Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-10-24

sistance. 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. If, as you imagine, he knew
the captain of that steamer, and some
of the other men aboard were MissOu-
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
to break up an abolitionist's nest.
That is what 1 believe has happened; /;
they came ashore in 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, "he. could
not help himself. He needed to get
away quickly, and there were no other
means available. He could only hope
to connect later with some craft south
bound on which to return"
"You may be right" l admitted, i'm
pressed, yet not wholly convinced.
But what can we do?"
She looked at me reproachfully.
you should not ask that of a 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
so 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 to be less difficult of accom-
plishment than l had anticipated.
There were 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 at the thought of being left alone
than of contact with the dead. Sam
| filled in the loose earth, rounding it
| into form, and the two of us stood
above the fresh mound, our bent
heads barred to the sunlight, while /
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. 1t was eaten with
out, no one of us desiring to remain
in the midst of that scene of death
and the very knowledge that the
dread burial was completed and that
we were now free to depart brought te
all of us a renewed courage.
| 1t scarcely seemed probable that one
man alone, or even two men, had com
mitted this crime, and the sole sur
vivor disappear so completely with the
prisoners. / had turned each detail
over and over in my thought, while
1 worked, yet to but little purpose
The only present solution of the prob
lem seemed to be our return to thai
hidden basin where our boat lay, anC
then remaining there in concealmeat
until the darkness of another nigh
rendered it safe to once more venture
the river.
approached where she rested on the
stump, eager and glad to escape from
all memories of that somber cabin
had just left.
"You-you are no longer so conf
dent" she said; "your plan ha'
failed?"
81 am afraid it has," admitted
''for it was based altogether on th,
assistance of Amos Shrunk. He is n,
longer alive, and l do not know wher
to turn for guidance. There woul,
seem to be danger in every direction
the only question is-in which way lie
the least"
"You begin to regret your attemp
to aid me?'
"No," impulsively. $50 far as tina
goes would do it all over again. You
safety means more to me now thai
ever before-you must believe that.
"Why should 1? All have brough
you is trouble. l can read in you
face how discouraged you are. Yo
must not think / do not understand
do understand-perfectly. What yo
have done has been only respons
to impulse: merely undertake
through a spirit of adventure. Then
then why not let it end here, and
Sam and l can go on toto whateve
is before us? 1t is nothing to you
you actually believe l would col
sent to that?" l asked in startled su
prise at the vehemence of her word
That could prove such cur?"
n But why not? 1t would not /
a cowardly act at all. L could N,
blame you, for l have no claim c
: your service-never have had. YC
n have done thousand times too muC
JOO AdNC llShCu hODOl3 ISp
d tation. and neglected duty to aid II
2, escape; and-and l am nothing to "
d can be nothing"
= Nothing to me?"
II Certainly not. Why speak lii
If that? Have you forgotten again til
d | am a slave-a negress? Thin
Lieutenant Knox, what it would me;
I, to you to be caught in my compan
RI to be overtaken while attempting
ID assist me in escaping from my mast'
Now no one dreams of such a thiI
~ and no one ever need dream. Y
lie have had your adventure; let it e.
p here. l shall be grateful to you
E. ways, but-but l cannot bear to DIR
e. you deeper into this mire."
h. "YOu order me to leave you?"
G, II cannot order; / am a slave. !
l only privilege is to request, urge,