The Dolores star., 1920-02-20

learn the news, and l spent most of
| the time on watch, seated mt the edge
of the bluff, my eyes searching the
surface of the river. While Kirbys
presence upstream unquestionably in
creased our peril Of capture, this did
not cause me us much anxious thought
rs 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 a 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 l 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 | was within the limits Of my fur
| lough-the re-enforcemcnts for Forts
ready on their way. So, altogether
| | faced the task of eluding Kirby with
Il 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
nm antagonist l needed greatly to
fear. Indeed, MS man to man, rather
welcomed an encounter.
There is little to record. either Of
the day or night. The latter shut down
dark but ruinless. although the sky
was heavily overcast by clouds. Sam
I 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 Il sand bar, and
we decided 1t would be better for us
| to remain there until dawn. This was
not long in coming, the CRAVING 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. a 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 ut 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, ives got
started in de wrong place-dar's
plenty watah t'other side of dis yere
bar"
who told you the best way to find
Shrunk?"
His eyes widened and searched my
face. evidently still somewhat suspl-
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 partic'lar an All
! fnpmhnrS CT hut l. u,
He grinned broadly. "Ah sorter sus-
plcioned 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 protruding headand, 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
landY
"Yas. sab. It's de mouth OBJ little
creek whit yer nebber see till yer
right plum at 1t. 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 nojnted
1t out. Sam was quick to respond,
end almost before 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 scran-
ing along the sides. 1t looked a yeri.
table cave, and indeed all remember
noting In my first hasty glance
through the shadows was the outline
OF small bOot mnorad IN N r,r..