stretch
ing from the slope of the second deck
across the narrow gulf of water. until
1t rested its other end firmly against
the bank.
The meaning Of this was sufficiently
apparent. For some reason of his
own, Kirby had evidently chosen this
means of attaining the shore, and
through personal friendship, Corcoran
had consented to aid his purpose. The
reason, plainly enough, was that by use
CT this stern gangway the landing par
ty would be enabled to attain the bank
without the necessity of pushing their
way through the crowd of idle loung-
ers forward. And the passage had Just
been accomplished, for, as my eyes To-
cussed the scene, they recognized the
spare figure of the deputy disappear
ing over the crest-a vague glimpse,
but sufficient. At the same instant
hands above began to draw in the
plank.
There was but one thing for me to
do, one action to take-follow them
Dropping the canthook, l turned aft
and crept forth through a small open
ing onto the wooden frame which sup
ported the motionless paddlewheel
choosing for the scene of operations
the river side, where the boat effective.
ly concealed my movements from any
prying eyes ashore. j lowered myself
the full length Of my arms. dangling
there an instant by clinging to the
framework, then loosened my grip and
dropped silently into the rushing wa.
ters beneath.