Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-26

She stood silent and 1 strove by
peering about 10 discover some marks
of guidance, only 10 learn the use.
lessness Of the effort. Even slight
advance brought no result, and II was
with some difficulty i even succeeded
In locating her again in the darkness
indeed, only the sound OF her voice
made me aware of her immediate pres.
ence.
"The negro's boat is some distance
away, is ii notf'
-Four miles, over the worst road ]
ever travelled" \ sudden remembrance
swept into my mind, bringing with ii
inspiration.
Have you ever visited the mouth az
Saunders creek? You have! How
far away Is that from hereT"
"Not more than half mile; II en-
tiers the river just below the Land.
ing"
and, If l understood you rightly"
] urged eagerly, you said that these
fellows left their keelboat there; that
It had been rugged up TO run by steam,
and had no guard aboard except the
engineer; you are sure of this!"
s'That was what the man who talked
, to me first said-the deputy sheriff.
He boosted that they had the only
keelboat on the river equipped with
an engine and had come up from 81,
Louis in two hours. IOu-you think
we could use that|
at seems To be all that is left US.
f.. intend to make the effort, anyway.
You had better show rue the road"
l followed her closely, mere
shadow, as she silently led the way
along the edge Of the wood and back
OF the negro quarters. l felt confident
of being able safely TO approach tn.
unsuspeCting engineer and oVercom,
any resistance before he could real.
ize the possibility OF attack. / wa
obliged TO rely upon a guess at the
time of night, yet surely il could nol
be long after twelve and there must
remain hours Of darkness amply sufti-
clent for our purpose. With the boat
once securely in our possession the en-
gineer compelled 10 serve, Tor l had no
skill in that line. we could strike out
directly for the opposite shore and
creep along in its shadows past the
sleeping town mt 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
be Impossible. Nothing WAS available
for their use except few rowboatS
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
10 discover some place OF ConcealInent
along the desolare 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 10
make the effort.
We moved forward slowly. I took
the lead myself, bending low and feel
ing carefully for footing in the why
grass. The darkness so shrOuded ev-
erything. blending objects into shape
less shadows. that it required several
moments before l could clearly deter
mine the exact details. The mouth of
the creek, good-szed stream, was
only q few yards away, and the boat,
rather a larger craft than ! had an
ticipared seeing, lay just off shore,
with stern TO the bank, as though pre-
pared for instant departure. 1t WAS
securely held in position by a rope,
probably looped about convenient
stump, and my eyes were finally aDls
TO trace the outlines of the wheel by
| which it was propelled. Except for
struggling PUSHES extending 10 the
edge of the water. the space between
was vacant yet sufficiently maDtled in
! darkness to enable one to creep for
ward unseen.
| At first glance I could distinguish no
sign of the boatman left in charge,
! but even as lay there, breathleSS and
uncertain, he suddenly revealed his
| presence by lighting u lantern n the
stern. The illumination was feeble
| enough yet sufficient TO expose 70 view
! the small. unprotected engine aft, anu
| also the fact that all forward Of the
| little cockpit in which il stood the
! entire craft was decked over. The fell
low was busily engaged in overhaul
| ing the machinery, leaning far for
| ward, his body indiStiRCt, the lantern
| swinging in one hand, with entire at
| tention devoted to his task. Occa'
| sionaly, 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
| elation that he was negro and not @
white man brought with it to me an
additional confidence in success. l In
clined my head and whispered in the
girls ear:
"You are not to move from here IN
til I call. This is to be my part OF
the work, handling that lad. an
going now"
He is cOlored, Is he not-a slave!
"We can only guess as to that. Bu
he does not look to me like hare
proposition. IF I can only reach tht
boat without being seen the rest viii
be easy. Now is the proper time
while he IS busy tinkering with TIT
engine. You will stay here?"
ayes, of course; II could be Of NJ
help" u
She suddenly held out her hand. o.