CHAPTER XV.
THE CABIN OF AMOS SHRUNK Beyond this passing of the _John B.Glover_, the day proved uneventful, although all further desire for sleep deserted me.

It was late afternoon before Rene finally emerged from the cabin to learn the news, and I spent most of the time on watch, seated at the edge of the bluff, my eyes searching the surface of the river.

While Kirby's presence up stream, unquestionably increased our peril of capture, this did 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 a 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 encouraging.

In itself alone this was abundant proof of the safe delivery of my dispatches, and I was thus relieved to realize that this duty had been performed.