The Dolores star., 1920-03-19
Randall
parrish

Ill ADt Vi
lem. Illinoy. an l amt got but just one
job right now-that's ter make them
boys tote this stuff, an reckon
they're goin' ter do it,
With the exchange OF another word
or two they parted, and not until
thirty years later did l realize what
that chance meeting meant, there In
the clay mud of Yellow Banks, at the
edge of the Indian wilderness. when
Abraham Lincoln OF Illinois and Jeffer-
son Davis of Mississippi stood In com
radeship with clasped hands.
We had unloaded perhaps a quarter
of our supplies. when an officer sudden
ly appeared over the crest of the bank
and hailed the captain. There was a
tone OF authority in his voice which
caused us to knock Off work and lis
ten.
"Is Captain Corcoran there? bring
orders from headquarters. You are to
discontinue unloading. captain. retain
the remainder OF the provisions on
board and prepare AT once TO take on
men"
Take on men? We are not to return
south, ther?''
NO; you're going in the other dlrec-
tion-up the Rock. You better get
busy"
He wheeled his horse and disap-
peared. leaving the angry captain
venting his displeasure on the vacant
air, Kirby. evidently from some posi-
tIon across the deck, broke In with n
sharp question.
"What is that. Corcorau? Did ia"
fellow say you were not going back to
st, LOUISE"
THAT'S just what he said. We've
got to nose our way up Rock river.
with a lot of those measly soldiers
aboard. Here you, Mnpes. stop that
unloading, and get steam up-we've
got 10 put in night ,f it,
But" insisted Kirby in disgust,
''I'm not going up there; aren't there
any h"ats going DOWN."
How the h should I know7 Go
ashore and find out-you haven't any
thing else to do"
The men below knocked or work
willingly enough and. taking advan-
ta.e Of the confusion on board. en-
dcayored to creep up the stairs and
gain view Of the upper deck. But
both Mapes and the second mate made
this attempt impossible. forcing me
into the ranks of the others and com
peIIing me to reStow the cargo. So far
rs | could perceive no attempt to de
part was made by anyone. excepting
Il biz fellow with red mustuche. who
Swore profanely as he struggled
through the mud, dragging huge
va!iSe.
The situation puzzled and confused
me. What choice would Kirby and the
deputy make? If once up Rock river
the Adventurer might very likely not
return for weeks, and 1t did not seem
TO me possible that the impatient gam
bier would consent to such n delay.
Every advance northward brought
with 1t new danger of cX-
pOsure. These We're Illinois troops
to be transporte1-not regulars.
but militia. gathered from hundred
hamlets-and many among them would
be open enemies of slavery. Let such
men as these. rough with the pioneer
sense of justice, once suspect the situ.
alton of those two women. especially
If the rumOr got abroad among them
| that ElOise was white, and the slave,
hunter would have a hard row to hoe
And made up my mind such rumor
should be sown broadcast: aye. more
that If the necessity arose, would
throw off my own disguise and front
| him openly with the charge. could
| do no more.
/ 1t was only an accident which gave
me clue to the real program. Mapes
sent me back into the vacant space
| just forward of the paddle-wheel seek
ing lost canthoOk, and, as | turned
about to return, the missing tool in my
hand, I paused moment to glance
curiously out through slit in tht
boats planking. attracted by the sount
Of loud voice uttering n command
| was facing the shore and a body o.
men. ununiformed, slOuching alonl
with small regard to order, but eaci
|
were just tipping the ridge and plow
ing their way down through the slip
perry clay in the direction of the for
ward gangway. Although l saw. no
for an instant did my gaze linger oi
their disordered ranks. The sigh
which held me motionless was rathe
that of u long. broad plank. protected
on either side by a rope rail. stretch
ing from the slope OF the second decl
| across the narrow gulf OF water. unit
1t rested its other end firmly agains
the bank.
The meaning of this was sufficient.
apparent. For some reason of hi
own. Kirby had evidently chosen thi
means Of attaining the shore. ant
through personal friendship. COrcoral
had consented to aid his purpose. Tn
reason. plainly enough, was that by US
of this stern gangway the landing par