The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-01-01

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little cockpit in which it stood the
entire craft was decked over. The fell
low was busily engaged in overhaul
ing the machinery, leaning far for
ward, his body indistinct, the lantern
swinging in one hand, with entire at
tentiOn devoted to his task. Occa-
sionally, as he lifted his head for some
purpose, the dim radiance fell upon
his face, revealing the unmistakable
cOuntenance of a mulatto, Il fellow of
medium size, broad Of cheek, with un-
usually full lips and a fringe of whis-
ker turning gray. Somehow this rev.
elatiOn that he was a negro and not Il
white man brought with it to me an
additional confidence in success. I in
clined my head and whispered in the
girls ear:
"YOu are not to move from here
the work, handling that lad. l am
going now
"He is cofOred, is he not-a Slave?'
"We can only guess as to that. But
he does not look to me like a hard
proposition. If I can only reach the
boat without being seen the rest will
be easy. Now is the proper time,
while he is busy tinkering with the
engine. You will stay here?"
eyes, of course; II could be Of no
help
She suddenly held out her hand, as
@h1,,rh ,~,11N %D +h, rt;or Nv, .,~r,
swift impulse, and the warm pressure
of her fingers meant more han words.
/ could not see the expression on her
face, yet knew the slender body was
trembling ~nervOusly.
Surely you are nOt afraid?"
ooh, no: it is not that-I--I am all
unstrung. You must not think Of me
at ALL"
realized the gravity of my task.
and my eyes were watchful Of the
shrouded figure | was silently ap.
preaching. l drew nearer inch by
like that not even the slightest sound
of movement aroused suspicion. APP.
parently the fellow was engaged in
oiling the machinery, for he had
placed the lantern on deck and held
a lo~ng-spouted can in his fingers. His
back remained toward me as I drew
near the stern, and consequently
no longer had Il glimpse of his face.
The wooden wheel Of the boat, D
clumsy-appearing apparatus, rested al.
most directly against ,he bank, where
the water was evidently deep enough
to float the vessel, and the single rope
holding it in position was drawn taut
from the pressure of the current
Waiting until the mar was compelled
to bend lower Over his work, utterly
unconscious Of my presence, I straight.
ened up and, pistol in hand, stepped
upon the wooden beam supporting the
wheel. He must have heard this
movement, for he lifted his head
quickly, yet was even then too late
already I had gained the afterdeck
and my weapon was on a level will
his eyes.
"DOn't 10Y or cry out !" I com
handed sternly. "Obey orders ant
you will not be hurt"
He shrank away, sinking upon tho
bench, his face upturned so that the
light fell full upon it, for the instant
too greatly surprised and frightened
to give utterance to a sound. His
mouth hung open, and his eyes stared
at me.
"Who-who wus yer? Whatcna
want yere?"
81 am asking questions and you are
answering them. Are you armed:
All right, then !; hand it over. Now put
out that light"
He did exactly as I told him, NOV.
ing as though %paralyzed by fear, yet
unable to resist.
you are a negrO-a slave?"
"Yas. sab; Abs Massa Donaldson's
boy frum st. LOuee."
"He is the sheriff."
"Yas, sah-yas, sab. Whar is Massa
Donaldson? Yer amt done bin sent
yere' by him, I reckon. Pears like !
never see yer afore."
"No; but he is quite safe. What is
your name"
"Sam, sah-just plain SAM"
"Well, Sam, l understand you are an
engineer. Now, 1t happens that I want
to use this boat, and you are going to
run it for me, do you understand? I
am going to sit down here on the
edge Of this cockpit and hold this
loaded pistol just back Of your ear.
1t might go off at any minute, and
surely will if you make a 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 if 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 sun constable contrary ct times,
sab, but AhIl surely run her, if thar's
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, If
yn,, will 11 %1,Se 3Dh oil ,;~L4 &o. -oo