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THE OKLAHOMA MINER The AulKor a caWca CHAPTER XI. Continued. 12 It wns about tlio middle of tlio fol lowing nftcrnoou when tlio Adventurer poked lier blunt nose nrouml a point of land, Hiid chiiio Into full view of the squalid hamlet of Yellow Banks. A half-hour later we lny snuggled up against the shore, holding position amid several other boats made fast to stout trees, busily unloading, and their broad gangplanks stretching from forward deck to bnnk. The roust abouts began unloading cargo at once, a steady stream of men. black and white, burdened with whatever load ( they could snatch up, moving on an endless run across the stlfT plank, and up the low bank to ;he drier summit It chanced to be my good fortune to escape this labor, having been detailed by Ma pes to drag boxes, bales and bar rels forward to where the hurrying bearers could grasp them more read ily. Tills brought me close to the for ward stairs, down which the departing passengers trooped, threading their in secure, way among the trotting labor ers, in an effort to get ashore. Reynolds' troops, all militia, and the greater part of them mounted, were an extremely sorry-looking lot sturdy enough physically of the pioneer type, but bearing littl -. dlerly appearance, and utterly ignorant of discipline. The men had chosen officers from out their own ranks by popular election, and thene exercised their authority very largely through physical prowess. We had an excellent illustration of this soon after tying up at the landing. A tall. lank, ungainly officer, with a face so distinctly homely as to Instant ly attract my attention, led his com pany of men up the river bank, and ordered them to transport the pile of commissary stores from where they had been promiscuously thrown to a drier spot farther back. The officer was a captain, to judge from certain stripes of red cloth sewed on the shoulders of his brown Jean blouse, but his men were far from prompt in obeying his command, evidently hav ing no taste for the job. One among them, apparently their ringleader In incipient mutiny, an upstanding bully with the jaw of a prlie fighter, took It upon himself openly to defy the officer, exclaiming profanely that he'd be d d if he ever enlisted to do nigger work. The others laughed, and joined la the revolt, until the captain unceremoni ously flung off bis blouse, thus divest ing himself of every vestige of rank, and proceeded to enforce his authority. It was a battle royal, the soldiers crowding eagerly about, and yelling encouragement Impartially first to one combatant, and then another. "Kick him In the ribs, Sam!" "Now, Abe, you've got him crack the d n cuss' neck." "By golly that's the way we do It In ol' Salem." "He's got yer now, Jenkins, he's got yer now good boy, Abe." Exactly whnt occurred I could not tee, but when the circle of wildly ex cited men Anally nrokd apart, the big rebel was lying iia' -n his back In the yellow mud, and the irate officer was indicating every inclination to press him down out of sight. "Hav yer bed 'nougb. Sam Jen kins?" he questioned breathlessly. "Then, blame ye. say so." "All right, Abe yerra bested me this time." "Will yer tote them passels?" The discomfited Jenkins, one of whose eyes was closed, and full of clay, attempted a sickly grin. "II I yes." he admitted. "I'd sure admire ter dew It." The conqueror released his grip, and ntood up. revealing his full height, and reaching out for the dlscardod blouse, quietly slipped It on. One of the Ad venturer's passengers, an officer In uniform, going ashore, another tall, spare man. had halted on tlio gang plank to watch the contest. Now he stepped forward to greet the victor, with smiling eyes and outstretched hand. "Not so badly done, captain," ho pnld cordially. "I am Lieut. Jefferson Davis of General Atcheson's staff, and may havo a good word to say regard ing your officlency some time," The other wiped his clay-bespattered fingers on his dingy Jean pants, and gripped the offered hand. "Thank ye, sir," he answered good hinnoredly. "I'm Abo Lincoln of Sa lem, Iillnoy, an' I alu't got but Just one Job right now that's ter make them boys tote this stuff, an' I reckon there goln' tor do It." With the exchange of another word or two they parted, and not until thirty years later did 1 realize what trait clmnce meeUm: meant, there In eviiS vie War A Mntruittrooh mcDl(Xci now. 