The Arvada enterprise., 1920-02-26
ILLUSTRATIONS ~ IRWIN lryRRs

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learn the news, and I spent most Of
the time on watch. seated at the edge
Of the blu6. my eyes searching tho
surface Of the river. While Kirby's
presence upstream unquestionably In
creased our peril Of capture, this did
not cause me u much anxious thought
as 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 % with only q 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 I 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-enforcehents for Forts
Armstrong and Crawford were al
ready on their way. So, altogether.
faced the task Of eluding Kirby with
q lighter heart and renewed conf
dence. Alone, a. I believed him to be.
and In that new country on the very
verge Of civilization. he was hardly
an antagonist I needed greatly to
fear. Indeed, ~ man to man, rather
welcomed an encounter.
There 10 little to record. either of
the day or night. Tho latter shut down
dark but rainless, although the sky
was heavily overcast by clouds. Sam
made no endeavor to speed his enigma
keeping most Of the way close to tho
deeper shadow Of the shore, and tho
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 mp 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 q sand bar. and
We decided It would be better for -
to remain there until dawn. This WAS
not long In coming. the graying 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. q vista Of utter desc
iation. Sam WAS standing up, his
whole attention concentrated On the
view upstream.
do steamers ever 20 up this riverf'
I asked. surprised at the volume Of
water.
He glanced around at me a. though
startled at my voice.
"Yas, sab: putty near eny sorter
boat kin. Trouble 10. sab, we's got
started In de wrong place-dar's
plenty watah t'othsr side Of dis yere
bar"
"who told you the best way to And
Shrunkr
His eyes widened and searched my
face. evidently still somewhat suspi-
cious Of any white man.
"A Niger down st. Loues way. sab.
Dey done eotched him an brought him
back afors he even got ter Boards
town."
"And you believe you can guide us
therer'
"Ah sure can. II whut dat Niger
sed wus correct. sab. All done Ques-
toned him mighty partic'lar. an All
members ebery sign whut he CIV me"
He grinned broadly. "Ah sortsr sus.
picioned Al moaght nsed dat infor.
nation"
"All right, then; It u certainly light
enough now-let's push ofR."
We had taken the sand lightly and
were able to pole the boat into deep
water with no great dimculty. The
broader river behind NJ remained
yelled In mist. but tho gray light was
suflicient for our purpose. enabling us
to proceed slowly until our craft had
rounded the protruding headland, out
Of sight from below.
"Tain't 20 awful fur from ysre,
sah." Sam called to me.
"What-ths place where ws ars to
landr
"Yas. sab. It's de mouth oh Q little
creek whut yer nebber 80 till yer
right plum at II. Bettah keep yer eyes
open long dat shore. sab"
The girl. alertly bent forward, was
arst among ~ to detect the concealed
opening. which was almost completely
screened By the ovsrarchlng trees. her
voice ringing excitsdly a. she pointed
Il out. Sam was quick to respond.
and almost before I had dennltsly ..
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 scrap
Ing along the sides. Il looked o veri.
table cave, and Indeed all I remember
noting In my arst hasty glance
through the shadows was The outline
Of Q small boat moored to Q fallen
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