The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-11-06

hBcaitAih ENTHUSIASTICALLY III
creased our peril of capture, this did
not me as much anxious thought
as did the strange disappearance Of
Free Pete and the two women. What
had become of them during the night?
Surely they could never have out
stripped us with only a pair of oars
by which to combat the current, and
yet we had obtained no glimpse of
them anywhere along that stretch of
river.
The knowledge that the steamer
which had passed us was heavily
laden with troops was most encour-
aging. In itself alone this was album
dant proof of the safe delivery of my
dispatches, and l was thus relieved to
realize that the duty had been per-
formed. There might be wonder and
later the necessity of explanation. yet
no n would suffer from my absence,
and / vas within the limits of my fur
lough-the re~-enforcements for Forts
Armstrong and Crawford were al
ready on their way. So, altogether,
| faced the task Of eluding Kirby with
a lighter heart and renewed conf
dence. Alone, as l believed him to be,
and in that new country IN the very
verge OF civilization, he was hardly
an antagonist 1 needed greatly to
fear. Indeed, as man to man, l rather
welcomed an encounter.
There is little to record, either of
the day or night. The latter shut down
dark but rainless, although the sky
vas heavily overcast by clouds. Sam
made no endeavor to speed his engine,
keeping most of the way close to the
deeper shadow of the shore, and the
machinery ran smoothly, its noise in
distinguishable at any distance. Day
had not broken when we came TO the
mouth of the Illinois and turned our
bow cautiously up that stream, be-
coming Immediately aware that we
had entered new waters. The negro,
ignorant of what was before us, soon
beached the boat on n sand bar, and
we decided it would be better for us
to remain there until dawn. This was
not long in coming, the CRAVING sky
of the east slowly lighting up the scene
and bringing into view, little by little,
our immediate surroundings. Nowhere
appeared the slightest evidence of life.
either on water or land all was for
lorn and dead, a vista of utter DESC
lation. Sam vas standing up, his
whole attention concentrated on the
view upstream.
"Do steamers ever go up this river?"
I asked, surprised at the volume of
water.
He glanced around at me as though
startled at my voice.
"fas, sab; putty near eny sorter
boat kin. Trouble Is, sab, Yves got
started in de wrong place-dar's
plenty watah t'other side of dis yere
BARK
"Who told You the best way to find
Shrunk? ~
His eyes widened and searched my
face, evidently still somewhat suspi-
cious of any white man.
"a niger down st. Louee way, sab.
Dey done cotched him an brought him
back afore he even got ter Boards
town."
"And you believe you can guide us
thereY'
"Ah sure can. If whut dat niger
sed wus correct. sab. All done ques-
toned him mighty particular, an All
members cherry sign whut he Civ me-"
He grinned broadly. "Ah sorter JUS
picioned All mought need dat infor-
nation"
"All right, then; 1t Is certainly light
enough now-let's push off,"
We had taken the sand lightly and
were able TO pole the boat into deep
water with no great difficulty. The
broader river behind us remained
yelled In mist. but the gray light was
sufficient for our purpose, enabling us
to proceed slowly until our craft had
rounded the %protruding headland, out
of sight from below.
"Tain't so awful fur from we're,
sah," Sam called to me.
"What-the place where we are to
landr"
"Yas, sab. It's de mouth OBJ a little
SASVh "hut JOA hCpbCA ccC iii yer
right plum at 1t. Bettah keep yer eyes
open long dat shore. sah."
The girl. alertly bent forward. wns
first among us to detect the concealed
opening, which was almost completely
screened by the overarching trees. her
voice ringing excitedly us she pointed
1t out. Sam was quick to respond.
END almost before / had definitely es-
tablished the spot. the bow Of the boat
swerved and we shot In through the
leafy screen, the low-hung branches
sweeping against our faces aud scrap
ing along the sides 1t looked a veri-
tahle cave, and indeed all l remember
noting In my first hasty glance
through the shadows wax the outline
OF a small boat moored to a fallen
tree. / scrambled over. found preca-
rious footing. and made fast.
$50 this Is the placer / questioned
incredulousiy. staring about Mt the
dark, silent forest. which still re-
manned In the deep night shade. "Why.
there's nothing here"
mo. sab dar cevtenly don't pear
fec ter be much." and the negro crept