'PatrrisU of Contraband, SWofhInh8gk H!ufrded byXrtvxnMjrefcr the clay mud of olIow Hanks, nt the edge of the Indian wilderness, when Abraham Lincoln of Illinois and Jeffer son Davis of Mississippi stood in com radeship with clasped hands. We had unloaded perhaps a quarter of our supplies, when an officer sudden ly appeared over the crest of the bank and hailed the captain. There was a tone of authority In his voice which caustHl us to knock off work and lis ten. "Is Captain Corcoran there? I bring orders from headqunrters. You are to discontinue unloading, captain, retain the remainder of the provisions on board and prepare at once to take on men." "Take on men? We are not to return south, then?" "No ; you're going In the other direc tion up the Hock. You better get busy." He wheeled his horse and disap peared, leaving the angry captain venting his displeasure on the vacant air. Klrby, evidently from some posi tion across the deck, broke In with n sharp question. "What Is that, Corcoran? Did tho fellow say you were not going back to St. Louis?" "That's Just what he said. We've got to nose our way up Hock river, with a lot of those measly soldiers aboard. Here you, Ma pes, stop that unloading, and get steam up we've got to put in a night of It." "But," Insisted Klrby In disgust, "I'm not going up therjs; aren't there any boats going down?" "How the h should I know? Go ashore and find out you haven't any thing else to do." The men below knocked off work willingly enough and, taking advan tage of the confusion on board, I en deavored to creep up the stairs and gain a view of the upper deck. But both Mapes and the second mate made this attempt impossible, forcing me Into the ranks of the others and com pelling me to restow the cargo. So far as I could perceive, no attempt to de part was made by anyone, excepting a big fellow with a red mustache, who swore profanely as he struggled through the mud, dragging a huge valise. The situation puzzled and confused me. What choice would Klrby and the deputy make? If once up Rock river the Adventurer might very likely not return for weeks, and it did not seem to me possible that the impatient gam bler would consent to such a delay. Every advance northward brought with It a new danger of ex posure. These were Illinois troops to be transported not regulars, but mtlltla, gathered from a hundred hamlets find many among them would be open enemies of slavery. Let such men as these, rough with the pioneer souse of justice, once suspect the situ ation of those two women, especlnlly If the rumor got abroad among them that Elolse was white, and the slave hunter would have n hard row to hoe. And I made up my mind such a rumor should be sown broadcast; aye, more, that If the necessity arose, I would throw off my own disguise and front him openly with the charge. I could do no more. It was only an accident which gave me a clue to the real program. Mapes sent me back Into the vacant space just forward of the paddle-wheel, seek ing a lost canthook, and. as I turned about to return, the missing tool in my hand, I paused a moment to glance curiously out through a silt in tho boat's planking, attracted by the sound of a loud voice uttering a command. I was facing the shore and a body of men, ununlformed, slouching along with small regard to order, but each bearing a rltle across his shouldor, were Just tipping the ridge and plow ing their way down through the slip pery clay in the direction of the for ward gangway. Although I saw, not for an Instant did my gar.e linger on their disordered ranks. The sight which held mo motionless wns rather that of a long, broad plank, protected on either side by a rope rail, stretch ing from the slope of the second deck across the narrow gulf of water, until It rested Its other end firmly against the bank. The meaning of this was sufficiently apparent. For some reason of his own. Klrby had evidently chosen this means of attaining the shore, and through personal friendship, Corcoran had consented to aid his purpose. The reason, plainly enough, was that by use of this stern gangway the landing pnr ty would be enabled to attain the bank without the necessity of pushing their way through the crowd of Idle loung ers forward. And tho passage had Just been accomplished, for, us my eyes fo cussed tho scene, they recognised the spare figure of the deputy disappear ing over the crest a vague gllmpso, but HtifUcient. At the same Instant hands above "began to draw in the plank. There was but one thing for mo to do, ono action to take fallow them. Dropping the canthook, I turned aft and crept forth through a small open ing onto tho wooden frame