The Dolores star., 1920-02-13
CHAPTER VII-Continued.

Have you ever visited the mouth of
Saunders creek? You have! How
far away is that from here?"
ANot more than half a mile; 1t en-
ters the river just below the Land
Ing"
And, II I understood you rightly"
| urged eagerly. "you said that these
fellows left their keelbont there: that
1t had been rigged up to run by steam.
and had no guard aboard except the
engineer: you are sure of this?"
That was what the man who talked
to me first said-the deputy sheriff.
He boosted that they had the only
keelboat on the river equipped with
an engine and had come up from St.
Louis in two hours. YOu-you think
we could use that?'
1T seems to be all that is left us.
intend TO make the effort, anyway.
You had better show me the road"
followed her closely. a mere
shadow, as she silently led the way
along the edge Of the wood and back
of the negro quarters. | felt confident
of being able safely to approach the
unsuspecting engineer and overcome
any resistance before he could real
lie the possibility of attack. was
obliged to rely upon guess at the
time of night, yet surely it could not
be long after twelve and there must
remain hours of darkness amply Sutii-
rient for our purpose. With the boat
once securely In our possession the en-
gineer compelled to serve, for | had no
skill in that line, we could strike out
directly for the opposite shore and
creep along in its shadows past the
sleeping town at the Landing until we
STAINED the deserted waters above.
BY then we should practically be be
ysnd immediate pursuit. Even If Car
yer or the sheriff discovered Kirby,
any immediate chase by river would
he impossible. Nothing was available
for their use except a few rowboats
at the Landing; they would know moth
ing as to whether We had gone up or
down stream, while the coming of the
early daylight would surely permit us
to discover some place of concealment
along the desolate Illinois shore. Des-
perate as the attempt undoubtedly
was the situation as | considered 1t in
al! its details brought me faith In our
success and fresh encouragement to
make the effort.
We moved forward slowly. l took
the lead myself, bending low and feel
ing carefully for footing in the wiry
grass. The darkness so shrouded ev-
erything, blending objects into shape
less shadows. that 1t required several
moments before | could clearly deter
mine the exact details. The mouth of
the creek, a good-siZed stream, was
only few yards away, and the boat,
rather a larger craft than / had an
ticipated seeing, lay just off shore,
with stern to the bank, as though pre-
pared for instant departure. 1t was
securely held In position by a rope,
probably looped about convenient
stump. and my eyes were finally able
to trace the outlines of the wheel by
which 1t was propelled. Except for
struggling rushes extending to the
edge of the water. the space between
was vacant yet sufficiently mantled In
darkness to enable one to creep for.
ward unseen.
AT first glance could distinguish no
sign of the boatman left In charge,
but even as lay there. breathless and
uncertain, he suddenly revealed his
presence by lighting a lantern in the
stern. The illumination was feeble
enough yet sufficient to expose to view
the small, unprotected engine aft, and
also the fact that all forward of the
little cockpit In which it stood the
entire craft was decked over. The fel.
low was busily engaged In overhaul
ing the machinery, leaning far for.
ward, his body lndistinct, 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 mularto, a fellow o1
medium size, broad Of cheek, with un
usually full lips and fringe of whis
ker turning gray. Somehow this rev
eiation that he was a negro and not Q
white man brought with 1t to me ar
additional confidence in success. In
clined my head and whispered In thu
girls ear:
You ore not to move from here I'M
~ '"'l This Ia TO be my part q