The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-01-30

= DcSt WAY lOI Us W ROS Wy tIlc 1iIiuOlS
i, He was slow to answer, EVIDENT
: turning the whole matter over In hi
: mind. / waited impatiently, feclin
! | the delay to be serious loss of time.
"Well then, let me put this differ
emily. Have you ever assisted an.
, slaves to run away from Missouri"
"Well. Massa Knox, 1 reckon the
maybe 1 knew'd bout som gittin
, away-'pears like l did, sah."
"And these escaped by way Of tn.
Illinois?"
His dumb, almost pathetic eyes met
mine pleadingly. but some expression
of my face served to yield him cour
age.
I'll reckon IL don't know much
bout all dis, Massa Knox" he STAN
mered doubtfully, his hands locking
and unlocking nervously, 81 sure
dom; an fer de mattah o. dat, Their
amt no body whut does, sab. All /
does know, fer sure, is dat II a niger
Onct gets as fer as a. certain white
man up de ribber. bout whar de
mouth OBJ de Illinois is, he's got a
mighty good chance fer ter reach
Canada. De next place whar he's
most likely ter stop is Beardstown,
long wild SOM sorter preacher whut
lives thar. An thet's as fer as dey
ever done tol' me, sah."
"About this first white mantle
one near the mouth of the nIinois-do
you know his Manner
Pete rose to his feet. and crossed
the room to where / stood, bending
down until his lips were close to my
ear. His answer was spoken In a
thick whisper.
"Massa Knox, I never did 'spect to
say dis ter no white man. but 1t seems
1 just nat'larly got fer ter tell yer.
He's got cabin hid way back In de
bluffs, whar nobody don't go, 'cept
dem who know whar 1t is. l reckon
he don't do nuthin' but hunt an fish
MISUNDERSTANDING he don't raise no
corn, nor truck fer ter sell. He's
tall, lanky man, sab, sorter thin, with
a long beard, an his name wus Amos
Shrunk. l reckon maybe he's a Black
Abolitionist, sah."
"Quite likely, 1 should say. And you
could take a boat from here to his
place"
"Sure, the darkest night yer ever
see."
This knowledge greatly simplified |
matters. If there was already in op-
Grafton an organized scheme by means
of which fugitives from this side of
the great river were taken through to
Canada. protected and assisted along
tn. then all we would be required
to this case would be to safely
con, =, the unfortunate Rene and her
mother in Pete's boat up the river,
and there turn them over to the care
Of this Amos Shrunk. Undoubtedly he
could be trusted to see to it that they
were promptly forwarded to others,
like himself, who would
swiftly pass them along at night
across the Illinois prairies, until be-
7ond all danger of pursuit. The dis
.ance to the mouth of the Illinois
.ould not be far, surely not to exceed {
|
lot TO prove difficult to battle Kirby )
or that short distance, and then we I
would be free to return, and no one
'ould prove any charge against u.s.
The only important fact fronting us {
vas that we must act quickly, before
Kirby and his aides, armed with legal
uthority, could return-this very q
light. .
"Pete," I said shortly, my tone I'm.
one of authority, "we must
e out of here before daylight, and
afely hidden somewhere up the river.
he first thing to be done. and the
ardest, is 10 explain to those women
ne situation, and persuade them to
company us. They may not believe
~ story; that was why was so anx-
JUS to have Haines go TO the house.
hey would have. confidence in him.
% they know your"
Lord love yer-Ob course dey do.
Sc knowed all OBJ 'em for a long
lille, sab. Dey'll sure believe OIL
etc.,
"Well. we can only try our best. :
ave you any conveyance here?"
"Any whit, sah?"
ANY wheeled vehicle in which we
N ride to Beaucaire, and by means 4
which we can bring the women
lck? The distance Is too far to
alk.'
Use got a sort2r khart, an an OF
ule. sab. Dey's out yonder in de
sh." r
Hitch them up at once, while / put ~
few things we may need in the boat. Il
low me how to find it." r
He pointed out the path, with the 1.
rections necessary. and disappeared. fs
lille returned to the cabin, dragged y
blanket from off The bed, and filled Il
with whatever miscellaneous ar
les Of food I was able to discover ;,
out the place. My wound, now that 10
was busily engaged, troubled me =,
rv little. and ! easily transported
IS stock of provisions to the river =
nix, and safely slowed them away In g
. boat found there. l returned to :,
cover the mule and cart ready, and
ew moments later we were creaiing q
oI1-,<, axIor,rtx- xxrnod road 1o1f-