which sup ported the motionless paddlowheel, choosing for the scene of operations tho river side, whore the boat effective ly concealed my movements from any prying eyes ashore. I lowered myself tho full length of my nrmn, dangling there an Instnnt by clinging to tho frnmework, then loosened my grip and dropped silently Into the rushing wa ters beneath. CHAPTER XII. My Friend, the Deputy Sheriff. Well below the surface, yet Impelled swiftly downward by the sturdy rush of the current, sweeping about the steamer's stern, I struck out with all the strength of my arms, anxious to at tain In that first effort the greatest possible distance. I came panting up to breathe, my face lifted bnrely above tho surface, dashing tho water from my eyes, and casting one swift glance backward toward the landing. Grent volumes of black smoke swept forth from the funnels and my ears could distinguish the ceaseless hiss of steam. Again I permitted my body to sink into the depths, swimming onward with easier stroke, satisfied I had not been seen. I swam slowly ashore, creeping up the low bank into the seclusion of n shallow, sandy gully, scooped out by the late rains. Immediately about me all was silent, the steadily deepening gloom rendering my surroundings vaguely indistinct. Thus far I possessed no plan ex cept to seek her. I would venture for ward, rather blindly trusting thnt good fortune might direct my steps aright. I would, have to discover first of all, where Klrby had taken Elolse into whose hands he had deposited the girl for safekeeping. This task ought not to be difficult. The settlement wns small, and the camp ltrelf not a large one; no such party could hope to en ter Its confines without attracting at tention, and cnuslng comment. Once I "had thus succeeded In locating her, the rest ought to prove comparatively easy n mere matter of action. For I had determined to play the spy no longer; to cease being a mere shndow. I proposed finding Eloise, and telling her the whole truth; following thnt, and assured of her support, I would defy Klrby, denounce him If necessary to the military authorities, Identifying myself by means of my army commis sion, and Insist on the immediate re lease of the girl. The man had broken no law unless the wanton killing of Shrunk could be proven against him and I migkt not be able to compel his arrest. Whatever he suspected now relative to his prisoner, he had orig inally supposed her to be his slave, his property, and hence possessed n right now under the law to restrain her lib erty. But even If I was debarred from bringing the man to punishment, I could break his power, and overturn his plans. Beyond thnt It would be a personal matter between us; and the thought gave me joy. I attained my feet, confident and at case, and ndvnnced up the gully, mov ing cautiously, so as not to run blind ly upon some sentry post In the dark ness. There would be nervous sol diers on duty, liable to fire at any sound, or suspicious movement, and it was a part of my plan to penetrate the lines unseen, and without Inviting ar rest. I was standing uncertain, when the dim figure of a man, unquestiona bly drunk, came weaving his uncertain way along a footpath which ran with in a yard of my position. The sudden blazing up of a fire revealed the un mistakable features of the deputy. "Hullo." I said, happily, stopping di rectly before him. "When did you come ashore?" "Hello, yerself," he managed to ejaculate thickly. "Who uro yer7 frlen o' mine?" "Why, don't yer remember mo, ol' man? We wus tnlkln' tergother comln up. I wus goln' fer ter enlist." "H I yes; glad ter seo yer. Sum hot whisky et this camp tried eny?" "No," I nnswerod, grasping at tho opportunity to arouse his generosity. "I ain't got no coin to buy. I'm flat broke; maybe yer cud stake mo fer a bite ter ent?" "Eatl" ho flung one arm lovingly about my shouldors, and burst into laughter. "Yer bet yer life, we're a goln' ter eat, an' drink too. I don't go back on none o ther boys. Yer novor heerd nuthin" like thet 'bout Tim Ken nedy, I reckon. Eat, sure yer know Jack Rale?" "Never heerd tho name." "What, never hoard o' Jnck Rale I 01' river man. half boss, linlf alligator; uster tend bar In Saint Louoo. llo's up yere now, n Bellln' forty-rod ter so Jers. Cum up 'long with him frum Benrdstown. Frlen' o' mine. Yer Just cum 'long with mo thus all." I permitted him to lead me, his voice never censing ns we followed the dim trail. I made out little of what he said, nor did I question him. The trail ended before a two-room log cabin, so