The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-02-27

presence upstream unquestiOnably in
creased our peril of capture, this die
| 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
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 encouf-
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
a 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
fear. Indeed as man to man. l rather
welcomed an encounter.
There is little to record, either of
the day or night. The latter shut down
dark but rainless, 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
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 sand bar, and
we decided it would he 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, vista of utter desc |
lation. Sam was standing up, his |
whole attention concentrated on the |
view upstream.
"Do steamers ever go up this river?"
I asked, surprised at 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, Yves 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 suspi-
eious 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
own
"And you believe you can guide us
here?"
"Ah sure can, if whit dat niger
Toned him mighty particular, an All
members cherry sign whit he Civ me-"
lie grinned broadly. "Ah sOrter sus-
,icioned All mought need dat infor-
nation"
"All right, then; 1t is certainly light
'nough .now-let's push off,"
We had taken the sand lightly and
we're able to pole the boat into deep
vater with no great difficulty. The
roader river behind US remained
eiled in mist, but the gray light was
efficient for our purpose, enabling US
0 proceed slowly until our craft had
ounded the protruding headland, out ,
f sight from below.
"'Tain't so awful fur from yere,
ah," Sam called to me.
"What-the place where we are to {
andT Il
"Yas, sab. It's de mouth OBJ little
reek whut yer nebber see till yer
light plum at it. Bettah keep yer eyes
pen long dat shore, sah."
The girl, alertly bent forward, was
rst among us to detect the concealed
pening, which was almost completely
creened by the overarchIng trees, her
dice ringing excitedly as she pointed
! out. Sam was quick to respond,
nd almost before had definitely es- !
lblished the spot, the bow of the boat !
werved and we shot In through the q
,afy screen, the low-hung branches i,
against our faces and scrap q
lg along the sides. 1t looked veri- q
lble cave, and indeed all 1 remember Il
citing in my first hasty glance =
trough the shadows was the outline I
{ small boat moored to fallen
zee. scrambled over, found preca-
GUS footing. and made fast.
$50 this is the placer" questioned b
staring about at the G
ark, silent forest. which still re- d
aimed In the deep night shade. "Why, q
lere's nothing here" q
mo. sab: dar certenly don't pear u