The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-03-11

Grafton. Still thus far we remained
INDICATED, and there was less danger
in that direction than downstream.
Once we attained the Illinois and
made arrangements with Shrunk the
immediate danger would be over.
Then l need go no farther-the end Of
the adventure might be left to others.
l looked up-the steamer was a mere
smudge on the distant bosom of the
river.
1t was late afternoon before Rene
finally emerged from the cabin to
learn the news, and / spent most of
the time on watch, seated at the edge
Of the bluff, my eyes searching the
surface of the river. While Kirby's
presence upstream unquestionably in
creased our peril of capture, this did
not cause me as 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 us with only pair of oars
by which to combat the current and
vet we had obtained no glimpse of
them anywhere along that stretch of
river
The knowledge that the steamer
which had passed w." was heavily
laden with troops r0- 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 l was within the limits of my fur
lOugh-the re-enforCements for Forts
Armstrong and Crawford were al
ready on their way. SO, altogether,
| faced the task of eluding Kirby with
lighter heart and renewed conf
dence. Alone, as l believed him to be,
and in that new country on the very
verge of civilization, he was hardly
an antagonist l needed greatly to
fear. Indeed, as man to man, rather
welcomed an encounter.
There is little to record, either of
! the day or night. The latter shut down
| dark but rGinless, although the sky
was heavily overcast by clouds. Sam
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
dstinguishable 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 a sand bar, and
we decided it would be better for us
to remain there until dawn. This was
not long in coming, the graying sky
of the east slowly lighting up the scene
and bringing in } 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. Sarr was standing up, hii
whole attention cOncentr"ted on tn,
view upstream.
"Do steamers ever 90 up this river? p
I asked, surprised at the volume o
water.
He glanced around at me as though
startled at my voice.
"Yas, sab; putty near eny sorte
boat kin. Trouble is, sab, wes go
started in de wrong place-dar'
plenty watah t'other side Of dis yer
bar"
"Who told you the best way to fnc
Shrunk?"
His eyes widened and searched m,
face, evidently still somewhat suspl
, cious of any white man.
T "a niger down ST. Louee way, sab
Dey done cotched him an brought hin
back afore he even got ter Boards
town."
"And you believe you can guide u
) thereT
t "Ah sure can, II whUt dat nigge
] sed wus correct, sab. All done uues
toned him mighty partic'lar, an A
, members ebery sign whut he Civ me.
He grinned broadly. "Ah sorter sus
!. picloned Ah mought need dat infol
! nation"
J "All right, then; IT is certainly ligh
! enough now-let's push or"
e We had taken the sand lightly an
. were able to pole the boat into dee