Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-10-17
CHAPTER VIII.
The pawn Of Deeper Interest.

The Dawn Of Deeper interest.
II tested his skill as a boatman to
locate the exact spot sought amid that
gloom. yet he finally attained to 1t
closely enough so / was able to get
ashore, wading nearly thigh deep In
water and mud, but only to learn that
the boat, which l had provisioned ear
iier In the evening, had disappeared
from its moorlngs. No trace of 1t
could be found in the darkness, al
though l devoted several minutes to
the search. To my mind this was pos
tive evidence that Pete had returned,
accompanied by the two frightened
women, and that. finally despairing Of
my arrival, had departed with them up
the river. In all probability we would
overhaul the party before morning,
certainly before they could attain the
mouth of the Illinois. / made my way
back to the keelboat with this infor-
nation, and the laboring engine began
to chug even while was briefly ex-
planning the situation to Rene. She
listened almost wearily, asking but
few questions, and both Of us soon
lapsed into silence. A little later she
had pillowed her head On her arms
and apparently had fallen asleep.
I must have dozed myself as the
hours passed, although hardly aware
OF doing so. 1t was faint and dim, a
promise more than realization Of APP
preaching day, yet already sufficient to
afford me view of the shore at our
right and to reveal the outlines Of a
sharp point of land ahead jutting into
the stream. The mist rising from off
the water In vaporous clouds obscured
all else. rendering the scene weird and
unfamiliar. II was indeed desolate
view, the nearby land low, and with
ost vctdure. in many places over
flowed. and the river itself sullen and
angry. Only that distant point APP
peared clearly defined and real. with
the slowly Frightening sky beyond.
endenvored to arouse myself from stu
por. rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Rene had changed her posture. but
stili slumbered, with face completely
concealed In her arms; but Sam was
wide awake and turned toward me
grinning. at my first movement. In
stinctively liked the fellow--he ap-
peared both intelligent and trust
worthy.
Daylight. Is 1T" I said. speaking
low so as not to awaken the girl. 81
must have been asleep"
'Yas, sab; yer's bin a-noddin' fer
de las hour. All wus bout ter stir yer
up. sab, fer All reckon as how we's
mos dar."
Most where7v staring about Incred-
ulously. "Oh. yes. Rassuer creek
Have we made that distance already p
''WaI, we's bin a-goin' ct a mighty
good gait. sab. She amt done fooled
none on me all dis night" his hand
laid lovingly on the engine. "Nebbei
kicked up no row o. no kind-jusf
chug. chug, chug right long. Pears
like she sorter know'd dis nigger heC
ter git away. Enyhow, we bin movin
long now right smart fer bout foul
hours. an Rassuer creek am JUS
round dat pint yonder-Ah's might!
sure oh dat, sah."
He was right, but 1t was broad day
light when we reached there, the east
ern sky a glorious crimson, and tn,
girl sitting up staring at the brillian
cOloring as though it pictured to he
tie opening Of new world. The pas
Hnge of a few hundred yards reveale,
the mouth of Rassuer creek, marrow
but sluggish stream, so crooked an,
encroached upon by the woods as {
bo practically invisible from the cen
ter of the river. The water was no
deep, yet fortunately proved suff
clently so for our purpose, althoug
we were obliged to both pole an
paddle the boat upward against tn
slow current, and 1t required an hou
of hard labor to place the craft safel
beyond the first bend, where 1t migf
lie roughly concealed by the interver
ing fringe Of trees. Here we mad
fast to the bank.
l assisted Rene ashore, and aide
her to climb to higher level, carpete
with grass. The broad river was ii
5isible, but we could look directl
down upon the boat. where Sam wa
already busily rummaging through II
lockers In search of something to en-
He came ashore presently. bearir
some corn pone and a goodly porto
OF jerlSed beef. Deciding 1t would |
better not to attempt fire, we divide
this and made the best meal possibl
meanwhile discussing the situate
anew, and planning what to do mex
The negro, seated at one side alor
upon the grass, said little, beyond r
plying to my questions, yet scarce
cnce removed his eyes from the girl
face. He seemed unable to grasp Il
thought that she was actually of h
face, n runaway slave, or permit h
tongue 10 utter any words Of equalit
ladeed could not prevent my ov
glance from being constantly attract,
IN her direction also. Whatever h,
been her mental strain and angus
the long hours Of the night had in
marked degree diminished her beaui
To me she appeared even younger nj
more attractive than in the dim gla
Of the lamplight the evening befor
and this in spite Of wearlness in h
eyes and the lassitude Of her mann,
She spoke but little, compelling h,
self to eat, and assuming a cheerf,
ness was sure she was far from fe
ing. II was clearly evident h
thoughts were elsewhere, and final
the conviction came to me that, mo
than alE else. she desired to be alor
NV eyes sought the outlines Of the bo
wing In the stream. below.