The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-12-11

gratefully, my fingers finding grip On
the sodden bark. Using this for par
tial support, and ceasing to battle SO
desperately against the down-sweep of
the current, I managed finally to work
my way into an eddy, struggling m
ward until my feet at last touched
bottom at the end of q low, out-cr0p-
ping point of sand. This proved to be
a mere spit, but l waded ashore, water
streaming from my clothing, conscious
nov Of such complete exhaustion that
l sank instantly Outstretched upon the
sand, gaspipg painfully for breath,
every muscle and nerve %throbbing.
The night was intensely still, black,
impenetrable. 1t seemed as though no
human being could inhabit that DESC
late region. I lifted my head to listen
for the slightest sound of life, and
strained my eyes to detect the distant
glimmer Of a light in any direction.
Nothing rewarded the effort. Yet sure
ly here on this ~long-settled west bank
of the Mississippi I could not be far
removed from those Of my race, for l
knew that all along this river shore
were cultivated plantations and little
frontier towns irregularly served by
passing steamboats,.
The night air increased in chilliness
as the hours approached dawn, and I
shivered in my wet clothes, although
this only served to arouse me into i'm
mediate action. Realizing more than
eve as I again attempted to move my
struggle, l succeeded in gaining my feet,
and stumbled forward along the mar
row spit of sand, until I attained a
bank of firm earth, up which I crept
painfully, emerging at last upon a fair
ly level spot, softly carpeted with
forest trees. The shadows here were
dense, but my feet encountered a de-
preston in the soil, which l soon iden-
tilted as a rather well-defined path
leading inland. Assured that this must
point the way to some door, as 1t was
evidently no wild animal trail, I felt
my way forward cautiously, eager to
attain shelter, and the comfort Of q
fire.
came suddenly to a patch of cult
waited land, bisected by a small stream,
the path l was following leading along
its bank. Holding to this for guidance,
within less than a hundred yards I
came to the house I was seeking, a
small, log structure, Overshadowed by
a gigantic oak, and standing isolated
and alone. Believing the place to be
occupied by a slave, or possibly some
white squatter, l advanced directly to
the door, and called loudly to whoever
might be within.
There was no response, and, believ-
ing the occupant asleep, I raped
sharply. Still no voice answered, al
though I felt convinced Of some move
ment inside, leading me to believe that
the sleeper had slipped from his bed
and was approaching the door. Again
l raped, this time with greater impa-
thence over the delay, but not the
slightest sound rewarded the effort.
Shivering there in my wet clothes, the
otuOoOlA oDuuluSy vi liz lCilO"
awakened my anger.
"Open up, there" l called command
ingly, cor else I'll break down your
door,"
In the darkness I had been unob-
servant of a narrow slide in the upper
panel, but had scarcely uttered these
words of threat when the flare Of a
discharge almost in my very face fair
ly blinded me, and I fell backward,
aware of a burning sensation in one
shoulder. The next instant 1 lay out
stretched on the ground, and it seemed
to me that life was fast ebbing from
my body. Twice l ~endeavored vainly
to rise, but at the second attempt my
brain reeled dizzify and 1 sank back
unconscious.