Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-12-05
Continued from last week

[ followed her closely, q mere
along the edge of the wood and back
of the negro quarters. / felt confident
of being able safely to approach the
unsuspecting engineer and overcome
any resistance before he could real
ize the possibility of attack. / was
obliged to rely upon guess at the
time Of night, yet surely it could not
be long after twelve and there must
remain hours of darkness amply suffi
Client for our purpose. With the boat
once securely in our possession the en-
gineer compelled to serve, for had no
skill in that line, we could strike out
directly for the opposite shore ant
creep along in it's shadows past the
sleeping town at the Landing until we
attained the deserted waters above.
by then we should practically be be-
yond immediate pursuit. Even If Car
Yer or the sheriff discovered Kirby,
any immediate chase by river would
he impossible. Nothing was available
1UI llGlI uSG HACcpt u lew lONDoetLS
at the Landing; they would know moth.
ing as to whether we had gone up or
down stream, while the coming of the
early daylight would surely permit us
to discover some place of cOncealmeEt
along the desolate Illinois shore. Des.
perate as the attempt undoubtedly
was the situation as [ considered it in
all its details brought me faith in Our
success and fresh encouragement to
make the effort. ~
We moved forward slowly. | took
The lead myself, bending low and feel
ing carefully for footing in the Wiry
Grass. The darkness so shrouded ev.
erything, blending objects into shape.
less shadows. that it required several
moments before I could clearly deter,
mine the exact Details The mouth OF
the creek, gOod-siZed stream, was
only few yards away, AMI the boat,
rather larger craft than l had an
ticipated seeing, lay just off shore,
with stern to the bank, as though pre-
pared for instant departure. It was
securely held in position by a rope,
nr0hlbly Topped about a convenient
stump, and my eyes were finally able
to trace the outlines of the wheel by
which it was propelled. Except for
struggling rushes extending to the
edge of the water, the space between
was vacant yet sufficiently mantled in
darkness to enable one to creep for
ward unseen.
At first glance could distinguish no
sign Of the boatman left in charge,
but even as l lay there, breathless and
uncertain, he suddenly revealed his
presence by lighting a lantern in the
stern. The illumination was feeble
enough yet sufficient to expose to view
the small, unprotected engine aft, and
also the fact that all forward of the
little cockpit in which it stood the
entire craft was decked over. The fell
low was busily engaged in overhaul
ing the machinery, leaning far for
ward, his body indiStinet, the lantern
swinging in one hand, with entire at
tentiOn devoted to his task. Occa-
sionally, as he lifted his head for some
purpose. The dim radiance fell upon
his face, revealing the unmistakable
countenance of mulatto, fellow of
medium size, broad of cheek, with un-
usually full lips and a fringe of whis-
ker turning gray! Somehow this rev.
citation that he was negro and not a
white man brought with it to me an
additional confidence in success. in
clined my head and whispered in the
girls ear:
"You are not to move from here I'M
til | CALL This is to be my part of
the work, handling that lad. I an.
going now"
"He is colored, is he not--a slave?"
"We can only guess as to that. But
he does not look to me like a hard
proposition. If / can only reach the