The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-11-27
aE7EzEaEaEs7Es2Esz EzEzEzEzE2Ez

the time on watch, seated at the edge
Of the bluff, my eyes searching the
surface Of the river. While Kirhy's
presence upstream PROFESSIONALLY in
creased our peril of capture, this did
not cause 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 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 abun-
dant proof of the safe delivery of my
| dispatches, and / was thus relieved to
realize that the duty had been per-
formed. There might be wonder and
later the necessity of explanation, yet
no one would suffer from my absence,
and l was 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
lighter heart and renewed conf
dence. Alone, as / believed him to be,
and in that new country on the very
verge of civilization, he was hardly
an antagonist needed greatly to
fear. Indeed, as man to man, 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
was 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 a sand bar, and
we decided 1t would be better for US
to remain there until dawn. This was
not long in coming, the grazing 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, vista of utter DESC
lation. Sam was standing up, his
whole attention concentrated on the
view upstream.
"Do steamers ever go up this river?"
l asked, surprised at the volume Of
water.
He glanced around at me as though
startled at my voice.
"Yas, sab; putty near eny sorter
boat kin. Trouble is, sab, Yves got
started in de wrong place-dar's
plenty watah tother side of dis yere
bar"
"Who told you the best way to find
Shrunk 2"
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
there?''
"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 sus-
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 protrud'ug 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
land?"
"Yas, sab. It's de mouth OBJ little
creek whit yer nebber see till yer
right plum at it. Bettah keep yer eyes
open long dat shore, sah."
The girl, alertly bent forward, was
first among us to detect the concealed
opening, which was almost completely
screened by the overarching trees, her
voice ringing excitedly as she pointed
1t out. Sam was quick to respond
end almost before 1 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 and scrap
Ing along the sides. 1t looked veri-
table cave, and indeed all remember
noting in my first hasty glance
through the shadows was the outline
Of small boat moored to fallen
fraa II corn p,hIaI nxa,. fo~,-l .~~o.~