The Clio messenger., 1919-12-11
CHAPTER Ix-contlnued.


10
"It is my guess" I said, "that their
only thought was to get away before
the crime was discovered. Rene,
would you be afraid to remain here
alone for little while?"
She glanced about into the gloom Of
the surrounding woods, her hesitancy
answering me.
ut is not a pleasant prospect ad-
init, but there Is no possible danger.
Kirby has gone, beyond all question,
but wish to learn If can the direc-
ton he has taken. All this must have
happened only short time ago-while
we were at the cabin. The keelboat
can scarcely be entirely out Of sight
yet on either river If we could only
find a place to offer us a wide view."
"But could not 60 with your"
Hardly with me, for intend to
swim the creek and try to reach the
point at the mouth Of the Illinois,
from where can see up and down the
Mississippi. / am going to send Sam
have him climb that ridge. From the
top he ought to have good view up
the valley Of the Illinois. suppose
you might 60 with him."
"Ah, sure wish yer wud, missus,"
broke in the negro pleadingly. "Ah
amt perzackly feered fer ter go lone,
but Abs an OIL man an All reckon as
how a young gal wus likely fer ter see
morn All wud. Pears like Abs done
los my glasses"
A faint smile lighted up her face
a mere glimmer Of a smile.
Eyes. Sam. I'll co." she said, glanc-
ing up into my eyes and holding out
her hand. "You wish me to, do you
notT
II think 1t will be fully as well. You
still retain the pistolT'
She nodded her response. and with
out delaying my departure longer I
lowered myself into the water and
swan toward the opposite shore,
creeping forth amid tangle Of roots
and Immediately disappearing in the
underbrush. / found rough passage
for the first few rods, being obliged to
almost tear a way through the close
growth and unable to see yard In
advance. But this ended suddenly at
the edge of the sand fiat, with the con-
verging waters of the two rivers WIS.,
ible just beyond. My view from here
was narrowed, however, by high ridges
on both sides, and with desire not to
expose myself to any chance eye, /
followed the line Of forest until able
to climb the slope, and thus attain the
crest Of the bluff.
From this vantage point the view
was extensive. both up and down the
big river, as well as across to the op-
posite bank. Along that entire sur
face but three objects met my gaze
a small island, green with trees, SEEM
ingly anchored just beyond the mouth
Of the Illinois; numbering barge al
most opposite me, clearly outlined
against the distant shore, and barely
moving with the current; and far
away below thin smudge Of smoke,
arising from behind headland, as
though curling upward from the stack
0f some steamer. felt no doubt but
what this was the stolen keelboat,
speeding toward st. Louis.
This struck me as the most reason
able course to pursue-to work our
way quietly up the Illinois by night,
keeping close in shore to avoid any
passing steamer, until we arrived close
to Beardstown. Undoubtedly there
were blacks In the town, both slaves
and free negroes, with whom Sam
could easily establish an acquaintance.
BY this means we would soon be able
to identify that particular preacher
into whose care ! hoped to confide
Rene. or course the girl might re-
fuse to enter into the game, might de-
cline to assume the role assigned her.
however innocent intended 1t to be-
indeed, I felt convinced she would
meet the suggestion with indignation.
But why worry about that now7 Let
tAis be kept as last resort. There
was no necessity for me to even men,
tion this part of my plan until after
our approach 20 Beardstown; then the
necessity of our going forward with
II might be 30 apparent she could not
refuse to carry on her part. With this