The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-11-13


by TO do. He had not overtaken Rene
because she was not yet there, but he
had Unexpectedly come upon the other
f%ugitIves, and. even though the en-
counter had cost the life OF his hench-
man. Carver, 1t also resulted in the
death of two men who had come be-
tween him and his prey-the negro
and the abolitionist. The scene
cleared in my brain and became vivid
and real. / could almost picture in de-
tail each act of the grim tragedy. The
two revengeful trackers-if there were
only two engaged, for others might
have been recruited on the steamer
must have crept up to the hut in the
night or early morning. Possibly
Kirby had learned of some other
means OF approach from the big river.
Anyway the fact that Shrunk had
been trapped within the cabin would
indicate the final attack was a sur.
prise. The negro might have been
asleep outside and met his death in
an attempt at escape, but the old
White man, finding flight impossible,
had fought desperately TO the last and
had Killed n antagonist before re-
ceiving his death blow. This was all
plain enough, but what had become of
Kirby, OF the two women-Elolse and
the q%uadroon mother?
Uncertain what to do or how 70 act,
| could only turn TO the waiting girl
and the negro TO tell them what l had
found.
They listened as though scarcely
comprehending, Sam uttering little
means of horror, and appearing help
less from fright. but Rene quiet. mere
ly exhibiting her emotion in the white.
ness OF her face and quickened breath
ing. Her eyes, wide open, questioning,
seemed to sense my uncertainty. AS
ended the tale and concluded with my
theory as TO what had occurred fol-
lowing the deed of blood, her quick
mind assorted itself.
But this must have happened very
lately; the Ere still smoldered, you
said. When do you think that steamer
could have landed here?"
why. perhaps early last evening"
And it has not occurred to YOU that
the boat might have waited here while
the man Kirby went aslore?'
"No; that could scarcely be true, If
the steamer was transporting troops
what was it you were thinking about?'
1T is all dark. of course" she said
slowly, 1--WE can only guess at what
happened. But TO me it seems impos-
slb,e that the man Kirby could have
accomplished this alone-without as
s~istance. The boat we saw at the
landing was not his; it must have
been Pete's, and there is no evidence
Of any other trail leading here from the
river. II, as you imagine, he knew
the captain of that steamer. and some
of the other men aboard were Nilsson
rians and defenders of slavery, he
would have no trouble in enlisting
their help TO recover his runaway
slaves. They would be only too glad
Ia break up an ~abolitionist's nest.
That is what I believe has happened ;
they carne ashore in n party, and the
steamer waited for them"
"And you think the prisoners were
taken along? Yet Kirby would not
want to transport them up the river"
"As to that" she insisted, she could
not help himself. He needed to get
away quickly. and there were no other
means available. He could only hope
to me later with some craft south
bound on which to return"
"You may be right,"I admitted. i'm
pressed, yet not wholly convinced.
But what can we do?"
She looked at me reproachfully.
You should not ask that Of q GIRL
The words stung me.
"No: this is my task. / was
thoughtlessly cruel. Neither can we
remain here. only long enough to bury
those bodies. 1t would be inhuman
not to do that. Sam. there is an old
spade leaning against the cabin wall
go over and get it."
He started on his mission reluc-
family enough. glancing constantly
backward over his shoulder to insure
himself of our presence and carefully
avoiding any approach to the open
door.
Unpleasant as our task was it
proved 10 be less difficult Of accom-
plishment than l had anticipated.
There we're blankets in the cabin
hunks, and in these l wrapped the
bodies. They were too heavy, how
ever, for me to transport alone, and it
required some threatening to induce
Sam to give me the assistance neces-
sary to deposit them In the shallow
grave. Only the fear that ! would
not have him with US longer compelled
his Joining me. He was more fright
ened ut the thought of being left alone
than of contact with the dead. Sam
filled in the loose earth. rounding IL
into form, and the two OF US stood
above tie fresh mound. our bent
heads barred to the sunlight. while l
endeavored to repeat brokenly a few
words of prayer. Now our first neces-
sity was food. OF this ! found a fair
supply. and compelling Sam to assist
me. we hastily prepared a warm meal
over the open fire. II was eaten with
out. no one OF Us desiring to remain
a., xho njaSf ~ thof ceopa ~ dauth j..