The Raymer enterprise., 1920-02-19


engineer. Now. 1t happens that want
to use this boat. and you are going to
run 1t for me, do you underestimate ]
am going to sit down here on the
edge Of this cockpit and hold this
loaded pistol Just back Of your ear.
1t might 30 of at any minute. and
surely will II you make false move
or attempt to foul the engine. Any
trick. and there is going to be a dead
niger overheard. I know enough
about engines to tell II you play fair
so don't take any chances. boy"
"Ah-Ah-reckon as how ! was
goin' fer ter run her all right, sab
she's sum consld'ble contrary ct times,
sab. but Ahrl surely run her, II thar'a
eny run in her. sab. All amt carin'
bout bein' no corpse"
II thought not; you'd rather be a
free niger. perhaps? Well. Sam. II
you will do this job all right for me
tonight III put you where the sheriff
will never see hide nor hair Of you
again-no, not yet; walt moment
there Is another passenger"
She came instantly In answer to my
low call. and through the gloom the
startled negro watched her descend
the bank, a mere moving shadow. yet
with the outlines Of q woman. ! half
believe he thought her ghost, for
could bear him muttering inarticu.
lately to himself. ! dared not remove
my eyes from the fellow. afraid that
his very excess of fear might impel
him to some reckless act. but ex.
tended one hand across the side Of the
boat to her assistance.
take my hand. Rene" said pleas
antly. to reassure her, "and come
aboard. Yes. everything Is all right.
I've Just promised Sam here ticket
for Canada"
/ helped her across into the cock
pit and seated her On the bench, but
never venturing to remove my eyes
from the negro. His actions and what
ever ! was able to observe Of the ex-
preston Of his face only served to
convince me Of his trustworthlness,
yet could take no chances.
"She's just a real. live woman. sah7"
he managed to calculate. half In
doubt. "She sure amt no ghost, sah7 T.
by no means, Sam; she Is Just as
real as either you or !. Now listen,
boy-you know what will happea to
you after this, II Donaldson ever gets
hold Of your"
II 'spects I does. sab. He'd Just
nat'arly skin dis Niger alive. All
reckon"
VERY well. then; 1t is up to you
to get away, and I take II that you
understand this river. We are going
to head upstream"
"Yas, sir; yer plannin' fer ter go
nor. Wal, sab, dars plenty O. watah
fer dis yere boat right now. wild de
spring floods. Nothin' fer ter be
afeerd of bout dat"
''That is good news. Now. Sam.
am going to cut this line. and I want
you to steer straight across into the
shadows Of the Illinois shore. | be-
lieve you are going to play square.
but for the present I'm going to take
no chances with you. / am holding
this pistol within q foot Of your head,
and your life meais nothing to me II
you try any trick. What Is the speed
Of this boat upstrcamT
"'Bout ten mile an hour, sah."
swell, don't punh her too hard at
first. and run that engine as noiseless-
ly as possible. Are you ready? Yes
then I'll cut loose"
I severed the line and we began to
recede from the shore, cutting diago-
nally across the decidedly swift cur
rent. Once beyond the protection Of
the point the star-gleam revealed the
sturdy rush Of the waters, OCCASION
ally fiecked with bubbles of foam.
Sam handled the unwieldy craft with
the skill Of practlced boatman, and
the laboring engine made far less
racket than l had anticipated. Pistol
In hand. and vigilant to every motion
Of the negro, my eyes swept along that
vague shore line. catching nowhere
spark Of light. nor any evidence that
the steady chug of our engine had ere
ated alarm. We were alone upon the
mysterious bosom Of the vast stream.
tossed about In the full sweep OF the
current. yet moving steadily forward.
and already safely beyond both sight
and sound.
Every moment Of progress tended to
increase my confidence In Sans 10y
atty. The fellow plainly enough real
lied the situation-that safety for
himself depended on keeping beyond
the reach Of his master. To this end
he devoted every instant diligently to
coaxing his engine and q skillful guild
ance Of the boat. never once permit.
ting his head to turn far enough to
glance at me. although I could occa-
slonally detect his eyes wandering In
the direction Of the girl.
She had not uttered q word nor
changed her posture since first enter.
Ing the boat, but remained Just a. I
had seated her. one hand grasping the
edge Of the cockpit. her gaze on the
rushing waters ahead. I could realize