THE DAWN OF DEEPER INTEREST It tested his skill as a boatman to locate the exact spot sought amid that gloom, yet he finally attained to it closely enough so I was able to get ashore, wading nearly thigh deep in water and mud, but only to learn that the boat, which I had provisioned earlier in the evening, had disappeared from its moorings.

No trace of it could be found in the darkness, although I devoted several minutes to the search.

To my mind this was positive evidence that Pete had returned, accompanied by the two frightened women, and that, finally despairing of my arrival, had departed with them up the river.

In all probability we would overhaul the party before morning, certainly before they could attain the mouth of the Illinois.

Their heavy rowboat would be compelled to creep along close in shore to escape the grasp of the current, while our engine gave us every advantage.