deeply hidden in the woods ns to be revealed merely by a glimmer of light shining out from within through chinks In the walls. Tim fum bled for the latch and finally opened the door, lurching across the threshold, dragging me along after him. There wore two men at a sloppy table, a dis reputable looking white woman stir ring the contents of a pot hung over the open fire, and a fellow behind tho bar, attired In a dingy white apron. It wns all sordid enough, and dirty a typical frontier grogshop ; but the tiling of most Interest to me was the proprietor. The fellow was the same red-nitistnched individual whom I had watched disembark from tho steamer that sumo afternoon, slipping In the yellow mud us he surmounted tho bonk, dragging his valise along nfter him. So It was this follow passenger who had given these fugitives refuge; it wns his presence- In Hiose parts which had decided KWby to make the venture ashore. He glanced up at our entrnnce, tho glnro of light overhead rovenllng a deep, ugly scar across his chin and n pair of deep-set, scowling eyes. "Back In time fer supper, hey. Ken nedy," he growled, none too cordially. "Who's yer frlen'?" "A feller whut's goln' ter enlist. He's all right, Jack," tho deputy hic coughed thickly. "Le's liquor, an' then we'll eat. I'm payin' the bill so whut's it ter yer?" "Nuthin' 'tnll ; eny frlen' o' yers gits ther best I have." He set out a squat bottle on the hnr, and thinking it host to humor the both of them 1 poured out a stiff drink, fully aware that Rale was observing my features closely. "Seen yer afore sumwhar, ain't I?" "I reckon." I replied Indifferently, watching Tim fill his glass. "I worked my way up on the boat; saw yer on board." "Sure; that's It; 'taln't In my line fer ter forgit a face. Yer ain't en listed yit?" "No; I reckon I'll wait till maunin', an' clean up a bit furst. How 'bout sum soap an' water 'fore I eat? an' yer cudn't loan me a razor, cud ye?" "Wnl I got plenty o' water, an' mny bo cud scare up sum soap. Tim yere he's got a razor, an' If he's n frien' o' yers, I reckou he mought lend it ter yer." The deputy g'Kped down his drink, and smacked his lips, clinging with one hnnd to the bar, regarding me lov ingly. "Sure; he's n friend o' mine. Shave him myself soon's I git sober. Whut's thet? Yer can't wait? Oh, nil righ' then, take it yerself. Mighty fin' razor, ol' man." Rale found me n tin basin, water, a bit of rag for a towel, and n small, cracked mirror, in which my reflection was scarcely recognlznble. He was n man of few words, -contenting himself with uttering merely n dry comment on Kennedy, who had dropped back into a convenient chair and buried his face on the tnhle. "Tim's a good fellow, nn' I never saw him so blamo drunk nfore," he said, re gretfully.' "He an Kirby hed a row, an' I reckon thet's whut stnrted him drlnkin'." "A row; a quarrel, you mean?" for getting myself In surprise. "Who's Kirby?" "Joe Klrby; yer sure must know him If yer a river man. Slim sorter feller, with a smooth face; slickest gambler ever wus, I reckon." "Why, of course," getting control of myself once more. "We picked -him up, 'long with Tim, down river. Hed two women with 'em, didn't they? run-away niggers?" Rale winked facetiously, evidently rather proud of the exploit as It had been related to him. "Wnl', ther way I understan', they wa'n't both of 'em niggers; however, that was tho story told on board. This yere Joe Klrby Is pretty slick, lot mo tell you. One of 'em's n white gurl, who just pretended she wus a nigger. I reckon thet even Klrby didn't catch on ter her game at furst; an' when ho did ho wus too blame smart ter over let her know. Sho don't think ho knows yet, but she's liable for ter And out mighty soon." "But ho ennnot hold a white wom an." I protested stoutly. "Can't, hoy I Wul I reckon thcro are ways o' even doln' thet, an' if thnr be, KIrbyil And It. I reckon sho won't find no chance ter raise a holler foro bo's got her tied good an' strong." "Do you moan," I asked, horrified, "that ho will compol her to marry him?" "Sum smnrt llttlo guesser, ain't yer? I reckon sho's In a right smart way tor do It, et thet." "And vi!s this tho cause of tho quar rel between Klrby and Kennedy?" "Wal', 1 reckon It wus; leastwise Tim wudn't bo mixed tip In tho affair none. They hod It prutty blamo hot, an' I reckon thur'd bin a dead deputy If hedn't bin for me. Tim thought 1 wus a prutty gud frlen' an' cum over yero tor 11 ;uor, an' eat. Ther Joko ov it Is, ho uor know'd thet Joe hod told mo all 'bout the fix he woz in, a