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"Do you know anything about this old channel, Peterson?" I inquired

"Nothing at all except from hearsay and what you see here," he

replied "I don't knohether or not it has a bar at either end, but

likely enough it has at both, though we asoline supply?"

"Enough to get us in, at least And, I say, here's a sort of

plantation post-office et

a druh"

"What's she drawing now as she runs, Peterson?"

"Four feet two inches She's a shade low by the stern We've quite a

lot of supplies aboard, this early in the cruise But I don't suppose

we've got enough"

"Well, Peterson," said I, "water leaves no trail If there's no one

watching e open up this next bend, run for the bayou, and we'll

see if we can get under cover Of course, it's all aon to have us stopped--though we can't blame him,

since he hasn't any idea who it is that has run aith the boat

But now, it suits me better to double in here, and let the chase try

to find us on the main river; if there is any chase You see, I don't

want to disturb the ladies unduly, and they ht not understand it

all if ere overhauled and asked to explain our change in the

ownership"

"Quite right, sir, and very good I catch the idea But, sir----"

He hesitated