Tore we cum ashore. II , It wus all fixed up whut wus ter be done only we didn't expect the steamer wus goln' on north. Tlnir's sum boys wnntln' drink; see yer igln." I finished shaving, making no at tempt to hurry, busily thinking over this new situation. In the flrxt place why had Rale told me all this? 1 frit convinced the man had some purptu In his conversation, and that lie had not finished all he Intended to suy when the entrance of customers com pelled his return to the bar. Ills part ing words Implied that. Perhaps the revolt of the deputy made it necessary for the conspirators to select nnothei helper to properly carry out their ne farious scheme, and Rule had decided that I might answer. I hoped this might prove the explanation am! de termined to seek the earliest oppor tunity to Impress upon thnt individual the fact that I was desperately lit need of money, and decidedly Indiffer ent as to how It was obtained. Tho two soldiers, whose entrance had Interrupted our talk, remained at the bar drinking until after I had completed niv toilet, and were still there listening to a story Rale wn telling when the slatternly white wom an announced that supper was ready to serve. Tim slept soundly, while the other men remained engrossed In their game of cards. Rale glanced ulout at these as though to renssure him self that thev were Intent on helr plziv then, removing his apron, he crossed the room and drew up a chuir opposite me. "All right, Sal," he grunted shortly. "Bring on whut yer got." Ho remnined silent, staring moodily nt the fire, until after the woman had spread out the dishes on the table be fore him. Then his eyes fell upon the fare. "Nice looking mess that." he growled, surveying the repast with un disguised disgust. "No wonder we don't do no business with thet kind ov n cook. No, yer needn't stay co an' make up thPin beds in tho other room. I'll watch tilings yere." I judged the fellow had come over intending to resume our interrupted conversation, but hardly knew what he had best venture. I decided to give him a lend. "I ain't got no money, myself," I be gan to explain, apologetically, "but Tim thar sed he'd pay my. bill." "Sure, thi't's all right ; I ain't a wor ryin none. Maybe 1 might put yer in an easy way o' gettin' hold o' a little coin thet Is If ye ain't too blame per tlcular." "Me!" I laughed. "Well, I reckon I don't aim fer ter bo thet. I've bin ton years knoekln' 'bout between New Orleans nn' Saint Louee, steamboatin' mostly. Thet sort o' thing don't make no saint out'r eny kln'd man, I reckon. What sort'r job Is It?" He eyed me cautiously, as though not altogether devoid of suspicion. "Yer don't somehow look just the same sort o' chap, with them ther' whiskers shaved off," he acknowledged soberly. "Yer a sight better lookln' then I thought yer wus, an n sight younger. Wlm wus It yer cum frum?' "Frum Saint Louee, on the boat. If thet's what yer drlvln' nt." " 'Tnln't whnt I'm drlvln at. Whar else did yer cum frum afore then? Yer ain't got no bum's fnce." "Oh, I see; well, I can't help that. kin 1? I wus raised down iu Misslsslp', an' run away when I wus fourteen. I've been a drlftln' 'long ever since, I reckon my fnce ain't goln' ter hurt none so long ns the pay is right" "No, I reckon maybe it won't I've seed sum baby faces In my time thet sure hed the devil behind 'em. Whut's yer nnme?" "Moffett Dnn Moffett" Ho fell silent, nnd I wns unpleasant ly nwnre of his continued scrutiny, my heart beating fiercely, ns I endeavored to force down more of tho food as au excuso to remain nt tho table. What would he decide? Finally ho spoke once more, but gruflly enough, leaning forward, and lowering his voice to a hoarse whisper. "Wal now seo yere, Moffett. I'm goin' fer ter be d plain with yer. I reckon yer whut yer say ye are, fer thar ain't no reason, fer ns 1 kin see, why wo should lie 'bout It. Yor flat broke, an' need coin, nn' I'm takln' ye at yer own word thet yo don't car overly much how yet glt It Thet truo?" "Just 'bout so It ain't no hnngin' Job." (TO BE CONTINUED.) A Dead One. The Into Amelln E. Barr, who wrote sixty successful novels, wns u keen and original critic. Sho wns discussing ono of her own death scenes with a Now York pub lisher last spring, and exprossod pro found dissatisfaction with the chapter. "That death," sho Bald warmly, "has no life In It." Horses Inhale Smoke. Horses imported Into Argentina are taught to avoid a poisonous weed thnt tho native animals shun naturally by forcing them to lnhnlo smoko from burning pieces of the weed.